Book Review: From the Start by Melissa Tagg

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Title: From the Start

Author: Melissa Tagg

Series: Walker Family #1

Genre: Contemporary

Audience: Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Kate Walker used to believe in true love and happily ever after. While her own love life may have left her brokenhearted, it hasn't kept her from churning out made-for-TV romance movie screenplays ... until a major career slump and a longing to do something meaningful send her running back to her hometown of Maple Valley. 

Permanently sidelined by an injury, former NFL quarterback Colton Greene is temporarily hiding out in a friend's hometown to avoid the media and the reminders of all he's lost. Maple Valley seems like the perfect place to learn how to adjust to normal life. The only trouble is he's never really done normal before.

While Kate plays things safe and Colton is all about big risks and grand gestures, they both get what it's like to desperately need direction in life. An unexpected project gives them both a chance to jumpstart their new lives, but old wounds and new dreams are hard to ignore. Starting over wasn't part of the plan, but could it be the best thing that's ever happened to them?

~ MY REVIEW ~

**4 stars**

Contemporary doesn’t usually appeal to me for some reason or another, but From the Start by Melissa Tagg was a very pleasant exception!

Following the lives of a thirty-year-old woman writing romance scripts for Hallmark but closed off to experiencing love herself, and an injured football player all out of options, this story takes us on an interesting and delightful ride. Colton and Kate both end up in a small, charming town of Iowa; temporarily … or so they think. But God has big plans in store. If only the two will open their eyes and take a leap of faith.

As I said before, modern romance stories … I most often leave them behind with a meh feeling. From the Start began engagingly and I enjoyed it for the most part. There were things about football, which I have a hard time getting into (ha). I was liking this book … but yeah, not much more than that. However, as the story progressed, I just fell into it. There were intriguing characters, humorous happenings, traumatic times, and a gentle love story coming into bloom.

On that note, I really appreciated how this romance went! No heated scenes. Not so much focused on physical and whatnot. It was fresh. Beautiful. Cute. So fun and touching to watch come together! I really, really enjoyed it! Oh, and LOVE the nickname of Rosie! *smiles*

There was a fair amount of action too. A sweet little boy with cancer; son of Kate’s friends. Tornadoes and floods. Accidents and traumatic flashbacks. Injuries and flawed relationships. A peak into the foster care system. I was just drawn into these peoples’ lives and intrigued with all that was going on. Concerned. Sorrowed. Hopeful. Elated.

From the Start had a meaningful message. It didn’t feel like some fluffy contemporary romance that focused on self and such. It told a beautiful story of broken people drawing closer to God and finding His will for their lives. Of healing from past emotional pain. Of seeing the needs around you and reaching out to meet them. It displayed a great love story. Not perfect; but amazing all the same! ^_^

So really wonderful read! I don’t believe I have any complaints … Yes, fantasy or historical would be my first choice; but From the Start by Melissa Tagg was definitely a contemporary that I loved! Looking forward to reading more about the Walker family!

I received a copy of From the Start from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.