The Start of Something New was a nice start to begin her Stay series. This was definitely a fun, engaging story that I just took in an thoroughly enjoyed. The characters were really good, the storyline keeps you interested and it leaves me curious and excited to see what her second book will all about.

There’s nothing better than good relationships, especially the familial ones. Those always reel me in. They always add a little something special to the book, allowing you to connect with one of them with a similar experience or a resonating personality.

Here is the summary of the book:

An enriching story of family ties, broken hearts, and second chances from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

When Ethan Bishop returns to the Hudson Valley, his body and spirit are a little worse for wear. As a former Special Forces paratrooper, he saw his fair share of conflict, and he came home with wounds, inside and out. At his sisters’ B & B and farm, he can keep all his pain at a safe distance. But quiet time isn’t easy when a fiery woman explodes into his life…

It’s business—not pleasure—that brings Manhattan PR agent Mia Thrush reluctantly to the farm. Tightly wound and quick tempered, Mia clashes immediately with the brooding Ethan. Everything about him is irritating—from his lean muscles and piercing blue eyes to his scent of sweat and musk.

But as the summer unfolds and temperatures rise, Ethan and Mia discover how much they have in common: their guarded histories, an uncontrollable desire, and a passion for the future that could heal two broken hearts. But will their pasts threaten their fragile chance at a brand-new future?

Ethan: He definitely had his battle scars. Between his former high profile job as a celebrity bodyguard and his trauma from being a Special Forces op, he definitely has gone through a lot emotionally and physically. Trying to escape, he retreats home to his sister’s B&B but an unexpected encounter challenges everything in his life that he was trying to run away from. His relationship with that develops with Mia is really interesting. That slow breakdown of his wall really draws you into his character.

I loved the relationship that he has with his sisters. They are just such a ray of sunshine to the story. I hope we can revisit them and they get a chance to get into the spotlight. There are some undiscovered storylines that I know will be page turners.

Mia: At first I was like, I don’t know if she is going to be my cup of tea. As the book went on, I grew to enjoy her character. She had that superficial vibe that I thought I was going to have to roll the eyes as I turned the page but I was wrong. Everyone has a story and as her unfolded, and she let her guard down, her personality grabbed my attention. I’m glad she came with the relationship issues that she did because it worked well with Ethan’s issues coming together. It made their storyline more believable. She just came to life being around him and especially around his sisters. Their relationship in the book projecting a positive sisterhood always will be enjoyable to read.

Overall, this was a wonderful start to the series that I can’t wait to see what her second book is about. Loved the characters. There’s more in the subplots that are just as interesting as the storyline of Mia and Ethan but I don’t want to give too much away. There were some steamy moments thrown in there when they finally made a connection but overall nothing to call the fire department about. This gets my recommendation to add to your reading list.