Orlando, Florida – Present Day

Colleen McDonald moves from Oregon to Florida after getting shot during a domestic violence call on the job as a police officer. Suffering from nightmares and anxiety attacks, she was depressed at how she was treated by fellow officers after the event and wants a change of scenery and a different job in Florida.

Deputy Graham Harrigan arrives at her door in Orlando looking for Jeffrey Walters or her landlady, the elderly, eccentric Doris Walters. Doris is not always coherent and is concerned about being placed in a retirement home.

Graham, tired of working in motors tagging speeders in the police department, is hoping for a promotion to criminal investigations. He and co-worker, Jerry Clarke, are vying for the same job with Schaeffer as their boss. Graham is elated when Schaeffer asks him to look into the disappearance of Jeffrey Walters -- not only to get into investigations, but he wants to see the beautiful Colleen again. Jeffrey’s step-daughter, Kimberly, is unable to locate Jeffrey, and Graham finds it hard to believe that Jeffrey is in Alaska selling land in the middle of winter as his mother indicates, although later she says she meant to say Alabama.

Colleen questions Doris about Jeffrey’s disappearance, and her policewoman’s instinct makes her wonder about the man in a black BMW arguing with Doris. It all seems a little curious and strange. Colleen also checks the house and Jeffrey’s office for any clues. Graham is following the trail of Jeffrey’s last land development deal that fell through. As Colleen and Graham’s relationship heats up, so does the search for Jeffrey Walters.

STARTING OVER is a bit slow paced at the beginning with little information regarding Jeffrey’s disappearance. A wonderful hero, Graham is anxious to do a good job and is a good-hearted, sensitive man as well as a devoted police officer. Colleen is making a few friends and starting to feel at home in Orlando. Somewhat of a whiner, she begins to build her confidence with the help of Graham, and wants to prove that she has good investigative skills after the disaster in Oregon. The attraction grows between Colleen and Graham as clues materialize and they work together to figure out what happened to Jeffrey.

The romance is appealing and the dialogue is realistic, but the suspense could have had a little more intensity to keep readers' interest. For those who enjoy just a little suspense with more romance, STARTING OVER is the book for you.

Marilyn Heyman