Starting Over (Treading Water, #3)

Starting Over (Treading Water Trilogy #3)

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4.45 of 5 stars 4.45  ·  rating details  ·  611 ratings  ·  56 reviews
In a drunken stupor, Brandon O'Malley frightens his brother Aidan's girlfriend, enraging his brother and the rest of his family. Aidan offers Brandon the choice of rehab or jail, and Brandon reluctantly enters treatment. While in rehab, Brandon confronts the lifetime of secrets and resentments that fueled his spiral into alcoholism, and these revelations have a major effec...more
Published December 27th 2011 (first published December 17th 2011)
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Alison
LOVED this book! The O'Malley's are such an amazing family.

I laughed out loud at Dennis' fear of Daphne...so funny to imagine a big tough guy, whos raised 5 kids being scared of one woman.

I absolutly loved Mike and Brandon's relationship. She was the star of the book for me. The epilogue...tissues please!!!

I loved seeing Colin and Declan get their HEA's. Especially Colin, the steadfast "good kid", it was time he had something special just for himself.

On a side note, I was a little sad not to s...more
Diana
Loved all the books in the Treading Water Series, but by far my favorite was this book! Brandon and his brothers showed the true meaning of brotherhood in this book, I wanted to belong to their family. I was torn when I realized that I would not be reading more on the O'Malley's!
Jatana
This is an incredible, well written emotional novel with a very deep subject matter of alcoholism. Clare and Aiden are visiting the O'Malley family when Brandon comes over drunk and attacks Clare. He's given a choice to either go to rehab or jail. While in rehab Brandon acknowledges he's an alcoholic and he sees how bad his life has gotten. During this time he also learns how much his family has done for him while he drank his life away. He addresses his past and realize the things in his life t...more
Tina
Eh, glad I only borrowed this one. This was one of those quick, easy contemporary reads that I like to gobble down once in awhile. I liked the first two books in the series they yanked a lot of outrage chains and they were super fun to read. This one fell all over itself in it's earnestness. Part of he problem is that the first part of the book felt like it was a by-the-book primer on AA and Al-Anon. I felt like I was reading a manual, not a story about this person's experience with alcohol addi...more
Joyfully Reviewed
Starting Over is a Joyfully Recommended Read

Brandon O’Malley found himself at rock bottom after learning that he hurt his brother’s girlfriend while in the midst of an alcohol induced rage. His brother gives him a choice rehab or jail. He takes rehab all while insisting he doesn’t have a problem. However, it doesn’t take him long to realize exactly how bad an alcoholic he is and how bad his life has gotten. After rehab, Brandon’s father gives him a restoration job to slowly bring him back into t...more
Heather
This might be one of my favorite books I've ever read. If I'm being honest, I wasn't sure in the beginning that I was going to love this one. It had nothing to do with the topics that were going to be involved, I just didn't know if I was going to be able to like Brandon as much as I should. Boy, talk about being WRONG. I fell in love with Brandon and that was just the tip of the iceberg. It was little Mike that truly brought this story home for me. The relationship that she and Brandon had was...more
Janell
I really didn't think I was going to like this book as much as the first two, as the storyline is a little bit of a deviation from the others. (My plan was to rush through it so I could get to the 4th book and catch up with the other characters). Boy was I wrong! This book turned on the water works BIG TIME! I enjoyed all of the book, but I'd say the last 1/4 or 1/3 (not sure) I simply COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN and that Epilogue!!!! I got 1/2 way through it and had to start back reading it from the...more
Sheri
My grade: C+. This is the third book of a trilogy. I didn't read the first two books but had no trouble keeping all the characters and backstories straight. The book starts with Brandon starting a 30 day rehab. What felt strange to me was the multiple POVs. Brandon, Colin and Dennis. At least I think that was all, though there might have been more. The primary story here was Brandon's. What was odd was the absence of Daphne's POV. She turned from brusque and wary to in love rather quickly. Not b...more
Jodster's
WOW!!! I did not think this series could get any better. I have to say it did. This is by far my favorite thus far. I love Brandon. In Marking Time I thought he was a jack ass.... but he sure did surprise me.

Brandon... Going to rehab for a drinking problem was not what he wanted... but after attacking his brothers girlfriend he had no choice.. so he went, hated it and denied he had a problem.. some where in between arriving and leaving Brandon discovered new things about himself and his family....more
Guilty Pleasures
Piper's

4.5 Stars

This was another wonderful and emotional story from Marie Force. We met Brandon in Marking Time and knew he had a lot of demons to work out. From the moment I met Brandon I wanted to know what his story was. How could someone from such a strong, loving and supportive family be so down in the dumps that he had to turn to alcohol. Brandon's story touched me in more ways than one. My Uncle is a recovering alcoholic and lives his life by the Big Book and the Good Book. Before my Aun...more
Splage
I so enjoyed this whole trilogy and highly recommend it! Marie Force is a favorite author of mine because her stories are deeper, a little edgier in plot line (this one was about and alcoholic) and evoke so much emotion from me - I can always count on a good cry and an uplifting HEA. She is also the queen of Love at First Sight story lines, which I don't always want, sometimes I like the "I love you's" to take awhile, but sometimes they are exactly what I need.

Starting Over has two, slightly th...more
Ann
Yes –(4 stars) Definitely enjoyed Brandon and the story surrounding his troubles with alcohol and journey to higher ground. The scene with him at the cemetery was a heart grabber and a Kleenex moment. No – (2.5-3 stars) Didn’t care for the whim, wham of the (and I hate to say this because I love Marie Force’s books) sappy love stories here. Again, as with Marking Time I feel like this story was another Lifetime movie and these lives are on a quick time table to meet fall head over heels in love...more
AnneOK
Book Three in Treading Water Trilogy

An excellent conclusion to the "Treading Water" trilogy. Once again, Marie Force offers her readers another extraordinarily interesting and entertaining storyline which includes sizzling romance and intriguing characters who'll make you cry, laugh and love right along with them. "Starting Over" features Brandon O'Malley who, despite his refusal to acknowledge he has a drinking problem, lands in rehab after he attacks his brother's girlfriend. Getting his life...more
A Tasty Read/ Sweet Reads Reviews
Dec 22, 2011 A Tasty Read/ Sweet Reads Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Anyone in need of a REAL story
I have to agree with a few of the other ladies that said Starting Over was their Favorite of the Treading Water Trilogy.

I can honestly say that Brandon stole my heart in this book and I think might hold onto it for a while. I tend to be a woman who always went after the man who needed to be "saved". So in Starting Over I found myself feeling so bad for Valerie, Brandon's ex, who put so much of herself into the relationship with a man who was lost. The book starts out with a lot of heavy baggage...more
Sharon Trusky
This was the best book of the series. How could you not love Brandon when he evolved into a loving man who treasured and protected Mike and Daphne so much? The other threads in this story introduced us to the O'Malley family who made me wish for separate stories for each of them. Even the epilogue was perfect. I really did cry in certain spots of this book. I finished it the same day I started it and couldn't put it down. I almost took the day off from work to read it!
Emily Steinmetz
Loved it! Loved the epilogue, the characters, just everything! The only thing I missed was learning more about Kate and her relationship. Ms. Force can take first cousins getting married but not a relationship with a much, much older man? I don't get it. But still, a very good trilogy, one I'm sad is over. Now I hope she doesn't make us wait too long for more McCarthy's of Gansett Island, I'm getting impatient!
Gerri
I'm nearing the end and I cannot remember reading any other series that has effected me so emotionally as this one has.
This book was by far the most difficult to read. Not because it was bad but because the Omally family had such an awful lot to endure and to watch Brandon fight his demons. It was truly a great story.
Definitely sad to see it end.
Aly Hackett
My favorite and a wonderful third book in this series. Realistic situations, beautifully packed together. I love the O'Malley clan! The relationship they all have is what - for me - was the core of this book and what made it work so well. But I have to say Mike & Brandon's relationship is the killer :) That kid slays me!!
Kim Guercio
Such an amazing book to end an even more amazing series. Never a dull moment, whether it be sad, happy, funny, sexy, inspiring. I loved this book so much. This will definitely be one of my all time favorites. There were a few parts that made my cry like a baby, but I loved every word. Thanks again Marie Force for another great book!
Dianne
I'm speechless! This book was incredibly good! My favourite in the Treading Water Series. I didn't think it could possibly be better than Marking Time but it was. I read it in less than a day...non stop reading. I loved everything about this book and feel bereft now the series is finished.
Kelly
3.5 stars

Of the three books in this series I've read so far, this book was my least favorite. I did enjoy the three central characters and the entire O'Malley family, I especially fell in love with Mike, however, the ending was a little too over dramatic for me.
Sandy
This trilogy by Marie Force is wonderful I really enjoyed the three books. this was the first one and it catches you from the first page when Jack's wife is hit by a car in front of her daughters and from there it becomes very interesting....
Angie
Wow, just wow. I have no other words to describe the impact reading this book gives you when you read it. It’s nothing short of amazing, definitely the best story in the series. I completely underestimated this book, I honestly picked it up because I wanted to finish the trilogy, and to be ready for Coming Home when it releases (I’m expecting that one badly). The struggle Brandon went through touched me deeply, the secrets he stuffed deep inside him, I never saw coming in a million years, the wa...more
Heather
I liked the first two books in the trilogy better or maybe it's that I felt more attached to the characters in the first two books. Liked how everything was wrapped up in the end.
ms bookjunkie
Amazing book, real issues. Not my favorite in the trilogy but compelling, emotionally satisfying.

Trigger warning: Realistic description of an alcoholic's revelations in rehab.
Mareli
Another O'Malley here, after Aidan in the previous book, we meet Brandon, who has serious alchol issue. After 30 days in rehab Brandon has to begin again with his family, his brothers and all the people he hurt in his drunken fog.

But he meets Mike, a wonderful 5 years old girl, who needs a father and her mother, who needs a friend and maybe someone who'll love her.

For those two woman Brandon becomes finally the man all his family wanted him to be.

Very emotional and sweet. A great trilogy, recomm...more
KK
So, SO amazing! This book has it all. As in all Marie Force books, there is definitely romance, but there is also a solid dose of humor, drama, and lots of tissue moments. You will fall in love with the O'Malley's and the people around them.
Stephanie
What a great story. I wasn't sure how I felt about Brandon in book two. But damn does this boy redeem himselfin this book. The epilogue still has me in tears. I love the wrap up.
Virginia Rosario
Loved this book. I've read it about three times and all three times I had tears in my eyes because all the characters were so visually detailed.
Donna Meland
One if not the best book I have ever read. Beautiful story of a family with lots of twist and turns and ups and downs.
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Starting Over (Treading Water, #3)
Starting Over (Treading Water, #3)
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Marie Force is the author of the bestselling McCarthys of Gansett Island Series: MAID FOR LOVE, FOOL FOR LOVE, READY FOR LOVE, FALLING FOR LOVE, HOPING FOR LOVE, SEASON FOR LOVE and LONGING FOR LOVE, with more books coming soon in the series. She is the author of the Treading Water Series that consists of TREADING WATER, MARKING TIME and STARTING OVER, with book four, COMING HOME, out Christmas 20...more
More about Marie Force...
Maid for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island, #1) Fool for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island, #2) Line of Scrimmage Ready for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island, #3) Falling for Love (The McCarthys of Gansett Island, #4)

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