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Siletz Bay #1
Sarah Starting Over
Was Sarah’s husband’s death murder or suicide? She searches for answers while raising her young son alone in the sleepy seaside town of Siletz Bay.
To make ends meet, she's working in a donut shop where she encounters Greyson. He's a hot, black P.I. with a prosthetic leg. He offers to help Sarah unravel the mystery of what really happened to her husband.
Their friendship provides answers and hope for two people who’ve survived great loss.
To make ends meet, she's working in a donut shop where she encounters Greyson. He's a hot, black P.I. with a prosthetic leg. He offers to help Sarah unravel the mystery of what really happened to her husband.
Their friendship provides answers and hope for two people who’ve survived great loss.
178 pages, Paperback
First published April 3, 2016
43 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
M.J. Greenway
17 books43 followersMy great passions have always included reading and writing. When not engaged in one of those past times, I enjoy baking, walks and time spent with friends and family.
As a kid I have a vague recollection of creating “magazines” with a pencil and ruled notebook paper. I made family members buy copies for a quarter. I’ve been writing a variety of things since then: marketing copy, plays, short films and online content.
Virginia Woolf would be proud that I’m now able to write-in a room of my own-under the clouds of the Pacific Northwest. Sometimes my husband and son pop in to check on me.
My debut novel will be published soon by Limitless Publishing.
As a kid I have a vague recollection of creating “magazines” with a pencil and ruled notebook paper. I made family members buy copies for a quarter. I’ve been writing a variety of things since then: marketing copy, plays, short films and online content.
Virginia Woolf would be proud that I’m now able to write-in a room of my own-under the clouds of the Pacific Northwest. Sometimes my husband and son pop in to check on me.
My debut novel will be published soon by Limitless Publishing.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
May 7, 2016
‘I felt alive for the first time since I’d lost Brandon.’
Minor spoilers alert!!!
I don’t read romantic suspense as often as I used to, so I was excited to read this novella. The story mainly focuses on how Sarah is coping with the loss of her husband who was found dead a year earlier. That loss is financial, emotional and physical of course. She needs closure and gets a lucky break when P.I. Greyson walks into the donut shop where she works. She’s still not relationship minded at this point in time, so she fails to take his flirtatious interaction with her seriously. A seed is planted though about seeking out Greyson's professional help to solve the mystery of her husband's unexpected death.
I enjoyed the extensive look at Sarah’s life as a struggling, still grieving but strong widow with Milo, her young 5-year old son, as they moved forward in their new normal after Brandon’s passing. Greyson slowly became a part of their new normal after agreeing to take on Sarah’s case pro-bono and by later giving her a job at his private detective agency when she needed it most. The mystery of her husband’s death isn’t solved immediately but rather one clue at a time. I never guessed who the perpetrator was, and I quite liked how the guilty suffered.
*
Cover love: It’s so fitting! I love the tag line and its sweet and cozy design overall.
*
Writing style: 1st person narrative
*
Strongest elements:
I loved Sarah’s honesty about parenting and how she encouraged Milo to talk about and celebrate his deceased father. Her reflective moments about grief also hit home for me since I lost my mom a year and half ago. I gained a new understanding of how a parent left alone to raise a child could feel and just an overall appreciation of a mother’s love for her child.
Best of all, Greyson and Milo together were just too freaking adorable! I could really see this trio of personalities, who have handled major loss in their own ways, becoming a new family unit someday soon. And that vision put a big fat happy smile on my face.
*
Weakest elements:
I would have liked more passionate moments between Sarah and Greyson and longer, more detailed scenes of those moments. But there were just enough budding moments of sexual interest to pacify me on the whole and keep this one in the “romantic” suspense arena. I see this novella as a good palette cleanser in between my racier romance reads.
*
Favorite quote:
‘The exlir of the kiss, aroma of chocolate, chill in the air and warmth of the company stirred something inside of me…Hope. It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise.’
*
Favorite chapter:
The Christmas chapter had a range of moments that put a smile on my face several times.
*
I would definitely read another novel by this new author if her novel’s synopsis appealed to me. I’m curious to see how her writing grows over time as she tackles different story ideas.
Minor spoilers alert!!!
I don’t read romantic suspense as often as I used to, so I was excited to read this novella. The story mainly focuses on how Sarah is coping with the loss of her husband who was found dead a year earlier. That loss is financial, emotional and physical of course. She needs closure and gets a lucky break when P.I. Greyson walks into the donut shop where she works. She’s still not relationship minded at this point in time, so she fails to take his flirtatious interaction with her seriously. A seed is planted though about seeking out Greyson's professional help to solve the mystery of her husband's unexpected death.
I enjoyed the extensive look at Sarah’s life as a struggling, still grieving but strong widow with Milo, her young 5-year old son, as they moved forward in their new normal after Brandon’s passing. Greyson slowly became a part of their new normal after agreeing to take on Sarah’s case pro-bono and by later giving her a job at his private detective agency when she needed it most. The mystery of her husband’s death isn’t solved immediately but rather one clue at a time. I never guessed who the perpetrator was, and I quite liked how the guilty suffered.
*
Cover love: It’s so fitting! I love the tag line and its sweet and cozy design overall.
*
Writing style: 1st person narrative
*
Strongest elements:
I loved Sarah’s honesty about parenting and how she encouraged Milo to talk about and celebrate his deceased father. Her reflective moments about grief also hit home for me since I lost my mom a year and half ago. I gained a new understanding of how a parent left alone to raise a child could feel and just an overall appreciation of a mother’s love for her child.
Best of all, Greyson and Milo together were just too freaking adorable! I could really see this trio of personalities, who have handled major loss in their own ways, becoming a new family unit someday soon. And that vision put a big fat happy smile on my face.
*
Weakest elements:
I would have liked more passionate moments between Sarah and Greyson and longer, more detailed scenes of those moments. But there were just enough budding moments of sexual interest to pacify me on the whole and keep this one in the “romantic” suspense arena. I see this novella as a good palette cleanser in between my racier romance reads.
*
Favorite quote:
‘The exlir of the kiss, aroma of chocolate, chill in the air and warmth of the company stirred something inside of me…Hope. It was a wonderful and unexpected surprise.’
*
Favorite chapter:
The Christmas chapter had a range of moments that put a smile on my face several times.
*
I would definitely read another novel by this new author if her novel’s synopsis appealed to me. I’m curious to see how her writing grows over time as she tackles different story ideas.
April 13, 2016
This may be just over a hundred pages but the author packs a lot into this sharp little book.
I was completely captivated by the story, it had more than just romance on offer, it had a good old fashioned mystery to solve and piecing together the clues were Sarah and Greyson.
Sarah is still reeling following the death of her husband but what exactly happened is a nagging doubt that seems to plague her very existence. She is determined that come hell or high water that she will find out if it was murder or suicide, hardly a task that she should or would have ever wanted to undertake but she needs to know, not only for her own peace of mind but also for his little boy.
I admired her tenacity, her fortitude and her sheer dogged determination but could she piece together the clues in what was a far from easy event.
Life as a single mother, let alone a widow is tough but she does what she has to in order to make it through each day. It’s while she is at work in the local donut shop that she meets Greyson.
Now I wasn’t sure that him being in the shop and eventually agreeing to help her sort through the events of her husband’s death was a mere coincidence but I might have been reading too much into the situation because this seriously sexy P. I. was just who she needed.
I liked Greyson and I really liked the friendship that blossomed between the two of them, they were more alike that I had anticipated. Greyson had suffered in his past and he needed Sarah almost as much as she was willing to lean on him.
Could they find the truth? What would their investigations uncover and how far were they willing to go?
Was friendship all that they had to give to each other or could they find a way to something more?
Like I said this smart little novel was a really good read.
I was completely captivated by the story, it had more than just romance on offer, it had a good old fashioned mystery to solve and piecing together the clues were Sarah and Greyson.
Sarah is still reeling following the death of her husband but what exactly happened is a nagging doubt that seems to plague her very existence. She is determined that come hell or high water that she will find out if it was murder or suicide, hardly a task that she should or would have ever wanted to undertake but she needs to know, not only for her own peace of mind but also for his little boy.
I admired her tenacity, her fortitude and her sheer dogged determination but could she piece together the clues in what was a far from easy event.
Life as a single mother, let alone a widow is tough but she does what she has to in order to make it through each day. It’s while she is at work in the local donut shop that she meets Greyson.
Now I wasn’t sure that him being in the shop and eventually agreeing to help her sort through the events of her husband’s death was a mere coincidence but I might have been reading too much into the situation because this seriously sexy P. I. was just who she needed.
I liked Greyson and I really liked the friendship that blossomed between the two of them, they were more alike that I had anticipated. Greyson had suffered in his past and he needed Sarah almost as much as she was willing to lean on him.
Could they find the truth? What would their investigations uncover and how far were they willing to go?
Was friendship all that they had to give to each other or could they find a way to something more?
Like I said this smart little novel was a really good read.
August 30, 2016
I'm having a lot of fun reading free books I downloaded from Amazon. This one wasn't my favorite, but it wasn't bad.
January 13, 2024
This book had a lot of potential but there was no suspense leading up to what happened. You got all the information all at once and there wasn’t much character development. Nonetheless, a short read.
August 11, 2025
Sarah found herself thrust into a world of uncertainty and despair when tragedy struck her husband. Alone with her young son in the quiet coastal town of Siletz Bay, she embarked on a journey to uncover the truth behind his death.
To support her family, Sarah took up a job at the local donut shop, where she crossed paths with Greyson, a charming private investigator with his own enigmatic history. Drawn to Sarah's plight, Greyson offered his assistance in untangling the web of secrets surrounding her husband's fate.
As they delved deeper into the investigation, Sarah and Greyson forged a bond of friendship that transcended their shared pursuit of answers. Along the way, they discovered truths that both shattered illusions and offered hope for the future. Amidst the twists and turns of their quest, Sarah found herself opening up to the possibility of love once more, perhaps finding solace and redemption in the arms of a man who understood her journey like no other.
This book is, let's say, interesting. It revolves around a woman who tragically loses her husband at a young age, leaving her to care for their small child. She's convinced it wasn't suicide and is determined to uncover the truth. I must admit, I was disappointed that Greyson reveals what happened to Sarah's husband in just one chapter of the book. However, I appreciate Sarah's strong bond with her son, though at times she may come off as overly protective, it's understandable given the circumstances. Surprisingly, I expected Sarah and Greyson's relationship to develop hastily, but it was depicted in a genuinely sweet manner, which I found quite endearing. Additionally, Sarah's character is meticulously described, adding depth to the narrative. Also, the author included a donut recipe and I'm sure I will try it someday.
To support her family, Sarah took up a job at the local donut shop, where she crossed paths with Greyson, a charming private investigator with his own enigmatic history. Drawn to Sarah's plight, Greyson offered his assistance in untangling the web of secrets surrounding her husband's fate.
As they delved deeper into the investigation, Sarah and Greyson forged a bond of friendship that transcended their shared pursuit of answers. Along the way, they discovered truths that both shattered illusions and offered hope for the future. Amidst the twists and turns of their quest, Sarah found herself opening up to the possibility of love once more, perhaps finding solace and redemption in the arms of a man who understood her journey like no other.
This book is, let's say, interesting. It revolves around a woman who tragically loses her husband at a young age, leaving her to care for their small child. She's convinced it wasn't suicide and is determined to uncover the truth. I must admit, I was disappointed that Greyson reveals what happened to Sarah's husband in just one chapter of the book. However, I appreciate Sarah's strong bond with her son, though at times she may come off as overly protective, it's understandable given the circumstances. Surprisingly, I expected Sarah and Greyson's relationship to develop hastily, but it was depicted in a genuinely sweet manner, which I found quite endearing. Additionally, Sarah's character is meticulously described, adding depth to the narrative. Also, the author included a donut recipe and I'm sure I will try it someday.
August 11, 2016
This book was recommended by a friend and I enjoyed reading it, even if I’m not a fan of first person narrative (heroine’s POV); in this case, it was handled well. Some readers may be annoyed by the romance’s slow pace but for me it was perfect. The heroine is a recent widower and still has feelings and misses her late husband; at the same time, she’s attracted to the kind and handsome private investigator. This conflict was well done. I would like the hero’s character to be more developed, but since the romance emerges late in the book that’s acceptable.
July 6, 2019
Give us more.
I really liked the book. But, it could have been so much more. I liked the story, and I liked the characters. It was very well written. But to me it seemed like it skipped whole areas that could have taken the story even farther. Don't hold back, Greenway, give us more. ;)
I really liked the book. But, it could have been so much more. I liked the story, and I liked the characters. It was very well written. But to me it seemed like it skipped whole areas that could have taken the story even farther. Don't hold back, Greenway, give us more. ;)
September 20, 2024
I honestly didn't read any reviews on this book and wished I had. For the most part, this was a really good read. I just wasn't ready for the story of a widow and her trying to track down what actually happened to her husband. Along with her raising her son, taking on a roommate, and the drama with the roommate. You definitely want to be mentally prepared to read this one.
May 13, 2020
.
A great read. The characters were believable and a nice strain of mystery that was unpredictable. Looking forward to the next one by this author. The Pacific Northwest is always a good backdrop
A great read. The characters were believable and a nice strain of mystery that was unpredictable. Looking forward to the next one by this author. The Pacific Northwest is always a good backdrop
May 18, 2016
Sarah Starting Over
1stly this is my 1st time reading a book by this author & it definitely won't be my last
I love a good suspense novel & I love it even more when a bit of romance is chucked into the mix. I loved the main characters. I loved putting the clues together. I loved everything about this book. Why don't you try it for yourself. A definite 5 star read.
Was Sarah’s husband’s death murder or suicide? She searches for answers while raising her young son alone in the sleepy seaside town of Siletz Bay.
To make ends meet, she's working in a donut shop where she encounters Greyson. He's a hot, black P.I. with a prosthetic leg. He offers to help Sarah unravel the mystery of what really happened to her husband.
Their friendship provides answers and hope for two people who’ve survived great loss.
1stly this is my 1st time reading a book by this author & it definitely won't be my last
I love a good suspense novel & I love it even more when a bit of romance is chucked into the mix. I loved the main characters. I loved putting the clues together. I loved everything about this book. Why don't you try it for yourself. A definite 5 star read.
Was Sarah’s husband’s death murder or suicide? She searches for answers while raising her young son alone in the sleepy seaside town of Siletz Bay.
To make ends meet, she's working in a donut shop where she encounters Greyson. He's a hot, black P.I. with a prosthetic leg. He offers to help Sarah unravel the mystery of what really happened to her husband.
Their friendship provides answers and hope for two people who’ve survived great loss.
May 28, 2016
A great read! It is a novella, so it doesn't go into too much details on anything, but I think the details provided were pretty close to the perfect amount. I was completely satisfied with the conclusion of both the mystery and the romance portions of the story. I also think it was really cute that the author included a recipe for the pumpkin donuts the characters loved so much, and that she mentioned her other novel in this one.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews