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Somewhere to Begin: A Slow Burn Romance Kindle Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 284 ratings

A runaway bride. A broken warrior.

Dutiful. Subservient. Perfect. Colbie Bennington has been trained from a young age to be obedient.
But walking down the aisle with purple welts on her forearm was never a part of her dream wedding.

Away from the chaos of her life, she’s looking for a fresh start.
Her quiet and mysterious landlord isn’t part of the plan.
But his hard-muscled body and smoldering smiles are difficult to ignore.

Too trapped in a mental war to be at peace and too damaged to be at war, romance is the last thing on Navy Seal, Zander Serrano’s mind.
Colbie is a wounded bird.
Everything he should stay away from.
Yet, for the first time since returning from war, he feels emotion, hot all-consuming.

Two broken souls.
Each with their own scars.
The attraction is undeniable. Unexpected.

Will they heal each other?
Or destroy themselves beyond repair?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Mika Jolie is the bestselling author of the Martha s Way series. She lives in New Jersey with her Happy Chaos her husband and their energizer bunnies. A sports fanatic and a wine aficionado, she s determined to balance it all and still write about life experiences and matters of the heart. Let s face it, people are complicated and love can be messy. When she s not weaving life and romance into evocative tales, you can find her on a hiking adventure, apple picking, or whatever her three men can conjure up. She loves to hear from readers. Connect with Mika on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Amazon. Facebook.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01LK0VKI4
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (September 20, 2016)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 20, 2016
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1849 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 307 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1537496522
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 284 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Mika Jolie
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Mika Jolie lives in New Jersey with her Happy Chaos—her husband and their energizer bunnies. She’s a lover of words, wonder, an old-fashioned, and the whimsical delights of everyday living. When she’s not writing swoon-worthy, sexy relatable romance, you can find her on a hiking adventure, beachin’ it at the Jersey shore, apple, blueberry picking, or whatever her three men can conjure up.

She loves to hear from readers. Connect with Mika on BookBub, her reader group Mika Jolie’s Wildflowers, Facebook, Amazon, Instagram, Goodreads, and BookandMainBites

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/mika-jolie

Mika Jolie’s Wildflowers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/351318178614350/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mikajolie.author/?ref=hl

Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/mikajolie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mika_jolie/

Bookandmainbites: https://bookandmainbites.com/users/2800

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8294433.Mika_Jolie

Books by Mika Jolie

Martha's Way Series

The Scale - Book One

Need You Now - Book Two

Tattooed Hearts - Book Three

Wrapped in Red - Book Four

Poison & Wine Series

Somewhere to Begin

Platonically Complicated Series

The Boy Friend

Explicitly Yours

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
284 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book an enjoyable read with a sweet romance. They enjoy the engaging love story between Zander and Colbie. The characters are likeable and the story is heartwarming.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

10 customers mention "Readability"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it an enjoyable read and say it's worth their time and money.

"...I took 1 star off because though enjoyable, it’s not one of the few books I’d reread. That shouldn’t take away from the great job Ms Jolie did." Read more

"...This book was pure heart and soul and I commend Mika Jolie on another great book...." Read more

"...Excellent read. Well worth your time & money" Read more

"...So if you are a reader and listener this isnt for you.. the book is a great read just not with the audio linked" Read more

10 customers mention "Romance"10 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book. They find the characters likeable and the story engaging. The military aspect is also appreciated. Overall, readers describe the book as a fantastic series spin-off with a sweet love story that is not touchy-feely.

"I loved this story and am now a fan. The characters feel like real people and I was really invested in knowing what would happen to them...." Read more

"...Very realistic (from what I know in each), yet also an engaging love story. The “book club” questions at the end of the book are inspired...." Read more

"...is about two lost and broken souls who find healing and love in each other's hearts. What they can't do for themselves, they can do for another...." Read more

"...Really liked how the story flowed from how the met, fell in love, faced her KRAZY Ex-fiancé together...." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers like the characters.

"I loved this story and am now a fan. The characters feel like real people and I was really invested in knowing what would happen to them...." Read more

"Had to give this book 5 stars! Loved the main characters Colbie & Zander. Both loveable characters with scars inside and out...." Read more

"...The secondary characters were fun. And the side story about William was sweet." Read more

"I liked this book because the characters were so real with real problems. Relatable and well developed...." Read more

4 customers mention "Heartwarming"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming and soulful. They appreciate the compassion shown for each other and William, who is scarred both physically and emotionally. The story focuses on healing and helping each other grow.

"...Zander is a beautiful man. Scarred physically and emotionally. Colbie is his perfect match. Great romance" Read more

"...What they can't do for themselves, they can do for another. The compassion shown, not just for each other, but for William, the homeless veteran..." Read more

"...Broken in their own ways, they were able to heal themselves and help each other in the process...." Read more

"I love this book. It was all about healing. And that we all have scars. Some are on the surface while others are more hidden...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 15, 2024
    I loved this story and am now a fan. The characters feel like real people and I was really invested in knowing what would happen to them. Zander is a beautiful man. Scarred physically and emotionally. Colbie is his perfect match.
    Great romance
  • Reviewed in the United States on May 5, 2020
    This is not your normal touchy feely romance. It tackles the serious subjects of domestic abuse and the challenges of war veterans. It’s done in an absolutely superb manner. Very realistic (from what I know in each), yet also an engaging love story. The “book club” questions at the end of the book are inspired. I took 1 star off because though enjoyable, it’s not one of the few books I’d reread. That shouldn’t take away from the great job Ms Jolie did.
  • Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2019
    Colbie Bennington crashed into Zander Serrano's life, literally. Her in a wedding dress, running from a life she could no longer quietly tolerate. One she refused to commit herself to; permanent unhappiness and abuse. Zander caused the crash because he was blacked out; living an existence that only the truly depressed can understand, suffering from PTSD, flashbacks, night terrors, Survivor's Guilt and enormous pain from his injuries. He was only a shell of the man he was before he went to Afghanistan.

    This beautiful story is about two lost and broken souls who find healing and love in each other's hearts. What they can't do for themselves, they can do for another. The compassion shown, not just for each other, but for William, the homeless veteran whom Colbie befriends, is so heartwarming. My heart was touched so many times, as were the tears that slid down my cheeks, when I read what these two had endured. The slow burn between Colbie and Zander was so beautiful and like experiencing a flower blossom. The fragrance was as tangible as the picture as I read.

    This book was pure heart and soul and I commend Mika Jolie on another great book. She definitely hit this one out of the park and I hope this resonates with everyone about the plight of the Veterans. I am a Veteran and I am proud to have served my country but I am ashamed at how our country has served our Veterans. I have also survived domestic abuse. Thank you Ms. Jolie for a job well done.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2017
    Had to give this book 5 stars! Loved the main characters Colbie & Zander. Both loveable characters with scars inside and out. Really liked how the story flowed from how the met, fell in love, faced her KRAZY Ex-fiancé together. They weren't afraid to tell each other that they loved each other. Her parents were cold people but the author handled that well too. Really explained how they showed love differently. I didn't like it but I understood it.
    Have to say that one of my FAVORITE part of the book was getting to experience Zander's sister Lily & Adam again from Need You Now. That's my favorite Mika Jolie book!!! The comraderie with the fellas from Martha's Vineyard was so nice to see again.
    Excellent read. Well worth your time & money
    3 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2018
    The narration to the book is good but it is not linked to the text and there is multiple lines and narration missing from the book via the audio.. So if you are a reader and listener this isnt for you.. the book is a great read just not with the audio linked
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2016
    I enjoyed this story from beginning to end. Zander and Colbie were exactly what the other needed. Broken in their own ways, they were able to heal themselves and help each other in the process. Also with the help of family, friends and a puppy, they pulled themselves out of darkness. I wish Colbie had a better relationship with her family, but for them, it was as good as it gets. I'm hoping to get a Paige/Rafa story next, that seems like it might be intense.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2020
    This book was amazing. This was my first book by the author and I am ready to read all of her books! The book was exactly what I was looking for in regards to a broody marine and a sweet heroine. Both characters are bruised and battered when we meet them. They both have much to overcome before they can take the chance. Insert the perfect blend of pain in the ass family members and friends and you have the right recipe for a book. I highly recommend this and I am going to dive into her Martha's Way series.
    One person found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2016
    Zander, veteran brother of Lily of Need You Now in the Martha's Way series, is the middle Serrano brother we met in that series. He is coming to grips with being out of the military and living with the mental and physical consequences of war. He meets Colbie, literally by accident. She meets him the night she ran away from her wedding. These two broken individuals dance around each other and their issues until they discover that in the midst of all their dancing they have healed each other. This first installment of this series has set the stage for what appears to be a great series.
    3 people found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Angela Hayes
    5.0 out of 5 stars I truly loved every single page and didn’t want to put it ...
    Reviewed in Australia on November 14, 2016
    5 Stars

    Somewhere to Begin is the first book in the Poison and Wine Series- by the incredibly talented, Mika Jolie. I truly loved every single page and didn’t want to put it down for a second. I devoured it in a day and then turned around and read it all the way through for the second time. Ms. Jolie has written a superb book, which captured my heart and held my attention from the very beginning.
    Colbie Bennington has lived a life of privilege- an enviable life some may say. Only, she grew up with emotionally distant parents who were more interested in keeping up appearances, than in showing any affection. They are very strict, have incredibly high expectations and are very judgemental. So from an early age Colbie learned to be the perfect daughter, always doing what was expected of her, no questions asked.
    Her engagement to Kevin was again doing what was expected of her- uniting two incredibly wealthy, highly influential and powerful families. But there is more to their relationship than meets the eye.
    It’s the day of her wedding and she is meant to be saying ‘I do’ and ‘till death do us part’- but she really wants so much more for herself than living a lie with Kevin and keeping ‘dirty little secrets’. Colbie can’t keep up appearances any longer- instead, she does a ‘runaway bride’.
    While looking for somewhere to recoup while she decides what to do next, she is involved in a car accident. She wakes up in hospital with a vague recollection of being rescued by the sexiest man she has ever encountered. And here he is sitting beside her hospital bed.
    Zander Serrano is an ex-Navy Seal, who has returned from war a broken man. His scars run deep, emotionally as well as physically. He has had a hard time adjusting to civilian life since returning home, and has shut out his family and friends in the process. He carries around a lot of baggage and found the only way he could cope was to shut down. So he really wasn’t prepared for the surge of emotions that bombarded him at the sight of Colbie, or his desire to be her hero.
    The intensity of their attraction leaves them both breathless. Can two broken souls help each other heal? What secrets are they keeping? What happens when the past comes back to haunt them? Will they face their fears and become stronger, or will their fledgling relationship be destroyed?
    Ms. Jolie is a consummate storyteller and has used her skills to masterfully weave a deep and meaningful story. It is multi-layered, bringing together numerous elements into a beautifully written book.
    The characters are completely developed and have fully realised and individual identities. They were absolutely believable and realistic.
    I loved the way Ms. Jolie wrote all the characters- even the ones we are meant to hate, because they add depth and tension to the whole story.
    Zander is swoon-worthy; an alpha male who is going through a process of adjustment after his experiences at war. He comes across as all rough and tough, but underneath all of that testosterone is a big softy- a protector and a real hero.
    I loved Colbie, she thinks she is weak and pathetic- but in actual fact, she is strong and brave. She is adorable; kind, caring, compassionate and a little quirky. I love the connection that she and Zander have! They really do complete each other.
    The bedroom scenes in this book are some of the most erotic I have ever read! Volcanically Hot- they had me salivating and squirming in my seat!
    The book contains disturbing descriptions of the war in Afghanistan- to give us more of an understanding of how and why Zander is the way he is. Ms. Jolie also touched on some other sensitive topics, but I thought she did so in a respectful and empowering manner.
    I found myself cheering for Colbie and Zander, on their journey towards healing, finding love and true happiness.
    I really recommend this book, it is well worth your time and money- you are going to absolutely LOVE it!
    What a fantastic story and superb start to the Poison and Wine series- I really can’t wait to read the next book! I am predicting that it will be a truly brilliant book!

    Thank-you Ms. Jolie!

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