Starting Now

A Blossom Street Novel

By: Debbie Macomber

Narrated by: Abby Craden

Length: 11 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

New York Times best-selling author Debbie Macomber returns to Seattle’s beloved Blossom Street in this heartfelt tale of friendship, renewal, and discovering what’s truly important in life.

For years Libby Morgan dreamed only of making partner in her competitive, high-pressure law firm. She sacrificed everything for her career - her friends, her marriage, her chance at creating a family. When her boss calls Libby into his office, she assumes it will finally be good news, but nothing can prepare her for the shocking reality: She’s been let go and must rebuild her entire life…starting now.

With no job prospects in sight, Libby reaches out to old friends and spends her afternoons at A Good Yarn, the local knitting store. There she forms a close bond with Lydia, the sweet-natured shop owner; Lydia’s spirited teenage daughter, Casey; and Casey’s best friend, Ava, a shy yet troubled girl who will shape Libby’s future in surprising and profound ways.

As A Good Yarn becomes a second home - and the women a new kind of family - Libby relishes the different person she’s become. She even finds time for romance with a charming and handsome doctor who seems to be her perfect match. But just as everything is coming together, Libby must make a choice that could forever change the life she holds so dear.

Warmly told and richly textured, Starting Now is filled with the promise of new beginnings and the unending delights of companionship and love.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2013 Debbie Macomber (P)2013 Random House Audio

Worth the listen

As in previous reviews I found the narrator's voice to be different than expected. As the story developed I grew to like the voice as I think it fit the character of Libby.

Great book! Adjust speed for best results!

A great book! I really enjoyed it. The narrator us fine but reads a little slow. I adjusted the speed to 1.5 and it made all the difference! Overall, a wonderful listening experience!!!!

Story Hit Home

Not my favorite story line because it hit home a little too hard. However, it was a book I needed to hear.

Review of audible book "Starting Now"

I enjoyed the storyline. The narration was very good. The narrator felt to me like how the character would sound. This is not a story where lots of voices are done but the different characters in this book had different tones & were distinguishable. Debbie Macomber's books are always a pleasure to read or listen to. They are realistic in the topics & problems that are presented. The characters seem like real people. Mistakes get made, problems are presented but through it all Debbie Macomber weaves a story of disappointments, of hope & in this story things do work out, maybe just not the way you thought they would. I enjoyed it!

Narrator was destroyed the story!

Where does Starting Now rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was very disappointing as Debbie Macomber's books are always enjoyable. I believe the narrator destroyed the story.

What did you like best about this story?

The story line was good.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

Yes! The only character she did well was the raunchy grandmother. There was little expression in her tone. At first I thought my iPod was dying on me...but it was the narrator.

An incredible journey

This book was an incredible journey of self discovery for the main character it was absolutely amazing. Once again Debbie has proven how real and human she can make her characters. She makes it easy to identify with them.

Great,

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I look forward to the next book in the series. This series has seem to bring to life a lot of real life stories. 

Love!Love!!Love!!!

These Blossom Street stories make you feel like you could move to this city and walk into
each store and feel at home. Every time she introduces a new character, her description is
so complete that it's just a new friend, you haven't met yet.
I have read every bock she has written!
The Blossom St. Stories and the Angel Books are my favorites.

Good feeling

Story was great, characters good. Loved the book, didn't care too much for the narrator.

Story Great / Narration Horrible

First, I want to say that I am a HUGE DM fan. She is my favorite author, not just ONE of my favorites!!! She develops believable characters. Over the past two or three years I primarily "read" my books via audible books.
Unfortunately, Random House Audio has done DM an extreme disservice by choosing the narrator, Abby Craden, for "Starting Now". Up to this point, all of the books to which I've listened, the narrator has complemented DM's work. This time, however, I feel like the narrator is dragging, making Libby sound like a whining doofus. The other characters are irritating and grating, too.
I may need to give up on the audio book and actually sit down and use my eyes!