Starting Point

Turning Point Series, Book 3

By: N.R. Walker

Narrated by: Sean Crisden

Book Three in the Turning Point Series

After going past the point of no return and finally reaching breaking point, the only thing Matthew Elliott can do now is start over.

Matthew Elliott is a recovering man. As an ex-cop and ex-fighter, his new job teaching kids at the local community gym about drug awareness and self-defense, is a little bit of both. His new focus on helping street kids is helping him heal, and with Kira by his side, he's making strides.

Brother and sister, Rueben and Claudia, are homeless kids and they're very much alone. As they strike a chord with Matt, he does everything in his power to help them. But when Ruby and Claude need more help than he bargained for, it stops being about work, and starts being about home.

The day he met Kira, Matt's life changed direction, and it's only now he realizes that everything he's been through was a lead up to this. It was never about endings. His life, his purpose, was just beginning.

©2014 NR Walker (P)2018 NR Walker

Excellent conclusion to a great series.

The pace of this book runs a little slower in comparison to books 1 and 2 in the series, but I think it's reflective of the state of Matt's life on the road to his HEA. Not looking too heavily at issues that in reality would be more difficult to conclude than portrayed, from a pure entertainment perspective, Starting Point rounds out the Turning Point Series quite nicely.

Sean Crisden does a great job of bringing the cast of characters to life, it was well worth a credit and the series is one I will be happy to listen to again.

Amazing ending!

This book is all about the feelz. This is the third in the series and it absolutely cements the growth of Matt as a person and Kira and Matt as a couple/family.

Like all good books/series it’s hard to see it end, but NR Walker did a wonderful job with this and this, like the others is fabulous.

Sean Crisden absolutely ROCKS this and delivers on all the poignant emotion that reverberates throughout.

Highly recommended.

5 of 5 stars

A perfect ending to the series!

I received a free copy of this audiobook to listen to and review for Wicked Reads.

Now THIS is the almost perfect ending to the Turning Point series. I say almost perfect simply because I’d love to see more of the story past the epilogue, but it certainly lived up to its title of Starting Point because it finally closes the book on a big part of Matt’s past while setting him and Kira up for the rest of their life together. Fair warning, this installment pulled on my heartstrings quite a bit and I found myself shedding tears more than once, but I also found myself laughing at twice as many scenes. But don’t worry, there’s still plenty of heart pounding action as well.

For as much as much as Matt drove me bonkers in Breaking Point, it made the progress in his healing – both physical and mental – even more apparent. I loved that Matt was so committed in getting better and sticking with his counseling, especially when he felt as though his therapist was judging him. Matt still got stuck in his head and second-guessed himself a lot, but his self-awareness grew over the course of the novel, thus enabling him to see when he began to fall into his old patterns of negative thinking and he could redirect himself to break that cycle. His desire to get better, to vanquish his inner demons so he could have a long, happy, and healthy life with Kira was admirable. Just as admirable was his desire to do what he could to help Ruby and Claude. Even though he’s the only one who cannot see it, Matt’s work at the center fulfilled him in a way that being a cop didn’t – it gave him a chance to make a difference one kid at a time. Matt has learned the hard way that he cannot save the world, but he knows he can still save lives by making a difference in the lives of the kids’ who show up at the fight club. While I could have done without how realistically life treats kids like Ruby and Claude, it kept me glued to my Echo Dot as I prepared for the worst to happen, hoped the best would happen first, and waited on bated breath as the story played out in both heartwarming and heartbreaking ways. Walker excels at keeping me on tenterhooks.

I must say that as impressed as I was with Sean Crisden’s narration in the first two books, he blew me away with Starting Point. Matt is still dealing with a lot of guilt he’s taken on from Point of No Return and Breaking Point, and it’s so clear to hear it in his voice, as is his determination to get better. Even more striking is how the narrator strikes a balance between Matt’s feelings of powerlessness and acceptance when the vertigo hits him hard. Matt knows there’s nothing he can do about the vertigo, but he doesn’t have to like it either. What really surprised me though, is that the author shifts the point of view from Matt, who’s been our narrator for all three books, to Kira. I was not expecting the shift in perspectives, and not only was it invaluable to the series, but Crisden made the change so seamless that it took me a few seconds to realize what had happened. This isn’t because the voices used were similar but rather because as the other main character, Kira has been front and center throughout the series, so I didn’t initially recognize that we were in his head and not listening to him speak. And I loved that we got part of the story from Kira’s perspective because it signaled that it was no longer just Matt’s journey (it hadn’t been for a while) and it gave series fans a chance to see Matt through the eyes of someone who loves him because Crisden made sure that was in Kira’s voice, the love he has for Matt and how important Matt is to him. Walker and Crisden did a fabulous job on Starting Point, making it a perfect ending to the series and beautiful beginning for these two men.

Love this series

As is the case with most NR Walker series, I couldn’t stop this series once I started so I listened to all 3 of these right in a row (and I was really mad when folks interrupted my listening).

Thankfully, Mr. Crisden is back for the vocal performance. As much as I love Ms. Walker’s writing and storytelling, I honestly can say this series wouldn’t be the same without his performance. He absolutely brings these characters and this story to life.

This book picks up where book 2 left off and therefore isn’t a standalone. There is (thankfully) some much needing healing for these guys in this book and while there is some sadness and a little bit of drama, this story is much easier and happier to read.

This is absolutely another must read/listen to series from Ms. Walker.

Enjoyed this series.

I wasn’t sure about a story that three books long. This has been a good story. I found it interesting that the first two books didn’t really end as a cliff hangers. They just kind of ended it was up to you if you wanted to listen to the next story. Matt life has been up and down his whole life. Closet as a police officer and then he met Kira. They fell hard for each other. Lots of drama. First book Matt was dealing with a harden criminal who puts Kari life in danger. Second book Matt is doing an under cover job while training for an MMA fighting. He almost get taken out in the ring. This third book Matt has quit the police department. Becoming the manager of the fighting place that he took down. He taking on kids who need help. He ends up taking in two kids to try to help. Trying to keep a distance but help them. Kira is the one who ends up bring them home. Lots of drama. Sad story but these two fight for their happiness.