3.8 Stars
One Liner: Sweet and cute

Connie Llewelyn was a successful and ambitious but unhappy Michelin-star chef in London. A random restless drive took her to Starshine Cove and changed her life forever.
Twenty-five years later, Connie is warm, loving, and the go-to person in the magical town. However, she is trying hard to stay positive after her husband’s death five years ago and her children leaving home for studies.
A face from the past enters her life unexpectedly and soon steps into her world in the town. Connie is torn about meeting Zack again but can’t deny the attraction. Will she get a second chance at love?
The story comes in Connie’s first-person POV in the present tense.

My Thoughts:
The FMC has played a moderate to crucial role in all the previous books. Now, it’s her turn to find some love.
As the fourth book in the series, this can work as a standalone but will have spoilers for the couples from previous books. Reading at least one of those will give you a better idea of Connie’s character.
The book starts in the past, providing us a quick rundown of Connie’s past and how she arrived at Starshine Cove. This gives a comparison between her past and present and shows how she has changed (but retained some of her core traits).
Set in spring, we get some lovely descriptions of the town’s beauty in the season. As always, the community vibe is strong with people supporting and helping each other.
The teens and new adults are quirky, silly, fun, and loveable. They add much lightness to the plot and are adorable even when annoying their elders.
Being a small book (250+ pages), the story moves fast. This is still okay as the couple has a teeny history and spends some time together as friends in the present.
I like the discussions about mourning spouses, moving on, putting children first, and the changes that happen over time. Also, things are kept a bit realistic about age-related aspects (menopause, weak bladder, body pains, etc.).
There’s some angst and lack of communication but I like how it’s dealt with. The FMC’s arc pulls it off, and the reveal presents another dilemma. It’s age-appropriate for them (or so I felt). There’s a happy ending, of course.

To summarize, Starting Over in Starshine Cove is a heartwarming story about finding love again and being hopeful about the uncertain future.
Thank you, NetGalley and Storm Publishing, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

I loved going back to Starshine Cove! As the other books in the series, this is a heartfelt, uplifting read that beautifully captures the magic of second chances. The story weaves together themes of love, loss, and new beginnings in the charming seaside setting of Starshine Cove and now it's time for Connie's story. She's the town's lovely cafè owner and she's a friendly shoulder for everyone to rely on, but will she be able to put herself first and give love a second chance?

The characters felt incredibly real—flawed yet lovable—and their journeys were both relatable and inspiring. I especially loved how the author brought the community to life, with its quirky, warm-hearted residents who made the story even more engaging.

This book left me with a smile on my face and hope in my heart. It's the perfect cozy read for anyone looking for a little escapism and a reminder that it’s never too late to start over.

10/10 recommend!

Starshine Cove books are always a hit with me and this one is no exception. A regular story of everyday life in this magical location. Filled with romance, tales of day to day living and includes characters you will have met before in the series, I’m sure you will find the book equally enjoyable if you’re new to the series. I’m hopeful there will be more Starshine Cove stories to come.

It's always good to be back in Starshine Cove! This book fid not disappoint! Can 2 people with broken hearts find their way to each other or will there be too many obstacles?
As always, the quirky cast of characters in Starshine Cove do not disappoint!

This series has an almost magical quality. People come across Starshine Cove when they most need it and never want to leave. However they don't all live charmed lives and many of the residents have experienced tragedy. None more so than café owner Connie. She lost her beloved husband in a freak accident but having three grieving teenagers to look after she had to push her own sorrow to one side and carry on. Now that her kids are grown, her friends are encouraging her to start to think about finding someone new but first she has to deal with that grief that she had to suppress. Only then can she move on. With someone like Zack maybe. A really lovely read but keep the tissues close by.

There is nothing to not like about this wonderful series of books, amazing characters and beautiful well written stories. Such a feel good factor in every one. I recommend you read the whole series. Connie's story was always going to be tough as we already know part of it from the other books, brilliant to round her story in this special way. Thank you netgalley for the advance copy

Book 4 out of 4 based in Starshine Cove from Debbie Johnson can be read as a stand alone or in sequence.
This tale is based on the larger than life character Connie who runs the cafe in Starshine Cove. She has been featured in all the books so is familiar and relatable. We find out more of her back story and her life before living in Dorset, being married and a mum to 3 children who are all spreading their wings off to University and College, the eldest settling in a job in Jersey.
This is warm comforting reading at its best, easy to read and relate too with just enough things going on to keep you hooked in to the last page of pure joy.
A wonderful world of escapism to the idyllic seaside village of Starshine with a plethora of brilliant characters and conundrums.
A joy to read!! Hugely appreciated and recommended for some light through these dark winter days!
Thank you NetGalley and Storm publishing for the early read.

I am such a huge fan of this series by Debbie Johnson and I was over the moon to be able to read an advanced copy of the latest book. This one, just like the others can be read as a stand alone, but I'd heartily recommend reading the previous books..We get a little catch up with some of the fabulous characters that we have met before, but this story is mainly about Connie. I absolutely loved learning about her life before she ended up at Starshine Cove, a magical place that nobody seems to want to leave I felt I could relate a lot with Connie & lots of aspects of her life and I'm sure lots of ladies of a certain age will too. As with other books by this author, she never shies away from tricky or difficult topics, but always writes with knowledge, depth & warmth. This is a must read in my opinion.

I love the Starshine Cove series - they are easy reads but have fairly serious topics as underlying themes. I would recommend this series to anyone but would suggest that you read the others in order otherwise the back stories of the characters won't make sense.

This one is Connie's story. I have to say the opening of the book is not an inclination of how the rest of the book is. It starts with a car crash and how she meets her love..,. the rest of the book is about how she finds new love... but not in the way that you expect!

Connie is lonely since the passing of her husband in a car crash, but lonely at the same time as having lots of friends, but lonely as her children are leaving the nest and finding their own way.

One of her children is working in the catering industry, and Connie has her and her best friend, Marcy, to help her work in the cafe that she owns and runs.. In the process, she is brought back in touch with her past, Zack, one of her employers that she left behind before the car crash,. This brings back her past, and in the same vein, brings into Connie's life, memories and feelings she had forgotten (or put to bed), and goes into a different direction to what she expects.

This is a lovely read, shows that it's never too late to start afresh, and that home is where your friends and family are.

I was hooked from the first page and had enjoyed the previous three books in the Starshine Cove series. It was everything that I was looking for in the romantic-comedy element that I was looking for and that the characters were written perfectly. Debbie Johnson has a strong writing style and hope there is more in this series.

A series is my favourite way to read books and this one is no different! I love my returns to Starshine Cove and it's madcap residents. This one focuses on Connie who runs the local cafe and a blast from her past. She has been widowed for the past five years and thrown her all into bringing up her children, Is a romance maybe on the cards? This book is uplifting and comedic, a definite recommendation.

4* An enjoyable later in life romance

The dramatic first chapter explains how Connie Llewelyn arrived in Starshine Cove and met her future husband.

Jump forward twenty five years to the present day, Connie is now a widow and her three children have left home. Once a successful Michelin chef, Connie now happily runs the beach cafe in Starshine Cove. With an ironic sense of humour, she doesn't take herself too seriously, offering plenty of light moments in the book.

Connie's comfortable existence is shaken after she meets a man from her hedonistic past when she was a celebrity chef in London. Zack offered her a part in his reality TV show. Verging on a breakdown, Connie runs away, or rather drives away, and ends up crashing her car into a ditch in Dorset.

Effortless reading with a satisfactory end. The seaside village of Starshine Cove sounds an ideal place to live, shame that it's imaginary.

With thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Although Starting Over in Starshine Cove by Debbie Johnson CAN be read as a standalone, reading the previous series books makes for a better read. Characters that are developed in previous books (listed below) make reappearances in this novel. Character development is a strength for Johnson as her characters pulled me into their lives. I felt as though I lived next door to them.

Starting Over in Starshine Cove brings about a second chance between Connie and Zach twenty-five years after last seeing one another. Their lives had gone in separate directions and suddenly brought them back together. Both had lost their spouses, but could they find love a second time around? Or, would they just be good friends?

Releases Feb 19th. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Escape to Starshine Cove (2023)
Secrets of Starshine Cove (2023)
Finding Hope in Starshine Cove (2024)

Connie Llewelyn left the hustle and bustle of London to find herself. She ended up in Starshine Cove.. Here she fell in love with Simon started a family runs her café and has never been happier. That is until tragedy hits. She knife only loses Simon. She is suffering from an empty nest. Her children have moved on to their lives and Connie is left with emptiness.
Enter Zack a name from her past life , only his daughter is best friends with Connie’s daughter. Will she be able to have Zach in her life again? Can it be more than friendship? Connie is letting her guard down and it seems the same for Zach until a so called wrench is thrown into the mix. One Connie didn’t see coming. Will she just throw in the towel and go back to her personal slump?
This is a light hearted read with a beautiful background Starshine Cove. Where everyone knows you and is there to help. A love story that started with Connie and her beloved Simon. Yet it could end differently for Connie now if she finally listens to her wise friend Ella and also trust herself to be happy again. To embrace the time she has with the people she loves.
I truly enjoyed the story the character of Connie a strong loving woman. The town sounds like a place I’d want to visit. I’d like to se what the future holds for Connie and her family and friends. So thank you NetGalley and Storm for the ARC. A beautiful story that I hope Ms. Johnson continues. 4

Is there love after loss and menopause?

While many romance novels seem to focus on the thirty-somethings, this one targets those of us that are in a bit more of a prime stage of our life when children are leaving the nest, hormones are attacking us in new ways, and we find ourselves questioning who we are as fifty-something year old person. While reading, I found myself highlighting sections of the book that resonated with me while laughing at the plight of Connie who has been pushed back into the dating pool by her daughter who has set up a dating profile on an app. All while a blast from Connie's past resurfacing and driving her to her dates. The awkwardness of it had me laughing while my heart had me hopeful for Connie to open up to the one person that she was meant to reconnect with.

This was a delightful book about second chances and being willing to risk potential hurt to find love again.

I received a free copy of, Starting Over in Starshine Cove, by Debbie Johnson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Connie Llewelyn is as dependable as they come, she owns a business in her town, has been alone since her husband died 5 years ago, and her kids are all grown up. Connie needs a change, and this is the perfect time for it. This was a lighthearted read, I enjoyed it.

connie is the heart of starshine cove, everyone's friend. she lost her husband several years ago and a face from the past returns. will she find happiness again?

"Starting Over in Starshine Cove" by Debbie Johnson is a heartwarming and uplifting story set in a beautiful seaside village. It's a must-have for your summer reading list, making it the perfect beach read. The story was unexpectedly emotional, bringing me to tears at times. This book was a wonderfully surprising 5-star read.
A big thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for providing an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.
#StartingOverinStarshineCove #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this visit to Starshine Cove, but not as much as the previous ones; I’m not really sure why, maybe because I love the hustle and bustle of the village and the descriptions that allow me to imagine I’m in far flung Dorset. I really liked the fact that we found out Connie’s background as it’s been hinted at previously and left me wondering. This would make a good standalone book, so don’t worry if you haven’t read the others in the series.

Lovely return to star shine cove. This is a great older romance featuring two widowed characters (which makes a change from horribly divorced) who both have lost the love of their lives. Guilt and other issues ensure the path to love died t run smooth but gives all of us hope for the future. I loved Connie and it was great to get a peek into the past to see what lead her to Starshine Coce in the first place. Loved it.