Start With Me by Kara Isaac

Lacey O’Connor is finally a sure thing for the promotion she’s spent ten years working for. But when a scandal rocks her firm she finds herself on a collision course with the one person she has spent five years trying to forget. Only to discover he doesn’t even remember her…

Victor Carlisle has spent the last three years trying to convince his family he’s no longer the playboy alcoholic who tore their life apart. When a company merger is announced with a US sister firm, he’s presented with the perfect opportunity to prove he’s changed. Only to find himself falling for his competition and the one woman his family will never accept.

As the competition intensifies the choice looms between the professional and the personal. Can they find a way beyond their past decisions and present aspirations to take a chance on the one thing they’re not looking for?

Kara Isaac lives in Wellington, New Zealand. When she’s not chasing three hobbit-sized little people, she spends her time writing horribly bad first drafts and wishing you could get Double Stuf Oreos in New Zealand. She is the author of the RITA Award-winning Then There Was You, along with four other contemporary romances. She loves to connect with readers on GoodReads, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and through her website.

‘Living life only for himself had turned him into someone he didn’t like and hurt everyone he loved.’

It’s been a while since we’ve had a new Kara Isaac book to read and it felt SO good to bury myself in one again! I remember when I read her first book and realized I wanted to be a forever fan. My opinion has only solidified further with each book she writes.

‘How much stupid did she have to deal with before the sun had even gotten above the trees?’

Lacey O’Connor is banking on the promotion she’s spent a decade striving for when the company goes through some huge changes. Then she walks in her office and sees the one man she has never forgotten on her office sofa. He made a big impression on her five years ago; now he has no memory of her at all. Talk about hurt. Victor Carlisle isn’t trying to be forgetful, but he’s spend most of his life as a playboy alcoholic and has hurt nearly everyone he’s come in contact with. Now, with a company merger in the making, he finds himself in competition with Lacey for a promotion.

Of course, there’s much more at play here than this, but the way Isaac brings everything together is nothing short of absolute amazement. She delves into the emotions of these two people so deeply that I was stunned at their feelings. Truly. When I start reading one of her books, I just can barely bring myself to stop for necessary things. I stayed up well into the wee hours to finish this one and still the characters are deep in my heart.

Isaac probes well beneath the surface of all parts of these characters’ lives to bring to light things that have been hidden by each for their entire lives. Then they are there: laid out before them and waiting for a solution. I was completely captivated the entire time it took me to read this book. Seriously captivated. I was cheering for them, crying with them, and loving them, too. The spiritual aspect is quite good here: we see the wonderful mercies, grace and redemption of God. As well as His forgiveness. It brings to mind the verse that tells us all things work together for good to them that love the Lord. It doesn’t say there won’t be mountains to climb and many hurts to deal with. I loved this book so much. I already want another. Kara Isaac is a forever favorite of mine and always will be. And let me tell you this: the woman can write a pulse pounding, unforgettable ending! I have went back and reread her endings on previous books many times. I highly recommend this book.

*My thanks to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. The opinion stated in this review is expressly my own.