Fresh Start (Chicago #0) by Nicole Pyland
- Publisher: Pyland Publishing LLC, 2017
- Genre: Romance, LGBTQ+, Mystery
- Format: Ebook
- Page Count: 485 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)
Alyssa Masters had sat in prison for two years for a double-homicide she did not commit. The news of her case is all over the country. So even though she is now a free woman without criminal records, it is very hard to live a normal life. Then Hannah Granger shows up for rental viewings at Alyssa’s workplace without knowing who Alyssa is. Hannah is relocating after traveling for three years and just losing her mother. Will their friendly encounter develop into something deeper with Alyssa’s past hanging overhead?
Please note that there are uses of ableist language in the book.
This was my first Pyland book and is definitely not going to be my last! I love the plot and the characters. But the editing and parts of the writing? Not so much.
Pyland captured Alyssa’s pain vividly. As readers, we constantly feel her fear of strangers harassing her, and her struggles of letting Hannah in are very understandable. Though Alyssa and Hannah’s connection was instant, it did not feel like instalove to me. Both characters took the time, albeit just a few days, to get a little more physical. Hannah is incredibly understanding and empathetic, and hers and Alyssa’s love for each other radiates off the page. Their relationship is so intense and loving and mutually supportive that I cannot help but root for them. And their physical intimacy and commitments did not feel too fast for me, a slow-burn romance lover. This reads like slow-burn even though the time span of the book is probably a couple weeks, sans the prologue and epilogue. I also love how they are both making progress in their careers. Most books focus on personality growth, but Fresh Start, as the name implied, focuses more on life growth, including career advancements. Yeah, I love strong women with great career goals.
Being in prison for two years for a crime Alyssa did not commit while the person who murdered her loved ones is on the loose is beyond horrible. In addition to the romance, the mystery of arresting the actual murderer is also a main storyline. The romance and intrigue complement each other very well, and I love all the supporting characters along the way. While this book is mostly set in California, I cannot wait for the series to take place in Chicago. I personally love Chi-Town, which is probably the city I have spent the most time in other than my hometown. Since I cannot travel during the pandemic, I would love to visit it through the series.
I totally recommend Fresh Start as long as you can look past the multiple editing problems. It is a book that makes your heart break for Alyssa and melt for the complete trust between her and Hannah. [29 Jun 2020]
