Susan Kietzman

4.5 stars.

It Started in June by Susan Kietzman is an engaging (but sometimes frustrating) novel about a surprise relationship and an even more unexpected decision about an unintended pregnancy.

Grace Trumbull is a forty-two year old vice president at a media company, divorced and childless by choice. She and thirty-year old Bradley Hanover are assigned to work together and a night of drinking leads to a very steamy encounter in the backseat of her vintage car. They decide to continue seeing one another outside of work and their fledgling relationship is rocked when Grace discovers she is pregnant. Even more shocking is her decision to have the baby but she leaves it is up to Bradley to decide what role, if any, he will have in his baby's life. Grace is surprised by his decision to stand by her and be an active participant in raising their child, but will their relationship survive such an inauspicious beginning?

Grace's childhood was sadly lacking in love, encouragement or support yet she has managed to make a good life for herself. She is extremely intelligent and dedicated to her job but in her personal life, she closely guards her heart. Her difficult upbringing is the main reason Grace does not want children and in fact, her lack of desire for kids lead to her divorce years earlier. However, she quickly discovers that a decision in the abstract is very different than when facing in reality. No one is more shocked than Grace when she decides to have the baby, but is she making this decision for the right reasons?

Bradley is a fun-loving man who is quickly moving up the career ladder. He is done with indiscriminate dating and one of the things he enjoys most about Grace is her lack of pretense and her confidence. Bradley is happy with their burgeoning relationship but he is definitely thrown by the pregnancy. His kneejerk reaction is to walk away, but he ultimately decides to stand by Grace and their unborn child. Unfortunately, Bradley is immature and he does not exactly handle his new reality with the same aplomb as Grace. He makes some very stupid decisions that could ultimately destroy what he is building with his new family.

The secondary cast of characters includes Bradley's parents, Dorrie and Bruce, Grace's best friend Shannon Greene and Bradley's close friend, Kevin Bell. Their collective reaction to Grace's pregnancy is the pretty much the same and their lack of support is appalling. Not one single person is happy about the impending birth and they actively try to dissuade the couple from going through with their plans. It is impossible not to feel a great deal of empathy for Grace as she endures such negativity from the people whom she should have been able to count on for encouragement and help. This part of the storyline is a disappointment due to the continued lack of respect for Grace and Bradley's decision.

Despite a few minor irritations and a bit of predictability where Bradley is concerned, It Started in June is a captivating novel. Grace is a wonderful lead protagonist who undergoes realistic growth as she embraces motherhood and attempts to reconcile with her estranged mother. Bradley has some very charming qualities but he definitely needs to grow up. Grace and Bradley's future together hangs in the balance as Susan Kietzman brings the novel to a nail biting conclusion. Fans of contemporary women's fiction are sure to enjoy this heartwarming novel.… (plus d'informations)

The Good Life is a poignant and sometimes heartrending novel about the complexities of family relationships. It is a thought-provoking story about finding out what is truly important in life and how we sometimes lose the best parts of ourselves in our attempts to get ahead. Susan Kietzman also provides an in-depth and insightful look into the devastating impact that Parkinson’s disease and dementia have on those afflicted with these life-altering diseases and their loved ones. Please click HERE to my review in its entirety.… (plus d'informations)

It Started in June by Susan Kietzman
Starts out with Grace and she's now divorced, 42 and just wants to concentrate on her new position that Paul had given her a new position with the company, a senior VP.
She is used to hard work and gets it done right the first time.
Also follows Bradley who has found Grace on the social media sites so he knows she's single. He will be under her command as they work on the latest assignment, the maritime museum campaign.
At drinks after working late she relaxes and smiles to the things he's saying and they end up in the back seat of a car later.... the boss doesn't condone office romance nor does Grace....
She confides in her girl friend ...she's his supervisor and the condom had broken...
We also learn of her birth and her mothers dating in high school...
Grace knows she has to mend fences with her mother and with the soon to be mother in law she discussed the choices.
Bradley discusses the plans with his parents and they feel they should have a say into what happens and they are both doctors: a pediatrician and a phycharist.
I feel he's 30 he should be able to make up his own mind about the situation.
They combine households as it'll be easier to take care of the baby together and give it a rial run before the event.
Tiring parents and one makes a slight error and they part and you wonder if they will repair the damage done...
Received this review copy from Kensington Books via Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
#ItStartedInJune #NetGalley… (plus d'informations)

I'm not usually into books like "The Good Life". I'm really into fantasy & alternate history. Well, I wasn't overly enthused to begin the book, but once I did, I was caught. I immediately see how the characters live... filthy rich, anything they want anytime they want it. Teens get to do what they want and parents live their lives. The mom is the central character... I didn't like her one bit. Over-exercised, drinks too much, ignores her kids, barely has sex with her husband while thinking about what she'll wear to the next big thing. She's caught up in frivolous things and too busy for anything else. At first, I thought she was the total opposit of me, but as I read more, I could see some parallels in my life. Getting caught up in things that aren't bad, but not the best choice; something I've been thinking of and actively working on the past few months. Then comes her parents... both 72 and her father has Parkinsons & dimentia. They really don't affect her nonsense life, but she feels like they do. She tries to escape them any chance she gets & drinks too much. Her parents actually for bonds with her son & daughter. I loved the story. It's been a long time since I've read this kind of book. It was a pleasure to read and I will definitely reread it.… (plus d'informations)