Synopsis:
A past that haunts can be laid to rest through the act of forgiveness, even if the person you forgive is yourself. It must be gifted freely. Abby Sullivan cherishes the life she is creating for herself in her hometown of Santa Barbara, California. She adores her best friend and supportive family. Her job as a kindergarten teacher offers her life hope and purpose. She is very talented at many things, especially hiding the pain of her past. That is until her world collides with Caleb Hunter’s, giving them both a lesson in forgiveness and love.
A life changing love is cruelly snatched by sickness and death. A person must be willing to give love, the greatest gift of all, to receive love. A successful writer, Caleb is living life day-to-day. Giving refuge to his sad and lonely heart since his wife’s sudden death from cervical cancer, his primary focus becomes honoring her memory by rearing their five-year-old daughter, Madison. Yet, when Madison Hunter walks into Miss Abby’s kindergarten class, everything changes for all three of them.
With a little nudge from a loving mother-in-law who has everyone’s best interest at heart, anything is possible, especially when forgiveness and love gift even more blessings than ever imaginable.
Goodreads link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16003591-it-all-started-with-a-lima-bean
My review
Once in a while, you come across a book that by all standards would appear to be just an ordinary, fluffy romance. Well this isn’t one of them. No you won’t read about hot sex, as a matter of fact the main couple waited till they were married. Wow that is a lost concept these days but so refreshing to see the angst and stress that alone caused. You won’t find immature characters living for the drama and demanding that each other prove their love. No, Abby and Caleb knew from the first look that they wanted each other and that trust and desire just grew from there.
Caleb became a single father to a baby girl after his wife Rene passed away. With a family that he couldn’t count on, with childhood memories spent with his parents that he could count on one hand, he dedicated his life to his daughter. With the help of Rene’s parents, who stepped in and became Caleb’s family, he focused his free time on his novel he was writing.
Abby, a Kindergarten teacher who had a past that was keeping her in one place, focused her time and life on her school kids and her best friend. With Abby’s mom remarrying and spending her retired time with her new husband, Abby was faced with an empty schedule, boring life and the longing for more. Her past refused to allow her to move on, how can she expect a happy life after what she had done as a frighten teenager.
One sweet little girl, who wanted a mommy, two lima bean plants and a host of caring friends and family members who were determined to become match makers paved the way for Abby and Caleb to explore if there was a chance for them to find happiness. The only thing stopping them, was Abby needed to forgive and let go of her past. Caleb, knowing what it is like to have to face past mistakes guided Abby to the point of freedom from her former self and choices.
This book, although not an intense and angst filled read was priceless. I am so glad I read this and saw the life lessons that we all need to learn. How forgiveness frees yourself, not the ones who hurt you. How one little girl with a pure heart can show adults how to share love of those she has in life. How watching the love of a father and daughter can heal the emptiness you feel inside because your father left you. This book is really about life and acceptance. Beautifully written, easy flow and consistency, it is just a beautiful book that all should read.
I was so happy to see that she is already in the process of writing the next book in this series about Abby’s best friend Leah and Caleb’s cousin. I was hoping that their story wouldn’t end at Abby and Caleb’s happy ever after. I am also still needing more of Madison’s innocent moments as the little pumpkin who helped bring her daddy and momma together.
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Character Casting Photos
Caleb, father of the year, boyfriend of the year and certainly he wins the Prince Charming award for eternity.
Abby Sullivan, the Kindergarten teacher who won Caleb’s heart and learn to forgive herself.
Stefen, cousin to Caleb and playboy of the century, just waiting for that one woman to come along to tame him.
Bri, Caleb’s cousin who is looking for love in all the wrong places. I hope the main character for a third book.
Leah, Abby’s best friend and the firecracker that just might be woman enough to tame the playboy………
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About the Author
Kimi lives in So Ca with her high school sweetheart, prom date, and now husband of over 20 years as well as with her two boys that bring so much joy and laughter to her life. There is never a dull moment in Kimi’s day with these three guys by her side. Her family and she are happily involved in volunteer work with several local non-profit organizations. They believe that everyone needs to do their part and a portion of her sales will always go to charity.
At an early age, Kimi discovered the magical world of imagination. Many stories were written as well as illustrated by her as a child. Not realizing at the time that she had dyslexia, schoolwork became extremely difficult, and her confidence as a reader and writer dwindled. Thanks to a high teacher who took the time to invest in her, Kimi found a love for literary legends such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Washington Irving and Jane Austen. This teacher helped Kimi create one of the happiest school memories she holds. Discovering in college that she had the learning disability was terribly discouraging since help was not readily available and her reading and writing confidence fell once again.
Needing to find a distraction when her husband unexpectedly ended up in the hospital for a week, Kimi explored the indie reading world. Jumping in with everything she had, Kimi pushed herself to read over 150 books last year. During that process, many characters reappeared in her imagination and insisted that their stories be told. Putting all self-doubt and barriers aside, she started writing the outlines and drafts for the four books in her Intertwined Hearts Series as well as bits and pieces of the three books in her next series, Down by the Bay. Her message to you is similar to that of pop icon, will.i.am’s: ~You can focus on your problems or you can focus on your dreams ~
life becomes me 
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