Leaving Normal

Written by Stef Ann Holm

Narrated by Andrea Gallo

USA Today best-selling author Stef Ann Holm's Leaving Normal features the growing relationship between two divorced neighbors. After ending her marriage, 43-year-old Natalie Goodwin opens the floral shop of her dreams. Pouring all of her energy into her new enterprise doesn't keep her from noticing the ruggedly handsome fireman across the street, 34year-old Tony Cruz-married and safely unavailable. But when Tony's philandering wife dumps him, Natalie begins a friendship that gradually evolves into more. Soon Tony's desire for children complicates Natalie's ideal romance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 6, 2008
• ISBN: 9781449802769

Reviews for Leaving Normal

[reneebooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

LN is a second chance at love story set in Boise, Idaho. Natalie Goodwin is 43 years old and divorced whose daughter has just started her freshman year of college out of state. After her divorce Natalie decided to follow her dreams and opened a florist shop. Life is going just how she wants it now and she is not interested in dating or a relationship. But she can't help but notice the gorgeous hunk who lives across the street (who is married BTW). That hunk is firefighter Tony Cruz and is 9 years her junior. Oh, yes, and he notices Natalie too, but he is committed to his relationship with his wife so he 'stifles himself'.Ok, at this point I'm only a few pages into the book and I'm thinking "this is a ROMANCE?" Yep, sure 'nuf, that's what it says on the spine. I can't remember the last time I read a romance where one of the characters was already married to someone else when the book starts. Hmmm, thinking, thinking, thinking. Nope, can't think of one other book. I don't know why, but I continue reading.Tony's relationship with his wife is not good (of course) and eventually he discovers her cheating on him. So they separate and divorce. Now I'm at the halfway point of the book and this is where the book should have started because nothing much interesting happens (except Tony's breakup and I could have done without that).Eventually Tony and Natalie start dating and fall in love but Tony wants children and Natalie feels she is past that point in her life. By the end of the book things have worked out to everyone's satisfaction (except mine). Now normally I love older woman/younger man stories and the 9 year age gap didn't bother me. If the author had cut out the first half until Tony was divorced, I would have liked it much better.I thought the characters were well drawn and deep. I enjoyed the secondary characters including Natalie's daughter and father. The best part of the book was the look inside the Boise Fire Department that shows how they care for the people they serve. Unfortunately, this book was too much like chick lit (I'm not a big fan) and much of the book was just filler. And the ending was way to conveniently perfect ::gag:: and not realistic. (Grade: C-)

[miamismartgirl09 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a very nice book. It didn't take me long at all to read.The main characters are Natalie (a 40-something woman who just opened her own flower shop and raising a college-age daughter), Tony (Natalie's 30-something recently divorced firefighter neighbor), and Natalie's father (a widower who is retired and loves Target).Included in this book is an assortment of side characters including Tony's mom and co-workers and Natalie's family. Each is well written and developed.I liked how at some point in the book Natalie, Tony and Natalie's father each of a turn of "speaking" in first person. (Although is is mainly Natalie and Tony who do the talkng). It gives a different perspective into the different lives, where each other's lives might not meet togehter.