Once a man who lived by the letter of the law.Newt Tobias will do anything for his little girl. Even take early retirement, sell his city home, and move to cottage country, hoping that the simpler life will provide a better balance for his troubled teenage daughter. Yet, not long after they’ve settled, he finds himself toe-to-toe with a stubborn, fiery tempered woman with pretty brown eyes.Once a … woman with pretty brown eyes.
Once a recluse preferring to live alone.
Working with troubled adolescents, Frederique Marchand doesn’t suffer fools and won’t put up with bullies. Especially handsome strangers like Newt who think they can run roughshod over her. She loves her work, but on her own time she much prefers the company of her menagerie of animals.
But with the welfare of a teenager at stake, she must put aside rocky first impressions and work with a man who needs her as much as she’ll come to need him.
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A Change of Pace is a strong and emotional read about a single father doing the best he can for his daughter. Moving her to another place during the middle of the school year was hard. But, he didn’t think it would be this hard. Newt and Freddy are both a little older, mid-ish 40s…which I love! I love most that this story is based off of “normal people”. The characters develop into such wonderful and beautiful people. When tragedy strikes Newt, he really learns how much Freddy loves him and his daughter!
This was a really enjoyable story!
As always with Freya Barker, you can rely on her storytelling ability to sell you an amazing story and this was another hit with me.
I wasn’t sure about a man named Newt but his actions soon won me over. With a daughter struggling after the loss of her mother and self-harming herself as a result, Newt and Millie pack up their belongings and head to the country for a more relaxed lifestyle. It’s not long before Newt notices that Millie is continuing to struggle but fortunately Freddy has just what Millie needs: compassion and enough pets to start a small petting farm! Little by little Millie starts to open up but when her school friend also starts having emotional problems, Millie steps in and offers her support and together they form an unlikely friendship.
All of the side characters were a perfect complement to this story, and where there is initially some reservations to the newcomers in town, they locals soon accept Newt and Millie as one of their own, especially when tragedy befalls Millie.
Not to be outdone, Freddy has her own fair share of demons to face and eventually turns to Newt and Millie for their support.
This was a great story with characters in their 40s, which I really appreciated. The heat factor may have been a little OTT at times and seemed slightly at odds with the characters ages IMO. That said, I really enjoyed the developing romance between Newt and Freddy.
Definitely a recommended read from me.
Freya is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. I look forward to all of her books. I love that Freya does older couples.
I absolutely loved this book. Newt and Frederique are two amazing characters with very unique names. I have read book two of this series and loved reading this one as well. I’m excited to read more book by Freya.
This is my first time reading this Author. It took me a few chapters to get into this book, but man im sure glad i kept reading!
Retired Cop Newt, single dad. Teen Daughter wt some huge, scary and sad emotional problem.
Single Animal Loving Therapist Freddy. Put them all together adding Chemistry, Second chances, Death, Cancer, Rumors, and what a story this ended up to be!
I loved how strong Freddy is i think she was my fav character!!
Sweet heat of a romance book, featuring older main characters, with problems, backgrounds, lives and desires, very relatable, with authentic voices about illness, cancer, single parent hood, troubled teenagers full of angst, drama. Recommended!
OMFG!! A CHANGE OF PACE is OUTSTANDINGLY EPIC!! It is a funny, entertaining & endearing story about finding love and not afraid of giving up the fight. Especially when two characters in their 40’s that have lived and wanting to find their Someone.
Newt Tobias is a retired police officer and single father to his 14yr old daughter Millie. Where she is Struggling with the loss of her mother’s death and seems to be hurting herself.
Frederique Marchand is a therapist for troubled teens who been through traumatic life circumstances.
At first when Newt met Freddy, it was not your traditional meeting of sorts….More like life events entwines with Fate. Freddy is a Head Strong woman and not afraid to Speak her mind with a soft spot for animals. Newt is a total Hot Alpha Male and is committed to getting his daughter help.
A CHANGE OF PACE is such an intriguing fun read and you will not want to put it down! Not to mention the Hot Steamy off the Charts Chemistry between the two characters! A MUST READ BOOK AND CANNOT WAIT FOR MORE FROM FREYA BARKER!!
Although this is part of a series it Can be read as a STANDALONE! This was my 1st book by Ms. Barker. It was kind of refreshing it actually had 3 main characters instead of 2 although we only heard from 2 of the main characters sides. Also Newt and Freddy were in there 40’s so that was a nice change of pace too. The book touches on teen problems, cancer, death, alcohol, abuse, and kidnapping along with being a romance book. Yes again this was my 1st book by Ms. Barker but it will not be my last. Now I have to go read the rest in the series.
A CHANGE OF PACE (Northern Lights #3) by Freya Barker is an absolutely wonderful and emotional romance with a mature hero and heroine in their late forties. The romance moves at a slower pace and grows to a beautiful mature love. The believable situations and struggles that occur at differing points in the story show a couple dealing with real-life struggles without the miscommunication or melodrama in other romances.
Newt Tobias is the single father of a teenage daughter who is having emotional difficulties. Newt feels the best way to help Millie is to change the pace of their current way of living. He retires early from his job with the police force and moves them both to a small cottage community.
Frederique “Freddie” Marchand had to deal with many personal tragedies all at once several years ago. It was very difficult to reclaim a sense of peace in her life, but she has it now living on her small piece of land with her therapy dog, Boulder and menagerie of rescue animals in her small hometown. She works with troubled adolescents, and does not suffer fools or bullies, so when she has a run in with a handsome man, she has never seen in town before, she puts him in his place.
When Newt discovers the therapist recommended to him for Millie is the woman he had a previous confrontation with, he puts his daughter’s welfare first. Freddie discovers that her first impressions of Newt may not be correct and he is more than willing to accept her help to help his daughter. As Newt and Millie work together to help Millie, they soon discover that they may be able to help each other, too.
I get very excited when I find a book like this. There are so few mature romances compared to all the others and when I find one this well written, it makes me very happy. Newt and Freddie are so true to life. The way that Newt and Freddie fall in love and the blossoming of Millie just make me warm all over. There are a few sex scenes that were well placed and written realistically.
Even though this is book 3 in the Northern Lights series, it is a standalone. I am looking forward to reading many more books by Ms. Barker. This is a beautiful mature romance that I highly recommend!
Thank you very much to Buoni Amici Press and Net Galley for allowing me to read this eARC in exchange for an honest review. It was definitely my pleasure!
At first, I was a little confused but by the third page, I started to understand the book. Newt and Freddy’s story is amazing. It’s relatable and real. They are an older couple compared to the usual ages that most authors write about but I guess that just makes their story so much better. I fell in love with the characters and couldn’t stop turning the pages. Wish it didn’t have to end. Their daughter Millie came a long way and it showed during and at the end of the book. I would definitely recommend that anybody read this book. It’s about life and what it means to have a close-knit community and family.
Northern Lights series and is a complete standalone. I enjoyed this book very much. Our hero and heroine, Newt and Frederique ( Freddy) are well into their forties making them more mature than your usual romance novel hero and heroine. I loved Freddy’s character. Smart, brave, and so resilient to the curve balls life has thrown her way. Newt is her perfect match. He is noble, loyal, and a loving father to his 14-year -old daughter, Millie.
The best way to describe this romance is realistic. The pacing is spot on. Although there is an initial attraction, there is no insta-love. Their feelings grow and mature as they get to know one another. The conflicts they face in their developing relationship come from external sources. No over-the-top dramatics or relationship conflicts that a simple conversation could clear up are found here. Instead there is mutual Interest which turns to liking each other, which turns to caring which turns to love. A natural progression.This is classic Freya Barker. I have read the others in this series which are just as compelling.
If you like your romance with fully developed characters in real-life situations and stellar writing then this book would definitely be for you.
Reviewed by: Jamie B.
I’ve been an avid reader and big fan of Freya Barker since I got my hands on her first book. I have to say, boy, from Slim to None to now Ms B has totally upped her game and she’s without doubt one of the few authors who I’ll auto buy/pre-order without even needing to peek at a blurb!
One of the things I love the most about all of Freya’s books is the realism of her characters and just how much we can relate to them, their situations and life experiences.
Never one to shy away from the tougher curve balls that life can throw at us, Freya tackles subjects that aren’t easy to talk about never mind deal with but that everyone will ultimately have some kind of brush with in their lifetime – whether personally or through friends or family – be that bad health, unhealthy or dangerous relationships, loss of family or friends, heartbreak and tragedy or as she has in A Change of Pace children’s mental health and the threat of terminal illness and how these illnesses can affect the people involved.
Freya always writes these situations with a great deal of care, attention to detail and I know with a great amount of research. Her characters trials and fights are not made as fillers or fluff, most of the time they make up the basis of the story and are well written, serious points that make you think about what can often be invisible things that happen to people around us on a daily basis.
Sorry, I’ve wittered on and not yet told you what I think of the story…..
I FLOVED Newt and Freddy – and who couldn’t help but fall for Millie (and Freddy’s menagerie!!)
Newt Tobias and Frederique Marchand didn’t have the most pleasant of introductions and his initial muttered thoughts of her had me laughing, even more so when she later properly introduced herself using his words..
A single dad, struggling to get through to his teenage daughter and a woman who has lost much, neither saw the other coming, or even realised they were exactly what they each needed.
Although there was an attraction between the pair, the focus and concern was always on Millie and I liked that through talking Freddy helped Newt as much, if not more at times, than his daughter, even when he didn’t realise he needed a listening ear and to open up to start with.
The blossoming of their friendship and the depth of their attraction and feelings made for great reading. I particularly like that Freya writes slightly older characters who have baggage, are flawed, make decisions that they think are for the best even if it means that they unwittingly close other people out or upset them. Freya’s books also remind us that family is often not of blood but choice or design but I liked the inclusion of Freddy’s brother and his family in this read and the other characters that were introduced were all likable and added to the overall story.
Another great emotion pulling read in the Northern Lights series from the wonderfully talented Ms Barker!!!
A thoroughly deserved 5* and a read I’d definitely recommend.
Although part of a series, these books can be read as stand-alones.
A Change of Pace drew me in from the beginning and I didn’t want to put the book down! It is an emotional story of love and healing, combined with wonderful characters!
Newt loved his daughter so much that he retired and moved both he and his daughter, Millie to a new town to get a fresh start after realizing that she was needed some emotional healing and Millie is lucky enough to find her healing comes not just from the help of a psychiatrist, Freddy, but her animals as well and through that friendship. Freddy has a caring, healing heart and not only does she bond with Millie, but her father, Newt as well. I am not sure that ‘love at first sight’ would describe Newt and Freddy, but by getting to know and understand each other they find that chance at love.
Newt and Millie both find what Freddy already knows, that small towns have the luxury of knowing everyone, good or bad, the town can still carry the same problems of a big city but overall the people look out and care for each other.
This is the third book in the Northern Lights series, but these can be read without the previous books, as its just the location that ties the books, there is no mention of happenings or even the characters from the previous books. When Newt decided that it was time for a change, he meant it. Retiring and moving from the city to a small town. Making a point to devote whatever time he can to his daughter to help get her back to her regular self. Since this is a small town, he shouldn’t have been surprised that the stubborn woman he had an issue with a few days ago is the counselor that he is going to have help his daughter. Putting their feelings aside, they focus on Millie and helping her out. Throughout the process Newt and Freddy dance around each other, both having reasons for not wanting anything serious, but the chemistry is undeniable. But is this smart? Would this just be a fling or something more? Can Freddy give Newt more?
I can’t even tell you the feelings that this book pulled out of me. This was a true roller coaster, one minute I was all happy and excited, the next I felt like the bottom had been pulled out and I was devastated. When all was said and done, I really did enjoy this story. With some really good drama, but nothing over the top, nice sexy times, and some funny bits. I give this 5 stars.
I love the Northern Lights series. They’re standalones, but oh so good! I could hardly put this one down. The characters were great and had so much emotion. I just loved all the animals and how important they are. This book delved into some serious real issues that broke my heart, but to see how much inner strength these characters have warmed my heart. This book had me hooked right from the beginning and it’s one you hate to see it end. You try and prolong as much as possible, but you still want to gobble it up to see what happens next. I would highly recommend this book!
Ms Barker has done it, yet AGAIN!!! As always, the writing is superb and just seems to flow effortlessly. It is such a JOY to read. The character development is spot on and they feel so real, like they could be your next door neighbors two doors down…
Newt is a single Dad who’s just trying to do the best he can for his troubled teenage daughter, Millie. Moving from the big city to a small town in cottage country is what they both need. He DEFINITELY was not prepared to meet Frederique (or Freddy, as her friends call her)!!! She’s the quirky, feisty yet lovable, child therapist who is about to turn both their lives upside down…in more ways than can be counted!
I ADORED Freddy’s personality! She’s the type of woman every woman needs to have as their bestie! She has her own issues she’s had to overcome and when things start going south she learns EXACTLY what Newt is made of! I fell head-over-heels in love with him right along with her…maybe even BEFORE she did!!! He’s EVERYTHING I love in a hero; strong yet vulnerable, alpha when necessary (sometimes too often in Freddy’s opinion!), uber protective of those he loves, smart and sexy-as-all-get-out!
Freya Barker NEVER disappoints and A change of Pace is no exception! This amazing story is emotional…her most emotional love story that I’ve read to date! It’s got drama and suspense, angst and conflict, some sexy love scenes and a HEA that makes your heart sing! It’s also got Boulder, Freddy’s therapy dog, who ABSOLUTELY steals the show, hands down!!! I cannot recommend this book strongly enough!!! 5+ EXTROARDINARY Stars
As always With a book from Freya I loved it. Freya writes books that you can relate with because they could/do happen in real life. She’s a fabulous story teller and I’m always sad when the book ends!
Ms Barkers will have you all relaxed in the picturesque small town lakeside of Northern Ontario, the makings of a great lazy afternoon read.
Small town and beauty was the draw for our Alpha single dad Newt, retiring and leaving their fast paced city life behind hoping the change would be beneficial for his struggling teen daughter. A solid father, daughter relationship can be difficult when she seems so lost and scared with life, struggling to understand her emotions. Watching this big strong man, bend and do everything he can for his daughter is swoon worthy. Seeking outside help leads Newt straight to Freddy Marchand, whom has already caught his attention a time or two.
Freddy is a fiery woman, determined to stand on her own doing the things she loves as she wants. Helping troubled teens in both conventional and unconventional ways. Her brood of animals are her family and solace, they keep her grounded when life gets to be to trying. She was content with her life, but the more time she spends with Newt and his sweetheart of a daughter Millie, she just might be wishing for more.
Be ready for then emotional rollercoaster of sadness, fear of loss and unexpected love that Ms Barker is about to sending you riding. Superb secondary characters that help round the story out and make you want more, searching the pages for answers and finding the HEA at the end.
I absolutely loved this latest book in the Northern Lights series….my favorite of this series for sure!!! This is the story of Newt and Freddy. Newt moved to the country from the city to enjoy the quiet life with his daughter Millie. He encounters Freddy in a parking lot and goes head to head with her after witnessing an altercation in which Freddy was trying to stop. After that whenever they saw each other…sparks flew and not necessarily the good kind lol. Millie is troubled and the school recommends that she speaks to a counselor. Imagine Newt’s surprise when its Freddy he meets. They both push aside their initial impression of each other to work together to help Millie. The more time they spend together….the more they realize that they have feelings for each other. They are both hesitant to act on it…they don’t want to impact Millie. However fate has other plans and they can no longer deny what is in their heart. I can’t say enough great things about this book. I loved every minute of it. I was hooked from beginning to end and hated to see it end. Their story is about love and healing. I loved everything about their journey and would highly recommend this book to everyone. Another fantastic story by this talented author…..well done!!!!
One of the things I love about Freya Barker’s books is the intense care with which she crafts her characters. They have so many layers to them that the reader feels they truly know them almost as soon as they start reading. By the end of the book, they become old friends. She is also not afraid to tackle tough issues and does it with a finesse that shows compassion for her characters and her readers. The Northern Lights series is no exception, the only real difference is she has set these stories in near her home in Ontario, using actual locations and traditional Canadian spelling.
Newt is a single father to a troubled teenage daughter, Millie. Seeing her struggling in the city, he moves them to the cottage country for a change of pace in their lives. He hopes the new location will bring back the happy girl he knows is hiding inside. However, as she continues to struggle, he seeks out help for his girl, in the form of Frederique Marchand.
Freddy, as she is known, is a child therapist who has had a great deal of upheaval in her past life and much prefers to spend her downtime with her animals rather than people. Her first meetings with Newt in the community are less than amicable, but she and her dog, Boulder, certainly hit it off with Millie.
Eventually, Newt and Freddy admit they are attracted to each other, which is a concern as to how it could affect Millie and her progress. I love that the main couple are mature and realize that it’s time to grab love when it presents itself, even though it may not always be convenient. There are a lot of subplots and secondary characters that play into the storyline of the book, but no spoilers here. Ms. Barker hits all the feelings in this one and she does it with her special brand of spunk, care, and passion for life and love.