In The Return of Her Past by Lindsay Armstrong. Mia has always had a crush on Carlos. Her mother was his family’s housekeeper, her father their gardener.
It isn’t until Mia is 18 that Carlos finally notices her and how she’s no longer a little girl. When he comes home one night having injured his head and been nursed by Mia, they end up in each others arms. The kiss they share has Mia seeing stars and she falls asleep next to Carlos.
Unknown to Carlos, when his mother returned home to find them together, she belittled Mia and threatened to have her parents fired if she did not leave Carlos alone. In his mother’s mind, Mia was a nobody, just the housekeeper’s daughter and would never be good enough for her son. Mia leaves days later to go to University in Queensland, never returning to Carlos’ home.
Years later, Mia is a successful professional events planner, having not seen Carlos or his family since. Imagine her distress when she discovers that Carlos’ sister is having her wedding at the very place Mia runs her events from! Not only does Mia have to plan the wedding and reception, she has to worry about seeing Carlos and his mother again after all these years. She has never forgiven his mother for her words, nor Carlos for never trying to find her. She hopes no one will recognize her, but that might be hoping for too much!
Try as she might when she meets Carlos once again, they are both still drawn to each other. Mia is determined to fight the attraction, Carlos is determined to be with Mia. But Mia is intent on pushing Carlos away again and again. No matter what he does, Mia cannot see her self worth or that there is a possible future between them. Will she finally push hard enough that Carlos leaves once and for all?
Mia is going to need to take the chip off her shoulder she’s been carrying around for years and realize there’s nothing wrong with being the housekeepers daughter! This is not a historical romance, times are modern and she seems to be clinging to her teenage hurt for some reason. I’m not sure why Carlos keeps going back for more, he must really like her!
The Return of Her Past is not really a unique story line and I had a really hard time liking Mia. For a grown woman running a very successful business she is really still quite bitter years later towards Carlos and his family. Keep in mind she ran off, has not seen Carlos since, and has no way to know what he thought happened. After all, when she was with him he’d had a head injury. I’m not too sure why she is so determined not to be seen as the housekeeper’s daughter and why Carlos’ mother’s opinion (one person!) has made such an impact on her. And really, who cares! Emotionally I find Mia to be very immature. She seemed to love her parents, but I have to wonder how she really feels about them if their honest occupations can cause her so much stress.
As I said, Carlos must really like Mia to keep going after her, doing things for her, and trying to be with her! He is certainly not a mama’s boy, he does what he feels is right and wants to follow his heart. But it may get too much for even him if she doesn’t grow up!
Hopefully Mia can look within herself and see she’s worth so much more than she’s giving herself credit for. If she doesn’t, she might not have any kind of successful relationship with Carlos or any other man.
The Return of Her Past was a fairly quick read. Lindsay writes well, tying the story all together nicely.
Book Info
Publication Date: June 18, 2013 | Series: Harlequin Presents (Book 3158)The girl he once knew is now a poised and sophisticated woman. Carlos is determined to rekindle their passionate past, but Mia’s reluctance fires his blood. Refusing to be denied, he has one last trick up his sleeve: he’ll save her ailing business in exchange for endless nights in his bed!