REVIEW: This Love of Mine by Miranda Liasson

This Love of Mine by Miranda Liasson: Meg Halloran runs into her childhood crush and brother’s best friend, Ben Rushford, in an elevator. He’s going to a meeting about a potential job in the local ER, she’s bringing dresses for a fitting for the mayor’s daughter. Ben thinks that Meg will immediately agree to be his pretend girlfriend considering their history, so he’s shocked when she smiles at him and turns him down. But when her client chokes and she needs the doctor to help, she has no choice but to agree to help him in return.

Knowing her feelings about Ben, Meg knows getting involved with him would be idea. Ben, for his part, has been avoiding Meg ever since her brother, Patrick, died. Even though he wasn’t there, he still feels guilty. In fact, part of the reason he became a doctor was because he wanted to save people since he wasn’t able to save Patrick. He really wants the job in Mirror Lake, but the only way he’ll get it is to convince the hospital board he’s in a committed relationship and willing to settle down in town.

There were plenty of light and funny moments in this book. This is from the scene where Meg and Ben are having a dinner meeting with a member of the hospital board and the other candidates.

She scootched up against his chest and put her mouth near his ear. “Listen to me carefully. I’m only going to say this once. I am not flirting with you. My dress tore and…”
He stilled suddenly. “And what?” he asked.
“And I always wear undies. I never go anywhere without them. Except maybe for today.”
He tried pushing her away, no doubt to see the spectacle for himself, but she clung to him with the suction of an octopus.

The road to happiness was not without its issues, however. Both Meg and Ben are still dealing with guilt about Patrick’s death. He was upset the night he died, and Meg didn’t realize it. She feels that if she just stayed and watched the movie like he wanted, he’d be alive. Ben wasn’t there but he did retrieve Patrick’s body, and he felt that if he knew how to perform CPR he would have been able to save him. They both also think that Meg’s mom and sister also blame Ben for his death, which doesn’t make either of them feel better about lying to everyone.

I liked both characters. Meg wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself when she needed to, and when Ben finally realizes what’s truly important, he stands up for himself as well. They both help each other work through their pain and guilt from losing Patrick; Meg even went as far as to look into if it was possible Ben could have saved him. She didn’t do it for herself or her family, but to put Ben’s mind at ease and convince him there was nothing he could have done so he could move on.

With This Love of Mine, Miranda Liasson has written a book that has a little bit of everything: humor, heartbreak, guilty, forgiveness, and love. Even though this is the second book in the series, you can easily enjoy it without having read the first one. I recommend giving it a read.

Book Info:

Publication: October 6, 2015 | Montlake Romance | Mirror Lake #2

Bridal shop owner Meg Halloran spends her days making other women’s wedding dreams come true—and her nights dreaming of her childhood crush, hometown heartthrob Dr. Benjamin Rushford. After a lifetime of wearing her heart on her sleeve, she’s done waiting. Meg’s ready to find love, with or without him. Moving on feels right—until Ben pops an unexpected question.

To win the open ER position in Mirror Lake, Ben has to convince the board that he’s settled and ready to put down roots. His latest stroke of genius? Asking Meg, the local good girl, to be his pretend girlfriend. With her by his side, he’s a shoo-in for the job. But he’s in over his head because, as much as he tries to deny it, Meg tempts him. And if she learns the truth about a secret that has shadowed and shaped his life, will she ever be able to forgive him?