Monday, May 18, 2015

This Thing Called Love by Miranda Liasson


Publisher & Release Date: Montlake Romance, May 1, 2015

Time and setting: Present day, Mirror Lake  

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Length: 210 pages

Heat Level: 1 Scorching Hot Flame

Rating: 4 Gold Crowns

New York City self-help editor Olivia Marks faces her toughest assignment yet: parenthood. When her sister dies in a car accident, the career-oriented Olivia suddenly becomes the guardian to her four-week-old niece, Annabelle. She also becomes a challenge for Annabelle’s uncle, Brad Rushford, an old flame whose gorgeous green eyes bring Olivia’s fevered memories rushing back.
As the two circle each other in their small hometown of Mirror Lake, Olivia finds that Brad is as sexy and charming as ever—and now he’s the darling of the town as he expands his successful lakefront restaurant. Is his flirting designed to get serious, or to lower Olivia’s defenses to give up guardianship? When she finds out about the turreted, brick Victorian house Brad tours with a realtor and an attractive, no-strings-attached reporter—the same place where he and Olivia shared an unforgettable night years ago—Olivia wonders if he’s looking for a future with her, or planning to start a new life with someone else.
In the first heartwarming Mirror Lake story, steamy trysts and surprising twists lead two people to a future neither one expected.

Buy Link:

Add to Goodreads:

Vikki’s Musings

I received an email from Montlake with an offer to review This Thing Called Love for an honest review. I have never read anything by Miranda Liasson, but the book description sounded intriguing. I always enjoy stories with children in them and this book has an adorable new-born whose life is turned upside down. I’m glad I requested this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

When Olivia Marks beloved sister and her husband are killed in a car crash, she finds out that they appointed her as guardian to their four week old new born, Annabelle, in their will. Olivia’s life is turned upside down as well as the infant’s. She has a demanding job as an editor of self-help books and easily puts in an eighty hour work week. How will she find the time to be the kind of parent her sister’s precious child needs?

Brad Rushford is uncle to little Annabelle, and he has grave concerns over Olivia being the guardian to his niece. Olivia went off the NYU and never looked back; leaving him with all the hurt emotions an eighteen year old boy can have when his high school sweetheart seems to loses interest. How will this career-driven woman have time to take care of Annabelle?

Brad sets out to prove to Olivia she cannot do right by his niece, undermining her confidence at every turn, all while fighting an attraction to her that has never died. Can this couple find a meeting ground that will give Annabelle the life she deserves, and possibly re-kindle their first foray into love?

While there are no earth-shattering moments in This Thing Called Love, I enjoyed the romance between Olivia and Brad. The chemistry between them is strong, and I enjoyed the tastefully-written love scenes a great deal. I found their story touching and both characters’ reaction to the horrific situation with Olivia’s sister and Brad’s brother very believable. They both want what is best for their sweet, little niece, which shows them to be honorable and caring individuals.

The pacing, while not brisk is steady, and for me, I became engaged in the story from the first page and remained that way until the end, rooting for them to find a solution that would bring them their happily ever after. Ms. Lisson’s writing style is smooth, blending the right amount of narrative with realistic dialogue.

I always enjoy second chance romances and This Thing Called Love is a great one. As I mentioned, I do enjoy stories with children. Most times, these tales have children old enough to talk and interact, creating the opportunity to build empathy for the hero and the heroine, but Annabelle is an infant. Ms. Liasson manages to have several tender moments between the hero and heroine, giving me the chance to see how they love this little baby and will make good, loving parents.


If you like a story with a lovely romance that shows true love and caring between the hero and heroine, then I am confident you will enjoy this book as much as I did. I suggest you give it a chance. Happy reading! 

Author Bio:


I won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award in 2013 for a story that has become This Thing Called Love, which debuts from Montlake Romance this spring. It's about life and love and the hard choices we all sometimes have to make. It's heartwarming but lighthearted, too.

I also write lighthearted contemporary romance for Entangled Indulgence that will debut in 2015.

I write romance because I love stories about the experience of being human, and love is the universal experience we all share. I also love stories that have happy endings and make me laugh. I hope my stories make you laugh a little, too.

I live in Northeast Ohio with my husband, three children and my office mates, Maggie, a yellow lab and Posey, a rescue cat with more attitude than my kids!

Social Media:

No comments:

Post a Comment