Until There Was You by Kristan Higgins

Until There Was You

Author: Kristan Higgins
ISBN-13: 978-0373776115
Publication Date: October, 2011
Publisher: HQN Books
Book Length:  384 pages
Acquired by Me:  NetGalley

Description Courtesy of Goodreads:

“Posey Osterhagen can't complain. She owns a successful architectural salvaging company, she's surrounded by her lovable, if off-center, family and she has a boyfriend—sort of. Still, something's missing. Something tall, brooding and criminally good-looking…something like Liam Murphy.

When Posey was sixteen, the bad boy of Bellsford, New Hampshire, broke her heart. But now he's back, sending Posey's traitorous schoolgirl heart into overdrive once again. She should be giving him a wide berth, but it seems fate has other ideas….”

 

My Thoughts:

Until There Was You is a classic Kristan Higgins book. So, it cannot come as a surprise that I am in love with it. You see, Kristan Higgins is one of my most favorite, favorite Romance authors, and certainly my MOST favorite in Contemporary Romance.

I’ve given it a lot of thought as to why I love Higgins so much. The best that I can come up with is that she has the ability to take ordinary life and skew it with precision that results in a fairy tale that I can buy in to. Her heroines live charmed lives, even when they are faced with challenges – but nothing that isn’t surmountable. They feel normal and comfortable, the kind of women you’d like to be friends with because you know they’d make your life a little more interesting. 

Sounds a little like a Mayberry lifestyle? Well, it sort of is…with a touch more drama than Barney Fife ever saw. But, oh, how we love the drama because it brings us to the resolution and fulfillment of the story. I love that I can count on a happily-ever-after when I read romances and I always know Ms. Higgins will never let me down.

Now that I’ve got that bit of adoration out of my system, on to the book….

Posey and Liam are such great characters. I enjoyed waiting for them to come together at long last. Posey deserved him from the very beginning. Unbeknownst to Liam, he broke her heart as a teenager. But, sometimes girls get passed over, eh? To see him back in town again, sans wife, rocks Posey’s world a little.

Liam is the quintessential bad boy…wait…turned good. His past dealt him some rough cards, but he’s come out of the deal as a father completely obsessed (no pun intended) with his teenage daughter. She is his world. She is also of the age where Liam is painfully aware of what the world can offer her (boys like he once was).

Posey gets her second chance with Liam, but not without some stumbles along the way. There are personal hurdles to overcome for both of them, let alone what they need to overcome together. Having a relationship with someone who has a teenager isn’t always the easiest…especially if they don’t even know you exist.

Also, true to form, Higgins adds several incredible supporting characters to Until There Was You. I love this side stories, watching Posey and Liam interact with others and getting a glimpse into how they are seen by more than just themselves. It only adds to the love of Posey and the sympathy for Liam (I saw more sadness present in his past). A special note of love specifically goes out to Posey’s brother and his partner. They are a delightful and unexpected addition to the story.

It is no surprise that I am going to recommend this book on a seriously high note. It swept me away as a fun, yet thoughtful read. But, that’s what all of Kristan Higgins’ books do for me. There is enough to tackle relevant problems in life, but in a way that creates a warm and fuzzy feeling inside while you are reading it. Life isn’t always going to be positive, but at the end of the day it is what you decide to make of it. Higgins gives her heroines and heroes fortitude to turn wrongs into rights - while at the same time keeping a sense of humor and a lot of compassion.

The thoughts expressed in this post are solely based on my personal opinion and have not been influenced by any other entity or being. Use of my statements may not be reproduced without permission from me, the author of Fall In Love With Books.

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