Be Mine This Time

I haven't read romance for quite a while, especially a contemporary one. MaryAnn Clarke's story of Kate, a mediator, who's bent on helping a young couple resolve their differences was very well done. She's also dealing with trauma from a number of events in the past, one of which is a love affair that went sour.

When Simon, the ex-lover who she never got over, shows up unexpectedly at the mediation session, her work suddenly becomes much more complicated. There's a lot at stake both professionally and personally. The author did a great job showing Kate's struggles to resolve the fears that were standing in the way of her happiness. She was also masterful in portraying the work of a mediator. Marital conflict is not easy to show on the page and the author does this with aplomb.