Mine

Courtney McAllister has been unsuccessfully trying to pull her life back together for the three years since the death of her partner Theresa in an accident. Moving on is a hard thing to do though. Therapy and her group for surviving spouses help, but not enough. She's still living in the house she and Theresa bought together and the memories come too easily. Her friend Amelia finally convinces Courtney that selling the house and finding something smaller is a step in the right direction and that's when she meets Rachel Hart, Million Dollar Producer of real estate sales. Rachel is consumed with her career and not interested in long term commitments beyond her regular volunteer work at the animal shelter. She has no family or friends to distract her from selling property until she meets Courtney. Each of these women is searching for something that she can call hers. Courtney is looking for a new life, possibly a new love. Rachel is hoping for someone who will put her first and that might be Courtney if she can finally lay Theresa to rest. Beers has mastered the genre of romance writing. Another in her series of novels that explore the emotions that go into building relationships, once again she has created appealing characters tied together in a plausible plot. This time she shows two women who have shut themselves off for different reasons and then explores how they help each other to change their lives. Beers is a believer in the concept of the traditional romance formula, so the reader looking for that should find this book entertaining and satisfying.

As I have read all of Georgia's published work I am confident in saying that her writing is maturing and this is by far her best to date...The story is more involved with some surpises...Can't wait for her next book in the spring!

As always from this author we are treated to gentle humor tinged at times with a delightful sarcasm. 35 year old Courtney's story of loss and recovery rings true to life. She is sweet and funny and deserves all the best in life. 43 year old Rachel has a fascinating and complex back story dating back 25 years. Her feelings for her father are real and honest. I love the attention to detail with scene and locations, supporting friends and family. from the publisher's website: What happens when you've already given your heart and love finds you again? Three years after Courtney McAllister loses her partner in a car accident, she's finally trying to move forward. She's even dated half-heartedly over the past year, but no one is able to penetrate her emotional barricades until she meets aggressive real estate broker Rachel Hart. Despite Rachel's cool façade, Courtney is drawn to her--when she isn't furious with her. Still, despite an undeniable attraction, Courtney has given her heart once and doesn't have room for that kind of love in her life again. Rachel isn't looking for love, especially not with a woman who belongs to someone else, and taking second place has never been her long suit. Don't miss the author's other novels: Turning the Page Fresh Tracks Too Close to Touch Thy Neighbor's Wife Finding Home - coming in June 2008

Take two seemingly incompatible women, throw them together and mix well. Georgia Beers is always able to create a fresh, fantastic story from this simple recipe. `Mine' is certainly no exception to this rule. For the last three years, Courtney McAllister has lived alone in the semi-remote home she purchased with her late partner. However, after repeated badgering from her friends, Courtney decides to sell and move closer to town and the dating scene. Upon first meeting her realtor Rachel Hart, Courtney reacts badly when told to remove personal mementos - especially those of her partner - from the home. In fact, she goes so far as to throw the realtor out. Embarrassed, Courtney eventually apologizes and invites Rachel back for another try. Eventually the house sells, but both women find themselves uncharacteristically reaching out to each other and a strong bond forms. That is, except that Courtney is still emotionally `owned' by her late partner. Rachel has to decide if waiting for Courtney is worth the trouble, but in reality the decision is out of her hands. These characters are extremely well developed and likable, the story is built in many complex layers, and the writing is easy to follow. That, in and of itself, makes the book worth reading. However, Beers' talent as an author makes this one worth a permanent place in my personal collection.

From the eye-catching cover, appropriately named title, to the last word, Georgia Beers' Mine is captivating, thought-provoking, and satisfying. Like a deep red, smooth-tasting, and expensive merlot, Mine goes down easy even though Beers explores tough topics. There's no question that losing the love of your life is a difficult journey. In Beers' acknowledgments, of the many people that she thanks, two women stand out. First is her friend Erin, who "gave me free rein to pick her brain as well as her heart so I could try to understand the issues, emotional roadblocks, and internal doubts and questions a young widow must face." She also thanks Sue "for all the insight, information, and education on bereavement groups, what they do, and how they're run." Beers weaves her romance around these issues by creating the character Courtney McAllister, who learns firsthand that widowhood is hard and unfair and that grieving goes through many phases. Initially she is trapped in the past and paralyzed with her dead wife's memory, but she struggles toward healing. Mine explores Courtney's hopes and fears in rich detail. It is cathartic to go through the process with her because, even if you have never experienced it, you can empathize with the pain and suffering of those left behind. Beers balances this rather untraditional subject matter for a romance with the more familiar theme that life does go on. While selling her dream home, Courtney meets the ice queen realtor Rachel Hart, "Million Dollar Producer." Rachel is a control freak and a savvy businesswoman. In order to sustain her perfectly ordered life, she is meticulous in every way. Keeping up appearances and maintaining her distance let her avoid dealing with raw emotions or hurt feelings about her past. Both women have a lot of baggage, and it is instructive to watch as they empty their suitcases one item at a time. The novel ends happily, as all romances do, but Beers' exploration of the grieving process adds a depth that is unusual in this genre. I enjoyed the witty dialogue. In this example, Rachel takes Courtney to an animal shelter and is hardly aware of the double meaning behind her words: "It must be hard," Courtney grimaced, "seeing all the strays and animals people have abandoned." "It is. It can be horrific. Believe me, there are times when I just want to beat the crap out of some people. But Happy Acres has a no-kill policy, which is very unusual, so if nothing else, I don't worry that these animals here have time limits" (p. 99). The strong supporting cast and spot-on characterizations further enhance the story. Courtney's best friend Amelia is smart and sassy and essentially helps her friend to live again. Mark, Theresa's brother, is Courtney's rock and vice versa because they share the loss but gain strength from each other. Even Lisa from the bereavement group has a place in this novel where secondary and tertiary characters count but don't overshadow the main characters. Rach