GRR Reviews The Nearness of You (Love Everlasting) by Iris Morland

The Nearness of You is a standard "damaged woman who deemed herself unworthy found a partner who cherished her" romance, with a few added wrinkles that are quite good. However, the book, in trying to set up additional volumes, left too many threads dangling. Some facts don't fit, and psych profile of some characters seem contradictory.

To recap, Sara Flannigan left her nasty ex after a nasty divorce. Her mind is on re-establishing herself in her hometown and provide for her son, who had a cancer scare. She did not count on attraction toward the oncologist, Dr. Harrison Thornton, a local royalty. He is a handsome, rich, and wonderful guy, but his family would never approve of Sara, who's just from the wrong side of the tracks. But Harrison is quite fond of Sara, who's beautiful, a devoted mother, with intelligence and drive. With Sara determined to deem herself unworthy, it is up to Harrison to prove that Sara is the one he wanted for life.

First nitpick... Why would a small town have a nationally renowned pediatric oncologist like Harrison Thornton? Or perhaps, why would an oncologist be in general practice pediatrics back home? Second. Harrison's mom is a true snob, that Sara was a total bad fit for her son. Later it was revealed that the mom was in the same predicament when the senior Thronton married her. So she wasn't snobbish before, but the life of rich and famous turned her into a snob? That doesn't make sense. And third, Harrison's just a bit too nice, though I guess his problems are with his own snobbish family who keeps foiling his plans for happiness. Still, it's decent.

Category: Contemporary

Primary Plot: Woman falls for her young son's oncologist; deemed herself unworthy of his love; he wanted her anyway

Tropes: doctor / patient, scars, single parent, different worlds

Overall Rating:  3/5