At age seven, Susan and best friend Paula made grand plans for their lives. But when Paula died on her birthday, Susan blamed herself and refused to let anyone get close to her. As an adult, Susan has achieved almost everything she and Paula said they would, except for having happiness in her life.
When something fishy happens at work, Susan has to leave town fast, staying on the run until she's told all is safe. She ends up in her hometown of Grand Rapids to visit her uncle. One evening, while staring into a fountain, her beloved Mustang is hit. Unbeknownst to Susan, that accident is the beginning of a wonderful relationship.
Susan fills a void in Max and Sam's lives after the loss of their daughter, and they become honorary parents. When Susan meets one of their twin nephews, Colin, an attraction is definitely in the air. But she's confused by his changes in mood -- one time he's nice but distant and cool, the next time he's hot-blooded.
Her last school assembly happens to be in Colin's hometown of New Orleans. They finally consummate their relationship, and even though Susan is in her 30s, it's her first time. The next morning Susan sees Colin leave the house with a girl stuck to his side. She leaves New Orleans without a word to anyone, but eight months later, she calls Sam and Max to her side.
When they arrive at the hospital, they bring Colin and his twin, Colton, with them. One of the brothers is told he's going to be a father, not to one, but three babies. Now he has to prove his love to Susan and convince her to marry him.
THIS ONE IS MINE is a wonderful story of learning to trust again and taking a chance on love. The characters are strong people who make great differences in each other's lives. A good read.
Susan Leighton heads to Seattle, nicknamed the Emerald
City, to start her new job, when she receives a call from
her Private Investigator, her sister is there, somewhere in
that sprawling metropolis. She had been separated from her
sister and brother, after a tragic incident in her
childhood, and had searched for them in vain.
Driving home one day, she sees βitβ, a dilapidated Mustang
convertible, setting kattywampus on two flat tires, and for
some unexplainable reason she wants to buy it.
Her life starts to change.
She enters a very different world at Leonβs Auto Body Shop.
The young people she meets there would scare her if she met
them at any other place, but underneath their rough
exteriors, she finds caring, loyal, young kids exist. She
also finds she has an unerring rapport, talking with,
reaching the young people she meets there.
When she has finally achieved success, her life suddenly
spirals out of control. Overhearing a terrifying
conversation at her work place, in fear, she flees Seattle
to start a new life.
Going back to where βitβ happened for the first time in
almost 20 years, she finds she cannot live there.
Minnesota, beautiful land of 10,000 lakes, holds too many
heartrending memories. She meets Max and Sam, who are
traveling from New Orleans. No explanation, but somehow she
trusts them and ends up traveling with them to Idaho, where
they end up making their home.
Susan meets Colin Devereaux, Max and Samβs nephew, who has
rebelled against the boring life of working in the family
run bank and participates in the exciting sport of being a
race car driver. For the first time in her life one thought
enters Susanβs mind. Could she love this man? Visiting
Colin in New Orleans, he begins to act strange. She
wonders, does she really know him?
What secret could he be hiding?
There comes a point, where she must make a decision. Should
she go back into the corporate world, or stay working with
the young people?
Before Susan can find true happiness, she must come to
grips with her guilt, the insecurities that continue to
haunt her from the past. Will she find the answers, the key
to unlocking the secrets before itβs too late?
From Seattle, to sultry New Orleans, comes a story of
double identity and love.
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