My Heart Before You

by Laura Langa

Accidentally macing a coworker in the Boston Commons is not how Emilie Hunt intended on making friends. It's taken her years to get where she is today— starting over in a city that doesn’t haunt her with memories, and returning to her beloved career as a nurse.

After a decade and a half dedicating his life to his surgical career, Colin Abernan is struggling with his newly reduced work hours, especially after his father’s unexpected death. Having already lost his mother to cancer at thirteen, he’s unimaginably hollow now that he’s utterly alone.

Colin has too much time to think about his grief, and the pulling connection he shares with his colleague, although she's emotionally off limits. When a simple touch in the hospital corridor holds the potential to change their relationship, Emilie doubts she can open her heart again— even to a man who fixes them for a living.

Genres: Romance

359 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 12, 2020

About the author

Laura Langa is an award-winning sweet romance author. She strives to write stories that pull at her readers’ heartstrings and create relatable characters you can’t help but root for. Laura loves trees and all things green, hates flossing but forces herself to do it every night, drinks tea—not coffee, and believes that salt air can often cure a bad mood.

Visit her website at www.LauraLanga.com
Subscribe to her newsletter at https://lauralanga.com/newsletter
Instagram @LauraLangaWrites
Facebook @LauraLangaWrites

Reviews

[Anne OK · Rating 4 out of 5]

New-to-me-author with a bittersweet love story that has its sad moments but hopeful ones as well. It’s both heartbreaking and heart lifting. It is inspiring with resilience and determination. It is the story of opening your heart to love again after losing a spouse and child. But most important, it focuses on the healing process.

Even in the darkest of times, there’s always hope. This story is so much more than just a new romance. The bedroom scenes are kept private and behind closed doors – making the intimacy even more meaningful in my opinion.

A story and characters that held my attention and interest from start to finish. Without hesitation, I recommend this book.

[Julia David · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much sadness in this story, but it shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Emilie was drowning in her sorrow after her husband and daughter were killed in an accident. She was ready to join them to get away from the pain. But she came out of the darkness and is trying to build a new life. It is hard, but she is trying. Colin is starting over after his father, who was also his best friend, died. His father never told him about his medical problems, Colin is a doctor, and when he died, he died alone and Colin could have done something to help him. It seems so senseless and haunts Colin. Then he meets Emilie. She lightened his world, but does she feel the same about him? Can she ever feel that way about him after losing her husband and daughter?

[W.S. Deming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Before everything, this is a great story--sweet, romantic, poignant, all the feels. Colin is the reason why they say book boyfriends are better than real life boyfriends. Both Emilie and Colin's coming together is something to cheer for and believable. If I had one or two small complaints, it would be that it seemed to take a long time to get there. Colin has the patience of Jobe. And there were some very disconcerting time jumps to the past at the beginning that weren't well indicated so your suddenly reading about the past when in the previous paragraph you were in the present. Similar some choppy time jumps between chapters plopping you right in the middle of a scene with no reference to what is going on. Regardless of those, this is definitely worth a read. It's a clean romance so we get the benefit of a nicely solid closed-door approach to the love scenes. I recommend!

[Elsa Blanchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must-read if you want to laugh, cry, and devour the whole book in one evening! Emilie and Colin are compelling characters that you immediately fall in love with. Ms. Langa creates an immersive world in Boston, and as someone with no medical background I really enjoyed seeing how doctors and nurses spend their days (and nights!). Emilie is an amazing character, so strong and empowered with some real wounds that she's healing from. And Colin provides the perfect balance to Emilie's strengths. It was so fun to watch them grow and heal together. Read this book today!!!!
*I received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review. All opinions are my own.*

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colin and Emilie both work in the same hospital as a heart surgeon and nurse. Both have backstories that have scarred them so it is hard to move forward. Talking eases the pain and opens up a possible future. The characters are strong and resilient, determined to reach their goals. The romance is sweet and steady. Stresses over their pasts and how to overcome them cause rifts and twists cause indecision. The story is well grounded and ends really well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[BreeAnn (She Just Loves Books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that you can just settle into and let it sweep you away. Emilie and Colin were so good together. They work together in the same hospital, Colin as a surgeon, and Emilie as a nurse. I loved their relationship and character growth throughout the story, and the insight into the daily activities for healthcare workers was a really great addition to the story. Overall, this was a wholly engrossing story that I could not put down! I highly recommend it!

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is STUNNING! The emotions are so real, I felt everything the characters were going through. It broke my heart and put it back together.

I laughed, I cried, I couldn't put it down!

There are a lot of big, potentially triggering topics in this story but I think they were handled really well.

Highly recommend reading My Heart Before You by Laura Langa

TW: suicidal thoughts, infant loss, spousal loss, parental loss

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one beautiful story that held my interest until the end. I enjoyed seeing Emilie Hunt and Colin Abernan's story come together. This is a new Author to me and it looks like it is her debut book. I will be watching for more by her. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Jeanne Kotsios · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book hooked me from the get go I just couldn’t put it down I fell in love with these characters and omg what a story just a perfect read.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marilyn Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just read the free preview. I’m purchasing it. It’s already got my attention. Avery interesting set of events I want to know more about very well written
Well I couldn’t wait and purchased the book. It was even better than the free preview. Some real heart searching took place. Explanations were descriptive. I loved this book. In dact I will read it again!

[Naomi Kovach · Rating 4 out of 5]

Colin and Emilie.
She’s had the husband and the baby, he’s never loved anyone before. He lost his mom at 13 and his dad months before meeting her, she lost her husband and baby 4 years ago. He’s a doctor and she’s a nurse.
What starts out as friendship turns into a beautiful relationship but Colin and Emilie have to learn to communicate and be honest with each other.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story

Wonderful characters. I enjoy s book that has people fall in love, express their love physically but no need to describe the act. Most people know what happens in the bedroom, or on the counter or table but it is nice to imagine what is happening then to read a discription. Thank you to the author.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Stereotypical love story

If you enjoy a modern romance then you'll like this. There's nothing unusual about it. Two beautiful people with their own sorrows meet and fall in love and break up and back and forth. Quick read.

[SusieQ_Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel is truly one of the most beautiful contemporary romance books that I have read to date. In my humble opinion Laura Langa’s novel, My Heart Before You is a true gift to the reading community. I am honored that she entrusted her work to me.

Colin Abernan, a cardiothoracic surgeon and Emilie Hunt are both at a point in their lives where they feel the need to start over in a new place. This is a beautifully written story about love, unimaginable loss, healing and the process of learning to live again. There were a few seemingly erratic time jumps, but overall they didn’t detract from the story for me.

I laughed, I cried, I routed for this couple and honestly re-lived some of my own past painful memories which are eerily similar to the character of Colin. My own experiences allowed me the unique perspective of being able to understand and empathize with what the characters were going through.

Anyone who is currently struggling with, or has experienced a devastating personal loss, will hopefully find this novel to be a healing balm for their soul. I know it was for mine. The raw emotion that comes through in this story will help to validate any similar feelings the reader may have experienced.

Ultimately, this story shows that there is light at the end of what sometimes seems like a never ending tunnel of darkness. Those lost will always live on in the hearts of loved ones left behind as they struggle to find the courage to move on with life.

I received a copy of this story from the author and this is my honest voluntary review.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

What a heart warming story.I actually cried a few times. Great book, great characters.I love the clean romantic life story off this couple would definitely read another book from this author 😀

[Jill Derrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet summer read

Enjoyable story if a life torn to pieces by an accident. Then how her recovery takes place and how she begins life again. Great characters and story line of how life can be hard at times then how it becomes good again.

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

An easy clean read.

Two people who have had losses of loved ones meet and the typical story continues. This is a squeaky clean love story if you like that type. Everyone just seemed a bit too perfect and straight-laced for me.

[Phyllis Saunders · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

4 stars for My Heart Before You. Smile and Colin both have broken hearts. Even though Colin is a heart surgeon, his skills cannot mend their broken hearts. Only love and how can they open to each other.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF 25%. I wanted to get lost in it, like her Yeti book, but I just didn't. Today I needed an escape book from my cold and migraine, and this was just too sad. I also didn't really connect with the characters.

[Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was slow starting for me but turnedout good, thou I wish the last letter from his Mom was included.

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

12/28/2020

[minda2galangatt.net · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book it's full of emotion. It made me cry and laugh and feel the power of love. I really enjoyed how they ended up together and became a family.

[carol rodde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written

If you like romance you will really enjoy this story. It brought tears to my eyes many times but a lot of smiles as well

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Heart Before You

I thought it was a great book! It was very interesting and based in reality. Thank you for such a good book!

[Cecelia Crews · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very powerful story

The author did such a fantastic job of writing this story as She had me in tears or smiling as I read it. Great story and great job of writing.

[Janice Batts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved every word!

I loved reading this book! A true love story that enjoyed ! How they came together in the end was perfect! Loved the the letters written to him by his mom!

[Dianne Wilkey Flanders · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a great book. A great book about loving again after the ultimate loss.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a decent love story but the whole thing was very predictable but I do feel empathy for the main character and glad that it ends happily.

[Saloma · Rating 5 out of 5]

This romance book is absolutely amazing.

[Gerri · Rating 4 out of 5]

While at the library this book was on display for local authors and I'm glad I picked it up. This is a good love story.

I liked how the author closed the bedroom door and allowed Collin and Emilie their privacy. I'm not a prude however some authors fill pages and pages of bedroom scenes that add nothing to the story.

I look forward to reading more by this author.