What Once Was Perfect- Zoe York

I haven't updated my goodreads shelf in a while and mostly kept to Harlequin books to keep me entertained, I'm more or less in a reading hiatus. But I just read the blurb for What Once Was Perfect and I found myself really looking forward to reading the story.

Heading home always stirs up mixed emotions for Laney Calhoun. Twelve years ago she left for graduate school, broken-hearted. She’s found professional success, but positive personal relationships have proved elusive. Running into her ex-boyfriend fans flames she thought long extinguished, and causes a renewed interest in love. Not with Kyle, of course. Never again. But as sparks fly and items of clothing disappear, she scrambles to keep her emotions in check.

Kyle Nixon let Laney slip away once. Their chemistry together is undeniable, but steamy sex is not enough to convince her to let him back into her heart. Even if she did trust him again, her medical career is five hundred kilometers away from the hometown that he loves, and the life that he once chose over her.

"This could be our every night. This could be our forever."

Laney Calhoun is afraid of love and relationships. She's afraid of feeling period. The hurt from her break-up with Kyle Nixon has left her with enough hang ups and fear for her to put her heart on the line. So for the twelve years since they broke up, she's never let anyone close and was determined to keep it that way until she sees Kyle again when she visits for the holidays and they reunite.

Kyle and Laney knew that what they lost was the greatest love of their lives but they had too much stuff keeping them from getting back together. Kyle is afraid that the distance between them will ultimately end any relationship they might have with Laney working in Chicago and him staying in Wardham and Laney is still too hurt to dare open up completely to Kyle. But even with all their internal conflicts, their attraction to each other is undeniable and even twelve years later sparks are still flying.  

I adore the-one-that-got-away stories because there's much more depth and intensity in the character's emotions when you had to watch that one person who meant the most to you walk away. It doesn't hurt either that the author makes really steamy scenes. I love the straightforwardness of the story in the sense that it focuses on how both Laney and Kyle overcome whatever is keeping them apart instead of adding more complications and angst to it (I originally thought the author might add a love triangle and I hate those). Their love story is also more believable because the characters both have depth and the author told the dealing-with-emotional-baggage part very well that the love aspect isn't just shoved down our throats, you actually really feel it. And Laney didn't have to be weak or a push over to finally let Kyle in, so extra browny points for that. And oh, I also love (I can't stop using that word here) how even the minor characters and adorable. The author makes Pilates sound fun and Max and  Connor are adoble! I wish I had nephews like that. 

Overall this was a very nice read and I'd definitely recommend it. And apparently its a series, so I can't wait to read the coming books!!