Here's what I love about Catherine Anderson's books:
sweet love stories; interesting settings and scenarios; connecting stories that refer back to previous novels and characters; humorous situations; a crisis or misunderstanding that never fails to draw a tear; a satisfying happy ending.
Here's what's starting to annoy me about Catherine Anderson's books:
themes of a specific medical problem that sometimes takes precedence over character and personality (in My Sunshine, it was Laura's battle over brain damage and aphasia); Anderson's insensitive descriptions p. 25.."Isaiah was still struggling with the fact that this was Laura Townsend...he had envisioned a dumpy, shuffling individual with a vacuous expression and a bottom lip perpetually shiny with drool." How can she write things like this? How did this get past her editor?
Anderson also has an outmoded, 1950's view of the man/woman relationship. ..."Someone like Laura shouldn't have had to settle. Granted, she was handicapped, and any man who married her would have to compensate for her shortcomings. But there would be trade-offs. Laura would probably enjoy being a stay-at-home mom...There were a lot of men, himself included, who would feel damned lucky to come home every night to a hot meal on the stove and a beautiful woman like Laura to serve it." Where is she coming from with this stuff???What planet is she on???This type of thinking and philosophy runs as an undercurrent through most of Anderson's latest books and I can't be the only reader who's teeth are gritted as they read it.
Otherwise, My Sunshine is her standard good read. ( )

This was my 2nd reading of My Sunshine. The character of Laura Townsend still elicits great sympathy from me. Catherine Anderson protrays a handicapped person with great understanding and insight. Brain-damaged, as an adult in the midst of a brillant career,Laura is left with halting speech extremely damaged self esteem and supports her self as a domestic worker/dog walker. Isiah Coulter,vet, is urged to hire her by his mother who is sympathic to Laura's plight. As Laura finds her way into the world of work again the reader is rooting for her to succeed.This story is written with compassion and understanding of those who struggle to fit in and make a life for themselves,against the odds.

This is an interesting read. It deals sensitively with a skull injury and actually has moments of the main character being very frustrated and coping as best she can without being smarmy about it.

Vet Isiah Coulter agrees to take on Laura Townsend as a kennel keeper as a favour to his mom. A car accident left her with aphasia, and occasionally she's trapped in a place where her intellect is let down by her brain. Before the accident she was on the fast track to a high-flying job but now she has to face up to the fact that kennel keeper may be as high as she can go. Underneath it all she's a lovely person and it's that that makes this a great story.

Yes sometimes she's a little too perfect, but it's those shining moments where you can see her frustration creap in that make this an interesting read. I enjoyed it. However I can see where some people would be annoyed that Catherine Anderson seems to be doing a "disability theme" and using it for a romance series. ( )

Five years ago, Laura Townsend's life was nearly destroyed when a head injury impaired her ability to use language and forced her to abandon a brilliant career. Despite her difficulties, however, she never lost her vivacious spirit or sunny disposition. Now she has a great new job at an animal clinic - and a handsome new boss who fills her heart with longing. But veterinarian Isaiah Coulter deserves a woman who can meet all his needs. Battling her feelings, Laura decides that sometimes a woman must love a man enough to walk away....

When Isaiah first hired Laura, he wasn't expecting her to be such a breath of fresh air. Impressed by her healing touch - and captivated by her dazzling beauty - Isaiah finds himself falling in love. And he'll move heaven and earth to convince Laura that she's the woman he needs...the only one who can bring joy to all his days.

Veterinarian Isaiah Coulter agrees to hire Laura Townsend as a kennel keeper at his clinic despite her disability, the result of brain damage she sustained after a diving accident five years earlier. They develop a close friendship, with both of them fighting deeper feelings. Slow moving in places, but interesting characters. ( )