Forget Me Not - Brenda Jackson (HQN - Mar 2019)

Series: Catalina Cove (Book 2)

Ashley Ryan never doubted that her husband, Devon, was the love of her life. Even now, three years after Devon died in a car wreck while on a business trip, Ashley can’t bring herself to move on. But when her girlfriends surprise her with a getaway to beautiful Catalina Cove, Louisiana, she gets the shock of her life when she encounters a man -- bearded, more rugged than before, but unmistakably her Devon.

“Ray Sullivan” moved to this quiet coastal town after waking up in a hospital with amnesia. Haunted by a life he can’t remember, he’s built walls around his heart and a quiet life running boat tours -- a life that includes no recollection of Ashley, a woman he suddenly finds himself irresistibly drawn to.

Doctors warn Ashley of the danger in forcing her husband to remember the past. Though she longs to tell him the truth, she finds herself falling all over again for a man she knows may never truly come back to her. In this place where healing and second chances are just a heartbeat away, can love take root once more?

Good book and a different kind of second chance story. In the prologue, we were introduced to Devon and Ashley, a young couple that was very much in love. They were also professionally driven, determined to have their careers well established before moving on to the next step of expanding their family. I loved the phone conversation between them, as they have succeeded in their five-year plan, and plan to celebrate their anniversary. Close to being stranded by a snowstorm, Devon took the risk of driving to a different airport, hoping to beat the storm out. Unfortunately, his good spirits led him to make a disastrous mistake.

Three years later, Ashley was still grieving Devon's death. She had no interest in being with another man, something that created a great deal of tension with her mother. Ashley's best friends gifted her with two weeks in Catalina Cove for her birthday, the perfect opportunity for Ashley to escape her mother's obnoxious matchmaking attempts. Her life took a bizarre twist when she encountered a man who was a dead ringer for her late husband.

Ray Sullivan made a few brief appearances in the first book, Love in Catalina Cove. He was a quiet man who pretty much kept to himself. Sawyer confided in Vashti that Ray had come to the Cove to start his life over after waking up in the hospital with no memory of his past. Ray was determined to stay away from women, worried that he had a wife and family somewhere, and not wanting to risk hurting two women if his memories returned.

I ached for Ashley during her first encounter with Ray. He rescued her from drowning, and even through her shock, she recognized him immediately as her Devon. She was hurt and confused when it became apparent that he did not remember her. Ray had no idea that he knew her, but he couldn't deny that he was strangely drawn to her. It was sweet to see how he felt he had to stick around and make sure she was okay. Honestly, I was amazed that Ashley didn't blurt out the truth right away in her shock. The scene where she confided in Vashti was emotional, as was seeing Sawyer and Kaegan fill her in on how Ray ended up in Catalina Cove. I loved how she was able to convince them of the truth, and that they were willing to help her. I was a bit leery of the doctor's advice about not telling Ray the truth right away.

I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Ashley and Ray. In spite of his attraction, Ray tried to stick to his plan of not becoming involved with Ashley. He tried to convince himself that they could just be friends. That belief didn't make it past his first spontaneous kiss. Ashley's goal was to make Ray fall in love with her all over again, at which point she would confess the truth. As they spent more and more time together, I liked seeing Ray come out of his self-imposed shell. Desperate to get closer to him, Ashley proposed a fling, hoping that the added connection would help get past Ray's walls. Though Ray continued to attempt to deny his feelings, it was clear to the people who knew him that he was falling hard for her. There were some pretty funny conversations between Ray and his friends as they tried to make him admit how he felt. Meanwhile, Ashley spent the time getting to know Ray, who had undergone some changes with the loss of his memory. She couldn't help but compare the two sides of the man she loved, which led to some awkward moments. It was interesting how she began to see Ray as himself, not just a version of Devon. She also suffered some guilty feelings the longer she kept the secret, and I kept waiting to see how it would work out. I ached for Ray and his feelings of betrayal when the truth came out, and for Ashley who feared that she had lost the man she loved all over again. I liked the support that both of them received from their friends, especially Sawyer's and Kaegan's attempts to get through to Ray. The ending was deeply emotional as Ray had to face his fears and insecurities before he could put it all behind him. I liked his big moment with Ashley as he exposed his vulnerability and confessed his feelings. There was a terrific little twist at the end that I'm looking forward to (hopefully) seeing more of in the next book.

As in the first book, I loved the dynamics of the various relationships. This book takes place a year or two after the first book. I enjoyed catching up with Vashti and Sawyer and seeing where they are now. I liked how quickly Ashley became friends with both Vashti and Bryce, both of whom provided support for Ashley as she dealt with the ups and downs of her relationship with Ray. I loved the interactions between Sawyer, Kaegan, and Ray. There were strong friendships that not only provided support in times of trouble but also allowed them to point out idiocy when they saw it. The relationship between Kaegan and Bryce continued to be a puzzle, and I am very curious about how they have reached this point.

 

Love in Catalina Cove - Brenda Jackson (HQN - Nov 2018)

Series: Catalina Cove (Book 1)

In the wake of a devastating teen pregnancy that left her childless and heartbroken, Vashti Alcindor left Catalina Cove, Louisiana, with no plans to return. Now, over a decade later, Vashti reluctantly finds herself back in her hometown after inheriting her aunt’s B and B. Her homecoming gets off to a rocky start when the new sheriff, Sawyer Grisham, pulls her over for speeding, and things go downhill from there.

The B and B, a place she’d always found refuge in when it seemed like the whole world was against her, has fallen into disrepair. When a surprising benefactor encourages Vashti to reopen the B and B, Vashti embraces a fresh start, and soon old hurts begin to fade as she makes new memories with the town -- and its handsome sheriff…

But some pasts are too big to escape, and when a bombshell of a secret changes everything she thought was true, Vashti is left reeling. With Sawyer and his teenage daughter determined to see her through the storm, though, she’s learning family isn’t always a matter of blood -- sometimes it’s a matter of heart.

This was a terrific start to the new series. Vashti left her hometown behind years earlier, determined to escape the heartbreak and memories that were there. However, the recent death of her aunt left Vashti as the owner of her aunt's inn, and she reluctantly returned to take of selling the place. On the way into town, she had a bit of a confrontation with the sheriff, who pulled her over for speeding. Though neither made a good impression on the other, under the antagonism there were sparks of attraction.

Vashti was determined to get in and out of Catalina Cove as quickly as possible. She had loved and lost her first boyfriend there when she got pregnant and he didn't stand by her. Because she refused to name the father of her baby, she drew a lot of gossip and condemnation from the townspeople. Her parents, always concerned with the way things reflected on them, sent her away to have the baby and tried to talk her into giving it up for adoption. Though she planned to raise the baby herself, her son died, leaving her heartbroken. More recently, she divorced her cheating husband, and has declared herself "two and through" in the relationship department. When the sale of the inn fell through, Vashti was surprised to receive an offer to help her keep and reopen the inn, giving her the chance to make a fresh start.

Sawyer moved to Catalina Cove with his teenage daughter, Jade, after the death of his wife. After time in both the military and the FBI, Sawyer was ready for a more laid-back career. It would also give him more time with his daughter. Jade was the focus of his life, and he had no plans for another serious relationship, much to the dismay of the single women in town. I loved seeing the two of them together. Sawyer is a terrific dad, and it's obvious that he and Jade have an amazing relationship.

I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between Vashti and Sawyer. The sparks were there from the moment they met, but each had a different way of looking at them. Vashti was more than willing to indulge in some discrete time together. On the other hand, Sawyer was intrigued and mesmerized by Vashti and wanted to see if there could be something more. Though initially resistant. Vashti eventually came around, and they began to see each other regularly. I really liked how the initial attraction morphed into friendship and then into something deeper. Both Vashti and Sawyer had dealt with loss in their lives, which made them more empathetic to each other when they shared their stories. I loved that Sawyer was such a rock for Vashti when a shocking secret was revealed. His calm and logical way of looking at things helped Vashti sort through everything she felt. There was a point near the end where their faith in each other was badly shaken, but once again, cool heads and logical thinking brought clarity. I did think that Sawyer needed to grovel just a little more than he did to make up for his actions, but that was a small thing in the overall picture. I loved seeing them overcome all the challenges and find happiness together.

Jade was one of my favorite characters. She was a teenager who was secure in the love of her family, which gave her the confidence to be herself. I loved her relationship with Sawyer and how they could talk about anything. Their conversation about friends with benefits had me laughing out loud at Sawyer's surprise and shock. It was sweet to see the way that Jade worried about her dad being lonely. I liked how Vashti connected with Jade, outside of the relationship with Sawyer. I especially enjoyed Jade's job interview with Vashti. Jade has a kind and caring heart, and I loved how she called Sawyer for help when she saw Vashti crying. Jade's maturity and compassion were in full force at the end.

A considerable part of the story was about Vashti's past and the effect it had on her life. The pregnancy itself and her decision not to reveal the father put her at odds with her parents and the entire town. Those attitudes were what drove her away from Catalina Cove, and made her reluctant to return. It was only her good memories of her aunt and her times at the inn that made her receptive to the suggestion of reopening the inn. Vashti was surprised by the changes in attitudes once she was back, which made her decision that much easier. However, she received the opposite of support from her parents, who were not pleased with her plans. That attitude became even worse after Vashti talked to an old friend who dropped a bombshell about Vashti's pregnancy and baby. The more I saw of Vashti's parents, the more I saw them as people who were far more worried about other's opinions than about the right thing to do. As Vashti searched for the truth about what really happened sixteen years earlier, Sawyer's support was vital. Though some of the truth was made apparent early on, there were several twists to the story that came as a surprise, including one enormous bombshell at the end. 

Having read this first book in the series, I can't wait to read the others. Fortunately, I already have the second book "Forget Me Not," which is the story of the mysterious Ray Sullivan. I am also looking forward to finding out more about Kaegan and Bryce, who seem to have a history that no one knows about. I expect some fireworks in their book.