Sitting squarely between 3 and 4 stars for me, the best part of this suspenseful romance is its unpredictable storyline. I’ve read amnesia romances before, but never has one played out quite like this one – and that definitely kept me on my toes. I liked the teases and the guessing, and it certainly gets pretty angsty at times. I felt for this heroine (for losing her memory) as much as I felt for the hero (for having to hide his feelings). The “help me remember” situation got unnecessarily complicated and there were several things that left me scratching my head, but I liked the originality. Personally, I think this could’ve benefited from some flashbacks to showcase why this couple is right together; their relationship takes a backseat to the amnesia AND the drama, so it was left feeling very underdeveloped. Sure, I could feel the heartache seeping out of our hero, but I needed more swoon to build up the romance. Still an interesting series starter, and I was curious to see how it would all play out.
If you want the full experience, then I suggest going in blind. I listened to the audio version exclusively for the first chunk of the story, just so I wouldn’t spoil it for myself while trying to piece things together, lol. Essentially, the story follows Brielle, a woman who wakes up to discover that she’s been unconscious for several days and has blocked out the memories of the last three years. Unfortunately, she’s the only witness to her brother’s murder, and those memories are essential to catching the killer. For that reason, Brielle’s loved ones have been instructed not to tell her anything about the last three years – she needs to remember for herself. And a lot can change over the course of three years, it seems. The good news is that her brother’s three best friends are by Brielle’s side, and they’ll support her while she works to figure things out.
This part’s going to get vaguely spoilery, so that’s your warning. Brother’s best friend romances typically go either really well or really poorly for me, depending on the couple’s history. I think Brielle’s love story would’ve bugged me if it was executed in the typical way (her guy used to be an emotionally unavailable manhoe, and she’s been crushing on him for years), but this is almost like book two in a duet. They’re already in love when the book begins… Brie just doesn’t know that. For that reason, you can feel the angst once we get the hero’s perspective, and it made for a very interesting dynamic. Frustrating, but interesting. I loved that our hero is so dedicated and loyal; you can really feel the love from him. The memory stuff was too convoluted and kinda repetitive though, so I wish there had been more time spent on Brie falling in present day. Suspense lovers are likely to enjoy the mysterious elements, and it does a good job of revealing things a step at a time. I certainly didn’t love this, but it made for an interesting read – and it’s got me curious about the rest of the series of interconnected standalones.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MueRPj
Audio Note:
The audio was good! It’s dual narration, with Zachary Webber and Andi Arndt. Neither one tops my list of favorite narrators, but they’re both easy to listen to and right for the tone. The format also worked because I couldn’t be a sneaky little reader and jump ahead to get some answers (because I’m bad like that). The story lends itself perfectly to audio. This also made a good workday listen, with a slow burn romance and just a hint of steam. Not many uncomfortable moments if you’re in the office, lol. The runtime is also ideal for a workday, especially if you speed it up just a little. I’ve got no complaints about the audio, it was good.
Audiobook: https://amzn.to/3HmDCex
Blurb:
New York Times bestselling author Corinne Michaels brings you a new small-town, brother’s best friend romance.
In one second, my life disappeared.
My past. My memories. My future.
The only certainty I have from the last three years is that my older brother is dead, and I am the only eyewitness.
In order to protect the case, the lawyers demand that no one give me any information about my life . . . I must remember on my own. My only help comes from my brother’s best friend and world-renowned investigative reporter, Spencer Cross.
He has no idea how many nights I’ve spent dreaming of his name—and his body—next to mine.
Now we’re a team and our goal is to recover my memories and retrace my past. But each day we spend together, he’s looking at me as more than his friend’s little sister and I find it harder to want my old life back. Instead I’m wishing for a new one–with him. His kiss feels like home. His arms make me feel safe, and I never want this to end.
As my memories return, forcing me to face my future, everything falls apart… especially when I find an engagement ring hidden in my apartment. I have no idea who gave it to me, or what it means about my past.
I may have asked Spencer to help me remember, but now I wish I could forget.
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MueRPj
About the Author:
Corinne Michaels is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author of romance novels. Her stories are chock full of emotion, humor, and unrelenting love, and she enjoys putting her characters through intense heartbreak before finding a way to heal them through their struggles.
Corinne is a former Navy wife and happily married to the man of her dreams. She began her writing career after spending months away from her husband while he was deployed–reading and writing were her escapes from the loneliness. Corinne now lives in Virginia with her husband and is the emotional, witty, sarcastic, and fun-loving mom of two beautiful children.
Connect with Corinne
Website: http://corinnemichaels.com
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