baileyemma25's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
sarah_thebooknerd's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
4.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
This book was so good. I have never really read a book with amnesia as the issue of the couple being separated. The soulmate aspect of this situation was beautiful. I could not imagine thinking my husband is dead for 3 years and randomly run into your spouse but they don't remember who you are. OMG Ashley is amazing because I have no idea how she did that. I also liked the town and meddling that happens.
CW: car accident, mugging, near drowning, sex content
2 🌶️
This book was so good. I have never really read a book with amnesia as the issue of the couple being separated. The soulmate aspect of this situation was beautiful. I could not imagine thinking my husband is dead for 3 years and randomly run into your spouse but they don't remember who you are. OMG Ashley is amazing because I have no idea how she did that. I also liked the town and meddling that happens.
CW: car accident, mugging, near drowning, sex content
Content Warnings
Graphic: Car accident and Sexual content
Moderate: Death and Gun violence
iffles's review
4.0
I read this without reading the first book, and it was totally fine, though it did hint at what the next book will be about, so I'll probably end up reading the entire series at some point.
The book starts out as Ashley and Devon Ryan are about to celebrate their 5 year anniversary. It's a milestone for them, as they decided to give themselves 5 years to focus on building their careers first before starting a family, and now they're both ready. It's clear from the beginning how much they love and adore each other, and how excited Devon - currently on a business trip - is to get home to his wife. But tragedy occurs on the trip home and Ashley is informed that her husband has careened off a bridge and is now dead.
Three years later, Ashley's girlfriends gift her a trip to Catalina Cove, to help heal the wounds she's still suffering from because of Devon's death. So imagine her surprise when she runs into a man who is unmistakably Devon. Only now he goes by "Ray Sullivan".
Ray woke up from a coma 3 years ago with no memory of his past. He moved to the quiet town because of a job opportunity on the water, which he feels he is drawn to. Afraid that he has a wife and children he will one day remember, he has refused to get involved with any women, but when Ashley Ryan enters his life, he feels inexplicably drawn to her in a way he can't seem to resist. Why Ashley?
Ashley, after taking to Ray's doctors, knows it can be dangerous for his recover if she were to try to force him to remember his past, so she tries to start up a relationship with the man she loves without telling him their real relationship.
It's a classic romance trope, of course, but I loved it. Ashley, Ray/Devon, and the other members of the community of Catalina Cove are easy to like, and honestly, I was looking for a brainless "beach read", and I got just that. There's this feeling of "this is not going to go well" if Ray eventually remembers the truth - will he feel deceived by Ashley? How will he react? And Ray is not Devon, will Ashley learn to love Ray as Ray instead of the man she knew as her husband?
For what this book is, I completely and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was just the "palette cleanser" I needed!
The book starts out as Ashley and Devon Ryan are about to celebrate their 5 year anniversary. It's a milestone for them, as they decided to give themselves 5 years to focus on building their careers first before starting a family, and now they're both ready. It's clear from the beginning how much they love and adore each other, and how excited Devon - currently on a business trip - is to get home to his wife. But tragedy occurs on the trip home and Ashley is informed that her husband has careened off a bridge and is now dead.
Three years later, Ashley's girlfriends gift her a trip to Catalina Cove, to help heal the wounds she's still suffering from because of Devon's death. So imagine her surprise when she runs into a man who is unmistakably Devon. Only now he goes by "Ray Sullivan".
Ray woke up from a coma 3 years ago with no memory of his past. He moved to the quiet town because of a job opportunity on the water, which he feels he is drawn to. Afraid that he has a wife and children he will one day remember, he has refused to get involved with any women, but when Ashley Ryan enters his life, he feels inexplicably drawn to her in a way he can't seem to resist. Why Ashley?
Ashley, after taking to Ray's doctors, knows it can be dangerous for his recover if she were to try to force him to remember his past, so she tries to start up a relationship with the man she loves without telling him their real relationship.
It's a classic romance trope, of course, but I loved it. Ashley, Ray/Devon, and the other members of the community of Catalina Cove are easy to like, and honestly, I was looking for a brainless "beach read", and I got just that. There's this feeling of "this is not going to go well" if Ray eventually remembers the truth - will he feel deceived by Ashley? How will he react? And Ray is not Devon, will Ashley learn to love Ray as Ray instead of the man she knew as her husband?
For what this book is, I completely and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was just the "palette cleanser" I needed!
turtleberry's review
5.0
Wonderful! This story had me just from meeting Ray in the first book. I loved Ashley and her determination. The ending had me a little stressed for them both but I loved it!
ezichinny's review against another edition
4.0
❤️❤️❤️❤️½
This story was really sweet. Ashley’s husband Devon and love of her life was presumed “dead” on their six year anniversary. After three years of grieving his death, she sees Devon at vacation resort.
What would you do to get your amnesiac husband back? That was Ashley’s dilemma. I love that she consulted a doctor and cares about his mental health before she embarked on her plan. She talked to the people who now him now as well as his new best friend to make sure she got to know and respected the person he is now. It was written and done well.
I really enjoy the way Brenda Jackson makes her characters so relatable. It feels like you actually know them and they are likable people. I would have loved to know more about the mother daughter relationship as I wanted to understand them more.
Overall, I loved this story!
*Special Thanks to Netgalley for the E-ARC
This story was really sweet. Ashley’s husband Devon and love of her life was presumed “dead” on their six year anniversary. After three years of grieving his death, she sees Devon at vacation resort.
What would you do to get your amnesiac husband back? That was Ashley’s dilemma. I love that she consulted a doctor and cares about his mental health before she embarked on her plan. She talked to the people who now him now as well as his new best friend to make sure she got to know and respected the person he is now. It was written and done well.
I really enjoy the way Brenda Jackson makes her characters so relatable. It feels like you actually know them and they are likable people. I would have loved to know more about the mother daughter relationship as I wanted to understand them more.
Overall, I loved this story!
*Special Thanks to Netgalley for the E-ARC
ssejig's review
4.0
Ashley Ryan and her husband Devon have made it through some sticky spots in their marriage. Five years in, they are just as much in love as they were when they married. And then Devon dies when his car drives into a river during a snowstorm.
Three years later, Ashley's friends buy her a two week trip to a Catalina Cove B&B. It's there that she sees Ray Sullivan.
Three years ago Ray barely escaped death. He was found unconscious and beaten, and spent almost a month in the hospital before he woke up with no memory of who he was before. His psychiatrist had a friend in Catalina Cove who was willing to take in a man with no past. Ray has lived there ever since, building a new life for himself. He feels and instant connection to Ashley but assumes that's because he saves her life when she gets knocked over the boardwalk.
Ashley decides to stay and build a life with the man her husband is now (yay!) but that decision makes Ray act like a jerk later on (boo!) but he figures himself out and we get our HEA.
Three years later, Ashley's friends buy her a two week trip to a Catalina Cove B&B. It's there that she sees Ray Sullivan.
Three years ago Ray barely escaped death. He was found unconscious and beaten, and spent almost a month in the hospital before he woke up with no memory of who he was before. His psychiatrist had a friend in Catalina Cove who was willing to take in a man with no past. Ray has lived there ever since, building a new life for himself. He feels and instant connection to Ashley but assumes that's because he saves her life when she gets knocked over the boardwalk.
Ashley decides to stay and build a life with the man her husband is now (yay!) but that decision makes Ray act like a jerk later on (boo!) but he figures himself out and we get our HEA.
janjanjukebox's review
5.0
Forget Me Not by Brenda Jackson 384 pages
Catalina Cove #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Featuring: Sex - the detailed freaky kind, Amnesia, Small Towns, Rare Circumstances
Rating as a movie: NC-17 for sexual content
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐¾
Synopsis: A widowed woman goes on a vacation and discovers her husband is alive and suffering from amnesia.
My thoughts: This is the best book of the series so far. The dialogue that prevented Love in Catalina Cove from getting 5 stars has been improved. I really loved the story. I'm interested in where the next book goes. My only issue was the timeline from the previous book. I will most definitely be finishing this series.
Recommend to others?: Yes. Once again if you're looking for a steamier romance without stepping into erotica this is the book for you. If you like Robyn Carr but you're tired of reruns this series has some fresh ideas.
Catalina Cove #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Featuring: Sex - the detailed freaky kind, Amnesia, Small Towns, Rare Circumstances
Rating as a movie: NC-17 for sexual content
My rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐¾
Synopsis: A widowed woman goes on a vacation and discovers her husband is alive and suffering from amnesia.
My thoughts: This is the best book of the series so far. The dialogue that prevented Love in Catalina Cove from getting 5 stars has been improved. I really loved the story. I'm interested in where the next book goes. My only issue was the timeline from the previous book. I will most definitely be finishing this series.
Recommend to others?: Yes. Once again if you're looking for a steamier romance without stepping into erotica this is the book for you. If you like Robyn Carr but you're tired of reruns this series has some fresh ideas.
stephsromancebooktalk's review
5.0
4.5 Stars / 4 Steam Fans
Welcome back to Catalina Cove!! This story was hinted at in Love in Catalina Cove when you met Ray Sullivan who is a newcomer to Catalina Cove. This story begins by you meeting Ashley and her husband Devon, who are about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary until tragedy hits. Fast forward three years and Ashley's friends give her a two week vacation in Catalina Cove to assist her with her grief and a break from her overbearing matchmaking mother. Although this is a romance between a couple it is also a major girl power statement of finding yourself after a tragedy and taking your life back when you thought all was lost. I loved this story although I did find the middle a little slow but I wasn't so put off that I put the book down at any point. I can't WAIT for the third book in this series!!
This specific video review will be included in the February 2019 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.
Welcome back to Catalina Cove!! This story was hinted at in Love in Catalina Cove when you met Ray Sullivan who is a newcomer to Catalina Cove. This story begins by you meeting Ashley and her husband Devon, who are about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary until tragedy hits. Fast forward three years and Ashley's friends give her a two week vacation in Catalina Cove to assist her with her grief and a break from her overbearing matchmaking mother. Although this is a romance between a couple it is also a major girl power statement of finding yourself after a tragedy and taking your life back when you thought all was lost. I loved this story although I did find the middle a little slow but I wasn't so put off that I put the book down at any point. I can't WAIT for the third book in this series!!
This specific video review will be included in the February 2019 wrap-up.
For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.