The Memory of You by Jamie Beck
Published by Montlake Romance on October 30, 2018
Genres: Domestic Life, Literature & Fiction, Women’s Fiction
Pages: 364
Format: ARC
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When Steffi Lockwood returns to Sanctuary Sound to start over, she has no idea she’ll also get a second chance with her first love.
Steffi Lockwood has survived more than most. Recovering from an assault, she returns to her coastal Connecticut hometown to rebuild her life the best way she knows how: with her hands. But starting a remodeling business with one longtime friend puts her in the middle of a rift with another. Worse, being hired by her ex-boyfriend’s mother forces her to confront old regrets.
Public defender Ryan Quinn wasn’t shocked when his wife left him, but he was floored when she abandoned their daughter. With his finances up in the air, the newly single dad returns to his childhood home in Sanctuary Sound. The last person he expects, or wants, to see working on his family house is Steffi Lockwood—his first love who shattered his heart.
Although Steffi and Ryan are different people now, dormant feelings rekindle. But when Steffi’s secrets begins to surface, will it bring them together…or tear them apart for good?
The Memory of You is the first book in Jamie Beck’s Sanctuary Sound series, and by the looks of it, we are going to want to read all of the books in this series!
Stefanie, Claire and Peyton are lifelong friends who have tragedies in their lives that affect each of them differently and affect their friendships as well. This first book deals with Stefanie “Steffi” Lockwood and Ryan Quinn’s story. They were childhood sweethearts, first loves, but when Steffi hurt Ryan, they went their separate ways.
Ten years later, readers learn that Ryan had married another woman and they had a child, but as they are divorcing, he has returned to their hometown until the divorce is final. Steffi has returned home to Sanctuary Sound too, she’s starting a construction/renovation/decorating business with her best friend, Claire. As Steffi is hired to do work at Ryan’s mothers house and she spends time with him again, Steffi realizes she wants a second chance with Ryan but Ryan isn’t sure that is possible. He protects his heart — and his daughter, Emmy’s too — from being hurt once again. Can they possibly have a second chance at love?
There is a lot going on in this book, but I feel Ms. Beck realistically deals with each of the characters and their situations. I felt that the story itself was full of relevant themes that will speak to a lot of people out there dealing with life today. The story flowed with a nice even pace and provided readers with alternate points of view between Ryan and Steffi, which helped in making the story believable.
As an added plus, there’s an excerpt from the next book in the series, Promise of Us, so that readers can look forward to returning to Sanctuary Sound once again when it is released in the spring of 2019!
Besides being a fellow Steeler’s fan, National bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold more than two million copies. She is a Booksellers’ Best Award and National Readers’ Choice Award finalist, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly (including a starred review), and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing novels, she enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah.
Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family. When she’s not not writing, you can find her dancing around her kitchen while cooking, and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah.
Connect with Ms. Beck on social media ~
WEBSITE // FACEBOOK // TWITTER // INSTAGRAM // GOODREADS
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I am posting this review as part of the BookSparks Fall Reading Challenge 2018 (FRC#2018).
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