Review: Remember Me by Lara Van Hulzen

Unexpected Twist

It’s been a long shift in ER for Tess Jansenn. It gets longer when her last patient is her ex-fiance, the man who left her a week before their wedding, leaving only a note to explain his reasons. Now he’s back, but he’s got amnesia and can’t remember anything, not even his own name. Ben is frustrated that he can’t remember anything, but is attracted to the tiny nurse, and overcome with the desire to protect her after an accident—or was it?

There were plenty of secrets, which always make for a good plot. Tess is obviously keeping one huge secret from Ben: that she knows who he is. Amnesiac Ben obviously isn’t keeping any secrets, because he has no memories, but hidden behind the amnesia is the real Ben, who does have secrets … like why he left Tess, and why he now seems to have a different name. One thing neither of them can hide is their chemistry, but that’s not enough to base a relationship on, especially when Tess knows she’s hiding Ben’s past from him.

I started Remember Me thinking it was going to be a straightforward romance, but was pleased to find it turn into more of a romantic suspense plot as we learn why Ben abandoned Tess (after all, I’m a romantic suspense fan). The plot was well-constructed with good pacing with several excellent plot twists, and the writing was very good—more than good enough to keep me engaged throughout.

I liked all the characters including the minor characters of Aimee (Tess’s sister) and Dane (Ben’s best friend), who were nicely set up to be the lead couple in Get To Me, the second book in the Men of Honor series, published on 14 April. It looks just as good!

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

Review: Best Forgotten by Paula Vince

A young man wakes up in hospital remembering nothing about who he is or how he came to be running through the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night, into the path of an oncoming car. The police soon identify him as Courtney Lockwood, return him home and reunite him with his family, but there Courtney finds that the person he feels he is inside doesn't have anything in common with the person he appears to have forgotten, and whose bedroom and life he is now inhabiting. As Courtney begins to explore his life with the help of his girlfriend, Jasmine, he uncovers old issues about his relationship with his father and raises more questions when the police find his best friend has disappeared. Where is Joel? Who is after Courtney, and why?

Best Forgotten explores the question of how much our backgrounds have made us who we are. If you could remember nothing about your past, if you could start afresh, would you be the same person? Vince shows us convincingly how our past is a vital component of the people we have become - but that we do have the ability to change if change is what we want. (And you don't have to have a near-death experience and a case of amnesia.)

I have always enjoyed amnesia stories - the idea is one that captures my imagination, and this is one of the most thought-provoking I have read. It also has an intriguing plot with elements of suspense and romance, strong characters and an underlying Christian theme (without being at all 'preachy'). Best Forgotten is  a book I will enjoy reading again (as I have enjoyed all the Paula Vince books I have read), and a book I can certainly recommend.

Paula Vince lives with her husband and three children in the Adelaide Hills, the setting for her four adult novels.  She has also written the Quenarden trilogy for younger readers.