Susan F. (scoutmomskf) - , reviewed on 4/2/2019 + 2617 more book reviews

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.

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