Burying Water

Burying Water #1

by K.A. Tucker

The highly anticipated start of the “masterful” ( New York Journal of Books ) romantic suspense series from the beloved nationally bestselling author of Ten Tiny Breaths .Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Audiobook, Fiction, Mystery

368 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 7, 2014

About the author

K.A. Tucker writes captivating stories with an edge.

​

She is the internationally bestselling author of over thirty books, including Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and the Fate & Flame series, Until It Fades, Say You Still Love Me, and Keep Her Safe. Her books have been featured in national publications including USA Today, Globe & Mail, Suspense Magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Oprah Mag, and First for Women.

Ten Tiny Breaths, The Simple Wild, and A Queen of Thieves & Chaos were Goodreads Choice award nominees.

​K.A. Tucker lives outside of Toronto. When she's not writing books, you can find her reading recipes she'll never make or chasing rabbits away from her hostas.

Join Tucker's Troop on Facebook! >>
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Signup for her newsletter >> https://www.katuckerbooks.com/newslet...

Reviews

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Stars!!!



Burying Water is nothing like the last KA Tucker book I read (Five Ways to Fall), but it was equally as wonderful of a story.

What would it be like to wake up in a hospital bed. You have no idea where how you got there, or even who you are. Then you find out the extent of your horrific injuries. You’re lucky to be alive. That’s exactly what happened to our ‘Jane Doe’.



Thankfully, she has a compassionate doctor with a daughter for a nurse and a sheriff for a husband who take her under their wing. They treat her like family and try to help her heal. The Welles family is a godsend. They also have a son who lives in the big city, but visits on weekends. Jesse.



‘Jane Doe’ finally is released from the hospital. She still has no memories of her life and has no where to go. Thankfully, the Welle’s secluded and grouchy old neighbor, Ginny Fitzgerald lets her stay with her. She gets the chance to start over. To start fresh from a life she doesn’t remember but must have been traumatic. Not being able to stand the name ‘Jane’ any longer, she choses a new name. A new identity. She’s now ‘Water.’



Water slowly starts to make a life for herself in the small town of Sisters. As time goes on, she starts to get the smallest of glimpses into her former life. Little things, but nothing she can really piece together. Water finds a job, grows close to Ginny, who doesn’t let anyone in, and stays in touch with the Welles family. As more of her memories resurface, she becomes more confused. And then there is Jesse. The neighbor who has mostly stayed away from her. For some reason, she is drawn to Jesse. There is something about him. Something familiar… Even though she hasn’t spent much time with him, she senses there is something about him that she can trust.

Something tells me Jesse is the kind of guy that I can always count on. My gut must be telling me that I had someone just like him in my previous life. Someone I trusted.

The plot of Burying Water was complex and the story line a little twisted. I loved the dual pov. Jesse’s perspective from the past and ‘Water’s from the present. The past was leading up to the present and you just knew something big was getting ready to happen. I loved the originality of Water’s story. I’ve read about characters with amnesia before, but something about this story was just different in the best way.

Water was a great heroine- Resilient. That is the best word to describe her. And Jesse was amazing. I don’t want to go much into detail about his character- but I loved him! There were many incredible secondary characters as well. Jesse’s parents and sister were great. Even his friend Boone I liked most of the time. And of course, I had a soft spot for Ginny Fitzgerald.



K.A. Tucker can write. I’ve read every book of hers and she’s proven that time and time again. There was something special about this story- something different. It was fast paced, suspenseful, heart wrenching and the way everything was woven together was incredible. I loved the concept of starting fresh- rediscovering who you are. And watching how everything came to a close was wonderful. I was engrossed the entirety of Water’s story. This is definitely one I would recommend!

[jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

i sure do love a good romantic suspense! and although this may not be my favourite genre of KATs - i prefer her contemporary and even her fantasy stories a little bit more - this still has a lot of entertainment value.

the characters are pretty great. i was never annoyed by them, which is something that seems to happens to me a lot when it comes to suspense novels. lol. the connection between the two MCs feels honest and its a relationship i was rooting for from the beginning. and the fact that water couldnt remember any of it made me root for them that much more.

the writing has good pacing and the chapters alternating between past and present with different POVs is done pretty well. i will say that im not 100% sold on mafia plots in general - its not quite my thing - but i didnt mind it in this story.

so all in all, this first book definitely has me wanting to pick up the sequel and continue the series soon!

↠ 4 stars

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

And the truth pushed to the surface.
Like water, buried.

If you've read the Ten Tiny Breaths series, this book is NOTHING like that, but in the absolutely best possible way. I knew after only finishing the prologue that this was going to be one of those books that will leave me glued to the pages and devouring every word. And you know what? I was not even a little wrong. Burying Water is the perfect example of the incredible talent of K.A. Tucker as an author. She has take bits and pieces and flashbacks and has expertly woven it all together in a story that is captivating, suspenseful, and emotionally gripping. In short? I loved it.

Now I don't believe in fairy tales. Or at least, not in the happily-ever-afters that Disney brainwashed us all with."

Left for dead after a brutal attack that she is lucky to barely survive, "Jane Doe" wakes up with zero recollection of who she is and no memory of her past.

Short of a blurry flashback and a tattoo on her pelvis, she struggles with resurfacing her memories and wondering if she will even survive getting them back.

What if all those little bits that make up me get lost, overshadowed by one dark memory? My last memory, the one that made me want to forget everything else in the first place. Will I be able to escape the kind of damage that experience can cause?

Taken in by the reclusive old woman that lives on the nearby horse farm, Jane renames herself "Water" and begins to rebuild her life. She may not remember anything from her past, but a persistent feeling of familiarity whenever she catches the eye of Jesse, the mysterious man with the dark penetrating eyes that watches her from afar. Does she know him? Or does she simply wish she did?

Burying Water is told in constant flashbacks from past and present. The one thing that I truly loved is that the author separates the POVs in each one; with the past told only in Jesse's POV and the present being told in Water's. This was so intricately woven together that it actually made the story that much better. I am not usually a fan of constant flashbacks, but in the case here it was absolutely perfect.

Jesse is a character that you will fall for right away. You won't be able to help yourself. With every small bit that the author trickle feeds you regarding his past you will fall for him more and more.

Her breathing evens out, her heart beasts steadily against my side.
I absorb all of it.
As I fall fast and hard.

I really don't want to give you any more detail, as you simply must experience it for yourself and it's best to go into it as blind as you can. But what I can tell you is that this was a beautiful story or resilience and quiet strength. It's a tragic and emotionally gripping romance about two people that shouldn't have come together, and yet they did.

What do you want? Right now, from me," he whispers against my mouth.
I swallow against my ball of nerves. "I don't want to be afraid."

It's also an amazing story with an undercurrent of suspense that will leave you completely unable to set it down until the last page.

The mind, it can be a deceitful thing.
But it is no match for the heart.

If you're a fan of this author, I highly recommend this book. And if you haven't yet read anything by her, I guarantee you'll become a fan after reading this one.

**ARC courtesy of publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

For more reviews visit

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!



It’s a little odd for me to read a book and not post the review until weeks later. In this case, part of me just wanted to delay posting the inevitable truth: I didn’t really love this book. K.A. Tucker is one of my all-time favorite authors and a really cool lady – what she writes, I read. Though well written, Burying Water was a bit boring and I wasn’t invested in the story or characters. I’m rating this book 3.5 stars because there wasn’t anything substantially wrong with it, but then again, there wasn’t anything substantially amazing about it either.

***********************

This book certainly started off with a bang. The heroine wakes up in a hospital severely injured and on top of that, has no recollection of what happened to her or who she is. Renaming herself ‘Water’ for the little tattoo on her body, she’s offered a room at a large horse farm and starts to rebuild her life, but always aware that her present is temporary, completely contingent on whether or not she remembers her past.



Jesse Welles is her next door neighbor who’s super handy with cars. He’s also the one person who knows who she is and her past before being ‘Water.’ Though Water doesn’t recognize him from before, she feels at ease with him and instinctively knows that this man was important to her. As the days pass, Water remembers tidbits and gets flashbacks of events leading up to the day of her brutal ordeal, until finally, the entire truth surfaces.

***********************

I think I would’ve enjoyed this book more if it weren’t for the way it was set up. It’s written in alternating past/present scenes, with Water in the present and Jesse in the past. The mystery around Water’s past unfolds fairly quickly for the reader so that buries a lot of the suspense for me. I like it when the clues are subtly presented, not blatantly written out, and especially not as early as the 16% mark. And then the mystery itself I just didn’t like lonely abused trophy wife falls for the bad boy handyman. Not very original so it was predictable and didn’t hold my attention.

Don’t get me wrong, this book was really well-written and that aspect alone kept my interest. I did like how everything was resolved in the end and how the book focused on deeper meanings like the bonds of friendship, forgiveness, and second chances.



This book is indeed a very ambitious story that incorporates past/present shifts, dual POVs, and characters falling in love twice – perhaps it was just too much to tackle all in one book because in the end, nothing really stood out for me.

ARC provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Candace · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first K. A. Tucker book that I’ve read, even though I’ve had her Ten Tiny Breaths series lingering on my ‘To-Read’ shelf for quite a while. Now I know what I’ve been missing out on! This lady can tell a story!

Burying Water was emotional, angsty, and suspenseful. This was one of those stories that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, waiting for the other shoe to drop. When the inevitable finally happened, I still managed to be surprised at how things worked out. Yes, Ms. Tucker did a good job of not revealing all of her secrets until the end.

It would be hard to get into too much about the storyline and characters, without ruining this great story. I’ll just say that they were well-written and the story captured my attention immediately and held it until the very end. I think the blurb does a pretty good job of telling you what the book is about without giving it all away. I think I’d spoil it if I divulged more than that. Sorry.

It did take me a little patience to get used to flipping back and forth between present time and “then”, as much of the story is told through flashbacks. However, in the end, I could appreciate how this actually added to the story and allowed key parts to be revealed when it would further the storyline.

I know a lot of people can’t handle any abuse or violence, so be forewarned, there is abuse and violence in this book. Ditto for love triangles/cheating. If either of these themes is a “no-no” for you, then you probably aren’t going to like this book. If your mindset, like mine, is closer to “the more salacious, the better”, then you’ll probably really enjoy this one like I did.

Another side-note, I listened to the Audible version for a large part of the story, alternating between the Kindle version and the audiobook. The narration was great for this book. I've found that's hard to come by, so thought I'd mention it for those of you that listen as well as read.

[Jennifer Kyle · Rating 3 out of 5]

”If you wait long enough, the truth always finds its way. Just like that stream. Just like water. Alex is my truth.”



The above was my mood my entire read. Sadly, these things happen. The story didn’t wow me in the slightest. I didn’t feel the love connection, the past/present alternating povs to the big ending which was exactly what a reader expects and nothing more.

Alex is a young abused bride to a Russian mobster who falls for Jesse, a young mechanic. Alex finds herself in the hospital not even remembering her own name. Ginny her roommate in the hospital generously offers her a room on her farm which happens to be next door to Jesse’s family. While Alex struggles with not knowing who she is or where she is from she is still drawn to Jesse. The events of the past are revealed at the same time as her memory comes back, which for me was anticlimactic.

"The mind, it can be a deceitful thing. But it is no match for the heart."

K.A. Tucker writes beautifully and I’m a huge fan but this story fell flat for me. I did however enjoy the author’s creativity in the characters and the plot but not enough to recommend this one to friends.

[Amy | Foxy Blogs · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I heard this book takes place in Oregon I knew I wanted to read it. It wasn’t until I cracked open the book that I realized it dealt with a girl who has amnesia. I’m not a fan of books that deal with amnesia but this book is the exception. It's true, what they say about writing and storytelling skills making all the difference in a story -> if it will excel or fail. Not once during this story did I regret reading it. I was compelled to keep flipping pages.

One thing I appreciated about “Burying Water” is the way the story unfolded. It wasn’t a story about the reader discovering the mystery on how Water ended up with amnesia but instead a story of how she unravels the mystery behind what happened to her. As a reader we know ‘who’ and we have an idea of ‘why’ she has amnesia and our part in the story was to watch Jesse and Water fall in love twice. Once in the past and the other in the current time frame.

The story is told with Jesse narrating the past events and Water narrating the present events. One chapter we are in the past and the next we are in the present. The past and present povs transition smoothly.

Water is left for dead in a rural area in the high desert of Oregon. She’s been raped, beaten and disfigured. When she comes to in the hospital no one has claimed her. Abandoned and alone Water has to start a new life. One where she must trust the kindness of strangers. As a survivor she quickly learns to thrive in her new environment.



Burying Water is a darker tale about the power of love. For those movie buffs -> think of a darker, deeper love story of “50 First Dates” (circa 2004). I love that movie because it was funny and showed how far a guy in love would go for the girl he loved. Same basic concept but done in a darker love story where the guy is willing to risk it all for the one who has captured his heart. *happy sigh* I love stories like that where the hero is totally devoted to his girl. When you need a more complex love story read this one.

On a side note, if you come to Oregon to visit make sure to visit Sisters and Bend. While in Sisters earlier this summer we decided to take a family picture with the mountains in the background when a wildfire broke out (wildfires are common in Oregon). Plumes of brown smoke started filling the sky. The next thing we heard was the sirens from the firetrucks tearing down the streets. A total of 6,908 acre were on fire and the sky was a bright orange. Below is a cool wedding picture taken with the wildfire in the background. It made national news so you may have already seen it.



✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦✦
Release date: 10/7/2014
Pre-order | order: http://amzn.to/1rTFdNt

SERIES:

To find when the next one is being released click here.

**Complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

LIVE http://www.amazon.com/Burying-Water-N...

5 Stars



She survived rape, a brutal beating and being left for dead, but does it matter when she doesn’t even know who she is?



Since waking up she has learned a few things about herself: she knows she has a water tattoo on her hip, she is in Sisters, Oregon, and that no one is looking for her. Her saving grace is the compassionate family that saved her life: Dr. Meredith Alwood, her husband Sheriff Welles, and their daughter Amber who is a nurse at the hospital.

Months go by and ‘Jane’ is getting stronger, healing, and it is time for her to be discharged, but she has nowhere to go. Meredith suggests a women’s shelter or moving into the apartment above their neighbor Ginny’s house. ‘Jane’ only met the cantankerous elderly lady once, but believes it to be a better option then a women’s shelter.

Sheriff Welles helps ‘Jane’ get identification and she must pick a new name. She decides to go by Water, as it is the only link she has to her past. Soon Water is discharged from the hospital and moves into the apartment. Ginny and Water instantly form a bond. Ginny is one of my favorite characters in the book, I loved how she was protective of Water. She gave her a home, a place to belong, a life.



Water begins building a life for herself, she finds a job and sets up a routine helping Ginny around the ranch. She builds friendships with Amber and her coworker, Dakota. Ginny doesn’t approve of their neighbor’s son Jesse and she warns Water to stay away from that damn boy. Despite Ginny’s warnings Water finds something familiar about Jesse and is drawn to him.



Burying Water is the story of a girl who defies all odds and fights to survive. It is a story of epic, all consuming love that will break your heart and have you cheering for the couple. Jesse wants Water, he can’t help but want her, but he wants to her to be happy more. He wants her to find peace and get her second chance at life.

I loved how this story was told, it is in dual point of views with Jesse’s POV of the past and Water’s POV of the present. While it alternates from past and present, it is easy to follow.

I finished this book a few days ago and I cannot stop thinking about these characters. I feel like that is the mark of a good book, when you read as much as I do - typically a book a day, but you are still thinking about the characters you read about days ago. That is how I feel about Burying Water, this story ripped my heart out and I loved every second of it.



This story is beautiful, breathtaking, and I absolutely loved it. I highly recommend this one!

ARC kindly provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


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[Geri Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @45% so no rating!



I requested an ARC for this because I loved KA Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths series.



15% in, I got that sinking feeling that this book might not be for me. I was bored. Typically, I don't mind slow-moving plots. In fact, some of my fave reads started off slow. But alas, I didn't find the characters compelling enough to compensate for the slow-moving plot.



So better to cut my losses and call it a day. There are too many books on my TBR to dwell on something that I might end up hating. That said, I will still read another book from this author because despite what transpired here, I do love her other books.



An ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Pavlina Read more sleep less blog · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was waiting patiently until the moment it was finally released! While I enjoyed the beginning, which was so good and I was intrigued and wanted to read more..the mystery which was in the book started to reveal so soon and this made me loose my interest...But this wasn't my only issue.Another problem I had is that I didn't feel the connection between the characters and generally their romance.Also in some parts I felt bored..especially in the middle of the book.I almost DNF!!

[Glass · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

K.A. Tucker will release a new novel on October 7th and it is completely new story, not another Ten Tiny Breaths sequel. I was curious about Burying Water after I had read the book summary and even more so because she finally decided to write something new. I wasn't the biggest fan of her first novel, but this one was a pleasant surprise.

What can you expect? Definitely a darker story. That is probably what caught me of guard because I still expected it to be more like typical new adult romance. It was not. Told from dual point of view, Burying Water is a captivating tale about a girl who wakes up in the hospital with no memories about her past and identity. When they tell her about all horrible things that were done to her, she is not even sure that she wants to remember. I had to take few seconds to process that part - I am not sure that I would want to know too.
Water moves in with old lady called Ginny and tries to continue with her life. She is brave - it wasn't easy to believe to complete strangers and accept their help.
My favorite part of the story is Jesse's point of view. It was so different from Water's, you really feel as if you switch from seeing things trough the eyes of two different persons. He is not the best guy out there, but also he tries to do a right thing.

Burying Water will probably be a great choice for anyone who is reluctant to read new adult novels. It does have few cliches, but I don't think there is a book out there that is completely free of them. Just make sure that your schedule for the day is clear because you wouldn't be able to put down this book until the last page.

Review posted at Ja čitam a ti?

***Copy of this book was provided by publisher, Atria Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

[Alex is The Romance Fox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this author’s Ten Tiny Breaths Series so I was really looking forward to her Burying Water Series.

What can I say???

A magical love story. Being given a second chance in finding love and each other. Is it at all possible?

I loved this book. I loved the characters. I loved the writing. The plot.
The writing is absolutely extraordinary. I am not a usual fan of flashbacks of different POV’s…but the author does in such an incredible way that never distracted me from the story.

From beginning to the end it’s a compelling, dark, engrossing and totally heartbreaking story that keeps you wanting Water and Jesse to finding happiness together.

Water aka Alexandria was such a powerful character. How she overcomes the horror and pain in her life was something to be admired.

The deep emotion that draws the two characters together is stunning…

The characters including the secondary ones are just so real and engaging….I could not stop turning the pages wanting to know more about them and their lives.
Powerful, riveting and absolutely unforgettable. Such beautiful writing…

I just never wanted the story to end!!!
Please get this book. It’s AMAZING!!!!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 Resilient stars



Burying Water was just WOW! Bursting with emotion and feeling. This is a story that straddles the line between past and present, for without one there cannot be the other, and the past was pivotal in allowing us to relive their love not only once but twice. I can't put to words how this book made me feel, I was a mess of emotions, and to live through what they lived through made the ending all the more sweeter. It was beautiful in its sorrow and anguish, their second chance at a happily ever after was everything. It's a book you have to experience on your own, for my words won't do it any justice. K.A. Tucker's books have always full of emotion and thought, it is not just a book you read but one you feel. Highly recommended for my New Adult lover friends out there.

Copy kindly provided by Atria Books, via NetGalley, for an honest review.

***Quote above was taken from the version of the book I received and may differ from published edition.

[Sharon ∞❥ is an emotional book junkie ❥∞ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 - 4.5 ★'s

The Plot:

" The mind, it can be a deceitful thing. But it is no match for the heart."

Without your memory, does your heart still remember who it loves? That's the essence of what this story is all about.




The Characters:

Alex/Water is in an abusive relationship but the problem is that she's been willing to stay because she has a goal in mind. Things get muddled when Jesse comes into the picture.

We don't really get to know her very well as Alex because a lot of the past is told from Jesse's POV. That's because Alex is involved in a horrible event and loses her memory. She has a tattoo of the symbol for water so that's what she decides her new name will be. (I know...a little lame) Now, I really enjoyed Water. She has no past to base things on so she's very interested in everything and she takes joy in even the smallest things.



Jesse was intriguing right from the start. He has a reputation for being a bad boy but he's really misunderstood. I always love getting the guy's POV and it really helped to know where Jesse was coming from.



There's quite a few interesting secondary characters. I loved all of Jesse's family and Ginny who was quite the character. I'm interested in learning more about Jesse's friend and roommate, Lucas (aka Boone).


The Drama:

Like I said, Alex is involved in a horrible event and loses her memory. It's not too hard to figure some things out and I loved how all the layers were developed. I was expecting a lot more drama but I'm glad there wasn't.


The Steam:

There is definitely some steaminess and I especially love when there's a lot of emotions involved.




The Problems:

I'm not a big fan of the back and forth from past to present but in this case, I think it helped make connections. It's still a pain to read it that way but I understand why.


The Outcome:

I loved how things worked out even if I do think that Water took things a little too well. The epilogue was wonderful...especially the tree.




The Future:

The next book is Becoming Rain. I was hoping for a continuation of Jesse and Water but it looks like this book will be about Lucas (Jesse's friend). (not that I'm complaining!)




The Quotes:

♥ "I want to be like water, too. I want to be resilient, to go where I’m meant to go.”

♥ “He said the truth is like that water: it doesn't matter how hard you try to bury it; it'll always find some way back to the surface. It's resilient.”

♥ "I built the fire nice and hot. And opened all the vents.”

“God, why?” She kicks off the blanket with a scowl of confusion.

I shrug. “Best way to get a girl to strip.”

[Brandi]

DNF 40%

Unfortunately this one just wasn't working for me...
Maybe I'm still hung up on my last read, but I don't really think that's it. It's not that it was bad, just that the whole 'mystery' was revealed way to early, there was no suspense.Everything felt too predictable, so I could find to energy to keep trudging forward.

[NMmomof4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

Overall Opinion: I enjoyed the unique storytelling method that Ms. Tucker used for this story. It made it engaging and mysterious, because I was constantly trying to figure out what it all meant. I enjoyed the connections between the mcs, but I wanted a lot more in the end! I was extremely disappointed with the lack of closure, especially because I was feeling so invested in their story!! Because of the ending alone, I don't feel like I can justify higher than 3.5 stars for this rating :(

Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Water/Alex and Jesse's story. I can't say much without giving the story away, so I'll keep this vague. Water wakes up in the hospital with horrific injuries and no episodic memory. She is taken in by some amazing people in the small town, and starts to rebuild her life. The neighbor's son, Jesse, is instantly familiar but she doesn't u derstand why. This is their story of finding happiness and each other through the many obstacles in their way.

POV: This alternated between Water and Jesse's POV. It was unique in that we are taken from the past that is primarily told by Jesse's POV to the present that is primarily told by Water's POV. I thought it worked though. We get to experience these two initially falling for each other, and also get to experience them finding each other again.

Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well. I would've liked a less abrupt and thorough ending though.

Instalove:No, they take a while to develop stronger feelings.

H rating: 4.5 stars. Jesse. I liked him. He really cared for the h, but was in a bad situation to do anything about it.

h rating: 4 stars. Water/Alex. I liked her. I felt really bad for her situation, but I was happy that she was a fighter.

Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed. There is a side character that dies, but I didn't personally get emotional about it

Push/Pull: Yes The h pushed the H away at times, but also pursued him. The H also pursued the relationship at times.

Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.

Descriptive sex: Yes

Safe sex: Yes and no Mentions of condoms being used. I don't remember any mention of birth control, std statuses (other than the h's husband never used condoms), or the H's previous practices.

OW/OM drama: Yes The h is married to OM when she meets the H, and her husband is abusive - so this causes a lot of drama.

Sex scene with OW or OM: No (only vague comments)

Cheating: Yes The h is married to OM when she meets the H.

Separation:Yes They are separated quite a bit in the past and the present. For the past, the h was with her husband during their separations. For the present, there was no mention or suggestion of other partners during this time.

Possible Triggers: Yes Domestic violence/extreme violence/rape (off page - h), the h is married to OM (on page), loss of memory due to psychological trauma (on page), rape (off page - side character through memories), infidelity (on page), and unexpected pregnancy (on page).

Closure: This didn't have nearly enough closure for me! I realize this is the start of a series, so maybe their HEA comes in later books (not sure if they are even mentioned in the books that follow tbh)...but I wanted way more for the couple and a good solid HEA, especially after all the hardships the couple went through. I don't even think they share "I love yous" in the end!!

How I got it: It was on loan through my public library as an audiobook, and then the ebook I got through my scribed subscription.

Safety: This one is probably Not Safe for most safety gang readers

- Does have cheating
- Does Not have a descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
- Does have the h pushing the H away
- Does have a separation between the h and H
- Does have abuse
- Does Not have OTT sad parts (see above)
- Does Not have a HEA ending

[Angigames · Rating 4 out of 5]

La Tucker ce l’ha fatta!
Ha fatto il salto di qualità che aspettavo e questo è avvenuto nei migliori dei modi.
Questo libro, il primo di una serie che conta in totale 4 volumi e che, spero, continuino tutti, più o meno, sulla stessa linea, è la svolta. L’inizio (spero) di una nuova narrazione.
Finalmente l’autrice si lascia da parte le tanto utilizzate dinamiche NA, per accompagnarci in una storia più cupa, più profonda, più intensa.
Acqua si risveglia in un letto d’ospedale con il viso deturpato e il corpo pieno di lividi. Chi è stato a farle questo? Nessuno lo sa, nemmeno lei, la sua mente si rifiuta di ricordare quello che le è accaduto. Acqua non si ricorda neppure il suo nome, si perché Acqua è un nome fittizio, che lei ha deciso di adottare aspettando che la memoria ritorni…
Libro divorato. Libro adorato. Soprattutto perché, finalmente, l’autrice sposta il nucleo del libro dall’attrazione sessuale a qualcosa di totalmente diverso, più appropriato e molto più accattivante: il passato di Acqua e il percorso che l’ha fatta poi risvegliare in ospedale.
Finalmente una storia scritta con criterio, con intelligenza, che si prende tutto il tempo necessario, finalmente due protagonisti che hanno, entrambi, spessore, che lasciano il segno, che tendono ad essere ricordati, questo grazie alla narrazione serrata, a quel velo di mistero in più e all’utilizzo di due POV uno al presente e uno al passato.
Letta la prima pagina è impossibile staccarsi. Questa lettura è stata affascinante, ben equilibrata e mi ha lasciato la voglia bruciante di continuare la serie!
Certo, alcuni risvolti hanno avuto una conclusione molto semplice e troppo facile, ma ad ogni capitolo che si legge si ha un tassello in più da aggiungere al puzzle!
Personalmente ho adorato il personaggio di Ginny!
E non vedo l’ora di avere il libro di Boone!
Sono troppo curiosa!
Vai così Tucker!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

K.A. Tucker has done it again - written a book with characters I adore. This story gripped me right from the first page and took me on an emotional journey. A journey full of regrets and mistakes that were overcome with resilience, love and the strength of family.

Imagine waking up in a hospital and not recognizing your own face or even remembering your own name. Well, that's exactly what happens to Jane Doe. All she knows is what she's been told. That she was severely beaten, raped and left for dead. On second thought, maybe it's better if she doesn't have any memories of what happened. The fear of her attacker finding out that she's still alive keeps her quiet and intent on making a fresh start. Includinga new name - Water.

"I am lost and yet somehow found. I am afraid and yet somehow comforted. I am drifting and yet somehow...home."

It's with the support of her doctor, Meredith, and Meredith's family that Water is able to start over. Meredith's compassion and utter selflessness made me love her. Her husband Gabe, the town sheriff, the strong silent type, was willing to do anything to keep his family safe. Their old, cranky neighbor Ginny was there to offer Water a safe place to live. Ginny was one of my favorites right from the start. She closed herself off to the world years ago, but Water brings something out in her. Something that gets her to open up and start to heal.

And then there is Meredith and Gabe's son, Jesse. He's been labeled the bad seed in their small town. He's a little rough around the edges, but he has a good heart. There is just something about his dark eyes that draw Water in. A feeling of comfort and ease whenever he's around. As pieces of her memory slowly return, her reality is not at all what she expected.

"If you wait long enough, the truth always finds its way. Just like the stream. Just like water."

There were so many tender moments that just tore at my heart. Water's need for the familiar wool blanket, the blueberries, the s'mores and most of all Jesse's patience. His willingness to give her up, and sacrifice his own happiness, if it means that she can have a fresh start and a chance to live a simple, happy life.

"Why blueberries?" A long pause hangs between us and then he shrugs. "Because they're my favorite."

K.A. Tucker has such a way with words. What makes a great writer to me is one that can steal your thoughts away from anything else, but the world they have created. That's exactly what she does. It's just sad when reality hits and you realize that the words are about to come to an end and you have to let go of the characters you have grown to love. I'm dying to find out whose story will be told in Becoming Rain and to get my next Tucker fix.

*Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

[S.M. West · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

“The mind, it can be a deceitful thing. But it is no match for the heart.”

I knew from the prologue that this book was a departure from Ms. Tucker’s TTB series. But that’s okay because it was just as beautiful and captivating in a completely different way.

For me, it was one of those stories that slowly creeps up on you as you willingly turn those pages; the pace was slow in a meaningful and good way, with alternating POVs that switch from present to past. I was enthralled with this story.

Jesse was easy to fall for. While he admits he's a "guy" with his selfish ways and not so smart moves, he's also sweet, hot and a total protector.

“If you wait long enough, the truth always finds its way. Just like that stream. Just like water. Alex is my truth.”


Alex (aka Water) is trapped and alone. Yet, when her path crosses with a kind stranger on the side of the road one rainy night, little does she know that her world is about to change.




It’s a poignant tale of a love that works even when it shouldn’t. Water and Jesse’s love defies the odds and surpasses circumstances, danger and secrets. It's about second chances, fresh starts and falling in love twice.



Have you ever heard of two people who are just meant to be? It’s not mushy and it’s not “roll your eyes” unrealistic but karma or fate or forces - whatever they may be – keep bringing them together no matter what.



And the undercurrent of water that runs through this book is much like that love. It’s hypnotic and resilient and there even when it’s buried.



Absolutely lovely tale. Well done, Ms. Tucker!

[Natasha is a Book Junkie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The mind, it can be a deceitful thing. But it is no match for the heart.”

It is such a thrill to a zealous reader like me to not only realise that one of my favourite authors never fails to blow my mind with her stories, but that she also remains capable of surprising me, time after time, as I never quite know what kind of ‘journey’ she would take me on, always somehow managing to leave me utterly stunned in the aftermath of her extraordinary tales. This book was like no other that I have ever read, its unique structure and pace designed to make our hearts race, skip beats, melt and crush from one moment to another, never knowing what to expect next. Meticulously assembled to ‘feed’ us only little snippets of the story at a time while our minds are frantically tiling the puzzle pieces to form the picture we are so desperate to complete—this is an impeccably written story, infused with suspense and cloaked in mystery, showing us the hefty price of a second chance at happiness in life.

“You get to be whoever you want to be, without the burden of your past.”

A young woman is found beaten, raped, and left for dead in the middle of a forest, her young body desperately clinging onto its last thread of life. We don’t know much about the man who rescues her except that he is in love with her, and that no one can know that she was found. After a myriad of life saving procedures and a long hospital recovery, the young woman wakes up with no recollection of her past or any of the events that caused her injuries. Confused, scared, ashamed of her scars, her battered body is a constant reminder of everything that has happened to her, and of everything she has no memory of, her mind having locked itself in a desperate act of self-preservation.

“Why can’t I seem to recall a single scrap of my life? Not a face, not a name, not a childhood pet. Nothing.”

And then we suddenly flip into the past, where we meet a young trophy wife to a cruel man several decades her senior, whose life is nothing like she hoped it would be. Physically and mentally abused on a daily basis, Alexandria Petrova is alone in the world but for the man who had promised to hand it to her on a silver platter, trapped in a loveless marriage and in a life that requires her to abide by her husband’s every whim. When a young man’s unexpected act of kindness stirs something inside her, Alexandria begins to question her decisions in life, and wishing for more. The more time they spend together, and the more his every action shows her the way she always dreamed of being loved, the more she blossoms before his eyes, becoming the vivacious but gentle young woman she was born to be. But some mistakes in life are not easy to erase, Alexandria’s newfound happiness making her oblivious to the dangers lurking within her own marital bed.

“I’d never leave you alone in the dark.”

Jesse has loved Alexandria from the moment her lips touched his on a stormy night on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere. He felt her unhappiness in her every breath, but her passionate kiss marked his soul, making him unable to forget her even though he never even saw her face. When he recognises her in the young wife of the ostentatious brute who hires him to restore his car, he is unable to look away. Or walk away until she is his.

“In your life. Are you happy? Or do you ever wish you could just start over?”

We are given two timelines to follow simultaneously, constantly flipping from past to present, but in both we see two people falling in love, slowly, cautiously, irreversibly. In the past, a young woman is afraid of her own future, incapable of walking away from the only happiness she has ever experienced in her adult life regardless of what it might cost her to pursue it, while in the present, that same young woman is terrified of her past, her scars an incessant reminder of what her mind won’t let her recall.

“Someone must be missing me. Even just one person, right?”

What I loved the most about this story is the fallible nature of all the characters in it, especially the two leading ones. Jesse and Alexandria are imperfect people, people who make mistakes, act impulsively, fail to consider the consequences of their own actions until it becomes too late, but they are only following the paths their hearts have drawn before them, which is even more evident when they are given a second chance at happiness. Their love story is not about an all-consuming passion burning between them and making them blind to the world around them—it is a story of two souls being drawn to one another, finding more joy in the few fleeting moments spent in each other’s company than in anything else in their lives. It felt to me as if we were intentionally left craving that emotional intensity that was implied in their every word, in their every glance directed towards one another, putting all emphasis on the irresistible pull between them and the unique connection that brought them to each other time after time. This is not a love story born out of carnal pleasure. This is a story about love, first and foremost, a selfless love, a genuine love, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of love.

“If she doesn’t remember me, if she didn’t feel trapped and utterly alone, would a girl like her fall for me a second time?”

I never wanted this book to end. It was such an enjoyable reading experience beginning to end, with an incredible cast of secondary characters that made the story even more colourful and hard to let go of. Every single aspect of this story is unique, unexpected, riveting, and every moment spent reading it has been outright unforgettable. A must-read.

“If you wait long enough, the truth always finds its way.”

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[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Burying Water was a big story with the flashbacks to the past, mystery, memory loss and a romance all part of the plot, but thought K.A. Tucker did an amazing job pulling it off! I loved it!

We have Jesse’s POV from the past and then Water’s POV in the future, both stories tied intricately and the story of what happened to Water slowly unfolds through these alternating POVs.

We start out with Jesse’s POV which details him falling for a woman named Alex, twenty-two and married to a very rich, but very bad man, Viktor. Alex cleaned his apartment which is how she met and fell for Viktor when she was just seventeen. He was charming, handsome and rich. What seventeen-year-old wouldn’t jump at the chance of “prince charming” sweeping you off your feet? Little did she know that Viktor was a wolf in sheep’s clothing! Viktor as it turns out is a volatile man capable of violence if he’s not happy, and used to having anything he wants, including other women. Alex despairs over the reality her life has become. Alex comes onto Jesse’s radar by a chance meeting, but they’re drawn to each other no matter how impossible a romance seems. Jesse witnesses Viktor’s despicable treatment of Alex and desperately wants to take her away. Can they get away from the dangerous and influential Viktor?

Water’s POV is in the present and starts when she wakes in the hospital with no memory and a host of injuries. She can’t remember her name, whether she was married, or has family. Even her own appearance is a mystery, but she does know she was brutally attacked and barely survived! Water feels alone in the world but she’s shown kindness by her surgeon, Dr. Alwood, the Sheriff, and Nurse Amber who all become like family to her. Ginny Fitzgerald, an eccentric, feisty old woman, and Dr. Alwood’s neighbor, offers Water a place to stay when she’s released, and Water couldn’t be more grateful. What other options does she really have?

Water starts her life over, yet the fact that the person who brutally assaulted her and left her for dead is out there somewhere is an unsettling thought. Does she really want those memories to come back? Will her attacker find her again? And why is she so drawn to Dr. Alwood’s son, Jesse?

It’s not hard to put two and two together when you first start reading Burying Water but that doesn’t make the journey any less satisfying. Finding out what led up to Water’s attack, flashing back to Alex and Jesse’s burgeoning romance, and then seeing Water survive and thrive in the present was completely captivating! The support she receives is touching, mostly notably from Ginny, the elderly woman who takes her in. Ginny was a prickly pear, but she had a soft spot for Water. She had her own sad demons and both Water and Ginny drew close over shared tragedy.

I was a bit on edge reading Jesse’s past POV chapters because as the reader you know the eventual outcome, but it gave depth and history to the story that wouldn’t be there otherwise. Also, it had me rooting for the romance in the future. I ached for these two to have their much deserved happy ending! I really felt for Jesse, we get glimpses of his raw pain through Water’s POV in the present, although she’s not sure of the reason behind it, at first. There was just no keeping these two apart and the healing they provide one another filled my heart with joy!

I’ve been a huge fan of K.A. Tucker’s Ten Tiny Breathes series. Burying Water felt very different, but oh-so-good! Her talent as a writer shines through with this fresh, suspenseful, and heartfelt tale.

A copy was provided by Atria Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is also posted at The Readers Den.

[Kim Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one ... at first I was confused about what the heck was going on, but quickly realized that all of Jesse's chapters were titled "Then" ... once I caught on to that little nuance, everything else started to make perfect sense.
Parts of this story were absolutely heart-breaking. The voice actors did an amazing job of portraying the hurt & anger of these characters.

Overall, extremely well done ... very anxious to move on to the other titles in this series that I have missed.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 second chance stars

This book hooked me from the very beginning, and kept me up until the wee hours of the morning, unable to put it down. It’s mystery / drama / romance, with a very original plot, and I loved it!

A girl wakes up in a hospital bed, brutally battered and close to death, suffering from numerous injuries. She has survived against all odds but she also has no memory of who she is, her past, or the events that led to her horrific attack.

Labelled Jane Doe, she slowly recuperates and is semi-adopted by her doctor, Meredith, and her family – her husband, town sheriff, Gabe and Amber, her daughter who is a nurse. When, months later, Jane is well enough to leave the hospital, she is no closer to discovering her identity, but she is given a chance to make a new life for herself when Meredith organises for her to live with her neighbour – the old and crotchety but deeply fabulous, Ginny.

Facing a life without answers, Jane is tormented by the memories that seem so close, but still so far out of reach. Who could have done such a horrible thing to her? What could she have possibly done to deserve it? Realising that perhaps her past is something that she may not want to remember, she decides it’s time to move on, and she rechristens herself ‘Water’ (yes, ‘Water’ *sigh* - it does have a deeper meaning, but still, it made my eyes roll every time I read it) and sets out to create a new life.

I’m abandoning the girl that I was, everything about her, including hope that I’ll find her again.

But things only become more complicated when Meredith’s son, Jesse, returns home and she finds herself drawn to him. With his intense stares and protectiveness over her, she feels a sense of familiarity that both startles and comforts her.

“Why do things feel so natural with you?”
He shifts to run the backs of his fingers over my cheek, his eyes dropping to my mouth. “Do they?”
“Yeah. You must remind me of someone. I feel like I know you.”
He smiles. A sad smile. “Maybe you just want to know me.”
“Maybe.”

I love the way this book is written. The story of the present is told through the eyes of Water as she creates her new life, and is alternated with chapters from Jesse’s POV, telling the story of the past. It’s pretty obvious where the story is going, and what big event it’s all leading up to, but I still found myself anticipating the big reveal, and when it came, it was fantastic. The consistency throughout the story, and the little moments that tie Water’s present to her past were really clever.

I am lost and yet somehow found.
I am afraid and yet somehow comforted.
I am drifting and yet somehow…home.

I don’t want to go into any detail about the story, or how it all fits together because you need to see it all unfold as you read. It’s quite a ride, with lots of reveals along the way – some obvious, some that are surprises, but the way it all unfolds is really well done.

I really liked Water. The way she was able to overcome her trauma, and her resilience and openness in starting her new life was amazing. Her relationship with Ginny was fantastic, as was the way she was enfolded by Jesse’s family. And through it all Jesse is a steadfast presence. His obvious feelings for Water, and the way the he handled his situation and followed his heart was gorgeous. Their romance in the face of everything that they are dealing with is beautiful, and I lapped up every little moment of it.

I need him here.
Here, right now.
Here, in my life.
Just as he always seems to be.
Here. For me.

I love KA Tucker’s Ten Tiny Breaths series, and she has done a great job with this book. The story is original and intriguing and the writing is beautifully descriptive with lots of emotion. I loved the romance, and the uplifting story of a traumatised girl finding her way with a somewhat lost boy.

The first of a new series, I am really looking forward to more from these characters.

4.5 stars.


An Advanced Reader Copy of this book was generously provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Note - reread in July 2015.
I listened to this as an audiobook, and the narration is fantastic! I loved revisiting these characters and the hauntingly beautiful story. Upgrade from 4 to 4.5 stars.

[Aisling Zena · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 stars

I don't know if I'll write a more comprehensible review later on as my head is sort of pounding at the minute but I wanted to say a few words at least.

This book was beautiful but somewhat slow.


Water is resilient and so is the heroine of the book. But for some reason though the subject matter is heart rending and the writing truly beautiful I didn't get emotionally invested in the characters easily.

And although it flowed like the water in the stream above, it was doing it much too slowly in places. You knew basically everything from the first couple of chapters but you just didn't know the details.

Told in alternate POV as well as present/past. Jesse is the past POV and Water is the present. This contributed as well to the slower unveiling of events. Every time you thought you where getting somewhere you got to the end of the chapter and switched again.

In conclusion it was a lovely read and if you're in a mood for something slow paced go for it.

[Syndi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The blurp promising a bit mystery into the romance. Alex/ Water lost her memory after a tragic events on her life. Her husband is abusive, underworld mafia. Then enter Jessi the Hero. Jessi is a man with a big dream. He have his life mapping out. Then one fateful stormy night, he helped Alex change her tire and their world collides.

The story timeline is back and forth between past (told from Jessi POV) and now (told by Alex/ Water POV). It is a dragging writing style. I think it tried to build the mystery and the connection blossom between H and h. But to me it is way too dragging. Other thing I do not understand is Viktor, the abusive husband. Why Viktor left his wife alone in the house unsupervised with Jessi alone? Even Viktor never suspect anything. And he is suppose to be this abusive, dark and twisted underworld mafia.

I give it 3 stars. I like the story but I do not like the writing style. Too dragging.

3 stars

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Intense Stars

It’s a Tucker book, YAY!!!! I read anything by Tucker, so when I learned she was writing a new series, I was BEYOND excited.

The thing with favorite authors, you tend to have super high expectations. I overall enjoyed Burying Water. I finished it in one sitting and it was very intense, but it wasn’t a SUPER hit I am use to. I think it’s because of the layout.

I’m not a fan of flashbacks. I can’t say it enough. It just irritates me and I find no pleasure in reading past and present tense. So this is my personal issue.

The beginning hits you with a bam and I just loved the prologue. Right away I felt like this was going to be a dark read and I love my dark reads.

Summary

I don’t want to give too much away because I think it’s best to go into Burying Water without knowing anything, but basically it starts out with a woman almost on the brink of death. She is found by a man and he’s just distraught that she is almost dead because of him.

Rewind to the past, we learn there is a story between Jesse and Alex. Alex is married to a rich controlling jerk. She isn’t happy with her life, but doesn’t see a solution. Jesse is a nobody mechanic and sees Alex having car trouble one night.

Fast forward to the present, the woman left for dead is called Jane Doe. She doesn’t know who she is, but works hard to start over, damaged body and all.

Review

Burying Water started off great, but the beginning was a bit slow. There’s a bit of buildup. You have Jane Doe going through the emotions of getting better and meeting a bunch of people, like the nurses, doctors and the sheriff. To be honest I didn’t care for this part too much. I kind of read through it quickly. Call me crazy, but I only wanted to read about the main characters.

Then with the flip back to the past, I was really interested in how Jesse and Alex formed their relationship. And again, I didn’t get that spark and chemistry I usually get with Tucker reads. I was surprised on how I felt there was something lacking between Alex and Jesse. I felt like there was insta-lust and not that much interaction to warrant their feelings.

I wanted Burying Water to be a bit darker, because of the beginning was so gritty. I was waiting for the nasty flashbacks, the ones that would make me cringe, but I never got that.

As I got more into Burying Water and things picked up, I started to enjoy it more. I felt like I was closing in on the timeline gap and more of my questions were being answered. It also started to get very angsty and I really liked that.

The ending did feel a little too wrapped up and I thought there would be a book 2 that extended the story, but there isn’t. The book does end and you are left feeling overall happy, but like I said, I had very high expectations. I’m looking forward to the next book though.

AMAZON

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Book Nympho

Quick summary
A young woman is discovered in the woods, barely alive after having been brutally beaten. She survives but awakens with no memory of who she is or what happened to her. Rather than be referred to as Jane Doe, she chooses to call herself Water after discovering a tattoo symbol for it. Jesse Welles, son of the sheriff, knows more than he's acknowledging and it's through him that we that we learn each of their stories.

What I found interesting
The story is told from two points of view with time flashbacks. It may sound like a recipe for disaster but it worked very well. As I dealt with aspects of the present as told from Water's point of view, the flashbacks in Jesse's provided a certain context for unraveling this mystery. It kept me thinking and always in the story. There were moments that are tough to deal with but they were appropriate for the circumstances. As Water's body begins to heal, her spirit goes through a catharsis as well.

The narration
I'm a big fan of multiple narrators and it was even more useful given how the story was framed. Josh Goodman gave a wonderful performance, putting energy into the character in all the right ways. While Elizabeth Louise projected the fragility of Water, her inability to provide distinction between the character's inner musings and active dialogue was pretty confusing.

The bottom line
I enjoyed this story immensely even though the romance was a bit elusive given Water's amnesia and Jesse's subterfuge. The secondary relationships strengthened the story and weren't just props for the main characters. The resolutions were quite messy and thought provoking. I wasn't aware this was a series when I started the book but I'm looking forward to continuing as the other characters have enough weight to keep me intrigued.

(I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review)

[Beatrice · Rating 4 out of 5]

“He said the truth is like that water: it doesn't matter how hard you try to bury it; it'll always find some way back to the surface. It's resilient.”

Buddy reading with these lovely ladies: Ari, Tika, Blessie and Michelle :)

Burying Water is told in an alternating perspective and we also get to see the "past" and "present" moments. I never imagined the story starts really dark and I wasn't prepared for any of it. It was a bit confusing at first and I had a hard time getting into it. However, there is something about it that makes you want to continue.

Jane Alexandria Petrovka was left on a dark place unconscious, bloodied and severely battered. Luckily, she's saved from a near death experience and received treatments for her injuries. As she wakes up, she couldn't remember anything. She was named as "Jane Doe" and later on renamed herself as "Water". With no place to live, she found a new home with Ginny. This old woman has a trust issue with everyone and she lives next to Welles family. In a small town, Water starts a new life where no one could harm her. As the story goes on, every memory unfolds. We get to know more about Water's past, on how she suffered in the hands of her abusive husband and how she met & fell in love with a young, attractive mechanic, Jesse Welles.

It's really nice to see Water recovered after such a traumatic event of her life. I'm just glad she found a new family where she feels being loved instead of being deprived. Jesse and his family gave her that. For me, Ginny Fitzgerald stood out the most and has a wonderful character development. Overall, I really like the story (it was kinda bittersweet to me) and K.A. Tucker's writing style is beautiful and I can't wait to read more.

Final rating: 4.5 / 5 stars

[Megan • Reading Books Like a Boss (book blog) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been really excited about starting K.A. Tucker's Burying Water series since finishing her Ten Tiny Breaths series last year. Burying Water was romantic, suspenseful, and mysterious, and at times, intense!

Jesse finds the love of his life lying in a pool of her own blood in the middle of the woods, brutally attacked and raped. She wakes and remembers nothing of the man who showed her love like she'd never experienced with her husband. With the help of the doctor who saved her and the sheriff who brought her to the hospital, she starts a new life in a small Oregon town. But there is something magnetic about the couple's son, Jesse, who just moved back in. What she doesn't know is that he is the man she was wildly in love with. He slowly integrates himself into her everyday life and allows her the space to start her new life and try to remember her old one with him in it.

What I liked most about this book was the "double love story." It felt like you were getting a double dose of the "falling in love" goodness, even though it was the same couple. One of my favorite things about reading romance novels is the build up and with this story you got double build up. I give that two thumbs up. I liked the moments in the past chapters where certain "trigger words" show up in the present scenes (like the fact that Alex loved blueberries, so Jesse bought her blueberries in the present day). It brought the two time periods together in a nice way.

Alex was brutally assaulted in the opening scenes of the book. Though, I didn't really feel like the rape was even necessary to the plot here. I didn't really see Water trying to come to terms with being sexually violated. Rather, it was mostly her trying to recover from the physical injuries and the emotional trauma of being physically injured and robbed of her memories. The rape didn't really seem to be something that was essential to this particular storyline nor was it really brought up.

Water's internal dialogue constantly spoke of the fact that she didn't have her memory. As a reader, I didn't need to be reminded so frequently of the fact that due to her memory problems she didn't know how to cook or whether she liked the color purple or if she preferred the mountains over the city. I understand that Tucker was likely trying to stay true to the voice of someone experiencing this mental issue but reading the constant textual reminders felt distracting and like she was spoonfeeding the reader information that can be easily gleaned from the text.

I had a hard time really truly believing that Alex would fall in love with a man who is both old and creepy as hell at eighteen. It's explained that she thought she would be given a better life than what she had, but I just didn't buy it.

Even though I had a few issues, this book was super addictive and emotional. The mystery of what happened to Water and the two love stories happening simultaneously in the past and present chapters created this great momentum that propelled the story forward and kept me turning the pages.

3 stars

* I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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[Lazaros · Rating 4 out of 5]

“He said the truth is like that water: it doesn't matter how hard you try to bury it; it'll always find some way back to the surface. It's resilient.”

Alex is a 22-year-old woman who's married to an abusive, jerk of a man who's also rich, by the by. What happens when she meets a young man at the side of the road and she starts talking about "change" and about "unhappiness"? What happens when she kisses him and then she leaves? What happens when that man, all he can think about is her lips on his?

That's a beautiful story of courage, resilience & love. It's about how love can heal, & how our brain can shut off completely when it has taken too much. It's about finding the person you've always been meant to be with & finding a family through that person.

Alex is alone. No parents. No siblings whatsoever. She only has her abusive husband to turn to & that's not much of choice. She is forced to do whatever he likes, wear whatever he wants, act the way he wants, live the way he wants. He's stolen her life. But she's gotta take a stand. It's about time she did.

K.A. Tucker is an amazing author. I had been impressed by how good Ten Tiny Breaths was & while this is completely different it still has that amazing something that I bet my life on it's K.A. Tucker's incredible writing style. There's not a single similarity between the two, to be honest. Burying Water is darker & suspenseful when Ten Tiny Breaths is sexier & more fun.

I recommend this if you're a fan of the whole "abusive husband" storyline, you love yourself a good romance & if you're a fan of K.A. Tucker's.