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Recall
She doesn’t know who she is. But someone out there does—and they want her silenced.
When rancher Mykola Volkova finds a woman tangled in his barbed wire fence, she’s injured and has no memory—just a name: Kira. As she recovers, nightmares of being strangled haunt her, and something about her story doesn’t add up.
Then her fiancé shows up. So do the accidents.
As Kira’s memories return in jagged flashes, a darker truth emerges—one involving murder, a powerful predator, and a secret worth killing for.
He doesn’t know what she’s hiding—but danger followed her in, and now it’s on his land.
The past is catching up fast.
And this time, it might not let her go.
When rancher Mykola Volkova finds a woman tangled in his barbed wire fence, she’s injured and has no memory—just a name: Kira. As she recovers, nightmares of being strangled haunt her, and something about her story doesn’t add up.
Then her fiancé shows up. So do the accidents.
As Kira’s memories return in jagged flashes, a darker truth emerges—one involving murder, a powerful predator, and a secret worth killing for.
He doesn’t know what she’s hiding—but danger followed her in, and now it’s on his land.
The past is catching up fast.
And this time, it might not let her go.
ebook
Published September 12, 2025
12 people want to read
About the author
Ashley Nikole
6 books42 followersAshley Nikole writes from the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. While not in the writer’s pod, she’s an advocate for living courageously, being honest about the raw, gritty bits of grief and trauma, and the healing brought through humour.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 28, 2025
Captivating and exceptionally well-written, Recall is a powerful story centered on the deeply real and often difficult journey of healing from trauma. While the process is sometimes ugly and messy, healing is possible—and this novel paints a hopeful and honest picture of that truth. What makes it even more compelling is that, despite its emotional depth, the story is laced with humor and wit, offering moments of levity that feel both natural and well-timed.
Without spoiling the impending roller coaster you’re about to board, I can tell you this story is rich in plot twists and turns and woven with just enough unanswered questions to keep the mystery alive and well throughout every page. The characters are so deeply developed, you feel like you truly know them, befriend them and are right there with them for the whole adventure. This will be the best read of the year, guaranteed!!
Without spoiling the impending roller coaster you’re about to board, I can tell you this story is rich in plot twists and turns and woven with just enough unanswered questions to keep the mystery alive and well throughout every page. The characters are so deeply developed, you feel like you truly know them, befriend them and are right there with them for the whole adventure. This will be the best read of the year, guaranteed!!
August 14, 2025
Oh my goodness, this book... where do I even begin? First of all, in case the description and cover didn't make it clear... this one is not a lighthearted read. It is intense and gritty, dealing with some of the darker realities of life, dealing deeply with trauma without sugarcoating the hard stuff. Both of these characters (and several of the side characters as well) had been put through the absolute wringer! As such, there were definitely moments that felt heavy and difficult to read due to the subject matter. And yet, in the midst of that, we get a romance that is so tender and healing... and absolutely beautiful! Mykola and Kira have such an undeniable chemistry, even in the midst of everything that is going on. They each have difficult histories that they are healing from, slowly revealed throughout the story and only making me root for these two that much harder the more we learn. It was really interesting to learn more about amnesia and the impact of trauma, both physical and emotional. With lots of twists and turns, this was a story that kept me at the very edge of my seat. This was the first book that I had read from this author, but will certainly not be the last. If you enjoy a story with big emotional impact that doesn't shy away from the hard stuff, this is certainly one to check out.
Recall is a closed door romantic thriller with heated kisses only on page. There is some heavier language throughout, to include multiple (6) uses of the f-word. It is gritty and real, dealing with topics like human trafficking and as such might not be for all readers. It is the second book in the Fallout Novels series. I personally had not read the previous book, and found I was able to enjoy this one just fine as a standalone.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
Recall is a closed door romantic thriller with heated kisses only on page. There is some heavier language throughout, to include multiple (6) uses of the f-word. It is gritty and real, dealing with topics like human trafficking and as such might not be for all readers. It is the second book in the Fallout Novels series. I personally had not read the previous book, and found I was able to enjoy this one just fine as a standalone.
**ARC received for consideration. All opinions are my own.
September 6, 2025
You know when you're craving to read something that has substance and meaning and is emotionally satisfying but you still want the romance and the setting and the vibes? Most times you can only have one or two, you can't find something that has all of it.
In comes RECALL.
It does in fact, have it all.
I absolutely adored the setting of this read, it was thick with atmosphere and I felt like I was right in it as I read. It visually exploded in my brain, which is testament to how skilled Ashley is as not just a writer, but a storyteller. The scene is set wonderfully.
The characters were beautiful and complex -- nobody was too polished, they all had something messy & unfinished about their stories, and the way Ashley connected different characters to heal each other was beautiful. It wasn't trite, it was raw and so very human.
I really enjoyed this book, though definitely of a heavier subject matter, it felt emotionally satisfying and also ticked all my boxes for setting, character development with truly 3D personalities, plot twists and turns you didn't see coming, amnesia (I'm such a sucker for that trope), the Turkish element was a pretty cool addition, cowboys/ranch vibes, edge of your seat "what-happens-next", and a sweet, safe haven relationship.
I will absolutely read Recall again (and probably again) to absorb the complexity of the story and appreciate all these different elements & more! But maybe mostly so I can spend some more time in Mykola's ranch, not gonna lie.
Can't wait for more, maybe another book exploring Brandt's character? A girl can hope!
**I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
In comes RECALL.
It does in fact, have it all.
I absolutely adored the setting of this read, it was thick with atmosphere and I felt like I was right in it as I read. It visually exploded in my brain, which is testament to how skilled Ashley is as not just a writer, but a storyteller. The scene is set wonderfully.
The characters were beautiful and complex -- nobody was too polished, they all had something messy & unfinished about their stories, and the way Ashley connected different characters to heal each other was beautiful. It wasn't trite, it was raw and so very human.
I really enjoyed this book, though definitely of a heavier subject matter, it felt emotionally satisfying and also ticked all my boxes for setting, character development with truly 3D personalities, plot twists and turns you didn't see coming, amnesia (I'm such a sucker for that trope), the Turkish element was a pretty cool addition, cowboys/ranch vibes, edge of your seat "what-happens-next", and a sweet, safe haven relationship.
I will absolutely read Recall again (and probably again) to absorb the complexity of the story and appreciate all these different elements & more! But maybe mostly so I can spend some more time in Mykola's ranch, not gonna lie.
Can't wait for more, maybe another book exploring Brandt's character? A girl can hope!
**I had the pleasure of reading this as an ARC in exchange for an honest review**
August 12, 2025
Hang on for an emotional roller coaster ride when you read Recall! I had the pleasure of reading it as an ARC. I can’t imagine what it would be like to suddenly have everything you know ripped away from your memory. And that’s just the beginning! You get settled in, and you think you know what’s going on. Then bam! There’s a twist and a complete shift that shocks you.
Kira is bent, but not broken. She doesn’t recognize how fierce and brave she truly is. She wields a snarky attitude that lets you know she’s a fighter. I absolutely enjoyed her sassy lines. Dropping bits and pieces of her tragic past like bread crumbs throughout the book was brilliant.
Mykola isn’t what he seems to be. On the surface, he’s a cowboy running his family’s ranch. Revelations about his past reveal a man not only uniquely qualified to help Kira but also a man with his own demons. There’s a duality to his character. He’s a rough cowboy and an intellectual with a doctorate. I would fall for him in a heartbeat.
The chemistry between Kira and Mykola is palpable from the start. I rooted for them and hoped that he would be her champion. The slow buildup of the relationship between them in closed-door intimacy was perfect because it kept the focus on the suspense aspect and the healing of their emotional issues.
Ashley is amazing at creating and perfectly executing complex plots. Each part flows together and has its place in the whole puzzle. I absolutely love the background information we learn about memory and the brain. Without a doubt, she did a ton of research for this book, and it shows. Recall is not my first Ashley Nikole book, and it won’t be my last!
Kira is bent, but not broken. She doesn’t recognize how fierce and brave she truly is. She wields a snarky attitude that lets you know she’s a fighter. I absolutely enjoyed her sassy lines. Dropping bits and pieces of her tragic past like bread crumbs throughout the book was brilliant.
Mykola isn’t what he seems to be. On the surface, he’s a cowboy running his family’s ranch. Revelations about his past reveal a man not only uniquely qualified to help Kira but also a man with his own demons. There’s a duality to his character. He’s a rough cowboy and an intellectual with a doctorate. I would fall for him in a heartbeat.
The chemistry between Kira and Mykola is palpable from the start. I rooted for them and hoped that he would be her champion. The slow buildup of the relationship between them in closed-door intimacy was perfect because it kept the focus on the suspense aspect and the healing of their emotional issues.
Ashley is amazing at creating and perfectly executing complex plots. Each part flows together and has its place in the whole puzzle. I absolutely love the background information we learn about memory and the brain. Without a doubt, she did a ton of research for this book, and it shows. Recall is not my first Ashley Nikole book, and it won’t be my last!
September 13, 2025
The story kicks off when Mykola discovers a woman named Kira tangled in a barbed wire fence on his isolated property—miles from anywhere and completely inaccessible by foot. She has no memory beyond her name, she’s covered in blood that may not be hers, and there are bruises on her neck that suggest someone tried to strangle her. From there, things only get more intense.
Recall is a closed-door romantic thriller packed with suspense, emotional tension, and a protective cowboy MMC you won’t soon forget. Expect twists you won’t see coming!
Recall is a closed-door romantic thriller packed with suspense, emotional tension, and a protective cowboy MMC you won’t soon forget. Expect twists you won’t see coming!
February 4, 2026
DNF 21% / page 92 of paperback. The writing is unreadable nonsense. I tried to look past it because it’s an indie published book and the synopsis sounds really good, but I can’t keep reading.
The first chapter was really solid, and if you're in a bookstore wondering if the whole book is written like chapter 1, I encourage you to flip to chapter 8. If you think you might be missing relationship or character building, trust me, you won't. I had to read this line in chapter 8 multiple times and then google what "deadpan" means because it doesn't make sense in this context. Here's the setup - Kelsey just came in from a run and she's all sweaty:
"The front door opened and shut, and Kelsey breezed into the room wearing shorts, a T-shirt and running shoes. 'Hey.' She waved to Kira, her chest rising and falling rapidly. 'Just cause it's dark out there doesn't mean it's not sweltering,' she deadpanned."
So... she said that with a straight face for comedic effect... where's the comedy exactly?
And if the over-writing is annoying in that one paragraph (kelsey is sweaty, kelsey is panting from heat, then kelsey tells you it's hot outside), the entire 92 pages I read is all like that. Just words to fill up the page space.
So 2 different reviews both wrote this EXACTLY in their 4 star reviews:
" Recall is a closed-door romantic thriller packed with suspense, emotional tension, and a protective cowboy MMC you won't soon forget. Expect twists you won't see coming!"
- credit to Kayla's review AND Alyssa's review
Here's an example of our protective cowboy MMC that I just can't get over. He brings Kira, who has visible strangulation bruises on her neck, a messed up leg from getting tangled in a barbed wire fence where she suffered so much blood loss that she basically almost died 5 days before AND she has a traumatic brain injury AND amnesia... he brings her to THE CALGARY STAMPEDE. A place so packed with people and noise, that I would assume someone suffering as she is would have an immediate trauma response to being surrounded by strangers, etc.
Then he loses her immediately. Instead of looking for her right away, because you know, she's been through some recent trauma and probably shouldn't be on her own... instead he helps a 5 year old lost girl find her mother. Instead of waving down the two police officers he can see (the author tells you this on the page that he brings the child to 2 police officers at the edge of the tent or whatever) to help the child, he sticks with the child for the whole hour until she is reunited with her mom, and then he goes in search of Kira.
He finds her in a medic tent where she was brought after having an anxiety attack, where they've given her Xanax to calm her, which has further impaired her because of her traumatic brain injury.
He scoops her up and leaves. The medical staff, the police on the grounds, ANYONE doesn't seem to have a problem with a big rancher man carting out an obviously drugged woman with visible bruises on her neck from strangulation....
This is what I mean - nothing in this book that happens makes any sense. People do not respond or behave this way. Kira would not be trustful of strangers or men or anything after the trauma she has suffered. Mykola, a former Forensic Psychologist who we are told has helped people work through the worst traumas in their lives, would not leave a defenseless woman with amnesia to wander the Calgary Stampede for an hour so he could do something else, all the other side characters, background characters, etc. would not have ZERO reaction to Kira's drugged state and Mykola leading her away.
Look, this book might actually be a decent romantic thriller whenever Kira's fiancé shows up and she gets her memory back, and the dark truth emerges etc, but I can't make it to that part because the writing, characters, and relationships are so poorly constructed that I just get frustrated and have to pause. I hope someone enjoys this book, it's just not for me.
The first chapter was really solid, and if you're in a bookstore wondering if the whole book is written like chapter 1, I encourage you to flip to chapter 8. If you think you might be missing relationship or character building, trust me, you won't. I had to read this line in chapter 8 multiple times and then google what "deadpan" means because it doesn't make sense in this context. Here's the setup - Kelsey just came in from a run and she's all sweaty:
"The front door opened and shut, and Kelsey breezed into the room wearing shorts, a T-shirt and running shoes. 'Hey.' She waved to Kira, her chest rising and falling rapidly. 'Just cause it's dark out there doesn't mean it's not sweltering,' she deadpanned."
So... she said that with a straight face for comedic effect... where's the comedy exactly?
And if the over-writing is annoying in that one paragraph (kelsey is sweaty, kelsey is panting from heat, then kelsey tells you it's hot outside), the entire 92 pages I read is all like that. Just words to fill up the page space.
So 2 different reviews both wrote this EXACTLY in their 4 star reviews:
" Recall is a closed-door romantic thriller packed with suspense, emotional tension, and a protective cowboy MMC you won't soon forget. Expect twists you won't see coming!"
- credit to Kayla's review AND Alyssa's review
Here's an example of our protective cowboy MMC that I just can't get over. He brings Kira, who has visible strangulation bruises on her neck, a messed up leg from getting tangled in a barbed wire fence where she suffered so much blood loss that she basically almost died 5 days before AND she has a traumatic brain injury AND amnesia... he brings her to THE CALGARY STAMPEDE. A place so packed with people and noise, that I would assume someone suffering as she is would have an immediate trauma response to being surrounded by strangers, etc.
Then he loses her immediately. Instead of looking for her right away, because you know, she's been through some recent trauma and probably shouldn't be on her own... instead he helps a 5 year old lost girl find her mother. Instead of waving down the two police officers he can see (the author tells you this on the page that he brings the child to 2 police officers at the edge of the tent or whatever) to help the child, he sticks with the child for the whole hour until she is reunited with her mom, and then he goes in search of Kira.
He finds her in a medic tent where she was brought after having an anxiety attack, where they've given her Xanax to calm her, which has further impaired her because of her traumatic brain injury.
He scoops her up and leaves. The medical staff, the police on the grounds, ANYONE doesn't seem to have a problem with a big rancher man carting out an obviously drugged woman with visible bruises on her neck from strangulation....
This is what I mean - nothing in this book that happens makes any sense. People do not respond or behave this way. Kira would not be trustful of strangers or men or anything after the trauma she has suffered. Mykola, a former Forensic Psychologist who we are told has helped people work through the worst traumas in their lives, would not leave a defenseless woman with amnesia to wander the Calgary Stampede for an hour so he could do something else, all the other side characters, background characters, etc. would not have ZERO reaction to Kira's drugged state and Mykola leading her away.
Look, this book might actually be a decent romantic thriller whenever Kira's fiancé shows up and she gets her memory back, and the dark truth emerges etc, but I can't make it to that part because the writing, characters, and relationships are so poorly constructed that I just get frustrated and have to pause. I hope someone enjoys this book, it's just not for me.
September 5, 2025
Wow! Ashley has done it again! This second of her Fallout Novels carries on with the very difficult topic of predation and trafficking and wraps it in the package of a hope-filled love story between the tangled hearts of Mykola and Kira—two souls that were never intended to meet. It is not often that you find yourself so passionately hooked and routing for a couple right out of the gate, but you can’t put the book down, or help yourself from doing just that. They’ve somehow GOT to overcome and be together! Ashley treats the hideous and unseen dark realms of loss, grief, and agony tandem to the speechless beauty of the divinely ordinary. There they sit, as side by side truisms being metered out on the scales of justice. True to style, the message in all of Ashley's books is the reality that you can heal, repair and have humour throughout a life that has dealt you a difficult hand. The way she paints the intricate human realm of the beauty of normalcy, minus the perversion, is a real breath of fresh air and one that Ashley writes about so elegantly. So much so, that I’m sure I could smell the coffee brewing and wished against all hope that I could just walk through the front door of the Volkova Ranch to herald some true-blue Alberta heroes.
September 2, 2025
Wow - Recall was a book that I could not put down and was sad when it ended. I was captivated in the first chapter however, was not ready for the roller coaster ride that ensued. So engaging and so well written.
The characters in the book are so well developed and the story is constantly moving drawing the reader in more. Ashley has a magical gift that weaves Mykola and Kira's story with all of the supporting characters contributing pieces that bring the whole together. Reading the book made me feel like I was on a difficult but beautiful journey of pain, healing and love with Mykola and Kira.
Ashley's penmanship is engaging and thought provoking especially when you link it to all the events we have experienced in the last few years. Profound perspective for readers to process the events happening in our world and the impact for the victims. This book will provide a little insight into healing from trauma and learning to trust again.
Definitely recommend reading Recall, it is very hard to put down!
The characters in the book are so well developed and the story is constantly moving drawing the reader in more. Ashley has a magical gift that weaves Mykola and Kira's story with all of the supporting characters contributing pieces that bring the whole together. Reading the book made me feel like I was on a difficult but beautiful journey of pain, healing and love with Mykola and Kira.
Ashley's penmanship is engaging and thought provoking especially when you link it to all the events we have experienced in the last few years. Profound perspective for readers to process the events happening in our world and the impact for the victims. This book will provide a little insight into healing from trauma and learning to trust again.
Definitely recommend reading Recall, it is very hard to put down!
September 20, 2025
If I could give this book 10 stars I would!!
Kira’s story is heartbreaking and tragic, but comes full circle to a beautiful ending. Keeping up with every turn of unhinged events kept me burning through pages like a wildfire! And left me day dreaming about big burly cowboys ;) I read fallout first and would highly recommend reading these stories back to back! Ashley nails every little detail, every character development, plot twists, and every trope you could heartthrob over. 100% swoonworthy, suspenseful, intriguing, and enlightening. A piece that touches very close to home to me is the topics of cptsd, and brain trauma that are prevalent themes throughout Recall. It’s refreshing to read about a “taboo” subject that most aren’t able to articulate accurately, but Recall does just that!
10/10 🤩🤩
Kira’s story is heartbreaking and tragic, but comes full circle to a beautiful ending. Keeping up with every turn of unhinged events kept me burning through pages like a wildfire! And left me day dreaming about big burly cowboys ;) I read fallout first and would highly recommend reading these stories back to back! Ashley nails every little detail, every character development, plot twists, and every trope you could heartthrob over. 100% swoonworthy, suspenseful, intriguing, and enlightening. A piece that touches very close to home to me is the topics of cptsd, and brain trauma that are prevalent themes throughout Recall. It’s refreshing to read about a “taboo” subject that most aren’t able to articulate accurately, but Recall does just that!
10/10 🤩🤩
September 3, 2025
Obviously rating my own book 5 stars because WHO WRITES A BOOK (that is, in their completely biased estimation) LESS than 5 stars? Join the Recall cast for one wild ride. It's like a train wreck--you want to look away, but can't. However, I promise that all (mostly, all?) suffering caused during the reading of this book will be repaired and you'll feel SO MUCH BETTER by the HEA (happily ever after) that we end on <3
August 7, 2025
ARC Review
Cattle rancher Mykola discovers a woman named Kira tangled in a barbed wire fence on his isolated property—miles from anywhere and completely inaccessible by foot. Kira has no memory beyond her name, she’s covered in blood that may not be hers, and there are bruises on her neck that suggest someone tried to strangle her. From there, things only get more intense.
Recall is a closed-door romantic thriller packed with suspense, emotional tension, and a protective cowboy MMC you won’t soon forget. Expect twists you won’t see coming!
What I loved:
♡ protective cowboy MMC
♡ amnesia trope
♡ small town cattle ranch
♡ ptsd and trauma healing
Although it’s the second book in a standalone series, you can absolutely dive in without reading the first! Although spoiler: the first is equally good!
Cattle rancher Mykola discovers a woman named Kira tangled in a barbed wire fence on his isolated property—miles from anywhere and completely inaccessible by foot. Kira has no memory beyond her name, she’s covered in blood that may not be hers, and there are bruises on her neck that suggest someone tried to strangle her. From there, things only get more intense.
Recall is a closed-door romantic thriller packed with suspense, emotional tension, and a protective cowboy MMC you won’t soon forget. Expect twists you won’t see coming!
What I loved:
♡ protective cowboy MMC
♡ amnesia trope
♡ small town cattle ranch
♡ ptsd and trauma healing
Although it’s the second book in a standalone series, you can absolutely dive in without reading the first! Although spoiler: the first is equally good!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews