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Please Remember Me
Successful lawyer Santi Herrera couldn’t be happier with the direction his life is taking. Not only is he on track to becoming a partner in his law firm, but he’s planning his wedding to Hank Burton, a south Texas contractor who has made a name for himself despite his humble beginnings. The introverted lone wolf Santi and the friendly, outgoing Hank complement each other perfectly. From the moment they laid eyes on each other, they were hooked, and as far as Santi and Hank are concerned, a happily ever after is their destiny.
But fate deals them a devastating new hand.
A construction accident leaves Hank with severe head trauma and brings him precariously close to death. When he finally awakens, Hank doesn’t remember Santi or the love they shared for the past three years. Santi faces the greatest challenge of his life. Can he respark a flame his lover can’t recall? And can he stop the diverging paths that fickle fate charts between them?
Santi has faith in the love he and Hank shared and in the words his father once spoke to “It’s never too late to fall in love. All over again.”
But fate deals them a devastating new hand.
A construction accident leaves Hank with severe head trauma and brings him precariously close to death. When he finally awakens, Hank doesn’t remember Santi or the love they shared for the past three years. Santi faces the greatest challenge of his life. Can he respark a flame his lover can’t recall? And can he stop the diverging paths that fickle fate charts between them?
Santi has faith in the love he and Hank shared and in the words his father once spoke to “It’s never too late to fall in love. All over again.”
256 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 6, 2015
16 people are currently reading
630 people want to read
About the author
Jacob Z. Flores
20 books320 followersJacob Z. Flores lives a double life. During the day, he is a respected college English professor and mid-level administrator. At night and during his summer vacation, he loosens the tie and tosses aside the trendy sports coat to write man on man fiction, where the hard ass assessor of freshmen level composition turns his attention to the firm posteriors and other rigid appendages of the characters in his fictional world.
Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse. When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.
You can follow Jacob’s musings on his blog at http://jacobzflores.com or become a part of his social media network by visiting http://www.facebook.com/jacob.flores2
or http://twitter.com/#!/JacobZFlores.
Summers in Provincetown, Massachusetts, provide Jacob with inspiration for his fiction. The abundance of barely clothed man flesh and daily debauchery stimulates his personal muse. When he isn’t stroking the keyboard, Jacob spends time with his daughter. They both represent a bright blue blip in an otherwise predominantly red swath in south Texas.
You can follow Jacob’s musings on his blog at http://jacobzflores.com or become a part of his social media network by visiting http://www.facebook.com/jacob.flores2
or http://twitter.com/#!/JacobZFlores.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
January 24, 2015
Do me a favor. Close your eyes. Wait! Errrr, that won't work out so well here.
Just pretend, will ya? Thanks.
Okay, now think about what you were doing last year. Got it? Good.
Now go back another year, and another, and one more. Remember? Cool.
Open your eyes.
What if you lost the last four years? What if you couldn't recall a single memory from that time? Like a giant eraser came through, they vanished. What did you lose?
Hank lost the love of his life. Restored bridges appear to still be broken. Love that has died seems to burn brightly. And precious faces are foreign.
How do you move forward when you don't know where you are?
True Story- I sleep with my kindle. Yep, every night it comes to bed with me. Even if I’m too exhausted to crack it open, I tuck it safely under my pillow. Weird, right? I snuggled under the covers the night I intended on reading the first dozen pages of this story…and never slept. Suddenly ‘just one more chapter’ became ‘I’ll dig out the duct tape for my eyelids if necessary, I must finish!' Thankfully, duct tape wasn't required. I could not have slept a wink if I tried. I inhaled it, soaked up every word. My heart thundered as my breath came ragged. I felt like I was at the gym…my body vibrated. Talk about a book buzz! An hour before dawn I finally drifted off. Now that my friend, is what happens when you score a good book. A damn good book.
Why was it so good for me?
For starters, the love in this romance was blinding. Santi and Hank were so in love it was disgusting. I LOVED it.
And then it happens. The tragic accident that mercilessly stole Hank’s recent memories gutted me. Not only was he robbed of any recollection of his fiancé, but his future came to jarring halt. The sorrow was debilitating, it zapped me like a live wire. Yet the strength that Santi pulled from his toes left me in awe.
Santi is my hero.
Santi might have been a successful lawyer with a decent life, but he was not truly living. An only child orphaned in his twenties, he was alone.
That is until a bear with flare caught his eye. An invisible tether drew them together and bound them nice and tight. Nice and tight. *ahem* Sorry, got distracted for a second. ;) That was the first day Santi started living.
Hank was his everything. Burly, furry, and kindhearted Hank has a thing for bling, Hello Kitty and a pair of brown eyes that stole his heart.
It’s easy to see why Santi tripped over his own feet during his swift fall for Hank, his energy was electric. True he was sexy as hell with his blond fuzz, ink, and piercings but it was his loyal and honest heart that drew me in. I absolutely adore him.
Days before their greatly anticipated wedding day, Hank awakens to find himself a stranger in his own life. He’s lost, utterly lost and it’s excruciating to watch. What's worse is, he believes he is still in love with his ex. *sobs*
Can you imagine?
Santi loves Hank more than life itself and the sacrifices he’s willing to suffer (and ultimately does) are severe. I loved how he loved Hank.
No matter how much you want it or will it, you can't make someone recover lost memories any easier than you can force them to fall in love with you.
Now hold on a second!
Don’t think this is all teeth and no tongue. It’s not pure angst nor is it simply an ugly sobfest.
It’s kinky, a little silly, and a whole lotta passion. It's gooey and sticky and exaggerated.
The secondary characters were strong and lovable. Funky friends that are more like brothers and a fag hag that'll go stiletto-to-stiletto with the best of them. Their nicknames crack me up. Their connections are tangible. Somehow, I couldn't hate anyone, even if I wanted to.
Did it hurt? Sure as hell did.
But the power of true love is the sweetest balm, and I was left so full I thought I might burst.
So why not five flashy stars? The sex. Hate to say it, but it didn't work for me. Fortunately, I was perfectly satisfied with their love.
Moments and memories cling to me and I have no intention of letting them go.
You don't have to worry about me forgetting Santi and Hank, I will always remember.
*4.5 OTT-OMG-Ooo! stars*
Just pretend, will ya? Thanks.
Okay, now think about what you were doing last year. Got it? Good.
Now go back another year, and another, and one more. Remember? Cool.
Open your eyes.
What if you lost the last four years? What if you couldn't recall a single memory from that time? Like a giant eraser came through, they vanished. What did you lose?
Hank lost the love of his life. Restored bridges appear to still be broken. Love that has died seems to burn brightly. And precious faces are foreign.
How do you move forward when you don't know where you are?
True Story- I sleep with my kindle. Yep, every night it comes to bed with me. Even if I’m too exhausted to crack it open, I tuck it safely under my pillow. Weird, right? I snuggled under the covers the night I intended on reading the first dozen pages of this story…and never slept. Suddenly ‘just one more chapter’ became ‘I’ll dig out the duct tape for my eyelids if necessary, I must finish!' Thankfully, duct tape wasn't required. I could not have slept a wink if I tried. I inhaled it, soaked up every word. My heart thundered as my breath came ragged. I felt like I was at the gym…my body vibrated. Talk about a book buzz! An hour before dawn I finally drifted off. Now that my friend, is what happens when you score a good book. A damn good book.
Why was it so good for me?
For starters, the love in this romance was blinding. Santi and Hank were so in love it was disgusting. I LOVED it.
And then it happens. The tragic accident that mercilessly stole Hank’s recent memories gutted me. Not only was he robbed of any recollection of his fiancé, but his future came to jarring halt. The sorrow was debilitating, it zapped me like a live wire. Yet the strength that Santi pulled from his toes left me in awe.
Santi is my hero.
Santi might have been a successful lawyer with a decent life, but he was not truly living. An only child orphaned in his twenties, he was alone.
That is until a bear with flare caught his eye. An invisible tether drew them together and bound them nice and tight. Nice and tight. *ahem* Sorry, got distracted for a second. ;) That was the first day Santi started living.
Hank was his everything. Burly, furry, and kindhearted Hank has a thing for bling, Hello Kitty and a pair of brown eyes that stole his heart.
It’s easy to see why Santi tripped over his own feet during his swift fall for Hank, his energy was electric. True he was sexy as hell with his blond fuzz, ink, and piercings but it was his loyal and honest heart that drew me in. I absolutely adore him.
Days before their greatly anticipated wedding day, Hank awakens to find himself a stranger in his own life. He’s lost, utterly lost and it’s excruciating to watch. What's worse is, he believes he is still in love with his ex. *sobs*
Can you imagine?
Santi loves Hank more than life itself and the sacrifices he’s willing to suffer (and ultimately does) are severe. I loved how he loved Hank.
No matter how much you want it or will it, you can't make someone recover lost memories any easier than you can force them to fall in love with you.
Now hold on a second!
Don’t think this is all teeth and no tongue. It’s not pure angst nor is it simply an ugly sobfest.
It’s kinky, a little silly, and a whole lotta passion. It's gooey and sticky and exaggerated.
The secondary characters were strong and lovable. Funky friends that are more like brothers and a fag hag that'll go stiletto-to-stiletto with the best of them. Their nicknames crack me up. Their connections are tangible. Somehow, I couldn't hate anyone, even if I wanted to.
Did it hurt? Sure as hell did.
But the power of true love is the sweetest balm, and I was left so full I thought I might burst.
So why not five flashy stars? The sex. Hate to say it, but it didn't work for me. Fortunately, I was perfectly satisfied with their love.
Moments and memories cling to me and I have no intention of letting them go.
You don't have to worry about me forgetting Santi and Hank, I will always remember.
*4.5 OTT-OMG-Ooo! stars*
July 3, 2019
3.5 Amnesia Stars!
A very solid, romantic love story with a guaranteed happy ending!
What this excels at and stands out for me is the intensity of emotions between Santi and Hank. You get to see their inception and snippets along the way on how these two meet, fall in lust and love, and make their somewhat complicated situation work because they are absolutely gaga and perfect for one another. When their past, present, and future is taken away by Hank’s head injury, you definitely feel those emotions of despair that Santi goes through, as well as Hank’s frustration, but you also have faith that such a great love will ultimately persevere and conquer all.
This was swoony romance, and I loved the feels, the determination of Santi, and the evolution of these two destined souls who find each other not once, but twice. The writing style and the intimate scenes were a bit aggressive for my taste, but I’m confident that if you love the amnesia trope, this will be a highly enjoyable read.
Again, a great journey with lots of smexy and ooey gooey heart warming feels!
A very solid, romantic love story with a guaranteed happy ending!
What this excels at and stands out for me is the intensity of emotions between Santi and Hank. You get to see their inception and snippets along the way on how these two meet, fall in lust and love, and make their somewhat complicated situation work because they are absolutely gaga and perfect for one another. When their past, present, and future is taken away by Hank’s head injury, you definitely feel those emotions of despair that Santi goes through, as well as Hank’s frustration, but you also have faith that such a great love will ultimately persevere and conquer all.
This was swoony romance, and I loved the feels, the determination of Santi, and the evolution of these two destined souls who find each other not once, but twice. The writing style and the intimate scenes were a bit aggressive for my taste, but I’m confident that if you love the amnesia trope, this will be a highly enjoyable read.
Again, a great journey with lots of smexy and ooey gooey heart warming feels!
June 26, 2019
I loved this book. It made me laugh, cry, smile and get a little hot and bothered.
The story begins when Hank wakes up from a coma two weeks after a fall at a construction site and has no memory of Santi, the man he has loved for the past three years and is set to marry in a few weeks. From there the story is told of Santi's struggle with "the new Hank", whose last memories include his ex-boyfriend and his life in another state, interspersed with flashbacks that tell their story from the day they met.
I was drawn right into the relationship of the two seemingly opposite men, bearish, pierced, yet still sparkly Hank and buttoned up, conservative, workaholic Santi. Their instant attraction when they meet at a nightclub is the beginning of many life changes for the two of them. A great secondary cast of friends and family round out the group. While their love is seemingly perfect, there is no longer any certainty that they will ever get back to the way things were. Santi is willing to do anything to spark a memory and bring back the man he loves, but is realistic in knowing it may never happen.
I have always been a fan of Jacob Flores' writing, and this has some of the most emotional scenes I've read in any of his books yet. There were moments as the two get reacquainted that just crushed me and ultimately Santi realizes there really is only one thing he can do for the man he loves, even if it destroys him in the process. This book had a little bit of everything, humor, joy, angst, heartache and sex, and I loved every minute of it.
The story begins when Hank wakes up from a coma two weeks after a fall at a construction site and has no memory of Santi, the man he has loved for the past three years and is set to marry in a few weeks. From there the story is told of Santi's struggle with "the new Hank", whose last memories include his ex-boyfriend and his life in another state, interspersed with flashbacks that tell their story from the day they met.
I was drawn right into the relationship of the two seemingly opposite men, bearish, pierced, yet still sparkly Hank and buttoned up, conservative, workaholic Santi. Their instant attraction when they meet at a nightclub is the beginning of many life changes for the two of them. A great secondary cast of friends and family round out the group. While their love is seemingly perfect, there is no longer any certainty that they will ever get back to the way things were. Santi is willing to do anything to spark a memory and bring back the man he loves, but is realistic in knowing it may never happen.
I have always been a fan of Jacob Flores' writing, and this has some of the most emotional scenes I've read in any of his books yet. There were moments as the two get reacquainted that just crushed me and ultimately Santi realizes there really is only one thing he can do for the man he loves, even if it destroys him in the process. This book had a little bit of everything, humor, joy, angst, heartache and sex, and I loved every minute of it.
February 9, 2015
From the blurb and prologue I had high hopes, but sadly after that things just kept going down hill for me.
Overall this failed to engage my heart or even my head. Too many “you are kidding me” moments for me.
June 26, 2015
3.5 stars
This book was fluffy and angsty in a strangest way.
Some parts were coma like sugary sweet way and some were deep down angsty sob-fest" way. Not sure if I enjoyed it.
I must say I have read a book on a similar topic The River Leith and for me it
delivered much better than Please Remember Me.
Make your own call.
BR with my lovelies here
This book was fluffy and angsty in a strangest way.
Some parts were coma like sugary sweet way and some were deep down angsty sob-fest" way. Not sure if I enjoyed it.
I must say I have read a book on a similar topic The River Leith and for me it
delivered much better than Please Remember Me.
Make your own call.
BR with my lovelies here
February 6, 2015
This is my first Jacob Z. Flores book and ya know what? It was really good! I was intrigued by the blurb because of the amnesia theme. It's a phenomenon that both fascinates and horrifies me because try as I might I just can't imagine what it would be like to wake up one day and completely forget your life, not even recognizing the people you deeply love. Or, on the opposite scale of things, become a complete stranger to someone who you've loved, and lived beside for years. It really is a horrible and frightening thought on both counts, and one I hope I never have to experience. But that's exactly what happens to Santi Herrera and the love of his life Hank Burton; when Texan contractor Hank falls from a building at his latest construction site, causing a serious, amnesia inducing, head trauma. A cruel twist of fate that within a matter of minutes, alters both their lives dramatically. From then on it’s a hard fight for Santi; who loves his man more than life itself, to get them both back on the (many times rocky) road to rediscovering their once unconditional love for each other.
What hurts Santi the most is that the majority of Hanks past memories are still intact, the only years missing are the three deliriously happy one's they've spent together. He remembers everything prior to them, including family, friends and unfortunately Karl: the partner he was involved and in love with before Santi. A man he’d split from when their relationship failed due to Karl's unhealthy lifestyle choices. So in effect he thinks he's still in love with his ex boyfriend, leaving poor Santi having to start over from scratch, to get the man he's still crazy about to fall in love with him all over again. It was practically love at first sight the moment they originally met, so surely that will happen again when Hank is back at home with Santi again...won't it???
"Can you tell me who this man behind me is?"......
"I've never seen him before in my life."
So really you end up with two separate love stories for the price of one because initially we see how they first meet and fall in love…and that really is a fairy tale romance… then we get the hard fought for journey to love again, which is as far away from their original romance as you can get! Santi's fairly tale romance becomes the stuff of nightmares the second time around, bless him, but giving up isn't an option. And that's what makes Santi the complete sweetie that he is.
Love or lust at first sight? Make you're own mind up about that, but in the beginning these two guys just can't get enough of each other. Practically inseparable from the moment they lay eyes, and hands, on each other they're a match made in heaven. In fact they're so much in love it's almost saccharine! They have pet names for each other, feel lost when they're not in each other's company and have hot, hot, hot, passionate sex that's made all the more perfect because it's like they know each other's needs and bodies inside out.
"I could never forget you Santi Herrera. The man who entranced me with his dazzling smile and his hot body. You're one sexy fucker, you know that?"
It's a relationship that's almost too good to be true...which is clever planning because when the shock fall out from the accident happens and suddenly they're back to being strangers, it really makes the rest of the story all the more compelling, as it takes what starts out as something fairly light and fluffy, into more emotional waters.
Link to rest of review: http://bit.ly/1KxPYuz
️SINFULLY...Addicted To All Male Romance
Formerly
What hurts Santi the most is that the majority of Hanks past memories are still intact, the only years missing are the three deliriously happy one's they've spent together. He remembers everything prior to them, including family, friends and unfortunately Karl: the partner he was involved and in love with before Santi. A man he’d split from when their relationship failed due to Karl's unhealthy lifestyle choices. So in effect he thinks he's still in love with his ex boyfriend, leaving poor Santi having to start over from scratch, to get the man he's still crazy about to fall in love with him all over again. It was practically love at first sight the moment they originally met, so surely that will happen again when Hank is back at home with Santi again...won't it???
"Can you tell me who this man behind me is?"......
"I've never seen him before in my life."
So really you end up with two separate love stories for the price of one because initially we see how they first meet and fall in love…and that really is a fairy tale romance… then we get the hard fought for journey to love again, which is as far away from their original romance as you can get! Santi's fairly tale romance becomes the stuff of nightmares the second time around, bless him, but giving up isn't an option. And that's what makes Santi the complete sweetie that he is.
Love or lust at first sight? Make you're own mind up about that, but in the beginning these two guys just can't get enough of each other. Practically inseparable from the moment they lay eyes, and hands, on each other they're a match made in heaven. In fact they're so much in love it's almost saccharine! They have pet names for each other, feel lost when they're not in each other's company and have hot, hot, hot, passionate sex that's made all the more perfect because it's like they know each other's needs and bodies inside out.
"I could never forget you Santi Herrera. The man who entranced me with his dazzling smile and his hot body. You're one sexy fucker, you know that?"
It's a relationship that's almost too good to be true...which is clever planning because when the shock fall out from the accident happens and suddenly they're back to being strangers, it really makes the rest of the story all the more compelling, as it takes what starts out as something fairly light and fluffy, into more emotional waters.
Link to rest of review: http://bit.ly/1KxPYuz
️SINFULLY...Addicted To All Male Romance
Formerly
April 6, 2023
DNF @ 19%.
No amount of dick piercings could make up for an entire chapter of Hank’s dog dying, being euthanized and buried.
And then immediately from that chapter, we jump into a party where Santi’s brand new BFFs try to get them to play, we learn Jill’s nickname is Jildo, and she loves that it rhymes with dildo since “she had quite the collection of assorted plastic phalluses. Hank has a Rubbermaid container full of dildos, so those two bonded over that. Jill’s nickname for Hank is “Butt Munch”, and Hank casually shared how great he is doing, “especially since [he] just finished eating Santi’s ass fifteen minutes ago”. Jill high-fives him and declares that Santi has “always enjoyed a good rimming” and that “first in the pink and then in the stink is [her] motto.” Glad you guys moved on from your 12 y/o dog passing /s.
Also, too many pop culture references, like songs, pop stars and tv shows.
No amount of dick piercings could make up for an entire chapter of Hank’s dog dying, being euthanized and buried.
And then immediately from that chapter, we jump into a party where Santi’s brand new BFFs try to get them to play, we learn Jill’s nickname is Jildo, and she loves that it rhymes with dildo since “she had quite the collection of assorted plastic phalluses. Hank has a Rubbermaid container full of dildos, so those two bonded over that. Jill’s nickname for Hank is “Butt Munch”, and Hank casually shared how great he is doing, “especially since [he] just finished eating Santi’s ass fifteen minutes ago”. Jill high-fives him and declares that Santi has “always enjoyed a good rimming” and that “first in the pink and then in the stink is [her] motto.” Glad you guys moved on from your 12 y/o dog passing /s.
Also, too many pop culture references, like songs, pop stars and tv shows.
March 27, 2015
Oh boy..
This would have been a solid 4 stars read for me (despite a few things that kind of annoyed me) if the end wouldn't have spoiled it for me. Don't worry there is a big fat HEA, that wasn't my issue.
I really liked the MCs, Santi and Hank. They are really cute and funny and HOT!!! I especially like Hank, who is a big, flashy power bottom! *I always love it when the big guy is bottoming :P* And he wears really cool t-shirts with Hello Kitty or “So gay I sneeze glitter” messages on them! :D I love that.
Although the blurb tells us this is about Hank loosing his memory and Santi trying to make him remember and win him back, about half the book's action is in the past, showings us their life before the accident. Now, I loved the fact we get some back story, especially how they met and fell in love, but at one point it was just too much! TO MUCH! This was supposed to be about Hank losing his memory, not a regular boy meets boy story. I don't have anything against those stories, I like them, A LOT! I own like a gazillion of them. But that wasn't what I expected from this book. Nope! So that's why I kind of skimmed some of those parts #sorrynotsorry.
But as I said, I would have given the book 4 stars despite this issue. SPOILER ALERT!!! Buuuuut.. ugh!!! In the epilogue we get Hank's POV. And it's obvious that he . And I was sooooo happy about this! I was like huh! What a refreshing finish! Finally there's no . But wait!!! In the last fucking page of the book . The end!
Say what? WHAT? WHAT? WHAAAAAAAAAAT? Are you freaking kidding me?
NO!!! NO!! So for that I subtract 1 star! Oh yes! I almost subtracted 2, but then I remembered Hank. And I like Hank! *dreamy sigh*
Smooches!
This would have been a solid 4 stars read for me (despite a few things that kind of annoyed me) if the end wouldn't have spoiled it for me. Don't worry there is a big fat HEA, that wasn't my issue.
I really liked the MCs, Santi and Hank. They are really cute and funny and HOT!!! I especially like Hank, who is a big, flashy power bottom! *I always love it when the big guy is bottoming :P* And he wears really cool t-shirts with Hello Kitty or “So gay I sneeze glitter” messages on them! :D I love that.
Although the blurb tells us this is about Hank loosing his memory and Santi trying to make him remember and win him back, about half the book's action is in the past, showings us their life before the accident. Now, I loved the fact we get some back story, especially how they met and fell in love, but at one point it was just too much! TO MUCH! This was supposed to be about Hank losing his memory, not a regular boy meets boy story. I don't have anything against those stories, I like them, A LOT! I own like a gazillion of them. But that wasn't what I expected from this book. Nope! So that's why I kind of skimmed some of those parts #sorrynotsorry.
But as I said, I would have given the book 4 stars despite this issue. SPOILER ALERT!!! Buuuuut.. ugh!!! In the epilogue we get Hank's POV. And it's obvious that he . And I was sooooo happy about this! I was like huh! What a refreshing finish! Finally there's no . But wait!!! In the last fucking page of the book . The end!
Say what? WHAT? WHAT? WHAAAAAAAAAAT? Are you freaking kidding me?
NO!!! NO!! So for that I subtract 1 star! Oh yes! I almost subtracted 2, but then I remembered Hank. And I like Hank! *dreamy sigh*
Smooches!
February 6, 2015
3.5 stars
I went into the book expecting ANGST to the extreme. Well wishing and hoping for it.
And while it was angsty, no tears, but angst, there was alot more laughter.
Some of the things all those boys said were outrageous and I couldn't help but spew pop.
don't be drinking any sort of beverage when you read this book.
My wish was that it was way more angsty. I know I know. Its usually my only wish when reading.
Mare~Slitsread
I went into the book expecting ANGST to the extreme. Well wishing and hoping for it.
And while it was angsty, no tears, but angst, there was alot more laughter.
Some of the things all those boys said were outrageous and I couldn't help but spew pop.
don't be drinking any sort of beverage when you read this book.
My wish was that it was way more angsty. I know I know. Its usually my only wish when reading.
Mare~Slitsread
February 10, 2015
When I saw the cover and the blurb I was looking forward to a heartbreaking tearjerker. Hey, the title caused me to check my tissue stock… and what happened? I shed not one single tear because Please Remember Me wasn’t an angsty book, it was a nice sweet romance with some minor ups and downs because of Hank’s amnesia.
Btw… I didn’t like ‘fag hag’ Jill, Santi’s best friend. Sorry, but she was just unbearable. Hank friends were nice guys and I liked them. The pink glittery was a bit overdone, though. A tattooed hunk like Hank travels with a pink Hello Kitty suitcase? Well…
If you like instantly love, sweet romance and a lot of sugar you will love the book but If you expect more, if you expect a hurt/comfort book with wonderful tearjerking moments you might be a bit disappointed with the story.
Every time I look at the beautiful, promising cover I feel... well... I better shut up now. :)
February 2, 2015
With "Please Remember Me", Jacob Flores delivered a solid, yet somewhat angst-filled romance centering around two men, one of whom loses his memories of their relationship after a terrible accident. Upon waking up from a coma, Hank Burton no longer remembers Santi Herrera, the man with whom he's been in love for three years, and whom he was going to marry soon.
I liked how the author told their story in flashbacks that were worked well into the overall plot progression, and how the flashbacks served to show the reader their history against their present, including all the family relationships with Hank's parents as well as Darren and Mitch, who are Hank's "brothers" and Jill, who's Santi's best friend.
With Hank having forgotten him, Santi has to fight with everything he has for Hank. Obviously, it's not easy, and the author did a fabulous job showing Santi's struggles, his pain and hurt, his perseverance in the face of such adversity, his dashed hopes, his doubts. There were moments that were so painful that I cried for him, but there were also moments that were sweet and loving, and through all of them, I could tell how much these two men were in love, before and after.
Both characters are fully fleshed out, though for most of the book, we only see Hank through Santi's eyes, as the story is told from his first person POV. What stood out most for me in Santi's characterization was the insurmountable love he feels for Hank, not only for the man he was, but also for the man he is now. It was made clear time and again that there was nothing Santi wouldn't do for Hank, even if it meant standing back and giving him up, in the even that Hank either didn't fall in love with Santi again, or never recovered his memory.
I cried a few times. There is so much love in this book, it was overwhelming at times. I think that a more cynical reader might classify the relationship as idealized - I don't believe it is. I think Jacob took the time to show that their relationship isn't simply based on the physical connection - though that one burns scorching hot, OMG - but also cements it in their willingness to work with each other's idiosyncrasies, take the other person as they are (something that is only too clear after Hank's accident), and find joy in each other every day outside of the bedroom.
I have to say this, though - the book is dedicated to Mike for the inspiration (whom, if you follow Jacob on FB, you will know as Jacob's partner), and while the physical description of Hank appears to somewhat match that of Mike, seeing that dedication then also triggered a "OMG, and Santi kind of looks sort of like Jacob, and OMG, I mustn't think of them while reading this" kind of reaction.
That aside, this was a beautifully written love story against a backdrop of amnesia and the realistically depicted struggles that came from the accident. The epilogue included a moment that I didn't need for this book and their love-story to work, but it was sweet nonetheless.
Highly recommended.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
I liked how the author told their story in flashbacks that were worked well into the overall plot progression, and how the flashbacks served to show the reader their history against their present, including all the family relationships with Hank's parents as well as Darren and Mitch, who are Hank's "brothers" and Jill, who's Santi's best friend.
With Hank having forgotten him, Santi has to fight with everything he has for Hank. Obviously, it's not easy, and the author did a fabulous job showing Santi's struggles, his pain and hurt, his perseverance in the face of such adversity, his dashed hopes, his doubts. There were moments that were so painful that I cried for him, but there were also moments that were sweet and loving, and through all of them, I could tell how much these two men were in love, before and after.
Both characters are fully fleshed out, though for most of the book, we only see Hank through Santi's eyes, as the story is told from his first person POV. What stood out most for me in Santi's characterization was the insurmountable love he feels for Hank, not only for the man he was, but also for the man he is now. It was made clear time and again that there was nothing Santi wouldn't do for Hank, even if it meant standing back and giving him up, in the even that Hank either didn't fall in love with Santi again, or never recovered his memory.
I cried a few times. There is so much love in this book, it was overwhelming at times. I think that a more cynical reader might classify the relationship as idealized - I don't believe it is. I think Jacob took the time to show that their relationship isn't simply based on the physical connection - though that one burns scorching hot, OMG - but also cements it in their willingness to work with each other's idiosyncrasies, take the other person as they are (something that is only too clear after Hank's accident), and find joy in each other every day outside of the bedroom.
I have to say this, though - the book is dedicated to Mike for the inspiration (whom, if you follow Jacob on FB, you will know as Jacob's partner), and while the physical description of Hank appears to somewhat match that of Mike, seeing that dedication then also triggered a "OMG, and Santi kind of looks sort of like Jacob, and OMG, I mustn't think of them while reading this" kind of reaction.
That aside, this was a beautifully written love story against a backdrop of amnesia and the realistically depicted struggles that came from the accident. The epilogue included a moment that I didn't need for this book and their love-story to work, but it was sweet nonetheless.
Highly recommended.
** I received a free copy of this book from its publisher. A positive review was not promised in return. **
March 15, 2015
I was a Jacob Flores virgin before I started this book...and I have to admit, I came to it with mixed feelings. One friend HIGHLY recommended this book to me, then another friend found it didn't suit at all. As I've said a million times one of the best things about reading is that it is an individual thing, what works for one won't for another - but I would be lying if I didn't say that other readers opinions do influence my book choice, if not my actual feeling for a book. It is both the best and worst thing about reviews. Within about one chapter though, I knew I was firmly on the 'loved this' side of this book. Yay.
Why? Why did I love it so much? Quite simply Santi and Hank. I absolutely fell in love with them. We see the story through Santi's eyes, both in the present and flashback. He is dealing with losing the man he loved really. Although Hank is there and alive he is suffering memory loss and can't remember Santi at all. My heart broke for Santi, on the day that should have been their wedding he is taking Hank home - to home that Hank has no recollection of. From being the whole world to each other they are both learning each other again.
So, memory loss...it doesn't matter how many times I read this storyline, I cannot imagine how horrible this is, it would be like me waking up tomorrow and being told that this is not my life and family any longer, the children are older or x,y & z has happened. How impossible would that be to believe? While it is Hank with the memory loss, it is equally as hard for Santi. Every single action has to be thought about, all those things he takes for granted - the peck on the cheek, the sharing a bed, breakfast, dinner, tea routine, likes, dislikes...every single thing has to be thought about twice. Is he putting too much pressure on Hank by showing his worry, should he be trying to trigger memories...the list of uncertainties is endless.
I think Jacob Flores did a great job of handling this. It felt real, yet I could feel the care and despair of both characters. All the characters actually. They were all well rounded and fit the story perfectly. there was no angst plonked in for the sake of it, it just really clicked for me. Hank and Santi were a fantastic couple, they made me smile and I could feel their love with every word. I really appreciated how special Santi and Hank were and the message I found that love will conquer all, however hard the path maybe. A story I would highly recommend.
As an aside, I follow the author (amongst many others) on facebook and so I see pictures and updates and all the time I was reading this I could only imagine him and his partner in the roles of Santi and Hank. Maybe that's why the relationship felt so genuine. I'm not saying at all that the characters were based on them, I'm actually sure they weren't, but they were the images I had in my head as I read.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
Review previously at BMBR.
Why? Why did I love it so much? Quite simply Santi and Hank. I absolutely fell in love with them. We see the story through Santi's eyes, both in the present and flashback. He is dealing with losing the man he loved really. Although Hank is there and alive he is suffering memory loss and can't remember Santi at all. My heart broke for Santi, on the day that should have been their wedding he is taking Hank home - to home that Hank has no recollection of. From being the whole world to each other they are both learning each other again.
So, memory loss...it doesn't matter how many times I read this storyline, I cannot imagine how horrible this is, it would be like me waking up tomorrow and being told that this is not my life and family any longer, the children are older or x,y & z has happened. How impossible would that be to believe? While it is Hank with the memory loss, it is equally as hard for Santi. Every single action has to be thought about, all those things he takes for granted - the peck on the cheek, the sharing a bed, breakfast, dinner, tea routine, likes, dislikes...every single thing has to be thought about twice. Is he putting too much pressure on Hank by showing his worry, should he be trying to trigger memories...the list of uncertainties is endless.
I think Jacob Flores did a great job of handling this. It felt real, yet I could feel the care and despair of both characters. All the characters actually. They were all well rounded and fit the story perfectly. there was no angst plonked in for the sake of it, it just really clicked for me. Hank and Santi were a fantastic couple, they made me smile and I could feel their love with every word. I really appreciated how special Santi and Hank were and the message I found that love will conquer all, however hard the path maybe. A story I would highly recommend.
As an aside, I follow the author (amongst many others) on facebook and so I see pictures and updates and all the time I was reading this I could only imagine him and his partner in the roles of Santi and Hank. Maybe that's why the relationship felt so genuine. I'm not saying at all that the characters were based on them, I'm actually sure they weren't, but they were the images I had in my head as I read.
A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
Review previously at BMBR.
June 7, 2015
I feel pretty blessed lately in my book reading. Please Remember Me was another enjoyable read for me. Is the premise one I've read before? Yes. Yes it is. But the journey was a good one, the characters interesting - primary and secondary - and it was something I just got right into. Santi, the patient partner who had to help the love of his life after brain trauma, and Hank, the Hello Kitty-wearing bear who owned it, but struggled with his short-term memory, specifically memories of him and Santi. There were moments that made me laugh and moments that made me feel for both Santi and Hank. Not much more I can ask for from what is essentially a sweet romance with some sexy moments, good friends, and heart.
Review at
Review at
dnf
September 2, 2016DNF'd @ 10%. It was the sentence "...he slurped up the juice he'd coaxed from my throbbing prick." that decided it for me.
July 13, 2022
This book made me roll my eyes so hard I got a migraine.
Example:
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
I smiled down at him. “Not in the last few hours.”
“Because I really, really, really do.”
“I’m glad,” I said.
“Because I really, really, really love you too.”
This was said eleventy billion times. And it was the key to
Also, the word "Hag" was used 34 times.
Jill was nicknames Jildo because she liked dildos.
The nicknames were just so weird.
Grandma, Bubble, Ripper ...
Oh and grownass men using the term: Silly Mcsillyson and Pissy Mcpissyrson.
I'm baffled.
Example:
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
I smiled down at him. “Not in the last few hours.”
“Because I really, really, really do.”
“I’m glad,” I said.
“Because I really, really, really love you too.”
This was said eleventy billion times. And it was the key to
Also, the word "Hag" was used 34 times.
Jill was nicknames Jildo because she liked dildos.
The nicknames were just so weird.
Grandma, Bubble, Ripper ...
Oh and grownass men using the term: Silly Mcsillyson and Pissy Mcpissyrson.
I'm baffled.
January 4, 2015
I went into Please remember me with a bit of caution. I know I have never read or seen it but this seemed vaguely familiar to something that hit the big screen a few years ago from a book. I’m not sure how that played out. I can say that I thoroughly enjoyed the way Hank and Santi and their roads to happily ever after played out.
Just a couple of weeks before Santi and Hank’s wedding everything these men had going for them comes to an abrupt halt when Hank suffers a head injury that leaves a gap in his memory. That gap is Santi. Two romances between Hank and Santi begin to unfold as readers get swept away in these two falling in love all over again while Santi relives how they fell in love to begin with.
The secondary characters, friends and family member of Santi and Hank brought plenty of entertainment to the pages. Many of them had known Hank from before the accident and they knew the happiness that Santi brought into Hank’s life. They were a great support team to Santi while the love of his life was unintentionally breaking his heart.
I truly enjoyed the way their story was told. While some of the memories were flashbacks, many times they were presented by Santi answering one of Hank’s numerous questions. Hank was desperate to fill in the blank spaces and Santi was more than will to help in any way possible. Jacob Z. Flores gives readers a sexy story, with a little heartache, much compassion, and two love stories. I will definitely read another of his titles very soon.
Just a couple of weeks before Santi and Hank’s wedding everything these men had going for them comes to an abrupt halt when Hank suffers a head injury that leaves a gap in his memory. That gap is Santi. Two romances between Hank and Santi begin to unfold as readers get swept away in these two falling in love all over again while Santi relives how they fell in love to begin with.
The secondary characters, friends and family member of Santi and Hank brought plenty of entertainment to the pages. Many of them had known Hank from before the accident and they knew the happiness that Santi brought into Hank’s life. They were a great support team to Santi while the love of his life was unintentionally breaking his heart.
I truly enjoyed the way their story was told. While some of the memories were flashbacks, many times they were presented by Santi answering one of Hank’s numerous questions. Hank was desperate to fill in the blank spaces and Santi was more than will to help in any way possible. Jacob Z. Flores gives readers a sexy story, with a little heartache, much compassion, and two love stories. I will definitely read another of his titles very soon.
February 11, 2015
2.5 stars
I had high hopes after reading the blurb, but sadly the book didn't deliver, for such a serious topic it was an overly sweet, sugary read with quite some what the f*** moments for me.
Seriously, a book about amnesia and the sadest moment is when the dog dies? There was no angst at all!
What I couldn't believe was
IMO the characters were overdone and stereotypical, Jill the fag hag, Jesse and Mario the slutty friends, Hank's friends Mitch and Darren with their constant name calling and of course Karl
Oh, and
I had high hopes after reading the blurb, but sadly the book didn't deliver, for such a serious topic it was an overly sweet, sugary read with quite some what the f*** moments for me.
Seriously, a book about amnesia and the sadest moment is when the dog dies? There was no angst at all!
What I couldn't believe was
IMO the characters were overdone and stereotypical, Jill the fag hag, Jesse and Mario the slutty friends, Hank's friends Mitch and Darren with their constant name calling and of course Karl
Oh, and
July 16, 2017
What I liked:
- Some scenes were so beautiful and/or painful they made me cry.
- Hank! Big, sweet teddy bear of a man.
- It took a while for the story to get a grip on me, but when it did - oh boy! I couldn't put it down until I finished.
What I didn't like:
- The writing was overly descriptive in places and that distracted me from the story. In fact, the first 20% of the book I was convinced I would dnf.
- Being introverted does not equal being shy. As a very introverted and very much not a shy person, I would know.
- They were constantly "clawing" and "chewing" on each other. While I'm used to that kind of expressions in shifter books, in contemporary romance it invokes some very unpleasant images.
- And then, there was this gem also:
What, potentially deadly and you need a two-digit IQ to do it?
- Some scenes were so beautiful and/or painful they made me cry.
- Hank! Big, sweet teddy bear of a man.
- It took a while for the story to get a grip on me, but when it did - oh boy! I couldn't put it down until I finished.
What I didn't like:
- The writing was overly descriptive in places and that distracted me from the story. In fact, the first 20% of the book I was convinced I would dnf.
- Being introverted does not equal being shy. As a very introverted and very much not a shy person, I would know.
- They were constantly "clawing" and "chewing" on each other. While I'm used to that kind of expressions in shifter books, in contemporary romance it invokes some very unpleasant images.
"I had to slowly pull my lip from his jaws and take deep breaths to calm down."
"Whenever Hank rimmed my ass, he grunted and turned into an animal rooting around in his favorite spot."
- And then, there was this gem also:
"Touching him was like sticking my tongue in an electrical socket."
What, potentially deadly and you need a two-digit IQ to do it?
February 5, 2015
5 star review by Danielle
Wow just simply wow. This story is what makes me love this genre; it’s what makes reading the best feeling there is.
On occasion you stumble across a story that just hits you up in all the right ways. It touches you, it spikes your buttons and it makes you sad when you have finished because you feel like you are living the story with the characters made by the author.
For me this was one of those stories. It was so easy to connect with both Santi and Hank , so easily to picture them in my mind.
And not only the main characters but also the friends that surround this story are so worth it. Jill , Darren and Mitch all seem to have their own story to tell (hint hint).
It’s not a secret that I am a fan of this author and when I got asked to read this book early for review I was delighted, yet it also makes it difficult when you appreciate an author to exactly do that.
I fell head over heels with this story and it’s characters. There is laughter, there is a moral and there is also a very serious undertone. The connection between Hank and Santi is very instant and although you could question it, it seems the be the proof of that indeed instant attraction, lust or even perhaps love at first sight exists.
You will blush in reading some parts, a delightful blush I have to say for me personally but there is also a passage in this book that had me crying (quite an embarresment in your workplace but I couldn’t help it. It honestly broke my heart.)
Another intense part is Hank his other relationships. For example, with his parents it was very good to read a different view on the parent/gay son relationship and seeing that it indeed can change. But also with the two friends he has lived with and built a life together with as brothers. Both relationships get addressed in this book in refreshing and different ways much to my personal liking.
When they face the challenge of giving up or sticking to it, accepting their lives would never be the same either way, as a reader I struggled together with them, finding hope in little small pieces and seeing understanding in decisions that needed to be made. I found myself silently begging for that spark of recognition or reconnecting.
The one thing I needed to get used to was the looking back on occasion in the story. While grew to love this aspect because it showed me wonderful things that had happened between and with Santi and Hank, it also took me some time to adjust to it..
The writing style of the author is fluent, very easy to read with an healthy dose of excitement and enthusiasm.
This story has it all! It has love above and beyond all, it has faith and trust in another person and belief in yourself. It has compassion, friendship and a certain, necessary amount of sadness. It also has anger and frustration, a fair amount of smoking sexiness, insecurity, resentment and regrowth to just to name a few wonderful things.
As I don’t believe in perfect this came close so Mary Poppins would say practically perfect in every way.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
Wow just simply wow. This story is what makes me love this genre; it’s what makes reading the best feeling there is.
On occasion you stumble across a story that just hits you up in all the right ways. It touches you, it spikes your buttons and it makes you sad when you have finished because you feel like you are living the story with the characters made by the author.
For me this was one of those stories. It was so easy to connect with both Santi and Hank , so easily to picture them in my mind.
And not only the main characters but also the friends that surround this story are so worth it. Jill , Darren and Mitch all seem to have their own story to tell (hint hint).
It’s not a secret that I am a fan of this author and when I got asked to read this book early for review I was delighted, yet it also makes it difficult when you appreciate an author to exactly do that.
I fell head over heels with this story and it’s characters. There is laughter, there is a moral and there is also a very serious undertone. The connection between Hank and Santi is very instant and although you could question it, it seems the be the proof of that indeed instant attraction, lust or even perhaps love at first sight exists.
You will blush in reading some parts, a delightful blush I have to say for me personally but there is also a passage in this book that had me crying (quite an embarresment in your workplace but I couldn’t help it. It honestly broke my heart.)
Another intense part is Hank his other relationships. For example, with his parents it was very good to read a different view on the parent/gay son relationship and seeing that it indeed can change. But also with the two friends he has lived with and built a life together with as brothers. Both relationships get addressed in this book in refreshing and different ways much to my personal liking.
When they face the challenge of giving up or sticking to it, accepting their lives would never be the same either way, as a reader I struggled together with them, finding hope in little small pieces and seeing understanding in decisions that needed to be made. I found myself silently begging for that spark of recognition or reconnecting.
The one thing I needed to get used to was the looking back on occasion in the story. While grew to love this aspect because it showed me wonderful things that had happened between and with Santi and Hank, it also took me some time to adjust to it..
The writing style of the author is fluent, very easy to read with an healthy dose of excitement and enthusiasm.
This story has it all! It has love above and beyond all, it has faith and trust in another person and belief in yourself. It has compassion, friendship and a certain, necessary amount of sadness. It also has anger and frustration, a fair amount of smoking sexiness, insecurity, resentment and regrowth to just to name a few wonderful things.
As I don’t believe in perfect this came close so Mary Poppins would say practically perfect in every way.
A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review. Please visit www.lovebytesreviews.com to see this and many more reviews, author interviews, guestposts and giveaways!
February 2, 2018
This is my second Jacob's book. I really loved Being True. I adored the story.
That's why I picked this one and hoped I can get the same vibes with the first one.
But I was wrong, while "Being True" was a hit, this one was a miss.
This could be great, the story concept was good to dig in, but too bad, I had too many 'eye rolling' while I read this.
It's cheesy , diabetic induced, drove me to 'hyperglycaemia'. But I did finish it, I'm that curious of the ending.
Hyperglycaemia (a high blood sugar level) occurs when the body can't remove glucose from the blood and turn it into energy. It usually only happens in people with diabetes.Short-term symptoms of hyperglycaemia include increased thirst, wanting to urinate more often and feeling tired.
I was kinda tired of these lines they're repeated million times...
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
I smiled down at him. “Not in the last few hours.”
“Because I really, really, really do.”
“I’m glad,” I said.
“Because I really, really, really love you too.”
I felt sorry for Santi (it's girl's name in my country, I have difficulties imagining Santi as a man, sorry), for fighting too hard for Bubble, err...Hank, while Hank was obviously didn't want Santi to fight for him, instead, he said he still loved Karl, and hurt Santi.
Okay, he lost his memory, didn't remember Santi at all, but seriously, saying that to a person who was there for you while you're in a sick bed? Have a manner, at least, Hank!
And guess what, Hank remember everything crystal clear after two years of marriage and after this,
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
I smiled down at him. “Not in the last few hours.”
“Because I really, really, really do.”
“I’m glad,” I said.
“Because I really, really, really love you too.”
Remember that?
Yeah, that. Why didn't you guys said that the day you're married?
Oh, and that silly ryme names, sounds too young for their age. Just saying.
They have their 'cliche' HEA for sure, but I still feel this one failed me.
Too bad, since I loved "BEING TRUE" that much.
That's why I picked this one and hoped I can get the same vibes with the first one.
But I was wrong, while "Being True" was a hit, this one was a miss.
This could be great, the story concept was good to dig in, but too bad, I had too many 'eye rolling' while I read this.
It's cheesy , diabetic induced, drove me to 'hyperglycaemia'. But I did finish it, I'm that curious of the ending.
Hyperglycaemia (a high blood sugar level) occurs when the body can't remove glucose from the blood and turn it into energy. It usually only happens in people with diabetes.Short-term symptoms of hyperglycaemia include increased thirst, wanting to urinate more often and feeling tired.
I was kinda tired of these lines they're repeated million times...
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
I smiled down at him. “Not in the last few hours.”
“Because I really, really, really do.”
“I’m glad,” I said.
“Because I really, really, really love you too.”
I felt sorry for Santi (it's girl's name in my country, I have difficulties imagining Santi as a man, sorry), for fighting too hard for Bubble, err...Hank, while Hank was obviously didn't want Santi to fight for him, instead, he said he still loved Karl, and hurt Santi.
Okay, he lost his memory, didn't remember Santi at all, but seriously, saying that to a person who was there for you while you're in a sick bed? Have a manner, at least, Hank!
And guess what, Hank remember everything crystal clear after two years of marriage and after this,
“Have I told you how much I love you?”
I smiled down at him. “Not in the last few hours.”
“Because I really, really, really do.”
“I’m glad,” I said.
“Because I really, really, really love you too.”
Remember that?
Yeah, that. Why didn't you guys said that the day you're married?
Oh, and that silly ryme names, sounds too young for their age. Just saying.
They have their 'cliche' HEA for sure, but I still feel this one failed me.
Too bad, since I loved "BEING TRUE" that much.
June 17, 2016
He dejado pasar unos días antes de escribir mi opinión porque estoy en conflicto: por un lado me gustó la premisa y me gusta mucho como narra el autor, pero por otro, no sé, tengo un problema terrible no sólo con los personajes, sino con el modo en que está llevado el tema de la amnesia. No he conseguido empatizar en lo más mínimo con ellos y ha habido partes que simplemente no he conseguido 'creerlas', . Otro problema que me sacó de quicio por completo fueron el elenco de secundarios, desde la mariliendres de turno a los amigos promiscuos y el ex cabrón que de repente también da consejos de vida. No me molestan los estereotipos, de hecho creo que están ahí y son estereotipos porque son reales, pero en la historia han sido usados con la sutileza de una patada en la entrepierna. NO PODIA soportar a la amiga! era un WTF constante.
En definitiva, voy a leer más del autor porque creo que tiene talento,pero se queda con tres estrellas y creo que soy generosa. Lo siento mucho :(
En definitiva, voy a leer más del autor porque creo que tiene talento,pero se queda con tres estrellas y creo que soy generosa. Lo siento mucho :(
February 4, 2018
I didn’t connect with this at first, but I’m glad I stuck with it. I had a hard time getting invested in the back story of Hank and Santi’s relationship. And as silly as it sounds, part of that was because of words phrases that are irrational pet peeves. (moist mat of fur anyone?)
But after the accident that left Hank with memory loss, after the heartbreak of Santi realizing his fiancé no longer knew him, I was hooked. My favorite thing about this story is that it wasn’t built on the tension of waiting for the MCs to discuss their feelings. Santi laid himself bare as soon as he had the opportunity. His goal was to show Hank how good they are together, whether or not he regains his memory.
The epilogue was a little tidy for my taste, but this was still a lovely, romantic story.
But after the accident that left Hank with memory loss, after the heartbreak of Santi realizing his fiancé no longer knew him, I was hooked. My favorite thing about this story is that it wasn’t built on the tension of waiting for the MCs to discuss their feelings. Santi laid himself bare as soon as he had the opportunity. His goal was to show Hank how good they are together, whether or not he regains his memory.
The epilogue was a little tidy for my taste, but this was still a lovely, romantic story.
February 16, 2020
3 stars
some things worked for me, many things didn't. The "angsty" part was probably my favorite, which is pretty contrary to how I usually feel. The situation was definitely a difficult one for everyone involved and it was sad at times, though I wasn't overly sad about it. No ugly crying--thank god.
I didn't really care for some of the dialogue. It felt odd, at times pretty juvenile or unnecessarily crude and there were some offensive things thrown in at times. Having said that, I did like this little family that Hank had built, his close friends Darren and Mitch. Wish there had been more build up or more showing how Santi and Hank fell in love, there were flash backs, which were nice in this, I'm not typically a fan, but they served a purpose here. Wish there had been more of that in the beginning, I wasn't quite as devastated as I should have been maybe? Santi was a sweet guy.
some things worked for me, many things didn't. The "angsty" part was probably my favorite, which is pretty contrary to how I usually feel. The situation was definitely a difficult one for everyone involved and it was sad at times, though I wasn't overly sad about it. No ugly crying--thank god.
I didn't really care for some of the dialogue. It felt odd, at times pretty juvenile or unnecessarily crude and there were some offensive things thrown in at times. Having said that, I did like this little family that Hank had built, his close friends Darren and Mitch. Wish there had been more build up or more showing how Santi and Hank fell in love, there were flash backs, which were nice in this, I'm not typically a fan, but they served a purpose here. Wish there had been more of that in the beginning, I wasn't quite as devastated as I should have been maybe? Santi was a sweet guy.
December 22, 2015
This was a very sweet book, and while some things absolutely worked for me, others didn't quite much.
Santi and Hank met one weekend. What you find here is the definition of insta love/lust. I guess is more insta lust with incredible chemistry than insta love, but I normally struggle to buy those. That being said, I think that in this book it was nicely worked... If with a bit of disbelief on my cynic self part.
A quick summary of this: Santi and Hank met in San Diego, but Santi is from Houston, so he goes back home after an awesome weekend. They keep in touch, and months later Hank moves to Houston with Santi. They have a great relationship, and they are madly in love, but tragedy strikes when Hank has an accident that causes him severe memory loss. Basically, his years with Santi don't exist for him. He doesn't recall a thing, and this breaks Santi's heart. Now Santi has to work on bringing back Hank's memories of them together, or make new ones. But one way or the other, is starting from scratch.
Angsty? Yes? Well... No. Not so much.
I was expecting an angst fest, but didn't quite get it. Don't get me wrong, there were times when my heart just shrunk, and I teared up a bit, but there was no ugly crying. Half of me is thankful for that, the other half is in a terrible need to go after an extremely angsty book to satisfy the emotional masochist that lives inside me and I rarely let out.
A lot of this book is based on either past memories of the couple or making new ones. I wish I'd seen more of the working through and on the amnesia that hit Hank. I understand the go-with-the-flow approach, and yeah, I agree it was the best thing to do. But still..
What I liked about this book a lot was that Santi realized that if he couldn't get Hank to remember their past, he could build a new future. It was lovely to see him so giving and selfless. After the initial shock of knowing that Hank didn't know who he was, he got over it and decided to try to get his man back by having him to fall in love with him again. It was lovely, and very sweet. It was also heartbreaking, given certain circumstances, and where (in time) Hank was right after he woke up from the accident.
Santi's love for Hank was.. Selfless. It was a rare kind of unconditional love. Hank's love for Santi shows in two different ways - before the accident, and after the accident. While the sentiment is strong in the end, they are different. They brewed differently. I appreciated that because it shows that there's no recipe to fall in love, and that even with the same person can happen in completely different ways.
I have two things that didn't work for me. I guess both are more a personal thing, than anything the author did.
1. I love romances, I do. However, I always struggle with extreme sweetness. I always struggle with showers of love. I felt that at times the dialogues were just SO romantic, that they felt a bit overdone. But then again, maybe that's the cynic in me speaking. Lol
2. The other one is that the characters seemed way too perfect. They had practically no flaws. Yes, of course Santi lost control a couple of times, but this was under exceptional situations. And of curse Hank's confusion was not pretty but just like with Santi, this was because of what he was going through. Outside of that specific situation they were living, they seemed way too perfect for me. And truth to be told, I like my characters to be imperfect.
So, all in all this was a good book. My favorite thing was Hank being this bulky guy who loves hello kitty lol :)
Sweet book, overall. Maybe too sweet for me, but I know some people who will love it. I think that if you've put this off because you fear an angst fest, you're safe to read. The truly angsty moments are few, and the rest of the book is nice and easy to read.
Thanks to Sheri for reading this with me :)
Santi and Hank met one weekend. What you find here is the definition of insta love/lust. I guess is more insta lust with incredible chemistry than insta love, but I normally struggle to buy those. That being said, I think that in this book it was nicely worked... If with a bit of disbelief on my cynic self part.
A quick summary of this: Santi and Hank met in San Diego, but Santi is from Houston, so he goes back home after an awesome weekend. They keep in touch, and months later Hank moves to Houston with Santi. They have a great relationship, and they are madly in love, but tragedy strikes when Hank has an accident that causes him severe memory loss. Basically, his years with Santi don't exist for him. He doesn't recall a thing, and this breaks Santi's heart. Now Santi has to work on bringing back Hank's memories of them together, or make new ones. But one way or the other, is starting from scratch.
Angsty? Yes? Well... No. Not so much.
I was expecting an angst fest, but didn't quite get it. Don't get me wrong, there were times when my heart just shrunk, and I teared up a bit, but there was no ugly crying. Half of me is thankful for that, the other half is in a terrible need to go after an extremely angsty book to satisfy the emotional masochist that lives inside me and I rarely let out.
A lot of this book is based on either past memories of the couple or making new ones. I wish I'd seen more of the working through and on the amnesia that hit Hank. I understand the go-with-the-flow approach, and yeah, I agree it was the best thing to do. But still..
What I liked about this book a lot was that Santi realized that if he couldn't get Hank to remember their past, he could build a new future. It was lovely to see him so giving and selfless. After the initial shock of knowing that Hank didn't know who he was, he got over it and decided to try to get his man back by having him to fall in love with him again. It was lovely, and very sweet. It was also heartbreaking, given certain circumstances, and where (in time) Hank was right after he woke up from the accident.
Santi's love for Hank was.. Selfless. It was a rare kind of unconditional love. Hank's love for Santi shows in two different ways - before the accident, and after the accident. While the sentiment is strong in the end, they are different. They brewed differently. I appreciated that because it shows that there's no recipe to fall in love, and that even with the same person can happen in completely different ways.
I have two things that didn't work for me. I guess both are more a personal thing, than anything the author did.
1. I love romances, I do. However, I always struggle with extreme sweetness. I always struggle with showers of love. I felt that at times the dialogues were just SO romantic, that they felt a bit overdone. But then again, maybe that's the cynic in me speaking. Lol
2. The other one is that the characters seemed way too perfect. They had practically no flaws. Yes, of course Santi lost control a couple of times, but this was under exceptional situations. And of curse Hank's confusion was not pretty but just like with Santi, this was because of what he was going through. Outside of that specific situation they were living, they seemed way too perfect for me. And truth to be told, I like my characters to be imperfect.
So, all in all this was a good book. My favorite thing was Hank being this bulky guy who loves hello kitty lol :)
Sweet book, overall. Maybe too sweet for me, but I know some people who will love it. I think that if you've put this off because you fear an angst fest, you're safe to read. The truly angsty moments are few, and the rest of the book is nice and easy to read.
Thanks to Sheri for reading this with me :)
January 31, 2015
Reviewed for Rainbow Gold Reviews.
If you want a book that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, this one is for you. The story starts with Hank in the hospital, still unconscious. As the story moves forward in the present, the moments leading up to the accident are told in flashback sequences through the eyes of Santi.
From the dedication and character descriptions, the inspiration for Hank was the author’s real life partner. It was a simple jump from there, to put the author in as Santi, in my head anyway. It made the story feel much more vivid to me. It made me feel a little sadder at the difficult moments and cheer even harder for them, imagining them as real life people and not just characters in the book.
Though this is not the first book out there featuring amnesia as a stumbling block for the main characters, there was something in the telling of it that made it feel unique to me. I was very immersed in the characters world and their feelings.
For the most part, I sympathized with the character of Santi. His life was turned upside down by Hanks accident. The wedding day he planned was canceled, or at least put on an indefinite hold. The man he shared everything with didn’t remember him. Not that Hank can be blamed for his memory loss but because they seemed to fall into insta-love/lust the first time around, I kept thinking it should just happen that way again. Only Hank’s memory loss didn’t just go back to the time he met Santi, but to years before when he was in a different mindset, and in love with another man.
I was frustrated, hurt, and angry, just like Santi was. But time moved on, and Santi tried not to push too much, because really, I understand that pressure to feel a certain way or act a certain way was not what Hank needed. They do manage to start to build new bridges together, but secret texts, insecurity and doubt worked as road blocks in the road to a happy ever after.
Beyond the plot of hoping Hank would regain his memories or fall in love with Santi all over again, this story is about true love. A love so strong that you put the happiness of the other person above your own. Whether it means helping the person you love to mend fences with their estranged parents, moving several states away from your friends and hometown to be together, or letting them go and giving them the space to find what makes them happy.
The supporting characters in this book were also great. From Santi’s pushy and funny best friend Jill, and Hanks best friends Darren and Mitch who became his family when he was kicked out. Santi’s parents, though dead, inspired Santi to have faith in his relationship with Hank; whose parents were not the most understanding. One of the most surprising and pleasing growth that a character made was Hank’s father and it made the story even more special. Hank and Santi were an inspiring and sweet couple, and I am so glad to have experienced their story.
If you want a book that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions, this one is for you. The story starts with Hank in the hospital, still unconscious. As the story moves forward in the present, the moments leading up to the accident are told in flashback sequences through the eyes of Santi.
From the dedication and character descriptions, the inspiration for Hank was the author’s real life partner. It was a simple jump from there, to put the author in as Santi, in my head anyway. It made the story feel much more vivid to me. It made me feel a little sadder at the difficult moments and cheer even harder for them, imagining them as real life people and not just characters in the book.
Though this is not the first book out there featuring amnesia as a stumbling block for the main characters, there was something in the telling of it that made it feel unique to me. I was very immersed in the characters world and their feelings.
For the most part, I sympathized with the character of Santi. His life was turned upside down by Hanks accident. The wedding day he planned was canceled, or at least put on an indefinite hold. The man he shared everything with didn’t remember him. Not that Hank can be blamed for his memory loss but because they seemed to fall into insta-love/lust the first time around, I kept thinking it should just happen that way again. Only Hank’s memory loss didn’t just go back to the time he met Santi, but to years before when he was in a different mindset, and in love with another man.
I was frustrated, hurt, and angry, just like Santi was. But time moved on, and Santi tried not to push too much, because really, I understand that pressure to feel a certain way or act a certain way was not what Hank needed. They do manage to start to build new bridges together, but secret texts, insecurity and doubt worked as road blocks in the road to a happy ever after.
Beyond the plot of hoping Hank would regain his memories or fall in love with Santi all over again, this story is about true love. A love so strong that you put the happiness of the other person above your own. Whether it means helping the person you love to mend fences with their estranged parents, moving several states away from your friends and hometown to be together, or letting them go and giving them the space to find what makes them happy.
The supporting characters in this book were also great. From Santi’s pushy and funny best friend Jill, and Hanks best friends Darren and Mitch who became his family when he was kicked out. Santi’s parents, though dead, inspired Santi to have faith in his relationship with Hank; whose parents were not the most understanding. One of the most surprising and pleasing growth that a character made was Hank’s father and it made the story even more special. Hank and Santi were an inspiring and sweet couple, and I am so glad to have experienced their story.
February 2, 2015
Note: This book was provided to me by the publisher through Hearts on Fire Reviews in exchange for an impartial review.
Successful Houston lawyer Santi Herrera is a workaholic, so much so that his best friend and fag hag, Jill, finally convinces him that fresh air and sunshine in San Diego is just what’s needed to bring a little spark to his life. She’s also hoping he’ll break his dry spell and find someone for a night of passion. When he spots Hank Burton outside the gay bar he and Jill are heading to, he does something he’s never done before—he goes up to Hank and makes a pass—a successful one, because the two hit it off immediately. In fact, they spend most of the rest of the week together and when Santi leaves to go back to Houston, Hank promises to keep in touch.
And not only do they keep in touch, both men fly back and forth as they date long distance, and their love grows stronger. Eventually, Hank relocates to Houston, moving his contracting business with him. Santi’s wealthy client base leads to good contacts for Hank, and his business grows. The two plan to be married and live their HEA, so just before their wedding date when Hank falls from a scaffold causing a brain injury their plans are shattered, as is Santi’s heart. When Hank comes out of his coma, what should have been a joyous occasion for Santi becomes the beginning of a tumultuous period in his life because Hank has no memory of the past three years—and that includes Santi! In fact, Hank thinks he still lives with his roommates in San Diego and that he’s still in love with his former boyfriend, Karl.
Rather than this story becoming a maudlin tale of woe laced with heavy doses of angst, the author cleverly guides the reader through the journey back to love for Hank and Santi using flashbacks skillfully woven into the present situations. There are hurdles and heartaches for both men and the possibility of their renewed love often seems destined for failure, but Santi’s courage and personal integrity keeps him strong and his firm belief that Hank will someday fall in love with him again underscores reader’s hopes for the couple’s future. What happens when Hank returns to San Diego to visit the people and places from his past creates just the right amount of tension and tugs on reader’s heartstrings. I found it hard to put the book down.
In summary, I loved the MC’s. I loved the secondary characters. I loved the way the author wove the past and the present throughout the story. And so, of course, I loved the story! I am so happy I picked up this copy for review since it was an absolute pleasure to read. Well-paced, emotionally gripping, heartbreaking, and heartwarming, this is a Romance with a capital “R”. Very highly recommended.
Successful Houston lawyer Santi Herrera is a workaholic, so much so that his best friend and fag hag, Jill, finally convinces him that fresh air and sunshine in San Diego is just what’s needed to bring a little spark to his life. She’s also hoping he’ll break his dry spell and find someone for a night of passion. When he spots Hank Burton outside the gay bar he and Jill are heading to, he does something he’s never done before—he goes up to Hank and makes a pass—a successful one, because the two hit it off immediately. In fact, they spend most of the rest of the week together and when Santi leaves to go back to Houston, Hank promises to keep in touch.
And not only do they keep in touch, both men fly back and forth as they date long distance, and their love grows stronger. Eventually, Hank relocates to Houston, moving his contracting business with him. Santi’s wealthy client base leads to good contacts for Hank, and his business grows. The two plan to be married and live their HEA, so just before their wedding date when Hank falls from a scaffold causing a brain injury their plans are shattered, as is Santi’s heart. When Hank comes out of his coma, what should have been a joyous occasion for Santi becomes the beginning of a tumultuous period in his life because Hank has no memory of the past three years—and that includes Santi! In fact, Hank thinks he still lives with his roommates in San Diego and that he’s still in love with his former boyfriend, Karl.
Rather than this story becoming a maudlin tale of woe laced with heavy doses of angst, the author cleverly guides the reader through the journey back to love for Hank and Santi using flashbacks skillfully woven into the present situations. There are hurdles and heartaches for both men and the possibility of their renewed love often seems destined for failure, but Santi’s courage and personal integrity keeps him strong and his firm belief that Hank will someday fall in love with him again underscores reader’s hopes for the couple’s future. What happens when Hank returns to San Diego to visit the people and places from his past creates just the right amount of tension and tugs on reader’s heartstrings. I found it hard to put the book down.
In summary, I loved the MC’s. I loved the secondary characters. I loved the way the author wove the past and the present throughout the story. And so, of course, I loved the story! I am so happy I picked up this copy for review since it was an absolute pleasure to read. Well-paced, emotionally gripping, heartbreaking, and heartwarming, this is a Romance with a capital “R”. Very highly recommended.
April 2, 2016
3.9 stars
Santi and Hank are soul mates, they've been dating for 3 years.
They are engaged and their wedding date is very close but a few weeks prior Hank suffers an accident at work and when he wakes up things are not ok.
"Can you tell me who this man behind me is?
"I've never seen him before in my life."
Hank had a head trauma and he lost his memories, 4 years of his life lost.
He doesn't remember Santi. their love.
Santi now needs to help Hank remember.
I really liked this book, Santi was a great character, his love for Hank was so big, he even sacrificed himself to give Hank the chance to be ok.
it was kind of hard to judge Hank because he is "normal" for like 30% of the book, most of the story he is confused so he doesn't act like himself. What we saw of his personality i did like, he was fun and adorable.
I would have liked some chapters from Hank's POV because there is a point in the book where they are not in the same city and i would have loved to know what was going through Hank's mind, what made him take that decision he took, reading just from Santi's POV felt not very realistic.
It had good secondary characters, my only complaint is the stereotypical "loud slutty female best friend" why must you write this cartoon characters, dear writers?
This books end with a cute HEA. Hank gets his memories back in the epilogue but i have mixed feelings about this, i like that he now remembers everything beautiful that happened in the past with Santi but at the same time it didn't felt necessary because he got to a point in his life where everything is ok, with his family, his career and his relationship.
Santi and Hank are soul mates, they've been dating for 3 years.
They are engaged and their wedding date is very close but a few weeks prior Hank suffers an accident at work and when he wakes up things are not ok.
"Can you tell me who this man behind me is?
"I've never seen him before in my life."
Hank had a head trauma and he lost his memories, 4 years of his life lost.
He doesn't remember Santi. their love.
Santi now needs to help Hank remember.
I really liked this book, Santi was a great character, his love for Hank was so big, he even sacrificed himself to give Hank the chance to be ok.
it was kind of hard to judge Hank because he is "normal" for like 30% of the book, most of the story he is confused so he doesn't act like himself. What we saw of his personality i did like, he was fun and adorable.
I would have liked some chapters from Hank's POV because there is a point in the book where they are not in the same city and i would have loved to know what was going through Hank's mind, what made him take that decision he took, reading just from Santi's POV felt not very realistic.
It had good secondary characters, my only complaint is the stereotypical "loud slutty female best friend" why must you write this cartoon characters, dear writers?
This books end with a cute HEA. Hank gets his memories back in the epilogue but i have mixed feelings about this, i like that he now remembers everything beautiful that happened in the past with Santi but at the same time it didn't felt necessary because he got to a point in his life where everything is ok, with his family, his career and his relationship.
February 11, 2015
I'm not a big fan of amnesia storylines, but this one sucked me in. Hank and Santi meet at a club, and it's love/lust at first sight. Though they live in different cities, they make their relationship work. They're very sweet and devoted to each other. One of my favorite scenes is when Hank calls Santi in emotional distress, and Santi doesn't think twice about hopping on a plane immediately to be there for his love.
All is going smoothly until Hank is hurt in an accident and suffers a brain injury. He loses his memories of the past three years -- including all memories of his life with Santi.
My heart broke for Santi. His love for Hank is so huge. I admit I got a little irritated at everyone trying to make Hank remember and be the man they wanted him to be. Everyone seemed to be empathizing with Santi without acknowledging how hard this situation also was on Hank. It was too much pressure for someone right out of the hospital. Eventually though, they back off and let Hank recuperate at his own speed.
Santi and Hank get to know each other all over again. Santi realized he'd have to make this new Hank fall in love with him.
If there was one thing I didn't like about this book, it was Santi's "hag" Jill. She was like nails on a chalkboard. I hate this type of female best friend in m/m books -- know-it-all-ain't-I-cool chicks.
Hank's circle of friends brought some great humor to the story. The nicknames were an extra special touch.
All is going smoothly until Hank is hurt in an accident and suffers a brain injury. He loses his memories of the past three years -- including all memories of his life with Santi.
My heart broke for Santi. His love for Hank is so huge. I admit I got a little irritated at everyone trying to make Hank remember and be the man they wanted him to be. Everyone seemed to be empathizing with Santi without acknowledging how hard this situation also was on Hank. It was too much pressure for someone right out of the hospital. Eventually though, they back off and let Hank recuperate at his own speed.
Santi and Hank get to know each other all over again. Santi realized he'd have to make this new Hank fall in love with him.
If there was one thing I didn't like about this book, it was Santi's "hag" Jill. She was like nails on a chalkboard. I hate this type of female best friend in m/m books -- know-it-all-ain't-I-cool chicks.
Hank's circle of friends brought some great humor to the story. The nicknames were an extra special touch.
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