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Pine Cove #5
Memory Lane
Ever since Jay Coal’s best friend saved his life in high school, he’s harbored a secret love. But Angel is straight, and his thrilling work as a movie stuntman takes him all over the world while Jay has never left Pine Cove. When Angel finally comes back to town, a suspicious work accident leaves him in the dark, and only Jay can light the way.
It’s a second chance for Angel Shields. Trustworthy Jay helps him recover from the accident, and Angel starts to see him in a different light. But are these feelings of attraction new? Or has he always had a secret crush on his best friend? Thanks to the accident, Angel can’t trust his own memories to tell him. Maybe all that matters is how he feels now?
Their life-long friendship is at risk if they make a move, but this chemistry is unforgettable. With more dangers ahead than answers, will they even get the chance to explore this love that’s waiting for them down the end of memory lane?
Book Five of Pine Cove. Memory Lane is a steamy, standalone MM romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.
It’s a second chance for Angel Shields. Trustworthy Jay helps him recover from the accident, and Angel starts to see him in a different light. But are these feelings of attraction new? Or has he always had a secret crush on his best friend? Thanks to the accident, Angel can’t trust his own memories to tell him. Maybe all that matters is how he feels now?
Their life-long friendship is at risk if they make a move, but this chemistry is unforgettable. With more dangers ahead than answers, will they even get the chance to explore this love that’s waiting for them down the end of memory lane?
Book Five of Pine Cove. Memory Lane is a steamy, standalone MM romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliffhanger.
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 10, 2021
42 people are currently reading
136 people want to read
About the author
H.J. Welch
41 books290 followersHJ Welch is a British author of contemporary American MM small town series and books in multi authored shared universes, including the international number one bestselling Homecoming Hearts. She lives just outside of London with her husband and three balls of fluff that occasionally pretend to be cats.
She began writing at an early age, later honing her craft online in the world of fanfiction on sites like Wattpad. Fifteen years and over half a million words later, she sought out original MM novels to read. By the end of 2016 she had written her first book of her own, and in 2017 she achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s usually dancing, singing, filming music videos, taking long walks, working on jigsaw puzzles, drinking prosecco, or talking about Eurovision.
She also writes contemporary British MM fairy tale adaptation as Helen Juliet, including bestsellers Thorn in His Side, A Right Royal Affair, and Three.
She began writing at an early age, later honing her craft online in the world of fanfiction on sites like Wattpad. Fifteen years and over half a million words later, she sought out original MM novels to read. By the end of 2016 she had written her first book of her own, and in 2017 she achieved her lifelong dream of becoming a full-time author.
When she’s not writing she’s usually dancing, singing, filming music videos, taking long walks, working on jigsaw puzzles, drinking prosecco, or talking about Eurovision.
She also writes contemporary British MM fairy tale adaptation as Helen Juliet, including bestsellers Thorn in His Side, A Right Royal Affair, and Three.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 92 reviews
August 27, 2021
I loved Jay and Angel together.
May 21, 2021
What a wonderful story!
Best friends-to-lovers, amnesia, and a sexual awakening... some of my all-time favorite tropes. In Memory Lane H.J. Welch blends them all together, and it works brilliantly.
For these two besties, who finally get back in touch with each other after a long separation, falling in love just comes naturally. Jay and Angel have great chemistry, and as the story evolves, all their buried emotions start to surface, and it flows from there. Nicely done!
The series is narrated by Nick J. Russo, and Memory Lane is the fifth story. Some characters pop in and out, but basically each of these novels stands alone. (I'm listening to them completely out of order, and H.J. Welch makes it easy to follow along.)
A wonderful, feel good series, which I highly recommend.
an audiobook copy of Memory Lane was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
Best friends-to-lovers, amnesia, and a sexual awakening... some of my all-time favorite tropes. In Memory Lane H.J. Welch blends them all together, and it works brilliantly.
For these two besties, who finally get back in touch with each other after a long separation, falling in love just comes naturally. Jay and Angel have great chemistry, and as the story evolves, all their buried emotions start to surface, and it flows from there. Nicely done!
The series is narrated by Nick J. Russo, and Memory Lane is the fifth story. Some characters pop in and out, but basically each of these novels stands alone. (I'm listening to them completely out of order, and H.J. Welch makes it easy to follow along.)
A wonderful, feel good series, which I highly recommend.
an audiobook copy of Memory Lane was provided to me for the purpose of my honest review
May 9, 2021
2.5 stars
This books just made me exhausted.
5/10 not likely to recommend
This books just made me exhausted.
5/10 not likely to recommend
March 20, 2023
I am at 60 % of the audiobook and feel so very irritable. These characters think too much and it slows down the story. Add to that a lack of originality. And more telling than showing. Should I stop or force myself to finish? Maybe start again and see if I get a feel for the characters when paying attention?
I finished it. Still 2 stars.
I finished it. Still 2 stars.
May 12, 2025
This was another enjoyable addition to this series. I love seeing all the past characters and getting to meet new ones too! This is one of those stories where I expected things to happen a certain way and they didn’t and I was so happy! With it not being predictable and not making me upset 🤣.
We’ve seen Jay a lot in past books in this series so it was really nice to see him get his HEA! I really loved Angel and how their relationship started. When you’ve got a long-term friendship it’s always interesting to see how the “straight” friend becomes not so straight and I really loved how that happened in this story.
Again there’s some action in this story and I love how it breaks up the romance but doesn’t overtake the story! If you enjoy this author I would recommend this story.
We’ve seen Jay a lot in past books in this series so it was really nice to see him get his HEA! I really loved Angel and how their relationship started. When you’ve got a long-term friendship it’s always interesting to see how the “straight” friend becomes not so straight and I really loved how that happened in this story.
Again there’s some action in this story and I love how it breaks up the romance but doesn’t overtake the story! If you enjoy this author I would recommend this story.
September 27, 2021
Darum geht's:
Jay und Angel sind seit Kindergartenzeiten beste Freunde, aber weil Angel als Stuntman internationale Karriere macht, hat sich ihr Kontakt der letzten Jahre auf häufige Videocalls und tägliche Online-Nachrichten beschränkt. Ein Filmprojekt führt Angel zurück nach Pine Cove. Bevor die beiden viel Zeit miteinander verbringen können, verunglückt Angel bei einem Stunt und verliert Teile seines Kurzzeitgedächtnisses. Um die Erinnerungen wieder zurückzubringen, geht Jay mit ihm ihre Jugend und Lieblingsplätze in Pine Cove durch, auch wenn es Jay schmerzt. Denn es erinnert ihn daran, wie lange er schon in Angel verliebt ist, der blöderweise aber so gar nicht auf Männer steht.
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
Jay und Angel sind seit Kindergartenzeiten beste Freunde, aber weil Angel als Stuntman internationale Karriere macht, hat sich ihr Kontakt der letzten Jahre auf häufige Videocalls und tägliche Online-Nachrichten beschränkt. Ein Filmprojekt führt Angel zurück nach Pine Cove. Bevor die beiden viel Zeit miteinander verbringen können, verunglückt Angel bei einem Stunt und verliert Teile seines Kurzzeitgedächtnisses. Um die Erinnerungen wieder zurückzubringen, geht Jay mit ihm ihre Jugend und Lieblingsplätze in Pine Cove durch, auch wenn es Jay schmerzt. Denn es erinnert ihn daran, wie lange er schon in Angel verliebt ist, der blöderweise aber so gar nicht auf Männer steht.
Meine Meinung dazu gibt’s hier
March 9, 2021
[I received a digital arc for an honest review]
Memory Lane is the 5th stand alone in the Pine Cove series by H.J. Welch. A small town mm romance with the best friends to lovers trope.
Jay has been in love with his best friend Angel for the past 16 years. While they have been in constant contact by phone it's been years since they have seen each in person. On the day they reunite Angel is in a horrible car accident while performing as a stuntman. When Angel wakes up in the hospital he has short-term memory loss and Jay steps in to help take care of him during his recovery. Yet Angel is discovering he has more than friend feelings towards Jay but with his memory loss everything is confusing for him. Those aren't the only things Angel has to worry about when it turns out his crash might not have just been an accident.
"With angels arm around him, Jay felt like nothing in the world could harm him."
Oh my Gosh! I absolutely adored Angel. He was lovable, a little goofy, a thrill seeker, sensitive, honest and just precious. He struggled so much with his identity and his feeling for Jay that I wanted to give him a big hug. Jay was a sweetheart as well. His fears of having his heart broken were completely understandable. To have loved his best friend for 16 years and now all of a sudden he returns those feelings, I'd be hesitant too. When they finally get together they are tender and sweet.
The drama in this is centered on the handful of bigots in Pine Cove. This is a very excepting town but there always those few that have to spew hate and slurs and this one is full of them. The bright side is the characters don't back down in the face of the hatred. Sadly Angel deals with so much biphobia in it that my heart hurt. Thankfully there's a wonderful bi character who helps Angel see there's nothing wrong with being Bi and to be proud of it.This book has such great Bi rep and drives home that just because there's so many labels to choice from doesn't mean you have to label your sexuality. You can't let anyone tell you what you are or aren't based on your sexual experiences. The only one who has any say is you.
As you can tell I really enjoyed this addition to the Pine Cove series and it was fun being back with this crew of friends. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Memory Lane is the 5th stand alone in the Pine Cove series by H.J. Welch. A small town mm romance with the best friends to lovers trope.
Jay has been in love with his best friend Angel for the past 16 years. While they have been in constant contact by phone it's been years since they have seen each in person. On the day they reunite Angel is in a horrible car accident while performing as a stuntman. When Angel wakes up in the hospital he has short-term memory loss and Jay steps in to help take care of him during his recovery. Yet Angel is discovering he has more than friend feelings towards Jay but with his memory loss everything is confusing for him. Those aren't the only things Angel has to worry about when it turns out his crash might not have just been an accident.
"With angels arm around him, Jay felt like nothing in the world could harm him."
Oh my Gosh! I absolutely adored Angel. He was lovable, a little goofy, a thrill seeker, sensitive, honest and just precious. He struggled so much with his identity and his feeling for Jay that I wanted to give him a big hug. Jay was a sweetheart as well. His fears of having his heart broken were completely understandable. To have loved his best friend for 16 years and now all of a sudden he returns those feelings, I'd be hesitant too. When they finally get together they are tender and sweet.
The drama in this is centered on the handful of bigots in Pine Cove. This is a very excepting town but there always those few that have to spew hate and slurs and this one is full of them. The bright side is the characters don't back down in the face of the hatred. Sadly Angel deals with so much biphobia in it that my heart hurt. Thankfully there's a wonderful bi character who helps Angel see there's nothing wrong with being Bi and to be proud of it.This book has such great Bi rep and drives home that just because there's so many labels to choice from doesn't mean you have to label your sexuality. You can't let anyone tell you what you are or aren't based on your sexual experiences. The only one who has any say is you.
As you can tell I really enjoyed this addition to the Pine Cove series and it was fun being back with this crew of friends. I'm looking forward to the next one.
September 16, 2021
2. Chance für die Jugendliebe
Jay und Angel sind seit früher Kindheit beste Freunde. Jay ist schon seit der Pubertät in Angel verliebt, hat aber nie etwas gesagt, weil er sicher war, dass Angel hetero ist. Eine Hollywood-Karriere als Stuntman und eine kontrollierende Exfreundin hielten sie lange Zeit getrennt, aber als Angel nach Pine Cove zurückkehrt, ändern sich die Dinge auf dramatische Weise.
Denn Angel wird bei einem gefährlichen Auto-Stunt am Set des Films verletzt, der in seiner Heimatstadt gedreht wird. Hilflos und panisch muss Jay zusehen, wie Angel nach dem Unfall bewusstlos ins Krankenhaus gebracht wird. Als Angel erwacht, leidet er aufgrund einer Kopfverletzung unter einem leichten Fall von Amnesie. Wegen der Krankenhausregeln, die es nur unmittelbaren Familienmitgliedern erlauben, verletzte Patienten zu besuchen, erzählt Jay die Geschichte, dass er und Angel verlobt sind.
Als Angel wieder wach wird und hört, dass Jay und er Verlobte sind, glaubt der Stuntman an die Notlüge. Aber als Jay ihm später die Lüge beichtet, ist Angel merkwürdig traurig darüber, dass seine bevorstehende Ehe mit seinem besten Freund in Wirklichkeit eine Unwahrheit ist. Aber wäre es wirklich so schlimm, wenn er und Jay ein Paar wären?
Es war schön zu lesen, wie Jay seinem Freund hilft, sich wieder erinnern zu können und ihre Liebe langsam neu erwacht.
Ich mochte die Kleinstadtkulisse, die LGBTQ+-freundliche Filmset-Nebenhandlung und die Freundesgruppe der Charaktere. Der enthaltene Krimiplot sorgte für die richtige Portion an Spannung. Der 5. Band hat mir bisher am besten gefallen.
Jay und Angel sind seit früher Kindheit beste Freunde. Jay ist schon seit der Pubertät in Angel verliebt, hat aber nie etwas gesagt, weil er sicher war, dass Angel hetero ist. Eine Hollywood-Karriere als Stuntman und eine kontrollierende Exfreundin hielten sie lange Zeit getrennt, aber als Angel nach Pine Cove zurückkehrt, ändern sich die Dinge auf dramatische Weise.
Denn Angel wird bei einem gefährlichen Auto-Stunt am Set des Films verletzt, der in seiner Heimatstadt gedreht wird. Hilflos und panisch muss Jay zusehen, wie Angel nach dem Unfall bewusstlos ins Krankenhaus gebracht wird. Als Angel erwacht, leidet er aufgrund einer Kopfverletzung unter einem leichten Fall von Amnesie. Wegen der Krankenhausregeln, die es nur unmittelbaren Familienmitgliedern erlauben, verletzte Patienten zu besuchen, erzählt Jay die Geschichte, dass er und Angel verlobt sind.
Als Angel wieder wach wird und hört, dass Jay und er Verlobte sind, glaubt der Stuntman an die Notlüge. Aber als Jay ihm später die Lüge beichtet, ist Angel merkwürdig traurig darüber, dass seine bevorstehende Ehe mit seinem besten Freund in Wirklichkeit eine Unwahrheit ist. Aber wäre es wirklich so schlimm, wenn er und Jay ein Paar wären?
Es war schön zu lesen, wie Jay seinem Freund hilft, sich wieder erinnern zu können und ihre Liebe langsam neu erwacht.
Ich mochte die Kleinstadtkulisse, die LGBTQ+-freundliche Filmset-Nebenhandlung und die Freundesgruppe der Charaktere. Der enthaltene Krimiplot sorgte für die richtige Portion an Spannung. Der 5. Band hat mir bisher am besten gefallen.
May 20, 2021
This is the fifth book in this series and I have to confess, I read them all in the wrong order ... now only book 4 is missing.
this one I listened to, as I am a real fan of audiobooks - especially since my second son was born. it just makes things a lot easier - and when it is as perfectly narrated as this one, it is nearly more fun than reading it yourself.
Nick Russo is one of my favorite narrators and he is doing a great job with Jay and Angel.
I absolutely adored this friends-to-lovers story and although I am normally not so much a fan of amnesia stories, here it was really perfectly done.
I knew Jay from the first three books and I was really looking forward to his story - and it is a bit of a sad story as Jay is in love with his best friend for ages, which makes it difficult for him to have a succesful relationship with another guy.
Angel is a stuntman and was in a relationship with a (not very nice) girl for the last 6 years. truthfully, I did not really understand why he was with her for so long after all we hear about her and his feelings for her.
I loved how they explored their shared history and how they fell in love together again. I also loved in this book, that they talked about their feelings and their troubles. such a nice change to a lot of other romance stories, where the lack of communication is most of the plot (which is really frustrating).
all in all, this was a beautiful story, which I will gladly listen to again and again.
this one I listened to, as I am a real fan of audiobooks - especially since my second son was born. it just makes things a lot easier - and when it is as perfectly narrated as this one, it is nearly more fun than reading it yourself.
Nick Russo is one of my favorite narrators and he is doing a great job with Jay and Angel.
I absolutely adored this friends-to-lovers story and although I am normally not so much a fan of amnesia stories, here it was really perfectly done.
I knew Jay from the first three books and I was really looking forward to his story - and it is a bit of a sad story as Jay is in love with his best friend for ages, which makes it difficult for him to have a succesful relationship with another guy.
Angel is a stuntman and was in a relationship with a (not very nice) girl for the last 6 years. truthfully, I did not really understand why he was with her for so long after all we hear about her and his feelings for her.
I loved how they explored their shared history and how they fell in love together again. I also loved in this book, that they talked about their feelings and their troubles. such a nice change to a lot of other romance stories, where the lack of communication is most of the plot (which is really frustrating).
all in all, this was a beautiful story, which I will gladly listen to again and again.
March 9, 2021
It’s so good to be back in Pine Cove with all the crew. And I’ve been dying for Jay’s very own HEA from the first book!
Jay and Angel have been best friends, attached at the hips since kindergarten, and Jay has been in love with his best friend since he was 16. Now that they are almost 30, they haven’t seen each other face to face for seven years even though they talk on the phone every day (I had to exercise a bit of belief suspension on this one, but…). And now Angel is back in Pine Cove to shoot a movie.
A car accident on the job as stuntman leaves Angel bruised and battered and with a short term memory loss. Going to stay with Jay may be good for Angel’s memory, but it may be fatal for Jay’s poor heart. Only Angel is starting to see his best friend in a totally new light, and his love may not be just brotherly and platonic anymore…
HJ Welch is great at portraying really awful characters. The bad guys and jealous exes (#getoveryourself,Lisa) are so nasty that they always get me so enraged!
Jay and Angel have been best friends, attached at the hips since kindergarten, and Jay has been in love with his best friend since he was 16. Now that they are almost 30, they haven’t seen each other face to face for seven years even though they talk on the phone every day (I had to exercise a bit of belief suspension on this one, but…). And now Angel is back in Pine Cove to shoot a movie.
A car accident on the job as stuntman leaves Angel bruised and battered and with a short term memory loss. Going to stay with Jay may be good for Angel’s memory, but it may be fatal for Jay’s poor heart. Only Angel is starting to see his best friend in a totally new light, and his love may not be just brotherly and platonic anymore…
HJ Welch is great at portraying really awful characters. The bad guys and jealous exes (#getoveryourself,Lisa) are so nasty that they always get me so enraged!
March 15, 2021
Memory Lane is the fifth book in the Pine Cove series by H.J. Welch. I really liked the story of Jay and Angel. Jay and Angel are best friends and Jay is in love with Angel but thinks Angel is straight. Then an accident happens. Their story was really well written and I loved it.
April 8, 2021
Swoon
I had been looking forward to Jay's story for quite some time. HJ did not disappoint. I absolutely love best friends to lovers. Jay and Angel were seriously mfeo. Low angst, high heat. Read this one asap. Very much looking forward to Kamran's story.
I had been looking forward to Jay's story for quite some time. HJ did not disappoint. I absolutely love best friends to lovers. Jay and Angel were seriously mfeo. Low angst, high heat. Read this one asap. Very much looking forward to Kamran's story.
January 2, 2023
Incredibly sweet story with Jay and his bestie since kindergarten. So happy for Jay, and Angel is a doll. 16 years is a long time to pine after your straight (?) best friend, but in this case it was well worth the wait as his life-long buddy comes to terms with his true, bisexual self.
April 11, 2021
I love the Pine Cove books, and this one was no different. I really like how Angel felt when he first heard Jay being his fiance. I also liked how Jay was Angel's rock.
March 11, 2021
SPOILER ALERT!!!!
Oh wow! I’ve been waiting for Jay’s happily ever after ever since I read safe harbour.. and OMG it was so worth it. This book was Glorious. Best friends to lovers is my absolute favorite trope. Add to that the mutual pining and the complete obliviousness on both their parts and it makes this the absolute perfect story.
This book is so sweet and fluffy and it’s sizzling hot.. it comes with sooo many feels Ughh.. it has you laughing and crying and blushing and awing.. this book was so fast, I absolutely could not put it down.
The main characters instantly stole my heart.. of course I’ve always loved Jay and I’ve been rooting for him all along. Angel is the sweetest nicest guy ever and the absolute perfect match for Jay. He is also a stunt double for movies and that has him traveling all over.
It broke my heart that work had Angel moving away from pine cove after college and away from Jay.
I love that they’ve been best friends since Kinder Garten and I love how they’ve always been there for each other and stuck at the hip.. “side by side” had me awwwing like a loon.. it’s the cutest.
It broke my heart to know how much Jay grieved because Angel moved away and never came back to even visit. But I’m so glad that they kept in touch through FaceTiming and calls everyday.
The day that Jay fell in love for the first time was also the day that he nearly died.. falling in love with your straight best friend at the age of 14 and then pining for him ever since had me rooting so hard for Jay.. had me hoping that Angel was someone who could be worthy of such a loyal beautiful soul. Angel it turned out was every bit worthy, loyal and absolutely perfect. As it turned out Angel saved Jay from falling off a bridge on to the railway tracks that fateful day.
The villains in this book happened to be a school bully, Kenny who turned out to be a bigoted bully even after all these years and Angel’s evil and selfish Ex girlfriend Lisa. They both had me wishing they would both pay in some way in the end...and of course justice was paid. and for that reason the climax was so satisfying.
Angel who got into freak accident at the movie set had temporary short term memory.. I was most thrilled that it was jay.. that he remembered first and that it was Jay that most of his memories revolved around.
When Jay had to lie about being Angel’s fiance in order for him to be able to see Angel in his hospital room, the most endearing thing was that Angel who had short term memory believed that he was infact his fiancé. And actually felt good about the revelation.
I loved how Jay took care of him and how the Roles were reversed. I love how Angel starts questioning his sexuality based on how he feels about Jay.. I absolutely love how he figures it out.. his sexuality and his feelings for Jay.
It was soo endearing how both of them were completely oblivious about the others feeling. And only after Angel confesses his feelings do they both realise. When they finally confess Thier feelings for each other it was so glorious.
I love All of Jay’s friends and family and how they root for them through out.
Special mention to the absolutely adorable Corgi, Botton. I love how she stole Angel’s heart.
I absolutely loved seeing the other characters in the Pine cove series Thriving. Ben and Elias, Emerey and Scout, Robin and Dair, Swift and Micha and Imogen, Kamran... it was sooo nice to see them all happy. It made me squeal seeing all of them.
Omg it was soo sweet when Jay realises that Angel’s pass code was his birthday and Angels realisation that he had loved Jay all along and not known it.
This story made me squeal and shudder with goose bumps.. it’s so beautiful and it’s soo feel good.. and it leaves you feeling like you’ve just not had enough.. it was completely captivating and soooo addictive. I just could not put the book down. This is another absolutely brilliant book from H J Welch. I give this book five huge stars and a million kudos.
Oh wow! I’ve been waiting for Jay’s happily ever after ever since I read safe harbour.. and OMG it was so worth it. This book was Glorious. Best friends to lovers is my absolute favorite trope. Add to that the mutual pining and the complete obliviousness on both their parts and it makes this the absolute perfect story.
This book is so sweet and fluffy and it’s sizzling hot.. it comes with sooo many feels Ughh.. it has you laughing and crying and blushing and awing.. this book was so fast, I absolutely could not put it down.
The main characters instantly stole my heart.. of course I’ve always loved Jay and I’ve been rooting for him all along. Angel is the sweetest nicest guy ever and the absolute perfect match for Jay. He is also a stunt double for movies and that has him traveling all over.
It broke my heart that work had Angel moving away from pine cove after college and away from Jay.
I love that they’ve been best friends since Kinder Garten and I love how they’ve always been there for each other and stuck at the hip.. “side by side” had me awwwing like a loon.. it’s the cutest.
It broke my heart to know how much Jay grieved because Angel moved away and never came back to even visit. But I’m so glad that they kept in touch through FaceTiming and calls everyday.
The day that Jay fell in love for the first time was also the day that he nearly died.. falling in love with your straight best friend at the age of 14 and then pining for him ever since had me rooting so hard for Jay.. had me hoping that Angel was someone who could be worthy of such a loyal beautiful soul. Angel it turned out was every bit worthy, loyal and absolutely perfect. As it turned out Angel saved Jay from falling off a bridge on to the railway tracks that fateful day.
The villains in this book happened to be a school bully, Kenny who turned out to be a bigoted bully even after all these years and Angel’s evil and selfish Ex girlfriend Lisa. They both had me wishing they would both pay in some way in the end...and of course justice was paid. and for that reason the climax was so satisfying.
Angel who got into freak accident at the movie set had temporary short term memory.. I was most thrilled that it was jay.. that he remembered first and that it was Jay that most of his memories revolved around.
When Jay had to lie about being Angel’s fiance in order for him to be able to see Angel in his hospital room, the most endearing thing was that Angel who had short term memory believed that he was infact his fiancé. And actually felt good about the revelation.
I loved how Jay took care of him and how the Roles were reversed. I love how Angel starts questioning his sexuality based on how he feels about Jay.. I absolutely love how he figures it out.. his sexuality and his feelings for Jay.
It was soo endearing how both of them were completely oblivious about the others feeling. And only after Angel confesses his feelings do they both realise. When they finally confess Thier feelings for each other it was so glorious.
I love All of Jay’s friends and family and how they root for them through out.
Special mention to the absolutely adorable Corgi, Botton. I love how she stole Angel’s heart.
I absolutely loved seeing the other characters in the Pine cove series Thriving. Ben and Elias, Emerey and Scout, Robin and Dair, Swift and Micha and Imogen, Kamran... it was sooo nice to see them all happy. It made me squeal seeing all of them.
Omg it was soo sweet when Jay realises that Angel’s pass code was his birthday and Angels realisation that he had loved Jay all along and not known it.
This story made me squeal and shudder with goose bumps.. it’s so beautiful and it’s soo feel good.. and it leaves you feeling like you’ve just not had enough.. it was completely captivating and soooo addictive. I just could not put the book down. This is another absolutely brilliant book from H J Welch. I give this book five huge stars and a million kudos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 14, 2021
I’m updating my original review. I listened to the audio after I read the book. This just reminded me how much I enjoy listening to books. The narrator Nick Russo really brought this story to life. This story sure warmed my heart and gave me reasons to be tearful. It is a story that grabbed me from the blurb and kept my attention till the end. I probably would have been better if I had been following the series but the author made it easy enough to pick up on the characters without know the complete stories. Maybe it’s because I remember those young years and bff’s. Life was pretty simple and the relationships I built then helped shape me as an adult. In this story Jay not only is shaped by his younger years but his attraction to Angel almost keeps him hostage when it comes to other relationships. He is gay and thinks his friend Angel is straight so that leads to friendship only. That changes after Angel is in an accident. It is fun to see how a late in life bloomer handles this relationship. The author also does a good job at making this more than a romance. The way these two have dealt with the bully Kenny for most of their lives drew my attention. How hateful people can be and the extremes they go to is addressed here also. I really enjoyed this story. It has lead me to have to put the rest of this series on my tbr list.
October 11, 2024
I think I would like this better if it was shorter and concise. The characters spent a lot of time in their heads (I mean a lot, whole chapters), or talking about their feelings with random people, repeating what they were thinking. The over exposition became repetitive pretty soon.
Otherwise, I like the story and the writing. The execution wasn't my favorite and that's the reason I couldn't give a higher rating.
Nick J. Russo is amazing as always, I really like his work.
Otherwise, I like the story and the writing. The execution wasn't my favorite and that's the reason I couldn't give a higher rating.
Nick J. Russo is amazing as always, I really like his work.
August 27, 2021
4.5 stars
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
Note: This is the fifth book in this series and does contain spoilers for books 1, 2, 3 and 4 but it can be read as a stand alone.
Angel and Jay have been best friends since they were kids. They’ve been through a lot together. Angel has always been there for Jay. Even after he came out, Angel never left his side, no matter that he was called names too because he was Jay’s friend after he came out. Angel is a big strong guy – former football player – who has grown up to be a Hollywood stuntman. In the past, he had a long term girlfriend that seemed to always plan something else every time he’s tried to get back to Pine Cove to visit Jay. She’s also completely biphobic and always complained that bisexuals were just cheaters.
Jay has stayed in his hometown and is a Drama teacher at the local high school. He’s the GSA sponsor and he’s so excited to see his BFF. It’s been waaaay too long and now that Lisa, Angel’s ex-girlfriend isn’t there, he’s looking forward to spending time with his bestie. The movie is a sequel, has queer characters and some of the kids from the GSA are even going to get to be extras. On the first day of filming, everyone is so excited. Everyone except for the local bully and long time nemesis, Kenny, who made Jay’s life a living hell. He and his little band of troublemakers are trying to shut down the movie because of “morals” and “protecting their kids” nonsense. Needless to say, nobody has time for this BS, but they are like gnats flying around causing problems. And then Angel crashes the car in his first stunt in Pine Cove.
Luckily Angel isn’t hurt too terribly – but he is concussed and has memory loss. Jay and his friends tell the hospital personnel that he’s Angel’s fiance so that they will let Jay in to see him. Angel’s family is far away and he will need somewhere to convalesce, so it seems like a good plan. Surprisingly Angel goes along with it quite willingly and he thinks maybe he really IS engaged to Jay when he finally wakes up. Jay is the one who Angel has been asking for since he’s regained consciousness, so it totally makes sense – or at least doesn’t seem like a lie to anyone.
Angel can’t remember the accident itself and he’s happy to be able to stay with Jay. They haven’t seen each other nearly enough over the years and they are so glad to be back together. But Jay has a secret. He’s been in love with Angel since he was 14 and this playing fiances is a bit too close to home for him. It turns out that Angel might not be quite as straight as he thought though 😉 But he’s got a lot of negative thoughts running through his head about bisexuals – largely planted by the aforementioned Lisa. He’s not really sure what to think, but he really does seem to have feelings for Jay – if he can just figure out what they are.
While Jay and Angel and trying to figure out what is happening between them, Kenny and his ilk continue to try to disrupt the movie. they also disrupt the GSA and try to throw a monkey wrench into the whole production. But when they finally go to far, Jay has the opportunity to come out on top and right some wrongs of the past. And Angel is there to help.
This is one of my favorite stories in this series. Even though there were a couple of parts that maybe dragged a tiny bit and I really wanted Jay to get over his apprehensions about Angel knowing what he wanted, I still really enjoyed the journey these two guys took to find their HEA. I love second chances and friends to lovers and this was a really sweet story of two guys who were really good for each other. Another enjoyable aspect of this particular story was getting to revisit and see how all the couples from the previous books are doing. Emery and Robin and Swift and Ben are all there, supporting Jay and Angel as well. Jay’s family – including his badass sisters – are all ready to help save the day too! Angel did a good job of overcoming the negative stereotyping of bisexuals that he’d been exposed to in the past and realized that he is the only one who could decide who was right for him. Jay needed to learn to trust Angel – and he did, once he got over his self-doubts about being enough.
As usual Nick Russo did a great job narrating this book. There are a LOT of characters – from all the past books, the movie crew, Angel, and of course the town idiots trying to shut things down. I loved his choices and the emotions of the climactic scenes were really well acted. Bravo! Definitely recommended for fans of friends to lovers and second chances and of course this series 😀
This review and much more can be found at Love Bytes Reviews
Note: This is the fifth book in this series and does contain spoilers for books 1, 2, 3 and 4 but it can be read as a stand alone.
Angel and Jay have been best friends since they were kids. They’ve been through a lot together. Angel has always been there for Jay. Even after he came out, Angel never left his side, no matter that he was called names too because he was Jay’s friend after he came out. Angel is a big strong guy – former football player – who has grown up to be a Hollywood stuntman. In the past, he had a long term girlfriend that seemed to always plan something else every time he’s tried to get back to Pine Cove to visit Jay. She’s also completely biphobic and always complained that bisexuals were just cheaters.
Jay has stayed in his hometown and is a Drama teacher at the local high school. He’s the GSA sponsor and he’s so excited to see his BFF. It’s been waaaay too long and now that Lisa, Angel’s ex-girlfriend isn’t there, he’s looking forward to spending time with his bestie. The movie is a sequel, has queer characters and some of the kids from the GSA are even going to get to be extras. On the first day of filming, everyone is so excited. Everyone except for the local bully and long time nemesis, Kenny, who made Jay’s life a living hell. He and his little band of troublemakers are trying to shut down the movie because of “morals” and “protecting their kids” nonsense. Needless to say, nobody has time for this BS, but they are like gnats flying around causing problems. And then Angel crashes the car in his first stunt in Pine Cove.
Luckily Angel isn’t hurt too terribly – but he is concussed and has memory loss. Jay and his friends tell the hospital personnel that he’s Angel’s fiance so that they will let Jay in to see him. Angel’s family is far away and he will need somewhere to convalesce, so it seems like a good plan. Surprisingly Angel goes along with it quite willingly and he thinks maybe he really IS engaged to Jay when he finally wakes up. Jay is the one who Angel has been asking for since he’s regained consciousness, so it totally makes sense – or at least doesn’t seem like a lie to anyone.
Angel can’t remember the accident itself and he’s happy to be able to stay with Jay. They haven’t seen each other nearly enough over the years and they are so glad to be back together. But Jay has a secret. He’s been in love with Angel since he was 14 and this playing fiances is a bit too close to home for him. It turns out that Angel might not be quite as straight as he thought though 😉 But he’s got a lot of negative thoughts running through his head about bisexuals – largely planted by the aforementioned Lisa. He’s not really sure what to think, but he really does seem to have feelings for Jay – if he can just figure out what they are.
While Jay and Angel and trying to figure out what is happening between them, Kenny and his ilk continue to try to disrupt the movie. they also disrupt the GSA and try to throw a monkey wrench into the whole production. But when they finally go to far, Jay has the opportunity to come out on top and right some wrongs of the past. And Angel is there to help.
This is one of my favorite stories in this series. Even though there were a couple of parts that maybe dragged a tiny bit and I really wanted Jay to get over his apprehensions about Angel knowing what he wanted, I still really enjoyed the journey these two guys took to find their HEA. I love second chances and friends to lovers and this was a really sweet story of two guys who were really good for each other. Another enjoyable aspect of this particular story was getting to revisit and see how all the couples from the previous books are doing. Emery and Robin and Swift and Ben are all there, supporting Jay and Angel as well. Jay’s family – including his badass sisters – are all ready to help save the day too! Angel did a good job of overcoming the negative stereotyping of bisexuals that he’d been exposed to in the past and realized that he is the only one who could decide who was right for him. Jay needed to learn to trust Angel – and he did, once he got over his self-doubts about being enough.
As usual Nick Russo did a great job narrating this book. There are a LOT of characters – from all the past books, the movie crew, Angel, and of course the town idiots trying to shut things down. I loved his choices and the emotions of the climactic scenes were really well acted. Bravo! Definitely recommended for fans of friends to lovers and second chances and of course this series 😀
May 12, 2021
A Captivating & Heartfelt Delight! Awesome Story & Audible Listen🎧
Memory Lane
Pine Cove, Book 5
By: HJ Welch
Narrated by: Nick J. Russo
This is a fabulous friends to lovers, small town romance. I enjoyed HJ Welch’s writing style and the characters and story lines she created, they are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with. I am loving the small town setting and the camaraderie amongst the tight knit circle of friends. This book is Jay Coal and Angel Shields story, the two have been best friends since they were young. Angel left Pine Cove for L.A. to become a movie stuntman, he has had a successful career. A movie shoot brings him back to Pine Cove and he gets to see his old friend Jay. Jay is now a teacher in Pine Cove, he is thrilled to see his friend again, he has had a crush on him but since Angel is straight he never acted on it or even said anything. Jay gets to watch Angel in action on the movie set, except the stunt goes wrong and Angel winds up getting seriously injured. His injury caused amnesia, since Angel had no family left in town, Jay told the hospital they were engaged so he could visit him. Angel lost some of his memory but still remembered his friend Jay and when he heard they were engaged he was OK with that. Jay was thrown off, was Angel the straight man living in an alternative reality or just going along with Jay. The doctors thought all his memory would come back eventually but it would help if he revisited things from his past to help him along and Jay was more than happy to do that. Angel was always his savior so now he could be his. I loved how everything played out in this the story is beautifully plotted with drama, a touch of angst if form of haters/bigots, some twists and turns, humor, heartfelt and emotional moments and a wonderful romance. HJ Welch, thank you for another wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Nick J. Russo continues to bring these characters to life, humanizing them, giving each their own distinct voice and personality. His portrayal of the characters is spot on, I love how he takes each role and makes it his own sounding natural and believable. You could hear how much heart he puts into his work as he captures all the characters emotions and projects them into his performance. He is a mega talented storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen.
Thank you #GRR
Memory Lane
Pine Cove, Book 5
By: HJ Welch
Narrated by: Nick J. Russo
This is a fabulous friends to lovers, small town romance. I enjoyed HJ Welch’s writing style and the characters and story lines she created, they are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with. I am loving the small town setting and the camaraderie amongst the tight knit circle of friends. This book is Jay Coal and Angel Shields story, the two have been best friends since they were young. Angel left Pine Cove for L.A. to become a movie stuntman, he has had a successful career. A movie shoot brings him back to Pine Cove and he gets to see his old friend Jay. Jay is now a teacher in Pine Cove, he is thrilled to see his friend again, he has had a crush on him but since Angel is straight he never acted on it or even said anything. Jay gets to watch Angel in action on the movie set, except the stunt goes wrong and Angel winds up getting seriously injured. His injury caused amnesia, since Angel had no family left in town, Jay told the hospital they were engaged so he could visit him. Angel lost some of his memory but still remembered his friend Jay and when he heard they were engaged he was OK with that. Jay was thrown off, was Angel the straight man living in an alternative reality or just going along with Jay. The doctors thought all his memory would come back eventually but it would help if he revisited things from his past to help him along and Jay was more than happy to do that. Angel was always his savior so now he could be his. I loved how everything played out in this the story is beautifully plotted with drama, a touch of angst if form of haters/bigots, some twists and turns, humor, heartfelt and emotional moments and a wonderful romance. HJ Welch, thank you for another wonderful story and emotional rollercoaster ride.
🎧📚🎧 And for the fabulous narration, Nick J. Russo continues to bring these characters to life, humanizing them, giving each their own distinct voice and personality. His portrayal of the characters is spot on, I love how he takes each role and makes it his own sounding natural and believable. You could hear how much heart he puts into his work as he captures all the characters emotions and projects them into his performance. He is a mega talented storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. Thank you for another awesome listen.
Thank you #GRR
March 13, 2021
I was gifted my copy of this book.
This is book 5 in the Pine Cove series, and while not necessary to have read the other 4, I would personally recommedn that you do. It will give you a better feel for Pine Cove, and more importantly, for the people who live in it, and just why what happens here is NOT the norm for this town.
Jay is Robin's brother. Angel is his best friend from childhood and Jay has loved Angel since that day on the bridge, 16 years ago. Now having Angel so close, Jay is struggling to keep his feelings hidden. Then when Angel has an accident at work, and loses some memory, Jay steps up to look after Angel and puts himself in a world more hurt. Angel, on the other hand, remembers Jay. Jay is the first thing he says when he wakes up, and he remembers all the places that he and Jay went to as kids. ALL his memories revolve around Jay. Everything he feels, revolves around Jay. Is he attracted to Jay?
I enjoyed this, I really did but it doesn't pack the punch that the first three books carry.
Oh don't get me wrong, it's a wonderfully written, well told book, but it doesn't sucker punch you quite so much and I kinda missed that.
The love Jay has for Angel is palable, right from the start, and that carries right through the book, even if it thought it might cost him their friendship. Angel's feeling for Jay are a little less. . . . romantic but nonetheless intense. It just takes Angel time to filter all the noise in his head from his ex, to see what he really feels for Jay; how MUCH he feels for Jay.
I loved the fact that it's on the bridge, when Jay fell in love with Angel, that Angel lets his feelings really come out!
I could see what had happened to cause the accident coming at me, just as soon as the instigator makes themselves known causing trouble. I didn't think they quite go as far as they do though!
I loved that everyone plays a part here. Robin and Dair; Scout and Emery, Swift and Micha, and Ben and Elias: they all take part to some degree or other. Kamran too, and something happens here that makes me wonder what is going on with him!
And halle-flipping-lujah! Ava and Peyton finally FINALLY admit, out loud, in front of everyone, what they mean to each other and I still want them to have a story!
So from this book, I want two more: Kamran's story and Ava/Peyton's! Greedy? Moi?? I don't know what you mean!
A great read, though, all in all!
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elewhere**
This is book 5 in the Pine Cove series, and while not necessary to have read the other 4, I would personally recommedn that you do. It will give you a better feel for Pine Cove, and more importantly, for the people who live in it, and just why what happens here is NOT the norm for this town.
Jay is Robin's brother. Angel is his best friend from childhood and Jay has loved Angel since that day on the bridge, 16 years ago. Now having Angel so close, Jay is struggling to keep his feelings hidden. Then when Angel has an accident at work, and loses some memory, Jay steps up to look after Angel and puts himself in a world more hurt. Angel, on the other hand, remembers Jay. Jay is the first thing he says when he wakes up, and he remembers all the places that he and Jay went to as kids. ALL his memories revolve around Jay. Everything he feels, revolves around Jay. Is he attracted to Jay?
I enjoyed this, I really did but it doesn't pack the punch that the first three books carry.
Oh don't get me wrong, it's a wonderfully written, well told book, but it doesn't sucker punch you quite so much and I kinda missed that.
The love Jay has for Angel is palable, right from the start, and that carries right through the book, even if it thought it might cost him their friendship. Angel's feeling for Jay are a little less. . . . romantic but nonetheless intense. It just takes Angel time to filter all the noise in his head from his ex, to see what he really feels for Jay; how MUCH he feels for Jay.
I loved the fact that it's on the bridge, when Jay fell in love with Angel, that Angel lets his feelings really come out!
I could see what had happened to cause the accident coming at me, just as soon as the instigator makes themselves known causing trouble. I didn't think they quite go as far as they do though!
I loved that everyone plays a part here. Robin and Dair; Scout and Emery, Swift and Micha, and Ben and Elias: they all take part to some degree or other. Kamran too, and something happens here that makes me wonder what is going on with him!
And halle-flipping-lujah! Ava and Peyton finally FINALLY admit, out loud, in front of everyone, what they mean to each other and I still want them to have a story!
So from this book, I want two more: Kamran's story and Ava/Peyton's! Greedy? Moi?? I don't know what you mean!
A great read, though, all in all!
4 solid stars
**same worded review will appear elewhere**
March 21, 2021
This is a really sweet, mid angst best friends to lovers romance between Jay and Angel, who have been best friends since kindergarten.
Jay has been in love with Angel since their teens but Angel has always been straight. He has been away from Pine Cove for years as a stunt worker on films but luckily his most recent one has brought him back to town. An accident on set leaves him injured and with memory loss so he stays with Jay to recuperate. Of course all of this extra time together has Jay struggling to keep his distance but also has Angel questioning himself and his seemingly new attraction to Jay.
Bless them, both mens emotions are put through the wringer as they revisit old memories, struggle to deal with old/new emotions and try to work out what their future will look like. From the start you can feel the strong bonds of friendship that hasn't been held back by distance or Angel's ex,despite her trying. To begin with, Angel struggles to deal with his lost memories but the first person he thinks of is Jay and he's the perfect person to help him recover. As he tries to process he new thoughts and feelings towards his friend, he has a great group of people to help him work through everything. My Heart went out to him though when he out himself out there and did not get the expected response. Jay is continually trying to protect his heart from further pain, already know that his love is unrequited. That makes him second guess a lot throughout the whole of the book but, again, he has a good group of friends to help talk him through moments of panic.
Between on set chaos, protestors, newly discovered sexuality, and the comfort of being home in Pine Cove, a beautiful relationship has the chance to blossom between the best friends. I really enjoyed how everything played out and the added bouts of drama helped things move along as well. Definitely a recommended read and a great addition to the series. Really looking forward to Karman's story next.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
Jay has been in love with Angel since their teens but Angel has always been straight. He has been away from Pine Cove for years as a stunt worker on films but luckily his most recent one has brought him back to town. An accident on set leaves him injured and with memory loss so he stays with Jay to recuperate. Of course all of this extra time together has Jay struggling to keep his distance but also has Angel questioning himself and his seemingly new attraction to Jay.
Bless them, both mens emotions are put through the wringer as they revisit old memories, struggle to deal with old/new emotions and try to work out what their future will look like. From the start you can feel the strong bonds of friendship that hasn't been held back by distance or Angel's ex,despite her trying. To begin with, Angel struggles to deal with his lost memories but the first person he thinks of is Jay and he's the perfect person to help him recover. As he tries to process he new thoughts and feelings towards his friend, he has a great group of people to help him work through everything. My Heart went out to him though when he out himself out there and did not get the expected response. Jay is continually trying to protect his heart from further pain, already know that his love is unrequited. That makes him second guess a lot throughout the whole of the book but, again, he has a good group of friends to help talk him through moments of panic.
Between on set chaos, protestors, newly discovered sexuality, and the comfort of being home in Pine Cove, a beautiful relationship has the chance to blossom between the best friends. I really enjoyed how everything played out and the added bouts of drama helped things move along as well. Definitely a recommended read and a great addition to the series. Really looking forward to Karman's story next.
I received an ARC and am happily giving a review.
March 24, 2021
Jay and Angel have been best friends since they were kids. Jay’s been in love with Angel for nearly that long, but never said anything since he was sure Angel was straight. A Hollywood career and a controlling ex kept them apart for a long time, but when Angel returns to Pine Cove, things change, in a dramatic fashion.
I liked the small-town setting, the LGBTQ+ friendly film set subplot, the friend group the characters have, and the author’s writing style, which balances description and dialog in a really natural, flowing way. I love the trope of friends-to-lovers in general, and novels with adorable dogs are always a plus.
While I really enjoyed Angel as a character, and thought he handled his realizations about his sexuality in relatable, admirable ways, I found Jay to be an at times unlikeable character. His insecurity and capacity for making everything about himself and the feelings he’s kept secret since his teenage years lead him to do some really not-great things, like denying Angel’s sexuality to his face and then, when Angel tells him again interrogating him about it in ways that Angel’s journey all about him, “why didn’t you tell me” style. He’s also really, really quick to be derailed by the obvious machinations of the evil ex. It’s worth noting too that this novel leans heavily on the “evil ex-girlfriend” trope— an epically evil ex girlfriend (think deeply homophobic sociopath levels of evil) at that. Useful plot device? Sure. But what does it say about Jay’s level of trust in Angel— or himself— if he can be taken in by someone who makes cartoon villains look subtle?
Overall, this book offers compelling characters and an awesome setting. I might not be Jay’s biggest fan, but I’m happy Angel’s happy, and it’s rewarding to see them get their HEA.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review
I liked the small-town setting, the LGBTQ+ friendly film set subplot, the friend group the characters have, and the author’s writing style, which balances description and dialog in a really natural, flowing way. I love the trope of friends-to-lovers in general, and novels with adorable dogs are always a plus.
While I really enjoyed Angel as a character, and thought he handled his realizations about his sexuality in relatable, admirable ways, I found Jay to be an at times unlikeable character. His insecurity and capacity for making everything about himself and the feelings he’s kept secret since his teenage years lead him to do some really not-great things, like denying Angel’s sexuality to his face and then, when Angel tells him again interrogating him about it in ways that Angel’s journey all about him, “why didn’t you tell me” style. He’s also really, really quick to be derailed by the obvious machinations of the evil ex. It’s worth noting too that this novel leans heavily on the “evil ex-girlfriend” trope— an epically evil ex girlfriend (think deeply homophobic sociopath levels of evil) at that. Useful plot device? Sure. But what does it say about Jay’s level of trust in Angel— or himself— if he can be taken in by someone who makes cartoon villains look subtle?
Overall, this book offers compelling characters and an awesome setting. I might not be Jay’s biggest fan, but I’m happy Angel’s happy, and it’s rewarding to see them get their HEA.
*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review
May 17, 2021
For me, this book was slightly over the top, mushy, fluffy romance. I confess to a certain amount of eye rolling at the schmaltz, the unspoken and spoken declarations of love and longing. But despite all the possible lack of realism and cavity-inducing sweetness, I did still find myself invested throughout the story.
Jay had been the character that intrigued me the most from the very start of this series. I have to say that I'd expected a bit more edge to him. I still liked him, but he definitely had a softer side than I'd have guessed. Even though Jay was my reason for wanting to read this book, I ended up liking Angel even more. Angel had a similar thing going on - an outward confidence, but inner doubts, but I enjoyed his moments of strength and his steadfastness. And they both had their moments of strength that kept them from being too, too wishy washy.
There's a subplot involving hateful protesters, in particular a former school bully. Like some of the "villains" of previous books, these characters are a little stereotypical, but not entirely out of the question as being representative of the kind of terrible people there are out in the world, the bigots who form a small, but vocal minority of the community. On the other side of things, there are Jay's friends and family members, including past lead characters. For me, the scenes involving these lovely characters were some of the best in the book and made me laugh out loud more than once.
If you liked the previous books in this series and got this far, I can say that it is highly likely that you will enjoy this book as well. The books haven't been perfect for me in every which way, but I still find myself coming back for more. I am absolutely certain I will be reading the next book, and likely quite soon.
As for the audio narration, I enjoyed that too, without reservation.
Jay had been the character that intrigued me the most from the very start of this series. I have to say that I'd expected a bit more edge to him. I still liked him, but he definitely had a softer side than I'd have guessed. Even though Jay was my reason for wanting to read this book, I ended up liking Angel even more. Angel had a similar thing going on - an outward confidence, but inner doubts, but I enjoyed his moments of strength and his steadfastness. And they both had their moments of strength that kept them from being too, too wishy washy.
There's a subplot involving hateful protesters, in particular a former school bully. Like some of the "villains" of previous books, these characters are a little stereotypical, but not entirely out of the question as being representative of the kind of terrible people there are out in the world, the bigots who form a small, but vocal minority of the community. On the other side of things, there are Jay's friends and family members, including past lead characters. For me, the scenes involving these lovely characters were some of the best in the book and made me laugh out loud more than once.
If you liked the previous books in this series and got this far, I can say that it is highly likely that you will enjoy this book as well. The books haven't been perfect for me in every which way, but I still find myself coming back for more. I am absolutely certain I will be reading the next book, and likely quite soon.
As for the audio narration, I enjoyed that too, without reservation.
May 19, 2021
Jay finally gets his HEA (an audio review)
I have enjoyed all the Pine Cove books so I was expecting to like this one – and I did. Jay was an easily relatable character – in love with his straight best friend since said friend saved his life. But Angel left Pine Cove to become a stuntman while Jay stayed home to become the drama teacher at the local high school. Two divergent paths, to be sure. But neither man forgot the other. They stayed in touch although Angel never found the time to come home. There were heartbreaking reasons for that.
When he does return, he’s in a serious accident. Jay pretends to be his fiancé to get access, and for a moment Angel believes it might be true. Pretty quickly Jay owns up to the ruse, but he does convince Jay to stay with him as the other man recovers.
In the meantime, plenty of Pine Cove residents pop into the story. It was like coming home to see all my favorite characters again. I especially liked Jay’s younger sister Ava (who has always had a great story line and yay, finally got her act together with regard to Peyton).
Angel has been taught that being bisexual is dirty and wrong. As another reviewer said, bierasure is a thing. Bisexuals are painted in an unflattering light. This distresses me, both as a pansexual woman, and as someone who has friends who are bi. Angel’s fight was real, and it broke my heart that those negative voices almost cost him the future he might have with the man who always loved him.
There’s a sort-of mystery in the book, and plenty of drama, but at the heart is a romance. I hope there are more books to come in this series because I love visiting the Pacific Northwest town and because I love seeing all my old friends. Finally I’ll mention Nick J. Russo’s narration. He’s always great, and I enjoyed him in this one as well. A really good book.
I have enjoyed all the Pine Cove books so I was expecting to like this one – and I did. Jay was an easily relatable character – in love with his straight best friend since said friend saved his life. But Angel left Pine Cove to become a stuntman while Jay stayed home to become the drama teacher at the local high school. Two divergent paths, to be sure. But neither man forgot the other. They stayed in touch although Angel never found the time to come home. There were heartbreaking reasons for that.
When he does return, he’s in a serious accident. Jay pretends to be his fiancé to get access, and for a moment Angel believes it might be true. Pretty quickly Jay owns up to the ruse, but he does convince Jay to stay with him as the other man recovers.
In the meantime, plenty of Pine Cove residents pop into the story. It was like coming home to see all my favorite characters again. I especially liked Jay’s younger sister Ava (who has always had a great story line and yay, finally got her act together with regard to Peyton).
Angel has been taught that being bisexual is dirty and wrong. As another reviewer said, bierasure is a thing. Bisexuals are painted in an unflattering light. This distresses me, both as a pansexual woman, and as someone who has friends who are bi. Angel’s fight was real, and it broke my heart that those negative voices almost cost him the future he might have with the man who always loved him.
There’s a sort-of mystery in the book, and plenty of drama, but at the heart is a romance. I hope there are more books to come in this series because I love visiting the Pacific Northwest town and because I love seeing all my old friends. Finally I’ll mention Nick J. Russo’s narration. He’s always great, and I enjoyed him in this one as well. A really good book.
May 22, 2021
**Audio Review**
Angel and Jay's romance was much sweeter and more emotional than I expected, and I loved every second! I've always been a fan of a good best-friends-to-lovers story, and the added dash of suspense and self discovery made this one particularly captivating. Despite the accident that set Jay and Angel on a path towards romance, their journey was remarkably low angst. Sure, Jay and Angel had some serious self-reflection to do in this book, but they never took their fears and insecurities out on each other. Their time together was wonderfully domestic, and the way the two of them were so comfortable around each other made me feel like the jump from platonic to romantic wouldn't be as daunting as it seemed. It warmed my heart to see how supportive their group of Pine Grove friends were, and Angel's movie set co-workers were just as amazing. When things started to heat up between these best friends, it felt like all the missing pieces were finally slotting into place. Granted, it did take Jay and Angel a lot longer than I thought it would to work through their communication barrier, but it was worth the wait to see how adorable and loved-up they were towards the end. Despite a few moments where I was really scared that outsider interference would strain their new relationship past its breaking point, Angel and Jay proved that nothing could come between their bond. Nick Russo's narration was very nicely done, and even though this story had over a dozen characters it was easy for me to tell them apart.
**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
Angel and Jay's romance was much sweeter and more emotional than I expected, and I loved every second! I've always been a fan of a good best-friends-to-lovers story, and the added dash of suspense and self discovery made this one particularly captivating. Despite the accident that set Jay and Angel on a path towards romance, their journey was remarkably low angst. Sure, Jay and Angel had some serious self-reflection to do in this book, but they never took their fears and insecurities out on each other. Their time together was wonderfully domestic, and the way the two of them were so comfortable around each other made me feel like the jump from platonic to romantic wouldn't be as daunting as it seemed. It warmed my heart to see how supportive their group of Pine Grove friends were, and Angel's movie set co-workers were just as amazing. When things started to heat up between these best friends, it felt like all the missing pieces were finally slotting into place. Granted, it did take Jay and Angel a lot longer than I thought it would to work through their communication barrier, but it was worth the wait to see how adorable and loved-up they were towards the end. Despite a few moments where I was really scared that outsider interference would strain their new relationship past its breaking point, Angel and Jay proved that nothing could come between their bond. Nick Russo's narration was very nicely done, and even though this story had over a dozen characters it was easy for me to tell them apart.
**I voluntarily listened to a free copy of this book. This review expresses my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 9, 2024
Memory Lane, Book #5 in the series is set in England by a British author, and back up there with Book #1 Safe Harbour and Book #4 Bright Horizon, after a couple of well-written but for me, less enjoyable books (#2 Troubled Waters and #3 Homeward Bound).
The trope is "lost memories, best friend to help regain them," has Jay, best friends Angel with since they were five years old, helping said best friend (a stunt man in a movie being shot in his home town) to remember the events leading up to the car crash stunt that caused Angel to lose quite a lot of his memories from a bad concussion.
In addition, he needs somewhere to live whilst his physical injuries, especially a badly knocked knee and a lot of severe bruising. Of course, he ends up staying with his best buddy, Jay, who is one of the established characters from earlier books. Angel is a new MC, with the book looking from both POVs and features quite a lot of individual internal monologue on both of their parts, which I find useful in progressing the storyline.
Of course, nothing is simple, with Jay rather hot and bothered by this task because he has been pining for his best friend for some sixteen years, with each video-calling the other almost every day. He believes that Angel is straight, and any attempted move on him would cost him his best friend's affection.
In order to be allowed to spend time by Angel's side, he says that he is Angel's boyfriend, which confuses Angel, but he accepts it as the truth, remembering that he broke up with his girlfriend around a year ago... He is quite disappointed when he finds that it is nothing but a ruse, leading to some interesting internal thoughts about how to label yourself on the LGBTQ spectrum.
I won't expose the storyline from there on, except to say that there are plenty of good feels and first times, and the book progresses from there to the promised HEA.
The trope is "lost memories, best friend to help regain them," has Jay, best friends Angel with since they were five years old, helping said best friend (a stunt man in a movie being shot in his home town) to remember the events leading up to the car crash stunt that caused Angel to lose quite a lot of his memories from a bad concussion.
In addition, he needs somewhere to live whilst his physical injuries, especially a badly knocked knee and a lot of severe bruising. Of course, he ends up staying with his best buddy, Jay, who is one of the established characters from earlier books. Angel is a new MC, with the book looking from both POVs and features quite a lot of individual internal monologue on both of their parts, which I find useful in progressing the storyline.
Of course, nothing is simple, with Jay rather hot and bothered by this task because he has been pining for his best friend for some sixteen years, with each video-calling the other almost every day. He believes that Angel is straight, and any attempted move on him would cost him his best friend's affection.
In order to be allowed to spend time by Angel's side, he says that he is Angel's boyfriend, which confuses Angel, but he accepts it as the truth, remembering that he broke up with his girlfriend around a year ago... He is quite disappointed when he finds that it is nothing but a ruse, leading to some interesting internal thoughts about how to label yourself on the LGBTQ spectrum.
I won't expose the storyline from there on, except to say that there are plenty of good feels and first times, and the book progresses from there to the promised HEA.
March 7, 2021
A classic in love with your best friend story with a nice little HEA tied up in a bow! This is a low angst fluffy read. (Needed a break from higher angst stories. I have to pace myself.) I love HJ Welch's men. Jay and Angel have been friends forever, through thick and thin, although they have grown apart over the years since Angel hasn't been back to Pine Cove in years. Now though, he is back, part of the crew on a film being shot in town. Angel is a wildly successful stuntman now, while Jay teaches high school at their old alma mater. When Angel suffers a head injury, he suffers from some memory loss and it is the perfect opportunity for the two to reconnect. I loved these two guys. There are bigoted sh..uh jerks to deal with and a bit of a mystery to solve along the way, but this book is all about Angel figuring out what he has been missing out on for the last few years. The bits with the homophobic protesters hit a little close to home, seeing as how I live in an extremely conservative area, and it never fails me to realize how little people care about the harm they do when trying to force their hate and ideas on others. But these idiots don't take up the whole book. Jay is so earnest in trying to take care of Angel and not force his feelings on him and Angel keeps thinking how "right" everything feels. All it took was a little amnesia to make him realize what was really important and how he has been hiding part of who he is for far too long. I LOVED this book!!
March 24, 2021
Unique way to start a fake fiancé M/M story…it worked for Angel and Jay
Well-written, good story, unique way to begin a fake fiancé but this was a v-e-r-y slow book. It took until the end of chapter 13 (pg 151 of 274 pages) to make their friendship “more.” 😉 If you want character development, read this book. Lots of that. Once they break the friends-only barrier, it gets hotter. Don’t get me wrong. I like the book but wish there was a bit less of the angst: “can I, why not, should I, maybe”…until they finally profess their true feelings. “But wait…that’s not all!” 🤔 Does lack of trust bode well for a happy future? There’s lots of that too.
Angel and Jay had been childhood friends, inseparable until they grew up and went off in different directions for college and career. Jay became a teacher, staying in Pine Cove and Angel became a movie stunt man, moving around the world. They talked every day by phone but haven’t seen each other for years until Angel’s latest movie is using Pine Cove for its locale. An accident and subsequent mistake begin a very promising premise. The last few chapters, basically from chapter 20 on, were page-turners. The action part doesn’t come on until very near the end and some of it is predictable, but I’m still giving the book 4 stars as it was written quite well and I did indeed need to find out if my suspicions would prove true. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews. Love the cover model though…yum!
Well-written, good story, unique way to begin a fake fiancé but this was a v-e-r-y slow book. It took until the end of chapter 13 (pg 151 of 274 pages) to make their friendship “more.” 😉 If you want character development, read this book. Lots of that. Once they break the friends-only barrier, it gets hotter. Don’t get me wrong. I like the book but wish there was a bit less of the angst: “can I, why not, should I, maybe”…until they finally profess their true feelings. “But wait…that’s not all!” 🤔 Does lack of trust bode well for a happy future? There’s lots of that too.
Angel and Jay had been childhood friends, inseparable until they grew up and went off in different directions for college and career. Jay became a teacher, staying in Pine Cove and Angel became a movie stunt man, moving around the world. They talked every day by phone but haven’t seen each other for years until Angel’s latest movie is using Pine Cove for its locale. An accident and subsequent mistake begin a very promising premise. The last few chapters, basically from chapter 20 on, were page-turners. The action part doesn’t come on until very near the end and some of it is predictable, but I’m still giving the book 4 stars as it was written quite well and I did indeed need to find out if my suspicions would prove true. I volunteered to review an ARC of this book through Gay Romance Reviews. Love the cover model though…yum!
March 12, 2021
Memory Lane by HJ Welch is the 5th book in the Pine Cove Series. I have not read the other books in the series and had no problem understanding the plot, so it is not necessary to read the other books first.
Jay and Angel are best friends since they were little boys. After graduation from high school, Angel left Pine Cove and they did not see each other the past years often. Angel becomes a stunt man and his path leads him back to Pine Cove for his work. There he gets in a terrible accident and loses his memory. During his recovery Angel discovers that he may have developed more feelings for Jay than he realized.
I really loved this book. Angel was the more outgoing person, a thrill-seeker, and funny as hell. He thought he was always straight and so he struggles understandable with his sexual identity. But when he figures it out he goes for it. I loved that about him. Jay is the more serious character. He is a school teacher and I really loved the interactions he has with his students. He is struggling as he realizes that his crush since 16 years is now returning his feelings.
The other characters in the book were awesome as well. I especially adored Jays sister and the interactions between Angel and his friends.
I really loved this book and will look into the first four books of the Pine Cove series.
Be aware that in the book there is a group of bigots and some violence of this group towards the characters.
*I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
Jay and Angel are best friends since they were little boys. After graduation from high school, Angel left Pine Cove and they did not see each other the past years often. Angel becomes a stunt man and his path leads him back to Pine Cove for his work. There he gets in a terrible accident and loses his memory. During his recovery Angel discovers that he may have developed more feelings for Jay than he realized.
I really loved this book. Angel was the more outgoing person, a thrill-seeker, and funny as hell. He thought he was always straight and so he struggles understandable with his sexual identity. But when he figures it out he goes for it. I loved that about him. Jay is the more serious character. He is a school teacher and I really loved the interactions he has with his students. He is struggling as he realizes that his crush since 16 years is now returning his feelings.
The other characters in the book were awesome as well. I especially adored Jays sister and the interactions between Angel and his friends.
I really loved this book and will look into the first four books of the Pine Cove series.
Be aware that in the book there is a group of bigots and some violence of this group towards the characters.
*I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review*
October 31, 2024
story of Jay and Angel
This is a best friends to more romance, featuring Jay and Angel, and is book five in the Pine Cove series.
Jay and Angel have been friends since kindergarten. It’s been years since Angel has been home but he is back in Pine Cove working on a queer film set as a stunt driver.
Jay is on set watching his best friend, and his secret long term crush, and a stunt goes horribly wrong where Angel ends up in hospital with amnesia. Jay is there to help him recover. Oh yeah!
These two made my heart ache. This is a slow burn but the longing Jay has for his BFF hurt, especially when Angel starts seeing Jay in a new light but not acting on his feelings. I was pretty much talking to my kindle, to try and get them together sooner.
There is a bit of drama and angst, with protestors against the queer film and a super sweet found family, full of characters from previous books.
Poor Helen had a few messages from me on this one, thanks for being so wonderful and chatting with me.
The narration again was amazing. Nick J Russo is one of my favs.
Things to expect in this MM romance are:
5th book in series
Best friends
Long term crush
Slow burn
Hurt / Comfort
Close proximity
Amnesia
Bi-awakening
Calls him baby
Bit of spice
Bit of drama & angst
All in
HEA
This is a best friends to more romance, featuring Jay and Angel, and is book five in the Pine Cove series.
Jay and Angel have been friends since kindergarten. It’s been years since Angel has been home but he is back in Pine Cove working on a queer film set as a stunt driver.
Jay is on set watching his best friend, and his secret long term crush, and a stunt goes horribly wrong where Angel ends up in hospital with amnesia. Jay is there to help him recover. Oh yeah!
These two made my heart ache. This is a slow burn but the longing Jay has for his BFF hurt, especially when Angel starts seeing Jay in a new light but not acting on his feelings. I was pretty much talking to my kindle, to try and get them together sooner.
There is a bit of drama and angst, with protestors against the queer film and a super sweet found family, full of characters from previous books.
Poor Helen had a few messages from me on this one, thanks for being so wonderful and chatting with me.
The narration again was amazing. Nick J Russo is one of my favs.
Things to expect in this MM romance are:
5th book in series
Best friends
Long term crush
Slow burn
Hurt / Comfort
Close proximity
Amnesia
Bi-awakening
Calls him baby
Bit of spice
Bit of drama & angst
All in
HEA
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