Finding Emma

by Courtnee Turner

What if the only anchor to your identity was a tattoo with a name?

David Winsome answers the door for a beautiful woman who can't remember how she ended up on the hill near his family's home. The woman assumes the name on her tattoo, Emma, and blends into the community while questions about her past plague her.

Why is the town familiar, even though no one seems to know her? And why does she feel an intimate attraction to David, even though she just met him?

As Emma accepts her new life, and begins a loving relationship with David, a person who claims to know her enters her life. Does this person hold the key to Emma's past, or is there a mystery much deeper than Emma's identity?

Someone has manipulated the events in his favor, and he has a much larger plan in mind.



Love can cross the distance, and it's about time David Winsome learned how far it can go.


**Content warning** The time-travel romance story contains one episode of domestic violence and a murderous scene.

362 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 17, 2022

About the author

Courtnee Turner is the award-winning, multi-genre author of My Brother's Keeper, Solomon's Tears, and Rasputin's Scorn, in addition to several short stories that have been anthologized. Readers have recently been impressed with The Secrets of Copperheads and Fireflies and The Tears in the Water.
The culture and views of her Tennessee home have forced her to find her own perspective. While she may embrace the traditions of her area, she has set non-negotiable boundaries, especially against sweet tea and unannounced visitors. Courtnee graduated with multiple undergraduate degrees and a master's degree and developed unique ways of dividing the personalities of the people in her life to create quirky, relatable characters. Courtnee lives with her numerous children and believes there is a story in every experience.
Instagram @pale_woods_mysteries
Facebook Courtnee Turner Hoyle, Author

In addition to writing about her hometown and traveling with her characters, Courtnee is a travel planner. You can visit her Facebook account, Courtnee’s Magical Vacations.

Reviews

[Tina hogan Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! What a ride this book took me on. This is the first book I have read by this author and I am an instant fan. I plan on reading more. I was pulled in straight away with this story when Emma wakes up on a desolate hillside only to discover she has amnesia. Right away I wanted to know what had happened to her and how did she get amnesia? And then there was the tattoo, another question I wanted answers to.

The story is written really well. The characters are well developed and I felt like I knew them like I do my neighbors. I loved the chemistry between David and Emma and fell in love with Ag. The storyline had me hooked and without giving anything away, a bombshell is dropped and I am floored. I never saw the twists coming. Looking back I see now some of the hints the author dropped in the story but what unfolded was a total shocker for me. I'm now anxious to read the next book in the series.

Thank you Courtnee for giving me an ARC copy and for the fabulous read.

[Lisa Wetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Emma by Courtnee Turner Hoyle is the first book in her new series It’s About Time. This is a wonderful heartwarming story about Emma and David. Courtnee Turner Hoyle has a well written story that keeps you engaged throughout the whole book!!! I was unable to put this one down…..turning the pages to find out what comes next! She takes you on a magical ride you do not want to get off of!!! There is an energy between Emma and David and you will feel it throughout the book. This is a well written story that keeps the secrets until the astonishing ending that still has my head spinning! I was totally flabbergasted and it had me looking for more!! My compliments to Courtnee Turner Hoyle for not giving any secrets away and I cannot wait to Book Two in this series!!!

Many thanks to Courtnee Turner Hoyle for an advanced copy of this fascinating story in exchange for my honest review.
#findingemma #courtneeturnerhoyle #indieauthoe
#arc

[Kris Rubi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Emma by Courtnee Turner Hoyle
This was an interesting read. I say “interesting” because in the end because it was not what I expected. But not in a bad way. There were many Easter Eggs thinking back on the story, but I simply read them into the story without really giving them their full attention.
That being said, this was a great read. I did not expect the ending at all. The story is about Emma and trying to figure out who she is and where she belongs. An apparent case of amnesia has Emma feeling lost and confused. Luckily for her, the Winsome family is there for her in more ways than one.
I really enjoyed this book. I will definitely look forward to reading more from this author in the future. Pick up this book. You won’t be disappointed.

[Stephanie Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

I stayed up late to finish this page-turner! The author created a strong hook with Emma’s story, which captured me from the very beginning. The dynamics between Emma and David pulled me even deeper, and I want to know more! I was completely shocked by the ending. Kudos to the author for her finesse. Not everyone could pull off keeping this secret under wraps. I’m rereading a few chapters to fully appreciate the cleverness of the foreshadowing.

Thanks to the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Margie Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not quite sure where to start with this one! Finding Emma by author Courtnee Turner Hoyle was sometimes a little confusing for me. The first 3/4’s of the story was very enjoyable although I did find it strange that two of the characters had had amnesia at times. That probably should of been a red flag for me. When I first requested the arc, I had no idea of the stories genre. I thought by the title and books cover that it was either romance, women’s fiction or possibly even a mystery/thriller. It wasn’t until almost the very end when I was surprised, shocked really to learn that it was more of a science fiction/magical realism type genre. I did not see that coming! I have read other books with time travel but was not aware that it would be part of this story. I really liked the characters and storyline of Emma(Hailey) and David and his family. I could even sympathize with Caroline and the choices she made but when it started with Celeste, it was like, wait, who? This is where I got confused. I liked the authors writing style. It all flowed really well and had the ending not been like it was I could of seen giving it a 5 star rating. I’m sure others who read this genre will enjoy it immensely. However, for me, due to the surprise at the last end, I’m only going to give this a 4 star rating.

[Tina Barnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. The story of Emma (Hailey) and David was fantastic and I love that towards the end they come back together. But the very end had my mind blown lol. Was not expecting how it ended but loved it and want more. Thank you for a fabulous read Courtnee.

[River · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is part heart journey and part “Dear Lord, what just happened?” I fell completely in love with Emma— she was beautiful inside and out. She really grabbed my attention and was extremely relatable. I truly felt like I was her and living exactly what she was experiencing as I was reading the book. She and David were so very interesting and intricate as characters. I was in turns in love with and angry at David. I suppose that means that I really followed exactly what Emma was feeling! These two characters kept me up at night in a way I haven’t had a book enthrall me in a very long time.

On the other hand, her grandfather completely rocked my world and angered me. The man was completely unethical, hateful, and vengeful. He seem to seethe in his very existence.

The book switches gears so quickly and it really jarred me. I was thrown for a loop and I really haven’t recovered from this at all. I stayed up most of the night thinking about it. I just don’t know what to think. I don’t know how to feel. What I do know, is that I need book 2!

[Nannette Kreitzman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn’t see that coming!

Who is Emma and what’s with her tattoo? Is her amnesia related to another case in town? Why is her aversion to meat so overwhelming? Will the man she’s fallen in love with ever allow himself to love her in return? These are just a few of the questions that kept me turning the pages of Finding Emma. Hoyle hinted, teased, and distracted with additional cryptic mysteries, until a completely unexpected explanation was revealed!

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is my first book by this author which I enjoyed from beginning to end. I can't wait to see what is next for this author. This is a story that not only takes you through time but also murder. The author's use of details gave the story a realistic feeling. Her writing style made the story easy and entertaining to read. I enjoyed being pulled into the story by the connectable characters. They kept the story engaging and hard to put down. This is a story that could cause some triggers, if you can get passed those times you will find a book that is a great story. The twists and turns are like no other and kept me guessing at what would happen next. I enjoyed how the characters made the story come to life and made the story for me. The growth of the characters as well as the plot is great throughout. A great story that I highly recommend.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Emma
By Courtney Turner Hoyle.

This Book is not my normal type of book. But it's a good read.

Emma
Shes lost, not knowing we're she came from. Or we're she will end up. Only thing she knows is the tattoo she has could lead to something in her life...


David,
The guy that's in love with Emma but afraid of love... or is he..
Time will tell.


Ag,
David's sister shes just a sweet part of this story.
Then there's David and Ag Mom.
Shes just a Hoot. Shes my Favorite part of this Book.
I loved all the things she said. My absolutely Favorite parts of this story....


This book as I said honestly is not my kinda Book. But was a good read..
Thank you Courtney Turner Hoyle
For this Early arc.

[Tosha · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader, I rarely come across a book that I cannot guess the outcome for. This novel, however, had me making multiple predictions about the events, characters, and ending, but NONE of those guesses were even close to the truth. This is one of those novels where you go back after you finish to reread sections to fully appreciate the masterfully placed clues. I could reread this book several times and still feel as though I missed some intricately laced details hidden within its pages. This novel would be enjoyed by romance readers, the mystery lovers, and those interested in sci-fi. This book could fit into so many genres and would be enjoyed by any audience just looking for mind blowing read. It's a novel you wish you could forget and read all over again for the first time.

[Debbie Boling · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must read! Once you start, you will not want to put it down! From the first few pages of this compelling story, you will become obsessed with Emma's situation. The characters are portrayed in such a way that they feel familiar, like family, that you can relate to. The author draws you in with the mystery, mixes in some love and heartache and then takes you on a thrill ride with twists, turns and totally unexpected outcomes. An amazing job of keeping the secret until the end! I was speechless! I am anxiously awaiting the next book!

[Joy Whiteside · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a read, this book was amazing. From the very first page all the way till the last one, there was no putting it down and I had to finish in one sitting. IT moves along at a pace which makes for an easy read. It has interesting characters that you will love and want to know more about and a story that will not disappoint and keep you reading until the end. This book needs to be read, there is no doubt about it.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from this author. A woman who loses her memory tries to make a new life for herself until her old life finds her. What she finds out about her old life has her confused more than ever. The twists and turns of this book are so exciting and the ending you won’t see coming. It’s so good I didn’t want it to end. Hurry up and preorder this book, you won’t want to miss it.

[Judy Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mysyery

This book was fantastic. It was very different from what I normally read. But it was very well written. Now I have to know what happens next. Loved your story line. Great book.

[Colleen Daley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read with a twist in the end I absolutely did not see coming! I don't want to give to much away so that everyone reading will get to be surprised by the twists in the story. I will say it included wonderful characters and a fantastic writing style. The author kept me intrigued the entire time and I was invested in Emma and David's lives. I highly recommend this story if you enjoy a good twist and like to be intrigued by a story!

[Mary Hamby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, loved it!

[Talia C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you BookSprout and Courtnee Turner Hoyle for an ARC copy of this book!

WHAT I LIKED:
I am not sure I can put my feelings of this book into words.. This woman wakes up on a hill with no recollection of who she is. All she has on her are her clothes and a tattoo of the name Emma. So she takes that name as her own and creates a new happy life. Only to then have her family find her and bring her back to her old life.. First of all, to wake up and not know who you are or anything about your life is an incredible idea for a storyline because it can go so many different ways. Second, her family finding her was obviously going to happen it was just a matter of when. But there were so many things that didn't line up and never made sense.. until the end. That ending !! WHAT!! Blew me away, never seen it coming. It made everything make sense but yet also confused me during those first few paragraphs.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
There are parts of this book that dragged on and had no real impact on the story other than to give that character some history, like Ag for example. She was a great mediator character but learning her past or her history didn't do much to help the story along.

OVERALL / RECOMMENDATION:
This book had a ridiculous grip on me. I needed to continue reading to see if Emma ever remembered who she was, if she allowed herself to love David, or if she ever found her real family. The ending of this book made it all so surreal that I really hope that there will be a book two.. although I don't know where or how this will progress now.. I am recommending to anyone that enjoys thought-provoking mystery thrillers.

[Renee Simmons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finding Emma

I definitely enjoyed Finding Emma. She woke up with no memory of who she was. Only a tattoo with the name Emma. She had no choice but to make a new life for herself, and she started loving her new life. She fell in love and loved David's family and her new job. But then they found her and she was forced back into a life she couldn't remember. Trying to live between two lives, she learns that nothing was as it seems. A third life? This story kept me interested from start to finish, and definitely threw a curve ball in the mix. I highly recommend reading it and finding out who Emma really is

[cheri wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it, the ending was a shocker

As always very suspenseful book by Courtnee. This book was definitely different but in a good way. It shows her writing style can change and adapt yet keep us in suspense. Poor David!!

[Shelly Mendenhall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book was really enjoying it until the last chapter. Then it just got weird. 4 stars

[Annmarie Kuyath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emma has amnesia and does not know who she is. Why does she have a big aversion to meat, is she connected to another case in town, and there is a question of what significance of her tattoo? There are a lot of twists and turns in this story and I needed answers! The only reason that I rated it a 4 instead of a 5, is because the story dragged at times and some of the content seemed irrelevant to the story.

[Kimberley H · Rating 5 out of 5]

A highly engaging story with well developed and interesting characters that draw one in to a fabulous storyline. Through ups and downs, questions, turmoil, and suspense in a quest for identity, comes a magical adventure with many surprising conclusions. Different than any story I’ve read, it definitely leaves one wanting more!

[Julianne Dombrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Emma kept me on the edge of my seat. I kept turning pages I stayed up late. I just didn’t want to go to bed. Finding out was the most outstanding book and the ending was not expected. Thank you Courtnee! It was absolutely captivating!

[Klissia · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 Really confused and I read a lot of time travel stories...

[Catherine Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma & David

I really didn’t know what to expect when I was opening the first page, what I was expecting, I found this book very exciting, turning the pages as fast as possible!!what a surprise