Remember When

by Vida Li Sik

Will the magic of Christmas give their love a second chance?

Gérard

My life is great, and my immediate family is all I need. There is no place for romance. Or is there? A decade ago Santi turned down my marriage proposal. When meddling family members find a way to bring us together the week before Christmas, I remember why I fell in love with her, but I can't forget how easily she walked away before.

Santi

Long ago I gave up my dreams of marriage and playing with the London Symphony Orchestra when my family needed me. Now, with my ill parents finally at peace and my baby sister grown, I'm ready to reclaim my life. I don't need Gérard to remind me about the joys of love, family, and Christmas I learned to live without. Or do I?

Genres: Fiction

Kindle Edition

First published November 12, 2021

About the author

Vida Li Sik is a wife, mother, award-winning journalist and multi-genre author. She grew up in a small town, Nigel, in sunny South Africa, and now lives with her family in Johannesburg, the City of Gold. She has no pets and has yet to find a weird and wonderful hobby. In the meantime, she loves to write about people, real ones and imagined.

Reviews

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

He is happy with his life with his family and has no room for love anymore so when his family tries to get him hooked up, he is not happy. Especially when he realises it was with the one who got away. She had to leave everything behind to look after her parents including him. Now they are being pushed together. Will they reconnect? Will they go their separate ways? See if the second time is the charm

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Niekie Bushby · Rating 4 out of 5]

An easy read. Good storyline which moves quickly. Relatable characters. Would love to read more from this writer.

[Peggy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book intrigued me when I was reading the description... Once I actually started reading the book I feel in love! Simple, easy to follow with a great plot and lovable characters!

[LidiasChoice De Jager · Rating 4 out of 5]

Remember When

I had a few aww moments whilst reading this Christmas novella. Short and sweet with well rounded characters and no dramatics. An absolutely must read for the season.

[D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this story at a second chance at love for Santi and Gerard. I could really, really relate to Santi. It was so nice to read a great story at her second chance. What a great story.

[Celicia Fowlkes · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book because it showed how life can let you down and put you right where it wants you to be. She wasn't in a good place to say yes to him then. As much as she wanted to, she did not want to put her burdens on him. Its selfish but it showed the love she felt for him. This is her chance to show her love for him. Life may have moved on but it still slows down just enough for you to see the light on your path.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Meenal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book for Christmas in July feels and it was so good! Santi and Gerard are amongst my favourite fictional second chance couples. It's tough to be a caregiver, and tougher to learn to be selfish when you're conditioned in a role for years.

If you enjoy later-in-life romance, try this one. It won't disappoint you.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author via StoryOrigin in exchange for an honest review.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second book in the Remember Series. Gérard and Santi's Christmas short story of a second chance and the meddling family that brought it together.I enjoyed reading this story. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This South African, second chance, romance novella set around Christmas time is perfect for reading during the Christmas season even though the characters are experiencing high summer which is completely opposite to this reader’s usual Christmas experience in Northern Ireland!! So on that level, it was very interesting to compare too!

Gérard and Santi’s unexpected meeting at a music festival (engineered by the twins and Santi’s sister!) opens the door to the past ten years of their lives and what has transpired with them individually. Quiet revelations open up many raw emotions and is heartbreaking for both.

However, there were plenty of special and lighthearted moments too which blessed the reader’s heart and brought hope that there could be a happy ending…but you have to read to find out!

Received this as a complimentary copy from the author and this is my own opinion.

[Lucy Appadoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this second chance romance story between Santi and Gerard who had reunited after ten years of separation. The story had themes of grief and loss, family unity, missed opportunities, and second chances. The characters were authentic and worked through their unspoken pain of the past after Santi and Gerard had broken up due to misunderstandings and miscommunication. As they get to know each other once again, they realise that their love had never died. This was a pleasant and entertaining novella and well worth the read.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Too Late for a HEA ? . . .

Here we have two people who may possibly have a second chance to fix what went wrong in the past. Yet both of them seem hesitant to try again.

Gérard remembers how easily Santi turned down his marriage proposal and walked away. And Santi had given up her dreams when her family had need of her. Now with her parents gone, her sister grown, will she choose another path? Or will she take a chance on the love she had to walk away from back then?

[Robin Fedchenko · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read. I was trying to prepare for Christmas, but I kept having to come back and read a couple more chapters. The characters are instantly relatable and I fell head over heels for all of them. The story just swept me away and I can not wait to continue reading about the family Fortune. Three cheers for a new favorite author!

[Caroline Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Remember When is a gentle story of second chance love. Ten years after they split, Gerard and Santi’s relatives conspire to set them up on a blind date at a music festival. Surrounded by memories of their past relationship, can they reconnect and discover what went wrong all those years ago?
A lovely Christmas novella set in South Africa, full of sweet moments.

[Renate Deutsche Oma · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turning Christmas story with a South Africa summer setting, believable characters and a satisfying resolution. This armchair traveler enjoyed the Africans glossary in the beginning of the book. Plus celebrating Christmas in a different cultural setting.

[Sharli Kaltenbach · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet romance. When you love someone heart and soul, time apart doesn't diminish that. Perfect for young romance readers

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Vida Li Sik is a "new to me" author and Remember When is the first book of hers that I've read. It was an enjoyable read with a lot of heart and a happy ending.

[Joan McDowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart warming novella of broken communications and how true love lasts.

[Simone · Rating 5 out of 5]

That was a heart-warming story, a perfect Christmas read!!