Forget Me Not

Catalina Cove #2

by Brenda Jackson

Brenda Jackson welcomes you back to Catalina Cove, where love is waiting to be reclaimed…Ashley Ryan never doubted that her husband, Devon, was the love of her life. Even now, three years after Devon died in a car wreck while on a business trip, Ashley can’t bring herself to move on. But when her girlfriends surprise her with a getaway to beautiful Catalina Cove, Louisiana, she gets the shock of her life when she encounters a man—bearded, more rugged than before, but unmistakably her Devon.“Ray Sullivan” moved to this quiet coastal town after waking up in a hospital with amnesia. Haunted by a life he can’t remember, he’s built walls around his heart and a quiet life running boat tours—a life that includes no recollection of Ashley, a woman he suddenly finds himself irresistibly drawn to.Doctors warn Ashley of the danger in forcing her husband to remember the past. Though she longs to tell him the truth, she finds herself falling all over again for a man she knows may never truly come back to her. In this place where healing and second chances are just a heartbeat away, can love take root once more?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Adult, Chick Lit

400 pages, Paperback

First published March 26, 2019

About the author

In 1994, Brenda Jackson’s first novel, Tonight and Forever, was released. Since then she has had more than 100 novels and novellas published (the first African-American author to accomplish such a feat) and has over 3 million books in print.

A native of Jacksonville, Florida, Brenda is the first African-American author to have a book published by Harlequin Desire and the first African-American romance author to make the New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller lists within the series romance genre.

In 2012, Brenda received the Romance Writers of America’s Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award—one of the highest literary awards a romance author can receive. In 2013, she was recognized by the mayor and the city of Jacksonville as being a Trailblazer in the literary field.

In 2010, she collaborated with Five Alive Films to turn her Truly Everlasting title into a feature film. Brenda’s 2011 novel A Silken Thread is scheduled to be filmed with Debbie Allen attached as director in 2015.

Email Brenda at authorbrendajackson@gmail.com or visit her on her website at brendajackson.net.

Reviews

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

Last year, I picked up Love in Catalina Cove after the cover kept calling to me and it was one of the best reading decisions I've ever made! I fell in love with Brenda Jackson's writing and I was eager to return back to Catalina Cove to see what more stories this small town by the shore had to tell.

Three years ago, Ashley Ryan's life came to a screeching halt when she lost the love of her life in a tragic accident. While Ashley is not yet ready to leave the past behind, her friends have other ideas and decide that Ashley needs a change in scenery. They send her off on a birthday getaway to a bed and breakfast in Catalina Cove but things become complicated when she comes face to face with the man she thought to be dead. Ray Sullivan has spent the past three years in the quaint town of Catalina Cove with no memory of his previous life. Still holding on to the hope that one day his memory will return, Ray refuses to let himself get involved with anyone in town but his plans of staying single are shot to hell when he meets Ashley. He doesn't know why he feels so drawn to her but he can't stay away and little does he know, Ashley may just be the key to regaining his memory.

When I read Love in Catalina Cove last year, I was so not prepared for all the twists that went down in that book. This time, I went in not knowing what to expect but prepared for whatever Jackson was about to throw my way. Just from the prologue alone, I knew this book was gonna have me in my feelings but I was ready for it. Forget Me Not is an unconventional second-chance romance about loss, hope and the power of true love. I've never read a romance where one of the main characters have amnesia and now I want to read more romances with this trope! I mean, one can fall in love a number of times throughout their life but how often can one say they fell in love with their soulmate twice? I love the progression of the romance and how Jackson took her time in bringing Ashley and Ray back together. Even though Ray can't remember Ashley, that passion is still there and falling back in love was effortless for them. Along with the heartfelt romance were quite a number of unexpected plot twists and boy did these last few chapters have me on edge! Things were really up in the air until the last page but all my stressing out was so worth it in the end.

You know, Ray was kind of a quiet guy in the previous book but he wasn't so quiet in this book. The man has a mouth on him and that mouth had me swooning all over the place in this book! He's such a charmer and I can definitely see why Ashley and the women of Catalina Cove found him to be so irresistible. I absolutely love Ashley! My heart broke watching Ashley struggle with the grief of losing her husband. But the women in this series are strong as hell and once Ashley realized that life had given her a second shot at being with her soulmate again, she fought like hell to make it happen. Even during the moments of uncertainty, Ashley never gave up on Ray because love knows no bounds and she held on to the hope that he would eventually find his way back home to her.

Forget Me Not was an unforgettable romance and by far one of the best second-chance romances I've read in a long time. If you love small town romance and have yet to add this series to your TBR, you need to rectify that ASAP because you're missing out! I am impatiently awaiting the final book in this series because I need to know what the hell is going on between Kaegan and Bryce and hopefully Jackson doesn't keep us waiting too long for these answers.

[Antonella · Rating 4 out of 5]

out of the first three books in this series, this is my favorite
a sweet story with amnesia trope
I didn't mind that the conflict is pretty obvious, maybe hero forgave them all too easily

[Ezi Chinny · Rating 4 out of 5]

❤️❤️❤️❤️½

This story was really sweet. Ashley’s husband Devon and love of her life was presumed “dead” on their six year anniversary. After three years of grieving his death, she sees Devon at vacation resort.

What would you do to get your amnesiac husband back? That was Ashley’s dilemma. I love that she consulted a doctor and cares about his mental health before she embarked on her plan. She talked to the people who now him now as well as his new best friend to make sure she got to know and respected the person he is now. It was written and done well.

I really enjoy the way Brenda Jackson makes her characters so relatable. It feels like you actually know them and they are likable people. I would have loved to know more about the mother daughter relationship as I wanted to understand them more.

Overall, I loved this story!

*Special Thanks to Netgalley for the E-ARC

[Steph's Romance Book Talk · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars / 4 Steam Fans

Welcome back to Catalina Cove!! This story was hinted at in Love in Catalina Cove when you met Ray Sullivan who is a newcomer to Catalina Cove. This story begins by you meeting Ashley and her husband Devon, who are about to celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary until tragedy hits. Fast forward three years and Ashley's friends give her a two week vacation in Catalina Cove to assist her with her grief and a break from her overbearing matchmaking mother. Although this is a romance between a couple it is also a major girl power statement of finding yourself after a tragedy and taking your life back when you thought all was lost. I loved this story although I did find the middle a little slow but I wasn't so put off that I put the book down at any point. I can't WAIT for the third book in this series!!

This specific video review will be included in the February 2019 wrap-up.

For other video book reviews check out my YouTube Channel: Steph's Romance Book Talk.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed most of this book. The sense of place was amazing, the small town felt alive to me and not cookie cutter. I really liked the friendship between the heroine and her business partner, particularly, and I LOVED the heroine's boundaries with her mother. I thought the amnesia stuff was, on the whole, handled very well and I did genuinely believe that they fell in love for the second time, when the hero had none of his previous memories.

The reason I am giving this three stars instead of four, what turned it into a like from a really like, was the ending. For me personally, the reveal that the heroine has known the hero is her dead husband to said dead husband/hero, came far too late in the book (93% on my kindle edition.) That's too late! There's no real time for processing that kind of lie, and it IS a lie, and rather than getting a reaction, the hero just sort of gets over it and then there's an epilogue and they get married again and that makes him get his memories back. For me, that wasn't worthy of the rest of the book, because it felt too easy and the rest of the book had been about how hard it was.

That is not going to stop me from reading the other books in the series, because I think I am very much going to enjoy them.

Read for The Ripped Bodice Bingo 2020 square: I'm on a boat

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG!! This book!! So freaking sweet and swoony and sexy!! That epilogue!!! I was CRYING when I finished it at work!! I was just sooooo happy for them!!!!!

[Octavia · Rating 2 out of 5]

This time, we are back in Catalina Cove, Louisiana with Ashley and her husband. This second time around is a true Slow Burn with much more explosive sexual escapades. However, this read screamed "Melancholy" throughout the majority of the story. And, it felt depressing, at times. Unfortunately, the first part of chapter 34 and the sentimental
"Sunflowers" 🌻 are the only Endearing parts of this book that I enjoyed. Happily, looking forward to the futures of the other residents there in Catalina Cove.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read and loved so many books by Brenda Jackson that I can't entirely remember how many. If I had to guess I'd say I've read over fifty. Once I started reading her new releases and back catalogue of books I was hooked and devoured them. I would read two or three a day if I had the time and inclination. Jackson always pens a beautiful love story that also shows strong familial bonds. Not only are the familial bonds strong, but the friends connected to the family are just as strong.

Forget Me Not is the second book in the Catalina Cove series. I read the first book, Love in Catalina Cove and immediately needed the second book. Book two is about Ashley Ryan who three years ago lost her husband in a car accident. Ashley is struggling to move on with her life and her friends send her on a trip to a Bed and Breakfast in Catalina Cove, Louisiana.

Ashley books a boat tour with Ryan Sullivan who looks a lot like her deceased husband Devon. She can’t believe her eyes, but why doesn’t Devon recognize her? Ryan doesn’t understand why he has such a strong connection with this woman. He has for three years escaped all advances from the women on the cove because he knows he may have a wife and family out there somewhere. He knows he may regain his memory and doesn’t want to lead someone on id he does indeed have another life out there.

This book was so good. Jackson included medical direction on how to deal with allowing Ryan to regain his memory of Ashley without her forcing too much on him too soon. I liked how the new neighbors and friends helped in their union. The book is also atmospheric.

It is an enjoyable read and I can’t wait for the third book Finding Home Again that comes out in October 2019.

Thank you to Harlequin for the advance eArc of this book.

[Andi Jean · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have no idea why there are so many good reviews of this book. There was barely any plot, the characters weren't believable, and all the dialogue was so formal I could barely get through it. Maybe I could believe it if the characters were supposed to be 70 years old, but as 30 year olds I just couldn't believe them.

There was also a lot of repetition of phrases that people don't say often in real life. For example changing the subject of a conversation by saying "And just so you know ..." I wish I had counted how many times it was said. They also changed topics of conversations abruptly all the time. One person would say something and the other person would just completely ignore it and say something unrelated like that is a normal way to talk. It was clearly used to communicate information to a character that they didn't know yet, but was apparently not important enough to have a real conversation about.

The characters also reacted to situations in unbelievable ways. Ray being upset with Ashley when he found out she was his wife. He just figured out his past, there is no way he would be that upset, especially after hearing his doctor told her to do that. Also him thinking she didn't tell him the truth because he was a bad husband and she was trying to take advantage of him, so stupid!

I was also really frustrated when the cousin insisted the dna test was a mistake. I know all my cousins, but if a dna test told me I was related to someone my first reaction would be to figure out how. And if you had a cousin that died (with no body found) 3 years ago and this person told you they had amnesia from 3 years ago don't you think you would put that together?

[Natalya | TheIslandReader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ray Sullivan is a man without a past. Three years ago he woke up in a hospital room with no memory of his life. Through a friendly doctor, he was able to move to the small town of Catalina Cove where he has made a new life for himself, though he is known as a bit of a recluse.
He’s sworn off women because he’s sure he has a wife out there and though there’s no guarantee he will get his memory back if it does happen, he doesn’t want to put either woman in a bad situation.

Enter Ashley Ryan, a woman still grieving the loss of her husband, Devon, three years ago. Her friends have paid for her to take a two week trip to Catalina Cove for some much needed R&R. She’s been running on fumes and shrouded in grief, and the trip is much needed.

While in Catalina Cove, Ashley meets Ray under let’s just say – not the most ideal circumstances. The man known as Ray Sullivan is none other than Devon Ryan, the husband she believed to be dead.

He has no recollection of her and after talking with friends and a doctor, she decides that she’ll spend the summer trying to woo Ray’s heart, all while keeping her true identity from him. The best idea? Absolutely not. I honestly don’t even know how so many people agreed that this would be the best course of action.

The overall pacing of the novel was a bit off for me; the middle dragged on a bit and then the ending seemed rush. I also really didn’t feel any sparks from Ray and Ashley. I kept reading more for the history of both the town and the couple than the actual romance.

While not my favorite, fans of the series may appreciate the latest installment.

** I was given a copy of this book in exchange for a free review.**

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book and a different kind of second chance story. In the prologue, we were introduced to Devon and Ashley, a young couple that was very much in love. They were also professionally driven, determined to have their careers well established before moving on to the next step of expanding their family. I loved the phone conversation between them, as they have succeeded in their five-year plan, and plan to celebrate their anniversary. Close to being stranded by a snowstorm, Devon took the risk of driving to a different airport, hoping to beat the storm out. Unfortunately, his good spirits led him to make a disastrous mistake.

Three years later, Ashley was still grieving Devon's death. She had no interest in being with another man, something that created a great deal of tension with her mother. Ashley's best friends gifted her with two weeks in Catalina Cove for her birthday, the perfect opportunity for Ashley to escape her mother's obnoxious matchmaking attempts. Her life took a bizarre twist when she encountered a man who was a dead ringer for her late husband.

Ray Sullivan made a few brief appearances in the first book, Love in Catalina Cove. He was a quiet man who pretty much kept to himself. Sawyer confided in Vashti that Ray had come to the Cove to start his life over after waking up in the hospital with no memory of his past. Ray was determined to stay away from women, worried that he had a wife and family somewhere, and not wanting to risk hurting two women if his memories returned.

I ached for Ashley during her first encounter with Ray. He rescued her from drowning, and even through her shock, she recognized him immediately as her Devon. She was hurt and confused when it became apparent that he did not remember her. Ray had no idea that he knew her, but he couldn't deny that he was strangely drawn to her. It was sweet to see how he felt he had to stick around and make sure she was okay. Honestly, I was amazed that Ashley didn't blurt out the truth right away in her shock. The scene where she confided in Vashti was emotional, as was seeing Sawyer and Kaegan fill her in on how Ray ended up in Catalina Cove. I loved how she was able to convince them of the truth, and that they were willing to help her. I was a bit leery of the doctor's advice about not telling Ray the truth right away.

I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship between Ashley and Ray. In spite of his attraction, Ray tried to stick to his plan of not becoming involved with Ashley. He tried to convince himself that they could just be friends. That belief didn't make it past his first spontaneous kiss. Ashley's goal was to make Ray fall in love with her all over again, at which point she would confess the truth. As they spent more and more time together, I liked seeing Ray come out of his self-imposed shell. Desperate to get closer to him, Ashley proposed a fling, hoping that the added connection would help get past Ray's walls. Though Ray continued to attempt to deny his feelings, it was clear to the people who knew him that he was falling hard for her. There were some pretty funny conversations between Ray and his friends as they tried to make him admit how he felt. Meanwhile, Ashley spent the time getting to know Ray, who had undergone some changes with the loss of his memory. She couldn't help but compare the two sides of the man she loved, which led to some awkward moments. It was interesting how she began to see Ray as himself, not just a version of Devon. She also suffered some guilty feelings the longer she kept the secret, and I kept waiting to see how it would work out. I ached for Ray and his feelings of betrayal when the truth came out, and for Ashley who feared that she had lost the man she loved all over again. I liked the support that both of them received from their friends, especially Sawyer's and Kaegan's attempts to get through to Ray. The ending was deeply emotional as Ray had to face his fears and insecurities before he could put it all behind him. I liked his big moment with Ashley as he exposed his vulnerability and confessed his feelings. There was a terrific little twist at the end that I'm looking forward to (hopefully) seeing more of in the next book.

As in the first book, I loved the dynamics of the various relationships. This book takes place a year or two after the first book. I enjoyed catching up with Vashti and Sawyer and seeing where they are now. I liked how quickly Ashley became friends with both Vashti and Bryce, both of whom provided support for Ashley as she dealt with the ups and downs of her relationship with Ray. I loved the interactions between Sawyer, Kaegan, and Ray. There were strong friendships that not only provided support in times of trouble but also allowed them to point out idiocy when they saw it. The relationship between Kaegan and Bryce continued to be a puzzle, and I am very curious about how they have reached this point.

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok I really loved this book. It was a sweet and sad story, but also one of hope and love and perseverance. The characters were lovely and it was interesting seeing how Devon changed after his accident. And just wonderful to see how strong Ashley’s love was. All that being said, I was NOT a fan of Ashely’s mother (not that we are supposed to be) and there was one aspect of Ashley’s sexual response that just seemed really...not believable? But overall, a great book.

[Alexia McDuffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

[DeeReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another good read by BJ! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[Helen Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! Ashley is still grieving for her husband she lost three years ago on their five year wedding anniversary in a terrible car accident. Her three best friends know how much she has been suffering and send her on a two week trip to Catalina Cove. Ashley falls in love with the Cove when she arrives there. But she receives an unbelievable shock when a stranger rescues her when she accidentally gets knocked in the water. Ray has been living in Catalina Cove for three years with no memory of his past or who he is. He has made it a point to not become involved with any of the women in town because of not knowing who he is. But the first time he lays eyes on Ashley he is drawn to her and can't understand why that has not happened before. Ashley and Ray begin a very heated and sensual relationship where they can't keep their hands off each other. When the truth about Ray' s identity is revealed everything is up in the air. A wonderful story about putting aside your pain in order to help the one and only person you ever loved.

[The Book Chick · Rating 3 out of 5]

It’s been years since I’ve read Brenda Jackson and one thing I always thought was that she wrote intimacy very well. She also uses a formula for most of her stories, and a lot of the time she uses the same mannerisms and speech patterns for all of her main characters. Years ago, it didn’t bother me, but this story was borderline cringe worthy. I read book one and it was decent, but then this …
I almost couldn’t stomach the entire storyline . It was creepy not clever. The intimacy was so corny that I didn’t even get through most of it . I’m on book 3 now, and so far I think book one is the better of the three , but time will tell .

[Patsy · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorite reads so far this year!

You know a book is good when you can't put it down tho even sleep. After reading the prologue , I was hooked. I can't wait to read the other books in the series.

As a widow,this book melted my heart. Ashley thought she had lost the one man she loved with all her heart. Her mourning and trying to move on, had me in tears. Then receiving the greatest miracle of all, finding him again. Even though Devon didn't remember her, she know the love they shared was still there. Forget Me Not is a Must read! You will not be

[Ariel · Rating 2 out of 5]

To be honest, I did not finish this book. I got about 100 pages in before I skimmed until the end. I LOVED the premise but I felt like everything else was carved of wood. The characters, how they speak, the story, descriptions, everything was clunky. All the characters sounded the same, except for Ray/Devon. Plus, a lot of it was just cheesy as hell. Like a soap opera. Maybe that’s the point?

Anyway, I actually would recommend this book! I think if you like the romance genre, this would be a good fit for you.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forget Me Not is the second book in the Catalina Cove series, but I read these books out of order and had no problems enjoying all these stories. In this story, Ashley Ryan is a widow whose husband died when his car went off a bridge. His body was not found, so when she visits Catalina Cove on a surprise getaway from her friends, she is shocked to find her husband Devon living under the name Ray Sullivan. He has amnesia and does not remember her, but she is sure that their love will help him. After talking to his doctor, she remains in Catalina Cove, but does not tell him who she is. Ray has not wanted to get involved with anyone due to his amnesia, but he doesn't know why he feels so drawn to Ashley. He can't stay away from her and little does he know, Ashley may just be the key to regaining his memory. Will he remember their time together? Will they fall in love again?

This was a sweet romance with a familiar trope of amnesia after an accident. I know you can fall in love a number of times throughout your lifetime, but how often can one say they fell in love with their soulmate twice? I love the progression of the romance and how Jackson took her time in bringing Ashley and Ray back together. I really liked both main characters in this story. Ashley was such a sympathetic character. Her love for Devon/Ray was so beautiful and lasting. She was willing to do whatever it took to bring him back to himself. Ray was the strong, silent type. He thought through what he wanted to say and do, and was definitely a swoon-worthy character. I did enjoy this story with it's familiar characters and setting. I love the strong female characters in this series, the friendships, the emotions and the twists. If you love small town romance and have yet to add this series to your TBR, I recommend you pick them up.

[The Book Junkie Reads . . . · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forget Me Not was an adult romance with two people lost. One lost in grief of the one love of a lifetime. The other was lost in a world that he could not remember. Then life happened again and brought these two together, but with only one remembering whom the other was. This was a test in life and if love can strike twice the same two people. Ashley loved Devon beyond everything in the world. He worked to make her his world. That was until his world was ripped away from him and covered is blackness and lost memories.

Time pass and sometimes the heart does not heal or move forward. Ashley finds that her life has still stood still and there was no real movement forward. Then she meets Ray Sullivan. She finds an undeniable attraction between the two of them. She finds that bond unbreakable and strong. Ray and Ashley find each other and make a way to have more. That is until some true facts come to life and a choice made cannot change a future.

I loved Ashley and Ray. They were adults witt adults problem. This one gave me more drama, intensity, life, heartache, sadness. I could relate to the characters like they were friends.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love second chance stories. Devon /Ray had amnesia and didn't remember Ashley or his past life. What are the odds they would meet years later and fall in love again. Brenda did and excellent job with this story. Looking forward to finding out the story behind Kaegan and Bryce when we visit the Cove again.

[Byron Washington · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmm...👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

Nothing special to be honest. Even the manufacturered angst towards the end of the tale was extremely weak and obvious, as well as being silly AF!!! It's so bad I'm not gonna spoil it for you by detailing it. Remember, I warned you!!😁😁😁

With caveats, buy it, read it and enjoy.👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥👍🏾🔥

[Kalisa Hyman · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF. Too redundant. She’s all, I have to make him fall in love with me without him knowing it and he’s all, I can’t fall in love with her no matter what. No action. Takes place in a Louisiana Gulf town but keeps referring to the “sounds of the ocean.” And a tour of the historic district in “one of those double-decker buses.” Has this author BEEN to Louisiana? Try a “horse-drawn carriage.” Damn.

[nick (the infinite limits of love) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting a book with the amnesia trope. I enjoyed the first book in this series so I thought I'd listen to this one as well. I ended up really enjoying this audiobook. The story was steamier than I anticipated, which no complaints from me!

[Samaya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance is not my favorite genre of book, but I really loved this one! I couldn't stop reading because I had to know at what point, if any Ray would regain his memory. Being romance, the story line was predictable and yet still engrossing. I found myself very drawn to and drawn in by the main characters. Great read!!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you know me at all you will know my feelings on amnesia romances, to which I say: give me all of them please.

[Tee Sims · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this love story.

[Tamecia · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book so far.

[NishTRBG · Rating 4 out of 5]

I meannnnnnn how many times do you read a 2nd chance romance where one person doesn’t remember the other fr 😭😭

[Kia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book.