MEMORIES OF YESTERDAY Duology by Monica James – reviews & giveaway tour

FORGETTING YOU, REMEMBERING ME
(Memories From Yesterday #2)
by Monica James
Release Date: February 28, 2018
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / iBooks /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 28, 2018

The stunning conclusion to this epic love story that began with Forgetting You, Forgetting Me from International Bestselling author, Monica James.

The truth sets you free…but what happens when everything you believe in changes in the blink of an eye?

All I ever wanted was for my fiancé, Samuel Stone, to remember me. And now that he does…all I want is for him to forget. Through tragedy, I found myself and who I was destined to become. But more importantly, I found who I was destined to be with.

With a single word, Saxon Stone changed my life forever. He taught me how to live again. But now that Samuel remembers and all secrets have been revealed, I’m left to wonder which life I’m meant to lead.

Divided by my head and my heart, I’m torn between duty and desire. Samuel is my past while Saxon is my forever. The choice should be easy.

But love never is…

••••••••••••

REVIEW:  FORGETTING YOU, REMEMBERING ME is the second instalment in Monica James’ contemporary, adult MEMORIES FROM YESTERDAY romance duology focusing on Lucy Tucker, and identical twins Samuel and Saxon Stone. FORGETTING YOU, REMEMBERING ME should not be read as a stand alone as it picks up immediately after the events and cliff-hanger of book one FORGETTING YOU, FORGETTING ME.

NOTE: If you have not read book one FORGETTING YOU, FORGETTING ME there may be some spoilers in my review. (see my review below for book one)

Told from first person point of view (Lucy Tucker) FORGETTING YOU, REMEMBERING ME is the continuing story line and love triangle trope focusing on Lucy Tucker, and identical twin brothers Samuel and Saxon Stone. At the end of book one Samuel Stone’s memories return (weeks following a devastating crash) and with it the realization that the woman he loves is in love with someone else. Lucy Tucker, having learned that everything about her life with Samuel was based upon a lie, must face the man she once loved and the truth when his memories return. Falling in love with Saxon Stone meant letting go of the past, but letting go was much harder than anyone could have imagined.

FORGETTING YOU, REMEMBERING ME follows in the aftermath of betrayal, not only between Samuel and Lucy, but Samuel’s betrayal of Lucy and, especially that of his twin brother Saxon. There are so many dysfunctional family issues within the Stone family, the heart break and emotional fall-out is almost cathartic but weighs heavily on everyone involved. Lucy and Saxon’s vulnerability is matched by their strength and resolve; Samuel’s betrayal is matched and propagated by his mother’s inability to love her sons equally and without condemnation.

FORGETTING YOU, REMEMBERING ME is an angst-ridden, emotional and painful story that will suck the life right out of your soul. The story behind the story will break your heart. The love-triangle trope is destructive and continues to read like a YA romance; disaster and devastation follow in the wake of revelations; second chances come with secrets and lies. In the end, the heart knows what it wants, and what it wants is real love and a happily ever after. Here’s hoping the author has plans for those who lost and have none.

Copy supplied for review

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FORGETTING YOU, FORGETTING ME
(Memories From Yesterday #1)
by Monica James
Release Date: June 26, 2017
Genre: adult, contemporary, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date June 26, 2017

My name is Lucy Tucker, and my life…it was perfect.

I worked the dream job. I had the most incredible family and friends. My home, Whispering Willows, a ranch in Montana, was everything I could ever wish for. My adoring fiancé, Samuel Stone, loved me unconditionally.

I had everything a girl could ever want.

But one fateful event shattered my perfect life. It’s unimaginable how simple, ordinary words can change a person’s life forever. For me those words were, “There’s been an accident.”

I thought Sam was my forever, but that forever came to a close the day Saxon Stone, Sam’s identical twin brother, came back. Saxon returned to Montana to help save Sam, however, the moment he entered my life, he turned my world upside down. But through chaos I somehow found clarity—clarity of who I was meant to be.

As time progressed, as seasons changed, and as a fire began to burn, I soon realized that Saxon was there for another reason…he was there to help save me.

••••••••••••

REVIEW: FORGETTING YOU, FORGETTING ME is the first instalment in Monica James’ contemporary, adult MEMORIES FROM YESTERDAY romance series focusing on Lucy Tucker, Sam Stone and Saxon Stone.

Told from first person point of view (Lucy Tucker) using present day and memories from the past, FORGETTING YOU, FORGETTING ME is a love triangle focusing on Lucy Tucker, her fiancé Samuel Stone, and his estranged identical twin brother Saxon. Hours before his wedding to Lucy, Samuel Stone is hit be a drunk driver leaving him comatose and clinging to life. Lucy knows the one person with the ability save the man that she loves is the last man anyone wanted to see. Enter Saxon Stone, Samuel’s twin brother, and the man with whom Lucy will fall in love. What ensues is the growing love between Saxon and Lucy; Samuel’s change in personality as amnesia continues to take hold; and the fall-out when Samuel’s memories comes flooding back.

Lucy Tucker has only ever loved one man-Samuel Stone. From age sixteen forward, the man she knows as her Samuel has been nothing but flirtatious, kind and loving but without his memories of the woman he loves, Samuel is nothing like the man Lucy remembers. Saxton Stone has been estranged from his family for most of his adult life-never good enough, and always second best-Saxon knew when the time was right he would take off to places unknown but a call from his brother’s fiancé finds Saxon returning to the town and the people that did him wrong.

The relationship between Samuel and Lucy is revealed through memories of the past, and the present day anger filled rages of a man who is unable to remember the woman who claims to know him best. Saxon Stone is a man destined for heart break knowing when his brother regains his memories, Saxon will lose everything-all over again. The love-triangle leaves me conflicted as I have a difficult time with this particular trope-someone will love, and everyone gets hurt.

FORGETTING YOU, FOGETTING ME is a contemporary, adult story line that reads more YA (young adult) and NA (new adult) with the aforementioned trope’s love triangle, uncaring parents, and best friend who’s in love with one of the boys. Interesting in its’ concept, the slow build up of Saxon and Lucy’s relationship is heightened with a confession of assured consequences, and a cliff-hanger that is about to break everyone’s heart. The premise is intriguing and emotional; the characters are broken and lost; the romance is a slow burn, forbidden love.

Copy supplied for review

Reviews by Sandy 

Monica James spent her youth devouring the works of Anne Rice, William Shakespeare, and Emily Dickinson.

When she is not writing, Monica is busy running her own business, but she always finds a balance between the two. She enjoys writing honest, heartfelt, and turbulent stories, hoping to leave an imprint on her readers. She draws her inspiration from life.

She is a bestselling author in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Israel, and the U.K.

Monica James resides in Melbourne, Australia, with her wonderful family, and menagerie of animals. She is slightly obsessed with cats, chucks, and lip gloss, and secretly wishes she was a ninja on the weekends.

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NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact ‘A LITERARY PERUSAL’.

RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY

• Colleen Hoover, Title TBA
• Anna Todd, Title TBA 
• Vi Keeland- Sex, Not Love  
• Mia Sheridan- Winner’s choice (Except the Indie of Archer’s Choice) 
• Christina Lauren- Roomies 
• Lexi Ryan- The Wrong Kind of Love 
• S.C. Stephens- Furious Rush & Dangerous Rush 
• Sylvain Reynard – Gabriel’s Inferno
• Monica James- Forgetting You, Remembering Me 

2. Tag some friends who’d be interested in this awesome giveaway.