Memory Lane is Becky Wade's Book One in the Sons of Scandal Romance Series.
Two individuals meet in the most tumultuous of ways when one of them physically rescues the other from drowning. She's the reluctant heroine to his battered hero, and as much as she resents having this gorgeous hunk of damaged man in her space, she takes her detailed care of him very seriously. In the most unlikely of circumstances, she and he both realize he suffers from amnesia, hypothermia, a wound on the back of his head, and some serious bodily injuries causing him considerable pain. She's Remy Reed, a sculptor of wood, and he's – who is he?
The isolated island in Maine where she dwells in her primitive cabin becomes his temporary home for healing. His memories aren't surfacing quickly, and he has no idea how or why he was out there drowning in the ocean while she searches the internet for possible missing persons, all about amnesia, and cracked or broken ribs. He really can't stay with her even though she's surrendered her only bed to him and sleeps on the floor next to him in case he needs her help at night.
Her lobsterwoman friend Leigh is rough around the edges, tough and tender at the same time, and has grown quite sympathetic to the stranger, willing to help however she can. Since there are no grocery stores on this island, she offers to take her boat for supplies. He gives her his extremely expensive watch to pawn to pay for them, having no idea how he came to own it. This is just one more of the many mysteries surrounding the man.
Remy fights all kinds of emotions surrounding her "patient", calls him "Duke" because he acts like one with his "demands" without knowing why. He finds he enjoys hassling her and takes pleasure in her exaggerated frustrations with and responses to him.
Finding out who he is in the most unusual way is a shock to both of them.
Writing a character like Remy is a challenge – at least from this author's point of view, it is. She's a wounded, eccentric young woman who's made a hidden life for herself that doesn't take this intrusion well. It's difficult – at least it is for me – to like her while still being able to realize whatever her past will reveal is probably the deciding factor to whether or not I can warm up to her. Although all of us – even without trauma – often lie to ourselves or fight our feelings or ignore what's been placed right in front of us to do or establish, I don't admire it in myself or others. That's a risk to make your co-main character one of those people who refuses to own up to what they're experiencing when it doesn't coincide with their agendas for their lives. Becky nails this unusual character in all her quirks, quick wit, frustrations, discoveries, and fears.
And needless to say for readers of Becky Wade's romances, the hero in this story is really a mega-hero. His character overshadows any flaws (although it's hard to find any), and what he endures in discovering who he is and what his life has been prior to the accident endears him even further to the reader.
Becky gets romance and she's not afraid to write it. On that point, it's a definitely pure (not graphic) sensual success.
My minor dislike has nothing to do with the story. It's the cover. For me, it doesn't point to the wonderful story inside at all.
Father, you know all about what Becky needs and desires for herself, her family, her career. Please be there for her as always and continue to lead her in everything you have just for her. Bless her and keep her safe from all harm. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
