Before We Were Us

BEFORE WE WERE US by DENISE HUNTER is a beautifully written love story that takes place in the wilds of New Hampshire at the lovely Pinehaven resort.
Tammy and Tom Landry, who own the resort, employ Lauren Wentworth to help their son Jonah run the place while they slow down due to Tom’s health. Jonah is finishing his degree before taking over the resort from his parents and Lauren is filling in the time and gaining experience before she stsrts her dream job in Boston in January.
They fall in love, after a bad start in their relationship, and all is going well until Lauren falls off a ladder onto her head and suffers from amnesia…….
I like the way the author shows how Lauren’s abandonment by her mother affects her emotions and how Jonah understands her and is desperate for her memory of their summer romance to return……..
Before We Were Us has all you need in a romance novel. There is depth of feeling, unrequited love, anger and hurt and also unconditonal love.
I highly recommend the novel as a great read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Thomas Nelson. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

After putting herself through college, Lauren’s dream job as a corporate meeting manager at one of the most prestigious companies in Boston is within her reach. She first has to gain some experience at a rural family-owned resort where one can rent a cabin in the woods of New Hampshire. The Pinehaven Resort had been in the Landry family for several generations.
The owner’s son, Jonah and Lauren have become close over the months they have been working together. She is surprised she is actually enjoying herself, especially the company of Jonah. While describing her idea of converting an old barn into a wedding destination, Lauren falls off a ladder and is rushed to the hospital. Although Lauren recovers from her injuries, she has lost all memory of the last four months, including the growing relationship with Jonah. As she gets back into her work, she decides she doesn’t want to remember, and now is only interested in finishing her time there and moving back to Boston.
Jonah, however, is heartbroken about the state of their relationship, which is pretty much non-existent. He makes every effort to rekindle the friendship and love they had before she lost her memory. Slowly things improved, however, the move back to Boston gets closer every day.
As I read this charming, engaging story, the characters, the cabins, and even Graham the dog, came alive in my imagination. Not only did the story draw me in, the descriptions are vivid, characters are lovable and relatable. Although my heart hurt along with Jonah’s, I had great sympathy for the situation Lauren found herself in. I nearly read it straight through; just couldn’t put it down.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.

This isn't my usual read but I was intrigued and it didn't disappoint. Seeing the accident have a toll on Lauren and Jonah was very hard but it showed how we can go through challenges that can make or break us. Beautiful read overall.

This is a wonderful love story. Lauren and Jonah meet and have a not great relationship until they do. After an accident, Lauren does not remember that she is in love with Jonah. She is shocked that she gave up her "dream job" to stay in NH and takes it out on Jonah. Bless his patience and love. This is a heartfelt love story and I highly recommend it. I was given an advanced reader copy and this is my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this emotional amnesia story from Denise Hunter. The characters are great, the setting makes me want to go to New Hampshire, and the plot twists add a lot. There are fun, humorous incidents interspersed with the discouraging times. And then there’s the dog!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." #BeforeWeWereUs #NetGalley

This was such a heartwarming read. I fell in love with the characters, the setting, all of it. The writing was superb!! I can't believe I've never read anything from this author previously. She has such a beautiful way of weaving a story, and I love reading about places l've been to (New Hampshire, White Mountains etc), it makes me feel more immersed in the setting. If you are looking for a sweet, non spicy romance this one is definitely for you!
Thanks to NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Denise Hunter is one of three authors that try to read every book they write. Denise’s latest book,“Before we were us”, is another of her’s that I will read again and again. Through the years I have read several books from other authors where someone loses their memory, but this is entirely different from any I have read.

One of the main character, Lauren, has a chance to have a dream job in event planning. The requirement is that she works first at a family-owned resort to get experience. Here she meets Jonah, the future owner and her boss. She is not impressed with him. Her opinion changes through the summer and eventually grows into love. It all changed in a moment. As she was climbing down a ladder, she fell and hit her head. She lost her memory of the last four months.
The last she remembered she didn’t like Jonah and surely not love him. This is a story of second chances. Can he win her heart again or will she take that dream job in another city?

Loved the book and highly recommend it. "I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

I have very high expectations & standards when it comes to a romance/love story. Denise Hunter is a new author to me & she exceeded my expectations with Before We Were Us. This book is beautifully written, well developed characters, and has the ability to evoke very intense emotions while reading it. Hunter will break your heart, numerous times throughout this book, but manages to piece it back together just as many times. If you want a book to make you ugly cry, in a good way, this is the one for you~

Thank you NetGalley & Thomas Nelson Fiction for an ARC copy of this book.

This was òne of my favorite Denise Hunter books so far! It had all the healing and sweet romance that made for a perfect read. Loved both of the main characters and the location...let's just say I'd love to spend a summer there in New Hampshire with the Landry family. Highly recommended!

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 Our memories are an integral part of who we are. I remember when my mom had to have 9-hour brain surgery, she told the doctor to stop the surgery if she started to lose her long-term memory. The team interviewed her to get to know her so they could assess this as they progressed through the surgery in which she remained awake. What happens to us when they disappear into thin air?

There was so much hope for the future…what if you woke up and could not remember any of it? When Lauren falls from the ladder in the hayloft, her whole world as she knew it disappears. Before We Were Us is an exquisitely written novel that perfectly balances the whole range of emotions that make us vulnerable humans. This heartfelt tale will have you feeling all the feelings and contemplating life.

Review is posted on Goodreads and the final review will be posted on instagram ahead of the publication date.

Before We Were US by Denise Hunter is a heartwarming romance that I could not put down. Lauren Wentworth and Jonah Landry were in love and the future looked bright to them until Lauren had an accident and she did not remember falling in love with him. When they first met they got off to a rocky start because Jonah had been hurt by a previous relationship and Lauren reminded him of her. They quickly because friends and then fell in love. The story alternates between the time before the accident and the present day. She wakes up after the accident and all she remembers is what it was like before she fell in love with him. Jonah is patient, kind and willing to give her space. He keeps hoping that she will remember the love they shared. This book kept me engaged. Will she remember or will she fall in love with him again? I loved it that he was willing to let her go. I loved that his family was very supportive of him. I love all the characters that Denise Hunter creates.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I really enjoyed reading this book, it had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed from the romance novel. It had that element that I wanted and enjoyed the overall concept. Denise Hunter has a great writing style and I enjoyed how good everything worked. It left me wanting to read more and I enjoyed what was going on.

Let me first say that I have read every book Denise Hunter has ever written, and I will continue to do so. Forever. She is my go-to for a great romance that tugs the heart strings or sob quietly into my kleenex (because we don't have handkerchiefs anymore). Denise Hunter has written many novels, but I believe this one might be her best yet! What a wonderful story! An excellent romance by one of the top Christian contemporary authors, but I think anyone regardless of religion would enjoy the deep romance and well-plotted love story. Wonderful, captivating writing gives this novel the depth and ability to pull in any reader. Vivid, descriptive story-telling, with interesting characters that have depth to them, and are skillfully rendered. At the end of the book, they seemed more like friends than book characters to me. I highly recommend this author and all of her other books I have read have been nothing less than fantastic. She is definitely an auto-buy author for me, and I can't wait to own this novel in print. And yes, I had tears in my eyes several times - but good tears :)

This is a great read!
Love is much more than a feeling. It is a commitment and sometimes means we need to let go.
A freak accident, lost memory, and a love so true are intertwined in this romantic read.
The characters are well developed.
Your heart might ache while you read, but this story is well worth your time.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Charming and heartwarming. I fell in love with everything about this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Before We Were Us by Denise Hunter is a beautiful story of finding your way back to love. Lauren wakes up from a fall only to discover that several months of her life are missing from her memory. In those memories is her falling in love with Jonah, the man that she once couldn't stand. In Lauren's new reality she one again can't stand Jonah and can't comprehend what could've possibly changed in order for her to fall in love with him. Jonah has to use great amounts of patience to show Lauren why she fell in love with him the first time.
This is a lovely story that would make a great Hallmark film. The characters are written well and the flashback scenes are integrated well to give you some back story.

Before We Were Us has an idyllic setting and wonderful characters. It’s a heartwarming and emotional love story about the fear and frustrating of overcoming adversity and moving forward, and of not giving up.

I really enjoyed this sweet, but at times heartbreaking, romance! On the day Jonah was going to propose, Lauren falls and loses her memories of the last 4 months of falling in love with him! Jonah’s patience and unconditional love are really put to the test and she just puts more distance between them, even as they work together! The reader is on pins and needles as we read with intense emotions. Will she ever remember? Can he ever forget? Character development is great. I love this author's books! Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. My review is my own personal opinion.

Another novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I simply couldn't put it down.
I loved the quirky characters and they eventually became my friends. I really hated to say goodbye to them.
I highly recommend! 5 stars for an engaging novel
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

I always love Denise Hunter! This book was super! I cannot imagine what life would be like to lose a part of your memory. Lauren lost not only her memory, but a very significant part of her relationship with Jonah. He has amazing patience with her and lets her find her own way. First impressions aren't always what they seem. Luckily they get beyond it, not once but twice!