Amnesia romance narrative? Sold. I love the possibilities of what it allows the romance genre to explore: how the familiar is skewed for the character without memory, how it is anchored for those who are possessed of memory and how the twain can’t meet. And I’d read and enjoyed Becky Wade in the past. Much of what I enjoyed then is still present and something more besides: as Wade is no longer under the constraints of traditional Christian publishers, she includes narrative elements worth exploring, make for something deeper, more real, and interesting. But there are also losses, all of which I’ll discuss by and by. For now, the blurb to help orient us with some detail:

After surviving a trauma several years back, Remy Reed relocated to a cottage on one of Maine’s most remote islands. She’s arranged her life just the way she wants it, spending her time working on her wood sculptures and soaking in the beauty of nature. It’s quiet and solitary—until the day she spots something bobbing in the ocean.

Her binoculars reveal the “something” to be a man, and he’s struggling to keep his head above water. She races out to save him and brings him into her home. He’s injured, which doesn’t detract from his handsomeness nor make him any easier to bear. He acts like a duke who’s misplaced his dukedom . . . expensive tastes, lazy charm, bossy ideas.

Remy would love nothing more than to return him to his people, but he has no recollection of his life prior to the moment she rescued him. Though she’s not interested in relationships other than the safe ones she’s already established, she begins to realize that he’s coming to depend on her. Who is he? What happened that landed him in the Atlantic Ocean? And why is she drawn to him more and more as time goes by? There’s no way to discover those answers except to walk beside him down memory lane.

I absolutely loved Memory Lane‘s first third, not that I didn’t enjoy the rest, but this was the no-identity-amnesia part AND it was forced proximity and it had BANTER between a privileged, memory-less dukely-behaving hero and a sarcastic, down-to-earth, buttoned-up heroine. What more could a romance reader ask for? I don’t want to make it sound as if the all the delights of Remy and “Jonah’s” (so dubbed, until his identity is revealed, because he was “spit” out of the ocean) exchanges end with the first third, by no means; they are as delightful and fun at the end as they are at the start. (Wade can do witty and fun as much as she can do serious.) Note this exchange between Remy and “Jonah” when “Jonah’s” family claims him and he and Remy make their way to his house:

“A fitting home for a duke,” she remarked. “Is there a pond thereby? If so, all that’s missing is for you to dive into it wearing breeches and a white shirt.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“That’s a Mr. Darcy reference.”

“I’m proud to say I don’t get it.”

And this is only one of many sharp little Remy-“Jonah” exchanges. Even when “Jonah” realizes he’s smitten with Remy, as he tries to convince her they should be together, their conversations remain infused with fun references and gentle sparring. Remy’s reasons are deep and interesting for her “Jonah” resistance, thanks to Wade’s breaking free of certain inspie romance “taboos”, but they are also delightfully fun because of Remy and Jonah’s “opposites-attract” conceit.

Despite Wade’s Pride and Prejudice reference in the above exchange, Memory Lane is more Jane Eyre than P&P. There is, we discover as “Jonah’s” life is revealed, an OW and she has all the traits of the worst vintage romance. The OW is also bound up with a mystery-suspense plot which makes for an introduction to sequel-bait hero Jude, “Jonah’s” brother. There are also TWO secondary romances and a massive backstory to Remy…frankly, I was exhausted by it all. Were it not for Wade’s ability, as I gushed above, for witty banter and lovable protagonists, I would have abandoned what is, at BEST, uneven plotting and bloated narrative. A more able editing hand would have made for a better, tighter romance…sans reader skimming. Should you read it? Surely for Remy and “Jonah” and their heart-warming, well-deserved journey to the HEA, but be warned, “skimming” the bloated bits will happen. Will I read the next “sons of scandal”, Jude’s story? I will, but I’ll be hoping for a good “skim” off the top of the narrative dross.

(This is still an inspirational romance, with “Jonah”‘s faith contrasted to Remy’s “abandonment” by God and there is a conversion, but the faith element takes up only a minimal portion of page count.)

Becky Wade’s self-published Memory Lane released on Valentine’s Day of this year. I received an e-ARC from the author, via Netgalley, for the purpose of writing this review, and which does not influence my opinion.

Warning: This book does deal with a sensitive subject. It is not overly done and I did not feel uncomfortable when reading about it.

That being said, this was a very cute book. I really truly felt for Remy and what she had been through in the past but I also wanted to smack her and tell to just move on with her life. But I can only imagine how hard, difficult and paralyzing her struggle would be. Jonah was so cute and so sweet. Arrogant maybe and spoiled maybe, but I love how he dealt with his situation. I love the amnesia trope so much and the whole situation they were both it. If you don’t mind reading about hard things that people have ti deal with in life, then go read this book. You will not be disappointed.

*I received a copy of this book as an ARC reviewer, but a positive review wasn’t required. All thoughts are solely what I personally thought of this beautiful book.

This is the first book I have read by Becky Wade and it most certainly won't be my last! Memory Lane was more than just a romance. It had elements of mystery and real-life struggles such as grief, family dynamics, trauma, and more. I also enjoyed how she built a strong story around the characters that made you want more...because guess what, this is a series! Overall, I really enjoyed this book and found myself thinking about it days after I was done.

See Instagram post for a full review including synopsis and age rating.

3.5 ⭐️
I loved the hate to love in this book. Loved the chemistry they had and I loved the I guessed the whodoneit correctly!
The side stories kind of threw me off and I sort of pushed me out of the story unfortunately.

'Memory Lane' was a good book. It was not the gushy, mushy rom-com that I had expected. Instead, it had intrigue, grit & a thriller-come-romance vibe that I totally dug.

Whilst the start was a little slow & mildly confusing, the story really got into the swing of things & it quickly became a book that was hard to put down.

It had deep layers to it too, that mostly came together & were tied up with a neat bow at the climax. & I say "mostly" because I'll have to read book 2 to get the next steps/endings for those bits that didn’t.

'Memory Lane' was enjoyable & satisfying & I'm excited to read more from Becky Wade!

Thank you to NetGalley, Becky Wade & Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for allowing me to read & review the ARC of 'Memory Lane'; all views are honest & my own.

Memory Lane has the fun banter that makes it a fun romcom, but it has a more serious side than most in its genre. It's the first book that Becky Wade has published independently and she nailed it.
The setting is one of my favorites-Maine on an island. Remy is an artist who likes her quiet life in her very small village and is quite content. She spies a man drowning and upon rescuing him, helps him recuperate in her home.
Jonah (name they give him) slowly gets physically better, but has amnesia with no clue to his true life. His tastes seem to show that he was from a rich background. Slowly, his identity and true life come back to him after a series of events making him leave the island. He falls in love with Remy, but they both need to learn to trust and let go of past hurts.
I am looking forward to book 2 in this series. I love that the author included a mystery in this storyline along with the romance and banter. Becky Wade readers and new readers to her will love her latest novel.
I received a complimentary copy of Memory Lane, but all opinions are my own.

Memory Lane is a contemporary romance/mystery written by Becky Wade. It is book one in the Sons of Scandal series.

Summary: Remy Reed feels most comfortable all alone in her cabin-just her and her art.

But when she spies a man floating helplessly in the ocean not far from her home, she drops everything to rescue him.

The only problem is…he has no idea who he is.

As the man recovers from his wounds, Remy wants nothing more but to get him out of her house, and back to where he belongs.

Can she figure out the mystery behind the man? And why is she starting to feel a twinge of sadness that if she does solve all of the questions, she may never see him again?

My Thoughts: This book is great. It has a unique premise, lots of quirky and fun characters, a nice romance, and a really good mystery besides.

This is a perfect easy read and would make a great addition to any library or as a gift for a friend. I definitely recommend it!

I would like to thank Victory Editing for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

nothing memorable about this romance novel. the characters seemed dull and the plot wasn't my favorite.

This book was not what I expected, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I figured it would be mainly about a hero and heroine, navigating amnesia and difficulties as they fell in love, which does definitely occur, but with so much more in between. I didn’t expect to get sucked into the mystery, so many different characters’ points of view, and so many intricate side stories within the story. There was grief and loss, trauma and healing, murder and mystery, and so much more. I had a hard time really connecting to the characters at times though- often I felt like the story was “told” instead of “felt”, you know? There were also many unexpected Christian elements. Overall, a good story with a twist at the end that I did NOT see coming!

As always, Becky Wade delivers in Memory Lane a memorable contemporary romance with a bit of mystery and a whole lot of heart. When Remy rescues a man from the ocean, her isolated, protected existence on a remote island off the coast of Maine comes crashing down. Despite the disruption to her life and routine, she’s determined to solve the mystery, even though her handsome, injured houseguest drives her crazy! Nothing is quite as it seems as they work together to recover his missing memories and piece together his life.

I loved every moment I spent completely absorbed in this story. I spent the whole time invested in finding out what actually happened to our hero and trying to solve the other puzzles, along with loving the chemistry and back and forth between him and Remy. I especially loved how sweet he was with her, meeting her where she was and giving her time, space, and support to show his love. This seemingly opposite couple couldn’t be more perfect for one another. Both made mistakes, but were able to overcome them in pursuit of happy ever after.

I also loved how both were restored in their faith as the story progressed as well. You can always rely on Becky Wade’s stories to have a solid faith element amidst the romance and mystery. As a side note, I loved Wendell and his whole storyline and I can’t wait for book 2 - Jude’s story sounds like so much fun!

I received an advance copy of this story from NetGalley to read and review. I was not asked to leave a positive review and my opinions are completely my own. I also purchased my own paperback copy because it’s that good- I plan to reread it in the future!

I loved the mystery. The cast of the book was endearing. I couldn't believe who the culprit was in the end. It was an enjoyable read. The only beef I have is the cover. I miss the old Becky Wade book covers.

Also, I felt the book had faith elements only sprinkled as an afterthought. I kept waiting for that moment when there'd be a revelation of God, his love and his truth. I had to make do with Wendell's encouragement to Remy.

To me, this was a beautiful novel about Christian characters, not Christian fiction.

DNF at 52% - I don't usually love the amnesia trope but figured I'd give this a try since I've enjoyed Becky's books in the past. Contrary to the adorable cover, this book is not light and fun. It deals with some really heavy themes and should come with a content warning (distinct and fairly specific description of a previous sexual assault). This really made it hard for me to even want to continue reading Remy and Jeremiah's story as it left me feeling physically ill. Even before this scene, I really struggled to connect to either main character. This was not the book for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for my complimentary e-arc of this book.

A shipwrecked amnesiac is rescued by a quiet, keeps-to-herself woodworker in this new romance from Becky Wade. Sounds like a recipe for romance… or maybe just trouble. There’s something sinister lurking behind the amnesia, and the quiet woodworker has more secrets than she lets on. Are these two meant for each other, or just in the wrong place at the wrong time?

This story is intriguing and there is mystery layered on mystery with a layer of romance on top. I kept trying to piece together clues and arrive at a convincing conclusion, but my detective skills weren’t up to the task of unraveling the delicate strings Wade tied together. This book has a lot of cute moments, a lot of confusing emotions, and a whole lot of mystery and drama. (What else would you expect from the first book in a series called “Sons of Scandal”?)

That being said, sometimes I felt a little overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of everything that is happening in this book. In places, it didn’t feel like a cohesive story as more and more details were added … to all the different parts; I started to feel at times like I was reading two separate books that had been meshed into one. Wade goes into incredible detail in her writing, and her characters are very introspective. However, this sometimes weighs the story down. When I was getting in the groove of the two main characters, suddenly I was in a chapter with a whole different character talking about themselves and their own issues.

Overall, the individual pieces of this story had me hooked, but as a whole they were a little overwhelming.

Memory Lane by Becky Wade is a cozy romantic mystery. The way she develops the characters throughout is exquisite. For me, Memory Lane felt like I was reading multiple romance plots in one book without overcomplicating or muddying the storylines. I was intrigued by Remmy and the trauma she endured. Her story of romance after sexual assault was not only relatable but eye-opening. Jonah was hard to like. But the tension between Jonah and Remmy was hilarious and greatly understood later in the book. The ending came very quickly. But, the build-up to the plot twist was remarkable. I feel like examining each character gives you different qualities and stories to love. Each character has their own story within. Becky Wade is a wonderful author and I'm excited to read more from her. Thank you to NetGalley for sending this book.

I really enjoyed this story so much. I enjoyed the characters banter with each other as well. I loved the HEA at the end. This is my first book to read by this author and I will look for more of her books to read in the future. This book will go on my keeper shelf. I read this book on NetGalley.

Sweet story about finding oneself and God

I loved the mystery element that was intertwined with the beautiful themes of finding oneself and finding God. Amnesia was an interesting plot device and was done in a realistic manner (it didn't seem contrived). Remy had such an interesting and unique career, as did Jeremiah. It was fascinating to learn about life on a remote island in Maine.

It was fun to see Jeremiah and Remy interact with the people in their lives, particularly Wendell and Leigh. I loved the juxtaposition of Jeremiah and Jude. I can't wait for Jude's book!

Rape is mentioned. The author handles the after effects tactfully, but in a way that is also true to the character. Between this and talk of suicide/murder, and thematic violence, I would rate this PG-13. The romance was sweet.

I have recently finished Becky Wade's new book Memory Lane and what a book it was. It was my first book by this author and it definitely will not be my last, I can't wait for the rest of the series.
Memory Lane is jammed with so many emotions for both main characters Remy and the handsome leading man (I wont spoil it by giving his name, just know it is part of the plot) The way the characters have been written and the emotions they go through really do pull at your heart strings and you are drawn into laughing with them, crying with them and also wanting to find out just what actually happens in the events in their lives that make them who they are.
I also really enjoyed the emotions you see in the side characters like Jude, He is definitely a strong male lead character who I cant wait to know more about. Wendell is just adorable and Fiona is also one of those characters you want to know more about what is her back story what will her future be.
Throughout the book the romance and tension between the two main characters was lovely to read, it was clean it was sensitive but the way it was written brought the chemistry off the page.
There was faith in this book which was good to read about but I feel this could have been explored more. Never the less I loved this book and would highly recommend.

After reading so many thrillers here lately, it was great to pick up "Memory Lane" for some easy, light reading.

I was not expecting this to turn into a murder mystery! But in true Becky Wade form, there were surprises! Remy rescues Jeremiah from the waves just off the coast of her island home. He disrupts her carefully planned life in the best possible way!

I really enjoyed the characters, and loved watching them both reach for a better version of themselves in this story! There are some heavy topics (rape, murder, adultery) that really weighed this story down. With that cute cartoony cover, I expected the story to be lighter.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and would definitely look for book two when it comes out!

I received a free eARC from #netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The book was slow to build up. I liked the secluded island setting and the relationships the main characters has with her fellow islanders. I would recommend this to a friend.