Evangeline isn't welcomed home with open arms by her family. In fact, her mother flat-out blames her for her father's recent heartattack, resulting in his death. But with a ranch to run and no where else to go -- especially now that the cop who put her away is making her work with him to clear her name and catch the real criminals involved in the wine heist she was pinched for -- Evangeline has no choice but to put up with her family's contempt in an effort to make things right and to move on with her life. Thankfully, Chris (the cop who arrested her) knows she's innocent and will do anything to help her fix her life. Not to mention, he's had a crush on her since before he caught her red-handed. Working together, they'll have to manage their attraction to each other if they want to put the people responsible behind bars and to truly be able to enjoy a future together.

Thoughts: I was intrigued from minute-one. It's not often that a romance novel's female MC is in jail, so Jennifer Ryan had my attention -- and it never wavered. The chemistry between Evangeline and Chris wasn't as hot as it could have been, but the way Chris cares for her kept the romance flowing throughout the story. Chris is a bit overbearing at times, especially considering Evangeline just got out of jail and deserves her freedom, and that part of the story rubbed me wrong. But I loved the family dynamics between Evangeline and her mom and brothers, which really added a lot to the story. Readers will have to suspend their disbelief to thoroughly enjoy this story, but it's worth the read and breaks romance novel tropes that have become too common in today's novels.

**Thank you, NetGalley and publishers, for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.**

I thought this book was ok.. It was well paced and the characters were fully developed. Thank you for letting me read this book.

What a powerful book of strength and resilience! When Evangeline is sent to prison for a crime she did not commit, she took advantage of that time by taking classes. She also learned fast how hard life can be. After her father dies, she is released and, based on the will, Evangeline is expected to make decisions regarding the ranch. Her family treats her like a pariah because they feel she was the cause of his death. When faced with the decision to help catch the real criminals, Evangeline is all in! Ms. Ryan wrote a story that tugs at the heartstrings, mixed with the desire to wrong a right, and romance included. Loved this story! Thank you so Ms. Ryan, William Morrow Publishing, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book. Well worth the read!

When I first started reading, this book really drew me in and I wondered why I had waited so long to pick it up! The synopsis sounded really promising, Evangeline was arrested for a crime she didn't commit and harbors ill-feelings towards the cop who put her away, but now she is released on the condition that she work with him to uncover the true perpetrator of the crime, and in so doing, they discover feelings for each other.

Unfortunately, the book started to fall flat around the 30% mark or so. The biggest thing to me was that the narration was very, very repetitive. It took me a while to get through this book since it kind of lost my interest.

Everything wrapped up pretty neatly and fairly quickly after she got out of prison. Chris really started to bother me also, especially toward the end when Evangeline is having a business meeting and shakes a guy's hand and he gets all sorts of jealous and possessive. Super cringe. Their relationship over all just seemed to move a little too fast and to be a little more on the clingy than sweet side.

Overall, this book was nothing memorable. It was a fine read, and I did enjoy the setting and the descriptions of the Napa Valley. I thought the plot was good, it just seemed like it needed some more editing and some more character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy (please note I did end up reading a finished copy of this for review however); all opinions are my own.

After serving time for a crime she didn’t commit, Evangeline returns home to a host of problems. Her father left her solely responsible for the family’s failing ranch, her mother blames her for her father’s death, and her brothers see her as an obstacle in their way. Her family's future is in her hands, and she has a chance to right past wrongs. Her only champion is Chris Chambers- the cop who sent her away. He's convinced that she took the fall for someone else, and he wants her help to track down the real criminals to clear her record. Can Evangeline find justice and have a chance to rewrite her future?

Evangeline returns to her hometown after serving time for a crime she didn’t commit. Welcomed by some and resented by others, Evangeline’s family has a lot of emotions to work through. An unexpected inheritance and an ongoing criminal investigation make adjusting to life on the outside far more complicated than Evangeline expected. Both the future of her family’s business and the ability to clear her name once and for all, fall heavily on her shoulders. With old enemies and new allies can Evangeline truly move past her history and start a new life?
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Ryan, combines family drama with romance and suspense in a story about starting over. Set in the world of ranches and wineries, The Me I Used to Be demonstrates the danger of secrets and the power of forgiveness.

Evangeline is sure she is going to get turned down for parole but knows she can't spend another day in prison. Just as she is pleading her case in walks her nemesis, Officer Chris Chambers. She finds herself stunned beyond belief by his request to have her paroled to go home due to a family emergency. Evangeline can't believe that the same man who was best friends with her ex is acting as her champion. She barely has time to process her new life of freedom due to her father's sudden death and the family drama that follows.

I can't express how captivated I was by this book really from the beginning. I couldn't believe how it ended up that Evangeline ended up in jail to begin with. The relationship between her and her Mother is stressful to say the least all due to a secret that Evangeline had kept from everyone she loved. Her and Chris suddenly find themselves in a very different relationship than they ever had before and I was ready for it. This was such a unique plot and I could see myself reading it again.

Its the first time I have ready anything from this author and I enjoyed it. I would read more by her.
Its a good romance story with added elements of thriller, crime and drama. I read very quickly which is a good sign.
Evangeline is a strong character, I liked her and felt that she was probably far nicer a person than many would be in the situation.

A recommendable read.

After serving 4 years prison, Evangeline is released from prison for a crime she didn’t commit. She finds life is very different. Her dad passed away days before her release, leaving the faith of the family ranch in her hands. In addition to that, her mother blames her for everything, and her brothers are at odds about the future of the ranch.

Chris was the officer who arrested her those years ago. Now he is responsible for her freedom, offering her the opportunity to finally clear her name. This means getting close to those who played a role is her arrest. As Evangeine works with Chris to clear her name, they find that that there is something special growing between them.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book. The dialogue between the characters flowed seamlessly. There were numerous conflicts; the issue of the family ranch, her relationship with her family, her father’s death, Evangeline attempting to clear her name, and the potential of romance with Chris. Yet, it all flowed smoothly without feeling like there is too much happening. Evangeline is an incredibly likeable character. She is tough, loves her family despite how they felt her about, and resilient.

Thanks to netgalley for this read. I would definitely recommend.

I received this book "The Me I Used to Be" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. I liked this book and wanted to find out more about why Evangeline was in prison for something she didn't do. You really felt bad for her and even after she got out - what she had to go through. You really know what is going to happen with the love story part - kind of predictable. The end seemed a bit rushed to me. Overall good book.

Rated 4.5 - THE ME I USED TO BE by Jennifer Ryan is a breath of fresh air for romance readers in need of the unusual mixed with the unexpected.

Anyone who follows my reviews understands I’m an eclectic reader, but do you know that my core prefers romance? Not the same-old-same-old we’ve come to expect. There is a formula romance authors follow to give us what we want. Romance readers don’t always like it when an author meanders away from that formula. I do – I want the unusual and unexpected.

THE ME I USED TO BE is the perfect example of an author who takes a risk that pays off in an excellent story.

This novel begins on the day Evangeline Austen is released from prison. The first lines in this story set the stage for an emotional, and sometimes shocking, story. We know Evangeline is covering for someone, but who? And who is this cop who thinks he’ll bribe her with her freedom to tell him the truth? Surely, Lieutenant Chris Chambers is NOT the hero of this possible love story?

Evangeline is a sympathetic heroine but she’s not a wimp. Prison taught her to trust no one except herself. She’s scarred on the outside, as much as the inside, from her experience. But she made good use of her four years behind bars by earning a college degree she can use to turn her life around.

Evangeline returns home amidst turmoil. Her father died. The remaining family feels that her imprisonment, and refusal to see her father, is the cause. The family business is in trouble. This is where she has to live until parole allows something else. Can she make it on the outside?

THE ME I USED TO BE is very addictive. One shocking thing after another happens to make Evangeline’s world impossible for most people. But that’s where her strength proves to be essential. If they’re going to get out of this mess as a loving family, Evangeline needs to use her gifts to their best advantage.

It was hard for me to imagine that Chris would ever turn out to be a believable hero. He is tough, but he has a soft spot for Evangeline. I couldn’t figure out why, at first, but once I did, then I understood how this was meant to be.

That doesn’t mean this story is easy. Far from it. What it does mean is that author Jennifer Ryan is a gifted storyteller. She made me believe what I never thought possible.

Did I love everything and the way it was done in this book? Of course, not – I’m a Romantic Suspense (RS) critic who is always looking for that perfect style I crave. I didn’t love everything about the RS portion. Some of you will absolutely love it. I also didn’t like how some of the bad guy stuff caused more bad things to happen to more good people. But it had to be that way for this plot to work.

The part I disliked the most was the quick-fall-into-love section, while fighting the bad guys with the man who put the girl in jail. That’s a bit tough to swallow. Oh, I get it that Chris is one gorgeous, sexy, hard-to-resist cop. I melted into a puddle, too. He came off as a bit of a bad-ass as well. I felt their romance needed more backstory. Or maybe more time alone to simmer. It seemed to come about too quickly. And, then there were a couple TSTL moments from our heroine while in the danger-zone. Those always annoy me, but that’s part of that cranky RS reader again.

But – I forgave all that because I loved how the plot concluded. I really enjoyed how Evangeline used her empowerment as a smart, educated woman to resolve her family’s business issues. I was thrilled that she didn’t wallow in self-pity, which she had every right to do.

This woman went through four years in jail – fighting, literally, to survive something she didn’t deserve. As a young woman, she earned mental and physical scars most of us will never experience in a lifetime. That survival empowered her to become the “me” she needed to be. This is her journey and the bulk of the book is dedicated to her story.

That means that the romance takes a back seat until the last quarter of the book. Then it’s fast and furious, so much so that I wasn’t sure I’d believe it. But by the end, I was completely convinced and cheering her on.

The novel got too wordy about feelings and thoughts toward the end. I was ready for the conclusion, so I did speed read through some of that.

This is me as a cranky Romantic Suspense reader. I love them and hate them. It’s a tug of war most authors don’t win with me. Jennifer Ryan is a winner! I expected a lot from what I’d heard about her books, so I’m thrilled I chose this standalone title as my sample.

It’s really hard to categorize this book into a sub-genre of fiction because it’s so unusual. It does have some RS techniques, but it’s not typical. It leans heavily in the contemporary women’s fiction direction without the small-town connotations, with a good crime subplot. I can’t say much more than that because to appreciate this book, you really need to experience it for yourself.

THE ME I USED TO BE is full of surprises, including the very sweet ending. If you want different, and LOVE heartbreaking stories that make you smile in the end, give THE ME I USED TO BE a few hours of your time. I hope you’ll appreciate all its nuances like I did. With an almost 5 rating, I can’t wait for Jennifer Ryan’s next foray into the unusual.

Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com.

I loved this book! I’m so happy that everything worked out for Evangeline. This is a story of love, loss, family, trust, and overcoming your past mistakes, even if they aren’t your mistakes to overcome. I’m so glad the truth came out and Evangeline was forgiven, loved, and accepted.

Posted on Goodreads.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was another quick read for me. It was a simple book with really no life changing or impactful sayings.
In fact there was sometimes to many words to the point where I would skim over some of the descriptions of how Evangeline felt. But it did hold my attention enough that I was able to finish in one day.

The book however was wrapped up too easily. Evangeline had been in jail for a crime she didn't commit and even though her life wasn't the same once she was released, everything worked out in the end which is unrealistic to me. Her family eventually came around, she fell in love and to me it all seemed to be wrapped up in a little bow which sort of irked me.
Don't get me wrong, I liked the book, but this may just be a one time read for me

This book is weird. The girl gets out of prison and has to prove to her family that she shouldn’t have gone to precision. Things exclaste from there.

This is my first book by Jennifer Ryan, and I didn't realize that she was a romance author. I'm not a big fan of the romance genre usually, but I enjoyed this book for the most part. Actually, the first 2/3 of the book I really enjoyed. Partly because it takes place in the Napa Valley, which is not far from where I live, and they own a ranch, which is a dream of mine. I also liked Evangeline's story: where she had been and what happened to her. What I didn't like was as the book moved toward the end, it was really sappy and not my cup of (unsweetened) tea at all, but I am sure that a lot of people will love that part ;)

I received an ARC from Harper Collins via NetGalley.

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

What a great read. The characters were believable and it was a good story about family secrets and how it can destroy lives. Couldn’t wait to find out if lives got repaired or spiraled out of control in a bad way.

I was drawn to the premise of this book, but I found the writing formulaic with too many solutions coming too suddenly and easily. The writing seemed uneven causing real interest for a while and then dropping off.

3.5 stars

You can read all of my reviews at https://www.NerdGirlLovesBooks.com.

This was a fun, quick contemporary romance book.

I normally don't read romance books, but every once in awhile I like to read a light, fluffy book as a palate cleanser. I don't have anything against them, I just like big epic fantasy series and mystery/thrillers more.

Evangeline Austen is a young woman that served time in prison for a crime she didn't commit. It didn't help matters that she refused to defend herself or talk about the crime. After being released, Evangeline faces a family that blames her for her father's death and just wants her to disappear. But fate has placed the responsibility of the future of the family ranch on her young shoulders. As if that isn't enough, in order to expunge her record, she must cooperate with the police on a risky mission to bring down a crime ring. Of course, this wouldn't be a romance novel without a hunky man for Evangeline to fall in love with. In this book, it comes in the form of Lt. Chris Chambers, the police officer that arrested her and is making her to help with the investigation of the crime ring.

This was a fun, quick read. As with most romance novels, you have to suspend disbelief and just go with the flow of the story. The characters were likable and the story was light and fun to read. If you're looking for a fun, easy read, this is the book for you. I would read more books from this author.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 stars. This was so terrific! The first part was a family story, focusing on Evangeline's return home from prison and her family's treatment of her (which was atrocious). The second part focuses on righting the wrong of her prison sentence by finding evidence against those who were really responsible. Then the final part is dealing with the fall out of everything - the family stuff, the criminal stuff, the romantic stuff, and Evangeline determining who she wants to be in this new stage of her life after so much trauma. And all of it was terrific! Don't miss this one (Language, sex)