After reading the synopsis for this book, I couldn’t wait to read this book. I guess Toni’s books are just not for me. I did like some parts of the books. But the pace of the story really made it hard for me to read this book that I soon lost interest.

Thank you for the opportunity to read and review The Love We Keep by Toni Blake. I enjoyed the story.

**A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review**

<b>The Good</b>
* I liked the beginning of the romance. The situation the characters are forced into creates an intimacy that is sometimes hard to find in some romances. There was some great chemistry between the two.
* The characters had very human thoughts and feelings.

<b>The Not So Bad</b>
*Once the two main characters get together the romance loses its charm. It just gets a little bland and veers into insta-love territory.

<b>The Ugly</b>
* Every single character is toxic. I found them all to be terribly selfish and dull. They never think of anyone but themselves and lack any personality. There is just no layers to them.
* The flashbacks were not needed and not enjoyable to me. I ended up skipping them.

As a fan of Toni’s books for many years, I always have some pretty high expectations with her. I’ve noticed that her books have taken a bit of a different approach. In some of her other books, she used to have a small-town sexy vibe to them. But in the Summer Island books, it’s really more about the heart and emotions.

THE LOVE WE KEEP takes a much slower approach that burns brightly. It contains quite a lot of heartbreak and emotions, delving deep into the characters and their stories. The romance almost acts like a healing agent, sealing old wounds close and giving the characters a new chance at life. If you prefer more character-driven novels like I do, then I think you’ll absolutely love this series. Deeply rooted in emotion, THE LOVE WE KEEP will definitely give you the feels.

This is book 3 in the Summer Island series and while it can be read as a stand alone, it has some complicated relationship patterns. Suzanne is looking forward to quite and peace for the winter. The last ferry is about to run and she has no plans. Until, Zack falls down his steps and injures his back. With his Aunt traveling and his ex-girlfriend living with her new boyfriend it falls on Suzanne to nurse him back to health. Romance develops but not without some drama. I can only imagine what life must be like on an isolated island but good friends and neighbors are a must. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

As a fan of Toni’s books for many years, I always have some pretty high expectations with her. I’ve noticed that her books have taken a bit of a different approach. In some of her other books, she used to have a small-town sexy vibe to them. But in the Summer Island books, it’s really more about the heart and emotions.

THE LOVE WE KEEP takes a much slower approach that burns brightly. It contains quite a lot of heartbreak and emotions, delving deep into the characters and their stories. The romance almost acts like a healing agent, sealing old wounds close and giving the characters a new chance at life. If you prefer more character-driven novels like I do, then I think you’ll absolutely love this series. Deeply rooted in emotion, THE LOVE WE KEEP will definitely give you the feels.

I loved this series. I liked the setting and enjoyed the characters. Overall I feel like Toni Blake did a great job of bringing it all together. This was probably my least favorite of the three, but still a solid addition to the series.

This was the conclusion of the Summer Island Trilogy and I was quite impressed with how the author chose to end this series. Suzanne, is having a rough time. She turned down Beck's advances in the first book of this series and then decided that she wanted him in the second one. Unfortunately, he had moved on and was now engaged to Meg's sister Lila. Suzanne is feeling sorry for herself when she is needed to help Zack. Zack, fell down the stairs of his house and has seriously injured his back. His Aunt Dahlia has left the island to go on a trip, so there is no one to take care of him. Suzanne used to be an orthopaedic nurse, so she agrees to look after him in her home. This is a huge decision on her part as she has never liked Zack and didn't like the way he treated Meg over the years. Of course, being in close quarters over the winter, taking care of him, physically doing exercises with him, has a way of breaking through those barriers.

I loved the conclusion of this story. Suzanne has secrets surrounding her deceased husband that she has never shared, and Zack has secrets from his past that he holds close to the chest. Sharing those secrest with each other begins the healing for both of them. I liked the slow relationship building that went on and of course there is some physical attraction as well. The story of Dahlia was unexpected. I had a feeling I knew what was going on with her and I was right. Her vacation with her friend Gisele had her sharing her past which was quite enjoyable and humorous at times. This book succeeded in making me cry, actual sob, but it was a happily ever after. I definitely recommend that you read this series, in order if possible, if you enjoy contemporary romance.

I think I've already said somewhere that this is a really weird romance series and I stand by that assessment. This is the third book in the series and we've got Dahlia acting weird and leaving the island for winter, which is not a thing she's ever done before. Then we've got Zach having an accident and needing someone to take care of him, which lands in Suzanne's lap because she's a nurse. For some reason, Meg is suddenly like, "wow, it's hard to have this person I loved for so long need help that I can't give him." And then suddenly Suzanne and Zach are falling for one another and this book was just... exhausting. It was emotionally exhausting and I just... am not convinced this is a series for me.

If you want your books to feel like a mix of women's fiction and romance even though romance is theoretically taking center stage, pick up this series.

CWs for death of a secondary character, cancer, partial paralysis, and depression related to the former

Will appear soon at Romance Reviews Today: http://romrevtoday.com/
Review has been posted to Amazon.

THE LOVE WE KEEP – Toni Blake
Summer Island, Book 3
HQN
ISBN: 978-1-335-00881-7
January 28, 2020
Contemporary Romance

Summer Island, Michigan – Present Day

Love has not been kind to Suzanne Quinlan. Her beloved husband died unexpectedly a few years ago, and just as she thought she’d found love again, the man of her choice fell in love with another woman—Suzanne’s best friend’s sister. As winter starts its grip on Summer Island, where the ferry stops running once the ice clogs the lake, another friend, Dahlia, sets to leave on a vacation to parts unknown. But Dahlia has barely left when her nephew, Zack Sheppard, falls down the steps from his apartment, severely injuring himself. It’s Suzanne who ends up taking care of Zack by bringing him into her home. Zack is surly and combative, but the two soon grow close. Will the closeness lead to something else…like love?

Zack is a fisherman and gone for weeks at a time. Since he can’t fish in the wintertime, he enjoys time spent on Summer Island, especially since the snow and cold means there are few inhabitants around to disturb his solitude. Zack has always been independent, and when he ends up having to rely on Suzanne for help, he feels like he’s being punished. Then, Zack receives bad news about his injury, something that could jeopardize his future. It’s Suzanne who works with him to push him to fight to overcome his injuries. As they get to know one another, he begins to see her in a different light. They have both been hurt in the past, but can they find love and happiness together?

Wintertime on Summer Island means that only the hearty locals remain as the island becomes isolated from the mainland. It’s also a time to relax during the downtime, which means most businesses are closed. Dahlia runs a small café and decided to take a vacation to some place warm. In THE LOVE WE KEEP, readers get a peek into her “vacation” and learn more about her past as she tells her traveling companion. We learn about her vagabond past—and Zack’s chaotic childhood. Suzanne thought her life had been perfect with her marriage to Cal, but then he died, throwing her into a tailspin. It has left her distrusting men for fear they’d leave her alone again. Just as Suzanne began to fall for a man on Summer Island, he fell for another woman. Now she and her best friend are estranged. Will that fractured friendship be mended in THE LOVE WE KEEP?

Suzanne has a nursing background, though her current occupation is running a flower shop. After Zack becomes injured, her nursing skills come in handy. Of course, with him being unable to walk properly, she has to help him—a lot. The intimacy only draws them closer, and leads to a mutual sexual attraction. Is it just one that is fleeting, or can it lead to a future together? Of course, the road to finding out is not easy. Zack and Suzanne are both stubborn and continually resist their attraction. But the feelings they have for each other can’t be denied.

THE LOVE WE KEEP is an emotional tale that keeps you glued to the pages. You will be rooting for Zack and Suzanne to get together. They go through the ups and downs of love, friendship, and everything in between. But, once the end comes, readers will be smiling with tears of happiness for them. Don’t miss THE LOVE WE KEEP.

Patti Fischer

This book was not the quick romance that I was expecting. There is a lot more going on in this book than just a lighthearted romance. Tragedy occurs in the story and it takes on some dark concepts.
Suzanne Quinlan is the main female character in this book. She is a widow who runs a flower business. She has just had her heart crushed by the man she was interested in and now finds herself taking care of her best friend's ex-boyfriend whom she has never liked. Suzanne isn't sure how winter can get any more dreary. And then her feelings for her patient change.
Zack Sheppard is never happier than when he is out on the water making his living as a commercial fisherman. He has no family besides his Aunt Dahlia and does just fine. His last girlfriend broke up with him because he cannot commit. When Zack falls and injures himself, he has no one to turn to. His Aunt Dahlia is off the island and unable to return. Zack finds himself relying on Suzanne's help. He and Suzanne have never gotten along and yet, being forced to spend time together makes things change.
Fans of the Summer Island series will appreciate getting to know the characters in a deeper way. If you have not read the series, then there is a lot that takes getting used to as you figure out the relationships between all of the characters. As I mentioned there are darker elements that prevent this from being lighthearted.

Wow. Didn't expect this story in the Summer Island series. Poignant, heart-breaking and wonderful. My favorite of the series even though I went into it wondering just how Suzanne (not one of my favorites) and Zack (definitely not my favorite) were going to work out. The story proved to be unbelievable.
Suzanne has not been the very cheeriest person throughout the first two books of this series. She always seemed to be the Debbie-downer of the group. She came into this story with a chip on her shoulder because of Beck. What did she expect would happen when she gave him the cold shoulder for so long? That he'd just keep on trying? Now, Zack? Here goes her quiet, woe-is-me winter.
Zack is still hurt that Meg walked away. She knew how he was when they started seeing each other. Then, again, what did he expect? That she would just wait for him forever? Now, Aunt Dahlia has decided to take a trip this winter instead of staying on Summer Island with him. He's on his own for the first time in a very long time when he has the accident that incapacitates him for who knows how long. His only option, since Meg is out of the picture, seems to be Suzanne.
Zack's surliness is on high display when he is moved into Suzanne's house. She tries her best to please him but nothing seems to work until she finally lays things out to him as to how it's going to go. As they finally start to talk and work together, they realize that they can get along quite well. And, as her ministrations start working and things start looking up for Zack, he realizes just what a gem Suzanne really is. He can't help himself. He's finally getting over Meg and it's all because of Suzanne.
Neither one of them are sure where this “thing” is going. Suzanne doesn't know if she could trust him to stay this time. Zack doesn't know if he can stay off the Emily Ann and give Suzanne the love that she deserves. But, circumstances leave them reeling. Meg finds out about them and not from Suzanne. It may take a while for hearts to heal, for friends to become friends again and for life to go back to normal but, the people of Summer Island are resilient.
I was baffled at first with the way Toni Blake was taking this story. Then I was thoroughly confused with the way she took this story. Then it all made sense and I thank Toni Blake for that. The Love We Keep had a little bit of everything in it. She showed us true love, jealousy, sadness and resignation. They are all a part of life and sometimes fate has a way of forcing us to look at ourselves, our life, our past decisions and move forward with a life that will truly make us happy.

I loved this author’s Destiny series but I’ve not been crazy about anything else since then. I don’t know if it’s her writing or my tastes that have changed. This saddens me because she was one of my favorites. I didn’t like the characters or storyline at all.

What a great story to end the series. It's a story of forgiveness and redemption: of people who thought they were enemies become friends. The depth of emotion in her characters is hmbling. You can empathize with Suzanne and Meg as their friendship weathers many challenges. The honesty between Zack and Suzanne as she nurses him back after his injury is raw and honest.

Dahlia's connection and influence on all the characters ends up uniting them as they face the biggest challenge of all. Although part of a series, this can be read as a standalone novel and I highly recommend you read.

I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinions.

I never much cared for the hero or heroine in previous books. She showed a bit more spine in this book at least. But be never came across as much of a catch. For such a small town it seemed odd that no one else stepped into help and that no one saw Giselle getting groceries or going onto dahlias house. This series just never hit the right tone for me

Endearing Adult romance from Toni Blake. I hadn't read the first two books in the series, but I found I could relate to all the characters nonetheless. This story of love and loss and redemption is timeless. You will find yourself evaluating your own relationships after reading this book.

Very nice story. I hadn't read the first 2 books in this series but I picked up on who was who. I am planning to go back and read the first 2 now. The story is that and Suzanne and Zack. Zack is in need of a caregiver after a fall and Suzanne is the only one available to nurse him back to health. However, the twist is she is his ex's best friend which presents one of the obstacles they must overcome. Overall, I liked the characters and enjoyed the story. I would recommend this book.

“The Love We Keep” by Toni Blake is a deeply emotional, beautifully written story. It is book 3 of the Summer Island series and features Suzanne Quinlan and Zack Sheppard.

Those who read the previous books (“The One Who Stays”, “The Giving Heart”), are familiar with Suzanne and Zack. In this book, we are taken deeper into who they are and how their past has shaped them.
You may not think Suzanne and Zack are perfect for each other, but they both have the ability to mend what seems broken in the other.

Ms. Blake pens a story about relationships—past, present, and future—and will have you reflecting on those in your own life.
I highly recommend to readers, who love books that touch their hearts, to read this book and the others in the Summer Island series.