Forget Me Not by Erika Marks

Book Blurb:

When aspiring-writer Mallory Reynolds packed up for New York City, she ditched more than her quiet hometown of Magnolia Bay—she left her high-school sweetheart, Josh Loveless, behind. But when the big city didn’t deliver big contracts on her novels, she turned to writing erotica under the pen name Farrah Ivory to spare her family any embarrassment. Soon, her scandalously-sexy series, The Lost Diaries of Scarlet, is a break-out hit. Just as Mallory begins to enjoy her sweet success, her publisher leaks her true identity and a media firestorm ensues. Exposed, she decides there’s nowhere to hide—except for home.

For Josh Loveless, getting over Mallory Reynolds hasn’t been easy, but he’s done his best to move on. For starters, he’s turned his love of the outdoors and rock-climbing into his own business. And just as things are starting to settle for him, he learns Mallory’s coming home to ride out her scandal, and suddenly his world is turned upside down again…

Can Mallory convince her friends and family that she’s still the same good-hearted girl they knew? And more importantly, can Josh trust the woman she’s become, and give her a second chance to rewrite their love story with a happy ending?

My Review:

In Forget Me Not by Erika Marks neither Mallory or Josh has ever really forgotten or gotten over each other.   When they both wanted different things in life it forced them apart, and there is still a big space in each of their hearts for each other.

I thought the characters were really interesting in Forget Me Not.  Mallory is back in Magnolia Bay...but for how long?  She was a bit of a contradiction for me, she seemed to think she could just walk right back into Josh's life (even as a friend), and seemed hurt that it wasn't going to be that easy.  She's a very successful author, but is hiding and at times seemed embarrassed by her work.  I liked Josh.  He's doing what he always wanted to do, even if it has been a struggle at times for him.  Seeing Mallory back in Magnolia Bay brings all the feelings, hurt and love, right out into the open again, and he doesn't always deal with it well.  I felt like his reactions and emotions were believable.   I could feel a connection between Mallory and Josh, but had to wonder if it was too late for them and if too much damage had been done...I couldn't wait to see where they took this second chance reunion.

I saw a lot of growth in both of these characters in the short span of this novella, both together and individually.  Erika did a fantastic job of writing their story as a novella without making me feel like I was missing anything.

I really enjoyed being back in Magnolia Bay, and I loved all the secondary characters that help give this place it's great character.  Erika does a great job of bringing in enough family dynamics to give the characters an interesting background.   I especially liked Mallory's aunt, her character is strong and someone I'd love to be around!  Forget Me Not is part of a series but can definitely be read as a stand alone.

I'd recommend Forget Me Not to any romance reader who is looking for a quick second chance romance read!

4/5 stars

Purchase from Amazon.com