Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives-but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to "Jane Doe" for another day, the woman renames herself "Water" for the tiny, hidden marking on her body-the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbour, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won't Ginny let him step foot on her property? And whydoes Water feel she recognizes him?
Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn't know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she'll stay so much safer-and happier-that way. And that's why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.
The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.
Tucker is fantastic at plotting out her stories and fleshing out characters. Even secondary characters have a unique voice and enhance the story. The tale is broken into “then” and “now” chapters that allowed us to experience our Jane Doe and important characters before her accident and after. Each chapter is powerful and reveals clues. I never felt pulled between the two timelines, and each ended in such a way that kept me as the reader flipping the pages.
Our characters are flawed, sweet, and vulnerable. Jane Doe has lost her memory, and her only clues consist of the clothes she was wearing the night of the accident. Through her, we learn of her past, present, and experience her regaining her memories even as she creates new ones. I enjoyed getting to know Jane and her inner thoughts as she struggles to decide who she is. Jessie Welles is her new next-door neighbor, a sexy mechanic who is always willing to lend a helping hand. Jessie has made a few mistakes, and he is genuinely a good guy, who loves hard. Ginny is the ornery old woman who weaves quilts and befriends Jane. I adored this woman, and her backstory was fascinating. She made me laugh aloud and had me hugging myself tight as I thought about her past.
The romance threaded between the two timelines is a beautiful one, and yet tainted. I worried Tucker would not be able to make me see past some concerns and issues that I first experienced, but I was safe in her care. Both relationships felt genuine, and I loved how they entwined. This is mild on sexual content and high on sweet moments.
Full review at Caffeinated, a copy was provided by publisher.This review was originally posted at Caffeinated Book Reviewer
Reading updates
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Started reading
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12 September, 2014:
Finished reading
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12 September, 2014:
Reviewed