She is the only one who can tell the police who attacked her in her home.
If only she could remember …
Summer Velasquez is on the run from a man she has no recollection of after an attack she can’t recall.
Every face in the crowd is a potential suspect, so how is Summer supposed to know who is a threat to her and who isn’t?
After fleeing her assailant and the parents who lied to her about what … happened, she changes her name and seeks refuge in Elora, Ontario. The small town feels familiar, although she has no memory of ever having been here.
Even in what should be a safe place, she can’t shake the feeling that she is being watched.
When Ryan Taylor strolls into the Taste of Heaven Café where she works, Summer is immediately drawn to him. However, he may not be who he says he is either. As her suspicions grow, Summer prepares to run again.
But at least one person is determined to stop her. Permanently. And if she can’t remember who he is, this time he may succeed.
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This story is packed with drama and intrigue and there are several characters who aren’t who they seem to be. Lost Down Deep begins with a horrific attack on Summer Velasquez that leaves her unable to remember her attacker and the last seven years of her life. What she does remember is that she’s never felt deep parental love and even now, after coming out of a coma, she believes that her parents are keeping something from her. Her flight to another town and a new identity offer her the chance to finally experience friendship and maternal love from her landlord Nancy , a return to faith, and the attention of several men. Summer feels a special connection to Ryan Taylor but is his interest in her a recent occurrence or does he already know her? How does Jude McCall fit into the equation? Who is the other man who seems to be paying a lot of attention to the new waitress at the Heaven Cafe? Who can Summer truly trust?
Author Sara Davison kept me in suspense for a long time and it wasn’t until several chapters into the story that I understood the significance of the title and the cover. I was also very surprised to learn the true reason for Summer’s initial attack and the danger that she was still in. As the lies and deceit are uncovered, it becomes obvious that this story has many layers and that trust has certainly been lost!
Amnesia, drug abuse, deep guilt, and alcoholism all play a role in Lost Down Deep but I love that Davidson chooses to focus on hope, faith, and forgiveness. This is the first book of The Rose Tattoo Trilogy and I look forward to reading what Davison has in store. I heartily recommend Lost Down Deep to all who enjoy romantic suspense and Christian fiction.
I received an e-copy of this book from the author but there was no obligation for a favorable review. These are my own thoughts.
Is She Worth Dying For … and that’s just one layer of this story
Suspense, mystery, layer upon layer of grit, faith and love… this storyline has it all.
Who can you trust? Strangers? Family? And are strangers really strangers? It’s hard to draw the line here. You see Summer, or shall we say Ana, can’t remember the last seven years. She was brutally attacked by an intruder, and when tossed down the stairs her head hits hard on tile floors. After spending two weeks in a coma, she awakes to her parents telling her lies and a guard standing just outside her hospital room door. Why? Who is out to get her? How can she even know since she can’t remember anything … and those who should know are mum.
Just who is Ryan? Who is Jude? Friend or foe? How far is Diaz willing to go? And the biggest question of all, WHO IS SUMMER? How does she have certain skills that always spring forth at the perfect time, just when needed?
And oh yes …. my message to Kendrick: “you ain’t seen nuthin’ yet”
OBSERVATIONS:
Summer may have lost her memories, but her faith went deeper than her mind.
Jude had his own trauma to work though. As the Good Book says: All things work together for good, for those who love the Lord.
Romance in the way romance should be…. Real Love, True Love…. not lust but, love
Loved Cash…. thinking he’ll get a bigger role in this series. This is a standalone book but it is the first in a series, so hope Cash has his HEA.
So many good secondary characters here…. even those with a minor role played a major role….yep, I know that sounds conflicting but its true.
WISHES:
Love to know more about the parents … Jude’s dad and Summer’s mom/dad. Their actions certainly affected their children.
… In this story, I got the impression that Jude’s dad remarried and forgot all about his first ‘set’ of children while being a real dad to his second family.
… Do Summer’s parents ever have a ‘come to Jesus’ moment? Will that ‘black diamond’ ever crack into two more valuable, precious gems?
This is the first book by this author I’ve read…. It won’t be the last. I received an advance copy to read. After reading this I went straight to the ‘Follow’ icon on this website and clicked it. Looking forward to more
I enjoyed reading Lost Down Deep. Sara Davison has skillfully dealt with love, faith and betrayal. We are kept in suspense from the very beginning, not knowing who are the good guys, until the end with an unexpected reveal (albeit abrupt).
I also liked that another language was seamlessly incorporated and adding authenticity to the character.
A real-life friend of mine, who’d suffered and largely recovered from amnesia due to a head injury, told me that, upon waking from her coma, her husband of many years was a complete stranger to her. So I picked up Sara Davison’s novel Lost Down Deep with a bias and a certain personal fascination. Davison immediately engaged me with her subject matter and her gripping, action-filled opening, followed by tension that just did not let up.
Lost Down Deep is an excellent read all the way through. The fully orbed characters are revealed clearly but progressively, with just enough of their personalities and histories shown at one time to carry the reader through to the next level of plot—which itself is multilayered, complex, and mesmerizing in its entangled relationships, extreme motivations, and sizzling but clean romance. Sensory details perfectly combine with narrative, dialogue, motivation—all tied together with Davison’s impeccable timing. This author knows how to write!
As amazing and moving as the storytelling techniques are, the meaning beneath the fiction is exponentially redemptive, and I found myself weeping several times as the implications of Lost Down Deep touched my heart. I love how Davison introduces the idea of Christian faith through her main character’s spiritual urge to pray when her life is completely confused; this fairly early scene sets the stage for increasing development of the abiding love of Christ that Davison writes so naturally and believably into her story world. No simple Sunday school read, Lost Down Deep shows a depth of maturity that allows for questions such as: Where is the line between lying to and protecting someone? Is God’s love and faithfulness dependent on one’s memory of or conscious agreement to it? To what lengths would I myself go in sacrificing for the sake of Christ and others?
Get this book.
5 STARS for “Lost Down Deep (The Rose Tattoo Trilogy #1)” by Sara Davison. I really enjoy Davison’s writing. This book has suspense, danger and romance.
When Summer is attacked and can’t remember who or why, she escapes from the hospital looking for somewhere safe. She ends up in a small town and starts work in a coffee shop. When Ryan comes in one day she is immediately drawn to him. Ryan knows who she is and is trying to protect her but he also has issues to overcome. Great characters and an interesting plot. I highly endorse Ms. Davison’s book, also her other ones. I can’t wait for the next book in this trilogy.
I received this book from Sara Davison and all opinions are my own.
I loved this new book from the Mosaic Collection. The two main characters Summer and Jude were great. One was trying to remember and one was trying to forget. A book of grace, forgiveness, mystery, and romance. I received a complimentary copy but all opinions are my own.
This book is unequivocally one of the best romantic suspense books I’ve read in a while.
This was one of those rare books I pick up and instantly know that I dare not drop it until I am done. So I read and read until I was done. I smiled at some places, my heart went out for some of the characters at some point, I was sad when they were, in fact the book drew me in so much that I was with them at every turn.
Sara Davison surprised me on all counts. The story was captivating and a keeper, the characters stellar and relatable. The twists of the story unpredictable.
I admired Summer so much. Despite her upbringing she turned out a sweet soul. Her’s and Jude’s conversion story was the highlight of the book for me.
Jude had me from the very first encounter. His strength and courage was so heartwarming. The lenghts he went to protect Summer even when events did not make it easy for him was out of this world.
Lost Down Deep is unlike any suspense/mystery/crime book I’ve ever read. I loved how the author wove the Christian faith through the story.
I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion.
A fantastic story
Another fantastic story from Sara Davison! I love the way she mingles faith with suspense and romance.
Told from multiple perspectives, Lost Down Deep kept me wondering. Who was Ryan Taylor really? While my instincts were to trust him, he clearly had a past that was less than savory. And Summer – what had she been doing in those years she had lost? Why in the world would someone injure her in that way?
There are some deep spiritual themes related to forgiveness, trust, and returning prodigals. Wrapped neatly in the narrative, they are told very naturally and beautifully. I especially loved the way the author showed how wrong it is to try to do penance for things already forgiven.
If you read the Hope is Born anthology, you may remember Daphne and Shawn. They make an appearance here as the owners of the café where Summer finds a job. I loved that couple and was so glad to see them again to get more of their story.
Though Lost Down Deep had a clear ending, I’m anxiously awaiting the next story in The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, which I’m guessing (and hoping!) is going to be about Cash!
Read my review of Lost Down Deep by Sara Davison at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Lost Down Deep by Sara Davison is a marvellous Christian contemporary suspense that will have you on the edge of your seat as you read. It is part of the Mosaic Collection.
The novel concerns temporary amnesia as a character forgets their recent past but remembers their relationship with God. This shows the reader the importance of being deeply rooted in God, so no matter what happens we remember Whose we are.
Prayer is important. “God had answered her prayer.” God longs to answer our prayers. They may be as simple as ‘help’ or as long as we like but God hears and God answers.
Two major themes are forgiveness and grace. Often the hardest person to forgive is ourselves. “You still can’t forgive yourself… So your court is higher than God’s.” Failure to forgive ourselves makes us guilty of hubris. We must listen to God who says we are forgiven and we must receive His free gift of grace. Grace costs us nothing but it cost Jesus everything. We must not throw it back in His face.
A character declares “You still hold a place in my heart that could never be filled by anyone… else.” This reminds us that God loves each and every one of us with a unique, everlasting love. When we are away from Him, He awaits our return. The reader witnesses a prodigal returning home.
Our guilt will never be assuaged by anything but God’s grace. “I drank a lot trying to forget everything.” The bottom of a bottle is not the answer, the love of God is.
The characters are all well drawn, realistic and likable. There was an atmosphere of love and warmth that enveloped the reader.
I loved Lost Down Deep. It was a read that consumed me. I look forward to much more by Sara Davison.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
The action and suspense start on the first page, and the mystery shortly after. The book has so many layers, but is cohesive and well-written. The characters are complex. I loved the two main characters and the supporting characters. It takes awhile to figure out who to trust.
Summer’s faith in spite of her amnesia and forgiveness and reconciliation add great depth to the book. One of my favorite passages, “It sounds like God made a decision that day, that you were worthy of forgiveness. Only you’ve been overruling that decision ever since.”
The plot twists and turns and moves at a good pace. There’s humor here and there that provides a break from the building tension. The romance is fantastic! The HEA is sweet.
I would recommend this book to Christian fiction readers, to clean romantic suspense readers, and to anyone that just wants to read a well-written book.
An intriguing story combining suspense, romance and faith. I was drawn into the book immediately with the very first sentence “The house should have been completely quiet.” The first chapter does not disappoint as the scene is set with an unknown intruder attacking Summer, pushing her down the stairs and using her blood to leave a message.
Several different strands of suspense are soon outlined in the first few chapters which add to the intrigue. Why is Summer “the message” and why have her parents not been truthful about her accident? Who is the man in the alley and why has he got a tracking device on Summer’s phone? When will Summer’s memory return? Why has yet another man followed Summer to Elora? Are these characters watching out for Summer or are they dangerous? Then there are the mysterious cigarette butts that Summer keeps finding.
I loved the setting of the book in the lovely town of Elora with its Taste of Heaven Bakery and I can just imagine sitting in the cafe enjoying the tastes and smells of Shawn’s amazing baked goods! Nancy and Daphne were charming supporting characters and the Christian message of faith and forgiveness was naturally woven into the story.
Lost Down Deep was a very enjoyable read and kept me guessing to the end. Well done Sara Davison on another wonderful book!
Thank you in advance to the author, Sara Davison, and JustRead Publicity Tours for providing a complimentary review copy. A positive review was not required, all words are my own.
Davison is a “new-to-me” author.
I was curious about the title “Lost Down Deep”, which still didn’t make any sense to me as I read this. And, looking at the cover had me wondering “why is this lady wearing that dress in the snow?”
This is definitely different than the other Mosaic Collection books. This is a suspense story, and it starts right off with the proverbial “bang” (well, more like thud down the stairs). It doesn’t stop. It is definitely suspenseful all the way up until almost the end. Davison truly kept this interesting with stalking, suspense, and slight romance.
This might have certain “content” or “trigger” warnings:
** Alcoholism
** Drug Abuse (past)
What helps this story is the author’s use of short chapters making it a relatively quick read. It has 57 chapters.
Since this is part of The Mosaic Collection, there will be a strong theme of faith. This is quite central to the story given Summer’s experiences as well as Nancy, the woman she stays with in the small town of Elora. Summer has no recollection of the last few years of her life due to being attacked. Still, she feels unsafe and leaves her home.
She also doesn’t have a good relationship with her parents who insist on watching her. She is also, for some reason, mistrustful of them.
After the attack, Summer tries to lay low in the small town of Elora. What she doesn’t know is that two men are “stalking” her. Diáz and Jude. And, neither one seems too trustworthy as the story begins.
It is through Jude, albeit she doesn’t know it, that Summer meets Nancy who happens to have a room for rent. Summer is using an alias (Ana Santos) and Jude is using one too (Ryan Taylor).
Despite how Nancy comes to meet Summer, she soon becomes a mentor and friend to her. Nancy was one of my favorite characters next to Daphne. I really loved the supporting characters a bit more than Summer or Jude. That’s not to say I didn’t like them – just not as much.
Daphne is the one who hires Summer at the bakery, and I loved their friendship as well. I would’ve loved to have seen more of it outside the bakery though.
Of all the towns for Summer to pick, she happens to pick the one town that harbors bad memories for Ryan and it is because of Summer’s plight that he is forced to confront what has happened. He also feels it is time to reconcile with his family – brother, sister, and mother over an accident he blames himself for. His brother points out something that we often forget – if God forgives us, and we don’t; is our court higher than his?
The writing was fluid, and kept the pace at an even level – not too much action, not too little; it doesn’t linger in any moment. The romance between Jude and Summer, or rather the “rekindling” given her memory loss, is sweet and beautiful. And, it gives the reader an insight as to Jude’s motive for what he is doing.
Equal attention is given to both the suspense and romance. The writer doesn’t disclose major plot points right away.
The only problem I had was the conversations in Spanish. One character would think (thus tell the reader) slightly what the person was asking; or answer in a way that gave hints to the reader; it was hard to figure it out though. This starts around chapter 10 and continues throughout.
It is in chapter 25 that we finally figure out who Jude really is and it was something I didn’t even expect; so that was about halfway. When we find out who Summer is in chapter 52, it comes as quite the shock since that is almost near the end of the story. There are no warnings or indications as to who she was or what she did for a living. That was definitely a surprise. As there wasn’t enough time to explore that particular plot line, I am still uncertain how I feel about it, whether it was realistic or not given her relationship with her parents.
As to why Summer was attacked, it leads back to her family. The plot was a solid idea and unique. However, it fell short in places with the delivery. And, we find out why Diáz is stalking her as well. That leads the reader to assume who his “boss” was. The story is left “open ended” as to what will happen with Summer’s parents. While this is the first of a trilogy, I am hoping those issues get resolved with the remaining stories.
While I truly enjoyed this story, the Spanish was distracting for me as I felt lost in reading these interactions since I didn’t understand it. Those parts I skipped over, skipping over it didn’t detract too much from the story.
This had a STRONG message of faith, forgiveness, trust, reconciliation, and repentance.
This takes place in Canada so there might be some spelling and grammatical issues that U.S. readers could have problems with.
I’d recommend this to people who enjoy a story with bilingual characters and/or fans of the author.
Summer has lost her memory after been attacked at her house. She feels she is in danger so she decides to leave Toronto and ends in small town Elora, guided by her faith. Jude is following Summer, even if she can’t remember he is her fiancé, to try to protect her. Elora is a tough place to Jude because he left his family behind five years ago after a tragic accident. Can Summer and Jude reconnect again, face their fear and with faith in God find their way again? A great Christian romance with suspense.
Mysteries are not usually my “go to” genre, but I was immediately drawn in by this author. Trying to outguess who was who–good guy/bad guy–and unwrapping surprising twists along the way made for a fast moving and satisfying read. Learning about the backgrounds of the H&h, what shaped their actions, reactions, fears, etc. and how the solid foundation of faith sustained and moved them forward lent hope to this exciting read. Sara Davison will be a new favorite author of mine and I highly recommend this novel as an exciting, clean and faith filled read.
This was an incredible Christian suspense novel. The characters and the storyline. Whew. It’s a whirlwind and I’ve been taken through the wringer! A labyrinth to navigate, pasts to overcome, a future that’s uncertain. Romance and danger and family. This book had everything. And, most importantly, there was much wisdom to be found in these pages and much to strengthen and solidify your faith.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.