Opal…doesn’t want to remember.After years of applying for a botany fellowship, I’ve finally got an interview. The only downside is it’s in the one place I can’t go, New York, where my family died. Going back would be a nightmare. I can’t remember anything from before waking up in the hospital after the accident, and I don’t want to.My brain is messed up, and here comes this devastatingly sexy guy … up, and here comes this devastatingly sexy guy who tells me we used to be in love, that I was his everything, and that he’s gonna do all he can to help me get my memories back. All he wants is my happiness, but what the hell do I want? Is it Santiago, or is it the idea of a love I never knew?
Santiago…won’t ever forget.
I needed a vacation, badly. I’m on the outs with my family, and I’m struggling with my music. California sounds like a great way to ignore my problems. Until the one who got away falls back into my arms. Literally.
Opal broke my heart after disappearing without a word. No calls. No texts. Nothing. I thought I was over it but being near her brings up all the old feelings.
She was always the one for me, now I’ve gotta convince her I’ve always been the one for her. Even if she refuses to remember.
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I thought this book was enjoyable. The premise sounded intriguing which is why I chose to read this book. The author gave the story life by crafting intriguing characters who made me feel as if they were alive. I liked how the story played out as information about her circumstances were revealed. Good story
What an emotionally amazing story! I am new to Ceri Grenelle, and I can promise I am going to go read all of her other stories now! Santiago and Opal were so beautiful! LOVED!!
Her past is hidden in the mist of the accident she suffered. She does not want to remember. She is trying to get a botany fellowship and she finally has one but in the last place she wants to go. When he sees her he knows she is safe. He had been surprised when she just disappeared. She just does not remember him now. What will be do?.will.She finally remember him? See how it will go
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I gave this Book a rating of 5 ’s
Title: Stark Memory
Series: Stupid Awesome Love Book 3
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Author: Ceri Grenelle
Format: Kindle Edition
Published on: Dec 6, 2018
>-< >–< >–< >–< >–<>–< >–< >–< >–< >–< >–< >–< >–< I voluntarily received a Courtesy Copy of this book from Enticing Journey and am choosing to leave a review. >–< >–< >–< >–< >–<>–< >–< >–< >–< >–< >–< >–< >–< What I liked/Didn’t Like: This was my first book by this author and it was fantastic. Funny and witty while being romantic. This one will make you smile and laugh along with the antics these characters get into.
Captivating emotional but beautiful romance story. Good development of the characters. Well-written. I liked reading the book. It was a pleasured to review it.
I enjoyed Opal and Santiago’s story! It’s an emotional roller coaster ride but a beautiful story. They meet after graduation and spend a wonderful summer falling in love. A tragedy occurs and she disappears. Fast forward many years later and he catches her. Things get interesting after that. It’s a captivating story with some romance, steam, drama, family issues and tragedy. I liked the characters and thought the story was well written. Although this is the third story in the “Stupid Awesome Love” series it is a stand alone read. I have not read the first two stories and had no problem following this one.
Santiago and Opal were in love, knowing they’ve found their one. Unfortunately, he’s the only one that remembers it. One day Opal just disappeared, making no effort to contact him. He tried to move forward with his life, but she was always in his mind, and his heart. And when he plans to travel, needing a break from everything, one look at Opal and it’s like they were never apart. He never stopped searching for her and he won’t let her go again.
Opal has finally received a botany fellowship, but there’s a catch – it’s in New York, a place that holds painful memories for her, and some she can’t even remember. She woke up in a hospital and that was it. She’s tried to find her new normal and her old self, but it’s a struggle. Especially as it’s also the place where she lost her family.
And then she meets Santiago, though he insists it’s actually a reunion as they were once in love. He intends to help her find all she’s lost, including their chance at happiness.
Can their love stand the test of time and forgotten memories? Will almost twenty years apart change what was once meant to be? Will Opal ever remember what happened? Or is it better for her emotionally not to? Can she fall for Santiago all oer again? Will they get the HEA that was denied them?
One-click now and follow along as two people are reunited and must face the possibly insurmountable obstacle that could keep them apart. The story was an interesting one. What would you do if the person you loved vanished without a word, then decades later you find them again, only they don’t remember you or what you meant to each other? I think the emotion between these two, the pain he feels at knowing and what she does at forgetting was nicely done.- By Elizabeth
Their summer together changed everything, and then she disappeared. Almost two decades later and Santiago catches a ghost in his arms, a ghost who has no clue who he is or what they meant to one another. When Opal is given a chance to live her dreams she slowly comes to the realization that she’ll need to address the memories of the past that she’s been running from; and who better to help her sift through it all than the handsome blast from her past? Together they traverse memories, heartache, and find a love that rivals the one of their youth. But it’ll take more than courage to forge ahead, they’ll have to find and gift others with the forgiveness that they’ve been denying themselves and so many others.
Santiago was a pretty solid character from start to finish and his endless patience definitely won me over in the face of Opal’s vacillation. I liked that he was so completely honest with her from the very beginning, that he didn’t hide himself away or his growing, changing feelings. Even knowing when Opal wasn’t ready he came out and warned her that to discuss certain things further was deeper for him and would upset her. It layered their interactions with a complicated kind of hesitant transparency that wasn’t expected. His stubbornness and refusal to forgive his family time and time again was frustrating, especially in the face of his two best friends that had lost so much. He eventually pulled it out, though, and gave him greater perspective for when he finally came to terms with his separation from Opal.
Where Santiago was consistent and stable, Opal was back and forth, fearful, and a bit too dismissive. She was also quite damaged and I didn’t fault her for running away. Doesn’t mean I liked it, just that I can understand and don’t judge her too harshly for it. When she did begin to open up and let Santiago help her work through her memories and feelings, though, she softened and became much more relatable.
Throughout the entire story I had a problem with the inconsistent feeling between their voice and how much time was supposed to have passed. It felt more like everyone should have been in their mid-twenties rather than their late thirties. That alone gave it a frustrating element of juvenility where I was expecting something more staid and grown-up. Feeling like that never went away, by the way, it was a disconnect that lasted from start to finish. Along with Opal’s insistence at avoiding her memories and then her reluctance to come clean about having them, and I had a lot of moments that I felt as if my eyes would get stuck in their rolled position.
But there were so many gems! I caught myself smiling many times when there were small revelations, confessions that about broke my heart with how much feeling was expressed, and the interplay between friends and family. I’m so in love with the night Opal and Santiago met. The awkwardness, the interest, the humor, the banter, their youth, and the excitement and promise of a happy future. It’s what makes their situation that much more devastating and the ending so tenderly triumphant. The journey is pretty long with a few divergent paths on Santiago’s part that lengthen the story. Overall, though, the story is as painful as it is sweet and I enjoyed reading it in its entirety.
This is an enjoyable read, the characters are well written and the storyline is good, I just wished that it wouldn’t have taken them so many years to see each other again.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Another homerun for Ceri Grenelle. I cannot get enough of this author! I laughed, I cried, I mourned the loss of Opal, and I celebrated her triumphant return. Santi is beautiful and complex. These two together are dynamite and a match, an epic love story tested by time, distance, and tragedy. “He took gasps of me like the first breath of air after years of suffocation. That’s what it felt like for me as well… I just hadn’t known I’d been suffocating.” A+, would read again and again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
One summer – One epic romance – One fatal night
Time has passed for both Opal and Santiago but when fate brings them together once again
Santiago needs answers and closure from the woman who broken his heart
Opal wants to remain in the dark.
Can a once forgotten love be restructured or is it best to leave the past just that – the past
I liked the premises for this storyline the idea of a forgotten love and a second chance
I enjoyed the characters Santiago had such a strong sense of family and love. Opal was happy living in the dark, at times I really really wanted to get into Opal’s face and tell her to woman up, but honestly, how would I react to the loss? It kept me patient with her decisions at times even if I did not agree with them. I really liked the supporting cast. My understanding is they are the main characters in the previous books, though this is easily read as a standalone.
The story is all about second chances and facing the fears that hold us back. There are a lot of touching moments that had me blurry eyed and an also a few that had me smiling. The storyline read a bit choppy at times which made it hard for me to connect on the level I prefer, but that is me.
Overall it was a sweet romance
The copy I read was comp.
Well written and easy to follow contemporary romance of a coming of age type love that is cut short by tragedy.
On Santiago’s part, he loses the love of his life when Opal disappears after one glorious summer together. He searched for her, never falling out of love with her but was filled with hurt and anger at her disappearance.
Opal has no memory of Santi.
When they fatefully meet again seventeen years later he is filled with resentful emotion, while she is accepting of her lost memories.
This story was touching and heartbreaking as Santi tries to help Opal regain her memories of their love while Opal resists facing the girl she has forgotten.
Lots of tender sensual and intense scenes as they reconnect along with bittersweet memories that are revealed to Opal bit by bit.
Santi has to come to terms that he loves Opal of the past and present even though a part of him blames her for forgetting him.
A worthwhile story full of deep emotional moments.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This story was amazing. I did not read the first two books in the series but I was able to read it with no issues. This is a story about love, loss, and second chances.
Opal and Santiago spend one summer together after graduating from college. Then after the summer something happens and Opal disappears never to be seen again until one day Santiago see her and she doesn’t remember who he is. Opal had something terrible happened to her and her family and she has amnesia. She doesn’t remember her previous life or Santiago. But Santiago is determined to make her remember him and the love they shared for that one summer.
Can Opal get over the amnesia? Can she remember Santiago? Can she remember that unforgettable summer of love she spent with Santiago?
This is a must read second chance romance story that will take your heart by surprise and leave you breathless.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is Opal and Santiago’s second chance after seventeen years apart through no fault of their own. Opal lost her memory when she lost all of her family and they still have not come back, and Santiago was one of them. A story that kept me hoping for a happy ending for these two. A book I would recommend.
This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and while it’s the third in a series, I had no problem following along. This is an emotional book, about a couple’s second chance, after being torn apart by a tragedy. Be prepared for some heart wrenching, a few tears, and even a few laughs.
Santi and Opal meet one beautiful summer, in New York. It seems to be the perfect, magical summer, after high school, but before college and adulthood really begin. Their connection is instant and pure, and they make plans to stay together, even while they are on different coasts. Then, one day, Opal is just…..gone. Santi never really recovers, never gets over her, never moves on. A chance meeting, many years later, gives him the rest of her story, and begins a healing journey for both of them.
This book was interesting, and had me feeling all kinds of ways. I enjoyed the banter between Santi and Opal. They had a really nice connection, both times they met, but not in an overly sappy way. Opal was very sassy, and didn’t hesitate to stand up for herself. All in all, it was a nicely written story with fun characters, definitely worth reading!
Who doesn’t love a good amnesia romance? This is a great spin on this trope and honestly there are real-life stories along the lines of this tale and I love the way that they make my heart have the feels!
Santi and Opal are that star-crossed couple everyone knows. Met in college, get married, live happily ever after for real. Except Opal disappears the day before she’s supposed to get on a plane and 17 years goes by until fate brings them back together. This story has all the things. A fantastic, broad cast of characters, realistic issues and introspection, family drama, fiery romance and love scenes. I’ve gotten into the habit of picking up book 3 lately, but I’ll definitely be headed back for the first two!
Stark Memory is the third book in the series, but can be enjoyed as a stand alone. I haven’t read the first two books, and was able to easily read and follow this book. This book is about second chances and finding yourself, and making amends. So many second chances and reconnecting!
Two college graduates find each other and spend an amazing summer together. Then something happens as the summer ends, and they are torn apart. Years pass and life events affect our characters. But a chance meeting leads them back to each other. Will their summer of love be enough to rekindle memories and love?
Opal and Santi were interesting characters. Santi is a musician with a large Italian family. He’s the oldest child and has a strong sense of loyalty and responsibility. He’s a very passionate person who has had a lot happen in his life and needs a vacation! Opal is living a life of safety in California after suffering a harrowing loss that robbed her of memories. She is a unwilling to force the missing memories and has rebuilt a life for herself. But she’s missing something, and despite the terror and pain of returning memories, she’s also wishing she had a past. Individually they are good characters. I feel like I may have missed a bit of their backstories by jumping into book three. There were times you felt you didn’t have all the information or backstory to understand a character’s motives.
Santi and Opal had a great romantic summer. But their reunion was off balance. Santi had all the power, holding the memories. So while Opal had an attraction to him, the power balance was all in Santi’s favor. Despite the memory struggles, the two do have chemistry, and their romantic interludes heat the sheets.
There seemed a bit of a disconnect or lack of cohesiveness to the storyline that made the story a bit choppy and hard to follow. I wasn’t immediately drawn into the book to the point that I had to keep reading without putting it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen, so I kept reading.
I loved the premise of this book. The blurb was pretty awesome! I’m not sure if I’m going to go back to read the beginning of the series, or any future books though. It wasn’t quite enough to suck me into the series. I thoroughly enjoyed the plot idea, and the way the characters worked together.
Favorite Quotes:
“I’ll show them cowards and Tootsie Rolls.”
“We’re gonna kick your beautiful brain’s ass.”
“How could one summer have such a lasting, indelible impression on his heart?”
Star Ratings:
Plot = 4/5 Characters = 3/5 Heat = 3/5 Writing Style = 3/5 Overall Rating = 3/5
The book is a good romantic comedy read. The characters are good. The story is emotional thinking read that has you thinking what would you do if you are in the same situation.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.