Just do what you love as often as you can and your path will be made clear.
Jenny Hale
The Memory Keeper
Format:
Audiobook
Publisher’s Synopsis:
Hannah Townsend has the perfect job at a New York magazine, a small but elegant apartment in the Upper West Side, and a successful beau named Miles Monahan. This year, she’s leaving the icy city sludge for sunshine! She’s got tickets for two to Barbados, and she’s meeting Miles at the airport for a week of cocktails, sandy beaches, and the music of steel drums.
But her life is turned upside down in the span of that one morning. Hannah is rocked by the news that her beloved grandmother is very sick, and Hannah needs to come home to her small Tennessee town right away to be with her family and help run her gran’s dilapidated flower shop. If that isn’t enough to deal with, she discovers her boyfriend is seeing someone else.
On her birthday, she finds herself packed into a car on a ride-share to her hometown of Franklin, Tennessee. When everything seems to be going wrong, it’s the kindness of a handsome man from Hannah’s past named Liam McGuire that might just save her. But a new development that threatens Gran’s shop and secrets surrounding Liam could alter both their lives forever.
Point of view:
3rd person. Entirely from Hannah’s perspective.
Rellim’s Thoughts:
I started this and then stopped because I underwent emergency surgery. So I took a break to listen to a bunch of old favorites – because narcotics & book reviews don’t mix y’all. I’m on the less potent stuff now and diving back into my TBL.
This turned out to be the perfect book at the perfect time for me. While some heavy subjects are covered, this didn’t feel angsty at all. This is so much more than a romance, it’s really a woman coming to terms with whether or not all the achievements and goals she originally set for herself are still what she wants. Discovering that the town she left behind didn’t forget about her even when she neglected them.
Hale does a wonderful job of introducing the listener to Hannah on one of the worst days of her life. You can’t help but want her to find happiness, security, and love – in all it’s forms. There’s a fantastic road trip, a consecutive storyline featuring her gran’s journal, a family reunion, old & new friends, and an intriguing single dad. Lots of small town feel goods to go around. Hannah is a bit of a fixer and in giving wisdom to others, she reminds herself of what’s really important.
Also, I adore books with kids in them. Liam and his son make a wonderful addition to the story and Hannah’s world. As a closed door romance there isn’t anything more than a few kisses, but Hale builds a wonderful relationship between Liam & Hannah.
I loved the ending and the epilogue. While this completely stands on it’s own and there wasn’t any overt indication it would be a series – I can see how Hale could bring us more lovely stories from this small town and flower shop.
Narration:
Melie Williams is a new narrator to me – but I’m so excited to have discovered her. She was a great choice for this book and I love her performance. She is terrific as Hannah but also captures the nuances of the other characters and keeps everyone consistent. I’m looking forward to hearing more of her work.
I received a free copy of this audiobook from the author/publisher and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
About the author:
Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies. She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and both Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now” as well as “Beach Reads Perfect for Summer 2020.” Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family. Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers. When she isn’t writing or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.
You can connect with Jenny Hale here:
About the narrator:
Hey, I’m Melie, and I’m obsessed with audiobooks.
Maybe it’s because I’ve been reading since I was two, maybe it’s because I’m in love with great stories, or maybe it’s because I can’t help but voice dialogue out loud when reading to myself…but I absolutely love opening the pages of a new manuscript and helping authors bring their words to life.
You can connect with Melie Williams here:
My Favorite Quotes
If your heart’s still beating, the you’re definitely alive and whatever life you want is out there for the taking. You’ve just got to make it happen. – The Memory Keeper by @jhaleauthor @HarpethRoad #Audiobook narrated by @MelieWilliams1 #SmallTown #ClosedDoorRomance #ContemporaryRomance
Tweet
Just do what you love as often as you can and your path will be made clear. – The Memory Keeper by @jhaleauthor @HarpethRoad #Audiobook narrated by @MelieWilliams1 #SmallTown #ClosedDoorRomance #ContemporaryRomance
Tweet
Rellim Reads 