I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. My thoughts and opinions are my own. Any quotes I use are from an unpublished copy and may not reflect the finished product.

I read the prequel, Sunkissed Days, a few weeks ago and enjoyed everything except the ending! I dislike it when characters have problems because of a lack of communication, which was the source of most of Mallory and Jake's problems. They both leave things unsaid, and it causes a rift between the two. However, I do understand that they were both younger and this problem needed to be there to set up the first book in the series, Remind Me.

Mallory and Jake have both been through college (yay for Jake making it work after six years!), and have been living separate lives. Jake is back in Magnolia Sound, which I love, because I feel like it's a place they're all meant to be. It was important to Pops that his family stayed around the area, and he considered Jake to be family, too. Mallory has been avoiding Magnolia Sound, and cancelling her plans to visit, because she's worried about bumping into Jake. It was sad that it took a hurricane to bring everyone together, and only when it resulted in more than just property damage.

I will admit to being wary about this one at the start, because it's clear that Jake lied about something in order to push Mallory away after the last book, but we don't know what the lie entails (I thought it was going to be something cruel or shocking, but it wasn't). If I dislike a lack of communication in books, a single lie that the story revolves around is worse. However, the story doesn't depend on the lie, but it does impact Jake's relationship with Mallory. She doesn't fee like she can trust him with her feelings, although she has no such reservations about her body (seriously, they were like rabbits).

I still really like Sam and wish he'd played a more prominent role in the book. Maybe he'll get his own story one day? He's constantly moving from place to place, and it almost feels like he's running from something. He's relationship with Mallory is solid, and I love that she thinks they have some sort of twin telepathy.

I did have a few small issues with the story, but they were easy to overlook and didn't really impact by overall feelings about the book. At the beginning, when Mallory first bumps into Jake, she tries to leave and Jake grabs her and forces her to stay. He tightens his hold when she tries to get away, and that bothered me. She never asked him to let her go, or told him to stop, but it was clear she was trying to leave and he was preventing her from doing so. It rubbed me the wrong way. Also, some of the language felt weird. The characters were more thoughtful and well-spoken than most people, and it made some of the conversations feel unrealistic. Lastly, everyone was always making a sandwich! ;)

Occasionally it felt like the story was going in circles, and it lacked real confrontation and conflict. It was like reading a play-by-play of people living their lives in a small town, complete with unnecessary details. Basically, Mallory needs to decide what she wants to do with her life (stay or go), and she repeats the same internal debate throughout the book. All of the characters were a little too dramatic for me, and sometimes they felt interchangeable. When the characters "fight" with each other, it's just them talking loudly about the things we already know they've been thinking about, and it's over within minutes. We turn the page, and it's like it never happened.

In the end, Remind Me filled me with fluffy feelings (totally not a bad thing you naysayers), and also really made me miss my grandfather. Pops was a huge part of the last book, and his absence was significant throughout this one. He's clearly impacted the town, townspeople, and his own family in a very profound way. I love that Jake and Mallory are committed to honoring his memory and his legacy.

If you're looking for a quick romantic read, I would suggest giving this one a shot. I'm curious where the series will go from here, but I'm not sure I will revisit Magnolia Sound in the future.

Originally posted at Do You Dog-ear? on March 16, 2019. ( )

This new series is shaping up to be better than all the rest of Ms Chase’s series. The book starts out with a hurricane and the hurricane’s effects last throughout. Mallory and Jake have a past. One that didn’t end well. This is their chance to mend everything. Or have closure at least. I loved how these characters were written. Mallory is at a point in her life where she must choose between what she loves and what she thinks she loves. Jake is at a point where he must step up and be the person he was always meant to be. Will they be what each other needs in the long term? ( )

A lesson in learning sparks a love that's enduring. Sunkissed Days was the start of something special. Remind Me is the continuation of a love story that never had the chance to begin. Mallory and Jake were a childhood crush interrupted. Life got in the way, choices broke their hearts. When life brings then full circle, can young love rebuild adult hearts? Chase mesmerizes the heart and mind with a heartwarming combination of life, love and friendship. Remind Me is a stunning new beginning for an old heartache. ( )

Jake & Mallory were introduced to us in Sunkissed Days . This continues their story several years down the road. Mallory’s grandfather passed away & she came home for the funeral & to help her mother. She just hoped she wouldn’t run into Jake while she was home. Fate was not on her side. Jake was managing the construction repairs on the house & she ran into him every time she turned around. Can they manage to get over their past? Or will Mallory head back to New York & not give their relationship a chance?

Remind Me is a story of young love and comes no of age. In Sunkissed Days, Mallory came across as someone who was spoiled & immature. She wanted Jake to change his plans while she didn’t give up anything. At the beginning of this story, I really didn’t think Mallory had grown up very much. She was remembering her side but not acknowledging the position Jake was in. As the story went on, you could see her viewpoint widening and maturing. The characters are well developed & inspire an emotional response in the reader. The plot moves at the perfect pace. The prose is descriptive enough that the reader can develop pictures of the scenes in their minds as they read. In the aftermath of a hurricane & the grandfather’s death, the scene is set for another terrific series. ( )