ARC Review: Forgetting August by J.L. Berg

Forgetting August is the first book in J.L. Berg's new Lost & Found series. This is the first part of August and Everly's story, and it does end with a cliffhanger. Their story will continue in the second book, Remembering Everly, so readers should know that this book is not a standalone story when starting this book. While I have read other books from Berg before, Forgetting August has a different feel to it than her other books I have read do, and it was really interesting to see her take on something new this time around. I am looking forward to reading the next book and finding out what all is going on here! 

When August Kincaid wakes from a two year coma, he remembers nothing more than a few random details of his life and his name. But a box of his belongings holds a picture of him with a pretty redhead that he knows could help him remember. But the Everly that he meets isn't his biggest fan, and the man she describes him as being is a monster. Everly has long since moved on, but when the man August is trying to be now is like the man she had fallen in love with, she finds herself torn. Can he really be the man he once was, or will he once again turn into the monster she remembers? And with secrets still to be revealed, what will happen once the truth finally comes out? 

I felt for all the characters in this book. They had each been through so much, and I honestly didn't know which side to be on. On the one hand August had been horrible to Everly in the past, yet the August we got to see here was one that was impossible not to fall for. I felt so badly for him having no recollection of anything in his past, and watching him try to piece his life together was heartbreaking at times. Everly had been treated badly by August and I understood how she could hate him so much yet it was clear that she had loved him before things had gone bad, and that was who he was trying to be here. Then there was the man that Everly was supposed to marry, Ryan, and I liked how supportive he was of Everly. He clearly loved her, and while he didn't agree with her decisions, he also was there for her regardless. 

Overall, I really liked this story and couldn't put it down. I will admit that it was frustrating at times with more questions than answers, but I am really interested to see where it all goes from here. J.L. Berg is a great writer, and I know that wherever this story takes us next that these characters will get a satisfying ending to their story. I recommend anything by her, and Forgetting August was one that I know I will reread again in the future.

**ARC Provided by Publisher**

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Guest Post with Author J.L. Berg and Giveaway

Meet J.L. Berg, author of Within These Walls.

J.L. Berg is a California native living in the South. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she’s not writing, you can find her with her nose stuck in a romance book, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC.

Find JL at:

| Site | Facebook | Twitter |

Review: When You're Ready by J.L. Berg

This book was absolutely amazing. When You're Ready by J.L. Berg is probably the most emotional and heartfelt book that I have ever read. It was beautiful and absolutely captured my interest from the very start. There was not a single thing about this book that I can complain about. I honestly was shocked when I found out that this was J.L. Berg's debut novel. The writing was fantastic, and the story flowed really well. This book was just everything great that you look for in a good book that will stick with you, and I know without a doubt that I will remember this story forever.

After losing her husband, Clare is left to raise their young daughter as a single mother. She had planned to grow old with Ethan and never expected to lose him at such a young age. A few years later, Clare ends up rushing her daughter to the ER and meets a handsome doctor. They are instantly attracted to each other, and feel as though there is something more between them. When they run into each other again, Logan ends up helping Clare build a ballet barre for her daughter Maddie. Logan thinks that he is incapable of loving anyone else, and knows that the last person he should get involved with is a single mother. But he finds himself unable to stay away from Clare and Maddie. The more time that they spend together, the more they all begin to become attached. Soon they are picturing a future together as a family and it looks like nothing can stand in their way. But when the unexpected happens, Logan must make a decision about the future that he had planned to spend with Clare and Maddie. Are Clare and Logan willing to risk everything for a chance at love?

I absolutely adored Logan. He was sweet and thoughtful, patient and kind. He was a super sexy doctor that always took care of his patients, but you could tell that he was completely different with Clare and Maddie. I loved the connection that he had from the start with both of them, and I especially loved how he was with Maddie. They were so sweet together, and he really treated her as though she was special and I loved that he always called her princess. He went out of his way to take things slow and make things right for not only him and Clare but Maddie also. I just thought that his character was one of the best heroes I have ever read and he will always be one of my favorite book boyfriends ever. Clare was strong and funny and was a really likable heroine. I loved how she was able to really move on from being dealt such a horrible tragedy, and even though it broke her heart she was able to really embrace the chance at a future she never expected. I loved how open and honest she was and how she always was understanding about Logan and his past. She never judged him or used it against him, and she was secure enough about their connection to be able to see past everything. Logan and Clare had such a strong and believable connection. It really felt like they were made for each other, and that they were always meant to be. That being said, it didn't take anything away from Clare's relationship with Ethan. It just felt like she had always been meant to be with both of them at different times. Clare and Logan not only had an undeniable connection, but they were also amazingly hot together and had some of the strongest chemistry I have ever read about.

Overall, this book is by far one of the best that I have read in a very long time if ever! This book had me emotionally invested from the start, and there were many times that I was laughing out loud while others had me tearing up and trying to read through a blur. Clare and Logan were absolutely impossible not to fall in love with, as were Maddie and Clare's best friend Leah. There really was absolutely nothing that I didn't enjoy about this book. This book will be one that I know for a fact will be reread over and over for me. I just felt so connected to Clare and Logan, and even though the ending was wonderful and satisfying I found myself feeling greedy for more. I instantly wanted to start the book over from the beginning and fall in love all over again. This book is an absolute must read. I can't even begin to truly tell everything that I loved about this book, but if you haven't read it then you definitely need to. I have said that about other books, but really this book is one that I wholeheartedly believe that any romance fan should read. I cannot wait to see what J.L. Berg has in store for readers in the future with this being her debut. She has a natural gift of story telling, and I will definitely be reading more of her work whenever I can get my hands on it! I cannot wait to read Leah's story next!

**Review copy provided by AToMR**

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ARC Review: Never Been Ready by J.L. Berg

Never Been Ready is the second book in J.L. Berg's Ready Series. I couldn't wait to read this story the second after I finished When You're Ready. Even though this is the second book, you could very easily read this as a standalone. I highly recommend that you read them in order though as the characters are interconnected and you get so much more insight into everyone if you have read the first book. Not to mention the fact that J.L. Berg is an amazing writer, and these stories are absolutely fantastic. I cannot believe these are the first books that she has written! They are absolutely amazing, the stories are interesting and complex, the characters deep, and they have such a natural flow that is just so easy to get lost in. I am a huge fan after reading these books, and I can tell you that I will absolutely be reading anything I can get my hands on from J.L. Berg in the future!

Leah grew up with an alcoholic father and no mother after she walked out when she was young. She grew close to her best friend Clare and her family took her in as their own. Now years later, she is a labor and delivery nurse and lives her life thinking that she will never find love after her childhood and a boyfriend who left her when she needed him the most. So when she meets Declan James, Hollywood's newest up and coming actor she figures one night with him couldn't hurt. But six months later, she can't bring herself to be with anyone else and he is all she thinks about. After being left heartbroken years ago, Declan lives his life with no commitments and the rule of only one night with a woman. But months after meeting Leah, he is still thinking about her. When his current movie takes him back to Virginia, he figures he needs to work Leah out of his system. But soon, he is falling harder than ever before for Leah. Even though they are both nervous about the feelings that are growing between them, they realize that they have a shot at a future together. However when a sudden revelation from the past is revealed, will they be able to move forward together or be torn apart?

I honestly wasn't sure that I was going to like Declan after we briefly met him in When You're Ready. I thought that he was arrogant and bit of a jerk. But he won me over so quickly in this story it wasn't even funny. He was charming and sweet, extremely thoughtful, and so much deeper than I ever expected him to be. I loved seeing how passionate he was about movies and his love for film. It was so much more to him than just a career and fame. I loved seeing him become a better man because of Leah. I think my favorite thing about him was that he didn't try to fight his feelings for Leah once he realized where things were going with them. He just accepted them and was determined to make her his. He was also really sexy, and the chemistry between him and Leah was off the charts hot! I loved Leah from the first book, but she grew on me even more in this story. She is so much fun, she is feisty, and I love how strong she is. She is one of those heroines that I would love to be friends with in real life. She has such a blunt and straight forward way of saying things and going about life that you never know what will come out of her mouth next...and I absolutely love it! She is also kind and giving, and is always taking care of others. I loved how understanding and patient she was with Declan and all the things that they were dealt. She really just kept an open mind and was always there for support or whatever he needed. These two had such an amazing connection, and I felt like they were so easy to become emotionally invested in.

Overall, this book was a fabulous follow up to When You're Ready. Sometimes with a series, the second book falls a bit flat and just doesn't live up to the expectations that can develop after such a great start. That was so not the case with Never Been Ready though. This book was as amazing as the first story, and in a completely different way. I can't say that it was better than the first, because they are both favorites of mine now and for completely different reasons. But this one was definitely more than I could have hoped for and I am so excited to read more from Berg in the future! I loved seeing more of Clare, Logan and Maddie as well as getting to know Leah and Declan better. This series is shaping up to be one of my all time favorites. I can't wait to get to know Clare's brother Garrett better in Ready For You, the next book in this series. This series is an absolute must read for romance fans, and I seriously cannot recommend it enough. There is no way to say everything I love about these books, but they are definitely worth the read. These books always go in different ways than I would expect, and I love that I never know exactly what is going to happen. J.L. Berg has definitely become a favorite author of mine, and I can't wait to read more from her in the future.

**ARC provided by AToMR**

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Feature and Giveaway: Never Been Ready by J.L. Berg

Leah Morgan was done with men. After barely surviving a horrendous childhood, and a boyfriend who bailed when things got rough, Leah had given up on love. Then she met him, Hollywood’s new golden boy who suddenly had eyes only for her. She tried to convince herself that one night couldn’t hurt, but after six months, the memories of his mesmerizing gaze and searing touch still invaded her every thought.

Declan James had just one rule when it came to women. Keep it simple, and never linger. That all changed the moment he met Leah. Even across a crowded bar, he could tell she was different. Sweet, with just the right amount of sass, she made him break his golden rule and now he couldn’t walk away.

When casual becomes anything but, and emotions run deep, will Leah and Declan fight their fears, or let old insecurities destroy their one chance to discover true happiness? When Declan’s past comes roaring back in a way neither of them could have expected, will they stand united or be torn apart by the challenges that lie ahead?

It was only supposed to be one night, but only forever will do.

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