Review: In Every Chapter - The Reluctant Romantics #2

Happy release day to In Every Chapter, the second book in the Reluctant Romantics series by Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht!

Amnesia stories always make me wonder what memories I would lose and whether it would be possible to recover them. Paisley goes through such an experience, with her story taking us on an emotional roller coaster ride of feeling lost and arriving home.

Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content to be aware of: past domestic violence, military PTSD

Book Synopsis

Like my favourite bookish heroines, I found the love of a lifetime, except I can’t remember how…

Paisley:

My summer plans were simple. Kiss my husband, snuggle my dog, and create an elite reading list for the library. Losing seven years' worth of memories after near-death by window artistry, thanks to my klutzy nature? Absolutely not part of the plan.

In one short day, I went from stealing kisses with Greyson to waking up in the hospital to a handsome stranger—the man I forgot I married. Every memory of us is a blank slate, and I’m in the middle of a life I dreamed of but can’t remember.

But there are three things I’m sure of:

I have no intention of letting a man break my heart again

For all his grumpiness, Greyson has a heart of gold. Better than any fictional hero

And my heart is very much in danger of falling in love again…with my husband

Greyson:

My time in the Marines didn’t prepare me for this kind of campaign—Operation Woo My Wife. Of all the nightmares I’ve struggled with since my last mission overseas, Paisley forgetting me was never one of them.

Competing against old and forgotten memories brings its own kind of challenges, but I’m not giving up. She already has my heart. I just need to win hers back.

Because I can’t fail her again.

I want to be the hero she remembers.

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

What a sweet story about what it means to be a hero in someone’s life. This book demonstrates how everyday faithfulness far exceeds momentary grand gestures, embodying the steadfast love of God. When Paisley finds herself losing all memory of the last seven years of her life, Greyson—her husband who is part of the missing years—steps in and provides comfort and healing after her traumatic injury. Alongside his patient support, Paisley’s friends and extended family members in Serenity Springs form a tight-knit community that helps her navigate the way forward. I appreciate that Morgan Taylor Giesbrecht sensitively portrays difficult topics in this book while respecting all that Paisley has had to endure in her past. 

With well-placed flashbacks offering glimpses into formative experiences for both Paisley and Greyson, it’s easy to picture them as strong and whole individuals who come together to create an even stronger bond through marriage. Their banter and gentle courtship is reminiscent of the literary references that abound in their relationship, making this book a reader’s dream. I love that God is ever-present and that the characters trust Him when their world is turned upside down. It’s an encouraging story that points to gratitude and hope, helping us not to take the people in our lives for granted. Readers who enjoy second chance romances within marriage will fall in love with Paisley and Greyson as they re-experience the gift of a spouse who places the other person's needs before their own.

Book Summary

• Format of book: 📱
• Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Recommendation: 👍

Book Quotes

My skin itched self-consciously at the flurry of white tissues waving around the room. I didn’t usually make grand, moving speeches. I left those for book characters like Samwise Gamgee and Anne Shirley. But the words had poured out of me, and there was no damming the flow. If losing my memories had taught me anything, it was how important it was to hold the ones you loved best close. To tell them often how much they meant to you. So that even if some of the chapters got lost along the way, the roots were still there.