The Last Memory

Author: Kathleen Rouser
Genre: Historical Fiction
Pages: 119
Release Date: September 12, 2023
Publisher: Independently published (Originally published by Barbour).

Amnesia. A shipwreck. A second chance at love could cost them everything.

The lone survivor of a shipwreck, "Mallory's" past is a complete mystery when a head injury causes amnesia. Cal Waterson doesn't expect to be so attracted to the young woman he rescued on the lakeshore. His small daughter wishes she had a mom, but he isn't looking for a wife. The more time the mysterious young woman spends in their company the more a tenuous bond grows. When a stranger arrives, saying he's from her past, Mallory must decide whether there's a true home for her heart in the past or the present. And Cal must decide if she is worth the gamble for their future.

(The Last Memory was originally published as part of The Great Lakes Lighthouse Brides Collection.)

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Reviewer: Katie Slocum

Have things ever not gone the way you wanted them to, only for you to find out later that it was because God had something even better for you?

Like the characters in this story, we can sometimes find ourselves shaken out of our comfort zones so that God can reveal an even better way. That path can seem dark as He leads our lives in a direction we did not intend to go, until God’s light bursts forth to show us the way, just as the lighthouse shines brightly just when the ships need it most. And we can then see that He was there all along.

Kathleen Rouser has written an engaging story with clarity and depth, darkness and light, faith and love. Although it is a short novel, I did not feel as though anything was missing. It is just the right amount of mystery, romance, and hope, keeping me eagerly turning the pages from the beginning until the very end. The characters and setting are very realistic and easily relatable.

As someone who lives near several of the Great Lakes in New York, I found the details of the lakes and their lighthouses very interesting and familiar. Michigan and its lighthouses are now somewhere I would like to visit someday.

I recommend The Last Memory to anyone who loves to be swept away to another time and place for an unforgettable and enjoyable journey that will not only entertain but also leave you encouraged, challenged, and changed for the better.

I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from the author through Interviews & Reviews. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise

A shipwreck leaves one survivor who cannot remember anything, and the lighthouse keeper, Cal, rescues her. The young lady takes the name of the ship, Mallory.

The setting near Mackinac Island is a favorite since I once visited there. Lighthouses are very interesting to me, and the descriptions brought me right into the story.

I liked the characters of Mallory, Cal, and his daughter Lily. It was great to see Mallory interact with the little girl. Mallory knows almost nothing about her previous life, although she loves to draw and paint. But she does not know if she is married or has a family.

The romance was sweet but necessarily moved at a slow pace. The feeling of uncertainty was expressed very well, especially when someone from her past shows up. Mallory is confused, but soon memories return.

This was a sweet, clean story with a solid faith thread that portrayed an honorable and godly hero.

A complimentary copy of this ebook was provided through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

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