Memento Mori: The Forgotten Book 1, Lexi Blake

River is a woman who yearns to forget.  She made a mistake and married a con-man, her father passed away, and now she has to sell the only home she's ever known just to keep her business afloat.  River feels like she's drowning and isn't sure what to do.  She needs a miracle.  It's a good thing a rugged, sexy, socially awkward, mysterious man is determined to give her everything she needs, but only if she can let down her walls and accept the perfectly imperfect man that's offering.  Jax is a man without a past.  Perhaps.  He doesn't know what came before a few short years ago but he's determined to find out.  And along the way, maybe, just maybe, he'll find his future.  But only if they can survive betrayal and being hunted as they search for Jax's answers.

I adored Jax.  He was a hot, bad-a alpha, super sexy, and incredibly focused.  He was also celibate.  And when you combine all of that with a lost little boy cluelessness?  Killer combo.  It's like they read my mind for the things I seek out to read or hope I'll find in many of the new books I read.  While his childlike innocence and adolescent expression of desire was on another level due to his circumstances, it was his earnestness, honesty, and determination that captivated me.

River was a bit different.  I liked her strength and willingness to do everything she needed to do for her father and her business.  She was understandably wary regarding male attention but her views of her own self-worth and desires were a bit short-sighted.  I also immensely disliked her reaction to Levi Green's revelations.  To be willfully stubborn and absolutely refuse to listen disappointed me greatly.  To feel hurt, betrayed, frustrated, angry...all of that is absolutely normal, expected even.  But to turn around and be nasty, vindictive, or hurtful right back when everyone, even your own self, is telling you that you don't have the complete picture, especially when the person who gave you all that incriminating information obviously has another agenda and is exhibiting shifty behavior as well, then that's not okay by any means.

With the open ending regarding Levi, his plans, and all the information about the Lost Boys, it's clear that it's going to be a helluva ride to get all the answers they need.  I'm completely hooked on these men and am eagerly looking forward to Tabula Rasa, Owen's story, coming out in February of 2019.  Jax's many, many confessions and assurances of his heart tended to be sweet and sappy at times but not altogether annoying or unwelcome.  Both are so eager for love and the ending was so perfect.  They each met the person meant just for them and while their road was rocky, their commitment and future was absolutely worth the trip.

*$5.36 on Amazon!