The Sweetest Memory

The Memory Ranch Romances #1

by Melissa Storm

Can she emerge from the wreckage of her past to discover who she’s truly meant to be?

Ellie was lucky to survive the accident that totaled her car and nearly stole her life. What wasn't lucky, was waking up with no memories of her past or what her life was before. But, as she discovers more about how she lived before the accident, she begins to realize it might not be a life she ever wants to go back to. At the urging of her doctor and in desperation to escape her warring parents, she checks into a healing horse ranch in Alaska.

That's when the nightmares start, each starring the same faceless, nameless man. Every morning when she wakes, her heart breaks to have lost him yet again. Despite her vow to find him, no one seems to know who he is or where he might be--especially not the handsome ranch hand who seems to be falling for her more every day.

Will Ellie continue her journey to reclaim the love so real it’s the one thing she could never forget? Or should she treat the accident as a second chance to right the mistakes of her past while forging a new future?

Memories of Home is a moving tale filled with faith, horses, and the unyielding power of love. Order your copy and start reading today!

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Suspense

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2018

About the author

Melissa Storm is a New York Times and multiple USA Today bestselling author of Women’s Fiction, Inspirational Romance, and Cozy Mysteries.

Despite an intense, lifelong desire to tell stories for a living, Melissa was “too pragmatic” to choose English as a major in college. Instead, she obtained her master’s degree in Sociology & Survey Methodology—then went straight back to slinging words a year after graduation anyway.

She loves books so much, in fact, that she married fellow author Falcon Storm. Between the two of them, there are always plenty of imaginative, awe-inspiring stories to share. Melissa and Falcon also run a number of book-related businesses together, including LitRing, Sweet Promise Press, Novel Publicity, Your Author Engine, and the Author Site.

When she's not reading, writing, or child-rearing, Melissa spends time relaxing at her home in the Michigan woods, where she is kept company by a seemingly unending quantity of dogs and two very demanding Maine Coon rescues. She also writes under the names of Molly Fitz and Mila Riggs.

Reviews

[Sandee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this was an average read. Well-written and edited but there is too little story. The story is about recovering memories after an accident on a ranch where the staff specialize in this type of recovery. However, the staff didn't do anything except provide a safe environment to recover. They also keep secrets from the patient. I liked the descriptions of the emotions, especially the fears of someone going through this kind of trauma. I liked the inclusion of the abused horse and the sub-plot. All in all it is a very simple story.

[Heidi Lynn’s BookReviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I want to thank Melissa Storm and Kay P. Dawson for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.

I will be the first to say that I am a huge fan of Melissa Storm and genre of books. Her collaboration with Kay P. Dawson on Memories of Home is in my opinion her best book to date. I have never had the opportunity to read any of Kay P. Dawson’s books-but now it is a must that I do!! They definitely need to work together more often!!

Amazing job capturing theme of the book on the cover. It is absolutely beautiful and breathtaking. Kudos to the Graphic Artist Mallory Rock- because you rock!!

I loved how this book was dedicated to Angi! I can totally understood why you loved this book!! It is my fave book of Melissa’s (and I have many that I have loved in the past).

Ellie and I totally had something in common right off the bat. I felt an immediate connection with her. We have both have had dates from heck! We have not had much luck in the dating department. She is just as frustrated as I am.

I have read many books with accident scenes written into them. None of them have been so descriptive and realistic as Melissa and Kay’s scene was. It was like I was there watching it happen and feeling that she was going through. Not to mention what she was thinking. Kudos on the finer details of this ladies. However, my heart went out to her that she was put into the car accident to begin with.

Memory Ranch sounds like an amazing place for people to heal after being injured. This was an amazing story line that I have never had the pleasure of reading about before.

I was not a fan of the mother at all!! She was so fake and wanted Ellie to be someone she wasn’t.

I cant say enough wonderful things about this book. You will just have to read it to find out for yourself.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memories of Home (The Memory Ranch Romances Book 1) by Melissa Storm, Kay P. Dawson  
 
Ellie is starting her life over. She's flying blind with no safety net to break the fall. Memories of Home is one woman's inspiring quest to rebuild her life after her world falls apart. A stranger haunted by images she can't remember and a life her heart won't let her forget. She decides to find her own happiness. Within the present. Storm and Dawson cram a big message in a tiny bundle. Past mistakes are not the totality of who we are. They're only a stepping stone that guides us to become who we are meant to be.

[Gale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, meaningful story

When Ellie crashes her car, she loses her memory. That starts her on a journey to get to re-know herself and everyone around her. What she finds is truly all about who she was and who she wants the “old” her to be. She goes to a Memory Ranch to try to get her life back and she meets Landon and a whole host of folks who help her on her journey. She also reconnects with her dad; it is a touching reunion and a familiar story to most people. I enjoyed the story. Clean romance but very well written, touching read.

[Elsbeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story about losing and finding love. About memory loss. About finding yourself, your true self. And about horses.
It always amazes me how two authors can work together and create a wonderful story. Like this one!
I can't wait to read more stories of the Memory Ranch!
I received a copy and chose to review it.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

If 3.5 was an option, that’s what this would get.
It’s a necessary about Ellie, a model who was in a car accident and lost her memory.

But there was too much repetition about the illusive man in her dreams. The book would be better if the writing was tightened up.

[Jasmyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding Her Forever by Melissa Storm takes you on a journey through Ellie's mind and memory. After a horrible car accident, Ellie forgets everything - her name, her friends, and the identity of the literal man of dreams. She journeys far from home to an Alaskan ranch that specializes in memory therapy.

But Ellie is still haunted by this mystery man that shows up every night in her dreams. She knows that he was someone special, but she can't figure out who he is. She can't figure out much of anything, because even though she tries as hard as she can, her memories stay out of reach.

However, this gives Ellie a chance to find herself all over again. She reinvents herself as a completely different person than the horrible and vain one she seemed to be before the accident. But she can't seem to move past her dream man.

When a handsome ranch hand, Landon, catches her eye, she isn't sure what she should do. And as they start to become close, she feels like she's betraying someone from her past.

Throughout her journey to recovery, she learns many things about herself. She reconnects with her father in an incredibly touching way. And she bonds with the horses and people at the ranch.

I loved Ellie's journey, the horses, and the ending was quite a surprise twist. A mix of deception and redemption, which make an unusual but very well-done story.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie Hawkins is a super model with an overbearing mother. After leaving another dreadful date where her date was drunk, Ellie sees a deer in the middle of the road. When she swerves to miss the deer, she looses control of her car when she hits a puddle and cannot come out of her slide. She flips her car several times. When she wakes up a few days later she has no memory of her life and her estranged father at her side. Her mother shows up later arguing with everything being done for Ellie. After being released from the hospital, Ellie decides to recuperate at a ranch in Alaska, at the urging of her doctor and her dad. Of course her mother is against it, who thinks her ex husband is trying to be father of year, even though Ellie is not going to be staying with him.

When Ellie firsts arrives at the ranch, she sees a cowboy who gets her heart beating. Who is this cowboy? Will Ellie recover her memory? What does the future hold for Ellie now?

I enjoyed this book. I read it in one setting. I received an advanced copy and this is my honest opinion.

[Dotty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book set in Alaska for the most part. Well written and very interesting. I did not want to put the book down.
Ellie is a beautiful girl with a modeling career. She is involved in a car accident which puts her into a coma. She leaves the hospital to go to Memory Ranch. there she meets Liz the owner and 2 ranch hands. One is Landon the young cute one and Howard an older man. She keeps having a dream about a man but who is this mystery man?
Not only is Ellie hurting but on the ranch is a horse named Penny. Can anyone help Penny like they think they can help Ellie?
Ellie has not had any contact with her father since childhood and she reconnects with him after her accident. I felt like she wanted to disconnect with her mother but did not. she showed both parents respect.
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255

[Susan Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Storm and Kay P. Dawson take us on a journey to the unknown in The Memories of Home. Ellie was a successful model with her mom as her ‘momager’, while her dad lived in Alaska and had no contact with Ellie. Ellie was in a devastating car accident and lost her past memories and became reacquainted with her dad. Living in Anchorage, Alaska he knew of the Memory Ranch they would help her regain her memory. Deciding to go there over being with her dad instead of staying with her mom, she started a journey that proved to be exhausting, thrilling and scary. Meeting Landon who worked at the ranch was both exhilarating and very frustrating, unlike meeting Penny, a rescue horse, who was broken like Ellie. How did the three fit together, what lies ahead for Ellie, Landon and Penny? Will Ellie regain her memory to remember home is where the heart is? This series is proving to be one you won’t want to miss!

[RoseyLovesBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Model Ellie Hawkins loses her memory after a car accident and goes to Memory Ranch to relax and recover, where she meets handsome ranch hand Landon Hayes. Ellie is haunted by the mystery man in her dreams but can't see his face. Ellie starts falling for Landon but what would happen if she gave in to her budding feelings for Landon only to regain her memories and rediscover her love for the dream man? When Ellie reaches out to her mother Arlene for help, Arlene remembers Ellie was seeing someone named Marshall before her accident. But when Marshall reunites with Ellie to rekindle what they what they'd had, she feels something is missing. Then when Ellie dreams of her mystery man again, she finally sees his face and it's not Marshall, but Landon. Is this wishful thinking on her part? Who's the right man for Ellie?

Melissa Storm and Kay P. Dawson deliver an angsty, emotional and sweet story that will tug at your heart strings

[Valri Western · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to be beautiful and thought provoking! What would you do if you woke up after an accident and had no memory of your life before that moment? You have dreams of people without faces, especially a man that must mean a great deal to you but he keeps running away from you. You have parents that come to the hospital and they apparently hate each other so there is constant bickering and yelling (they are divorced, of course) but you are just trying to make sense of things! You find out you are a fashion model but your body and brain are broken. Your father tells you that you used to love horses, although you don't remember, so you decide to go to Alaska to a ranch that specializes in memory care. You come to find yourself there and although memories don't come back quickly, you come to find a "new you". You also might find a new love. This book is so touching and made me think about myself so many times! I was very glad I read it!

[Carol Pennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie is a model who has not had much luck in the area of romance. On her way home from yet another disastrous date, she swerves to miss a deer and ends up in a hospital bed lucky to be alive. Because of a traumatic brain injury, she has lost her memory. At her father’s recommendation, she journeys to Alaska to recuperate on a horse ranch dedicated to help those with memory issues. Soon upon arrival, she meets Landon. She is immediately drawn to him, but resists forming a relationship because she is haunted by the man of her dreams, the man she cannot remember.

This is an excellent read. I was so surprised by the revelations that occurred near the end of the book. I wasn’t expecting that at all. I loved the Alaska setting in the summer. The descriptions of the landscape made me long to take a trip there. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean romance with a bit of an unexpected twist.

[Betty Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elli had a perfect life, at least the perfect life her mother wanted for her. Then one day she had an accident in which she nearly lost her life. She comes to in the hospital and has no idea who she is or who anyone else is. It is decided that she is to go to a horse ranch in Alaska where they work with people to get their memories back. Every night she has the same nightmare, there is a man in her dreams that slowly walks away from her, she can never see his face. She calls sto him and he just disappears. She is given lessons riding horses, but there is one horse that has been abused so badly that no one has been able to touch her. Ellie associates with this horse and is determined to become friends with this horse. Read the story and learn what all she goes through before she is able to touch the horse and finally get her memories back. This book is hard to put down.

[Annette · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was another rainy day to sit and read a book. While it rained, I read Memories of Home by Melissa Storm and Kay P. Dawson and I couldn't put it down. Ellie Hawkins a high fashion model is in a nearly fatal accident and loses her memory. Her estranged father is at the hospital when she wakes up and Ellie doesn't remember anything. It's agreed that Ellie will go to the memory ranch in Alaska to rest and recover her memories. Ellie keeps having a dream of the love of her life but he has no face. She meets a cowboy Landon who helps her in her recovery and falls for him but her love of her life is in her dreams. This book is difficult to put down and you will thoroughly enjoy reading it. I received a free copy of this book and have voluntarily choose to review it.

[Nancy Garbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Authors Storm and Dawson have written a dream of a book! Ellie Hawkins’ struggles - her contentious relationship with her mother, her demanding career and her disappointing dating life - elicited strong empathy from me. Add to that a devastating car crash with amnesia and I was completely hooked on “Memories of Home”.

The Memory Ranch was a wonderful contrast to Ellie’s life and the characters there - Elizabeth Jane, Landon, Dad, Howard, and especially Penny - give so much depth and fullness to the story. Of course the surprise twist near the end was perfect.

If you like great clean romance, wonderful character development and a good mystery, then I highly recommend you read “Memories of Home”.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Memories of Home by Melissa Storm and Kay P. Dawson is a sweet, emotional story about a woman - a supermodel - whose mother is living her life through her daughter. Ellie is looking for a lasting relationship with a man, unable to find "him", when she is involved in a car accident that almost takes her life, but takes her memory. She moves into the Memory Ranch in hope of finding her lost memories while her body heals.

This is a wonderful story that will keep you turning pages. You will want Ellie to regain her memory and find the love of her life. Is it possible?

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story and I love the way everything unfolds while turning pages. I highly recommend this book.

[Michelle Ferrari-Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Learning From Trauma

This story spoke to me in many ways. I too have a brain injury and do things repetitively to remember what I need to. Landon is in a class all unto himself. Any person that can show that amount of compassion, patience and restraint has definitely been chosen by God. To knowingly help the person you love who has no memory of you is a great Blessing to them.

I started to put the pieces together early on but I wasn't positive until it was revealed in the story. When Ellie's memories begin to peek in and she realizes she may not have been a nice person, it's a relief to see a character with flaws and who wants to change the way they live their life.

Looking forward to the next book~

[Shonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an entertaining read! I like Ellie so much! My heart went out to her and how she was hurting to get her memory back. This story was fantastic, just when I thought It was coming to an end there was a major twist in the story that had me blown away. I can’t tell you enough how great of a book this is! I also loved that this story had a horse named Penny who was abused and was taken in to give her a chance at life. I feel in love with Penny and it was like reading two stories. I kept turning pages at record speed to find out more about Ellie’s and Penny’s story! This story should be rated 10 stars!

[Marie Bourgery · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie had just left a date with a horrible man and was dating to get over losing the love of her life while dealing with a modeling career that she didn't enjoy anymore when she got into the car accident and lost her memory. After recovering physically enough to leave the hospital, she goes to Memory Ranch in Alaska to emotionally heal and remember her past. Ellie connects with broken previously abused horse Penny and ranch hand Landon. But how can she have romantic feelings about Landon when she dreams about the mystery man love of her life? I loved reading more about Liz from the Sled Dog Series and her horse therapy ranch. I can't wait to read the next book in this series.

[Elissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Head Trauma

We are learning more and more that the delicate brain in its hard case is still subject to shock and concussion when traumatized. What make the mind and memories work is far from known although science is trying to find out. More and more research points to the roles of animals in securing tenuous holds on memory and self for dementia and Alzheimer patients. Our heroine has been in an accident and has lost not her mind, but her memories. Great story line and character development. The writing draws you in and you'll find yourself flipping pages (virtual or real) as fast as you can read!

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A horrific car crash takes away her memory, but gives Ellie a second chance at a life that is hers alone. Her choice is to go recover in Alaska at a ranch that gives horses a second chance, away from bickering parents and an empty life. I have really enjoyed the series of the gentle giants that offer serenity, grounding and healing, some to recover lost memories, some to recover from painful ones. Alaska's vivid scenery, the graceful horses, and Ellie's struggle are realistically drawn. Her slow awakening of hope for a new and different life parallels her recovering memories and the deepening love for horses and the man she rides with

[Jeannine Wickliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melissa Storm comes thru again with a great book. Ellie has a near fatal accident and has lost her memory. Now she must make decisions on how to get her memory back. Her estranged father suggests she go to Memory Ranch in Alaska to see if that would help. Her mother wants her stay in California and continue her modeling career. She decided going to the Ranch will help her more and give her a chance to recover. Here she meets Landon but refuses to get close due to her nightly dream of a mystery man. Will Ellie remember who her mystery man is, will she recover her memory, and will she connect with the frightened horse Penny. This is a story that draws you in and keeps you to the end

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellie trying to avoid hitting a deer crashed her car. Finally awakening in the hospital, her father said it was two days ago. A father she doesn’t remember, or even who she is. The loud voices, the arguing that was to be her parents, if she listen would that help her memory. A Memory Ranch her father mentions, the Dr e en looked it up. Saying if anything would help this surely could. With her father she is off to Alaska, wondering if any place would feel like home again. Delightful, and enjoyed reading of what she encounters when she is up there.

[Barbara A. White · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about memory loss due to an accident .

I really liked this book because throughout as the story events were happening that would lead you on to discover where it would go from there, I never saw what was going to happen on this Memory Ranch in Alaska. I enjoyed Ellie's closeness with the horses & saw the possibly budding of a new love as she met one of the employees at the ranch. I even experienced some tears at the end of the book! The women who love horses & how they work themselves into the lives of the main characters will certainly enjoy this book!

[Susannah Carleton · Rating 3 out of 5]

2 1/2 stars. A good premise, characters with possibilities, and an uncommon setting drew me to this book. An uneven plot, a secondary character who is a caricature of a managing mother to her daughter, a somewhat famous model (it’s not clear how famous), and a rather predictable storyline.

The book is poorly editted, if it was editted at all. Italics start in the middle of sentences, often in the middle of words, and frequently occur in places where italics should not appear.

Given the possibilities of this story, I was disappointed that the author did not fulfill its potential.

[ROBIN RUIZ · Rating 5 out of 5]

If a book is written by Melissa Storm, I know right away it’s a feel good book!
Ellie is a model, pageant queen, whose mom made her feel her worth was in her looks.
Ellie is in a horrible accident and is left broken, scarred and with no memory.
Her estranged dad feels she should recover at The Memory Ranch in Alaska
It is here Ellie rediscovers herself and her worth.
Such a fantastic story of love, faith and finding oneself !

[Nati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a broken horse bring back Ellie’s memory? After a nearly killing car accident Ellie can’t remember anything from her past and who she is. So, when his father suggest to fly to Memory Ranch in Alaska, she is willingly to give it a try. There she meets Penny, a broken horse and Landó, a handsome cowboy. They will help her find her past but she needs to look to her future in order to be happy again.

[Alice · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hitting a deer proves on a wet road proves impossible to avoid. Recovering from a traumatic brain injury proves difficult as well.
Trying to remember her past, Ellie goes to Alaska to the Memory Ranch. Hoping horse therapy will help bring her memory back, Ellie allows Landon to work with her on the calming effects that the horses provide. When her memory returns, she is totally caught off-guard.
Another great book by a great author. Looking forward to book 2 in this series.

[Anne Blyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is something magical about these beautiful stories that include the healing power of animals. In this amazing story two broken souls, one and woman with no memory, the other, a horse whose past life of abuse left her afraid to trust, heal each other. The journey to healing and love is not an easy one, full of frustration and fear of the unknown but I guarantee you will love the final outcome. Beautifully done.