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Oil Knights #1
A Reckless Memory
I fled minutes before my wedding when I learned my fiancée was being paid to marry me. Ten years, too many crappy exes, and one drunken decision later, I’m now his boss.
From Marie Johnston comes a small town second chance romance .
I worked hard to get where I am. New house. Good job. Fresh start. I even have a budding horse rescue, but with my full-time work, I need a manager to rehabilitate and train the animals.
During a night out with a friend, we start commiserating about how crappy exes never get their due. A stalker ex is happily married, yet I just got dumped after being told I was cold and emotionless. That ex got my promotion. And then there’s the ex who shall not be named—it’s Ansen Barron, as if I can forget his devastating grin and talented touch. If only someone could teach them a lesson.
Just so happens he who shall not be named is down on his luck. It's my turn to be in control. After sending a tipsy email from a dummy account offering Ansen the new (low paying) position of rescue manager, I wake up hungover, with an employee.
When he arrives, I feel anything but cold and emotionless. He reignites a spark inside me I didn’t know was extinguished. He blows the dust off the old Aggie and I realize how much of myself I’ve smothered.
I’m supposed to be running a horse rescue. Instead, I’ve got pigs and ducks and donkeys and a manager who sees the real me, who makes me wonder how much was fake. He's slowly piecing my heart back together. Only I can’t forget he was the one who shattered it in the first place.
From Marie Johnston comes a small town second chance romance .
I worked hard to get where I am. New house. Good job. Fresh start. I even have a budding horse rescue, but with my full-time work, I need a manager to rehabilitate and train the animals.
During a night out with a friend, we start commiserating about how crappy exes never get their due. A stalker ex is happily married, yet I just got dumped after being told I was cold and emotionless. That ex got my promotion. And then there’s the ex who shall not be named—it’s Ansen Barron, as if I can forget his devastating grin and talented touch. If only someone could teach them a lesson.
Just so happens he who shall not be named is down on his luck. It's my turn to be in control. After sending a tipsy email from a dummy account offering Ansen the new (low paying) position of rescue manager, I wake up hungover, with an employee.
When he arrives, I feel anything but cold and emotionless. He reignites a spark inside me I didn’t know was extinguished. He blows the dust off the old Aggie and I realize how much of myself I’ve smothered.
I’m supposed to be running a horse rescue. Instead, I’ve got pigs and ducks and donkeys and a manager who sees the real me, who makes me wonder how much was fake. He's slowly piecing my heart back together. Only I can’t forget he was the one who shattered it in the first place.
Unknown Binding
First published July 7, 2023
295 people are currently reading
559 people want to read
About the author
Marie Johnston
100 books1,051 followersMarie Johnston is an award-winning, best-selling paranormal and contemporary romance writer. She grew up in the upper Midwest and planned to go to college for English. Didn't happen. She started college in accounting and was awful! Grabbing her inner science geek by the pocket protector, she changed to microbiology and medical technology where her only writing involved scientific articles and procedures.
Eventually, she left full-time work for full-time baby raising but kept thinking, "one day, I'd like to write a book." Finally, before any more time passed, Marie decided to buckle down and write. She loves it!
Eventually, she left full-time work for full-time baby raising but kept thinking, "one day, I'd like to write a book." Finally, before any more time passed, Marie decided to buckle down and write. She loves it!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 177 reviews
January 5, 2025
After the initial betrayal I wasn't sure how he could redeem himself but their journey made me rethink. I can't say that there was grovel but at the same time it was healing. They were both too young when the betrayal happened, which in retrospect wasn't quite betrayal as the hero didn't have malicious intentions towards heroine, quite the opposite. I loved their second chance where choices were made fully knowing what they wanted and that was what mattered. I do believe that if they did get married when they were young, the marriage wouldn't be so successful as they hadn't found themselves yet. On to the second book of this series as I'm truly curious to see what happens with the rest of the brothers.
July 5, 2024
Not like my usual in your face angsty reads, but it was good. With the book blurb I thought I was going to get angst. Possible ow drama, but no. Nothing of the sort. This is a very sweet and easy read. Though at first I really wasn't convinced of Ansen's feelings for Aggie. I kinda feel his POV should have also been at the beginning of the book so I could have gotten a better picture how he felt towards Aggie. But he chickened out when it was revealed he was paid 2 million to marry Aggie by her father. An inner monologue would have sufficed, but we didn't get that. She wouldn't have listened to anything he said out loud to her anyway. She was compared to her mother throughout out the book. Her mom was described as flighty and selfish. Considering she left her husband and children behind it seemed to be true. But Aggie's dad was a piece of work.
10 yrs go by and they both have separate lives in different states. He's a horse trainer at the beginning of the book as well as 10 yrs later. His name is tarnished because he didn't want to marry his current girlfriend Stephanie as he's working on her father's farm. Her family publicly shames him with lies. He's in limbo basically as no one wants him to work for them. Aggie is living in North Dakota and has recently opened up an animal rescue while also holding down a fulltime job. She needs help. Her BF and her reach out to Ansen offering him a job as a joke using a fake name. He takes it of course because he's desperate. So Aggie planning revenge hires him once they meet in person. Of course he's shocked and surprised. And this is where their road to reconciliation starts.
There's a bunch of drama with her family especially her dad since he's the one that set them up in the beginning. He was an ass. After his death he leaves all of Aggie's inheritance to Ansen. Leaving Aggie nothing. Like I said he's an ass. But I guess it worked out as he donates it all to her rescue program and they ride off into the sunset.
Overall definitely enjoyed and I'll probably continue the series as I'm interested in book 3 that seems like it should be an angst fest. But we'll see I guess.
10 yrs go by and they both have separate lives in different states. He's a horse trainer at the beginning of the book as well as 10 yrs later. His name is tarnished because he didn't want to marry his current girlfriend Stephanie as he's working on her father's farm. Her family publicly shames him with lies. He's in limbo basically as no one wants him to work for them. Aggie is living in North Dakota and has recently opened up an animal rescue while also holding down a fulltime job. She needs help. Her BF and her reach out to Ansen offering him a job as a joke using a fake name. He takes it of course because he's desperate. So Aggie planning revenge hires him once they meet in person. Of course he's shocked and surprised. And this is where their road to reconciliation starts.
There's a bunch of drama with her family especially her dad since he's the one that set them up in the beginning. He was an ass. After his death he leaves all of Aggie's inheritance to Ansen. Leaving Aggie nothing. Like I said he's an ass. But I guess it worked out as he donates it all to her rescue program and they ride off into the sunset.
Overall definitely enjoyed and I'll probably continue the series as I'm interested in book 3 that seems like it should be an angst fest. But we'll see I guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
How does the author manage every time to make me feel this much? This time, she didn’t even pull her punches. She held my heart in her palm by the end of the first chapter, and she crushed it without flinching.
Agatha is supposed to marry Ansen, but after a big revelation, the wedding is off. Ten years later, a drunk decision brings them together once again. Aggie has built a life of her own, staying in control all the time, while Ansen’s has been crumbling, pushing him farther from his dreams. Without their difficult past and their family troubles, they could probably build something together, but it isn’t that easy.
I was happy to see the Coal Haven crew again. Of course, Ansen is a Barron, though estranged, so he needed to reunite with his family somehow. We don’t see much of their interactions though, but the author still gives some information. In fact, besides Ansen’s brother, Archer, and his wife and kids, and a brief cameo from Isla, we don’t see the Barron clan at all.
There’s too much going on with the Knights family for the Barrons to be more than a blip. While keeping with the small town and the influential family tropes, the author choses a new dynamic. There are still many siblings, and a tyrannical patriarch, but the family’s past and traumas are different. The original drama is the mother running away: it had a terrible impact on every member of the family. And it’s actually at the center of the story.
There’s a clear theme of women taking charge of their life, of women’s independence. You have the woman rejecting responsibilities, the woman controlling her partner’s life, the woman making a life changing decision because she isn’t happy, and of course you have Aggie who ran away from her family so she could find her purpose.
With so many interesting female characters, I admit the male ones fell a bit flat. Even Ansen. His indecision made him kind of weak as a potential partner, while Aggie was putting herself out there. He kept saying that he knew what he wanted, when at the same time he wished for two incompatible things, and sent mixed signals to Aggie. And his motivations weren’t always virtuous.
Their romance, though, was beautiful. Ansen sent Aggie positive messages, helping her with her self confidence after so many attacks. The passion was there, and while many sexy scenes happened off page, there were a lot of talking about them. Their main problem was trust, and it isn’t resolved easily.
Small town, cowboys, family drama, some steam, it works quite well. And the author sets up a few situations that I can’t wait to explore in the next books in the series.
Quickie
- Series: Oil Knights #1 (can be read as a standalone but connected to other series by the author)
- Hashtags: #small town romance #cowboy romance #second chance #workplace romance
- Triggers: mild psychological abuse by a parent, past death
- Main couple: Agatha Knights & Ansen Barron
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + I loved seeing again the people of Coal Haven
- – Ansen’s lack of commitment was annoying
Agatha is supposed to marry Ansen, but after a big revelation, the wedding is off. Ten years later, a drunk decision brings them together once again. Aggie has built a life of her own, staying in control all the time, while Ansen’s has been crumbling, pushing him farther from his dreams. Without their difficult past and their family troubles, they could probably build something together, but it isn’t that easy.
I was happy to see the Coal Haven crew again. Of course, Ansen is a Barron, though estranged, so he needed to reunite with his family somehow. We don’t see much of their interactions though, but the author still gives some information. In fact, besides Ansen’s brother, Archer, and his wife and kids, and a brief cameo from Isla, we don’t see the Barron clan at all.
There’s too much going on with the Knights family for the Barrons to be more than a blip. While keeping with the small town and the influential family tropes, the author choses a new dynamic. There are still many siblings, and a tyrannical patriarch, but the family’s past and traumas are different. The original drama is the mother running away: it had a terrible impact on every member of the family. And it’s actually at the center of the story.
There’s a clear theme of women taking charge of their life, of women’s independence. You have the woman rejecting responsibilities, the woman controlling her partner’s life, the woman making a life changing decision because she isn’t happy, and of course you have Aggie who ran away from her family so she could find her purpose.
With so many interesting female characters, I admit the male ones fell a bit flat. Even Ansen. His indecision made him kind of weak as a potential partner, while Aggie was putting herself out there. He kept saying that he knew what he wanted, when at the same time he wished for two incompatible things, and sent mixed signals to Aggie. And his motivations weren’t always virtuous.
Their romance, though, was beautiful. Ansen sent Aggie positive messages, helping her with her self confidence after so many attacks. The passion was there, and while many sexy scenes happened off page, there were a lot of talking about them. Their main problem was trust, and it isn’t resolved easily.
Small town, cowboys, family drama, some steam, it works quite well. And the author sets up a few situations that I can’t wait to explore in the next books in the series.
Quickie
- Series: Oil Knights #1 (can be read as a standalone but connected to other series by the author)
- Hashtags: #small town romance #cowboy romance #second chance #workplace romance
- Triggers: mild psychological abuse by a parent, past death
- Main couple: Agatha Knights & Ansen Barron
- Hotness: 3/5
- Romance: 4/5
- + I loved seeing again the people of Coal Haven
- – Ansen’s lack of commitment was annoying
August 19, 2023
I have had some really bad luck lately of picking up books where the herione or hero has a shitty family or parent😅 It bugs the me because 9 times out of 10 the family memeber doesn't get told off and usually gets immediately forgiven after saying sorry or in this case they just die a raging asshole😅
Anyways, Aggie's dad is a POS. He pays the hero Ansen to marry her. Ansen is like cool I need some cash and Aggie is a cool chick🤦♀️ Obviously it blows up in his face, and Aggie runs away with his dog. 10 years later, Ansen is still messing up. Angie decides to get revenge by hiring him ( don't ask me this was random) to work her rescue farm. Aggie's dad is dying still won't talk to her except to say she's a fuck up for not marrying Ansen. Here's a lovely random tidbit he's kept in touch with Ansen all these years...like I said he's a POS.
Anywho, they get back together after Anson apologizes. Her dad dies, cuts her out of the will, screws her brothers over, and leaves Ansen millions 🤣🤣🤦♀️ Don't worry, he donates it to her rescue because obviously keeping it for himself would be a dick move.
Then they live happily ever after on her rescue farm with his ( Ansen's dad). The End.
3.5 stars rounded up. It started strong but lost me towards the end.
Anyways, Aggie's dad is a POS. He pays the hero Ansen to marry her. Ansen is like cool I need some cash and Aggie is a cool chick🤦♀️ Obviously it blows up in his face, and Aggie runs away with his dog. 10 years later, Ansen is still messing up. Angie decides to get revenge by hiring him ( don't ask me this was random) to work her rescue farm. Aggie's dad is dying still won't talk to her except to say she's a fuck up for not marrying Ansen. Here's a lovely random tidbit he's kept in touch with Ansen all these years...like I said he's a POS.
Anywho, they get back together after Anson apologizes. Her dad dies, cuts her out of the will, screws her brothers over, and leaves Ansen millions 🤣🤣🤦♀️ Don't worry, he donates it to her rescue because obviously keeping it for himself would be a dick move.
Then they live happily ever after on her rescue farm with his ( Ansen's dad). The End.
3.5 stars rounded up. It started strong but lost me towards the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
What would you do if the man who broke your heart was down on his luck? A Reckless Memory introduces the reader to Aggie Knight. Strong woman who is living her life the way she wants. Or at least trying. Her upbringing was something else… her father Barns was a hard man who was even harder to please.
Ansen Barron is a lost man.
His life has spiraled because of choices that he has made. And when he comes across a job offer for a horse rescue he accepts without knowing a lot of facts. But when he realizes who makes the offer, he sees that he has a second chance with the one that ran away.
Marie Johnston creates an environment in which you can’t help but fall in love with the characters. The growth and development of this story held my attention in ways that I couldn’t put the book down. Aggie is broken in a way that you never expect. Ansen is a character that I wasn’t sure if I would like. However, I trust Johnston’s work and knew she would bring it around in a way that was perfect. Ansen comes across as a selfish idiot who’s only goal in life is to make money, but that isn’t who is truly is. It just takes some time for him to truly see the error of some of his decision in his past.
Family is an important element in A Reckless Memory and we meet all the Knights.
We meet Aggie’s brothers as well as revisit Ansen’s family. If you haven’t read the Oil Barron’s series, do not worry you won’t be lost, but if you have… the growth that these characters continue to show is wonderful. Aggie’s brothers and her best friend are dynamic characters that I can’t wait to meet again.
PoP: 51%
Is there a 3rd act break up: Yes
Ansen Barron is a lost man.
His life has spiraled because of choices that he has made. And when he comes across a job offer for a horse rescue he accepts without knowing a lot of facts. But when he realizes who makes the offer, he sees that he has a second chance with the one that ran away.
Marie Johnston creates an environment in which you can’t help but fall in love with the characters. The growth and development of this story held my attention in ways that I couldn’t put the book down. Aggie is broken in a way that you never expect. Ansen is a character that I wasn’t sure if I would like. However, I trust Johnston’s work and knew she would bring it around in a way that was perfect. Ansen comes across as a selfish idiot who’s only goal in life is to make money, but that isn’t who is truly is. It just takes some time for him to truly see the error of some of his decision in his past.
Family is an important element in A Reckless Memory and we meet all the Knights.
We meet Aggie’s brothers as well as revisit Ansen’s family. If you haven’t read the Oil Barron’s series, do not worry you won’t be lost, but if you have… the growth that these characters continue to show is wonderful. Aggie’s brothers and her best friend are dynamic characters that I can’t wait to meet again.
PoP: 51%
Is there a 3rd act break up: Yes
August 12, 2023
such a cute story
This was a different kind of second chance and I loved it. Years ago, Aggie thought she found her happily ever after and she was all ready to get married. Right before walking down the aisle, she hears agreeing between her fiancé and her brothers and finds out some truths.
After finding out some hard truths, she runs away from her wedding, her family, her town. Years go by and Aggie is stepping out on her own two feet and starts her own business.
Ansen hits some bad luck of his own when his most recent relationship blows up in his face and he is blacklisted from all employment. Feeling desperate, he answers an e-mail even though it looks anything but legit with all the spelling mistakes (did I mention it was sent while Aggie was intoxicated).
When these two reunite, you can feel the sparks but also all the hurt of the past. I loved watching them reconnect again and really talk through what happened in the past and how it affected their future. Ansen was surprisingly sweet, fun in the bedroom (and out, naked chores anyone?) and it wasn’t long until he was determined to keep his Aggie Baby no matter the cost.
This story was captivating but what also caught my attention was all the stories brewing with the other characters. Cody and Wilder, I need your stories asap. Can’t wait to continue with this series.
This was a different kind of second chance and I loved it. Years ago, Aggie thought she found her happily ever after and she was all ready to get married. Right before walking down the aisle, she hears agreeing between her fiancé and her brothers and finds out some truths.
After finding out some hard truths, she runs away from her wedding, her family, her town. Years go by and Aggie is stepping out on her own two feet and starts her own business.
Ansen hits some bad luck of his own when his most recent relationship blows up in his face and he is blacklisted from all employment. Feeling desperate, he answers an e-mail even though it looks anything but legit with all the spelling mistakes (did I mention it was sent while Aggie was intoxicated).
When these two reunite, you can feel the sparks but also all the hurt of the past. I loved watching them reconnect again and really talk through what happened in the past and how it affected their future. Ansen was surprisingly sweet, fun in the bedroom (and out, naked chores anyone?) and it wasn’t long until he was determined to keep his Aggie Baby no matter the cost.
This story was captivating but what also caught my attention was all the stories brewing with the other characters. Cody and Wilder, I need your stories asap. Can’t wait to continue with this series.
July 27, 2023
4.5 ⭐️
I was lucky enough to be sent this ARC by the author herself and i am so thankful she have me the chance to read this before it came out.
I went in not knowing what I was going to think because when it comes to second chance romances I can be quite picky but when I finally got into it I loved it. There are characters you love and there some that you hate and there are some to hate but grow to love.
I connected with Aggie so much in the sense that her whole life she has been underestimated just because she is female and is happy to be herself and take no shit but she is constantly being treated like she doesn’t know what she is doing.
Now at first I didn’t like Ansen but I also think you aren’t supposed to like him. Throughout the story he truly redeems himself and is the only one who sees Aggie and excepts her as she is and with every thing she wants in life. He stands up for her even when he isn’t in the best of situations and that is something I can respect.
I loved how quirky the animals names were and how present they were in the story.
Tex will always have a special place with me.
There are side character that I adore and hope to see SOOO MUCH more of.
Aggie brothers are a piece of work but I guess we will have to find out more about them as the series goes on as they are each going to get a book of their own.
I simply can’t wait to see where all of this goes.
I was lucky enough to be sent this ARC by the author herself and i am so thankful she have me the chance to read this before it came out.
I went in not knowing what I was going to think because when it comes to second chance romances I can be quite picky but when I finally got into it I loved it. There are characters you love and there some that you hate and there are some to hate but grow to love.
I connected with Aggie so much in the sense that her whole life she has been underestimated just because she is female and is happy to be herself and take no shit but she is constantly being treated like she doesn’t know what she is doing.
Now at first I didn’t like Ansen but I also think you aren’t supposed to like him. Throughout the story he truly redeems himself and is the only one who sees Aggie and excepts her as she is and with every thing she wants in life. He stands up for her even when he isn’t in the best of situations and that is something I can respect.
I loved how quirky the animals names were and how present they were in the story.
Tex will always have a special place with me.
There are side character that I adore and hope to see SOOO MUCH more of.
Aggie brothers are a piece of work but I guess we will have to find out more about them as the series goes on as they are each going to get a book of their own.
I simply can’t wait to see where all of this goes.
May 2, 2024
A Reckless Memory - Marie Johnston
*Book Rec*
𝑬𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓.
I picked this one up randomly because the 3rd book in the series looked SO good...but I wanted to give the others a chance. While this was perfect I read it super fast and am glad I read it. Ansen and Aggie were engaged at a young age, but she ran away right before after finding out he was PAID to marry her by her dad. Fast forward years later, one drunken night with her sister in law and Ansen is now her employee 😏 Story and spice were good, like I said it's not perfect, but it's a solid enough read where I will definitely continue the series.
“𝑴𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕.”
🐎Second Chance
💄Small Town
🐎Cowboy
💄Forced Proximity
*Book Rec*
𝑬𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒌𝒊𝒔𝒔. 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏’𝒕 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒆 𝒊𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒎𝒔. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒌𝒏𝒐𝒘 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒍𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒉𝒆’𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒚, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓.
I picked this one up randomly because the 3rd book in the series looked SO good...but I wanted to give the others a chance. While this was perfect I read it super fast and am glad I read it. Ansen and Aggie were engaged at a young age, but she ran away right before after finding out he was PAID to marry her by her dad. Fast forward years later, one drunken night with her sister in law and Ansen is now her employee 😏 Story and spice were good, like I said it's not perfect, but it's a solid enough read where I will definitely continue the series.
“𝑴𝒚 𝒇𝒂𝒗𝒐𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆. 𝒀𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒕.”
🐎Second Chance
💄Small Town
🐎Cowboy
💄Forced Proximity
August 17, 2023
I loved this one!
10 years ago Ansen and Aggie were getting married when she overhears that he only dated her because her father offered him money. After she learns the truth, she runs away from her family and Ansen. Now, he’s down on his luck and Aggie wants revenge. She hires him to work on her new animal rescue for next to nothing by giving him a fake name.
He realized that he messed up and wants Aggie back! He has to tread carefully to earn her trust.
He shows up to his brother’s home town and gets to know his family.
I really loved the second chance Romance. Their communication was great and the spice was so good 🌶🌶
I’ll have to continue with this series!
10 years ago Ansen and Aggie were getting married when she overhears that he only dated her because her father offered him money. After she learns the truth, she runs away from her family and Ansen. Now, he’s down on his luck and Aggie wants revenge. She hires him to work on her new animal rescue for next to nothing by giving him a fake name.
He realized that he messed up and wants Aggie back! He has to tread carefully to earn her trust.
He shows up to his brother’s home town and gets to know his family.
I really loved the second chance Romance. Their communication was great and the spice was so good 🌶🌶
I’ll have to continue with this series!
August 11, 2023
A Reckless Memory is the first book in Marie Johnston’s newest series Oil Knights. It is an offshoot of her two previous series, Oil Kings and Oil Barrons.
The book grabs you from the first page when Aggie (Agatha Christie) Knight discovers minutes before her wedding to Ansen Barron, the trainer of her fathers prized Arabian horses and son of the estranged part of the Barron family, has taken money from her father. Angry and hurt she hops into her pickup truck and flees, taking Ansen’s Australian Shepherd puppy with her.
Fast forward ten years and Aggie is back in town for her sister in law’s funeral. While downing shots of Fireball with her best friend and other sister in law Sutton she discovers that Ansen had fallen on her times, blackballed from all the horse ranches in several states due to malicious lies spread by the angry father of a spoiled girl that thought that Ansen was going to marry her. After undergrad and grad school Aggie has decided to open an equine rescue and needs a manager for the project. Anonymously she drops Ansen a line offering him the position at a laughingly small salary. To her surprise he replies immediately, taking the job.
He is shocked to find that Aggie is is new employer but they eventually fall into an easy truce as they work with the rescued animals. The more they work together (while Aggie is working scaled back hours for his wealthy uncle) the hurt and anger slowly fades away and the sparks begin to fly between them.
Aggie returns home when her father passes from cancer and Ansen decides to join her for support as she faces her brothers who never respected her intelligence nor wanted any input from her in running the horse farm (as was the case with her father). To their surprise Ansen is included in the will which leave Aggie with nothing. Her brothers must all remain on the ranch working to receive any of the dividends of their portions of the business. Ansen is left millions with no stipulation.
Shocked and saddened, Aggie returns home and tries to wrap her mind around how her father hurt her o again. She feels that now that Ansen has the money he will leave her to try to help his dad regain what their family has lost.
The couple does get their HEA, as always happens in a Marie Johnston book. It takes a little time and some groveling but things work out for them. I cannot wait for her widowed brother Cody’s book to debut!
The book grabs you from the first page when Aggie (Agatha Christie) Knight discovers minutes before her wedding to Ansen Barron, the trainer of her fathers prized Arabian horses and son of the estranged part of the Barron family, has taken money from her father. Angry and hurt she hops into her pickup truck and flees, taking Ansen’s Australian Shepherd puppy with her.
Fast forward ten years and Aggie is back in town for her sister in law’s funeral. While downing shots of Fireball with her best friend and other sister in law Sutton she discovers that Ansen had fallen on her times, blackballed from all the horse ranches in several states due to malicious lies spread by the angry father of a spoiled girl that thought that Ansen was going to marry her. After undergrad and grad school Aggie has decided to open an equine rescue and needs a manager for the project. Anonymously she drops Ansen a line offering him the position at a laughingly small salary. To her surprise he replies immediately, taking the job.
He is shocked to find that Aggie is is new employer but they eventually fall into an easy truce as they work with the rescued animals. The more they work together (while Aggie is working scaled back hours for his wealthy uncle) the hurt and anger slowly fades away and the sparks begin to fly between them.
Aggie returns home when her father passes from cancer and Ansen decides to join her for support as she faces her brothers who never respected her intelligence nor wanted any input from her in running the horse farm (as was the case with her father). To their surprise Ansen is included in the will which leave Aggie with nothing. Her brothers must all remain on the ranch working to receive any of the dividends of their portions of the business. Ansen is left millions with no stipulation.
Shocked and saddened, Aggie returns home and tries to wrap her mind around how her father hurt her o again. She feels that now that Ansen has the money he will leave her to try to help his dad regain what their family has lost.
The couple does get their HEA, as always happens in a Marie Johnston book. It takes a little time and some groveling but things work out for them. I cannot wait for her widowed brother Cody’s book to debut!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2023
This is the first book in the Oil Knights series. It is a standalone however it does interconnect with previous Oil series' and will most likely, quite positively, leave you wanting to know more about the residents of this small town.
If you have never read Johnston's work this is a good place to start
It's a slow-burn second-chance romance
Aggie has always been, in her mind, the extra child. Heck before her mama left she drilled into Aggie not to let the men in her life control it.
So after Aggie's oh-so-loving dear old pa paid a ranch hand to fall in love and marry her - Aggie found she had enough manipulation and heartache
She took the dog, and her truck and she was out
Ten years have passed not much at home has changed except Aggie is about to make her dream a reality and there is a bonus if she acts now.
That low-down cowboy who broke her heart?
He is in need of a job
And guess what?
She has one for him. Sure it doesn't pay squat diddly. And yeah, maybe she might be taking out a piece of his hide here and there for retribution But golly gee mister...
You are probably laughing thinking "You go girl", but hold your horses,
Karma is driving this bus and she sees what we don't which means her plans might be stampeding out of control
Okay so now that I have wrangled your attention
(come on you know there was no way I could pass up all the good ol' boy stuff)
Don't pass this up.
It is high heat, slow burn, lots of personal growth, and feels, second chance romance.
It also sets up the series regarding who is who and leads into what is coming next.
Packed with humor, some angst, a very smexy cowboy, family and all the drama they come with, some farm animals, and a real second chance at grabbing that brass ring -
Oh and the gal
If you have never read Johnston's work this is a good place to start
It's a slow-burn second-chance romance
Aggie has always been, in her mind, the extra child. Heck before her mama left she drilled into Aggie not to let the men in her life control it.
So after Aggie's oh-so-loving dear old pa paid a ranch hand to fall in love and marry her - Aggie found she had enough manipulation and heartache
She took the dog, and her truck and she was out
Ten years have passed not much at home has changed except Aggie is about to make her dream a reality and there is a bonus if she acts now.
That low-down cowboy who broke her heart?
He is in need of a job
And guess what?
She has one for him. Sure it doesn't pay squat diddly. And yeah, maybe she might be taking out a piece of his hide here and there for retribution But golly gee mister...
You are probably laughing thinking "You go girl", but hold your horses,
Karma is driving this bus and she sees what we don't which means her plans might be stampeding out of control
Okay so now that I have wrangled your attention
(come on you know there was no way I could pass up all the good ol' boy stuff)
Don't pass this up.
It is high heat, slow burn, lots of personal growth, and feels, second chance romance.
It also sets up the series regarding who is who and leads into what is coming next.
Packed with humor, some angst, a very smexy cowboy, family and all the drama they come with, some farm animals, and a real second chance at grabbing that brass ring -
Oh and the gal
August 10, 2023
A Reckless Memory is the first book in a new series by Marie Johnston, and my first book I’ve read by this author. I’m definitely a new fan and want to read her backlist. I’m especially interested to see if any of the past characters overlap with this book.
This book starts with Aggie getting ready to marry Ansen when she overhears that her dad is paying him to marry her. She packs up, grabs Ansen’s dog Tex, and drives away. 10 years later, she is starting an animal rescue but needs a horse trainer. She drunkely emails Ansen one night offering him the job. He is down on his luck, so she takes the job but doesn’t realize Aggie is the one hiring him. They both have real feelings that are still there for each other, but also lots of things they need to unpack from their past.
I loved this second chance romance, and how they worked through the things in the past. Things arose in the present that tested the same issues they experienced in the past, and they had to put a lot of faith in each other. I also loved the side characters and family members in this story. I can’t wait for their stories!
This book starts with Aggie getting ready to marry Ansen when she overhears that her dad is paying him to marry her. She packs up, grabs Ansen’s dog Tex, and drives away. 10 years later, she is starting an animal rescue but needs a horse trainer. She drunkely emails Ansen one night offering him the job. He is down on his luck, so she takes the job but doesn’t realize Aggie is the one hiring him. They both have real feelings that are still there for each other, but also lots of things they need to unpack from their past.
I loved this second chance romance, and how they worked through the things in the past. Things arose in the present that tested the same issues they experienced in the past, and they had to put a lot of faith in each other. I also loved the side characters and family members in this story. I can’t wait for their stories!
August 6, 2023
This was a cute little romance novel! It reminded me a lot of the Chestnut Springs series theme wise! It had minimal spice but was still fully enthralling. I received this book as an ARC from The Author Agency & Marie Johnston. This is one of my favorite ARC reads I’ve received to date! Make sure to grab this when it comes out. The story will capture you and keep you coming back and I’m really looking forward to the next book!!!
Tropes you get with this book include:
💕Second Chance Romance
💕Small Town Romance
💕Forced Proximity
💕Boss/Employee
💕Runaway Bride
Blurb:
I fled minutes before my wedding when I learned my fiancé had been paid to marry me. Ten years, too many crappy exes, and one drunken decision later, I'm now his boss.
A night out with a friend turned into shots and duping an old ex of mine into taking a job at my budding horse rescue.
The last time Ansen Barron saw me, I was fishtailing away from our wedding with his dog. When he arrives, I expect him to reverse right back down my driveway after he learns I'm his boss.
I don't expect to find a jaded man in the place of the easygoing guy I was once engaged to. I also don't expect my heart to race when he's around. Or for him to treat me like I always meant more to him than a payday.
I don't regret hiring him. He's the best man for the job, and he's trying to prove he's changed, one melting kiss at a time.
But no matter how hot we are together, I can't forget I once thought he was the best man for me and maybe it's safer for my heart if he stays a reckless memory.
Tropes you get with this book include:
💕Second Chance Romance
💕Small Town Romance
💕Forced Proximity
💕Boss/Employee
💕Runaway Bride
Blurb:
I fled minutes before my wedding when I learned my fiancé had been paid to marry me. Ten years, too many crappy exes, and one drunken decision later, I'm now his boss.
A night out with a friend turned into shots and duping an old ex of mine into taking a job at my budding horse rescue.
The last time Ansen Barron saw me, I was fishtailing away from our wedding with his dog. When he arrives, I expect him to reverse right back down my driveway after he learns I'm his boss.
I don't expect to find a jaded man in the place of the easygoing guy I was once engaged to. I also don't expect my heart to race when he's around. Or for him to treat me like I always meant more to him than a payday.
I don't regret hiring him. He's the best man for the job, and he's trying to prove he's changed, one melting kiss at a time.
But no matter how hot we are together, I can't forget I once thought he was the best man for me and maybe it's safer for my heart if he stays a reckless memory.
August 10, 2023
A Reckless Memory by Marie Johnston
Aggie and Ansen are set to be married, when Aggie happens to hear a condemning conversation that sets her running from her wedding. 10 years later, through a couple drinks too many at the bar Aggie and Ansen are reunited and rekindled.
This was a really cozy story with surprising spice, and a heartwarming animal rescue.
Why you will love this book:
💕Second Chance Romance
💕Small Town Romance
💕Forced Proximity
💕Boss/Employee
💕Runaway Bride
You can see once Aggie and Ansen come back together as 30 year old adults that they still have feelings for each other. But we see so little of their relationship when they were in their early 20s that everything seems to be moving really fast to me, especially for the heartbreak that Ansen dealt to Aggie that it just felt as if we didn’t get to see how strongly connected they were before, for them to so easily fall back into each other later. I really would have loved a flash back scene, a little longer back story I think would have helped me bridge that gap between the condemning conversation we hear, 10 years of separation, and ultimately they continuing their romantic relationship.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I received a digital ARC for my review
Aggie and Ansen are set to be married, when Aggie happens to hear a condemning conversation that sets her running from her wedding. 10 years later, through a couple drinks too many at the bar Aggie and Ansen are reunited and rekindled.
This was a really cozy story with surprising spice, and a heartwarming animal rescue.
Why you will love this book:
💕Second Chance Romance
💕Small Town Romance
💕Forced Proximity
💕Boss/Employee
💕Runaway Bride
You can see once Aggie and Ansen come back together as 30 year old adults that they still have feelings for each other. But we see so little of their relationship when they were in their early 20s that everything seems to be moving really fast to me, especially for the heartbreak that Ansen dealt to Aggie that it just felt as if we didn’t get to see how strongly connected they were before, for them to so easily fall back into each other later. I really would have loved a flash back scene, a little longer back story I think would have helped me bridge that gap between the condemning conversation we hear, 10 years of separation, and ultimately they continuing their romantic relationship.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
I received a digital ARC for my review
August 10, 2023
ARC Review:
4 ⭐️ 2.5🌶️
This book. The plot, the story, the characters - their development, the WRITING, I could not put it down.
This was my first Marie Johnston book and her writing is so deep and relatable. It was also my first ARC and I feel honored and absolutely smitten that it was with such a wonderful book. There were moments I had to reread some parts because they were that deep and it was like woahhh.
Second chance romances are in my top 3 of favorite tropes and they never disappoint. I loved that this one wasn’t like any of the others either it had a unique story and both the MMC and FMC had to go through 10 years of their own learning and growth to be able to get to where they could trust and finally admit their love for each other. 🥹
Aggie was an absolute badass. The way she stood up for herself, her wittiness, her hard work and drive, made her the absolute badass FMC that she was.
I also loved the possessive brothers, each of them have their own issues, according to the baby sisters POV. The fact that it started with the baby sister and having to go through so much as a family, it really paved the way for the brothers characters and I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes!
Thank you to Marie and The Author Agency for letting me read & review this masterpiece early!
4 ⭐️ 2.5🌶️
This book. The plot, the story, the characters - their development, the WRITING, I could not put it down.
This was my first Marie Johnston book and her writing is so deep and relatable. It was also my first ARC and I feel honored and absolutely smitten that it was with such a wonderful book. There were moments I had to reread some parts because they were that deep and it was like woahhh.
Second chance romances are in my top 3 of favorite tropes and they never disappoint. I loved that this one wasn’t like any of the others either it had a unique story and both the MMC and FMC had to go through 10 years of their own learning and growth to be able to get to where they could trust and finally admit their love for each other. 🥹
Aggie was an absolute badass. The way she stood up for herself, her wittiness, her hard work and drive, made her the absolute badass FMC that she was.
I also loved the possessive brothers, each of them have their own issues, according to the baby sisters POV. The fact that it started with the baby sister and having to go through so much as a family, it really paved the way for the brothers characters and I’m excited to see where the rest of the series goes!
Thank you to Marie and The Author Agency for letting me read & review this masterpiece early!
August 13, 2023
This was a second chance which I love. I couldn't put it down. It wasn't just a second chance at love. Ansen also got a second chance with his brother. This was emotional.
August 3, 2023
I loved this book! I was lucky enough to receive the ARC and I’m so glad I did! It was such a sweet story! Second chance romance usually isn’t my go to but Marie Johnston did this so well!! Aggie is my new role model! She’s so strong and follows her dreams no matter what her family or anyone says. At first I wasn’t sure how much I would like Ansen but his character development throughout the book changed my mind! Him and Aggie are perfect together! This book definitely pulled at my heartstrings! I highly recommend!
This was my first time reading Marie Johnston so now I’m going to have to go read the Oil Barron series!
This was my first time reading Marie Johnston so now I’m going to have to go read the Oil Barron series!
August 10, 2023
A Reckless Memory is the first issue in the new Oil Knights series. It's a second chance romance with realistic characters, an emotional plot, a HEA and a bonus epilogue. There is 2 large families with some dysfunction, MCs that mature and learn to reconnect with family and lost relationships. The path of standing up for oneself and righting wrongs is quite inspirational that I would recommend this 5 star book to one and all.
I was gifted an ARC from the author in return for my honest review.
Aggie Knight was in her wedding dress and ready to walk down the isle to her dream man, Ansen Barron, when she finds out that the horse trainer has been paid by her father to marry her. When chaos ensues she packs her bags, takes the grooms dog, Tex, and hits the road.
10 years later she has moved to Crocus Valley, ND and become owner of a nonprofit animal rescue but she needs a horse trainer. Aggie goes home for a funeral and while drinking with her bestie in a bar they drunkenly come up with a revenge plan when they find out the news that her ex-fiance has hit rock bottom.
Ansen shows up to AKA, Rescue Ranch, and never expects that Aggie Knight will be his boss. He never thought he would see her again but he's not about to walk away from a second chance with her or a career that he's wanted all of his life. Now, kiss by kiss, touch by touch he will make Aggie see that they are the real deal and not some Reckless Memory!
I was gifted an ARC from the author in return for my honest review.
Aggie Knight was in her wedding dress and ready to walk down the isle to her dream man, Ansen Barron, when she finds out that the horse trainer has been paid by her father to marry her. When chaos ensues she packs her bags, takes the grooms dog, Tex, and hits the road.
10 years later she has moved to Crocus Valley, ND and become owner of a nonprofit animal rescue but she needs a horse trainer. Aggie goes home for a funeral and while drinking with her bestie in a bar they drunkenly come up with a revenge plan when they find out the news that her ex-fiance has hit rock bottom.
Ansen shows up to AKA, Rescue Ranch, and never expects that Aggie Knight will be his boss. He never thought he would see her again but he's not about to walk away from a second chance with her or a career that he's wanted all of his life. Now, kiss by kiss, touch by touch he will make Aggie see that they are the real deal and not some Reckless Memory!
August 1, 2023
If I could give this book more stars I would!!!
Aggie and Anson are to be married until she finds out his secret and runs. Years later and Anson is back in her life but has anything really changed? Looking forward to reading the further books on the Knight family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aggie and Anson are to be married until she finds out his secret and runs. Years later and Anson is back in her life but has anything really changed? Looking forward to reading the further books on the Knight family.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 16, 2025
When Aggie overheard Ansen’s conversation with her brother, Ansen had no regrets for agreeing to marry her for money. In fact, he sneered at her and called her spoiled.
When we met Ansen again ten years later, I didn’t see any character growth or remorse for what he did to Aggie. In fact, he had been dating the daughter of his current boss, so obviously, he didn’t learn from his mistakes.
He had never tried to contact Aggie or do anything to earn her forgiveness; he just shrugged and went on with his life. He would probably never have seen her again if she hadn’t offered him a job when she was drunk.
Then, when he did see her again, we were supposed to believe how much he’d missed her and regretted what he’d done to her? I don’t buy it.
When we met Ansen again ten years later, I didn’t see any character growth or remorse for what he did to Aggie. In fact, he had been dating the daughter of his current boss, so obviously, he didn’t learn from his mistakes.
He had never tried to contact Aggie or do anything to earn her forgiveness; he just shrugged and went on with his life. He would probably never have seen her again if she hadn’t offered him a job when she was drunk.
Then, when he did see her again, we were supposed to believe how much he’d missed her and regretted what he’d done to her? I don’t buy it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 15, 2023
Amazon / Amazon Worldwide
A night filled with poor decisions has landed Aggie the man who broke her heart. Now Ansen's here, is down on his luck and needs the job she (fueled by her best friend drunkenly egging her on) offered him. If she can keep remembering the pain of discovering he was only going to marry her because her father paid him, she can work with him, then send him on his way when the job is done, her heart intact.
Aggie is the kind of heroine I love best - she's strong and determined to be independent, regardless of her overprotective brothers' wishes. I love how much she stood up for herself, to her brothers and to Ansen. Now Ansen on the other hand, I had a really hard time connecting to him, I just never forgave him for what he did to Aggie in the past, and he wasn't exactly the strongest character in the present. It's only because Aggie loved him that he got the slimmest of passes from me. Everyone else aside from Ansen, though, I loved. This second chance has me eager for more Oil Knights now.
ARC provided by Literally Yours PR for an honest review.
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March 19, 2024
A Reckless Memory, Book 1 of the Oil Knights series, was about 32-year-old Ansen Barron and 31-year-old Agatha "Aggie" Knight (the only girl of the five Knight siblings), a finance manager and owner of an animal rescue farm. (They were 23 and 21 respectively when they were engaged.)
Grab a box or two of tissues because you will need them to read this book. I'm just saying so you're prepared for what's coming.
On the day Aggie was to marry Ansen she learned that her father had paid him an astronomical amount of money to become his son-in-law. After arguing with him and Ansen, she packed her bags, took Ansen's dog, and left everything and everyone behind.
Ten years later, Aggie returned home to attend her late sister-in-law's funeral. Although she worked at a refinery, she was also starting an animal rescue. After building a house on the property she had purchased, Aggie required a trainer to help get her rescue started. She and her sister-in-law were at a local bar when they decided to google all of their exes. When Ansen's name came up, they noted that he had recently been accused of animal cruelty, and worse, had lost his job and fiancee. Sutton suggested to Aggie that perhaps she should hire him as a way to get some revenge on him, so they sent out an email with a job offer. She hadn't expected him to accept, but he did.
Ansen showed up for his interview, only to see Aggie and think she had tricked him into taking a non-existent position. It took a little convincing for him to understand that, while she had wanted him there out of revenge, the job was real. So he swallowed his pride and accepted.
This book was full of angst, drama, heartache, betrayal and, eventually, healing. It was a rollercoaster ride that was full of twists and turns, with a plot that kept changing, but in a good way. There was a good amount of push/pull between the two main characters, as well as a lot of conflict to keep the story interesting.
Both of the main characters were well-developed and mature, with plenty of room for growth. The secondary characters were supportive, loving, and (sometimes) overprotective. It's going to be interesting to read each of their stories.
I gave this book a four-star rating for two reasons. First was because I thought the author did the FMC dirty on more than one occasion. While she got her HEA, she wasn't treated well throughout the book. I'll leave the rest of that for the next reader to find out what I mean. The second reason being that the title didn't match the story. What was so reckless about a memory? Why was it considered reckless? How did that fit with the rest of the book? It was quite confusing as memories didn't play a major role in the storyline.
Grab a box or two of tissues because you will need them to read this book. I'm just saying so you're prepared for what's coming.
On the day Aggie was to marry Ansen she learned that her father had paid him an astronomical amount of money to become his son-in-law. After arguing with him and Ansen, she packed her bags, took Ansen's dog, and left everything and everyone behind.
Ten years later, Aggie returned home to attend her late sister-in-law's funeral. Although she worked at a refinery, she was also starting an animal rescue. After building a house on the property she had purchased, Aggie required a trainer to help get her rescue started. She and her sister-in-law were at a local bar when they decided to google all of their exes. When Ansen's name came up, they noted that he had recently been accused of animal cruelty, and worse, had lost his job and fiancee. Sutton suggested to Aggie that perhaps she should hire him as a way to get some revenge on him, so they sent out an email with a job offer. She hadn't expected him to accept, but he did.
Ansen showed up for his interview, only to see Aggie and think she had tricked him into taking a non-existent position. It took a little convincing for him to understand that, while she had wanted him there out of revenge, the job was real. So he swallowed his pride and accepted.
This book was full of angst, drama, heartache, betrayal and, eventually, healing. It was a rollercoaster ride that was full of twists and turns, with a plot that kept changing, but in a good way. There was a good amount of push/pull between the two main characters, as well as a lot of conflict to keep the story interesting.
Both of the main characters were well-developed and mature, with plenty of room for growth. The secondary characters were supportive, loving, and (sometimes) overprotective. It's going to be interesting to read each of their stories.
I gave this book a four-star rating for two reasons. First was because I thought the author did the FMC dirty on more than one occasion. While she got her HEA, she wasn't treated well throughout the book. I'll leave the rest of that for the next reader to find out what I mean. The second reason being that the title didn't match the story. What was so reckless about a memory? Why was it considered reckless? How did that fit with the rest of the book? It was quite confusing as memories didn't play a major role in the storyline.
September 1, 2023
“Was there a period in my life I didn’t want to erase from my mind?”
Make Me Shiver, which was Archer and Delaney‘s love story, was the first book by Marie that I ever read. I loved them, especially Archer, and to this day, even after reading quite a few other books written by her, it’s still my absolute favorite of all. When I first read it I hoped one day she would write Ansen’s story because I figured if I loved Archer I’d probably love his brother as well. Plus Ansen seemed kind of mysterious and very interesting.
As you can imagine I was thrilled when she finally did what I so much wanted and wrote Ansen’s story. I couldn’t download it fast enough. And I was so right! I fell head over heels for the handsome charming horse trainer who was also unexpectedly broken and lonely. Just like Archer and Delaney constantly broke my heart so too did Ansen and Aggie. Talk about Star-crossed lovers! Anything and everything seemed determined to keep these two from being where they truly belonged, together. Ansen himself made so many mistakes in the past and he certainly paid for them but knowing his background I really understood him and why he made the choices he did. Aggie also let herself be manipulated and influenced too much not just by others but also her own insecurities and stubbornness. While I didn’t cry as much in this book as I did in Make Me Shiver I did get very upset and frustrated with both Ansen and Aggie a few times, even though I knew why they were both so afraid to trust the other’s feelings. I really did worry for awhile that they wouldn’t figure out how to work things out.
While you don’t have to read Make Me Shiver first as this book stands alone just fine, there are spoilers for Make Me Shiver throughout and if you plan to read the Oil Barons series, my favorite so far, then at least read Make Me Shiver before A Reckless Memory. Not only that but I think knowing all about what Archer and Delaney went through before Ansen came to town just makes their appearances in this book that much more fun. Either way, A Reckless Memory is a fantastic book that I just loved!.
Make Me Shiver, which was Archer and Delaney‘s love story, was the first book by Marie that I ever read. I loved them, especially Archer, and to this day, even after reading quite a few other books written by her, it’s still my absolute favorite of all. When I first read it I hoped one day she would write Ansen’s story because I figured if I loved Archer I’d probably love his brother as well. Plus Ansen seemed kind of mysterious and very interesting.
As you can imagine I was thrilled when she finally did what I so much wanted and wrote Ansen’s story. I couldn’t download it fast enough. And I was so right! I fell head over heels for the handsome charming horse trainer who was also unexpectedly broken and lonely. Just like Archer and Delaney constantly broke my heart so too did Ansen and Aggie. Talk about Star-crossed lovers! Anything and everything seemed determined to keep these two from being where they truly belonged, together. Ansen himself made so many mistakes in the past and he certainly paid for them but knowing his background I really understood him and why he made the choices he did. Aggie also let herself be manipulated and influenced too much not just by others but also her own insecurities and stubbornness. While I didn’t cry as much in this book as I did in Make Me Shiver I did get very upset and frustrated with both Ansen and Aggie a few times, even though I knew why they were both so afraid to trust the other’s feelings. I really did worry for awhile that they wouldn’t figure out how to work things out.
While you don’t have to read Make Me Shiver first as this book stands alone just fine, there are spoilers for Make Me Shiver throughout and if you plan to read the Oil Barons series, my favorite so far, then at least read Make Me Shiver before A Reckless Memory. Not only that but I think knowing all about what Archer and Delaney went through before Ansen came to town just makes their appearances in this book that much more fun. Either way, A Reckless Memory is a fantastic book that I just loved!.
August 6, 2023
“Agatha Christie Knight–”
“I told you not to use my full name.”
“–I happen to love you.”
‘Agatha Knight cannot wait to marry her fiancé, Ansen Barron. That is until, she overhears a conversation between her brother and Ansen regarding how much he is getting paid to marry her. Running away on her wedding day with Tex, Ansen’s dog, Aggie starts a new life doing everything that she has always wanted to do. 10 years have now passed and Ansen has reappeared in Aggie’s life, and it’s clear that there’s still some lingering feelings between the two.’
This is the first book that I have read by Marie and it will definitely not be my last. I was drawn in from the very first chapter and could not put this book down.
I always love a second chance as the emotions and drama are always high and it makes an interesting read.
I am glad that Aggie was a strong FMC and despite how her family treated her growing up, she was able to stand up for herself and didn’t allow herself to be walked over. Her family were big meddlers but towards the end, they realised she was strong and could look after herself.
I adored Ansen’s character. At first I wasn’t sure how to feel about him due to a few of his actions, but when I learned more about his history and background, I understood him better and ended up by loving him. The jealousy he showed, phewww. Jealous with a capital J, as shown in one particular scene that lives in my brain - ‘Dr Jake slid off his stool. “I have a call bright and early. Nice seeing you.” It was nice seeing him go away’.
This book includes:
-Runaway Bride
-Small Town
-Second Chance
-Boss/Employee
-Forced Proximity
-Dual POV
Thank you The Author Agency for the arc of this book for me to review.
“I told you not to use my full name.”
“–I happen to love you.”
‘Agatha Knight cannot wait to marry her fiancé, Ansen Barron. That is until, she overhears a conversation between her brother and Ansen regarding how much he is getting paid to marry her. Running away on her wedding day with Tex, Ansen’s dog, Aggie starts a new life doing everything that she has always wanted to do. 10 years have now passed and Ansen has reappeared in Aggie’s life, and it’s clear that there’s still some lingering feelings between the two.’
This is the first book that I have read by Marie and it will definitely not be my last. I was drawn in from the very first chapter and could not put this book down.
I always love a second chance as the emotions and drama are always high and it makes an interesting read.
I am glad that Aggie was a strong FMC and despite how her family treated her growing up, she was able to stand up for herself and didn’t allow herself to be walked over. Her family were big meddlers but towards the end, they realised she was strong and could look after herself.
I adored Ansen’s character. At first I wasn’t sure how to feel about him due to a few of his actions, but when I learned more about his history and background, I understood him better and ended up by loving him. The jealousy he showed, phewww. Jealous with a capital J, as shown in one particular scene that lives in my brain - ‘Dr Jake slid off his stool. “I have a call bright and early. Nice seeing you.” It was nice seeing him go away’.
This book includes:
-Runaway Bride
-Small Town
-Second Chance
-Boss/Employee
-Forced Proximity
-Dual POV
Thank you The Author Agency for the arc of this book for me to review.
January 11, 2024
This book starts with Aggie ready to marry her fiancé Ansen when she overhears a conversation between her brother and Ansen that he is only marrying her because her father is paying him to. She packs up, grabs Ansen’s dog Tex, and drives away. 10 years later, she’s back in town because of certain family situations.. She decides to start her own animal rescue business,
but she needs a horse trainer. She drunkely emails Ansen one night offering him the job. Ansen is not in a position to say no to this email, because he is so down on his luck.
What he doesn’t realize is that his new employer is his runaway bride from 10 years ago.
With Aggie and Ansen in close proximity working together to build this rescue old feelings, start to resurface. They have a lot to work on because Aggie will always wonder about Ansen’s motives for wanting to be with her. Ansen has some feelings of his own because Aggie left without giving him a chance to explain.
I really liked this second chance romance. This was angsty because the heroine is always questioning the heroes motives, and every time she does that the hero ends up, questioning his own motives. It goes back-and-forth.. and not only is there drama between the hero and the heroine. there
There is also a lot of family drama regarding the heroine’s family. She is the youngest she has four older brothers, and they all have their daddy issues.
May 19, 2024
Grovel = H was being paid to marry h; h runs off on day of marriage. 10 years later, h returns and revenge hires the H to work her horse rescue at low pay rate (H had bad rep in the industry and had been black balled so was desperate to have a job). H works to show he is a different man (but is he really???) h has BBS which is disappointing and pretty much just swoons over the H all over again. They get back together with the thought, well we are older and we are better equipped to handle relationship. What about the being paid to marry? Oh, well, H intended to use the money to buy back his home ranch that was hundreds of miles away and move himself and h there, no thought or care about what h wanted. And this time, well, ok, so H gets money from h's dad who died (h got NOTHING and was completely left out of the will) and goes with intent to buy childhood home and move him and h....wait....same plan??? H's dad tells him it is not smart and he asks H what is it he really wants. H decides to endow the horse rescue with all the money he inherited. H never admitted to loving the h the first go round, but second time he finally admits it. Still seemed that H was a bit thick headed, but oh well.
Good betrayal, but the grovel needed more from the H. Also, not a fan of the BBS from the h.
Good betrayal, but the grovel needed more from the H. Also, not a fan of the BBS from the h.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2023
Ansen and Aggie
This was a little different twist in the second chance department and I am here for it.
Aggie and Ansen were to be married at the ages of 21 and 23, until she found out that her father was paying him to marry her! she leaves town and doesnt talk to him or her family for 10 years!
Now she is starting her own animal rescue business and she needs help. She also wants revenge on Ansen for what he did to her all those years ago, so her and her friend in a drunken stupor email him pretending to be someone else and offer him a job.
Ansen has been burned and now he is in need of a job. When he sees the email from Christie-- he accepts it even though it is a different job from what he usually does. He takes it and finally sees Aggie after 10 years.
Feels have come rushing back (not that they ever truly left) and they need to trust and work together to make a relationship work this time.
I really enjoyed this book- a twist on second chances like I said and I am here for it.
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
This was a little different twist in the second chance department and I am here for it.
Aggie and Ansen were to be married at the ages of 21 and 23, until she found out that her father was paying him to marry her! she leaves town and doesnt talk to him or her family for 10 years!
Now she is starting her own animal rescue business and she needs help. She also wants revenge on Ansen for what he did to her all those years ago, so her and her friend in a drunken stupor email him pretending to be someone else and offer him a job.
Ansen has been burned and now he is in need of a job. When he sees the email from Christie-- he accepts it even though it is a different job from what he usually does. He takes it and finally sees Aggie after 10 years.
Feels have come rushing back (not that they ever truly left) and they need to trust and work together to make a relationship work this time.
I really enjoyed this book- a twist on second chances like I said and I am here for it.
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.
August 5, 2023
Aggie and Ansen have a difficult history. Her father manipulated his children, and for Aggie that meant choosing and paying her husband, Ansen. She found out before the ceremony and ran away. She has spent 10 years living her own life and proving her independence. Ansen's life has not gone so well in those years, so he is available for hire when Aggie buys her own place. It seems like the perfect revenge, and Ansen is desperate enough to stay. But neither of them counted on their lingering feelings. Just as they are falling back in love, her father throws in another monkey wrench that brings competing interests to light. Both Aggie and Ansen have to face their own mistakes, family histories, and assumptions in order to find a way forward. I had a hard time putting this down because the emotion was so compelling.
August 28, 2023
A Reckless Memory by Marie Johnston.
I mean the name alone is an attention grabber for me so I was intrigued when I read the blurb for this book. This is Aggie & Ansen’s story and you guys it is an emotional one. It was the gripping second chance journey of these two souls who are trying to repair the shattered relationship between them. I really thought what Aggies dad did was just awful and I loved that she walked away from it enough was enough of his manipulation. I loved that we get to see Anden kinda find himself through the book and then the two of them find each other. I really enjoyed this book it was a great first series book and loved that it gets us invested in the series and leaves us wanting more from the characters we meet and eager to get their stories. This is a book definitely recommend.
I mean the name alone is an attention grabber for me so I was intrigued when I read the blurb for this book. This is Aggie & Ansen’s story and you guys it is an emotional one. It was the gripping second chance journey of these two souls who are trying to repair the shattered relationship between them. I really thought what Aggies dad did was just awful and I loved that she walked away from it enough was enough of his manipulation. I loved that we get to see Anden kinda find himself through the book and then the two of them find each other. I really enjoyed this book it was a great first series book and loved that it gets us invested in the series and leaves us wanting more from the characters we meet and eager to get their stories. This is a book definitely recommend.
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