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The Color of Heaven #5

The Color of a Memory

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Find out why readers everywhere are clamoring for the next instalment of this thrilling, inspiring series.

ER nurse Audrey Fitzgerald believed she was married to the perfect man - a heroic firefighter who saved lives, even beyond his own death. But a year after losing him she meets a mysterious woman who has some unexplained connection to her husband....

Soon Audrey discovers that in the weeks leading up to her husband’s death, he was keeping secrets, and she wonders if she ever really knew him at all. Compelled to dig into his past and explore memories that define the essence of their relationship, Audrey embarks upon a journey of discovery that will lead her down a new path to the future - a future she never dared to imagine.

“Julianne MacLean knows what her audience likes...compelling characters and a soul-baring journey of love." – Reader to Reader

264 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2014

3199 people are currently reading
3703 people want to read

About the author

Julianne MacLean

78 books4,230 followers
Julianne MacLean is a USA Today bestselling author of more than thirty novels, including the contemporary women’s fiction Color of Heaven Series. Readers have described her books as “breathtaking,” “soulful” and “uplifting.” MacLean is a four-time RITA finalist and has won numerous awards, including the Booksellers’ Best Award and a Reviewers’ Choice Award from Romantic Times. Her novels have sold millions of copies worldwide and have been published in over a dozen languages.

MacLean has a degree in English literature from the University of King’s College in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and a degree in business administration from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. She loves to travel and has lived in New Zealand, Canada, and England. MacLean currently resides on the east coast of Canada in a lakeside home with her husband and daughter.

For more information about Julianne and her writing life, please visit her website at www.juliannemaclean.com. Be sure to follow her on Bookbub to be notified whenever her ebooks are offered for FREE or 99 cents. (www.bookbub.com/authors/julianne-maclean) and chat with her on Facebook (www.facebook.com/JulianneMacLeanRoman...), Twitter (@JulianneMacLean), and Instagram (@JulianneMaclean).

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5 stars
3,088 (52%)
4 stars
1,848 (31%)
3 stars
707 (12%)
2 stars
150 (2%)
1 star
36 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews
Profile Image for Coco.V.
50k reviews113 followers
Want to read
July 8, 2019
🎁 FREE on Amazon today (7/8/2019)! 🎁
Profile Image for Vicki Willis.
1,014 reviews62 followers
June 7, 2015
This was a fast paced romance. It had all the necessary characters, hot guy, insecure girl, ex gf stalker, hot guy's best friend. It had all the necessary plot lines, crazy stalker, mistrust, infidelity, death, babies, organ transplant and happily ever after. If you like that kind of thing there are 7 more books in the series.
For me it was so-so. I didn't really like the main character, Audrey, though I did want to get to the truth. I did enjoy the section about the heart transplant. It kept my attention, but won't be one I remember.
Profile Image for Lorna.
1,717 reviews87 followers
October 3, 2020
Story 4.25 Narration 5 stars. These books are like candy-once you get started you must read/listen to the next one. They are just such good stories and so far loosely connected to one or more of the previous books. I wish I had found these a long time ago. Good heartwarming stories about life, love, loss and even fate at times. And usually there’s a hint of the paranormal which I always enjoy. Highly recommend this whole series.
Profile Image for Lillie.
Author 21 books43 followers
September 18, 2018
This was not a typical romance, not a typical suspense, but it contained elements of both. I liked the foreshadowing of future events, which introduced a lot of suspense and made me to keep reading to find out what was hinted at. Although this is part of a series, I have not read any of the other books and don't think I missed anything.
Profile Image for Brandy.
1,241 reviews55 followers
July 10, 2019
I mean, it was a sweet story, but it felt off the whole way through. Like the story was forced-about a woman who has a lot of doubts about a guy, marries him anyways, and then can’t move on after he dies.
Profile Image for SarahRobins_reads .
592 reviews45 followers
September 22, 2019
I just love love love these books! So well written and they come together so wonderfully and leave you feeling all kinds of good inside!
Give them a go, from the start if possible. You won’t be disappointed
Profile Image for Lynda Kelly.
2,179 reviews100 followers
April 13, 2021
I felt a little cheated as this ended at 77% !! So in reality it was 171 pages long, and not the 253 advertised. As always, I enjoyed the story-I like all her books I've read-but she missed out on 5* this time round cos' she managed to spell her own character's name wrong !! (The very same occurred in the last book I read before this one as well, annoyingly. Let's hope I won't hit a hat-trick !)
I had forgotten the ending of book 4 in the series but it came back to me a third of the way through this one and I was very excited, wondering where it was all going to lead. And now we also have a new character to follow in book 6, which sounds intriguing, too.
I got a kick out of the description of the author of The Color of Heaven....that made me giggle.
She did write Martel's once when it should've been Martels' and this sentence dropped a word, "You're going think I'm crazy" and at the start we learn Alex's father died when he was nine but further in it was stated that he died when he was seven. So this needs fixing but the worst thing was renaming Jesse and suddenly changing him to Jessie !!
I have the next instalment downloaded and I'm looking forward to awarding another 5* next time out !
14 reviews
December 23, 2024
The Color of a Memory will probably be a Lifetime movie someday. Which is to say, it was fairly predictable except for one minor twist. If you are reading the series (which I was not), the s0-called twist, might not be a twist to you. It was a short read so I persevered. It wasn't a bad book, but I tend to get bored and annoyed if I have a pretty good idea of where a story is going and will likely end up.
Profile Image for Barbara "Cookie" Serfaty Williams.
2,700 reviews5 followers
July 18, 2019
The Color of Memory (The Color of Heaven Series Book 5)

The love story of Audrey and Alex. Alex was a fireman and he was kill in action. Because of his death Nadia live. Now we learn of Alex 's life and love. It's been two years still his death and his wife Audrey find a sonogram of a baby with this massager on it " I hope she look like you" and a heart on it. Was Alex unfaithful?
1,032 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2022
Amazing

This series definitely shows how one moment, act, thought can cause one long chain reaction. Amazing series that I can not out dowm!
Profile Image for Laura.
79 reviews9 followers
June 30, 2014
I gave this book 4 stars because it was very fast paced and intriguing. And I really appreciate fast paced in a book.

It kept me engaged all the way through and while it was not too creepy it did have a "thriller" feel to it due to twists and turns and the pace. If anything, I would describe the book as "sweet" (as opposed to normal thriller scary). The characters were very likable and I enjoyed rooting for their happiness.

With that said, it was a light read for me. I liked the characters but didn't feel they were deeply developed. Of course more development would have slowed down the pace. It has some romance which is also sweet and not graphic. You could feel comfortable about your teenage daughter reading it as long you're okay with the idea of premarital sex being assumed/expected.

Toward the end it became a little predictable to me, but not to the extent that I guessed exactly what went down.

I've read mention of Christian book in regards to this, but I don't recall ever thinking "this is a Christian book" as I was reading it. The same with paranormal - without giving a spoiler I'd say there were some "coincidences" more that paranormal. It's not like there were ghosts or people moving things with their minds...

I read it over a day and a half. I will look for something deeper to read next but will certain return for more books from this author.

Did I mention it was fast paced?! (Unlike my reviews, ha ha)


Profile Image for Judi Haley.
1,346 reviews6 followers
May 14, 2014
This is the 5th in the series -

I just can't seem to get enough of these books and now I can't wait for the next one to come out in August.

This one is about Audrey Fitzgerald..She is an ER nurse and when good looking, firefighter Alex comes in with a broken foot, he starts putting the moves on her..

Alex calls and finally Audrey agrees to go out with him..The fall in love, but Audrey just cannot seem to trust Alex.

This will also follow Nadia Carmichael who you meet in the 4th of the series.

Another great one that I read in one day..The books cannot be put down.

Love the series.
Profile Image for Martha.
163 reviews
May 6, 2014
Another wonderfully delightful book in the continuation of the series starting with The Color of Heaven. This is the 5th in the series.
The storyline pulled me in right from the beginning. I love how the characters overlap and are all connected, it just makes me want to learn more about their lives. I was so enthralled with the book I found myself dreaming about the characters and wondered what would happen next.
Thank you to the author Julianne MacLean for entertaining me in such a fashion. I'm already looking forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Magi Nams.
Author 5 books4 followers
May 14, 2014
Julianne MacLean knows how write a great story! The Color of a Memory was my first Julianne Maclean book, and I read it through in one sitting. The main character, ER nurse Audrey Fitzgerald, is realistic, flawed, strong, moved by big emotions and major life moments in what could be anyone's town. I enjoyed chasing all the threads of her story through the satisfying and sometimes poignant tapestry they wove. Well done, Julianne!
Profile Image for Jessica Ashe.
686 reviews29 followers
June 22, 2014
I read the first book in this series, The Color of Heaven, a while ago and enjoyed it so much that when I noticed this one for free on Amazon I had to add it to my collection.

The Color of a Memory was a wonderful story of a life saved by an unfortunate accident by a heart transplant, love, loss, and a realization that our loved ones are closer to us in the afterlife than we could ever imagine.

A heartfelt, quick read that will pull at your heart strings.
Profile Image for Michelle Pendl.
30 reviews3 followers
September 13, 2014
This book is like a five way intersection

This book is like a five way intersection where they each get their chance to enter the intersection and decide which road to take. they each end up crossing one another and decide which path they are being led on by the force of the memory of Alex Fitzgerald. A good easy read that kept my attention to where I didn't want to put the book down.
Profile Image for SandyL.
3,652 reviews
December 8, 2018
Audrey Livingston is a nurse who meets a playboy firefighter, they fall in love, have a kid and then he dies on the job. The story alternates between their time together and the present, with several events happening that shake Audrey's faith in her husband and his fidelity. The story was short but sweet and had a nice ending.
Profile Image for Marie.
293 reviews
June 9, 2014
This book was so good I read it in less than a day. Deeply emotional with strong characters and a well developed plot kept me turning the pages. A good clean book about love's power this was a very touching read.
Profile Image for Julie.
Author 40 books253 followers
June 16, 2014
I read this in a day. Compelling story that moves very quickly. Page turner. I love stories of intricate relationships, and this one is certainly that. Some interesting theological/philosophical musings. I'll be picking up more by this author.
Profile Image for Beth.
695 reviews6 followers
April 21, 2021
This is my first Julianne MacLean novel and it won't be my last. A strong 3.5* from me.
I was the recipient of a package containing a lovely note along with the book (autographed) from Julianne saying I was a monthly book giveaway winner! Well I certainly was the winner as this was a delightful book.
Stealing verbatim from another reviewer, "This was not a typical romance."
I started the book thinking the story was a typical romance and there was enough "predictable" material to make me believe initially this was true, but there were several twists and turns quite until the end of the book.

I enjoyed Audrey who was the story's heroine and I enjoyed David, Alex's mother Jean and the other characters were also likeable. Because of all the twists and turns, I was not a fan of Alex's, but that's ok; we don't have to like the characters to enjoy the story.

I appreciate the novel's title and how it fits with the story of the relationship's memories. I like the idea of the series of books and their also seemingly fitting titles. This author has written many novels. I enjoyed the warmth of the writing (as judged by the book's characters and by the lovely package I received). I appreciate how the author describes the series' other books at the back of this book so I am further enticed to read more.

Recommend.
695 reviews
January 31, 2022
I am not sure why id di not like this book. It was extremely quick read, but Audrey meets her future husband in the ER. He hits on her and eventually they get married and have a child, Wendy. But just before he died he started acting strange.. He was then killed in a fire 2 weeks later. Audrey finds a picture of an ultrasound that says I hope the baby looks like you. She thinks he was cheating. But it turns out that he found out he had a half sister and she was pregnant, Carla is is sister. Audrey also meets the woman got his heart, Nadia And they start up a friendship with her little daughter as well. so now Audrey has 2 instant friends with kids Wendy's age. Then David, her husbands best friends admits he is in love with her and now they are engaged. She also remains friends with Alex mom, Jean.
I just did not fid this book interesting. I loved the other books this author has written, but I think I will not be a fan of the Heaven series. Just too formulaic and easy to predict.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Babs Coppedge.
38 reviews
January 31, 2024
This was the quickest read of the five in this series that I’ve read so far. I don’t know how, but I devoured this story in 5 hours. It was so interesting that I just kept turning pages. For me, this was the second best book besides book one, where the stories all began. I just loved the characters and the story arc. This series’ stories are all a little too perfect for the real world for how they resolve in the end, but I’ve enjoyed just getting lost in the characters and how they are all woven into each other’s lives. There are 13 books total in this series so I guess I’ve got some more reading to do. I didn’t go into this year with the this series on my “list of books to read this year” but I’m happy I picked up book one on a whim. I haven’t read a connected series in so long. It’s nice to have a storyline that continues so that I don’t have to say goodbye to the characters just yet.
Profile Image for Janice Spina.
Author 53 books108 followers
May 28, 2025
The Color of a Memory is book 5 in the Color of Heaven Series. This is heartfelt read involving families and all the issues they have to overcome. This story is about Audrey and Alex and their love story, their highs and lows of marriage.

Audrey, an ER nurse, meets an injured firefighter one day in the emergency room who pursues her relentlessly until she accepts his invitation of a date. They are smitten with each other early on in their courtship and soon are married once she finds herself pregnant. After their first child is born things are different in that Alex becomes introspective. Audrey suspects something is wrong and maybe he has a wandering eye as he was known to have when he was single. She finds something to make her ponder more on this and is determined to find out if he was unfaithful to her.

This is another enjoyable, emotional read about a family with unsuspecting connections to others in the series. I look forward to the next book in this series.
39 reviews
January 14, 2025
I was in a difficult end of year reading slump, which I find myself in at the end of every year. I struggle to find motivation over the Christmas period. This book really dragged me out of it. I usually don't mind a slow paced book as it allows you to sit back and really enjoy the building story. However, that's no good for me during this time of year and this book was exceptionally fast paced and still built up a good story.
This book starts off following the budding romance between Audrey, an Er nurse, and Alex a firefighter. The beginning of their romance is incredibly quick and they're pushed together by a series of dramatic events and a vengeful ex-girlfriend.
After Alex's death we meet some other characters, that although at points cast doubt on who Alex was as a person, we eventually discover all was not as it seemed and he was a good person after all. I don't want to say too much and give things away.
I think this book is incredibly well written and carries a message that no matter how hurt and grief stricken you are there is always room to do the right thing and also extend forgiveness where you can and also that it is okay to move on after losing someone.
Although this book, in my opinion, is very well written it also does have the vibe of a cheesy lifetime movie. I enjoy lifetime movies as you do not have to put a lot of thought into them and can just sit back after a long week and have a nice cosy, comfortable day in front of the telly, which is exactly what this book brings.

Overall I gave this book full stars as it finally got me out of my reading slump. I would 100% recommend this book to anyone looking for something fast paced, cosy and lightish.
1,020 reviews9 followers
February 20, 2025
This series just continues to amaze me with the depth of the characters, the wonderfully inter-woven story lines, and the mysteries of each book. As soon as I finish one I’m anxious to begin the next.

When a silly accident sends Alex Fitzgerald to the ER he isn’t expecting to be overwhelmed by the pretty ER nurse. Now, he just has to find a way to get her to go on a date with him.

ER nurse Audrey isn’t fooled by the playboy antics of firefighter Alex Fitzgerald and a part of her doesn’t trust the overly handsome man, yet she still finds herself agreeing to a date; until she sees the gorgeous woman that arrives to pick him up.

Audrey and Alex begin a whirlwind relationship that will result in horrific loss, hurt and unanswered questions that will leave readers shocked by the of the book.
11 reviews
May 12, 2019
Suspense, but with a good ending

I now realize there were other books in this series, something I didn't know when I bought the book (bargain price, plus I've read other books of Julianne), but that didn't mar my experience. It was a good story with extremely likable and sympathetic characters, and which unfolded with just the right amount of suspense and curiosity. It was easy to follow and the resolution was perfect. While it wasn't light, fluffy reading, neither was it dark or depressing. Just what I needed to read after just reading a couple of books with heavier subject matter.
374 reviews
May 24, 2020
A good romance - with twists

I strongly urge you to read the previous books in this series. They’re all good and the main character in each book is actually introduced in the previous book. It really helps with character development to read them in order but each one is a stand alone novel. In addition to being clean, good books, each one has a theme about interesting occurrences, I.e. identical twins separated at birth, organ transplants, and the after effects of organ transplant on the recipient, the mother and the wife of the donor. I highly recommend the series; they’re all well-written and well-edited. Happy reading.
Profile Image for Dawn.
405 reviews
August 25, 2025
The first thing I'd say about this book is that it's very short. As such, it was a little less satisfying. It ends really fast. As the series goes on, the author seems to deliver a good set-up, deliver the message but then rush the endings.

I like Audrey and Alex. I'm not sure how to feel about their story. So much time was focused on the doubts and so little on the happy times. I'm noticing a trend that the mother's in this series are a bit unbelievable. Having one welcome in other children to their family is believable, but they are all doing it and that doesn't ring true for me.

While Nadia is in this story, I'm not sure what we really learned about her life.
Profile Image for Angie.
2,403 reviews3 followers
February 10, 2021
Audrey had a hard time believing that a gorgeous guy like Alex would be happy with her. She worried a lot about Alex leaving her. Audrey was stalked by Alex's beautiful ex-girlfriend who told Audrey to stay away from Alex. When Alex dies at work as a fire fighter she thinks the worst when she finds a picture in his old truck. It takes Audrey time to figure things out and realize that Alex really did love her and never cheated. The ending was really sweet! This was a fast read and I had a hard time putting it down!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 238 reviews

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