Book Reviews from an Avid Reader: Shattered Memories by Debbie Lynne Costello

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Shattered Memories by Debbie Lynne Costello

About the Book

The Charleston earthquake has left destruction like nothing Doctor Andrew Warwick has ever seen. On a desperate mission to find the lady who owns his heart, he frantically searches through the rubble. He finds her injured and lifeless. After she regains consciousness, the doctor’s hopes are quickly dashed as he realizes she doesn’t remember him. Things only get worse when he discovers she believes she’s still engaged to the abusive scoundrel, Lloyd Pratt. Now Drew is on a race with the wedding clock to either help her remember or win her heart again before she marries the wrong man.

Waking in a makeshift hospital, Olivia Macqueen finds herself recovering from a head injury. With amnesia stealing a year of her memories, she has trouble discerning between lies and truth. When her memories start returning in bits and pieces, she must keep up the charade of amnesia until she can find out the truth behind the embezzlement of her family’s business while evading the danger lurking around her.

My review:
I thoroughly enjoyed this historical novel. I can tell Costello did her research as this novel provides readers with a full sensory experience of being in an earthquake. I had no idea those in Charleston had suffered so in the 1886 disaster.

Woven around the historical framework is a unique love story. With Olivia's amnesia causing her to not remember their courtship, Drew is in a very difficult situation. He tries to protect her from the scoundrel she thinks she's still engaged to but it seems like everything he does is questioned by Olivia.

In addition to good historical information and a unique romance is a good amount of action and suspense. There are some nefarious individuals about and Olivia's life is soon in danger.

I always like to learn a little something when I read fiction and in this novel, in addition to the earthquake, I learned a bit about what doctors were doing at the time. It was the era when bleeding was being questioned and other treatments were being promoted.

I recommend this novel to those who enjoy a good historical novel that contains a strong message about trusting God for the future, has a good romance, and includes action and suspense.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

About the Author

Debbie Lynne Costello is the author of the #1 Amazon bestseller Sword of Forgiveness, a medieval romance. She has enjoyed writing stories since she was eight years old. She raised her family and then embarked on her own career of writing the stories that had been begging to be told. She and her husband have four children and live in upstate South Carolina where she has worked in many capacities in her church and is currently the Children’s Director. When not spending time with her husband, four children and grandchildren she hangs out with her Arabian and Tennessee Walking horses. You can find out more at www.DebbieLynneCostello.com.

Shattered Memories is a 265 page novel in the Christian Historical genre and was released on February 14, 2016. You can purchase the book here.