Memory Lane

Pine Cove, Book 5

By: HJ Welch

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Length: 8 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

Ever since Jay Coal’s best friend saved his life in high school, he’s harbored a secret love. But Angel is straight, and his thrilling work as a movie stuntman takes him all over the world, while Jay has never left Pine Cove. When Angel finally comes back to town, a suspicious work accident leaves him in the dark, and only Jay can light the way.

It’s a second chance for Angel Shields. Trustworthy Jay helps him recover from the accident, and Angel starts to see him in a different light. But are these feelings of attraction new? Or has he always had a secret crush on his best friend? Thanks to the accident, Angel can’t trust his own memories to tell him. Maybe all that matters is how he feels now?

Their life-long friendship is at risk if they make a move, but this chemistry is unforgettable. With more dangers ahead than answers, will they even get the chance to explore this love that’s waiting for them down the end of memory lane?

Book five of Pine Cove, Memory Lane is a steamy, stand-alone MM romance novel with a guaranteed HEA and absolutely no cliff-hanger.

©2021 HJ Welch (P)2021 HJ Welch

Cute friends to lovers romance

This was an adorable friends to lovers romance. The characters were sweet together and relatable.

The storyline was promising and the writing style was engaging.

The narrator performed an amazing audio delivery and narration

sweet best friends to lovers story

Memory Lane is Book 5 in the Pine Cove series, though each book can standalone. This is a beautifully written story about best friends to lovers and second chances. Jay and Angel have been friends since grade school but haven't seen each other in sixteen years. While working on a film set, in their home town, Angel is in a car accident and sustained some memory loss. Jay happens to tell the nurses at the hospital that he's Angel's fiancé to get any information on him, though Jay has always thought Angel was straight. I love Jay and Angel's journey as they discover their more than friendly love for each other as Jay helps Angel recover in his home. This is a sweet story that had me engaged from beginning to end. I recommend this book and series.
Narrator Nick J. Russo has a marvelous job in bringing these characters to life. He really was a treat to listen to.

Friends to lovers

I really enjoyed this story! Jay and Angel have been BF since they were kids. As they grew up Jay fell in love with Angel. He thought he didn’t stand a chance with him since Angel was straight. Angel had been told that being bisexual was wrong. Years have gone by with the 2 of them not seeing each other until a movie bring Angel back to Pine Cove. That’s when things change for them. I loved how their relationship developed. I liked how the author show us Angel working through his feelings for Jay. I also enjoyed Nick Russo’s narration.

Very good

LOVED this installment in the Pine Cove series by HJ Welch! It was an excellent friends to lovers story that is great as a standalone. Nick Russo did an amazing job as the narrator and he truly brought these characters to life. Loved it!

Friends to Lovers

Nick Russo as always was superb. I love HJ Welch. Her books are gorgeous. I have read this whole series and listening to it on Audio just adds more life, emotion - everything.

This was a friends to lovers and was just lovely. I adore how sweet the main characters were and for me they were extremely believable.

Best friends

Best friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes in romance. HJ Welch hit this one out of the park! I love Jay and Angel's interactions and Nick Russo really brings the characters of Pine Cove to life. This is a great book and I would highly recommend it.

Memory loss, best friends to lover, super sweet!

It’s so good to be back in Pine Cove with all the crew. And I’ve been dying for Jay’s very own HEA from the first book!
Jay and Angel have been best friends, attached at the hips since kindergarten, and Jay has been in love with his best friend since he was 16. Now that they are almost 30, they haven’t seen each other face to face for seven years even though they talk on the phone every day (I had to exercise a bit of belief suspension on this one, but…). And now Angel is back in Pine Cove to shoot a movie.
A car accident on the job as stuntman leaves Angel bruised and battered and with a short term memory loss. Going to stay with Jay may be good for Angel’s memory, but it may be fatal for Jay’s poor heart. Only Angel is starting to see his best friend in a totally new light, and his love may not be just brotherly and platonic anymore…
HJ Welch is great at portraying really awful characters. The bad guys and jealous exes (#getoveryourself,Lisa) are so nasty that they always get me so enraged!

Comfort read

Jay has been in love with his best friend Angel since they were sixteen. But Angel is straight—or so it seems. After Angel is in a car crash and loses part of his memory, he stays with Jay to recuperate. As parts of his memory return, Angel realizes he might be bisexual. And he might return Jay's feelings after all.

Friends to loves, bi-awakening romance is probably my favorite trope. HJ Welch handles it beautifully in this story. It's a slow burn, full of longing. Jay and Angel are sweet and genuine, and they're adorable together. The side characters are fun and provide a strong sense of community. While the plot is strong, it's the characters that make this book such a pleasure to read.

Nick J. Russo does an amazing job with the narration. His voice has a gentle, soothing quality without ever being boring. Each character is distinct and the emotions faithful to the text.

Thanks, Gay Romance Reviews, for the audio ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Loved!

Nick J. Russo knocks it out of the park with his narration of Memory Lane by HJ Welch.
Memory Lane is a wonderful addition to the Pine Cove series. It can be listened to as a stand alone.
This is a best friends to lovers, bisexual awakening story that I devoured.
Even though they have a long history together things feel brand new now. While Jay has always had feelings for Angel, he never thought they could go anywhere as Angel was straight.
While Angel is confused by his new feelings for Jay he is open to see where things will go.
I loved going on their journey to their HEA! Great story!

You are my greatest adventure

I have loved all books in the “Pine Cove” series mainly because they are fluffy, cozy and they stand-alone. No matter which book you jump into, you will be able to feel a warm-hearted, small town romance. I have waited for Jay’s book long enough since I encountered him in the previous books and HJ Welch really doesn’t disappoint me. Friends to lovers have always been one of my favorite tropes and even a sexual awakening to boot, this is one very happy listener/reader!

Angel had led an exciting life as a stuntman traveling around the world. Meanwhile, Jay has always been living in Pine Cove quietly pining for his best friend who’s having the adventure of his life. When Angel returned because of an accident with a hazy memory, Jay pretended to be his fiancée to take care of him. Even when the ruse is over, Angel found that he had already fallen in love with this gentle, caring and beautiful best friend of his Jay.

This is such a nice blend of book. There’s a bit of mystery, a heavy taste of drama and lots and lots of fluffy romance. I loved that I could still seee some of the characters from our previous Pine Cove books. NJR as always did a lovely job narrating and bringing this story to life. Love it.

4.5 you are my greatest adventure stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫



Audio rating

Story - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Narration - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Performance - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Overall - 4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫