Even though I never read Everything We Keep, I was immediately drawn into the story and the character's lives. This was a wonderful sequel for a reader new to the series. It had the perfect amount of back story. I was able to easily understand what has happened in the first book. I was never confused, it was a great stand-alone novel in it's own right. I loved the ending and definitely will be reading more by this author.

This has been one of my Most Anticipated Books of 2017! After reading Everything We Keep last year, my mind was blown and it took awhile to be able to pick up another book after that. With that said, Everything We Left Behind was everything and more! I LOVED the follow up to the first book and getting to have the dual POV from Carlos & James was very intriguing throughout the story. To see what each individual went through was great to understand their way of thinking and reasoning for their actions. Several times I found myself wanting to skip chapters because I had to KNOW what was going to happen next for each individual!

I can't say much more about this book without giving anything away but there is a painter, a baker, a photographer, The DEA, romance, longing, lost, crazy family drama, surfing, attempted murder, suspense, and exotic locales---- California, Puerto Escondido, Mexico & Kauai!!! Just GO READ IT!!!

James Donato goes after his brother, Phil in Mexico just two months before his wedding to Aimee. Things do not go as he had hoped and soon he is washed up on the shore. His brother, Thomas thinking to protect him tells all at home he is dead and gives James a new life as Carlos. Carlos cannot remember anything about that life as James. He marries and adopts his wife's son she had when they married. They have another son which she dies giving birth to him. Carlos paints and is happy but since Aimee came and told him about James and this other life, he is worried about what would happen to his sons if he suddenly remembers the old life and forgets this one. He has fallen in love with his sister-in-law but needs to see what will happen. Lots of emotion but can his life get on track and can he take care of the boys whether he is Carlos or James?

This book continued an interesting storyline from the previous book from another perspective. It was an interesting read, but it jumped around too much, at points making it difficult to follow.

The last thing James can remember is falling from a boat and trying to swim to shore. But when he opened his eyes, one morning, he finds himself in a bed he doesn't know, with two sons he can't remember. To his horror, James discovers that he has lost six years of his life. He has lost his fiancé, his identity, and has been betrayed by those closest to him. He had suffered from what the Doctors called ‘Dissociative Fugue.’ There is nothing left for James to do, but to try and piece back together his broken life. In doing so, maybe he will discover who he truly is.

Having just read Everything We Keep, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on the next book in the series. Lucky for me, I received an ARC of Kerry Lonsdale's latest release, so I didn't have to wait at all!

I was so looking forward to reading the story from James’ perspective, and I am glad to say this book did not disappoint. I thought Ms Lonsdale was very compassionate in her portray of James, and she nailed the emotional trauma that he goes through. This is, without a doubt, a heartbreakingly beautiful story.

I really took to James in Book 1, but by the end of book 2, I adore him. His determination to keep his family together — despite not remembering them — brought tears to my eyes. His confusion, his sense of betrayal, and his grief was very real in the telling. However, this is not a melancholy read. There are moments of humour, passion and love, as well as discovery. There are enough plot twists to keep you guessing and a cast of characters that are sublime in the telling.

I cannot praise this series enough. This book is certainly in my top ten — if not my top five — books I have read and reviewed this year.

I Highly Recommend.

Another 5 star read from Kerry Lonsdale for me! She is very quickly becoming a favorite of mine and I'm so impressed that this is her 3rd book published in less than a year. My plan was to get this one read over the holiday weekend and have my review in before it's publication yesterday, but as many of us know things don't always work out like we plan. So after all the celebrations with family for Independence day as well as my Mom's birthday, I finished it last night.

I love the rich characters she has brought to both Everything We Keep as well as this new installment, Everything We Left Behind. For me there wasn't as much mystery in this book as the first, more Carlos/Jamie piecing together the last several years of his life. I was pleasantly surprised that we didn't have more of Aimee in this one. It was centered around Jamie/Carlos and his relationship with Nat and his mom. I could see as we got to the ending with the multiple epilogues that the story is heading into another part. The next book in this series, Everything We Give, expected to come out next July appears to bring us back to Aimee and Ian with a story for Ian. I can't wait!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this opportunity. And of course to Kerry Lonsdale for writing such great work. I look forward to many more awesome reads in the future.

This novel is told from two different points of view, as Carlos has been in a fugue state for six years. As he is remembering his former life, he is torn between the man that he was and the man he is now. This is a story of love, intrigue and passion. As with the previous novel in this series, there are many twists and turns. Although this can be read as a standalone, I would urge you to read the first novel in the series. It will make the second one even more enjoyable and riveting.

I devoured this book all in one sitting on a holiday afternoon. It was a treat to dive back into the world of Everything We Keep and see the story from James/Carlos' point of view. I loved the way Kerry Lonsdale portrayed James' interior turmoil about losing the man he was as Carlos while trying to regain his life as James. If you loved the first novel, you will like this one as well.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing me a review copy of the novel.

I loved the first book in this series. So I expecting good things for this book, the second of the series. I was not disappointed. This book had even more twists, turns and unexpected parts. I was impressed. Is the message that love conquers all? Or is it that family is a complication? Really glad I am not part of Carlos/James family..they just seem shifty.

Although Everything We Left Behind could be savoured in its own right, because it is the long-anticipated sequel to Everything We Keep, then it’s probably best to read that first in order to get a handle on the major themes and characters.

The story is told from Carlos and James’ point of view, alternating voices and time frames from the present to the past. That might sound confusing, but the author is adept at making both of them come alive as separate characters who happen to inhabit the same body. She deftly reveals how a dissociative fugue state plays havoc with issues of identity, loss, family, place and relationships.

It’s a gripping page-turner, unravelling mystery and tender romance story, with twists and turns enough to leave a reader eager to see what the final outcome will be, especially for Carlos/James, as memories begin to surface and cannot be ignored when lives and safety are at stake. We witness the inner wrestling challenge of what to retain or leave behind.

This is a great follow up, which reveals how the other characters adapt to James becoming aware of himself as a son, brother, former fiance to Aimee, partner to Natalya, widower and father of two sons. I found the exchanges with his sons, Julian and Marc, particularly affecting and heart-warming. A captivating read.

Thanks to author Kerry Lonsdale, NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for an advanced review copy. I loved it!

This was an excellent continuation of the story the author began in Everything We Keep! It picks up right where that one left off and provides further explanation of how James came to be Carlos, and how Aimee went on with her own life. And just when you think it's all wrapped up - the ending throws a curve that will leave you hoping Lonsdale is well into the next book.

HOLY SOAP OPERA BATMAN! I can't wait to read book 3 and I am so thrilled that Book One pushed me out of my reading comfort zone.

Kerry Lonsdale has written a very nice sequel - Everything We Left Behind picks up right where Everything We Keep left off, and is told from James point of view. It's a good story, and really brings out the issues he was facing. It's not a perfect tale - you have to wonder at some of the characters' choices, and it's easy to figure out how things will end up - but the storyline is unique, and there are some very nice twists along the way. Many thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union for an ARC in exchange for a review. I really liked this series, and I think Kerry Lonsdale will only get better and better!

I absolutely loved this book. Ever since the previous book, Everything We Keep and the cliffhanger it ended on I have been desperate to find out what happened to the characters. Now i know i'm happy and could have read both of them all over again!

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read an advanced copy of Everything We Left Behind by Kerry Lonsdale.

The first book in the series, Everything We Keep, begins at James' funeral. It was supposed to be Aimee and James' wedding day, but instead Aimee is morning the death of her fiance. Aimee moves on with life. She marries Ian and has a family of her own.

Everything We Keep begins with a small boy jumping on the bed yelling papa papa! The child spoke spanish. He sees a cell phone on the table and looks at the date. It was supposed to be May! How the hell could it be December 6 1/2 years after his wedding date?

James/Carlos has been living in Mexico in a fugue state for 6 1/2 years. According to the lock box, he apparently has married and has had children. His wife and mother to the boys died while delivering their youngest son.

Kerry Lonsdale knocks it out of the park detailing Carlos/James' story. I can not wait until the third book in the series comes out. What happens next in their lives??

A great sequel to Everything We Keep. A very enjoyable read going into family secrets and emotions with unexpected twists and turns to the storyline. The main character is James/Carlos and this is about his family. Looking forward to the next book.

This is the second novel in the everything we keep trilogy. The story starts straight after the 1st one. After 6 years Carlos wakes up to discover that he is not Carlos no more and he is back as James. He doesn't know where he is, or who are these boys that are standing in front of thim. The next minute the eldest of the 2 boys give him a box containing a diary photos and a memory stick of what has happened in the last 6 years as Carlos. The story than goes through Carol/James is life. How he picks up the pieces and through his confusement, protect the 2 boys in his care.

This is a compelling and suspenseful page turner. if you loved the first. You will enjoy this a whole lot more.

I felt. that the first book of this series was repetitive and I found this one more so. Having wished for more detail about the crime at the root of the story in the first novel, I felt that even more this time. The devastation felt by the main character at the memory loss was lost in the endless round of angst and upset around the relationships. The crime was lost and it was almost a surprise when it resurfaced.
Apparently there is to be a third story. If that is more of the same, I don't think I will read it.

Everything We Left Behind by Kerry Lonsdale is a smashing psychological thriller. It continues the story begun in Everything We Know. The opening repeats the ending from book one.
The first book focused on the action from the point of view of Aimee. This one focuses on Carlos, moving into the future as well as recounting the past.
The plot line is excellent, alternating between the past and present, enabling the reader to fill in some of the gaps.
Once again, the main theme is family. Family may be mixed up but family ties bind and love covers all.
There is the theme of forgiveness. Others need it but none more so than self. The face in the mirror is always the hardest to forgive.
Identity is another major theme. Who are we? What makes us who we are? Can two separate identities occupy one body? Where does my heart lie? The answers to all these questions can be found within the pages of the book. Discovering who we are enables us to move forward into the future with confidence.
Fathers and sons is another focus. We all parent differently. The novel shows the damage, mentally that a father can inflict on his sons. In contrast, loving one's sons is a far better way to bring them up. There are some beautiful moments within the novel.
I absolutely adored Everything We Left Behind. It was a riveting read that I didn't want to end. Its ending certainly paved the way for book three Everything We Give, coming in July 2018 - and I for one, cannot wait.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series! I couldn't wait to read this book. I struggled to stay in the story. It kept switching from past to present so quickly it got confusing. I loved the plot of the story, but was very disappointed with this book.