Book Review: Burying Water by K.A. Tucker

From Goodreads:

The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

My Review: 

Left for dead after a brutal attack, "Jane Doe" is lucky to be alive. She wakes in a hospital with no memory, a laundry list of injuries, and a scared face. Aside from an odd tattoo and the faintest of flashbacks, she has no idea if she'll ever regain the memories of her life. 

Watched over by her doctor and taken in by a reclusive and cantankerous neighbor, she renames herself "Water", and painstakingly begins life anew. 

With hundreds of questions and no answers in sight, Waters struggles with the incredible sense of safety and familiarity she feels with her doctor's son, Jesse. Does she actually know him? Or does she just want to? What is it that Jesse is hiding?

What if all those little bits that make up me get lost, overshadowed by one dark memory? My last memory, the one that made me want to forget everything in the first place. Will I be able to escape the kind of damage that experience can cause?

Burying Water was my first book from K.A. Tucker, and it won't be the last! I was completely captivated by this story from beginning to end; everything from the characters to the plot to the writing kept me glued to the pages. This was a surprising book for the new adult genre, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.

If you wait long enough, the truth always comes out. Just like water. 

It's told in alternating 1st person POV, flipping from present to past with every chapter. The two voices were so distinctive and vivid that sometimes it felt like I was reading two different stories that somehow still managed to fit together perfectly. The differences in their voices set the tone for the book so beautifully, with the perfect mix of confusion and perseverance from Water, and anxiety and conflict from Jesse. 

I absolutely loved seeing the past and present in this book. It kept me on the very edge of my seat, salivating for what would unfold next. Seeing "old Water" through Jesse's eyes, and "new Water" in her own eyes was spellbinding. 

"I wouldn't make you wear that shit. I'd let you dye your hair whatever color you wanted. I'd let you shave it off; I'd let you wear men's sweatpants. I'd do anything to keep you in school.  I'd never leave you alone in the dark. I'd never lay a hand on you. Not like that." 

Jesse is an intriguing character, one that I fell for right away. Despite the circumstances, he came across as so good and pure. A very genuine, passionate, and loving man. I connected with him more than Water, and being in his head was enthralling.

He saved me long before that night I almost died; that much I'm sure of. Maybe one day I'll remember exactly how. 

Water was an enjoyable heroine, with a quiet sort of strength that sneaks up on you. Even though she's been dealt an absolute shit hand in life, she keeps a positive outlook and makes the best with what she's given. I really admired her character, and her arc was fantastic. I also liked the chemistry between her and Jesse. 

All the side characters are so rich and well rounded. I loved the different personalities and opinions throughout the book; it made it so realistic and vivid. I can't wait to read Amber's story, Chasing River!

My only gripe with Burying Water is my gripe with most contemporaries: they end too soon. Everything happens and then boom, epilogue. I want to see some real closure! I want to see how everyone reacts in the aftermath of such a reveal. The ending of this book left me wanting more, and not in the best way as there is no direct sequel.

Aside from that, I loved the book. The pacing was perfect and tense, the writing beautiful and vivid, and the characters well developed. I can't say more without spoiling it! You have to experience this one for yourself. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Burying Water, and highly recommend it. If you're new to the new adult genre, this is definitely a good one to... test the waters with. You see what I did there?

STATS:

Rating: 5 stars

Genre: New adult, contemporary romance, suspense

Series: Burying Water #1, standalone series

POV: 1st person, alternating duel perspective

Steam/sexual content: Slightly steamy, very mild sex

Warnings: Violence, rape, abuse

Cliffhanger: No

HEA: Yes

My own copy

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- The Bibliophile Babe