This was my first Catharina Maura book, or novella and she definitely knows how to pull you in from the very start!! of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars Bittersweet Memories by Catharina Maura When he saw Aria in action, he had no choice but to offer her a job and a place to live at his penthouse in Silicon Valley. But Aria has a dark secret. We see Alanna and Silas first meet when they’re both teenagers, after his father’s recent death Silas becomes homeless and living in a shelter. He and Alanna become fast friends and we see them really connect over the next few years. When Alanna’s father ends up passing away as well and insurance fraud comes into play, she finds herself moving into the shelter too. I loved seeing Alanna and Silas fall for one another, their friendship and then romance was so sweet to see and I just believed in their connection right away. When Alanna ends up getting into a car accident and losing her memories, the story definitely takes a turn!

I liked the story. Remember to suspend disbelief at various points as the story unfolds. But I found them both cute and their love was beautiful. Catharina Maura who is otherwise known as CA Maura when writing paranormal romance is a fantasy and paranormal romance author. Over the many years that she has been actively writing romance, she has made a reputation for writing bestselling billionaire romances that her readers love for the small hint of the forbidden. Ethnically, she is Surinamese even though if you would like to be more specific, she is Indo-Surinamese. Her grandparents had moved from India to Suriname under the guise of indentured labor in the 1800s.I do want characters to struggle. I don’t want their lives to be all sunshine and rainbows because that’s just not realistic… but to kill not one, but two parents close together is cruel. That’s just one thing. However, the easiest way to get hold of her is to join the mailing list that she publishes every month. In her newsletter, readers can usually get news of opportunities for bonus content and new releases before they become public knowledge. Fast forward two years, Leia and Adrian cross paths yet again but since she had been previously hurt Leia insists on boundaries in their new relationship.

The characters meet at 13 (F) and 18 (M), right away he calls her "sweet girl". We then skip two years later (15 and 20 roughly), he calls her "my love", "darling", "sweet girl", "baby", "little girl", and at one point says "She's only sixteen, and she already looks like a vixen." -- blank stare. I don't think I need to go on (but I will). He's CONSTANTLY mentioning her curves, roaming his gaze over her, looking down at her lips, calling her beautiful, pressing her against him, holding her waist, caressing her thigh and cheek, etc.On the other hand is Amara who is working on her doctoral degree while running her business dealing in sex toys. She is studying engineering and is determined to make it on her own even though she has a very powerful grandfather. I laughed, I cried, and cried, and cried a little more, and then smiled. It's an angsty book so be prepared for that. But it's worth it all!