What We Keep

By: Jennifer Millikin

Narrated by: Victoria Dickson, Wesley Mercer

Length: 11 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

Amazon Charts bestselling author Jennifer Millikin delivers an emotional and riveting love story.

Charming and heroic, there’s nothing about Gabriel Woodruff that Avery Burke doesn’t love. His warm brown eyes, his generosity, that small scar above his lip. The newspaper photo of him carrying her from a burning home only adds to the romance of it all.

A fairytale beginning and a picture-perfect marriage practically guarantees Avery and Gabriel a ride into the sunset. But every relationship has flaws, and what they ignored while they were busy being flawless eventually surfaces. The unraveling begins with the smallest tug on the tiniest string.

Their fall is spectacular, the kind that makes the paper.

When the fairytale goes up in smoke, Avery and Gabriel are forced to ask themselves hard questions.

What does for better or worse really mean?
Is this their second chance at a once-in-a-lifetime love?
What do we keep, when we lose it all?

©2024 Jennifer Millikin (P)2024 Jennifer Millikin

Emotional Roller Coaster

This was an emotional roller coaster. It was a whole journey from beginning to end. How a relationship starts, a life starts and how it all begins to crumble. Avery and Gabriel meet in a life altering way and their story is just as traumatic as their meet cute. We see their rise into the happiest they have ever been, and the defining moments that change everything for them. We also get to see them build their lives back from the ground up, separately and then together once again.
No one says relationships are easy, and having one with someone who has addiction issues is even harder. My favorite line from this book was when Gabriel said he knew marriage would be hard, but he didn't realize it would be as hard as it was for them. it is in those struggles that you can give up, or you can chose to do the hard work. I know when we are young we think we are doing what is best, but as we get older we can see exactly what we needed to do to make it work.
I loved Avery's journey, but I really did want to see more of what Gabriel experienced and that left me feeling a little like a part of this story was missing. I do love a good marriage reconciliation and I love when the man fights for what he wants.

Emotional, Angsty, Soulmates

What We Keep is a standalone contemporary romance that borders women’s fiction. This is marriage in trouble, firefighter hero who saves the heroine, second chance, and is VERY angsty. I thought after reading Here for the Cake, it would have a light tone. It does not! Avery and Gabriel met when he saved her from a house fire. They began dating and fell deeply in love. There was never going to be another for either Avery or Gabriel. They assumed that they would not break after they married, but Gabriel had trauma that he never dealt with and he downplayed his struggle with alcohol use disorder. He always felt that he needed to put himself on the back burner, because of his past trauma. Avery wasn’t completely innocent when Gabriel hit rock bottom, but having a martyr personality, he felt like he needed to let Avery go. After 3 years, they reunited and now they have to deal with all the demons that neither dealt with before their break up to get their HEA.Be aware that the way the author told this book was very different. There are 2 parts: part 1 was therapist sessions and the POV of Avery and part 2 was dual POV with Avery and Gabriel. It took me a minute to adjust to the different format, because it threw me out of the story. However, once I was connected to the story during part 1, I couldn’t stop listening to the audiobook. This book hurts. We see Avery and Gabriel fall in love, thinking their relationship was invincible. Their downfall was trauma, but they were soulmates. Their second chance was gorgeously written. The emotions punched, but we got a well earned HEA. I love the therapy rep in this book! The character growth was inevitable, but their journey from seemingly perfect to realistically flawed with a growth of love was well done. There isn’t a lot of spice, but it didn’t need it.

What We Keep was everything I want in a marriage in trouble romance. I would recommend the audiobook. Victoria Dickson and Wesley Mercer did a fantastic job!

TW: divorce, DUI, alcohol abuse disorder, parent neglect, death of a loved one off page, surviving a fire, PTSD

An Enthralling & Emotional Journey! Amazing🎧📚🎧

Wow, just wow, Jennifer Millikin left me speechless, and it took time to get my voice back, and I am still wowed by this book, the journey, the unique telling of the story, an emotional rollercoaster ride and romance story like no other. The characters are realistic, easy to relate to and connect with. Gabriel Woodruff and Avery Burke’s story starts with an act of heroism, a whirlwind romance, and all was great until it wasn’t and the author is upfront about that in the unique telling of their story, a story that will charm your heart, then breaks it and then puts it back together to give you a whole new heart. No spoilers here, just read or better yet, listen to the audiobook, check your trigger warnings before starting, because the author covers some sensitive topics, and she keeps it all real. The writing, plot, world building, character growth and development are just as incredible as the story itself, which is captivating from start to end. It is a multi-layered story with drama, angst, heartfelt emotions, and steamy romance. A story of love, loss, forgiveness and learning to live and love again. Jennifer Millikin, thank you for this amazing story and emotional rollercoaster ride.

🎧📚🎧 Victoria Dickson and Wesley Mercer did a fantastic job bringing the characters to life, and did so with a complete understanding of who they were portraying, giving each a voice that was fitting and was believable in their roles. Mercer nailed it as Gabriel, showcasing every aspect of his personality and demeanor, from his charm to his struggles and then his determination. Dickson did the same for Avery, showcasing her personality and demeanor perfectly, from her struggles to her strengths. Both were just as fabulous performing the roles of the secondary characters, too. They set the perfect tone for the story, captured all the characters’ emotions and had you feeling them all. These are two entertaining storytellers and their duet performance elevates this already amazing story to another level. Thanks for the wonderful listen.

Captivating. Raw. Real.

I don’t even know where to begin. I was blown away by Jennifer’s writing. Not only the story, but the formatting. The first half of the book is Avery in therapy retelling the events that led her to the therapist’s couch. The second half is no longer flashbacks and telling their love story, it’s present day and incorporates Gabriel’s POV.

This story wrecked me and still is - I am crying as I reflect on this story to write my review. The whirlwind romance between Avery and Gabriel was a fairytale, their demise was tragic but their second chance was beautiful. While their time apart was heartbreaking, the character growth during that time was phenomenal. They both fought so hard for their love and ended up in an even better place than they were before. Their happily ever after was worth the emotional journey it took to get there.

The narration took this already amazing journey and only enhanced it. Victoria Dickson and Wesley Mercer’s performances were captivating. This was a raw and emotional story and their performances reflected that. Wesley’s emotional performance in the car after Gabriel’s life altering mistake had me sobbing. Victoria Dickson captured all of Avery’s emotions perfectly.

I cannot recommend this book enough! I was already telling friends and family about it before I had even finished it. ♥️

What We Keep !!!

HOLY BANANAS I HAVEN’T CRIED THIS HARD AT A BOOK IN A WHILE !!!

This was the craziest rollercoaster ride about a marriage in trouble, changing and growing from grief and the power of second chances . Mixed in with PTSD, trauma, gut-wrenching emotions, endless angst and the hard topics of substance abuse . All while two people, Gabriel Woodruff + Avery Burke, learn that their love was meant to be . Soul mates in every lifetime they are in . Jennifer Millikin is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors - the realness she can bring to the page is perfection . Not to mention that the split timeline of past to present was done flawlessly . Totally a Libby coded book through and through . I need more lol .

This book can be read as a complete standalone .

This audiobook was given to me for honest review by Valentine PR + Management .

"We were beautiful until we were tragic!

Plot: 5📍
Spice: 2 ❤️‍🔥
Overall: 5 ⭐
Audio/narration: 5 🎧

I can't explain well enough how freaking amazing this book was!

The opening chapter via audio is absolutely spine-chilling!

I think I paused listening to this book about a dozen times or more to force my dear husband to not only tell him what's going on with the story but to make him listen!

There is a quiet genius in the way Ms. Milliken constructed this story within a story. The use of dual almost triple timelines, but explicitly, clearly done, the literal use of past and present tense, how the dual POV/dual narrators are used. It's absolutely fantastic!

The tale of Avery and Gabriel is definitely more women's lit than romance although romance is definitely front and center. Twists, turns, abso-flipping-lute heartbreak, rebirth, overcoming family trauma, angst, and so so much more.

Avery and Gabriel are painfully normal, beautiful, broken, and just fantastic. Their story reads more like a dually-written autobiography instead of of fiction. Their stories, in part or in whole, can be fine in so many of us wonderfully, fractured, but real people. And prove to us that “going to war with our demons” is the hardest but most rewarding work.

Go listen or read this.

Have tissues ready. And your favorite snacks. And your favorite tea or coffee or comfort beverage close on hand. You won't want to stop once you've started!

Just SO damn good

STORY:5
CHARACTERS:5
NARRATORS:5
SPICE:0
OVERALL:5

TROPES:
FIREFIGHTER
SECOND CHANCE
SOULMATES
ANGST
BROKENHERO
BIG CITY/SMALL TOWN

TRIGGER:
ADDICTION
ALCOHOLISM

Oh the story of Gabriel and Josie is one that needs to be LISTENED to. I got the ALC for this, and the narrators NAILED it. Wes?? GTFOH. His voice is fantastic..could listen all day every day. Victoria was excellent as Josie. This is diet narration,meaning they interact with each other...there is no male doing a womans voice or vice versa.

I will say, due to how this is in the beginning with the doc sessions and chapters, you are taking a trip down memory lane, whilst speaking of the present. That may be hard for some.

Gabriel and Josie find each other in the most traumatic of ways...a house fire. He is the firefighter who saves her life. She makes her way over to thank him for saving her and the connection is there. Instant. You really believe their love could not falter...boy are we wrong.

This can be a reminder that NOT facing the traumas that occur, will show back up. Gabriel turns to alcohol after the death of a fellow firefighter. Had he handled what happened in his life previously with his family, this may have not pushed him over the edge.

Josie is by far the most patient and understanding FMC. Maybe it is due to her going to college to become a marriage and family therapist...manifest destiny?

Anywho, there is a lot to experience with this story and it is worth it...I loved this so much and I would recommend it to everyone.

What We Keep ❤️‍🔥

❤️‍🔥 What We Keep ❤️‍🔥

This book will break your heart and put it back together again all in one! It’s devastating and heartbreaking while also being hopeful and heartwarming by showing that true love prevails. This is a great second chance romance and was a wonderful story.

The story is done in two parts and is multiple timelines which I enjoyed. It was very easy to follow and I liked getting to watch their story unfold. You get to see Avery and Gabriel fall in love, fall apart, and come back to one another. It is heartbreakingly beautiful and Jennifer did such a great job with this story! There are some heavier topics shown throughout and it was done with so much care. The struggles of the characters were handled really well which was great to see. I liked both characters and enjoyed getting to watch their journey unfold!

Tropes:
❤️ Second Chance
🔥 Marriage in Trouble (NO cheating NO other woman/man)
❤️ Emotional
🔥 Angsty
❤️ Soulmates
🔥 Broken Hero
❤️ Big City and Small Town
🔥 Firefighter MMC x Therapist FMC
✨ There are some heavier topics within this book, please check content warnings before reading if you have any triggers ✨

This audiobook is duet narration which I really enjoyed! If you like audiobooks I’d recommend this audio!

Thank you Jennifer and valentine pr for an ALC I was so happy to get to read this one early!

So much more than a second chance romance

Plot 5/5
Narration 4.5/5
Spice 2/5

This book was incredible. It was so much more than a second-chance romance. Each month, I document which books affected me the most, and in September it was this one. It made such an impact. I love when authors shake up the typical structure of any trope, and make it their own.

Tropes:
✌🏼 Second-Chance Romance
💔 Heartbroken Hero
🚒 Firefighter MMC
❤️Insta-Love
✨Strong Character Development
🌶️ Angst and Longing
💖 Soutmates

The author divided the book into two parts, so I plan to discuss each of them separately:

Part 1-

In this section, we get to sit in on Avery's therapy sessions. We don't know until the very end of part one why she's in therapy. We just know these sessions take place between part on and two, so that dynamic was very fascinating to me. We do know that they both fell hard and fast. They had an inst-love.

Avery: Had to grow up way too quickly, so when Gabriel came along, it was nice having someone else take care of her, versus having to take care of others. This was inevitably a uge issue when faced with major flaws in Gabriel. Her coping mechanism was to cover for others, and minimise her own feelings.

Gabriel: He was perfect until he wasn't. He could never truly be himself. He didn't really feel allowed or able to discuss things from his past, so he kept them hidden and never healed from them.

Part 2-

The aftermath of a failed relationship, and a road to healing and forgiveness.

Avery: She had grown a lot in the 2 years she'd spent away from Gabriel, but when he came back into her life, she finally found the strength to speak her truth to him.

Gabriel: Made a complete 180 in overcoming addiction. I am so proud of his character developement! Jennifer did what she promised. Gave us a complete character redemption. A well deserved HEA!

Conclusion: The ending was incredibly satisfying. Having had someone close deal with alcoholism, this book meant so much. I felt so seen because I also covered for them. I made excuses for them, and I found it hard to confront them when they wouldn't confront it themselves. I felt responsible for them, when it shouldn't have fallen on my shoulders.

“I don’t love you the way I used to.”
She lifts her head, her gaze curious.
“Explain.”
“It’s tangible now.”
My hand caresses her bare back.
“Something I can hold in my palm. Love feels different after you fight for it.”

Thank you Valentine PR and Jennifer for the ALC!

Great narrators for a great story

What We Keep is my first time listening or reading a Jennifer Millikin book. I really enjoyed it. I love dual narrators. Victoria Dickson and Wesley Mercer had the perfect voices to bring the story to life.



I could feel Avery's love for Gabriel and I love their story. I love their relationship, their joys, and their pains. Everything about the couple made them realistic and relatable. I was invested in them figuring out what was next for them and the way to get to whatever was next.



I did not realize that this was part of a series, although I had not read any of the series. I jumped right in and never realized I was missing anything. I am going to go back and listen to more of this series just because I loved the characters so much.