Lovin' los libros

Untouched (Beachwood Bay #0.5)
    by: Melody Grace

Publication Date: May 14, 2013
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review
Page Count: 80 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

                           -goodreads.com description

I don't even know where to begin. It's been such a stressful week with the end of the school year and last night I decided I needed to sit down and read for just a little while. Naturally, Melody's novella was the perfect choice! I was worried at first because I hadn't read Unbroken, but then I saw this could be read as a stand-alone. I'm glad I read it first to be honest, because now I'm familiar and invested in the characters. And as always I love dual POV's. I think it brings so much more to the story to have two completely different point of views, especially from our leading male and female.

From the very first paragraph, I fell in love with Melody's writing. She has a beautiful way with words and I was completed enraptured. Her writing is mature and not once did I think to myself, "Wow, that was cheesy."

"Because that's the thing I didn't understand about fate: there's always a moment when you do have a choice. Standing there in the shallows, watching the wave roll in; feeling its power, knowing it might pull you under, but believing the water will carry your weight all the same."

We are introduced to Juliet first who, as we learn from the very first chapter, is wanting to start anew. She wants to be free of her past and is looking forward to a new beginning. She tells us how fate steps in- in the form of Emerson Ray and she wonders if she will be brave enough to accept that maybe this new twist of fate might be the one she needs. Or if it will be an epic disaster.

Oh, Emerson. What to say about him? At first glance, we don't get a very good impression of him. He wakes up next to a one-night stand, whose name he can't remember and a pounding hangover. However, he endears himself to me, as even though he's about to leave this girl with nothing- he feels guilty that he's used her. He is filled with self-loathing and doesn't see himself as having any worth or anything to offer a girl. You learn pretty early on that his family situation is less than ideal and is having to watch out for his younger siblings.

When these two meet- WHEW! Talk about some sexual tension! Despite the circumstances they meet under, both can't help but be attracted to the other. Juliet has such an innocence about her, yet she also has some family issues that have made her hard, so she is understanding once she finds out more about Emerson's home life.

As innocent as Juliet may be, she is certainly not shy. She is quite gutsy if you ask me. She doesn't hesitate in helping Emerson, even when he refuses it. Emerson might not realize it, but he craves stability. He is afraid to get in too deep with Juliet, knowing she is a 'summer girl', who will leave once the summer ends. With his tumultuous family life and always wondering when his mom is going to come home, I don't think he wants to be disappointed by another person in his life that he cares about.

However, I won't even lie, the last line of the novella broke my heart. I've read the synopsis for Unbroken so I knew what was to come, but still.

Overall, I loved this novella. I thought it was such a great, beautiful read about two people who, though they have a lot of baggage, still fall in love despite everything else the world throws at them.