Welcome to my stop on the Unconditional blog tour hosted by InkSlingerPR!

Today I am excited to share my review, a top ten list, and a giveaway with you all!

Unconditional (Beachwood Bay #3)
  by: Melody Grace

Publication Date: March 18, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by InkSlingerPR and the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count:
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes
My Rating: 4/5 stars

"I’ve spent my whole life chasing perfection: perfect looks, perfect man, perfect home. But in one brutal moment, I realized it was all just a beautiful lie…"

Carina MacKenzie is fleeing from her past. Picking up the wreckage of her shattered dreams, she seeks comfort in the only place she’s ever felt safe: Beachwood Bay.

Garrett Sawyer isn’t looking to be anyone’s savior. Scarred by old betrayals, he’s sworn never to put his heart on the line again -- especially not for a damaged, high-maintenance girl like Carina. But passion knows no logic, and soon, their reckless chemistry is making him forget his bitter vows.

Two damaged hearts. The hope of true love. As their passion blazes out of control, Carina and Garrett struggle to escape their legacies of hurt. But can you ever outrun the past? And when everything is on the line, can they trust enough to build a love that's unconditional?

*This book contains adult situations and explicit content. 17+*

Ever since I read the epilogue to Unwrapped and saw Carina and Garrett's first interaction at Juliet and Emerson's wedding, I knew their relationship would be intense. They are complete opposites of one another and come from completely different worlds.... or so we think. It turns out the pair actually has some things in common: the pain of the past. I knew as soon as we met Carina in the first novel of the series that there would be more to her than meets the eye. 

I love that this is dual POV, because I just feel I can get a much better read on both of my characters this way. Garrett is already mysterious, so it helped to get inside his head and see what he was thinking. Most of all, I liked reading about how HE saw Carina. He sees beyond the facade she puts up and sees her pain and anguish and understands those things all too well. Garrett is no stranger to pain, but where Carina hides behind her rich, posh lifestyle and wealthy fiance, he hides behind his bar and only using women as a release, never getting attached to any one.

I have to say I wasn't sure if I could like Carina, especially after all we'd learned about her relationship with Juliet. Carina begins the novel with a huge wake up call, after things with her fiance begin to escalate in a not so good way. I am proud of her for having enough sense to walk away from a bad situation before it got worse, despite all her doubts and insecurities. My heart broke for this girl as she has grown up being put down and told what is expected of her. Going back to Beachwood Bay brings so many revelations to light for her and she realizes she wants to mend her tattered relationship with her sister. Juliet holds a lot of resentment towards Carina and theirs is one relationship that cannot be fixed with a simple apology. Carina will have to work hard at building a relationship there if she truly wants one.

Her relationship with her dad on the other hand... oh that man made my blood boil. The things he says to his daughter and how he reacts to her telling him what happened with her ex fiance.... I would have freaked the heck out. He really shows his true colors and Carina is appalled that he would gloss over the cold, hard facts. It's no wonder Carina's self worth is shot to hell. Garrett steps in and ends up being the savior that Carina needs. He is tender and understanding and offers her his shoulder to lean on, knowing she has no one else. He also has this strong urge to protect her, to keep her safe. He believes in her and that is the push she needs to start changing her life and living for HER. 

As I said earlier, Garrett and Carina have an intense relationship. They did not get off to a good start at all at the wedding. He thinks she's a stuck up ice queen and she thinks he's just a womanizer. They come to a truce of sorts and he lets her stay in the spare bedroom of Emerson and Juliet's beach house. However, holy chemistry. These two definitely have it! Garrett definitely drove me a little nuts, as he is torn between what he wants (her) and what he knows he should be for her (a friend). Even though he lets Carina in (both physically and mentally), he is still apprehensive about his past. He thinks he's too damaged to truly be what she needs and give her what he wants.

"You fucking consume me, Carina!"

He's running scared. He's afraid of being hurt again, only this time he doesn't know if he would survive it. 

We get to see some familiar faces in this book, aside from Juliet and Emerson. Brit and Hunter make an appearance and while I loved Brit in her book Unafraid, I found myself irritated with her in this one. I understand that she has a tough shell and letting people in isn't her forte, but once Carina proved that she wasn't as vapid and awful as she once was, I was expecting Brit to give her a break. Brit is fiercely protective of her loved ones and while I admire that, I kept waiting for her to make peace with Carina.

I was quite surprised by the epilogue of this book, as it gives us a completely new POV of the person that will be in the next book, Uninhibited. I didn't see this coming, but I have to admit I'm definitely interested in these two. Because that epilogue? HAWT. 

Overall, I really enjoyed Unconditional and I like that Grace was able to take such a not very well liked character and really peel back her layers to expose her true self. Garrett was the perfect person to balance her out as he understands her on a level others couldn't. As always, I can't wait to see the direction Grace takes the series next!

TEN THINGS GARRETT THINKS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CARINA:

1. She thinks she needs to get all dressed up to look good, but she's the most beautiful first thing in the morning, in one of my shirts with no make up on.

2. She's so good at pretending everything's OK, she's got everyone fooled- except me.

3. She has the most beautiful singing voice I've ever heard, but she's too scared to share it with anyone.

4. She loves her sister, Juliet, more than anything in the world.

5. Carina comes off like a stuck-up ice-queen at first, but when you get to know her, she has such a loving, kind heart.

6. She'll make a great mother one day.

7. She went through a lot in her childhood, and it's been hard for her to forgive herself and let it go.

8. She's full of great ideas, like how I can improve business at the bar.

9. She refuses to think of herself as a victim, and let other people's decisions define her.

10. Her kisses could stop the world spinning round.

Melody Grace is the USA Today bestselling author of UNBROKEN and UNTOUCHED. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach-lover, she spent years with her nose in a book before deciding it was time to write them for herself. She loves bad boys, good books, and pistachio-flavored ice-cream.

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If You Leave (Beautifully Broken #2)
   by: Courtney Cole

Publication Date: Aug. 6, 2013
Publisher: Forever
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by InkSlingerPR and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 336 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

 

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.

 

They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.

 

But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

 

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.

 

My Review:

Writing this review will be incredibly difficult as there are honestly no words to convey the emotions I felt after finishing this book. I knew on a personal level reading this book would be hard. A very dear friend of mine suffers from PTSD, having served two tours in the Army- one in Iraq and another in Afghanistan. Reading Gabriel's story is one that hit entirely too close to home for me and yet I feel Cole did an excellent job of tackling the delicate topic of PTSD and the relentless battle Gabriel faced on a daily basis. She handled such a topic with care and you could tell she researched this topic and
provided realistic information to the readers.

Gabriel is a former Army Ranger suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after an ordeal in Afghanistan has left him to face numerous demons no man ever should. He has seen too much, felt too much, and in turn has become a guarded man. He does not let people in and he certainly does not discuss what occurred to him in Afghanistan. Gabriel is plagued by nightmares and has unintentionally hurt others before while in that state between consciousness and sleep. He is determined to keep people at an arm's length and is rocked to the core when he realizes that beautiful Madison is coming to mean a whole lot more to him that he ever would have dreamed.

We briefly met Madison (Maddy) in If You Stay, which is the story of her younger sister Mila and her now husband Pax. I was really thrilled when I heard Maddy was getting her own book. She has her own issues to work through- the greatest of them all is that 4 years later, she is still dealing with the deaths of her parents. I felt so bad for Maddy as she is so conflicted. We learn that Maddy and Mila's father was not the man everyone knew him to be. He was a man, who while angry, would beat on his wife. The worst part is that this was not an all the time thing. For the most part he would be the loving man and father they knew and things would be ok, but when he morphed into this other man, Maddy wished her mother would have the strength to leave him. However, she never did. Maddy is torn between hating and loving her father. She tries to explain it to Gabe at one point, but it boils down to her feeling absolute guilt over something she had no control over. She may think her choice to leave Angel Bay for New York is the cause for so many problems, but that is not the case at all. Maddy will never be able to move forward unless she forgives herself and lets go of her guilt at not being there for her sister, her mother, or her parents' deaths. She has let her guilt consume her and has let it dictate her life and how she should be running it. Maddy never wanted to take care of her parents' restaurant or receive their house. However, she let that false sense of obligation take over and in turn, has not truly been happy for quite some time.

When Gabe and Maddy meet, she for once wants to be that girl that shirks her responsibilities and for once, doesn't let her obligations or guilt rule her. She is immediately drawn to Gabe standing outside a club in downtown Chicago. He's sexy, strong, and she can tell he's powerful: all definite turn ons for her. She has never preferred the clean cut good guys. Everything in her tells her she needs to stay away from Gabe, yet no matter how much he may infuriate and tease her, she can't. The sexual tension between these two is sizzling hot. As much as she tries to push him from her mind and turn her attentions elsewhere, she can't. Gabe feels much the same way with her. He knows he wants her and doesn't hold back in letting her know that fact. He is cocky and oh so arrogant and you can't help but want to pat Maddy on the back and tell her she made a good effort, but now it's time to ravage that man. Naturally a relationship between two people who harbor such dominating inner demons is not going to be easy. Gabe has to be very careful with her, as he does not want to hurt her in any way. He knows he can't let himself fall asleep with her for fear of a nightmare consuming him and taking him to a place in his mind he can't escape. A place where he easily loses control. Maddy was very reluctant at first concerning Gabe. Some of his earlier actions led her to believe he was a bully and after her father, that is the last person she wants to get involved with. However, after Maddy starts to see him for who he really is, not a bully, but as someone who wants to protect, not harm, that is when she feels her walls begin to lower and accept what she wants: all of him.

Oh the side characters! We have so many great ones in this novel! Of course Pax and Mila are back and in a much larger capacity than I would have thought! (Thank you Courtney!) I loved reading about them again and seeing how they were faring. Pax and Mila are soon to be parents and watching the absolute love, adoration, and tenderness Pax has for his wife is incredible. He is so protective of not only his wife, but of his sister-in-law too. He has no problem speaking his mind when it comes to someone hurting either of them and I loved Pax's 'big brother' attitude. Mila is also adorable with her 'pregnant brain', and even though she is focused on her baby, she always has time for her big sister.

Jacey, Gabe's sister and Maddy's friend, also plays a large role in the novel. I had some trouble liking her to be honest, but I'm hoping that will change in her book! I felt that Jacey acted immaturely for her age and she definitely made some bad decisions that ended up reaping some pretty serious consequences. However, she truly cares about her friendship with Maddy and really loves her big brother. Jacey however has some issues of her own that I'm sure Cole will shed greater light on in the next novel in the series Before I Fall. And then there's Brand. He is Gabe's best friend and also a former Army Ranger. The two served together and have been bound together by more than just friendship. They share a sense of duty, as well as know what truly happened in Afghanistan. There is one scene in particular between Brand and Gabe that absolutely made my heart shatter into tiny pieces. My friend has told me stories about how war changes a person and how you can't unsee things you saw or undo things you did. The emotional toll that has been placed on these men and women is unimaginable to me and in this scene you really see the darkness and the despair that haunt these men even years later. However, Brand was there for Gabe and is the epitome of a true friend.

Overall, this book is such an emotional one, as it deals with such a variety of issues: love, loss, forgiveness, acceptance, and moving forward.  Both Gabe and Maddy long for emotional stability- will they be able to find it with one another or will their demons drive them apart?

~Top Ten Things Maddy Wants Her Future Niece/Nephew To Know~

 

1. Always trust your gut instinct. If you're ever out with friends or a date, and you get a bad feeling about the situation, trust it. Get out of there.

 

2. Don't ever be embarrassed by what you like to do or your sense of humor. You are unique and you like different things than other people sometimes. That's okay. That's what makes you, you.

 

3. Help other people. What you put out in the world comes back to you.

 

4. There is no such thing as having too many pairs of shoes.

 

5. Life has tons of ups and downs. That's what makes it beautiful. Like Dr. Seuss said once, "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

 

6. Always respect yourself and earn that same respect from those around you.

 

7. A few bites of cookie dough is delicious and necessary. A whole bowlful is gross and will make you throw up.

 

8. You're going to get your heart broken. It's okay. You'll be okay.

 

9. Spend time with the people you love. That's the most priceless thing on Earth: time.

 

10. Always remember how much we love you.

 

About the Author:

Courtney Cole is a novelist who would eat mythology for breakfast if she could. She has a degree in Business, but has since discovered that corporate America is not nearly as fun to live in as fictional worlds. She loves chocolate and roller coasters and hates waiting and rude people.

Courtney lives in quiet suburbia, close to Lake Michigan, with her real-life Prince Charming, her ornery kids (there is a small chance that they get their orneriness from their mother) and a small domestic zoo.

 

Website  Blog  Twitter  Facebook  Goodreads  Amazon

 

Grand Central Website

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Hi guys! I am Heather, one half of the duo that makes up the blog Turning Pages. I am so excited to be doing my very first guest post here on Lovin’ Los Libros!  Thanks for having me Jessica!

 It took me awhile to figure out what I wanted to write about, but then I thought that since it is summer time, I would incorporate two of my favorite things into one post. BEACHES and BOOKS!

 So, without further adieu
TOP 10 BOOKS I’D TAKE WITH ME ON A DESERTED ISLAND

 

1.     PRIDE & PREJUDICE – JANE AUSTEN
I love the classics, especially anything written by Jane Austen. But Pride & Prejudice has a special place in my heart. I adore Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth and could spend hours lost in their beautiful dialogue. If you’re going to be stranded on an island, you must bring a classic. At least in my opinion.

2.     CITY OF BONES – CASSANDRA CLARE
OH my Jace! Seriously. When I was first given this book by my bloggin’ partner Christie (back when we first met) I was very hesitant. I thought it would be too “out there” for me. But MAN! I was wrong. I was instantly pulled into the Shadowhunting world and I refuse to leave. I could read this book (and the entire series) over and over again.

3.     JUST LISTEN – SARAH DESSEN
I consider myself Sarah Dessen’s biggest fan. I would seriously LOVE to meet her one day and I strongly believe it is bound to happen since we are both Carolina gals. But really. My passion for reading started with her and her books never disappoint me. Just Listen is one of my favorites and came out around a time when I really need to do just that, listen.

4.     ANNA AND THE FRENCH KISS – STEPHANIE PERKINS
It takes place in Paris. I mean….that’s pretty much all you need to know. But then there is this boy, yes – a boy, and you can’t help but fall in love with him. He is the mix of perfection. I also really enjoy Stephanie’s writing style and her quirky sense of style. Her books are fun to read and easy to fall in love with.

5.     TEMPEST – JULIE CROSS
Julie is my writing mentor and I was so lucky to stumble across Tempest when I did. The story line is phenomenal and one that leaves my mind reeling days after I’ve finished reading it. I can’t imagine being without a Julie Cross book. And Jackson. We can’t forget Jackson.

6.     PROM AND PREJUDICE – ELIZABETH EULBERG
A modern take on my most favorite Austen novel in the world. I devoured this book when it first came out. Elizabeth tackles high school in a way that makes me wish I could go back and take charge like the characters in her books. Okay, maybe not the go back part, but they do give me a sense of power.

7.     THE FAULT IN OUR STARS – JOHN GREEN
Do I really need to elaborate on why this book would come with me on a stranded island? I mean…Hazel. Gus.
Okay? Okay.

8.    JUST ONE DAY – GAYLE FORMAN
Another book that takes place in beautiful Paris. I will pretty much be using this book as my guidebook when I go to Paris next summer. No, really. I read this book in just one day and I could easily read it over and over again. It is just that fabulous. Prepare to fall in love.

9.     BEAUTIFUL CREATURES – MARGARET STOHL & KAMI GARCIA
I am a sucker for books that take place in the south, mostly because I myself am a southerner, born and raised. Taking a little piece of home with me on a deserted island is a must. Oh and Ethan Wate is a major plus.

10.  SO MUCH CLOSER – SUSANE COLASANTI
I love all of Susane’s books. She is such a fun-loving author and it shows in her writing. I love all of her books, but this one in particular really stood out to me. I love everything about it and would definitely have to have it with me.

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post! And thanks again to Jessica for allowing me to share with everyone!

Happy reading!

 

Thanks so much for Heather for suggesting these guest posts! Make sure you stop by and follow her and her partner in crime Christie at Turning Pages!