Thursday, March 14, 2013

*Review* Melody Grace's Unbroken

*Spoiler-Free* REVIEW: Unbroken by Melody Grace
Published On: March 12th, 2013
Audience: New Adult
*DISCLOSURE: eARC provide by the author for a fair and honest review


Unbroken
by Melody Grace

Synopsis:
"Mom always told me there are two kinds of love in this world: the steady breeze, and the hurricane. Emerson Ray was my hurricane…"

Juliet McKenzie was an innocent eighteen-year old when she spent the summer in Cedar Cove—and fell head over heels in love with Emerson. Complicated, intense Emerson, the local bad boy. His blue eyes hid dark secrets, and just one touch could set Juliet ablaze. Their love was demanding and all-consuming, but when summer ended, tragedy tore them apart. Juliet swore she’d never go back, and she’s kept that promise… Until now.

Four years later, Juliet’s done her best to rebuild the wreckage of her shattered life. She’s got a great boyfriend, and a steady job planned after she graduates. Returning to Cedar Cove to pack up her family’s beach house to prepare it for sale, Juliet is determined that nothing will stand in the way of her future. But one look from Emerson, and all her old desire comes flooding back. He let her go once, but this time, he’s not giving up without a fight. And Emerson fights dirty.

A heartbreaking history. An unstoppable passion. Torn between her past and future, Juliet struggles to separate love from desire. But will they find a way to overcome their tragic secrets—together? And after so much damage has been done, can a love remain unbroken?

Source:
Goodreads




Before we get to the review, let me give you a little teaser to whet your appetite:

My mom always said there are two kinds of love in this world: the steady breeze, and the hurricane.
The steady breeze is slow and patient. It fills the sails of the boats in the harbor, and lifts laundry on the line. It cools you on a hot summer‘s day; brings the leaves of fall, like clockwork every year. You can count on a breeze, steady and sure and true.
But there‘s nothing steady about a hurricane. It rips through town, reckless, sending the ocean foaming up the shore, felling trees and power lines and anyone dumb or fucked-up enough to stand in its path. Sure, it‘s a thrill like nothing you‘ve ever known: your pulse kicks, your body calls to it, like a spirit possessed. It‘s wild and breathless and all-consuming.
But what comes next?
“You see a hurricane coming, you run.” My mom told me, the summer I turned eighteen. “You shut the doors, and you bar the windows. Because come morning, there‘ll be nothing but the wreckage left behind.”
Emerson Ray was my hurricane.







My thoughts:

Unbroken, the debut novel by Melody Grace, is a beautifully written story of the possibility of second chances.

Juliet, our female protagonist, had been damaged and broken. She set her life back into place by choosing a safe, stable path, free from risk. She left behind her passions (photography, her ex, Emerson), for both a college major and a boyfriend who could provide her with the security and safety she never had (with Emerson or her family). Yet, she still feels the same strong undercurrent and pull towards her ex that she always felt. When she is forced to face her past, she is put to the test to see how well she has truly moved on.

Emerson is a possessive, alpha male, with an explosively fiery temper. He is also a man with a caring, honorable, and sweet side to him. Both sides seem to be constantly at war within him.

When the two share the page, their passion is volatile, causing both intense love scenes and scenes so raw in conflict that it made my stomach physically hurt. They are so full of insecurities, secrets from their past, coupled with their inability to communicate with each other. The question becomes whether or not this second chance is their opportunity to correct what went wrong the first time around.

Things I love: sailboats, photography dark rooms, picnics, hurricanes, and second chances. (Also, Daniel. Love, loved Daniel.)

The Final Verdict:
Juliet and Emerson sucked me into their story of an all consuming love. Their initial interactions are all about lust, but as the story unfolds, the deep understanding and love rises to the surface to commingle with the lust, creating a passionate story of two damaged people finding their way back to one another.
I loved the plot line and I loved the characters. I loved the steamy scenes, which were oh, so hot. I only wished that more depth and history of their relationship could have been developed and explored. We are told of their love, but we don’t get to experience it as much as I would have liked. Regardless, I found the conclusion immensely satisfying.
Finally, Melody Grace exhibits a wonderfully exquisite and mature narrative voice that captivated me from the very first page.
Overall this was a wonderful freshman novel and I feel certain that I can expect more great things to come from Ms. Grace.

Rating:
UPDATE! I've been authorized to *hint* at some very, VERY exciting news! You know how I was dying to hear more about Juliet and Emerson's love story and how their first shot at a relationship had played out? We'll we might not have to wait much longer.... But my lips are sealed and Melody will be making her big, sparkly announcement next week! She promises jazz hands and spirit fingers, because this is going to be awesome! Be sure to check back to her website and follow her on twitter if you want to be in the know. *wink wink*


Where to purchase & learn more:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords |Goodreads | Author's Website | Twitter



As a side note, the lyrics of this song Sway by Bic Runga (*Flashback to American Pie*) really made me think of this book from Juliet's point of view.
Don't stray
Don't ever go away
I should be much too smart for this
You know it gets the better
Of me sometimes
When you and I collide
I fall into an ocean of you
Pull me out in time
Don't let me drown
Let me down
I say its all because of you and here I go
Losing my control
I'm practising your name
So I can say it to your face it doesn't seem right
To look you in the eye
And let all the things you mean to me
Come tumbling out my mouth indeed its time
Tell you why
I say its infinately true
Say you'll stay
Don't come and go
Like you do
Sway my way...


Check it out!



Have you read Unbroken? What did you think? Planning to read it? Comment below!





all the best, dear readers!


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