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caseroo7's review
4.0
Review originally posted at Ramblings From This Chick
Buried by Selena Laurence is the third book in her Hiding From Love series. Although this book is number three in the series, you do not need to have read the previous two books to understand this one. I hadn't read the previous two books in this series before reading Buried, but I can't wait to go back and read them after reading this story. This book was so good, and I loved that it was something completely new and different. I highly recommend checking this one out if you are looking for a unique read.
Juan is just getting out of prison and is getting ready to start living life on the outside again. He is staying at a half-way house when he ends up seeing the girl he grew up loving at the women's halfway house next door. He knows that he needs to stay away from Beth and that nothing good can come from them talking again but finds himself looking forward to seeing her as much as he dreads her getting sucked into his life. Juan is no longer the studious boy that Beth remembers, and is now a gang-banger that puts up a facade to keep others out. But Beth sees beneath the mask and knows that the boy she once loved is still in there. Beth is determined to help Juan find himself again and finally have a chance at the relationship that they have both always wanted. But with Juan's gang not willing to just let him walk away, and a secret threat that Juan refuses to tell anyone about things won't be as easy as Beth is imagining. Can Juan and Beth find a way to be together and be free, or will Juan's ties to the gang be too much for them to overcome?
I really liked Juan. I was worried at first that he would be too much of a thug for me to really root for, but he was so much more. I loved that he was into soccer and plants, and that he was able to still be the smart boy he was growing up. He wasn't a total player, and his feelings for Beth were strong and true. He loved her so much, and it was clear that he would do literally anything in order to protect her and keep her safe. She was his top priority, and he never wavered on his feelings for her. Beth was great as well. She was a little naive and didn't seem to really get exactly what Juan's life and decisions entailed. She didn't realize that gangs don't just let you walk away and it took both Juan and her family repeatedly telling her for her to finally see what they were up against. But she was so determined, and like Juan she never gave up. She cared just as much about Juan and was willing to sacrifice and risk just as much as he was for them to be together. I really felt that they had a strong connection despite the years they spent apart, and I loved that they had a history together. It was really great that they were able to find their way back to each other, and I enjoyed seeing them go from being childhood friends and crushes to falling in love with one another. They had great chemistry together, but they also had such a deep and strong love that was undeniable.
Overall, I thought that this was a great book. I loved the story and I was really glad that this one wasn't overly predictable. I felt like the twists and turns were real and believable, and although I had some things figured out there was also a lot that I never would have guessed. Juan and Beth were meant to be together, and that was clear from the beginning. But with everything stacked against them, it was hard to see how everything could possibly work out for them. Beth and Juan were a really great couple, and their story is definitely one that will stick with me. I loved the characters in this book, and it was great to see Joss Jamison from Selena's Lush series as well. I loved how she wove his character in and it could not have been done any better! I am becoming a huge fan of Selena's, and each book I read of hers just proves what a great writer she is. I highly recommend checking her books out if you haven't already, and I would definitely recommend Buried. I can't wait to go back and read the rest of this series, and I look forward to seeing what Selena writes next.
**ARC Provided by Author**
Buried by Selena Laurence is the third book in her Hiding From Love series. Although this book is number three in the series, you do not need to have read the previous two books to understand this one. I hadn't read the previous two books in this series before reading Buried, but I can't wait to go back and read them after reading this story. This book was so good, and I loved that it was something completely new and different. I highly recommend checking this one out if you are looking for a unique read.
Juan is just getting out of prison and is getting ready to start living life on the outside again. He is staying at a half-way house when he ends up seeing the girl he grew up loving at the women's halfway house next door. He knows that he needs to stay away from Beth and that nothing good can come from them talking again but finds himself looking forward to seeing her as much as he dreads her getting sucked into his life. Juan is no longer the studious boy that Beth remembers, and is now a gang-banger that puts up a facade to keep others out. But Beth sees beneath the mask and knows that the boy she once loved is still in there. Beth is determined to help Juan find himself again and finally have a chance at the relationship that they have both always wanted. But with Juan's gang not willing to just let him walk away, and a secret threat that Juan refuses to tell anyone about things won't be as easy as Beth is imagining. Can Juan and Beth find a way to be together and be free, or will Juan's ties to the gang be too much for them to overcome?
I really liked Juan. I was worried at first that he would be too much of a thug for me to really root for, but he was so much more. I loved that he was into soccer and plants, and that he was able to still be the smart boy he was growing up. He wasn't a total player, and his feelings for Beth were strong and true. He loved her so much, and it was clear that he would do literally anything in order to protect her and keep her safe. She was his top priority, and he never wavered on his feelings for her. Beth was great as well. She was a little naive and didn't seem to really get exactly what Juan's life and decisions entailed. She didn't realize that gangs don't just let you walk away and it took both Juan and her family repeatedly telling her for her to finally see what they were up against. But she was so determined, and like Juan she never gave up. She cared just as much about Juan and was willing to sacrifice and risk just as much as he was for them to be together. I really felt that they had a strong connection despite the years they spent apart, and I loved that they had a history together. It was really great that they were able to find their way back to each other, and I enjoyed seeing them go from being childhood friends and crushes to falling in love with one another. They had great chemistry together, but they also had such a deep and strong love that was undeniable.
Overall, I thought that this was a great book. I loved the story and I was really glad that this one wasn't overly predictable. I felt like the twists and turns were real and believable, and although I had some things figured out there was also a lot that I never would have guessed. Juan and Beth were meant to be together, and that was clear from the beginning. But with everything stacked against them, it was hard to see how everything could possibly work out for them. Beth and Juan were a really great couple, and their story is definitely one that will stick with me. I loved the characters in this book, and it was great to see Joss Jamison from Selena's Lush series as well. I loved how she wove his character in and it could not have been done any better! I am becoming a huge fan of Selena's, and each book I read of hers just proves what a great writer she is. I highly recommend checking her books out if you haven't already, and I would definitely recommend Buried. I can't wait to go back and read the rest of this series, and I look forward to seeing what Selena writes next.
**ARC Provided by Author**
heatheray's review
5.0
I think Buried is my favorite Selena Laurence book to date. I think I say that with every book, but seriously, it is. It touched my heart so much. Without getting into a political rant, I have seen this happen more than once and it breaks my heart. Parents do not bring their children up over the border via a coyote unless there are no other options, they feel like life will end if they don’t take the risk. It is one of the most dangerous things that you can do and I can only imagine the desperation a parent is facing if they take that route.
That’s what happened to Juan. His mom brought him up over the border and then she is deported later. His life fell apart. He knows how much she risked to keep him out of Mexico, to shield him. He turned to the Reyes Hispanos and in turn gets sent to prison for his involvement in a drive by.
I loved Beth, that girl doesn’t take no for an answer and she goes after what she wants. Juan tells her to stay away over and over and she doesn’t. She wants to find the Juan she knew and loved all those years ago, the Juan that grew up next door and was best friends with her brother, the Juan who was a part of her family.
There is so much more going on in Juan’s life and it is a dangerous life she is attempting to step into. She won’t let him go through this on his own. She won’t let him slip away again.
I just felt this story deep inside of me. I’ve seen the desperation and fear in peoples’ eyes. I’ve seen my own husband worried about family that are still in Mexico because of everything that is going on down there right now. I felt those feelings in Buried, just the repercussions of choices made.
It was just a beautiful love story full of action and drama and she managed to tie it in with the Lush series. :)
Thank you so much for my copy of Buried!
That’s what happened to Juan. His mom brought him up over the border and then she is deported later. His life fell apart. He knows how much she risked to keep him out of Mexico, to shield him. He turned to the Reyes Hispanos and in turn gets sent to prison for his involvement in a drive by.
I loved Beth, that girl doesn’t take no for an answer and she goes after what she wants. Juan tells her to stay away over and over and she doesn’t. She wants to find the Juan she knew and loved all those years ago, the Juan that grew up next door and was best friends with her brother, the Juan who was a part of her family.
There is so much more going on in Juan’s life and it is a dangerous life she is attempting to step into. She won’t let him go through this on his own. She won’t let him slip away again.
I just felt this story deep inside of me. I’ve seen the desperation and fear in peoples’ eyes. I’ve seen my own husband worried about family that are still in Mexico because of everything that is going on down there right now. I felt those feelings in Buried, just the repercussions of choices made.
It was just a beautiful love story full of action and drama and she managed to tie it in with the Lush series. :)
Thank you so much for my copy of Buried!
lexee9's review
5.0
Such a great story! I loved it. I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. I was so glad to get Juan an Beth's story. It was written really well, just like all the other stories in this series and I can't wait to read more from Selena Laurence. There are plenty of twists and turns in this story to keep you guessing as you figure out why Juan made the choices that he did and the choices that he continues to make. Such a great story!
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