Unconditional

by Erin FitzGerald

At this point in Gerald’s life there are no restarts, do-overs or second chances. He’s settled, locked in as a field office director for the FBI after a long military career. His daughters are grown and starting lives, jobs and families of their own and the one area of Gerald’s life that should be settled, his marriage, is dissolved when his wife stuns the family with an announcement over Thanksgiving dinner.

Feeling lost, Gerald runs into Emerson again and again, and he discovers an easy, warm relationship with someone who’s a complete mismatch to his stern, serious personality. It irks him to realize they make no sense together, yet he can’t stay away from the sarcastic loner with a smart mouth.

As he learns about her past, he begins to understand why Emerson’s always kept people at an arm’s length, and just when he admits to himself that he’s fallen hard, catastrophe strikes, threatening the fragile thing the two of them have just begun to build.

Will Emerson get out of her head and out of her own way, or has Gerald already moved on without her?

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 21, 2023

About the author

Erin believes every story should have a happy ending and that very few characters are completely irredeemable.

She lives in the Metro DC area with her husband and two children, in a house full of pets and plants.

Reviews

[Rebmay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book left me an emotional mess. Tears, laughter, sighs and at last beaming smiles were induced by reading this amazing book. Gerald (Lionel) and Emerson are two characters who evoke empathy. Both have had their hearts bruised by people close to them, people who had taken their love and abused it or neglected it. When they meet, both are very dissatisfied with their personal lives, but they have become reticent and wary of change too. Within weeks of their meeting, Gerald finds himself in the midst of divorce, his wife now a stranger and his daughters soon to be wed. His second meeting with Emerson is unexpected, but nevertheless welcome. A shared meal and a wicked snow storm lead to three wonderful days spent in each other’s company. Though strictly platonic, their shared time helped to fill in the empty spaces in their souls, hearts and psyches. They are reluctant to part, yet reality awaits for both of them. A misunderstanding and a lost note lead to weeks, if not months, of silence between them. Fate keeps bringing them together though, tantalizing them with hopes of what could be between them, but both have lives that are in flux and seem to make a future together impossible. Read this engrossing book to find out how their story unfolds.

Both the main and secondary characters in this book are fascinating, well developed and realistic. They make putting this book down next to impossible. Gerald and Emerson’s path toward a future together, is twisty, emotional and captivating. It was fantastic to see so many familiar characters pop up it Emerson’s and Gerald’s story. I look forward to reading more books written by this author.

I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

[Becca Cherpak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This very quickly became my favorite of the Men of the First Brigade series. Top two of all of Erin’s books! (No one can top my man Asher)

The first part of the book, we watch Gerald and Emerson living their lives; separately but occasionally crossing paths. Gerald is suffering through a slowly deteriorating marriage, to a not to lovely lady. His whole world crumbling. Emerson is lost, lonely, and not sure what her next steps are in life.

Though there are some rough back and forth, will they, won’t they moments between Emerson and Gerald, the author does such a great job with the passage of time. I FELT those crushing months they were apart.

My heart broke so many times reading this book. For Em and Gerald; for Amy and Bianca; for the Driscolls; for sweet baby Rylan. While there is so much pain in this story, there is so much joy, healing, and growth.

As always, I love seeing old characters pop up and being reminded of old friendships. Absolutely a loved the bro fest moments with Brandon and the Johnson brothers! Had me giggling on the couch 😂

Though I’m so not ready for this series to wrap up, I can’t wait to read James and Gemma!

[Kathi Simmons-Kuebler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Author keeps knocking these amazing books out of the park. I can't recall the last series I have read where I loved all of them until this series.
First off can we talk about the great character names in this book. Emerson and Gerald, I mean great names. This one had me laughing, yelling and getting the tissues out. This book had a few villians in my opinion. I find it a sign of good book when they can draw you in and hold your attention from start to finish. This book did this for me. You can't loose with Emerson the romance writer and Gerald the former Military current FBI man. These characters are in their 40s and I love that as it gives people hope for second chances.
I absolutely recommend this book and even though it's a series you can read it on its own. I do recommend all the books before it too because I do lol.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerald and Emerson meet at a convention that his wife drags him to, and shortly after she divorces him. The two cross paths again and again, stirring up feelings and a relationship. Both have a lot to get past on their way to opening up to someone special. The characters are so well developed, with great backstories, determination, and deep feelings. The storyline is slow paced, but intense, full of twists, revelations, steam, big decisions, entertaining encounters and much more. Loved their chemistry and handling of hard situations. Terrific ending as it all comes together.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a slow burn. Gerald meets Emerson at a book convention that his wife dragged him to. Emerson is there promoting her latest novel. After that things change and Gerald’s long marriage comes to an end. Where as Emerson doesn’t open herself up to relationships. But she feels that Gerald is the exception. The road to get there isn’t going to be an easy one though. The love that he has for her truly is unconditional. This is an emotional, touching story.

[Hueygirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story because I could relate to the characters. No, I’m not a famous author or a fancy government worker. Their personal lives though with their emotions, I almost felt in my soul. This is a slow burn romance that tells the story of a later in life couple, who found each other despite one being married and the other a skeptic. You may think you’ve read this storyline before, but there’s a twist in there that will throw you off.

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gerald's life starts to unravel after, Emerson life has always been a struggle butbwhen these two cross paths, their complete opposites but attract non the less. But can they both have a future together? Well written emotive story that holds your attention through out the bond Gerald and Emmerson create give you all the feels.

[SaDonna Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trigger warning. And, this book is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. This book will show you how some long time marriages come to an end but also shows you that you can love again. If you are looking for an insta love book, this is not it. This one is about the push and pull of love. You will have all the feels while reading this book.

[Nicole Marie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What. A. Story!!! I could not get enough of these characters and was completely enthralled with them! I loved the way the characters met, it had me laughing from the start of the story! There was also so many emotions from both characters that had me just all twisted up. Side characters that are also great and touching…I just can’t give it enough praise. Emerson is my new favorite person ever and I just want to hug Gerald because he is just everything! Be prepared to laugh, scream, agonize, and chances are high to cry. But those emotions are worth every minute of it!!