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Hiding from Love #2
Concealed
The Sequel to the Top Selling Military Romance Camouflaged!
Two years ago, Gabe Thompson stood in the desert of Afghanistan and watched the love of his life drive away. When his tour of duty ended six months later, she wasn’t waiting. Now Gabe’s ready to go after the one thing his life is missing – the woman he’s never been able to forget.
Twenty-year-old Alexis Garcia rues the day she decided to volunteer for a UN mission to Afghanistan. The sexy, exasperating soldier she met there nearly destroyed her carefully constructed life with the boy next door. She’s spent two years trying to forget Gabe, working to show her parents and her boyfriend that she knows where she belongs.
But when Gabe shows up at Alexis’s door, complete with tattoos, a Harley and enough attitude to start another war, everything she’s tried to conceal could be exposed, starting with her heart.
Two years ago, Gabe Thompson stood in the desert of Afghanistan and watched the love of his life drive away. When his tour of duty ended six months later, she wasn’t waiting. Now Gabe’s ready to go after the one thing his life is missing – the woman he’s never been able to forget.
Twenty-year-old Alexis Garcia rues the day she decided to volunteer for a UN mission to Afghanistan. The sexy, exasperating soldier she met there nearly destroyed her carefully constructed life with the boy next door. She’s spent two years trying to forget Gabe, working to show her parents and her boyfriend that she knows where she belongs.
But when Gabe shows up at Alexis’s door, complete with tattoos, a Harley and enough attitude to start another war, everything she’s tried to conceal could be exposed, starting with her heart.
254 pages, ebook
First published December 18, 2013
12 people are currently reading
596 people want to read
About the author
Selena Laurence
51 books910 followersRomance Author | Coffee Drinker | Breaker of Tropes | Mother of Doodles
Selena Laurence is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of One of a Kind Romance. She has published books in Contemporary Romance, New Adult Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Paranormal Romance. She’s also a curated contributor in non-fiction on Medium as SE Reed.
Selena lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with her family, her Goldendoodle, and Demon Cat. Her favorite city is Edinburgh, her favorite color is purple, and her favorite shoes are Converse.
Selena Laurence is a USA Today Bestselling and award-winning author of One of a Kind Romance. She has published books in Contemporary Romance, New Adult Romance, Romantic Suspense, and Paranormal Romance. She’s also a curated contributor in non-fiction on Medium as SE Reed.
Selena lives in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado with her family, her Goldendoodle, and Demon Cat. Her favorite city is Edinburgh, her favorite color is purple, and her favorite shoes are Converse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 94 reviews
March 25, 2014
"Babe,” he answers as his palm starts to slide up my thigh under the hem of my dress. “Have I told you how hot you look in a wetsuit?”
“Um, no,” I whisper.
“Mmm, come here. I’ll tell you all about it."
Blah, this book was dysfunction in it's best form.
When the book started I was all team Gabe. I wanted him to come to town and take what was his.
I didn't love Alexis, I just couldn't related to her. She acted like a 15 year old having a boyfriend for the first time. She knew what she wanted but didn't take it. She had no back bone. Gabe fought for her over and over, she fought after the fact.
I liked this book, even if it was a love triangle.
Marco was a good guy and I'm glad the author didn't make him the villain.
Overall, this was a three star book, not great, and not horrible either.
☆☆☆ !
“Um, no,” I whisper.
“Mmm, come here. I’ll tell you all about it."
Blah, this book was dysfunction in it's best form.
When the book started I was all team Gabe. I wanted him to come to town and take what was his.
I didn't love Alexis, I just couldn't related to her. She acted like a 15 year old having a boyfriend for the first time. She knew what she wanted but didn't take it. She had no back bone. Gabe fought for her over and over, she fought after the fact.
I liked this book, even if it was a love triangle.
Marco was a good guy and I'm glad the author didn't make him the villain.
Overall, this was a three star book, not great, and not horrible either.
☆☆☆ !
March 1, 2014
I received a copy of this book (along with the other books in this series so far) from the author in exchange for honest reviews.
This is the third book in the Hiding From Love series and the continuation of Gabe and Alexis' story from their time in Afghanistan (Camouflaged, book 0.5 in this series).
What a confusing and beautiful couple these two make! Sometimes love isn't always enough to make a life together. You also need your partner to choose you, to choose to live your life together. There has to be that overriding desire, that want and need to have you there beside them at all times. There has to be that knowledge that the good, the bad and the ugly become easier to handle when there are two hearts holding on to things and each other and holding things together.
It is so hard to reconcile the young, brash, opinionated, headstrong, passionate Alexis that we met in Camouflaged with the quiet, do as she is told, don't make waves Alexis that we meet at the beginning of Concealed. It doesn't take long, about 15 seconds in Gabe's company, for the passionate Alexis to come to the forefront and meet Gabe's deliberate crudeness and hardness head on. Before she even realizes it, he has started to break into the box where she put her heart, her passion and her confusing feelings for him. And through this wonderfully written, heart-rending, emotional roller coaster of a book we watch Alexis figure out who she is, the woman she wants to be and cheer her on as she struggles to become that woman and person she truly wants to be.
Gabe is Gabe and thankfully some things will never change! While he certainly learned that love is real and worth fighting for by watching Nick and Lyndsey in Hawaii, he also slowly learned about himself. Once he really looked at the man he was there, he realized he wasn't where or who he wanted to be. He stopped hiding from the hurt, confusion and sorrow he felt when he realized that Alexis, "his Alexis", was not going to be waiting for him when he made it home from Afghanistan. He finally decided to man up and go get himself some answers. Real answers. Face to face, you can't ignore me anymore answers and boy was he surprised by some of them!
Watching Gabe learn who "his Alexis" really was, learning about her family and her culture and her passions was so much fun and so eye-opening! At the same time, watching Gabe as he learned to make himself comfortable with Ramon and the shop and, for the first time ever, become part of a family was so sweet. Again, this book was so well-written that even the hard times, the times when your heart broke as a door was closed and you desperately hoped it would be opened again, you were cheering for Gabe to find his place in Alexis' life and her heart and for them to reveal and really trust in their love for each other.
This is the third book in the Hiding From Love series and the continuation of Gabe and Alexis' story from their time in Afghanistan (Camouflaged, book 0.5 in this series).
What a confusing and beautiful couple these two make! Sometimes love isn't always enough to make a life together. You also need your partner to choose you, to choose to live your life together. There has to be that overriding desire, that want and need to have you there beside them at all times. There has to be that knowledge that the good, the bad and the ugly become easier to handle when there are two hearts holding on to things and each other and holding things together.
It is so hard to reconcile the young, brash, opinionated, headstrong, passionate Alexis that we met in Camouflaged with the quiet, do as she is told, don't make waves Alexis that we meet at the beginning of Concealed. It doesn't take long, about 15 seconds in Gabe's company, for the passionate Alexis to come to the forefront and meet Gabe's deliberate crudeness and hardness head on. Before she even realizes it, he has started to break into the box where she put her heart, her passion and her confusing feelings for him. And through this wonderfully written, heart-rending, emotional roller coaster of a book we watch Alexis figure out who she is, the woman she wants to be and cheer her on as she struggles to become that woman and person she truly wants to be.
Gabe is Gabe and thankfully some things will never change! While he certainly learned that love is real and worth fighting for by watching Nick and Lyndsey in Hawaii, he also slowly learned about himself. Once he really looked at the man he was there, he realized he wasn't where or who he wanted to be. He stopped hiding from the hurt, confusion and sorrow he felt when he realized that Alexis, "his Alexis", was not going to be waiting for him when he made it home from Afghanistan. He finally decided to man up and go get himself some answers. Real answers. Face to face, you can't ignore me anymore answers and boy was he surprised by some of them!
Watching Gabe learn who "his Alexis" really was, learning about her family and her culture and her passions was so much fun and so eye-opening! At the same time, watching Gabe as he learned to make himself comfortable with Ramon and the shop and, for the first time ever, become part of a family was so sweet. Again, this book was so well-written that even the hard times, the times when your heart broke as a door was closed and you desperately hoped it would be opened again, you were cheering for Gabe to find his place in Alexis' life and her heart and for them to reveal and really trust in their love for each other.
July 26, 2016
*I was giving an free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
**I would recommend reading Camouflaged first to get some background on Gabe and Alexis from when they met in Afghanistan.**
This story picks up 2yrs after Camouflaged. Gabe moves from his life in Hawaii to Austin, TX to find Alexis. Only to find she is still with her boyfriend, Marco. The guy that she had promised Gabe she was going to leave 2yrs prior. However, Gabe wasn't going down without a fight. So after some bumps on the road (pressure from Marco and Alexis's parents, plus some cultural differences) true love prevails.
I had a love/hate relationship with Alexis. She came across as weak and I wanted to smack her durIng the first 30% of the book. First off, she let go of Gabe in the first place and didn't bother to respond to any of his letters. That's just cruel. If you are going to end things with someone have the decency to tell them. Then, she's in this boring relationship with Marco and Gabe comes rolling in ready to whisk her off her feet and she turns him down!! In the end, I grew to like her and it was great watching her come into her own. Not to mention the chemistry between her and Gabe was hot.
Gabe was amazing. He's this tattooed hottie who is also caring and sweet. Alexis pretty much ripped his heart out, but he still tattooed her name on his body. 2 years later and he is still fighting for her. Talk about unwavering love! He doesn't hesitate to tell her that he loves her. Once she's willing to try things with him again he takes it slow and doesn't pressure her to get physical. He was just a stand up guy.
I also loved Alexis's sister, Beth and I'm looking forward to reading her story.
**I would recommend reading Camouflaged first to get some background on Gabe and Alexis from when they met in Afghanistan.**
This story picks up 2yrs after Camouflaged. Gabe moves from his life in Hawaii to Austin, TX to find Alexis. Only to find she is still with her boyfriend, Marco. The guy that she had promised Gabe she was going to leave 2yrs prior. However, Gabe wasn't going down without a fight. So after some bumps on the road (pressure from Marco and Alexis's parents, plus some cultural differences) true love prevails.
I had a love/hate relationship with Alexis. She came across as weak and I wanted to smack her durIng the first 30% of the book. First off, she let go of Gabe in the first place and didn't bother to respond to any of his letters. That's just cruel. If you are going to end things with someone have the decency to tell them. Then, she's in this boring relationship with Marco and Gabe comes rolling in ready to whisk her off her feet and she turns him down!! In the end, I grew to like her and it was great watching her come into her own. Not to mention the chemistry between her and Gabe was hot.
Gabe was amazing. He's this tattooed hottie who is also caring and sweet. Alexis pretty much ripped his heart out, but he still tattooed her name on his body. 2 years later and he is still fighting for her. Talk about unwavering love! He doesn't hesitate to tell her that he loves her. Once she's willing to try things with him again he takes it slow and doesn't pressure her to get physical. He was just a stand up guy.
I also loved Alexis's sister, Beth and I'm looking forward to reading her story.
July 3, 2016
Concealed es un libro distinto a lo que suelo leer. Aunque podría etiquetarse como un libro de romance, cuyo protagonista es un militar de Estados Unidos, creo que es un libro bastante creativo, con el cual disfrute en cada página.
Gabe es un ex militar que, cuando está en Afganistán, conoce a Alexis, una voluntaria de la ONU, de la que se enamora perdidamente. Cuando Alexis debe volver a Estados Unidos, ambos prometen seguir en contacto y volver a encontrarse apenas él termine con el servicio militar.
Sin embargo, por alguna razón que él desconoce, ella nunca le responde las cartas, correos, llamadas telefónicas o mensajes de Skype. Nada.
Gabe hace su vida, junto a su mamá y a su mejor amigo Nick, durante un año y medio, antes de darse cuenta de que no puede vivir sin Alexis, por lo que decide ir a instalarse a la ciudad donde ella vive (Austin, Texas) para intentar reconquistarla.
Apenas llega a verla, se da cuenta de que ella sigue con su pareja de siempre, con la cual prometió terminar. Pero Gabe no se rinde, y está convencido de que ella lo ama tanto como él la ama.
Alexis, por su lado, sabe que está viviendo una mentira y que Gabe es el amor de su vida, pero no está dispuesta a contradecir a sus padres, quienes básicamente le tienen un mapa a seguir en su vida. Debe elegir qué es lo más importante, ¿el hombre de su vida o su familia?
Debo reconocer que Alexis, aunque me gustó como protagonista (no sabría decir muy bien por qué, la verdad), me frustró un poco su actitud frente a la vida y a Gabe. Sin embargo, logró arreglar el desastre que ella misma provocó, por lo que me terminó por gustar. Bueno, y Gabe es un amor.
Lo que no me gustó del libro: el español. Hubo muchos traducciones mal hechas. Si quieres escribir frases en español, por lo menos pon ojo en la ortografía.
Gabe es un ex militar que, cuando está en Afganistán, conoce a Alexis, una voluntaria de la ONU, de la que se enamora perdidamente. Cuando Alexis debe volver a Estados Unidos, ambos prometen seguir en contacto y volver a encontrarse apenas él termine con el servicio militar.
Sin embargo, por alguna razón que él desconoce, ella nunca le responde las cartas, correos, llamadas telefónicas o mensajes de Skype. Nada.
Gabe hace su vida, junto a su mamá y a su mejor amigo Nick, durante un año y medio, antes de darse cuenta de que no puede vivir sin Alexis, por lo que decide ir a instalarse a la ciudad donde ella vive (Austin, Texas) para intentar reconquistarla.
Apenas llega a verla, se da cuenta de que ella sigue con su pareja de siempre, con la cual prometió terminar. Pero Gabe no se rinde, y está convencido de que ella lo ama tanto como él la ama.
Alexis, por su lado, sabe que está viviendo una mentira y que Gabe es el amor de su vida, pero no está dispuesta a contradecir a sus padres, quienes básicamente le tienen un mapa a seguir en su vida. Debe elegir qué es lo más importante, ¿el hombre de su vida o su familia?
Debo reconocer que Alexis, aunque me gustó como protagonista (no sabría decir muy bien por qué, la verdad), me frustró un poco su actitud frente a la vida y a Gabe. Sin embargo, logró arreglar el desastre que ella misma provocó, por lo que me terminó por gustar. Bueno, y Gabe es un amor.
Lo que no me gustó del libro: el español. Hubo muchos traducciones mal hechas. Si quieres escribir frases en español, por lo menos pon ojo en la ortografía.
January 20, 2014
I haven't read Selena Laurence before but I will absolutely be reading more of this series. I know that this couple's journey started in Camouflaged but I am really impatient to get to the "good" part so I picked up Concealed, which works really well as a stand alone. The couple's backstory is covered sufficiently for me to really feel for both Gabe and Alexis from the beginning.
I admit I was a little worried at about 30% that the entire book was going to be Alexis just being stubborn and refusing Gabe because she was bowing to what everyone else wanted. Thank the Lord this was not the case! Both characters were raked over the coals and I loved every second of it. So many times I wanted to smack Alexis for the stupid things she did, and thank you Beth for being there for the proverbial smack upside the head and saying what the reader was thinking. But what was even better than Alexis just apologise was her dedication to fix what she did wrong and that made me really like her. I thought the character development was great, the chemistry between Gabe and Alexis was hot, the pace was fast and I loved SL's writing style. I am not sure I can ask for much more than that. I can't wait to read more in this series starting at Camouflaged and I so hope Beth and Juan get a book.
4.5 stars
Thanks Selena for a chance to read and review your work. I loved it :)
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
I admit I was a little worried at about 30% that the entire book was going to be Alexis just being stubborn and refusing Gabe because she was bowing to what everyone else wanted. Thank the Lord this was not the case! Both characters were raked over the coals and I loved every second of it. So many times I wanted to smack Alexis for the stupid things she did, and thank you Beth for being there for the proverbial smack upside the head and saying what the reader was thinking. But what was even better than Alexis just apologise was her dedication to fix what she did wrong and that made me really like her. I thought the character development was great, the chemistry between Gabe and Alexis was hot, the pace was fast and I loved SL's writing style. I am not sure I can ask for much more than that. I can't wait to read more in this series starting at Camouflaged and I so hope Beth and Juan get a book.
4.5 stars
Thanks Selena for a chance to read and review your work. I loved it :)
**I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review**
April 9, 2014
*I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
Concealed takes off where Camouflage ended 2 years later. After Alexis left Afghanistan she didn't keep in touch with Gabe like she promised, so after being ignored for 18 months he finally goes to Austin, TX to see what's going on and win her back. When he sees her she has some things going on that put a wrench in his plan, but he isn't giving up. For Gabe, Alexis is it, and he won't stop fighting for her. That's what I love most about him. He is gorgeous and so freaking sexy, and his loyalty to her is beautiful.
Alexis is trying to push him away. She has issues that make her relationship with Gabe very hard. This was so hard for me to read, Gabe is literally putting his heart in her hands and she just keeps shutting him down. There were times in the book I wanted to beat the crap out of Alexis, and then parts that made me sad, but the story ends the way it should and it was worth the angst, sometimes.
So, Gabe is definitely my favorite soldier. I swear reading his parts either made me melt or feel my gut hurt, when he hurt. The writer really did a great job conveying the feelings for each person and I totally felt sucked in to the story. I also really loved the other characters, like Alexis sister Beth and of course, Ramon. I loved the family dynamic. It was a great peek into the Hispanic culture. I have family that our Hispanic, so I totally related. I would definitely read more from this Author! And, Did I say how much I love Gabe?! :-)
Concealed takes off where Camouflage ended 2 years later. After Alexis left Afghanistan she didn't keep in touch with Gabe like she promised, so after being ignored for 18 months he finally goes to Austin, TX to see what's going on and win her back. When he sees her she has some things going on that put a wrench in his plan, but he isn't giving up. For Gabe, Alexis is it, and he won't stop fighting for her. That's what I love most about him. He is gorgeous and so freaking sexy, and his loyalty to her is beautiful.
Alexis is trying to push him away. She has issues that make her relationship with Gabe very hard. This was so hard for me to read, Gabe is literally putting his heart in her hands and she just keeps shutting him down. There were times in the book I wanted to beat the crap out of Alexis, and then parts that made me sad, but the story ends the way it should and it was worth the angst, sometimes.
So, Gabe is definitely my favorite soldier. I swear reading his parts either made me melt or feel my gut hurt, when he hurt. The writer really did a great job conveying the feelings for each person and I totally felt sucked in to the story. I also really loved the other characters, like Alexis sister Beth and of course, Ramon. I loved the family dynamic. It was a great peek into the Hispanic culture. I have family that our Hispanic, so I totally related. I would definitely read more from this Author! And, Did I say how much I love Gabe?! :-)
April 14, 2014
I received a copy for an honest review
I enjoyed this book, even though I didn't read the fist one.
Alexis and Gabe's story was so sweet and also so passionate. They met while she was in Afghanistan being a volunteer. And the two of them got locked down in some cave by the enemy and they had some explosive connection. So she left and promised to wait for him.
Two Years later and lots of letters and Skype and emails and she never responded back to him, he goes looking for her. And what happens next is just such a good love story.
Gabe and Alexis's backgrounds are so different as she is Hispanic and he is white and they had to face challenges with her parents as they were not approving of her with him and already had a nice Hispanic boyfriend for her who they thought was perfect.
But Gabe didn't give up, and persued her until he got what he wanted.
My Gabe and Alexis:
I would so recommend this book to anyone who loves a little romance in their love and believes in Fate!
Thank you for an opportunity to read this book!
I enjoyed this book, even though I didn't read the fist one.
Alexis and Gabe's story was so sweet and also so passionate. They met while she was in Afghanistan being a volunteer. And the two of them got locked down in some cave by the enemy and they had some explosive connection. So she left and promised to wait for him.
Two Years later and lots of letters and Skype and emails and she never responded back to him, he goes looking for her. And what happens next is just such a good love story.
Gabe and Alexis's backgrounds are so different as she is Hispanic and he is white and they had to face challenges with her parents as they were not approving of her with him and already had a nice Hispanic boyfriend for her who they thought was perfect.
But Gabe didn't give up, and persued her until he got what he wanted.
My Gabe and Alexis:
I would so recommend this book to anyone who loves a little romance in their love and believes in Fate!
Thank you for an opportunity to read this book!
January 2, 2014
5 out of 5
I have been waiting for what feels like forever to see Gabe have his happy ending. Selena Laurence first tortured me with Gabe in Hidden. Seriously- swoon. Then she gave me his back story in Camouflaged and just about ripped my heart out because Camouflaged was a prequel to Hidden and Alexis was not in Hidden. And Gabe and Alexis fit. They work. She’s his mate, his partner. I fell for their banter and the easiness of their “love” in Camouflaged. I was already a goner for Gabe after reading Hidden.
I needed what Concealed gave me. Not only did my Gabe get what he deserved, but Concealed was delivered with the same well written perfectly paced, relatable, real, fun and sexy style as Hidden and Camouflaged. My heart is full. I read this book in just a few hours, ignoring my family and refusing to make dinner, because I had to finish. And it was all so worth it! I cannot wait for more of anything from Selena Laurence. The Hiding from Love series is a must read.
Read more reviews @ rawbooksonline.com
I have been waiting for what feels like forever to see Gabe have his happy ending. Selena Laurence first tortured me with Gabe in Hidden. Seriously- swoon. Then she gave me his back story in Camouflaged and just about ripped my heart out because Camouflaged was a prequel to Hidden and Alexis was not in Hidden. And Gabe and Alexis fit. They work. She’s his mate, his partner. I fell for their banter and the easiness of their “love” in Camouflaged. I was already a goner for Gabe after reading Hidden.
I needed what Concealed gave me. Not only did my Gabe get what he deserved, but Concealed was delivered with the same well written perfectly paced, relatable, real, fun and sexy style as Hidden and Camouflaged. My heart is full. I read this book in just a few hours, ignoring my family and refusing to make dinner, because I had to finish. And it was all so worth it! I cannot wait for more of anything from Selena Laurence. The Hiding from Love series is a must read.
Read more reviews @ rawbooksonline.com
February 25, 2014
I am becoming the biggest Selena Laurence fan...what can I say? Her books seem to get better and better! Enjoyed Hidden, adored Camoflauged, Lush Betrayal is an absolute sexy rock star slam dunk, and Concealed is no exception! Loved Gabe and how he was able to be both vulnerable and romantic in fighting for his girl, yet still rough and sexy and manly. Perfection. And Selena did a beautiful job, as always, mixing in just the right amount of conflict, family drama, well-rounded secondary characters, sexual chemistry, and a just plain out great story. LOVED it!
April 3, 2014
Wow I absolutely loved this book I was given this book for a honest review and I'm so glad that I read it. Gabe well all I can say is hot hot hot. The story was lovely and I couldn't put it down,I was hooked from the first page I will make sure I read more of Selena Laurence's books.
February 24, 2014
I was looking forward to Gabe and Alexis' story after reading Camouflaged.
It was a quick enjoyable read, had just the right amount of sweet and angst! Every girl could use a Gabe in their life!
It was a quick enjoyable read, had just the right amount of sweet and angst! Every girl could use a Gabe in their life!
August 7, 2023
⛔️(in notes)
December 26, 2013
*ARC generously provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
4.5 Ridiculously Handsome Güero Stars!
Gabe Thompson is the newest addition to my ever growing book boyfriend list, he’s unlike any other. At 24, he’s been out of the Army for two years trying to get his life back on track. Gorgeous, with a deliciously built body, tattoos and a Harley, he’s the epitome of a bad boy. He hides behind an asshole persona but deep down is the sweetest and most caring guy any girl would be lucky to have. Problem is he’s tired of the plethora of meaningless sexual encounters that do nothing to fill gaping hole in his life and ease the pain in his heart left by her. Determined to get Alexis back and refusing to let her get away a second time, he moves to Austin, Texas in a very personal pursuit of happiness.
Hiding from love and any real personal attachment is a specialty of Gabe’s. He refuses to let anyone into his heart out of fear they may walk out the way his father did so many years ago. That all changed when Alexis Garcia showed up in Afghanistan turning his familiar routine into intensely tumultuous four weeks resulting in both finding and falling deeply in love for the first time. Two lives were changed. Upon her departure back to reality, promises were made thus giving hope for a bright future.
Alexis Garcia is a 20 year old college student living a life to appease her strict parents and their heightened expectations. Born into a traditional Mexican family, her parents immigrated to the United States in hopes of offering their family opportunities they never had. Not wanting to lose their rich culture, they value strong family and community ties. Part of their beliefs is that their kids seek similarly cultured people to share their life with. That certainly does not include a handsome Gringo from the Army. To say her parents are not supportive of a relationship with Gabe is an understatement. The reasons for cutting him off the first time lie deeper than a simple change of heart. Her parents were so against him (without knowing him) that they threatened to stop financial support should she choose to follow her heart. Left with a decision to continue her studies and live on her own or be forced to move back home and endure their pressure, she took the easier route understandably so. For two years she lived a lie and maintained the charade to keep the peace, but that all changed the Sunday morning Gabe Thompson shows up unannounced, demanding explanations and reminding her of the special bond they share. Can the memory of their passionate affair and very real strong feelings reunite the estranged pair or will family loyalty and cultural differences keep them apart for good?
This was my first interracial relationship book experience and it was so much more than I expected. The use of bilingual idioms at the beginning of each chapter was quite unique and something I looked forward to. I personally loved getting to know Gabe and Alexis more in depth. As a Latina, I was able relate and draw parallels between mine and Alexis’ culture and the great importance family plays in my life. Having been born a Colombian native, my family immigrated to the United States with similar ideals of achieving the coveted American Dream. Although I am attracted to all kinds of men, I absolutely have 100% Gringo fever…especially for those who fit Gabe’s description.
Selena Laurence writes another breathtaking novel! If you haven’t read the Hidden series, I highly recommend it! The story lines are engaging and characters are ones you fall in love with and root for ‘til the end. No cliffhangers, only the sweetest HEA every bookworm longs for.
4.5 Ridiculously Handsome Güero Stars!
Gabe Thompson is the newest addition to my ever growing book boyfriend list, he’s unlike any other. At 24, he’s been out of the Army for two years trying to get his life back on track. Gorgeous, with a deliciously built body, tattoos and a Harley, he’s the epitome of a bad boy. He hides behind an asshole persona but deep down is the sweetest and most caring guy any girl would be lucky to have. Problem is he’s tired of the plethora of meaningless sexual encounters that do nothing to fill gaping hole in his life and ease the pain in his heart left by her. Determined to get Alexis back and refusing to let her get away a second time, he moves to Austin, Texas in a very personal pursuit of happiness.
Hiding from love and any real personal attachment is a specialty of Gabe’s. He refuses to let anyone into his heart out of fear they may walk out the way his father did so many years ago. That all changed when Alexis Garcia showed up in Afghanistan turning his familiar routine into intensely tumultuous four weeks resulting in both finding and falling deeply in love for the first time. Two lives were changed. Upon her departure back to reality, promises were made thus giving hope for a bright future.
Alexis Garcia is a 20 year old college student living a life to appease her strict parents and their heightened expectations. Born into a traditional Mexican family, her parents immigrated to the United States in hopes of offering their family opportunities they never had. Not wanting to lose their rich culture, they value strong family and community ties. Part of their beliefs is that their kids seek similarly cultured people to share their life with. That certainly does not include a handsome Gringo from the Army. To say her parents are not supportive of a relationship with Gabe is an understatement. The reasons for cutting him off the first time lie deeper than a simple change of heart. Her parents were so against him (without knowing him) that they threatened to stop financial support should she choose to follow her heart. Left with a decision to continue her studies and live on her own or be forced to move back home and endure their pressure, she took the easier route understandably so. For two years she lived a lie and maintained the charade to keep the peace, but that all changed the Sunday morning Gabe Thompson shows up unannounced, demanding explanations and reminding her of the special bond they share. Can the memory of their passionate affair and very real strong feelings reunite the estranged pair or will family loyalty and cultural differences keep them apart for good?
This was my first interracial relationship book experience and it was so much more than I expected. The use of bilingual idioms at the beginning of each chapter was quite unique and something I looked forward to. I personally loved getting to know Gabe and Alexis more in depth. As a Latina, I was able relate and draw parallels between mine and Alexis’ culture and the great importance family plays in my life. Having been born a Colombian native, my family immigrated to the United States with similar ideals of achieving the coveted American Dream. Although I am attracted to all kinds of men, I absolutely have 100% Gringo fever…especially for those who fit Gabe’s description.
Selena Laurence writes another breathtaking novel! If you haven’t read the Hidden series, I highly recommend it! The story lines are engaging and characters are ones you fall in love with and root for ‘til the end. No cliffhangers, only the sweetest HEA every bookworm longs for.
April 28, 2014
How many of you read Camouflaged (Hiding From Love #0.5)? For those of you who haven’t go, go right now and read it. It is fantastic. Like, blow you away fantastic. Now, for those of you who have read Camouflaged, oh god, there are no words. It was beautiful, right? The kind of love that could last the ages. After weathering Afghanistan together, nothing could tear Gabe and Alexis apart. Pfht, wrong.
Concealed starts out with Gabe arriving at Alexis’s door only to be greeted by her boyfriend, Marco. Yes, the same Marco she told Gabe she was breaking up with. Turns out it’s easy to profess you’re going to turn your life around after you’ve faced death in another country. Not so easy to follow through with those plans when faced with your family and friends back home.
It’s been two years since Gabe and Alexis said goodbye. Two years that Gabe has been wondering what happened to the girl he fell in love with. After two years he’s had enough. Gabe shows up in Texas ready to fight for Alexis. He wants to know why she went back on all her promises. What could have possibly happened for them to share something so deep in Afghanistan only to have her turn her back on him when she left?
When Alexis came home to Texas she was ready to follow through with all her promises to Gabe, but it soon began to fall apart. Being the first generation born in the U.S. to a Catholic, Hispanic family, has put a lot of pressure on Alexis. She feels like she has to live up to some kind of standard her family has decided for her. The dreams she have don’t matter compared to the crushing guilt her family places on her if she doesn’t follow the path they’ve laid out for her. A path that doesn’t involve her falling in love with a white solider from California.
Gabe thinks he understands Alexis’ struggle with her family. After befriending other Hispanics from her community, he begins to understand how different his upbringing was from Alexis. Family and community are everything. Gabe decides to show Alexis how serious he is about her by becoming involved in her world. He wants to show Alexis that she isn’t just the daughter of immigrants. She’s a person with her own dreams and aspirations.
You’re a woman – a whole, brilliant, soulful woman who happens to also be an aid worker and a Hispanic daughter and a college student. Those outfits you don when you go out in the world. Underneath all that is the naked, pure, essential Alexis, and I know her dammit. Better than anyone else in this world. I know you, Alexis.
I felt so bad for Gabe. He fought so hard for Alexis. Everything he did was with her in mind. Even when Gabe wasn’t certain he would be the one Alexis would choose, he still wanted her to see she was more than the woman her family wanted her to be. It was harder to understand Alexis. I fully accept that I probably had a harder time connecting with her because we don’t have similar backgrounds. I couldn’t imagine the stress and guilt her family put on her. It was hard for me to understand why she pushed Gabe away for so long.
This book was beautifully written even though it was hard to read at times. I hurt so much for Gabe. He was a big tattooed, soldier who was ready to fall on his knees and beg for Alexis. In my head I understand why Alexis fought so hard to stay away from Gabe, but in my heart I hated her for not running into his arms immediately. Selena Laurence did a wonderful job showing the hardships each of the characters faced. I may not have always understood their reasons but I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of their journey. I will definitely be on the look out for more of Laurence’s writing.
Concealed starts out with Gabe arriving at Alexis’s door only to be greeted by her boyfriend, Marco. Yes, the same Marco she told Gabe she was breaking up with. Turns out it’s easy to profess you’re going to turn your life around after you’ve faced death in another country. Not so easy to follow through with those plans when faced with your family and friends back home.
It’s been two years since Gabe and Alexis said goodbye. Two years that Gabe has been wondering what happened to the girl he fell in love with. After two years he’s had enough. Gabe shows up in Texas ready to fight for Alexis. He wants to know why she went back on all her promises. What could have possibly happened for them to share something so deep in Afghanistan only to have her turn her back on him when she left?
When Alexis came home to Texas she was ready to follow through with all her promises to Gabe, but it soon began to fall apart. Being the first generation born in the U.S. to a Catholic, Hispanic family, has put a lot of pressure on Alexis. She feels like she has to live up to some kind of standard her family has decided for her. The dreams she have don’t matter compared to the crushing guilt her family places on her if she doesn’t follow the path they’ve laid out for her. A path that doesn’t involve her falling in love with a white solider from California.
Gabe thinks he understands Alexis’ struggle with her family. After befriending other Hispanics from her community, he begins to understand how different his upbringing was from Alexis. Family and community are everything. Gabe decides to show Alexis how serious he is about her by becoming involved in her world. He wants to show Alexis that she isn’t just the daughter of immigrants. She’s a person with her own dreams and aspirations.
You’re a woman – a whole, brilliant, soulful woman who happens to also be an aid worker and a Hispanic daughter and a college student. Those outfits you don when you go out in the world. Underneath all that is the naked, pure, essential Alexis, and I know her dammit. Better than anyone else in this world. I know you, Alexis.
I felt so bad for Gabe. He fought so hard for Alexis. Everything he did was with her in mind. Even when Gabe wasn’t certain he would be the one Alexis would choose, he still wanted her to see she was more than the woman her family wanted her to be. It was harder to understand Alexis. I fully accept that I probably had a harder time connecting with her because we don’t have similar backgrounds. I couldn’t imagine the stress and guilt her family put on her. It was hard for me to understand why she pushed Gabe away for so long.
This book was beautifully written even though it was hard to read at times. I hurt so much for Gabe. He was a big tattooed, soldier who was ready to fall on his knees and beg for Alexis. In my head I understand why Alexis fought so hard to stay away from Gabe, but in my heart I hated her for not running into his arms immediately. Selena Laurence did a wonderful job showing the hardships each of the characters faced. I may not have always understood their reasons but I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of their journey. I will definitely be on the look out for more of Laurence’s writing.
January 10, 2014
Posted on Les Romantiques - Le forum du site
Reviewed by Fabiola
Review Copy from the Author
Concealed is the third volume in the Hiding from love series and the second part in Gabe and Alexis’ story, which began in Camouflaged.
In the end of this novella, the two heroes were saying goodbye to each other with the promise to meet again about six months later. In the beginning of Concealed, our heroes finally come together again two years after Camouflaged.
The second volume of this series, Hidden, introduces Gabe’s best friend.
I’ve been reading this series since the publication of Hidden, which I really liked a lot. I like the author’s style, dynamic, lively, flowing. She writes stories which have some humour, some emotion, and I think she succeeds in combining both without overdoing it, especially on the emotion side. Her characters are likeable and we understand their motivation, even at the times where we’d like to shake them.
With Concealed, I found exactly the same ingredients. It’s a novel I shouldn’t have liked for two reasons:
-there’s a love triangle
-the heroine already lives as a couple with another man when she meets the hero, in Camouflaged and in Concealed.
And yet, even if I had some trouble starting at it, when I began, I could never stop before the end and I can say that Concealed is unquestionably the best volume of the series.
Everything that was missing for me in Camouflaged, I found their answer in Concealed. Furthermore, the two novels can be read alone, but if you read the first part of Gabe and Alexis’ story, you won’t be frustrated by repetition of situations, etc. Indeed, the author avoids this trap skilfully.
I really liked the characters. Much as in the first part, Gabe had to evolve, which the author succeeded in doing in few pages. Much as, in this novel, it’s Alexis who has to evolve and make choices consciously and not driven by external events. All the characters who surround Alexis are not bad, even those who wish to separate our heroes. They simply have an objective and the heroine has to take her own decisions. I loved this facet of the novel; the reader understands completely what the hurdles Alexis has to overcome, and even if at times she’s not behaving correctly, we can’t hate her either.
Sensuality and sex scenes are once more present in Concealed but take a lot less space and importance as our heroes must face their difficulties before being able to love each other without constraint.
All the secondary characters are likeable, another facet of the story that I really liked. Even the other guy is very kind, understanding, and deeply in love with her. In a love triangle, I always find it too easy when the rival is an asshole or a bitch, because the reader can hate the character. Here we really like Marco and we’d like him to have his happy end.
Other secondary characters could have their story IMO, beginning with Alexis’ sister, Beth. Mike, Gabe’s colleague, seems to be a potential hero too.
To conclude, Concealed is a beautiful romance where the readers will laugh and cry without ever hating the various protagonists. When we close the book, we are happy Alexis and Gabe have finally found happiness and we don’t doubt their love and their future. I really loved everything in this book and if I have an advice: Read it!
Reviewed by Fabiola
Review Copy from the Author
Concealed is the third volume in the Hiding from love series and the second part in Gabe and Alexis’ story, which began in Camouflaged.
In the end of this novella, the two heroes were saying goodbye to each other with the promise to meet again about six months later. In the beginning of Concealed, our heroes finally come together again two years after Camouflaged.
The second volume of this series, Hidden, introduces Gabe’s best friend.
I’ve been reading this series since the publication of Hidden, which I really liked a lot. I like the author’s style, dynamic, lively, flowing. She writes stories which have some humour, some emotion, and I think she succeeds in combining both without overdoing it, especially on the emotion side. Her characters are likeable and we understand their motivation, even at the times where we’d like to shake them.
With Concealed, I found exactly the same ingredients. It’s a novel I shouldn’t have liked for two reasons:
-there’s a love triangle
-the heroine already lives as a couple with another man when she meets the hero, in Camouflaged and in Concealed.
And yet, even if I had some trouble starting at it, when I began, I could never stop before the end and I can say that Concealed is unquestionably the best volume of the series.
Everything that was missing for me in Camouflaged, I found their answer in Concealed. Furthermore, the two novels can be read alone, but if you read the first part of Gabe and Alexis’ story, you won’t be frustrated by repetition of situations, etc. Indeed, the author avoids this trap skilfully.
I really liked the characters. Much as in the first part, Gabe had to evolve, which the author succeeded in doing in few pages. Much as, in this novel, it’s Alexis who has to evolve and make choices consciously and not driven by external events. All the characters who surround Alexis are not bad, even those who wish to separate our heroes. They simply have an objective and the heroine has to take her own decisions. I loved this facet of the novel; the reader understands completely what the hurdles Alexis has to overcome, and even if at times she’s not behaving correctly, we can’t hate her either.
Sensuality and sex scenes are once more present in Concealed but take a lot less space and importance as our heroes must face their difficulties before being able to love each other without constraint.
All the secondary characters are likeable, another facet of the story that I really liked. Even the other guy is very kind, understanding, and deeply in love with her. In a love triangle, I always find it too easy when the rival is an asshole or a bitch, because the reader can hate the character. Here we really like Marco and we’d like him to have his happy end.
Other secondary characters could have their story IMO, beginning with Alexis’ sister, Beth. Mike, Gabe’s colleague, seems to be a potential hero too.
To conclude, Concealed is a beautiful romance where the readers will laugh and cry without ever hating the various protagonists. When we close the book, we are happy Alexis and Gabe have finally found happiness and we don’t doubt their love and their future. I really loved everything in this book and if I have an advice: Read it!
January 22, 2014
CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE REVIEW AND OTHERS IN THIS SERIES!!!!
What I Love About This Book: Well the question is what isn’t there to love about Gabe Thompson, because he seems pretty freaking perfect. Who wouldn’t want a hot man fall in love with them who looks great in an army uniform? He hits all my requirements for the perfect man; bad boy, rides a motorcycle, in the army, has tattoos, and is just plain HOT. Everything about Gabe is awesome and it’s so endearing to see how much he loves Alexis even though she gets on my nerves a couple times. When Gabe was hurt I was hurt, when he was happy I was happy. Gabe is just all around awesome and it makes me want to find a hot army man of my own.
This book definitely kept me on toes at times, there were some things I didn't see coming and I always enjoy that about a book. Definitely a roller coaster of emotions going on at times, and I just wanted to reach out and slap Alexis at times, and others I wanted to do the same thing to Gabe. I enjoyed the chemistry between these two it was definitely hot hot hot, and it makes me want to go out there find a man that gets me all warm and steamy. The supporting characters in the book were just as important as the main characters and they really made the story more whole, adding new and exciting layers to the plot.
Cons:The character development in the book was great, but the background details was pretty lacking for me. I know that Gabe has a studio apartment and Alexis has an apartment but that’s all I know. I have no idea what their apartments look like as far as layout, furniture, decorations any of that. It was weird to me that the book went into detail about a bar named Margie’s they went to in Austin, but when it came to the places they lived in there was very little detail.
The same can be said for the descriptions of what Alex and Gabe look like. There is really no mention of their looks at all. I know what Alexis looks like from reading the prequel and knowing she is Mexican but that’s about it. The details of her looks is not mentioned at all, it barely mentions what color hair she has. There is no description of how tall she is, what length her hair is, what shape her eyes are, and so on. This is also true for Gabe I still have no idea what color his hair is, what color his eyes are, if he’s tall or short, his smile, there’s nothing. I know he let his hair grow a little longer since the army but nothing else; I need more details about the main characters. If someone read this as a standalone they would have no clue what the characters are support to look like. I felt like there was more description of what Mike, Gabe’s friend looks like then him.
What I Love About This Book: Well the question is what isn’t there to love about Gabe Thompson, because he seems pretty freaking perfect. Who wouldn’t want a hot man fall in love with them who looks great in an army uniform? He hits all my requirements for the perfect man; bad boy, rides a motorcycle, in the army, has tattoos, and is just plain HOT. Everything about Gabe is awesome and it’s so endearing to see how much he loves Alexis even though she gets on my nerves a couple times. When Gabe was hurt I was hurt, when he was happy I was happy. Gabe is just all around awesome and it makes me want to find a hot army man of my own.
This book definitely kept me on toes at times, there were some things I didn't see coming and I always enjoy that about a book. Definitely a roller coaster of emotions going on at times, and I just wanted to reach out and slap Alexis at times, and others I wanted to do the same thing to Gabe. I enjoyed the chemistry between these two it was definitely hot hot hot, and it makes me want to go out there find a man that gets me all warm and steamy. The supporting characters in the book were just as important as the main characters and they really made the story more whole, adding new and exciting layers to the plot.
Cons:The character development in the book was great, but the background details was pretty lacking for me. I know that Gabe has a studio apartment and Alexis has an apartment but that’s all I know. I have no idea what their apartments look like as far as layout, furniture, decorations any of that. It was weird to me that the book went into detail about a bar named Margie’s they went to in Austin, but when it came to the places they lived in there was very little detail.
The same can be said for the descriptions of what Alex and Gabe look like. There is really no mention of their looks at all. I know what Alexis looks like from reading the prequel and knowing she is Mexican but that’s about it. The details of her looks is not mentioned at all, it barely mentions what color hair she has. There is no description of how tall she is, what length her hair is, what shape her eyes are, and so on. This is also true for Gabe I still have no idea what color his hair is, what color his eyes are, if he’s tall or short, his smile, there’s nothing. I know he let his hair grow a little longer since the army but nothing else; I need more details about the main characters. If someone read this as a standalone they would have no clue what the characters are support to look like. I felt like there was more description of what Mike, Gabe’s friend looks like then him.
December 26, 2013
Reviewed by Selene:
We first met Gabe and Alexis in the novella Camouflaged. Smooth-talking bad boy Gabe is stationed in Afghanistan and meets UN volunteer Alexis there. They spend a month together and fall in love .... despite their many differences and Alexis' boyfriend back home. With their plans made to be together after Gabe's tour ends, he says goodbye to the only girl he's ever loved.
Concealed picks up two years later. Alexis was not waiting for Gabe and he tries in vain to move on and let the past go. When two years of surfing, partying and girls doesn't erase Alexis from his heart, he decides to pack up his life, move to Texas and get his girl back.
Alexis has already put the past behind her. Mind you, she has not forgotten Gabe ... her family and boyfriend have convinced her everything she *thought* she felt for him was a result of the traumatic events they endured together in Afghanistan. Her sense of duty to her family and her heritage steer her right back to the life she had before Gabe.
Ahhhhhh, but Gabe is a fighter. And he's not giving up on his girl without giving it everything he's got!
This book really surprised me. Gabe is a cocky alpha male when we meet him in Camouflaged. In this book though, he's different. Don't get me wrong, he's still sexy as all get out but he's just different. I guess love will do that to you.
Ladies ... We have a new and improved Gabe Thompson and I. Like. Him. A lot!!!
In a strange twist, Alexis ends up being the "bad guy" in their relationship. She finds herself sandwiched between Gabe and her family, trying to keep both sides happy. She fails miserably.
A family crisis brings Alexis' boyfriend back into her life and sends Gabe into the arms of another woman. Can they find their way back together? Is Alexis strong enough to risk her family's disapproval and financial support to be with Gabe? And is Gabe able to risk heartbreak again to give Alexis another chance?
My favorite thing about this book is Gabe's transformation from hottie bad boy to major book boyfriend material. He may leave that alpha asshole part behind but the sexy definitely remains and he is sex on a stick that you want to stick around!
We first met Gabe and Alexis in the novella Camouflaged. Smooth-talking bad boy Gabe is stationed in Afghanistan and meets UN volunteer Alexis there. They spend a month together and fall in love .... despite their many differences and Alexis' boyfriend back home. With their plans made to be together after Gabe's tour ends, he says goodbye to the only girl he's ever loved.
Concealed picks up two years later. Alexis was not waiting for Gabe and he tries in vain to move on and let the past go. When two years of surfing, partying and girls doesn't erase Alexis from his heart, he decides to pack up his life, move to Texas and get his girl back.
Alexis has already put the past behind her. Mind you, she has not forgotten Gabe ... her family and boyfriend have convinced her everything she *thought* she felt for him was a result of the traumatic events they endured together in Afghanistan. Her sense of duty to her family and her heritage steer her right back to the life she had before Gabe.
"Of course we mattered. But it was a one--off, you know?" I try to make my tone gentle even though I know the words are anything but."One of those flings you have on vacation or whatever. It would have never survived in the real world Gabe."
Ahhhhhh, but Gabe is a fighter. And he's not giving up on his girl without giving it everything he's got!
This book really surprised me. Gabe is a cocky alpha male when we meet him in Camouflaged. In this book though, he's different. Don't get me wrong, he's still sexy as all get out but he's just different. I guess love will do that to you.
"I won't lie to you, Alexis. It was a busy two years, and I drowned my sorrow in surfing and f*cking, and I wish I hadn't, but I can't change it now ... I chose to handle my hurt that way. I didn't have to. It's just... It's the only thing I knew and it was easy. Easier than doing something useful with myself. I'm so sorry for disrespecting my love for you."
Ladies ... We have a new and improved Gabe Thompson and I. Like. Him. A lot!!!
In a strange twist, Alexis ends up being the "bad guy" in their relationship. She finds herself sandwiched between Gabe and her family, trying to keep both sides happy. She fails miserably.
"... I realize with more awareness than I've ever had just how much power I have over this man - and how abusive I've been with it." - Alexis
A family crisis brings Alexis' boyfriend back into her life and sends Gabe into the arms of another woman. Can they find their way back together? Is Alexis strong enough to risk her family's disapproval and financial support to be with Gabe? And is Gabe able to risk heartbreak again to give Alexis another chance?
My favorite thing about this book is Gabe's transformation from hottie bad boy to major book boyfriend material. He may leave that alpha asshole part behind but the sexy definitely remains and he is sex on a stick that you want to stick around!
April 22, 2014
This is book 2 in the series.
I loved Gabe in the Prequel to this series called Camouflaged. And let me say, Gabe is even more swoon worthy and panty melting hot in Concealed. He is just perfect! But I have to be honest here and admit that I skipped Hidden (book 1) in order to keep reading Gabe’s story. So I’m positive I’ve probably missed some important details from the two years since his discharge up until the day he shows up in Austin to claim Alexis. I intend on reading it next – I just had to finish reading about Gabe and make sure that his heart was healed and he got his happy ending.
Okay, so we begin Concealed learning that after Gabe declared his love for Alexis and they made plans to meet in six months after his military tour, that Gabe was devastated when Alexis wasn’t there. He’s spent time in Hawaii with Nick and attended college trying to move on, but he knows Alexis is his one. He comes to terms with the fact that unless he makes a final attempt at contacting her and winning her heart, that he can’t live his life without Alexis if there is even a single chance he can have her. So Gabe packs up, moves to Austin and shows up at Alexis’ apartment to win her heart back. But when he knocks on the door, Gabe discovers she’s still with the boyfriend Marco, she promised to leave. But he also sees that the feelings are still there and knows he still has a chance.
We learn that Alexis' Hispanic parents have deep beliefs in family history. (It kinda reminded me of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding - although Alexis' family is Hispanic). Anyway, they are scared of her dating Gabe and expect her to finish college and marry Marco, the boy whose parents are their best friends and who they've had in their lives for years. The problem is, Alexis doesn't love Marco the way she loves Gabe, but Alexis didn't have the backbone two years ago to tell them that, and it doesn't look like she's going to be able to do it now. Alexis tries to push her feelings for Gabe away doing what everyone else wants, instead of what she wants. This is where we meet Beth, Alexis’s sister who I loved. Beth is quick to notice the feelings between Gabe and Alexis and tells Alexis to follow her heart and do what’s best for her.
I liked Alexis' character for the majority of this book. But be prepared. There is a scene involving a family emergency where she makes a decision I did not agree with - where I came really close to slinging my precious Kindle across the room. I was so MAD! Gabe’s response was totally appropriate. Tables are turned and the role of proving the love and trust is flipped. You’ll have to read this really good book in order to understand what I’m talking about, and once you do, you’ll completely agree with what had to happen.
This was a really good read and different from a lot of the books out there with similar plots. As you can tell from my review, I truly adored Gabe. Any girl would be lucky to have a man in her life who loves her as much as he did Alexis.
I loved Gabe in the Prequel to this series called Camouflaged. And let me say, Gabe is even more swoon worthy and panty melting hot in Concealed. He is just perfect! But I have to be honest here and admit that I skipped Hidden (book 1) in order to keep reading Gabe’s story. So I’m positive I’ve probably missed some important details from the two years since his discharge up until the day he shows up in Austin to claim Alexis. I intend on reading it next – I just had to finish reading about Gabe and make sure that his heart was healed and he got his happy ending.
Okay, so we begin Concealed learning that after Gabe declared his love for Alexis and they made plans to meet in six months after his military tour, that Gabe was devastated when Alexis wasn’t there. He’s spent time in Hawaii with Nick and attended college trying to move on, but he knows Alexis is his one. He comes to terms with the fact that unless he makes a final attempt at contacting her and winning her heart, that he can’t live his life without Alexis if there is even a single chance he can have her. So Gabe packs up, moves to Austin and shows up at Alexis’ apartment to win her heart back. But when he knocks on the door, Gabe discovers she’s still with the boyfriend Marco, she promised to leave. But he also sees that the feelings are still there and knows he still has a chance.
We learn that Alexis' Hispanic parents have deep beliefs in family history. (It kinda reminded me of the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding - although Alexis' family is Hispanic). Anyway, they are scared of her dating Gabe and expect her to finish college and marry Marco, the boy whose parents are their best friends and who they've had in their lives for years. The problem is, Alexis doesn't love Marco the way she loves Gabe, but Alexis didn't have the backbone two years ago to tell them that, and it doesn't look like she's going to be able to do it now. Alexis tries to push her feelings for Gabe away doing what everyone else wants, instead of what she wants. This is where we meet Beth, Alexis’s sister who I loved. Beth is quick to notice the feelings between Gabe and Alexis and tells Alexis to follow her heart and do what’s best for her.
I liked Alexis' character for the majority of this book. But be prepared. There is a scene involving a family emergency where she makes a decision I did not agree with - where I came really close to slinging my precious Kindle across the room. I was so MAD! Gabe’s response was totally appropriate. Tables are turned and the role of proving the love and trust is flipped. You’ll have to read this really good book in order to understand what I’m talking about, and once you do, you’ll completely agree with what had to happen.
This was a really good read and different from a lot of the books out there with similar plots. As you can tell from my review, I truly adored Gabe. Any girl would be lucky to have a man in her life who loves her as much as he did Alexis.
December 19, 2013
We first met Gabe and Alexis in the novella Camouflaged. Smooth-talking bad boy Gabe is stationed in Afghanistan and meets UN volunteer Alexis there. They spend a month together and fall in love .... despite their many differences and Alexis' boyfriend back home. With their plans made to be together after Gabe's tour ends, he says goodbye to the only girl he's ever loved.
Concealed picks up two years later. Alexis was not waiting for Gabe and he tries in vain to move on and let the past go. When two years of surfing, partying and girls doesn't erase Alexis from his heart, he decides to pack up his life, move to Texas and get his girl back.
Alexis has already put the past behind her. Mind you, she has not forgotten Gabe ... her family and boyfriend have convinced her everything she *thought* she felt for him was a result of the traumatic events they endured together in Afghanistan. Her sense of duty to her family and her heritage steer her right back to the life she had before Gabe.
"Of course we mattered. But it was a one--off, you know?" I try to make my tone gentle even though I know the words are anything but."One of those flings you have on vacation or whatever. It would have never survived in the real world Gabe."
Ahhhhhh, but Gabe is a fighter. And he's not giving up on his girl without giving it everything he's got!
This book really surprised me. Gabe is a cocky alpha male when we meet him in Camouflaged. In this book though, he's different. Don't get me wrong, he's still sexy as all get out but he's just different. I guess love will do that to you.
"I won't lie to you, Alexis. It was a busy two years, and I drowned my sorrow in surfing and f*cking, and I wish I hadn't, but I can't change it now ... I chose to handle my hurt that way. I didn't have to. It's just... It's the only thing I knew and it was easy. Easier than doing something useful with myself. I'm so sorry for disrespecting my love for you."
Ladies ... We have a new and improved Gabe Thompson and I. Like. Him. A lot!!!
In a strange twist, Alexis ends up being the "bad guy" in their relationship. She finds herself sandwiched between Gabe and her family, trying to keep both sides happy. She fails miserably.
"... I realize with more awareness than I've ever had just how much power I have over this man - and how abusive I've been with it." - Alexis
A family crisis brings Alexis' boyfriend back into her life and sends Gabe into the arms of another woman. Can they find their way back together? Is Alexis strong enough to risk her family's disapproval and financial support to be with Gabe? And is Gabe able to risk heartbreak again to give Alexis another chance?
My favorite thing about this book is Gabe's transformation from hottie bad boy to major book boyfriend material. He may leave that alpha asshole part behind but the sexy definitely remains and he is sex on a stick that you want to stick around!
Concealed picks up two years later. Alexis was not waiting for Gabe and he tries in vain to move on and let the past go. When two years of surfing, partying and girls doesn't erase Alexis from his heart, he decides to pack up his life, move to Texas and get his girl back.
Alexis has already put the past behind her. Mind you, she has not forgotten Gabe ... her family and boyfriend have convinced her everything she *thought* she felt for him was a result of the traumatic events they endured together in Afghanistan. Her sense of duty to her family and her heritage steer her right back to the life she had before Gabe.
"Of course we mattered. But it was a one--off, you know?" I try to make my tone gentle even though I know the words are anything but."One of those flings you have on vacation or whatever. It would have never survived in the real world Gabe."
Ahhhhhh, but Gabe is a fighter. And he's not giving up on his girl without giving it everything he's got!
This book really surprised me. Gabe is a cocky alpha male when we meet him in Camouflaged. In this book though, he's different. Don't get me wrong, he's still sexy as all get out but he's just different. I guess love will do that to you.
"I won't lie to you, Alexis. It was a busy two years, and I drowned my sorrow in surfing and f*cking, and I wish I hadn't, but I can't change it now ... I chose to handle my hurt that way. I didn't have to. It's just... It's the only thing I knew and it was easy. Easier than doing something useful with myself. I'm so sorry for disrespecting my love for you."
Ladies ... We have a new and improved Gabe Thompson and I. Like. Him. A lot!!!
In a strange twist, Alexis ends up being the "bad guy" in their relationship. She finds herself sandwiched between Gabe and her family, trying to keep both sides happy. She fails miserably.
"... I realize with more awareness than I've ever had just how much power I have over this man - and how abusive I've been with it." - Alexis
A family crisis brings Alexis' boyfriend back into her life and sends Gabe into the arms of another woman. Can they find their way back together? Is Alexis strong enough to risk her family's disapproval and financial support to be with Gabe? And is Gabe able to risk heartbreak again to give Alexis another chance?
My favorite thing about this book is Gabe's transformation from hottie bad boy to major book boyfriend material. He may leave that alpha asshole part behind but the sexy definitely remains and he is sex on a stick that you want to stick around!
February 1, 2014
I was lucky to have received an ARC of Concealed from Selena Laurence, in exchange for an honest review :)
My thoughts:
The wait is finally over and I got to read Concealed! Yay for Gabe and Alexis! LOVED IT SO MUCH!
Concealed takes place two years after Gabe and Alexis's time together in Afghanistan. [Please read Hidden and Camouflaged before you read Concealed, you will not be disappointed! All three are so good - realistic situations and topics, romantic, and keeps you interested...and the secondary characters are just as lovable as the main ones! - Great job Selena!]
Gabe makes the decision to come to Texas for Alexis. He still loves her and hopes she feels that same and that their time spent together in Afghanistan was not a lie. We quickly learn that Marco, her BF, is still in the picture, whom she told Gabe would be her ex-BF as soon as she left Afghanistan, but it looks like that's not the case...Uh oh…but, I understood her actions once everything was explained and we learned more about her relationship with her family.
Little does Gabe know, things are more complicated for Alexis than he realized. She is letting her strict Mexican family have a STRONG say in how she lives her life as well as who she dates. We get a strong taste of the Mexican culture in this book and I loved it - I wish I read more books like this! We go through all the ups and downs with Alexis and Gabe. Being with Gabe will change everything Alexis is used to and he brings spice to her life - brightens up her world. As good as it feels to be with Gabe, this is scary for her. Change is scary, we can all relate to that. It's not Gabe she fears, but it's her parents. They are what she knows - part of who she is. I can definitely relate, coming from a Hispanic family myself.
Marco and Alexis's family don't truly understand what Alexis REALLY went trough in Afghanistan and have expectations for her, and this ends up hurting Alexis in the long run. She lost a very special part of who she was after she left Afghanistan, only to have to find herself once again.
Gabe knows who she really is (Kind and devoted to helping others, even if it means risking her life) and that's what he loves most about her. He wants her to be her best self and would do anything for her.
Will Gabe be patient as she decides how she is going to live her life? Will Alexis finally fight for what SHE wants? All your questions will be answered. It is not an easy road for Alexis and Gabe and we definitely go through it all with them (little bit of a roller coaster), but it was worth it to see these two finally work things out completely and see them work it out and be happy together, whether they are accepted by others or not :)
-Oh! and I loved the Epilogue! If you loved Hidden , you will love the epilogue!- I wish there was a little bit more in the epilogue, but that's just me…other than that, I was extremely happy with Concealed! :)
My thoughts:
The wait is finally over and I got to read Concealed! Yay for Gabe and Alexis! LOVED IT SO MUCH!
Concealed takes place two years after Gabe and Alexis's time together in Afghanistan. [Please read Hidden and Camouflaged before you read Concealed, you will not be disappointed! All three are so good - realistic situations and topics, romantic, and keeps you interested...and the secondary characters are just as lovable as the main ones! - Great job Selena!]
Gabe makes the decision to come to Texas for Alexis. He still loves her and hopes she feels that same and that their time spent together in Afghanistan was not a lie. We quickly learn that Marco, her BF, is still in the picture, whom she told Gabe would be her ex-BF as soon as she left Afghanistan, but it looks like that's not the case...Uh oh…but, I understood her actions once everything was explained and we learned more about her relationship with her family.
Little does Gabe know, things are more complicated for Alexis than he realized. She is letting her strict Mexican family have a STRONG say in how she lives her life as well as who she dates. We get a strong taste of the Mexican culture in this book and I loved it - I wish I read more books like this! We go through all the ups and downs with Alexis and Gabe. Being with Gabe will change everything Alexis is used to and he brings spice to her life - brightens up her world. As good as it feels to be with Gabe, this is scary for her. Change is scary, we can all relate to that. It's not Gabe she fears, but it's her parents. They are what she knows - part of who she is. I can definitely relate, coming from a Hispanic family myself.
Marco and Alexis's family don't truly understand what Alexis REALLY went trough in Afghanistan and have expectations for her, and this ends up hurting Alexis in the long run. She lost a very special part of who she was after she left Afghanistan, only to have to find herself once again.
Gabe knows who she really is (Kind and devoted to helping others, even if it means risking her life) and that's what he loves most about her. He wants her to be her best self and would do anything for her.
Will Gabe be patient as she decides how she is going to live her life? Will Alexis finally fight for what SHE wants? All your questions will be answered. It is not an easy road for Alexis and Gabe and we definitely go through it all with them (little bit of a roller coaster), but it was worth it to see these two finally work things out completely and see them work it out and be happy together, whether they are accepted by others or not :)
-Oh! and I loved the Epilogue! If you loved Hidden , you will love the epilogue!- I wish there was a little bit more in the epilogue, but that's just me…other than that, I was extremely happy with Concealed! :)
January 14, 2014
4 1/2 stars
I fell head over heels in love with Gabe in Camouflaged so I was SUPER excited to read Concealed for more Gabe! I’m happy to say, he did not disappoint =). From page one, Gabe leapt off the page and into my heart. He’s cocky, arrogant, and conceited, but also sweet, funny and completely dedicated to Alexis. He never gave up on her even when she pushed him away again and again. But make no mistake, Gabe is no doormat. He’s a Harley-riding, tattoo-sporting soldier who’s as alpha as they come and who loves Alexis with his whole heart.
Gabe and Alexis met at a US Army camp in Afghanistan when Gabe was a soldier and Alexis was a UN volunteer. They fell in love, even though Alexis had a boyfriend back home. Upon leaving Afghanistan, Alexis promised Gabe she would break it off with her boyfriend and be there waiting for him when he got home. However, over the following two years, Gabe never heard from her. His letters, emails and calls went unanswered. So Gabe finally decided it was time to go get his girl, Alexis, the only girl he’s ever loved. And he wasn’t going to allow Alexis to push him away.
Concealed had a great storyline that kept me interested through to the end, with perfect pacing and lots of likeable characters. I felt that Alexis was a very relatable character and obviously I loved Gabe. The two of them had fantastic chemistry together and I rooted for them from the very beginning. They belonged together.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters as well. From Alexis’ sister, Beth, to Gabe’s friends, I feel they added valuable depth to the story. I loved how Beth and Gabe formed a ‘secret alliance’ of sorts and I found the secondary story involving Beth very interesting. I’m hoping that Ms. Laurence will be writing her book in the near future.
There were many quotes I wanted to include here, as this book was full of great ones, but decided against including them to avoid spoilers. I will say though that Gabe loved Alexis fiercely and proved it to her time and time again throughout this book. He knew she wanted him too and he persisted until she was finally able to accept her feelings for him. And Gabe’s tattoo! Holy smokes! Totally sigh-worthy.
I highly recommend this book and the others in the Hiding from Love series. They are fun, sexy, realistic romances with relatable and likeable characters. Love them!
An arc was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I fell head over heels in love with Gabe in Camouflaged so I was SUPER excited to read Concealed for more Gabe! I’m happy to say, he did not disappoint =). From page one, Gabe leapt off the page and into my heart. He’s cocky, arrogant, and conceited, but also sweet, funny and completely dedicated to Alexis. He never gave up on her even when she pushed him away again and again. But make no mistake, Gabe is no doormat. He’s a Harley-riding, tattoo-sporting soldier who’s as alpha as they come and who loves Alexis with his whole heart.
Gabe and Alexis met at a US Army camp in Afghanistan when Gabe was a soldier and Alexis was a UN volunteer. They fell in love, even though Alexis had a boyfriend back home. Upon leaving Afghanistan, Alexis promised Gabe she would break it off with her boyfriend and be there waiting for him when he got home. However, over the following two years, Gabe never heard from her. His letters, emails and calls went unanswered. So Gabe finally decided it was time to go get his girl, Alexis, the only girl he’s ever loved. And he wasn’t going to allow Alexis to push him away.
Concealed had a great storyline that kept me interested through to the end, with perfect pacing and lots of likeable characters. I felt that Alexis was a very relatable character and obviously I loved Gabe. The two of them had fantastic chemistry together and I rooted for them from the very beginning. They belonged together.
I really enjoyed the secondary characters as well. From Alexis’ sister, Beth, to Gabe’s friends, I feel they added valuable depth to the story. I loved how Beth and Gabe formed a ‘secret alliance’ of sorts and I found the secondary story involving Beth very interesting. I’m hoping that Ms. Laurence will be writing her book in the near future.
There were many quotes I wanted to include here, as this book was full of great ones, but decided against including them to avoid spoilers. I will say though that Gabe loved Alexis fiercely and proved it to her time and time again throughout this book. He knew she wanted him too and he persisted until she was finally able to accept her feelings for him. And Gabe’s tattoo! Holy smokes! Totally sigh-worthy.
I highly recommend this book and the others in the Hiding from Love series. They are fun, sexy, realistic romances with relatable and likeable characters. Love them!
An arc was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
August 11, 2016
Talk about a book that pulls on all your heartstrings!!! Wow! I really enjoyed this book. Except I couldn't decide if I hated alexis or not. I'm still on the fence about it. I mean come on! You have a freakin sexy military guy practically being for you and bending over backwards for you and you say you feel the same about him yet you won't even go there??? Uh really?????
I probably wouldn't mind her so much if she gave an actual decent reason why she loved Marco. But she never does. Even her inner monologue tells you she doesn't really feel much for him. It's my biggest pet peeve in books is a female who has no good explanation as to why she is doing what she's doing. I will literally scream at books because of it. If I had to pick off of a strong female for Gabe I'd pick carla. But it would also make me sad because even if she irritated me I wanted them to fix it.
Ok now that my ranting is over I'll go into why I loved this book. Everything didn't happen immediately which I was happy about. Nothing worse then having all the messy solved in the first chapter. They actually had to work at fixing everything and that didn't always include that they were fixing it to end up together.
The author did amazing at making you actually feel all the pain they were going through. She also did more then the norm romance where girl pushes boy away, he convinced her he's prince charming, she treats him like crop some more, then gives in, and its happily ever after. Thank God it wasn't like that!! Gabe actually stuck up for himself and refused to let his feelings get in the way of him still respecting himself and know when he deserves better. GO GABE!!!!!!
Also I enjoyed the addition of a person's culture being an aspect in this story. Most books don't include someone's family background as being a huge deal breaker because of how they were raised.which is crazy because culture is huge in all sorts of decision making. Some can say it's prejudice when it comes to certain expectations from one's family in certain cultures but it's not really. Just preservation of the culture itself and the way it was handle in this book was spot on with what it's really like. Love isn't always the only thing that matters. A person's family and traditions can come before.
Thanks to Selena Lawrence for letting me enjoy her book in exchange for an honest review. And I will definitely be reading more of her work. She definitely knows how to pull you in and feel everything the characters do.
I probably wouldn't mind her so much if she gave an actual decent reason why she loved Marco. But she never does. Even her inner monologue tells you she doesn't really feel much for him. It's my biggest pet peeve in books is a female who has no good explanation as to why she is doing what she's doing. I will literally scream at books because of it. If I had to pick off of a strong female for Gabe I'd pick carla. But it would also make me sad because even if she irritated me I wanted them to fix it.
Ok now that my ranting is over I'll go into why I loved this book. Everything didn't happen immediately which I was happy about. Nothing worse then having all the messy solved in the first chapter. They actually had to work at fixing everything and that didn't always include that they were fixing it to end up together.
The author did amazing at making you actually feel all the pain they were going through. She also did more then the norm romance where girl pushes boy away, he convinced her he's prince charming, she treats him like crop some more, then gives in, and its happily ever after. Thank God it wasn't like that!! Gabe actually stuck up for himself and refused to let his feelings get in the way of him still respecting himself and know when he deserves better. GO GABE!!!!!!
Also I enjoyed the addition of a person's culture being an aspect in this story. Most books don't include someone's family background as being a huge deal breaker because of how they were raised.which is crazy because culture is huge in all sorts of decision making. Some can say it's prejudice when it comes to certain expectations from one's family in certain cultures but it's not really. Just preservation of the culture itself and the way it was handle in this book was spot on with what it's really like. Love isn't always the only thing that matters. A person's family and traditions can come before.
Thanks to Selena Lawrence for letting me enjoy her book in exchange for an honest review. And I will definitely be reading more of her work. She definitely knows how to pull you in and feel everything the characters do.
August 4, 2014
"It's like you're the answer to every question he's ever asked."
Be still my heart! This book had so much emotion. I read the novella, Camouflaged, before I read this one. So, I knew Gabe and Alexis' story of how they met. After reading that, I knew of their love for each other and how when Gabe was discharged from the military, Alexis was to meet him.
Or so he thought...
Gabe Thompson came home from fighting overseas and expected to see his beautiful girlfriend waiting for him at the airport gates. He was met with heartbreak.
"I was in love with you, Alexis Garcia. Heart and soul. Totally and completely in love. I waited for you for months. I was faithful and devoted, and I was ready to live my life for you. That was no effin' one-off."
Alexis Garcia came home from her time in Afghanistan so in love. Her biggest problem was how she was going to break the news to her boyfriend, Marco. She had no clue that more struggles were ahead of her and Gabe had no way of being in her life. She did what she thought was best...she let him go. Ignored every letter, phone call, and never showed up to welcome him home. Smart, right?! Until two years later when Gabe had had enough.
"I feel like I'm a door and Marco and Gabe are battering at me from both sides. The real question is who's going to break me first?"
When Gabe shows up at Alexis' door and Marco answers, it's enough to make a man go insane. Especially when one of those men was kept in the dark. Gabe has moved to her town and is going to try everything to win Alexis back.
"I want you to understand why I came. What I feel when I look at you, Alexis. What you mean to me. You're the start of my life. The beginning of me. The core of who I'll become."
Not only is Alexis being pulled back and forth between two men that love her, but also her very traditional Mexican family. They have a set of beliefs and standards that they want each of their children to uphold. Alexis was the first to go against them and it didn't go well. So, now she is on a mission to find her true self. Who is Alexis? What should she do with her life? Who should stand beside her through it all?
This story was as beautiful as it was heartbreaking. You wanted to pull for these two as a couple, but also as individuals. They both have their own stories to tell, but they will need each other to fill in the blanks. Selena did such a great job with Gabe and Alexis!! Loved it!
"Did you come for me, Gabe?
"Yeah, babe. I did."
"Will you always come for me, Gabe?"
Yeah, Alexis. I'll always come for you."
Be still my heart! This book had so much emotion. I read the novella, Camouflaged, before I read this one. So, I knew Gabe and Alexis' story of how they met. After reading that, I knew of their love for each other and how when Gabe was discharged from the military, Alexis was to meet him.
Or so he thought...
Gabe Thompson came home from fighting overseas and expected to see his beautiful girlfriend waiting for him at the airport gates. He was met with heartbreak.
"I was in love with you, Alexis Garcia. Heart and soul. Totally and completely in love. I waited for you for months. I was faithful and devoted, and I was ready to live my life for you. That was no effin' one-off."
Alexis Garcia came home from her time in Afghanistan so in love. Her biggest problem was how she was going to break the news to her boyfriend, Marco. She had no clue that more struggles were ahead of her and Gabe had no way of being in her life. She did what she thought was best...she let him go. Ignored every letter, phone call, and never showed up to welcome him home. Smart, right?! Until two years later when Gabe had had enough.
"I feel like I'm a door and Marco and Gabe are battering at me from both sides. The real question is who's going to break me first?"
When Gabe shows up at Alexis' door and Marco answers, it's enough to make a man go insane. Especially when one of those men was kept in the dark. Gabe has moved to her town and is going to try everything to win Alexis back.
"I want you to understand why I came. What I feel when I look at you, Alexis. What you mean to me. You're the start of my life. The beginning of me. The core of who I'll become."
Not only is Alexis being pulled back and forth between two men that love her, but also her very traditional Mexican family. They have a set of beliefs and standards that they want each of their children to uphold. Alexis was the first to go against them and it didn't go well. So, now she is on a mission to find her true self. Who is Alexis? What should she do with her life? Who should stand beside her through it all?
This story was as beautiful as it was heartbreaking. You wanted to pull for these two as a couple, but also as individuals. They both have their own stories to tell, but they will need each other to fill in the blanks. Selena did such a great job with Gabe and Alexis!! Loved it!
"Did you come for me, Gabe?
"Yeah, babe. I did."
"Will you always come for me, Gabe?"
Yeah, Alexis. I'll always come for you."
July 23, 2015
Concealed was definitely my favorite book in this series. I was looking forward to reading Gabe and Alexis's story and I enjoyed the way it all played out. Gabe was so darn likable that I wanted him to get the girl and his HEA.
This story picks up 2 years after the events in Camouflaged. While in Hawaii with Nick and Lyndsey (in book #1 of this series, Hidden) Gabe finally realized that his love for Alexis wasn't going away, and he decided to man up and go to Texas to get answers from Alexis.
Gabe loved Alexis for years, even though they were apart, and he wasn't afraid to let her and everyone else know how much she meant to him. I loved that he was so open and up front about his feelings. Although at times he does act a bit impulsive and immature in his actions, he knew what he wanted and he wasn't afraid to go after it. I really felt bad for Gabe because he kept putting his feelings out there for her, and she continuously rejected him and stomped all over his heart.
I tried really hard not to dislike Alexis. The way she blew off Gabe and wouldn't respond to his messages was really harsh. She was pretty heartless and Gabe really took it hard. So when Gabe shows up after 2 years to demand answers from her, I was hoping she had good reasons for causing him such heartache.
Alexis worked really hard at pushing Gabe away, even though deep down she wanted a relationship with him. Her family and friends approve of her long term relationship with Marco, and she's so intent on pleasing her family that she is not willing to take a chance on finding happiness with Gabe. I hated that she was so weak and willing to be unhappy just to please her family.
About halfway through the book, Gabe and Alexis's roles were reversed and Alexis was the one that was being rejected. She realized that she hurt Gabe so much that he might not be willing to give her another chance. I loved that both characters had to fight for what they wanted, and it made me root for them to get together and be happy.
There were some very real issues dealt with in this story, like Gabe finding his own identity and Alexis dealing with family expectations. There was also quite a bit of angst and emotional turmoil, but I loved every second of it!
This story picks up 2 years after the events in Camouflaged. While in Hawaii with Nick and Lyndsey (in book #1 of this series, Hidden) Gabe finally realized that his love for Alexis wasn't going away, and he decided to man up and go to Texas to get answers from Alexis.
Gabe loved Alexis for years, even though they were apart, and he wasn't afraid to let her and everyone else know how much she meant to him. I loved that he was so open and up front about his feelings. Although at times he does act a bit impulsive and immature in his actions, he knew what he wanted and he wasn't afraid to go after it. I really felt bad for Gabe because he kept putting his feelings out there for her, and she continuously rejected him and stomped all over his heart.
I tried really hard not to dislike Alexis. The way she blew off Gabe and wouldn't respond to his messages was really harsh. She was pretty heartless and Gabe really took it hard. So when Gabe shows up after 2 years to demand answers from her, I was hoping she had good reasons for causing him such heartache.
Alexis worked really hard at pushing Gabe away, even though deep down she wanted a relationship with him. Her family and friends approve of her long term relationship with Marco, and she's so intent on pleasing her family that she is not willing to take a chance on finding happiness with Gabe. I hated that she was so weak and willing to be unhappy just to please her family.
About halfway through the book, Gabe and Alexis's roles were reversed and Alexis was the one that was being rejected. She realized that she hurt Gabe so much that he might not be willing to give her another chance. I loved that both characters had to fight for what they wanted, and it made me root for them to get together and be happy.
There were some very real issues dealt with in this story, like Gabe finding his own identity and Alexis dealing with family expectations. There was also quite a bit of angst and emotional turmoil, but I loved every second of it!
April 18, 2014
I received a free copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
To fully appreciate this book, I recommend reading Camouflaged first. In Camouflaged Gabe and Alexis meet in Afghanistan.
Concealed picks up the story two years after Camouflaged. Gabe is not in the army anymore, he has lived in Hawaii and has decided to go to Austin to get some answers from Alexis who has not had any contact with Gabe after her trip from Afghanistan. Gabe finds Alexis to be still in a relationship with her boyfriend Marco, who she promised to leave (when she was in Afghanistan with Gabe). Gabe doesn't give up on their relationship and decides to stay and build a life in Austin. He gets a job and befriends some people who can shed a light as to why Alexis broke her promise to him (to leave Marcus and wait for Gabe).
I was as confused as Gabe.... why would Alexis break her promise and stay in a relationship with Marco? Gabe is hot, they have chemistry.... opposed to a boring Marco? But as the story is told, we get to see Alexis is a young girl with strong family ties and her time with Gabe was strong and intense but also short. I really think Selena Laurence did a great job by telling the why and how Alexis began to doubt the connection she had with Gabe, the confusion she felt, the I-want-to-please-my-parents feelings she got. I am not saying they were right and she should have completely ignored Gabe (no letters, no contact nothing), but it was so well written that I understood her. Poor Gabe..... it was harsh for him, so I understood his need to have a break in Hawaii, before he decided he needed to know what was going on/went wrong.
He is a bad ass in Camouflaged, he still is, but we also get to see he is just a regular guy who gets a regular job, has a good relationship with his mum and a caring friend. He just also happens to be a cool, super hot, alpha male and knows who he loves and doesn't shy away from convincing her he loves her....SWOON!! He is so patient and really a great book boyfriend!
I liked the ending, it was sweet and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!
To fully appreciate this book, I recommend reading Camouflaged first. In Camouflaged Gabe and Alexis meet in Afghanistan.
Concealed picks up the story two years after Camouflaged. Gabe is not in the army anymore, he has lived in Hawaii and has decided to go to Austin to get some answers from Alexis who has not had any contact with Gabe after her trip from Afghanistan. Gabe finds Alexis to be still in a relationship with her boyfriend Marco, who she promised to leave (when she was in Afghanistan with Gabe). Gabe doesn't give up on their relationship and decides to stay and build a life in Austin. He gets a job and befriends some people who can shed a light as to why Alexis broke her promise to him (to leave Marcus and wait for Gabe).
I was as confused as Gabe.... why would Alexis break her promise and stay in a relationship with Marco? Gabe is hot, they have chemistry.... opposed to a boring Marco? But as the story is told, we get to see Alexis is a young girl with strong family ties and her time with Gabe was strong and intense but also short. I really think Selena Laurence did a great job by telling the why and how Alexis began to doubt the connection she had with Gabe, the confusion she felt, the I-want-to-please-my-parents feelings she got. I am not saying they were right and she should have completely ignored Gabe (no letters, no contact nothing), but it was so well written that I understood her. Poor Gabe..... it was harsh for him, so I understood his need to have a break in Hawaii, before he decided he needed to know what was going on/went wrong.
He is a bad ass in Camouflaged, he still is, but we also get to see he is just a regular guy who gets a regular job, has a good relationship with his mum and a caring friend. He just also happens to be a cool, super hot, alpha male and knows who he loves and doesn't shy away from convincing her he loves her....SWOON!! He is so patient and really a great book boyfriend!
I liked the ending, it was sweet and I can't wait to read the next one in the series!
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April 4, 2014
5 Thrilling Military Stars
*This book is the second in a series. Whilst this review contains no spoilers for Concealed, there will be some spoilers for Book #1 Hidden & Book #1.5 Camouflaged*
Blurb:
Two years ago, Gabe Thompson stood in the desert of Afghanistan and watched the love of his life drive away. When his tour of duty ended six months later, she wasn’t waiting. Now Gabe’s ready to go after the one thing his life is missing – the woman he’s never been able to forget.
Twenty-year-old Alexis Garcia rues the day she decided to volunteer for a UN mission to Afghanistan. The sexy, exasperating soldier she met there nearly destroyed her carefully constructed life with the boy next door. She’s spent two years trying to forget Gabe, working to show her parents and her boyfriend that she knows where she belongs.
But when Gabe shows up at Alexis’s door, complete with tattoos, a Harley and enough attitude to start another war, everything she’s tried to conceal could be exposed, starting with her heart.
My Review
Full Review posted at all-thing-books.com
To truly understand the brilliance of this novel, you've gotta read Camouflaged (Free on amazon!!) It's 96 pages filled with action, fear, hope, love and steam - a true must read.
This book has ups, downs, angst, hotter than hot sex scenes and everything in between. I was drawn into each character and I had such deep investment in Gabe & Alexis that I felt what they felt - the sign of a truly gifted writer.
*This book is the second in a series. Whilst this review contains no spoilers for Concealed, there will be some spoilers for Book #1 Hidden & Book #1.5 Camouflaged*
I stand next to my boyfriend of four years and look into the face of the man I cheated on him with. Here. At the front door of my apartment. And it all comes rushing back.
Blurb:
Two years ago, Gabe Thompson stood in the desert of Afghanistan and watched the love of his life drive away. When his tour of duty ended six months later, she wasn’t waiting. Now Gabe’s ready to go after the one thing his life is missing – the woman he’s never been able to forget.
Twenty-year-old Alexis Garcia rues the day she decided to volunteer for a UN mission to Afghanistan. The sexy, exasperating soldier she met there nearly destroyed her carefully constructed life with the boy next door. She’s spent two years trying to forget Gabe, working to show her parents and her boyfriend that she knows where she belongs.
But when Gabe shows up at Alexis’s door, complete with tattoos, a Harley and enough attitude to start another war, everything she’s tried to conceal could be exposed, starting with her heart.
My Review
Full Review posted at all-thing-books.com
a low voice speaks next to my ear and I jump, turning to face the 6’1”, 210 pounds of male beauty who is standing close enough for me to feel his heat and smell his cologne.
“Two years, babe,” he growls. “Two fucking years, and not a word.”
To truly understand the brilliance of this novel, you've gotta read Camouflaged (Free on amazon!!) It's 96 pages filled with action, fear, hope, love and steam - a true must read.
This book has ups, downs, angst, hotter than hot sex scenes and everything in between. I was drawn into each character and I had such deep investment in Gabe & Alexis that I felt what they felt - the sign of a truly gifted writer.
April 10, 2014
*This book was given free for an honest review*
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Having never read any of Laurence's book before, I was a bit wary but I have to say that this book was well worth reading. And the reason I loved this book? Well, shortly put: Gabe was super hot. Very few authors are able to draw the fine line between having a hot guy be sensitive but also manly. Something about a strong soldier is just, wow, and yeah, basically, Gabe is hot.
More than that though, I loved the cultural awareness shown in Concealed. In the second book, we find out that the reason Alexis went back to America and ignored Gabe's letters and calls for two years was because of her heritage and the pressure from her Hispanic family. While I'm British born Chinese, I've never experienced any pressure from my culture to conform and when Gabe tries to understand Alexis' Hispanic side, it really opened my eyes. The stuff Gabe attends, like the Quinceanera, was just heartwarming and really developed his character and Alexis'.
The one bone that I do have with the Hidden in Love series is Alexis herself. It wasn't a major thing at the time, but honestly, I don't understand what was supposed to be so special about Alexis.
I'm a huge Twilight fan and having read a lot of NA novels, it's pretty much my understanding that men are usually drawn to girls that are 'different' or 'special'. In both Camouflaged and Concealed, Gabe constantly goes on about how unique Alexis is for not falling head over heels for him. But honestly? I just feel like that's not enough. Alexis didn't feel special or different in any way and Gabe's fixation on her - as hot as it was - just didn't make sense to me. It felt like her character was just incomplete.
However, despite that, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book as a beach-read and warn that there will probably be a few tears when reading the second book (and possibly the first too, if you're a crier like me).
*See full review on my blog*
I have to say I was pleasantly surprised with this book. Having never read any of Laurence's book before, I was a bit wary but I have to say that this book was well worth reading. And the reason I loved this book? Well, shortly put: Gabe was super hot. Very few authors are able to draw the fine line between having a hot guy be sensitive but also manly. Something about a strong soldier is just, wow, and yeah, basically, Gabe is hot.
More than that though, I loved the cultural awareness shown in Concealed. In the second book, we find out that the reason Alexis went back to America and ignored Gabe's letters and calls for two years was because of her heritage and the pressure from her Hispanic family. While I'm British born Chinese, I've never experienced any pressure from my culture to conform and when Gabe tries to understand Alexis' Hispanic side, it really opened my eyes. The stuff Gabe attends, like the Quinceanera, was just heartwarming and really developed his character and Alexis'.
The one bone that I do have with the Hidden in Love series is Alexis herself. It wasn't a major thing at the time, but honestly, I don't understand what was supposed to be so special about Alexis.
I'm a huge Twilight fan and having read a lot of NA novels, it's pretty much my understanding that men are usually drawn to girls that are 'different' or 'special'. In both Camouflaged and Concealed, Gabe constantly goes on about how unique Alexis is for not falling head over heels for him. But honestly? I just feel like that's not enough. Alexis didn't feel special or different in any way and Gabe's fixation on her - as hot as it was - just didn't make sense to me. It felt like her character was just incomplete.
However, despite that, I would wholeheartedly recommend this book as a beach-read and warn that there will probably be a few tears when reading the second book (and possibly the first too, if you're a crier like me).
*See full review on my blog*
January 2, 2014
If you love romances and you have not read a book by Selena Laurence, you should. Selena writes the most absolutely perfect romances.
First we had Hidden, then Camouflaged (which was Gabe and Alexis’s beginning of their story), and now we have Concealed.
Oh my friends, Gabe is just as swoon-worthy in Concealed as he was in Camouflaged, if not more so just because we get even more of him this time.
I knew after I read Camouflaged that something was up with Gabe. I had already read Hidden and knew that Gabe was in Hawaii with Nick and he was not with Alexis. I was dying to know what had happened, at the end of Camouflaged we were sure they would end up together.
But no, Alexis went back to her boyfriend, back to safety, so I thought.
It turned out that the reasons were more complicated for her reversal than it appeared to be on the surface. While you are reading, don’t judge Alexis until you know exactly why she did what she did. (I am speaking from experience here, because I did. Come on, if you knew Gabe, like I know Gabe, you would have judged too.)
Gabe is just as intense in Concealed as he was in Camouflaged. To have a man, fight for you like that, to love you with that kind of intensity, it would be amazing. I don’t know how anyone could deny themselves that kind of love.
I just wanted my Gabe and Alexis back together.
I can’t tell you if they did or not, that would be spoiling, but I can say, learn to expect the unexpected from Selena Laurence. IE: Alexis going back to her boring life pre-Gabe.
Concealed was another absolutely perfect romance from the amazing Selena! I was happy, I was sad, I was a tad jealous, it was all good. I loved it. I cannot wait to see what comes next from her because as amazing as each book is, the following is even more amazing.
Thank you Selena so much for sending me an ARC of Concealed. It was so beautiful!
First we had Hidden, then Camouflaged (which was Gabe and Alexis’s beginning of their story), and now we have Concealed.
Oh my friends, Gabe is just as swoon-worthy in Concealed as he was in Camouflaged, if not more so just because we get even more of him this time.
I knew after I read Camouflaged that something was up with Gabe. I had already read Hidden and knew that Gabe was in Hawaii with Nick and he was not with Alexis. I was dying to know what had happened, at the end of Camouflaged we were sure they would end up together.
But no, Alexis went back to her boyfriend, back to safety, so I thought.
It turned out that the reasons were more complicated for her reversal than it appeared to be on the surface. While you are reading, don’t judge Alexis until you know exactly why she did what she did. (I am speaking from experience here, because I did. Come on, if you knew Gabe, like I know Gabe, you would have judged too.)
Gabe is just as intense in Concealed as he was in Camouflaged. To have a man, fight for you like that, to love you with that kind of intensity, it would be amazing. I don’t know how anyone could deny themselves that kind of love.
I just wanted my Gabe and Alexis back together.
I can’t tell you if they did or not, that would be spoiling, but I can say, learn to expect the unexpected from Selena Laurence. IE: Alexis going back to her boring life pre-Gabe.
Concealed was another absolutely perfect romance from the amazing Selena! I was happy, I was sad, I was a tad jealous, it was all good. I loved it. I cannot wait to see what comes next from her because as amazing as each book is, the following is even more amazing.
Thank you Selena so much for sending me an ARC of Concealed. It was so beautiful!
December 20, 2013
***Mild Spoiler***
Although this book can be read as a stand alone I highly recommend that you first read "Camouflaged" (which is a novella, currently free on Amazon.com). And "Hidden", currently .99 cents on Amazon.com. (12/20/2013). "Camouflaged" is where the two main characters in "Concealed" are first introduced. From the book "Camouflaged": Gabe was serving in Afghanistan when he met Alexis who was there on a humanitarian mission. That was 4 years ago. "Concealed" Present day: After 4 years of heartbreak and suffering Gabe travels 4,000 to confront Alexis as to why she never contacted him once she left Afghanistan. They had fallen in love and Alexis has promised to keep in touch until he returned home and they had plans to continue their relationship. But Alexis had cut him off. No letters, no e-mail, no phone calls...nothing and she refused to return any of his letters and phone calls. And for 4 years now Gabe had wondered why....what had changed? What had gone wrong? Gabe had never gotten over Alexis.
Finally, he realized he would never get over her and he found out where she was and went to confront her. This is the complex story of Gabe's and Alexis's lives. It is also a story of prejudice and secrets. Alexis avoided Gabe because of her family and her heritage. She was also dating a guy approved by her parents. Gabe was white. Alexis was from Mexican decent. Her parents were first generation immigrants. While Alexis still felt the undeniable attraction to Gabe and still had powerful feelings for him she stayed away from him to please her family. But Gabe was not giving up so easily.
This book has all you could ask for in a romance book. Love, angst,secrets, mild sex and a HEA! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance novel!
Although this book can be read as a stand alone I highly recommend that you first read "Camouflaged" (which is a novella, currently free on Amazon.com). And "Hidden", currently .99 cents on Amazon.com. (12/20/2013). "Camouflaged" is where the two main characters in "Concealed" are first introduced. From the book "Camouflaged": Gabe was serving in Afghanistan when he met Alexis who was there on a humanitarian mission. That was 4 years ago. "Concealed" Present day: After 4 years of heartbreak and suffering Gabe travels 4,000 to confront Alexis as to why she never contacted him once she left Afghanistan. They had fallen in love and Alexis has promised to keep in touch until he returned home and they had plans to continue their relationship. But Alexis had cut him off. No letters, no e-mail, no phone calls...nothing and she refused to return any of his letters and phone calls. And for 4 years now Gabe had wondered why....what had changed? What had gone wrong? Gabe had never gotten over Alexis.
Finally, he realized he would never get over her and he found out where she was and went to confront her. This is the complex story of Gabe's and Alexis's lives. It is also a story of prejudice and secrets. Alexis avoided Gabe because of her family and her heritage. She was also dating a guy approved by her parents. Gabe was white. Alexis was from Mexican decent. Her parents were first generation immigrants. While Alexis still felt the undeniable attraction to Gabe and still had powerful feelings for him she stayed away from him to please her family. But Gabe was not giving up so easily.
This book has all you could ask for in a romance book. Love, angst,secrets, mild sex and a HEA! I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good romance novel!
May 31, 2014
*****I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review*****
Wow, what can I say? I was blown away. Okay, so Concealed is the sequel to the prequel in this series (Camouflaged, Hiding from Love 0.5) that follows the story of Gabe and Alexis. Without revealing too much, the story picks up where Camouflage left off--sort of. It's been two years since he last seen her, but Gabe is home from Afganistan expecting to find Alexis waiting for him, but instead he finds out that she'd gone back with her boyfriend Marco. I loved the connection between Gabe and Alexis, which is evident from the first page. At times, I got frustrated with this story, but that's what I love when I read. I love rooting for the characters, and I was rooting for Alexis and Gabe. Gabe was such a lovable guy. He was the perfect combination of toughness and softness--a quality I love in my book boyfriends. Gabe was so sexy and persistent it was hard not to fall in love with him.
Selena is a genius. This was a very good read because I love the voice that the author gives to her characters. Her storytelling skills make this story, and I downed this book in one sitting. When I was given this ARC, I was unfamiliar with this author or any other books in this series, but after reading this book, I had to get familiar with her. When reviewing, I try not to criticize the events of the story because this is afterall a product of the creator's imagination. What I look for when I read and review is the storytelling skills--the ability of the writer to paint a picture in my head so that I can fully immerse myself in a story. And Selena did just that. I dived right in without ever coming up for air.
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