It’s always interesting watching two people, who clearly share an attraction, attempt to fight their feelings, refusing to open their hearts again due to a past that’s made them swear off the opposite sex. But a connection like Gabe and Crystal have is not something that will remain dormant, so try as they might, their unexpected love story is ready to be told, so these two need to be ready to help heal each other like they do with the patients that enter their doors.
Gabe and Crystal learned the hard way that love isn't worth the heartache that comes with it, but fate seems to be testing their resolve when they come face-to-face again, bringing the memories of their one-night stand to the forefront and making it incredibly difficult to not give in to the sexual chemistry that was evident throughout their one night together and hums between them every time they cross each other’s paths, which is quite frequently due to the nature of their jobs as well as the small community they reside.
I don’t usually sign up to read/review the second book in a series when I haven’t read the first one yet, but because I’ve heard such amazing things about Natasha Madison’s storytelling and the ease in which she writes the perfect blend of witty, steamy, and dramatic scenes, I knew I needed to make an exception and dive into Gabe and Crystal’s story, and I’m so glad that I did. Madison does a great job setting up the storyline and exploring the number of ways that one person’s deception has affected a significant amount of lives, leaving them picking up the pieces and finding a way to move forward when it seems impossible.
Crystal is the perfect woman for Gabe, even if he refuses to admit it; she’s intelligent, an amazing nurse, and she doesn’t allow Gabe’s broodiness to get the better of her. She holds her own around everyone and has enough sass and sarcasm to keep those around her on their toes, especially a certain doctor who acts like she’s a pain in his ass when, in reality, their battles make him want to strip her bare and reexamine every part of Crystal’s body that he once had the pleasure of exploring. I can’t blame Gabe for his negative feelings when it comes to women; his ex broke his heart, but it’s clear that Crystal can help heal it, but only if they’re both willing to risk their hearts again and stop keeping one another at arm’s length.
Gabe and Crystal’s story focuses on more than just the push and pull between them; there are issues that have to be dealt with that involve some of the secondary characters in the book, and while some readers who have already read book one may not need the insight/recap that is provided, this time, from Crystal’s point of view, it helped me understand the dynamics of certain relationships and the reasons behind Crystal’s decision to move and how it helps those characters closest to her.
Unexpected Love Story is a great read with just the right amount of angst, humor, and sizzle. I enjoyed the camaraderie amongst the Walker family as well as the tight bonds between Gabe and Crystal and their friends.
I made it a point this year to read new-to-me authors and Natasha Madison is definitely one I’m glad I was introduced to, and I can’t wait to checkout more of her stories!
4.5 Poison Apples (The Fairest of All Book Reviews)