4 Glowing Stars
Synopsis
Seven years ago, Juan Martinez lost everything—his only parent, his home, his life as he’d known it. Alone, lost, and desperate, he turned to the Reyes Hispanos—the RH—one of the most violent gangs in South Texas. But when you sell your soul to the devil, you pay a heavy price. Convicted of a drive-by shooting, Juan has served hard time. Finally out on parole, he wants to disappear—from the RH, from memories of all that he’s lost, and especially from the gorgeous woman who just showed up next door.
Beth Garcia grew up following after her older brother, David, and his best friend, Juan. She always dreamed of a day when she’d be old enough for Juan to look at her as someone other than David’s little sister. But he disappeared at seventeen, after his mother was deported, and Beth thought she’d lost him forever. When she finds him living at the halfway house next door, she knows he’s still the same guy inside. Determined to save him from himself and the RH, Beth sets out to prove that he didn’t commit the crime he was convicted of. But the path to absolution is dark, and even Beth may not be able to discover the real Juan.
Can a man with a damaged soul and a beautiful heart let a woman with fierce loyalty and unwavering love risk it all to save him? Or will his past bury them both this time?
I was given an ARC of Buried as part of the blog tour.
First off let me start by saying that I adore Selena Laurence and her writing and she is such a lovely person too.
Now onto my review:
I have given Buried 4 glowing stars - I really enjoyed it but I wasn't hooked, I could quite easily put it down and pick it back up again...I didn't have this constant itch where u need to get back to it to find out what's going to happen.
Now you've read the synopsis so you know the general gist of the book and this isn't your usual love story. This is Juan and Beth's story - Juan has just been released from a 4 year stint in prison due to his involvement in a shooting and him being part of the local gang (RH) Reyes Hispanos - on his release he is taken to a safe house where he will have to stay for 90 days - it's here that he sees Beth who works next door at a half way house for girls. Beth is the sister of his best friend whilst growing up, they both have deep rooted feelings for one another which resurface the moment they clap eyes on each other, but as you know very well the path to true love rarely goes smoothly in books and this is no exception.
I won't spoil any more of the storyline for you but what I will say is read it!! This book is powerful, heartfelt and raw and you could never comprehend what Juan has had to do to survive and come out of the other side. I love the fact that Joss gets a mention from Selena's Lush series...I <3 Joss :)
There's a lot of Spanish in this book which I found it to slow down the pace a little but it didn't stop me from enjoying it.
Why didn't I give it 5 stars - well I kinda do my ratings as if I'm hooked on a book, can't drop it and just want to keep reading til I've finished then it's a definite 5 for me, so although I wasn't hooked on this book I still thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it!
Congrats to Selena on another brilliant book and I can't wait for your next one <3 xx
QUOTES:
"I'm going to find Juan- the real Juan. I'm going to bring him back from the dark, deep place of pain and punishment he's been living in. I know who he is. I'm going to remind him who he is, and then I'm going to make sure the world knows him too."
"Love can make you lose it all, risk it all, want it all. But most of all, love can help you have it all."
"The boy I know is still inside somewhere. He may have strayed but I know deep in the very fibers of my being - he isn't lost."
"Just as people are separated because of wars, because of illness, because of death, Beth and I will be separated because of circumstances out of our control ... That I would get the brief moment in time to touch her skin, taste her mouth, smell her hair, be inside of her. I will cling to those memories for the rest of my life .... I won't regret it, because I had her. For one brilliant sparkling moment, I had her."