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Unbeautiful #2
Untamed
Emery
No matter how hard I try, I never seem to be able to escape my family’s world. Their madness controls my life, just like insanity consumes my mind.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s real.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell who I really am. The person everyone sees? Or the one I keep trapped inside?
I wonder which person Ryler sees. Just like I wonder who I can trust.
Wonder. Wonder. Wonder.
I wonder too much.
I wish I could just find a way to escape it all and finally be free.
Ryler
I live a double life and sometimes I hate myself for it. Watching Emery fall apart—pretending I don’t care—is killing me inside.
I want to tell her the truth, but I also want a new life.
Want. Want. Want.
I want too much. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what I really desire.
I wish I could be free from the confusion, free from this life.
No matter how hard I try, I never seem to be able to escape my family’s world. Their madness controls my life, just like insanity consumes my mind.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s real.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell who I really am. The person everyone sees? Or the one I keep trapped inside?
I wonder which person Ryler sees. Just like I wonder who I can trust.
Wonder. Wonder. Wonder.
I wonder too much.
I wish I could just find a way to escape it all and finally be free.
Ryler
I live a double life and sometimes I hate myself for it. Watching Emery fall apart—pretending I don’t care—is killing me inside.
I want to tell her the truth, but I also want a new life.
Want. Want. Want.
I want too much. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what I really desire.
I wish I could be free from the confusion, free from this life.
296 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2015
81 people are currently reading
1803 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Sorensen
418 books20.1k followersJessica Sorensen is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author from the snowy mountains of Wyoming. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 188 reviews
July 9, 2020
3.5 stars!
Jessica Sorensen’s Unbeautiful series is by far her most mysterious, suspenseful, and intense series. After that crazy ending in book one, I’ve been dying waiting for book 2, Untamed. I had questions that I needed answered. There were things going on that completely confused me. I just had to know what was going to happen with Ryler and Emery.
Emery’s childhood has been completely messed up. She’s taken every step she could to get out of there, to get away from the people and the place. But no matter what she does, it seems like she is destined to be held under her families thumb. It’s not your normal family situation. Her home life is the complete opposite of normal. There are things that have happened that we have no clue about. Things she has no clue about. But she’s still trying. To get out. To go on her own.
Then there is Ryler. Ryler is trying to figure out a way to move forward from his past as well. Unfortunately to do that, it causes conflict with Emery. The one girl he’s ever had feelings for. The one girl he really wanted. And the one girl who’s trust he lost completely. There is so much Ryler wants to tell Emery that he can’t. He just has to hope she can somehow find it in her heart to trust him with her secrets and down the line, he can explain.
This series gave me one of the biggest cases of “WTF is going on here?” I really thought with the series concluding all of my questions would be answered, but honestly, even though the big things were covered, there were a few things I’m still scratching my head over. By about 70% I was hyperventilating thinking there was no way she could possibly end this book in the next 30% or less. But she did. Everything came together nicely, and it probably would have been a 5 star read for me if it wasn’t for the fact that I did feel like there were a few too many loose ends.
Jessica Sorensen is one of those authors who can successfully write in many different genres. I love her writing style and how versatile she is. Though this book ties in with Luke and Violets (only because Ryler is Luke’s cousin) it is nothing like her other series. If you’re looking for something different that will keep you guessing, if you like a little mystery with you romance and don’t mind lots of wtf moments, this would be the book for you!
Jessica Sorensen’s Unbeautiful series is by far her most mysterious, suspenseful, and intense series. After that crazy ending in book one, I’ve been dying waiting for book 2, Untamed. I had questions that I needed answered. There were things going on that completely confused me. I just had to know what was going to happen with Ryler and Emery.
Emery’s childhood has been completely messed up. She’s taken every step she could to get out of there, to get away from the people and the place. But no matter what she does, it seems like she is destined to be held under her families thumb. It’s not your normal family situation. Her home life is the complete opposite of normal. There are things that have happened that we have no clue about. Things she has no clue about. But she’s still trying. To get out. To go on her own.
Then there is Ryler. Ryler is trying to figure out a way to move forward from his past as well. Unfortunately to do that, it causes conflict with Emery. The one girl he’s ever had feelings for. The one girl he really wanted. And the one girl who’s trust he lost completely. There is so much Ryler wants to tell Emery that he can’t. He just has to hope she can somehow find it in her heart to trust him with her secrets and down the line, he can explain.
This series gave me one of the biggest cases of “WTF is going on here?” I really thought with the series concluding all of my questions would be answered, but honestly, even though the big things were covered, there were a few things I’m still scratching my head over. By about 70% I was hyperventilating thinking there was no way she could possibly end this book in the next 30% or less. But she did. Everything came together nicely, and it probably would have been a 5 star read for me if it wasn’t for the fact that I did feel like there were a few too many loose ends.
Jessica Sorensen is one of those authors who can successfully write in many different genres. I love her writing style and how versatile she is. Though this book ties in with Luke and Violets (only because Ryler is Luke’s cousin) it is nothing like her other series. If you’re looking for something different that will keep you guessing, if you like a little mystery with you romance and don’t mind lots of wtf moments, this would be the book for you!
February 28, 2015
3.75 Stars
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I was so excited to dive into this sequel and to my shock this is it, it's a two book series! I was really skeptical because the last book left me with a zillion questions and this book is on the short side. I wondered how the author would be able to wrap up the story so quickly.
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This was a well written mysterious series with two trapped characters who now find themselves both in really difficult of positions. Emery doesn’t trust Ryler and Ryler can’t tell Emery the truth about who he is and his level of involvement with her dangerous father.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story and all of the reveals. However, I was still left questioning A LOT of things that I thought would be elaborated and explained more for me to fully understand the town, her treatment by her parents and so on. Still this was once again a good read that had an enjoyable poetic flair to it and a wonderful couple.
“I’ve put a lot of trust in Ryler, spilled secrets people would kill me for.
Either it’ll eventually set me free—he’ll set me free.
Or it’ll end up killing me
In the end, the choice is his.”
[image error]
I was so excited to dive into this sequel and to my shock this is it, it's a two book series! I was really skeptical because the last book left me with a zillion questions and this book is on the short side. I wondered how the author would be able to wrap up the story so quickly.
[image error]
This was a well written mysterious series with two trapped characters who now find themselves both in really difficult of positions. Emery doesn’t trust Ryler and Ryler can’t tell Emery the truth about who he is and his level of involvement with her dangerous father.
I really enjoyed the pace of this story and all of the reveals. However, I was still left questioning A LOT of things that I thought would be elaborated and explained more for me to fully understand the town, her treatment by her parents and so on. Still this was once again a good read that had an enjoyable poetic flair to it and a wonderful couple.
“I’ve put a lot of trust in Ryler, spilled secrets people would kill me for.
Either it’ll eventually set me free—he’ll set me free.
Or it’ll end up killing me
In the end, the choice is his.”
February 27, 2015
Untamed is the conclusion to Unbeautiful and I am so happy to finally get some answers. When I finished Unbeautiful I was seriously so confused and had no clue where the story was going. Then today while reading Untamed once again I felt like the slow kid in the class rereading lines thinking it would help me solve this mystery.
“What’s going on between us?
A dangerous game that no one can really win.”
Untamed picks up right where things left off in Unbeautiful and we get to see how both Ryler and Emery’s lives are changing with their new roles. While most of my focus while reading was on the mystery portion of the story I did love seeing how things are unfolding between these two.
In order to maintain a completely spoiler free review I will not be going into the plot, instead I will tell you my thoughts.
I had no idea how this story would play out because I had so many theories on what was actually going on. I couldn’t tell if a person was mentally ill, good, bad, or both. I was lost most of the time and this isn’t even really the kind of story that you can guess at, you just have to let the story unfold and enjoy the ride.
I do highly recommend this series as Jessica Sorensen’s has a beautiful way with words and this story is definitely no exception. I loved the poetry shared throughout the story, it really added a whole other element to the story.
I am not even sure how to classify this book, but I will tell you this series made me question everything. I was on the edge of my seat needing more and the budding relationship between Emery and Ryler put a huge smile on my face. Overall, great read!!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
“What’s going on between us?
A dangerous game that no one can really win.”
Untamed picks up right where things left off in Unbeautiful and we get to see how both Ryler and Emery’s lives are changing with their new roles. While most of my focus while reading was on the mystery portion of the story I did love seeing how things are unfolding between these two.
In order to maintain a completely spoiler free review I will not be going into the plot, instead I will tell you my thoughts.
I had no idea how this story would play out because I had so many theories on what was actually going on. I couldn’t tell if a person was mentally ill, good, bad, or both. I was lost most of the time and this isn’t even really the kind of story that you can guess at, you just have to let the story unfold and enjoy the ride.
I do highly recommend this series as Jessica Sorensen’s has a beautiful way with words and this story is definitely no exception. I loved the poetry shared throughout the story, it really added a whole other element to the story.
I am not even sure how to classify this book, but I will tell you this series made me question everything. I was on the edge of my seat needing more and the budding relationship between Emery and Ryler put a huge smile on my face. Overall, great read!!
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2015
“Untamed” is the second and last book in the “Unbeautiful” series and picks up where the first book ends. At the end of book1 I was so confused. I didn’t know what to think about Emery. Is she crazy or not? Who wants to hurt her and what’s really going on in Ralingford? I bet you felt the same way. Don’t worry, all the questions will be answered in this installment.
“What’s going on between us?
A dangerous game
that no one can really win.”
Emery has lived all her life in fear. She had a traumatic childhood and everyone wanted to control her. When she found out Ryler works for Doc,her father she was more than hurt. She feels like she doesn’t know him, the real Ryler. In her eyes, he's like her father. Now he’s her enemy. Ryler regrets she lied Emery, but he didn’t have a choice. He wanted a new life, he wanted to be free, so eight months ago he accepted to work as an informant for FBI. His main goal is to find Doc’s boos, Donny Elderman, one of the most dangerous mobster/drug lords in the country.
Ryler is scared not only for his life, but for Emery’s life as well. He wants to protect her and to give her everything she asks for, even if it means risking his cover. Or worse, his life. As the story progresses Emery realize she’s more comfortable with Ryler than anyone else. She doesn’t want to feel so connected with him.
“I’ve put a lot of trust in Ryler, spilled secrets people would kill me for.
Either it’ll eventually set me free—he’ll set me free.
Or it’ll end up killing me
In the end, the choice is his.”
I don’t want to give too much away, so I’m not gonna reveal anything else about the plot. The story was captivating and I really wished the book was longer. Even if the book was shorter than the first nothing felt rushed. I liked these two together. They are good for each other, they are trying to heal each other, they are trying to be free together.
There are many revelations and many twist and turns. I must admit I didn’t expect some of the revelations, but I can’t complain, I enjoyed the story and this series.
I also enjoyed the flawless writing and I like that at times it was poetic.
Overall, a great read!
March 14, 2015
★★★ 3 Stars ★★★
After the crazy cliffhanger and 1001 questions leftover from book 1 Unbeautiful, I was very excited to dive in and finally get some answers. I was dying to find out about the mysterious town that Emery has left behind and the strange behaviour of her fellow townsfolk.
Now living in her own apartment and enrolled in Wyoming University, she is finding it hard to trust Ryler, her beautiful and intriguing neighbour that she has fallen for. Ryler has so many secrets that he wants to share with Emery but he can't without risking all that he has been working for over the last six months.
For me, this was a bit of an anticlimax, I still want to know what went on in that town, I want to know what went on with Emery's brother and I still want to know how a whole town can go undetected from the FBI.
This story has great potential, but unfortunately it all fell a bit flat towards the end.
Untamed, is a the second book in the Unbeautiful series, told in dual POV and what I would class as Young Adult.
Review copy gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
After the crazy cliffhanger and 1001 questions leftover from book 1 Unbeautiful, I was very excited to dive in and finally get some answers. I was dying to find out about the mysterious town that Emery has left behind and the strange behaviour of her fellow townsfolk.
Now living in her own apartment and enrolled in Wyoming University, she is finding it hard to trust Ryler, her beautiful and intriguing neighbour that she has fallen for. Ryler has so many secrets that he wants to share with Emery but he can't without risking all that he has been working for over the last six months.
For me, this was a bit of an anticlimax, I still want to know what went on in that town, I want to know what went on with Emery's brother and I still want to know how a whole town can go undetected from the FBI.
This story has great potential, but unfortunately it all fell a bit flat towards the end.
Untamed, is a the second book in the Unbeautiful series, told in dual POV and what I would class as Young Adult.
Review copy gratefully received from the author in exchange for an honest review
June 24, 2015
*****5 Fighting Out of the Darkness to Amazing Stars*****
Untamed is the second book in the Unbeautiful series and it was AWESOME!!
The secrets of evil are finally released and this story is truly a life of darkness that Emery has endured.
Ryler, now hired by Emery's father to "protect" Emery, but still working as an informant to bring down the evil. Ryler is told that Emery is crazy and needs to be protected from herself. Ryler is also told to lie to her about everything. These lies break him because he has strong feelings for Emery, he wants to be with her in total freedom to love. Ryler fights to find a balance between the two lives he is living.
Ryler needs to find a way to save Emery from the family destruction she is living in. To save her, he may pay the ultimate price, but Emery is worth everything to him and no amount of danger and darkness will stop him from picking up the broken petals of her life.
Emery doesn't want to trust Ryler. He is working for her biggest enemy, her father. She doesn't want to believe that the man that has made her feel alive would be the ultimate demise of her plan to escape.
As Ryler and Emery spend more time together, she can't fight what she feels for him any longer. Her doubts are pushed aside to the light Ryler brings to Emery's soul.
As their feelings blossom, they are still fighting for their own safety. They must get to the bottom of all the secrets Emery's life holds. Secrets she has repressed to protect her.
When the clouds clear, the memories come flooding back and she can't help but believe she is just as bad as her family. The things they have done to her and her brother are beyond cruel and sadistic. The things they forced her to do are hard for her live with. The ultimate memory of her brother is truly the definition of sadness.
The darkness comes to light with Emery's memory finally allowing her to spill the secrets she has been prisoner to for so long. Her words comes at a price, a price she is willing to pay as long as Ryler is a part of her future.
Jessica Sorensen did an amazing job with this series. The secrets are perfectly woven to create a suspenseful read and you have no idea what to expect. I loved every page of it. Just enough affection and sexual angst to keep you loving these two as a couple.
Untamed is the second book in the Unbeautiful series and it was AWESOME!!
The secrets of evil are finally released and this story is truly a life of darkness that Emery has endured.
Ryler, now hired by Emery's father to "protect" Emery, but still working as an informant to bring down the evil. Ryler is told that Emery is crazy and needs to be protected from herself. Ryler is also told to lie to her about everything. These lies break him because he has strong feelings for Emery, he wants to be with her in total freedom to love. Ryler fights to find a balance between the two lives he is living.
Ryler needs to find a way to save Emery from the family destruction she is living in. To save her, he may pay the ultimate price, but Emery is worth everything to him and no amount of danger and darkness will stop him from picking up the broken petals of her life.
Emery doesn't want to trust Ryler. He is working for her biggest enemy, her father. She doesn't want to believe that the man that has made her feel alive would be the ultimate demise of her plan to escape.
As Ryler and Emery spend more time together, she can't fight what she feels for him any longer. Her doubts are pushed aside to the light Ryler brings to Emery's soul.
As their feelings blossom, they are still fighting for their own safety. They must get to the bottom of all the secrets Emery's life holds. Secrets she has repressed to protect her.
When the clouds clear, the memories come flooding back and she can't help but believe she is just as bad as her family. The things they have done to her and her brother are beyond cruel and sadistic. The things they forced her to do are hard for her live with. The ultimate memory of her brother is truly the definition of sadness.
The darkness comes to light with Emery's memory finally allowing her to spill the secrets she has been prisoner to for so long. Her words comes at a price, a price she is willing to pay as long as Ryler is a part of her future.
Jessica Sorensen did an amazing job with this series. The secrets are perfectly woven to create a suspenseful read and you have no idea what to expect. I loved every page of it. Just enough affection and sexual angst to keep you loving these two as a couple.
February 28, 2015
Disappointed :(
So much potential, with Jessica's beautiful writing, an amazing BB... and then, this.
First, why two books? I really can't see the point. Both books are SUPER short. The main reason to split a story in two is to write two full lenght books without having a too long standalone, right? Maybe also to create some expectancy? Or at least that's what I want to believe (not money I hope)... Anyways, when you release a book with a cliffy and readers have to wait to read the sequel there are some risks. When you read the second book you need to reconnect with the characters again, and that takes some time. If the book is long enough, no problem, but when the book is as short as this one... it's simply NOT POSSIBLE.
I gave the first book 4 Stars because I really thought there was still a lot to tell, there was all this mystery and the MCs and their chemistry were great. So I had high expectations for this second book and how the story would continue. Well, my expectations were not fullfilled, AT ALL. The idea, the story is good but it's completely wasted. The events and the story end up being totally superficial, the ending anticlimactic and the MCs' background not properly taken care of.
Overall, HUGE MEH.
So much potential, with Jessica's beautiful writing, an amazing BB... and then, this.
First, why two books? I really can't see the point. Both books are SUPER short. The main reason to split a story in two is to write two full lenght books without having a too long standalone, right? Maybe also to create some expectancy? Or at least that's what I want to believe (not money I hope)... Anyways, when you release a book with a cliffy and readers have to wait to read the sequel there are some risks. When you read the second book you need to reconnect with the characters again, and that takes some time. If the book is long enough, no problem, but when the book is as short as this one... it's simply NOT POSSIBLE.
I gave the first book 4 Stars because I really thought there was still a lot to tell, there was all this mystery and the MCs and their chemistry were great. So I had high expectations for this second book and how the story would continue. Well, my expectations were not fullfilled, AT ALL. The idea, the story is good but it's completely wasted. The events and the story end up being totally superficial, the ending anticlimactic and the MCs' background not properly taken care of.
Overall, HUGE MEH.
May 24, 2015
I wanted to like this more than I did. But I just didn't really like this as the final book.
I would love to see more from Emery and Ryler. I think I need it because this left me feeling kind of meh about it all.
I would love to see more from Emery and Ryler. I think I need it because this left me feeling kind of meh about it all.
March 1, 2015
4 STARS
Genre: New Adult Romance – Gritty, mystery
Cover: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Heroine: 8/10
Hero: 8/10
Humour: 0/10
Hotness: 4/10
Romance: 5/10
Extra book Details: Heroine & Hero POV; 1st person. Book 2 of a 2 book series.
Unbeautiful is a complicated, tormented and dark tale of two lost souls with incredibly messed up lives.
I wished that the romance had developed and been explored a lot more. Though I still found it very enjoyable.
Genre: New Adult Romance – Gritty, mystery
Cover: 7/10
Writing: 8/10
Heroine: 8/10
Hero: 8/10
Humour: 0/10
Hotness: 4/10
Romance: 5/10
Extra book Details: Heroine & Hero POV; 1st person. Book 2 of a 2 book series.
Unbeautiful is a complicated, tormented and dark tale of two lost souls with incredibly messed up lives.
I wished that the romance had developed and been explored a lot more. Though I still found it very enjoyable.
March 6, 2015
2.5 stars
I've read other books from this author and I really enjoyed them , but this one just didn't quite work for me. And the sad thing is it really had potential , I felt it could've been so much better, but maybe it's a case of "It's me not you" , because some of the writing style didn't do it for me . The repetition of some words and sentences irritated me a bit , It kind of reminded me of the flashbacks of Ugly love maybe ?! .
Anyways , I didn't feel enough of the strong connection between the MCs like I wanted , I mean at the end of the book they even say that they barely know each other , and that was somewhat true , because the focus wasn't on them and If you know me , I'm reading for the romantic aspect of the story and I didn't get enough of it.
Also another reason that just frustrated me to no end was the fact the hero is supposedly hired by the FBI and he didn't figure out something that I figured at the start of the first book . It was really so obvious that I wanted to tell them SERIOUSLY ?! It never occurred to you before :D ?! Even the heroine should've figured it out ! .So really , it doesn't take a genius to figure it out !
Overall , It was a good story , just wish we had more time with Emery and Ryler , but the Epilogue did make up for it a bit .
I've read other books from this author and I really enjoyed them , but this one just didn't quite work for me. And the sad thing is it really had potential , I felt it could've been so much better, but maybe it's a case of "It's me not you" , because some of the writing style didn't do it for me . The repetition of some words and sentences irritated me a bit , It kind of reminded me of the flashbacks of Ugly love maybe ?! .
Anyways , I didn't feel enough of the strong connection between the MCs like I wanted , I mean at the end of the book they even say that they barely know each other , and that was somewhat true , because the focus wasn't on them and If you know me , I'm reading for the romantic aspect of the story and I didn't get enough of it.
Also another reason that just frustrated me to no end was the fact the hero is supposedly hired by the FBI and he didn't figure out something that I figured at the start of the first book . It was really so obvious that I wanted to tell them SERIOUSLY ?! It never occurred to you before :D ?! Even the heroine should've figured it out ! .So really , it doesn't take a genius to figure it out !
Overall , It was a good story , just wish we had more time with Emery and Ryler , but the Epilogue did make up for it a bit .
March 8, 2015
In the second part of Emery and Ryler’s story, a lot of the questions that Sorensen raises in the previous book gets resolved here. Now that Emery knows that Ryler is working for her father, everything they have developed in the first book gets thrown out the window. She doesn’t trust him anymore Ryler must keep his distance if he wants to keep his own life.
It’s a dangerous battle what the both of these characters go through but Sorensen makes the focus on the suspense plot rather than the angst. I enjoyed it and was really impressed by how Sorensen was able to take this very messy situation and give Emery and Ryler their happy ending. Since readers are kept in the dark for most of the book, it will definitely be a ride to remember. Sorensen’s books are addicting.
*ARC provided by author
December 7, 2016
So this is the conclusion of Ryler and Emery's story...IMHO, too many plot twists explained away without a great deal of detail. For example, oh, he's on heroin explains one plot problem away...so as the reader I am wondering why this is the first and last mention of this particular character's addition and crazy behavior. A second example is Emery's mother. Never a mention of her bleary eyes and red nostrils, just her cruel behavior. Yep, she has a coke addition. I just thought the conclusion could be so much more and it fell flat for me.
October 4, 2015
4 "Untamable Truths and Desires" Stars! After reading Unbeautiful, I found myself clamoring to learn more about the mysterious town of Ralingford, Wyoming and the truths behind Emery's dark past. Untamed left me pleasantly satiated as the shocking truths were finally set free forming the basis for true beauty to shine through. Heavy on the action suspense and also lending adequate attention to undeniable passions and desires, Untamed bore just the right mix to bring this creative and unique new adult, romantic suspense title to a satisfying end.
Untamed picks up where a Unbeautiful leaves off. Having learned of her father's connection to Ryler, Emery is understandably reluctant to trust Ryler again. At the same time, however, the personal anonymous threats against Emery begin to escalate, and Emery is left with no choice but to interact with Ryler. The more they do, the more she wants to surrender to him, and show him a side of her that she has never revealed to any other, but the more dangerous surrendering becomes.
Meanwhile, her familial madness reaches new heights as eyes and ears and threats, purportedly for her safety, seem to permeate everywhere. Just what is real, who is truly crazy and what are everyone's true agendas? Emery's determination to survive and find true freedom is once again tested and brought to the forefront as passions and danger collide.
Ryler too is sick of leading a double a life. Moreover, the closer he gets to Emery, and the more he learns of her devastating secrets, the more temptation he feels to ditch his original plan and just go with what he aches to do. But with the promise of freedom lying so near, and constant warnings challenging his perceptions, just what truths should he focus his desires on?
What a tough and gritty story, full of never ending riddles and conundrums. Something of a blend between The Stepford Wives and a Mafia romance, the twisty suspense is what drives this story. At the same time though, there is an infantile loving tenderness, that fights to shine through to maintain a fragile, budding of true emotion born from previously unsavored freedom that is palatable underneath the facade of the unbeautiful, crazy edges that also makes this love story angsty and desperate. In the end, you want to root for Emery and Ryler to finally get to experience a normal world, so that true happiness and love can have a fighting chance to spring up, gain hold and grow robustly. Like the beauty of a butterfly unfurling its wings in preparation for flight though, truths and desires can never be denied and therefore ultimately become the linchpin to true freedom.
All in all, this was one of the more creative and unusual romances that I have read in a very long time. Being my first experience with Jessica Sorensen's writing, but also understanding from reading other reviews that this series is unlike any other of Ms. Sorensen's, I am now eagerly looking forward to exploring more of her titles.
Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
Untamed picks up where a Unbeautiful leaves off. Having learned of her father's connection to Ryler, Emery is understandably reluctant to trust Ryler again. At the same time, however, the personal anonymous threats against Emery begin to escalate, and Emery is left with no choice but to interact with Ryler. The more they do, the more she wants to surrender to him, and show him a side of her that she has never revealed to any other, but the more dangerous surrendering becomes.
Meanwhile, her familial madness reaches new heights as eyes and ears and threats, purportedly for her safety, seem to permeate everywhere. Just what is real, who is truly crazy and what are everyone's true agendas? Emery's determination to survive and find true freedom is once again tested and brought to the forefront as passions and danger collide.
Ryler too is sick of leading a double a life. Moreover, the closer he gets to Emery, and the more he learns of her devastating secrets, the more temptation he feels to ditch his original plan and just go with what he aches to do. But with the promise of freedom lying so near, and constant warnings challenging his perceptions, just what truths should he focus his desires on?
What a tough and gritty story, full of never ending riddles and conundrums. Something of a blend between The Stepford Wives and a Mafia romance, the twisty suspense is what drives this story. At the same time though, there is an infantile loving tenderness, that fights to shine through to maintain a fragile, budding of true emotion born from previously unsavored freedom that is palatable underneath the facade of the unbeautiful, crazy edges that also makes this love story angsty and desperate. In the end, you want to root for Emery and Ryler to finally get to experience a normal world, so that true happiness and love can have a fighting chance to spring up, gain hold and grow robustly. Like the beauty of a butterfly unfurling its wings in preparation for flight though, truths and desires can never be denied and therefore ultimately become the linchpin to true freedom.
All in all, this was one of the more creative and unusual romances that I have read in a very long time. Being my first experience with Jessica Sorensen's writing, but also understanding from reading other reviews that this series is unlike any other of Ms. Sorensen's, I am now eagerly looking forward to exploring more of her titles.
Source: Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2015
"Life has been full of evil, and if you don't start asking the right questions, the evil is going to be the end of you."
Jessica Sorensen never disappoints! Both stunningly sad and heartbreakingly beautiful, Untamed brings a satisfying end to yet another breathtaking story about how, even in the darkest of times and lives, love can give you the strength and hope to pull yourself into the light.
Jessica Sorensen never disappoints! Both stunningly sad and heartbreakingly beautiful, Untamed brings a satisfying end to yet another breathtaking story about how, even in the darkest of times and lives, love can give you the strength and hope to pull yourself into the light.
November 13, 2022
You know how you read a series and it's good but at the same time, it still leaves you with lots of unanswered questions. That's how I feel about the Unbeautiful series by Jessica Sorensen. First off, the covers in this series are very haunting and we all read about Luke and Violet who you will remember from another series by Jessica Sorensen about their relationship ups and downs. In Untamed we are reunited with Emery who is still trying to distance herself from her family and break free yet at the same time, she can't quite reach her freedom peak and spread her wings. We also have Ryler who is working undercover for the FBI and pretending to work for Emery's dad by being her bodyguard and running errands for the Doc. Both Emery and Ryler are haunted by their pasts and have blood on their hands sadly neither trust anyone in this world and will learn the hard way that until you can find someone to trust and share your darkest moments and secrets with, you will never be free. You will forever be living in a cage of your own making. I felt like this ending was a little rushed and still had a couple of unanswered questions, especially about the town of Rallingsford but overall, the Unbeautiful series was another good edgy NA series by Jessica Sorensen.
February 27, 2015
Once you complete "Unbeautiful," you HAVE to dive right into "Untamed." Suspenseful... Gripping....Angst...... these are just a few words to describe the game of "Waiting for the next bomb to drop" that Jessica delivers with her latest release.
The truths for both Emery and Ryler are starting to leak out. Finding himself at a crossroad, Ryler is torn between the feelings his has developed for Emery and true self-preservation. Evil characters have a way of showing their true identities while Emery and Ryler continue to try and figure out their next move.
To ever find their way off the rollercoaster, they are going to have to learn to trust in each other. But with years of manipulation, this is easier said then done. Also, trying to live a double life is taking its toll on both Emery and Ryler.
This is Jessica Sorensen writing at its very best. If the covers don't draw you in, then the synopsis and knowing that Jessica writes these stories unlike any other. Truly moving to the top of my Must Read List of 2015!
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The truths for both Emery and Ryler are starting to leak out. Finding himself at a crossroad, Ryler is torn between the feelings his has developed for Emery and true self-preservation. Evil characters have a way of showing their true identities while Emery and Ryler continue to try and figure out their next move.
To ever find their way off the rollercoaster, they are going to have to learn to trust in each other. But with years of manipulation, this is easier said then done. Also, trying to live a double life is taking its toll on both Emery and Ryler.
This is Jessica Sorensen writing at its very best. If the covers don't draw you in, then the synopsis and knowing that Jessica writes these stories unlike any other. Truly moving to the top of my Must Read List of 2015!
Find Me At:
♥ Blog - A Love Affair With Books
♥ Facebook - A Love Affair With Books
♥ Twitter - A Love Affair With Books
♥ Tsu - A Love Affair With Books
February 11, 2017
2,5 stars
April 3, 2015
Umm I don't know why I dint post a review I mean I LIKEthis book just that it didn't make my heart crazy or my stomach full of butterfly
But it was decent
Good with me
maybe I wasn't feeling it don't know but yeah
°~°
But it was decent
Good with me
maybe I wasn't feeling it don't know but yeah
°~°
December 19, 2016
3.5 stars
March 1, 2015
LOVED! So good. Holy intense. Review soon.
This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.
*I received an advance copy of this book,but that did not influence the review**
5 holy intense nail biting stars My heart. Untamed was amazing, high anxiety, totally divine, and perfect. I don’t know how Ms. Sorensen creates this world, this world that puts me in a bubble and consumes me. I swear I was living the words in the poetry that these two created.
I loved the MCs, Emery and Ryler. I’ll be shallow right off the bat and confess that I wish I knew a little more about Ryler’s piercings and tattoos. I love me a good bad boy and I wanted to know every detail about him. While I knew they existed and made him so pretty, I am incredibly greedy and wanted to bask in the gloriousness (probably not a real word, but I like it) of his smoking hot bad boy-ness. Now that I got that off my chest we can go deeper. Ryler wasn’t just a beautiful face, Ryler was absolutely tortured with what he was doing and he was backed into a corner. He was so torn with wanting to divulge everything, but still held back.
Emery also had secrets, crazy f*cked up mind blowing secrets. But she was strong and if the bad guys took her down she would be holding her head up and fighting to the bitter end. I loved that she never ever gave up. I also loved that she finally let her heart guide her and fall for Ryler all the way. Basically, I just loved Emery and Ryler so much. ♥
The romance. Sweet lawd it was perfect. I loved the push pull of their relationship. The attraction was so strong and palpable, but neither one was totally convinced they could trust each other. They wanted to trust with their whole soul and being, but they just couldn’t. It was fantastic to watch the walls go up, but slowly come down. So very well done. And for the record the kissing time was equally intense, and so incredibly meaningful.
Was there anything I didn’t like? Not really, but if I had to nitpick it would be that there were a few items I wanted more answers on, at least from the perspective of Emery’s father (the bracelet and the creepy wall thing). Yes, it was obvious from the start what those items were for, but I just wanted to know more, I wanted to know the extent they were used. I wanted to know more about the town and what happened to it. But I guess in the grand scheme of things it didn’t matter because Ryler and Emery got their HEA.
The ending was so good. While it wasn’t super rushed, I found myself not wanting the story to stop. I loved that we got to see what happened down the road, but I am so sad it’s over. My heart is happy.
Would I rec this? YES YES YES! I hope you add this to your TBR, especially if you love high stakes with an intense romance.
This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.
*I received an advance copy of this book,but that did not influence the review**
5 holy intense nail biting stars My heart. Untamed was amazing, high anxiety, totally divine, and perfect. I don’t know how Ms. Sorensen creates this world, this world that puts me in a bubble and consumes me. I swear I was living the words in the poetry that these two created.
I loved the MCs, Emery and Ryler. I’ll be shallow right off the bat and confess that I wish I knew a little more about Ryler’s piercings and tattoos. I love me a good bad boy and I wanted to know every detail about him. While I knew they existed and made him so pretty, I am incredibly greedy and wanted to bask in the gloriousness (probably not a real word, but I like it) of his smoking hot bad boy-ness. Now that I got that off my chest we can go deeper. Ryler wasn’t just a beautiful face, Ryler was absolutely tortured with what he was doing and he was backed into a corner. He was so torn with wanting to divulge everything, but still held back.
Emery also had secrets, crazy f*cked up mind blowing secrets. But she was strong and if the bad guys took her down she would be holding her head up and fighting to the bitter end. I loved that she never ever gave up. I also loved that she finally let her heart guide her and fall for Ryler all the way. Basically, I just loved Emery and Ryler so much. ♥
The romance. Sweet lawd it was perfect. I loved the push pull of their relationship. The attraction was so strong and palpable, but neither one was totally convinced they could trust each other. They wanted to trust with their whole soul and being, but they just couldn’t. It was fantastic to watch the walls go up, but slowly come down. So very well done. And for the record the kissing time was equally intense, and so incredibly meaningful.
Was there anything I didn’t like? Not really, but if I had to nitpick it would be that there were a few items I wanted more answers on, at least from the perspective of Emery’s father (the bracelet and the creepy wall thing). Yes, it was obvious from the start what those items were for, but I just wanted to know more, I wanted to know the extent they were used. I wanted to know more about the town and what happened to it. But I guess in the grand scheme of things it didn’t matter because Ryler and Emery got their HEA.
The ending was so good. While it wasn’t super rushed, I found myself not wanting the story to stop. I loved that we got to see what happened down the road, but I am so sad it’s over. My heart is happy.
Would I rec this? YES YES YES! I hope you add this to your TBR, especially if you love high stakes with an intense romance.
March 1, 2015
This book was originally reviewed on The Book Hookup.
*I received an advance copy of this book,but that did not influence the review**
5 holy intense nail biting stars My heart. Untamed was amazing, high anxiety, totally divine, and perfect. I don’t know how Ms. Sorensen creates this world, this world that puts me in a bubble and consumes me. I swear I was living the words in the poetry that these two created.
I loved the MCs, Emery and Ryler. I’ll be shallow right off the bat and confess that I wish I knew a little more about Ryler’s piercings and tattoos. I love me a good bad boy and I wanted to know every detail about him. While I knew they existed and made him so pretty, I am incredibly greedy and wanted to bask in the gloriousness (probably not a real word, but I like it) of his smoking hot bad boy-ness. Now that I got that off my chest we can go deeper. Ryler wasn’t just a beautiful face, Ryler was absolutely tortured with what he was doing and he was backed into a corner. He was so torn with wanting to divulge everything, but still held back.
Emery also had secrets, crazy f*cked up mind blowing secrets. But she was strong and if the bad guys took her down she would be holding her head up and fighting to the bitter end. I loved that she never ever gave up. I also loved that she finally let her heart guide her and fall for Ryler all the way. Basically, I just loved Emery and Ryler so much. ♥
The romance. Sweet lawd it was perfect. I loved the push pull of their relationship. The attraction was so strong and palpable, but neither one was totally convinced they could trust each other. They wanted to trust with their whole soul and being, but they just couldn’t. It was fantastic to watch the walls go up, but slowly come down. So very well done. And for the record the kissing time was equally intense, and so incredibly meaningful.
Was there anything I didn’t like? Not really, but if I had to nitpick it would be that there were a few items I wanted more answers on, at least from the perspective of Emery’s father (the bracelet and the creepy wall thing). Yes, it was obvious from the start what those items were for, but I just wanted to know more, I wanted to know the extent they were used. I wanted to know more about the town and what happened to it. But I guess in the grand scheme of things it didn’t matter because Ryler and Emery got their HEA.
The ending was so good. While it wasn’t super rushed, I found myself not wanting the story to stop. I loved that we got to see what happened down the road, but I am so sad it’s over. My heart is happy.
Would I rec this? YES YES YES! I hope you add this to your TBR, especially if you love high stakes with an intense romance.
*I received an advance copy of this book,but that did not influence the review**
5 holy intense nail biting stars My heart. Untamed was amazing, high anxiety, totally divine, and perfect. I don’t know how Ms. Sorensen creates this world, this world that puts me in a bubble and consumes me. I swear I was living the words in the poetry that these two created.
I loved the MCs, Emery and Ryler. I’ll be shallow right off the bat and confess that I wish I knew a little more about Ryler’s piercings and tattoos. I love me a good bad boy and I wanted to know every detail about him. While I knew they existed and made him so pretty, I am incredibly greedy and wanted to bask in the gloriousness (probably not a real word, but I like it) of his smoking hot bad boy-ness. Now that I got that off my chest we can go deeper. Ryler wasn’t just a beautiful face, Ryler was absolutely tortured with what he was doing and he was backed into a corner. He was so torn with wanting to divulge everything, but still held back.
Emery also had secrets, crazy f*cked up mind blowing secrets. But she was strong and if the bad guys took her down she would be holding her head up and fighting to the bitter end. I loved that she never ever gave up. I also loved that she finally let her heart guide her and fall for Ryler all the way. Basically, I just loved Emery and Ryler so much. ♥
The romance. Sweet lawd it was perfect. I loved the push pull of their relationship. The attraction was so strong and palpable, but neither one was totally convinced they could trust each other. They wanted to trust with their whole soul and being, but they just couldn’t. It was fantastic to watch the walls go up, but slowly come down. So very well done. And for the record the kissing time was equally intense, and so incredibly meaningful.
Was there anything I didn’t like? Not really, but if I had to nitpick it would be that there were a few items I wanted more answers on, at least from the perspective of Emery’s father (the bracelet and the creepy wall thing). Yes, it was obvious from the start what those items were for, but I just wanted to know more, I wanted to know the extent they were used. I wanted to know more about the town and what happened to it. But I guess in the grand scheme of things it didn’t matter because Ryler and Emery got their HEA.
The ending was so good. While it wasn’t super rushed, I found myself not wanting the story to stop. I loved that we got to see what happened down the road, but I am so sad it’s over. My heart is happy.
Would I rec this? YES YES YES! I hope you add this to your TBR, especially if you love high stakes with an intense romance.
March 13, 2015
I love the first book and I loved the second one even more.. until I came to and end and BOOOM!!! whats' that? thats it?
image:
not even bit of interaction with the family of devils?!
image:
well, okay, If I think about it it wasn't book about THEM, and we get to learn the truth and what happened but I just thought.. never mind... I love soon drama lama with the cliffy tease at the end, this felt I like smooth sailing from the hell, which never happens.. But good books :)
image:
not even bit of interaction with the family of devils?!
image:
well, okay, If I think about it it wasn't book about THEM, and we get to learn the truth and what happened but I just thought.. never mind... I love soon drama lama with the cliffy tease at the end, this felt I like smooth sailing from the hell, which never happens.. But good books :)
February 27, 2015
Untamed is the conclusion in the Unbeautiful series. It cannot be read as a stand alone novel.
The danger has escalated. Ryler is in deep with Donny Elderman’s crew. He has been taken under Doc’s (Emery’s father) wing and is being molded into his soldier. Doc is exposing Ryler to more and more of the operations. At the same time he is forcing Ryler to keep Emery in line.
Not only is Ryler frightened for his own life, he is also frightened for Emery’s life as well. Things are not adding up. Other informants are disappearing. The FBI is forcing Ryler to participate in the underground world until he can find the location of the warehouse. Ryler fears that his cover is being blown and that he is going to end up in a shallow grave.
The threats against Emery are escalating. It has become clear that her nice boyfriend, the one she is forced to date, is abusive. She has begun to have hallucinations again. Her parents are threatening to take her home. Her secrets are starting to surface. She is frightened and has no one to trust. The one person she thought she could trust works for her father. But at the same time, Ryler seems different than the men that have worked for her father. He seems to care about how she feels and what she wants.
The life threatening situations escalate into dark danger. So many REVELATIONS come into play. The suspense and danger comes from many directions. The REVELATIONS are shocking. It has readers fearing for both Ryler and Emery’s life. They are just pawns in the overall game.
It will be up to Ryler and Emery to figure out how to survive. The world of good and evil is colliding and they are stuck in the middle. The only thing that is pure and abundantly clear is their feelings for each other. Can they both survive and find the normal kind of life they both desperately crave?
Untamed does not end on a cliffhanger. Reader’s will be very satisfied with the outcome. Ryler and Emery will find their “normal”.
I highly recommend the Unbeautiful Series. It is intense, frightening, emotional, and has a pure romance that will make your heart race.
Jessica Sorensen went beyond her excellent writing standards and delivered a powerful story.
March 31, 2015
I have been anxiously awaiting to see how Ryler and Emery’s story would finally unfold. We were left with a huge cliffhanger in Unbeautiful, and this installment begins where the first book ended. The tension between these two is intense to say the least. They are fighting their mutual attraction to one another despite knowing Ryler’s job description. Emery also feels conflicted over Ryler’s alleged betrayal and his ties to her father. Despite their feelings of hurt, there is no denying their deep connection.
"My attraction to her runs deep in my veins. Dangerously deep.”
Emery’s character develops beautifully in this book. She is no longer the timid victim we saw in the first book. She begins to take chances and seek help to unravel the secrets from her past. I enjoyed the scenes with her brother and felt they were key in her recovery. My heart ached for all the pain and loss she faced throughout her young life. When it mattered most, she was willing to fight for what she truly wanted.
"Yes I’m breaking rules, but I feel as though I’ve somehow sprouted wings and am soaring on my own.”
Sweet Ryler, how can you not love this guy? His turmoil over lying to Emery is excruciating at times. He is living a facade to everyone, and I was scared what would happen when the truth finally is revealed. I wanted desperately for him to confide in Emery and trust her. He is quite a tortured soul to say the least. Despite the heavy subject matter, there are some light moments. I also enjoyed seeing little glimpses of Violet and Luke. They are one of my all time favorite couples from Sorensen. I can never get enough of their banter and loved seeing them happy. While you don’t need to read Luke and Violet’s story to enjoy these, I recommend the series. All these characters’ lives are intricately connected to one another. Having the insight into Ryler’s full past from those books is important to understanding his actions.
Everything is always complicated and dangerous. That’s life.”
The closing chapters are superb, and the ending came much too quickly. While I wanted the later scenes to be expanded upon, I was satisfied with the ending in general. There is closure to Ryler and Emery’s story. I highly recommend these books to any NA reader that enjoys angst filled series! I promise you will be taken on a roller coaster of emotions.
"My attraction to her runs deep in my veins. Dangerously deep.”
Emery’s character develops beautifully in this book. She is no longer the timid victim we saw in the first book. She begins to take chances and seek help to unravel the secrets from her past. I enjoyed the scenes with her brother and felt they were key in her recovery. My heart ached for all the pain and loss she faced throughout her young life. When it mattered most, she was willing to fight for what she truly wanted.
"Yes I’m breaking rules, but I feel as though I’ve somehow sprouted wings and am soaring on my own.”
Sweet Ryler, how can you not love this guy? His turmoil over lying to Emery is excruciating at times. He is living a facade to everyone, and I was scared what would happen when the truth finally is revealed. I wanted desperately for him to confide in Emery and trust her. He is quite a tortured soul to say the least. Despite the heavy subject matter, there are some light moments. I also enjoyed seeing little glimpses of Violet and Luke. They are one of my all time favorite couples from Sorensen. I can never get enough of their banter and loved seeing them happy. While you don’t need to read Luke and Violet’s story to enjoy these, I recommend the series. All these characters’ lives are intricately connected to one another. Having the insight into Ryler’s full past from those books is important to understanding his actions.
Everything is always complicated and dangerous. That’s life.”
The closing chapters are superb, and the ending came much too quickly. While I wanted the later scenes to be expanded upon, I was satisfied with the ending in general. There is closure to Ryler and Emery’s story. I highly recommend these books to any NA reader that enjoys angst filled series! I promise you will be taken on a roller coaster of emotions.
June 23, 2015
Wow, what a shame. I had such high hopes for this series.
But it ended the way that 95% of NA ends. With two horny people having sex.
It's such a shame. I loved the first one!
It was a thrilling read! Trying to figure out what was going on with Emery and finding out how Emery and Ryler were connected was so interesting!
Then the sequel came and it was... alright.
It's really quite disappointing. It seems that anytime a good NA novel is written, it has to be dashed by its sequel.
Anyways, in this book Emery fights her physical attraction for Ryler while Ryler does the same. This lasts about 40% of the book before they actually act on their feelings. Then they get upset for acting on it and wait another 10% before actually having sex. Then they separate for a bit and then get back together and have sex.
Sound familiar?
But the ending was good enough that I still gave it 2 stars.
Rating: 5/10
Parental Rating: 15+
But it ended the way that 95% of NA ends. With two horny people having sex.
It's such a shame. I loved the first one!
It was a thrilling read! Trying to figure out what was going on with Emery and finding out how Emery and Ryler were connected was so interesting!
Then the sequel came and it was... alright.
It's really quite disappointing. It seems that anytime a good NA novel is written, it has to be dashed by its sequel.
Anyways, in this book Emery fights her physical attraction for Ryler while Ryler does the same. This lasts about 40% of the book before they actually act on their feelings. Then they get upset for acting on it and wait another 10% before actually having sex. Then they separate for a bit and then get back together and have sex.
Sound familiar?
But the ending was good enough that I still gave it 2 stars.
Rating: 5/10
Parental Rating: 15+
February 26, 2015
I just finished Untamed, Book two of the Unbeautiful Series.
I am gobsmacked.
Emery and Ryler are neighbours and friends, but they are not really who they seem.
I am keeping my mouth shut about this story. If you have read Unbeautiful, you’ll be chomping at the bit to get to this next instalment.
This book is evocative and gripping. Throughout the entire book, I felt like I was suspended waiting to drop into the unknown. This series is a must read.
I’ve been a fan of Jessica Sorensen’s for a couple of years. Her writing is emotive, fluid and simply beautiful. She just gets better and better.
What an imagination. I'll be thinking about this book long after I have finished.
*ARC provided for free in exchange for an honest review*
Cheers
I am gobsmacked.
Emery and Ryler are neighbours and friends, but they are not really who they seem.
I am keeping my mouth shut about this story. If you have read Unbeautiful, you’ll be chomping at the bit to get to this next instalment.
This book is evocative and gripping. Throughout the entire book, I felt like I was suspended waiting to drop into the unknown. This series is a must read.
I’ve been a fan of Jessica Sorensen’s for a couple of years. Her writing is emotive, fluid and simply beautiful. She just gets better and better.
What an imagination. I'll be thinking about this book long after I have finished.
*ARC provided for free in exchange for an honest review*
Cheers
June 4, 2015
In my opinion, Untamed didn't live up to the standard of its prequel. The suspense was ruined so well. The Chemistry between the characters was passable. The Thrill of finding out what's gonna happen was submerged because I was able to guess what's gonna happen next for almost the entire book even though there were a few surprises I never saw coming . The Flow of the story was almost ragged. Though I was elated that the book was given a happy ending, the book didnot fulfill the expectations that arose by reading Unbeautiful. The Epilogue was one of the most beautiful ones I've ever read. The poetry in the book was epic, like it was in the first book. The part that saddens me the most is that my first ever review (since I picked up the courage to do it just now) is a negative one.
March 2, 2015
This book was readable that was about it. For 2 people who dealt with so much "bad" stuff they were utterly clueless. Their inability to see that CLEARLY THE HOUSE WAS FREAKING BUGGED drove me nuts. I figured it out 2.5 seconds into the book. I seriously wanted to smack both of them with all the "how do they know?" this went on for the ENTIRE book. I seriously was so annoyed, and then both of these characters just magically got a happy ending. I've really enjoyed Jessica Sorensen, and I like alot of her stuff but this book. No. Just no.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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