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Alex Gardener has her life planned out, down to the smallest detail. She has a skyrocketing career as a litigation attorney, a close group of socialite friends, and is engaged to one of the most successful businessmen in Beverly Hills. Everything is just as she wants it: comfortable, predictable, secure…if lacking passion. Fire.

Cory Bishop is a struggling working man, trying to make ends meet while fighting to keep custody his young daughter. He knows that working hard is the only way to achieve his goals, but lately it seems everything he wants hangs just out of reach.

The bank robbery changes everything.

Alex and Cory spend three harrowing days as hostages locked in a bank with fifty frightened people and six criminals who grow more desperate--and dangerous--by the hour. Alex and Cory find comfort and safety with each other and reveal their deepest hopes and fears and secrets, unknowingly building a bond forged out of desperation and fear, one that they can’t break, even once outside the bank’s walls.

Their lives are turned upside down, irrevocably altered, and they seek to move on and put the robbery--and each other--behind them.

But some bonds, once forged, cannot be broken.

333 pages, ebook

First published February 24, 2015

420 people are currently reading
3355 people want to read

About the author

Emma Scott

37 books8,558 followers
Emma Scott is a USA Today and Wall St. Journal bestselling author whose books have been translated in seven languages and featured in Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, New York Daily News and USA Today’s Happy Ever After. Her first MM romance, Someday, Someday won the Utopia Con Award for LGBTQ Book of the Year. Emma writes emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and heroes who treat their heroines like gold, you will enjoy her novels.

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Someday, Someday M/M romance (Winner! LGBTQ Book of the Year, Utopia Con)

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5 stars
1,217 (36%)
4 stars
1,287 (38%)
3 stars
615 (18%)
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49 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 403 reviews
Profile Image for Bibi.
1,287 reviews133 followers
July 15, 2017
In broad brushstrokes, Unbreakable tells a story of forbidden love between, Alex, a wealthy lawyer and Cory, a down on his luck single father.

They meet under high pressured circumstances during which, and due to Cory's hero complex (Jung would have been proud) Alex has an epiphany which, with domino effects, proceeds to rearrange fundamental aspects of her life.

Overall, hypnotic and emotional.

p.s. Seeing as I've read 4 ES books in succession, one thing of note is the lukewarm sex scenes (which I usually skip), a crying shame really as I suspect Emma would be just as adept at writing smex if desired.
Profile Image for KAS.
317 reviews3,116 followers
May 29, 2019
Oh my .... Cory Bishop, you are one for the chivalrous books!!!

...I had only ever intended to save just one.

 Just one.

 But she was gone and all I had to show for it were two tiny white scars and a mountain of debt.


And then there is Alex. A kick-butt attorney, who has earned the nick name “Shark Lady.” I guarantee she will tick many of you readers off a time or two.

...I don’t fail at anything, and I’m not about to start now.

Talk about chemistry and pent up frustration. Gosh, I loved it!!

’This is a test of my self-control, is what this is.’

 ’Not a test. Torture. This is going to be torture.’


Warning

For those of you Emma Scott fans who are wondering ... this is one of her earliest works, just re-packaged and re-edited. Of course like all vintage ES reads, it is unputdownable, is freaking fangirl worthy, and is one incredible ride I am thrilled to have finally taken.

It is also free on KU and worth every second of your time to sit a spell and bask in the beauty and splendor of one Cory Bishop.
Profile Image for Christy.
4,542 reviews35.9k followers
February 2, 2019
4.25 stars!

 photo IMG_3115_zpsspgexcgc.png

I love every single book Emma Scott puts out, and Unbreakable was no exception. I can honestly say I haven’t read another romance book like this one. I loved the unique setting and it legit had one of the sweetest and most swooniest heroes I’ve ever read about!

Alex is an attorney. She’s called the ‘shark-lady’ for a reason. She’s savage in the court room and always gets the job done. Cory is a single dad who works in construction. He’s sweet, caring, and handsome. The odds of these two meeting and hitting it off is fairly low, one would guess. But they meet at a bank and go through something traumatic together, something that bonds them.
Right then, locked away from everyone I loved, Alex was all I had. And I was all she had. At least in here.


Alex and Cory go through this horrific event together, but through it all they hold on tight to the fact that they have each other. While there, they form a bond and an intense connection. One that they can’t seem to let go of, even in the ‘real world’.

Cory just might be my favorite character Emma has ever written. I adored him so much! I had some issues with Alex, but overall, I really liked her, too. This book was emotional, sweet, and sexy. It also had some angst and gave me all kinds of anxiety while reading. I’m so glad I finally made the time to read Unbreakable. I loved it!
I didn’t fall in love with you… I’m still falling, deeper and deeper, every day.
Profile Image for Robin Hill.
Author 3 books296 followers
March 31, 2019
I just finished my second read of this book and I loved it even more than I did the first time. I missed so many little things then. Cory is everything. THE perfect H. And while I really tried to take my time (this time), I got to a place yesterday where I just couldn't.

The audio for Unbreakable is in the works, as is a newly edited e-book and paperback, complete with a beautiful new cover. If you've saved Scott's earlier works for last, you're in for a real treat.

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Profile Image for Didi.
865 reviews283 followers
March 20, 2015
Alexandra Gardener had her whole life mapped out. A successful trial lawyer with a reputation for being ruthless, but the best, a fiancée well established as she is, a beautiful home and friends surrounding her. While waiting on the verdict of a case that can ultimately send her career into the stratosphere, Alex becomes caught in a bank robbery gone bad.
Cory Bishop is an honest, hard working guy desperate to make ends meet in order to support his daughter and ailing father. Although attracted to the lovely red haired Alex at the bank, he never dreamed that his life could be so altered by a horrific bank robbery, or that Alex could become so important to him.
But the days held prisoner in a bank not only change Cory's life but ultimately put Alex's on a course she never imagined. She's left to ponder her choices, really examine her decisions and everything she's ever held dear.

This book started out really strong for me. The scenes leading up to the robbery were engrossing and the robbery itself was fantastic reading. The emotions running rampant, the desperation coming off all the hostages and the thick tension rolling in the air was very well done. I loved seeing how Alex changed after the robbery. She started questioning things she's always taken for granted. She believed her life was on a certain course but the reality check of being held against her will and her life threatened really altered things. Seeing her slowly come apart was sad yet as a reader, I felt it was inevitable.

Cory was such a great character. His daughter Callie was so important to him and basically controlled how he made decisions. Seeing his interaction with her and how noble he was in general was great.
However, somewhere around the middle of the book things changed for me. Cory and Alex were still reeling from the events of the bank and while I admired Cory, I started not liking Alex. I won't get into details why, since this is a good book and I wouldn't want to spoil it, but I lost respect for her and the decisions she made. I felt she was aggravatingly selfish most of the time. She didn't often take into account what her actions may cause for others, and that bothered me a lot.
Alex ultimately redeemed herself, but I felt it was out of being forced to do so, not because it was an active and thought out plan of action. By the end of the book I was okay with her and glad she made the right decisions for her and those around her. She finally saw how her life could be and strove for it. Cory never disappointed me at all while reading this book. He never failed to uphold his honour and try to do right. I think he could have done things differently with Alex, but ultimately he did and it paid off for him.

So aside from some issues I had with Alex, this was a good book filled with tension, romance and some suspense. It could have been a bit shorter, lagging in some parts, but it was interesting nonetheless and I liked it.

** Arc provided by the author for review **
Profile Image for Maditales.
625 reviews33k followers
September 20, 2022
This book was... interesting...

Right from the start this book was full of tension and just overall very intense so I was hooked right way. The book starts off with the bank robbery and the being hold hostage (as it says on the back).
I read that entire part of the book in one sitting because I was no ready to put it down and I had to find out what would happen next.

However when we come to the second part I was quite disappointed. From the beginning I thought this could be a good 4 star read and then both characters just continued to do things that I was confused about.

First I just want to say that I did not like the bashing of Drew. In theory he did nothing wrong so I was really upset by how Alex was talking about him to not only Cory but also her friends.
Whenever Alex talked about him I was so mad because SHE SHOULD BE TALKING WITH DREW NOT ABOUT HIM.
By the end of the book it was clear that Drew thought smth was wrong with him and I just hated that so much.

I also do not really get why Alex did not talk with Drew and with Cory about everything. I mean even her best friend was so different from her I just really disliked Alex from the moment she talked about her family and relationships. Mind you she is a lawyer.

I do not get at all how she was like this the entire time and if I were her best friend I would have been so pissed because she clearly thought about me differently because of my actions.

Now onto Cory. I really liked his relationship, not only with his daughter but overall with the people around him. He was caring and thought about the feelings of others and put his feelings below the ones of his daughter.

However I still also did not like how he did not talk more with Alex about the future and what would happen.
Profile Image for Sophie "Beware Of The Reader".
1,568 reviews392 followers
January 30, 2019
4,5 stars (and all the stars for Cory)

 

Emma did it again!

She made me stomp on my triggers and beliefs! There are a few things that I can’t stand in books and they are big “no no” for me but here well, it was the exception to the rule and I won’t say more. That makes it twice in less than one year (remember the love triangle “thing” in The Beautiful Hearts duet?).

How does she do it??????

She made me fall in love with her story.

 

I realize once again that I am all over the place trying to write a review for one of Emma’s story! That’s because she makes me feel so many emotions that I am like a volcano ready to erupt and bleed words on the page as I have so much to tell.

Let’s try to be structured now because I want you to read it and if I hope to convince you well, I have to build a strong case just like Alex did in a courtroom!

 

What’s this book about?

The story is essentially character driven as the plot is “simple” even if the character’s dilemma and emotions are complicated.

Alex is the Shark Lady, litigation lawyer and one you hire even when you are a little bit shady because she is the best at what she does: winning her cases!

Fiery redhead, workaholic, she wants to make her retired lawyer of a father proud by winning her cases. She works so much that she lost herself somehow and when a nagging voice tells her that maybe her client is not totally innocent, she shuts that voice with “the law is the law”.

As Cory will later say yes of course there is the law but there also is ethic and doing what is morally right.


“What I’m asking,” Cory said, “is who do you fight for?”

 

Alex has an equally work driven fiancé Drew, handsome, kind, wealthy, her best friend. All should be rosy in their world except that they are so focused on work that they don’t do anything else anymore. And Alex is missing some touch, some body warmth, some passion…

 

When Alex goes to the bank one day she will meet Cory in the queue.

Cory is tall, strong, with blond hair, blinding smile and soft brown eyes.

You can immediately feel the attraction. They are like magnets but of course what would they do in a queue at the bank right? Talk and nothing more especially when Alex has a fiancé waiting for her at home.

That’s until the Monster gang attacks the bank and take every client hostage for days!

 

Emma wrote the tension and drama perfectly. The terror of being locked with other strangers in a small room with a crazy “trigger happy” junkie guarding your door. The lack of water, of food. Asking to go to the restroom while you fear that talking to your freak of a guard will have you raped or killed!

Hostages panicking, other snapping at each other…

And among them there is Cory.

 

Important question: where can I find Cory?

Seriously Emma why didn’t you tell me of Cory sooner??? We’ve known each other for some time now so don’t think I will let you out of the hook next time I’ll meet you! I bet you wanted to keep him all to yourself!

Joke aside now Cory is really a “one of a kind” hero.

If he was in a Fairytale he would be Prince Philip slaying the dragon to save Sleeping Beauty. Because that’s who Cory is: a protector.

 

He was the one calming everyone in the room with Alex’s help.

He was the one telling the criminals he did something that would get him killed just to protect another hostage.

He is the man who is taking the best care he can of his father suffering from Alzheimer.

He is the dad who is working long hours to care for his little daughter, even if her mother is a constant pain in the behind.

He will always think of others before himself.

He is a man who wants to live his life with integrity and do what’s good.

“But Pops once told me that a life without integrity wasn’t worth living”.

 

Now of course the sparks present while waiting in the queue will burst to life when Alex and Cory are in close quarter for days in a row.

From the beginning you feel that it’s more. More than lust.

It’s something primal, fundamental and right even if it’s wrong.

I won’t tell more about the plot.

 

Just know that the “after” with dealing with PTSD syndrom was realistic. That Cory was really a beacon of strength to Alex.

 

You will have moral choices to make.

You will be angry with Alex. For her choices as well as her lack of choices. For what she’ll say as well as for her silence.

Yet Emma shed light on Alex’s inner battle and I could not help but like her and commiserate. Because at the end of the day that’s what we all are: flawed.

And we all try to do our best. Sometimes the best is the moral choice, sometimes to get there we need time and some push in the right direction.

I will conclude with this: Emma’s writing Is as beautiful as ever. I would love citing many more quotes but it would give the plot away and spoil your fun.

I know this is a “revamp” of a past story and I don’t know what has been changed. Maybe Callie dreaming of being a superhero and fly to feed the homeless? Because that reminded me so much of Izzy!

Revamped or not I only have two words left: read it!

 
Have you read it or are you a fan of Emma Scott?
 

Thanks for reading!

 
Sophie

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Profile Image for Jean.
802 reviews51 followers
October 25, 2018
Loved the whole premise of this one!

Alex is a well-known trial lawyer known to many as the "Shark" and has her life pretty much planned out. Obtain partnership at her law firm, marry her college boyfriend, and live out the American dream.

But as you know, one event can put a lot of things into perspective. And that what was it took for Alex to take a step back and reevaluate her life and goals.

Cory......God damn Cory.....can you say perfect? Single father, working hard to build a construction business, and just such a kind, caring guy. I mean really, I don't think men like him exist in the real world!

I was little taken aback by the quickness of their connection while being held hostages in the bank. But I guess when your life is on the line, emotions take over.

Great ending! As always, Ms. Scott does her thing and brings out all the feelings needed to create the perfect love story!
Profile Image for ~♡AB♡~.
986 reviews682 followers
August 14, 2017
Well this is a little-hidden gem from Emma Scott, I think this is my favourite book from her after The Butterfly Project.

A highly driven and successful woman in a passionless relationship, plus a super kind and sexy, hardworking single dad meet under some extremely terrifying circumstances. I loved the build up of their relationship, I enjoyed the angst and the journey that Alex went through as she comes to terms with the fact that her life has just turned itself on it's head.

A perfect & entertaining read. 4.5 Stars from me.
Profile Image for Rachel.
639 reviews38 followers
May 4, 2015
Overall rating: 4.5 "Unbreakable/Dobhriste" stars!

Triggers:
Cheating:
Love triangle:
Sex with om/ow:
Intimate pasts:
OW drama:

HEA:

My review:

Alex Gardener started off her morning like every other day. She awoke from a very sensual dream to being alone in her bed, wishing her fiancee would still be there to quench her cravings. Both her and her fiancee, Drew, were very successful lawyers and that took up much of their personal lives, with not enough left over for love. She put on her "Shark woman" face and went to battle to provide her closing argument and win the case that will make her partner. While the jury was in deliberation, she went about her day. Went to lunch with her stuck up group of friends and then finally went to run an errand at the bank. That is where her live would forever change.

Before I go further with the plot line, I want to point out that up until this point, as the reader, we are already beginning to see that Alex feels as though something is missing from her life. She just doesn't know what. At this point in her life she is about to have everything she ever dreamed of, including marrying a man that has become ingrained in her life the last 6 years.

So while in line at the bank, she meets a VERY attractive man named Cory Bishop. He takes one look at her and is blown away, however, he also takes one look at her and knows that she is way out of his league. She is rich and successful and he is barely holding onto to his life and his daughter. Fate had other plans for these two because on this very day, they were involved in a bank robbery and hostage situation for 3 days.

During these three days, they are drawn to each other. Cory wants to protect everyone, especially Alex, and Alex is just drawn to this man and she can't explain it. At this point, let me point out that the heroine and hero thought that they were going to die and that's when it happens. All of that sexual tension between them since the moment they met, their attraction to each other, mutual respect, and bonding during this time caused them to come together when the opportunity presented itself. So even though she knew she would be cheating on Drew, she didn't think of it like that because she thought she was going to die. It is during this time that we learn all about Cory's past with his ex GF, who he says he never loved, and his beautiful 7 year old daughter Callie. We learn that his ex is trying to take her away from him and move to Alaska where she has family. He is in the middle of a custody battle, waiting on an upcoming hearing, that is sure to lose now. The whole reason he was at the bank was to get some cash to pay his monthly rent. To hear Cory's heartbreaking situation and why things happened the way they did, really makes you think that you don't really know WHY someone is in the situation they are in, until you actually know. .

After Alex heard his story, she was drawn to him and it made her realize that she thinks she had it bad - she really had no idea how bad could really get. In the aftermath of the robbery, Cory was hospitalized and Alex tried to move on with her life - with Drew. This is where the reader gets to know more about Drew. He wasn't a BAD guy per say, but he was seriously an asshole in my eyes. You say you love this girl, but you cannot put her first to work ONE time. And no, he wasn't cheating on her or anything like that with another woman or man, but with WORK he definitely was IMO. Case in point, the day she is released, she tries to sleep, but only gets a 20 minute nap in before waking up from a nightmare. She goes to find Drew and he is in his home office. He DOES hurry up and hang up with his business partner, BUT he also tells him to give him an hour. So instead of telling the guy that he would call him when he could, he said - "give me an hour." I mean seriouslY!?!? Your fiancee was just nearly raped and killed! Then as they started having a conversation, he freaking kept looking at his work notes, so she finally gave up and said she was going to lay down. The asshole had the nerve to look RELIEVED!

Now here is the icing on the cake with Drew. Instead of standing automatically wanting to be with her when she goes to the FBI and recounts her tale, he ASKS her "Do you still want me to go?" I mean SERIOUSLY!?!?! THEN

Drew has always told Alex that she should keep her own place and at this point, she was glad she did because she told him that they need to time apart. Now, this wasn't a break up - just time apart. At this point is when she then hears about Cory's troubles and comes to the rescue. Part of that rescue ends with her living with Cory. That leads to them getting to know each other more and fall more and more in love. At this point is probably where people would have wished that Alex would have just let Drew go, BUT Drew gets better ...

So the story goes on - things happen and Alex still can't make up her mind. She ends up really hurting Cory so he ends up giving up on her. That did kind of upset me, but I totally understood because Alex couldn't make up her damn mind. AND Cory later apologizes to her for giving up on them. He says he has never given up on anything in his life and shouldn't have given up on them. I was glad that he recognized that. For safety gang:

I have to say, overall, I really enjoyed this story and I was able to understand where all of the characters were coming from. None of them were perfect and I LOVED Alex's friend Lilah. I was glad that she had a friend who could call her out on her shit. I was disappointed that Cory did "give up" because I am used to my males being more alpha, however, I understood where he was coming from AND honestly, if the story didn't unfold the way it did, I just know he wouldn't have been able to go through with his plans anyway.

"Hey." He laid a hand on my arm, turning me gently. "The real reason I asked you to come meet my dad, is not for him. But for me. I'd be proud to introduce you to him. Since I sold the business, I don't get too many opportunities to try to make him proud. Not anymore."

I swallowed the jagged lump in my throat. "Saving the lives of fifty people seems like a pretty good one to me."

"That's too complicated a story to tell," he said, his dark eyes like brown velvet. "But you...All you have to do is walk into the room."


I am so glad to have found this author. She will definitely go on my go-to list because I enjoyed both of these stories and none of my triggers are present so I am SO glad. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for TereseDK.
477 reviews14 followers
July 21, 2017
Warning!! Spoilers galore!!!

So this is the story about a man and a woman coming together and falling in love during a hostage situation. I'm not going to go into further details relating to the story itself, but I'll tell you that I loved the premise.

So to get to the warning: This has cheating and triangle written all over it! But I loved it nonetheless. Although it's not my favorite ES book it certainly lived up to my expectations. Now that that's out of the way, let's get to it...

I can understand why many disliked the h, aside from her cheating on her fiancé, I was also very frustrated with her indecisiveness, as she does string both guys along. But the thing is, Emma Scott manages to get inside the h's head in such a way that I did, in fact, sympathize with her and could understand (although begrudgingly) her actions.

Yes, some details were a bit too convenient - like Drew being asexual which is perhaps meant to lessen the severity of the h's cheating because she was never really happy in the relationship, and Georgia being an unfit mother to hers and the H's daughter - but it was necessary in order to provide us with a HEA, which is essentially what I'm looking for in a good book!

Again, this was not my favorite of this authors but as with all her other books, the writing is flawless, the tempo is engaging and the storyline was original.

3.75 stars from yours truly!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Malene.
1,341 reviews758 followers
January 15, 2020
Alex and Cory form an unbreakable bond while they’re being held hostage at a bank. They find comfort and solace in one another when everything seems dark and impossible.
How do they both go on with their lives after experiencing such a horrific trauma? It’s far from easy especially when everyone keeps asking the same questions and no one except the two of them knows the answers to those questions.
Unbreakable is a fabulous and intense friends to lovers romance. Alex and Cory are two amazing characters. They come from opposite worlds but still work as a couple. The connection they form is immediate and undeniable and so is the chemistry.
Cory is such a great guy and a wonderful father to his girl Callie. Wanting only the best for her. Alex is a shark of woman when it comes to her job as a lawyer. She excels at it.
When Cory and Alex tries to find a new normalcy it doesn’t come easy to them. The only thing that does is them being around one another. One way or another. It’s a struggle when they both have obligations to other people and when especially Alex is used to living a certain way it’s not easy to break away.
Those struggles are depicted with a heartfelt honesty and something that I could easily understand. It’s a roller coaster of emotions and two people who just want to let go and be with one another. Damn the consequences. The epilogues are terrific and gave me the perfect closure.

4 Fire Heat Passion Stars
Profile Image for Yiota Misiou.
365 reviews54 followers
February 5, 2017
Άλλη μια όμορφη ιστορία από την Emma Scott. Αυτό είναι το τέταρτο δικό της βιβλίο που διαβάζω και επιβεβαιώνει για άκομα μια φορά την άποψή μου για τη συγγραφέα. Το ταλέντο της να δημιουργεί μοναδικές ιστορίες είναι αδιαμφισβήτητο.
Έτσι και Unbreakable δεν αποτελεί εξαίρεση. Είναι μια πανέμορφη ιστορία που έχει πολλά να πει. Οι χαρακτήρες ολοκληρωμένοι και αξιοθαύμαστοι. Ειδικά ο Κόρι , τόσο υπέροχος, τόσο μα τόσο ξεχωριστός. Δεν μπορείς να μην ερωτευτείς μαζί του. Θέλεις να τον πάρεις αγκαλιά και να τον κλείσεις στην καρδιά σου. Αντιμετωπίζει όλες τις δυσκολίες που του έχει φέρει η ζωή με τόση δύναμη και υπερηφάνεια που απλά υποκλίνεσαι.
Δεν μπορείς όμως να μην αναγνωρίσεις την υπέρβαση που κάνει η Αλεξ.Γιατί στην πραγματικότητα αυτή είναι που κάνει στροφή 360 μοιρών και αλλάζει τα πάντα στη ζωή της αποφασίζοντας να ακολουθήσει επιτέλους την καρδιά της. Το βραβείο της;
Μα φυσικά μια ευτυχισμένη ζωή!
Profile Image for Kate.
2,277 reviews356 followers
December 28, 2017
3.5 Stars

Overall an original story with great characters that keeps you hooked no matter what.

I love Ms. Scott’s writing and here it is no different. I just had one major pet peeve although I was more lenient about it but all the way through the book she was still engaged until the very end. It bothered me admittedly not as much as it should have but still.

Cory is an absolute saint. He should have tossed her sorry arse to the curb sooner but you know love is a fickle thing. But he did leave with some dignity.

What happened in the bank was a tough ordeal for everyone involved but Alex what kind of life were you living beforehand? Not a good one. It was a blessing in disguise.
Profile Image for Bookreader87(Amanda).
1,168 reviews44 followers
February 8, 2019
🤔

2.5 stars rounded up because I do like this author.
You have Alex a big shot lawyer who is known as a shark lady in the courtroom. She is following in her father's footsteps and is looking to make partner with her firm. She has been in a 6 year relationship with her fiance Drew. Her life is all planned out. Then there is Cory.
Cory is a journey man. He works in construction and is working to get his GC. However, life is not that easy for him. He is struggling to make ends meet at a job where his boss barely pays him. He has to take care of his ill father who is battling Alzheimer's in a nursing home. He is also battling with custody of his 7 year old daughter. Needless to say their lives are pretty different.
These two meet when they become hostages in a bank robbery. They are at the wrong place at the wrong time. The two form a connection for the 3 days in the bank. When the robbery is said and done, and they are released, the connection is still there. It seems it is too strong too give up.
That seems all good and well but I struggled with rooting for these two.
So, I didn't particularly like this story because of that and many other little things that bothered me.
I will say the beginning was intriguing with the whole bank robbery. The set up was different from other books I read. I was really into it. But curiosity kept me around. In the end, though, I found the I was 100% there for Lilah telling Alex how in the wrong she was.
The middle with the back and forth dragged.
Lastly, we get 2 epilogues. One that is a few weeks from when they officially get together and the other 3 months later. It would have been nice to see their relationship a few years down the line still being strong not just a few months.
Overall, it just wasn't my cup of tea.
Profile Image for Deanna❤Pink Lady❤️.
820 reviews845 followers
January 29, 2019
Review to come but another lovely read by the awesome Emma Scott

*advanced copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review*
Profile Image for Lisa (Two Bookish Brits).
907 reviews166 followers
January 22, 2019
Oh my gosh how have I not read this book before now? It’s absolutely beautiful and I’m in complete awe of Emma and her words. Holy wow.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review

Alex and Cory’s story was much more than I ever expected. Both of them are suffering in different ways and being thrown together due to a bank robbery has all their doubts rolling out and bringing them closer in a nightmare situation. Watching how these two deal with the aftermath of being hostages is what I loved the most. The push and pull, the doubts, the love, sadness and heartbreak all mixed together created the perfect book. These two characters and let’s not forget the beautiful Callie will forever have a place in my heart. I’m going to leave it at that as I don’t want to give the story away for those who haven’t read it.

But now, I NEED to say a few words for this amazing author..

The moment I seen this book I knew instantly I had to read it. Not only because the description hooked me in but because this beauty came from the phenomenal Emma Scott. This woman proves time and time again that she can belt out a masterpiece filled with emotions that’ll make you feel all the things and I mean ALL. OF. THEM.

When Emma puts her mind into her writing she doesn’t do it halfheartedly, she puts her all into her book, into the words. Her time and effort she puts in shine brightly throughout not only this book but all of her books. She’s an instant 1-click author to me as I know without a doubt I’m going to love whatever book she releases.

I have a feeling a massive book hangover is going to take over me now after finishing this, it’s very much expected to come.
Profile Image for Kahea.
2,261 reviews123 followers
January 22, 2019
***4 Stars***

That was intense, but that ending was so worth the roller coaster of a ride Cory and Alex’s journey took me. It was sweet, frustrating, anxiety inducing and smexy as they both survived a life altering experience and took a good, hard look at their lives and what they truly wanted out of it.

I loved Cory. I did. Here is a man who’s had a rough life, but is doing everything in his power to make ends meet. He’s sweet, stubborn and has a really good heart. Alex. I ended up loving her, but boy did she make my eyes hurt from all the rolling. I totally understood her drive and why having a “perfect” life was something she aspired to, but the blinders she had on and how she ignored her gut tried me. But while the robbery wasn’t the way anyone would want a wake up call to happen, it did force her to re-evaluate everything and I really enjoyed her become more comfortable in her own skin and find out exactly who she was always meant to be.

While no one would ever consider being held hostage together a meet cute, it did bring Alex and Cory together and despite the intensity of the situation they connected on a level that neither expected nor knew what do with after they were ‘rescued’. Their journey was rocky in more ways than one, but it was all necessary in order for them to get to their HEA. I will admit that there were many eye rolling moments ~ for one reason or another ~ but there were also some swoon worthy ones between them that showed me how perfect they were for each other.


While this isn’t my first read by the author, it is the first time I have read the book and I really enjoyed it. The writing was engaging and I enjoyed the dual first person POV’s. My only issue was pacing, it dragged a little for me in places, but when everything was said and done it wasn’t a huge issue for me. As for the secondary cast of characters...they definitely ran the gamut for me ~ some I loved, some I wanted to gut with a spoon ~ but all were well written and unique. My fav’s were Lilah and Callie and definitely wouldn’t mind seeing Lilah get her own HEA.

~ Copy provided by the author & voluntarily reviewed ~

Profile Image for Carla .
1,662 reviews530 followers
February 9, 2021
3,8. This book is beautiful, but I think it’s missing something!
Unfortunately!
Profile Image for Mizz.
1,074 reviews395 followers
July 9, 2017
https://romanticcynicblog.wordpress.c...


Beware of Spoilers!

Star Ratings:
Heroine (Alex): 1/5
Hero (Cory): 4/5
Plot: 2/5
Grovel: who cares…she deserved to spend the rest of her life with her boring fiance
Cheating: yes – h has a fiancé and she fucked the H
HEA: yes but what is the point in having two epilogues when both are only set a couple of months after the ending??
Triggers: cheating

Average score: 1.5/5

Best Line: “Pops once told me that a life without integrity wasn’t worth living.”

Worst Line: “Is my car anywhere close to being ready?” I snapped at the valet. “I’ve got a schedule to keep.”



Personal Review:
DNF’d at chapter 18 because of the cheating, the selfishness of the h, her being rude and spoilt and in no way being good enough for the H.

Random Ramblings
•Lawyers are so boring in romances. I don’t read romances for legal talk
•Wow, what a bitch! I can’t stand it when people are rude to wait staff
•Cory was so sweet and maybe a tad too heroic
•Can’t believe they had sex whilst being held hostage



•Oh my god, lawyers are so fricking annoying!! I feel like screaming right now
•She didn’t even have the goddamn balls to break up with her fiancé after repeatedly cheating on him

Overall Feeling:

I was driven to violence against the h by the time I DNF’d

Profile Image for Nstefa.
3,462 reviews21 followers
July 3, 2016
4.5 stars!!! Ohhhh I loved Cory!!! I felt for Alex and understood why things happened but also disappointed with the way she treated Drew even though he seem to care!! But Cory and Alex are definitely a perfect match!!!
Profile Image for Nicki.
269 reviews263 followers
March 24, 2024
This was everything I needed. And it’s another reason why Emma Scott is a fave.

Profile Image for Michele.
1,695 reviews
December 27, 2019
As I continue to gradually pepper older Emma Scott books into my reading list, I am always amazed at how much I love each one differently. Her books all have their own special personalities. Some authors have a pattern and their books always fit into "that pattern" at least a little bit. Ms. Scott's books never feel the same. They always feel uniquely different.

Alex and Cory come from very different lives. They probably never would have met if fate hadn't intervened and brought them both to the same bank at the same time. Then the bank robbers took over and brought them even closer as they were kept in the bank for roughly three days while negotiations took place with the police. In the bank, surrounded by the fear of death, they all felt the same. There weren't class differentiations. Each of them was a hostage and that was the most important thing at that time.

This life-changing event brings Alex and Cory together but when they leave the bank, their real lives come crashing back in and with them...all their differences surface. There is a great deal for them to overcome and they will have to decide what they are each willing to give up in order to keep one another.

I loved every beautiful word of this story and really enjoyed watching the evolution of Alex and Cory from the people they were "before" to the people they became "after" the robbery.

Profile Image for Gina *loves sunshine*.
2,223 reviews93 followers
October 15, 2019
Emma Scott is a definite go to author for me - she always seems to bring that unique touch to her novels! This is an older book of hers, maybe just her 2nd or 3rd release? but I am glad I picked it up. listened to it on audio through Hoopla. It is marked as 2nd in the lights series. But there is no affiliation in character or story.

Corey and Alex were strong characters you wanted to root for!! I enjoyed the half thriller-half romance contemporary feel it had....hard to please me in that area lately!! I haven't read a love/hostage type book in awhile and it really was a touching story. It didn't quite have that "IT" quality she has brought these last few years - but 3.5 stars enjoyable!!! And who turns down a hottie Dad like Cory!!!!?!?!
Profile Image for Crista.
823 reviews
April 12, 2020
5 stars!

This book really got to me.

It begins with an over-worked, unfulfilled, and yet engaged-to-be-married lawyer going into a bank. She meets a "down on his luck" construction worker and singel father in line. They have small talk and then the bank is robbed. They spend many days together held captive together and tormented by the robbers.

I can't tell you how many buttons this books pushed. Is there cheating...yes. Is there indecisiveness....yes. Is there many "duh" moments....yes. Usually these three things would spell certain doom for my ability to enjoy a book. Emma Scott does the impossible, for even though these things are usually deal breakers for me, I ended up loving this book.

Cory is the type of man who seems "real" and at the same time "too good to be true". He is a commited father, son, and partner. He is hard-working, selfless, strong, and caring. Cory Bishop alone is worth reading this book for.

Alex is tough, and yet very vulnerable as well. She grows so much as a person throughout the book. Cory is the same thorughout, but it's Alex that goes on a journey towards self-doscovery: who she is, what she wants, and what she'll do to get it.

Cory's little girl, Callie, also plays an important role in this story. Again, I typically do not lke children in my romance novels, but this little girl was so important to this story. My favorite scene in this book had nothing to do with Cory and Alex but was a converstion between Callie and Alex. I had tears rolling down my cheeks, highlighted it, and could see myself revisiting just that moment. It is a clear example of Emma Scott's writing talent.

I will remember this book.
Profile Image for Angie.
183 reviews4 followers
July 20, 2020
Can't go wrong with Emma Scott.
Profile Image for Jasmine.
581 reviews876 followers
February 28, 2019
Huh, Cory and Alex's story is purely meh to me because I feel nothing but lust and carnal desire between them. :/ This book is probably not the best from Emma but I still appreciate her writing style and character development.

Full review to come.
Profile Image for Heather Ross.
134 reviews3 followers
August 3, 2015
Another beautiful book from Emma Scott. I think I've definitely found a new favourite author.

I defy anybody to read this book and be able to put it down. I found myself cursing anything and everything I had to do that took me away from Cory and Alex's story.

The way their relationship began was harrowing and amazingly written, with moments of almost unbearable tension. But what I really loved about this book was that it didn't end with the end of the robbery in some grand gesture of love. The author explored the difficulties of returning to real life after a traumatic event and how hard it is to adapt to normality again. In that way, this is so much more than just a love story.

In short, I absolutely loved this book and can't wait to get stuck in to the next of this outstanding author's books. Though I probably ought to do some of the things I've been neglecting since I opened Unbreakable first!
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