Sometimes the unexpected things in life turn out to be the most worthwhile. Tegan Daniels is a twenty-one year old college student and a hopeless romantic. She knows her prince charming will eventually find her one day. Someone must be playing a warped joke on her when he comes into her life; Her perfect man with one huge character flaw---he despises love. Charles Reed has never been a commitment type of man, except when it comes to his loyalty to the U.S. Navy. When a close friend’s sister moves to town he starts doubting his phobia of relationships. What he doesn't expect is for her innocence to make him question everything in his life and from his past. He never anticipated a girl like her would come into his life. She never thought she’d have to convince her dream man to give them a shot. Sometimes the things we want most, require the most fighting for. Love is something unwanted by him and something desired by her; Neither expect to fall for the other. Will this unexpected love end in their happily ever after?
JC Santo is a true southern girl born and raised a in Central Texas. Until her husband's Navy career sent them to Norfolk, Virginia. That's where she has been for the past 5 years being a wife and stay at home mom to 3 boys. In the rare occurrences she gets free time it's usually spent reading a good book. Three things she will never turn away are tattoos, cupcakes and arbor mist!
I was given the absolute pleasure of reading an ARC of this phenomenal book.
Can I just say WOW!! I absolutely adored Unexpected Love. From the moment that I knew Reed and Tegan would get a story, I’ve been looking forward to it. And JC Santo did not disappoint!
I love how determined Reed became once he realized that he wanted Tegan. That man stopped at nothing to get what he wanted. He was relentless in is pursuit and once he learned the error of his ways, he loved Tegan fiercely and with his whole heart. Poor Tegan never had a chance. I also liked how Tegan gave Reed a run for his money. She didn’t give easily and made Reed prove that he was totally committed.
I enjoyed hearing about Hunter and Tessa and what’s currently going on in their lives. And JC made sure to give us glimpses of the other side characters, which is another thing I really liked.
Over all, this book was way more than I hoped for. It had all the feels I enjoyed having during reading a romance book. I am sitting rather impatiently waiting on the next in the series!! This book is highly recommended for anyone that loves a good love story where the man has to work to prove himself and the woman is worthy of that love. 5 solid gold stars!
Teagan is Tessa's little sister. She moved to Norfolk to go to college and be closer to Tessa. Teagan is in love with Love. She can almost romanticize any situation until she meets Reed.
Reed is a player and not wanting any kind of attachment. He's content with his one night stands until Teagan. She flipped his world upside down causing him to question everything about his life.
This author has a talent of sucking you into the story. The characters are amazing and the romance is out of this world HOT. This has the potential to be a 5 star book but the editing needs work. At times I found myself rereading sections just to figure out what was being said. It really distracted me from the story. With that said if you stick with it the book is really good.
I was so excited to read this book! Book 1 was really good, but this one might be my new favorite. You get a little bit of everything lust, lies, secrets, flings, heartbreak, and of course love. Reed and Tegan stole my heart.
We meet Tegan and Reed in book 1 we don’t get much from them, but enough to know something is going on. Tegan wants a happily ever after like her sister Tessa, but what she doesn’t realize is Reed isn’t the guy who can give her an HEA. It was supposed to be just a simple hook up, but honestly is anything in life ever easy. Tegan finds herself falling in love with a man who can’t give her what she wants… what could possibly go wrong?
Charlie Reed… enough said! I loved Reed even though he pissed me off a bit. Deep down he is actually a total sweetheart that is scared of committing to one person. He runs from relationships, better safe than sorry right or is it? Can Tegan be the one who actually shows Reed what love is?
This book took me on a roller coaster ride a few times. I was actually pulling for Reed to show Tegan how much he cares for her. Watching these two fall in love was absolutely beautiful. I also loved seeing Tessa and Hunter in this book and getting updates. I can’t wait to read book 3 and get J.C. and Jo’s story. Don’t miss out on this series, I am now fully addicted!
I'm sitting here trying to find the right words to describe how much I enjoyed reading this book but regardless of what words I use, I just don't think they will do this book justice.
I really loved this story. The characters are easy to relate to and have great personalities. We first met Tegan and Reed in Book 1 of the Navy Love series. Tegan, Tessa's little sister is young and super sweet. She puts everyone's feeling ahead of her own because she doesn't want to cause any ripples in her new circle of friends, which includes her big sister and brother in law Hunter. Reed, has been part of the circle from the beginning. Everyone knows he has a different girl all the time. Hunter and Tessa warn him to stay away from Tegan, but we all know what happens when someone says stay away from someone else. We got a peek at their initial hook up in book one, but this book gets down into the nitty gritty of their "relationship"
This book is full of twists and turns. You never quite know what will happen next. One second Tegan and Reed hate each other, the next second they can't keep their hands to themselves. Will they give in to their intense attraction and connection, or will they let the opinions of those closest to them dictate what they do?
This is a must read book! I do recommend reading Inevitable Love to get a bit of the backstory on the characters first.
Tegan Daniels joined the group of close friends in the first book. She is Tessa Daniels sister and comes to live with her in the first book. She is a hopeless romantic.
Charles Reed is a friend/fellow Navy officer of Tessa's. He initially comes across as a 'love them, leave them' type. He has no interest in a real relationship.
Reed and Tegan hook up and from them you can see the fight Reed is fighting to not open himself up. He just can't stay away from Tegan. Poor Tegan her poor heart is getting trampled on.
Their friend, Marshall has a talk with Reed that makes him relook at his life and resolve some things in his past so he can have a future. His foster Mom is an amazing woman.
I loved re-visiting with all the group from the first book. It made it seem like this book was a continuation of the first book and I have fallen in love with all of them from the beginning. I can't wait for book 3 so I can catch up with everyone's lives.
This book is very well written and flowed from beginning to end. I couldn't get much else done because I didn't want to put this book down.
This story was very emotional. The storyline was incredible and flowed effortlessly. I love the way the author intertwines all of her characters so closely. The relationships they all have with each other are wonderful. I love to read stories where previous characters still have so much presence. Teagan is an amazing woman. She is very close with her sister and she just fits in with the group like she was always supposed to be there. Reed is a very closed off man. Sure, he has his close friendships with the other characters, but he doesn’t let anyone in. When he finally decides to let someone crack his walls, the result is beautiful. Teagan and Reed develop a connection that is deep and meaningful. The author did an amazing job with their story and I am very excited for stories for Jo, JC and Marshall. Reviewed for FMR Book Grind
It honestly takes a lot of ME to be speechless. As I sit here, just having finished this book, and try to figure out what and how to say how much I have loved this book, I find myself just that. SPEECHLESS! I didn't think I could love this book more than I did Tessa and Hunters, but I do. I still love them and their story, but man this one...ugh, I don't even know. I am beyond frustrated because I can't figure out the words to use to make this review reflect how awesome this book is. So I will just say, I loved it beyond words. :) and can not wait till book 3.
This was a nice read. I enjoyed finding out about Reeds past and loved Tegan and Reed together. A really nice read. A great series. Can't wait to read the next one.
Tegan Daniels is the younger 21 year old sister of Tessa, and she's come to live with Tessa while going to college. Unlike her older sister, Tegan is a hopeless romantic, and believes that her Prince Charming will show up one day. However, her perfect man has one huge flaw, he despises love. Charles Reed is your typical man whore, as he came from a bad childhood that he hasn't dealt with, which makes him extremely jaded of anything hinting at love. He doesn't count on meeting Tegan, and no matter how hard he tries to stay away, he finds that he can't. But will he hurt one too many times to get a happily ever after? This is the second book in the Navy Love series, and boy, it was more emotional than the first one. Tegan is a sweet girl who believes in love, which kept her hoping for longer than I would of. Of course, even though Reed was yummy, he made some seriously douche decisions that made me want to junk punch him. I can't deny the fact that they were TNT together, as their sexy times scorched the sheets. Once again, JC Santo's talented writing style shone through with another amazing story that I couldn't get enough of. And it's just layered on top of Tessa's story, so all the entertaining cast of secondaries were front and center, which gave me a break from the angst, and kept me laughing. I'm already so in love with this series, and there are more books! HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
The Navy Love series by J C Santo is one I'll never forget, and I'm sure they'll be read many times. Reed and Tegan have to travel a rocky road to find their love, but true love wins.
I recommend this read, series and author!! While this story does involve Navy members, this is a read for anyone who enjoys a good romance, great dialogue and fun and strong relationships between friends, couples and family. I did not read this series in order, so by the time I read this book I already had fallen in love with the personalities of Tegan and Reed. They both are so relatable and had me rooting for them through all their ups and downs.
Tegan is tied, somewhat second though, for my favorite female in this series. She is a strong female who shows her love and loyalty for friends and family in all her actions. Her humor and enjoyment with life is also present throughout her story. Reed was not my favorite male in the series, but I do like his character and how he evolves throughout the story.
Something I love about this book and series is that in each story we spend time with all of the characters and friends that create the Navy Love series. Through all of these interactions, my enjoyment with the couples and desire to see how everyone is doing increases. Great story and full of relatable people and situations! Loved it🙌🏻
This was the second book in the series. Reed and Tegan's story was very challenging, but I was routing for them the whole time. Also, it was great catching up with the other couples. I can't wait to read more about them in future books. This is a must read, get your copy today.
I'm loving the Navy Love Series. Book 2 is no different. I love how JC intertwines all the characters together.
In Unexpected Love, we get Tegan and Reed's story. Tegan is the fairy tale kind of girl. She wants the big romance, wedding, kids, white picket fence. While Reed is almost allergic to relationships and feelings, but that is all because of the rough childhood he endured.
This book will suck you in because before I knew it I was at the end of their story and wished it would go on. Next up JC & Jo's story and this is one I cannot wait to read.
JC Santo is an author you may not know, but one you most certainly need to. This woman can write a book that will hit you in all the right places. These stories and characters are relevant, emotional, passionate, and heartfelt. Love Unexpected is everything I wanted it to be. This is the second in JC’s Navy Love series and it takes the reader on an emotional story of love, hurt, and happiness.
One thing I am loving so far in this series is that fact that every single person we meet is so interconnected to everyone else. They are all a family, forged in moments of happiness and pain. These people are vital to each person you meet and seeing how they love the main couple in each story adds so much depth and character to these books. THIS is how you write secondary characters! The story would not be as great without them. They all matter to these main characters and Santo makes them matter to the reader too.
Reed and Tegan are so good in this book. These two are seemingly opposite characters but they click in such a way that you cannot deny their rightness for each other. Reed has always seemed like a man of mystery and finally understanding his past, which fuels his present hesitation, puts everything in a new and fresh light. Reed has a vulnerable brokenness to him and Tegan is the exact person who can help him walk from the pain and into a fresh life of healing and forgiveness. Tegan is wise beyond her years, a woman who sees something in others. Her heart was broken and she vowed to protect it from the pain she was living in. It is interesting how she is so drawn to Reed. On paper they are opposites, but there is something in the deepest parts of who they are that calls to one another. Their relationship is rocky in the best way. It is full of ups and downs, angst that makes you hurt and passion that sets the story on fire. Everything about Tegan and Reed starts to make so much sense and when they see it to, you cannot help but smile in victory.
I am so excited for more in the Navy Love series! I cannot wait to see what is next and get to see more of the happily-ever-afters in the series. This Indie author needs to be known! So take a chance and grab this book.
I’ve been given the honor of reading this book ahead of the release, and THANK GOODNESS for that because after book one, I just couldn’t wait for more from this author! As a note, you should start by reading book one, Inevitable Love, to fully understand the backstory.
Love Unexpected is a spin-off of book one, Inevitable Love where we first met Charlie Reed and Tegan Daniels. “Hopeless Romantic” Tegan met “Mr. Wrong” Reed almost immediately upon coming in to town. He knows he is supposed to keep his hands off, a warning that was made very clear by Tegan’s big sister Tessa. Of course we all know what that means. That means playboy Charlie Reed just can’t help himself. Since they were secondary characters in book one, it gave us a hint that this was a hookup gone wrong, but we don’t actually begin to understand their story until Love Unexpected.
Tegan and Reed are polar opposites. She believes in true love, wants the white picket fence and the 2.5 kids. Reed is dead set against everything she believes in, and he only wants someone to warm his bed for the night. The only thing he commits to is the US Navy. So what happens when these two just can’t fight that incredible pull? You guessed it. A heap of turmoil. Pushing and pulling, fighting and f*&king, happiness and emotional chaos. We follow them on a roller coaster journey to find out whether they truly find that unexpected love.
Trust me when I tell you that you definitely want to hop on and enjoy this ride. This book is a great transition from book one, the story seamlessly flowed on to two different main characters. They are all well developed and JC Santo does a really good job of getting inside of their heads, and conveying their emotions perfectly. They remind me a lot of “Friends”, all very different and bringing their own characteristics, yet they all just fit together. There is plenty of humor in here to go around. Oh, and the bedroom scenes…YOWZA!!! Hot hot hot!!!
I’d give this a 4.5 rating but Goodreads doesn’t allow that. But I rounded up to 5 Stars.
Over all, this book was way more than I hoped for. It had all the feels I enjoyed having during reading a romance book. I am sitting rather impatiently waiting on the next in the series!! This book is highly recommended for anyone that loves a good love story where the man has to work to prove himself and the woman is worthy of that love. 5 solid gold stars!
Love Unexpected might be my favorite of the three books. I just adored this book. It had everything a romance book needs… a fantastic love story. I was looking forward to Tegan and Reed’s story. But I loved, LOVED, hearing updates on Hunter and Tessa. It’s one of my favorite things about series; we get more of previous couples. Santo is wonderful at fitting her various characters in to start to loving/hating them. You start to develop a relationship with them and I find I get more attached to books that do this.
I thought Reed was a great guy. Once he knew what he wanted, he went after it, and man, Tegan didn’t stand a chance! But she didn’t just lie down and give in. She was a great love interest for him; she made him work for it. I was completely tickled with this story!!
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I will leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that... my opinions.
JC Santo has done it again with Love Unexpected. She throws the reader back into this "family" of friends with heart, humor and holy hotness! Charlie Reed is the poster child for book boyfriends. He starts out broody and stubborn and ends up being so deep and full of emotion that you just want to cuddle him. Throw in the way he is during the sexy times and you just want to jump him. Teagan is a breath of fresh hair. She knows what she wants and in the beginning she pleases everyone but herself in a way. She is so relatable on so many levels. I really connected with her. Teagan and Reed together are more perfect than I would have ever expected. The chemistry, banter and feelings are so well balanced and just real. One thing that I adore about JC Santo is that she is an amazing story teller. She has a way with words that have me not only laughing and sighing but during one part I had big fat tears and mascara running down my face from the crying. Love Unexpected has some amazing twists that left me going WTF and OMG! I cannot wait to see what the next installment brings for the Navy Live crew! 5 stars!!
I was given the fantastic opportunity to read this book before the release date. I absolutely fell in love with Reed and Teagan. Teagan the hopeless romantic and Reed the player with a secret past come together and give you a story that, you will thoroughly enjoy.
There is always that one person that you just can't live without. You can deny it all you want but the heart knows what it wants. Teagan loved Reed from the moment she meant him. Reed was of course fighting his feelings until Teagan grew some and started ignoring him. Their family and for ends tried to intervene but Reed being who is finally went after what he wanted. He was going to stop at nothing to prove the man he wanted to be. They shared a lot of firsts and first lasts ;)
JC Santo provided the PERFECT second book in this series. This story will suck you in and not let you down. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us. I had a hard time writing this review because I just wanted to blab the whole story!! Look out for this book releasing in March. I promise you will LOVE it!
I was so looking forward to this book, I love alpha asshole guys and hidden romances. Reed and Tegan's story did not disappoint! Their up and down relationship kept you guessing through out the book.
Tegan was sweet as pie always trying to make everyone happy. Not because she was letting people walk all over her but because she was strong enough to handle her problems and those of her friends and family. She always looked on the bright side of things and offered words of wisdom to help others through difficult times.
Reed is growly and surly most of the time. His past has made it difficult for him to trust and rely on people outside of his Navy team. Watching him grow as he let himself love was amazing. He had so much to give but had no idea how to do it.
With updates on Hunter, Sawyer, and Tessa. Having Marshall playing a huge roll as friend, confidant, and relationship guru to both Tegan and Reed I fell ever deeper in love with him. ( Why can't he be my BFF?) And a developing story between Jo and J.C. this book had it all!
So at the ending of Inevitable Love we have the set up for Tegan and Reed's unexpected love story. So we met Tegan in Inevitable Love, as being Tessa's sister, I really liked Tegan, she was fun, loyal, protective and compassionate. Charlie oh Charlie, I liked you but their were times where I really wanted to smack you in the head.
Oh my goodness me, my emotions were all over the place with this book. One minute I was laughing, sad, heartbroken, so frustrated and wanted to throw my Kindle at the wall, I am sorry but I could not stand Tessa in this story she was so out of line, Tegan is an adult and can make her own decisions, Tessa wasn't fair to Tegan sometimes and it made me so angry, and you Charlie are not off the hook you made me just as angry for different reasons. Ok I am digressing, when we hit the good patches holy moly hotness, I forgive you Charlie!!!!
Overall this book was awesome and had all the feels, and left me wanting more so I can't wait for J.C and Jo's book. I would definitely recommend to my friends. Reviewed for HeadTripping Books by Carolyn.
Love Unexpected deserves five+++++ stars! I absolutely loved it! After finally getting the chance to sit down and read,i fell in love with the characters and couldn't get enough! I couldn't wait to read Love Unexpected!
Tegan and Reed are the total opposites. Tegan wanted the whole family life while Reed wanted none of it, he just wanted someone in his bed at night and gone by morning. Reed was warned to stay away from Tegan from her sister Tessa and their friends. The two of them hook up when she moves to Norfolk in book 1. They split up after the "hook ups" because Reed realizes his feelings for Tegan are stronger than he ever wanted.
He has secrets from his childhood that keeps him from wanting a relationship. Will Reed be able to overcome his childhood secrets to built on the relationship with Tegan?
Definitely read book 1 first. You will love them both! I can't wait to read what JC Santo has in store for book 3!!
When I started reading Love Unexpected; I didn't like Reed that much. Yes I admit it. However; the story of Reed had me in tears and I found myself falling in love with him after every read chapter. His story was raw, mind blowing to the people who can connect with his past, and admirable for overcoming his demons. I was once told by my grandmother a woman makes a man; and a man makes a women. This book truly defines the words my grandma taught me. Tegan made Reed want more, be more! I also truly enjoy him having that support system away from home. When I was in the Navy, my family was my sailor friends.
I honestly LOVE this book so much I couldn't put it down. Sad it's over but can't wait to read more beautiful, realistic, heart warming stories. All of her characters play an essential role in each book thus far. However; I truly enjoy reading about specific ones in each book!
I thought Tegan and Reeds story is ok. Tegan is a romantic and after hooking up with Reed she started falling for him. Reed sensed it and although he's falling for her too. He pushes her away wanting to maintain that he doesn't to relationships due to his past, which is hardly any excuse for baggage because it wasn't even that bad. I didn't really couldn't relate with these 2 characters. Tegan cries a lot and doesn't stand up for herself letting Tess or Reed dictate her life. Reed is just an asshole using his not so bad past as an excuse to be one.
What I really liked was seeing the continuation of Hunter and Tess as a small part of this book and getting a sneak peek of what may happen with Jo and JC.
The ending is what really helped redeem their story when Tegan finally starts to stand up for herself and Reed finally admitting his feelings for her.
Can I just say that I FLOVE JC and all of her lovely writing skills. I love how real her characters are. I love that they are so relatable. I love that the circumstances are real, sometimes messy, and yet the characters end up working together to get it figured out. I love that the girls are silly and daft. I love that the guys aren't perfect and that in the end they still don't end up being perfect and worshiped. Reed thought he had life figured out, but when he realized he wanted Tegan he realized the error of his ways and stopped at nothing to prove his love for her. Tegan didn't fall over like a hopeless little girl waiting to be rescued even though she is a hopeless romantic.
Can I lick Reed? Like on the cheek? Is that taking things too far??? My bad ;)
What happens when a hopeless romantic falls for a man who doesn't really believe in love? You get a story like Love Unexpected. I won't lie, the push and pull of this story caused me a small level of anxiety, but in a good way. When a story can affect you, it's a good one. Book Two of the Navy love Series is about Tegan and Reed, and you will love them. The whole gang is back for this story and everyone wants to know, will Reed figure it out and accept Tegan, or lose her? I loved this story and the different ups and downs of the characters, but I also like the dynamic the author has created with all of the characters as a whole. They play off of each other and support each other. Great story. 4.5 stars!!
We get to see a little bit of their story in book one. I know I was rooting for them from the very first time they met. I'm not sure why, but my heart holds a soft spot for Reed. Maybe I could sense his "broken" past...
The way this story is written is once again, very well done. This is my second book that I've read from JC Santo, and just like the first story, I was pulled in and couldn't get enough.
Tegan and Charlie had their work cut out for them... I feel like I can't say much without giving away spoilers, so I'll leave you with my words of "GO BUY THIS BOOK... NOW!!"
Really good story. Reed took me from wanting to punch him, to loving on him so hard. (Which I really like in a book hero). Tegan was highly emotional but family oriented and loyal to those she loved, even if they didn't always deserve it. She was sweet and innocent, but with just enough life experience and sassy to avoid being a clinched young heroine.
This story was well paced, with enough twists and turns to keep me interested and have me quickly moving through the pages. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to jump into the next story and see what happens next with all these characters.
JC has done it again, this book was fab! Tegan is such a sweetheart and a hopeless romantic, Reed is the ultimate player with a secret past. I was suck straight into the story and read it in one sitting. I loved how much Reed changed once he realised Tegan was the "one", she never stood a chance! I loved how Tegan gave him a taste of his own medicine and made him work to get her. This book was everything I hoped for and more, I am on tender hooks waiting for the next in the series.
*Reviewed for sweet and spicy reads-ARC provided for honest review*
JC, dose it yet again she made me fall head over heels for her characters I loved this book I could not put it down!!
Tegan, was beautiful, sweet caring and had A big heart I loved her character and development it was very well written and her chemistry with Charles, was undeniable!!
Oh Charles, you sexy, alpha I loved how he was with Tegan, they were complete opposites which I loved thier was so much depth to this story It was very beautifully written!!
Great Job JC, I cannot wait for more of your greatness!!