Review and Giveaway: Love Realized by Melanie Codina

For Jake, it's always been Gillian

It's been her since that day she unknowingly stole a piece of his heart.....when he watched her fall for one of his best friends. Resolved to the fate that she couldn't be his, he locked up the deeper emotions he felt for her and loved her as a friend. As friends, they went through it all together. Marriages, births, divorces and even death. But when a shameful secret Gillan has kept from her friends is revealed, Jake realizes that she needs him more than ever. He knew what it was like to go through heartbreak and he wasn't about to stand back and watch her endure it alone. He also knew she would turn to him for support. What he wasn't prepared for was the return of the emotions he had long ago locked away. Could he control these emotions again and did he even want to? Could he make her realize his love for her was real, or would she slip through his fingers again?(



4 Star Review by Guest Reviewer Allison East
 

I really enjoyed this story. It is the story of Gillian and Jake. The plot line had me intrigued from the start.
 

Gillian is a mother of three and in what appears to be a loving relationship with her husband Logan, they have been married for 17 years. They have a great family and friend dynamic.

Until there is a party at their house and Gillian has to come face to face with something she has tried to hide from her family and friends for years, especially her children. She has to make one of the hardest decisions, but possibly the best one. I felt so terrible for her, I could understand where she was coming from and at the same time my heart was aching for the kids.

Jake is her best friend, and has been since high school. He is the good guy, but she is the one who got away so he constantly pines for her. He compares all of his future girlfriends to her. He is a single dad, and after he married who he thought might be the one, he was cheated on and left!

I loved that there were both points of view. And all the supporting characters were just awesome. Gillian was such a strong female lead, and I was grateful for that. She knew what she wanted and she went for it.

"To feel embarrassed, I would have to be aware of people around me, I can only see you Jake."

"The only place you will fall Gillian is right where you are! In these arms, in my life. You are everything to me, and I will do whatever I have to, to prove that to you."

"Will you catch me Jake?"

I was also head over heels in love with Jake- he was such a good alpha male character. He was a loving father, and great friend. And he is totally swoon worthy.

"Can I have you Gillian?"

The family and friends were just a plus in my eyes; you knew how protective they all were of each other. I laughed and cried and wanted more of their family dynamic after I was finished.

The author wrote such an amazing book! I am looking forward to the rest of the series- don't worry; no cliffhangers- just different characters! If you haven't read this then I definitely suggest adding it because it was such a great read for me! 


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