BURIED by Selena Laurence
Blog Tour and Giveaway
Buried
Hiding from Love #3
by Selena Laurence
Releases August 4, 2014
* Stand Alone Novel *
~Synopsis~
Seven years ago, Juan Martinez lost everything—his only parent, his home, his life as he’d known it. Alone, lost, and desperate, he turned to the Reyes Hispanos—the RH—one of the most violent gangs in South Texas. But when you sell your soul to the devil, you pay a heavy price. Convicted of a drive-by shooting, Juan has served hard time. Finally out on parole, he wants to disappear—from the RH, from memories of all that he’s lost, and especially from the gorgeous woman who just showed up next door.
Beth Garcia grew up following after her older brother, David, and his best friend, Juan. She always dreamed of a day when she’d be old enough for Juan to look at her as someone other than David’s little sister. But he disappeared at seventeen, after his mother was deported, and Beth thought she’d lost him forever. When she finds him living at the halfway house next door, she knows he’s still the same guy inside. Determined to save him from himself and the RH, Beth sets out to prove that he didn’t commit the crime he was convicted of. But the path to absolution is dark, and even Beth may not be able to discover the real Juan.
Can a man with a damaged soul and a beautiful heart let a woman with fierce loyalty and unwavering love risk it all to save him? Or will his past bury them both this time?
~Review~
"I'm going to find Juan-the real Juan. I'm going to bring him back from the dark, deep place of pain and punishment he's been living in since that fateful day when he was seventeen. I know who he is. I'm going to make sure the world knows him too."
Love isn't easy. Plain and simple. But it's worth fighting for.
And a fight is about to happen.
Beth Garcia fell in love when she was very young. She fell head over heels for her brother's best friend. She saw a future with him even though she never declared this love to him. Then, one day, that future she wished for was torn into millions of pieces. She had no idea that it would be seven years before she would see his face again. But would he still be the same?
Juan Martinez had a good life full of friends, good grades and a mother who loved him. But all good things must come to an end, right?! When Juan was 17 his mother was deported back to Mexico and Juan ran. He ran so he wouldn't get caught and have to go back to Mexico. So, what does he do? Joins the RH a.k.a. the Reyes Hispanos, one of the most well-known gangs. Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, he is accused of killing a small child in a drive-by shooting. Juans life would never be the same.
"Juan's life isn't the sort of thing you ugly-cry about. It's too dark and too serious for that. It isn't a soap opera or an in-your-face reality TV show. Juan's life is a tragedy, pure and simple."
While volunteering at a women's halfway house, Beth looks over to the men's facility next door and is speechless. Juan. Her Juan. He's home. But he's not himself anymore. He's done hard time and it shows all over his face. As you are reading, you feel the love and struggle between these two characters.
"I just want it to all go away so I can have that beautiful boy back. I want to be the sixteen-year-old Beth who loved the seventeen-yer-old Juan. Both of us so innocent, so idealistic, so untried."
Every time she broke through his hard shell, you cheered. Every time he put his guard back up, you cried. They knew their time was limited before the RH found him again. Once you're in a gang, you are there forever. Not always physically, but mentally. Juan struggles so much to keep Beth at arms length and to not let her see all the bad that comes with loving him. Being Beth, it doesn't stop her from proving that they can survive anything.
"See, you gave yourself away with that kiss. No man kisses a woman like that unless he really feels something for her."
"I've never denied that I feel something for you."
"Then you can't deny me. You can't tell me to lock my feelings away amd pretend this isn't something important."
"Please don't do this, Beth. You know I can't resist you forever."
"Exactly."
When Juan's past catches up to his present, he and Beth are thrown into the life Juan has spent years running from.
"Just as people are separated because of wars, because of illness, because of death, Beth and I will be separated because of circumstances out of our control."
Decisions have to be made. Danger stands lurking. Hearts must be broken. Lives will change forever. Can Juan and Beth's love survive it all? Is it worth the fight?
"He loves me, and he would rather live without me than see any harm come to me."
"And you are the only thing for me. The best, the worst, the everything. My world starts and ends with you, Beth Garcia. Te amo, mi corazon."
Ahhhh! This book was amazing!! Selena had me on the edge of my seat so many times! I have never read a book that revolved around the life of a gang member before. It's intense, people!! My heart was racing and my eyes were filled with tears through it all. I wanted to come through the book and hold Juan. I wanted to hold him and tell him how much his life is worth. I wanted to applaud Beth for being so determined to prove Juan's innocence and for loving him through everything. This story makes you think. You wonder about what your life would be like if you had this happen to you or a loved one. Would you fight like Beth? Would you suffer like Juan? Would you survive? Great book!! Amazing read!! Congrats on another wonderful book, Selena!
"Life's full of risks. You can't live it without taking some. We're just learning how to live."
Beth Garcia grew up following after her older brother, David, and his best friend, Juan. She always dreamed of a day when she’d be old enough for Juan to look at her as someone other than David’s little sister. But he disappeared at seventeen, after his mother was deported, and Beth thought she’d lost him forever. When she finds him living at the halfway house next door, she knows he’s still the same guy inside. Determined to save him from himself and the RH, Beth sets out to prove that he didn’t commit the crime he was convicted of. But the path to absolution is dark, and even Beth may not be able to discover the real Juan.
Can a man with a damaged soul and a beautiful heart let a woman with fierce loyalty and unwavering love risk it all to save him? Or will his past bury them both this time?
~Review~
"I'm going to find Juan-the real Juan. I'm going to bring him back from the dark, deep place of pain and punishment he's been living in since that fateful day when he was seventeen. I know who he is. I'm going to make sure the world knows him too."
Love isn't easy. Plain and simple. But it's worth fighting for.
And a fight is about to happen.
Beth Garcia fell in love when she was very young. She fell head over heels for her brother's best friend. She saw a future with him even though she never declared this love to him. Then, one day, that future she wished for was torn into millions of pieces. She had no idea that it would be seven years before she would see his face again. But would he still be the same?
Juan Martinez had a good life full of friends, good grades and a mother who loved him. But all good things must come to an end, right?! When Juan was 17 his mother was deported back to Mexico and Juan ran. He ran so he wouldn't get caught and have to go back to Mexico. So, what does he do? Joins the RH a.k.a. the Reyes Hispanos, one of the most well-known gangs. Just when he thought it couldn't get any worse, he is accused of killing a small child in a drive-by shooting. Juans life would never be the same.
"Juan's life isn't the sort of thing you ugly-cry about. It's too dark and too serious for that. It isn't a soap opera or an in-your-face reality TV show. Juan's life is a tragedy, pure and simple."
While volunteering at a women's halfway house, Beth looks over to the men's facility next door and is speechless. Juan. Her Juan. He's home. But he's not himself anymore. He's done hard time and it shows all over his face. As you are reading, you feel the love and struggle between these two characters.
"I just want it to all go away so I can have that beautiful boy back. I want to be the sixteen-year-old Beth who loved the seventeen-yer-old Juan. Both of us so innocent, so idealistic, so untried."
Every time she broke through his hard shell, you cheered. Every time he put his guard back up, you cried. They knew their time was limited before the RH found him again. Once you're in a gang, you are there forever. Not always physically, but mentally. Juan struggles so much to keep Beth at arms length and to not let her see all the bad that comes with loving him. Being Beth, it doesn't stop her from proving that they can survive anything.
"See, you gave yourself away with that kiss. No man kisses a woman like that unless he really feels something for her."
"I've never denied that I feel something for you."
"Then you can't deny me. You can't tell me to lock my feelings away amd pretend this isn't something important."
"Please don't do this, Beth. You know I can't resist you forever."
"Exactly."
When Juan's past catches up to his present, he and Beth are thrown into the life Juan has spent years running from.
"Just as people are separated because of wars, because of illness, because of death, Beth and I will be separated because of circumstances out of our control."
Decisions have to be made. Danger stands lurking. Hearts must be broken. Lives will change forever. Can Juan and Beth's love survive it all? Is it worth the fight?
"He loves me, and he would rather live without me than see any harm come to me."
"And you are the only thing for me. The best, the worst, the everything. My world starts and ends with you, Beth Garcia. Te amo, mi corazon."
Ahhhh! This book was amazing!! Selena had me on the edge of my seat so many times! I have never read a book that revolved around the life of a gang member before. It's intense, people!! My heart was racing and my eyes were filled with tears through it all. I wanted to come through the book and hold Juan. I wanted to hold him and tell him how much his life is worth. I wanted to applaud Beth for being so determined to prove Juan's innocence and for loving him through everything. This story makes you think. You wonder about what your life would be like if you had this happen to you or a loved one. Would you fight like Beth? Would you suffer like Juan? Would you survive? Great book!! Amazing read!! Congrats on another wonderful book, Selena!
"Life's full of risks. You can't live it without taking some. We're just learning how to live."
The Hiding from Love series
Buried
(Juan & Beth)
Goodreads | Amazon
B&N | iTunes
Selena Laurence is the Barnes and Noble Bestselling author of what she likes to call Edgy Contemporary Romance. Her books have been Amazon Top 10 bestsellers in multiple categories including Multicultural Romance, Hispanic Fiction, Urban Fiction, Military Romance, and Romantic Suspense. Her New Adult romance, Hidden, won the 2014 Reader's Crown Award for Contemporary Romance of the year.
Selena lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and spends a hell of a lot of time at soccer games, on her laptop, and reading. She requires a Mocha Latte every day to function, keeps a goldendoodle at her feet most of the time, and has more kids than she or Mr. Laurence know what to do with.
B&N | iTunes
Selena lives in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains and spends a hell of a lot of time at soccer games, on her laptop, and reading. She requires a Mocha Latte every day to function, keeps a goldendoodle at her feet most of the time, and has more kids than she or Mr. Laurence know what to do with.
Selena is also author of the Lush Series, a story of four high school friends who form the rock band Lush. Take a ride with rock stars, men, brothers, and lovers, as Joss, Walsh, Mike, and Colin discover what it means to succeed, to fail, to hurt, and to love.
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