Let Love Shine Spotlight!

What would happen if you lost everything? If the people who were supposed to love you unconditionally were no longer there for you, how would your world change?

Madeleine Becker lost everything when her parents died when she was ten years old. Ripped from her home and everything that she has ever loved, she is forced to start all over again. The only way for her to move on is to build walls around her heart and keep everyone at a safe distance. Her logic: she can't get hurt if she doesn't fall in love.

That theory is blown to pieces when she meets Reid Connely during her freshman year at college. He is gorgeous and darkly mysterious. He understands Maddy's pain all too well, but sharing his pain would mean breaking down the walls he put up around his own heart. Conflicted between loving Maddy and hiding his dark past, Reid starts to reevaluate his world. Maddy's inner strength, snarky personality and breath taking beauty help Reid to make peace with his past.

Together they find out what happens when they let love in.

I want to start this review by acknowledging the amazing writing ability of Melissa Collins. Her words flowed like poetry to me. While I love all of my Indie authors and a majority of them are very talented, every once in a while you read one that you feel like has that special "it" factor and you cannot believe they have not been signed by one of the big six. Melissa did that for me! I devoured this story in one sitting and cannot wait to read the rest of the series (which I would have started immediately had I not had other reviews due).
Now onto the story. We meet Maddy and Reid who have both had tortured pasts. They meet one night at a college party and it was instant attraction for both of them, however they had both built their walls up so high, they may never crash down.

"Self-preservation is a double-edged blade-it keeps you safe, but at a fairly large cost."

The story was told in a dual POV (which I love). I liked hearing about their thoughts on what they were currently feeling. Reid had always been a playboy, love em and leave em kind as to not form any attachments.

"Love 'em and Leave 'em. Yeah that's always been how I work and it works for me."

So, once we get past all of the love/hate and they get together, I am floored by what amazing people they each are in their own right. But together, sigh....., they are just perfect!

"Happy? Are you kidding? Maddy, you are the reason I breathe. Without you, my life would have no meaning at all, so saying that you 'make me happy' is a huge fucking understatement."

I will say, there is so much more to this story. They go through a big trauma and not only was I hooked to the book at that point, I also bawled my eyes out (actually I did that quite a bit in this book-for happiness and in sadness). I guess what I am saying is that this book made me FEEL and I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this one to anybody! I would shout it off the rooftops if I thought it would make people go grab the book. Also, if you are going to grab it, I highly recommend you just splurge on the box set because trust me, you will want to continue this series!
*On a side note I would like to mention one other thing. I ALWAYS look at reviews on Amazon. I may not read them all but I look at the star ratings. Out of curiosity I checked this one to see how others felt about it. Imagine my shock to see that is had 7 1* ratings! (out of 224) But for the life of me, I cannot imagine ANYBODY not enjoying this book. What this showed me is that there is something for everyone. I will never again pass on buying a book due to negative reviews!*

There was a group playing quarters on the island and another group lining up shots on the breakfast bar – so not my scene.  I just shrugged my shoulders, opened the door, pulled out a bottle of water and, when I turned around to walk back outside, I face-planted into a wall of solid muscle. 

“Hand me one?” His voice was smooth and... gruff at the same time.  Red-faced, I turned back around and got him his water, glad for the cool respite that the opened refrigerator door offered. 

“Here you go.” I could not peel my eyes away from his mouth as he moved the bottle to his lips.  They were perfect - beautiful and full in a completely masculine way.  I watched, completely fascinated, as his throat moved, downing the water in three or four large gulps. He wiped his mouth with his forearm and I couldn’t help but let my eyes travel up the rest of his arm to his biceps and shoulders – those were the same as his lips – perfect.  Amazingly, gorgeously, utterly, divinely perfect.  Muscled and tanned, his arms were mouthwatering.

My knees wobbled.  My heart thudded.  Thousands of butterflies spread their wings in my belly. 

“Thanks…” he stared blankly at my face for a minute and I couldn't help but wondering if he liked what he saw.  He cleared his throat and roused me from my little daydream where the gorgeous boy is mesmerized by the maybe-a-little-above-average looking girl.  That’s when I realized he was asking for my name.

“Maddy.  Sorry, my name’s Maddy." I nearly choked on my tongue to get my freaking name out.

I’ve always been an avid reader.  Majoring in English Literature was a no brainer.  Becoming a teacher and instilling my love for reading into my students was also a no brainer.  I’ve spent the last ten years teaching and I’ve loved (mostly) every minute of it.  When I was home on maternity leave for my third son, I discovered a new genre that sparked my creativity.  My passion for writing sprang from my love of reading and once I knew I had a story to tell, I couldn’t wait to get it out there.  I only hope that my readers enjoy reading my story as much as I enjoyed writing it. 

 

  Facebook || Goodreads || Twitter || Website