Title: Beyond These Walls
Series: Book 2 of 2 of Within These Walls
Author: J.L. Berg
Release Date: April 21, 2015
5 Angel Stars
ARC received for an honest review
We have met Lailah Buchanan and Jude Cavenaugh in Within These Walls. Two souls bruised and grasping to hold on to what life still has in store for them. Barely living but wanting to live. When they found each other, their love healed them and gave them hope and the will to fight for their future. The beginning of their story had me clutching my chest and crying my eyes out, even just writing my review for Within These Walls brought tears to my eyes. But as always, with romance reads, I am a happy camper when they got their happily ever after.
Or did they?
Beyond These Walls takes us to what life has been for Lailah and Jude outside the walls of the hospital where they met and where they spent most of their time at. A life where Lailah is now as healthy as she can be, a life where Lailah can do all the normal, day-to-day things that she missed out on -- like hailing a cab, a life where they both have each other, a life in New York City and now getting ready to tie the knot.
I have been an avid reader of J.L. Berg since I read Ready or Not and I worked my way through the rest of the Ready series until Within These Walls released. I always mentally prepare myself for all the possible emotions that I would feel once I dive in to her stories. From my Within These Walls experience, I psyched up double for Beyond These Walls. I was sure the continuation of Lailah and Jude's story will bring me to tears. I was sure. And I was right. Happy tears. Emotional tears. Sad tears. But surprisingly, it was more on happy tears for me and I am beyond relieved! I don't think my eyes can take any more crying for those two. ;)
"Now that Lailah's new heart is beating strong and healthy and she's back in Jude's arms more happy and in love than they first met. What could possibly go wrong?" That's what I thought. Really, how much more heartbreak and life threatening situations can these two have? Surely, they are now safe and all will be rainbows and unicorns. But then again, unicorns do not exist, right? And trials always happen in every relationship whether you're new or newly married. This was how it was for Lailah and Jude.
Happy and very much in love, I finally got to see the carefree Lailah. She was admirable and truly an inspirational character in the first book, strong and determined, but now... we can see a more bubbly and sassy Lailah who takes every opportunity to hail a cab just because she was not able to when she was cooped up in the hospital and because now, she can. I love how fierce she is in appreciating every thing in life, no matter how small. I can feel her inner light shining through now that the heavy weight on her shoulder is gone. And Jude? I know I said I 101% adored him in the first book, I'm taking it back now because he upped his hotness scale to 202%. And by hot I don't just mean hot in the bedroom, for me, his hotness is how gentle and passionate he is when it comes to Lailah. A real life prince charming, if I may say so. And okay, yeah, he's hot in the bedroom (and in the kitchen and in the plane), too.
"Love isn't about perfection. It's a beautiful chaotic mess, and there isn't anyone I'd rather spend my life with than you."
Everything was going so well I almost forgot that it couldn't possibly go on that way until the end without some hurdles. And J.L. Berg gave Lailah and Jude a pretty bumpy hurdle. Decisions needed to be made. Past emotions from when their future was uncertain is coming back. And even though I was worried about how things will go after their unexpected surprise, them fighting and eventually facing it together, sealed the deal for me that truly, their relationship can withstand any and everything as long as they have each other.
For me, everything about Beyond These Walls comes back in full circle. It's like we always go back to where everything begun and once we reach the ending, all we can do is happily sigh and wish we can read a whole new chapter to their story. That brought me happy tears again. This is as emotional as the first one but in a different aspect. J.L. Berg is my favorite when it comes to stories digging deep into my soul. Her stories are not just about making you cry, it's about really telling a story and touching you with it. Lailah and Jude's story touched my heart. I'm sure it will touch yours, too.
Stars: 5 stars
Recommended to: Everyone who loved Lailah and Jude. Or if you haven't met them yet, everyone who wants to read something that is more than just a love story.
Series: Yes, Book 2 of Within These Walls. First book doesn't end in a cliffhanger.
POV: First person. Dual POV.
Extra Comment: What is up with Roman? Please tell me we are going to find out and that we'll be seeing more of the Cavenaugh family. ;)
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