Unleash Me
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Good day to you!
Unleash Me by C.A. Grieco. I went into this book knowing that it was going to be an emotional roller coaster. It did not disappoint. Let’s get into it.
Quick synopsis: Mia grew up in a broken home, living her whole life in pain until she came to Magnolia Falls and met the man who healed her from her past wounds. Until one day her entire future was ripped away from her, causing her to run from it all. She never wanted to come back to the ranch, but his sister begged her to meet, forcing her to confront the past.
Luke has spent most of his life in a wheelchair after an accident as a teenager that left him paralyzed, but he never let that hold him back from the life he wants to live. When Mia shows up at his doorstep 4 years after running away with nowhere to go, it was the last thing he expected. The spark between them was never there before but now it has him questioning everything. Becoming more than just friends might push Mia away, for good this time.
Non-spoiler review:
This is the third novel in the Magnolia Falls Ranch series, but it reads as a standalone. I’ve noticed some new authors diving into that form of storytelling, and I like it a lot. Each novel tells the story of a different couple all in the same universe. So basically, you don’t have to read her first 2 novels to understand this one. Although, I highly recommend that you do simply because they are great stories on their own. Oh and look at that, links to her books. Amazing.
Mia and Luke’s story is really adorable. I have always liked the best friends to lovers trope that this book follows. Full warning though, I was in tears on page 11. This is definitely a tear jerker. Grieco handles really difficult life situations thoughtfully and with a lot of understanding. She definitely did her research.
I found myself wanting to shake Mia a couple times throughout the story because I wanted her to see the family that she’s been missing since she left. I’m thankful I don’t understand the pain Mia endured, growing up and in recent years, but I wish she would have stayed and talked with the people who cared the most about her. Mia is very likable and sweet, I can see why everyone just loves her. Finally a female main character with more than her looks.
Luke. Luke. Luke. I liked him a lot. Even though he is bound to a wheelchair, he still manages to take care of everyone first. He never let that chair define who he is and what he is capable of doing. When Mia first shows back up to his place, we can feel their connection instantly. They were best friends for years, that part never changed, but there is a hint of something more.
The story goes back and forth between their different points of view allowing us to really dive into their thoughts and struggles they are currently facing.
I will say, there were parts of the story that felt rushed. Particularly toward the end. Things just picked up in pace and I found myself a little confused.
If you’re looking for an emotional, punch you in the gut but then apologize for it, kind of novel, then this is it.
BEWARE: Spoilers ahead:
Right away we are thrown into a tragedy. Derek, Mia’s boyfriend and love of her life, dies in a tragic fire. Mia is devastated and decides to run away to California. Fast forward 4 years and Derek’s sister messages Mia saying she needs her to come back to the ranch to discuss some things. When Mia reluctantly returns she is reunited with everyone she left behind.
Throughout the story we learn that Mia tried to end her own life after Derek’s death, and Luke helped her overcome those demons. She takes it slowly, getting back into things in Magnolia Falls. One part I really liked was when she met an elderly gentleman in a cafe, Richard. He really became one of Mia’s new friends. Richard shows up to the same cafe every week and orders two bowls of French onion soup. The second bowl, is for his wife who passed away some time ago. When Mia lets Richard in on her life, he really does seem to help her see what she has in front of her. The love and family she’s always wanted.
The little side story about Luke fell very flat to me. Luke figured out a way to keep riding horses despite his condition. But one trip to the doctor and he was told he shouldn’t be riding anymore becassue it could cause a lot of problems down the road. This storyline was sad, and caused Luke to have a moment of vulnerability, but it just felt…meh. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
There’s a few more sweet moments between the two main characters. Lots of tension, lots of banter. Even a little shower time mishap. Towards the end is where things got a little too easy.
Since Mia wanted to be become a veterinarian, Derek had bought this vet clinic for her before he passed, and it was in shambles. Turns out these last 4 years Luke has been fixing it up for her in hopes that she will return one day. He shows it to her and all she has to do is decorate it.
Ok.
We also find out that Derek was rich and left a lot of money to Mia. She is now able to fund this clinic for a long time.
When Luke and Mia finally have that moment where they decide they actually do love each more than friends, it is pretty sweet, and made me go “awwwww.” Luke even mentioned that he knows he has to share Mia’s heart with Derek because he was the love of her life. My only qualm is just how easy everything was at the ending. It all got buttoned up pretty quickly. Even in the epilogue it talked about how they were fostering a couple of twins. On the day they were celebrating their birthdays, Mia got a call saying that her and Luke are able to fully adopt them.
Like I said, tearjerker.
I sound cynical, but believe me, I do love happy endings as much as the next girl. I think I was just missing the conflict, the fight, the big grand gesture of love, and theeeeen the happy ending. Make me work for it.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3.5/5 Stars