review || BEYOND THESE WALLS { blog tour }

Beyond these Walls by J.L. Berg

Publisher: J.L. Berg, LLC (4/21/2015)

Series: Within These Walls, book 2

Genre: New Adult

Source: InkSlinger PR

Purchase links || amazon (soon) | bn | ibooks | kobo | google play || add to goodreads

Rating: ★★★★★

Happily ever after.

That was what we were supposed to have.

Pudding cups, sandy toes and a lifetime of making each and every one of our dreams come true—that is the future I’d promised her.

I could see it in my dreams, hold it in my hands, but then I watched as all of our hopes and wishes suddenly slipped through my fingers like sand.

I thought the worst was behind us, but what if we’d just delayed the inevitable?

They say love can overcome any obstacle. But can it survive death?

The breathtaking love story of Lailah and Jude concludes in Beyond These Walls.

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about J.L. Berg || J.L. Berg is the USA Today bestselling author of the Ready Series. She is a California native living in the beautiful state of historic Virginia. Married to her high school sweetheart, they have two beautiful girls that drive them batty on a daily basis. When she's not writing, you will find her with her nose stuck in a romance novel, in a yoga studio or devouring anything chocolate. J.L. Berg is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, LLC. 

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{ review } .

Life isn't about regret. 
It was about making the most of it after
the dust had settle around your feet.

We've watched them fall in love, now we get to watch their beginning as Mr. and Mrs. Cavenaugh. 

Not everything is rainbows and butterflies, they still have some hurdles, but their love is strong enough to get them through. This is a story of love, trust, and believing that there's a reason for everything, even when it feels like your world is shattering to pieces.

We start immediately where we left off -- or so it seems, until the scene turns a dark corner and we learn that it's a dream. As Jude says, he's not sure what to make of her dream -- that her dream begins with the best day of his life, but turns to what could likely be the worst.

We watch Lailah become a stronger woman. She started out shy and quiet, but raising her voice now and then. She has now found her voice, and as Jude states, she was typically a meek person, but when she needed to be, she was a fierce lioness -- something that she certainly shows during their first major, major fight.

Jude continues to be a phenomenal man. He loves Lailah with every fiber of his being -- and would do anything to keep her safe and healthy. You know the term helicopter parent? Well, he's very much a helicopter fiance/husband... but it all comes from a good place.

He lost a lot of his life when he lost Megan; he knows without a doubt that if he were to lose Lailah, he would have nothing to live for. 

The way that Jude loves Lailah is immeasurable. You thought you got the gist of it in WITHIN THESE WALLS, but his love for her has only grown through the months.  The biggest question for these two, then, further comes to light in BEYOND THESE WALLS -- was Lailah meant to make it this far? Again and again, she meets and surpasses obstacles, but again and again things pop up. These two have to face the fact that no amount of protection and safeguarding can prevent what's meant to happen.

The next question, then, is what's a gift and what's a curse...

Lailah would always come first.

Always.

But a single word brought me to my knees.

"Please," she said through the mask, tears streaming down her face.

This conclusion was beautifully written. I enjoyed the friendships that remained (and getting to see Grace interact with her husband was so flipping cute), and enjoyed the not-always-pleasant views of Roman -- even when an ass to Jude, he was always forgiving and loving when it came to Lailah. There's a story there, and when it comes out, I will be eagerly reading page after page. If the epilogue is any indication, Roman just needs the right woman to get him through, and his gray clouds make way to blue skies.

Love and life -- it was all a risk.

Shut yourself away from it, and you'd never know

what might be waiting for you on the other side of it all.

{ giveaway } .

J.L. Berg has a $20 Amazon giftcard and a signed paperback of WITHIN THESE WALLS for giveaway! Enter via the rafflecopter below or by clicking here!  a Rafflecopter giveaway   Within These Walls is on sale for a limited time!   Grab it now for just .99c! Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play