If You Leave (The Beautifully Broken Book 2)

If You Leave

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Until he meets Madison Hill. Madison is happily single-or so she thinks. After the tragic death of her parents, she took on the responsibility of running the family restaurant, and that's just about all she has time to worry about. Until she meets Gabriel Vincent. Though they don't realize it at first, Gabe and Maddy will soon develop a weakness: But Gabe has a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome. And Maddy is dealing with issues she fears Gabe won't understand. They quickly realize they need each other to be whole, but they have demons to fight-and the problem with demons is that they never die quietly.

Can they find a way to heal the past. The Ever After of Ella and Micha. Light in the Shadows. The Temptation of Lila and Ethan. The Edge of Always. Find You in the Dark. It Ain't Me, Babe. The Forever of Ella and Micha. Redesigned Off the Subject. The Last Husband Forever Love, 2. A Little Too Far. The Sweet Gum Tree. Please try again later. Kindle Edition Verified Purchase. Read this and other reviews at [ But this, it was almost hard to read. I felt like I was reading it with one eye open. And it immediately made me feel for Gabe.

There were so many awesome components to this story. I loved the tension between Gabe and Madison as they repeatedly run into one another. You could FEEL it as you read it. I loved the development of their relationship; Gabe was scared because of his issues, and Madison was just as scared because of her own issues. Neither was exempt of baggage, however, they were drawn to each other. It was honest, real, and it broke my heart, but gave me hope at the same time.

If You Leave (Beautifully Broken, #2) by Courtney Cole

Madison Hill had to grow up fast. Her youth was spent protecting her sister Mila from the ugliness of her father and her young adult life was spent carrying the dreams of her parents who passed away. Gabriel Vincent is running from his past. You can stand in front of it, punch it in the face and get on with life.

As these two share more intimate moments together, Madison finds herself being shoved further away as she falls deeper into him. This was a beautifully told story of a soldier returning from the ugliness of war. But when he starts to fall for Madison he realizes that he has to make a choice, he can let the fear destroy him or he can fight his demons. Madison was a very strong heroine that you could not help but fall completely in love with.

She was the protector of her sister for years, walking away from her own dreams to ensure her sister could live hers. But the one thing she wants most of all is far too damaged to keep. There were moments during this story that were completely gut-wrenching to read. There is a soft spot in my heart for stories where the hero is a soldier. Although these are works of fiction, we all know the authors speak with members of the military and their families to ensure that there is a realistic feel to the story, to how the events play out.

For this reason there was no way to avoid being crushed with so many emotions. Courtney Cole does an amazing job touching on so many tragic real life issues and transforming them into beautiful romances. She left her dreams behind and came home to run the family restaurant. In a lot of ways, Maddy has been at a stand still in her life. She maneuvers her way through the day to day, but she doesn't really have anything that makes her happy. She sees the kind of love Mila and Pax have and wants that with someone. However, Maddy doesn't trust in love.

Her parents tumultuous relationship left her feeling guarded. She doesn't want to feel that vulnerable with someone. There is one guy that tests all her reservations. That is the best way I can describe his character. He's an Army Ranger that's returned home after witnessing and being part of some truly nightmarish events.

I can't even imagine what that must be like to suffer though that kind of pain. And Gabe is functioning, but just barely. Sleep is his enemy now. The nightmares come and he's having trouble moving forward. When he meets Maddy, she opens him up in ways he thought were closed. He can't cover up how raw and vulnerable he is with Maddy. On the outside, he looks and acts tough. And he is very much an Alpha.

However, he's so wounded inside. Luckily for them both, they recognize the fact that they both need to allow themselves to heal and forgive in order to move on with their lives. While Gabe and Maddy's journey was emotional to read at times, I was cheering for them the whole way through. I absolutely loved them both. As for the secondary characters, I loved seeing Mila and Pax again. I don't want to go into detail, but there are some things that happen to Mila that made my tummy roll.

But, in the end I couldn't be happier where things are for Mila and Pax. They're still very much in love. She's Gabe's sister, but also works at Maddy's restaurant. Jacey made some bad decisions in this book that often frustrated me, but I think we'll understand her more and the reason why she makes bad choices, with men in particular, when we get to her book, Before We Fall. We meet a new character in this book. His name is Brand and he is Gabe's best friend. Brand also served with Gabe overseas and was instrumental in helping Gabe get the help he needed.

I want Brand to have a book. I really loved him. Overall, I loved it! Despite the obstacles this couple had to overcome, it was truly a heartwarming story. I will say that a box of tissues is needed while reading this book. It made me cry more than once, but I absolutely loved the ending. It made all the tears and heartache worth it.

It was inspirational too. If you're looking for a series that sucks you in with not only the characters, but the story, check this one out! It's definitely a favorite for me. In fact, while writing my review, I was listening to the song. The song fits the book in so many ways.

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Are we back to that? I do want him, asshole cockiness and all. I never expected to find someone who affects me the way Gabriel does. It's like an unexpected gift. I know there's shit to work through. But we can do it. Because all that really matters is you and me. View all 4 comments. Mar 15, Natasha is a Book Junkie rated it it was amazing Shelves: He suppresses his memories and the scars they left on his psyche by refusing to deal with them, but they torture him in his sleep, night terrors making him relive all the ugliness he survived, filling his every night with violence and making him believe that he is irreparably broken.

She fears falling in love as much as she fears violence, fiercely guarding her heart from potential heartbreak and putting her love life on hold to fulfil her responsibilities towards her family. She is unable to escape the guilt pressing down on her from grieving the loss of her parents and hating them at the same time for the poor example they set with their dysfunctional relationship. Loss is a trigger for Maddy, she sees everything as transient, believing that even those closest to her could be taken away from her at any given moment.

For that very reason, apart from the relationships she was born into, Maddy chooses to form no permanent bonds in her life, especially those where her heart could be at stake. They are not looking for anything more than a way to satisfy their bodies, hungry for just one night of pleasure, free from complications or inhibitions.

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a dominant theme and yet it is tackled skilfully and gently, giving it enough importance in the story without overwhelming the reader or the storyline with overly-gruesome details. Ms Cole gives us a problem and a swift solution, putting the emphasis on the courage it takes to confront those issues and seek help, rather than the lengthy process it takes to achieve the desired result.

We are given a broken hero who learns to ask for help when he cannot deal any longer with his inner demons, and shows us that asking for help is not a sign a weakness, but rather the mark of a true hero. We get to revisit some old friends, Pax and Mila, see where their happily-ever-after takes them, and we meet some new ones that will find themselves in the limelight in future instalments. No man is an island and we are the direct product of the love and support of those we love and who love us, regardless of family ties.

While their chemistry sizzles off the pages, their growing feelings for one another, their ups and downs, the natural progression of their relationship and the hardships pulling them apart make this book a true modern love story. Follow me on Facebook! Follow me on Twitter! Aug 06, Drita rated it it was amazing. Courtney Cole you did it again.. I loved Gabriel and Madison what amazing characters. Such a powerful and wonderfully written story, down to the wooden spoon. I just love Courtney's writing style So intense, raw and just amazing. I would recommend this book..

I would recommend this book to everyone, female or male, young or old. It's a wonderful read. Just have wine, tissues, ice cream or whatever makes you feel better after a few tears!

The Beautifully Broken Series: Book 3 is now available for Pre-Order. Mar 18, Jennifer rated it it was amazing Shelves: This is the 4th book by Courtney Cole that I have read and I have to say she never disappoints me. She has become an automatic buy Author for me. I love her writing style. The way she can create so much feeling into her stories and books is outstanding. Every book I read by her brings out a gamut of different emotions for me.

This book was no different. I smiled like a goon, I swooned, I got pissed and I cried my eyes out. I love when a book can do that to me.

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That in my opinion is what makes a 5 star author. I loved book 1 in this series If You Stay. I totally loved Madison in If You Stay, so I was extremely excited to learn that she was getting her own book. This book touched on some pretty heavy subjects, but I felt that the way Courtney wrote this story, she really gave an accurate portrayal of the real side of these topics.

She didn't glam them up or skirt around the tough stuff, she makes you see the harsh side of things. I don't want to say to much because I feel it would give to much of this amazing story away. Like I said before, I loved Madison. She is an amazing female character. With everything that has happened to her you would think she would be a shell of a person, but she isn't. She is loyal to a fault and I love that about her.

She really shows you that she is willing to do anything for the people she loves. But she also has a huge fear and I don't blame her for it one bit. I was glad to see that with time and the help of Gabriel she was able to overcome her fears and open herself up to love and life. WOW, he is absolutely swoon worthy.

He is also loyal to a fault. He proves that by his love and protection of both Madison and Jacey his sister. He is an alpha male with such a sweet protective side that you can't help but fall in love with him. And he also has a steamy side that makes your panties melt. He also has some serious demons to overcome. There is one part that I didn't like him very much and I didn't agree with his decisions, but in the long run I understood why he did things they way he did them. He was protecting the ones he loved. I was also glad to see that he is able to start on the road to recovery.

I think his demons will take a little longer to overcome then Madison's, but I think together they can do it. I was absolutely thrilled to see Pax and Mila in this story. I figured we would get some glimpses here and there, but no, they are an important part of this book. I was so happy to see how things turned out for this couple, and was even surprised to see that their story wasn't drama free.

It added a whole nother level to this book. I was glad to see how their story concluded. The secondary characters of this book were also really great. I loved Tony, he was a strong father figure to Mila and Madison. Brand Gabe's BFF he is another swoon worthy character. I really hope he gets his own book someday. Jacey Gabe's sister I don't really know where to start with her. She is all kinds of messed up, but was also a great support to Madison. I didn't agree with some of the things Jacey did in this book, but like i said all kinds of crazy: I am glad to see that the next book in the series is Jacey's story.

I really hope we get to see her straighten herself out. I truly can't think of one bad thing about this book. Courtney's books always leave me satisfied and happy in the end. Pick up this book, you won't be sorry. View all 8 comments. Mar 12, Courtney rated it it was amazing. Once again, Courtney you have blown me away!!! Courtney Cole has done it again!!! She had me hooked from beginning to end.

Maddy is Mila's sister from the first book If You Stay and we got to know her a little bit in that book. Gabriel is an ex-Army Ranger and his sister is Jacey who happens to be Maddy's best friend.

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Maddy and Gabe first meet outside of a club one night but have no clue who the other person really is. Gabe was suppose to meeting his sister Jacey and Maddy was out celebrating with Jacey and was suppose to meet her brother. They are both just looking for a quick hook-up that night, so neither has any issues when things lead back to Gabe's place.

However - what the don't realize is that they will meet up again - very soon. Gabe and Maddy both have their own demons that haunt them. Madison grew up with her parents unhealthy relationship and had to deal with their sudden death right after she graduated college.

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Gabe experienced and saw many things in Afghanistan that no-one should ever have to endure and returns home with PTSD. However, one incident still haunts him and he can't seem to shake the nightmares from that. They both try to work on overcoming their demons. However things will get much worse for the both of them. Maddy can't seem to escape tragedy in her life and Gabe tries to deal with his PTSD by pushing people away and throwing himself into bad habits.

They have some huge moments in their lives during this book too. If You Leave was definitely an emotional read for me. As you are reading this, you will feel like you are walking in their shoes. This entire series deals with some very tough issues and this one dealt with PTSD. Because of what they see and face each day, they return home a different person.

Soldiers fight so we can rest easily. They are our protectors, our heroes. I will be forever grateful to every man and woman who chooses to serve and protect us. PTSD isn't something to take lightly and affects each individual differently. If you want to support a cause to help these injured soldiers, one site that I have fully supported for years is the Wounded Warrior Project.

You can visit www. Mar 13, TeriLyn rated it it was amazing Shelves: As an avid reader of this genre I know how much emphasis we put on "book boyfriends", myself included. Madison Hill from If You Leave changes that for me. Madison would be top five on my list of book girlfriends. She is an incredibly strong heroine. She's also incredibly broken. Tainted by the volatile relationship of her parents and scarred from their tragic death leaves Madison a shell of her former self.

But she never stops. She assumes responsibility for her parents lives even though she res As an avid reader of this genre I know how much emphasis we put on "book boyfriends", myself included. She assumes responsibility for her parents lives even though she resents them. This stems from the fact that Madison is devoted and loyal to those that are closest to her. Her healthiest relationship is with her sister Mila and her brother in law.

The closeness of their relationship is so reflective of her loyalty and devotion. Madison has been through so much in her young life and has overcome such tragedy that her willingness to even get out of bed in the morning is admirable. A lot of people crumble for much less. Madison is floating through life, wanting a partner like Mila has found in Pax, wanting to get back to where she feels secure in her life. And while Madison is strong she also wants a protector. She finally finds that in Gabriel.

Courtney Cole wrote this story so well that I felt the connection to Gabriel through Madison when she first laid eyes on him in the alley behind the club. It was almost instant that you knew they would be perfect for each other to start healing. The stories of his time in Afghanistan are gut wrenching. His inner monologues make you just want to reach out and hold his hand.

He is also an arrogant ass. And he wants Maddy. It's no wonder why she is so drawn to him; he's a walking contradiction. Strong and powerful yet mentally he's broken. When Gabe finally opens himself to actually feel he knows that he can help her heal even if he can't help himself. My favorite scene in the story is when they are trapped at Madison's house and he aids in her conquering her fears. It's cleansing and uplifting. Gabe has it in him to quietly conquer. There's a point in the story where Maddy asks him if "everyone is broken". Gabe answers honestly and his answer, while simple, is quite thought provoking.

Cole also makes it a point to honor our troops and the sacrifice they make everyday for our freedom with her words. If You Leave reminds us of that sacrifice in a big way and makes you thankful. Madison and Gabriel are awesome.

Their connection is hot. Their banter is fun. And their moments of complete vulnerability make you feel vulnerable too. Courtney Cole nailed it.

If You Leave is a powerful and beautifully written story. Aug 14, axola rated it it was ok. I want to start saying that I loved Pax and Mila's story, so maybe one of my problems with this book is that my expectations were great. Unfortunately is difficult to live up to such high expectations. Those two make me smile! Con I want to start saying that I loved Pax and Mila's story, so maybe one of my problems with this book is that my expectations were great.

When you can't think a thing you enjoyed about a character? This book has over pages and I can honestly say that after reading it I don't have a clue who Madison is. I felt I was reading about a different Madison every second chapter and that was because I didn't really know anything about her, besides my own ideas which were based in her reactions when faced with drama besides drinking wine; what else do we know about her hobbies, her day to day life?

The whole, I meet a guy, spend 20 minutes with him 17 hooking up and pages wondering what is wrong with me for feeling so attracted to him when he is obviously bad news, left me feeling sorry for her and me for having to read it not having a friend telling her that she is just horny.

Immature, irresponsible and spoiled. Ohhhh, the poor thing has daddy issues so instead of trying to get her to see her behaviour is not acceptable, lets cuddle her and make excuses for It. And when shit hits the fan, lets not lecture her because the poor thing is sad. Give me a break! At the end of this book there is a preview of " Before we fall", which seems to be Jacey's story. As you can imagine after reading how I feel about her I am going to sit this one out. May 13, Eli rated it it was amazing.

Jun 28, Taryn marked it as to-read. I had no idea it was a series! Liking this story a lot I will def. If you did not start yet I would suggest starting with the right order of the books to not spoiler yourself the ending. Why 4 and not 5 stars? It would have been a solid 5 star othe Liking this story a lot I will def. It would have been a solid 5 star otherwise Great writing and the characters felt real to me so a book to def. Jul 26, Kim rated it it was amazing Shelves: The bad thing caught you. I've never retreated away from a fight and I've never cowered in fear.

That's not who I am. But I've been in combat long enough to know that when something unbeatable chases you, you do the only you can do. Gabe is a retired Army Ranger that went through trauma in Afghanistan and is having difficulty adjusting to civilian life and putting the horror behind him. I felt for Gabe from the very beginning. He was a tough alpha hero with a tortured, guilt-ridden The bad thing caught you. He was a tough alpha hero with a tortured, guilt-ridden soul. He was charismatic, cocky, arrogant, and challenging.

But he had a good heart and wanted to protect those he cared about. But he had such deep feelings of guilt, anxiety, fear, and nightmares that it was ruining his chance for a normal life or happiness. All I know is Gabriel has that kind of confidence. The kind that turns my stomach inside out. And there's something else about him, too I don't even know him, but there's something in his eyes, something dark and haunted that draws me to him.

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