Within these walls, he became my solace, my sanctuary and my strength.

I am not strong. I am just a survivor of circumstance.

Isn’t that what we all do? Survive?

Each of us has our own set of circumstances to muddle through. Mine are just more…complicated.

Born with a severe heart defect, I’ve seen the inside of a hospital room more than my own bedroom.

I was drowning, a prisoner to the illness that owned me, until he appeared. He thinks he’s blocked out the world with his tattoos and hard exterior, but I see the real Jude, the one he so desperately wants to forget.

But is he the answer to my prayers or will he break my already damaged heart forever?

My name is Lailah Buchanan, and this is our story of hope, redemption and sacrificing it all for the one you love.

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A PORTION OF THE SALES DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF RELEASE WILL GO TO A CHILDREN’S HEART CHARITY.

Reviewed by Shera 5 out of 5 Stars, I would give it 10 If I could!!

I will start this review off with stating the fact that I absolutely LOVE JL Bergs Work.   I never thought she would top the Logan, Declan, Garrett Trio in The Ready Series she has out, but then she BLEW me away, literally with Within These Walls.  Glad those walls are up because it would’ve been a serious mess to clean had I not been contained!  She gave us a book that was completely different from her other work in the most mind blowing beautiful way.  This is hands down her best work yet.   Ok, now that I got that outta the way, on to the review.

Lailah, an angel on earth.    Beautiful inside and out, she has never really “lived” outside these walls.  The walls that confine her, but even within these walls, she lives the best life she can.   She has lived a hard life, has not enjoyed even the simplest things in life we all take for granted each and every day.  Her story, her journey will rip your heart strings.   She feels alone, same surroundings, same people, same walls, but that’s when she sees him………

Jude.  A seriously HOT angel that can come into my room ANYTIME of the day/night, sponge bathe me, he can poke and prod all he wants and I will not utter one complaint.   Sandy blond hair, tattoos scrolled across his arms, biceps and under the sleeves of his shirt.    He has a secret, a tragic past that is holding him Within These Walls also.  Unlike Lailah he has the option to leave, whereas she can’t.   His past, ultimately ties him to Lailah and when he figures out what exactly that event is, it will tear him apart, build him up and give him determination to make a difference and he is going to do it, one Item at a time.

 “How could you grow something from ashes?  How could you expect a rose to blossom in the shadows”

They go from casual friends to so much more through this story.  The feelings they share are unsurmountable. One day hope comes trickling in.  But Lailah refuses to believe in what seems impossible.  She is spent, tired of fighting, but Jude is not going to let her give up, even if that means he may have to let go and return to a past that he walked away from.

“Hope was an emotion that could give the smallest man the strength to move mountains.  But give a man too much hope in a dire situation and suddenly that four letter word is crushing him, weighing him down by the impossible belief that somehow things would get better, when there’s no chance in hell they ever possibly could”

Will Jude walk away to give Lailah a chance to live outside of those walls?   You will have to read this to find out.  This was a beautiful heart wrenching REAL book.  You will connect with the characters and feel every single emotion.  You’ll laugh, love and certainly have a good cry.

“We all have prisons and chains that keep us from the one thing we really want in life Lailah.  Yours were just bigger and stronger than most”

A perfect roller coaster of emotions written flawlessly by the very talented  J.L. Berg.  If I could give this book 10 stars I surely would.  A shining beacon of light will remind you no matter what your surroundings are or what situation you find yourself living in, there is always hope.

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