Review: If You Leave by Courtney Cole

"In If You Leave, we continue the wild ride Courtney Cole started us on in If You Stay. This raw story of heartbreak and hope solidifies Cole's standing as a rising star in hot contemporary romance." -New York Times Bestselling author of Down to You, M. Leighton

"Another raw, gritty masterpiece with a sexy-as-hell Army Ranger to swoon over." -K.A. Tucker, author of Ten Tiny Breaths

26-year old Gabriel Vincent is a badass hero. Or he used to be, anyway. As an ex-Army Ranger, Gabe never thought he needed anyone. But after one horrible night in Afghanistan scars him in a way that he can't get past, he needs someone who can help him heal...even if he doesn't realize it.

25-year old Madison Hill doesn't need anybody...or so she thinks. She grew up watching her parents' messed-up abusive relationship and she knows there's no way in hell that she's ever letting that happen to her.

They don't know it in the beginning, but Gabriel and Madison will soon develop a weakness: Each other.
But Gabriel's got a secret, a hidden monster that he's afraid Maddy could never overcome... And Maddy's got issues that she's afraid Gabe will never understand. They quickly realize that they need each other to be whole, but at the same time they know that they've got demons to fight.

And the problem with demons is that they never die quietly..

(From NetGalley)

My Thoughts:

I didn't read the first book in this series, If You Stay, but after this, I'm going to have to. This was, simply put, a good book with strong, fascinating characters that I just wanted to get lost in and spend more time with. To me, that is the mark of a successful book. I just really liked all of the characters, even the secondary ones. In fact, I'm hoping the author plans to write Brand's story because I absolutely fell in love with him and want him to get his own happy ending - in fact, I think he really deserves it after everything he's been through so, Ms. Cole, if you ever happen to read this, please, please, PLEASE give Brand his own story.
With that said, let me just say this is a tense, wonderful, believable story of two people who shouldn't really click who do - and who become everything to each other. It's about mistakes, the guilt we carry - deserved or otherwise - second chances, redemption and, most important, forgiveness. But not the type of forgiveness we bestow upon others, but the kind we turn on ourselves. It is well-crafted from beginning to end and doesn't disappoint. I look forward to more from this author.