Uncharted: Claudia Y. Burgoa

Blurb:

Jacob

As a rule, men don’t grow up believing in a happily ever after. We don’t believe in meeting the love of our lives; or the white picket fence, and 2.5 children. Every man thinks that those stupid dreams or fantasies are just nonexistent shit until it happens to them. We should have been forewarned.

I wish I was prepared for someone to appear in my life and change all my priorities. I suddenly wanted that fence and children. The part of meeting the love of my life became very real, but I wasn’t ready for suddenly losing it all, and my life plummeting into this shithole forever.

The heartbreak of losing your soulmate is one of the worst pains you will ever live with. I should campaign and warn the young people. Vaccinate against love because if you lose it, you could lose yourself for the rest of your life. The burden on your back will forever mark you and wither away your soul, darkening your days and the rest of your natural life.

This isn’t false advertisement or a dramatic display of one bitter soul.

Pria

I fought by my mother's side until her last breath, and tried to help my father until his last memories dissipated. My sister is the last one standing, but her life is a miracle that can end at any given moment. All my life I’ve never been alone, but always felt lonely.

Today, my options on how to live my life are endless, yet my heart and my best friend limit them. Stay in Seattle, close to the one person that will never let me inside his world.

The thug, as mom would've called him. A man with a bad boy attitude and a heart bigger than the ocean.

Review: 3.5 Stars

The synopsis for Uncharted drew me in.  I usually prefer to read a series in order, even if each book can be a stand alone.  However, I opted to skip the first two books of the Unexpected Series.  In hindsight, it probably detracted a bit from my enjoyment since I didn't feel the connection to the characters featured in the first two books that I would have if had read them.  But, it didn't affect my understanding of the story.

The book starts off ten year in the past, where Pria and JC meet.  It seems like fate that they keep running into each other.  They connect quickly and deeply.  It's amazing how a simple meeting (or a few days) can change the course of your life.  Sometimes for the better...and sometimes for the worse.      If their connection is fate, the subsequent events show just how bitter fate can be.  Life spirals for both MCs in a way that is frustrating and gutting,

The writing is compelling -- I stayed up well into the night to finish the book.  But, I can't say I liked the storyline.  I didn't like how off track their lives became; much of it hinging on chance and stupidity.

When Ana and JC meet (10 years later), I wanted an explosion - some sort of come to Jesus blow out where the truth is revealed.  That doesn't really happen.  One seriously frustrating thing about the characters is that they don't listen to each other.

"Then you didn't hear a word I said, Jacob," [Mae] utters with an exasperated voice.  "No, you didn't want to hear what I said.  Think about it."

Even when they are giving each other clear insight into how they were affected by what happened 10 years ago, it's as if the other person doesn't hear it.  There's hardly a reaction to what, IMO, should be  pivotal moments.  So, that frustrated me enough to detract from my enjoyment of the book.

At times, there is a quick progression between scenes.  I ended up having to re-read portions to clarify what had happened.  Maybe it's just the formatting of the ARC that tripped me up.

I received a ARC copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.