The sound of the ocean, the crash of the waves as they kick up against the sand and rocks—these are the only sounds Megan Greene wants to hear. She wants to leave the rest of the world behind, and find some peace.The offer of a private house on the beach, set in a small town in Maine, is perfect. Time to think—to be by herself. It’s all she wants. It’s the escape she needs.Until she stumbles … she stumbles across the painting that seems to echo her own chaotic mindset.
Until she meets the unfriendly artist behind the stormy painting and discovers his secrets.
All Zachary Adams wants is to be left alone. His canvases, and the unending scope of the ocean and sand, are his life. They direct him—fill his hours. Bring him focus.
Until she enters his life.
She dredges up memories of the past—the haunting images he has hidden for years; the fears he has never shared.
A story he keeps buried below the surface.
Can she make him see what he is missing? Can he trust her enough to believe?
Together they embark on a journey where their pasts collide and threaten to tear them apart.
Will their fragile bond hold or wash away with the ebbing tide?
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Oh my goodness, where to start with Megan and Zachary’s story?? Megan has been betrayed by someone she trusted and Zachary long ago wrote off the world who he believes only sees his scars. Except Megan doesn’t really see them at all because she sees who he is beneath them (the name of the book really makes sense, huh?!) Their story isn’t all roses and Zachary struggles to trust Megan and their love. A terrible event tears them apart and leaves both Zachary and Megan struggling. Their journey back to each other is beautiful and this is yet another “don’t miss it” Melanie Moreland book!
I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla, and thought the narrators did a great job of narrating.
I understood how Megan was screwed over by Jared. I even understood how she felt as if she had no recourse. I understood why she didn’t want to take other people’s money to use in a court battle. What I didn’t understand is why after Jared stole from her, teamed her character, harassed her, physically AND verbally threatened her, that she thought he was going to disappear. I would have constantly been looking over my shoulder.
Which makes how Megan withstood Zachary’s onslaught even more confusing. Zachary was cold, angry, condescending, and downright mean, but Megan kept trying. When she finally broke through his shell, they had the beginning of a nice romance.
I could somewhat understand Zachary believing what he was told as he and Megan had not been together long. But, to let his hurt and anger get so out of control he never considered the source? Even after knowing how Jared treated Megan?
This book was full of angst, Zachary and Megan tears, romance, emotion, a few steamy scenes, and an HES
Lovely story if not obvious and formulaic.
Despite enjoying more or less 60% of the story, I can’t bring myself to give it more than an “it was ok” rating. Something felt like a let down in this modern retale of Beauty and the Beast, and it took me a while to figure out what. Here’s what made me cringe the most:
The heroine cries a river every time something happens to her (even happiness makes her cry!) I got tired of it pretty fast. But her dormat personality could pass for sweet and kind – and some of the things she goes through would have made me cry too, so I forgave her.
The hero is less-than-charming. But the tale asks for a beast and the author rises up to the task, making me want to curse the man myself with a spell that would make him realise how much he is being rude and ungrateful. Good thing that it’s exactly what the story is about up until the 75% mark.
The vilain gets what he deserves for his bad deeds, only in a very unlikely way. Had the ending of the book been different, it wouldn’t have mattered. But with this ending… I don’t know, I would have liked things to be wrapped up a bit differently. To be specific, I would have liked one or both main characters to be involved into defeating the vilain, rather than having the situation “magically” solve itself.
But what bothers me the most is that the end lacks any kind of redemption for the hero. He appears more weak and pathetic than selfless and romantic. As for the heroine, she’s not exactly empowered by the outcome either, crying buckets of tears (again) and keeping her wet blanket behaviour.
Beneath The Scars was a pleasant surprise. Last week a posted a review on an anthology that included this author, I didn’t even finish her story, that’s how much I didn’t care for it. This sounded good though so I gave her a second chance, Melanie Moreland didn’t disappoint in this book. Megan escapes to a friend’s place to get away from the attention she’s been getting since she accused her ex of stealing her book. Zachary is hiding his scars from the world and wants nothing to do with his new neighbor Megan. Megan and Zachary’s story is packed with drama, humor, sizzle, action and suspense. There’s a bit more angst in this story than I care for and it’s written in first person, alternating point of view, two of my least favorite things, but still, I couldn’t put the book down. I enjoyed reading Beneath The Scars and would read more from this author.
I voluntarily read a complimentary copy of this book that I received from Bookfunnel. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Beneath the Scars is an incredibly painful story of destruction wrought by manipulative, revengeful people on their unsuspecting victims, leaving them broken and in hiding. Despite having been duped by a despicable character, Megan retains her gentle spirit and caring heart. Thus, when she meets the badly scarred man on the beach, the one she was warned about, she cannot help herself and extends a hand of friendship to him. Megan cautiously approaches Zachary, offering him friendship and gifts until he can no longer avoid her. Thus begins a friendship built on mutual need and understanding. Parts of the plot were almost too painful to read, leaving me with a feeling that I was an outsider looking in, ashamed for staring at their wounds and vulnerability. Despite the violent storm brewing in their hearts, this is a tender romance, one that ultimately brings healing and new purpose. This novel, a copy of which I received as a gift, is a standalone and comes to a very satisfactory conclusion.
BENEATH THE SCARS is a standalone read with a happy ever after. Megan is on the road headed to a very small town in Maine. Her friend has loaned her the families summer house. Megan was working for a very big celebrity writer. He has 3 best sellers on the list now and is writing his fourth. She is writing a novel but still has some work to do and then has to find a publisher. He volunteers to read her book and edit what she has. She is thrilled to have such a big celebrity look at her work.
Then one day out of the blue he comes in and tells her he is letting her go. When she asks for her work she finds out he has wrote the ending and then turned the book in to his publisher to be sold as his work. She puts up a fight but she has no proof the work is hers. She wrote everything by hand and then gave him the only copy. Brokenhearted and at a loss she just wants to find peace and quiet. She grabs her little dog and heads for Maine. Only her friend knows where she is going. The publisher refuses to print the book until the bad guy can get Megan to recant and say the work isn’t hers. She refuses to do it.
She is living on a very secluded spot with only 3 homes. Hers is at the bottom of the hill, the next one is empty at this time, and a very secret guy lives in the big house. Of course she manages to meet him but he is rude and wants nothing to do with her or her dog. This is a GREAT story. You will learn things as well as experience a very lovely love story. I loved it. 5/18/2020
I was not paid for this review. I am not a writer nor do I know one. I am not kin to this author. I am a reader and this is my opinion, nothing more, nothing less. 5/18/2020
Memorable read. This book is beautiful. I could feel Zachary’s pain and Megan’s love through the pages. The story is so, so good, i absolutely love a book where I feel connected to the characters. Beneath The Scars is a beautiful story of a broken man that finds that there are some good people in this world. And through the power of loyalty, and love he is able to forgive himself and learn to love and be loved.
3.5 Stars
This book so much reminded me of Beauty and the Beast and I think that skewed my perception of these characters. I’m not much of a fan of B&B.
I wanted Megan to be stronger. I wanted her and Zachary’s relationship to be stronger. But I did really like Zachary. He’s talented and honest. My favorite part of this book was the end. I loved how Megan finally seemed to find the strength I wanted her to have from the beginning.
5 star Review Beneath The Scars by Melanie Moreland
What an emotional story, two tortured souls who have have suffered in the past meet and connect over sand and water and paintings.
All Megan Greene wants to do his escape life and find some peace, nobody understands her feelings until she see a paining that seems to mirror her mind and soul. Artist Zachary Adams has his own demons to contend with and the last thing he wants or needs is Megan coming into his life.
Can Zachary let go of the past and trust Meghan as she brings him back to life? Will Megan and Zachary’s past come back to destroy the fragile bonds they have both made towards a future? One click and find out.
This is another 5 star review from Melanie that I just couldn’t put down! Two scarred souls, one on the outside and one on the inside. They both go to an isolated beach to hide away , Zachary for 10 years and Megan for only a short amount of time. They and their adorable pups meet and some sparks fly even thou Zachary fights it. Megan persists. But there is an ex boyfriend who lurks around to cause more major trouble and Zachary’s issues with self esteem that cause a lot and I mean a lot of lot of angst! I couldn’t put my kindle down. But it is a standalone and I was very very happy with the ending!!! I would definitely recommend this and anything else this fantastic writer pens! She is awesome!
This couple did not have a lot going for them, Megan had been deceived and ran away to lick her wounds, her previous life and dreams in tatters, Zachary, the damaged recluse artist pushed everyone away who even attempted to make small talk, with all these issues and secrets its a wonder they found their way to one another.
Megan is a sweetheart, she believes the good in people, despite evidence to the contrary, and she gives Zachary a number of chances, pushing his boundaries. Zachary is drawn to her, but refuses to give into it, wanting to stay in his solitude.
In all this book is about trust, and how when you have that instant connection and get swept up in a relationship you don’t always build the trust that you need to keep it going. The background of both parties mean that trust is always an issue.
I enjoyed the book, it was a quick read, I completed it in a day. I have to say my favourite character was Karen, I really liked her interaction with Zachary – Fierce! I would definitely go on to read more by this author
I really enjoyed Beneath the Scars. Megan transforms Zachary from his life as a recluse on the beach into a caring, loving man. It’s a sweet read and I do always enjoy the ultimate positivity and happiness of Melanie’s books.