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Shattered Dreams

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Brentan Montgomery, Earl of Charfield has one love - his stable of Arabian horses. When he is offered breeding rights to the Marquess of Fellingsdown’s prize Arabian, El Solidar, if for two weeks he acts as companion to Fellingsdown’s sister, he doesn’t care if the reclusive Lady Elyssa has three chins and a dozen hairy moles, the prize at the end is worth anything he has to endure. But when he meets the elusive Lady Elyssa Prescott, all thoughts of gaining a prize Arabian colt disappear. He realizes he’s met the woman of his dreams - if only he can keep her from discovering the deceit that brought them together and convince her that her imperfections don’t matter to him.

Lady Elyssa Prescott knows what it’s like to be ridiculed and shunned. But when Brent Montgomery lets her glimpse a world where her limitations aren’t important, she believes it’s possible for her dreams to become a reality. Until she discovers the man with whom she’s fallen in love was ‘hired’ to offer her everything she’s always dreamed of having.

The cruel reality of a love built on deceit shatters both their dreams and threatens to destroy their lives forever.

320 pages, ebook

First published November 1, 2010

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About the author

Laura Landon

69 books366 followers
Laura Landon taught high school for ten years before leaving the classroom to open her own ice-cream shop. As much as she loved serving up sundaes and malts from behind the counter, she closed up shop after penning her first novel. Now she spends nearly every waking minute writing, guiding her heroes and heroines to find their happily ever afters.

She is the author of more than a dozen historical novels, including SILENT REVENGE, INTIMATE DECEPTION, and her newest Montlake Romance release, INTIMATE SURRENDER.

Her books are enjoyed by readers around the world and you can find out more about her by visiting her website at www.lauralandon.com

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5 stars
551 (39%)
4 stars
483 (34%)
3 stars
273 (19%)
2 stars
63 (4%)
1 star
32 (2%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews
Profile Image for KarenH.
189 reviews195 followers
July 28, 2011
An excellent HR by a new author for me!

Lady Elyssa has a secret admirer and she wants to meet him. Her brother Harrison, the Marquess of Fellingsdown, is horrified when he learns that the so-called admirer is nothing more than a fictitious gentleman their twin sisters have created in the hopes that their older sister will feel better about herself. You see, although she is breathtakingly beautiful and has a charming personality, Elyssa has never had a suitor. A freak accident at the age of nine left her with a mangled foot that could not be corrected, and she can not walk without the use of a cane. Her coming-out Season had been a mortifying experience, and she has been residing at the familial country estate ever since. Harrison, ever the protector of his sister, immediately organizes a house party to which he entices Brent Montgomery, the Earl of Charfield and most eligible bachelor in London, to attend. If Brent will "pay attention" to Elly for the 2-week duration of the party and cause her to forget about the secret admirer, Harrison will let Brent sire a colt on his prize-winning Arabian horse.

Historical romances with house party themes are always fun and this one is no exception. Of course the "deal" goes awry from the get-go because Brent is immediately attracted to Elly, and vice versa. As they become better acquainted, Brent teaches Elly to look past her disability and strive to do all those things she once thought to be impossible. There were several touching scenes...Brent teaching Elly to waltz and how to play croquet...he was really the hero extraordinaire. In fact, their relationship reminded me of that between Kit & Lauren in Mary Balogh's A Summer to Remember. Add to this, a thoroughly enjoyable secondary romance between Harrison and the woman he loved and lost 4 years prior, a peer at the party who wants Harrison dead, a kidnapping and ensuing chase, and of course what transpires when the bet is discovered, and you've got one damn good book! The sexual content is mild and limited, but the sexual tension carries the story right on through.

I'm currently reading another book by Laura Landon that is showing promise of being just as good as Shattered Dreams, and Ms. Landon is showing great promise of becoming an auto-buy for me. Seriously, if you are in the mood for a fast-paced, well-balanced HR with an awww-worthy love story (or two) and a sweet HEA, this would be the book to pick up (for only .99c on Kindle)!

5 stars

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(No, Dina, I will never grow tired of him.:)
Profile Image for Anne S..
228 reviews10 followers
October 25, 2016
Pretty good historical romance find.

The h has a disability and therefore ridiculed by society so she stays in tge country and avoids London. She has long accepted that she will never marry but her sisters decide she needs a romance and create a fake secret admirer that the h communicates with by letters.

Her brother finds out what her sisters are doing and decides to host a 2 week long house party and hire someone to show his sister attention so that she'll forget the "man" she's been writing.

The H wants a colt from the h's brother's stable so he agrees to keep his sister company for the 2 weeks. It's a sweet story and I liked it a lot.

There are actually 2 stories entwined. Two different couples. I don't really like this style so I skimmed the other couple who is her brother and his ex.

When I'm looking for a historical read I go straight to Christi Caldwell or Cynthia Wright usually because I always end up not liking other authors in this area. So this was a nice surprise.

I will say I did have to suspend belief many times over what ppl were doing without consequences for the time period but still enjoyed.
Profile Image for Kathy * Bookworm Nation.
2,172 reviews714 followers
November 13, 2014
I really enjoyed this book. I’m sad to give it a lower rating because of content, because I really loved the characters and story. Elly is such a lovable character, she suffered a serious accident as a child and because of that has a noticeable limp when she walks. She is very self conscience about it and her four brothers are very protective of her. They hire Brent to come for a two week holiday and entertain her, never thinking anything would come of it. But, as soon as they meet they start falling for each other. I loved watching Brent with Elly, he was so sweet and understanding and yet really pushed her to believe in herself. They were really perfect for each other. There is also a side story of Harrison, Elly’s oldest brother, and his lost love Cassie. The side story was also fun to read about and you can’t help but hope things will somehow work out for them.



Unfortunately, there is an unneeded love scene towards the end of the book (it is pretty mild, and they are practically engaged, but still). There is also some innuendo throughout, though not too much. For me, I would have preferred a cleaner version of the story. If those things had been left out I probably would have given it five stars.

As much as I'd like to, I probably won't be reading anything else by this author. Unless they are clean...
Profile Image for Lovetoread.
345 reviews26 followers
October 20, 2014
I love this novel by Laura Landon. I have re read this novel three times now and still enjoy the love story of Brentan Montgomery, Earl of Charfield and Lady Elyssa Prescott.

Lady Elyssa, Ellie, when young fell into a well when she was very young. Because of that injury she was lame. As she grew into a beautiful woman she noticed the pitying looks she would receive in London and on any occasion society met. Brentan Montgomery, Earl of Charfield was wealthy, handsome and considered a most eligible bachelor by London's matchmaking mothers. But Brentan has but one love - his stable of Arabian horses. When he is offered breeding rights to the Marquess of Fellingsdown’s prize Arabian, El Solidar, if for two weeks he acts as companion to Fellingsdown’s sister, he doesn’t care if the reclusive Lady Elyssa has three chins and a dozen hairy moles, the prize at the end is worth anything he has to endure. But when he meets the elusive Ellie, all thoughts of gaining a prize Arabian colt disappear. He realizes he’s met the woman of his dreams - if only he can keep her from discovering the deceit that brought them together and convince her that her imperfections don’t matter to him.

I highly recommend this romance. Sensual level I would give it a 5 but the love story is at a level 10. Definitely a five star read.
Profile Image for Topastro.
472 reviews
February 2, 2021
Laura Landon is underrated in historical romance. I'm not sure if it because her novels are not as steamy as some but each story is beautiful and well-written.
Profile Image for Heidi.
354 reviews74 followers
January 2, 2012
I was torn on how to rate this book!!! I LOVED the characters and the story but was sadly SHOCKED that what WAS a good clean romance..took a turn and had a very UNNECESSARY scene. It was short..and I don't know how descriptive because I tried to skip it...if it was my book I would just tear the two or so pages out entirely and then the book would be fine:)...Unfortunately the characters LOST my respect entirely though. I felt that the author let "worldy" standards take over what could have been an adorable book.:(.... I would have given this book FIVE stars if it wouldn't have had the "unneeded scene"... I don't dare read any more from this author for fear that they won't be clean...which is sad because I believe she is a talented author and could write the cutest books.:( DISAPPOINTED!
Profile Image for Krissy.
1,677 reviews342 followers
June 1, 2015
BONUS! Two love stories for the price of one :) This was a great book. I enjoyed every page of it. The main heroine was crippled after falling into a well when she was a child. So she now walks with a terrible limp cause her foot is mangled. She is very very self conscious and humiliated by it. The hero didn't give a damn about her "little limp". She was his dream woman come to life! He wanted her on sight and I loved that about him. There was a secondary love story between the main heroine's brother and his old love which was just as sweet.
3,257 reviews74 followers
January 7, 2022
Super clean romance with enough drama for two books. The H makes a silly arrangement with the h's brother who is once again being overly protective. Due to guilt. The h is sassy, sweet and crippled so lives with restrictions. The plot includes the kitchen sink, illegitimate children, inheritance issues, inability to consummate, guilt and so on. It's a great plot and everyone gets a HEA.
Profile Image for Richelle .
410 reviews30 followers
March 3, 2018
I seriously loved this book! Its really two love stories tied in one, but the main focus is Brent and Elly. She's endured a lifetime of pain, physically and emotionally. Everything Brent does for Elly, giving her the strength to stand and do more than she believes she can. I love these two together. Seriously, this book totally made me think of this song

https://youtu.be/-2U0Ivkn2Ds

and the ball at the Duke's townhouse when Brent is waiting for Elly to give him her final answer. That part is so heart wrenching and I just want to hug Brent when Elly walks away with her father at the ball

🔥🔥I agree with other reviewers that the token bedroom scene, while not descriptive or explicit, was not necessary to this story. I get her point as to why she put it in, but it really didn't need it.

CONTENT
Violence - mild
Language mild
Romance 🔥 - Mature (that one unnecessary scene, ugh)
Profile Image for Elaine.
1,062 reviews14 followers
June 28, 2011
I love a book that pulls you in with the first pages. This is a very sweet love story. Brent agrees to spend two weeks in the country as escort to the Marquess of Fellingsdown's handicapped sister. (Although, she is not that handicapped. She has a limp from an accident) In return he would get breeding rights to Fellindown's prized Arabian stallion.

They fall in love but she is unable to accept that he truly loves her or would really desire to be with her. She is satisfied with a brief love affair to keep in her memories.

I enjoyed the writer's style and will be picking up more of her books.
Profile Image for Emery Lee.
Author 5 books171 followers
July 8, 2011
This was a new author for me but wanted to give her a try with her e-book promo.

I found the story of unexpected love found between a "perfect" man and a girl dealing with a physical deformity, both emotionally engaging and heartwarming. I also very much liked the subplot of lost love redeemed. Highly recommended.
Profile Image for Mary.
53 reviews1 follower
May 3, 2011
A real tender love story. Loved it! Brent and Elyssia share common interests and are brought together by a plan that Elyssia's siblings put together (without her knowledge) after a previous plan doesn't quite go to plan.

The plan assure's Brent will win big in the form of a prize horse once his side of the bargain is complete. But he didn't account for the possibility that his emotions might get in the way of what he hopes to achieve. Enter Elyssia who prefers to live life in the shadows after a tragic accident when she was younger leaves her dependent on a walking frame and the recipient of many non deserving sneers and comments from society. But Brent sees beyond her disability and falls for Elyssia. Thus making for an eventful course of developments and situations. The secondary story involving Harrison, Elyssia's brother throughout the book added extra flare to the story.

The plot kept me interested till the end. Though quite predictable, I really enjoyed the easy flow storyline and would re-visit this one at some point!


Profile Image for Shabby Girl ~ aka Lady Victoria.
541 reviews84 followers
November 24, 2014
I quite enjoyed this, it was a fast, sweet read. The hero and heroine were lovely people and I enjoyed seeing them get their HEA. It was even more fun reading the reviews before I read this with major squawking over a very undetailed love scene towards the end ... oh, yes, there is a love scene! Beware, if you want a romance with no loving in it, this tiny little undetailed love scene will bulge your eyes, your heart will stop and life as you know it will be over! I really loved the cover too, I could imagine the couple on the cover being the hero and heroine.
Profile Image for Melissa.
2,602 reviews278 followers
October 17, 2011
This book had it's problems and it's flaws, but overall the story was captivating and I enjoyed watching these two couples get together. The writing was sadly lacking and I wished it had been better! I kept hoping but just was frustrated. There were a couple of little sexual innuendo's at the beginning: the men thinking what they would like to do to the woman they liked, but it was fairly innocent. Then in the middle of a perfectly clean novel there was a sex scene. It was not too detailed but it was there and hurt the book for me:{
Profile Image for Sheri.
199 reviews
February 12, 2012
I read this book on the recommendation of a friend. After reading it I realized that she had recommended a book of the same name but by a different author. I really didn't like this book - it was entirely too predictable. At any rate, maybe I'll give the right one a try - it's by Irene Spencer and is about a woman who was in a polygamous marriage.
Profile Image for Susan.
11 reviews
August 8, 2012
Ms. Landon doesnt disappoint at all! Another favorite of mine! The characters were amazing the scenes thrilling and heart warming and the end was a sweet melody to the whole story! No book has made me cry in years and this book had my displaying a few heart melting tears for both Brent and Elly along with Harrison and Cassie! Again amazing will be rereading again and again.

Profile Image for ☽ Rhiannon ✭ Mistwalker ☾.
1,092 reviews46 followers
March 19, 2023
2013 review - Enjoyed the secondary romance, which stole the show a little. Some of my favorite tropes with the main couple! (3.5 stars)

Upon re-read, bumping it up to four stars. What (a) great couple(s)! The angst was lovely without being formulaic. I appreciated the disabled heroine who struggled with insecurities without being a total doormat. So good!
Profile Image for SheLove2Read.
3,159 reviews211 followers
February 8, 2013
Lovely historical romance between a rake and a recluse. I really enjoyed it!
Profile Image for Ela.
2,174 reviews12 followers
December 9, 2021

I really liked reading about Brent and Elly but I didn’t like the scenes about Cassie and Harrison at all.


I liked seeing Brent and Elly meet, get to know each other and spend time together.


I didn’t like seeing scenes from Cassie and Harrison’s POV because I didn’t care about them at all. Their reason for not being together and being angry at each other in this book is because they didn’t communicate.


This book was half about Brent and Elly but the other half was about Cassie and Harrison so I couldn’t give it a higher rating.


I liked how Brent and Elly got along and that they both really liked horses but there was only really one scene with horses, which was disappointing. I wanted to see more scenes with them going horse riding or taking care of their horses.


I liked how Brent was persistent and it was very clear that he didn’t care about what other people thought. Elly was a fun character but by the end of the book it was annoying how she kept talking about embarrassing Brent and her family.


The ending was ok but it definitely too quick and Elly’s reasons where pointless and annoying.


Also, I wanted to see more scenes with Elly's family as there are a lot of siblings but apart from Harrison, they don't have personalities.


I really want to read other books by this author. Her books are interesting but so far in both of the books I read by her there was something that stopped me from wanting to reread it.

Profile Image for Beth Carlin.
36 reviews15 followers
April 15, 2018
Loved, loved this one by Laura Landon. Read in one sitting and loved every moment. Slow burn as I've expected in a Landon novel but two love stories in one was a great twist!

The main characters met right from the get go and had an instant connection. The opening was beautifully written and made Brent's "deal" with Harrison have an immediate twist of fate. Loved how Elly was introduced as strong and independent and that those traits drew Brent to her (along with that mysterious zing, of course). It's later revealed that Elly has a disability but Landon highlights how it is not seen as a fault to Brent. Her disability is a struggle for Elly and her family but Brent didn't have a huge internal struggle for him to "work past" and that was refreshing. THANK YOU for making his acceptance so openminded and thoughtful. He doesn't ignore it but sees it as a compliment to her strength (insert clap and praise emojis here).

Felt that the horses were a key story element in the beginning that I enjoyed but with the addition of Harrison and Cassie's romance horses were set aside. I'm glad Cassie and Harrison's story took priority as it was a great twist to what could have been an average Romance novel. Two great romances worked out in one novel, YES PLEASE!

My new favorite Laura Landon novel. Will reread.

This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Emma McAra.
152 reviews
October 17, 2019
Substance! For once, a period romance with some decent substance. There was a generous amount of relationship building, a few solid POVs, a couple of genuinely interesting plots/ sub plots that weren’t revealed straight away and several likeable characters.
Yes, there were cliches. Yes, there was a fair amount of exposition. In this genre that is hard to escape from. But there were no cringe-worthy pet names, no hurried ending, no sudden volta at 80% in and no ‘damsels’. Well, there was some ‘rescuing’ but the women were strong and it was overall much more refreshing.
I didn’t even miss the lack of sex. There was one scene, which felt a little thrown in and could have been removed.

The title is apt, the novel follows two main couples.
Elly and Brent, the ‘shattered dreams’ being her disability, which was original and made her endearing.
The other story is Harrison and Cassie and their relationship that ‘shattered’ a few years ago before rekindling. Again we learn why but this particular plot I’ve heard before and it annoys me because it doesn’t paint Harrison in a good light.

The pace develops in an unhurried fashion and the action takes places much sooner in the novel (50-60%) than most other novels of this genre.

Glaring issue for me is Andrew. No child of three talks like that. Ever. And I have a 5yo. Andrew was more like an 8yr old.
50 reviews1 follower
May 22, 2017
Oh sooo sweet

I truly enjoyed this romance. I had a hard time keeping it together when it came to hearing the confession from her brother about her injury. I could feel his guilt, as though it was my own. Loved the hero Brent, he was so endearing. I was a little irritated by the way her family so easily helped Elly remove Brent from her.

Sorry folks, just lost the whole stupid review I spent time writing so now this is it.

Read!!!! Family made me angry, treated her like a cripple, coddled and babied. They all moved on after and left her even more miserable than before, KNOWING DAMN WELL HE LOVED HER! The side story could've done without. Took away from the REAL love story. I am soooo pleased with the Hero Brent. That's exactly what he is too, a Hero.

This isn't as informative as it was originally, but Brent is sticking with me unlike the other Heros I've read. (Over 700 books, in many categories, recently) Brent is above the fray. I haven't been this drawn to a character since I read ACHERON: The Dark-Hunter by: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Welcome to a very short list of mine of astounding characters Brent!

*** This is a clean love story, kisses, a love making scene that was not descriptive
379 reviews
August 31, 2021
Beautiful Read

What an incredibly beautiful love story - or rather two love stories, if you consider the subplot that was woven through The Earl of Charfield (Brent) and Lady Elyssa’s own tale. It appears, at first, that Brent is going to be deceitful in his attention toward Elyssa, as her brother has promised him an Arabian colt for the attention he gives. But Fate and Cupid can certainly be fickle as Brent finds himself completely captivated by Elyssa and sees her as a complete human being and not a cripple needing pity. The challenge comes in convincing Elyssa that she is worthy of Brent’s love and helping her overcome her fears of being in the public eye. This is a tale of two very realistic characters dealing with real life fears and challenges, written in such a way as the reader feels like they are right beside the characters sharing their feelings and thoughts.
261 reviews2 followers
April 22, 2020
You can't find a better love story to read than "Shattered Dreams".

Laura Landon has brought us readers a —fall in love with— emotionally charged novel, filled with drama, adventure, danger, caring and most of all romance as Ellie becomes once again, the target of her twin sister's overprotectiveness. Harrison Prescott, Marquess of Fellingsdown, her eldest brother with his own love problems, seeks to remedy his sisters misguided plans for Ellie with one of his own as he invites Brentan Montgomery, Earl of Charfield to his summer house party to meet and entertain Ellie during the two-week party. The wonderful magic of this book is that it invites you in and you get to live it with her and her overprotective family. What a joy it is to have it in my Kindle library and be able to read it again and again.
Profile Image for Heidi Meaton.
144 reviews1 follower
January 27, 2018
The disabled are the strongest people in any century.

A love!t story, showing disablement does not mean loveless.
The mischief of youth has left Lady Elyssa disabled and cosseted by her family to a stifling degree. However an arrangement by her brother with an old a school friend gives her the opportunity to challenge what she thinks she can do and put her trust and love in another not of her family.The
With twist for her brother and surprise for her parents.
Well worth the read.
150 reviews10 followers
June 1, 2018
Shattering Dreams by Catherine M. Walker is a fantastic easy read, blending various genres into an innovative story about a privileged royal living in a world of magic. The story is one for the everyman, despite being told from the perspective of a prince - abandoning his royal privileges, Alex stands for the pursuit of truth and honour, and the rights of the people who cannot always necessarily stand up for themselves.

The characters are occasionally a little cliche, but it's overall a very entertaining read - thoroughly engaging from beginning to end.
Profile Image for Claudine.
153 reviews
June 1, 2018
Oh man I don't think I've ever read a better romance starring a disabled heroine.

The side characters have their own stuff going on so it's kind of a double romance. But this was a fun and interesting read and while it mostly played out according to my expectations, it did so in the best possible way.

Four stars, but could have been five-- I felt like the pacing towards the novel's climax was too rushed and hurried, and the denoument needlessly drawn out.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 118 reviews