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Broken Angels
Tragedy gave them a second chance. Now they’ve got everything to lose. Zach Ryler always prided himself on his ability to handle anything life flung at him. Nothing could have prepared him for his sister’s brutal murder, let alone being named legal guardian of her three children. Now, the only person who can help him is the one woman he vowed never to touch again. The one woman his love couldn’t fix. Rebecca James never stopped loving Zach, even after her infertility slowly crushed her spirit and destroyed their marriage. Suddenly Fate has dropped her dream in her a family. But opening her heart to them—and to Zach—is a risk she wonders if she’s ready to take. As Zach and Rebecca struggle to help the children deal with their grief, they slowly begin to rediscover the passion they thought they’d lost. Just as they believe that this time they can get it right, shadows from the past close in, tearing at the fragile bonds they’ve forged. And a lethal predator is waiting and watching, one who will stop at nothing to protect his secrets…even murder. This title contains sex, violence, gut-wrenching emotion, three children and a puppy who risk stealing your heart, and an evil villain guaranteed to keep you up at night.
- GenresRomanceRomantic Suspense
261 pages, Paperback
First published August 6, 2010
51 people want to read
About the author
Anne Hope
10 books88 followersAnne Hope is the author of emotionally intense romances with a twist—a twist of humor, a twist of suspense, a twist of magic. All her stories, however, have a common thread. Whether they make you laugh or cry or push you to the edge of your seat, they all feature the redeeming power of love and the heart’s incredible ability to heal.
Anne’s passion for writing began at the age of eight. After penning countless stories about enchanted houses, alien girls with supernatural powers, and children constantly getting lost in the woods, she decided to try her hand at romance. She lives in Montreal, Canada with her husband, her two inexhaustible kids, her cat and a rambunctious Australian Kelpie.
Anne’s passion for writing began at the age of eight. After penning countless stories about enchanted houses, alien girls with supernatural powers, and children constantly getting lost in the woods, she decided to try her hand at romance. She lives in Montreal, Canada with her husband, her two inexhaustible kids, her cat and a rambunctious Australian Kelpie.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 12, 2010
Zach and Rebecca have been divorced for two years. Rebecca’s constant worry and disappointment of not being able to get pregnant during their eight year marriage was just too much for them to stay together. Writing for a women’s magazine, she had the marriage and great career, but yearned to have children. Zach an ad executive for a successful ad firm in Boston, didn’t know how to help his struggling wife and they ended up pushing each other away.
But tragedy of a different sort has struck this estranged couple. Zach’s sister and husband have been murdered, leaving behind three children – Noah 9, Kristen 5, and Will just 15 months. In the will, Zach and Rebecca have been named legal guardians. They decide to put away their differences and do what is best for raising these kids – live together.
Living together is not the only struggle they are going to have to deal with. Besides being thrown into raising three kids, in which neither of them having any experience in that area, there is a sinister force lurking around. The children’s parents didn’t just die by random means. The father, Liam had uncovered something horrific, and had been gathering evidence. He and his wife’s murder was planned, and the murderer is not done with the family yet.
I was so pleasantly surprised with Broken Angels. I had never heard of this author but I tend to like Samhain books, and I decided to take a chance. This book surprised me in many ways. I tend not to overly enjoy books when lots of kids are involved or if we get parts in their point of view but Anne Hope does a nice job weaving their story in. Nine year old Noah plays a big role in this book. He is the child most affected by his parent’s death, having witnessed the brutal scene from the shadows. He is traumatized and not thrilled that his new guardians are his aunt and uncle. At times I thought he acted VERY mature for a nine year old boy. He acts out and has his moments, but in the actual moment of crisis, when everything is caving in around him, I think he acts way past his nine year old self. Otherwise, I think the kids are written into the story nicely.
While this is a romantic suspense, for 3/4 of the book, the suspense part is very underplayed. What we really get are two people reuniting. Zach and Rebecca divorced due to not communicating. Rebecca couldn’t deal with the fact she couldn’t have kids and Zach couldn’t deal with Rebecca hurting herself any longer. It is not so much they fell out of love, they just couldn’t deal with the stress. Coming back together – their relationship builds up really nice. I found myself really enjoying their quiet, romantic build-up. I really enjoyed Zach – his total confusion on how to handle three small children is cute and his slow seduction of Rebecca works really well in this story.
After a kind of quiet, romantic book, the last quarter is where all the suspense occurs. I kind of wish it has been spread through the book a little more. I liked where the story went – although at times I questioned the lack of police involvement. The crime in this story is a big one, and it seemed Zach and Rebecca took on a lot themselves.
Overall, Broken Angels is a different kind of read for me, but one that worked. I wavered between giving this book a 3.5 or a 4. I definitely think the suspense could have been played differently and Noah would have worked better for me if he was a little older. But I also found myself not wanting to put this book down. For that reason, I’m giving it a 4.
But tragedy of a different sort has struck this estranged couple. Zach’s sister and husband have been murdered, leaving behind three children – Noah 9, Kristen 5, and Will just 15 months. In the will, Zach and Rebecca have been named legal guardians. They decide to put away their differences and do what is best for raising these kids – live together.
Living together is not the only struggle they are going to have to deal with. Besides being thrown into raising three kids, in which neither of them having any experience in that area, there is a sinister force lurking around. The children’s parents didn’t just die by random means. The father, Liam had uncovered something horrific, and had been gathering evidence. He and his wife’s murder was planned, and the murderer is not done with the family yet.
I was so pleasantly surprised with Broken Angels. I had never heard of this author but I tend to like Samhain books, and I decided to take a chance. This book surprised me in many ways. I tend not to overly enjoy books when lots of kids are involved or if we get parts in their point of view but Anne Hope does a nice job weaving their story in. Nine year old Noah plays a big role in this book. He is the child most affected by his parent’s death, having witnessed the brutal scene from the shadows. He is traumatized and not thrilled that his new guardians are his aunt and uncle. At times I thought he acted VERY mature for a nine year old boy. He acts out and has his moments, but in the actual moment of crisis, when everything is caving in around him, I think he acts way past his nine year old self. Otherwise, I think the kids are written into the story nicely.
While this is a romantic suspense, for 3/4 of the book, the suspense part is very underplayed. What we really get are two people reuniting. Zach and Rebecca divorced due to not communicating. Rebecca couldn’t deal with the fact she couldn’t have kids and Zach couldn’t deal with Rebecca hurting herself any longer. It is not so much they fell out of love, they just couldn’t deal with the stress. Coming back together – their relationship builds up really nice. I found myself really enjoying their quiet, romantic build-up. I really enjoyed Zach – his total confusion on how to handle three small children is cute and his slow seduction of Rebecca works really well in this story.
After a kind of quiet, romantic book, the last quarter is where all the suspense occurs. I kind of wish it has been spread through the book a little more. I liked where the story went – although at times I questioned the lack of police involvement. The crime in this story is a big one, and it seemed Zach and Rebecca took on a lot themselves.
Overall, Broken Angels is a different kind of read for me, but one that worked. I wavered between giving this book a 3.5 or a 4. I definitely think the suspense could have been played differently and Noah would have worked better for me if he was a little older. But I also found myself not wanting to put this book down. For that reason, I’m giving it a 4.
February 23, 2011
3.5 Stars
Although I enjoyed the story, the heroine got on my nerves throughout the entire story. She seemed selfish and angry at everyone including the children in the story. What was supposed to be her despair over not being able to have children just came off to me like she was a bitch that couldn’t get what she wanted so she just quit. Just when I thought that she was going to redeem herself, she went and did something silly or said something that just made me scratch my head.
Also the boy, Noah who is supposed to be nine years old, seemed very mature at times almost too mature. I think if he would have been a little older his actions would have been a lot more believable. He was far to "mouthy" for a nine year old. I can attest to this because I have a nine year old boy.
I would have to like there to been just a bit more romance to the story. Maybe a little bit more of the H/h airing out their trouble. This could've been delved into just a bit more.
The suspense part of the story was really pretty good. Once things get rolling I was flying through the pages. Well done.
Overall, it is highly likely that I will read more by this author.
Although I enjoyed the story, the heroine got on my nerves throughout the entire story. She seemed selfish and angry at everyone including the children in the story. What was supposed to be her despair over not being able to have children just came off to me like she was a bitch that couldn’t get what she wanted so she just quit. Just when I thought that she was going to redeem herself, she went and did something silly or said something that just made me scratch my head.
Also the boy, Noah who is supposed to be nine years old, seemed very mature at times almost too mature. I think if he would have been a little older his actions would have been a lot more believable. He was far to "mouthy" for a nine year old. I can attest to this because I have a nine year old boy.
I would have to like there to been just a bit more romance to the story. Maybe a little bit more of the H/h airing out their trouble. This could've been delved into just a bit more.
The suspense part of the story was really pretty good. Once things get rolling I was flying through the pages. Well done.
Overall, it is highly likely that I will read more by this author.
March 15, 2014
Broken Angels
By Anne Hope
Blurb:
Tragedy gave them a second chance. Now they’ve got everything to lose.
Zach Ryler always prided himself on his ability to handle anything life flung at him. Nothing could have prepared him for his sister’s brutal murder, let alone being named legal guardian of her three children. Now, the only person who can help him is the one woman he vowed never to touch again. The one woman his love couldn’t fix.
Rebecca James never stopped loving Zach, even after her infertility slowly crushed her spirit and destroyed their marriage. Suddenly Fate has dropped her dream in her lap: a family. But opening her heart to them—and to Zach—is a risk she wonders if she’s ready to take.
As Zach and Rebecca struggle to help the children deal with their grief, they slowly begin to rediscover the passion they thought they’d lost. Just as they believe that this time they can get it right, shadows from the past close in, tearing at the fragile bonds they’ve forged. And a lethal predator is waiting and watching, one who will stop at nothing to protect his secrets…even murder.
Warning: This title contains sex, violence, gut-wrenching emotion, three children and a puppy who risk stealing your heart, and an evil villain guaranteed to keep you up at night.
Review:
I could feel the tension between Zach and Rebecca as they come to the aid of the children. Rebecca’s tension around children is evident and sets a lot of conflict up between the characters. Readers though can’t help but fall for the children. They are broken after the death of their parents. The son is trying to remain strong but he’s holding in a lot of anger. The daughter is lost. Her health issues combine. Yet even while they continue to fight and act like children, this tragedy draws them together.
I loved how Ms. Hope shows us the internal conflict with the killer. We learn his actions and motivations as well as begin to doubt the people around Zach and Rebecca. No one is safe because a killer still stalks the family. I even began to question who could the secret killer, the puppetmaster could be. Would it be the brother in law who is schmarmy? Or the “old friends” who suddenly show up at the beach?
If you love a mystery story filled with compelling characters and a secondary cast sure to melt your heart (kids and dog), you’re going to love Broken Angels.
By Anne Hope
Blurb:
Tragedy gave them a second chance. Now they’ve got everything to lose.
Zach Ryler always prided himself on his ability to handle anything life flung at him. Nothing could have prepared him for his sister’s brutal murder, let alone being named legal guardian of her three children. Now, the only person who can help him is the one woman he vowed never to touch again. The one woman his love couldn’t fix.
Rebecca James never stopped loving Zach, even after her infertility slowly crushed her spirit and destroyed their marriage. Suddenly Fate has dropped her dream in her lap: a family. But opening her heart to them—and to Zach—is a risk she wonders if she’s ready to take.
As Zach and Rebecca struggle to help the children deal with their grief, they slowly begin to rediscover the passion they thought they’d lost. Just as they believe that this time they can get it right, shadows from the past close in, tearing at the fragile bonds they’ve forged. And a lethal predator is waiting and watching, one who will stop at nothing to protect his secrets…even murder.
Warning: This title contains sex, violence, gut-wrenching emotion, three children and a puppy who risk stealing your heart, and an evil villain guaranteed to keep you up at night.
Review:
I could feel the tension between Zach and Rebecca as they come to the aid of the children. Rebecca’s tension around children is evident and sets a lot of conflict up between the characters. Readers though can’t help but fall for the children. They are broken after the death of their parents. The son is trying to remain strong but he’s holding in a lot of anger. The daughter is lost. Her health issues combine. Yet even while they continue to fight and act like children, this tragedy draws them together.
I loved how Ms. Hope shows us the internal conflict with the killer. We learn his actions and motivations as well as begin to doubt the people around Zach and Rebecca. No one is safe because a killer still stalks the family. I even began to question who could the secret killer, the puppetmaster could be. Would it be the brother in law who is schmarmy? Or the “old friends” who suddenly show up at the beach?
If you love a mystery story filled with compelling characters and a secondary cast sure to melt your heart (kids and dog), you’re going to love Broken Angels.
March 23, 2011
This book just never came together for me. The characters & plot just all fell flat.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews