What do you think?
Rate this book
Shattered
His confidence shattered for failing to save his sister’s life, Detective Jay Rawlings insists he be left alone to live the lonesome cowboy life. But when the woman he once loved, Tess MacLean, returns to his ranch with a killer and the police in hot pursuit, Jay suddenly has to face the demons from his past. A past he would change if he could - starting with convincing Tess that their love deserves a second chance.
Nook
First published September 5, 2011
17 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Kate Kelly
12 books29 followersKate Kelly has had a love affair with books her entire life. Writing came in fits and starts, and she didn’t take it seriously until her forties. Now she can’t get along without it. She has finaled in the RWA Golden Heart and has been the recipient of the RWA Daphne du Maurier award. She has the good fortune to live on the east coast of Canada with her husband (the children have flown away). She writes, grow herbs and perennials and sails when the wind blows her way.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 2, 2011
Shattered by Kate Kelly is a novel that hit the e-book stands on September this year. A romantic suspense that features a stalker killer and a past from which both the hero and heroine are trying to find their way out of, Shattered was a novel that I enjoyed reading.
When 27 year old Tess MacLean makes her way back to South Dakota after a 3 year period, its not at all how she has envisioned a return trip home back to everything familiar would be. With a killer close to her heels, Tess runs to the only person that she can count on, her ex-fiance Jay Rawlings who made it painfully clear to her during their last encounter that she was no longer needed in his life.
Jay is a man who kids himself into believing that all is right in his world by pushing away that nightmarish night from 3 years ago when everything in his professional and personal life turned upside down. Refusing to give anything a second chance to shatter his world once again, Jay believes that keeping people that he cares about at arms length is the way to live. However, once again when Tess tumbles into his life, needing him more than ever, there is little he can do to say no and turn her away.
Rusty skills that Jay has not used for far too long help him uncover the clues as to why Tess’s life might be in danger, the clues opening up a whole lot of mess that seems far more serious than he had believed at first. And to say that Tess once again opens up old wounds that has far from healed is an understatement.
Jay and Tess’s love had been a fiery and all consuming one before their future had vaporised right in front of them. And once again, those old feelings hit Jay with full force until he has no choice but to give in and experience that heady magic that had once been his life until he had pushed away the one woman who means everything to him.
A killer who is far too close to home than either Tess or Jay envisions stalks them both, biding his time until towards the very end where Jay has to confront his past demons once again to find closure from the nightmares that have been a constant presence in his life for far too long.
I loved Tess’s character far more than I loved Jay. Maybe it had something to do with that inner courage within Tess that refuses to give up or maybe because she is the straightforward type of heroine that I love so much. For me, Jay was a trifle bit too caught up in the past, maybe rightfully so at first, but there were times when I wanted to poke him in the chest and point towards Tess and their happily ever after. But in the end, Kelly managed to deliver an ending that fits, her writing style which is what made the story work for me at all times.
Shattered is a story of second chances blended well with suspense elements that guarantees an enjoyable read. Recommended for fans of the genre.
Rating=3.75/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Quote(s) included below the review!
When 27 year old Tess MacLean makes her way back to South Dakota after a 3 year period, its not at all how she has envisioned a return trip home back to everything familiar would be. With a killer close to her heels, Tess runs to the only person that she can count on, her ex-fiance Jay Rawlings who made it painfully clear to her during their last encounter that she was no longer needed in his life.
Jay is a man who kids himself into believing that all is right in his world by pushing away that nightmarish night from 3 years ago when everything in his professional and personal life turned upside down. Refusing to give anything a second chance to shatter his world once again, Jay believes that keeping people that he cares about at arms length is the way to live. However, once again when Tess tumbles into his life, needing him more than ever, there is little he can do to say no and turn her away.
Rusty skills that Jay has not used for far too long help him uncover the clues as to why Tess’s life might be in danger, the clues opening up a whole lot of mess that seems far more serious than he had believed at first. And to say that Tess once again opens up old wounds that has far from healed is an understatement.
Jay and Tess’s love had been a fiery and all consuming one before their future had vaporised right in front of them. And once again, those old feelings hit Jay with full force until he has no choice but to give in and experience that heady magic that had once been his life until he had pushed away the one woman who means everything to him.
A killer who is far too close to home than either Tess or Jay envisions stalks them both, biding his time until towards the very end where Jay has to confront his past demons once again to find closure from the nightmares that have been a constant presence in his life for far too long.
I loved Tess’s character far more than I loved Jay. Maybe it had something to do with that inner courage within Tess that refuses to give up or maybe because she is the straightforward type of heroine that I love so much. For me, Jay was a trifle bit too caught up in the past, maybe rightfully so at first, but there were times when I wanted to poke him in the chest and point towards Tess and their happily ever after. But in the end, Kelly managed to deliver an ending that fits, her writing style which is what made the story work for me at all times.
Shattered is a story of second chances blended well with suspense elements that guarantees an enjoyable read. Recommended for fans of the genre.
Rating=3.75/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Quote(s) included below the review!
May 28, 2022
DNF. H was wishy washy and h was a doormat. Also h was celibate during the 3 year separation but H wasn’t. Kind of left a bad taste.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2016
Romance/mystery that I felt didn't tie up all loose ends, and I felt the female protagonist cried too much and the male protagonist was a bit of an ornery jerk.
January 14, 2015
Tessa MacLean was running for her life. Her boss was trying to kill her, had already killed a co-worker and she had no idea why. The only person she could trust was her former fiancé, Jay Rawlings. Jay is a former Detective turned rancher after a case goes horribly wrong and his sister is murdered. Three years have passed and he’s still subconsciously wallowing in guilt when Tessa shows up and the past and the present collide.
Decent writing and good storyline, but I couldn’t get past how whiny both Tessa and Jay were not to mention Tessa comes off as wimpy and Jay emotionally abusive. Also, Tessa has a killer on her tail. Someone who hasn’t hesitated to kill at least once already and has made no secret of the fact he’s on her tail every step of the way as she flees. And yet, that doesn’t stop her and Jay from doing stupid things to put her life in jeopardy. Such as leaving the safety of the house more than once or practically tearing each others’ clothes off in the barn right after Jay’s dad is attacked there. It was too much for me. I had no respect for them and started hoping one or both of them would get shot for being so hormonal and idiotic.
*The author provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
Decent writing and good storyline, but I couldn’t get past how whiny both Tessa and Jay were not to mention Tessa comes off as wimpy and Jay emotionally abusive. Also, Tessa has a killer on her tail. Someone who hasn’t hesitated to kill at least once already and has made no secret of the fact he’s on her tail every step of the way as she flees. And yet, that doesn’t stop her and Jay from doing stupid things to put her life in jeopardy. Such as leaving the safety of the house more than once or practically tearing each others’ clothes off in the barn right after Jay’s dad is attacked there. It was too much for me. I had no respect for them and started hoping one or both of them would get shot for being so hormonal and idiotic.
*The author provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
September 2, 2013
Shattered by Kate Kelly is a great suspense - and yes, spicier than what I'm used to - but I must say that I enjoyed the story and I couldn't wait to get to the end. Here's the blurb:
Cowboy Jay Rawlings is a former detective who feels responsible for not being able to save his sister's life and can't leave the past behind. But when Tess MacLean - a woman he once loved - comes back to his ranch with a killer on her tail, Jay must now face his past and look to the future - one that might include Tess.
I like Kate's style. The suspense begins within the first few pages and just keeps mounting. One moment I thought the villain was "this guy" because... but a few twists and turns lead me to think that it couldn't be him therefore it must be... (Sorry no spoiler in this blog).
Kate Kelly knows how to tell a suspense story and keeps you guessing until the last pages. I'm not a speed reader and can't get to the end fast enough. In a book like this, I want to cheat and skip to the last page. This book is a page turner and I hated to put it down. It is action packed and delivers a good punch. For those who like a spicy suspense romance, you're in for a treat.
Cowboy Jay Rawlings is a former detective who feels responsible for not being able to save his sister's life and can't leave the past behind. But when Tess MacLean - a woman he once loved - comes back to his ranch with a killer on her tail, Jay must now face his past and look to the future - one that might include Tess.
I like Kate's style. The suspense begins within the first few pages and just keeps mounting. One moment I thought the villain was "this guy" because... but a few twists and turns lead me to think that it couldn't be him therefore it must be... (Sorry no spoiler in this blog).
Kate Kelly knows how to tell a suspense story and keeps you guessing until the last pages. I'm not a speed reader and can't get to the end fast enough. In a book like this, I want to cheat and skip to the last page. This book is a page turner and I hated to put it down. It is action packed and delivers a good punch. For those who like a spicy suspense romance, you're in for a treat.
February 13, 2012
Tess McLean had nowhere to turn but to ex-lover, Jay Rawlings. Someone wants her dead and the only person she can trust is the man whose confidence has been completely shattered since his sister's untimely death. Jay must now dredge up from deep within him the strength to not only come to terms with the demons in his life, but his feelings toward Tess. Ms. Kelly paints the lonely rancher's life in a way we can all empathize with. And Tess, with her outward nature appearing delicate and shy, must pull from deep within her strengths she didn't know she had. This spicy book is fraught with emotion and holds the reader right up to the very satisfying ending.
January 2, 2012
SHATTERED by Kate Kelly is a entertaining romantic suspense story.
The heroine Tess is strong and capable, but willing to bend when necessary. The hero, Jay is an emotionally wounded warrior. Because he was unable to save his sister and accept his failure he pushes away the one woman who could heal his heart. When a killer targets Tess she goes to the one man she believes will be able to help her, the only man she's ever loved, the man who chased her out of his life - Jay.
I found the premise interesting, the western setting well described, the characters engaging and the story action packed. Ms Kelly kept me guessing as to who the real villain was until the very end.
The heroine Tess is strong and capable, but willing to bend when necessary. The hero, Jay is an emotionally wounded warrior. Because he was unable to save his sister and accept his failure he pushes away the one woman who could heal his heart. When a killer targets Tess she goes to the one man she believes will be able to help her, the only man she's ever loved, the man who chased her out of his life - Jay.
I found the premise interesting, the western setting well described, the characters engaging and the story action packed. Ms Kelly kept me guessing as to who the real villain was until the very end.
May 30, 2012
Really wanted to like this one just couldn't get into it. This is one of those see-saw reads. I want her/him I don't, I do, I don't. Had me rolling my eyes way too much to even enjoy. Kate Kelly was a new author for me. I hear Art of Deception got great reviews. Will I try that one and give KK another shot? Hmmm....maybe, just not any time soon.
January 14, 2013
This book was listed as a "Western Romance Suspense" in iBooks so I wasn't planning on reading it. I've enjoyed Kate Kelly's other books so I decided to give this one a try. I'm not sure where the description comes in other than they are in South Dakota. When I read "western romance", I'm thinking 1880's on the range... not this book.
I actually enjoyed it with just a few exceptions.
I actually enjoyed it with just a few exceptions.
August 8, 2014
This book was listed as a "Western Romance Suspense" in iBooks so I wasn't planning on reading it. I've enjoyed Kate Kelly's other books so I decided to give this one a try. I'm not sure where the description comes in other than they are in South Dakota. When I read "western romance", I'm thinking 1880's on the range... not this book.
I actually enjoyed it with just a few exceptions.
I actually enjoyed it with just a few exceptions.
November 24, 2011
I liked parts of this story, and some of it was very predictable. This was my first book by this author. This wasn't a keeper book for me, but I do like the writing style of the author, so I will give her another try.
Read
December 17, 2011SHATTERED is an awesome read and was hard to put down, I loved the characters and their interactions. The book kept me guessing to the end. This is the second book I have read by Kate Kelly and she is an author that I want to read more of ---- I am definitely becoming a fan of her books. Tina
November 15, 2014
Loved the story, nut another book that could have used another chapter. I hate when a book ends do abruptly. Leave out the three paragraph descriptions of things if it means you can actually end the story properly.
November 20, 2011
I really enjoyed this one. Good storyline and great characters. Had me wishy washy on who was the bad guy. I like that in a book :)
December 4, 2011
Good romantic suspense book. Broody ex-cop rancher and feisty heroine in South Dakota. Plot wist at the end.
February 24, 2012
Good - I liked the story. There were some surprises and I wasn't sure who was the guilty party.
It was a good thing it wasn't full price, the typos were somewhat distracting.
It was a good thing it wasn't full price, the typos were somewhat distracting.
February 3, 2012
A really good mystery with twists and turns and very spicy for those of you who enjoy some spice with your mystery!
April 7, 2012
Very good read. Suspense kept you guessing all the way through until the end.
August 17, 2012
It stared well and the story line sounded interesting but it slowed down quickly. It felt like it focused more on the siuspence than the romance
April 30, 2013
Mediocre romance.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews