Ah. The former child star, throwing a tantrum at the airport until he gets his way. How appropriate. I keep an eye on who comes and goes from my island, but I also keep a low profile, choosing to blend in as one of the regulars. I stay in a villa on the water, like everyone else, and my new neighbor is none other than Jett Roman himself.
The exhausted, entitled brat with the smart mouth and tempting glare resists all help from my staff. He seeks me out daily, venting his frustrations, ignoring all rules. He disrespects my establishment and, unknowingly, me.
I’m a very patient man, but everyone has their limits. I will be gentle with the delicate little doll before me, but he needs to listen. Because it’s clear to everyone else that he’s utterly shattered, and I can’t seem to stop myself from wanting to bend him a little before I heal his broken pieces.
Shattered is the final book in the Unlucky 13 shared world. It is a standalone gay romance. You can expect a light, enemies-to-lovers dynamic with humor, an age gap, hurt/comfort, and a hidden identity. This novel is intended for 18+ readers. See Author’s Note for Content Warnings.
Charli Meadows is an obsessive reader, avid bookstagrammer turned PA, and now an author herself. Lover of all romance, she plans to write a little bit of everything, but make it sweet and spicy.
Living in North Carolina with her husband and young daughter, you can usually find Charli working her boring corporate job or at home playing video games, if she’s not reading, writing or daydreaming about books.
This is the last installment in the Unlucky 13 series and this book focuses on Callum and Jett. Callum has a bit of a secret identity going on and Jett is a famous young movie star.
As soon as Jett arrives on the island he runs into Cal and there’s an instant attraction between them. This initial meeting is actually quite humorous and sets the groundwork for their relationship.
Fuck me, I’ve died and gone to purgatory because if I can’t have this man, my life will be over, and I may as well go to fucking hell.
Jett can act like a massive brat, but to be fair he had quite a hard home life growing up mainly because his mom’s a selfish bitch.
Without warning, a hard smack lands on my butt, and I moan, finally getting what I was hoping for all along. I think I crave it. His spankings. His discipline.
Cal is a secret billionaire running multiple businesses. He basically lives for work. So when Jett shows up, he finds himself surprised by his sudden unflinching interest in this young man.
This boy has my mind hazy and my thoughts jumbled. One minute I want to spank and fuck him, then the next, I want to protect and nurture him.
Cal takes great care of Jett, which no one ever really has before, and in return Jett helps Cal enjoy life with a fresh set of eyes. These two make such a great couple! They balance each other out perfectly.
This little hurricane of a man blew into my life, inserting himself into every nook and cranny without my notice. He’s captured my heart and wrapped me around his little finger, bringing excitement back to my boring, work-infused existence.
This book was like a warm comforting hug. It was cute, sassy, sweet and humorous. Just what I’d expect from Charli. This was a fast enjoyable read and exactly what I needed. I also enjoyed all the cameos from the prior books.
*** I received an ARC of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion. ***
It's not often I add an author to my do not read list after only reading one book by them, but sometimes its necessary.
I'm curious how these multi author series work because I refuse to believe 12 other authors read this book and signed off on adding it to the series as is.
*spoilers*
I did not like Jett or Callum. Jett is a 21 year old former child star with the maturity of a 12 year old. Actually- a book about an immature former child star alcoholic who goes to rehab and shows a lot of growth would be good. But he did not go to rehab, nor did he show any growth. He went to rehab and complained about it and left rehab to go to the resort side of the island. Once he was on the resort side, there wasn't one chapter where he wasn't over drinking or talking about how drunk he was. When the bartender took too long, he just reached across the bar to swipe a bottle. And when the bar was closed, he just broke into it to steal alcohol. But this plot went nowhere, he just told everyone he didn't need rehab and they all said ok and that was the end. No growth, no character development.
Callum came across as really controlling. He gave me really creepy controlling vibes. No character growth because even at 91% he is still scolding Jett telling him how to eat and how to behave.
I really didn't like either character, they both sucked and despite being on an island that specializes in rehab and mental health, they absolutely had no growth or change. And you cannot convince me these two end up together, they 100% would break up two weeks after the book ends.
I really enjoyed this brat and billionaire romance between Jett and Callum. They are such polar opposites which makes for such an entertaining read. I never really knew where this story was going due to the surprising actions of Jett, who desperately needed someone to guide him on his sobriety journey. Together they are such a fun pair that help one another grow while offering such effortless support. Love this story and how much fun these two characters were together. Another fantastic entry in this wonderful series.
I'm not sure how to put my rating on this one into words, but I'll try. I liked the characters for the most part. The story felt sped up though. Like limited detail for no real reason. It wasn't a novella. So it was as if the author just said "long story short". It just made it hard to stay attached to the story and characters when things felt incomplete, choppy, or abrupt throughout. This is my first book from this author, so I'm not sure if that's their standard or not.
⚠️possible SPOILERS BELOW in detailed tropes/content and trigger warning lists
Tropes/content: Brat/ child movie star Grumpy secret billionaire/island owner Age gap (21 & 38) Helps him get sunscreened up while strangers Rehab vacation facility on an island Spanking as discipline Pool sex Carries him Some hurt comfort "Doll" Jealousy Possessivness Forced proximity (neighbors at the facility) Strangers/dislike to lovers "Little shit" Strict roles
TWs: Drugged by a "friend" (gave him molly when he was supposed to give him Ritalin) - sent to rehab because of it Betrayal by friend Panic attacks Childhood trauma Abusive mother Claustrophobia Shoulder injury
Not a fan of either character or their dynamic. I found Jett to be annoying and unlikable, Cal is just plain unlikable. There is minimal relationship development, it’s completely insta lust. I found the writing to feel stilted and both the monologue and dialogue awkward. From 50% things got weird - the running away on the beach scene with the spontaneous spanking in front of others? the monkey with the sharpie in its pouch turning up to draw perfect penises on the guys forehead??
The biggest thing that annoyed me here was that the story had a lot of potential - troubled child star goes to rehab sounded GOOD! But I felt it was executed poorly. Jett clearly has an alcohol problem! He is constantly drinking, every time he gets upset (which is frequently) he needs a drink, even for breakfast and he frequently binge drinks and then breaks into the bar to get alcohol when he is upset. Yet he just keeps saying oh I’m fine I don’t need rehab and no one mentions this major issue?? When they are at a resort/rehab centre? It’s so bizarre. At the beginning we are lead to believe he may have undiagnosed ADHD but this is never followed up. He really undergoes no obvious character development and I can’t imagine that relationship ever working other than Jett just being an annoying and childish sex toy for Cal. The side plots were interesting to start with but then just wrapped up with a sentence or so each in the epilogue.
I wasn’t a fan of the dynamic. It feels like the author is going for a D/s Daddy/Bratty Middle/Little lifestyle with humiliation kink, however this isn’t ever acknowledged as a thing between them so it feels like Cal is just a controlling rich man preying on a troubled, addicted guy 20yrs younger than him.
This was a buddy read so I keep going/skimming through so we could discuss, otherwise I would have dnf’d about 30%. Although if I had done that I would have missed the dick drawing, pouch wearing Picasso monkey which was definitely a talking point.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I am sad to say that we are at the end of the multi-author Unlucky 13 series. It was an absolutely wild ride and I’m so happy I was able to read them all! I loved the shared world and seeing characters overlapping between books (both MCs and side characters). I absolutely recommend the entire series!
I am a huge fan of Charli Meadows and I was excited to read her entry in this series. It was a little slower to get into for me but once I got into it I really enjoyed it! Callum and Jett were a fun couple to read about. Jett had some issues that he started to work through on the island with the help of the amazing rehab therapists! Cal is big on manners and discipline so we got to see some great “learning” scenes due to Jett’s brattiness! I was so happy with their HEA and that they were able to make it work!
I loved all the cameos of MCs from other books in this series and even seeing some of the scenes from Cal and Jett’s POV. It was quite amazing to see how hard these authors worked to put this together! This was a great end to the series and I can’t wait to see what all these authors come out with next!
"If I'm not careful, I may just fall in love before this vacation ends."
Well it seems the bratty former child star Jett Roman has met his match in wealthy businessman Callum Ryan. When Jett arrives on the island he's a little lost, though he likely doesn't see it that way. Instead he's too busy being a spoiled rotten asshole to the staff. To be fair, Jett hasn't had a normal upbringing, and I am not even talking about the fact that he became an actor as a young child. I'm talking about his nightmare of a mother whose only claim to fame is riding the coattails of those she surrounds herself with, Jett included. I don't think the boy has ever had a positive role model in his life...until Cal.
I really enjoyed seeing Jett begin to blossom under Cal's care. It truly makes a difference in a person when you have someone you can trust in your corner and that is exactly what Cal is to Jett. He's the first person to make Jett feel safe. To make him feel cherished. It's actually pretty heartbreaking when you think about how old Jett is and how this is his first experience with those things.
The dynamic between Cal and Jett was definitely fun. Every time Jett would break out into his bratty self I would clench up in anticipation for Cal's reaction. How far was he going to go this time before Cal inevitably put him over his knee so to speak. For someone who didn't think at first that they needed the complication in their lives that was Jett Roman, Cal sure caved pretty fast. He could see the man Jett could be underneath his bad manners and he made it his mission to bring that man to the surface.
"This boy is stunning. And I don't think I could possibly let him go. Ever. Jett Roman is mine."
The epilogue was perfection for this one and made my heart smile. I also have to mention how much I died laughing at Bob the Monkey's antics yet again. I think it might be tied between Jett and Bob on who was the bigger brat in Shattered. Who am I kidding, it was definitely Jett. But I don't think him or Cal would have had it any other way.
Shattered by Charli Meadows is the final book, book 13, in the standalone, multi-author, MM Unlucky 13 series, which is set around an all inclusive, private resort built exclusively for the troubled elite. This is Jett and Callum's story - with some cameo appearances from Holden, Chase, Jordan and Theo from previous books. And of course one final performance from Bob the irrepressible monkey!
This series has been a real mixed bag for me, but Charli Meadows does write a good light-hearted, fun and steamy MM book, so whilst this does touch on some mental health issues, overall it was an easy read.
Tropes:
🖤 age gap 🖤 billionaire/brat 🖤 secret identity 🖤 opposites attract 🖤 all the steam 🖤 all the feels 🖤 HEA
Tropes: age gap, secret identity, hurt/comfort Feels: 2/5 Steam*: 3.5/5 Kinks: brat, spanking/punishment, some toys, obedience Angst: low HEA: yes Pairing: MM Triggers/potential icks/content themes: abusive parents, drug use, bad friends, claustrophobia, anxiety
2.5 stars, rounded up because I like this author. I don't know what happened with this book!
Jett is 21. He is a former child actor who is trying to make it as an adult actor. He was under the thumb of his mom who was his manager. She was abusive and used him. He has a bad friend that betrays him and drugs him with Molly at a key event so that the friend can steal an acting job out from under him. Jett make such a spectacle of himself that night that he gets sent off to rehab by his current manager Briggs. By the way, Briggs totally should have been fired for communicating with Jett's mom and violating Jett's privacy - that should have been dealt with in the book.
Callum is 38. He is a billionaire and he lives on the island full time. He owns the island and that's a secret. He's not a very likable guy. It kind of turned me off from the start when he said that he's bisexual, but only has had relationships with women and just hookups with men. One, he doesn't care enough to develop relationships with people. And two, men in particular he just hooks up with.
Jett and Cal meet up on the island and their bungalows are close together and they end up interacting. They're attracted to each other. Jett is a brat and Cal just wants to make him obedient. I didn't really like this book. I don't like to rate books low, generally even if I don't like the direction of book takes, as long as it's a story told well, I usually think it deserves 4 stars. But I think it was bad choices the author made in storytelling so that's why I'm dinging it in stars. I'm going to point out a bunch of moments in the book below that bothered me. I want to add that I have loved books by this author in the past. And I've seen a lot of positive reviews of this book. So I don't know what happened here. Is this just me being sensitive? Am I hyper fixating again? Probably to some extent.
I quickly got tired of Jett insulting the owner of the island not knowing Cal was the owner. We get it! The author is trying to play up the tension! But it just reads disingenuous and fake. Like why does he ramble on about the owner of the island and never complain about the people running the resort? If he's a complainer, why is he picking on the owner of the island specifically?
My main problem with this book is I dislike Cal. There was nothing deep and good about him. Yeah he wanted to get Jett an appointment with his therapist and towards the end he was all 'I want to spoil Jett', but he didn't show emotion really, he was just flinging around his money. I wrote down a bunch of notes of my thoughts on Cal, see below.
Page 108 - I know Cal likes to say that he's feeling protective of Jett but he really just seems to be objectifying him. Thoughts about Jett are purely physical. We're 45% in and it would be nice if there was a bit more emotion.
Page 112 - Cal is coming off predatory with his all his sex and obedience thoughts, show me some more of his thoughts that are more admirable!!
Page 177 - When Jett finds out about Cal, Cal's immediate reaction is to start thumbing through his phone to set up Jett signing an NDA. How cold he is! He's a machine. It also shows that the relationship hasn't been developed enough for Cal to be able to trust Jett, which is fair given how little relationship development we have seen on page beyond their sexual dynamic. I'm disappointed, I would have expected more by the 73% mark.
Page 197 - Cal has just found out that Jett has issues with his mother. And that his mother abused him, locking him in a closet and starving him. Jett flirts with him immediately after that. And I know Jett is young and a flirt and that's where his mind goes. But Cal jumps straight into sexualizing Jett. What a bad friend. How could he not comment on what he just learned about Jett's past trauma? Jumping straight into sexual banter with him and sex rather than acknowledging that is an a****** move
Another thing that bugged me... Page 165. The therapist Jett saw works in facility where most patients are there for a short time. He should be familiar with hooking a person up with services after they leave the facility to continue their therapy. For him to hear about the complexity of Jett's issues, hear Jett say he's leaving soon and uncertain about how to continue therapy and then tell Jett 'oh at least complete one focus outdoor activity before you leave'... that is not adequate continuing mental health treatment!
The author made some questionable choices about what happens off page. There were multiple cases where Jett knows something that he had as far as I could tell no business to know. But if you put it together, he must have got the information from Chase or Holden. Show us those interactions or at least tell us that Jett is spending time with them! By skipping doing that, you make it seem like a plot hole in the book. Also, near the very end of the book Cal makes reference to Jett sleeping over most nights in his bed cuddling with him. Yet none of those sleepovers snuggling were shown on page. The author missed out on a huge opportunity to show non-sexual intimacy developing, and that was much needed in my opinion.
Another questionable thing... Page 199 and 226. These guys are so dumb. They should have talked and made plans for having a relationship outside of the island! They knew this was coming. They just declared themselves boyfriends and proceeded to not talk about the practicalities of how the relationship continues post Island. So dumb, and then Cal had to run to Jett all dramatic. Sigh.
Some notable moments:
"The infamous Bob. The lone fucking monkey. He hops down, scrambles across the hot sand, and climbs onto the table next to me. He stares rudely and intently. “So we finally meet, Robert.”"
"The way Ned’s eyes linger on Jett’s hot pink bubble butt makes me feel possessive. I side-eye him, annoyed at the endearment he’s giving my boyfriend. It makes me reckless and horny for what’s mine. “I’m going to fuck you so hard you’ll be sleeping on your stomach for the rest of the week.” I hear a commotion behind us, and Ned has tripped over himself or the cooler and is sprawled out in a pile of drinks, ice, and hot sand. Jett snickers, unable to help himself."
*FYI about steam: I rate steam based on a combination of quality & quantity. I note kink separate from steam because I don't want to underrate steamy reads that don't have much kink.
**Note about spoilers: I like to comment on the plot of a book in reviews, so I almost always mark my reviews as containing spoilers. But I try to avoid spoiling the big dramatic moments! As a reader, I personally like to know what I'm getting into before I read a book so I know more about the content and if it's to my taste/mood, so I try to give that information in my reviews for myself when I'm considering rereading and also for other readers.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
From the very first page I KNEW that Jett was going to be a special character to me. He’s a bit spastic, a bit gloomy, a bit neurotic, a bit lonely, and a bit desperate for something he doesn’t understand.
They also had some AMAZING chemistry and one-liners. Jett reminded me of my ADHD self with his dramatics and thought process and I wanted to hug him. Cal fell for the younger guy quick asf and he wasn’t ashamed of it. SWOON, y’all.
What a fantastic ending to this amazing shared world!
POV: 1st, Dual SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ANGST: Mild; some mental health issues
It's like he knows my desires before I can voice them myself. It sets me on fire.
🌟 Star Rating - 5/5 🔥 Spice Rating - 3/5
What To Expect: 🖤 MM Romance ❤️ Enemies to Lovers 🖤 Age Gap ❤️ Hurt/Comfort 🖤 Hidden Identity ❤️ Forced Proximity
I do not like twenty-one-year-old, impulsive boys with no manners. I enjoy submission. And I get the feeling Jett wouldn’t submit too easily. Although, that might make things interesting.
𝑨𝑹𝑪 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒗𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒆𝒙𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂𝒏 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘
While I am so sad this series has come to an end, this was a banger of a book to close it out with! Charli is the absolute best at writing low angst books with the best kind of steam! After meeting Jett and Callum in Reckless, I was curious about what their situation was, and it was so much better than I anticipated! The only thing they have in common is their careers and their chemistry, I was wondering how they would get along together, and it was HOT! Dealing with a mental health aspect, it was lighter than some of the other books in the series but no less impactful. I swooned so much reading this, it was a light ending to the series and the cameos from other books was the absolute best!!
Ugh. I just couldn’t do it. This book isn’t awful, truly. It’s just not good either.
Jett Roman is a child star that ends up being drugged and sent to Black Diamond under the assumption he has a drug problem. He’s twenty one but written like he’s twelve. I couldn’t get past the over the top dramatics and overuse of exclamation points. It was just too much.
Callum Ryan is the secret owner of the island Black Diamond resides on and is twice Jett’s age. That’s all we get about him. Oh, and he likes to be dominant. Or what he thinks is dominant.
Also, there’s the goddamn monkey again. What monkey can draw a dick on someone’s face? Why is he even there? What’s the point? Honestly, Bob seems to be the common thread that tells me if I’m going to like one of the Black Diamond books or not. All of the ones he’s been included in have gotten low star ratings for me.
Anyways, I’m disappointed that this is the last installment especially considering that some of the others in this series I would consider some of the best mm romances of all time. This just really missed the mark for me.
I can honestly say that I immensely enjoyed reading shattered. I was a little reluctant to read it after not enjoying abysmal from the same series but I’m so glad I gave this book a try. Cal is a mysterious man who keeps his true identity very close to his chest and doesn’t open up that all changes however when movie star Jett storms onto the island, they start of on bad terms but lust and feelings soon develop. I was never once bored when reading shattered which can happen sometimes. I definitely recommend reading this book you won’t regret it.
Had the potential to be better. It was cute and funny! I really liked Jett, but Callum seemed dull to me? And the writing for Jett seemed kind of cringe. He’s 21 and talking like a millennial;-;
But nice to see Holden and Chase !! My faves !! And theo and jordan — also my faves <3
This entire series has been entertaining to read and this story fits right in with the rest. Jett and Callum were a fun couple to read about. I enjoyed it a lot.
For the record, I want it known that I love Charli's books. I also loved the Black Diamond Unlucky 13 series, and I'm so sad it's over.
Shattered was WONDERFUL 💕💕💕
Jett is a former child star, now big-time actor. He's 21 and filled to the brim with trauma and theatrics and ... he's a ridiculous tropical storm of a man. Like, a whirlwind in a body. After [redacted], he gets sent to Black Diamond and almost immediately meets Cal.
Callum is a billionaire flying under the radar at Black Diamond. He lives there practically full time, he's a workaholic, and happens to like submissive partners.
Are you looking for an age gap? Low angst? Brattitude? Some seriously LOL moments? I can't recommend this story enough!
For real, I laughed so much during this book. Jett really is ridiculously over the top, and I can absolutely understand how his joie de vive lured Cal in and helped him live again.
This book was fun with some serious moments thrown in, and it was a wonderful wrap-up to a seriously entertaining series.
ARC review Shattered (Unlucky 13 series) By Charli Meadows
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ Age gap Hurt/Comfort Billionaire and his brat Forced proximity
“Mojito. Extra ‘jito please.”
Shattered closes out the Unlucky 13 series and I was so happy to learn it was ending with one of my favorite authors 💕
“I haven’t come in days!” I blurt out in a whiny voice. “My balls are dark blue at this point. Friggin’ navy!”
We meet Jett and Callum in this book and I knew right away that I’d fall in love with them. Jett Roman is a little superstar brat who’s very determined to get his way. He loves the dramatics and isn’t shy about mouthing off, regardless of who he’s speaking to. Callum Ryan gives off major daddy vibes with his need to protect and comfort (much to his surprise). He’s a billionaire with a secret who soon realizes that he actually really loves impulsive brats.
Shattered stays very on brand to Charli’s style of writing, giving us that feel good romance with low angst. I love seeing her sense of humor injected throughout her books and this one didn’t disappoint (none of them ever do).
While this book is part of a series, it can most definitely be read as a standalone. I normally insist on reading things in order, but that didn’t happen here. I had zero time to get caught up, but I knew I’d jump straight to this one as soon as I saw Charli’s name. Because if she wrote it, I’m reading it ASAP.
While this book has one of Charli’s signature fun, steamy, and lighthearted stories, it also goes deeper into serious issues that we only discover about the characters as they spend more time at the Black Diamond Resort. Callum and Jett are just so perfect for each other. While there are the obvious differences, such as age and mannerisms (Jett is the funniest energy ball and quite the brat while Cal is calm, collected, and certainly bossy), they both are also completely dedicated to their work and don’t spend enough time recovering and resting. Jett has all the right to be mad after a misunderstanding with his agent lends him on the resort island. And while he certainly could have acted better on arrival, it’s pure luck Cal is drawn to the young actor and takes it upon himself to guide him as he settles in. There is instant attraction between these two, yet it takes a bit of time til they act on it. But once they started to touch each other … holy island paradise, these two did not hold back! I loved their chemistry, I loved how Cal knew exactly how to handle Jett and how he helped with his healing. Although Charli kept the overall feeling of this book light, emotional traumas were discussed and solutions were offered. Cal also has his own issues and by choosing to keep his identity from Jett he risked the best thing that happened to him in all his life. This story was an epic closing to this amazing, multi-author series. It had a great number of cameos from previous books (even from Bob) and made me wish that this magical island would exist for real! Please check the TWs for sensitive content! I was fortunate to have received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my honest review.
Jett tiene veintiun años y es una estrella de cine a la que la toma de una droga por error le causa la pérdida de un papel importante por lo que su representante le envía a recuperarse durante unas semanas a Black Diamond Resort & Spa. En cuanto llega, empiezan los problemas y conoce a Cal, el dueño multimillonario en secreto de las islas donde se encuentra el resort. Cal tiene 38 años y entre ellos ahí una atracción instantánea aunque también un tira y afloja.
No diría que es una historia de enemigos a amantes como indica la sinopsis. Tampoco ha acabado de gustarme la dinámica de su relación ni tampoco creo que haya habido una gran evolución de sus personajes. Además, la historia se sintió acelerada y me faltó profundidad. En las escenas sexuales había cierta dinámica sub/dom que normalmente no me suele gustar pero tampoco fue demasiado, así que no fue algo que destacaría como negativo del libro.
I really enjoyed the story (let's be real, I enjoy everything Charli writes), MMCs were 🤌🏻🤌🏻 BUT. It felt like there could be so much more depth - both characters were totally capable of bringing it to the story. It would be beautiful to explore more of Jett's background because he's clearly damaged in so many ways. The same goes to Cal. It wouldn't hurt to change some smut (le gasp!) scenes to showing a real connection over traumas.
Anyway, I read it in one sitting, so it says something too, right? 😅
CALLUM AND JETT!! These two were the perfect pair to end the amazing Unlucky 13 series, and while I'm sad it's over I am so thrilled that these books exist and we are blessed with so many HEAs from one island resort that seems to make men do "crazy" things (like fall in love!)
I remember seeing Callum and Jett from "Exception" by Cora Rose, which is Chase and Holden's story. That's another thing about this brilliant series, the way these characters show up in other books making little cameos or in this case, teasing/hinting at what's to come! We see some of Jett's brattiness and Callum's reaction to it, and I was LIVING for it!! I was ecstatic to get their full story and it did not disappoint. I read it in one day!
The story is full of moments where you can really see the deep connection building between these two characters, and while they start by getting on each others' last nerves, the forced proximity makes for a steamy explosion of spiciness!! The way these two truly care for each other was really special to see. I wouldn't expect anything else from this author -- Charli Meadows writes characters who see each others' souls and fall in love deeply. I would read anything she writes!!
Well, we reached the end of the road. We have to go back to real life, the vacation at the Black Diamond Resort is over... But... BUT, I hope that the owners of this resort have mercy on us and next year invite us to spend a few days (months) there again!
Shattered by Charli Meadows is the last in the series. It brings us the story of Jett, who we had a brief, tiny introduction on T. Ashleigh's Scandal. I was intrigued from that moment on, wanting to know more about him, and well, here he is, in all the bratty, spoiled glory of him. But that's just what you see with the naked eye.
It turns out there's a lot more underneath Jett than meets the eye. Yes, he's a spoiled brat, but only because it's the only thing he has to defend himself against loneliness and the fact that everyone around him has only used him for their own benefit, starting with his mother, his agent, his best friend, and ending with... his mother. Yes, I mention her again, because she is the key, the reason for all of his behavior and the pain and trauma that he carries inside him, thanks to the emotional and physical abuse that he received from her since he was little. It took a scandal, a betrayal and a confusion for Jett to end up at the Resort, but it is thanks to that that he meets Callum, and although at first they only butt heads, soon all that changes, thanks to the fact that Callum manages to see beyond the superficiality that surrounds Jett.
Soon they immerse themselves in a relationship where, thanks to Callum's firmer hand, his dominant side and his guidance, Jett begins to bloom, he needs someone who was firmly on his side, who supports him unconditionally (in addition to Lucy, his best friend and really the only one who did not betray him within his circle), someone he can trust, and it is thanks to Cal that he finally seeks the therapeutic help that he also needs so much.
For Callum, meeting Jett turns his life upside down. He was routinely just focused on his business, working constantly, enjoying his island, yes, but it was lonely and unrewarding not having someone to share his life with him. But Jett changes all that, giving new purpose to his monotonous life, and new vitality to his soul and body, and he soon realizes that what they have could be "forever".
It was great to see the cameos of other characters from the other stories, and remember some of the emotions they generated when I read them.
Overall, I loved this book. Although at first I felt like shaking Jett, I soon felt like hugging him and showing him that not all people are like those who failed to give him that love and support when he needed it most.
Fun, with enough hot moments, romantic gestures but also with some anguish, this story had a little of everything. I'm really sad that this is the end, but I hope to revisit Black Diamond once in a while!
I was given an advanced copy and voluntarily wrote a review.
Jett Roman is having a bit of a week. Turns out his best friend has sabotaged his career, causing Jett to make enough of a scene that he loses his dream job and ends up in rehab. Callum Ryan isn’t impressed with the actor throwing a tantrum on his island. But he agrees to let him stay on the resort side of the island in the villa next to his. Cue sparks flying… Wow, this book ticked so many boxes for me! Spoiled brats who aren’t what they seem…secret billionaires…opposites attracting with lots of snark and spice…plus a tropical island that sounds amazing…✔️✔️✔️✔️✔️ I loved watching these two get to know each other. Jett could be a brat, and Cal was a bit controlling, but they both had reasons. The progression to friends to lovers felt right. And oh boy did they bring the heat. The minute Cal saw the flare in Jett’s eyes when he scolded him, they were both lost. Sure Jett was impulsive, dramatic, and over the top. But I liked him. Being a working actor since he was a child, there was a lot he wasn’t allowed to do. Watching him enjoy little things made your heart melt. You could see why Cal wanted to give him the world while simultaneously wanting to spank him. I was impressed with how Cal thread the needle of getting Jett to ask for help. Jett really needed someone in his corner not looking for financial gain. Even though Jett liked to tease Cal about being an old man, there wasn’t a Daddy vibe to their relationship. There was caring, patience, indulgence, and a healthy bit of discipline, but you felt they were equal partners. I loved their HEA - and the delicious bit of karma in it. This is the final novel in the Unlucky 13 series. It can be read as a standalone, but having met some of the other couples, I’m going to go back and check out other books. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a honest review- and honestly, I loved it! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SHATTERED by Charli Meadows, book thirteen in the Unlucky 13 series is Callum and Jett's story.
Callum is the owner of the island on which Black Diamond Resort resides but likes to keep a low profile and seem like a year-round island patron.
Jett is a childhood acting star who has been sent to Black Diamond by his manager after being sabotaged.
Callum saves Jett from being admitted into rehab but ends up with him as his neighbour because of the change. Jett gets under Callum's skin with his bratty ways, but Callum is determined to teach him some manners.
WOW! Callum and Jett are burning up together on the secluded island. Jett knew exactly how to push all of Callum's buttons to get exactly what he wanted. I loved the way Callum was able to help Jett heal all while healing a part of himself at the same time.
This was my first venture into Charli Meadows books and it will not be my last. I have truly enjoyed the books that I have read in the Unlucky 13 series and can not wait to finish the rest of them.
Get ready for... mm, age gap, billionaire, secret identity, close proximity, British hero, bisexual representation, BDSM, kink, told in the dual first-person point of view.
Okay, so I haven’t read all the books in this series but when I saw that Charli was contributing, I flipped out.
Because Charli’s boys… 🫠 If you’ve read Charli’s books, you know what I’m talking about. I’ve said it before and I’m gonna say it again with the risk of fangirling:
Charli’s boys are role models! They are so freaking emphatic, sweet and just decent that my heart just expands when I read her books. Golden retriever, cinnamonrole alert! 🤤🩵
But I’m getting off track which happens when I’m excited. And yes, Charli, your book got me freaking excited.
This is hands down the best book of the series (that I’ve read)! It was so good, you guys. So cute, fun, hot as fluff and with a heartwarming story.
And Charli. Charli, Charli, Charli… 👀👀 you’ve been holding out on us, girl! Let’s be honest, when I first saw that Charli was writing an age-gap with daddy/boy vibes, I was like Mkay… interesting…
But… OMFG! This was hot! The dirty talk, the spanking, the rimming… the possessive vibes! Damn girl! Cal and Jett are just explosive together. I loved it all! 🩵😍
And the humor was just full blown crazy. I laughed so hard. Jett is just such a brat and Cal just knows exactly how to put him in his place 🫦🫦
I could go on and on but I just have two final things to say and a fun fact:
1. You get all the freaking stars Shattered all over the place, Charli 🩵 2. Read this book. It is freaking awesome 3. I once had an older, British lover called Cal, but he was a freaking A-hole so I’m so glad that Jett got his HEA😉🤭 (TMI, I know. Get over it!)
*edit is mine, pics are not *I begged for an ARC from the author and this is my honest review
What do you get when you take a bratty boy living next door to a sexy older man with Daddy energy and place them on a remote tropical island? An insane amount of chemistry that will leave you ready to combust!
Admittedly, I was unsure about Jett in the beginning. He was combative and entitled, but he had been through the ringer and had a lot of emotional baggage and trauma and was suffering in silence. My heart ached for this broken boy who just needed love and support and a place to belong. Enter Callum Ryan. YES PLEASE! Cal is the perfect book husband material. Cal had completely mastered giving Jett the direction and purpose he needed while also providing his unwavering love and support. He is gentleman who isn’t afraid to dole out punishment when it’s deserved, which made for some seriously hot moments.
The romance is a slower burn but these two had a sizzling connection right from the start. I love how their romance took a friends to lovers approach, the author really building a connection before diving into the spice. And let me say the payoff is well worth it because the spicy scenes are off the charts hot. Passionate, intense and exploding with chemistry, Jett and Cal have an incredible connection that brings this story to life.
I’ve only read a few others in this shared world but the crossover scenes were really fun and have made me curious to read some of the other Black Diamond books I haven’t yet picked up.
I can always count on Charli to give me a sweet, low angst romance with all the spice and chemistry and connection, and I absolutely loved Jett and Cal. Shattered is definitely a must read for those MM romance readers looking for a sweet and spicy book with low angst and high heat!
Shattered by Charli Meadows is the last Black Diamond novel in the standalone, multi-author Unlucky 13 series. This MM age gap, light enemies to lovers romance story is about Jett and Callum.
Jett is a twenty-one year old actor that has been sent to the Black Diamond resort for a misunderstanding. He immediately gives the staff a hard time and complains about the island. He eventually is led to stay in a villa on the water, but immediately finds himself locked out due to his impatience. Lucky for him his neighbor, Callum, is there to offer his place until things get worked out for Jett. Callum is a thirty-eight year old businessman that runs billion-dollar corporations and owns his own design firm. He also just so happens to own island the Black Diamond resort resides on.
Jett and Callulm are definitely attracted to each other when they first meet, but they don't act on it right away. Jett acts like a brat and is just so sassy, but Callum is right there to put him in his place. The banter between these two is amazing. We learn about Jett's sad upbringing and horrible mother, as well as the betrayal from his best friend. Jett trusts Callum and lets him comfort and support him. He even agrees to see Callum's therapist friend. And Callum lets Jett help him enjoy life and everything it has to offer. I loved how they were able to be what each other needed and were amazing together.
It was exciting to see some of the characters from the previous Black Diamond books make appearances, including Bob the monkey! Shattered was a wonderful story and perfect ending for the Unlucky 13 series!
I received an advanced copy of this book, and this is my honest review.
The final book in the Unlucky 13 Series, so here we go:
Jett is a 21 year old actor who gets sent to Black Diamond Resort after being drugged on purpose by his "best" friend who wanted him to lose out on an important movie role. Once he arrives, he meets Callum who instantly saves him from being admitted to the Black Diamond Rehab center, where everyone wanted him to go all along.
Jett is loud, brash, forgets his manners most of the time, but he is also emotionally neglected so it causes him to act out at others, especially in Callum's presence. Cal is 38, British, always working, and is somewhat a mystery patron of the island, at least to most there. When he originally meets Jett, he wants to be around him all the time even though he doesn't do relationships.
These two live to push each other's buttons and I am here for it! Jett does anything imaginable to rile Cal up to see him lose his mind. Their playful banter was present from the first moment they met and never seemed to let up. And the spice? Good grief, these two lit up the pages with how much they couldn't get enough of each other.
Much like the other Unlucky novels, this one also touches on mental health issues that many people face, especially Hollywood actors who always seem to be locked into scandals/drugs/alcoholic episodes. Jett's childhood and current parent situation made me sad, as it seems no one was ever truly there for him besides his friend Lucy, and of course, Cal.
I received an ARC from Charli and this is my honest review.
Jett was anxious and took a pill to calm his anxiety and everything went downhill. His agent send him away on rehab to Black Diamond and soon after arriving there, he slammed into a solid brick wall named Callum. And their story begins…
Jett had awful childhood being child actor and without a good role models while growing up he’s now a twenty-one year old brat. Cal is a secret billionaire who works all the time and when Jett arrives things changed. Cal is taking care of Jett and Jett shows Cal that is okay to have fun on the most beautiful island.
The smut was really good - Cal being Dom is very protective of Jett and Jett being sub is a teaser and a massive brat. The only problem I have with this book is Jett - I couldn’t stand him and his behavior was a bit too much for me but if you like bratty man you’ll love this book. All in all, I really enjoyed the story, it was fast and easy read and Charli did a great job with this book as the last book in the series. Oh and also, Bob was there!!