Trista has been on the run for years, attempting to escape a past that isn’t willing to let her go. Life taught her that she can rely only on herself for survival, and in turn, it’s made her cold, calculating, manipulative, and just a little vindictive. She knows they’re out there searching for her. She knows someone will always be right behind her, but a life spent running and hiding is exhausting. A life spent fighting and outsmarting her pursuers takes a toll. Jersey is a soulless hunter. As far as the world is concerned, his identity was erased right alongside his humanity. Now, he works for an organization that pays him to locate and return treasured and sought-after things for questionable people. Giving up any remaining emotional connection to the world was a small price to pay in exchange for becoming the most efficient at what he does. He is assigned the jobs that so many others have failed. There’s no length to which he will not go to find success. Their collision is explosive when Jersey finds himself face-to-face with someone else who’s used to living in isolation, someone else who’s used to surviving by any means necessary. Their limits are tested when one will stop at nothing to escape his custody, while the other will do whatever it takes to return her to those who are willing to pay.
This dual-perspective, dark romance is emotionally turbulent and is intended for readers over 18 years of age. There are trigger warnings included within the first pages of the book. Please read and understand them before venturing further.
Ember Nicole crawled directly out of the fiery pits of hell and setup camp in the cornfields of Indiana to begin her writing career. Now, you’re all plagued with her existence in your realm. She might have a family. Maybe even a pet. But that’s none of your concern. Mind your own business. Ember rules as the chaos queen over her intense fan base of Heathen readers. She lives on coffee (as long as it is not f’ing iced coffee), thrives on the emotional upheaval of her beloved Heathens, and writes in peace to the melodious screams of the condemned souls in her precious cornfields.
Find her on: Instagram: @embernicole.author TikTok: @embernicole.author Facebook Reader Group: Ember Nicole’s Bad Ashes
IT’S THE WAY I LITERALLY HELD MY BREATH ON AND OFF FOR A WHOLE HOUR????????????????????????? Like y’all I’m literally out here WHEEZING because holy CANNOLIS this book???? UMMMMM??????????? WOW.
I am OBSESSED with jersey boy! He gives me such psycho vibes that it reminds me of both Zade and Sibby (without her lil friends talking to her in the corner lmfao). Just absolutely, completely UNHINGED and deranged to a dang T. BUT IT’S ALSO THE WAY I COMPLETELY ATE THAT UPPPPPPPPP!
And Trista!! OMG. I could feel jersey’s irritation with her, and I could empathize with her so much. She is the perfect FMC character, and I loved that we got to see the vulnerable side of her in little moments. I loved watching her relationship develop with Jersey AND that they both remained so grumpy and true to themselves and each other. They’re so grumpy that it’s comical.
BUT LAWD THAT LITTLE CLIFFHANGER THAT WAS LEFT FOR ME???? UMMMM??? yeah so like imma need a second book STAT because I cannot cannot cannot WAIT for more Jersey Boy and Trista.
Also brb while I MELT over how SOFT Jersey gets for his handler, Memphis. Literally take me and throw me off a roof. When he started calling her “honey” and “sweetheart” when she was absolutely terrified? OMFG. SHAKING IN MY COREEEEEEEEEE.
All in all. I’m fucking obsessed.
1,000/1,000 stars.
Thank you SO much to SunnybabePR & Ember Nicole for the ARC!
Break for Me By Ember Nicole Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️ ⚠️Check trigger warnings
Get ready to swoon over my newest book boyfriend, Jersey 😍 He's the perfect mix of morally grey and irresistible. The way he dirty talks and puts Trista in her place had me blushing! And Trista, she's a badass who never fails to give Jersey a run for his money. Their banter had me giggling non-stop! Get your hands on this steamy dark romance ASAP! 🔥
💔 Break For Me, the captivating first novel in the Broken Bounty series, takes you on a wild ride with Jersey, a wounded bounty Hunter haunted by his past, and Trista, a fierce and elusive target fighting for her life. As their journey unfolds, their destinies intertwine, and the unexpected consequences leave them both shattered. 😱✨
Trista is like the ultimate FMC character! 😍 She's like the perfect blend of annoyance and relatability. I mean, you can practically feel jersey's eye roll whenever she's around, but at the same time, you can't help but root for her. Her romance with Jersey, it's like watching two grumpy cats trying to out-sulk each other. It's seriously a laugh riot! 😂❤️
Hold on tight! That cliffhanger has got me feeling 😱😱😱 Can't wait to see what happens next! 🙈✨
“Busting out the damage and ruined pieces would be like taking a sledgehammer to a brick wall, but I’d take that same sledgehammer to myself so that she could rebuild herself with the broken shards of me that were stronger.” Break For Me by Ember Nicole 💜
This. Freaking. Book. It honestly had me hooked from the very beginning, and that ending?! Ugh.
Tropes: ✨Enemies to Lovers ✨Age Gap ✨Forced Proximity ✨Slow Burn ✨Duel POVs ✨Bounty Hunter MMC/On the run FMC.
ARC review: 4.5⭐️ Jersey (MMC) is your perfect morally grey, grumpy bounty hunter who is just trying to get a job done, but Trista (FMC) makes that nearly impossible with her all her sass and constant running. The banter between these two was perfection, and I’m going to need book two immediately because that ending was rough. 🫣 4🌶️ “Only good girls get called good girl. Bad girls end up in my handcuffs. They choke on my d*ck. Bad girls get f*ucked in every way imaginable until they beg me to stop. And then I f*ck them a little harder” IM SORRY, WHAT?!🥵
August has been a great month for me because I'm here with ANOTHER AMAZING DARK ROMANCE BOOK!!!!!!! I am so - actually beyond in love- more like OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK!!
First off...MEMPHIS!! man, I wish I had someone like her in my life 😈🤣 she's amazing, funny and a person you wanna have in your life in order to make it through life 😍
JERSEY BOY!!!! *sighs* I mean....I don't even know where to start because...wow....like ....I mean....“Let it happen, baby,” “Break for me. And shatter me with you." 😩🥵 take me away already...
And Triss...baby G, you have my heart!! We actually have alot of common...well maybe just that we irritated the hell out of ppl when we want 🤣 but damn I love her so much!!!
Persephone! You sexy piece of shit!! Even tho you're an object...you managed to steal Jersey's heart...and mind 😍 I love you too baby, with all my heart!!
GAHHHHHHH I'VE NEVER HAD TO CLENCH MY THIGHS SO HARD WHILE READING TILL I READ THIS 😩 RIP ME!!
Y’all. Y’ALL. Ember has done it again! This book was extra special to me, because I’ve had the privilege of meeting Ember in person, talking with her daily, and hearing the way she actually speaks and thinks. This book felt like I was sitting with Ember at a bar and talking to her. Despite the heavy content material, it felt comforting and easy. After coming from a mound of fantasy books, reading this was so wonderful and welcomed. Her writing comes from the deepest, darkest, but also most warm and loving parts of herself, and every. Single. Sentence. Showed exactly that! She truly poured her heart into this one and I devoured it in less than 24 hours. Break For Me is the first novel in the Broken Bounty series. We are introduced to Jersey, a painfully broken bounty Hunter with a dark past, and Trista, an expensive and elusive bounty that has thwarted Hunter after Hunter by staying off the grid and fighting for her life. Trista and Jersey violently collide together as they travel across the country so Jersey can deliver her to certain death. Somewhere along the way, intentions change and neither are prepared for the fallout. Read this book if you like 💜Dark Romance 🖤Age Gap 💜Enemies to Lovers 🖤Bully Romance/Mafia-esque stories 💜SPICE 🖤Two sassy as Hell FMC’s vs. a poor Marine who doesn’t stand a chance I loved this book from start to finish! It was easy to read, had short chapters, the spice was incredible, the tension left me screaming, the cliffhanger will have you begging on your knees like a good girl 😜
Well… Ember… I am broken for sure 😭 I’m obsessed and just need the next book asap please 🖤🖤
I love love love Memphis with all my heart. You will never change my mind on that. 😘💀🤘🏼
The push and pull between Jersey and Trista was better than anything I could’ve imagined. That was a fabulous build up in the slow burn and holy shit when it lit up 🔥🫶🏼🫠
Does anyone hear voices when reading books of people narrating it for you? Because Joe Arden narrating Jersey’s voice was all I could hear and I have to say… 🥵 that would be perfect 🖤🤷🏼♀️
Jersey Boy is mine ladies… sorry to tell you all that, but I have him bagged.
The way Ember writes her men is second to none, but there is something about this man that gripped me from page 1. The way these two want k!ll each other but also want to bed each other, made me laugh out loud… and the hotel scene with the handcuffs. Yep, I’m all for that.
A must read if you’re a fan of Embers, just don’t forget, I called him first ✌️
DNF at 10% - both POVs sound the same - the hero sounds like a woman - the h is promiscuous - the dynamic isn’t working for me. I was praying the girl he’s talking to in the first chapter wasn’t the h, but she definitely is. 🫤
Moving on.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It’s been a while since I have been in the mood for a triller, suspense, crime, romance but by god have I missed it!
Jersey works for an organisation that finds treasures and other sort-after things for the right price for questionable people. He doesn’t know anything about the organisation he works for and his only contact is Memphis, the sassy voice at the end of the phone / ear pieces, whose talent for anything technology knows no bounds. Together they have been rising up the ranks. When another team fails at the task abruptly named “the retirement” it is finally time to stretch their skills to the absolute limit.
Trista has been on the run for years. Living on the run, has turned her into a cold, calculated, manipulative and vindictive human that will do nothing to keep on surviving. When she comes face to face with Jersey, will she be able to survive or will their collision rain chaos on everything they think they know.
It’s been a few days but I am still not escaped the hold this book has on me. My jaw hit the floor at about 15% and stayed there until the last page (let’s be honest…it’s still there!!) and probably why I read it in one sitting!
Ember paces this book beautiful with a delightful balance of storytelling, character development and spice. While this book does come with a boat load of triggers, I found myself laughing, particularly at the banter between Jersey and Memphis. It added a little light relief to a book that had me on the edge of my seat and my heart racing.
Now let’s talk about the enemies to lovers aka Jersey and Trista, whose chemistry is off the charts. The high stakes of their situation adds another layer to the delicious tension bubbling between the two and when it explodes … OMG perfection!
And the CLIFFHANGER!! THE CLIFFHANGER!!! I nearly threw my kindle across the room - not even the sneak peak at book 2 could save me (BTW I need this book immediately!!)
If you love the below, you’ll love this book 🖤Enemies to lovers 🖤Age gap 🖤Dual pot 🖤Forced proximity 🖤Slow burn
Please make sure to check the TWs and thank you to SunnyBabePR and Ember for an ARC
Well, it's official. Ember Nicole officially has me right by the lady balls, as if she didn't already.
As soon as I saw the blurb for this book I KNEW it was up my alley, directly down maya boulevard per-se. If you are looking for a GENUINE enemies to lovers...look no further. These two bicker and joke like they genuinely hate eachother, but we all know the truth.
Jersey, a bounty-hunter with his identity erased along with his humanity. Trista, a girl on the run escaping her past and some very scary people. They both are very calculating and equally chaotic Their collision is explosive and full of hatred turned to lust..turned to.. dare I say, love?
This book was pure entertainment from start to finish. The plot kept getting thicker and thicker. The banter in this book HANDS DOWN slides right into that #1 spot for me. Even the side characters will have you falling in love with them. The dynamic between these few misfits it's absolutely addictive. And the smut? Somehow these characters love and hate each-other so much its utter perfection. I genuinely never thought I would love hate-sex so much, but I do.
To put it quite simply, I devoured this book. I was in my first ever book slump when starting this, and I think this just might have saved me. ...Now what am I supposed to read?
Thank you so much Ember for allowing me to get my hands on this early and BETA read it, as well as gifting me the ARC copy.🖤
DARK, SPICE, PAGE TURNER, GREAT CHARACTERS, WILD RIDE!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️5/5 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️4/5
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this storyline! Ember Nicole did an excellent job and writing these twisted, beautiful, delicious, frustrating characters! That age gap& forced proximity though 🔥 LORD HAVE MERCY! I always love me a good enemies to lovers but dang is this book good! I need more! The frustration was real with Jersey and Triss, their feelings for one another while denying it(hiding), uugghhh!!! this one is another wild ride of a read! Roller coaster of events and emotions that will leave you breathless/mind fecked!
Happily recommend this wild ride of a book! Watch your triggers. Enjoy!
First off, I would like to address the rumors going around.
Yes, I read the last pages first.
Moving on.
This book follows a bounty hunter hoping to bring in his final payday--the "retirement" job--and the job herself, Trista, on a cross-country nightmare road trip to return her to the highest bidder. Jersey doesn't know why. And doesn't care why. Until he does.
If you're looking for a dark romance with a tense slow burn, great dialogue, and a whole-ass plot, this is it right here.
Loved this book! Can’t wait for the second one to come out. Jersey is the best grump and Trista is a great “balance” to that 🤣 I enjoyed their dynamic and banter a lot and the spicy scenes were 🤌🏽🤌🏽🥵🥵 Like for real 🫠🫠🫠
Quotes like “I want your screams. I want you to break your fingernails on my skin. I want the fucking air in your lungs” had me in a puddle on my couch and my husband wondering wtf happened to me 🤣
Break for me is my first Ember Nichole book and I really wasn’t sure what to expect except that it was going to be dark!! What I didn’t expect was to fall I love with suit wearing , tatted up , kidnapper. Jersey works for an organization that hunts down and brings people/ objects back to the highest bidder. His team is tasked with bringing a spitfire of a woman with rbf back to Philadelphia. But she doesn’t make it easy. From running every chance she gets to running her mouth to annoy him Trista is a force to be reckoned with. Can she be the one who finally breaks through the monster to see the humanity beneath? Jersey boy has dirty mouth and even dirtier intentions. This book is dark and twisty. But also stuffed full of dirty dirty spice. It ends on a cliffhanger that may leave you crying and ready to go to war. At least that’s how I feel after having just finished
This is a fantastic book! I couldn’t stop reading it. Jersey and Trista had some things in common…they both had been alone for so long they didn’t know how to be near others. Their attraction was more than they could fight and I don’t think they wanted to. I loved reading how they gave in to that temptation all while “hate” flirting. They made each other on edge. But they made each other feel alive. I loved it. This ended on a cliff hanger and I can’t wait to read until we get our happy ending. I also loved that Jersey already had live in his heart. Sisterly love for Memphis. It made him human and obtainable.
This book was everything & Jersey is now my new book boyfriend! The characters are all a little crazy and It works. I love the constant banter between Jersey & Memphis. The amount of sass from both FMCs was great and there was a good balanace of action, spice, and banter throughout the whole book.
I was speechless when we finally got a look into Jersey’s background. The author did a fantastic job keeping the readers interest from the very beginning. I cannot wait for the next book!
Favorite quotes:
“I’m not interested in someone burning the world down for me. I can light a match all on my own.”
“Let it happen, baby,” I whispered. “Break for me. And shatter me with you.”
Plot: Trista, the FMC, has been on the run for years. Trying to escape her haunted past. By doing this, she's come to rely on herself to survive, making her a cold, manipulative person. Jersey is a Bounty Hunter; he's on the trail for his newest job. When coming against them, he's found someone who is used to being isolated and is surviving by any means, much like himself. Jerseys limits are pushed when the person is hellbent on escaping him. All he wants is to return her and get the job done.
Thoughts: I loved this book. I read it in less than a day. Jersey had my heart; this morally grey man was it for me. Trying to keep his job captured was a feat in itself 🤣 The banter between the pair was comical. Trista had her brat moments, and I was here for it. The chemistry and the tension between then pair set my Kindle on fire. Such a good book. I couldn't put it down once I got into it.
Conclusion: The first book in The Broken Bounty Series does end on a cliffhanger. Dark romance readers will enjoy this. If you love lots of spice, you will love this. I will sit here and patiently, impatiently, wait for the second book now.
“I’ve never been gentle with you, Fancy Face, and I don’t intend to start now. This won’t be slow and easy. I want your screams. I want you to break your fingernails on my skin. I want the fucking air in your lungs.”
Tropes: -enemies to lovers -age gap -dual pov -forced proximity -forbidden romance -dark romance
PLEASE CHECK TRIGGER WARNINGS!!
From the very beginning until the end, this book had me captivated. I have not been in a dark romance mood lately, but this book returned all my favorite feelings from a great dark romance read.
Let me introduce you to my newest book boyfriend, Jersey. He is the morally grey MMC of our dreams 🥵. The way this man dirty talked and put Trista in her place 🫠
And I can’t forget about Trista. She is hardened by the trials life has thrown her way. But she’s hilarious and makes sure to give Jersey all the pushback. The banter between the two had me giggling.
Don’t even get me started on the ending. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Ember, when is Book 2 coming out? I. AM. UNWELL. I was sitting on the edge of my seat crying, only to find myself at the end of the book 🫥
I recommend this book to ALL my dark romance girlies. It had my 🖤 RACING 😮💨. The spice was kinky, twisted, and plentiful 😏 please preorder this book that comes out August 16 or mark it as to be read on GoodReads 🖤
Thank you to Sunny Babe PR and Ember Nicole for this opportunity to read this ARC; all opinions are my own.
4.5 - A couple of things with this one. I wouldn't consider this a romance per se. It certainly wasn't romantic. the push and pull between Jersey and Trista was actually a lot of fun though. They were incredibly similar in a lot of ways which explained why they fought about almost everything. I will say that it is dark but it didn't feel dark the whole time.
The things about Jersey that come to light at the very end of this book shook me! I was devastated for him. He was such an "bull in China shop" kinda guy for most of the book then we find out this thing and it absolutely flipped it all upside down. Turns out he was super complex - still a bit of beast but a beast with a story and big heart.
Trista was running from something and we do get snippets of why. She's much younger than Jersey (15 yrs-ish I think) and she loved to remind him of that. She gave as good as she got though. She stayed a fighter the whole time.
Their "relationship" was mostly physical - they'd only been around each other a couple of weeks and while they did connect strongly, neither knew much about the other. The sex was a battle most of the time so if you're looking for something soft and passionate, this is not it. It was always consensual so don't worry there.
Memphis was an amazing addition - she served as a reminder that Jersey was human and had deep feelings. Their partnership was hilarious but you could also feel how much they meant to each other. I really loved that there were no issues between Memphis and Trista. I really really hate when female writers pit women against each other - so I was relieved that wasn't the case here.
This book is about a Bounty Hunter with a hilarious "lady in the chair." (If you know Kim Possible, you know what I'm talking about) He has a mission that all other Bounty Hunters have failed. And that is capturing Trista 😏.
This book made me laugh from the banter, cry at the ending, and melt from the spice. However, it is a slow burn. It drove me insane. But in the best way possible. I cannot WAIT to get my hands on the next book. Which is coming very, very soon!!!
Hurry and read this first one on Kindle unlimited so you can be ready for the next one 😍
💜 Age Gap 💜 Enemies to Lovers 💜 Spicyyy 💜 Dual POV 💜 Forced Proximity
This book has everything!! Thriller, action, suspense & romance!! Dark romance! Make sure to check triggers ⚠️ .. but if you’re like me trigger warnings are all green flags 😅 The banter between Memphis & Jersey was hilarious & to top it off Triss has a mouth on her! If you like morally grey MMC then Jersey will be right up your alley! It ends on a cliffhanger & I can’t wait to read book 2. It was definitely a ride & it keeps you hooked the whole time & the spice was spicy 🥵
This book had me hooked from the very first page.. it opens with Jersey and we quickly learn that this man is not to be messed with.. not only is he dangerous but he is sexy as hell.. I love his calm funny personality even though he could probably kill you with his bare hands.. in his ear and always a joy to read about is Memphis his partner in crime and almost like his Jiminy Cricket but more cleaver and doesn’t take his shit.. both of them collect people and drop them Off for money… Then they get the ultimate job and they both think it’s going to be easy.. going To be the last one..
But Trista is anything but easy.. Trista has been on the run for most of her life and getting away from people like Jersey has been let say.. not easy, but she managed it. Well she did until Jersey caught up with her…
This story is a journey from the very start and I was caught up in this world.. I love how at some point we were made to forget how Jersey was a trained killer, I softened to him to then quickly be reminded that he was doing a job.. just as Trista was. I felt the emotion and even had a few tears at some points in this book.. when it felt Hopeless for Trista I felt it.. the spice in this book is so hot.. and jersey knew when he was doing and he did not disappoint. The relationship between Jersey and Trista should feel tease and awful.. but the author has a real gift at making you forget that this is meant to be a kidnapping… drawing you in… and then snapping that feeling away.. losing hope. Just like all of the characters.. The book ends on a cliffhanger and I absolutely can not wait for the next one. Please read the trigger warnings before reading this book… But if you love it dark! This will not disappoint. ⭐️Forced Proximity ⭐️age gap ⭐️spicy ⭐️dark romance ⭐️ enemies to lovers ⭐️ dual POV
The first book I’ve read by this author. Now I’m OBSESSED
No spoilers here, this was a fantastic -keep you on the edge of your seat insta hate love/hate even more and love even harder/ ALL THE RED FLAGS a man can have - but he eventually ends up unaliving for her instead of hating her. It’s suspenseful so I won’t talk about the story - it ends in a small cliffy but the next one is going to be downloaded as soon as this review is posted. Absolutely loved it and can’t wait to start the next one. Hand necklaces, dirty talk, rough with a bit of an age gap, sassy AF heroine, the the alpha man who can put her in the place she really wants to be.
I have just finished this book and I’m struggling to formulate words let alone sentences 😅
I instantly fell in love with Jersey’s and ‘Fancy Face’s dry, sarcastic humour and their hate-but-a-little-bit-like relationship. They’re the definition of ‘definitely should not want to bonk one another’ but totally had to. They had me hook line and sinker from the get go!
The story line and plot was fantastic, the spice was ooooof and I honestly cannot wait to get my hands on the next book, I genuinely have need for it in my bones 🤣
I absolutely LOVED Memphis too, I can’t wait to read more about her and learn her story 🫶🏻
In a nutshell, if you like; - Hot AF MC with a smart mouth and an *ahem* trunk like you-know-what - Bada$$ FMC with major sass and hella sarcasm - Smokinnnn’ spicy scenes, like ooof 🥵 - Both a *smidgen* (ok, a lot) damaged - Gripping plot and storyline - Lil’ bit dark 🫣 - Cliffies
This book – WOWWW. I don’t even think I can put my thoughts into words without giving away any spoilers. But my lanta, Ember took my heart and left me with a huge book hangover. All my dark romance girlies – this is a must read for sure.
I absolutely loved the plot, the banter, and the chemistry was spot on between Jersey boy and Trista.
‼️PLEASE CHECK FOR TRIGGERS.‼️
Trista has been on the run for years running from her past. Having to rely on herself, trust issues, and becoming a manipulative person. Then there is Jersey – the Bounty Hunter who has been assigned a job that would change his life really quick.
I’d like to thank Sunny Babe PR and Ember Nicole for this opportunity to read this ARC!
The way I held my breath for the majority of this book, especially the last hour and a half of reading. I’ve been a nervous bloody wreck!
I ate this book up. Absolutely devoured it.
What’s not to love? Dark romance Dual POV Enemies to lovers Forced proximity Age gap
Absolutely divine!
I’m in love with Jersey Boy, no doubt in my mind. Everything about him makes me want him. He’s grumpy and he’s hilarious!
Triss is a badass bitch! She doesn’t need a man to burn the world to the ground for her, she’ll gladly do it herself and she deserves Jersey Boy by her side when she does
The banter between Jersey Boy and Triss is amazing, probably some of the best I’ve ever read. The way they hate eachother. The way they Fuck eachother. It’s too good.
Memphis is smart as fuck and everything we like to see as the weakness to the grumpiest man ever! As Jersey’s handler, she speaks to him every single day and although they technically don’t know each other, they are the most important people to one another despite not admitting it
The story The characters The spice I. FUCKING. LOVE. IT!