Nearly Broken

Nearly #1

by Devon Ashley

We’d both gone missing at one point, but Claire had one thing I didn’t. Someone to notice. So why was I the one still here and she the one still gone?

Nineteen year old Megan Smith has spent the past year working in a small town diner in the middle of nowhere. Life is quiet, simple, safe. Then comes the news that her look-a-like has gone missing.

Claire.

Still damaged both physically and mentally, Megan's not looking to be noticed. Wherever she goes from here, it's a road she needs to take alone. But when Nickolas Ellis takes the job as the new nightshift cook, it scares her how easily her defenses crumble down, down, down for him. But there are secrets she can't bear to share with just anyone, unspeakable acts that continue to haunt, and when the similarities of Claire’s abduction couples with the fear of an unwanted visitor in town, the urge to run before it all happens again intensifies, threatening the only happiness Megan's ever found.

New Adult Romantic Suspense / Dark Realistic Fiction
Recommended for 17+ for mature and disturbing situations, language and sexual content.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Dark, Abuse, Contemporary, Suspense, Contemporary Romance

367 pages, ebook

First published June 4, 2013

About the author

I'm a mom, a lover and a fighter, a coffee addict, a total smartass, wicked knitster, a Microbiologist, a baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to the death for that last Twinkie bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh, and I say seriously way too much. Seriously…

Ordained awarded 2011 Reader Views First Place for Best Fantasy

Favorite Silly Quote: Cedric didn't die. Carlisle found him and turned him into Edward.
Interesting Fact: I share my birthday - December 16th - with my favorite author, Jane Austen. And Theo James. That's right. Be jealous. :D

Reviews

[Alexis *Reality Bites* · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER FREE REVIEW -mature content reader discretion is advised.
4.5 STARS out of 5
Genre: New Adult Romance
WARNING: If you cannot handle reading about rape or reading a rape scene then I highly suggest you move on. This book is not for the faint of heart it contains rape, kidnapping, cutting and sex trafficking.


This book left me SPEECHLESS. Dark romance lovers this one is for you!

This book ripped me apart. I don’t know any other way to put it.
TOTAL BONE CRUSHER.
THROUGH MY CHEST CAVITY.
HEART. RIPPED. OUT.


‘Myrtle Creek was safe, so small and inconsequential you couldn’t even find it on a lot of maps unless you zoomed in on a digital copy or bought a local fold-up.’

Megan Smith is a nineteen year old girl on the run after being held against her will by a man she knows as a family friend. Currently living in a small town working as a waitress at a diner, Megan has learned to lay low and make no attachments to people that could tie her to them or the town. Because… because he’s still out there.



In the process of breaking free and escaping her captor Megan is left with some severe scars on her body. Scars that have left her very self conscious. Of course the outer scars don’t even compare to the internal ones. After being raped daily along with the physical abuse and other inhumane treatment Megan feels as if she was left broken.

While on shift at the diner a female customer sees Megan and calls her by the name of Claire. Megan looks around assessing that no one else is present in the empty diner and tells the woman that her name is Megan. The woman tells Megan about how she is identical in looks to her little sister Claire who went missing a few years back.

Curious of the age difference between me and my newfound twin, I scanned the flyer. Born September 17, 1993. She’d turn twenty later this year, just four months before me.

The resemblance is uncanny.

We’d both gone missing at one point, but Claire had one thing I didn’t. Someone to notice. So why was I the one still here and she the one still gone?

Megan is on a one woman mission called SURVIVAL. After what she’s endured and escaped there is no way she plans to go back in to captivity. Things start to change when a young guy named Nick takes a job at the diner on the night shift with her. His excellent cooking brings in the customers. But its his good looks that bring all the local girls to the diner wanting to know who he is and if he is single.

Not much gets pass Megan, she is suspicious that he is not all he lets on to be.




Nick comes along and starts to get pass Megan’s highly constructed walls. She can’t help but start to fall for him. And neither can I. Nick shows her that when you fall for someone looks are not what matter it’s the heart.






Nick’s milkshake may bring all the girls to the yard but he only has eyes for Megan. And he makes it known. Things get serious real quick between the two. As they get to know one another she shares with him how she got scarred. Unfortunately he is not honest with her about everything.

When she discovers the truth she is devastated.

Nick and Megan manage to move on as his secret from the past converges on their future. They slowly begin to build a relationship. An all consuming relationship filled with love the bond they build makes them inseparable as she seeks to replace her bad memories with good memories.

And now I will shut up because the story takes twist and turns that you never see coming and I refuse to spoil it.


My Casting



My Thoughts
I highly recommend this to my friends who enjoy a dark romance read with an unexpected plot twist. This book may not be for the faint of heart but it is very good. The author has a great writing style and she gives you an excellent story with characters that deserve a HAPPY ENDING you would fight for. READ IT!


My Ratings
Characters- loved some hated others
Writing Style- Very good
Plot/Storyline- Highly emotional and contains disturbing content
Steam Factor- Medium/Moderately Steamy
Overall- I loved it! READ IT!!

Now go forth and read. Then come tell us about it on Goodreads!
For more reviews got to http://realitybites-letsgetlost.blogs...
*Copy kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Lady Vigilante (Feifei) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!!



By far one of the best books I’ve read this month!!! Though not perfect, Nearly Broken is a well-written NA romance with plenty of suspense and steam, lighthearted and tender moments, and a side dish of dark (my favorite). I’ll be diving into book 2 ASAP!

The story is about nineteen year old Megan, an introverted and quiet waitress working in a diner. She’s running from her ugly past – a past that includes human trafficking & working as a sex slave – and so she keeps her head down and stays out of the limelight. In the process of escaping her captor, she was severely hurt and burn scars cover her body. Believing that she’s unattractive, plus her naturally wary attitude towards others, Megan completely isolates herself, doesn't have a social life and doesn’t bother pursing any relationships.

Then she meets Nick, the new cook her boss hired and there’s just something more to him than his terrific culinary skills. He slowly breaks down her well-constructed walls and gives her hope for the future – a future that doesn’t always include haunting nightmares and always looking over her shoulder. He makes her feel wanted and special, not some battered and broken girl, and accepts her for who she is.



I absolutely LOVED these characters! It’s not often where both the hero and heroine make a positive impression on me but it happened here. Megan’s a great female lead: she’s hurt and bent but not broken and I could really sympathize for her. As for Nick, what a fantastic, swoon-worthy hero! Plus he knows how to cook! The first half of the book really focused on Megan’s healing process and her second chance romance with Nick. Despite the dark content, the story (up to now) was pretty lighthearted and I was fully prepared to give it 3.5 stars – it’s an engaging story but nothing screamed “wow.” Yet.

Then after the 50% mark, the story took a DARK turn and to say I was fully invested in the book would be an understatement. My ultimate weakness is dark romance and though this part felt a little sudden and out of place in this story’s context, I’m still so ecstatic that it was added. I think this author must have a knack for writing dark content because this section was my favorite part in the book – the “bad guy” (sorry, no names because it would be a spoiler) is quite excellent at what he does and his persuasion skills are top-notch (er, at least in a dark, antagonistic way).

I know the blurb mentions Megan’s look-a-like Claire but that part of the book I’m not even going to touch – when you read it, it’ll be pretty obvious what the connection is but the why is something that’s left for you to solve while reading and I want you to experience it for yourself.

I really don’t have a whole lot of complaints with this book – I didn’t know it then, but it was exactly the kind of book I needed after a few “meh” reads in a row. The author’s writing is terrific and engaging, the story plot had my attention, and I loved all the characters (even the bad guy was appealing in his dark, twisted way). The ending was a bit rushed and it definitely could’ve ended there but I’m really glad that there’s a book 2. I feel like Megan and Nick’s story is far from over and I’m glad there’s a second book that explores more.



P.S. I really, really love the bad guy, even though he’s the…bad guy. He’s just so fascinating! I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t reading the next book just to get a glimpse of him hehe.

Thanks Geri and Christine for reading along with me!! You ladies rock <3

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

♦ 4.5 nearly broken, roller coaster ride STARS. ♦



This book was such an emotional an unexpectedly surprising read.

This book was nothing like I expected it would be. It was not an easy read at all. Parts of it were downright disturbing and highly twisted. It is a story that includes kidnapping and some other very explicit content. Because of the many twists and turns, this story constantly kept me on the edge of my seat. The author's intriguing and captivating writing style managed to suck me in from the start and I could just not stop reading until I reached the very last page and everything finally returned to a somewhat "peaceful" situation.

At the beginning of the story we meet nineteen year old
♦ Megan Smith. ♦



With no family left, she has run away from home and from the man her deceased parents resigned her to stay with until she turned eighteen.

He was an awful man who hurt her in the most cruel ways and who kept her captive in his own home until the day Megan finally broke free.

Now, she spents her time working as a waitress in a small town.

"One year, five months, nine days since the fire, since I sealed my fate, a decision that would haunt me until the day I died."

She never lets anyone close enough to form a real connection with them.

She spents her nights being afraid of the dark and the memories that still haunt her to this day.



♦ The moment she escaped, she knew her fate was sealed. ♦

She would be destined to spent the rest of her life hiding.

She would be destined to spent the rest of her life unable to trust anyone around her.

But then she meets the charming, goodlooking and mysterious
♦ Nick. ♦



He's the new cook in the diner where Megan works and although it seems odd for a seemingly talented and succesful guy like him to get stranded in such a small town, Megan and Nick start to develop a strong friendship.

She finally feels like she has found someone to open up to.

♦ He finally gives her hope for a future. ♦

A future where she won't have to spent every second looking over her shoulder, in fear of being found by the person she fears most in life.



Nick finally makes her feel safe and wanted...

He seems to accept her just the way she is, broken and with scars from a horrible past.

"Megan, all you need to know is that the day I met you, I knew right then and there that you were the girl for me, and that I was going to do everything possible to spend the rest of my life with you."

But, is life ever safe?

Is it ever okay for Megan to let her guard down?

Or will she be forever taunted by her horrible memories and the one man that still haunts her nightmares to this day...



♦

I very much enjoyed reading this captivating story where nothing is what it seems and I can't wait to find out how it continues in the sequel Nearly Mended!

[Christine Wallflower & Dark Romance Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Frankly I don't know how to write this review without giving away the entire story. So here goes...



This is a book about Megan, someone who has been through a horrifying course of events. We are introduced to her when she has just escaped her prison, she's broken and doesn't let anyone get close to her. When Nick is hired at the diner she works at, she feels drawn to him. She feels comfortable around a man. Something that quite frankly never happens. Nick sees how broken and scared Megan is and he relentlessly begins to break down the walls she has built around herself.



Their relationship is not an easy one, but it is filled with moments that are sweet and at times heart-breaking. Secrets are revealed and nothing is as it seems.



The last part of this book did a complete number on me. It was mind-fcuk after mind-fcuk. Frankly it was quite disturbing, the detail in which some of the scenes where written seduced me into wanting to know what would happen next but at the same time it was horrifying. This book is not for the faint of heart. I seriously don't know how I'm supposed to feel about the character that was introduced in the last part of this book. All I'll say is there is a story there, I may be wrong but still...

[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

"I was nearly broken, my life shattered into so many pieces I wasn’t sure I’d ever get them back in working order again. I was freaking Humpty Dumpty, a shell of my former self, trying desperately to seal the cracks and fill myself back up with what I had lost."



I literally DO NOT know what to write here because anything I say will give away spoilers, so this will be a spoiler free review-



Megan Smith lives a quite life in a small town. Life is simple for Megan working in a diner, safe...
This was just a means to surviving.. and not to be noticed or found and hopefully forgotten.



She's broken and damaged outside and inside trying to forget the fate that caused the Ugliness as she calls it..



"Megan, you can tie your hair back, cover yourself head to toe with clothes that are too big and avoid wearing any type of makeup. But people are still going to notice you. Men are still going to want you. You’re the fucking opposite of ugly. Everything about you is beautiful.”

When Nick starts working at Megan's diner as a cook, she starts letting him into her life, breaking down her defences and finally talking about what happened to her..




"The only memories I have that I know are real, are the most haunting of all. What am I supposed to do now? How am I supposed to go forward now that I can no longer trust my own thoughts, when what they’re telling me might not even guide me in the right direction?"


Then there is Claire..

Who is Claire because Megan doesn't know a Claire? It must be a misunderstanding that they have so many similarities?

Megan was abducted and so was Claire. Why did Megan make it out and not Claire?

I'm going to be honest and say this book starts off slow,but then again any Dark Captive Book takes me back to C.J Roberts series and our beloved Caleb

Luckily for us, even though it was a captive story, it was completely different.

The truth Nicks been keeping comes out and Megan is shocked into another world.

"I don’t care if you want to hide from the rest of the world, just don’t hide from me anymore.”

I would recommend this to anyone who like Dark Emotional reads.



There are sudden UNEXPECTED twists that leave you SHOCKED!!



The steam factor is medium but like I said, the situations are different.

"I’m haunted by all these horrible, negative images. I need to know there’s something better, to feel something so pure and incandescent, that it’ll wash away the evil. And I want that touch to come from you.”



Its really worth a read and ill be really interested to see what happens in the next book.

There is no cliffy, Thank God but this story does continue...

"I don’t want to be scared anymore. The only time I’ve ever felt safe is in your arms. I do love you, and I just want to let you in all the way. So please. Please fill me with love, because I can’t bear to be filled with fear anymore. It’s suffocating me.”



THE END
But actually just the beginning...

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cover looks innocent, right? Well, don’t let it fool you. Nearly Broken is DARK and has some very disturbing, controversial situations. You will definitely be taken out of your comfort zone. If you’re a fan of C.J. Roberts’ Captive in the Dark, you may enjoy this book. The storyline is completely different but the plot does include kidnapping, rape, and human sex trafficking.

Now, let me set up the story for you.

Nearly Broken is a dark, suspenseful, and highly emotional story about nineteen year old Megan Smith. A woman who was kidnapped, sold in a sex slave auction, drugged, and raped repeatedly until she finally found a way to escape her owner. She’s still broken mentally—and has scars on the outside that remind her of the nightmare she lived through. She’s now in hiding, living in a small town in the middle of nowhere, while working at a diner as a waitress. Megan just wants to live a quiet, safe, and simple life. No one in the small town knows about Megan’s past and she’s determined to keep it that way. Megan lives in fear, always looking over her shoulder, knowing there is always a chance that one of the evil, sick men that kept her prisoner could still be looking for her.

One night at the diner, a woman comes in looking for her sister that went missing a few years back. The missing girl looks like Megan. Her name is Claire Whitaker. But, Megan assures the woman that the girl is not her, that she’s never met this girl before. The sister leaves the diner to continue her search for Claire. However, the BIG question still looms: Who is Claire? And why does she look so much like Megan?

Following her interesting visit with Claire’s sister, a new guy is hired to take the night shift cooking position. His name is Nickolas Ellis and Megan finds herself drawn to him instantly. What is it about this guy that makes her drop her guard? Megan tries to keep him at arm’s length but he continues to insinuate himself into her life. Always protecting her. Flirting with her. Caring about her. Nick has a pretty damn good heart and he makes Megan happy. Nick’s determination and persistence eventually breaks down Megan’s walls. The magnetic chemistry they feel for each other is undeniable and fierce. Megan soon realizes she is willing to risk everything to be with Nick. So, as her walls continue to crumble, she ends up confiding all of her dark secrets to Nick. But Nick has his own secrets. And when the truth comes out… damn. The truth is not easy. Nor is it simple.

As I explained above, Megan is a survivor. She’s experienced some ugly things that no one should ever have to experience, especially being sold as a human sex slave. I cried for all that Megan endured and continues to endure. The majority of the book is spent with Megan and Nick falling love. And, during this time, Megan discovers new things about herself. Her relationship with Nick is complicated yet so sweet. Nick is such an amazing hero. He really does come through for Megan in so many ways. He’s so patient and supportive of Megan. Everything he did was for Megan. This true hero melted my heart.


“Megan, all you need to know is that the day I met you, I knew right then and there that you were the girl for me, and that I was going to do everything possible to spend the rest of my life with you.” - Nick

I’m really trying to avoid giving away any spoilers. It’s hard when it feels like the whole story is one giant spoiler. I only touched on a little bit of the plot. What you need to know is that this story is both happy and gut-wrenching. This story is about a boy and a girl falling in love and second chances. Nick and Megan have a sweet and tender romance that is also very hot and steamy. But the story does takes a shocking turn. What happens towards the end, well… all I’m going to say is prepare yourselves for a stunning and disturbing twist that will leave you reeling. What happens will break your heart, make your stomach hurt, and have you clinching your teeth. I know I’m being vague, but this story needs to be experienced in its entirety. The less you know the better.

The first words that came to mind when I finished Nearly Broken were… Holy Unexpected Hell. Devon Ashley took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride that left me feeling raw and choking on my sobs by the end. I was a hot mess. You should know that the ending was not wrapped up with a nice and tidy bow. Megan and Nick’s story is far from over. It’s not a cliffhanger, though. I’m glad I took a chance with this book. The writing style is wonderfully done. But, this story isn’t for everyone. If you love beautifully, broken heroines, an amazing and true hero, and a dark and sinister plot—then you should definitely read this book. It’s worth it, trust me.

Rating: B+
Heat: Hot

-- A Romantic Book Affairs Review


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[Devon Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who would I cast? Stephen Amell and Odette Yustman.





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3/17/13 Wow. Writing this has been both disturbing and beautiful. Sometimes I don't know whether to cry or scream as the story flows through me.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, here I said I’d never read another book as dark as The Dark Duet series, and yet I find myself again twisting in swirling emotions from the blow this book dealt. To be fair, most of Nearly Broken wasn’t on the level of The Dark Duet series, only the last 25% sucker punched me. While this didn’t leave off on a cliff, it did leave you reeling from the events that happened. Hopefully there will be some mending of this poor broken girl, because if I went through everything Megan went through, I wouldn’t be “nearly” broken, I’d be all the way. A puddle of mumbling incoherence to be exact! I will say I was riveted by this story.

Megan is in an off-the-radar small town in Oregon. She’s there on purpose because her whole life is about staying out of the way. She works in a greasy spoon diner with a loving bunch, making just enough to eke out an existence. She wears baggy clothes, no make-up, hair pulled back and refuses to date. She has escaped the unthinkable, and has the mental and physical scars to prove it. Unbelievably, there is another girl who looks just like her, Claire, that’s been missing for more than two years.

Things begin to unravel when the diner hires a new night cook, Nick, and she can’t fight or deny their mutual attraction. Can she trust him with her secrets? Will he look at her with disgust when he finds out her past? She’s starting to trust him more and more, but this goes completely against her self-imposed rules: keep your head down and don’t draw attention.

My heart hurt for Megan for much of this book. I cried a few times when her past was revealed. Yet, she managed to stay strong and come out of nightmare somewhat intact. There was a twist here I didn’t see coming, and I’m usually very hard to pull a fast one on. I was happy for it to happen!

If I could I’d wrap Nick up in a bear hug! He is just beyond amazing and Megan is lucky to have him. He has his own hurt he contends with which I can only imagine plagues him with blame and guilt on a daily basis, but he made sure to be strong for Megan and look hopefully to the future.

Like I said, this doesn’t end on a cliffhanger more of a “to be continued” sort of ending, but I’m still in shock over the last 25%. I’m hurt and upset, and I won’t stop thinking about this for quite some time. I hope Nearly Mended isn’t as painful. These two need some tender love and care. And some retribution! I hope there’s some of that, too. I guess we’ll have to wait because as far as I can tell from Goodreads, the release date isn’t expected until 2014.

A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

[Didi · Rating 5 out of 5]

UM...OH.MY.GOD....WOW.

That was some crazy, psycho, unbelievable stuff right there! I mean, disturbing, dark, angsty, emotional stuff. I have read a lot of new adult, but never like this.

This book combined some of my favorite things: Kidnapping, romance and suspense. This is the trinity for me, ;-). And because there is so much to say but saying anything would give away too much I'll try and be brief.

It's a story of being forced to escape your past, being wrenched from the ones you love and given an illusion of a fresh start. It's a story of not giving up on the ones you love and persevering when everyone else tells you to stop. It's a story of re-discovering what you left behind and trying your damnest to re-connect with your past. And finally, it's the story of strength in the face of defeat, love in the face of hate, hope in the face of despair and power in the face of helplessness.

I LOVED this book. It was more than the sum of it's parts and it honestly left me shocked and violated at it's worst. Are there really people like that out there? the answer is both disturbing and horrifying.

I also loved the characters. Megan was so strong and I was amazed how she tried to break her own barriers in the face of adversity. She was honest and never came across as broken beyond repair. She always had a glimmer of hope living within her and it was beautiful to see.
Nick was the rock, the promise of hope, the future, the unconditional love and acceptance to Megan. I adored this man for being able to accept what happened to her and erase the bad memories while trying to create new, better ones.

And the villians? I can't say much without giving the story away but they were the most disgusting, perverse, socially stunted and vile creatures I've read about in a long time. These people were the basest, most savage insults that humanity can live without. And to think they truly exist and roam this world freely is beyond comprenensible.

Loved this book! A new and refreshing new adult with great characters, a wonderful suspense-ridden romance and enough darkness to satisfy the most discerning of connoisseurs--you know who you are! ;-))

[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars!!

This book?



Granted, it wasn't nearly as dark as I expected it would be but I felt it's definitely the perfect book for those who are looking into exploring darker themes in their romance books. This book is definitely more on the sweet side but I'm not complaining though. I appreciated how the author managed to slowly unravel the mystery of Megan's past and how her past connects her to Claire and kept me interested.

The introduction of Zander definitely made the story a lot more interesting as he is definitely an interesting character. One thing is for sure, this is definitely not the last we've seen of him. He's definitely coming back and I'm so looking forward to it.

Thanks, Feifei and Christine for the buddy read. Definitely looking forward to the next book now.

[Vikki ~ *squee* lite ~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting story. It certainly surprised me. I had a hard time connecting with Megan and Nick. I guess I didn't feel like they had enough reaction to what was happening. They both talked about how much they were effected, but I never really felt it.

I think maybe I've read too many "dark and twisted" stories, so this one didn't have a whole lot of shock factor. . And I guess after reading how say, Caleb worked, Zander seemed like an armature The ending was... Anti climatic. It felt like either the epilogue should have been left off, and leave you wonder what happened, or we should have gotten more. It left me kind if feeling "huh". I do wonder if it was left that way to leave things open for a second book.

Overall, interesting and unique story, but it felt like maybe it was trying to straddle the line between "dark and twisted" and regular love story, and kind of ended up being neither.

[Jessica's Book Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

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This is the first review I am writing that I do not know what to say in fear of giving away too much in this amazing book. I want to keep it short and simple, but do know this is a MUST READ book. I spent my entire Sunday reading the book without putting it down because I just had to know the ending for Megan. I needed her to have a happy ending, somehow…

Be warned, Nearly Broken is a deeply emotional, disturbing book that will take your mind to places you never want to go. It is a tough read due to the circumstances and disturbing scenes of kidnapping, rape, and sex trafficking. With that said, it is also a phenomenal story about a brave girl and a sweet romance that really should be the main focus of the book in my opinion because love concurs all. I found myself completely falling head over heels in love with the character of Nick. He is one of the sweetest men I have ever read in a book. He is simply a good, caring man who took his love for his girlfriend to a whole new level. I loved the character of Megan but Nick was the breakout star in the book to me.

“Megan, all you need to know is that the day I met you, I knew right then and there that you were the girl for me, and that I was going to do everything possible to spend the rest of my life with you.”-Nick

Devon Ashley is a terrific author who took Nearly Broken in so many different directions I did not know what to expect next. She is a brilliant writer who has earned a new fan. I loved every single thing about this book from beginning to end. Nearly Broken is told entirely in Megan’s point of view. You read of her past before everything happened, to the pain she endured, the love she has with Nick to what she goes through later on in the book. I cried for Megan, I really had tears. Sex trafficking is a real issue that happens EVERYWHERE, even in the United States, like it did in this book and it makes it even harder to read about knowing it is a real issue. Bravo to Ms. Ashley for being able to write a story with such a controversial topic and not being afraid.

I know this book might scare off readers with such a disturbing topic but I really hope readers will give it a chance because underneath it all is a story of strength and love. With as many “rough” scenes there are in the book there are just as many that will warm your heart and you might just fall in love with Nick too.

“I want to be with you forever, but we can’t move forward with that until you begin to heal yourself.”-Nick

I cannot wait for the next book in the series. Megan’s story is far from being over.

I give Nearly Broken 5 GIANT stars.

Thank you so much to the author Devon Ashley for providing me an ARC of Nearly Broken.

[Rachel L · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

Megan has a motto that she rigorously sticks to: Head down. Stay off the radar. Haunted by her past Megan moved to a small town in Oregon and became a waitress in a small diner, the perfect place for her to hide. One night a girl named Thea comes in with a missing persons flyer with a girl that looks exactly like Megan, but it's not her. Megan doesn't have a family and her past does not match Claire's. Still, the fact that they both were taken and looked alike nags at her subconscious. On top of this, the new cook at the diner, Nick, has Megan confused for he is breaking down her defenses like no one before...

This book ripped me to shreds. It's very dark and twisted and there was a wonderful plot twist I almost didn't see coming (almost because I guessed a small part of it). I don't want to give away much because the reader should not know the story going in, it really enhances the suspense of the book. I will say there were moments when my heart broke for Megan and all that she had been through, and Nick was the perfect guy in helping her through her issues (a best book boyfriend for sure!).

The main themes I picked up on in the book were safety and survival, much of the book revolved around Megan and her struggle to feel safe in her life after the events that scarred her emotionally and physically. The survival aspect was much more about Megan dealing with her actions and choices on how she survived. Again, I don't want to give away much, just that this book surprised me in many ways, it did not turn out at all like I expected (this is a good thing) and it surprised me with it's elegant writing and the feelings it invoked in me while reading it. One of the things I didn't like about it is the fact that it's a series, it really could have ended with this one book, but we will see where it goes. And there is no cliffhanger, so don't worry!

My original review available here: http://drizzlehurricane.blogspot.com/...

[Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

****4 Captivating Stars****

I'm trying to get my feelings in working order over this book since they are all over the place right now.

The book was awesome and hard to put down, but there were times I found myself just thinking...OK - what's gonna happen....JUST LET IT HAPPEN!!

After Megan was found and explained who she really was...I kept thinking that maybe Nick and her "so-called" family were part of the sex slave ring

I was surprised by the ending and was finally able to take a relieved breath! ---- Well, maybe not!

This is a story about Megan who just escaped a kidnapper who had her drugged and locked in a basement. She is physically and emotionally scarred hiding out in a little town as a waitress. One night a girl comes in with a flyer for a missing girl who looks exactly like Megan. The diner hires a new night-shift cook named Nick who seems to take over the protection of Megan. Things start to heat up between the two of them and Megan starts to open up about her past.....until????

Well, sorry you just have to read the book to find out what happens next.

[❀ Crystal ✿ - PEACE ☮ LOVE ♥ BOOKS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nearly Broken has easily become one of my favorite books. If this book was a living breathing thing, I would make babies with it. Or at the least with Nickolas...

Nearly Broken played to every one of my reading desires. There is NOTHING and I mean NOTHING bad I can say about it. I loved every single page and though I felt the end was a bit rushed I was a hairbreadth away from throwing a full blown tantrum and stomping my feet when it ended. Devon Ashley I have this to say to you in regards to Nearly Broken-“Wow. You have honestly done an amazing, superb job and I honestly thank you for writing something so real, heartbreaking and wonderful."

Now to the good stuff, I will try to keep my review as simple and straightforward as possible because there are many plot points and I don’t want to spoil a single one. There are some more disturbing and dark moments, so if you normally veer away from those, I’ve warned you. We meet Megan Smith who is working in a dive of a diner for the past year or so. It becomes clear very soon that Megan is running away from something and hiding from her past. But unlike most girls running from their past, Megan has due cause to be afraid and stay in hiding. It’s not until a new cook, Nickolas, comes along that Megan begins to break from her shell.

I almost want to break down over how much I want to say about this book but aside from it’s the BEST THING EVER, I will not say anymore. I one million percent recommend this book and could not have been happier reading it and just in knowing that I was lucky enough to read it. This book is one that will make you sad to move on because it will continue to stay with you long after you are done. The characters will continue to haunt your dreams and you’ll never want to wake up.

[Janell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can easily imagine this book divided into three parts. And if it were, I would say...

Part 1: I REALLY liked it!! Definitely got my attention and held my interest. I could see why it was getting so many 5 star reviews. Sometime during the end of "Part 1" I remember wondering what is going to fill up the rest of the book?

Part 2: The middle part started to bore me a little. It didn't seem as interesting and exciting as the first part had been.

Part 3: This part got my attention again, but by now I had mentally checked out and was already trying to think of what I wanted to read next. The ending seemed kind of rushed. I wish there had been less of part 2 and more of part 3, since 3 is really where the most gripping story is.

Overall, I liked it, but was not blown away as many were. (Perhaps it's because I'm still trying to find a book to compare to one I read a few days ago that DID blow me away!)

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Megan is a young girl working at a restaurant in a small town. Happy to stay in the background and away from the attention of guys. Hiding under baggy clothes and no make up.

Megan has good reasons for this.
But when the new cook arrives, Megan is drawn to Nick and they find they have this connection.
Feeling safe with him she tries to get her life back to some normality after experience terrible things that have resulted in her reluctance to stay in one town too long.

But is Nick here for a reason?

He has a interest in a missing girl called Claire
When he tells Megan, the reason he is here, she is Claire who was abducted and missing, she is shocked. How can she be Claire, there's no way, she would know..wouldn't she
With Megans past still a threat can her and Nick move their life forward together
My thoughts
I didn't really work for me, maybe it was too YA for my tastes or maybe I've heard the story many times.
It was very well written and the first part kept my interest. If I'm honest after that I just found the story very mediocre and until the last 25% I found it hard to keep my attention as nothing really happen.
I think by now we all know that the book changed to a darker level after that.
For me I didn't find it really graphic at all and the author does prepare you that there may be some situations of a disturbing nature. I think it was kept to a level to enable it to be included in the story.
Just my thoughts!!

[Kelli C · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-4 **** I wanted to love this and up until around the 70% mark I truly did, but i was extremely bothered by the 2nd round of torment this girl endured.

Megan is living in small town, hiding from a past and a man so vile. She is existing in a safety net of nothing...staying off the radar. Whe Nick comes to town and to work in the same diner she finally lets her guard down. She exposes her scars, literallly, and confesses her past. Her reality is that of kidnappings, sex trade, female brutality, drugs, and murder. Nick is no longer a stranger to her, but he never really was...His long lost love "Claire" has been missing and she has Megan's eyes, hair, mannerisms, and hydrangea tattoo.

Megan's past is slowly reintroduceed to her and she becomes accustomed to a life with family and love. I was loving the progress...the positive...the new life. But then the Vile past returns and Megan has to survive again.

For me I could not get over this new tragedy...not again. How can this poor girl live thru this again? And how can she move on with Nick after this new rape of her entire being. Too harsh maybe? I would have been ok with her maybe reliving past acts, or her escaping the horror, but I couldn't wrap my head around this conclusion, especially since it seems that it is not the end of her misery. I don't always need a HEA, but this ended with to much tragedy for me! I was "completely broken"

[Brandi · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars!

[Kami Dodson-Perry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not the typical book I would choose to read. This was offered to me for an author review. I have to say I really liked this book. Totally out of the genre I normally read but it was a sad, suspenseful at times, engaging story.

It is about a girl that was kidnapped named Claire and then finding a girl who could be her twin or Claire herself but with altered memories of her life.

Nick Claires boyfriend, Thea Claire's sister, along with all her family members will never stop looking for Claire. What they find is Megan.

Claire's story is a happy past with her loving family and boyfriend until she is taken. Then Megan's story takes over of a girl who fled for her own life and safety. Megan is discovered and Megan's spotty memory brings her face to face with Claire's past and her future.

Nick is patient and loving and will wait forever for his soul mate to be found. Because she will come back to him and he will never stop looking for her.

rating: 4 Stars

[P.A. Warren · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHEW.Have you ever had a book move you so much your at a loss of words?Devon Ashley has done that.As I sit here with my head resting in my hands trying to get my head around this book Im wondering how I will be able to put into words how I feel about this Exquisite work of art. I feel like I need a stiff drink after reading Nearly Broken.This will take me a few days to get over.Deep Breath.This is the story of Megan Smith.Something bad has happened to Megan.Something horrible.Something happened to Claire.What happened to Claire?Megan wishes she could help the girl who came in looking for Claire.At Megan's Job a new cook Nick begans working and draws Megan out of her shell.What she finds out about Nick will literally turn her upside down.But there is a large question looming,Who is Claire and what happened to Her?
This is not my first book by Devon Ashley and it certainly will not be my last.This is not an easy read.But it is a must read.It is not pretty.In fact its nitty gritty.The fact of the matter is she wrote about something that most do not talk about,that needs to be brought to light.Human Trafficking is a horrible thing.Devon wrote this book so well that I literally had to step away from the book at the epilogue due to my emotions being at an all time high.I would LOVE to read a sequel to this story so I can see the progress Megan and Nick have made. You have a standing Ovation from me Devon.You have done yourself proud and I will continue to read anything you write.

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I have to say DEVON ASHLEY you have done it again! Lord how I love to read Devon's books. I am captivated every time I pick one of her books up and read it. I mean I just can't out it down and this book is no different. I am so glad it is going to be a series because I need more Nickolas and Megan. This story has everything in it from suspense to action to all the things in between. I mean Devon knows how to write a book that hooks you right in from the very first page and keeps you reading until the end and when you reach it like I did you say OH HELL NO..........................

In Nearly Broken we meet Megan who has moved to a small town and is working at the local diner as a waitress. She loves her job and she loves that fact that she has found this small place to call her own. She has secrets that she wants to stay buried and a past that she wants to forget. What other place to do that than a small town. She is working the diner living her life free of her past until she meets Nickolas who is the new night chef. Megan has kept everything together bottled up inside her until she meets Nickolas. Lord Nickolas knocks down all her defensive walls she has built and slowly she lets him in. She has fallen for him but she is afraid of her past.

Then just as her and Nickolas are getting to know each other Megan finds out that a girl looking just like her has disappeared. Her name is Claire and when Claire goes missing Megan's worse fears are about to come true because you can't run away from your past without it coming back to haunt you. A man comes to town and everything that Megan has worked so hard for comes crashing down as her past is there to confront her. Soon her past will collide with her future and she will have to decide what to do. Will she run or will she stay and confront her past and the secrets she has hidden?

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this book was something else! At first I rated it only 4 stars because it was so disturbing and I was comparing it to other 5 star rated books like "The Tied Man" (or maybe "Captive in the Dark"). But, the subject matter in this book is somewhat different and in a way even more disturbing that those two books. But, now that I've reflected on it, this book does deserve to be right up there with those other 5 star dark and brutal books.

This book was horrifying, scary, romantic and unsettling. Unsettling because what happened, happened twice. I think the victim and we, the readers, felt that she was going to recover and an HEA was in the works. However, after the second time we all knew, while the victim escaped again, no one would ever fully recover and yes, there was kind of an HEA but there would probably never be a full one. Congratulations to the writer for lulling us into thinking everything was going to be hunky dory and leaving us very unsettled.

To those who read it, just beware it is very brutal in certain parts, but I couldn't put it down.

[Tahsin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know what I was expecting when I started this book. all I do know is that I wasn't expecting this to be nearly ad good as it turned out be. I only finished Hothouse Flower last night and I had the mentality that I would be not nearly as satisfied with the next book I read as I have been. it was a pleasant surprise.

Megan is a strong protagonist - one of the strongest I must say. the situations she overcomes is astonishing. i don't know how many more in her predicament would come out on the other side not just alive, but wanting to live.

this book was one long series of mind fucking games. I loved it. and I'm so happy now to know that there's a sequel. it was open ended enough that the author could have done without any followups but I'm so glad that she's giving us more of that world.

[Soshi_fan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a hard Bo to read because of the intense content not because the book was bad. Very enjoyable if you are looking for a very dark gritty read. Bring a box of tissues when you start this one. My only compliant was the ending. That's how to decided to end the book. I pray that there will be a sequel to this. I want some closure.

[Tanja ~ KT Book Reviews · Rating 2 out of 5]

Subject matter triggers if you are sensitive to sexual abuse.

For some reason it all felt a bit off for me. Not enough time spent really getting to know the main character IMHO. I wanted to like it more, but I just didn't. I wasn't really expecting the path this book took either, but that's on me for not reading more reviews.

[Roses Book Blog · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say this before I begin this review. If you are looking for a book about hearts and flowers you are looking for the wrong book. The material in this book is not for kids and not for the faint of heart. With that being said I LOVED this book.

Megan Smith has spent the last year laying low and doesn't want to be heard or noticed. She's happy working her night shift at a small town diner where she ended up one her way to Portland, Oregon. She still has scars both physically and emotionally and wears long sleeves shirts to hide the damage the fire caused a year ago before she went on the run. Megan was involved in a fire and is hiding from the man she killed and the one that survived. She's happy and safe in the small town that is until a woman comes in late one night and shows her a flyer of her missing sister, a girl who looks exactly like her. Claire went missing six months before Megan broke free from her captors. She doesn't know who Claire is, but they look almost identical and are the same exact age. Megan keeps the flyer in the back so no one will start calling in missing person tips since she looks exactly like the girl.

Megan's life is thrown even more into a loop with the arrival of a new night time cook, Nick, a few days after receiving the flyer. Megan isn't looking for a relationship and just want to stay hidden. But the more time she spends with Nick working in the diner and with him escorting her home at night so she doesn't have to walk in the dark it's only a matter of time before their relationship starts to grow. Soon, Nick is staying with Megan and while she likes having him around, she notices that Nick only has some clothes and personal items that he took with him from the hotel he was staying at. Now at this point I misunderstood is role in the story at first I thought he was someone searching for her about the fire but I was wrong about is role in this story. I really wish I could say his role but that ruins the story.

It's not long before someone from the past shows up into the picture and has Megan scared and ready to run again. I was really scared when the man from the past showed up, believe me Devon is really good at making you feel like you're the one hiding inside the diner. Nick finds Megan and soon they leave together. I really wish I could go into more detail but it gives way too much away about this story, but believe me it's totally worth the read on this one. Especially since it deals with one issue that I have read a lot about and it really hit at the heart of this subject. This story was compelling. It had me hooked from the beginning and even more so when Megan started talking about what happened about that night that sent her on the run and when she learns so many things about herself. This book was an easy 5 stars and has quickly climbed it's way into my all time top 10 favorite books and believe me I have read plenty of books over the years but this one was a keeper. I applaud you for this book Devon it was a wonderful read! How could this story have been better??? The only way would be to write more about them, I wasn't read for the story to end!

***Review copy provided by author for review. A HUGE thanks to the author for allowing me to read her work***

[Tricia Santos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received copy of ARC. Review to come!

See full review at Falling In Fall http://fallinginfall.blogspot.com/201...

I rated Nearly Broken four leaves! This book seriously should have come with a warning. So, I’ll go ahead and give it to you. I thought this book would be a light summer read, and it was in the beginning. But after the truth comes out, the book becomes twisted, dark, and heart-breaking. It touches upon the themes of human-trafficking and rape. Why was I not warned?! If you’ve ever heard of CJ Roberts’ Captive In The Dark series, you might have already been exposed to this. I have, and I loved that series; however, this book, despite its shared dark side, is totally different. It made my heart hurt in another way. Regardless, this book is still phenomenal. I’ll admit, it was hard to finish, but with characters like Nick and Megan, how could I not?

Nick kind of reminded me of Will Cooper from Colleen Hoover’s Slammed series, in how sweet, patient, and attentive he was. He was there for Megan in every way. Even when she didn’t think she needed him or even when she didn’t say anything, he knew what she needed or wanted. It was so very awww-inducing. I loved him. Megan is insanely strong. She has this incredible survival instinct, and knowing what she’s been through tears me apart. I don’t think I would ever be able to endure the same stuff she has been put through. I never got angry with her, which is rare because I usually end up hating the heroine for at least one part of a book. Well, the only parts I hated her were when she kept denying the hot chemistry between her and Nick. Oh, and when she actually did get Nick, because let’s face it, Nick is perfect. They are truly soulmates, and despite how many challenges they are put up to, I had no doubts in my mind whether or not they would make it.
Another note, I can’t say much about the plot without giving anything away. The synopsis is pretty vague for a reason. This story hits hard. Surprisingly, I was sucked into it from the very beginning. Devon Ashley is one heck of a storyteller. She added just the right amount of angst, mystery, desire, darkness, hope, and love into this emotional read. I’ve never cried while reading a book, but I think Kleenexes might be handy for this one. Not only was the plot a wild roller-coaster, but the characters are very potent. You can’t help but feel everything they’re feeling, which takes great skill on Devon Ashley’s part. I was up until three in the morning starting and finishing this book (total accident, by the way). I had an idea of what was coming, and I wanted to hide, but I really just couldn’t. No matter, the ending hit even harder than I expected. Don’t worry, there is definitely a happily ever after. After all that Megan went through, she freaking needs one! Although, I can’t help but wonder if there is gonna be another book in the series. I mean, there really could be. Not to mention, I would loveee to see some crucial scenes from Nick’s point of view *hint, hint Devon Ashley*. But anyway, I was totally caught off-guard by my first Devon Ashley read, and I must say I will definitely be looking into more of her books.

[♥Sharon♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew this wasn't going to be an easy read for me simply because of the subject matter. Reading about kidnapping, rape and sex trafficking is rather sickening. But weaved into these horrible things is also a story about strength, survival, courage and love. I thought the heroine, Megan, was such a strong person and the hero, Nick, was compassionate.

Megan has done what she has had to do to survive the unthinkable. She is trying to survive each day coping with her past as best she can. She has had to start a new life. She works as a waitress in a quiet town and has made a few friends who have helped her start over again. Who has given her a chance to belong and feel like she has a family. But one day things begin to change. Megan meets Nick who was hired to be the new cook. It wasn't instant but slowly the two of them become close and as Megan lets Nick into her new life, this is when we get our first twist in this story.

Things start to unfold and we find out what happened to Megan/Claire. It is incredibly heartbreaking and painful to read. But there is a constant thread of hope for her. Hope for happiness, hope for a normal life hope for that forever love. And Nick is the one who gives her the hope. Nick and Megan together was wonderful yet fragile. How he showed her how much he loved her just filled my heart. He was patient and gentle. When they reconnected on a physical level, reading about it gave me shivers. It was just so special.

Megan goes through a lot. When you learn of what had happened to her and how she tries to reconnect with her old life, things are not always easy. She has a lot of emotional trauma she is having a difficult time with as well as the physical trauma. Her journey is not an easy one. Then just when I was starting to think she was going to make it, BAM!

There was a twist in that story that had me saying WTF. From then on I couldn't stop until I finished the book. I had to know what was going to happen. The last part of this book difficult for me to read. And if I am to be honest, I found that I had to skim things a bit once or twice. Not because the writing was bad but for me personal some of the things that happened became hard for me to read through.

But I will say the Epilogue was perfect. As I turned each page slowly, one by one, the fingers of the hand that was squeezing my heart was releasing.

[Oana D. L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Megan Smith may look like a normal teenage girl,but her secrets ,the reason why she spent the past year working in a small town diner in the middle of nowhere nobody knows.That until she finds out that a girl whom looks exactly like her has gone missing.Who was the girl?How did she look exactly like Megan?Well,that wasn't easy to find out,but when truth is finally discovered Megan's life will change again forever.

Wow.I know that this is not a good way to start a review,especially with wow,but honestly i'm not sure how else to start .My bad.

When i first saw the cover i thought that maybe this book won't be like this.I mean did you see the cover?It seems so..innocent.Maybe the description is a little strange,but i really ,really,really didn't expect this.
But i admit that i liked the way everything happened.I loved and admired Megan's strenght.After everything she's been through she managed to survive,even if she had to be careful every single day.

The subject-intense and dark,but it seems that every time the heroine is stronger,or that's my impression.Yes,i believe that Megan was strong enough

Between trying to figure it out-at the beginning- who Nick really was and the reason why Megan was on the run,i was really impressed how the author wrote everything.I liked that and i had to point that out.Amazing.

Books about kiddnaping,rape and human traffic all are intense,with hard moments and scenes that make you wanna scream or wish that that moment never happened.In this case,when i first read about why Megan was on the run i couldn't believe it.And what happened after?It was worse.
But before that,before she was kiddnaped again,i loved her relationship with Nick.How they were together.It was amazing and pure.Something that should have lasted longer.

Nick was absolutely amazing and charming.The kind of guy who really loved the girl and wanted to make her happy.The kind of guy who never stopped searching for the one who had his heart.And he was the kind of guy who it was worth sacrificing everything for.

Eeep.I'm still trying to recover after those scenes i read-the bad ones.But it was worth it.You have to read the book in order to understand what i wrote about above.You won't regret it.