Unbreak Me

Splintered Hearts #1

by Lexi Ryan

New Adult contemporary romance. Due to sexual content and heavy subject matter, this book is intended for mature readers. “If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…” I’m only twenty-one and already damaged goods. A slut. A failure. A disappointment to my picture-perfect family as long as I can remember. I called off my wedding to William Bailey, the only man who thought I was worth fixing. A year later, he’s marrying my sister. Unless I ask him not to… “If you shatter, I’ll find you…” But now there’s Asher Logan, a broken man who sees the fractures in my façade and doesn’t want to fix me at all. Asher wants me to stop hiding, to stop pretending. Asher wants to break down my walls. But that means letting him see my ugly secrets and forgiving him for his. With my past weighing down on me, do I want the man who holds me together or the man who gives me permission to break?

Genres: Romance, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, College, Abuse, Adult

230 pages, Paperback

First published May 23, 2013

About the author

Award-winning author Lexi Ryan is a New York Times and USA Today bestseller of hot contemporary romance and sexy, action-packed YA fantasy. Her books have sold over a million copies. A former English professor, she considers herself lucky to have traded stacks of grading for emotionally charged storytelling. She is happiest when at home in Indiana with her husband and two children, where you can find her lifting weights, reading copiously, hanging out with her family, and thanking her lucky stars.

Reviews

[J · Rating 5 out of 5]

★ 5 FREAKING STARS IS NOT ENOUGH!! ★



♫ ♪♫ ♪ I was nothing but a failure. A fucked-up, broken shame.
I was nothing but this emptiness. A shell ruined by fame.
Don't be afraid to shatter, baby, if that will set you free.
I'll find you in the pieces and that will Unbreak me.♫ ♪♫ ♪



*Warning*
ASHER IS MINE LADIES, MINE. I CLAIM HIM.
GOD I WANT HIM SO BAD!!



I can't even.. How do I even explain this to you?

Out of the hundreds and hundreds of books I have read, there is a small handful that have completely, absolutely, down right owned me.

Unbreak Me is one of those books.


Good God
Epic, Just epic

This book took me by the hand and pulled me completely in.. Mind.. Body and Soul.
It stripped me emotionally. I lived and loved every moment of it!
This is the reason I love reading.
The feeling of complete and utter amazement of a story that captures my heart.
The feeling of falling in love with words, with characters.
Lexi Ryan has a gift, and the lady sure knows how to work it.








Maggie Thompson has a reputation.
A bad reputation. Damaged goods. A failure. A slut.


One year ago Maggie was engaged to Will.
Two days before the wedding, Maggie called everything off and left Will, her family and her small town.
One year later walking down the isle, Maggie faces Will, Only this isn't her wedding. This wedding is her sisters.
Will is marrying Maggie's sister and Maggie is the bridesmaid.

William Bailey is an addict, and his drug of choice is Maggie.
William would do anything to fix her. But she wont let him, Maggie is convinced she is broken beyond repair.


Asher Logan is the poster child for the sexy bad boy.
He is a Rockstar who is trying to stay out of trouble.
Asher is instantly drawn to Maggie. There is something about her that seems so familiar.
What Asher and Maggie don't know is that they have already met.
A year ago.


Unbreak me is told through three POV’s. Maggie, Will and Asher.
Now I am NOT a fan of love triangles at all! Nope nada hate them!!! But Unbreak me is not really a triangle but more so a journey.
The journey of Maggie as she puts herself back together from all the pain and hurt she has had in her past.


~ One man holds me together, the other gives me permission to break ~


You don't get all the details upfront of why Maggie leaves Will.
How Will came to be engaged to Krystal.
Why the town labels Maggie a slut.




You have to read as all the truths come out. You have no idea how it is going to end up?
This is how I was hooked. I really didn't know what went down but I sure had fun trying to guess.


Maggie hates herself with such an intensity that no one she respects can get close to her.
A life filled with pain and hurt, her head filled with poison.
Once Asher comes in the picture everything changes, he wants to help Maggie, see inside of her and bring out what she keeps hidden.
Something about her just sets something off in him.

~"Maggie is so miraculously different, I want to breathe her in."~


Maggie just wants a good time. She wont allow herself anything more, she doesn't deserve it.

~"I wanted to bury my loneliness under the weight of a mans body on mine, to erase unwelcome memories with his mouth." ~


But Asher won't sleep with her. He wants to get to know her. He will not have sex with her, when he knows she wants another man.


~ "Fuck, I want you." His hands are on me again and I feel like I'm walking along the edge of a steep precipice, like I might slip over the edge and lose control.
"I keep waiting for you to stop showing up," I say. "To give up on me."
"Do you want me to give up? Because I saw the way he was looking at you last week, Maggie. If you want him, he's yours." ~

~ "I like you Asher. But if we're going to keep this up, whatever this is, you need to know my life is a little fucked up. Im fucked up."~

Asher doesn't believe that and he will do anything to prove her wrong.






Slowly he breaks through her walls and we get to find out her past, how she has always ended up in unhealthy relationships.
It's heartbreaking to learn of her pain at 15yrs old. What a seriously messed up situation. One that had me crying for Maggie.
But Asher doesn't look at her in disgust, he doesn't push her away. He hurts with her.

~ Asher is holding me so tightly it almost hurts, but it's the good kind of hurt. It's a pain that reminds me I'm alive and I'm worth something. ~


MY GOD ASHER!
Kill me now, I die. Seriosuly I die…

~ "You're beautiful," he whispers.
"That's superficial. It's meaningless"
"Sometimes. But your beauty? It's the kind that radiates from your heart, Maggie and it's so damn bright it's beyond these walls you've erected to protect yourself." ~

Sigh….

More and more truths come out.
And then we find out how Asher and Maggie met the first time.


~ How could the Maggie who keeps a steel cage around her heart be the same woman who cupped herself between her legs to keep her baby inside? ~


No words…. that line, freaking heartbreaking.
That whole flash back, Damn. Damn Damn Damn!
God Lexi Ryan. Lady you seriously got it.

~ I wonder if this might be the moment she breaks. What does it say about me that I want her to? I want her to break so I can find her in pieces, just like she does with her mosaics. ~

As Asher gives her what she needs, will Maggie realise that she doesn't need to be fixed.





~"What if no one can fix me?"
"You don't need fixing," He gives a sad smile and wipes a tear away with his thumb. "It's like your mosaics. The beauty is already there, you just find it. Let go, sweetheart."
"I'm afraid I'll shatter."
He lifts my hand to his lips and kisses along the line of stitches running down my palm.
"If you shatter, I'll find you."~


There were so many great lines in this book, heartbreaking moments, laugh out loud dialogue. I practically highlighted every page.


~"Don't be afraid to break Maggie. Stop holding on to the ugliness to just stay whole."~


~"I'm not trying to change you, Maggie. I'm trying to love you."




~Just my luck that I'd pick a bad boy who's all Mr. Sensitivity and wants to get to know me. ~


~"Asher, wake up and smell the third-wave feminism. Women have fantasies too. I happen to find a little frantic, half-clothed kitchen sex hot." ~


Amazing, absolutely freaking amazing.
This is a must read.
GO and start this now!
One of my favourite reads this year!!!!

~My eyes fill at his words, but he doesn't try to stop it. He doesn't ask me not to cry, he gives me permission to. He lies beside me, pulls me against his bare chest, until I'm baptised by silent tears.~


★ 5 stars ★

Buy it
Read it
Love it

[SueBee★bring me an alpha!★]

FREE on Amazon US today (6/4/2015)

Stand-alone book 1.

BLURB:
“If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…”

I’m only twenty-one and already damaged goods. A slut. A failure. A disappointment to my picture-perfect family as long as I can remember. I called off my wedding to William Bailey, the only man who thought I was worth fixing. A year later, he’s marrying my sister. Unless I ask him not to…

“If you shatter, I’ll find you…”

But now there’s Asher Logan, a broken man who sees the fractures in my façade and doesn’t want to fix me at all. Asher wants me to stop hiding, to stop pretending. Asher wants to break down my walls. But that means letting him see my ugly secrets and forgiving him for his.

With my past weighing down on me, do I want the man who holds me together or the man who gives me permission to break?

http://www.amazon.com/Unbreak-Me-Spli...


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[Farah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly... Well done to Lexi Ryan for keeping me hooked the entire book!!

I kept asking myself--->

What the Hell Happened to Maggie??



Maggie comes home after a year for her sisters wedding..
Get this- her sister is marrying her EX fiancee Will?! WTF?!



So Maggie ran away a year ago?
Why?
Why?
Why?
What the hell is happening??



So then we meet Asher...
He meets Maggie at the river next to his house. Maggie used to sneak and swim in his pool when she was younger.

Asher is a Rock star and when Maggie comes on to him and propositions him with sex- probably to hide her pain like she normally does, but Asher doesn't only want sex with Maggie- he sees the broken girl she is.



Instead of trying to fix her, he wants her to step out of the darkness and stop pretending and tell him her secrets.



“Someday," I say softly, "you'll tell me the whole story. I'll wait."
"When you know the whole story, you won't want me anymore. I'm that girl."
"Don't count on that."
When I lift my eyes to her face, she's watching me with something like wonder. "What?"
She shakes her head, "I can't figure you out."
"Good." I cup her face in my palms and trace her bottom lip with my thumb. "Then maybe you won't be able to figure out how to push me away.”

Slowly we find out the terrible secrets Maggie is hiding.. All starting from when she was 15...

Boy oh boy this girl has been through enough. Shame!!
Her Ex fiancee Will still loves her too and soon Maggie needs to make some choices after he breaks his engagement with her sister.

Asher helps Maggie break down her walls and accept the past, deal with her past and confront her past..

“If you shatter, I'll find you.”
“Let me break down these walls you keep hiding behind.”
But your beauty? It's the kind that radiates from your heart, and it's so damn bright it shines beyond these walls you've created to protect yourself”

Don't be affraid to break, Maggie. Stop holding on to the ugliness just to stay whole.”

“I'm not trying to change you, Maggie. I'm trying to love you.”



Only when Asher forgets to tell Maggie a little secret its like deja vu all over again..

When the truth and secrets come out, Maggie realises that Sometimes a mistake can be beautiful...



And she needs to let the past go. It shouldn't taint the future because things are not the same and she can have her Happy ever after!



“I was nothing but a failure. A fucked-up, broken shame.
I was nothing but this emptiness. A shell ruined by fame.
Don’t be afraid to shatter, baby, if that will set you free.
I’ll find you in the pieces and that will unbreak me.”

[Elizabeth (Liz) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t think I can ever adequately express how much I yearn for and love stories that make me feel. Stories that sink down inside me and stay with me long after I’ve turned the last page. When I find one of those stories, I want to share it with everyone!! So, today is my lucky day because I have the privilege of sharing with all of you Unbreak Me by Lexi Ryan!

Maggie Thompson is twenty-one years old, and, even at that young age, she loathes herself more than just about anyone could possibly fathom. She’s desperate to hide it behind humor and a bit of bravado, and does a fairly good job of it until she returns home for her sister’s wedding (to Maggie’s former fiance, no less) and meets Asher Logan, former lead singer of Infinite Gray.

My word, does Maggie have a past full of deep hurt, anger and betrayal to work through. This young woman is suffering, she has suffered, and it seems to be a vicious cycle that she cannot break.

That old shame slithers up my spine and I immediately imagine she knows what I’ve been up to tonight. The trespassing. The strange man. The lust. So many deadly sins, so little time.

Asher has a past that refuses to let him go, as well, and, on paper, these two probably aren’t very good for one another. But, emotion doesn’t listen to reason. They immediately gravitate toward one another. Maggie wants a purely physical relationship, and Asher, in a role reversal, is holding out for more. Asher takes things slowly, and he treats Maggie with a gentle hand, but also one which assumes and recognizes her innate strength. The relationship builds and grows, slowly, as Maggie’s fragile trust begins to grow, but their passionate attraction to one another is near-tangible from the start. These two share a chemistry which singes.

The true focus here, though, is Maggie’s pain. This can’t help but be the case as her pain, all those years of pain, have made her who she is. It has defined her life up to this point. She’s a badly damaged young woman who feels unworthy of the future that Asher wants to give her. Unfortunately, Asher’s past gets thrown into the mix at a time when Maggie’s trust and belief in him and his promises has almost cemented. He DOES NOT handle this well with Maggie, at all, in my opinion. I have to say, groveling was necessary, and it pissed me off that I didn’t get to see it.

Honestly, I love, love, love Unbreak Me! As I was reading it, from the very beginning, I was feeling so much. I’ve noticed recently that a few writers have the ability to combine humor and stories, characters, filled with despair and pain. It makes perfect sense in reality because many times we do cover pain and hurt with humor. Plus, we aren’t ever truly feeling only one emotion. So, humans do have moments of humor even amidst what can feel like unendurable pain. It’s the survival instinct, in my opinion. Stubborn, human perseverance. I’ve been there, myself, as I’m sure many of us have. That said, personally, I have read very few authors who attempt or are able to combine humor and pain. At least, not and make you feel them both with an equal depth. Lexi Ryan makes it look simple—and it’s not! She manages this with a deftness that makes me want to find and read more stories that do the same. In this genre, I feel like those are few and far between. What I’m taking the long way to say is that I found myself laughing on quite a few occasions throughout this book…okay, it was really more me laughing until I snorted, but you get the idea!

“I was in a band.” He wipes his hands on his napkin and shrugs. “Past tense.”

With a dreamy sigh, I prop my chin on my fists. “Who knew that one day I’d be on a date with the lead singer from a famous boy band?”

He scowls. “Infinite Gray was not a boy band.”

“Were there any girls in the band?”

“No.”

“That makes you a boy band.”

“It made us an all-male rock group.”

I bite back my smile. He’s so cute when he’s irritated. “Right, like ‘N Sync.”

He winces. “Not like ‘N Sync. Jesus, watch where you hurl those things. Words hurt, Maggie.”

While I will never dismiss a good laugh out of hand, Maggie’s past and her pain, her story, spoke most to me in Unbreak Me. I don’t know what it is that draws us to other people’s pain. Or, draws some of us, at least. Perhaps it’s knowing, feeling in that moment, that we aren’t alone in our own pain. Maybe it’s as simple as wanting to root for someone you know will heal and have a happily-ever-after, even if we’re still waiting for the same. For whatever reason, personally, I’m drawn to stories of this kind. I swear, I could feel so much of the depth of Maggie’s pain and betrayal, hurt and anger. I even imagined her bewilderment, at times, wondering how these things kept happening to her, contemplating if she sought out similar circumstances time after time, believing that was all she deserved. I empathized with this young woman, though I’ve never been in her exact position. Best of all, I did get to root for her, and I did get that happily-ever-after. That, my friends, is time well spent!!

Unbreak Me has it ALL. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It made me angry. It made me smile. It made me cheer. It made the girly bits sit up and sing…if ya know what I mean *wink*. Whatever you’re looking for, let me recommend Unbreak Me. It’s all there and then some. Trust me on that!!

5 Unbroken & Beautiful Stars!


**ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review**


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[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well ain't this some shit ....

This may contain spoilers because it's the only way I can explain my thoughts . ..I really was caught-up in this book ! But for all the wrong reasons !!! This might be a first for me ... 4 starring a book but clearly not happy with the happily-ever-after ending because I was on the Other team the whole damn book !!!

I'm going to chalk it up to the hopeless and helpless romantic in me .... I just really wanted Maggie to find closure with Will. I felt like their story could've had so much more depth. Their happily-ever after was robbed. Maggie walked away a year ago from her family and her fiancé Will two days before their wedding ??? Why??? So for a second-chance junkie like me ..... I kept reading and reading and flipping each page thinking is this it ? Is this finally the moment when they can forget the past and start anew ??

But I kept reading and ...
The secret....
That river....
The Lucy comments ....
The finally redeemed sister ....
That rocker Asher....
The creepy professor.....

Mother of FFFFF! Everything stood in the way of the ending I was seeking. Even at 87% I was thinking .... I'm still on the wrong team. No good can come of this. Storybook ending score 1 : Anna sappy-weepy storybook ending : big fat zero!

All of my highlights and quotes I loved .... Came from the Will Camp ❤️ My heart is just wired that way. I apologize. I don't understand it myself!!!

If you're broken, I'll fix you. ~Will

"I'm sorry." Does he mean for the kiss? For what he said about Asher? But he says, " I'm sorry I couldn't be what you needed. So sorry. You'll never know." And then he walks away. And I'm alone with nothing but the taste of my regret.

"Will's always been in love with Maggie, and I've always been in love with Will"
"And what about Maggie ? Maggie's too busy hating herself to love anyone"

"I would have taken you however I could get you Maggie. I still would. I don't think you ever understood that. I don't think you ever believed you were worthy of that kind of love."~ Will

Every kiss, every conversation that made me swoony : Will owned it ! Now maybe this is why I didn't have a connection to Asher?

Because I sabotaged a perfectly good ending with my own mental rewrite to benefit my hopeless second chances team ????





I am immediately going into the next book as I must see my Will get his happily ever after Someone please feed my kids and tell them that I love them but sssshhhhh mom's reading!

[Kirsty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best love triangle book I've read.

Anybody that knows me and my reading habits will know that I am usually not a fan of a love triangle book. They all follow the same pattern.. young, naive, virginal girl who suddenly has the whole of the male college population falling at her feet. Thank god this wasn't one of those. The characters are older, a little more mature and more importantly? Not one of them is perfect!

"Maggie, your past is going to visit you and bring your future as a gift."

The story is told from 3 different POV's, giving us the opportunity to witness first hand what each main character is thinking and feeling. The writing of this book was SO good that I was instantly hooked and staying awake all hours to read.

I loved all of the characters. As I mentioned, neither of them are perfect. They all have secrets that are slowly unraveled throughout the book.
Maggie, the female lead was my favourite in the story. We learn early on that she's had to deal with some huge amounts of crap and I just straight away wanted to take all of that away for her and help her achieve the HAE she so desperately deserved.

"I'm just Maggie. Black sheep. College dropout. Famished. Painfully turned on."

Now on to the guys.. Both so completely different from each other but both equally right for Maggie in their own way. I had a favourite from the off and I was forever hoping and praying the right one would end up with Maggie.
Asher was my kind of book boyfriend. Playing the part of the broken rock star there was just no way I wouldn't fall for him. He didn't smother Maggie and all of her issues, he pushed her to reveal them when she was ready and made her realise there was no reason whatsoever for her to feel so awful on herself.

"I want her to break so I can find her in the pieces, just like she does with her mosaics."

Will.. I didn't like him so much. Him and Maggie share a lot of history, they'd had a long past and that is exactly where I wanted to keep him.. In the past. In my eyes there was no room for him in Maggie's future, they were done and dusted. All the same I appreciated his place in the story, he was very much necessary.

"I am an addict and Maggie Thompson is my drug."

Overall did I love this book? Absolutely. But there were parts that had me wanting to SCREAM. I guess it was all part of Maggie's journey though. She had to go through the rough to get her HAE. If you are a fan of love triangles you will love this and even, if like me, you aren't usually a fan of them I still think you will love this. It's a new twist on a common story line.

"I found you, sweetheart. You don't need to hold it together anymore. I found you."

[KatLynne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I believe we’re more than the sum of our mistakes.”

Maggie Thompson’s life fell apart at fifteen and she became branded as slut. Six years later still finds her suffering the taunts and gossip from many in her small home town. Considered the black sheep of the family, she’s a major disappointment to her parents. Being different than her sisters has cost her. She’s paid a hard price, especially from the harsh treatment from their father.

Damaged and broken, she perceives herself as unworthy. Her self-loathing is also surrounded by anger. She hates who she is. Deep inside she desperately needs someone to have faith in her, to help her believe she can be more. But why would anyone want to be with someone who’s such a failure?

“If I’m not a slut, I don’t even know who I am”…

There seems to be two men who believe in her and each want more than she’s willing to give. One is her ex-fiancé, William Bailey. She broke their engagement more than a year earlier, and still he wants her. Even though he’s marrying her older sister, he still can’t let Maggie go. He’s more than willing to hold her together and fix all that’s broken.

And then there’s the sexy musician, Asher Logan. He doesn’t see anything needing fixing. Instead, he wants the real Maggie; the one who’s buried behind all those walls she’s erected to protect herself. And in the process of letting go and facing her monsters, she may shatter. But if that happens, she can count on Asher to still be around and he’ll find her!

Unbreak Me is a beautiful, poignant love story. It’s sexy, passionate as well as tender and emotional. It involves a young woman’s journey from a past where innocence was violated resulting in years of unwarranted guilt and despair. It involves a painful secret, one that’s heart-rending, so be prepared!

There’s a perfect mix of humor along with a hero that stole my heart early on. He’s perfect for Maggie and I loved his role in helping her see she’s much more than what people say or even what she herself believes. Hiding behind a façade of indifference, Maggie’s plight will tear at your heart. Her character grabbed me from the get go and I fully rooted for her until the triumphant ending.

I enjoyed the story and the presentation and hope to read more from this new-to-me author!

[✝✝ Ⓓaisy ❣ ✝✝ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asher is def a flipping fantastic hot rock goodness. N Romantic!
"Asher is stunning. Solid. Delicious". Oh yeah!!



N Maggie surely did wanna slap her at times. How can she make the same mistakes over n over again! But deep down she feels broken. Glad she managed to overcome all his nonsense running in her head with Asher :)




Ooo poor William. I loved him. So wanting to know if he finds his love.He deserves it!
Tat painting of erotic Maggie wot happened to it? Perhaps Asher brought it. Bloody Ethan needs a kick!



Overall, it is an emotional love story with ups n downs. A nice read! :)

[Sláinte Wanderlust · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god...
Me reading the book -






After the ending & epilogue

[Anja · Rating 4 out of 5]

✰ ✰ ✰ ✰ 4 "LOVED IT"-Stars ✰ ✰ ✰ ✰

This book is about Maggie, who still struggles with the consequences of some of her decicions she made in her past.



After being away for a year, she comes back home for her sister's wedding, who is marrying her ex-fiancée.





Oh, and did I forget to mention the hot tattooed rockstar?? ;D


So what are you waiting for ....read it!!

[Jacqueline's Reads · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 (How could this be a story?) Stars

At first I was really drawn to Unbreak Me. I was hooked by the first chapter and I wanted to find out why Maggie was so broken. When I got in to the grit of the read and all secrets were revealed, I realized one thing…. I HATED MAGGIE

I think she is a home wrecker, a liar, manipulative, a coward and a horrible Heroine.

Why would I EVER want to read a story with that kind of leading lady? There is no redeeming quality about her and on top of that, TWO GREAT guys like her?!

GIVE ME A MAJOR BREAK

I wanted to put this as a DNF, I wanted to throw my tablet against the wall and I wanted to scream at Maggie for stop being so stupid and silly!!!

Summary

Maggie is attending her sister’s wedding. Her sister is marrying Maggie’s ex, William. Maggie is distraught and finds comfort in Asher.

There’s so much more to this book besides that little summary, so let me break it down for you some more.

William

William is the ex, who was left at the alter by Maggie. Maggie went away for a year and during that year, William got close to Maggie’s sister, they both fell in “love” and got engaged.

Asher

Asher is the sexy guy at the wedding. He doesn’t know anything about the whole Maggie and William history, but he is attracted to Maggie. Asher himself is messed up from his past. He doesn’t talk about it, but because of his past he doesn’t do random girls, so as much as Maggie goes after Asher, he turns her down.

Maggie

So many things about Maggie, first off you feel bad for her. Why would she leave William? They were engaged and she loved William since she was 15. Then you slowly understand her. Maggie is really loose, she likes sex and because of that she hates herself. My issue is, if she hates herself so much because she is loose, then why does she try so hard to have sex with Asher?

Review

I hate love triangles, so I don’t know why I kept on reading, but a part of me, wanted to understand William and Asher, both guys are so different.

I will tell you this, I was pretty pissed she picked the guy I didn’t want

I wouldn’t say both guys were great or bad. Okay, I liked one more than the other and towards the end, I was so certain she would pick the guy I wanted because the guy I didn’t like well, I didn’t like him. Oh I was wrong.

I didn’t have an issue with the writing style and I actually loved all the dialogue, I felt like the story flowed really well and I love that there wasn’t any flashbacks.

My main issue was the storyline and characters. I didn’t find anything great about Maggie and this is why I have issues with love triangles, if two guys can love a girl so much, she has to be great, but THERE WAS NOTHING GOOD ABOUT MAGGIE.

I get her issues, I get why she is sad, but I wanted to tell her to get over it and stop drinking and lying. I felt like a lot of her issues could have been resolved if she just closed her legs and stopped lying. If she told people what was wrong, I think she could have saved herself a lot of heartache and ended with the guy I wanted.

[Dilek VT · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book actually had great potential but the inconsistencies and the shortness of it (196 pages) became its downsides for me.

The Plot:

Maggie leaves her fiancé a few weeks before the wedding and goes to another city to live in. A year later, she is back in town to be the bridesmaid in her sister’s wedding to her ex-fiancé William. On the wedding day, just after something happens to prevent the ceremony, she meets a hot bad boy, Asher, who is a rock star with a criminal record of violence. He is now on probation. When William sees Maggie a year later, he remembers his feelings for her. She still has feelings for him, too but she is also strongly attracted to Asher. Here you are - one hell of a love triangle!

Maggie is a different character. Everybody in the town acknowledges her as the “town slut”. Even her mother constantly criticizes her. And because everyone already believes that, she acts like that. Her most common line is, “I am that kind of girl”. She is against relationships and dating but very much open and willing for casual sex. Asher is attracted to Maggie, too but he doesn’t accept a casual relationship. He wants more. However, Maggie is scared of giving more.

As the story progresses, we learn what happened in the past and what is happening today from 3 points of view: Maggie’s, William’s and Asher’s.

What disturbs me most here is the inconsistency of people’s actions. For example, her mother had acted differently at the beginning of the book from the way she acted towards the end. She was so out of character. I turned back and reread her previous dialogues with her daughter and said to myself, “Oh no, when did she have this transformation of character?"

Another thing I dislike in plots like this is the fact that I cannot relate to a character who acts like a slut because people think she is a slut. I mean, why? Why ruin your life like that? You may have made one or two wrong decisions in life but what is the point in increasing the mistakes? Besides, she really did stupid things when she was a teenager, most of which could have been avoided. ( putting up with rape and ongoing sex with her father's best friend while she didn't want or posing naked for her married art teacher at school and then, starting a secret affair with him, etc.
I also disliked William for running to her sister so soon after their separation and then, dreaming about being with Maggie again as soon as she comes back. He wasn’t reliable or consistent, either.

Asher was the best character although he also kept a very important secret from her.

Also, the book was too short and the ending is wrapped up too quickly.

All in all, this wasn’t a satisfying reading experience for me. But, you may still give it a try, maybe it is me not the book!

[Aestas Book Blog]

OMG I can't keep up with my TBR!! This one looks amazing too!!! I need "reading month".. NOW!



“If you’re broken, I’ll fix you…”

I’m only twenty-one and already damaged goods. A slut. A failure. A disappointment to my picture-perfect family as long as I can remember. I called off my wedding to William Bailey, the only man who thought I was worth fixing. A year later, he’s marrying my sister. Unless I ask him not to…

“If you shatter, I’ll find you…”

But now there’s Asher Logan, a broken man who sees the fractures in my façade and doesn’t want to fix me at all. Asher wants me to stop hiding, to stop pretending. Asher wants to break down my walls. But that means letting him see my ugly secrets and forgiving him for his.

With my past weighing down on me, do I want the man who holds me together or the man who gives me permission to break

[Jenny - TotallybookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Jointly reviewed for http://totallybookedblog.com/

Gitte: I loved this roller coaster story. It was full of emotion, the characters were great and the writing was almost flawless for a debut Author. What a refreshing twisted story line, I loved it.
It was gritty and fresh. The true and candid emotion was literally dripping off the pages and the twists and dynamics between the characters were pretty unique. I thought this was a really great read, made even more special by the changing POV’s between Maggie, Will and Asher, as we really got to hear and feel the emotion and the passion. Don’t you agree Jenny?

Jenny: Absolutely agree Gitte and rollercoaster is the perfect way to describe this one! It was a ride and a half and one I was on from start to finish. Unbreak Me completely intrigued me and enfolded in such a deliciously gradual way that I couldn’t help but become invested in the characters and the story as secrets were revealed and emotions were stripped bare.

“You can be cut open a hundred times, and the slice of the blade still hurts.”

The changing POV’s were done effortlessly and didn’t this just add to the emotion and anticipation to hear from Maggie, Will and Asher. All three voices wereso different and afford so much to the story, allowing the reader to feel their emotions on a whole different level.

Gitte: I really connected with Maggie our heroine; she’s been through real trauma and has been stigmatized by everyone. Her reputation is clouding her life and how she’s treated and perceived by others. There is so much heart-break in her past which is affecting her present life; I’d go as far as to say she hates herself. She’s a woman standing alone in the line of adversity.
A town full of secrets lies and shame. A town she left to avoid the stares and snipes but has had to return to for her sister’s wedding. Now, how the hell do you watch your sister walking down the aisle with the man you were going to marry? This girl’s coping mechanisms are pretty admirable as is her strength. Unfortunately though her past has affected how she views relationships and sex. As in she doesn’t have one and she uses it to her own advantage. Forgetting who she really is and her self-worth in the process. Maggie knows she’s broken and is under the firm belief that she cannot be fixed.

“Maggie’s too busy hating herself to love anyone.”

The Author really did a fantastic job getting Maggie’s pain across didn’t she Jenny?

Jenny: You’re spot on Gitte. The author did a tremendous job of affording the reader the chance to really connect with Maggie. I know that I, like you, absolutely connected with her. This young girl who feels no self worth, who is so broken and who outwardly appears so strong, so together, whilst underneath suffering so much pain and self loathing.

“Who would want to be involved with someone as broken as me?”

I was drawn immediately in to Maggie and her plight and boy did I want to know what it was that happened in Maggie’s that made her come to this conclusion about herself and I was hanging on for dear life as her past unfolded.

“It’s like he sees something good when he looks at me, and I want to throw my ugliness in his face to prove him wrong.”

One minute this girl had me giggling with her sass and humor, the next she was breaking my heart when she displayed or conveyed the girl beneath the sass. Everything this girl felt, I felt.

Maggie made mistakes and she paid dearly for them. She was treated so cruelly by those around her and my heart broke for her many times.

Gitte: Now for the two men in Maggie’s life; Will and Asher.

“One man holds me together, the other gives me permission to break”

Will is Maggie’s ex who still harbours some pretty strong feelings for her despite being engaged to her sister. Will wants to fix Maggie. He knows how broken she is and wants to be the one to fix her. Despite some of Will’s later actions I really felt for him and loved his character. He had a huge heart and he was there for Maggie before and after the break-up in ways most men wouldn’t be. He truly loved her; Maggie was his addiction – his drug of choice. I felt so sorry for this guy!

“I would have taken you however I could get you, Maggie.”

Then we have…huge sigh….Asher. Wow did he make an entrance into this story. I LOVED Asher, he was truly lush. A ‘bad boy’ tattooed rock star…yeah I know, we have a lot of these guys…BUT…Asher was different. He sees straight through Maggie and takes a different route with her than she is expecting and wanting. He never pushes her, nor does he expect anything.

“You don’t need to pretend to be strong with me, Maggie. Just be.”

He doesn’t want to fix her because he does not believe she is broken in the way she does. Instead he wants to break down her walls; break the restraints she has placed upon herself and break down the image she was given, hence portrays.

“I’m not trying to change you Maggie. I’m trying to love you.”

Asher has a past too and his own issues. Yet ultimately, he is there for Maggie. He wants her. This guy is a mystery and he has such sensuality, passion and intrigue.

“What if no one can fix me?”

“You don’t need fixing,” ….”It’s like your mosaics. The beauty is already there, you just find it. Let go, sweetheart.”

“I’m afraid I’ll shatter.”

“If you shatter, I’ll find you.”

We have a new book boyfriend to add to our never ending list don’t we Jenny?!

Jenny: That list is pretty long, but how could we NOT add Asher to it! “Asher should be the poster child for the sexy bad boy.” Oh yes he should Maggie!

“I want to hold her, because – whether she’ll admit it or not – that’s what she needs.”

Our beautiful, sexy, tattooed, rock star with a heart really won me over. The way he reached out to Maggie, never judging, always supportive. Maggie has an opinion of men and Asher has to prove that he isn’t like the previous men in Maggie’s life. He has to prove that he is worthy and so is she. She just has to believe it. He could always read her and knew exactly what it was needed. Maggie fought him all the way but he never gave up on her.

“But if we’re going to keep this up, whatever this is, you need to know my life is a little fucked up. I’m fucked up.”

He sees past the tough exterior, past the sass and past the rumors and innuendo surrounding Maggie and loves the girl beneath.

“But your beauty? It’s the kind that radiates from your heart, Maggie and it’s so damn bright it shines beyond these walls you’ve erected to protect yourself.”

Even though he was dealing with issues of his own, he was there for Maggie and he would be strong for both of them.

“I have you,” he murmurs. “You’re safe with me.”

Now Will. Through Will’s POV we hear how this woman affects him. We experience his confusion in his feelings for Maggie and her sister. His conflict and guilt over some of his actions. How Maggie has this hold on him that he can’t break. I really did feel for Will. This woman is in his soul. Hearing first hand his thought process and feelings enabled me to feel first hand the dilemma he found himself in and this man had the biggest heart you could find.

“I am an addict and Maggie Thompson is my drug.”

Whilst Asher was always my choice, I really did have a soft spot for Will and his love and loyalty to Maggie was so commendable.

Gitte: So absolutely no doubt, I LOVED this story. We followed Maggie’s journey of self-discovery and healing. A journey where she will realise her self-worth and letting go of her past and her pain. Love with all her heart and let herself be loved in return for who she truly is and embrace it.

“No frills, no pretence, no bullshit. Just Maggie.”

“I’m just Maggie.”

This journey had raw emotion and really pulled at my heart while reading. You felt the same didn’t you Jenny?

Jenny: Gitte I really did! I felt everything and more. I lived every moment of this book. The way the author slowly unfolded the secrets in Unbreak Me, the way Maggie evolved, the telling from Will, Maggie and Ashers POV all added up to what was a very raw and emotional read that indeed pull at my heartstrings.

Such a poignant story of love, redemption, believing in yourself and knowing that mistakes, no matter how big they may seem, can be overcome if you have belief in yourself and the love and support of people who believe in you. Just wonderful!

Arc provided by author for an honest review

[Michelle [Helen Geek] · Rating 4 out of 5]

06/07/2013 --

Overall Rating = 4 Stars
Book Cover / Book Blurb = 4.5 / 5 = 4.25 Stars
Writer’s Voice = 3.5 Stars
Character Development = 4 Stars
Story Appreciation = 4 Stars
Worth the Chili = 4 Stars [$3.99 on Amazon]

Anymore, these New Adult books are a "dime a dozen". Takes something remarkable to make them stand out. This one had that.

What things stood out for me?
1 -- I found this one by accident. It wasn't rec'd to me by someone I know and trust. It popped up on my Amazon feed. Nothing new about this -- I usually ignore most of that stuff. However, this cover captured me. The title intrigued me and then I turned to GoodReads to give me the blurb and any comments or critiques. I was sold. I think this is what they call a "sleeper". It shouldn't be. It is really a very good story. It starts like 100 other NA books, but you can quickly tell it will be unique. Why? The author's voice is pretty remarkable.

2 -- The author's voice. There were a few blips along the way, but to be expected in a debut. If this is where she started, she can only get better and be excellent in a short time. She has a unique way of blending emotion and nuance into a pretty usual story. It could appeal to the normal NA audience, but it also has appeal to those "discerning" readers. She takes a normal girl, a normal town and gives them both personality. We don't always like what we see, but the honesty shines through. Really nice.

3 -- The characters and how she unfolds the story alternating the POV. We have Will -- he is rather like the "knight in shining armor". I came away thinking this poor guy just couldn't seem to figure out how to get what he wanted. He made the mistake of being the "friend" and it never seemed to evolve completely away from that. Then, he lost his chance. Ash -- he is the one to watch. I loved his gentleness, his tenacity. He saw right away that Maggie was much more than what he glimpsed in his early interactions with her. He had time and used it wisely. He was able to give Maggie all the assurances needed to know she is okay. She may be broken, but she is okay. Maggie [a sucker for anyone with this name] is remarkable. Nothing else to say.

There were things that didn't work so well for me:
1 -- Maggie. As much as I liked her, there were places I got sick of her "over the top" lament. She was trying to work through quite a few things, so I'll give her that, but she did wear on my nerves in places. Also, her age. She is 21. Her issues started at about 15. It seemed as if she is too young for all the life lived in 6 years. So many took advantage of this beautiful girl. It is hard reading her story to ever believe she was naive enough to have allowed so much. I think it would have been better if she were a few years older, but then the story may have been different.

2 -- Okay, this is going to sound really bad, but the price is a bit much. I know ... only $4, but there are so many good ones that are much less than this. People are used to that. We used to say we wouldn't pay more than $5. The new $5 is $2. Sounds a bit picky, but I believe it to be true.

3 -- There is nothing else I didn't like about this wonderful book. I think the author has some skill. It is a nice book to refresh your palette after coming off of something a bit deep or dark. I used it to take a break from a wonderful historical novel I've been reading. I'm heading back to finish it now.

I really enjoyed this book. I recommend it highly. It is a bit different than the normal NA books you find currently. An author to keep your eyes on. Enjoy!

Happy Reading!!

[Akanksha❤ Søren♰ · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Review in process*
LOVEDDDDDDDDDDDD this book!!

[Vikki ~ *squee* lite ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Love, love, loved this book. Seriously fantastic emotional wonderful book. All sorts of redemption and secrets and wonderfulness. Full review to come...

[Angie **loves angst** · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When you know the whole story, you won't want me anymore. I'm that kind of girl."

I really enjoyed this book. Most of the characters were likable and the story was realistic. Right from the beginning readers know that Maggie has a few skeletons in her closet. Slowly throughout the book Maggie's secrets are revealed, and this poor girl has been through alot.

Maggie

"I'm terrified of how much he knows about me, how much he sees when he looks at me."
Maggie's life took a downward spiral at fifteen years old, and seems to be going down ever since. She returns home to attend her sister's wedding, who just happens to be marrying her ex-fiance. There is lots of history there, but she puts is all aside and is supportive of her sister and ex-fiance. As much as I didn't want to like Maggie's ex-fiance I couldn't help feeling sorry for the guy. Love just didn't come his way. Maggie has shut herself off from everyone, in fact this girl doesn't have any friends, except her sisters. She holds all her secrets close to her heart, and keeps herself guarded... until Asher. He walks into her life and he doesn't want to change or fix Maggie, he simply wants her to let go of the pain of her past, and embrace life. "Don't be afraid to break Maggie. Stop holding on to the ugliness just to stay whole." She can't understand how everyone else seems to look past her or just see her as a slut, but Asher seems to see right into her soul. Maggie's path to healing and forgiving herself and those around her is not an easy one, but Asher is just the guy for the job. "Let me break down those walls you keep hiding behind."

Asher
"I'm not trying to change you, Maggie. I'm trying to love you."

Now usually I'm not a fan of musicians or rock stars but this guy is just perfect. He's probably one of the sweetest heroes I've ever read about. When he first meets Maggie he holds out from having sex with her because he knows that this is all the guys in her past have ever wanted from her. Asher has a few secrets of his own which are also revealed, but overall he's a good guy. He refused to give up when Maggie tried to push her away, because he saw beneath the labels, and recognized the good deep within her. "Is it just me," he whispers, "or do you not trust anyone?"



This was a beautiful, emotional story that I enjoyed. I love when I can relate to characters and I saw bits and pieces of myself in Maggie. It was certainly refreshing to read of no crazy drama or cliffhanger ending.
"Some of us are just too cold inside to be capable of real love." Sad, but very true.

Rating: 4 You Are Not Your Past Stars

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 unbreak me stars



After one year since she ran away, Maggie is back home to her sister wedding. She is marrying her ex-fiancé Will.

The first thought that crossed my mind was WHAT THE HELL happened to her!
What caused her to cancel her own wedding and run away like that.

One thing we know for sure is how broken and unworthy of love she feels. She accepts all the things people say about her and it does became her reality. If people say she is not good, she believes them.

But she is set to become a New Maggie and then enters Asher ,the mysterious guy she met on the reception, that looked as broken as she felt.
Turns out he is the reclusive neighbor next door, whose pool she used to break in, and the one she is caught by him. The attraction and connection between them is intense but Asher is set on knowing her first.
He wants to let her open up, to share her secrets with him, because he is the one to see how hurt and broken she truly is. She hides behind a facade, not letting no one in, until Asher.





I did have some problems with this book, especially the timeline of some of the events, just left me questioning of how it could happen in real life. Especially her relationship with Will.
Now, what totally sold me to this story was the connection between Asher and Maggie, and that made me overlook most of the issues I had with the book.

And there were things that truly infuriate me, like how the people in her town treated her, like the town slut, the "trash". To the point she actually believed they were right! When we get to know what happened to her to "deserve" such treatment, truly shocked me. She was 15, damn it! How could people see her like a Jezebel and not like a victim? Even her own family?



Let's just say I wanted to hit someone! And to read how the consequences were so devastating to her, molding her own behavior. If people though she was promiscuous she ended up behaving like that.

Anyway, this a story of finding yourself and healing the wounds. And most importantly, you can find the perfect person to share your burden with it and truly LIVE!


For this one and more reviews go to:
A Bookworm Confessions

[Cami · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars!

I don’t know what I was expecting but this book exceeded my expectations.

It really grabs you from the beginning. It caught me completely off guard. I mean whose sister would do that?? And poor Maggie….what kind of parents actually say that sort of thing to their children. I can’t say that my own mother hasn’t said some questionable things to me but Maggie’s father takes it to a completely different level.

Asher is wonderful. He isn’t falling for Maggie’s usual act and knows there is more to her than she is willing to share. She only wants the physical and doesn’t want any of her emotions to show through.

Right when you think is might all work out & Maggie begins to show the real her than something happens that threatens all the progress that is made. I wanted to cry for Maggie when the secret came out.

I have several of Lexi Ryan’s books marked as to read but this is the first one I have actually read. I find that she combines humor and angst very well.

[Louise Ramsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars.

To be honest I'm not too sure if I even liked this book. I didnt loathe it but didnt love it, but not too sure if I even liked it....

All in all it felt pretty rushed especially the last 10%.

So many loose ends were left open. Is there supposed to be a second book? Did Krystal end up with Tyler? Did Asher get anywhere in his attempt to see his daughter? What happened after the paintings were displayed? I'm not even sure Maggie and Asher even got their HEA....

Who knows....I dont, and I've read the book!!

[Celesha Carillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

100% 5star book for me! I loved every last chapter it really was amazing. It didn't feel rushed it was set at a nice pace! I LOVED the fact we have 3 pov I've never read a book like that before and I must say it was brilliant. I HATE love triangles because you always end up hating the female! But One thing I'm going to say is THIS IS NOT A LOVE TRIANGLE you have to read it to understand but don't get put off thinking it is, It is nothing like a love triangle.



I really really loved Maggie. She really was a lost soul. She went through so much from the age of 15 and I totally understood why she was the way she was. Lexi Ryan didn't give you all the secrets straight away she made you wait and that is what kept me gripped. I'm normally good with secrets but I had no clue why maggie had run a year ago. And when it all came to head. You ask did my heart break for her? It broke into tiny little pieces. It really was heartbreaking. Eps because she hated/blamed herself for a lot of the things that happened. When in reality none of it was her fault. I love this girl. She really was simply broken until she meet Asher.




I loved William a lot and at times I really felt sorry for him. He said some unnecessary things but you kind of of understood because he was heart broken too. I'm just glad him and maggie found some peace with each other. I just believe if he had told her a CERTAIN thing a year ago maggie wouldn't of made certain choices. But I suppose it had to go that way because she wouldn't of meet Asher.




Asher I LOVED him. I thought he was going to be this typical bad boy but no he wasn't he was so sweet and gentle and I loved it. He didn't want to fix Maggie like William did he wanted her to break so he could find her. And that was the whole point of this story. Maggie was so lost and she kept all her secrets to herself what she needed to do she didn't instead she used her body to hide her sadness. When really she needed to grieve she needed to open up she needed to just break down so she could let go and build herself back up. And that's what Asher did for her. There was no mistaking that Asher was right for her. I'm glad they got their HEA!




This book really was brilliant I had one of those moments where the tears where just rolling down my face. Eps with the convo with her mom. Oh gosh it broke my heart. When a mother finally says sorry for the mistakes they have made you automatically feel better about yourself. Eps if all them years you blamed yourself. And I felt that with maggie when she was having that convo. Because she went through a lot from the age of 15. And all she needed was someone that didn't just blame her.




The last thing I have to say is. I'm sooooooooo looking forward to William's story. I just hope him and Krystal don't get back together. I think he needs a completely different women in his life! I'm so glad I came across this book! LOVED IT.

[Christie«SHBBblogger» · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you shatter, I'll find you...

What can I say about this book? I was debating with myself between 4 and 5 stars. This was an amazing book but would I re-read it? Is it AS amazing as some other 5 star books I have rated? The answer? I'm not sure. But the deciding factor in my rating was this: this book made me cry. I can count on 2 hands the books that have accomplished this. And not to toot my own horn or anything, but I read a LOT. It takes quite a bit to get to me on that level because I've just about read it all in one variation or another. This book. Ah, this book dug deep and got in there.

This is the story of Maggie. She's one big ball of self-loathing, anger, sadness, regret, and shame.

It begins with her attending her sister's wedding to her ex-fiance whom she left at the last minute before their own wedding. This is the first piece of the puzzle that makes her broken. As the story continues, we slowly learn more. Piece by piece until everything tragically unravels. This girl has been sorely mistreated, misunderstood, and pretty much accepts their opinions of her and what her life is going to be.

black sheep, college dropout, slut.

But then she meets Asher. Previously known as Asher "Sexy Beast" Logan the lead singer in the band Infinite Gray. He lives next door to her mother and they connect at her ex-fiance William and her sister's wedding. When Maggie comes on to him and tries to use sex as a shield against her heartache and any type of emotional connection with him-he refuses with a counter offer: go on a date with me. When he looks at her he sees beauty, a study in contradictions, her shield of indifference, and it only makes him want to dig deeper. To get to the heart of her.

As Maggie struggles to come to terms with her past, she alternately pushes Asher away and desperately draws in his comfort. What she doesn't realize at first is that they share a small piece of her past. One of the most painful and shameful.

You want these two so badly to work things out but with all that is revealed, you wonder if that can ever plausibly happen. But let me tell you, Ms. Ryan gives us that HEA and does it in a way that pulls on your heartstrings, crying and smiling simultaneously. It's an amazing story about the resiliency of the human spirit and our ability to heal.

[*Marsha,Marsha,Marsha* It's always Marsha · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 Ever loving Asher/Maggie Stars

JESS! Shout out to you g/f for the book recommendation. Best one I've EVER gotten. I adored this book. What a book of finding yourself, letting your self loathing go, and learning to love for the very first time.

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Our Maggie is one sexy redhead. But she's also one screwed up gal with enough baggage to fill a 747. At only 21, this girl has been through more than her fair share of heartache and trials. More than enough. In fact, it's so hard to wrap your mind around all that has occurred in this girl's life. The secrets just literally unfold as the story develops. I predicted a few, missed several, was surprised by a few of the resolutions but never once was I bored.

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Asher owns the house next door to Maggie's mom, but until this one moment, Maggie never knows who the "rich dude" is. They meet at the wedding of Maggies' sister to the former fiance' of Maggie. And from that moment on, a story begins to unfold from page to page, person to person, and not until the very end does the reader truly realize the magnitude of what has taken place.

Maggies' story is not a pretty one. It's not even pleasant. But it is one worth telling and worth reading. What comes out on the other side is one beautiful young woman being who she was meant to be.

So many players in this story: Will, Krystal, Ethan, the Sheriff (in absentia), her Mom, the town and the list just goes on and one. Each and every one play a bit part or a big part in forming our girl Maggie's life as she is at the beginning.

Take a chance and read this book. I honestly could not stop once I started.

Secrets will be shared and revealed. :)

[Kenya Wright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dear god I loved this book.

I humped it.

I opened my legs and. . .well I guess you don't want to hear all of that.

This is told in three point-of-views. Two guys and one girl. They all are broken hearted and confused....they all need love....and no this isn't a love triangle...well
not really.

LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVED!!

[Gitte TotallyBookedBlog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jointly reviewed on: http://totallybookedblog.com/2013/06/...

Gitte: I loved this roller coaster story. It was full of emotion, the characters were great and the writing was almost flawless for a debut Author. What a refreshing twisted story line, I loved it. It was gritty and fresh. The true and candid emotion was literally dripping off the pages and the twists and dynamics between the characters were pretty unique. I thought this was a really great read, made even more special by the changing POV’s between Maggie, Will and Asher, as we really got to hear and feel the emotion and the passion. Don’t you agree Jenny?

Jenny: Absolutely agree Gitte and rollercoaster is the perfect way to describe this one! It was a ride and a half and one I was on from start to finish. Unbreak Me completely intrigued me and enfolded in such a deliciously gradual way that I couldn’t help but become invested in the characters and the story as secrets were revealed and emotions were stripped bare.

“You can be cut open a hundred times, and the slice of the blade still hurts.”

The changing POV’s were done effortlessly and didn’t this just add to the emotion and anticipation to hear from Maggie, Will and Asher. All three voices wereso different and afford so much to the story, allowing the reader to feel their emotions on a whole different level.

Gitte: I really connected with Maggie our heroine; she’s been through real trauma and has been stigmatized by everyone. Her reputation is clouding her life and how she’s treated and perceived by others. There is so much heart-break in her past which is affecting her present life; I’d go as far as to say she hates herself. She’s a woman standing alone in the line of adversity. A town full of secrets lies and shame. A town she left to avoid the stares and snipes but has had to return to for her sister’s wedding. Now, how the hell do you watch your sister walking down the aisle with the man you were going to marry? This girl’s coping mechanisms are pretty admirable as is her strength. Unfortunately though her past has affected how she views relationships and sex. As in she doesn’t have one and she uses it to her own advantage. Forgetting who she really is and her self-worth in the process. Maggie knows she’s broken and is under the firm belief that she cannot be fixed.

“Maggie’s too busy hating herself to love anyone.”

The Author really did a fantastic job getting Maggie’s pain across didn’t she Jenny?

Jenny: You’re spot on Gitte. The author did a tremendous job of affording the reader the chance to really connect with Maggie. I know that I, like you, absolutely connected with her. This young girl who feels no self worth, who is so broken and who outwardly appears so strong, so together, whilst underneath suffering so much pain and self loathing.

“Who would want to be involved with someone as broken as me?”

I was drawn immediately in to Maggie and her plight and boy did I want to know what it was that happened in Maggie’s that made her come to this conclusion about herself and I was hanging on for dear life as her past unfolded.

“It’s like he sees something good when he looks at me, and I want to throw my ugliness in his face to prove him wrong.”

One minute this girl had me giggling with her sass and humor, the next she was breaking my heart when she displayed or conveyed the girl beneath the sass. Everything this girl felt, I felt.

Maggie made mistakes and she paid dearly for them. She was treated so cruelly by those around her and my heart broke for her many times.

Gitte: Now for the two men in Maggie’s life; Will and Asher.

“One man holds me together, the other gives me permission to break”

Will is Maggie’s ex who still harbours some pretty strong feelings for her despite being engaged to her sister. Will wants to fix Maggie. He knows how broken she is and wants to be the one to fix her. Despite some of Will’s later actions I really felt for him and loved his character. He had a huge heart and he was there for Maggie before and after the break-up in ways most men wouldn’t be. He truly loved her; Maggie was his addiction – his drug of choice. I felt so sorry for this guy!

“I would have taken you however I could get you, Maggie.”

Then we have…huge sigh….Asher. Wow did he make an entrance into this story. I LOVED Asher, he was truly lush. A ‘bad boy’ tattooed rock star…yeah I know, we have a lot of these guys…BUT…Asher was different. He sees straight through Maggie and takes a different route with her than she is expecting and wanting. He never pushes her, nor does he expect anything.

“You don’t need to pretend to be strong with me, Maggie. Just be.”

He doesn’t want to fix her because he does not believe she is broken in the way she does. Instead he wants to break down her walls; break the restraints she has placed upon herself and break down the image she was given, hence portrays.

“I’m not trying to change you Maggie. I’m trying to love you.”

Asher has a past too and his own issues. Yet ultimately, he is there for Maggie. He wants her. This guy is a mystery and he has such sensuality, passion and intrigue.

“What if no one can fix me?”

“You don’t need fixing,” ….”It’s like your mosaics. The beauty is already there, you just find it. Let go, sweetheart.”

“I’m afraid I’ll shatter.”

“If you shatter, I’ll find you.”

We have a new book boyfriend to add to our never ending list don’t we Jenny?!

Jenny: That list is pretty long, but how could we NOT add Asher to it! “Asher should be the poster child for the sexy bad boy.” Oh yes he should Maggie!

“I want to hold her, because – whether she’ll admit it or not – that’s what she needs.”

Our beautiful, sexy, tattooed, rock star with a heart really won me over. The way he reached out to Maggie, never judging, always supportive. Maggie has an opinion of men and Asher has to prove that he isn’t like the previous men in Maggie’s life. He has to prove that he is worthy and so is she. She just has to believe it. He could always read her and knew exactly what it was needed. Maggie fought him all the way but he never gave up on her.

“But if we’re going to keep this up, whatever this is, you need to know my life is a little fucked up. I’m fucked up.”

He sees past the tough exterior, past the sass and past the rumors and innuendo surrounding Maggie and loves the girl beneath.

“But your beauty? It’s the kind that radiates from your heart, Maggie and it’s so damn bright it shines beyond these walls you’ve erected to protect yourself.”

Even though he was dealing with issues of his own, he was there for Maggie and he would be strong for both of them.

“I have you,” he murmurs. “You’re safe with me.”

Now Will. Through Will’s POV we hear how this woman affects him. We experience his confusion in his feelings for Maggie and her sister. His conflict and guilt over some of his actions. How Maggie has this hold on him that he can’t break. I really did feel for Will. This woman is in his soul. Hearing first hand his thought process and feelings enabled me to feel first hand the dilemma he found himself in and this man had the biggest heart you could find.

“I am an addict and Maggie Thompson is my drug.”

Whilst Asher was always my choice, I really did have a soft spot for Will and his love and loyalty to Maggie was so commendable.

Gitte: So absolutely no doubt, I LOVED this story. We followed Maggie’s journey of self-discovery and healing. A journey where she will realise her self-worth and letting go of her past and her pain. Love with all her heart and let herself be loved in return for who she truly is and embrace it.

“No frills, no pretence, no bullshit. Just Maggie.”

“I’m just Maggie.”

This journey had raw emotion and really pulled at my heart while reading. You felt the same didn’t you Jenny?

Jenny: Gitte I really did! I felt everything and more. I lived every moment of this book. The way the author slowly unfolded the secrets in Unbreak Me, the way Maggie evolved, the telling from Will, Maggie and Ashers POV all added up to what was a very raw and emotional read that indeed pull at my heartstrings.

Such a poignant story of love, redemption, believing in yourself and knowing that mistakes, no matter how big they may seem, can be overcome if you have belief in yourself and the love and support of people who believe in you. Just wonderful!

Gitte: 4.5 stars
Jenny: 4.5 stars

Arc supplied by author in exchange for an honest review

[Jos · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 Emotional Roller Coaster Stars!

Wow, wow, wow..... I have had this book, actually the whole series, on my Kindle for like forever and over the past 2 days I have seen it advertised on FB so I said hmmmm I am going to give it a shot! Holy hell, I am emotionally drained right now, lol, and that ending did me in, it was truly so damn beautiful.....I cried yes, but cried the biggest, fattest, happiest tears for Maggie:) She DESERVED the best in life and OMG was ASHER, IT, hehehehe!!!!

Asher, oh Asher....yummy, sweet, sexy, strong...OMG I LOVED him and everything about him! Maggie was beyond broken, I mean the hurt I felt for this girl was so heavy and my heart literally ached for this poor girl. She truly found out what love was all about thanks to that super sexy, super sweet Asher:)

This story is pretty intense and pretty deep with quite a few serious issues that Maggie has carried around with her. Asher, too, poor guy, he has some secrets too but for me it was nothing in comparison to Maggie.

Great read and I am so damn curious and anxious to read Will's story. I could not dislike that guy and I have a feeling he is only going to shine brighter for me once I can get into his head and find out his backstory too:)

[Sammy ⭐️ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This was a short but great read that I really enjoyed and Asher was just yummy.

“I was nothing but a failure. A fucked-up, broken shame.
I was nothing but this emptiness. A shell ruined by fame.
Don’t be afraid to shatter, baby, if that will set you free.
I’ll find you in the pieces and that will unbreak me.”

The story follows Maggie, a broken sole brought back to town for her sister’s marriage to her ex fiancé Will. This is where she meets Bad boy Rock god Asher Logan who has issues of his own.

The book is told from Maggie, Will and Asher’s POV which I thought was great and does have a happy ending.

I can’t wait to read more from this author

[Jen O'grady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phew! This story is a relatively quick read but my it is packed with angst and emotion. The story of maggies past is slowly told by three separate POV Maggies, Ashers (swoon) and Wills. Every chapter pulls you in a little more and I really struggled to put this book down. I thoroughly recommend it, just wish I could have been a bit longer and the epilogue giving more, maybe about Will.

[Monica Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book...I felt all raw and emotional after reading it. The punches just kept coming! I'm not usually a big fan of love triangles but this one worked for me. I liked both men but Asher won me over. Of course. ;)