Broken Beginnings

by Clary Evans

A high heat small town, romantic suspense story from author Clary Evans.

You’re Next. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time—and that moment changed me forever. After walking in on a masked man murdering my neighbor, I went back to the one place I swore I’d never step foot in again. Citrus Cove. The sleepy town hasn’t changed much, but the people have. Including my old high school bully, Cameron Harlow. He’s the last person I want to see. He should be the last person I want . But Cameron Harlow has been dreaming of the day he’d see me again, and wants to set things right. Our history makes me hate him, but he’s sinfully hot, has that sexy southern charm, and calls me sunshine. How can I resist him? When the danger I’ve been running from shows up in my hometown, Cameron becomes my sole refuge. Someone is watching me. Following me. They want me dead. From the ashes of our broken beginnings, all we want is our happy ending. But the killer has other ideas and the only way Cam and me have a future together is if we live to see it…

Genres: Romance

288 pages, Paperback

Published September 11, 2023

Reviews

[Destynnee Realta · Rating 5 out of 5]

claryevansauthor.carrd.coBeing spanked by a hot man wasn’t a replacement for therapy, but it damn sure felt like it at the moment.
-Haley

Broken Beginnings
Citrus Cove
Book 1
By Clary Evans
286 pages
Currently on PREORDER, will be on Kindle Unlimited in the USA.
Publication date September 21st, 2023
claryevansauthor.carrd.co

I received a copy of this book from the author, and this is my review.
Please, watch out for possible spoilers, including but not limited to, TW/CN/Etc.

Possible TW, Tropes, and Genres
Mature, Sexually explicit scenes, bareback, Oral/Anal/Vaginal, Snowballing, Sex in Public, No Pregnancy, Stalking, Murder, Serial Killer, Parental Suicide (off page, mentioned), Bullying, CNC, Physical Assault from a side character to the FMC, Spitting, Spanking, Exhibitionism, Breeding Kink, Sex Toys, Masturbation, Romance, Suspence, Murder Mystery, Violence, Gore, Small Town Romance, Second Chance, Part of a Series, and possibly more.

If you enjoy
Murder Mysteries
Second Chance Romance
Small Town Romance
Suspense
Then this is for you.

Clary Evans, is the new pen name for Clio Evans, and when I say I was excited to see them doing small town contemporary romance I kinda squealed. I love everything Clio Evans writes, and if their other Clary Evans books are anything like this one… I have a new fav author.. Or, would that be an already fav author. LOL

Anyway, this small town, second chance, murder mystery romance story was amazing.

I LOVED Haley from the moment she was on the page, and I connected a lot with her. I grew up in a smaller town in ruralish Texas, and wanted to leave the moment I grew up. Thankfully no murder mystery in my life yet though. Lol. Haley is the kinda FMC, that I think most people can connect to easily.

I so hated Cameron at first, but loved that his brothers and friend put him in his place with how he was treating someone. Thankfully, Cameron’s family, and time taught him to be a much better person. One that could work to not change the past, but make amends with it, and the person he harmed. And it allowed him, to get his second chance with the person he loved all this time.

The murder mystery / serial killer part, was so good. I kept going back and forth on who I thought was the killer, and that made me so happy. I love murder mysteries, and Clary killed it with this one.

5/5 stars
-Destynnee

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Haley Bentley can't live with the death of her neighbor that she witnessed. She heads home to Citrus Cove to escape the horror, but she knows she will have to face her family that she hasn't seen in 10 years and the rest of the town that she hates, including high school bully Cameron Harlow. Cam's kindness surprises her and she begins what she hopes will be a new relationship, but the violence from Baltimore has followed her to Citrus Cove, so she finds herself looking to those around her for help.

Broken Beginnings starts out with strong emotions and lots of drama, but moves too quickly away from anger, frustration, and loss to love and happiness with only the suspense driving the story. Other than the villains, the least likable character is Haley, who seems to run away as a solution to problems. Perhaps the longer, later edition of this book by Clio Evans fixes some of these issues. Overall though, Broken Beginnings is a disappointing romantic suspense with underdeveloped characters and plot.

[Judy Gittleson Hendrickson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haley witnessed her neighbors murder so she disappears back to her hometown where her bully from high school is still living. Cameron searches her out to apologize for his behavior back then and they start to open up, turning it into a relationship. When the murderer surfaces, she has Cameron and the whole town close to her for protection, but is that enough? Is there only one?
Great characters, intrigue, drama, danger, acceptance, twists, steamy moments, kidnapping, murder, protectiveness, entertaining situations and more that kept the pages turning. Loved their chemistry and banter when their relationship progressed. The ending was terrific.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.