Shattered Souls

Halston U #3

by R.A. Smyth

Finding my daughter is all that matters now.

Aurora is out there somewhere, and I’ll do whatever it takes to bring her home. Thankfully, I’m not in this fight alone. I have Logan, my rock, who is always ready to catch me when I fall. Royce, who is learning to trust and opening his heart, and Grayson—still haunted but finding strength in our connection. Together, we're unstoppable.

We’re racing against time, piecing together clues and facing our worst fears. But Bertram, the monster from my past, is hellbent on taking everything from me. He's relentless, and he's not playing by any rules.

Then there’s my mother, the ultimate narcissist with her own twisted agenda. She's proven she'll go to any lengths to destroy me.

This final showdown will test us in ways we never imagined. Can we rescue Aurora and finally find peace? Or will Bertram’s obsession shatter our fragile world once and for all?

My daughter's life is on the line, and we'll risk everything to save her—even ourselves.



***Shattered Souls is the third and final book in the Halston U trilogy and contains dark themes. Please check the front of the book for trigger warnings. It is highly recommended that you read the first two books in this trilogy, starting with Frozen Hearts, before diving into this one.

Genres: Dark Romance, Why Choose, Romance, Sports Romance, Hockey, Contemporary, College

563 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 11, 2024

About the author

My name is Rachel. I live in the UK with my husband and two golden retrievers, and I am an author of dark, contemporary reverse harem romance.

If you love a story with a well thought out plot and good character development that will give you all the feels, then why not give one of my series a go?

Crescentwood - high school, stalker, bully, enemies to lovers
- Three Divisions: https://books2read.com/threedivisions
- Two Forces: https://books2read.com/twoforces
- One Family: https://books2read.com/onefamily

Pacific Prep - academy, assassin FMC, brothers best friends, taboo, bully
- Broken Trust: https://books2read.com/brokentrust
- Brutal Lies: https://books2read.com/Brutallies
- Beyond Vengeance: https://books2read.com/beyondvengeance
- Break Free: https://books2read.com/BreakfreePP4
- Blurred Lines (novella): https://books2read.com/Blurredlines

Black Creek - Gang/Mafia, enemies to lovers, MM, Forced marriage
- Rebels & Rejects: https://books2read.com/rebelsandrejects
- Murder & Mayhem: https://books2read.com/murderandmayhe...
- Damaged & Deadly: https://books2read.com/damagedanddeadly
- Chaos & Carnage: https://books2read.com/chaosandcarnage

Ruthless Boys of Ridgeway - Second chance romance, Friends-enemies-lovers, college, secret society, stalker, fake dating
- Pretty Spiteful: https://books2read.com/TRBoR1
- Pretty Vile: https://books2read.com/TRBoR2
- Pretty Lethal: https://books2read.com/TRBoR3

Reviews

[Morwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

RTC!

Pre-read
So far this has been one hell of a ride. I'm curious to see what's next!

[Kate 💞 · Rating 2 out of 5]

*update* changing my rating as I’ve had time to think on it and this book just doesn’t sit in the 3⭐️ category for me

This book was just pure chaos and such a wild ride.

This book is filled with twists and turns and I’m glad we finally get to the happy ending, however there were a few things that stood out for me that I didn’t enjoy

As much as I enjoyed the revenge and the possessiveness of the boys why did this book feel so much longer than it needed to be! It kept going round and round in circles and why was it never an option to involve the police? Why did three college boys and a hacker manage to cover everything up and why did it suddenly feel like they were trying to be mafia men all of a sudden? It just felt too far in my opinion

It also felt like there were a few loose ends, like why did they never get questioned on where Lydia and Bertram were? Lydia has custody of Aurora, why did no one from child services etc notice that she suddenly ended up back with her mother? It all seemed too easy and a bit messy if I’m honest.

[Megan · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nope.

Started skipping the spicy scenes after a while because they were so frequent and repetitive. The entire time I was reading this and the last one after aurora was sold I just kept internally screaming to call the f***ing cops. Absolutely insane.

[Sussu {Romance Obsessed} · Rating 2 out of 5]

So repetitive and boring

Finally finished this book, it was okay, but jeez..
It was 500+ pages that seemed to go into circles and just had a lot of internal dialogue for each character. Also wtf was that abrupt ending? I didn't realize I was at the end of the book until I swiped to see "the end".
Too many loose ends, ending was abrupt.
Wish the author put more thought into that than the internal dialogue of how depressed the characters were.
Also it was super depressing for like 60% of it.

I also got so sick of how they treated the little girl, way too cheesy.

[Lauren Gibbs · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one fell a bit flat for me - the book was just too long and I kind of just wanted to get to the ending to see how it would all play out.

[Juju · Rating 4 out of 5]

....
“You’ve transformed your pain into power, your trauma into resilience. You’ve become this incredible, strong woman who stands tall despite everything that tried to break you.”

Thank you to Peachy Keen A/S, for providing me with this ARC!
I was very excited to read the final book of this trilogy. It did not disappoint!
I've loved following these characters lives from start to finish, seeing them going through so much, riding the highs and lows. Highly Recommend this series.

Great series...thank you R.A Smyth! 👏 ♥️

[⭐Toonasa⭐ •Romance Book Lovers' Haven• · Rating 5 out of 5]

The “I've been waiting for this” climax is here! *confetti 🎊*
A Dark College-aged Reverse-Harem romance with many fun dynamics; & a story that is sweet, heartbreaking, nail-biting, adorable, swoony, sexy plus intense at times....but the HEA was worth it all!
I loved Riley, Logan, Royce, even Grayson; & little Aurora melts hearts. This book is beast sized lol, but I still DEVOURED my #ARC in 10hrs (over 2days)!

“How thinly can you be stretched before you snap? How much pain can a soul endure? How many scars can a heart carry before breaking?”

This starts ASAP after the heart-wrenching & nerve-inducing cliffhanger of previous book! The main villain, who I hating-ly named Berthole in my notes 😂, is out in open & too close for comfort, how will our MCs get through these hurdles?! Not that Lydia-bitch makes things any easier... 😤😈

Riley is so resilient, but the recent loss has made her light dim, she's surviving tho. Logan's a great emotional support, Royce's searching relentlessly & being strong, Grayson lights a fire in her with their banters. All 4 of our MCs have their worries & complexities to navigate! I liked to see Riley's dynamics with all 3 solidify individually, the 3 men's friendship is lovely 😍. And of course, the sex scenes are the most & fireee 🔥 in this one! I got my awaited harem scenes lol 🥵. G's kinky as ever 😂. But he gotta tone down his possessiveness somewhat ya?! I loved to see them all with Aurora 😍😍😍. Sooo sweettt!

It's quite the rollercoaster ride in this book—Hopelessness, cruel hope, care, love, lust, confusion, anger, guilt, anxiety, fear, relief! I was bloodthirsty for revenge here & I'm happy to announce we get it! Even tho some scenes had me REAL worried! I had a question about L-bitch = 🚪➡️🚕⁉️, I got answer by Author & the scene'll be in final book so I'll also be checking that out! Also THOSE 2 chapters were unexpected IYKYK!

This book is so fun! I hope for bonuses 🥰. Gonna miss these 5 💗. There were some (I'm) curious (about) side characters here!

Story Ratings:

POV: 1st person, Multi POV
1) Overall Enjoyment—> 5+/5
2) The Characters: 5/5
3) Top feels: 🥺😯😨🤭😳😂🥰😬🤮😤😭🥵😍😅😠😈🙌👀😏🔥🧐😘😉🏒
4) Steamy scenes: 5/5
5) Levels: Cute+Swoon: 4/5
Angst: 3/5 (mostly external) 🥺
Dark: 3.5/5
6) Creativity + world: 4.7/5
7) Plot arc: (Save & protect, Revenge) 4.5/5
8) Writing style + pace: 4.7/5

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book was so good. I recommend reading it in order for it to make sense.

[Ali Lussier · Rating 2 out of 5]

❗️ SPOIILERS ❗️

Skimmed through to know the ending but, please tell me why this is the story chosen? Such a mess.

Riley's mother sells her granddaughter because she doesn't want her rapist, child molesting husband to know he fathered a child. Ok, I get it - mother is delusional and evil. But WHY the fuck did Riley and the boys know this...and not go to the cops? I get they didn't believe Riley when she accused him at 15 because her mother and stepfather both said she was lying and acting out and her stepfather was rich. But when she found out she was pregnant why didn't she have a dna test done to prove his guilt? Fine, she was underage and maybe her mother wouldn't allow it but, once she hit 18? "I didn't want to use my daughter as *proof*, I didn't want him to know about her and try for custody". Ma'am he is a grown man and you were 15 and that dna test would prove he raped you. Period. No one, despite how much money he has, would ever grant him custody of her or let him get away with it. That is proof that cannot be denied. Instead she let her mother hold her daughter over her head for 4 years knowing how she was raised - obviously her daughter wouldn't be raised better and knowing her mother wasn't taking care of her. That was better than her dumb take of using her as proof?

Once they knew she was looking to traffick her..they talked to lawyers but, I don't think they ever told them the shit her mom pulled. Her mother didn't work and yet always pawned her off the neighbors, her hair wasn't cut, her clothes were too small while she was in designer clothes. Her granddaughter looks just like her husband so she couldn't possibly still deny Riley's claims of rape and yet she stayed married to the man. All proof she isn't fit to have Aurora. Then they had proof of her trying to sell her. Yet they did nothing but try to take care of the problem themselves. And once she was sold they STILL DIDNT GO TO THE COPS? The child was missing? Riley's mother didn't report her missing. She'd be investigated. Nope, they spend the whole story trying to figure out where she is and when they can't, they're off having sex.

Honestly made no sense. And Grayson is still not a redeemable character to me. It shouldn't take 3 books and halfway thru book 3 to get him to apologize. And there wasn't ever any real growth between Riley and his relationship. Not like Royce or Logan. Logan and her had the most growth and Logan overall was the best man between the 3 yet he got the short end of the stick the most.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Review for the whole trilogy.

This is a college bully RH. Riley was raped by her stepfather years ago and secretly had his kid. Now she's at college, and she doesn't realize her stepbrother Grayson is there. She gets close with his friends, Logan and Royce, before Grayson learns she's there, tells the other guys she's evil, and the other guys turn on her. Grayson thinks she falsely accused his father, is responsible for his dad being in prison, and is a liar. So the guys "punish" her for this, and there's also some shocking reveal scenes when they learn about her kid. This is all very angsty and terrible, I was into the premise. I do like the angst of the heroes bullying the heroine for a crime she never did, and then finding out how wrong they were. Good stuff.

Unfortunately, the rest of it didn't really land. In book 2, Royce and Logan groveled well - I loved that Royce's grovel was to decide to be her protector. Even when she wanted space from him, he secretly stalked her, just to watch over her and make sure that nobody ever messed with her ever again. That was great. But, Grayson was the one who really needed to grovel, and he never did. Riley ended up falling into bed with him without him ever doing anything to deserve it, which made her seem weak. A lot of book 2 was tedious, because we were just in Grayson's POV repeating his thoughts over and over about how she's a liar. I also got bored after a while and ended up skimming just to find out what happened. This should have been a duet. In the end, it's forgettable and won't stick with me.

[Mandi Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

what an ending!

Riley has been through the ringer in life, but happiness is so close. If only they can find Aurora and keep Bertram & Lydia away! Logan & Royce have been my go to guys since the start but Grayson has finally caught up and it couldn’t have been better timing! Riley is depending on her guys to help her and Aurora through that’s going on and it’s amazing seeing how far they’ll go….. 5⭐️ 3🌶️

[Kylah🩵 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered Souls~ ♾️♾️✨✨
This is going to be a long cause I have a lot to say😅
Ok let me just start off by saying how much I loved this series. This series made me feel so many emotions. I would go from crying to laughing to smiling then back to crying. It made me feel everything. The book has to do with a very dark topic. It says there is more than one but they all revolve around the same thing.
I loved Aurora from when she was brought up to the very end. Every review I wrote for the books in the series I have said but she is like the sweetest, kindest, loving little girl ever. I loved getting to read about her.
Now onto the sad things. This book might’ve been the saddest one out of the whole series. ||at the end of the last book Aurora got sold to some random man. No one knew who and no one knew where she was at.|| So this book talked mostly about ||child trafficking and kidnapping

~~Spoilers/Spoiler Thoughts~~
|I hated Riley’s mom. Like how could you not want to protect your kid. This man raped and got her teenage child pregnant and she did not care at all. But wanted people to feel so much sympathy for her because (in her words) “her daughter wanted to take her husband.” She was a child so that makes no sense. Bertram was disgusting (obviously). I hated I won’t even waste any more of my time talking or thinking about him because just no.
I hated how no one believed Riley even though she was a minor at the time. She deserved so much better. When I got to the part of the child auction that was the worse scene for me having to think or like imagine an auction where they are selling little kids (like under 5). I wish the author put that in like a warning just so it is known before reading that a scene takes place at a place like that. In the trigger warning it just said that it was implied not that it was on page. There are a lot of triggers in this book (and I’m the whole series) that are very serious like that so I was that effected (like had to stop reading I just wish that I was said).||

[Brandys_bookography · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a college hockey bully reverse harem romance that includes stepbrother. There is no MM in the story. I really enjoyed Grayson, Logan and Royce. Riley's mom is a terrible person, I mean she does terrible things in this book based on jealousy. Bertram is not much better and I really disliked everything about him.

Riley grew so much in this series and she really shows her strength in this book due to the challenges that she face with Aurora being sold to the highest bidder and fighting to find out where she is. Lydia's mom being the absolute devil in my opinion. I am not sure if I can pick a favorite character for the story as it would be tied between Riley, Logan and Royce, but I do also feel as though Grayson grew a bit and showed another side of himself but he would still be in a solid second place for sure.

If you love some spice with moment of being on the edge of your seat, then you should definitely check out this book, as long as you have also read the first two in the trilogy.

Helena Walters and Oliver Highpoint did an excellent job of bringing these characters to life and definitely kept me engaged in the story. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the early access to this audiobook. All of my opinions are my own.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC for an honest review.

Words cannot express how much I loved this book.

For me there are certain authors whose writing just hits harder. It's when it's smooth, it's poetic, it's thoughtful, it's downright beautiful. And for me at the top of that list is Pepper Winters and J Rose but this...this book just cemented RA Smyth's name on that list. Her writing was all of the above and she earned that spot fair and square.

I went on a 2 hour car journey right after finishing this book and it was all I was thinking about. I was replaying my favorite scenes. I didn't even pay attention to my music lol.

Logan, Royce and Grayson were incredible in this. The way they helped Riley through one of the worst things you can go to as a parent was amazing. They were attentive, always knowing what she needed even when she didn't. And the way they built her up, I have no words. Every man could learn something from those three about being there for your partner.

My favorite scene was at Aurora's daycare. I loved it so much, it'll stay up there among my favorite book scenes.

I have loved this series and I'm a little sad it's over, but I have enjoyed every step of the way.

[The_Book_Brat · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Reverse Harem
*Contemporary
*Multi-PoV
*Dark themes
*Uni setting
*Fresh Start
*Hockey
*Kidnapping
*established harem (3)
*mid-burn
*3/3
Epic Ending 😍
What an absolute rollercoaster of a read!! You’re never quite sure which way this book is going to go, there’s plenty of ups and down 🙈 Riley has a lot to contend with after learning what happened with Aurora and witnessing the true depravity of her mother 😳 thankfully she’s got a core of steel and manages to muddle her way through! Especially with the help of her men, who really all get on board in this book 😍 well largely Grayson accepting he has to share but oh wow does that man come through for his girls 🥹 Royce is the constant protector and rock to their little family he absolutely pulls out all the stops to ensure they’re safe! 😍 Logan is their reminder that there’s hope for them and something good, he’s the light they need after all the awful stuff they go through 🥰 a heart wrenching read leading to a heart warming HEA - Smyth delivers everything you could want for this family!

[KyrieMacReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let's talk Shattered Souls

5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
5 🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶 (Riley gets hers)

TW: Abuse, Non-Con, A lil Primal, Some Moida

Tropes: Hockey, Taboo (Step-Siblings), Reverse Harem, Single Parent


Omg. The wait for this has been torture, but absolutely worth it. I stumbled onto this series about the exact same time last year and this was exactly the series ending it should have been. So much happens in this 3rd installment and it's hard to capture all my emotions. I looked a little something like:

🫣🥵😲😭🥵🥰🥵🥲

Trying to find Aurora. Riley's Mom. Bertram. Seeing more of the other sides of the guys. Grayson and Riley finally getting their shit together. The group scene. There's so much here and the culmination of it all was just exactly how I pictured it. I can't say much more without giving it away, but what a great read!!

[Bec · Rating 2 out of 5]

Review for the whole trilogy.

Trying not to give spoilers. You can tell the author is not from the US because she doesn't understand how much of anything works here. The hockey in the book is very surface-level and written by someone who really doesn't know much about hockey. The NHL parts were a real hot mess and not how it works. There are many instances where the police should have been involved, but it is as if they don't exist except for that one scene at the beginning of the series, and it also doesn't work like that here. So much inner dialogue, I think all 3 books could have been shortened for the better by just removing that drag on the story. I can go on and on, but mostly if you can suspend a lot of disbelief on how basic things work in the US, you can let the drama carry you, but don't expect all the loose ends to be tied up, and it will have an abrupt ending.

[Amanda Kintner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 ended with a bang! Literally. This was a really good trilogy. I love the forbidden aspect, the danger and mystery..and why choose...ALL of the tropes! I'm especially glad Grayson got his act together. And who doesn't like an alpha? Let alone 3!

[Leilani Noack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg such a great conclusion to the story! I cried a little for Grayson but my heart was hurtng for Riley. Definitely one of my top 3 series from this author! So many twists and turns that kept you on the edge of your seat waiting for to be over and know what happens.

[Jshontelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ll start off by saying I did DNF this book 88% but i’d def give the final book an overall 3.5/4⭐️

I enjoyed the overall story. However, towards the end of the final book, I found things to be dragging (in my opinion). I was quite satisfied with the ending of the chapter I finished, so I believe that’s all for me and this story.

[Nikki Wesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Star Rating : ⭐️⭐️
Heat/Steam Rating : 🌶️🌶️
Dark : 🌌🌌🌌🌌
Age Range : College
Reverse Harem : MFMM (No ⚔️)
Book Order: 3/3
Cliffhanger : None
Triggers Involved : Non-Con/Abuse

(Ratings are out of 5)

[William H Tolson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series got to be very much about the FMC and her daughter. I'm not a huge fan of the kid trope so lost interest at this point on the book.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shattered Souls

What a perfect end to the series. This book will have you guessing what is going to happen next. Will Riley accept Grayson or not. You won’t want to miss this book!

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This has been a wild and tumultuous ride for these characters, and this book continues this. This author is excellent at writing villains you hate so much you want them to suffer. Then a RH that when they come together is unstoppable. Excellent read.

[Mom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great HEA

Spoilers*********


With Aurora sold to the highest bidder and Bertram out of prison, Riley’s world is crashing around her. The guys are doing their best to find Aurora and keep coming up empty. Meanwhile, Bertram keeps trying to force Riley to attend “family” get togethers and he gets angry when Logan shows up to one of them. Lydia blames everything on Riley, and tries to have her killed when it becomes clear Bertram prefers her over Lydia.
Bertram shows up at Riley’s advisor meeting and tries to say she’s unfit to continue at Halston and that she needs to go home with him to live at his home. When she’s denied this and tries to get away, he says he’ll punish aurora, letting her know that he’s had her this whole time. The guys find out where Auroras being held and show up to find David, Bertram assistant, keeping Aurora hidden. The guys beat up David and take Aurora.
The guys kidnap Lydia in an attempt to get rid of her and to let her know that they got Aurora and that she had sold Aurora to the one man she was trying to keep her from. But they got a call that Gran was declining and they left giving Lydia the chance to escape. In a rage, she tracks Bertram car thinking that he had Riley had a love nest somewhere. When she gets there she finds David dead and Bertram claiming he killed him and that her relationship with David had all been faked and orchestrated by him. Bertram kills Lydia and leaves her and David’s bodies. Riley and Aurora are at one of Logan’s hockey games and go to the bathroom while Royce is on the phone with Grayson. Bertram shows up and kidnaps both Riley and Aurora. He takes them back to the house where it all started. In an attempt to flee, Riley leaves the gas oven on and places a hand towel over the flame. When something blows in the kitchen she takes a lamp and knocks him over the head. She manages to escape with Aurora, but somehow Bertram survives and escapes the hospital when their guards are down. He attacks Riley but Grayson shows up and the guys “take care” of him. Aurora gets enrolled in daycare, Riley returns to work, and the guys buy a bigger house with a room for Aurora and future kids. They all live HEA.

[Lucy Mason · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’ve had to DNF I’m sorry.

I just cannot with the amount of Grayson scenes/ chapters. I can only tolerate assholes when they have major major grovelling and he just hasn’t.

I also can’t get over the auction scene, who goes to an auction see lots of stolen little girls and then goes home and has sex. I just can’t, I love a good smut book as much as the next person but I hate it when authors throw some serious issues into a book and just cover up with sex scenes, especially in this book it just doesn’t flow - it’s like traumatic event, must have vicious sex, more trauma, more vicious sex.

Maybe the book gets better, maybe I’ve been quick to DNF, but I can feel the slump its creating and honestly it’s becoming a hate read.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited when this hit my Kindle that I could not wait to dive in. This book was an emotional rollercoaster that had you hooked and wanted to keep reading. I could not put it down. Riley is so strong that no matter what's gets thrown at, she always gets right back up. I don't want to give anything away, so all I'm going to say is wow!! What a great ending!!

[Leslie || original book nerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

❄️𝕊𝕙𝕒𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕖𝕕 𝕊𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕤 – ℍ𝕒𝕝𝕤𝕥𝕠𝕟 𝕌 𝟛 – ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨❄️

Author: R.A. Smyth
 
Couple: Riley James with Logan Astor, Royce King & Grayson Van Doren
 
Tropes: dark romance, hockey romance, why choose, RH, tortured heroine heroine in danger, single mother, stepbrother romance, bully romance, hidden past, college romance
 
Review: No. Words. I have absolutely no words for the way R.A. Smyth obliterated me in Shattered Souls, the final Halston U book. The final bits of Riley’s story are both heartbreakingly beautiful yet achingly devastating and I would not have it any other way! The way Rachel was able to wrap up the story but also give us the HEA Riley and her men deserved broke me down in ways I was not ready for and made me wish we were getting a book four!

Riley James…this woman. She has to be one of the strongest and most resilient FMCs I have ever read. Her story in this book is SHATTERING. From the way we ended book three to the journey and struggles she had to go through in this final book, she has blown me away with her ability to keep going with her chin held high. The ruthless way she fought for Aurora, her daughter, and the relentless was she pursued every lead to save her cemented her in my heart of book hearts. The ups and downs Rachel puts her through as she pushes to achieve her dreams and be united with Aurora were tragic in ways that made this book raw and emotional but also allowed us to see how she was built of a lot stronger stuff than your normal FMC.

Shattered Souls is the culmination of all the bonds between Riley and her men but what was shocking was the ABSOLUTE DEVASTATION Grayson Van Daren caused me while reading. Grayson has been my favorite (in the unpopular opinion) since we met him and the unraveling of his character, his past and the prior ties he had to Riley drew me in until I was unable to step away. His story implodes in this book and I felt like Rachel was stomping on my heart and tearing at the strings as she divulged why Grayson was the way he was. I also adored the way he absolutely MELTED for Aurora. It was not what I expected but also everything that I needed. Seeing the cold, broody man fall hard for his half sister was the most heartwarming part of this book.

R.A. Smyth also spent a good part of this book piecing together and healing the wounds between Riley and Grayson and I was so THERE! The intensity these two have lit the pages on fire and while the other two were much needed to balance out their fire, I found that this book was the Grayson and Riley story! I appreciated how R.A. Smyth took time to explore their relationship more and REALLY LOVED how they were like fire and gasoline *wink wink, abandoned church and forest scene anyone**!! Seeing them put their pasts behind them gave me the warm fuzzies and I adored how Royce was the one who took it upon himself to push them together.

Shattered Souls is the book that is the darkest yet also the one that kept me in a chokehold the longest. I found that R.A. Smyth left the biggest revelations for last and I cannot say how happy I was that Grayson’s father and Riley’s mother had their appropriate endings. This book was filled with fiery banter, biting sarcasm and a cold ruthlessness that I have come to love from this author and it also held pieces of heartwarming found family vibes after Aurora was brought into the mix. This book marked the end of an era in the Halston U series and I can only say…I can’t WAIT FOR MORE!
 
Rating: 100+, R.A. Smyth shredded my soul in this final book of Riley’s story and I cannot express words for how astounding this finale was!

Thank you to RA Smyth for sending me this eARC!

[bookaddict2021 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered Souls in an emotional rollercoaster from start to finish especially for Riley as this author made sure to throw everything she’s got at her fmc to make sure that she definitely earned that happily ever after that might come at the end of the book ... who knows 🤷‍♀️ What I love most about this author and her work is that she is just one of those authors that you will just love every book she writes and need to own every copy. Her books always have such amazing character growth which is realistic, and fits that character’s personality to a T. With plenty of hurdles to jump over along the way, maybe the odd stick of dynamite thrown in as an extra challenge as well it makes from a dramatic, intriguing masterpiece!

Riley inner strength, and determination really shines throughout this book, fighting to get her daughter back, dealing with her childhood abuser not only free from prison but once again interfering and controlling her life. But she’s stronger than she used to be, and she has three amazing men and amazing friends to stand at her back to help her fight. I thought the entire book was written really well and played true to Riley’s character as a whle, truly encompassing who she is at her core.

Riley’s men are always there to offer their strength and support when needed and even Grayson finds himself fully in the fold now. Grayson’s character development is one of the highlights of the entire series, seeing him grow from this angry, revengeful boy he is in the beginning to the gruff, possessive, domineering man with a heart of gold thats hidden wayyyyyyy in there behind all the darkness. Logan continued to be the light a humour even in such difficult times, helping to relax and balance out the others whilst Royce is there silently in the background putting things in place and taking on a lot of the burden in fixing things. But OMG I was howling with laughter at certain scenes between the boys and Aurora and wouldn't say no to a little novella of her as a teenager and seeing how they cope with boys.

Overall, this story and all the others this author has written are always unique and original that capture the minds and hearts of her readers with a good foundation to them that has a true real life quality. Shattered Souls is an emotional read, with some triggers that some readers might struggle with so readers should think about that when delving into this spectacular read. Filled, with spicy scenes and tons of drama that really gets the heart pumping as well as more evidence that Riley is nothing like her selfish, self-absorbed mother. This is a book that everyone needs to read in my opinion!