Fractured: WORKING GIRL SERIES BOOK 1

by Roxy Rich

He was supposed to be the protector but he's the one they need protecting from.
Her mother is dead- her father a pimp and a serial killer. Jolene has no choice but to step into the role of protector and matriarch. Forced to grow up far too early, she sacrifices her childhood to keep her younger sister safe from the horrors that surround them. As jolene learns the dark intricacies of her father’s brutal business, she becomes a hardened and calculating young woman, trafficking girls across county lines to ensure her survival and her sisters protection. Each decision chips away at her soul, but she believes it’s the only way to shield her sister from a fate worse than death. Now Jolene is caught in a deadly game where every move is a fight for survival. As she descends deeper into her father’s world, she must grapple with the cost of her actions. Can she find a way to save her sister without losing the remains of her humanity? Or will she become the very monster she’s trying to escape? In a world where violence and betrayal are the norm, Jolene’s battle is not just for her sister’s life but her own redemption. The path she walks is perilous, and every step she takes leads her closer to either salvation or damnation. Will she be able to protect her sister, or will the darkness consume them both?
Monsters really do exist-you won't be able to put it down.

224 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 26, 2024

About the author

Author Bio Roxy Rich

Roxy Rich writes psychological thrillers that will mess with your head, in the best possible way. Loosely based on true events (because real life is often more twisted than fiction), her stories take a deep dive into social injustices, especially those faced by women. Expect grit, heart, and the kind of realism that makes you wonder just how close to the truth she’s really getting.

While most of her work explores the raw and often brutal realities of human behaviour, Roxy occasionally veers off into darkly sarcastic tales about serial killers. You know, for balance.

She lives in the wilds of Somerset where she home educates her kids, writes brutally honest fiction, and dreams of salt water and gills, because she’s pretty sure she was a mermaid in a past life. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her swimming, chasing sea breezes, or side-eyeing society's hypocrisy like it just spilled red wine on her white carpet.

If you like your thrillers bold, smart, and laced with a wicked edge of truth, Roxy Rich is your next favourite author.
Dive in, just don’t expect to come up for air anytime soon.

Reviews

[Lola Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very emotional and unique read!
The writing style is very easy to read, the worldbuilding and character development are perfectly balanced and isn’t overdone.
Realistic characters and a raw and emotional plot.
Very much recommend! Greta start to a series!
Can’t wait to see what more this author has to offer

[Aussie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very heartfelt as it made me tear up a bit. As the story follows a girl name Jolene who mother  who sadly passed away  which leaves her and her sister in the care of her evil stepfather

Please be careful as read the trigger warnings so you know  before reading this story as it's relate to human trafficking aswell as other sensitive topics that isn't ideal for you.

[Kori Lynex · Rating 3 out of 5]

"𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑" by Roxy Rich is a haunting and intense dive into the world of exploitation and survival, following sisters Jolene and Alice as they navigate a nightmarish reality shaped by their cruel stepfather, Otis. Rich’s dark contemporary fiction is gripping and relentless, focusing on Jolene’s transformation from victim to survivor and her determination to protect her sister. This emotional core anchors the story, providing depth amidst its disturbing themes.

The antagonist, Otis, is chillingly effective, a figure of control and corruption that readers will despise. While the primary characters are well-developed, secondary figures like Maria and Shady could have been fleshed out further to enhance the emotional impact of the narrative.

Rich’s writing is stark and raw, fitting for the grim subject matter, but occasionally suffers from clunky dialogue and grammatical errors that break the flow. These technical flaws slightly detract from the novel’s potential but don’t overshadow its emotional power.

"𝐹𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒𝑑" is not for the faint of heart but will appeal to readers who appreciate dark, unflinching storytelling. Despite its rough edges, it offers a powerful narrative about abuse, resilience, and the strength of the human spirit.

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐½

[Nikki B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fractured: Working Girl was such an emotional, heartfelt, and gut wrenching story. My heart really broke for Jolene. She endured so much to try to spare her sister Alice only for things to still play out the way it did. Jolene is so strong for enduring all the things she did. Otis is a real piece of work and I would have loved to see him get some karma. While I know the things that happen in trafficking and SA abuse cases, reading it from the perspective of a young girl going through makes you see it in a different light. Also.. I never really read a story where the main character is from my hometown of Trinidad and I swear, they aren't all like this! This was a great story, gut wrenching and empowering at the same time. I can't wait to read the next in the series. Definitely check the trigger warnings for this one before reading!

[Liz Brooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am grateful to have received a free advanced copy of this book, and to have been given the opportunity to offer an honest review. What an intense read! I was a little thrown off by the poetic writing style in parts of the book, especially when the characters spoke to each other in the same style. The story is so brutal that the poetic descriptions occasionally felt a bit out of place for me. Nonetheless, the content is incredible. I deeply appreciate the author's bravery and willingness to write and share such a raw, brutal, heartbreaking story that accurately depicts just a small fraction of the ruthlessness and savagery of sex trafficking. These things do happen. And they are a reality that we need to acknowledge. Definitely a noteworthy read!

[Stormy Shadows · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars.

This first book is about sisters Jolene and Alice. They have a stepdad that is truly evil and both of them get manipulated and Jolene does everything in her power to protect her younger sister while she gets to be apart of the shady stuff going on to make money for herself and help just her and her sister. This book is full of heavy topics, SA and Trafficking, Drugs and Violence etc. For the authors first book this is very well written but repetitive in certain words that takes me out of the story and how Jolene talks isn’t really realistic if she’s just a kid or teenager just a lot of very flowery writing and I personally think it’s way overwritten. Nonetheless I still enjoyed this and I recommend this, It’s a tragic story.

[Girlwithabook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book. It had me almost in tears and was a really good read.

The book follows along a girl called Jolene whose mother sadly passed away, leaving her and her sister in the care of her evil stepfather. Now be warned please read the trigger warnings to know what you are getting into as the story features human trafficking and other sensitive topics that may not be ideal for all.

It is really well written and easy to follow along.

Overall a really good emotional read. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first read by Roxy and it will not be my last. This was a very emotional read. It had quite a few triggers so please read your trigger warnings. This was not a light read and it had me thinking very deeply about things. I also enjoyed the world building and how realistic the reading was.

[Sam Ruiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very emotional and unique book.
It can be a difficult read for some but is also a book you won't find anywhere else. The writing style was easy to follow I just struggled at times when things would repeat hence the 3 star rating.

[Kendra Light · Rating 5 out of 5]

I truly loved this book. It had a very real feeling! It was definitely emotional and had me on the end of my seat at times.

I felt so bad for the girls.