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Unbroken
In 1945, thirty-three-year-old Jessie Lowrey is summoned back to Greyson Manor. The huge mansion served as the backdrop of her childhood, as her father worked on the extensive grounds and her mother served as personal maid to Mrs. McGovern, the estate’s matriarch, who is now dying of cancer and wants to make amends.
The visit stirs nostalgia in Jessie, a journey of memory taking her back in time to 1918, when her family first arrives at the estate to work in service to the family. As the two are close in age, Jessie is assigned to be essentially a living toy for the McGovern daughter, Heaven. The girls quickly grow inseparable, exploring everything from the expansive grounds, to the endless corridors and rooms, which still echo with girlish giggles…to each other.
When heartache strikes, along with the stock market crash of 1929, the two young women are torn apart by deeply buried secrets, which Jessie will have to face and unbury, piece by piece, to find her way home.
Will Heaven be waiting for her?
The visit stirs nostalgia in Jessie, a journey of memory taking her back in time to 1918, when her family first arrives at the estate to work in service to the family. As the two are close in age, Jessie is assigned to be essentially a living toy for the McGovern daughter, Heaven. The girls quickly grow inseparable, exploring everything from the expansive grounds, to the endless corridors and rooms, which still echo with girlish giggles…to each other.
When heartache strikes, along with the stock market crash of 1929, the two young women are torn apart by deeply buried secrets, which Jessie will have to face and unbury, piece by piece, to find her way home.
Will Heaven be waiting for her?
290 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 15, 2024
5 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Kim Pritekel
72 books153 followersKim Pritekel is a published author living in Denver, Colorado. She is also a very popular online author of many novels, novellas and short stories. She is the Royal Academy of Bards 2005 Hall of Fame Author.
Her love of writing began at age 9, and she wrote her first novel at age 12, wishing to follow in the footsteps of childhood idol, S.E. Hinton. She was published for the first time at age 24 with her novel, First.
Kim has followed her dreams right into the film industry, writing screenplays for production companies in Los Angeles, as well as for her own production company, Asp Films with business partner, Kelly Neal. Their first feature film, Self Portrait – written, directed and co-produced by Kim – premiered in Denver in June of 2013.
She enjoys spending time with her family, friends and her beloved cats. She is always adding to her ever-growing collection of swords and historic memorabilia. She is a huge fan of music, including musical theater. The "musical" love of her life is Sarah Brightman, who she tosses a mention of in every book she can.
Kim is a writing machine, so come back often to see what she's working on next!
Her love of writing began at age 9, and she wrote her first novel at age 12, wishing to follow in the footsteps of childhood idol, S.E. Hinton. She was published for the first time at age 24 with her novel, First.
Kim has followed her dreams right into the film industry, writing screenplays for production companies in Los Angeles, as well as for her own production company, Asp Films with business partner, Kelly Neal. Their first feature film, Self Portrait – written, directed and co-produced by Kim – premiered in Denver in June of 2013.
She enjoys spending time with her family, friends and her beloved cats. She is always adding to her ever-growing collection of swords and historic memorabilia. She is a huge fan of music, including musical theater. The "musical" love of her life is Sarah Brightman, who she tosses a mention of in every book she can.
Kim is a writing machine, so come back often to see what she's working on next!
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 11, 2024
Unbroken is my first read by Kim Pritekel, and I enjoyed it. This historical fiction sapphic romance is well-written, cleanly edited, and evokes some real feels.
Heaven's companion since childhood, Jessie, the daughter of her family's staff, becomes her first love. As the story is set in the 1920s through 1940s, there are many obstacles to their romance. Societal expectations, economic status, and unsupportive family, to name a few.
The two grow close organically over time and many tender moments between them absolutely sell the sincerity of the relationship. I hurt for them through the challenges they face and cheer for them when they succeed. Both are likable characters with strong moral compasses, born into impossible circumstances. We are privy to Jessie's perspective throughout.
The beginning was a bit slow for me, but the pace picked up about a third of the way in. Complex supporting characters and a couple of minor twists help keep the plot moving along to a satisfying ending. The hard-earned happily ever after left me with a feeling of hope.
The intimate scenes are so gentle and really cement the love they have for one another.
There are some despicable characters who are easy to hate, and I am happy there is some bit of justice served.
One minor complaint is that some terms are not appropriate for the time period.
It is ultimately a beautiful love story that emphasizes the strength and resilience of women facing terrible odds.
I recommend this novel, and I look forward to reading more by the author.
#historicalfiction #oppositesattract #friendstolovers #richgirl/poorgirl #masc/femme #Colorado
I received a free ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
Heaven's companion since childhood, Jessie, the daughter of her family's staff, becomes her first love. As the story is set in the 1920s through 1940s, there are many obstacles to their romance. Societal expectations, economic status, and unsupportive family, to name a few.
The two grow close organically over time and many tender moments between them absolutely sell the sincerity of the relationship. I hurt for them through the challenges they face and cheer for them when they succeed. Both are likable characters with strong moral compasses, born into impossible circumstances. We are privy to Jessie's perspective throughout.
The beginning was a bit slow for me, but the pace picked up about a third of the way in. Complex supporting characters and a couple of minor twists help keep the plot moving along to a satisfying ending. The hard-earned happily ever after left me with a feeling of hope.
The intimate scenes are so gentle and really cement the love they have for one another.
There are some despicable characters who are easy to hate, and I am happy there is some bit of justice served.
One minor complaint is that some terms are not appropriate for the time period.
It is ultimately a beautiful love story that emphasizes the strength and resilience of women facing terrible odds.
I recommend this novel, and I look forward to reading more by the author.
#historicalfiction #oppositesattract #friendstolovers #richgirl/poorgirl #masc/femme #Colorado
I received a free ARC from the author. This is my honest opinion.
November 23, 2024
This is a tender love story that spans from the ages of 6 years old to their 30’s. The characters are strong and each face a lot of changes in their lives, some good, some not so good. There are many layers in this book and the emotions I experienced as a reader were deep with anger, confusion, happiness, and sadness. There is much more depth and feeling in this book, complete with raw emotions! The author did an excellent job of outlining Jessie and Heaven. Their turmoil, disappointments, and hardships faced throughout their lives. This book is so different from the other books Kim has written. The journey of Jessie and Heaven started in 1918, when both girls were 6.
Jessie’s parents worked at Greyson manor and Jessie became the playmate of Heaven. Both girls became inseparable and were always together. More often than not, Jessie could be found staying in Heaven’s room at the mansion and was loved, as an equal, by Heaven’s father. He was described as a jovial man and ran a business. Growing up Heaven was a fierce, independent child, who ran through the halls of the mansion and the property with Jessie. Both girls were always together, even all through high school. Both girls were each other’s protectors through those years.
In 1929 when the stock market crashed, Jessie and Heaven's lives changed forever. They were torn apart and forced to grow up, with deceit and obligation leading the way.
The book will surprise you in many areas as a lot of additional information becomes known. This book, in my opinion, is the best one that Kim Pritekel has written and one you will want to read again.
I received an ARC from the author.
Jessie’s parents worked at Greyson manor and Jessie became the playmate of Heaven. Both girls became inseparable and were always together. More often than not, Jessie could be found staying in Heaven’s room at the mansion and was loved, as an equal, by Heaven’s father. He was described as a jovial man and ran a business. Growing up Heaven was a fierce, independent child, who ran through the halls of the mansion and the property with Jessie. Both girls were always together, even all through high school. Both girls were each other’s protectors through those years.
In 1929 when the stock market crashed, Jessie and Heaven's lives changed forever. They were torn apart and forced to grow up, with deceit and obligation leading the way.
The book will surprise you in many areas as a lot of additional information becomes known. This book, in my opinion, is the best one that Kim Pritekel has written and one you will want to read again.
I received an ARC from the author.
December 9, 2024
Kim Pritekel’s Unbroken is a beautifully nuanced, sometimes heartbreaking love story spanning nearly three decades. Jessie Lowrey first meets Heaven in 1918, when her family moves from Kansas City to Denver, Colorado, to work for the McGovern family. Jessie’s mother is a maid and her father is a jack-of-all-trades, doing groundskeeping and repairs around Greyson Manor. The girls are almost the same age, and 6-year-old Jessie has her own job in the household: being Heaven’s playmate.
The novel is dual timeline, going back and forth between 1945 when Mrs. McGovern, Heaven’s mother who is dying of cancer, summons Jessie back to the manor to make amends, and Jessie and Heaven’s first meeting in 1918 forward. The story moves at a slower pace but it feels very natural, especially for the setting, and the characters are wonderfully well developed and believable. Even though Jessie and Heaven are forced into positions that take their lives on different paths than they ever would have imagined, the love between them remains unbroken.
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
The novel is dual timeline, going back and forth between 1945 when Mrs. McGovern, Heaven’s mother who is dying of cancer, summons Jessie back to the manor to make amends, and Jessie and Heaven’s first meeting in 1918 forward. The story moves at a slower pace but it feels very natural, especially for the setting, and the characters are wonderfully well developed and believable. Even though Jessie and Heaven are forced into positions that take their lives on different paths than they ever would have imagined, the love between them remains unbroken.
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
June 20, 2025
Events here take place between 1918, when the two MC’s first meet, to 1945 when they meet again. Jessie and Heaven start as unequal ‘best friends’ but eventually come to realise that they’re deeply in love with each other. But events conspire to keep them apart until the terminal decline of a parent brings them together again. By now, Jessie is living her own life whilst Heaven is sad and beaten down by her life and her marriage.
Rather than following a linear path, the action here flits between the two time periods as we learn what the girls were to each other back then and what they could come to mean to each other again, now. That leads to sometimes feeling a little ‘choppy’ as when you want to read on in one time you’re suddenly jerked into the other. But all in all, it largely works and this is still another good read from an ever reliable author.
Rather than following a linear path, the action here flits between the two time periods as we learn what the girls were to each other back then and what they could come to mean to each other again, now. That leads to sometimes feeling a little ‘choppy’ as when you want to read on in one time you’re suddenly jerked into the other. But all in all, it largely works and this is still another good read from an ever reliable author.
November 10, 2024
Unbroken is a beautiful story of young love, told in a historical backdrop with flashbacks to the beginning and current day for the MC’s, Jessie and Heaven. The author leads the reader through the young girls’ lives and the heartaches they must face in the early 1900’s. The paths taken are not always the paths they would choose for themselves. The journey is hard and often heartbreaking, but their love is a bond that cannot be broken for these strong, determined women. In my opinion, this is the best historical romance Kim Pritekel has written.
December 19, 2024
This book had me on tender hooks wanting to find out the whole story of what happened to these two little girls. Kim has done a great job of teasing the story out so you keep wanting to find out more as she jumps back and forth through the years between children growing up and as adults. She also captures the essence of life across the eras and how things have changed so much over the years of these characters lives. It is a wonderful book which I would thoroughly recommend.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews