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Fractured Heart: A small town romance novella
Johnny Miller is not who he claims to be. Posted undercover in a town tainted by corruption, his mission is to unearth the twisted roots within the local police department and council. But when he crosses paths with Elle, the reclusive wife of councillor Stanley Adams, Johnny finds himself distracted by something far more compelling than his investigation.
Elle carries a grace that belies the suffocating secrets of her life. A fortress of self-imposed solitude, she knows the consequences of letting anyone too close, let alone an outsider with a suspicious agenda. But Johnny's charm is as relentless as his quest for truth, and Elle's icy exterior begins to show its fractures.
As alliances shift and deceptions come to light, Elle and Johnny spiral into a world where their attraction could be their undoing.
The deeper Johnny delves, the clearer it some doors, once opened, can never be closed again.
Can love truly conquer all, or will a fractured heart become truly broken?
Elle carries a grace that belies the suffocating secrets of her life. A fortress of self-imposed solitude, she knows the consequences of letting anyone too close, let alone an outsider with a suspicious agenda. But Johnny's charm is as relentless as his quest for truth, and Elle's icy exterior begins to show its fractures.
As alliances shift and deceptions come to light, Elle and Johnny spiral into a world where their attraction could be their undoing.
The deeper Johnny delves, the clearer it some doors, once opened, can never be closed again.
Can love truly conquer all, or will a fractured heart become truly broken?
249 pages, Paperback
Published June 8, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
June 8, 2024
First of I wanna thank Esme for sending me an ARC of her third book❤️
If there is one thing Esme knows how to do it’s how to write beautiful love stories under 300 pages and without leaving the reader wanting anything! She has this was with words, she don’t need a lot of them to explain something!
This book was an EASY 5 star, miiight even be my favorite, I haven’t decided yet because I’ve loved them all but this one had the wanting, the anticipation the feelings and the hard stuff all in perfect balance!
You get the fluffy Duffy feelings and love but also serious topics and traumatic experiences, I would advice reading the trigger warnings if you tend to react to books!
Tropes and micro tropes you will find in this book:
- small town
- he falls first (and is obsessed with her)
- morally gray
- sweet revenge
- CUTEST DOG EVER
Elle and Johnny were made for each other (well duh they’re fictional 🙄) hahaha but no, in a way were they have their own personalities and interests but they compliment one other and fit perfectly!
If there is one thing Esme knows how to do it’s how to write beautiful love stories under 300 pages and without leaving the reader wanting anything! She has this was with words, she don’t need a lot of them to explain something!
This book was an EASY 5 star, miiight even be my favorite, I haven’t decided yet because I’ve loved them all but this one had the wanting, the anticipation the feelings and the hard stuff all in perfect balance!
You get the fluffy Duffy feelings and love but also serious topics and traumatic experiences, I would advice reading the trigger warnings if you tend to react to books!
Tropes and micro tropes you will find in this book:
- small town
- he falls first (and is obsessed with her)
- morally gray
- sweet revenge
- CUTEST DOG EVER
Elle and Johnny were made for each other (well duh they’re fictional 🙄) hahaha but no, in a way were they have their own personalities and interests but they compliment one other and fit perfectly!
June 17, 2024
This is a Strangers to Lovers, Small Town Romance, Touch Her & 💀…
I love Johnny 🫠 hes a posted undercover PI in a town tainted by corruption.
Johnny is gorgeous so protective, caring & sweet ..
Elle is a sweet lady the wife of councillor Stanley…
Johnnys relationship with Elle was so beautiful 🩷 this book has plot & a little spice 🌶️
I just adored this book..
I love Johnny 🫠 hes a posted undercover PI in a town tainted by corruption.
Johnny is gorgeous so protective, caring & sweet ..
Elle is a sweet lady the wife of councillor Stanley…
Johnnys relationship with Elle was so beautiful 🩷 this book has plot & a little spice 🌶️
I just adored this book..
June 8, 2024
An ARC Book Review: Fractured Heart
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author: Esme Lennon
Genre: Romance
Page Count: 249
Tropes: Strangers to Lovers, Small Town Romance, Touch Her And Die, Dual POV
Spice: Yes
Triggers: Yes: Emotional + Physical Abuse, Domestic Violence, Drugs + Alcohol, Murder
Physical/Kindle: Kindle
Time: 3hrs
Review
I keep telling myself that I don't like romance novels, and then I read a romance novel, and I absolutely love it. This was no different!!
This book was so so brilliant. I always love a book where I can feel emotions towards the main characters (even if they are negative ones), and I felt so many during the short read of this story! The characters were so lovable, except for Stanley, fuck Stanley.
Because the book itself was fairly short, it was very fast paced, but the fact that the relationships between the two main characters became so beautifully fleshed out in such a short amount of page time really pays homage to how amazing this book is.
There are very dark themes including domestic violence and drug trafficking, however I somehow felt so cozy and wholesome while reading Elle and Johnny's blossoming romance. I need me a Johnny in my life!!! The way he cares for her and looks after her after everything she has been through is seriously swoon worthy. I blushed so many times while reading this book!!
Also, I have to add an honourable mention to the final spice scene because... THEY DID THAT. Fuck you Stanley!!!!!
I highly recommend this book to any Romance lovers out there, and also to those of you who are unsure on whether you will like romance. It's short and sweet and grants many happy feelings and is great if you're only dipping your toes into the genre. All I know is that I will be trying more romance books in the hopes that they are like this!
Review: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Author: Esme Lennon
Genre: Romance
Page Count: 249
Tropes: Strangers to Lovers, Small Town Romance, Touch Her And Die, Dual POV
Spice: Yes
Triggers: Yes: Emotional + Physical Abuse, Domestic Violence, Drugs + Alcohol, Murder
Physical/Kindle: Kindle
Time: 3hrs
Review
I keep telling myself that I don't like romance novels, and then I read a romance novel, and I absolutely love it. This was no different!!
This book was so so brilliant. I always love a book where I can feel emotions towards the main characters (even if they are negative ones), and I felt so many during the short read of this story! The characters were so lovable, except for Stanley, fuck Stanley.
Because the book itself was fairly short, it was very fast paced, but the fact that the relationships between the two main characters became so beautifully fleshed out in such a short amount of page time really pays homage to how amazing this book is.
There are very dark themes including domestic violence and drug trafficking, however I somehow felt so cozy and wholesome while reading Elle and Johnny's blossoming romance. I need me a Johnny in my life!!! The way he cares for her and looks after her after everything she has been through is seriously swoon worthy. I blushed so many times while reading this book!!
Also, I have to add an honourable mention to the final spice scene because... THEY DID THAT. Fuck you Stanley!!!!!
I highly recommend this book to any Romance lovers out there, and also to those of you who are unsure on whether you will like romance. It's short and sweet and grants many happy feelings and is great if you're only dipping your toes into the genre. All I know is that I will be trying more romance books in the hopes that they are like this!
June 10, 2024
Esme Lennon's "Fractured Hearts" masterfully weaves a rich tapestry of self-discovery, empowered conviction, and tantalizing mystery, culminating in a heart-stopping narrative. With every manipulative word and controlling gesture, Elle's partner chips away at her confidence, but she's reached a turning point – she's ready to reclaim her autonomy and start building a life of her own design.
Meet Johnny, the no-nonsense private eye drafted in to crack the enigmatic case of Elle's husband, where the threads of truth are still blurry. He's consumed by the need to safeguard Elle, an objective that breeds tension and beefs up the narrative. In christening Elle "Violet," he's not just giving her a nickname - he's gift-wrapping her a sense of promise, a new beginning that harmonizes beautifully with the novel's core motifs of transformation, second chances, and the human quest for renewal. With Elle's identity still in flux, Johnny's rugged yet empathetic presence supplies a sense of solidity, allowing her to explore her newfound self. The author tackles the tough stuff, confronting readers with harsh realities like domestic abuse and the enduring quest for self-acceptance. "Fractured Hearts" catapults readers into the eye of the storm, where Lennon's compassionate pen weaves a subtle tapestry of resilience, crafting a narrative that seizes hearts and teeters on the edge of collapse.
As Elle and Johnny's feelings simmer just below the surface, the narrative takes on a captivating depth. In the aftermath of trauma, their connection blooms like a slow-motion sunrise – precious, tentative, and fleetingly hopeful. When we gaze into the heart of Fractured Hearts, we're met with the determination of individuals who've been battered, but not broken - their resilience echoes loudly. Here's a story that will resonate with anyone who believes in the human capacity for change and growth – a triumphant tale of overcoming adversity and emerging stronger.
Meet Johnny, the no-nonsense private eye drafted in to crack the enigmatic case of Elle's husband, where the threads of truth are still blurry. He's consumed by the need to safeguard Elle, an objective that breeds tension and beefs up the narrative. In christening Elle "Violet," he's not just giving her a nickname - he's gift-wrapping her a sense of promise, a new beginning that harmonizes beautifully with the novel's core motifs of transformation, second chances, and the human quest for renewal. With Elle's identity still in flux, Johnny's rugged yet empathetic presence supplies a sense of solidity, allowing her to explore her newfound self. The author tackles the tough stuff, confronting readers with harsh realities like domestic abuse and the enduring quest for self-acceptance. "Fractured Hearts" catapults readers into the eye of the storm, where Lennon's compassionate pen weaves a subtle tapestry of resilience, crafting a narrative that seizes hearts and teeters on the edge of collapse.
As Elle and Johnny's feelings simmer just below the surface, the narrative takes on a captivating depth. In the aftermath of trauma, their connection blooms like a slow-motion sunrise – precious, tentative, and fleetingly hopeful. When we gaze into the heart of Fractured Hearts, we're met with the determination of individuals who've been battered, but not broken - their resilience echoes loudly. Here's a story that will resonate with anyone who believes in the human capacity for change and growth – a triumphant tale of overcoming adversity and emerging stronger.
June 9, 2024
I have read a few books from this author before and always really enjoyed them. This book is a branch out from her usual style into small town romance and it resulted in this delightful novella.
In this book, we followed Johnny and Elle. Johnny Miller is undercover in a town tainted by corruption, his mission is to unearth the twisted roots within the local police department and council. But when he crosses paths with Elle, the reclusive wife of councillor Stanley Adams, Johnny finds himself distracted by something far more compelling than his investigation.
As alliances shift and deceptions come to light, Elle and Johnny spiral into a world where their attraction could be their undoing.
The deeper Johnny delves, the clearer it becomes: some doors, once opened, can never be closed again.
Before reading this book please make sure you read the trigger warnings - domestic abuse is a strong feature in this book. I think this was well written by the author and really helped to build an understanding of the characters but at times it was emotional to read.
I liked our main characters in this book; Elle is a gorgeous fmc and I was really wanting good things for her right from the outset. Johnny was incredibly protective of her and fought for her. I think their relationship developed really quickly and I would ideally have liked to see more of a build. up of that as it felt a bit insta-love to me but I did enjoy seeing the two of them together.
Despite the difficult topic, this was a quick read. The writing style is good and the pacing quite quick as you would expect from a novella and I enjoyed my time with this book.
In this book, we followed Johnny and Elle. Johnny Miller is undercover in a town tainted by corruption, his mission is to unearth the twisted roots within the local police department and council. But when he crosses paths with Elle, the reclusive wife of councillor Stanley Adams, Johnny finds himself distracted by something far more compelling than his investigation.
As alliances shift and deceptions come to light, Elle and Johnny spiral into a world where their attraction could be their undoing.
The deeper Johnny delves, the clearer it becomes: some doors, once opened, can never be closed again.
Before reading this book please make sure you read the trigger warnings - domestic abuse is a strong feature in this book. I think this was well written by the author and really helped to build an understanding of the characters but at times it was emotional to read.
I liked our main characters in this book; Elle is a gorgeous fmc and I was really wanting good things for her right from the outset. Johnny was incredibly protective of her and fought for her. I think their relationship developed really quickly and I would ideally have liked to see more of a build. up of that as it felt a bit insta-love to me but I did enjoy seeing the two of them together.
Despite the difficult topic, this was a quick read. The writing style is good and the pacing quite quick as you would expect from a novella and I enjoyed my time with this book.
May 31, 2024
“She’s an addiction, and I should’ve known that one taste was enough to pull me in”
Fractured Heart is a rich novella set in a small town called Charlestown, which looks picture perfect on the outside, it quickly becomes clear that it’s not. It’s a dual perspective novella that follows Elle Adams, the housewife of Charlestown’s councillor and Johnny Miller, a private investigator who is working to uncover the hidden secrets of Charlestown.
It’s a story of forbidden romance and secrets with plenty of dark twists. Yet, it has many heartwarming moments that leave you smiling. I was pulled into this story almost immediately and I loved each page, I devoured the whole novella in a couple of hours!
Thank you so much to Esme Lennon for choosing me to be an ARC reader for this novella. I’m so excited to read the other novellas and novels when released!
Fractured Heart is a rich novella set in a small town called Charlestown, which looks picture perfect on the outside, it quickly becomes clear that it’s not. It’s a dual perspective novella that follows Elle Adams, the housewife of Charlestown’s councillor and Johnny Miller, a private investigator who is working to uncover the hidden secrets of Charlestown.
It’s a story of forbidden romance and secrets with plenty of dark twists. Yet, it has many heartwarming moments that leave you smiling. I was pulled into this story almost immediately and I loved each page, I devoured the whole novella in a couple of hours!
Thank you so much to Esme Lennon for choosing me to be an ARC reader for this novella. I’m so excited to read the other novellas and novels when released!
June 2, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Fractured Heart by Esme Lennon
‼️SPOILERS‼️
Such a fast pace book! I’ve read this in one sitting, couldn’t put it down!.
You are bought into a dual perspective that follows Elle Adams, the housewife of Charlestons councillor and Johnny Miller, a private investigator who is working to uncover hidden town secrets.
Elle makes you instantly fall in love with her and you want to protect her at all costs. Even if that means protecting her from her abusive husband!
Thank you so much Esme Lennon for sending me an ARC to review.
Fractured Heart by Esme Lennon
‼️SPOILERS‼️
Such a fast pace book! I’ve read this in one sitting, couldn’t put it down!.
You are bought into a dual perspective that follows Elle Adams, the housewife of Charlestons councillor and Johnny Miller, a private investigator who is working to uncover hidden town secrets.
Elle makes you instantly fall in love with her and you want to protect her at all costs. Even if that means protecting her from her abusive husband!
Thank you so much Esme Lennon for sending me an ARC to review.
June 8, 2024
Thank you to Esme Lennon for allowing me to be a part of the ARC team for this novella.
This is my the first book I’ve read by Esme and she did not disappoint! Fractured Heart is a novella under 300 pages, and Esme manages to write her characters with depth and detail, which can be rare in short novellas. She allowed us to get to know the main characters in enough detail that we are invested in them and their relationship.
This will definitely not be the last book I read by Esme, I loved her writing style and the growth of the characters and story.
Without a doubt 5 ⭐️
This is my the first book I’ve read by Esme and she did not disappoint! Fractured Heart is a novella under 300 pages, and Esme manages to write her characters with depth and detail, which can be rare in short novellas. She allowed us to get to know the main characters in enough detail that we are invested in them and their relationship.
This will definitely not be the last book I read by Esme, I loved her writing style and the growth of the characters and story.
Without a doubt 5 ⭐️
June 4, 2024
A very easy read, fast paced and a true page turner - O couldn’t put it down, I needed to know how things would turn out for Elle and Johnny.
Some trigger warning! It contains scenes of violence and domestic abuse.
🌶️: 4.0
⭐️: 4.0
🪻age gap
🪻police investigation
🪻forbidden love
🪻found family
🪻 you touch her and I’ll kill you
Some trigger warning! It contains scenes of violence and domestic abuse.
🌶️: 4.0
⭐️: 4.0
🪻age gap
🪻police investigation
🪻forbidden love
🪻found family
🪻 you touch her and I’ll kill you
June 6, 2024
I really really enjoyed this story.
Elle is the sweetest fmc ever and Johnny… damn that is a fine specimen of a man right there.
I love that this was a short and sweet story, some spice which is always nice as well :p
Thank you for allowing me to read this story I’m looking forward to reading more of your work, heading to KU now for more
Elle is the sweetest fmc ever and Johnny… damn that is a fine specimen of a man right there.
I love that this was a short and sweet story, some spice which is always nice as well :p
Thank you for allowing me to read this story I’m looking forward to reading more of your work, heading to KU now for more
June 10, 2024
4.75
One thing I loved about this novella is that it held enough depth for me to feel connected with the characters. The relationship between Johnny and Elle starts slow yet their interactions are adorable. My heart went out to Elle due to the struggles she faced. I love how Johnny was caring and patient with Elle and their relationship didn't feel rushed. If you love small towns, undercover agents, and protective MMLs, this novella is for you.
It was my first time reading a book from this author, and I loved the writing style. I will be checking out more from the author. Thank you to Esme Lennon for giving me an early copy, in return for an honest review.
One thing I loved about this novella is that it held enough depth for me to feel connected with the characters. The relationship between Johnny and Elle starts slow yet their interactions are adorable. My heart went out to Elle due to the struggles she faced. I love how Johnny was caring and patient with Elle and their relationship didn't feel rushed. If you love small towns, undercover agents, and protective MMLs, this novella is for you.
It was my first time reading a book from this author, and I loved the writing style. I will be checking out more from the author. Thank you to Esme Lennon for giving me an early copy, in return for an honest review.
June 9, 2024
I read this within one night! I couldn't put it down, such a beautiful, sad yet heartwarming story! Loved it! Also loved the spice!
July 16, 2024
This book has a super interesting plot and I loved reading this book as it was a good read for me.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews