Fractured Freedom: Bailey Brothers Book #1

by T.L. Akermann

Laney and Will once dreamed of owning Superior Times Campground and Resort, the very place where their love story began. But when Laney left their small town of Pine Grove over a decade ago in search of a new life, Will stayed behind, turning that dream into his reality. Now, Laney is back in town, preparing to marry another man—the man her father has laid everything on the line for. But stepping onto the land filled with memories of Will forces Laney to confront emotions she thought she'd buried long ago.

As her wedding day looms closer, the flood of nostalgia is impossible to ignore. The life she once imagined with Will haunts her, the pull between them as powerful as ever. And when her wedding unravels just hours before she’s supposed to say “I do,” Laney makes the easiest decision of her life—choosing Will, the one man she’s never stopped loving.

But their second chance at happiness quickly spirals into danger. Strange, threatening events begin to unfold, putting both their lives in jeopardy. As the stakes rise, Laney and Will must race against time to uncover the person behind the attacks, all while navigating the fractured path to their freedom.

Fractured Freedom is a pulse-pounding romantic suspense about second chances, a love that never truly fades, and dark forces threatening to tear it all apart. Will their love withstand the storm, or will it be shattered for good?

326 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 5, 2025

About the author

T.L Akermann is an American author who was born, raised, and currently resides in Michigan. An avid fantasy, romantasy, and romance reader, she has had her nose in a book since she was three years old and is always on the lookout for her next five-star read. At 27 years old, she decided it was time to put some of her daydreams to paper to create her own stories. When she’s not writing, you can find her cuddling with her dog, traveling with her husband, or rewatching her comfort shows way too many times to count.

Reviews

[Shauna Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Did I just finish my besties book?! YES!
Did I absolutely love it?! HECK YEAH!😍

I am crying over here y’all because of how proud I am of her and the fact that now I’m obsessed with another set of fictional characters I would love to be real.😅
5 stars all the way around - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
We even have some spice y’all - 🌶️🌶️.5

Overall, Will and Laney’s story is such a beautiful story of forgiveness, determination, and perseverance. They were just two kids when they first fell in love and were pulled apart. Laney was always living her life for her father and Will was trying to accomplish his dreams. Until one day it all fell back into place for them. Unfortunately, David was a nice (not really nice) roadblock standing in their way at first but luckily he showed more of his true POS self to Laney and so BUH-BYE DAVID! Hello Will!😏

We love a good broody outdoorsy MMC🏕️ and a ray of sunshine FMC☀️
•••
But it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows over in the small town of Pine Grove, MI folks!🌈❌
*dun dun dun* *GASP*

Ope! Guess you have to read the book to find out more about Will and Laney, and the drama happening over in Pine Grove!🫶🏼

Tropes:
•Forced Proximity
•Runaway Bride
•Found Famiky
•Grumpy x Sunshine
•Small Town

[Jayci Breeding · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so unbelievably good!! I loved reading about Laney and Will and it was the perfect small town romance! I also love mysteries and thrillers so I loved the mystery and twist in the book that I did not see coming!! P.s. the playlist is fire:)

Also will definitely be waiting patiently for the next one because I just know it’s going to be soo good!

[Grace L. · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a reader knowing that the piece you’re reading is someone’s first book, you tend to swing one of two ways. You either give them a lot of grace or you are overly critical. Consumers of the written work can often be harsh on authors if a book does not fit the standards we collect on the way. Or we can make excuses for books that really aren’t up to par. You will not feel the need to do either with this book.

For the first book ever written by T.L. Akermann, it is a great example of natural talent for storytelling as well as a keen eye for detail and what people like. You are able to connect emotionally with the characters and experience events through their eyes. Something of which is really hard to do even for seasoned authors. The story flowed with many funny, heartfelt, and suspenseful moments. All times keeping you captivated. The story wrapped up nicely and leaves the door open for the next characters story, which I am already looking forward to.

Will🏕️🪵💪🏼

After a lot of hard work and patience, Will is finally accomplishing his dreams. He’s opening his own campground and resort in his hometown of Pine Grove, a tourist town on the shores of Lake Superior. The only thing that’s missing is his childhood love, the girl he thought he would share it with. But time heals all, or so he thought, till a wedding booked at the campground turns out to be the nuptials of his long lost ex girlfriend. Will is forced to stay and assist in letting her marry another man that isn’t him, until unusual circumstances change all that. Now Laney is back in Will’s life and much closer than he could have imagined. Will he be able to rekindle the love that he still has, or will his fears of being left behind again hold him back?

Laney 🌼🤎🐾

Laney has spent her whole life living for her father. Her education, her looks, even her relationships. Which is why she’s back at her favorite childhood campground marrying the guy her father wants her to marry and not the one she always thought she would marry here. But being back in such a nostalgic place is making her feel things she’s long since buried, especially when she runs into the new owner who happens to be the very man she hoped to be with. Being back in Will’s presence is making her question everything, and even more so when she finds herself having to make a major decision about her future. Will Laney choose to forge her own path, or will she stay changed to a life she never really wanted?

PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. It is a story of how what’s meant to be yours will always make its way back and how the old can be made new🤍

[Amy Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just started reading this book and finished it in less than a day. I love reading a good love story but I also love a book where I fall in love with all the other characters. I look forward to reading their love stories when they’re written!

[T.L. Akermann]

Thank you so much for reading my debut novel! I hope you love Laney, Will, and the rest of the gang just as much as I do!

[Mary Mitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love it!
I’m counting down the days until the next book by T.L. Akermann, Bailey Brothers series. The characters and storyline are truly well written. I highly recommend this book! This is one that when you start reading you can't put it down.
Definitely a 5 star read!

[Cormier Calvert · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I loved most about this book is that it wasn’t just another second-chance romance. It had depth. Laney didn’t come back to town looking for Will, she came back for her family, for duty, for the life her father had mapped out for her. That alone made her inner conflict so much more believable. And Will… oh my heart. He wasn’t bitter, but you could feel the quiet ache of all those lost years. His devotion to the dream they once shared, the campground, was heartbreaking and inspiring at the same time. The suspense elements snuck up on me, I didn’t expect them to be as intense as they were. The threats, the mysterious attacks. it really gave the romance higher stakes. I kept asking myself, will they survive this storm long enough to finally be happy? T. L. Akermann nailed it. By the end, I was exhausted in the best way possible.

[Stacey Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fractured Freedom is one of those books that grabs your heart from the first page and doesn’t let go. T.L. Akermann perfectly balances romance, nostalgia, and edge-of-your-seat suspense in a story that’s both heartfelt and thrilling.

Laney and Will’s chemistry is undeniable you can feel the history between them, the tension, the longing, and the ache of what might have been. Their reunion is beautifully written, full of emotional depth and realism. I loved how Akermann captures the bittersweet mix of rediscovering old love while facing new dangers.

Just when I thought I knew where the story was going, the suspense kicked in, and I couldn’t put it down. The twists were clever, the pacing spot-on, and the ending left me both satisfied and eager for the next book in the Bailey Brothers series.

[Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book! The author has an amazing writing style and I could not put this book down. I have two under two and still with the little time I have I was absolutely obsessed with this book constantly reaching for it. Definitely one of my top favorites and fell in love with the characters! Can’t wait to read the 2nd book!

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually a very good first book. About the only thing I thought that could use some improvement were the steamy scenes. Or I guess the lack of steamy scenes. Usually they were just implied, but never fully written about. Maybe that was the authors intention, but that usually isn't the case with romance novels. I really enjoyed the characters and could see which characters will probably be getting together in future books. I thought the group chat between the brothers was great and I laughed more than a few times reading them. Anyway, being a Michigander myself, it was neat reading about places I have been before and even lived in. I will for sure read the rest of the series.

Also, please excuse my very lousy attempt at writing this review lol. I hardly ever write them but I wanted to leave one to help in any way I could.

Can't wait to read the rest of the series!