A Heart So Broken

by Christene Houston

When Jenna Tucker arrives on Aunt Lilly's porch, her broken arm is a small reflection of the shattered girl within. The sudden loss of her father during his service in Iraq has conspired to transform her from top of the class track queen to a girl on the run from haunting nightmares. With a trail of burned bridges ablaze behind her and deep resentment for the survivor of the blast that took her father's life Jenna digs in for a miserable summer in small town West Junction. Aunt Lilly is just what she needs: comfort, guidance, and hard truth rolled into a pair of loving arms. Under her tender care, Jenna has a vivid dream that reawakens hope for happiness. Meeting handsome Cooper Turnage at the crossroads brightens the possibilities considerably. The attraction that crackles between them is hard to resist, but Cooper struggles to hide a painful history that could ruin his chances with Jenna forever. The day Jenna discovers Cooper's devastating secret, her still tender heart is crushed all over again. She is confronted with a choice between the comfort of bitterness or a path of forgiveness that will heal at last a heart so broken.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance

236 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Wanna be runner, writer, reader, Momma of four, and in love with a great man. I write what I love so you will love it too.

Reviews

[Christene · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this manuscript 500 times, I still get goosebumps when Jenna discovers Cooper's secret. Seriously loved writing this book!

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the cover and title, I at first thought this book might be a little heavy for me. Pleasantly, it was not. Though the characters had serious issues to deal with, I still found them relatable and surprisingly funny. I wanted to hop into the book and hang out with them.

The true litmus test though, was that I planned to read a couple chapters before bed, but three and a half hours later had read the whole book in one sitting.

The romance was clean, but intense. It was nice to have responsible, caring adults in the picture. There are so many teen romances where the kids run hog wild with crappy parents or no parents...I always find myself asking, "Where in the heck is this kid's mother?!" It was great to see that romance can still blossom in the boundaries of responsible parent figures.

I found a lot of heart in the lessons learned. I found myself easily turning page after page because the pacing was just right.

A downright enjoyable book. I'd easily recommend it to moms and daughters alike. I think I'd like to give it as gifts to teenage family members.

[Melanie Griffiths · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an amazing first book by a very talented author. I was drawn into the story from the first page. She did a great job developing the characters and their feelings. I was impressed by how real they felt in my mind as I read. While reading I cried several times, with different emotions, which in my opinion makes a book great. The writing is very descriptive and the story unfolds nicely. This was an easy book to read and I enjoyed it very much.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm so very glad I finally got a chance to read this book! The grief and heartache of the main character, Jenna Tucker, but especially the peace and renewal she gained, really touched me and made me cry multiple times. I loved how there was this beautiful connection to God without any actual religious references. I think that spiritual subtlety is what really allows stories of healing to impact your heart. I really enjoyed the story and loved the sizzling yet sweet romance between Jenna and Cooper. It takes a true romantic to write a good clean romance and this was just right. :) I think this book strikes a great balance between fun fluff and serious struggle and that is not something done easily. There are many great moral messages throughout the story too making this one of those rare gems in the young adult genre that you can feel completely comfortable suggesting to anyone, but it would be a great read for any teenage girl.

I happen to know the author, Christene Houston, and I am really impressed by her way with words. I think it's pretty cool to actually know a real author and I look forward to more from her. :)

[Cindy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so amazing! Its a about girl named Jenna Tucker, who's going through the grief of losing her Dad while serving in Iraq. In her grief she gets involved with the wrong crowd and heads towards a downward spiral. Her mother sends her to live with her Aunt for the summer to sort out her life. I could identify with Jenna. My heart broke for her as she was dealing with the hurt of losing her own father, the anger to know that only one had survived. This is definetly a page turner. I loved the romance that developed for Jenna. I probably could have stayed up all night to read this one, but after being up all day I chose to sleep. And finish this in two days. This is a debut novel of a dear friend. Great job Christene!! Can't wait to read your next one. :)

[Lois Sparks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like reading books with a clean romance and good lessons for the youth (and even adults) to learn. And this book is one of them.

The author captured the heartache caused by loss and death of a loved one so perfectly, I cried at most parts of the book. There were lots of life's lessons to be had that are also contained in here, mainly forgiveness - forgiving yourself and forgiving others. I also liked the parts where she made clear what love is and what isn't (i.e. Waiting for marriage before having sex).

The characters are too perfect (physically), especially the young men, but I'll just think beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

All in all, a very good read.

[Julia Lance · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book of Christene’s I have read. I was very impressed with her style of writing and her attention to the details. I plan to read more of her books in the near future. This book is listed as a YA romance but I didn’t feel that it was geared to an audience so young that I didn’t enjoy it just as much! I lost my own Father 9 years ago yesterday and it was very unexpected. Although I was older than Jenna some I struggled with some of the same emotions and still do. This is one of my favorite parts of the book so you can see what you’ll have to look forward to…. “Cooper, I can’t make you any promises. I know I’m emotional and crazy and so selfish. I know I’m going to disappoint you again because I’m human. But I also know that when we’re together, my heart feels like it’s beating right for the first time. You make me laugh until I cry. You help me be a better person. And I’m willing to fight for us.” I love it when I discover a new Author it’s like Christmas! Christene was a great discovery! I loved this book!

Merged review:

This is the first book of Christene’s I have read. I was very impressed with her style of writing and her attention to the details. I plan to read more of her books in the near future. This book is listed as a YA romance but I didn’t feel that it was geared to an audience so young that I didn’t enjoy it just as much! I lost my own Father 9 years ago yesterday and it was very unexpected. Although I was older than Jenna some I struggled with some of the same emotions and still do. This is one of my favorite parts of the book so you can see what you’ll have to look forward to…. “Cooper, I can’t make you any promises. I know I’m emotional and crazy and so selfish. I know I’m going to disappoint you again because I’m human. But I also know that when we’re together, my heart feels like it’s beating right for the first time. You make me laugh until I cry. You help me be a better person. And I’m willing to fight for us.” I love it when I discover a new Author it’s like Christmas! Christene was a great discovery! I loved this book!

[Heather Burdette Quinn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jenna is on a dangerously rebellious streak after her father, a soldier, is killed in Iraq. Her mother sends her to stay with her aunt and uncle in small-town Nevada for the summer, where she starts to lose a little bit of the toughness she's built up. She befriends a few of the locals - including a handsome boy who helps her get back into her old hobby, running. He has a secret that keeps him from being completely open about his feelings for her, and she almost spirals back into her rebellious ways because of it. At first, it felt more like a grown-up version of Jenna telling the story about her teenage self- she was very self-aware of the fact that her rebelliousness was a phase, and lines like "Tonight he'd taken it to a new level, washing down a few pills with a few dozen cups of alcohol" just don't sound like a teenager to me. When Jenna got to the small town of West Junction, the story picked up and the characters became more dimensional. Jenna is a narrator I think a lot of teenage girls could relate to, and I loved her aunt and uncle, who offered gentle guidance but weren't pushy. This book was self-published and probably would have benefited from a good copy editor, but was a solid first effort and I think Houston's book would be well-received by teen fans of Stephenie Meyer, Lurlene McDaniel, and Nicholas Sparks.

[J.A. Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I liked -

This is a contemporary romance which happens to be my favorite genre, so the all the lovely romantic tingly things were a plus in my book. Cooper and Jenna had a really cute playful relationship that wasn't too touchy-feely or too rushed (which is always my biggest complaints with romances). Beautiful writing and really strong voice.

What I didn't like -

There came one point in the book when Jenna was telling herself that Cooper just wanted to be friends when it was really obvious he thought a lot more about her. He was like, dying to spend time with her. Not to mention dancing bear hug style. After a really long good hug she'd go away thinking he didn't like her. If he was more hesitant it would've made for a higher stakes believe-ability, but it wasn't so bad that I wanted to put the book down. Honestly, that's just a nitpicky thing that I noticed.

Overall -
I thought I had this book all figured out from the onset, but I was really surprised when Cooper's secret was revealed. I had an idea of what might happen, but I didn't see it coming like that. It was awesome! What an amazing plot. I really like the characters and the banter, everything was great.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want clean, escapist YA romance that still manages to provide some lovely UST (unresolved sexual tension), then A Heart So Broken is a good option. I like it for being a quick, fun read. Yes, it has some good, strong human messages, but it never feels like it's self aggrandizing. I think teenage girls will eat it up, and their mothers won't mind them doing so and are likely to enjoy reading it themselves. The emotions and the characters feel real (I'm especially fond of gregarious Jackson). I like the reveal of Cooper's secret, and though on the surface, Jenna's reaction seems a bit ridiculous, it's true that in such highly emotional circumstances, people don't always have reasonable responses, and the reveal provides for a nice final conflict that leads to a touching denouement.

[Taralee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I can't believe how much this book sucked me in. It was so good and has such great characters that really came to life. I laughed, cried and completely enjoyed this book from start to end. I was sad when it ended because I wanted more :) Way to go Christene Houston. You are an amazing writer!!!

[Lene' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow what a great read! Thank you for writing such an awesome story! I love the beginning, middle, and end! I have lent it to my mother-in-law she is so excited to read it too! I couldn't put it down! I loved the characters and each one of their personalities. It was great ! Thank you!

[Michelle Glass · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely, captivating story that had me from the very first page! It is a heart-warming love story that deals beautifully with loss, grief, healing, and happiness. A Heart So Broken is a sweet, uplifting book that I highly recommend!!

[Teya Teya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I even choked up and it takes much for me to choke up in a book. The emotional tango with my heart, it was not less than amazing. Well written. I wanted so much more. I felt connected because of my own dad. THank you for that forgiveness reminder.

[Krishelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! A sweet love story and a fantastic moral message that wasn't preachy. I am looking forward to sharing this book not only with my 12 yro daughter but with my 14 yro son.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It made me laugh. It made me cry. It is a beautiful story about forgiveness and redemption. It also has a very sweet love story.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read it in one day. Doesn't that speak for itself? Wholesome, lovely, heart-wrenching, and inspiring. Great job, Christene!

[Pascale’s*ARC,Unwind,Read,Review · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author paints such a clear picture with words that I found myself living everything in my imagination along with the character. It was so powerful. Amazing description.
I find it very interesting that each of her books are so different. Each has its own style and it's own strength. This one's strength is in the descriptions. Another of her books, "When Fireflies Sing", is strong in its storyline.
This is definitely a gifted writer and I really enjoy her books. This is the third of her works I have read and I plan to read more. Written for teens or young adults (neither of which I am), this is a clean stand-alone romance. It is very well-written and I highly recommend it. Another job well done!

[Valerie Waters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book!! Good message. I do wish they would have been a little bit older. Or the epilogue was a few years later. High school romance is really lame to me.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved this book! There are times when I enjoy reading a long book (such as The Hobbit) over several weeks that I can get involved in all the details, but other times when I don't have the time, I want a book that is a quick read (228 pages), yet not too simple. Well, this book was not only a quick read, but a very engrossing one. The characters are developed quite well, and there are enough details so you really have a feel for the story, and want to know more. This story is more about a moment in the main character's life (Jenna) and how she deals with the devastating loss of father. One may assume this story is predictable in having her broken heart healed, there are enough bits within the story to make it not predictable.

Not only would this book be great for teenagers who have a lot of "drama" in their lives, but also anyone who has been conflicted with overwhelming heartache of some kind. There is nothing special or grand about the characters... it is a story about real everyday people dealing with real everyday problems. I highly recommend it!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book enough to read it in one sitting (and stayed up too late to do so!) The author did a great job of helping me feel Jenna's pain as well as the freedom she felt once she was able to forgive. It was very touching. My only complaint is this: wouldn't Jenna have been equally hurt and angry at Lilly & Tom? They kept the same secret from her and she specifically told Lilly how much she was struggling with that very thing when she first came to town. (Also, I guessed who that man was during their first encounter in the store....tiny bit predictable.)

Otherwise, I enjoyed this story and have passed it on to my 16yo to read. There are some great life lessons tucked inside!

[Kimberly Krey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this story! The characters were endearing, the developments interesting, and the theme was moving and meaningful. A great look at friendship, love, healing hearts, and learning to forgive. I absolutely loved Cooper; as the story progressed he continued to step up, proving to be a hero worth falling for. Clean romance, just the way I like it.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jenna was a totally awesome character, loved the romance, and cried at the end. I couldn't put it down. Great book.

[Haley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think the intended audience (young adult) would like this one a lot. For me, the plot lines were too predictable and basic. I could tell it was the author's first book.

[Katherine King · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this! It was such a cute, sweet romance that I finished in a couple of days. It's all about love, grief, and forgiveness. Can't wait for more Christene Houston books!

[Misty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book and had a hard time putting it down. I'm looking forward to more books from this author!

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!!!

[Donna R. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this one!

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars! Quick, entertaining read!

[Shannel Rowley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this story!!