Broken

by Jessie Ellis

They say if you find the one you love, set them free…

When I found Holly pinned to a tree by a monster and looking like she’d clawed her way out of a pit of filth, something primal opened up in me. Her blizzard-blue, half-delirious eyes locked on mine as I took down her attacker. She saw me as a wolf—a beast—and she wasn’t afraid. She wasn’t afraid when I shifted from wolf to man and lifted her underfed, ill, and injured body from the forest floor. It was only in my arms, cradled against my bare skin, that Holly stopped fighting the nightmare she’d been through and gave in to the fever racking her body. To trust. To sleep. To let me be the one to seek vengeance for her at all costs.

So I say… Finders. Keepers.

BROKEN is Cyrus and Holly's story. It is the third steamy paranormal wolf shifter romance set in the haunted small town of Phantom Hollow. It can be read as a standalone with a satisfying happily-ever-after for the main couple, but some storylines will continue to evolve over the five-book series.

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2025

About the author

Jessie Ellis is a romance author who lives in a tiny French village with her husband and three children, surrounded by woods, rivers, and farmland.

She's always loved reading thrillers, horror, and romance, thanks to sneaking books from her parents' shelves when she was too young to be reading them. Now she can't help but combine elements of those genres into the dark, gritty, and emotional tales she pens... always with a happily ever after.

Reviews

[kymagirl · Rating 5 out of 5]

She ran from a nightmare. He became her safe place.

When Cyrus finds Holly half-frozen and bleeding in the woods, something shifts. She doesn’t scream when she sees him as a wolf. She doesn’t flinch when he becomes a man. Fevered and barely clinging to consciousness, she trusts him. That trust changes everything.

Holly wakes in a stranger’s home, her memories fractured and her body aching. Cyrus is quiet, intense, and relentless about protecting her, even when the town starts whispering that she made it all up. But her scars are real. The danger is real. And someone wants her silence.

As the haunted town of Phantom Hollow hides its secrets, Holly starts putting herself back together. She builds friendships, reconnects with her art, and begins to live in her body again. Cyrus never pushes but never leaves. And the pull between them refuses to stay quiet.

But safety never lasts. When the past claws its way back, Holly has to fight like hell to survive. This time she isn’t alone. And she’s not the same girl who was dragged into the dark. Together, Holly and Cyrus bring everything into the light.

Cyrus is a protector haunted by guilt. Holly is a survivor reclaiming her voice. What starts as survival becomes something deeper, an intimate, slow burn bond built on trust, power shifts, and love that refuses to let go.

A steamy, fated mates, age gap, small town wolf shifter romance wrapped in slow burn tension, dark secrets, and deeply emotional healing. Exploring trauma, survival, identity, autonomy, trust, resilience, and the pull of fate, it’s about what happens after the rescue, when healing gets messy and love becomes the reason to keep going.

The Elevator Pitch: A dark and emotionally charged wolf shifter romance about survival, trust, and healing after trauma. A protective, emotionally guarded man meets a resilient woman who refuses to stay broken, no matter what’s been taken from her. Set in a cursed small town hiding violent secrets, their slow burn bond becomes a fierce, intimate love that holds on through everything.

[Michelle Frater · Rating 4 out of 5]

If anything, this book is a masterclass in frustration—the kind that makes you want to dive straight into the pages and physically shake everyone until they get it together and help the main characters. From the moment Holly’s story unfolds, it’s almost impossible not to despise her parents and the way they systematically dismantled her confidence. Doubt is one thing, but they went far beyond disbelief into outright disdain and contempt… for their own daughter. And when Holly goes missing? Not even a flicker of concern. Infuriating doesn’t even begin to cover it. The tension only escalates when Holly finally manages to escape, only to run headfirst into yet another menace. Just when it feels like the universe has truly given up on her, Cyrus enters the story, and everything shifts. Holly has dreamed of this man her entire life, which might explain why she barely hesitates when he literally transforms from wolf to man. As he cradles her fragile, injured body, Cyrus realizes that Holly is his mate—his to protect, his to care for, his everything. I absolutely adored that instant connection. Cyrus is gentle, patient, and unwavering with Holly, even as rage and desperation simmer beneath the surface. He longs to confront the threat stalking her and avenge what she’s endured, but the curse of Phantom Hollow traps him within the town’s borders, nearly costing him his life as he searches for answers. And while the townspeople dismiss Holly’s story, the danger proves to be very, very real. I loved the seamless blend of spicy romance and edge-of-your-seat suspense, especially how this story deepens the larger mystery of Phantom Hollow, its inhabitants, and Rowena Gladwin’s curse. This book left me aching for justice, answers, and resolution and I cannot wait to see whether the town finally finds a way to break free.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ingrid · Rating 4 out of 5]

This paranormal wolf shifter romance leans into darker territory—not through gratuitous content, but through its themes and emotional weight. The male main character is bound by a witch’s curse, while the female main character is haunted in a very different, deeply human way. Because of her visions and dreams, she is labeled as “different,” and her parents attempt to have her committed to an asylum. That alone sets the tone for a story that is as unsettling as it is compelling.
The plot is intriguing and unfolds gradually as she tries to understand both the curse and her own abilities, and how everything connects. The world-building is rich and immersive, giving the story a strong paranormal foundation, while the characters themselves are well-developed and emotionally layered.
What really stands out is how relevant the story feels. At its core, this is a book about being an outsider and how difficult it can be to receive justice when you don’t fit societal expectations. The female main character’s struggle to be believed, respected, and protected resonates strongly, especially given how often similar dynamics still exist in real life.

Overall, this is an engaging and thought-provoking paranormal romance with depth, strong characters, and a meaningful message beneath the supernatural elements. Dark, but not without heart—and definitely worth reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but addictive so hang on you won’t put it down until the last page has been turned. Holly has grown up with parents who well lack of a better way of putting it weren’t very good parents they break her down daily so her confidence is next to nothing as she goes out into the world making her dependent on them, ensuring she doubts herself on every decision she makes, showing her disdain daily like she is in a space where she doesn’t belong and when she goes missing it is a blessing for them or so they act. Holly has known this her whole life, so she knows escaping is totally up to her and when she does of course, she runs right into another evil-tempered menace, but fate has been watching allowing her to run into a man she has dreamt about. Cyrus sexy as all get out wolf shifter the moment she runs into him of course he recognized her as his mate his overprotectiveness kicks in, he will do everything in his power to ensure safety, while trying to find who did those things to hurt his mate taking them down but the problem is he can not leave the board due to a curse, and protecting her is harder than he thought. The townspeople do not care about what happened to his girl he will do everything he can to make her feel like the queen she is but what is the Phantom Hollow curse, how can it be broken, will they break it in time, will he find the justice he seeks for his girl, will the town gain their freedom, and is there happiness something they can look forward to?

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great addition to the Phantom Hollow Shifters series. Holly has been through several traumatic experiences when Cyrus rescues her from an attack. Despite seeing him shift from wolf to man, she doesn’t panic and instead immediately recognizes him as the man from her visions. The two have an immediate and intense connection, and Cyrus is incredibly protective of Holly. While they start with an unhesitating connection, watching them deepen that bond was both romantic and sweet. Cyrus had such an all-consuming dedication to Holly from the start, and I loved how gentle he was with her. And Holly somehow managed to accept all the shocking things she saw, all the dangers she faced and all the intensity of her relationship with Cyrus with grace and grit. This was a romantic, suspenseful, exciting story that built wonderfully on the world the author has created. Recommended.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Vievie2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book completely pulled me in with its mix of emotional intensity, danger, and romance. Holly’s journey is heartbreaking and frustrating in the best way -you feel every injustice she’s faced and can’t help but root fiercely for her to finally find safety and strength. The story really takes a turn when Cyrus enters, bringing a powerful sense of protection, connection, and hope that contrasts beautifully with everything Holly has endured. Their bond is immediate and compelling, and I loved how tenderness and quiet devotion balance the darker suspense elements at play. With its blend of romance, mystery, and mounting tension tied to the wider Phantom Hollow storyline, this was a gripping, emotionally charged read that left me eager for answers and desperate to see what happens next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Crystal Junebug · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in the Phantom Hollow Shifters series. In this one, we get the story between Cyrus and Holly. Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but there is an overarching storyline that would be more enjoyable if you read the books in order. Cyrus is the man in Holly's dreams. No, not the man of her dreams (even though he would fit that roll quite well), but the man IN her dream. Literally. And off to the races we go. The story is full of compelling events that you can't help but get pulled into. The characters are engaging and nuanced. There's suspense, drama, and Great spice. Overall, this is a great read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Johanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

'BROKEN is Cyrus and Holly's story. It is the third steamy paranormal wolf shifter romance set in the haunted small town of Phantom Hollow. It can be read as a standalone.' For maximum enjoyment read the books in series order.

The characters were very complex and complicated and perfectly steamy together. Plot was intriguing and intense and well paced. World building continues to excel and impress. All in all a great addition to the series. Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend.

Grab a copy, kick back and enjoy!.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Shantrellia Stephens · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book to be very entertaining. I liked this story, it starts off right in there. Cyrus saves Holly in the woods, Holly was running from something. Nobody believed her, her parents are horrible. Cyrus believed her instantly. Cyrus knew instantly that she was his mated and Holly knew as well, that he was the man in her dreams. The plot was good, but I would have liked a little more. I needed more in depth details. The story is cute, the plot was good would have liked a little more, and the spice was nice. There wasn't a lot of spice and it was like maybe a 3.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third book in the Phantom Hollow Shifters series is another captivating, exceptionally well-written entry. The story follows Cyrus and Holly, beginning with Cyrus rescuing Holly from an attacker in the forest. Despite seeing him shift from wolf to man, Holly trusts him, allowing him to care for her while he seeks vengeance for the trauma she endured. With a compelling storyline, memorable characters, and a happy ending, it is a fantastic addition to the series. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Samantha Millican · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finders keepers!

The third book in the Phantom Hollow Shifters series, Broken, a steamy paranormal romance with wolves. Cyrus rescues Holly, who has been attacked in the forest. The pull between them is immediate in that moment, since she feels as though she’s seen him before and is not afraid of him. Plenty of suspense and action add to the plot, keeping you glued till the end to see if they get their happily ever after.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ladnamal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the series, and it's best to read the earlier books first to appreciate the backstory and overarching plot of the series. Holly had been through a lot of trauma and challenges and I loved how strong she was and how Cyrus helped her through everything, and their connection together.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars
The author started this book off with a startling sequence of events that had me immediately hooked. I couldn’t read this book fast enough. Each chapter was better than the last. I cannot wait to read more. Great story.

I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sandra Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Part of the Phantom Hollow Shifters series. Cyrus, a wolf shifter and Holly, a human are the well-fleshed- out main characters in this must-read plot.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Charlie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 3 of Phantom Hollow Shifters doesn't disappoint. Good plot, suspenseful, intense, spicy.The characters are perfect. I love reading shifter romance.

[Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book. He come across her and she isn’t in a good way. He knows she is his . Well written and characters were great