🖤DARK ROMANCE🖤 Broken – A Tale of Obsession (Book 1) This is Book 1 of the “Broken” Duet. This is the English Edition.
I should have hated him. But I couldn’t even breathe without him.
Damian Miller was the beginning of the end. Cold. Controlled. Broken. He was everything I was warned about— and everything I couldn’t resist.
Some hells feel like home. And some men feel like the blade you press against your own throat.
Daisy Elfhorn, a historian with a clear mind, is pulled into Damian’s world— a man who controls everything except himself.
What starts as a professional collaboration slowly twists into a dangerous game of power, desire, and obsession.
A game only one of them might survive.
Broken isn’t a love story. It’s a storm. And you’ll feel it on every single page.
🖤BROKEN is a dark, intense, psychological romance about obsession, possession, and the kind of love that burns more than it heals. It is fast, addictive, brutal in its honesty — and absolutely not a soft love story.
Who is it for? For readers who – toxic dynamics and unhealthy attachment – morally grey, dangerous men – stories that hit fast and hard, without slow buildup – emotional destruction, tension, and obsession – the intensity of Fifty Shades — but much darker, sharper, and more psychological
Who is it not for? Not for readers who want soft romance. Not for readers who expect gentle men or slow-burn healing. Not for anyone looking for comfort. Not for people who get upset when characters make destructive choices.
BROKEN is for those who crave chaos, fire, and the beautiful ruin of two people who should walk away — but never do. 🖤🖤BROKEN is a dark, intense, psychological romance about obsession, possession, and the kind of love that burns more than it heals. It is fast, addictive, brutal in its honesty — and absolutely not a soft love story.
Who is it for? For readers who – toxic dynamics and unhealthy attachment – morally grey, dangerous men – stories that hit fast and hard, without slow buildup – emotional destruction, tension, and obsession – the intensity of Fifty Shades — but much darker, sharper, and more psychological
Who is it not for? Not for readers who want soft romance. Not for readers who expect gentle men or slow-burn healing. Not for anyone looking for comfort. Not for people who get upset when characters make destructive choices.
BROKEN is for those who crave chaos, fire, and the beautiful ruin of two people who should walk away — but never do. 🖤
Girl… how could you leave me on that cliffhanger?! I need the second book like yesterday!! “Broken: A Tale of Obsession” grabbed my attention from page one and never let up. Valeria J. Morgan builds tension so effortlessly that every chapter pulled me deeper in without me even realizing it — I kept telling myself “one more page,” and suddenly I was halfway through the book, fully invested, and absolutely not ready for it to end.
The pacing? Perfect. The chemistry? Addictive. The twists? Straight-up delicious chaos.
Morgan gives you just enough answers to satisfy you in the moment, but leaves you craving the next reveal. By the time I hit that final chapter, I was practically bargaining with the universe for book two.
If you love dark obsession, messy emotions, and storytelling that keeps you on your toes, this one delivers. Now excuse me while I impatiently wait for the sequel like my life depends on it.
this book.. had me in a chokehold LITERALLY. the power Damian has over Daisy!! i couldn’t put this down, every chance i had to read i did.
The pace, the characters, the chemistry everything all tied so well together to keep the reader guessing what will our fmc do next, will she walk away or stay? this is a dark book, be sure to check trigger warnings! JUST the first intro page, had me like what… LOVED IT.
ARC Review — Broken: A Tale of Obsession by Valeria J. Morgan ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
Broken is an intense, fast-paced, and darkly addictive read that pulls you in from page one. The MMC’s inner conflict is one of the strongest parts of the story—his obsession and desire for control clash constantly with the part of him that clearly wants to change for the FMC. That tension really drives the story and keeps the stakes high.
I loved how quick and punchy the pacing was. This is not a slow burn, and honestly, that worked perfectly here. It hooks you immediately and stays engaging the whole way through. It’s spicy, intense, and carries a psychological edge that some readers might find triggering, but others (like me!) will find gripping.
The only element that didn’t fully land for me was the focus on antiques/art. It’s just not a personal interest of mine, though I can see how readers who enjoy those themes will appreciate how they’re woven into the plot.
Overall, Broken is a dark, compelling, obsession-driven story that’s easy to fly through and hard to put down. A solid 4-star read!
Listen, i couldn’t put the book down. It got me so involved, every time Damien would hurt Daisy, i literally felt it in my heart, my stomach would drop, i would get nervous. Every single emotion..
I honestly think that the letter in the beginning was something that made me connect with being in Daisy’s shoes & something that grabbed me from the first page. I needed to know.
Sometimes writers take too long or not enough time to introduce a character(s) but this was 100% PERFECT, i felt like i knew people JUST enough to have a connection & feel what should have been felt.
Spice is a great touch, not everything front to back, but not so small to be unable see the the passion that is portrayed. It literally had the perfect amount to see obsession, possession, control, loss there of. I also love the switch of word play when it came to Mason. How much more different it was… idk how to explain it, but reading it will explain what I’m saying.
I think i finished the book in 2 1/2 days (toddler mom life). It def left me on a cliffhanger at THE WORST MOMENT . But hooks you into book 2!
Loved the characters daisy and Damian I couldn’t put the book down its griping really good read I hated that it ended on a cliffhanger I need book two urgently Damian has such a hold over daisy that she can’t see clearly how dangerous he could be how she could lose herself freely to him I need to know what happens next I can’t imagine what’s going to happen thank you for letting ARC read Valeria j Morgan
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Oh. My. God. What a book! That cliffhanger absolutely destroyed me 😭 I actually sat there in shock, staring at the last page, wondering how on earth I’m supposed to function until book two arrives. The author really knows how to end a book in the most deliciously torturous way.
From the very first chapter, I was completely pulled in. The opening with Damien’s letter instantly set the tone—dark, emotional, full of secrets and I knew straight away that this wasn’t going to be a book I could casually dip in and out of. The tension doesn’t just build; it coils tighter and tighter with every chapter, keeping you hooked and constantly wanting more.
I was lucky enough to be an ARC reader for this story, and honestly? I feel spoiled. The moment Daisy stepped onto the page, I was rooting for her. She has everything working against her an intimidating mafia father, a toxic ex who won’t stay out of her life and then Damien crashes in, mysterious, intense, and absolutely impossible for her to resist. And the best part? She doesn’t even try that hard not to fall for him, because the chemistry between them is unreal.
Watching their relationship develop was addictive. Every look, every conversation, every moment between them felt charged with something dangerous and magnetic. It’s the kind of slow-burn-but-not-really slow-burn romance that keeps you whispering, “Just one more chapter,” until suddenly it’s 2am.
The emotional messiness, the dark themes, the simmering danger it all blends together perfectly to create a story you simply cannot put down. I felt every single twist, every heartbreak, every spark between Damien and Daisy.
If you’re into dark romance, chaotic emotions, dangerous chemistry and a plot that grabs hold of you and refuses to let go, then this book needs to be at the very top of your TBR. You will not regret it.
And to the author… I hope book two is coming soon, because that ending? I’m still recovering.
I am going to need the next book….did you hear me? I NEED THE NEXT ONE 🤣🤣
Sooo, Daisy, acquired a job in an antique shop, her forte in antiquities gaining her approval. Her love for ancient artefacts ensuring she settles in with a very fastidious attitude and then her boss, Damien steps into the picture. The owner of the shop amongst other enterprises. She tries not to fall for him, but the magnetic pull she feels can’t be escaped. He in turn becomes obsessed with her but as much as he holds power over her, he holds secrets closer. Will they become his downfall? Will she succumb to his demands?
Valeria’s writing kept you turning every page, I particularly liked the details her job entailed, the back n forth pull in their relationship, the need to know where this story will lead. I loved the dedication too 🖤 It does end on a cliffhanger and if you have qualms about cheating and 🍇 then this is not the book for you, do read the triggers beforehand.
Daisy and Damian… 💥🔥💥🔥💥🔥 It’s the kind of story where the good girl meets the bad boy—and she falls. Not just a little… she crashes, hard. At first it’s attraction, raw and undeniable. Then desire. And eventually, love. Even though she knows he’s broken, toxic… that he’ll shatter her—she still can’t walk away, no matter what he does, no matter what it costs her. He’s the kind of man who controls everything. He never loses. He needs no one, allows no one close enough to disrupt his order. But the moment she steps into his world, something shifts. And suddenly… he can’t let her go. She’s his. Even knowing he’ll destroy her, he refuses to release her. She’ll belong to him—always. And anyone who dares stand in his way when it comes to her… won’t stand for long. …She wasn’t just my weakness. She was my ruin. She unraveled every part of me I had ever convinced myself was under control. “My eyes… will be the last ones you ever look into.”
That ending… WHAT 😮?! I gasped so loud my hubby asked: “Is it that bad?”
I knew in advance that this book would emotionally destroy me and it did! 💔😭
Damian, I want to hate you, but I just can’t! Daisy… The inner torture you’re experiencing because of hìm. Damn. How are you staying this strong?
The tension: amazing 💥 The chemistry: all consuming HOT 🥵 The plot twists: wowing.. taking my breath away 🤯 The emotional roller coaster: REAL 💯 I even had tears in my eyes when Daisy felt like going back to the life she left behind.
Instead of crying in a corner, I’m heading straight to the 2nd book in this series… Getting ready to be totally wrecked 😏🙈
I received this as an ARC: I love the links to ancient history and artifacts in this story, it is not normally a world you see portrayed in books and I was enthralled by it! Damian our MMC is so tortured, yes morally grey and dark and brooding. The back and forth between pushing our FMC away and trying to save her gave me whiplash (in a goodway!) Daisy (our FMC) being portrayed as just as broken is such good symmetry. Her needing him despiite knowing the type of person he is, is done so well. I would say I struggled a bit in the beginning with how quickly Damian became obsessed with her but as there story grew and there characters devoloped. it worked. Lastly the spice! 🌶🌶🌶🌶 I am here for it!!! Overall i adored this book. 🖤🖤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I devoured Broken: A Tale of Obsession in one sitting — like, I physically could not put this book down. Valeria J. Morgan really said “you wanted obsession? bet” and handed me a story that grabbed me by the throat in the best way. As an ARC reader, I was absolutely living for every unhinged twist, every sharp emotional hit, every moment that had me kicking my feet like a fool.
And then… that cliffhanger. Ma’am. How dare you. Why would you do that to me.
But honestly? Thank GOD book 2 is already written because I would’ve been feral waiting a year for answers. This book is dark, addictive, emotional, and exactly the kind of obsession-filled ride I crave. If you want a story that consumes you, this is it.
I saw the ad on all social platforms and thought "I should definitely read that". But 33% is all I could bear. I expected some yearning, some tension, but there were none. Just some random "I am obsessed with you but can't have you" between every other sentence. The scenes were cut at the most anticipated moment and one of the strangest things was when they were at the library, researching, and all of a sudden he decides to fingerf*ck her without the story showing just an ounce of desire between them.
I absolutely loved this book. This was my first arc, and I was so thrilled to be chosen. I absolutely ate this book up ! I loved the pace of the book and I was definitely saying in my head "one more chapter" , couldn't put it down. It fits into my usual reads of dark romance and mafia so I loved that, considering I didn't know what I was getting in to. I loved both characters, and I know there is still so much to explore about them, I can't wait to see what part 2 has in store! my only issue is that now i need to try and get this book out of my head and start something else, but I need to know what happens next !
Daisy has a rare gift for uncovering the secrets of historical objects, and landing her dream job at an antique shop feels too good to be true. That is, until she meets her boss, Damien Miller. Their attraction is instant and intense—but Damien harbours a dark side. He makes it clear he will never love her; he only wants to possess her. Faced with desire, danger, and obsession, Daisy must decide if ownership is enough… or if she needs something more: love.
Wow—this book was dark and hard-hitting. Definitely check the many trigger warnings before diving in. I really enjoyed the story, but parts of it were difficult to read. It delves into the mafia world and explores heavy themes of coercive control and obsession. This is not a light read, and you shouldn’t expect a traditional happily-ever-after—but if you enjoy dark, intense stories, this one delivers.
Dark Romance 🖤 Mafia Romance 🔫 Obsessive / Possessive MMC 🔥 Morally Grey Male Lead ⚖️ Power Imbalance ⚠️ Coercive Control 🕸️ Toxic Relationship ☠️ Forced Proximity 🔒 Emotional Manipulation 🧠 No Traditional HEA 🚫💍
OMG, did this just end on a cliff hanger or does one of them truly end up unalived? Damian and Daisy, what can I say? Sunshine FMC and grumpy MMC. She is all sunshine and rainbows and he is all dark and possessive. I need to know does this end on a cliff hanger? What will happen in book 2? Daisy thinks she finds the job of her dreams. She lands a position in an antiques shop putting her degree to use, or so she thinks. She is dragged into the darkness of Damian aka her boss. She falls so hard for this man, but he keeps his heart locked up tighter than Ft Knox. Does he end up falling for her? Only time would tell. Or, is he just gas lighting her beyond belief? Enjoy diving into the darkness.
Arc read 🫶🏻 absolutely incredible book. I was hooked from page 1 and couldn’t look away. An absolutely twisted book but so good in all the right ways💕 Damien was infuriating but I suppose that’s the point 😩 I can’t believe the way it ended I need the next book as soon as yesterday. 5 stars all round 💕
WOW! This book is truly captivating! I got lost in the world of the main characters. The author did such an amazing job writing this book, I couldn’t put it down. I was pulled in from the start and the book got better the more I read. This book is a tease and I love it. Damian and Daisy have such a unique story that it wasn’t one that I expected to love, and here I am-fascinated in the world they live in. I can’t wait to read part 2!!
Totally and utterly swept into the world of “Daisy & Damien” !
I read the whole book in one sitting waiting for the next thing to unravel! The urge to know what he was hiding become so strong I almost skipped to the last chapter . The suspense had me nearly throwing my kindle!
The story line kept me engaged , longing and wanting more .
“And I sat there like a live wire , buckled and trapped,heart pounding far too fast”
That whole sentence ^^ is how the book made me feel.
I’m obsessively waiting for the second book , almost as much as obsessed Damien is for Daisy . No scratch that just as much as he is !
A must have in any readers dark romance collection... The book comes alive as you read and the details are perfect the storyline is amazing!!!!! I definitely can not wait for more!!!!
Broken: A Tale Of Obsession definitely is not a love story, at least a healthy one. It’s one full of psychological manipulation, abuse of power, lies, deception, and heartache. Please check the trigger warnings before you begin this book.
I don't even know where to begin with this book except WOW!!! Daisy and Damian had a hold on me from the very beginning and filled me so many mixed emotions, both together and separately. Daisy Elfhorn, a historian, is trying to move on from her past and ends up working for Damian Miller in his high end antique shop. Having control over everything but himself, we witness Damian begin to slowly break. Will he be able to hold it together?
I sat here reading and began to yell at my Kindle at points because of Damian and the secrets that he is keeping and how he treats Daisy. I was not expecting the ending and have been left with so many questions that I cannot wait to be answered.
I had the absolute pleasure of being an ARC reader for this book
To be honest when I started to read this I thought this was very much the same as Fifty shades of grey with the I want to own you and can’t give you hearts and flowers
However I was very wrong indeed and this was definitely not the vibe This is a touch her and die 💀 This had me hooked and I honestly can’t wait for book 2
Damian the MMC is possessive and controlling he wants Daisy and he will stop at nothing but he is also fighting his demons at the same time Daisy the MFC is a lively girl who’s father is in the Mafia and will do anything to protect her
The twist at the end had me screaming at the book But part of me knew this was going to happen from some things Damian said
Don’t walk run and get this book it will have you hooked you won’t want to put it down
Holy shit. You wanna talk about books that have you in an absolute chokehold? THIS is the one to talk about, I was hooked from the first page, I absolutely devoured this and honestly I cried, I laughed, I went on an absolute rollercoaster of emotions and I was completely wrecked, now I’m sitting here questioning life and desperately needing book 2 🥹 Valeria, the way this was written is perfect, everything about this is amazing and I can’t wait to see what happens next 🖤
I don’t even know where to start. This book had me in a chokehold. This was my first book by Valeria and she didn’t disappoint. Everything about this book had me hooked. I’m so ready for the next book.
This book was definitely a hell of a ride… the twists, turns, betrayal and passion!
I expected complete heartbreak by the name of the book but I didn’t expect all this.
This book begins with Miss Daisy moving to another city working at an antique shop with Damian Miller as her incredibly hot boss. Everything about the both of them just screams forbidden passion between the two. Damian is possessive, domineering, controlling, heartless while Daisy seems to wear her heart on her sleeve when it comes to all things Damian. I was on the verge of tears towards the end. I was not ready for the cliffhanger at the end, I am ready for the next book NOW!
So, this book was my first ARC I’ve received and wow I’m so thankful I was chosen to experience the wild ride this book took me on! It’s dark, twisty and had me addicted right from Damien’s opening letter. I found myself having a love-hate relationship with the characters, it differed from chapter to chapter - it was insane! The way Valeria captured the tension, drama,obsession, the trauma, the heartbreak and the spice - WOW! That cliffhanger though, girl! You sure know how to make us readers wanting more! However due to it being a dark romance, I highly recommend readers to double check the TW and topics discussed within this book before reading. Overall, Broken : A Tale of Obsession was an absolute amazing read, I loved the world of Daisy & Damien. I cannot wait for the next book! Thank you Valeria for trusting me with an ARC copy of your book😍
first of all I was honoured to have the ARC read of this book and it was the first I have read by Valeria J. Morgan and will now look for others she has written and will write.
secondly what a cliff hanger ending 😱
This story had so much detail in the plot, a decent amount of spice, angst to keep you gripped and on the edge of your seat.
HOLY S**T what a book! what an ending!!! how could you leave a cliffhanger like that 😱.
Daisy gets a job in an antiques shop and meets her boss Damien the hot moody millionaire. the will they won't they vibe had me gripped from page one. I could not put this book down!
the spice was spicy and the tension was hot !! I felt like I was being edged through the whole book 🥵.
I was lucky to be selected as an ARC reader for this book and I feel so special to have read this story and but now I NEED book 2.... like yesterday 😂.