Tired of all the lies and deception Savannah decides that she must face things on her own. As she seeks to find out who she really is she still must deal with the fallout from her past.
Her fragile hold on her new life slowly gives her the confidence to move ahead. What she really needs is right in front of her waiting for the right moment to prove his love.
International best selling author J. L. Drake was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to Southern California where she lives with her husband and two children.
Be sure to check out her bestselling trilogy, Broken!
All of her books link in someway, here is her "Suggested Reading Order."
BROKEN SHATTERED MENDED
HONOR ESCAPE
TRIGGER DEMONS UNLEASHED
FREEDOM OMERTA - Short story (Mafia) COURAGE
DARKNESS LURKS DARKNESS FOLLOWS DARKNESS FALLS
BEHIND MY WORDS CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN - Short Story
ALL IN
QUIET WEALTH QUIET SECRETS QUIET POWER QUIET EMPIRE
First my heart was BROKEN... Then it SHATTERED in tiny pieces... And finally, i can say that my heart is MENDED!!!
Hell, yes!!! That was the most wonderfull ending of this emotional ride!!! I love these books, i love the characters and the plot... To tell the truth, in this one i was a little bit afraid!!! After all this shitty things that happened to Savannah in the previous books, i was wondering all the time what lurks around the corner... I was so anxious and so scared!!! I became a paranoid person!!! But thank God, everyone got what he/she deserved...
Even though Savannah and Cole made worrying waves in their relationship from the ending of the second book, they tried so hard to work the things out!!!
Savannah wanted to live outside the protective bubble that surrounded her in the safe house, so she decided to live her own, away from all the people that loved her, even from Cole... She wanted to find out what she really wanted from her life, she wanted to not be afraid anymore for everyone around her and she wanted to stand in her own feet...
But Cole didn't take it so well and he ended up the things between them. An action that cost them both a lot!!! But when he calmed down he realise her need for independence, so he tried very hard to stay away from her and to let her find herself and to return by herself back to him!!!!
Most of all that book was a closure in every open matter in Savannah's life... It was a deal with the people that she trusted and hurt her the most and it was a journey to discover her self and to concrete her own happiness!!! Savannah in this point had to face the trials of those awful people that made her suffer and Cole's goal was to catch every single one of them who had a part in those actions which hurt irreparably his Savannah... Nobody will remain unpunished...
Cole and Savanah got through lots of problems in the past but their love manage to steady them and to open their eyes in the real happiness... I'm so happy and satisfied with the conclusion of their story!!! They took everything that they deserved!!!
Oh, how much i loved these guys!!! I will miss them so much!!! I will never forget that story... It's officialy one of my favorites... EVER!!!
Too many mundane activities, but the other plot points are substantive enough to get me to read onward. The mild-moderate believability problems in the plot are annoying, but there's enough rope that I decide to hang on for book two.
Book Two
In one word: better. 3 1/2 stars.
Much better in the pacing department. Believability is better, but still somewhat problematic at times. The author is helping me climb back up the rope, and I'm hoping I'll get to the top in book three.
Book Three
In one word: disaster. 1 star.
The author cuts the f'ing rope & down I tumble.
Nothing Works!
In book three, we revert back to the slow, mundane pacing of too many day-to-day events. Only this time the substance from the other plot points isn't even there to save the day. I don't believe nor feel a single element of the story.
Grow The Fuck Up
The characters act like they're in high school vs 30-year-old adults.
She pulls away and runs away for independence, cries and bemoans that no one is caring , flays anyone that tries to care , weeps and accepts help and a bedmate when she can't handle situations, pulls away, cries and bemoans that no one is caring ... And the cycle keeps repeating.
He pushes her away, flies off to help & screw her, lashes out when she doesn't respond as he wants, leaves, runs back, lashes out.. Seriously, grow a pair of balls, dude.
This^^^ run, sex, argue, run, sex, argue relay race is the guts of this book because the whole point is ...
Okay, I could roll with the angst for that if some monumental self-discovery was made.
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So, what did she discover?
Absolutely nothing. I DARE you to tell me ONE thing that she discovers about herself as a person ?!?!?
She's So Hot
There are only so many creepy pervs one story can handle, right? What number does Don make?
He's as pointless as he is overdone and unnecessary in this storyline. How'd this chick ever survive if she's such a magnet for pervs?
He's So Hot
Of course, he has to have his own side stalker chick, right? I mean he wouldn't be worthy of such a tempting beauty if he wasn't so equally hot as to have his own stalker.
My favorite part is how the stalker woman and ol' Don the Perv just go away.
Speaking Of Poofs
The bad recruit. Yeah, real climatic and useful that plot was as it goes nowhere anyway, but she remembers and it's dealt with off-page.
The rescued little boy. It's alluded that something is fishy with his family/kidnapping. A scene with the FMC to make her look all motherly and special. Then...
Little boy is picked up by family - poof.
Courtroom Theatrics
She's just such a special little snowflake that she can spew her rant from the stand, feign upset, and just decide she done testifying and walk away. Nah, the defense and judge would just be hunky A1 with that.
Accident Number Two
Really, after the first accident a few months earlier, you mean to tell me she's clueless? How convenient that lightening strikes twice, aye?
The Dad
The airport scene is completely and totally unbelievable - every single element screamed...
The New BFF
Wait, I thought she had such problems trusting people after being kidnapped; tortured; and betrayed by her father, uncle and former best friend since childhood?
Oh, my mistake.
Within a couple of days of meeting her new co-worker and neighbor, she's exchanging apartment keys with him and having sleepovers. It's okay, though, because he doesn't creep her out and he's gay, which explains why he isn't stalker number 50~
The Memories
She flashes back to reminisce on her childhood BFF & her dad, who are the masterminds of her sale to the Mexican cartel. Yes, please slow this down some more with useless memories of shit from 10 years ago.
HEA Is...
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So, we end well with a nice HEA that's detailed and all feel good. It could've been beautiful. The problem is that I've been mentally chopped to bits by a bunch of senseless bullshit and fluff. So my GAF is somewhere at the bottom of a paper shredder.
Bottom Line
I walk away feeling like I've lost a lot of wasted time on this series. Trimming the fat from all three books, this should've been made a duology.
To The Author
I can see the effort that was put into this series, and I know that such a damming review makes it difficult to gather constructive criticism. So, I wanted to address you directly ...
There is a lot of very clear 'author' potential within the pages of a very poorly executed storyline.
Please consider three points for future books:
1) Believability - ensuring plot points & character actions line up and are plausible. Take your FMC sudden new BFF as an example of plot and character holes. Does it make any sense whatsoever that this traumatized and untrusting woman would immediately develop a strong, trusting friendship with a man she doesn't know and allow him into her apartment just a few hours after meeting him? Give him a key to her home within days? Divulge her secrets to him when she's been betrayed by her family & previous BFF? No! That's just one of many examples.
2) Pacing - keeping readers engaged and connected emotionally with the characters and avoiding boring fluff. There is so much day-to-day stuff that when moments of moment do happen, it's almost read over. There's no impact because your reader is struggling to stay interested. There's no lasting effects of the moments of moment because they're glossed over and forgotten. How many times did your MMC come in to her work, have a drink, and leave? How long did it take to tell each of those many, many scenes? <<< boring?
3) Poofs - if you start a plot line, it needs to be a finished thought. The rescued little boy is a perfect example of a poof.
Absolutely loved this series! Savannah finally gets closure with everything in her past. Loved the ending super sweet. I will definitely read more from this author!
This trilogy gets five stars from me. The reasons being the Author writes with emotion and passion. You can feel the love bouncing off all the characters. The story line is believable and on point. I love Savannah and her feisty attitude. She does not scare easily. She has all the men wrapped around her pinky. Cole is a hot Green Beret with a heart of gold. Third book is closure for all the bad people who gets what comes for them. I am so happy this has a happy ending.
Ok book three is exactly what I needed. We get to see Savannah’s character grow and become even more bad ass then she was before.
Yes she goes through some ups and downs but she comes out even stronger. I liked that she gets to stand on her own two feet for a bit too. I also liked that her character doesn’t really change from book 1 to 3. Meaning she wasn’t wimpy and became stronger she was strong and she only become more so. She adapts and doesn’t blame what happened on anyone but the people who did it to her.
Loved that we get closure, happily ever after and hope for the future. Enjoyed the narration.
This third instalment in the series slows down the pace quite a bit, but it's still just as much of a page turner! After the harrowing events from Shattered Savannah realizes that she doesn't know who she is, because her entire life has been dictated to her--first as a politician's daughter, then as a captive held by the Mexican cartel. She decides to move out, to live on her own to find herself. A lot of this book is about Savannah figuring out who she is, while she and Cole slow down their relationship and finally go on an actual date together. It was too cute! Don't get me wrong--there are still some intense scenes dealing with The American and the other subplots (no spoilers!), and I would still categorize this book as a romantic suspense, despite the lower intensity from the first two instalments. This trilogy wraps up so beautifully, and I can't wait to start reading the Blackstone spin-off series.(I'm really hoping that Mark and Keith get their own books!)
Salve lettrici, Oggi vi parlo di “Broken. Prenditi cura di me”, il volume che chiude la serie “Broken” e la storia di Savi e Cole. Se avete letto i miei giudizi sulla serie saprete che il primo volume mi aveva intrigato molto, mentre il secondo mi aveva un po’ deluso. Curiosi di leggere il mio parere sul capitolo conclusivo? Ritroviamo Savi e Cole alla prese, finalmente, con la loro relazione. Nel corso della loro storia ci sono state diverse battute d’arresto, seguite dai traumi che la coppia ha dovuto superare. In questo volume li vedremo metabolizzare tutto e imparare a conoscersi profondamente. Vedremo Cole non solo come un soldato e Savi non solo come una vittima. I due protagonisti diventano più reali e più intensi, ed era esattamente quello che speravo di trovare in quest’ultimo volume. Finalmente, si chiude anche il cerchio del mistero che gira intorno al rapimento di Savi. Savi potrà finalmente lasciarsi dietro il passato per dedicarsi alla loro storia, al loro futuro. Tra alti e bassi questa serie mi ha regalato una piacevole settimana, ma sono rimasta comunque un pochino delusa da come sono andate le cose nel secondo volume, che peccava di pathos e coinvolgimento. Questo libro conclusivo rialza un po’ l’asticella perché è riuscito a coinvolgermi di più e a regalarmi una piacevole lettura. Avrei preferito che il terzo volume e il precedente fossero un tutt’uno perché, secondo me, il secondo libro ha avuto poco senso. Il terzo, invece, riprende bene, coinvolgendo e regalando una lettura davvero dolce, passionale e romantica. Ho sorriso spesso mentre leggevo e mi sono emozionata con il lieto fine dei protagonisti, che maturano molto. Savi e Cole, insieme alla loro famiglia, sono promossi. Spero di ritrovarli presto, magari incrociandoli in nuove storie. Buona lettura! Voto 4
Now that I have read all three of these books, gotta say I really liked them. The story was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. You see the main heroine go from victim to strong willed. She meets her match with Logan and the cast of other characters you can't help but fall in love with. Would kind of like to see a continuation of this series with a story about Mark or Keith. Recommend it to all.
Tired of all the lies and deception, Savannah Miller must learn to face life on her own. As she seeks to find out who she really is, she still is still burdened with the fallout from past traumas that left her broken.
Her fragile hold on her new life slowly gives her the confidence to move ahead. What she really needs is right in front of her—Cole Logan is patiently waiting for the right moment to prove his love.
But her past isn’t finished with her yet…
Are Savannah’s strength and Cole’s love enough to vanquish the shadows, or will those who mean them harm succeed in preventing the mending of their shattered souls?
Yes. YES. YES!!! It's such a bittersweet feeling. I never wanted this series to end because it's just that damn good. It stirred all my emotions. It fucked with my head. Kicked my heart, stomped on it and revived it all over again. This is such a perfect ending for Cole & Savi. I must say, I am so happy she met her new family—they may not be her family by blood, but they love her too much and they all consider each other as such. Nothing could even be more perfect than that. I loved how all the boys turned to love her and protect her, and it wasn't just because it's their job. They do it now because they all want to. They protect their own and Savi is part of the family now. I love how warmly they all welcomed her to their home.
And Jake! Oh my gosh, I can't be happier for Savi. I'm so glad she met someone like Jake. He's someone I can really picture being Savi's best friend and not someone like bitchface Lynn. Oops. Sorry not sorry. I don't want to divulge anything more about Cole because we all know how fucking entrancingly perfect he already is. He was in total control of everything up until Savi tumbled into his life. Everything changed. They may have run through the mother of all challenges and shitstorms, but they wouldn't be who they are right now if not for all of those. The bond, connection and chemistry those two have is so surreal. It makes me yearn to have that too. If that's even possible. Lol!
Now we have to have more of Keith & Mark, Jodi! We need their story too! I wanted to know more about Derek's story too, but... Anyway! I am so happy I finally got the chance to read and devour this trilogy. I'm enthralled and so ecstatic for Team Blackstone and the entire family. ~Renery, 5 stars
J.L. Drake has knocked it out of the park. I love how in this one Savannah needs to spread her wings. Find herself. Drake showed her to becoming stronger than her situation. She stood up to everyone, the American, lynn, her father, Cole, and most importantly herself. Cole never stopped fighting for his love. The dedication for her is beautiful. Great job drake!!
CLICCA SULL'IMMAGINE PER LEGGERE LA RECENSIONE COMPLETA: Direi che possiamo considerare quest'ultimo libro come la giusta conclusione per questa trilogia. Questo viaggio in compagnia di Cole e Savi in realtà non è stato così male, anche se devo ammettere che le aspettative erano nettamente superiori rispetto a quello che si è poi rivelato. Il romanzo riprende esattamente dove lo avevamo lasciato. Savannah sta iniziando la sua nuova vita lontano dalla casa sicura e dalle braccia di Cole. I due hanno deciso di prendersi una pausa, anche se in realtà questo è quello che ognuno pensa voglia l'altro. Tuttavia questo non significa che non si preoccupino ancora l'uno dell'altra. Entrambi non hanno mai avuto una relazione seria prima e la loro incapacità a comunicare i propri desideri e propri bisogni li mette sicuramente in una situazione di sofferenza. In realtà, ognuno di loro tenta di rispettare gli spazi e i tempi dell'altro, non avendo tuttavia ben chiaro quali siano realmente. Cole non ha mai avuto bisogno di pensare a qualcosa di diverso dalla sua prossima missione o dagli uomini che lavorano sotto di lui. E Savannah deve ritrovare se stessa, dopo la confusione, le paure e i tradimenti ai quali è stata sottoposta. In breve deve riuscire a buttarsi alle spalle il rapimento e lo stress emotivo che questo le ha causato. Ammettere di dover pensare a se stessa e trovare una sua strada indipendentemente da Cole è sicuramente un passo nella giusta direzione. Guardarsi dentro e pensare a se stessa non può che farle bene. In passato le persone in cui credeva e che aveva più amato l'hanno tradita nei modi peggiori e la battaglia che si trova a dover affrontare per poter uscire da questa situazione è complessa ma lei è determinata. Anche se grossi ostacoli si stagliano all'orizzonte, non per ultimo affrontare di petto i suoi demoni e le persone che le hanno fatto del male. Cole da parte sua, capisce gli errori che involontariamente ha fatto con lei e fa di tutto per recuperare. Questo terzo volume tuttavia non riguarda solo Cole, Savannah e il loro rapporto. Il pericolo esiste ancora oltre la fortezza della casa sicura, ci sono delle persone pericolose a piede libero e cosa ancora più importante Savannah deve affrontare coloro che l'hanno tradita. Inoltre Cole deve tornare al suo lavoro, il che crea un altro problema a Savannah. Dovrà infatti fare i conti con la paura che le missioni di Cole le causano dopo i terribili eventi del passato. Riuscirà la nostra coppia a trovare un equilibrio e a superare tutte le paure? Quest'ultimo libro non è molto lungo ma molte cose accadono. Purtroppo tutti gli eventi, tranne il rapporto tra i due protagonisti, vengono trattati in maniera affrettata e insoddisfacente. Molte le scene hot, tra l'altro ben scritte, che con grande probabilità vengono usate dall'autrice per alleggerire la trama.
I can't believe we're saying goodbye to Savi and Cole! I'm going to miss them! Jodi did a wonderful job with this series and it was such an insane ride, I would totally take the ride again.
When book two finished I'm pretty sure we all just wanted to grab Savannah and Cole and push their heads to get her like KISS AND BE TOGETHER FOREVER PLEASE lol, but this book was about healing. Savannah made a decision that was very understandable. You see her trying to be normal, she wanted to be free and not feel the burden of her past on her shoulders. She wanted a new start.
She sticks to her decision but you see how badly she wants to be with Cole, and of course you'll all be like "just go back" but in a way she just wanted to be independent for a while. Funnily enough, Cole and Savannah grew closer.. In many ways. Sweet lord, ALPHA COLE GOT TO ME SO HARD! *fans myself* wow!
Mended gives us a bit of a break, kind of. Its mostly about healing, growing closer, and Savannah finding herself. It is beyond cute! But there were moments that had me screaming OH MY GOD! I absolutely loved Keith and Mark even more. They're so funny and the bets.. Oh lord! They're too much! Oh and Jake.. I FREAKING LOVED HIM!
The scene with Lynn was probably one of my favorites I was rooting for Savannah! Oh I was so satisfied lol. And then there was a scene I still have mixed feelings about. I'm not really sure what I wanted out of it but it really had me thinking, and it really showed what kind of person that person was.
The ending was so freaking cute!!! Oh how I swooned with the ending and I was emotional!! This book had the right amount of drama and cuteness and funniness I still can't get over how amazing it was. We say goodbye to Savi and Cole in the best way possible.
Broken trilogy has become one of my favorites and I'm so glad I picked it up the moment the first book was released. It was an insane ride like I said before, but it was so worth it. Perfect!
The story goes on from where it was left from the previous book. Unfortunately the writting was not so good as it was in the previous books. There were slow points and not correct facts (at least in my opinion). The most difficult part from me was that Cole felt so far away from the Cole I've met in the first book and I've missed him.
Savannah was really nice and correct all way through the book. Although I don't agree with her way of thinking, at least not always, I have to say that she had a point!
The story ends nicely giving me a real closure but teasing me with possible upcoming books for other characters! Indeed I'd love to read the story of Keith or of Mark and I will read them if they come out!
I'm happy the story ends in the way that it did :-)
I loved everything about this book! Their story couldn't have ended in a better way. I so want to live in that house with all the boys, Abbi and everyone else. I love the banter between all of them, it cracks me up every time and I can't wait to read Mark and Keith's story!!
I loved Jake he was the perfect friend and just what Savannah needed on her road to find herself. And of course just when you think it's all rainbows and happy endings she throws in a twist and makes my poor heart stop!!
I miss them all already and I hope we get to see them again very soon.
WHY????? Why does this story have to end? Oh Wow J.L. Drake you really did it with this trilogy! You had just enough of everything action, love, comedy wrapped in this. I want more and more! Thank you for taking me on the journey of Savi and Cole!!
La fine di una serie porta con sé sempre un po’ di malinconia. Se poi i personaggi cui diciamo addio, nel bene o nel male, hanno saputo trasmetterci emozioni, provare tristezza diventa inevitabile. Ammettiamolo: questa serie non è di certo tra le migliori! Tante sono state le carenze sia a livello di trama che di caratterizzazione dei personaggi eppure so per certo che Savannah e Cole hanno comunque conquistato almeno un pezzettino del vostro cuore. Ma partiamo dall’inizio! In questo terzo ed ultimo capitolo ritroviamo la nostra protagonista decisa più che mai a riprendere in mano la sua vita. Verità difficili da accettare sono state svelate e tutte quelle che credeva essere delle certezze assolute si sono rivelate un mero inganno. Rialzarsi anche questa volta dopo l’ennesima batosta emotiva sembra essere impossibile eppure l’amore vero e le amicizie sincere sapranno donarle la forza necessaria per combattere e riscoprire finalmente se stessa. Se pensavate di ritrovare i toni dark e suspense che avevano caratterizzato i capitoli precedenti devo purtroppo contraddirvi, in questo volume infatti i cattivi hanno un ruolo solo marginale. In "Dammi un'altra possibilità", se ben ricordate, avevamo notato la superficialità con cui erano stati caratterizzati e una volta comprese le motivazioni, deboli e stentate, che li avevano spinti a compiere determinate azioni sono stati facilmente liquidati e dimenticati. In quest’ultimo volume il loro ruolo sarà pressoché nullo tanto da rivelarsi semplici comparse che aggiungeranno ben poco alla trama. Saranno infatti l’amore e l’amicizia i protagonisti indiscussi della storia e se il mio animo romantico non ha potuto che apprezzare, d'altro canto però questa scelta dell’autrice vi lascerà con un po’ di amaro in bocca. Le scene passionali risultano poi poco coinvolgenti, in particolare quelle raccontate dal punto di vista di Cole, complice anche la narrazione in terza persona. Il libro resta comunque godibilissimo visto anche lo stile semplice e veloce che rende la lettura leggera e adatta per passare qualche ora in completo relax. Ritrovare poi Max, Keath e tutta la famiglia delle Ombre non potrà che farvi sorridere, sospirare e perché no anche sperare!
Savi is taken again - OMG nooooo! Blackstone gets her back, a little more difficult this time, but all is good; confrontation with her father and her best friend, not so great good.
Their story, this trilogy is AWESOME!
You will be surprised at how dark and twisted this author is, but she is truly a gifted writer!