Beautifully Shattered

by Courtney Kristel

What would you do if your world fell apart right before your eyes? If everything you held dear was stolen before you had a chance to say goodbye, would you give up or keep fighting? Adalynn Maxwell didn't decide to give up. She was robbed of her choice.After years of therapy, Adalynn finally wants to move on and her brother's sexy best friend Jax lures her further out of her shell. But she doesn’t understand his game and he changes the rules at every turn, making her fall into the waiting arms of the mysterious Doctor Kohen Daniels, whom she can’t seem to avoid. She’s terrified of trusting him, but something about him makes her want to bare her soul.Adalynn is desperate for that all-consuming love she reads about, but doesn't believe she deserves it. Her desperation to prove to Jax that she isn’t a little girl anymore may ruin her forever. One wrong decision can change her entire future. She has one last choice to make, but will it be ripped away from her like everything else? Will she pay the ultimate price?

464 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2015

Reviews

[Pilar · Rating 3 out of 5]

Le he dado bastantes vueltas a la valoración..., al final lo dejo con tres estrellas aunque creo que soy un poco generosa. La historia me pareció que tiene potencial, creo que las bases podían dar una muy buena historia, no es original pero podía ser una historia bonita. La autora no escribe mal, así que ¿Por qué mis dudas? Pues porque creo que le sobran páginas, la autora repite el modus operandi de la pareja protagonista cada dos segundos, ese ni contigo ni sin ti tan repetitivo y constante, lejos de crear tensión resulta cansino y agotador, además de contradictorio. Y luego está que terminas sus cuatrocientas y pico páginas sin saber la mitad de las cosas, dejándote para una segunda parte que aún no se sabe cuándo estará :(

[Alina Lyapun · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,75⭐️

I really enjoyed reading this book and the story was really interesting and also heartbreakingly beautiful. I would definitely recommend this books to my friends, but it’s fell a little short on a few parts. There was a few minor things that irritated me.

This story is about Adalynn Maxwell, her world got turned upside down six years ago when she was in a car accident with her dad, mom and little sister, Addie was the only one that survived. She suffers with survival guilt and hasn’t been living these past six years. But Addie has her brother Logan (who wasn’t in the accident with them) and Logan’s two best friends, Connor and Jax.

Jaxon Chandler is Addie’s older brother best friend and she has known him since she was a kid. Jax suffered abuse from his father when he was growing up and used to climb into Addie’s room. She would take care of him, patch him up and just be there for him when he needed it. Over the years of them being friends and sharing this secret their friendship turned into love. Until something happens that we aren’t really told, so I guess that secret on why they broke up will be revealed in the second book. And no one knew about Jax and Addie.

Logan, Conner and Jax are all successful businessmen and they take care of Addie, I think they treated her like a child, I get some of it to an extent because of her mental state after the accident but something’s was over the top.
Addie still loves Jax after all these years and haven’t let him go, I can understand that it can be hard to do just that when you are suffering mentally and she had to see him almost every day. (Loved Conner btw, he was so funny)

Addie falls in the gym and meets Dr Kohen Daniels her neighbors and he is a neurosurgeon. They later start seeing each other and immediately he gave me creepy vibes.
I was 100% sure he was a stalker because he knew stuff about her that she hadn’t told him so you get a little psychological thriller vibes a bit. I didn’t like that she was “dating” Kohen but still messed around with Jax and I didn’t like that Jax messed around with another woman.

When I got to read Addie’s flashbacks to the accident it made me tear up, it was so beautifully written and you could feel the pain thru the pages.

I get that Jax has some reasons why he is the way he is with Addie, he is playing a hot and cold game with her and I hated that. Because he knew how much she has been thru and he still chose to hurt her, I hope he grows on me in the second book and that some of the cliffhangers get answered. But he really needs to have a good reason for what he did, he messed around with her then he left her, then ignored her for months. Then he messed with her again and tells her he loves her to leave the morning after without a word (he gave me bipolar vibes with his actions)
As soon as he felt Addie pulling away he came to her and when he knew he had her, he left. That’s the feeling I got.

The things that I didn’t really like are,
Addie called Jax “the god” all the time, I get that you can describe someone looking like a god and mention it a few times but she always called him that, in like 2 pages she called him “the god” like 4-6 times and that annoyed me.

Addie would always say I don’t want to be like other girls, “like I don’t want to be like other girls and try to dress up for him”. Stuff like that, girls need to support girls!
She also called another girl a “slut” and “troll” because she was jealous that Jax was with her. And that didn’t sit right with me.

I didn’t like that she let Jax walk all over her, I get that she loves him and that it’s harder to really mean it, but she had no willpower, as soon as she saw him it was game over and she would forgive him, I hope she grows a backbone in the next book and Jax needs to man up because I won’t forgive him as much as Addie did/does.

She was with kohen but got jealous when Jax was with another woman? Make it make sense, it was kind double standard.

Overall do I think this is a quick read, easy to follow and a little bit cheesy. It does contain some TW, but I think the darker aspects of this book was so well done and added a lot to the story and Addie’s personality. You can feel the agony in their love story and I hope I get the answers I looking for in the next book. Kinda felt like the right person wrong time trope, but I think they should just grow up and be together but I guess it isn’t that simple and I will get my answers soon

[Kasey Mart-Fridley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The beginning had me hooked. Like why does she hate him so much. What did Jax do?

Omg a little excited to see that the FMC has the same bday as me. May 21st like omg yes how awesome. But sad that she had something tragic happen on her bday.

I don't care for Logan calling his sister baby girl.. seems too weird for me. A father doing it. Not a problem. A bf or love interst doing it. Again not a problem. But a brother saying that... eh seems weird to me.

I'm also not a fan of Addie referring to Jax as "The God" that was odd to me and didn't really fit a whole lot to me. Seemed to have been put in at random times.




I thought it was odd when Kohen mentioned knowing Addies fav flowers and 9thwr fav things. like okay is he a stalker???


Jax is such a dream. A broody successful alpha male who won't admit his feelings.
Typical and something I always fall for.

Where can I find one in real life??? Jk

Kohen I don't like to much. He's got anger issues. Controlling, demanding.

Jax is definitely better for Addie in some ways.
I love how caring he can be for her and how he knows all her likes and dislikes. He knows her so well.


The ending.... I couldn't put it down. I was on the edge of my seat. I had to know what happened and omg was it intense.

I had a bad feeling about Kohen and I was right!!!

And of course it's left on a cliffhanger...

Time for book 2 lol

I hope book 2 answers a lot of my questions from this book.

Addie is such a strong character she has been thru so much. Still going thru alot but she still manages to find strength to get thru it
Sometimes with the help of a friend which I love that she has Harper and Jax to be there for her. Conner and Logan too.

Jax.. I love and hate him. I love how sweet and caring he is with Addie. But I hate the whole hot and cold game he plays with her.
There was quite a few times where I was like WTH Jax!!!

Kohen--- didn't like in the first place and still don't like. Hate him even more.


Harper- very curious to know about her past. And curious to know if her and Conner end up together.

Quote: Jax "you're my sun and my moon"

[Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully Shattered pulled me in from the very first page and refused to let go. Adalynn’s story is raw, emotional, and beautifully told, it’s the kind of book that makes you feel every twist of her journey. Courtney Kristel does an amazing job of blending heartbreak, healing, and hope in a way that feels both real and inspiring.

The chemistry between the characters kept me hooked, and I loved how each interaction added another layer to Adalynn’s growth. This isn’t just a romance, it’s a story about resilience, trust, and finding the courage to move forward after loss.

A deeply moving and unforgettable read. I’m excited to dive into the rest of The Beautifully Series!

[Melissa Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of ups and downs. Very emotional, Adalynn and Jax have both been immature, done wrong and dramatic. Kohen’s definitely giving me stalker vibes. It’s a thick book and a cliffhanger at the end but I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.

[Lisa · Rating 1 out of 5]

So ordinary and boring.

[Elsa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really debated hard on how many stars to give this book. The storyline could have been so good. It was set up to be a really great book, it just at times fell short for me. Here is why.

Addalyn is this broken girl. She went through a devastating accident where she watched her mom, her dad, and her younger sister die right before her eyes. In a car accident where she was trapped and couldn't help them. She feels that it is her fault.

Her older brother Logan and her are all the family that is left. But then there is Jax and Connor. Logan and Jax have been best friends since basically forever. Jax has an abusive father so since he was a young boy he has been sneaking in Addalyns window and she comforts him. Well that blossomed into a romance. One that they kept hidden from everyone. Well on Addalyns 17th birthday her parents fly Logan, Jax and Connor out for her. But Addalyn and Jax are fighting. Which the book never tells you why they are fighting. Later on it is an important part of the story. Then the accident happens. and 6 years go by and Logan, Jax and Connor are all owners of some huge company. Addalyn is in some counceling and really messed up.

She is crazy in love with Jax but they are "just friends". No one knows about there past. The boys are all really protective over her. She is clumsy has an accident and we are introduced to Dr Kohen. Who is this charming, good looking Neuro doctor. So here is where things get frustrating.

Addalyn can't even be in close proximity to Jax without almost spontaneously combusting. He would look at her and she would moan out loud practically. It got a little irritating.

Secondly. He was so hot and cold. He would kiss her, lead her on, and then all of a sudden be gone out of her life with no explanation. She would tell herself she wasn't going to be a doormat and then he would all of a sudden re appear and she had no self control. I understand the first few times, but there was no growth in her character from there. She couldn't function in her daily life without him. It got frustrating.

It felt like there were so much repetitive things as well. Which as well was irritating. But overall the plot and storyline were really interesting.

The book definitely leaves you with some major cliffhangers. I can't wait to read the next book to fill in the missing peices of Jax and Ads story, and what the big secret is.

[Merissa (Archaeolibrarian) · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book is a good one as Adalynn has lived through a devastating accident that claimed the lives of her younger sister and parents. All she has left is her older brother and his two friends, Connor and Jax. Now Adalynn and Jax had their own secret relationship going on, as Adalynn helped to patch Jax up from his abusive father. Things moved on and they became lovers. She has now reached the point where, with therapy, she is starting to feel like she can live again. She still loves Jax, but he is at the 'we're only friends' stage. A new man comes on the scene, Kohen, who wants her to take a chance on him.

Now then, this is a long book and it doesn't really need to be. A lot of interactions - especially between Jax and Adalynn - are continually repeated. Half of these could have been edited out and the main gist of the story would still have been there.

As far as characters go, it doesn't really help when you lose any sympathy for the main female as the book goes on as she continually acts like a spoilt child and refuses to see things that are in front of her face. I made allowances to start with because of the accident etc, but it became ridiculous and by the time the book reached the climax, any element of surprise had been leeched away by the obviousness to everyone else of the situation. Her emotions were constantly giving me whiplash as she swung like a pendulum about everyone, and I do mean everyone!

Jax is an interesting character although he too suffered from a lack of growth. Part of the mystery surrounding him isn't answered, like why he and Adalynn were arguing before the accident, why he acts the way he does now or, indeed, how the hell he found Adalynn when no one knew where she was!!

This does finish on a cliffhanger, leading to the next book, and there are questions that are left unanswered - why were they arguing? Who is Kohen (although that is obvious) and what is it that Adalynn can't remember (it's leading one way but it might be a different answer to what everyone is thinking!)

If you want a long book to get your teeth into, full of emotion, then this might be the book for you.

* I received this book from Pump Up Your Book in return for a fair and honest review. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!

[Iamme · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great but extremely frustrating read, I haven’t screamed reading a book in a long time. Adalynn is a survivor and she feels the guilt of being the only one to make it out alive. She has been in love with Jax (her brothers friend) for as long as she can remember. Theres no denying Jax cares for her he would go above and beyond the call of duty for her to face her fears and be herself. That being said I found myself wanting to strangle her many a time, for someone he claims to love he sure did treat her like a booty call at times.


Max plays hot and cold, one minute Adalynn is everything he needs the next he is pushing her away. Que Kohen the resident psycho, he is madly in love with Adalynn the disturbing factor is inability to keep his hands to himself. I didn’t buy the excuses he was giving and I started to dislike him. Initially I liked him and felt bad for him as it was evident he was in love with Adalynn whilst she was madly in love with someone else. He was commanding, verbally and physically abusive, the title of doctor could not save him. Lets not get into him knowing personal details and being weird about leaving a door unlocked. That to me is a sign of a man that is keeping a secret. As for the ending it didn’t shock me entirely, I knew there was something sinister about Kohen’s character.

That being said I need to learn what this big secret is, I’m think Adalynn might have been pregnant at the time of the accident, I’m thinking maybe she lost the baby and she’s blanking that out. Im intrigued to hear what Jax believe will turn her love for him into hate. Id like to think that the two have been through so much and can weather any storm. I look forward to part two its sure to be even more intriguing and frustrating than part one.

p.s I thought the relationship between Jax and Adalynn was really taboo until I realised there was only a years difference in age. Fair enough thats his friends sister but its not like he abused someone much younger than himself.

[Karla Garcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a feeling that i know what she forgot that everbody seems to know... Giving it 4 stars because of the damn cliffhanger