Broken Bits

DAG Team #1

by Kel O'Connor

Winner of the Chill with a Book READERS’ Award


Kit Foster thought a week in the woods would be the perfect way to recover from the family scandal that shattered her world. No reporters, no gossip and no drama. Then a helicopter dumps an injured man in her path.
Mick Harris is having a bad day. It was bad enough that he botched an op, but then he awakes beaten and left for dead in the middle of a forest. He is lucky to be alive, but now he is at the mercy of Kit- the only person who knows the route home.
During the time it takes to hike back to civilization, Kit and Mick become friends and explore their growing attraction. While the way out is hampered by bad memories and an assassin, they manage to grow close enough to attempt a real relationship.
However, that bliss is short-lived when Mick’s job again threatens Kit’s life and destroys their happiness. Can a second chance bring them back together?

Broken Bits is Book 1 of the DAG Team Series

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Military Fiction, Suspense, Contemporary

300 pages, Paperback

Published October 18, 2016

About the author

Winner of the Pencraft Award and The Chill Award and a finalist for The Book Buyers Best Award, The Maggie Award for Excellence and The Carolyn Reader’s Choice Award, Kel lives with her family in the mountains of North Carolina. In addition to reading and writing, she loves coffee, loud rock music, subversive humor and the smell of old books. You can find her online on Instagram, Facebook and at keloconnor.com.

3 Random Facts about Kel:
* She will buy almost anything if it is a hot pink color
* She watches any and every show/movie about crime-fighting, spies, detective work or secret agents
* She and her husband once owned a humor store

Reviews

[Jenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I inadventently started with book 2 of this series and come back and read this one to see how it all started. What I found was a great start to what could end up to be an epic series.

With plenty of drama, danger,adventure, and steam you are quickly drawn into this tense world that Kel has created.

I don’t usually read blurbs or take much notice of covers as I like to go in blind with no expectations that builds the mystery the suspense and the thrills that way. It was thoroughly engrossing, engaging, action packed, and romantic.

Do yourself a favour and read it today

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Bits gives us two broken character who meet under extraordinary circumstances. Literally the hero falls out of the sky (well technically he was pushed from a helicopter) in front of the heroine in the middle the Smoky Mountains. With a start like that you can't help but be intrigued to continue on to find out what is going on.

Kit Foster's world had crumbled and worst of all it was a deep betrayal from family that caused it. Needing to get away from it all she decides a week in the woods would help her get her barrings back and decide where she is going to start over. Kit is a hoot – she is a foul mouth take charge kinda girl. She is also a very cautious one after the betrayal of her family and doesn't know what to make of this man who fell from the sky.

Mick Harris works for DAG, and was on a mission that went wrong. Last thing he remembers is being in Chicago and now he is waking up in a forest in North Carolina and being told by a woman he was thrown out of a helicopter. Nick is from Great Britain where he worked undercover until he was taken prisoner and tortured which left him with an interesting PTSD issue. It was while he was in said prison camp he was recruited by DAG (they have interesting ways of finding new recruits..)

Mick and Kit get close during their trek out of the woods where she returns to DC with him for debriefing. Lots more suspense ensues along with us meeting the whole gang who works for DAG.

This debut had it all - action, humor, romance, suspense, and angst. Looking forward to the next book.

[ChillwithabookAWARD With · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Bits by Kel O'Connor has received a Chill with a Book Readers' Award.
www.chillwithabook.com

[TDCbookreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always enjoy going into a book with out reading the description. Although, I did choose this book, but had not read the description before starting the book to refresh my memory.

It starts off with Kit and she finds a man that was thrown from a helicopter. Kit came to the woods, to get some clarity in her life. Her family issues are more than she can handle and her whole world was tore inside out. Mick is very secretive at first and eventually they fall for each other.

Can Kit handle Mick and all his baggage, well you should read and find out because it is definitely worth it.

The author did very well in building the characters, I haven't had such a pleasure in a while where characters had complexity and depth. I also enjoyed having "realistic" characters, it was refreshing.

This book has just enough romance and action for anyone to enjoy!




Book Blurb:
Kit Foster thought a week in the woods would be the perfect way to recover from the family scandal that shattered her world. No reporters, no gossip and no drama. Then a helicopter dumps an injured man in her path.
Mick Harris is having a bad day. It was bad enough that he botched an op, but then he awakes beaten and left for dead in the middle of a forest. He is lucky to be alive, but now he is at the mercy of Kit- the only person who knows the route home.
During the time it takes to hike back to civilization, Kit and Mick become friends and explore their growing attraction. While the way out is hampered by bad memories and an assassin, they manage to grow close enough to attempt a real relationship.
However, that bliss is short-lived when Mick’s job again threatens Kit’s life and destroys their happiness. Can a second chance bring them back together?

Broken Bits is Book 1 of the DAG Team Series

[Angela Hatrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would never have picked this book up based on the cover alone. The cover just did not appeal to me. It came in a book subscription so I decided to give it a shot. I really liked this book much more than I thought I would.

It was a great blend of suspense and romance with characters that are dealing with some pretty dark pasts that are still showing signs of trauma. I loved the support that they provided for each other throughout this book. Great second chance romance! Wish the epilogue had been a bit more substantial though.

[Chili Diane Evance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finding love, losing love, then finding it again. Two people that could never be apart for long. One a super spy and the other a young woman that had finally found her partner in love. Fast moving story with a few twists and turns.

[Donna Huber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good romantic thriller. I read it in 2 days because I didn't want to put it down. I would have liked a little more plot and a little less sex, but I look forward to other books in this series. Read my full review at Girl Who Reads

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Original review posted on my blog From Ink to Paper

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I liked that this book started off right away, you were introduced to Kit with a little background on why she was out in the woods alone and then bam she sees Mick being thrown out of a helicopter and from there the story keeps up a good pace and moves along nicely. I must admit that even with the fast pace I was surprised Kit was into sleeping with Mick in less than 24 hours of knowing him, especially when he is kind of shady. Of course to each their own :-).

I thought it was cute how protective of her he became and how he would slowly let her work on his fear of taking a shower and that he wanted to do it for her. I thought it was still a fast moving relationship with them but it was still cute how he asked her to stay with him and then would show her around DC when he could. I like that the story did not keep her in the dark for long, she found out who he was and what he did and she was okay with it.

The book had action, humor, romance, and even some violent parts. However, it was well put together and the story is still positive and a fun read. It was somewhat typical of a romance in the since that they get together he lies to say he doesn’t care and then they get back together. However, I thought it had a good way of going about it. I like that even when she was in hiding one of Mick’s friends was looking out for her and that when they were together again it was hard for them to deny that they were still crazy about each other. I also like that the book deals with real life problems throughout it like the PTSD that Mick has from being tortured and also the assault that happens with Kit, they are handled in a respectful manner and it flows with the story.

I thought overall I enjoyed reading the book, it had a good pace, the characters were well developed, there was humor, romance, and action, it kept me wondering what was going to happen. I thought the writing was well done.

Book Rating: 3.5 out of 5

P.S. I will be doing a interview with Kel O’Connor as well as a giveaway of this book so stay tuned and be ready to enter the giveaway!

[Susan Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an exciting story! You learn gradually about the awful things that have occurred in Kit's life, huge family betrayals that have taken everything from her. She has gone for a week's camping and hiking to get away from people and think about what is next in her life. She is packing up her camp and deciding that she has no idea what to do so might as well go back home, when she hears the roar of a helicopter overhead. A quick glance at her map tells her where it is likely to land, and as a skilled rescuer she rushes to help, assuming someone us in trouble. What she sees is a helicopter with no markings, then a man thrown out before the helicopter disappears. Miraculously the man is only battered and bruised, no serious injuries. He is very unforthcoming about himself, only that he needs to get back to civilisation as quickly as he can. As Kit knows the way, and was going back anyway, they set off. It is quite a gruelling journey through the back woods, and as Kit is naturally talkative they build up a good rapport, and Mick does let slip some of his secrets. Of course, there is danger and excitement before they leave the woods, and many twists and turns before the story is through, some of them quite unexpected!
Although it was a larger than life story, which maybe felt a little too exciting in places there is plenty on the television these days that makes you think that these things do happen to some people! Well worth reading

[Mirlou · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good standalone series opener. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. The storyline is complex, the characters are well developed and the action and suspense are nonstop.

[Books and Spoons · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Bits is an addictive tale that pulled me into its world and kept the hold till the wee hours of the morning.
It broke the mold with the traditional romance novel perfection and gave a real relationship with insecurities, concerns, questions and awkward moments. And I liked it. I liked how the conversations were not always smooth, how everything wasn't always perfect, how the characters were with fails and fault, with scars and wounds that were not always visible.
Both Kit and Mick were complex characters, charismatic, and easy to like and relate to. The wounds in their souls, in their very being, touched my heart. I felt for them, cared for them, and got that needed emotional connection with them. There were sass and fight in them, willingness to go to the extreme if needed, yet there was hope for the better days to come, deep emotions, feelings that were palpable.
There's more to the story than just the complex relationship. The suspense comes in waves and when needed the danger and fear were real and tangible. The DAG Team was introduced, all interesting and fascinating characters with nuances that intrigued me.
But mostly the book focus on the development of the relationship between Kit and Mick. There are events that change everything, events that took me by surprise and I wasn't prepared for them even though the blurb warns about the possibility of the rocky road they have if wanting to make it happen between them.
I really enjoyed the story, and I believe this is going to be an attractive series to be followed. The Broken Bits was entertaining and delightful at times, heartbreaking and tense at other times, with fear and danger constantly just around the corner
~ Four Spoons

[Kimmie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW what a book. For a first book from an author this one
is truly amazing. I was given a suggestion to read this book,
and I am so glad I did. This book is well written and factual as
well. I love the premise of the book Dag is an organization
out to help the world. I love how they get their recruits. I have
to say I have never seen it done this way. To think the leader
of the group gets thrown in foreign jails to find good Guys for
their team and then breaks them out is really a novel idea.

This book is about Mick and Kit’s story. Now I will warn you
some really bad things happen to Kit in this book. It brought
me to tears so be prepared. But on the upside when a book
moves me this much it is a well worth the read. The story
starts with Mick falling out of a helicopter in the middle of the
woods Kit is hiking in. and he survives only due to her. He
manages to save her as well twice. They fall hard fast and
the story gets better from there. Then one day Kit is taken by
some bad guys, and even poisoned. Mick makes a decision
for hwr that ruins everything. Kit thinks it is for one reason
but he does not even know. She is gone away but not safe
so he only has to find her and save her before time runs out.

Now before I ruin this for you I will leave off here. I hope you
enjoy this book as much as I did. If you do like this book,
please consider leaving a review. The Authors really like it
when you do; they value your opinions too.

[A.S. McGowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I obtained this book through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited program. I must say that I made a great choice in grabbing this one to read. I ended up reading this one in less than 24 hours as I could not walk away from it for long. I loved how Kit and Mick met and their initial time together in the woods. It made me wish I could have a sexy hunk fall out of the sky for me. :-). The author did a great job in bringing both characters to life. The insta-love sometimes can be a turn off when reading a book. However, both characters have endured so much already, that they would be the type that would not want to waste something that felt so right but instead grab it and hold on to it. Life is too short as both had already learned. Then tragedy strikes both of them again and it tears their new love apart. I thought I had it figured out how the story would play out after the new tragedy. Boy was I wrong. The author put some new spins and twists in there that I never saw coming.
There were parts in the story that dragged a bit and I found that I skimmed over those parts. They were very few and far in between though. I have never read a book yet that did not have a few of those moments. I could just be me though, I will admit that. So go grab this book and read it for yourself and see if you love it just as much as I did.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mick and Kit

This is a very good standalone series opener. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down. The story line is complex, the characters are well developed, and the action and suspense are nonstop. Be advised, however, there is a gang rape scene that is described after the fact.

Kit is is working on getting herself back together after a family scandal that left her unemployed. To get away from the press, she has backpacked several days into the woods when she hears a helicopter flying low. She runs to see if she can be of assistance, only to see a man dressed in black shoved out the door from twenty feet in the air. After the helicopter leaves, she approaches the man on the ground and finds him battered and unconscious, but alive.

Mick Harris was working undercover when he was exposed, overpowered and beaten unconscious. He awakens in a field in a forest in North Carolina, with an angel in his face. An angel who has tied his hands and is treating a cut on his head. He has to get time sensitive information to DAG but the angel says there's a two and a half day walk ahead of them to get back to civilization and a cell phone signal. So they begin to walk, aware that the helicopter could come back at any time.

[SookandBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one was difficult to rate so I settled on three stars. It might not have been the right book for me at this time, and maybe I’d have liked it more if I’d gone in a bit more prepared.

I liked the story and the main characters. I love a good grumpy/sunshine pairing and it was a fun twist on a trope to have the macho special agent need rescuing by the damsel 😀

I really liked that Mick was not an “alpha” jerk, he was vulnerable and insecure at times and Kit was able to help him as much as he helped her.

What I didn’t like (and it might not be an issue for others):
- I always hate “I’m making decisions about your entire life without your input *for your own good*” Especially here, where it seems like there were other, reasonable options.
- There was a time jump at one point but I don’t know if it was 6 months forward or a year forward. It was referred to as both with characters saying “it’s been a year” or “it’s been six months” and it was discussed often enough (in contradictory terms) to become confusing and take me out of the story.


⚠️ TW/CW ⚠️
- PTSD
- sexual assault
- torture (off page, discussed in detail)
- death of a parent (off page, discussed briefly)

[Jana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome female protagonist, witty plot and tender love story

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this book!

This book is full of action and twists. The characters are down to earth and loveable. I laughed, I cried, I cheered for them. The author did fantastic work on this book. Loved it! Highly recommend!

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kit hikes deep into the forest of North Carolina for some soul-searching after her life falls apart. What she doesn't expect to encounter is a black helicopter that dumps out a wounded man and speeds away. She takes a chance and helps the wounded stranger (Mick), who's British and hot, not knowing if he's a criminal or a spy.
Lots of twists and turns in this suspense. The hero spent three years in an Iraqi prison and has wounds (both inner and outer to show for it). The heroine has her own issues and also suffers a horrifying ordeal in the book (which happens off the page).

It's toward the end that you really get the feels. The author does a great job conveying the hurt and anger Kit feels after Mick makes a decision that he thinks will keep her safe but shatters her heart in the process.

[Knockin' Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge romantic suspense fan. There, I’ve said it. Let the hate mail start pouring in. I just usually find it so needlessly overwrought. Then there’s the fact that while running for their lives or in the middle of any number of improbable situations, heroes and heroines in romantic suspense decide to have sex. Sure, that’s just what I’d do if a serial killer/covert government agency/mafia hitman was after me. But for all my scorn of the category as a whole, I found myself actually enjoying Broken Bits. Full review on the blog: http://www.knockinbooks.com/reviews/b...

[Avid Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first book by this author. The characters were well written. I liked the fact that Kit tried to be as safety conscious as possible alone in the woods with an injured stranger. Kit has a habit of impulsive behaviour and is trying hard to change. Mike is trying to stay alive, fight his internal demons and PTSD and get the time critical information to his team. Along the way this unlikely pair develop a relationship before everything descends into chaos and they are torn apart creating long lasting hurt and betrayal. An enjoyable read with a great set of supporting characters and a satisfying ending A good start to a new series.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this thoroughly enjoyable book. I read Kel O'connor's Broken Bits in one sitting. A romance with suspense and angst and two damaged protagonists. It was well written and moved along at a good pace. I can't wait for the second book in the series. Well done Kel on your debut novel.

[Robin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful first book. This is a well written romantic suspense that draws you in and doesn't let up till the last page. Kit is funny and could be the girl next door and Mick is a hero with issues and neither is perfect. But the reader can relate to them as people which makes the book very enjoyable. I will be looking forward to more from the DAG Team.

[Elli Liana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t normally read romance novels, but this book changed my mind. I thoroughly enjoyed the suspense, the romance, and the character development. The author does a great job of balancing the action of the plot with the romance. Excellently written, this book keeps you wanting more! I am excited that there are more books in this series.

[Mandi]

I read about 40-45% of this book but I'm just not into it. I'm not feeling the suspense part. The romance is quick and okay - but the hero's organization and things relating to that is just not engaging me.

[Renee · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kit is really out here sleeping with the shady man who fell from the sky not even twenty-four hours later, and is genuinely happy to get a necklaces he took off of a random woman on the subway. It’s certainly a mood, but not mine.

[Barbara S. Sturdivant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mick and Kit

This was a good story! It had love, danger, sadness, anger and all the emotions that make you human. In the end, the lovers are together, with an added surprise.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good - please hurry and write the next one!!!

[Anie Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved this story line. From the moment I picked it up, I was hooked. I read the whole book in hours. Excited to see what's coming next in the series! Definitely an instant favorite!

[Angel Graham · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh.

[Belladonna]

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