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Beautifully Broken
I KNEW HE WOULD RUIN ME FROM THE MOMENT WE MET. Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most.
Through him, I learned to end my path of self-destruction. I no longer needed to numb the pain with mindless one-night-stands and drunken blackouts. He made me feel worthy. Treasured. Optimistic about my future.
Here I stand four years later, in a coffee shop a world away, still broken…but beautifully so. My scars no longer hold me back. Instead, they give me strength and enrich my appreciation for the good things in life. I have hopes and dreams…faith that anything is possible. I am no longer the lost little girl fighting for survival. I have direction. I have courage. I am not without possibility.
I’ll always have Gavin to thank for that—Mr. Cooper, I remind myself. That’s who he is to me now: just a former teacher. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I was eighteen when we first met. Legally, we did nothing wrong. Morally? Well, I guess that depends on how flexible your morals are.
My name is Kat and this is my story.
Through him, I learned to end my path of self-destruction. I no longer needed to numb the pain with mindless one-night-stands and drunken blackouts. He made me feel worthy. Treasured. Optimistic about my future.
Here I stand four years later, in a coffee shop a world away, still broken…but beautifully so. My scars no longer hold me back. Instead, they give me strength and enrich my appreciation for the good things in life. I have hopes and dreams…faith that anything is possible. I am no longer the lost little girl fighting for survival. I have direction. I have courage. I am not without possibility.
I’ll always have Gavin to thank for that—Mr. Cooper, I remind myself. That’s who he is to me now: just a former teacher. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I was eighteen when we first met. Legally, we did nothing wrong. Morally? Well, I guess that depends on how flexible your morals are.
My name is Kat and this is my story.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 2016
329 people are currently reading
3141 people want to read
About the author
Laura Lee
29 books1,856 followersLaura Lee is the USA Today bestselling author of sexy and seductive romance. She's best known for writing the Bedding the Billionaire series and the Windsor Academy series. She won her first writing contest at the ripe old age of nine, earning a trip to the state capital to showcase her manuscript. Thankfully for her, those early works will never see the light of day again! Laura lives in the Pacific Northwest with her extremely tolerant husband, two beautiful children, and some of the most ridiculously spoiled felines you’ll ever meet.
When she's not chauffeuring the kids around, writing, or watching HGTV, she probably has her nose in a book, with an iced matcha by her side. She's a sucker for spicy romances, always searching for new book boyfriends to add to her collection..
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 247 reviews
December 17, 2016
This trope always intrigues me, mostly because I expect a massive angst fest and that just sounds like a party in my little mind. I haven't read many, so in all honesty, I did compare this to the similar stories I've read.
The first meeting between characters was fantastic, and the first 'real' meeting after that, but then the story lost some steam for me. The middle started to drag, secrets were being revealed at an excruciatingly slow rate and then even when they were, you didn't get all of the details. I'll come back to this thought.
Like I said, I found the beginning to be exciting and intriguing enough to draw the reader in. I liked the initial chemistry between the two main characters and was interested to see what would happen when the truth started coming out, but then after a little while, it was the same thing over and over. The couldn't be together, they'd be together to 'get it out of their systems', ignore everything, repeat. Over and over. I was quite truthfully getting bored because nothing was happening. At all. Then by the time it did start to progress, I was halfway gone.
I never actually connected with either character or their story. It's awful of me to say this considering how sad Kat's past was, but I really didn't care about her. I didn't feel terrible or heartbroken because she didn't give us her emotions to go on. If a character treats everything as fact and with little to no emotion, I'm going to do the same. I couldn't get a good grasp on her. On top of that, sure Gavin was supportive and you're meant to like him but he was just sort of there to me in this part. Thankfully the ending picked up.
Once the last 20% came around, I needed something big, and I mean colossal to keep me interested because I was ready to start skimming. Now this big moment, yes, I found it predictable, but thank goodness something happened to change the status quo of these two. These were the feelings I expected to have the entire length of the novel! This! This is the emotion I was wanting to feel and live! Finally it came out.
Chapter 45 is where it's at, yo.
One thing you really have to appreciate about Beautifully Broken is the personal growth of the heroine, Kat. The difference she had from her birthday at the beginning of the novel to her maturity when dealing with said 'situation', was outstanding. Personally, I loved her response to this issue. I think some people won't and will think she had made the wrong choice but I'm totally with her in this and completely agree. Mental high five stuff here. I loved her reasoning and the fact that she was strong enough, confident enough, and selfless enough to do so.
Given the entire situation of the book I expected the angst level to be a lot higher and truthfully I don't really see why it wasn't. It wasn't like the rest of the book was spent laughing or swooning, it just... was. I'm happy to see though that the ending had this rectified somewhat.
I know that Kat had an absolutely horrible past, but my issue was that you're not always given all of the information or shown what the heroine is feeling. She doesn't talk or think about any of it, she just acts instead to forget about any feeling. She shuts down. It's hard to grasp what she's thinking or feeling when she just locks everything up, and in turn it's hard to actually care about her if she doesn't care about herself. Does that even make sense? Then after she finally starts revealing her secrets, there needed to be more facts given about what happened afterwards. This was all left out in the open but with no answers. What happened to everyone during the fallout? What happened to her? The reader shouldn't be forced to fill in these blanks.
Without spoilers, I loved the epilogue. I thought it was perfect and well executed, all while tying up loose ends and closing the story in a promising note. Now with that being said, I understand completely why it was done, but I wish epilogue hadn't taken place 4 years later. Maybe 2 years would've sufficed? I feel like there was so much unfinished business between these two that 4 years seems a little off to me but all in all, it works out in the end and I'm happy, so there's that. ;)
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
The first meeting between characters was fantastic, and the first 'real' meeting after that, but then the story lost some steam for me. The middle started to drag, secrets were being revealed at an excruciatingly slow rate and then even when they were, you didn't get all of the details. I'll come back to this thought.
"Our eyes are locked, brown to bright blue, and I have a terrifying realization. This man is everything I don’t want, yet everything I need. No one looks at me the way he does. He sees the damaged parts of me that I work so hard to conceal. The confusing part is that despite this, he looks at me like that doesn’t matter. He looks at me like he can fix me…like he wants to be the one to make me whole again."
Like I said, I found the beginning to be exciting and intriguing enough to draw the reader in. I liked the initial chemistry between the two main characters and was interested to see what would happen when the truth started coming out, but then after a little while, it was the same thing over and over. The couldn't be together, they'd be together to 'get it out of their systems', ignore everything, repeat. Over and over. I was quite truthfully getting bored because nothing was happening. At all. Then by the time it did start to progress, I was halfway gone.
"There’s no backpedaling if we decide to venture down this road together. The funny thing is, I don’t think either one of us really has a choice. No matter our differences, or the challenges we face being together, we can’t seem to stay away from each other. This connection we share is fierce and undeniable."
I never actually connected with either character or their story. It's awful of me to say this considering how sad Kat's past was, but I really didn't care about her. I didn't feel terrible or heartbroken because she didn't give us her emotions to go on. If a character treats everything as fact and with little to no emotion, I'm going to do the same. I couldn't get a good grasp on her. On top of that, sure Gavin was supportive and you're meant to like him but he was just sort of there to me in this part. Thankfully the ending picked up.
“I feel like you’re too good to be true.”
He smiles. “I think the same thing every time I look at you.”
Once the last 20% came around, I needed something big, and I mean colossal to keep me interested because I was ready to start skimming. Now this big moment, yes, I found it predictable, but thank goodness something happened to change the status quo of these two. These were the feelings I expected to have the entire length of the novel! This! This is the emotion I was wanting to feel and live! Finally it came out.
Chapter 45 is where it's at, yo.
One thing you really have to appreciate about Beautifully Broken is the personal growth of the heroine, Kat. The difference she had from her birthday at the beginning of the novel to her maturity when dealing with said 'situation', was outstanding. Personally, I loved her response to this issue. I think some people won't and will think she had made the wrong choice but I'm totally with her in this and completely agree. Mental high five stuff here. I loved her reasoning and the fact that she was strong enough, confident enough, and selfless enough to do so.
"For the first time since everything happened, I don’t feel like I’m floating in a dark abyss. Being here in Gavin’s arms, I feel anchored to the present. I think about what anchors represent: strength and stability. I realize that Gavin is my anchor. He makes me feel like maybe there is hope for the future—like maybe I’m not so broken after all."
Given the entire situation of the book I expected the angst level to be a lot higher and truthfully I don't really see why it wasn't. It wasn't like the rest of the book was spent laughing or swooning, it just... was. I'm happy to see though that the ending had this rectified somewhat.
I know that Kat had an absolutely horrible past, but my issue was that you're not always given all of the information or shown what the heroine is feeling. She doesn't talk or think about any of it, she just acts instead to forget about any feeling. She shuts down. It's hard to grasp what she's thinking or feeling when she just locks everything up, and in turn it's hard to actually care about her if she doesn't care about herself. Does that even make sense? Then after she finally starts revealing her secrets, there needed to be more facts given about what happened afterwards. This was all left out in the open but with no answers. What happened to everyone during the fallout? What happened to her? The reader shouldn't be forced to fill in these blanks.
"Surviving is what I do.”
Gavin steps closer and uncrosses my arms. Wrapping me in a hug, he says, “Surviving isn’t living, Kat.”
Without spoilers, I loved the epilogue. I thought it was perfect and well executed, all while tying up loose ends and closing the story in a promising note. Now with that being said, I understand completely why it was done, but I wish epilogue hadn't taken place 4 years later. Maybe 2 years would've sufficed? I feel like there was so much unfinished business between these two that 4 years seems a little off to me but all in all, it works out in the end and I'm happy, so there's that. ;)
“I love you. I think I was born to love you."
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2016
**ARC provided by author/publisher in exchange for an honest review**
I don't read a lot of student/teacher romances but the blurb of this book intrigued me to give it a try. There were parts I really liked about this book and parts that didn't work for me. I will start with the things that blocked me from really enjoying this book. First of all I found the two main characters not a great match. Secondly, in my opinion they were not on the same level and that made it really difficult for me to connect with them. Also I did not feel a real connection between them either.
Kat is very promiscuous and uses sex to run away from her past and current problems. She doesn't do relationships. On her 18th birthday she meets Gavin who she feels an immediate attraction to. Gavin is a good guy but can't resist Kat's advances. Gavin's certain actions in this book did not fit his character. He is playing with fire and I didn't expect him to handle certain situations the way he did. Kat is broken, and feels like Gavin is the only person who can fix her. There were moments where Kat was very mature for her age but also moments where she acted her age. She had a very traumatic past and had to grow up fast. However she was confident and went after what she wanted. She doesn't play the victim role and wants to make something out of her life. I admired her strong personality. Did I agree with everything she did? No, but she also made some really mature decisions that I didn't expect her to make.
I would've loved this book better if I felt a better connection with and between the characters. That was my biggest hurdle in this book. I was just not fully absorbed into the book. I did like the writing and it was easy to read. It had a great flow and I liked the things that happened in this book. I would recommend this book to people who love taboo: student/teacher romances.
I don't read a lot of student/teacher romances but the blurb of this book intrigued me to give it a try. There were parts I really liked about this book and parts that didn't work for me. I will start with the things that blocked me from really enjoying this book. First of all I found the two main characters not a great match. Secondly, in my opinion they were not on the same level and that made it really difficult for me to connect with them. Also I did not feel a real connection between them either.
Kat is very promiscuous and uses sex to run away from her past and current problems. She doesn't do relationships. On her 18th birthday she meets Gavin who she feels an immediate attraction to. Gavin is a good guy but can't resist Kat's advances. Gavin's certain actions in this book did not fit his character. He is playing with fire and I didn't expect him to handle certain situations the way he did. Kat is broken, and feels like Gavin is the only person who can fix her. There were moments where Kat was very mature for her age but also moments where she acted her age. She had a very traumatic past and had to grow up fast. However she was confident and went after what she wanted. She doesn't play the victim role and wants to make something out of her life. I admired her strong personality. Did I agree with everything she did? No, but she also made some really mature decisions that I didn't expect her to make.
I would've loved this book better if I felt a better connection with and between the characters. That was my biggest hurdle in this book. I was just not fully absorbed into the book. I did like the writing and it was easy to read. It had a great flow and I liked the things that happened in this book. I would recommend this book to people who love taboo: student/teacher romances.
December 23, 2016
While this storyline has been somewhat done before, I really did like the book. Teacher/student romance, but lots more behind the scenes drama.
I was more connected with Kat than Gavin though. For some reason, Gavin made me mad sometimes. He should have definitely used more restraint and control considering the position he was in, but even after he found out their "relationship" to each other, he didn't even really try to be morally correct. I did love their complete honesty with each other in the beginning......but then Gavin, WTF?!?!?
I really loved Dylan, Kat's best friend! He was always there for her and I even felt a little sorry for him at certain points.
While I started to hit a snag at around the 50-60% mark, from 80% on, I was hooked. I really loved the ending! Loved it! So huge turn-around there in the end for me!
I was provided an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
I was more connected with Kat than Gavin though. For some reason, Gavin made me mad sometimes. He should have definitely used more restraint and control considering the position he was in, but even after he found out their "relationship" to each other, he didn't even really try to be morally correct. I did love their complete honesty with each other in the beginning......but then Gavin, WTF?!?!?
I really loved Dylan, Kat's best friend! He was always there for her and I even felt a little sorry for him at certain points.
While I started to hit a snag at around the 50-60% mark, from 80% on, I was hooked. I really loved the ending! Loved it! So huge turn-around there in the end for me!
I was provided an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.
April 8, 2022
1.5 stars. This started out as a halfway decent, if unoriginal, teacher/student book…and then it fell off a cliff. I actually think aspiring authors should read it, as a perfect example to show them what NOT to do.
Gavin, who’s 26, and Kat, who’s 18, meet in a way that’s cliché for the teacher/student trope. The summer before her last year of high school, she’s in a bar using a fake ID, and they go home together. She tells him that she’s 22. When she shows up for school, he’s a new teacher there. Gavin tells her they have to stay away from each other, but he's bad at sticking to his guns and has his way with her in his classroom more than once. That’s what a teacher/student book should be, so honestly, that’s probably the only good part of this book.
The problems are…a lot. To start with, Gavin didn’t have a distinctive personality, he was very generic. I couldn’t name a single one of his interests outside of teaching, or his personality traits outside of being into Kat for no real reason, and being spineless. As for Kat, she’s the kind of character who’s a HUGE pile of trauma, and the author thought that counted as giving her a personality. To make matters worse, we get flashbacks. Flashbacks to things like gang rape are only warranted when we’re going to get to see the rapists get comeuppance in the present. But, that’s not part of this story, so there was NO reason to give us a flashback.
So, on the checklist of "what not to do," we've got the lack of character development, and unnecessary flashbacks to trauma. But, there's more.
This book is also the perfect example of why stories need to convince readers that the main characters belong together. “They’re hot, and they’re the main characters” isn’t enough of a reason. No Prince did an excellent job at this, that book SHOWED that the MCs were perfectly suited, and there’s nobody else out there for each of them. In this book, Gavin and Kat had nothing in common and some fundamental areas of disconnect. (He showed this when he took her to meet his family, and she freaked out because they lived in a mansion, and it didn’t OCCUR to him to warn her of this ahead of time, even when he knew she came from nothing, so obviously she’d be uncomfortable! So, not only did they come from different worlds, but Gavin was insensitive to that). Especially for a book where the relationship is forbidden or taboo, the reader needs to get why these characters are right for each other ABOVE alternate choices for partners who would be more socially acceptable. This book did nothing to convince me that they wouldn't be better off with other partners.
Even with all of this, I was almost ready to give this 2-3 stars. The writing isn't bad, and I wasn't super bored. But THEN in the last 15%, it takes the train to Stupid-town.
Out of nowhere, there’s a sudden cringe plot line where
Really, it’s quite astounding how this book is just a checklist of what not to do. But, it could be helpful, so authors take note, do the exact opposite of most of these things!
Gavin, who’s 26, and Kat, who’s 18, meet in a way that’s cliché for the teacher/student trope. The summer before her last year of high school, she’s in a bar using a fake ID, and they go home together. She tells him that she’s 22. When she shows up for school, he’s a new teacher there. Gavin tells her they have to stay away from each other, but he's bad at sticking to his guns and has his way with her in his classroom more than once. That’s what a teacher/student book should be, so honestly, that’s probably the only good part of this book.
The problems are…a lot. To start with, Gavin didn’t have a distinctive personality, he was very generic. I couldn’t name a single one of his interests outside of teaching, or his personality traits outside of being into Kat for no real reason, and being spineless. As for Kat, she’s the kind of character who’s a HUGE pile of trauma, and the author thought that counted as giving her a personality. To make matters worse, we get flashbacks. Flashbacks to things like gang rape are only warranted when we’re going to get to see the rapists get comeuppance in the present. But, that’s not part of this story, so there was NO reason to give us a flashback.
So, on the checklist of "what not to do," we've got the lack of character development, and unnecessary flashbacks to trauma. But, there's more.
This book is also the perfect example of why stories need to convince readers that the main characters belong together. “They’re hot, and they’re the main characters” isn’t enough of a reason. No Prince did an excellent job at this, that book SHOWED that the MCs were perfectly suited, and there’s nobody else out there for each of them. In this book, Gavin and Kat had nothing in common and some fundamental areas of disconnect. (He showed this when he took her to meet his family, and she freaked out because they lived in a mansion, and it didn’t OCCUR to him to warn her of this ahead of time, even when he knew she came from nothing, so obviously she’d be uncomfortable! So, not only did they come from different worlds, but Gavin was insensitive to that). Especially for a book where the relationship is forbidden or taboo, the reader needs to get why these characters are right for each other ABOVE alternate choices for partners who would be more socially acceptable. This book did nothing to convince me that they wouldn't be better off with other partners.
Even with all of this, I was almost ready to give this 2-3 stars. The writing isn't bad, and I wasn't super bored. But THEN in the last 15%, it takes the train to Stupid-town.
Out of nowhere, there’s a sudden cringe plot line where
Really, it’s quite astounding how this book is just a checklist of what not to do. But, it could be helpful, so authors take note, do the exact opposite of most of these things!
April 2, 2017
This book was provided by Netgally in exchange for a honest review
I knew he would ruin me from the moment we met. Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most.
This book was a pice of art, it was heartfelt, raw, emotional and true to life. At first i was a little skeptical when i saw what kind of trope this book was about.. the romance between a student and a teacher. It isn't something i normally read, but there was something about this book that just wanted me to read it and im really happy i did!
The story begins with Kat celebrating her birthday in a bar alone, this is were she meets Gavin aka "Sparkles" as Kat named him. It is pretty obvious that Kat had a really hard life. She has been in the foster systeem since she was a kid, she doesn't have a dad that is in the picture and a herion-addicted mother who sells her body and isn't really there for Kat. She takes her birthday as a day to forget al her problems and Gavin is just what she was looking for. Their attraction for eachother is like no other, they both can deny it and it makes Kat a little bit scared because she doesn't open up to people... she just wants sex to make her feel better.
Kat goes home with him and lies about her age and turns every question he asks –like what she does for work – into a game so he barely knows anything about her. Imagine his surprise when a few days later she is sitting in his classroom and Gavin aka Sparkles is also Mr. Cooper her English teacher! They both try to deny their attraction and know their situation is wrong even though he didn’t know she was in high school and she is eighteen, but fighting their feelings is harder than they thought.
Kat was a really amazing character, she was the most real character i have ever read about. She had so much hardship in her life, the rumors that surround her, the lack of parents and jugdement.. but everything that came her way she dealt with it. She was so mature, sometimes even more so than Gavin was at some points. She was broken, but because she let Gavin in and her gave her the love and constant reassurance that she was worthy of love and so much more than she gave herself credit for she became whole again for the first time in her life. It was such a dark and real novel, so much more than i had ever thought when i read the blurb.. and that is a good thing. Their flirty banter was cute and believable and Kat and her friends acted and talked like real eighteen year olds.
I also liked the non-judgemental aspect of stripping in the novel. Kat described most of her coworkers as being college students just trying to earn a quick buck so they can advance in life. We find that some of the girls that have worked there have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, veterinarians etc. Although I think this is not the case for many strip joints, I think it is still a good lesson that you shouldn’t judge someone for where their life leads them. Also the aspect of the rumors that surrounded Kat, she had been through an tramatic experience and people jut believed what they wanted to believe.
The only thing i wasn't a big fan of was the unnecassery sex scenes between them. Yes, it was part of their connection but sometimes it wasn't necassery to write about it.. it didn't have to been written at that moment. Not all the sexscenes were unnecassery but some of them were. I also was a bit frustrated with the ending. I had the feeling it could have been written differently, it still was beautiful but it didn't feel compleet. Also the sort of ending before the 4 year jump at the end, Gavin fell short for me. I could completely understand Kat’s POV and why she chose what she did but Gavin really had no excuse.
Overall this was an amazing read and beautiful book. It was true, heartfelt, heartbreaking and everything more... If you are looking for serious drama but with a HEA then this is the book for you! Thank you Netgaly for giving me the change to read this book and having me write a review.
I knew he would ruin me from the moment we met. Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most.
This book was a pice of art, it was heartfelt, raw, emotional and true to life. At first i was a little skeptical when i saw what kind of trope this book was about.. the romance between a student and a teacher. It isn't something i normally read, but there was something about this book that just wanted me to read it and im really happy i did!
The story begins with Kat celebrating her birthday in a bar alone, this is were she meets Gavin aka "Sparkles" as Kat named him. It is pretty obvious that Kat had a really hard life. She has been in the foster systeem since she was a kid, she doesn't have a dad that is in the picture and a herion-addicted mother who sells her body and isn't really there for Kat. She takes her birthday as a day to forget al her problems and Gavin is just what she was looking for. Their attraction for eachother is like no other, they both can deny it and it makes Kat a little bit scared because she doesn't open up to people... she just wants sex to make her feel better.
Kat goes home with him and lies about her age and turns every question he asks –like what she does for work – into a game so he barely knows anything about her. Imagine his surprise when a few days later she is sitting in his classroom and Gavin aka Sparkles is also Mr. Cooper her English teacher! They both try to deny their attraction and know their situation is wrong even though he didn’t know she was in high school and she is eighteen, but fighting their feelings is harder than they thought.
Kat was a really amazing character, she was the most real character i have ever read about. She had so much hardship in her life, the rumors that surround her, the lack of parents and jugdement.. but everything that came her way she dealt with it. She was so mature, sometimes even more so than Gavin was at some points. She was broken, but because she let Gavin in and her gave her the love and constant reassurance that she was worthy of love and so much more than she gave herself credit for she became whole again for the first time in her life. It was such a dark and real novel, so much more than i had ever thought when i read the blurb.. and that is a good thing. Their flirty banter was cute and believable and Kat and her friends acted and talked like real eighteen year olds.
I also liked the non-judgemental aspect of stripping in the novel. Kat described most of her coworkers as being college students just trying to earn a quick buck so they can advance in life. We find that some of the girls that have worked there have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, veterinarians etc. Although I think this is not the case for many strip joints, I think it is still a good lesson that you shouldn’t judge someone for where their life leads them. Also the aspect of the rumors that surrounded Kat, she had been through an tramatic experience and people jut believed what they wanted to believe.
The only thing i wasn't a big fan of was the unnecassery sex scenes between them. Yes, it was part of their connection but sometimes it wasn't necassery to write about it.. it didn't have to been written at that moment. Not all the sexscenes were unnecassery but some of them were. I also was a bit frustrated with the ending. I had the feeling it could have been written differently, it still was beautiful but it didn't feel compleet. Also the sort of ending before the 4 year jump at the end, Gavin fell short for me. I could completely understand Kat’s POV and why she chose what she did but Gavin really had no excuse.
Overall this was an amazing read and beautiful book. It was true, heartfelt, heartbreaking and everything more... If you are looking for serious drama but with a HEA then this is the book for you! Thank you Netgaly for giving me the change to read this book and having me write a review.
February 19, 2017
When I first saw this book and all the 5 star reviews I was a little skeptical. The premise of a forbidden romance between teacher and student isn’t something I normally find appealing to read but something compelled me to pick this up and I am glad I did! This book definitely goes down as a guilty pleasure read.
The story begins with Kat, drinking in a seedy bar on her 18th birthday when she meets Gavin. Or “Sparkles” as Kat dubbed him. We learn quickly that Kat has had a tough life. She has been in the foster system since she was a kid, never knew her dad, and has a heroin-addicted mother who is barely present in her life. Tonight she is trying to forget her problems and Gavin seems like the perfect distraction. Their attraction to one another is off the charts and neither of them can deny it.
Kat goes home with him and lies about her age and turns every question he asks –like what she does for work – into a game so he barely knows anything about her. Imagine his surprise when a few days later she is sitting in his classroom and Gavin a.k.a. Sparkles is also Mr. Cooper her English teacher! They both try to deny their attraction and know their situation is wrong even though he didn’t know she was in high school and she is eighteen, but fighting their feelings is harder than they thought.
Kat was really an amazing character. Life threw her so many curve balls and she took everything in stride. She was even more mature than Gavin in certain parts of the novel. And even though parts of her were broken, Gavin’s constant reassurance of telling her she is worthy of love and respect helped her feel whole again. It was such a feel good novel in that aspect even though there was a ton of seriously dark drama. This was definitely more real than I thought it would be from the blurb, which was a good thing. The dialogue was very well written as well. Their flirty banter was cute and believable and Kat and her friends acted and talked like real eighteen year olds.
I also liked the non-judgemental aspect of stripping in the novel. Kat described most of her coworkers as being college students just trying to earn a quick buck so they can advance in life. We find that some of the girls that have worked there have gone on to be doctors, lawyers, veterinarians etc. Although I think this is not the case for many strip joints, I think it is still a good lesson that you shouldn’t judge someone for where their life leads them.
I know some readers have a hard rule with cheating and I think this may blur the line....Just a forewarning but . Decide what you will about that. I didn't mind but I know others consider once the two main characters have had any kind of physical contact another woman/man in the picture is unacceptable.
I was also really frustrated with the ending. I could completely understand Kat’s POV and why she chose what she did but Gavin really had no excuse.
Overall this was a really interesting and angsty read. If you are looking for serious drama but with a HEA then this is the book for you! Thank you Netgalley, LAN Fiction LLC, and the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for providing this novel in exchange for an honest review!
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December 8, 2016
4.5 red & sparkles stars
My god! This book absolutely slayed me! I really really really loved this book. It was just so damn well written, and the plot was so good.
The story begins in the present, and then jumps 4 years into the past. You kind of know from the prologue that Kat and Gavin are not going to stay together, there is going to be a split, but I literally couldn't help from praying by the end that they would remain together. Damn near had a stroke thinking and constantly obsessing over it.
So we meet Kat, and 18 year old high-schooler, who was completely jaded and was celebrating her 18th birthday in the bar alone when she runs into the "most beautiful" man in the entire world- Gavin Cooper aka Mr. Cooper.
From the moment they met, there were sparks- their chemistry almost melted my screen. One night with him, and Kat can't help but break all her rules she had built carefully over the years, and before they knew it, they were pretty much falling for each other. But then life happens, and Gavin turns out to be Kat's english teacher in school.
I absolutely loved how slowly Gavin healed Kat- the entire journey was beautiful. There were moment there when I wanted to go inside and shake her and scream at her, but then things turned out pretty fine, and I loved how the author could evoke such feelings.
One thing that I did not really like was the ending. I understood and respected Kat's reason for staying away, but I just couldn't justify Gavin's. I mean come on! That was pretty frustrating, and if I were in Kat's place I think I would have slapped him hard for that stupid reason and wasting 4 years.
But all in all, I really enjoyed this book. It gave me all I was promised- angst, broken heroine, sweet and possessive hero, and a pretty epic love story.
[ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
My god! This book absolutely slayed me! I really really really loved this book. It was just so damn well written, and the plot was so good.
The story begins in the present, and then jumps 4 years into the past. You kind of know from the prologue that Kat and Gavin are not going to stay together, there is going to be a split, but I literally couldn't help from praying by the end that they would remain together. Damn near had a stroke thinking and constantly obsessing over it.
So we meet Kat, and 18 year old high-schooler, who was completely jaded and was celebrating her 18th birthday in the bar alone when she runs into the "most beautiful" man in the entire world- Gavin Cooper aka Mr. Cooper.
From the moment they met, there were sparks- their chemistry almost melted my screen. One night with him, and Kat can't help but break all her rules she had built carefully over the years, and before they knew it, they were pretty much falling for each other. But then life happens, and Gavin turns out to be Kat's english teacher in school.
I absolutely loved how slowly Gavin healed Kat- the entire journey was beautiful. There were moment there when I wanted to go inside and shake her and scream at her, but then things turned out pretty fine, and I loved how the author could evoke such feelings.
One thing that I did not really like was the ending. I understood and respected Kat's reason for staying away, but I just couldn't justify Gavin's. I mean come on! That was pretty frustrating, and if I were in Kat's place I think I would have slapped him hard for that stupid reason and wasting 4 years.
But all in all, I really enjoyed this book. It gave me all I was promised- angst, broken heroine, sweet and possessive hero, and a pretty epic love story.
[ARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review]
"I knew he would ruin me from the moment we met. Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most."
December 9, 2016
Leigh's review posted at Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews
This was, without a doubt, one of my favorite books of the year. It was heartbreaking and hopeful and sexy and sweet. It made me ugly cry and smile with its tenderness and I couldn’t put it down.
Beautifully Broken tells Kat’s story. As the daughter of a junkie mother, and as a child that has been bounced though the foster system for most of her life, she is older than her eighteen years. She is thoughtful and smart, too brash for a high school senior. She is confident in herself, yet at the same time devalues her worth.
A chance encounter on her eighteenth birthday introduces her to Gavin Cooper. Gavin is … perfect. There isn’t another word I can use to describe him. He’s handsome, he’s well meaning, he’s sexy and he’s just plain good. But when he starts his new teaching job, his morality is tested when Kat turns up as a student in his second period English Lit class.
This Teacher/Student love story had it all and more. It had the illicit sex of such a relationship, but it was more than just that. I was expecting the thrill of the taboo relationship, but I also fell so hard for both of these characters. I loved the heat and heart of their relationship and the anxiety it caused wondering if they would be caught. I cried for their heartbreaks and ached for their triumphs and felt so connected to them that I didn’t want it to end.
This was my first book by Laura Lee and I am so excited to have discovered a new author. I can only hope that all of her books are as wonderful as this one because I have a lot of reading ahead of me. It truly reached out and touched me with the honesty of these two people that were born to love one another and I can’t recommend it enough.
ARC provided with no expectations.
This was, without a doubt, one of my favorite books of the year. It was heartbreaking and hopeful and sexy and sweet. It made me ugly cry and smile with its tenderness and I couldn’t put it down.
Beautifully Broken tells Kat’s story. As the daughter of a junkie mother, and as a child that has been bounced though the foster system for most of her life, she is older than her eighteen years. She is thoughtful and smart, too brash for a high school senior. She is confident in herself, yet at the same time devalues her worth.
A chance encounter on her eighteenth birthday introduces her to Gavin Cooper. Gavin is … perfect. There isn’t another word I can use to describe him. He’s handsome, he’s well meaning, he’s sexy and he’s just plain good. But when he starts his new teaching job, his morality is tested when Kat turns up as a student in his second period English Lit class.
This Teacher/Student love story had it all and more. It had the illicit sex of such a relationship, but it was more than just that. I was expecting the thrill of the taboo relationship, but I also fell so hard for both of these characters. I loved the heat and heart of their relationship and the anxiety it caused wondering if they would be caught. I cried for their heartbreaks and ached for their triumphs and felt so connected to them that I didn’t want it to end.
This was my first book by Laura Lee and I am so excited to have discovered a new author. I can only hope that all of her books are as wonderful as this one because I have a lot of reading ahead of me. It truly reached out and touched me with the honesty of these two people that were born to love one another and I can’t recommend it enough.
ARC provided with no expectations.
Read
February 5, 2017Wow. Just wow. That was one heck of a Kitchen Sink book. I don't even know what to say.
December 7, 2016
3.5 “Sparkles” stars!
Kat has had a hard childhood. She’s been in the system several times when her mom chose drugs over her. She experienced a lot of awful things and was made to grow up way too fast. She is broken, lost, and just trying to survive. About to start her senior year in high school, she is determined to do well so that she can get into college and get out of town, away from her past.
Kat uses sex to escape the problems plaguing her mind, and as she sits in a bar on her eighteenth birthday (fake ID in hand), the gorgeous man who sits down beside her seems like he could be the perfect distraction. She is straightforward and lets him know exactly what she wants from him, and he wants her as well, but he also wants more than just sex.
Gavin is different than her usual hookups and there is something about him that makes her lower her guard, just a little and just enough to get what she wants. Their hook-up is intense and exactly what she needed to forget about her problems, at least for a little while. However, it doesn't matter how talented Gavin is in the bedroom, one night of passion is all she can afford.
After sneaking out, she has no intention of seeing him again. This proves difficult when she walks into school and meets her new teacher, Mr. Cooper. Gavin and Kat are in for a rollercoaster of emotions when they discover that Gavin is her new teacher.
They can't seem to keep their feelings in check and struggle to keep things professional. However, it’s not long before they find themselves wrapped up in each other's arms.
Though they really can’t be together, it doesn’t change how Gavin affects Kat. The moment he walked into her life, it was forever altered.
Beautifully Broken is a story about love, loss, friendship, and persevering. It has sweet and swoony moments, funny banter, intense situations, and some hot steamy times. It's a forbidden romance as well as a second-chance love story that encompasses a whole lot of emotion and brings on the feels.
Kat and Gavin had a deep connection even though they weren't at the same stage in life. She needed a friend and I love that Gavin supported her. He fought his desires to be there for her without making it about more than friendship. They enjoyed each others company and I loved that he was her safe place and made her feel protected. Watching her finally open up to someone was great and I was glad it was Gavin. His encouraging demeanor calmed her fears. Kat and Gavin have more in common than they thought and I loved how their friendship grows.
I really liked Gavin from the start. He wasn't going to go along with Kat's requests without getting to know her better. Something drew him to her and I loved that he wanted more than a one-night stand. He was honest, loyal, and really sweet.
I loved his relationship with his family and how deeply he loved. There was a twist that threw the story for a loop which was the set up of their decline and I thought it was well done even if I didn't agree with the decisions made because of it.
We know from the start that Kat has major trust issues and has had a difficult life. An incident her freshman year changed her life and it takes a while before we find out what went down. When it is revealed my heart shattered. I liked how the truth came out bit by bit through flashbacks. Each one gave us just a glimpse into the past and left me racing to find out the truth.
I thought the blurb was a little misleading because I went into this book expecting it to start at the present time, then flashback four years to show when Gavin and her began and how she got to the place she is now. Instead it is the present story about when they meet and it’s not until the last 10% that we jump four years. Even though it was different than I expected, it did not take away from the story. Beautifully Broken is written entirely from Kat's POV with the exception of the sweet Epilogue which was in Gavin's POV. Even though I enjoyed Kat's POV, I am glad we got a glimpse into his head and got to feel his love for her. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from Laura Lee.
*ARC generously provided by the author and Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review*
Kat has had a hard childhood. She’s been in the system several times when her mom chose drugs over her. She experienced a lot of awful things and was made to grow up way too fast. She is broken, lost, and just trying to survive. About to start her senior year in high school, she is determined to do well so that she can get into college and get out of town, away from her past.
Kat uses sex to escape the problems plaguing her mind, and as she sits in a bar on her eighteenth birthday (fake ID in hand), the gorgeous man who sits down beside her seems like he could be the perfect distraction. She is straightforward and lets him know exactly what she wants from him, and he wants her as well, but he also wants more than just sex.
Gavin is different than her usual hookups and there is something about him that makes her lower her guard, just a little and just enough to get what she wants. Their hook-up is intense and exactly what she needed to forget about her problems, at least for a little while. However, it doesn't matter how talented Gavin is in the bedroom, one night of passion is all she can afford.
After sneaking out, she has no intention of seeing him again. This proves difficult when she walks into school and meets her new teacher, Mr. Cooper. Gavin and Kat are in for a rollercoaster of emotions when they discover that Gavin is her new teacher.
They can't seem to keep their feelings in check and struggle to keep things professional. However, it’s not long before they find themselves wrapped up in each other's arms.
“Gavin, wha-”
He leans into my ear. “Do you want me?”
“Yes,” I pant.
His fingertips dig into my hips so hard I’m sure they’ll leave marks. “This has to be the last time. To get it out of our systems.”
My panties are soaked just thinking about what’s going to happen. “I’m good with that.”
Though they really can’t be together, it doesn’t change how Gavin affects Kat. The moment he walked into her life, it was forever altered.
I’m consumed by him – by everything he is and everything we are together.
Beautifully Broken is a story about love, loss, friendship, and persevering. It has sweet and swoony moments, funny banter, intense situations, and some hot steamy times. It's a forbidden romance as well as a second-chance love story that encompasses a whole lot of emotion and brings on the feels.
Kat and Gavin had a deep connection even though they weren't at the same stage in life. She needed a friend and I love that Gavin supported her. He fought his desires to be there for her without making it about more than friendship. They enjoyed each others company and I loved that he was her safe place and made her feel protected. Watching her finally open up to someone was great and I was glad it was Gavin. His encouraging demeanor calmed her fears. Kat and Gavin have more in common than they thought and I loved how their friendship grows.
I really liked Gavin from the start. He wasn't going to go along with Kat's requests without getting to know her better. Something drew him to her and I loved that he wanted more than a one-night stand. He was honest, loyal, and really sweet.
“You’re incomparable, Kat. Everyone around you is riveted when you walk into a room. How have you gone your entire life without knowing how truly exquisite you are? You’re easily the smartest, bravest, most beautiful person I’ve ever met.”
I loved his relationship with his family and how deeply he loved. There was a twist that threw the story for a loop which was the set up of their decline and I thought it was well done even if I didn't agree with the decisions made because of it.
We know from the start that Kat has major trust issues and has had a difficult life. An incident her freshman year changed her life and it takes a while before we find out what went down. When it is revealed my heart shattered. I liked how the truth came out bit by bit through flashbacks. Each one gave us just a glimpse into the past and left me racing to find out the truth.
I thought the blurb was a little misleading because I went into this book expecting it to start at the present time, then flashback four years to show when Gavin and her began and how she got to the place she is now. Instead it is the present story about when they meet and it’s not until the last 10% that we jump four years. Even though it was different than I expected, it did not take away from the story. Beautifully Broken is written entirely from Kat's POV with the exception of the sweet Epilogue which was in Gavin's POV. Even though I enjoyed Kat's POV, I am glad we got a glimpse into his head and got to feel his love for her. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from Laura Lee.
“I love you. I think I was born to love you.”
*ARC generously provided by the author and Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review*
September 14, 2017
I received this as an ARC for my honest review. This was a very well written story. The plotline itself was a bit formulaic - done one thousand times over, but it was still well done with characters that you wanted to know more about. Damaged girl (with a secret and a lot of angst over it in her past) meets the most beautiful man on earth. Insta-attraction and "the best sex ever" happens. They grow closer, but then the plot twist. A taboo relationship that sets up a plot to keep them apart...but they persevere and overcome, until the pivotal moment where the great "misunderstanding and miscommunication" happens, and our heart breaks in little pieces and we hold our breath and hope for their happily ever after. However, the characters themselves are what kept me reading and invested in this couple. Both the characters were witty and charming. I laughed, I smiled, I shed a couple tears. A solid 4 stars for this one!!!
December 16, 2016
Wow, I loved Beautifully Broken
What a rollercoaster of emotions I was taken on.
First impressions of Kat from her introduction was reserved as she celebrated her 18th birthday alone at a bar with the intentions of getting drunk and getting laid. She was sassy,bold and came across as slutty.
Those first impressions were so far from the truth, what lay beneath was a girl just needing to be loved.
Kat has been in the care system most of her life, a drug addict mother and no father on the scene but now she is old enough to leave the care system she moves back home with her mum and plans to start school after the break.
When Kat meets Gavin there is an undeniable connection but like everything in Kat's life nothing runs smoothly and I followed Kats unlucky in life and love journey completely hooked and fascinated by her backbone and bravery with the hope she would get her hea.
Kat:
Our eyes are locked, brown eyes to blue, and I have a terrifying realisation. This man is everything I don't want, yet everything I need.
A beautiful story written by Laura Lee, a book I couldn't put down with the dramas, sadness, heartwarming moments and hotness that was apart of Kat's life.
Brilliant characters, a heartwarming emotional journey and my first but definitely not my last read by this author.
Gavin:
The truth is that I want to be in your orbit every second of every day.
Arc received by netgalley for review Bbbf-sizzlereads-bestbookboyfriends
http://www.Bbbf-sizzlereads-bestbookb...
What a rollercoaster of emotions I was taken on.
First impressions of Kat from her introduction was reserved as she celebrated her 18th birthday alone at a bar with the intentions of getting drunk and getting laid. She was sassy,bold and came across as slutty.
Those first impressions were so far from the truth, what lay beneath was a girl just needing to be loved.
Kat has been in the care system most of her life, a drug addict mother and no father on the scene but now she is old enough to leave the care system she moves back home with her mum and plans to start school after the break.
When Kat meets Gavin there is an undeniable connection but like everything in Kat's life nothing runs smoothly and I followed Kats unlucky in life and love journey completely hooked and fascinated by her backbone and bravery with the hope she would get her hea.
Kat:
Our eyes are locked, brown eyes to blue, and I have a terrifying realisation. This man is everything I don't want, yet everything I need.
A beautiful story written by Laura Lee, a book I couldn't put down with the dramas, sadness, heartwarming moments and hotness that was apart of Kat's life.
Brilliant characters, a heartwarming emotional journey and my first but definitely not my last read by this author.
Gavin:
The truth is that I want to be in your orbit every second of every day.
Arc received by netgalley for review Bbbf-sizzlereads-bestbookboyfriends
http://www.Bbbf-sizzlereads-bestbookb...
April 6, 2017
I received an Advanced Readers Copy from Laura Lee and I am now the proud of owner of her Beautifully Broken world that will not leave my consciousness. I finished her book at 3am last night and laid in bed thinking about this story over and over. I woke up this morning with it on my mind. You know you have a good book when the story won't leave you. This is one of those and it is not a throw away book. There are so many taboo subjects Laura writes about that truly I was blown away. And she wrote them into the storyline with great care and finesse. Some may not like the subject matter, but then again its hard to have a mirror put up to your face when you have to face the hard truth when its staring back at you. Its hard to read about subjects that you yourself may have gone through, but to me it gave richness to her story. I felt the pain of her main character Kat. I bonded with her.
This story, this one you will care about her main character Kat a lot. You will want to take her and mother her and give her a hot meal and warm bed to lie her head down on at night, reassure her that everything is going to be ok. What every teenager should have. But not Kat. Far from it. And her story is going to break your heart. But at the end of the book Laura has somehow taken your heart and magically put it back together for you.
I wasn't sure how to feel about the actual storyline of Student/Teacher. Wow, this one was really, really a hard line for me. But. You have to know the back story and you have to know Gavin and Kat. This is not your normal school girl crush. This is not some pervy teacher. This is a love story. So, for me to extend my hard line for Gavin the teacher and main male lead character, it really shocked me. I was actually having conversations with myself while reading the book . HOW COULD YOU! Yep, I did and I am confident you are going to as well. He is now one of my forever book boyfriends.
In not wanting to give even one spoiler away regarding this book, all I can say is: Your going to come away from reading this book shell shocked, thinking about it for days and then want to immediately post a message to Laura. Your going to want all your friends to read this book because I think everyone should. The story of Kat and what she has gone through in her short little life is one that so many girls have gone through that shouldn't. Your gonna want to hold your babies closer after reading this book and tell them you love them more than before. You won't be the same, I am sure of it. Because I am not. Thank you Laura Lee. You have written a book that has great worth to it beyond just the story.
This story, this one you will care about her main character Kat a lot. You will want to take her and mother her and give her a hot meal and warm bed to lie her head down on at night, reassure her that everything is going to be ok. What every teenager should have. But not Kat. Far from it. And her story is going to break your heart. But at the end of the book Laura has somehow taken your heart and magically put it back together for you.
I wasn't sure how to feel about the actual storyline of Student/Teacher. Wow, this one was really, really a hard line for me. But. You have to know the back story and you have to know Gavin and Kat. This is not your normal school girl crush. This is not some pervy teacher. This is a love story. So, for me to extend my hard line for Gavin the teacher and main male lead character, it really shocked me. I was actually having conversations with myself while reading the book . HOW COULD YOU! Yep, I did and I am confident you are going to as well. He is now one of my forever book boyfriends.
In not wanting to give even one spoiler away regarding this book, all I can say is: Your going to come away from reading this book shell shocked, thinking about it for days and then want to immediately post a message to Laura. Your going to want all your friends to read this book because I think everyone should. The story of Kat and what she has gone through in her short little life is one that so many girls have gone through that shouldn't. Your gonna want to hold your babies closer after reading this book and tell them you love them more than before. You won't be the same, I am sure of it. Because I am not. Thank you Laura Lee. You have written a book that has great worth to it beyond just the story.
March 22, 2024
Beautifully Broken is a story of a broken young woman who delves into one night stands as she tries to block out her past. Her coping mechanism comes undone at a bar one night when she hooks up with a guy who never assumed for one moment she would be off limits to him. It is soon apparent that one night is not enough for ether of them. They fail to realise how wrong getting together was at the time because of Kat's determination to remain anonymous.
Kat has been in and out of foster homes for years, but now and then returns home to her mother who is battling her demons. Living at home is better than the foster system, so she puts up with her mother's behaviour and the company she keeps.
Gavin is a likable character, but it was his role as a teacher that raised my eyebrows. Outside of the classroom, he came across as genuine and a smooth operator. In fact, I had no trouble connecting with any of the main characters. They were the reason I kept reading when I began to feel frustrated with the way the plot was unfolding.
The romance between Gavin and Kat always seemed beyond YA, even when they were in the teacher/student situation. It was the forbidden aspect of their situation and the way they handled it that I found frustrating. The story is set in both a YA and NA environment. As twists in the plot were introduced, there was an increasing sense of predictability. Often I found myself guessing the majority of the changes before they occurred.
Be aware this book has triggers in it that may deter readers including . All situations are dealt with sensitively with help references included at the end of the book.
The first 60% was great, but after that, my initial good reading vibes began to wane. I started to wonder what had happened. Toying with how I should rate this book, I decided to go with a medium. Initially my vibe was a strong 3.5 Stars, but by around 95% it had dropped to 2.5 Stars. The epilogue wraps up the story nicely but a bit too neatly for my liking. I enjoyed the majority of Beautifully Broken, and if you are prepared to overlook the situations I struggled with, this is worth a try!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley
Kat has been in and out of foster homes for years, but now and then returns home to her mother who is battling her demons. Living at home is better than the foster system, so she puts up with her mother's behaviour and the company she keeps.
Gavin is a likable character, but it was his role as a teacher that raised my eyebrows. Outside of the classroom, he came across as genuine and a smooth operator. In fact, I had no trouble connecting with any of the main characters. They were the reason I kept reading when I began to feel frustrated with the way the plot was unfolding.
The romance between Gavin and Kat always seemed beyond YA, even when they were in the teacher/student situation. It was the forbidden aspect of their situation and the way they handled it that I found frustrating. The story is set in both a YA and NA environment. As twists in the plot were introduced, there was an increasing sense of predictability. Often I found myself guessing the majority of the changes before they occurred.
Be aware this book has triggers in it that may deter readers including . All situations are dealt with sensitively with help references included at the end of the book.
The first 60% was great, but after that, my initial good reading vibes began to wane. I started to wonder what had happened. Toying with how I should rate this book, I decided to go with a medium. Initially my vibe was a strong 3.5 Stars, but by around 95% it had dropped to 2.5 Stars. The epilogue wraps up the story nicely but a bit too neatly for my liking. I enjoyed the majority of Beautifully Broken, and if you are prepared to overlook the situations I struggled with, this is worth a try!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley
September 27, 2016
I received an ARC of Beautifully Broken in exchange for my honest review.
I was a little skeptical when I started to read, it was not about the age difference between Kat and Gavin, it was more about the student/teacher relationship. I was not sure if I would be able to enoy it fully. I kept reading...
The two meet under a misleading encounter. It is Kat's birthday and she has gone through a lot of suffering for someone so young.
There were times when I would stop and think 'hey there buddy, as the "adult" you should know better.' Despite this, it worked. The character development flowed beautifully and the story was beautifully written. I had to force myself to take pauses (as short as I could possibly make them) to be a part of real life happenings and such.
Watching Kat reach her full strength despite her many unpleasant obstacles was a wonderful experience. Gavin will be forever etched in my heart for the kindness he showed a girl who never saw much of it in her world before him. Filled with great chemistry that leads to oh so steamy scenes and taboo topics that were handled with great care.
I was a little skeptical when I started to read, it was not about the age difference between Kat and Gavin, it was more about the student/teacher relationship. I was not sure if I would be able to enoy it fully. I kept reading...
The two meet under a misleading encounter. It is Kat's birthday and she has gone through a lot of suffering for someone so young.
There were times when I would stop and think 'hey there buddy, as the "adult" you should know better.' Despite this, it worked. The character development flowed beautifully and the story was beautifully written. I had to force myself to take pauses (as short as I could possibly make them) to be a part of real life happenings and such.
Watching Kat reach her full strength despite her many unpleasant obstacles was a wonderful experience. Gavin will be forever etched in my heart for the kindness he showed a girl who never saw much of it in her world before him. Filled with great chemistry that leads to oh so steamy scenes and taboo topics that were handled with great care.
September 20, 2018
Wow! How can a young 18 year old high school student who has lived such a crappy life still manage to be an A student & have some hope for the future. I have nothing but admiration for Kat (Katherine), her determination, her kind heart. She has endured the unimaginable, a disastrous family life, has very little money, works part-time for extra cash & then studies for her classes. Amazing! Yet at 18, she is sometimes immature. Well who isn't!
Then she meets someone.
Gavin is a kind soul, calm, accepting & oh so lovable. If I had met someone like him at 18, I would have been done. My search would have been over. Lucky you Kat.
Or so we thought.
This was so beautifully written. In my opinion, it's a very daunting task to develop characters that readers can completely relate to & connect with. Laura Lee did just that. My heart ached for these two because you could always see trouble coming their way & yet their troubles made the story.
This is a stand-alone with a HEA. No loose ends. A wonderful book!
Then she meets someone.
Gavin is a kind soul, calm, accepting & oh so lovable. If I had met someone like him at 18, I would have been done. My search would have been over. Lucky you Kat.
Or so we thought.
This was so beautifully written. In my opinion, it's a very daunting task to develop characters that readers can completely relate to & connect with. Laura Lee did just that. My heart ached for these two because you could always see trouble coming their way & yet their troubles made the story.
This is a stand-alone with a HEA. No loose ends. A wonderful book!
April 14, 2017
This was satisfying, but I felt like I've read it before. So this was a 'eh' story
While reading I didn't find any surprises or big "wow" moments that made this book spectacular. It wasn't very original to me.
Don't get me wrong, the book was good and hot but it wasn't something that said this author wrote something worth reading again because I've already read something like it a dozen times before.
Don't hate me my fellow author!
The book wasn't bad at all it just needed something original to the author.
3.0 star rating
*ARC given by Netgalley for a honest review*
While reading I didn't find any surprises or big "wow" moments that made this book spectacular. It wasn't very original to me.
Don't get me wrong, the book was good and hot but it wasn't something that said this author wrote something worth reading again because I've already read something like it a dozen times before.
Don't hate me my fellow author!
The book wasn't bad at all it just needed something original to the author.
3.0 star rating
*ARC given by Netgalley for a honest review*
October 15, 2019
Beautifully broken was an another romance book that make me feel so much.
Kat meet Gavin in a bar and the quimical was so intense... The know each other that night and something more happen... But when Kat realized that Gavin is her new professor, she need stop her feelings but nothing is that simple.
This book was so good. I really enjoyed the history. The beggining was a little bit slow but then I read it in one day. The caracters were the best part of the book, they were so much complicated and I really love they relationship.
Kat meet Gavin in a bar and the quimical was so intense... The know each other that night and something more happen... But when Kat realized that Gavin is her new professor, she need stop her feelings but nothing is that simple.
This book was so good. I really enjoyed the history. The beggining was a little bit slow but then I read it in one day. The caracters were the best part of the book, they were so much complicated and I really love they relationship.
December 30, 2016
Oh, other Laura, I hate you! This book was perfect! I LOVED IT! I don't do five stars ever and this for me was a five star read. Kat and Gavin are so interesting and the story telling was perfect. It didn't go crazy like some of these stories can do and I'm so glad for that. You kept it real and honest. I love Kat and Gavin and Bree and Dylan. Just perfect!
February 17, 2017
DNF at 30%. I didn't like it.
There it is.
Disclaimer: ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
There it is.
Disclaimer: ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
February 5, 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
"
I KNEW HE WOULD RUIN ME FROM THE MOMENT WE MET. Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most.
Through him, I learned to end my path of self-destruction. I no longer needed to numb the pain with mindless one-night-stands and drunken blackouts. He made me feel worthy. Treasured. Optimistic about my future.
Here I stand four years later, in a coffee shop a world away, still broken…but beautifully so. My scars no longer hold me back. Instead, they give me strength and enrich my appreciation for the good things in life. I have hopes and dreams…faith that anything is possible. I am no longer the lost little girl fighting for survival. I have direction. I have courage. I am not without possibility.
I’ll always have Gavin to thank for that—Mr. Cooper, I remind myself. That’s who he is to me now: just a former teacher. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I was eighteen when we first met. Legally, we did nothing wrong. Morally? Well, I guess that depends on how flexible your morals are.
My name is Kat and this is my story."
first of all, this book consisted mostly of all the tropes that I hate.
1- Instalove. The connection between the two characters happened instantly upon meeting. That is not how people fall in love in real life and it irritates me that books place so much emphasis on it.
2- 'Special boy'. Kat has been through a lot in her short life: her mum is a heroin addict and dies because of an OD, she was a victim of child abuse and rape, she became pregnant at 15 and lost the baby. Falling in love will not fix all problems, yet this book turns this vulnerable young girl into another victim of this stupid trope. I like Kat as a character and I admire her for being who she is after going through so much turmoil. It's just damn right annoying that the thing to 'breaks her' is having to break up with her boyfriend. No. It's stupid and very two-dimensional.
3- Love triangle. Kat's best friend, Dylan is also in love with her, which causes tension between the characters. Again, seen this so many times it's boring.
This book is also unnecessarily long. It didn't need to be 50 chapters long, nothing really happened. The plot was predictable and follows every other book of this nature, with the exception of containing explicit sex scenes.
2/5* simply because I have to damn right hate the book to give it a 1*
"
I KNEW HE WOULD RUIN ME FROM THE MOMENT WE MET. Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most.
Through him, I learned to end my path of self-destruction. I no longer needed to numb the pain with mindless one-night-stands and drunken blackouts. He made me feel worthy. Treasured. Optimistic about my future.
Here I stand four years later, in a coffee shop a world away, still broken…but beautifully so. My scars no longer hold me back. Instead, they give me strength and enrich my appreciation for the good things in life. I have hopes and dreams…faith that anything is possible. I am no longer the lost little girl fighting for survival. I have direction. I have courage. I am not without possibility.
I’ll always have Gavin to thank for that—Mr. Cooper, I remind myself. That’s who he is to me now: just a former teacher. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I was eighteen when we first met. Legally, we did nothing wrong. Morally? Well, I guess that depends on how flexible your morals are.
My name is Kat and this is my story."
first of all, this book consisted mostly of all the tropes that I hate.
1- Instalove. The connection between the two characters happened instantly upon meeting. That is not how people fall in love in real life and it irritates me that books place so much emphasis on it.
2- 'Special boy'. Kat has been through a lot in her short life: her mum is a heroin addict and dies because of an OD, she was a victim of child abuse and rape, she became pregnant at 15 and lost the baby. Falling in love will not fix all problems, yet this book turns this vulnerable young girl into another victim of this stupid trope. I like Kat as a character and I admire her for being who she is after going through so much turmoil. It's just damn right annoying that the thing to 'breaks her' is having to break up with her boyfriend. No. It's stupid and very two-dimensional.
3- Love triangle. Kat's best friend, Dylan is also in love with her, which causes tension between the characters. Again, seen this so many times it's boring.
This book is also unnecessarily long. It didn't need to be 50 chapters long, nothing really happened. The plot was predictable and follows every other book of this nature, with the exception of containing explicit sex scenes.
2/5* simply because I have to damn right hate the book to give it a 1*
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 8, 2016
Kat has a troubled home life that has led her to be placed in and out of the system since she was a toddler. When her 18th birthday finally arrives she celebrated by going to a dive bar using her fake ID. She lays eyes on the most gorgeous guy she's ever seen and wants to make him her next one night stand, as she uses sex as a way to escape from her past and everyday troubles. The only problem is that Gavin wants more from her and isn't a one night stand type of guy. They can't seem to stay away from one another and all is well and good until Kat's lie catches up to her and she finds herself sitting in a desk staring up at Gavin, also known as Mr.Cooper, her 26 year old teacher. The romance is a forbidden one but their feelings and chemistry keeps pulling them together until something finally happens that tears them apart until four years down the road when they finally run into one another....
This story has a story that is slightly on the darker side because of all of the issues that Kat faces. This book does touch on serious topics such as addiction and rape. I am glad I didn't really know that going into the book or I may have put off reading it since I wasn't really in the mood to read that kind of book. This is a forbidden type of love story (student/teacher) but knowing their background makes that part easy to look beyond. This book exceeded my expectations and towards the end, every heartstring I have was being pulled. I haven't had a book do that in a few months which is why I ended up giving it 5 stars (along with great writing). I will definitely be reading more from this author!
* A special thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion of this book
This story has a story that is slightly on the darker side because of all of the issues that Kat faces. This book does touch on serious topics such as addiction and rape. I am glad I didn't really know that going into the book or I may have put off reading it since I wasn't really in the mood to read that kind of book. This is a forbidden type of love story (student/teacher) but knowing their background makes that part easy to look beyond. This book exceeded my expectations and towards the end, every heartstring I have was being pulled. I haven't had a book do that in a few months which is why I ended up giving it 5 stars (along with great writing). I will definitely be reading more from this author!
* A special thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest opinion of this book
February 28, 2018
"Beautifully Broken" is one of those stories that had my attention at the first page. It starts with a bang, then it continue with numerous bangs just to end with a bang. This is a story that should be read with heart and not with a head. The reason being that if one starts thinking about the plot, the plot might be found to be a bit ridiculous. But if we set aside the minor ridiculousness’s, all that remains is a highly emotional read that isn’t for the faint of heart.
"Beautifully Broken" is a story about forbidden love between a teacher and a student. But it is also an across the tracks story in which the heroine goes through a really rough time while the hero is her total opposite.
Full review available at: Night Owl Reviews
"Beautifully Broken" is a story about forbidden love between a teacher and a student. But it is also an across the tracks story in which the heroine goes through a really rough time while the hero is her total opposite.
Full review available at: Night Owl Reviews
July 13, 2017
Please note: I received BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to both the Publisher and author.
I absolutely love forbidden romances and this teacher/student doesn't disappoint! Beautifully Broken is so beautifully written! As with any great book, it has some dark moments that tug your heartstrings, however without such, I don't think Kat's character could mature the way she does so quickly. Gavin - *sigh* - he's such a gentle soul who experienced significant loss as a child too, and his love and respect for Kat is so swoon worthy - even in some of their darker moments. I love how Kat's BFFs truly care about her well-being and are interesting to read in their own ways, too. I can't wait to buy this book for my book club and discuss some of the deeper elements. Highly recommend Beautifully Broken.
I absolutely love forbidden romances and this teacher/student doesn't disappoint! Beautifully Broken is so beautifully written! As with any great book, it has some dark moments that tug your heartstrings, however without such, I don't think Kat's character could mature the way she does so quickly. Gavin - *sigh* - he's such a gentle soul who experienced significant loss as a child too, and his love and respect for Kat is so swoon worthy - even in some of their darker moments. I love how Kat's BFFs truly care about her well-being and are interesting to read in their own ways, too. I can't wait to buy this book for my book club and discuss some of the deeper elements. Highly recommend Beautifully Broken.
February 11, 2019
I'm a fan of ST books, and without a doubt this was a good book, unfortunately it wasn't exceptional.
I liked Gavin, until the climax anyways; at which point he seemed to have a personality change....
One of the problems I had with this book was the length, it was LONG. But then the ending seemed totally rushed. It seemed to me that the author was writing and suddenly realised the word count was running out so abruptly ended the book. The pacing of the book isn't consist which for me is no no. Secondly is knowing about the 4 year jump in the synopsis, this told me that they weren't going to be together. So I wanted to get to the present and find out what happens after..... which took like 90%
and don't get me started on the 'climax'
BTW what happened to the cat?
I liked Gavin, until the climax anyways; at which point he seemed to have a personality change....
One of the problems I had with this book was the length, it was LONG. But then the ending seemed totally rushed. It seemed to me that the author was writing and suddenly realised the word count was running out so abruptly ended the book. The pacing of the book isn't consist which for me is no no. Secondly is knowing about the 4 year jump in the synopsis, this told me that they weren't going to be together. So I wanted to get to the present and find out what happens after..... which took like 90%
and don't get me started on the 'climax'
BTW what happened to the cat?
June 11, 2020
Great book by a fantastic author!
Kat meets handsome Gavin on her birthday, in a bar. After lying about her age, a romance ensues that’s fire. Both are shocked to learn the truth about each other shortly thereafter.
Kat’s life is a mess though. Besides Gavin, the most important people in her life are her two best friends. But because things are....complicated, she can’t talk to them about her relationship.
Kat struggles with trusting Gavin - is he really who he says he is? Will he really love her forever? She learns that life comes full circle in ways you never see coming until the end of the book.
I enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the way they evolved throughout. Laura Lee is quickly becoming one of ,y favorite authors.
Kat meets handsome Gavin on her birthday, in a bar. After lying about her age, a romance ensues that’s fire. Both are shocked to learn the truth about each other shortly thereafter.
Kat’s life is a mess though. Besides Gavin, the most important people in her life are her two best friends. But because things are....complicated, she can’t talk to them about her relationship.
Kat struggles with trusting Gavin - is he really who he says he is? Will he really love her forever? She learns that life comes full circle in ways you never see coming until the end of the book.
I enjoyed the storyline, the characters and the way they evolved throughout. Laura Lee is quickly becoming one of ,y favorite authors.
November 1, 2016
What an amazing great book. I just couldn't put it down and read it in one go. I loved how well constructed all the characters were; I loved the chemistry between Kat and Gavin, how real it felt, how "tangible" it was.
I also loved the "not so sunny" part of the book, which made it all the more memorable: the hard decisions, the pain, the bad experiences... all that which lead to trying to be a better person and raise above adversity.
This is he first book I read from this author, but I found it to be exquisite, perfectly crafted and with a brilliant plot and set of characters. It really felt alive :)
I also loved the "not so sunny" part of the book, which made it all the more memorable: the hard decisions, the pain, the bad experiences... all that which lead to trying to be a better person and raise above adversity.
This is he first book I read from this author, but I found it to be exquisite, perfectly crafted and with a brilliant plot and set of characters. It really felt alive :)
November 20, 2016
5+ Beautiful Love Stars
I absolutely love forbidden teacher/student romances. Beautifully Broken did not disappoint. I loved every word, which was beautifully written. It had some very dark sad moments however without these incidents I don't think Kat would have survived and turned out the way she did! It was refreshing too that it was not a childish love story as Kat was very mature for an 18 year old. Gavin was such a gentle sole who had so much love and respect for Kat and to top it off he was sexy as sin. The secondary charters in the book too were very entertaining and enjoyable.
I highly recommend this amazing book.
I absolutely love forbidden teacher/student romances. Beautifully Broken did not disappoint. I loved every word, which was beautifully written. It had some very dark sad moments however without these incidents I don't think Kat would have survived and turned out the way she did! It was refreshing too that it was not a childish love story as Kat was very mature for an 18 year old. Gavin was such a gentle sole who had so much love and respect for Kat and to top it off he was sexy as sin. The secondary charters in the book too were very entertaining and enjoyable.
I highly recommend this amazing book.
November 10, 2017
I liked this book a lot.
Different heroine. Broken, but strong. Floved, that she was more experienced than the H.
The story was a bit too rushed, when they found out about 'real' each other. He was her teacher, but it didn't stop him to have sex with her. A lot. *lol*
My only complain - the twist with his ex/baby.
So, he had sex with his ex and I disagree, that he wasn't with the h then. They were together, even if she pushed away. And later they told me, there was nothing with his ex, but something did happen - he believed the baby were his, so he was intimate with his ex. (???) Ugh!
I liked, that he was celibate during 4 years separation and the h wasn't. Amazing! :-)
Different heroine. Broken, but strong. Floved, that she was more experienced than the H.
The story was a bit too rushed, when they found out about 'real' each other. He was her teacher, but it didn't stop him to have sex with her. A lot. *lol*
My only complain - the twist with his ex/baby.
So, he had sex with his ex and I disagree, that he wasn't with the h then. They were together, even if she pushed away. And later they told me, there was nothing with his ex, but something did happen - he believed the baby were his, so he was intimate with his ex. (???) Ugh!
I liked, that he was celibate during 4 years separation and the h wasn't. Amazing! :-)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 29, 2016
Laura Lee doesn't disappoint. This book didn't exactly go where I thought it would, but I enjoyed it. Fast forwarded alot in the end, but after reading it makes sense. I don't write book report length reviews... so at the very least, get a sample and see what you think. ;-)
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