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My Life in Shambles
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything.
They say bad things happen in threes.
After my boyfriend broke off our engagement, I lost my apartment, and was laid off from my job, I can definitely attest to that.
They also say life is what happens when you say yes to new adventures.
So when my two sisters invited me to ring in the new year in Ireland, I decided to throw all caution to the wind and go for it. I was going to let “saying yes” be my new resolution.
Little did I know I’d spend New Year’s Eve having a hot and dirty one-night stand with Padraig McCarthy, one hell of a sexy Irishman. I also didn’t know that the brooding and intense sex god was one of Ireland’s top rugby players.
A rugby player with a proposition for me:
Come with him to his tiny hometown of Shambles and pretend to be his fiancé for a few days, just so that his ailing father can have some peace of mind.
It sounded simple enough.
It was anything but.
Not when a town gets up in your business, not when the media hunts you down, not when your past comes back in the picture, not when there are real hearts and feelings at stake.
Not when there are secrets that could break you.
They say life is what happens when you say yes to new adventures.
This is my life in Shambles.
This is a full-length contemporary standalone romance. Book is set to release in April and set release date might change
They say bad things happen in threes.
After my boyfriend broke off our engagement, I lost my apartment, and was laid off from my job, I can definitely attest to that.
They also say life is what happens when you say yes to new adventures.
So when my two sisters invited me to ring in the new year in Ireland, I decided to throw all caution to the wind and go for it. I was going to let “saying yes” be my new resolution.
Little did I know I’d spend New Year’s Eve having a hot and dirty one-night stand with Padraig McCarthy, one hell of a sexy Irishman. I also didn’t know that the brooding and intense sex god was one of Ireland’s top rugby players.
A rugby player with a proposition for me:
Come with him to his tiny hometown of Shambles and pretend to be his fiancé for a few days, just so that his ailing father can have some peace of mind.
It sounded simple enough.
It was anything but.
Not when a town gets up in your business, not when the media hunts you down, not when your past comes back in the picture, not when there are real hearts and feelings at stake.
Not when there are secrets that could break you.
They say life is what happens when you say yes to new adventures.
This is my life in Shambles.
This is a full-length contemporary standalone romance. Book is set to release in April and set release date might change
Audiobook
First published April 11, 2019
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About the author
Karina Halle
122 books19.6k followersKarina Halle is a screenwriter, former music & travel journalist, and the New York Times bestselling author of Grave Matter, Blood Orange, & The Royals Next Door, as well as 80 other romances across all sub-genres, ranging from spicy rom coms to gothic horror and dark fantasy. Needless to say, whatever you're into, she's probably written an HEA for it.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
When she's not traveling, she, her husband, and their pup Perry, split their time between a possibly haunted 120 year-old house in Victoria, BC, and their condo in Los Angeles.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,157 reviews
April 14, 2019
Well, well, well! As soon as I read the blurb, It reminded me of Hallmark romance movies so it could be considered as too soft and too predictable but let’s not forget this is KH book and this woman has got too many credits from me after EIT series ( we’re talking about Dex Foray, my all time favorite book boyfriend, come on😊)
So as a devoted reader, even she writes a Christmas card, post it note or daily shopping list, I should keep my mouth shout and keep on reading!
And when I started to read this book, I took several punches on my faces, because there’s nothing soft, easy, chic lit kinda reading.
A critical disease, death, accidents, scars, too many heavy issues scatter around. This book is about resolutions, new experiences, condolences, making peace with your past and forgiveness.
It’s effective, surprising and as I expected it’s really poignantly and uniquely written. Thanks so much to KH, she didn’t disappoint me!
And my favorite part was our heroine, Valerie’s speech to her mother and standing up for herself while she was showing her scars proudly. Well, I put down my kindle and gave a full applause to that!( the interesting thing is her mother wanted to protect her daughter from bullies by pushing her too much with her criticism and she became the worst bully for her own daughter!!!!)
And about our hero, I visualized him as more bulky Jamie Dornan meets ten years younger Colin Farrell ( cloud nine kinda combination ). I liked them as a couple because they were perfectly completing each other!
As a summary I love Ireland, I adore small town romance, even some parts are heavy and depressing, I enjoyed the ending.
It’s well done dramatic romance! I’m happy to read it!
So as a devoted reader, even she writes a Christmas card, post it note or daily shopping list, I should keep my mouth shout and keep on reading!
And when I started to read this book, I took several punches on my faces, because there’s nothing soft, easy, chic lit kinda reading.
A critical disease, death, accidents, scars, too many heavy issues scatter around. This book is about resolutions, new experiences, condolences, making peace with your past and forgiveness.
It’s effective, surprising and as I expected it’s really poignantly and uniquely written. Thanks so much to KH, she didn’t disappoint me!
And my favorite part was our heroine, Valerie’s speech to her mother and standing up for herself while she was showing her scars proudly. Well, I put down my kindle and gave a full applause to that!( the interesting thing is her mother wanted to protect her daughter from bullies by pushing her too much with her criticism and she became the worst bully for her own daughter!!!!)
And about our hero, I visualized him as more bulky Jamie Dornan meets ten years younger Colin Farrell ( cloud nine kinda combination ). I liked them as a couple because they were perfectly completing each other!
As a summary I love Ireland, I adore small town romance, even some parts are heavy and depressing, I enjoyed the ending.
It’s well done dramatic romance! I’m happy to read it!
April 16, 2019
4.5 stars
Valerie Stephens life is a hot mess right now. Not only did she just separate from her fiancé, therefore she also lost her wonderful NYC apartment, but she also got laid off from her job. Things are not going well for her. Her only saving grace is that her sisters are taking a trip to Ireland and she’s tagging along. The only rule she has for herself while she’s out of town is this: Always say yes to new adventures. Meeting Padraig McCarthy is just that. An adventure.
Padraig McCarthy is an Irish Rugby player who is on a break from the game due to a concussion. Between that, his father being ill, and other issues, his life is also a bit of a mess. When Valerie comes into his life, it’s the perfect timing. They are instantly attracted to one another, but it’s more than that. There is something else there.
Padraig needs a favor, something huge. He needs a fake fiancé. With his father gravely ill, he wants him to have the illusion that he has his life together and someone to share it with. Because of this new adventures thing, Val agrees to go and to stay as long as Padraig needs her. After meeting his family, she starts to get close to them as well. The build up had me so anxious. What was going to happen? Surely this secret will blow up eventually…. I was a nervous wreck.
There was so much more going on in Padraig’s life than what meets the eye. My heart hurt for this man so much. He was struggling through too much. I thought Valerie had the bigger issues at the start of the book, but her loss of a job/apartment/fiancé were nothing compared to what he had going on. But Valerie… Val was a godsend to him. She couldn’t have been more loving and patient with him if she tried. She was with Padraig 100% and grew to truly love him and you could just tell that love was unconditional. She was the true MVP of this book.
This book had so much heart. You could just feel the emotion pouring off the pages. Karina’s writing is fantastic, as always. This story was different than her others, and I mean that in the best way possible. Both characters were exceptional. This one really touched my heart. I loved seeing these two fall in love and love each other through everything going on in their lives. I love the fake relationship troupe and this book did that so well. I highly recommend this gorgeous romance!!!
It takes a moment to change someone. Sometimes it just takes a kiss.Karina Halle just gave me all the feels in this book, and I loved it. My Life in Shambles is a beautiful, emotionally charged romance that I adored.
Valerie Stephens life is a hot mess right now. Not only did she just separate from her fiancé, therefore she also lost her wonderful NYC apartment, but she also got laid off from her job. Things are not going well for her. Her only saving grace is that her sisters are taking a trip to Ireland and she’s tagging along. The only rule she has for herself while she’s out of town is this: Always say yes to new adventures. Meeting Padraig McCarthy is just that. An adventure.
Padraig McCarthy is an Irish Rugby player who is on a break from the game due to a concussion. Between that, his father being ill, and other issues, his life is also a bit of a mess. When Valerie comes into his life, it’s the perfect timing. They are instantly attracted to one another, but it’s more than that. There is something else there.
Padraig needs a favor, something huge. He needs a fake fiancé. With his father gravely ill, he wants him to have the illusion that he has his life together and someone to share it with. Because of this new adventures thing, Val agrees to go and to stay as long as Padraig needs her. After meeting his family, she starts to get close to them as well. The build up had me so anxious. What was going to happen? Surely this secret will blow up eventually…. I was a nervous wreck.
There was so much more going on in Padraig’s life than what meets the eye. My heart hurt for this man so much. He was struggling through too much. I thought Valerie had the bigger issues at the start of the book, but her loss of a job/apartment/fiancé were nothing compared to what he had going on. But Valerie… Val was a godsend to him. She couldn’t have been more loving and patient with him if she tried. She was with Padraig 100% and grew to truly love him and you could just tell that love was unconditional. She was the true MVP of this book.
“You threw yourself into my darkness and you showed me the stars that I never knew were there. You were never afraid of what was in me, you wanted to see it all, you wanted to be there for me in every way that you could.”
This book had so much heart. You could just feel the emotion pouring off the pages. Karina’s writing is fantastic, as always. This story was different than her others, and I mean that in the best way possible. Both characters were exceptional. This one really touched my heart. I loved seeing these two fall in love and love each other through everything going on in their lives. I love the fake relationship troupe and this book did that so well. I highly recommend this gorgeous romance!!!
“Tell me you love me,” I whisper. “Tell me you love me and I’ll tell you I love you more.”
March 2, 2021
Generally, I love Karina Halle’s books because they make me feel and this was one of them; however, it was so very different from what I expected with regard to its mood and tone.
Despite the passionate and heart-felt love story that is told in it, the book is heavy with lots of sadness related to death, accidents, illnesses etc. And if you ask me, these heavy subjects cast a shadow over this beautiful love story.
I loved the book at the beginning when the couple quickly fell in love with each other. Despite being insta, it felt real.
She reminds me of the first day of spring. Not the arbitrary date in March, but that first real day when the sun is out and the air is fresh and you close your eyes and you can almost feel yourself being reborn again.
***
“Valerie,” I whisper to her. “Tell me you love me. Tell me you love me and I’ll tell ye I love you more.”
But soon, the dying father and the hero’s own illness changed the tone of the book and it became gloomier and gloomier.
I didn’t want a depressing love story so I was not ready for it; that’s why I became unhappy with this book. If there is going to be an illness in my romance book involving one of the main characters, I prefer it to be something curable with treatment, surgery etc but the hero’s illness is not curable and it is progressing aggressively. That made me very unhappy.
“Padraig, I know this is hard,” the doctor says.
“Hard?” Padraig practically sneers. “Hard? This is going to ruin my whole life. All of it that I had worked so hard for. This is bloody devastating , Dr. Byrne. You have no idea! I feel like a fucking dead man walking.”
And of course, no matter how much Padraig loves our heroine Valerie, he thinks that she would be better off without him and tries to push her away. He is scared that things will be too much one day and she will leave him anyway, so "why not now", he thinks.
Valerie doesn’t want to leave him; she wants to be there for him no matter what happens. It is at last Padraig’s nana who makes him see it from a different perspective:
“What if you get progressively worse and she leaves you?
That’s fear.
Even if you get progressively worse, she’ll still be by your side.
That’s faith.
What if is fear.
Even if is faith.
Choose the latter my boy.”
And yes, he chooses faith and believes that Valerie will always be there. So after a short separation, the couple is back together and they get married, having their HEA…
If you can call it a HEA.
I couldn’t.
Yes, they got married but…
There is a big "but" with the hero’s illness here.
And because of his aggressive illness, I am still thinking after how many years he will lose the control of his main body parts, when he will be bedridden and at what young age he will die.
OK, maybe they will have some happy days but the gloomy shadow of the illness is there and I cannot see the sunshine.
Sorry, if I sound like a pessimist but this book didn’t make me happy, it made me unhappy.
I am wishing all the strength in the world to the patients with this illness and again all the patience and strength to the people who love and take care of them. I have come to realize once again how hard it is!
The story takes place mostly in Ireland, a country I love very much. The Irish pubs, Irish towns and Irish food mentioned in the book made me want to visit this beautiful country once again.
By the way, Shambles is a town in Ireland.
The book is written in dual point of view and its writing is successful. It makes you feel. As far as cheating / OW-OM drama is concerned, it is safe.
*********************************************
You can follow my instagram page from here
Despite the passionate and heart-felt love story that is told in it, the book is heavy with lots of sadness related to death, accidents, illnesses etc. And if you ask me, these heavy subjects cast a shadow over this beautiful love story.
I loved the book at the beginning when the couple quickly fell in love with each other. Despite being insta, it felt real.
She reminds me of the first day of spring. Not the arbitrary date in March, but that first real day when the sun is out and the air is fresh and you close your eyes and you can almost feel yourself being reborn again.
***
“Valerie,” I whisper to her. “Tell me you love me. Tell me you love me and I’ll tell ye I love you more.”
But soon, the dying father and the hero’s own illness changed the tone of the book and it became gloomier and gloomier.
I didn’t want a depressing love story so I was not ready for it; that’s why I became unhappy with this book. If there is going to be an illness in my romance book involving one of the main characters, I prefer it to be something curable with treatment, surgery etc but the hero’s illness is not curable and it is progressing aggressively. That made me very unhappy.
“Padraig, I know this is hard,” the doctor says.
“Hard?” Padraig practically sneers. “Hard? This is going to ruin my whole life. All of it that I had worked so hard for. This is bloody devastating , Dr. Byrne. You have no idea! I feel like a fucking dead man walking.”
And of course, no matter how much Padraig loves our heroine Valerie, he thinks that she would be better off without him and tries to push her away. He is scared that things will be too much one day and she will leave him anyway, so "why not now", he thinks.
Valerie doesn’t want to leave him; she wants to be there for him no matter what happens. It is at last Padraig’s nana who makes him see it from a different perspective:
“What if you get progressively worse and she leaves you?
That’s fear.
Even if you get progressively worse, she’ll still be by your side.
That’s faith.
What if is fear.
Even if is faith.
Choose the latter my boy.”
And yes, he chooses faith and believes that Valerie will always be there. So after a short separation, the couple is back together and they get married, having their HEA…
If you can call it a HEA.
I couldn’t.
Yes, they got married but…
There is a big "but" with the hero’s illness here.
And because of his aggressive illness, I am still thinking after how many years he will lose the control of his main body parts, when he will be bedridden and at what young age he will die.
OK, maybe they will have some happy days but the gloomy shadow of the illness is there and I cannot see the sunshine.
Sorry, if I sound like a pessimist but this book didn’t make me happy, it made me unhappy.
I am wishing all the strength in the world to the patients with this illness and again all the patience and strength to the people who love and take care of them. I have come to realize once again how hard it is!
The story takes place mostly in Ireland, a country I love very much. The Irish pubs, Irish towns and Irish food mentioned in the book made me want to visit this beautiful country once again.
By the way, Shambles is a town in Ireland.
The book is written in dual point of view and its writing is successful. It makes you feel. As far as cheating / OW-OM drama is concerned, it is safe.
*********************************************
You can follow my instagram page from here
April 15, 2019
Sometimes it just takes a kiss.....
“I know that a simple kiss isn’t so simple at all and nothing will be simple after this.”
I know now that when I dive into a Karina Halle book, I need to prepare myself, well maybe😜. I went into this blind. Wouldn’t want it any other way though. So those of you that don’t know much about it, keep it that way. Just know that this book is amazingly breathtaking!!! My god the feels in this story makes it even that much better. You feel it deep in your soul, it’s so perfectly told. My heart broke, I didn’t cry, I sobbed. I laughed, I swooned, and god did I hope I’d get what I needed in the end.
It definitely makes a read when it feels like what you are reading is so damn real. I can’t recommend this one more, one of those books that stay with you and lasts a very long time ♥️
“I know that a simple kiss isn’t so simple at all and nothing will be simple after this.”
I know now that when I dive into a Karina Halle book, I need to prepare myself, well maybe😜. I went into this blind. Wouldn’t want it any other way though. So those of you that don’t know much about it, keep it that way. Just know that this book is amazingly breathtaking!!! My god the feels in this story makes it even that much better. You feel it deep in your soul, it’s so perfectly told. My heart broke, I didn’t cry, I sobbed. I laughed, I swooned, and god did I hope I’d get what I needed in the end.
It definitely makes a read when it feels like what you are reading is so damn real. I can’t recommend this one more, one of those books that stay with you and lasts a very long time ♥️
April 16, 2021
MY HEART. Know going into this book that it heavily deals with a dying loved one and one main character going through a major health crisis. This book started out like another fun rom com and slowly turned into something heart-wrenching and amazing. Valerie lost her fiancé, apartment, and job all at once, so she decides to join her sisters on a trip to Ireland. There, she meets Padraig and they spend a steamy night together. Padraig asks Valerie to come to Shambles, the small town he grew up in, to pose as his fiancé for his dying dad. Valerie says yes and an emotional, intense, and steamy romance ensues. I loved how slowly yet quickly Valerie and Padraig ended up falling for each other. I know it should have felt insta-lovely, but I believed it so much and loved their romance. I also loved that this took place in a small town in Ireland. It was so atmospheric and made me want to jump on a plane and fly to Ireland. I ended up really loving this one and couldn't recommend it enough!
April 12, 2019
’MY LIFE IN SHAMBLES: by Karina Halle is a full length, stand alone, contemporary romance novel.
To New Years resolutions.."What if is fear. Even if is faith...." And to just saying yes..
Valerie Stephen’s life is in shambles, they say bad luck runs in three’s and that seems to be running true in Valerie's life, first her relationship crumbles, she is currently homeless and then to top it all off she’s laid off from her dream job.
With nothing holding her back any more she jumps at the chance of a lifetime when her two sisters beg her to bring in the New Year in Ireland. A chance encounter at a pub the three were at has Valerie saying yes to new adventures, from a one night stand with a hot rugby player, which is a first for her, to travelling with Padraig to his hometown being introduced to his dying father as his fake fiance. Slowly lines become cloudy and that's where I got caught up with all the swoony moments Karina threw my way.
I found Valerie's character so easy to connect with, from her hang ups about her body image to her happy go lucky view on life with just the right amount of sassiness thrown in who wears her heart on her sleeve.
Padraig oh this man made me swoon, he's broody, shrouded in darkness which sticks to him like a cloak, his life is falling down around his ears.
My life in shambles ticked all the boxes one could ever ask for, this was such a heartfelt emotional story, these two characters were simply sublime, they were perfect for each other, straight away as soon as I started this I was pulled into the storyline, it flowed perfectly, each page just pulled me deeper under their spell. I fell in love within a few chapters and couldn't put it down.
May 15, 2021
What if is fear. Even if is faith. Choose the latter my boy.
I’m going to shamelessly admit that I totally bought this book because of the cover. Isn’t it gorgeous? Anyways, I digress… I’ve been a fan of Karina Halle since One Hot Italian Summer. I just really enjoy her writing style... which is why this book surprised me. My Life in Shambles was a heavier read than I was expecting and there were many serious themes in this story, however, I feel like this one missed its mark.
♡ Plot: ♡
After a broken engagement and getting laid off, Valerie ‘Val’ Stephens (24) decides enough is enough and joins her sisters on a spontaneous trip to Ireland. On New Year’s Eve, she meets the enigmatic Padraig McCarthy (29), a famous Irish rugby player and they have an intense one-night stand.
Back in Padraig’s hometown, Shambles, his father lays on his deathbed. Determined to prove to his father he isn’t a disappointment, he asks Val to accompany him as his fake fiancée.
♡ Characters ♡
Val and Padraig were both likeable characters but not particularly memorable ones. They both had tragic backgrounds and were both dealing with heavy issues, which made them easy to sympathize with but I found it difficult to really care for them.
The secondary characters were okay. Padraig had a stereotypical Irish grandmother who had one of those grouchy-but-soft-on-the-inside type of personalities. VAL’S FAMILY ON THE OTHER HAND… I hated them. (Well, except for her dad, he seemed alright.) Both her sisters were incredibly annoying! And her mom needed a big slap across the face!
♡ The Romance ♡
“Mo chuisle mo chroi. It’s Gaelic. It means, my pulse of my heart.”
The romance was sweet and the chemistry between Val and Padraig was certainly undeniable, but it was definitely a bit too insta-lovey in my opinion. And I think that's why the fake relationship aspect fell a little flat for me.
♡ Other thoughts / Criticisms: ♡
“… Life is brilliant. And then it’s awful. Sometimes trivial or boring or mundane. You just have to push through all that bad stuff until its brilliant again. Always hold out for brilliant.”
Like I said in my introduction, this book dealt with a lot of heavy themes such as illness and death, grief, self-esteem issues and so on… but I don’t think the author delved deep enough. None of the themes felt thoroughly explored in a way that felt substantial enough to leave a lasting impact on the reader. Why bring up body dysmorphia at all if it wasn’t going to come up again?
And in saying that, the last third of the book felt incomplete and rushed in so many ways. It felt perfectly wrapped up in places where it shouldn’t have been, and places that required more closure and explanations were without.
There was also one ‘villainous’ character that literally wreaked havoc and then… left? LOL.
Sorry, I know this review was super vague but I was trying to be as spoiler free as possible! Overall, My Life in Shambles was not a bad read. In my opinion, it had all the necessary ingredients, but it just fell a little short.
Rating: 3/5
April 13, 2019
<3 5 stars <3
“Valerie,” I whisper to her. “Tell me you love me. Tell me you love me, and I’ll tell ye I love you more.”
*SIGH* I don't know where to start my review with this one.I loved it so much, so many great moments, to make you swoon and melt, and the characters were fantastic .The story has everything I was looking for, passion,intensity , it was emotional and the romance was powerful.
"You are fierce, Valerie Stephens. A wild bird that could fly away but chooses to stay with me, and I am forever grateful for that. Believe me, I am."
I adored Padraig and Valerie , I felt connected to their story and their romance.Valerie was fantastic, from the first pages I loved her.Padraig has a lot of demons to deal with. He is irresistable with his own way.I liked him and together they were perfect!
My Life in Shambles , is an emotional roller coaster , get ready.
“Valerie,” I whisper to her. “Tell me you love me. Tell me you love me, and I’ll tell ye I love you more.”
*SIGH* I don't know where to start my review with this one.I loved it so much, so many great moments, to make you swoon and melt, and the characters were fantastic .The story has everything I was looking for, passion,intensity , it was emotional and the romance was powerful.
"You are fierce, Valerie Stephens. A wild bird that could fly away but chooses to stay with me, and I am forever grateful for that. Believe me, I am."
I adored Padraig and Valerie , I felt connected to their story and their romance.Valerie was fantastic, from the first pages I loved her.Padraig has a lot of demons to deal with. He is irresistable with his own way.I liked him and together they were perfect!
My Life in Shambles , is an emotional roller coaster , get ready.
April 10, 2019
I devoured this book. Cried my heart out. The feels are so big, so sweet, so achy and heartfelt and tender! Karina Halle writes real, raw, and beautiful stories, and brings her characters to life in a visceral way. I absolutely adored every detail of this romance. A total feels-fest that gave me life.
April 21, 2019
Each time I read a book from this author, I'm inclined to download another one. Her stories have depth, a continues pace that kicks in from the first chapter and characters that are so likable. This did not disappoint as it had all the feels........Bring your tissues.
May 1, 2019
4 solid stars 🌟
April 23, 2019
4 stars.🌟🌟🌟🌟
Sexy Irish romp with a little angst and drama.
Very reminiscent of her earlier series about the Scottish McGregor brother's.
I really do like her earlier books, I find them emotional and very engaging .
***Spoiler alert ***
Sexy Irish romp with a little angst and drama.
Very reminiscent of her earlier series about the Scottish McGregor brother's.
I really do like her earlier books, I find them emotional and very engaging .
***Spoiler alert ***
May 1, 2019
3 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was a lot heavier than I was expecting! Yes, it had some hot and funny moments -- but it had a lot of angst too! I enjoyed it for the most part and it definitely got my emotions stirred, but I think I just wanted more in the end. I feel like it was cut off in the end with unanswered questions and a big elephant in the room as to how their future lives are going to be impacted that wasn't fully addressed. I get that there are some ugly aspects of what that might mean for their futures and the author probably wanted to end on the good note, but it made it feel not as impactful as it really is (I hope that makes sense)...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Valerie and Padraig's story. Valerie is convinced to join a sisters trip to Ireland after she lost her fiancé, her home, and her job in quick succession. She also has made a New Years resolution to say "yes" to more things in her life. When her sisters push her to follow her resolution and approach Padraig at a pub, she doesn't realize how much her life will change because of it. Padraig's life is a mess, and he propositions Valerie to join him in returning to his home town where his father is dying of cancer and to pose as his fiancé after their amazing night together. There are a few funny moments, some sad scenes, and some hot sexy times....and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Valerie and Padraig's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end (see closure section below), but otherwise I felt like it flowed well and I never skimmed.
Instalove: Kind of. They don't take long to start developing stronger feelings, but I didn't feel like it was the annoying type of instalove.
H rating: 4 stars. Padraig. I liked him. He was a mess, by uunderstandably so.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Valerie. I really liked her. I understood her poor self image, but she never crossed the line into being woe-is-me about it. I also loved how she cared about others unconditionally.
Sadness level: Moderate/high. I shed more than a few tears and I needed a few tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Mild
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes **BIG SPOILERS**
Closure: I feel like this needed more closure. It was another book that had their big conflict resolved and then jumps right into the epilogue. I wanted to experience more of them working on their struggles and a better glimpse into their happiness and HEA. I would reluctantly still call this an HEA though , but I still had some major unanswered questions in the end.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
Overall Opinion: This was a lot heavier than I was expecting! Yes, it had some hot and funny moments -- but it had a lot of angst too! I enjoyed it for the most part and it definitely got my emotions stirred, but I think I just wanted more in the end. I feel like it was cut off in the end with unanswered questions and a big elephant in the room as to how their future lives are going to be impacted that wasn't fully addressed. I get that there are some ugly aspects of what that might mean for their futures and the author probably wanted to end on the good note, but it made it feel not as impactful as it really is (I hope that makes sense)...
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Valerie and Padraig's story. Valerie is convinced to join a sisters trip to Ireland after she lost her fiancé, her home, and her job in quick succession. She also has made a New Years resolution to say "yes" to more things in her life. When her sisters push her to follow her resolution and approach Padraig at a pub, she doesn't realize how much her life will change because of it. Padraig's life is a mess, and he propositions Valerie to join him in returning to his home town where his father is dying of cancer and to pose as his fiancé after their amazing night together. There are a few funny moments, some sad scenes, and some hot sexy times....and they get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between Valerie and Padraig's POV.
Overall Pace of Story: Good until the end (see closure section below), but otherwise I felt like it flowed well and I never skimmed.
Instalove: Kind of. They don't take long to start developing stronger feelings, but I didn't feel like it was the annoying type of instalove.
H rating: 4 stars. Padraig. I liked him. He was a mess, by uunderstandably so.
h rating: 4.5 stars. Valerie. I really liked her. I understood her poor self image, but she never crossed the line into being woe-is-me about it. I also loved how she cared about others unconditionally.
Sadness level: Moderate/high. I shed more than a few tears and I needed a few tissues.
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Hot. They have some hot tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW/OM drama: Mild
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes **BIG SPOILERS**
Closure: I feel like this needed more closure. It was another book that had their big conflict resolved and then jumps right into the epilogue. I wanted to experience more of them working on their struggles and a better glimpse into their happiness and HEA. I would reluctantly still call this an HEA though , but I still had some major unanswered questions in the end.
Safety: This one is probably Safe with exception for most safety gang readers depending on personal preferences.
May 13, 2020
3 Stars
My Life in Shambles is my fourth book by Karina Halle and there's one thing I could always say each time: her writing style never fails.
This book wasn't her best, though. I remember fangirling over her previous work Smut which was really a win.
In this book we meet Valerie Stephens, a New Yorker entertainment writer who went to Ireland for a vacation together with her sisters. After being ditched by her ex-finacé and being laid-off from her job, she thought it would be best go to Ireland just to get away and to search her soul. While having a good time at a pub, she met the totally hot Irish rugby star Padraig McCarthy who at that time looked really sad and detached from the world. They instantly clicked. Like, literally. So when Padraig invited her to go with him to his hometown called Shambles and asked her to pretend as his fiancee just to make his ill father happy, she eventually said yes.
This book was a fake-relationship themed love story that swept me away. I especially loved the beginning chapters because it was in those chapters when I felt the strong chemistry between Valerie and Padraig. Those hot scenes. I cannot!
However as the remaining chapters went, the story changed its flow. It became despairing all of a sudden and I kind of didn't like it because that was not the way I imagined Valerie's vacation in Shambles would be, and certainly not the kind of events that should happen between them.
Up until the end the air was heavy and sad and so depressing. Like everything else is crumbling down. I totally wished the plot would be different and less stressful but as a whole, this was still a good read. If you fancy romance books with an extreme angst filled with family drama and oozing smexy scenes, this book is not bad at all.
“Because how lucky would I be to fall in love with this man? I don't think many people truly get to do that, even if it's all a lie in the end.”
My Life in Shambles is my fourth book by Karina Halle and there's one thing I could always say each time: her writing style never fails.
This book wasn't her best, though. I remember fangirling over her previous work Smut which was really a win.
In this book we meet Valerie Stephens, a New Yorker entertainment writer who went to Ireland for a vacation together with her sisters. After being ditched by her ex-finacé and being laid-off from her job, she thought it would be best go to Ireland just to get away and to search her soul. While having a good time at a pub, she met the totally hot Irish rugby star Padraig McCarthy who at that time looked really sad and detached from the world. They instantly clicked. Like, literally. So when Padraig invited her to go with him to his hometown called Shambles and asked her to pretend as his fiancee just to make his ill father happy, she eventually said yes.
This book was a fake-relationship themed love story that swept me away. I especially loved the beginning chapters because it was in those chapters when I felt the strong chemistry between Valerie and Padraig. Those hot scenes. I cannot!
However as the remaining chapters went, the story changed its flow. It became despairing all of a sudden and I kind of didn't like it because that was not the way I imagined Valerie's vacation in Shambles would be, and certainly not the kind of events that should happen between them.
Up until the end the air was heavy and sad and so depressing. Like everything else is crumbling down. I totally wished the plot would be different and less stressful but as a whole, this was still a good read. If you fancy romance books with an extreme angst filled with family drama and oozing smexy scenes, this book is not bad at all.
May 28, 2019
This was a bit depressing on all sides heh took me a while to read :| but overall, I liked it.
Want to read
January 15, 2019This cover HOLY SHIT.
April 11, 2019
Loved it, loved it, loved it!
Damn, I love this cover. And wow, what a read! Karina Halle has delivered a beautifully swoony and emotional love story that is intense, passionate and so, so beautiful! Full of feels, this is not the fun, light romance that I was expecting, it’s dramatic and heartfelt, and I fell in complete love with these characters and their story, and I love this book!
Valerie’s life is imploding around her. Within the space of a week she lost her fiancé, her apartment and her job. Deciding to take an impulsive trip to Ireland with her sisters, she resolves to take the time to figure herself out, explore what she wants, and say ‘yes’ to new opportunities. Her new philosophy is put to the test when she meets the sexy but brooding Padraig.
Padraig is an Irish rugby star who is currently on a break from the game due to injury. He is dealing with a lot and isn’t in the best place emotionally, but when he meets Valerie in a bar, he feels a connection with her and they share an incredible night together talking, laughing and sharing, and yes, the attraction effortlessly leads them into the bedroom where their connection really becomes explosive!
There’s something so, so special about these two together. You can feel it! They both recognise it, but they also recognise the difficult position that they are in with Valerie only being in town for a week. Padraig is due to return to his small home town of Shambles to spend time with his dying father, and when he raises the idea of Valerie coming with him – pretending to be his fiancée to give his father the peace of knowing that he’ll be happy and not alone – she follows her heart and agrees.
It’s a great set-up for a romance, and as fantastic as the developing love story is, there is so much more substance to this story. Both Valerie and Padraig are going through a lot. Their vulnerabilities are heartbreaking, and the strength and support they show to each other is just beautiful. Valerie in particular really shines in this book as the girl struggling to find her place yet living her life to the fullest and embracing every opportunity, and I just loved her! She’s smart, sweet and relatable, and her attitude about her situation and the way she is there for Padraig, throwing herself in whole-heartedly, is incredible.
And oh, Padraig… *dreamy sigh*. Don’t we all love a big, strong hero who is broody, vulnerable and tormented? And in addition to that bit of sexy goodness, he is totally swoony and such a sweet guy! He’s kind, caring and affectionate and he embraces his feelings for Valerie, not holding back from how much he wants her. And OMG, he is a sexual beast! The sexy time is absolutely steaming, and Padraig’s dirty talk and dirtier moves are sizzling! But it’s the emotion that he feels for her that melted my heart, and I just love him!
Their love story unfolds in the seaside town of Shambles with a fabulous collection of side characters watching on. Padraig’s family and friends bring so much to the book, and I loved the part they played. And watching Valerie embrace her new setting while she and Padraig explore everything happening between them was gorgeous. It’s easy and natural and the chemistry is fantastic, and I fell in love right alongside them.
But so much more than just the love story, there is personal drama in this book. Valerie and Padraig both have issues that they need to address, and I loved watching them find the courage and strength to do that. The character development is really well done and wonderful to see, and it makes this book even more special.
The emotion, the drama and the love story all combine to create a fantastic read, and I loved this one!
4.5 stars!
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Damn, I love this cover. And wow, what a read! Karina Halle has delivered a beautifully swoony and emotional love story that is intense, passionate and so, so beautiful! Full of feels, this is not the fun, light romance that I was expecting, it’s dramatic and heartfelt, and I fell in complete love with these characters and their story, and I love this book!
Valerie’s life is imploding around her. Within the space of a week she lost her fiancé, her apartment and her job. Deciding to take an impulsive trip to Ireland with her sisters, she resolves to take the time to figure herself out, explore what she wants, and say ‘yes’ to new opportunities. Her new philosophy is put to the test when she meets the sexy but brooding Padraig.
Even though there’s a wash of sadness that seems to pass over his dark eyes from time to time, whatever thing he was dealing with earlier seems to have been pushed aside. Maybe I’m distracting him from his problems as much as he seems to be distracting me from mine.
In fact, the last thing on my mind right now is my hot mess of a life. All I can think about is him.
Padraig is an Irish rugby star who is currently on a break from the game due to injury. He is dealing with a lot and isn’t in the best place emotionally, but when he meets Valerie in a bar, he feels a connection with her and they share an incredible night together talking, laughing and sharing, and yes, the attraction effortlessly leads them into the bedroom where their connection really becomes explosive!
It takes a moment to change someone.
Sometimes it just takes a kiss.
I know this before it happens.
And when he leans in and the space between us dissolves, and his lips, warm, soft and commanding, meet mine, I know that a simple kiss isn’t so simple at all and nothing will be simple after that.
There’s something so, so special about these two together. You can feel it! They both recognise it, but they also recognise the difficult position that they are in with Valerie only being in town for a week. Padraig is due to return to his small home town of Shambles to spend time with his dying father, and when he raises the idea of Valerie coming with him – pretending to be his fiancée to give his father the peace of knowing that he’ll be happy and not alone – she follows her heart and agrees.
I’m not done with her yet. I don’t think I’ll ever be done with her.
Why can’t she stay here for good?
Why can’t this be real?
It’s a great set-up for a romance, and as fantastic as the developing love story is, there is so much more substance to this story. Both Valerie and Padraig are going through a lot. Their vulnerabilities are heartbreaking, and the strength and support they show to each other is just beautiful. Valerie in particular really shines in this book as the girl struggling to find her place yet living her life to the fullest and embracing every opportunity, and I just loved her! She’s smart, sweet and relatable, and her attitude about her situation and the way she is there for Padraig, throwing herself in whole-heartedly, is incredible.
Deep down, I know I’m heading for a heartache so severe it might just destroy me once and for all.
And yet, despite the fear, I’m not going to push it away.
Because how lucky would I be to fall in love with this man?
I don’t think many people truly get to do that, even if it’s all a lie in the end.
And oh, Padraig… *dreamy sigh*. Don’t we all love a big, strong hero who is broody, vulnerable and tormented? And in addition to that bit of sexy goodness, he is totally swoony and such a sweet guy! He’s kind, caring and affectionate and he embraces his feelings for Valerie, not holding back from how much he wants her. And OMG, he is a sexual beast! The sexy time is absolutely steaming, and Padraig’s dirty talk and dirtier moves are sizzling! But it’s the emotion that he feels for her that melted my heart, and I just love him!
I’m in love with her.
I know that with every damaged inch of my being.
I love her.
She is the pulse of my heart.
Their love story unfolds in the seaside town of Shambles with a fabulous collection of side characters watching on. Padraig’s family and friends bring so much to the book, and I loved the part they played. And watching Valerie embrace her new setting while she and Padraig explore everything happening between them was gorgeous. It’s easy and natural and the chemistry is fantastic, and I fell in love right alongside them.
“Valerie,” I whisper to her. “Tell me you love me. Tell me you love me, and I’ll tell ye I love you more.”
But so much more than just the love story, there is personal drama in this book. Valerie and Padraig both have issues that they need to address, and I loved watching them find the courage and strength to do that. The character development is really well done and wonderful to see, and it makes this book even more special.
The emotion, the drama and the love story all combine to create a fantastic read, and I loved this one!
4.5 stars!
An Advanced Reader Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2022
My Life in Shambles is a delightful read. Miss Halle injects a little bit comedy or sarcasm to be exact into the story. But hey there are also plenty of drama.
The location is somewhere in Ireland. Miss Halle proven herself to be an excellent writer for small town romance. The sexual chemistry is hot and off the chart.
Overall, I am happy picking up the audiobook version.
4 stars
The location is somewhere in Ireland. Miss Halle proven herself to be an excellent writer for small town romance. The sexual chemistry is hot and off the chart.
Overall, I am happy picking up the audiobook version.
4 stars
September 22, 2019
It’s been awhile since I’ve enjoyed a Karina Halle book. In fact, I all but abandoned every intention of ever reading a book of hers again. Until this story appeared on my feed and the blurb caught my attention and stirred something inside me.
Be forewarned: keep the Kleenex handy because the waterworks are a sure thing and they’re going to be ugly…
The plot line is simple and familiar… Valerie meets Padraig on New Year’s Eve in Dublin; they hook-up for the night and then decide to pretend to be engaged for a few weeks so that Padraig can set his dying father’s mind at rest.
Fake-anything (relationship, engagement, marriage), is one of my favorite tropes in romance, especially if it’s obvious from the start that is going to turn into something real and this story is no exception.
But what made “My life in Shambles” an incredibly intense and emotional story, is the depth of the characters. They both have a bitter past, they both fought their way through life with tooth and nail… And they both have their own secrets and reasons for joining in the fake engagement.
”You don’t feel much of a stranger anymore.”
They have incredible chemistry and connection from the start.
I don’t have to elaborate about the intimate scenes, after all this is a Karina Halle book, and they are explosive. But after the dust has settled I was surprised how these two practically strangers, started to behave like old time friends around each other and their relationship became so sweet and deep that made my insides all warm and fuzzy.
I liked their time in Shambles, the second characters, the animals, the landscape and most of all the memories they stirred…
I loved Padraig’s gran and Valerie’s sisters and dad. I loved how the difficult relationships were resolved in the end. And I especially respect the author for not choosing the easy way but showed that life can be good if you have someone to stick by your side in the good and the bad…
Be forewarned: keep the Kleenex handy because the waterworks are a sure thing and they’re going to be ugly…
The plot line is simple and familiar… Valerie meets Padraig on New Year’s Eve in Dublin; they hook-up for the night and then decide to pretend to be engaged for a few weeks so that Padraig can set his dying father’s mind at rest.
Fake-anything (relationship, engagement, marriage), is one of my favorite tropes in romance, especially if it’s obvious from the start that is going to turn into something real and this story is no exception.
But what made “My life in Shambles” an incredibly intense and emotional story, is the depth of the characters. They both have a bitter past, they both fought their way through life with tooth and nail… And they both have their own secrets and reasons for joining in the fake engagement.
”You don’t feel much of a stranger anymore.”
They have incredible chemistry and connection from the start.
I don’t have to elaborate about the intimate scenes, after all this is a Karina Halle book, and they are explosive. But after the dust has settled I was surprised how these two practically strangers, started to behave like old time friends around each other and their relationship became so sweet and deep that made my insides all warm and fuzzy.
I liked their time in Shambles, the second characters, the animals, the landscape and most of all the memories they stirred…
I loved Padraig’s gran and Valerie’s sisters and dad. I loved how the difficult relationships were resolved in the end. And I especially respect the author for not choosing the easy way but showed that life can be good if you have someone to stick by your side in the good and the bad…
April 15, 2019
4.5 'The pulse of my heart' Stars!
ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
What a beautiful and emotional love story! Definitely a little bit more on the dramatic and angsty side of Karina's works, My Life in Shambles is a stunning example of her incredible talent as a romance author. A roller coaster of emotions that will make you fall in love with Padraig and Valerie from the very first page to the last one!
So My Life in Shambles is Karina's newest standalone release and, as I said, it is a little bit more intense in terms of drama and emotions (which I am not complaining!). Valerie Stephens did not expect to share a passionate and adventurous one night stand with Irish rugby star Padraig McCarthy and even more, a night that changes their lives forever. Padraig and Valerie share a beautiful connection and that is what makes them turn it to a fake engagement in front of the people Padraig loves. But these two cannot stop themselves to saying yes to more adventures together and they fall in love.
It takes a moment to change someone.
Sometimes it just takes a kiss.
I know this before it happens.
I loved how this couple shares their vulnerabilities to each other and that makes them stronger. Yes, this Irish hunk of a man will melt your insides with his gorgeous soul and his sexy AF body. The chemistry between Padraig and Valerie is smoking hawt and that makes their heartbreaking relationship even better. Not everything is hearts and flowers, the lives of these two people are actually in shambles but you'll see how together they will fight for their loved ones and the relationship they are building. Gah, these two are so intense, steamy and oh-so-sweet! I loved them together and their ups and downs as a couple. Karina did a fantastic job with this one and I am so glad Padraig and Valerie found each other.
“There ye are, darlin’.”
“Here I am,” she says, smiling sweetly at me.
“Tell me you love me and I’ll tell you I love you more.”
Therefore, my rating for My Life in Shambles is 4.5 STARS. This story is a moving, romantic and adventurous romance that will make you think and inspire you to take chances when you least expect them. I loved the plot, all the characters, the passionate chemistry between Padraig and Valerie and that beautiful ending! Karina Halle's writing style just works so well for me and I really enjoyed all the feels this novel gave me. Highly recommend reading this emotional and sexy love story!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
ARC provided by the author via Social Butterfly PR in exchange for an honest review.
What a beautiful and emotional love story! Definitely a little bit more on the dramatic and angsty side of Karina's works, My Life in Shambles is a stunning example of her incredible talent as a romance author. A roller coaster of emotions that will make you fall in love with Padraig and Valerie from the very first page to the last one!
So My Life in Shambles is Karina's newest standalone release and, as I said, it is a little bit more intense in terms of drama and emotions (which I am not complaining!). Valerie Stephens did not expect to share a passionate and adventurous one night stand with Irish rugby star Padraig McCarthy and even more, a night that changes their lives forever. Padraig and Valerie share a beautiful connection and that is what makes them turn it to a fake engagement in front of the people Padraig loves. But these two cannot stop themselves to saying yes to more adventures together and they fall in love.
It takes a moment to change someone.
Sometimes it just takes a kiss.
I know this before it happens.
I loved how this couple shares their vulnerabilities to each other and that makes them stronger. Yes, this Irish hunk of a man will melt your insides with his gorgeous soul and his sexy AF body. The chemistry between Padraig and Valerie is smoking hawt and that makes their heartbreaking relationship even better. Not everything is hearts and flowers, the lives of these two people are actually in shambles but you'll see how together they will fight for their loved ones and the relationship they are building. Gah, these two are so intense, steamy and oh-so-sweet! I loved them together and their ups and downs as a couple. Karina did a fantastic job with this one and I am so glad Padraig and Valerie found each other.
“There ye are, darlin’.”
“Here I am,” she says, smiling sweetly at me.
“Tell me you love me and I’ll tell you I love you more.”
Therefore, my rating for My Life in Shambles is 4.5 STARS. This story is a moving, romantic and adventurous romance that will make you think and inspire you to take chances when you least expect them. I loved the plot, all the characters, the passionate chemistry between Padraig and Valerie and that beautiful ending! Karina Halle's writing style just works so well for me and I really enjoyed all the feels this novel gave me. Highly recommend reading this emotional and sexy love story!
CHECK OUT MY BLOG HERE:
Read
April 12, 2019✔️A brooding Irish rugby player with a secret
✔️A girl searching for herself
✔️A one-night stand
✔️A fake engagement
✔️ You're going to need a box of tissues and a bottle of wine for this one
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything, including falling in love.
My Life in Shambles is a standalone contemporary romance available on Amazon
✔️A girl searching for herself
✔️A one-night stand
✔️A fake engagement
✔️ You're going to need a box of tissues and a bottle of wine for this one
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything, including falling in love.
My Life in Shambles is a standalone contemporary romance available on Amazon
April 19, 2020
4 Stars (Second Read 4/18/2020)
4.5 Stars (First Read 4/16/2019)
4.5 Stars (First Read 4/16/2019)
April 17, 2019
An Irish rugby star’s eyes connect with a beautiful woman from New York in a Dublin bar on New Year’s Eve and the world tilts on it’s axis… Okay that sounds a bit cheesey but it is the beginnings of this story ☺
Padraig McCarthy has enjoyed a successful rugby career that has been halted by a recent concussion. He is itching to get on the field and back to the game he has dedicated his life to. When his final medical check up goes in a direction he wasn’t expecting and his father’s health takes a turn for the worse he ends up drowning his thoughts at his local drinking hole.
Valerie has recently broken up with her douche of a fiance and spontaneously agreed to fly to Ireland with her two sisters to celebrate the New Year. They are all single and open to a bit of fun. Valerie makes a vow to say yes to new adventures so when she spots Padraig across the room she decides to talk to him, once she plucks up the courage to…
Padraig has had women hitting on him all night and when Valerie approaches him, he is just as indifferent towards her. However, there is something that piques his interest and as she walks off, he regrets sending her away. He decides to do something he wouldn’t usually do, he approaches her to apologise. This turns into a long night of conversation and a connection they both feel. Both of them decide to say yes this adventure and have the most incredible night in his bed. In fact, it’s so amazing that Padraig makes a proposal, a crazy proposal but one that Valerie willingly accepts.
‘His eyes have changed from dark and tormented to shiny and light, like there’s a peace inside them. The fact that I did that, that I brought him this peace and escape that he needed, means something to me, even if it shouldn’t.’
This is how Valerie now finds herself driving with Padraig to his hometown of Shambles and pretending to be his fake fiance to give some sort of peace to his ailing father. Talk about a complicated! It gets even moreso when the more time she spends in his family home the more her feelings are growing for Padraig. Lines are getting blurred and she can’t tell what is fake or what is real anymore. She is also creating connections with his father and grandmother, the weight of the guilt is heavy. She is lying to people she genuinely cares about.
‘When I look at him, he makes me feel all my emotions physically. My chest burns with frustration. My stomach skips with yearning. My skin alights with desire.’
Padraig is desperate to repair the relationship with his father, their connection was severed many years ago after tragedy struck their family. He knows that lying to him is probably not the best choice but he wants to show his dad that he has his life together and is happy. He wants to make him proud. However, the thing about secrets is that you can’t outrun them when they begin to unravel and the trail of damage they leave behind may be irreparable.
This was a story heavy in emotion and was so hard to put down once I immersed myself into this sad but beautiful book. I loved the connection that Padraig & Valerie shared, yeah it was a bit of an insta-love at first but it developed into so much more. There is another plot line running throughout this story that I haven’t touched on because it is a spoiler and it will reveal itself when you read this book ☺ Fabulous read!
‘Do you know what I see? I see someone who is more real than anyone I’ve ever met. I see someone who overcame a tragedy and turned into someone vibrant. I think you’re more beautiful because of it.’
Padraig McCarthy has enjoyed a successful rugby career that has been halted by a recent concussion. He is itching to get on the field and back to the game he has dedicated his life to. When his final medical check up goes in a direction he wasn’t expecting and his father’s health takes a turn for the worse he ends up drowning his thoughts at his local drinking hole.
Valerie has recently broken up with her douche of a fiance and spontaneously agreed to fly to Ireland with her two sisters to celebrate the New Year. They are all single and open to a bit of fun. Valerie makes a vow to say yes to new adventures so when she spots Padraig across the room she decides to talk to him, once she plucks up the courage to…
Padraig has had women hitting on him all night and when Valerie approaches him, he is just as indifferent towards her. However, there is something that piques his interest and as she walks off, he regrets sending her away. He decides to do something he wouldn’t usually do, he approaches her to apologise. This turns into a long night of conversation and a connection they both feel. Both of them decide to say yes this adventure and have the most incredible night in his bed. In fact, it’s so amazing that Padraig makes a proposal, a crazy proposal but one that Valerie willingly accepts.
‘His eyes have changed from dark and tormented to shiny and light, like there’s a peace inside them. The fact that I did that, that I brought him this peace and escape that he needed, means something to me, even if it shouldn’t.’
This is how Valerie now finds herself driving with Padraig to his hometown of Shambles and pretending to be his fake fiance to give some sort of peace to his ailing father. Talk about a complicated! It gets even moreso when the more time she spends in his family home the more her feelings are growing for Padraig. Lines are getting blurred and she can’t tell what is fake or what is real anymore. She is also creating connections with his father and grandmother, the weight of the guilt is heavy. She is lying to people she genuinely cares about.
‘When I look at him, he makes me feel all my emotions physically. My chest burns with frustration. My stomach skips with yearning. My skin alights with desire.’
Padraig is desperate to repair the relationship with his father, their connection was severed many years ago after tragedy struck their family. He knows that lying to him is probably not the best choice but he wants to show his dad that he has his life together and is happy. He wants to make him proud. However, the thing about secrets is that you can’t outrun them when they begin to unravel and the trail of damage they leave behind may be irreparable.
This was a story heavy in emotion and was so hard to put down once I immersed myself into this sad but beautiful book. I loved the connection that Padraig & Valerie shared, yeah it was a bit of an insta-love at first but it developed into so much more. There is another plot line running throughout this story that I haven’t touched on because it is a spoiler and it will reveal itself when you read this book ☺ Fabulous read!
‘Do you know what I see? I see someone who is more real than anyone I’ve ever met. I see someone who overcame a tragedy and turned into someone vibrant. I think you’re more beautiful because of it.’
April 13, 2019
I went into My Life in Shambles expecting a quintessential Karina Halle romance novel. Trademark Karina Halle consists of a deliciously well thought out love story, heart wrenching angst and drama, steamy sex and colorful characters all woven together seamlessly in a story set against the sweeping backdrop of some foreign land I've never seen but will surely be left salivating over in the end. Check, check, check and check, it was all there. What I did not go in anticipating was a story that would speak directly to my heart and soul, a story that I would relate to on a profoundly personal level for reasons I can't explain without spoiling some plot details. What I didn't plan on was falling deeper in love with one of my all time favorite authors because she'd be delivering a supremely remarkable novel that blew me away as much with its romance as it did with its authenticity.
Far more than a love story between an Irish rugby player and an American writer, My Life in Shambles is a book that I desperately needed. I highlighted half this book because it seriously clicked into place all the jagged pieces of my life that I've been struggling to fit together for what seems like forever. I felt like Oprah Winfrey was following me around saying "there's your AHA moment" everytime I turned the page. There's so much on these pages that we can relate to about our family dysfunction and our fears about life. It seems so obvious to me now having read it here on these pages but honestly some of these truth bombs have evaded me for years. Because of that, this book was far more impactful than most books I've read. I needed this story in my life and it'll undoubtedly change my expectations of what I think my family should look like and it'll absolutely effect how I interact with them forever.
As Halle so poignantly demonstrates with Padraig and Valerie, we just need to love no matter what. The edges between us may never fit just right but it's good enough if we just stay close. I could cry all over again thinking back on what I just read. It was MAGIC on a purely relatable level. This love story might have been catalyzed by a stroke of fate, sure, but it's really about an honest portrayal of the ups and downs of life. It's real. For me, it was too real, beautifully real, having been touched by so many facets of this book in my own life. You could feel the author's entire heart bleeding into these words and because of that, my entire heart was immersed in these pages, soaking up every drop as I read. It's heartbreakingly painful but it's unimaginably hopeful and I could not have possibly loved it more.
Far more than a love story between an Irish rugby player and an American writer, My Life in Shambles is a book that I desperately needed. I highlighted half this book because it seriously clicked into place all the jagged pieces of my life that I've been struggling to fit together for what seems like forever. I felt like Oprah Winfrey was following me around saying "there's your AHA moment" everytime I turned the page. There's so much on these pages that we can relate to about our family dysfunction and our fears about life. It seems so obvious to me now having read it here on these pages but honestly some of these truth bombs have evaded me for years. Because of that, this book was far more impactful than most books I've read. I needed this story in my life and it'll undoubtedly change my expectations of what I think my family should look like and it'll absolutely effect how I interact with them forever.
As Halle so poignantly demonstrates with Padraig and Valerie, we just need to love no matter what. The edges between us may never fit just right but it's good enough if we just stay close. I could cry all over again thinking back on what I just read. It was MAGIC on a purely relatable level. This love story might have been catalyzed by a stroke of fate, sure, but it's really about an honest portrayal of the ups and downs of life. It's real. For me, it was too real, beautifully real, having been touched by so many facets of this book in my own life. You could feel the author's entire heart bleeding into these words and because of that, my entire heart was immersed in these pages, soaking up every drop as I read. It's heartbreakingly painful but it's unimaginably hopeful and I could not have possibly loved it more.
Read
April 12, 2019✔️A brooding Irish rugby player with a secret
✔️A girl searching for herself
✔️A one-night stand
✔️A fake engagement
✔️ You're going to need a box of tissues and a bottle of wine for this one
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything, including falling in love.
My Life in Shambles is a standalone contemporary romance available on Amazon
✔️A girl searching for herself
✔️A one-night stand
✔️A fake engagement
✔️ You're going to need a box of tissues and a bottle of wine for this one
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything, including falling in love.
My Life in Shambles is a standalone contemporary romance available on Amazon
Currently reading
April 18, 2019✔️A brooding Irish rugby player with a secret
✔️A girl searching for herself
✔️A one-night stand
✔️A fake engagement
✔️ You're going to need a box of tissues and a bottle of wine for this one
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything, including falling in love.
My Life in Shambles is a standalone contemporary romance available on Amazon
✔️A girl searching for herself
✔️A one-night stand
✔️A fake engagement
✔️ You're going to need a box of tissues and a bottle of wine for this one
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything, including falling in love.
My Life in Shambles is a standalone contemporary romance available on Amazon
dnf
October 27, 2024Cringe!
I'm out 22%
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I didn't realize this is Christmas adjacent! It works though :)
I'm out 22%
----------------------
I didn't realize this is Christmas adjacent! It works though :)
Read
April 14, 2019✔️A brooding Irish rugby player with a secret
✔️A girl searching for herself
✔️A one-night stand
✔️A fake engagement
✔️ You're going to need a box of tissues and a bottle of wine for this one
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything, including falling in love.
My Life in Shambles is a standalone contemporary romance available on Amazon
✔️A girl searching for herself
✔️A one-night stand
✔️A fake engagement
✔️ You're going to need a box of tissues and a bottle of wine for this one
When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything, including falling in love.
My Life in Shambles is a standalone contemporary romance available on Amazon
May 2, 2019
4-4.5 ⭐'s
“Mo chuisle mo chroi. It means my pulse of my heart."
I always enjoy Karina Halle's stories and she sure can write a mean rugby romance (she's written a few). At times, I find myself being shocked that this is the same author that wrote all the Dex stories (scary stories)! But the good part is that the woman has range, I just wish it wasn't written in quite this way.
Let me explain...I'm all for angst and all that yummy emotional drama, however, I do have my parameters. I'm not a fan of superfluous situations and events being written that pull at the reader's heart strings for that sole reason.
So even with all that, I quite enjoyed the relationship between Padraig and Valerie. They meet in Dublin where she's on vacation with her sisters. He's just gotten some bad news and she's just out of an engagement and a job.
They hit it off and since Valerie has decided to say "yes" to new adventures, she says yes to her first one night stand. She gets that and so much more.
Before she knows it, she's on her way to his hometown of Shambles and onto creating a new life for herself or so she hopes. It's just hard for her to tell what's real and what's not. (You can read the blurb for more on that)
I really enjoyed the depth of Padraig and Valerie's relationship. The connection was pretty amazing even when he was pushing her away...especially then.
I loved the addition of the birds...both sweet and bittersweet. Padraig's Dad and Nan were pretty awesome and Valerie's family wasn't too bad either. (Wouldn't mind a couple of books for Val's sisters!) I quite enjoyed how their reunion went down as well.
So as much as I complain, my heart strings were definitely pulled and I was happy with how their story played out.
“Mo chuisle mo chroi. It means my pulse of my heart."
I always enjoy Karina Halle's stories and she sure can write a mean rugby romance (she's written a few). At times, I find myself being shocked that this is the same author that wrote all the Dex stories (scary stories)! But the good part is that the woman has range, I just wish it wasn't written in quite this way.
Let me explain...I'm all for angst and all that yummy emotional drama, however, I do have my parameters. I'm not a fan of superfluous situations and events being written that pull at the reader's heart strings for that sole reason.
So even with all that, I quite enjoyed the relationship between Padraig and Valerie. They meet in Dublin where she's on vacation with her sisters. He's just gotten some bad news and she's just out of an engagement and a job.
They hit it off and since Valerie has decided to say "yes" to new adventures, she says yes to her first one night stand. She gets that and so much more.
Before she knows it, she's on her way to his hometown of Shambles and onto creating a new life for herself or so she hopes. It's just hard for her to tell what's real and what's not. (You can read the blurb for more on that)
I really enjoyed the depth of Padraig and Valerie's relationship. The connection was pretty amazing even when he was pushing her away...especially then.
I loved the addition of the birds...both sweet and bittersweet. Padraig's Dad and Nan were pretty awesome and Valerie's family wasn't too bad either. (Wouldn't mind a couple of books for Val's sisters!) I quite enjoyed how their reunion went down as well.
So as much as I complain, my heart strings were definitely pulled and I was happy with how their story played out.
April 11, 2019
With the perfect blend of heart, heat and humor, Karina Halle’s forte in delivering and narrating such a heartfelt, profoundly emotional and swoon-worthy romance shines through with her newest novel, My Life in Shambles. Filled with all the feels, the kind of romance that will have your skin tingling and your heart fluttering, and emotions so raw they‘ll bring tears to your eyes… this absolute page-turner has completely won me over and earned a spot as one of my ultimate favorites from this author. Padraig and Valerie just owned me right from that very first chapter and never let me go.
Karina Halle had me in a complete trance with this one. The second I dove into this story, I couldn’t put it down. Not only did she make me want to jet off to Ireland to hunt down these two beautiful souls, while bringing so much of that gorgeous countryside so vividly to life, but she also made me connect with her characters on a level that will surely stay with me for a long time. They were just so captivatingly real and relatable, you’ll feel every single thing they go through and face in this book.
Get ready to swoon your heart out, laugh your socks off and fall head over heels in love with Padraig and Valerie. Trust me, My Life in Shambles will hit you hard in the feels and just make you cheer for these two until the end like there’s no tomorrow.
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“You’re the pulse of my heart, Valerie. A tonic to my soul.”
Karina Halle had me in a complete trance with this one. The second I dove into this story, I couldn’t put it down. Not only did she make me want to jet off to Ireland to hunt down these two beautiful souls, while bringing so much of that gorgeous countryside so vividly to life, but she also made me connect with her characters on a level that will surely stay with me for a long time. They were just so captivatingly real and relatable, you’ll feel every single thing they go through and face in this book.
“Tell me you love me. Tell me you love me and I’ll tell you I love you more.”
Get ready to swoon your heart out, laugh your socks off and fall head over heels in love with Padraig and Valerie. Trust me, My Life in Shambles will hit you hard in the feels and just make you cheer for these two until the end like there’s no tomorrow.
Follow me on: Instagram • Facebook • Twitter
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