***TRIGGER WARNING*** This book contains a heroine who suffered sexual abuse as a child, and a hero who suffered physical and emotional abuse. If you have issues with these elements, this book is not for you.
“The Hatfields and McCoys have nothing on the Brodys and Smileys.” The feud was all Winnie Smiley heard about while growing up next door to those arrogant cowboys, the Brodys. Smiley homestead might be a dilapidated eyesore that she’d run away from as a teen, but it did possess something the Brodys had schemed in vain to get—Smiley Lake. Now, with the region crippled with drought and her monstrous father burning in hell, Winnie stands to inherit the lake. She knows that’s why Des is suddenly everywhere she turns, but that doesn’t matter. She’d never had a chance to grab at happiness before, so even if it’s just the lake Des wants, she’s going to make damn sure she’s part of the deal.
“The Smileys live to screw with the Brodys.” After nearly dying on the horns of a murder-happy bull, former rodeo star Des Brody now has to figure out his place on Green Rock Ranch. All his brothers are settled with their new families, and they know exactly what to do to make Green Rock run. But Des? All he can do is try to make sure the empire they’ve built doesn’t shrivel up and blow away in the drought. Landing Smiley Lake is key to stabilizing Green Rock’s water supply, but there’s an obstacle—Winsome Smiley. Only she’s not really an obstacle. More like a meal begging to be eaten. And he’s hungry as hell.
“I’m a Brody, and a Brody always gets what he wants.” When Winnie doesn’t inherit Smiley Lake, she assumes she and Des are finished before they even began. To her shock, Des has other ideas and shows her an undiscovered world of pleasure. But just as she starts to believe Des wants her solely for herself, she discovers he hasn’t been totally upfront with her. Now she had a choice to make—trust her heart, or believe her ancestors had it right in saying that a Brody can never be trusted.
103,000 words
***This contemporary romance is the fourth and final book in the Brody Brothers series. While it may be read as a standalone, I suggest reading the first three books, BRANDED, BRACED and BRUISED for a more enjoyable read. This book contains multiple sex scenes and lots of swearing. It also contains a bossy Alpha who may compel you to throw your Kindle at the nearest wall (please don’t). No cheating, no love triangles, no cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. Due to adult language and sexual content, this book is not intended for people under the age of eighteen***
Des did not have an easy childhood as through no fault of his own not everyone wanted him on the family ranch, and they were determined to make his life as difficult as possible. His way of escaping was to compete in rodeos, but an injury has him back on the ranch determined to prove that he deserves to be part of the ranch and the family.
Winnie still bears the emotional scars of her past and the only thing that would bring her back home is the death of her father. As teenagers she and Des were attracted to each other but what she didn’t know is that outside forces conspired to keep them apart. It may be the water on her father’s ranch that brings them together but is that all that will keep them together?
Neither Des nor Winnie have completely healed from the past which adds some complications to their journey but in each other they find the love they both deserve.
Winnie (Winsome) should feel bad that all she feels is relief at her father's funeral, but she can't bring herself to care. After all, the man was nothing short of abusive and evil while he was alive, and the world's a better place without him. And then the Brody brothers stride into the funeral premises and Winsome knows she has to let them know if they've only come to try to weasel her father's land out of her, they're out of luck.
Des and his brothers may need that land with the lake on it to help keep their livestock alive, but that's not really the reason why he's come to see her, or at least, it's not the ONLY reason he's come to see her. No, he's always been fascinated by the girl who lived next door, even if her father forbade him to talk to her. Her father's gone now, though, so Des is going to stake his claim on his Winsome, whether she likes it or not.
Hmmm...I'm of two minds about Broken. On one hand, I love me an alpha man - the more alpha, the harder they fall after all. But, in Des' case, he wasn't just alpha, he was kind of, OK, definitely, a dick who pushed Winsome around constantly without regard to what she wanted, what she said, with the only reason being that he knew better. Ummm...NO, just no. Disregarding someone's wishes because you think you know best is not alpha, it's controlling and pure asshole. Des is just not the kind of alpha I like. I do like Winnie, and her friend Cleo, and even Des' brothers and sisters-in-law, though, and they all save this from a lower rating because aside from Des' character, this is a great story with a wonderful secondary cast, an awesome heroine, and seriously hot chemistry.
ARC via Enticing Journey Book Promotions for an honest review.
Winnie's father made her life a living hell while she was growing up, and the moment she could get away from him, she did. Now he's dead so she's back home to be with her grandmother, and it's not long before the Brody's are coming for rights to use Smiley Lake, something she's supposed to inherit. Des was a young boy when he was dumped on his father's doorstep, and since it caused a lot of problems, he was treated badly, and I do mean badly. He stayed away until a rodeo injury sent him back home. He's the one who starts spending time with Winnie, but when she doesn't actually inherit the lake, she thinks it's over but he stays with her. Just as she's getting her confidence in Des, she learns he's not being honest with her which makes more angst for me. This whole story had some big time angst since these two had it rough & I could feel the pain they carried. However, Des didn't quite win me over since he acted too controlling towards Winnie which is a big no bueno for me. Winnie was a delightful heroine, and she kept me laughing with her friend. Hell, the entire cast of secondaries tried to steal the show. How will all of this play out?! Hit those one click buttons to find out! HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
Winnie Smiley has heard of the feud between her family and the Brody's all her life. A victim of sexual abuse as a child, she ran away from the Smiley ranch. Now that she's grown and her father dead, she has the Smiley Lake that the Brody family wants to get for their own. Des Brody is trying to find his place on the family ranch. He is attracted to Winnie and she to him. Can they overcome their pasts to have a future together? A good read.
A romantically sweet story about two people with tragic pasts, learning to love and trust one another. I loved Des & Winsom and hated to see their story end.
What a Brody! The bastard is all Brody as Des sees what he wants and doesn't take no for an answer. And what he wants is the girl next door, feud be damned. The Smiley girl is a beauty but has suffered much like Des by the hands of a family member. We finally get a real understanding of the horrors inflict on Des by his demented stepmother. As the saying goes "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger" and that's Des' motto as well as Winnie's. Des and Win are connected by the pain and suffering they lived through. I loved the fierce understanding that connected these two and the love that grew from a shared knowledge and the need for healing. Plus, a love match with a Brody is always a swoon-worthy affair that might involves some type of mild coercion like a friendly kidnapping. Ha! No one does arrogant, bossy cowboys like this author. She gave us a group of brothers that are beyond imagination with their swagger and alpha tendencies. There were a couple of times when Des was laying down the law to Winnie that my feminist side reared up and wanted to kick Des in the nuts. Whew, that man was bossy! But then my girly parts went into overload when Des turned on the charm and masculine prowess. I was all tingly and 'take me now and make me like it' when he went all protective and sweet and so sexy with Winnie. And Winnie was no push over. I loved her sassy side and the push back she gave Des at times. What a Brody wife she'll make! I loved it all. The blow ups, the uncomfortable conversations, the fights, the make ups and the sweet loving. We get the full family in this last Brody brothers story with all the brothers, wives and kids. They are such a terrific family and pull together in time of need. The brothers have finally put to rest all the old hard feelings and hurts and it's spectacular. I'm sad to see the end of this series but there's a whole new generation of Brodys for future stories, as well as Brody-adjacent characters like Winnie's bestie, Cleo. This is an outstanding final chapter to a seriously sexy series with dominate cowboys, their wonderful women, a wild ranching lifestyle, some suspense and danger along the way, and always a thrilling romance that will melt your heart and flame your panties! A cherry on the top of this marvelous Green Rock Ranch experience and the sex-on-legs cowboys that are the Brody brothers. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
We finally get Des’s story and it is really good!! Des has suffered as a child and when he finds Winnie, a kindred spirit, they form a bond. Winnie has always had a crush on Des but growing up he didn’t pay her any attention. Now that he isn’t the rodeo star and just a rancher and she is all grown up and has come into her own she turns his head. They bond over shared childhood trauma. Such an emotional story but entertaining nonetheless.
a wonderful story. I loved Des and Winnie so much. My heart bled for what theu both endured as children. and how they found each others, and learnt how to trust and love. A woderful, heartful story.
I didn't go into detals because I dont want to spoil the pleasure.
Outstanding! They often say that we save the best for last, well I am not sure I’d say the best (only because I Love all the Brody Brother books) but Ms.Gail most certainly left the most heartfelt one for last. But Broken is more than that, it’s full of emotion, laughs romance and two broken to the bottom of their soul characters.
Once again we enter into the feud between the Brodys and the Smileys with the story of the last Brody brother, Des. If you’ve kept up with the series, Des is the half brother that was dumped on the Brody's doorstep as a young boy - causing one heck of a riot for his dad and stepmother’s marriage. This in turn caused a very disturbing and emotional upbring for Des which has scared him for life. He turned to the rodeo circuit to get out of the house. After a near death injury, Dez is now back home with his brothers helping to run the ranch. A Ranch much in need of water, due to the months and months of no rain. But the only water supply for miles is the lake on Smiley property.
Winnie is the only daughter to old man Smiley, a nasty man who made Winnies childhood a complete nightmare. After escaping in her late teens, Winnie is back at the Smiley ranch due to her father’s death - but only to be there for her grandmother. What she doesn’t expect is a visit from Dez, the sexy neighbor boy she secretly had a crush on during High School. But she knows he’s not there to pay his respects, he’s sweet talking to her and acting like he’s interested in her but because he wants the rights to use Smiley Lake. But what happens when she doesn’t inherit the property and Dez is still hanging around?
Can the Brodys and the Smileys ever get along after centuries of feuding? Can two totally broken souls ever mend? I laughed, smiled and cried throughout this story. The author has given us a well written storyline that simply took my breath away. Good Times, Bad Times, Hard Times and Emotional Times await you as you read this amazing book. While Broken can be read as a stand-alone, I suggest reading all 4 Brody Brother books from the start for a much better reading experience as the storylines and characters overlap.
2 Thumbs Up and 5+ Stars for Broken - Grab these books up ASAP, you won’t be sorry you did.
Broken was a great 5 star read and book four in the Brody Brothers series. I was pulled in right from the beginning.
I loved Winnie, she is a very strong woman who was in a living nightmare growing up. At her father’s funeral the Brody brothers show up, they are the last people on earth she thought would be at the cemetery. She soon finds out what they are interested in.
Des, is the brother that she had a crush on growing up but he would never talk to her on the bus. However he happened to show up wherever she was. Now he is showing interest in her and she doesn’t know what to think. Des has a connection with Winnie, he also had a living nightmare to deal with growing up.
Is Des really looking for love or does he have an ulterior motive?
Overall this was a great read, the connection these two had was great. They are perfect for each other. This can be read as a stand alone but you will want to go back and read the others soon after this one. The brothers and their women will pull you in and you will want more from them. My heart broke when we learned about Des and Winnie’s childhood. I will warn that some memories may cause triggers for some. I can’t wait to read more from this author. 1-click and get started today.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. Reviewed by MAustin from Alpha Book Club
The last of the Brodys is getting his turn to fall and, well, things are a little sticky. (Aren't they always, though? These Brodys really do have abysmal social skills when it comes to dealing with the women in their lives before they're in their lives. Or, maybe not abysmal, but they definitely have caveman-like tendencies.)
Yep, Des and Winnie. They're both kind of broken by their childhoods. In fact, their baggage has baggage. Des might have moved back to Green Rock to take his place in the family business, but he's still striving to prove he's as much a Brody as his brothers. Which, given his arrogance and charm, is really not in question by anyone but him.
As for Winnie, she's so desperate to keep her past behind her and move on she's convinced herself she's fine and she will be fine no matter what happens. Given that they both suffered at the hands of people who should have protected them, Des knows what that's like and is quick to point out that ignoring something doesn't make it magically go away. (Which, ahem, he also needs to be reminded of, doesn't he?)
A few roadbumps, two stubborn people butting heads, a whole lot of meddling family (although they probably wouldn't consider it meddling), and a whole lot of healing. The Brodys are big, brash, confident, and they sure do make their women happy once they stop getting in their own way.
4.6 stars This is the fourth and final book in the Brody Brothers series and it is Des and Winnie’s story. It is the first book I have read in the series and it can be read as a standalone but I recommend reading the prior books first which I am going to go back and do. I will also caution those with triggers to read with care. Des has had to deal with many challenges growing up which forced him to learn to develop an inner strength with a subconscious need to constantly prove himself to the rest of his family. Winnie is a woman who is doing everything she can to keep her past demons at bay as she suffered horribly by the one person who should have protected her. These two share so many similarities and what has not killed them has made them stronger. Neither is the type to back down and Winnie is no pushover no matter what Des throws her way. Can these two come together and heal their respective pasts and forge a new relationship? This is a well written storyline with drama, suspense and heat that will have you wanting your own cowboy. I volunteered to read a copy of this book.
As I'm prone to do quite often this is the first book in this series I have read. Broken is an interconnected standalone in the series so I was okay but I am definitely going back and catching up on the rest of the family. I was a bit shocked that I somehow missed this series as I am a fan of Gail's work. This was no exception I laughed so hard I scared my dog - I'm not exaggerating. Winnie stole my heart from the gate. She was a blend of absolute innocence and puffer fish. Don't laugh I'm serious. When that girl felt like you were questioning her "I'm fine"'s - Her shoulders went back and her hair went up - kitten had claws! Then we had Des, Mr. Broody (I'm aware of the extra letter). That man could do more damage than an Angus stampede through town - Sad part was it wasn't intentional he just doesn't know any other way. He sees it - He wants it - He wrangles it. End of.
Watching him try and reign in Winnie while pacifying his brothers 🙄 and the dress shop 🤣probably one of my fave scenes in this story.
A fabulous read that had me laughing and rooting on the cast especially Des. Bless his heart.
I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
Des and Winnie were perfect for each other! They both had a hard and traumatic childhood, and they both have moved forward from it. Des is further along than Winnie, but, because they recognize themselves in the other, they share, and they talk about it, and they grow closer because of it. The fear of intimacy for both of them is strong, they hadn’t had any good role models on what that should look like. They learn together, they learn to trust, they learn to give, they learn to care, and finally, they learn to love. They learn to love the other, but more importantly, they learn to love themselves and those who love them. Like I said, Des and Winnie were perfect for each other and I loved them for it <3
This is the 4th and final novel in this amazing series and is Des and Winnie’s turn. Winnie grew up with a crush on Des, but he never paid her any attention, and now at her father’s funeral all the brothers show up. Des is a former rodeo star now rancher, and he and Winnie both had traumatic upbringings. No spoilers: this is a must read you will not be disappointed, just be aware that the content may contain triggers for some readers! This is a well written tale which is emotional and is a touching and moving story. The story is filled with heartbreak and is a humorous and entertaining read. I look forward to reading more from this author.
The last of the Brody brothers, Des, finally got his story. We know from the first books Des suffered a lot as a child after his mother had left him with his father and wife and when he finds Winnie Smiley experienced the same abuse and even more, they bond over that. Plus a lot more.
I enjoyed this book as much as the other books (my favorite is still the one with Killian/Dallas) but I wish there had been a bit more romance and buildup before Des and Winnie got in a relationship. It seemed to me it was based a lot on shared childhood abuse and lust, especially at first.
Loved it and sad to see this series end! Des finally! The former rodeo star, turned rancher the last single brother. Winnie the girl next door, with a million pounds of baggage buried deep, Des has his work cut out for him. The childhoods these two endured, just breaks your heart.
Stacy Gail writes a beautiful and touching story, with special care to sensitive subjects. Amazing happy ever afters also❤
I read this book straight through, I couldn't put it down, it was great to meet back up with the Brodys. Hopefully next time in Bitterhorn we can get more of Chloe
Overall I really enjoyed this book, there were a couple things I didn’t like (which I’ll explain in my full review next week) but mainly I liked it, didn’t want to put it down, and now want to go back and read the first three books.
I love the Brody brothers although sometimes I'd be screaming at their possessive, caveman nature, they're honest, hard working, hard loving, faithful and will do anything to make their women happy. How can you really fault a man for that. I highly recommend the series!!!
I can't believe this series is now over. I absolutely love the alpha Brody brothers. Des and Winnie suffered unimaginable abuse as children and my heart broke for them. To see how they came out the other side was amazing.