The Fix (If It's Broke Book 1)

by Kristin Rouse

A young alcoholic in recovery is caught between his need to stay on the straight and narrow and a love he can’t deny in this romance series debut. Six months into recovery, Ezra Mackenzie is only slightly less of a disaster than he used to be. He can hardly manage the cinnamon rolls for his best friend Anja’s wedding brunch. He has a lot of work to do before he can look himself in the mirror and like what he sees—let alone re-enter the dating world. After all, what kind of woman would be interested in a screw-up like him? An incredibly alluring one, as it turns out. From the moment they meet, Ezra and Juliana are drawn to each other—and that’s exactly why he tries to keep his distance. He knows that romance ought to come second to his shaky new sobriety. But self-control has never been his strong suit. As he nears the one-year mark in his recovery, Ezra’s demons refuse to stay buried and his desire to be the man Juliana deserves can’t compete with the fix he never stops craving

Genres: Addiction

253 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2020

About the author

After a lifetime of falling in love with all aspects of the written word, Kristin Rouse became an avid reader and, eventually, a writer of "kissing books." She believes in writing *where* she knows as opposed to strictly *what* she knows--that said, she's lived all over the world, so that doesn't exactly limit her story settings. She currently lives in Denver with her husband, and can be found on a yoga mat or a local coffee shop with her laptop in equal measure.

Reviews

[Kika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was going to be weird about this and not rate it, but no, I love it, and I want everyone to know it. ;)

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

'The Fix' doesn't tell the story of a typical sunshine and roses romance. It is raw and complicated and, more than anything, real.

Ezra is struggling to restart his life, facing demons and trying to change his life from the direction it had been heading down. It's always refreshing to read a romance - and relationship - from the point of view of a male protagonist, and Ezra is no exception. That's not to say it isn't hard being in Ezra's head sometimes - he's troubled, low on confidence and beating himself up about the things he's done. Julianna is a ray of hope for him that he wasn't expecting, and it's sometimes tough to read him be so disbelieving that someone could feel for him what Julianna does. But that's also what makes him real because, as humans, we're so prone to questioning ourselves and those around us.

There are lighter moments, and it's nice to read the relationship grow between Julianna and Ezra, even while they battle with his admittedly self-destructive behaviour.

Rouse does a great job of exploring the good, the bad, the ins, the outs of a relationship that might be right, but maybe not right now. Ezra and Julianna are fighters; they're both stubborn and strong and willing to do what they ultimately think is right, even if they make mistakes along the way (and oh they do). But that's life, isn't it? And Rouse has captured that. There are no rose coloured glasses here, just an honest portrayal of a couple trying to be together when so many things seem to want to keep them apart.

I look forward to seeing what the rest of the 'If it's Broke' series brings us.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me gutted from the get go. I could feel Ezra's joy, his frustrations, his anxiety, oh lord his anxiety. Leading up to his relapse sent my heart pounding as he wound more and more out of control with despair. Ezra and Juliana's breakup was so penetrating, so terrible to see them go through that it brought tears to my eyes.

I absolutely LOVED that this book ended the way it did, with them not quite back together, but heading there. It was honestly the perfect way to end this story for these two struggling to find their way to each other.

I'd take a hundred Ezra's over a single 'alpha male' ever again. More please!!

[Kristin Rouse]

This is my book, and it's SUPER awkward for me to rate it, but I love it, and I hope you love it, too.

[Christi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Normally I don’t write reviews, but sadly this talented author is no longer with us. I briefly interacted with Kristin in our women’s writing group before her passing. So I’d like to honor her legacy and express how much I loved this story, in the hopes that you’ll pick it up for a read too.

Ezra, Juliana, and the whole Almeida clan are memorable, flawed, likable characters that will stick with you long after you finish the book. I’m still trying to cope with the fact that we won’t get to see how their story unfolds in future books. Kristin did a phenomenal job of weaving in the painful post-recovery path of an alcoholic. We lost a truly gifted storyteller who brilliantly set the scene in each new chapter and drew me in every time.

As a Colorado native, I may be slightly biased too since this book was based in Denver. Kristin does our wonderful city justice with aptly timed references to traffic, weather, and LoHi! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Huriana M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read, but I wasn’t expecting anything less from Kristin.

[Huriana M · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic read, but I wasn’t expecting anything less from Kristin.

[Valeen Robertson (Live Thru Books Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fix is one of those stories you'll remember far after you've finished reading it. It's beautifully told, it's realistic and it's a little heartbreaking, OK, a lot heartbreaking, not in a dark, overwhelmingly gritty way, just in a sad, humans can really suck kind of way.

Ezra is a sober alcoholic the day he meets his best friend's soon to be sister-in-law and falls in love with her. He's a messed up guy, that's why he's an alcoholic, or he's an alcoholic because he's a messed up guy, or both, actually. But, he's in a much better place now that he's in recovery. He knows that to start a relationship when he's newly sober is not recommended. He can't help it, though, because Juliana is addicting, and so sweet that he can't help but fall for her.

I don't do spoilers, so just let me say that The Fix is a wonderful story. You'll fall in love with Ezra and Jules and their whole cast of friends and family. You'll be happy with them, and cringe along with the two of them as they get things right, and they get things wrong, and you'll get a peek inside a relationship with a recovering addict. It's not pretty, it's not sweet and romantic, but it is realistic and Ezra is a pretty amazing guy, for all his faults and even though he doesn't think he's such a great guy. You'll probably wish for a different, less vague ending, but it suits the realistic tone. I'm hoping for another book in this series, and that it might give us another peek into how Ezra and Jules and company are doing.

I received an ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Masterpiece

I requested this free ARC book from Netgalley in return for an honest review, so here goes....

This is the first book I have read by this author and I am really glad I did 😁

A beautifully told story that captivated me from the start to finish. An amazing story line that flows easily and is told from Ezra's point of view. It helped to understand his vulnerability and the emotional battle he faced daily. An honest portrayal of an uplifting love story. Well written and edited, to the point and completely relate-able. The dialogue between the characters is clear and convincing. Definitely a feast of emotions resonates throughout, poignant and heartfelt. I absolutely loved the author's style of writing.

I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending this book. A MUST read. Thank you KR

[Ryrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Fix ruined me, but in the best of ways. From the moment I got a copy of this book, it was difficult to put it down, even through the moments where I wanted to reach into the book and strangle Ezra for fucking up. The twist at the end was a little predictable and easy to guess how Ezra and Julianna would eventually fall back in together, but it was done in a way that really felt like something Julianna would do.

This book and each of the characters captivated me and left me wanting more of them. It left me wanting to know more about the Almeida family and more about Ezra and Julianna as individuals.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ezra will grab a hold of your heart and not let go. The man is just way to hard on himself and the people he loves he loves hard.

Juliana knows full well what a recovering addict's life is like. She knows that being in a relationship will be a challenge.

Erza's love for her is amazing. I loved that the entire book was his POV. I loved his mind, even if at times I wanted him to get out of his mind and listen to those around him.

~~~I volunteered to read an advance copy provided by NetGalley

[L · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful debut!

This book will break your heart in the ugliest, messiest, and also best of ways. Then it will put it back together. Ezra and Julianna's story is realistic on a level that so many others are not.

I can't wait to see what the rest of the series has in store for us!

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ezra’s addiction is alcoholism, and his struggle is both realistic and heartbreaking.

Read full review in the 2017 October issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Frankie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story about a 20 something young man, Ezra, who became a drunk from the time he was a teen and spiraled out of control. It is a well written story about what alcoholics & their loved ones go through. For someone like me who has not known or lived with one, it was very enlightening, however, I would not call this a love story. In fact, when Ezra meets Julianna, it is she who is the pursuer in this relationship and we never truly found out anything relevant about the heroine other then she has this great job in Brazil and an awesome family. There was a lot I liked and didn't like about this book. First of, as I said, I give 5 stars to Ms Rouse for the excellent writing in giving us a window into the life of an alcoholic, however, as far for all the rest, it is 3 stars for me. Why? Because Ezra frustrated me to no end with his continuous attitude of "I'm a loser", "Not Worthy", etc mantra! As the story starts, we learn that Ezra & his best friend Anja, have been steady drunks since they were teens. Now they are 20 somethings and Anja is his sponsor. He has been clean for less then a year when he meets Juliana. They are both attracted to one another but he doesn't understand what she sees in him and on, and on it went. Backstory on Ezra - when he & his twin brother Daniel were small, their alcoholic mother left them to be raised by their awesome father Mac. When Mac, whom Ezra loved and worshiped died a year or so previously, Ezra took it hard. Before he stopped drinking, he would go on binge drinking night after night and hook up with random girls and have unprotected sex with each and every one of them (nice!). Then one night when he was in a bar, he takes home his brother's girlfriend and has sex. The brother finds out and disowns him. This hurts Ezra. The mother then comes back into his life with a baby step sister and he begins a relationship with them while trying to stay sober. On the night of his father's death, he looses his dad's cat and goes on a 3 day binge drinking where no one knows where he is.. After being found, he has no memory or recollection of what he did and where he was. He then slowly begins to start over again but it strains his relationship with Juliana who has been supportive and great throughout because he feels he doesn't deserve her and she is not sure if he cheated on her during those 3 missing days. They break up and 7-8 months later, she comes back pregnant with his kid and they move in together but don't sleep with each other again. The story ends with them slowly moving towards restarting their relationship, so if you are looking for a HEA, then this is not for you as marriage is never mentioned other then him telling her that he couldn't offer it when he first found out that she was pregnant.
There were a lot in this book that left me frustrated because there were questions left unanswered and it left me feeling as if I wasted my time. For instance, Ezra made 2 attempts to patch things up with his brother. The last one in which he sent a picture of his baby's sonogram and chips that showed he was a recovering alcoholic but we never got a conclusion. Did the brother finally forgive him? We also never found out WHY he was an alcoholic. He started drinking when he was a teen but it was never explained what that trigger was to get him to that point. There was also no conclusion as to what he did when he was drinking those 3 days. Did he cheat or not? Where there any other women he impregnated during those years he was sexing everyone unprotected? There was also a reference at one point in the book that he had seen his best friend Anja naked before as they had known each other for a long time. Where they ever lovers? Was the cat ever found? And on and on the questions went in my head. But most of all, I was not happy with the ending. The fact that he was still insecure even up to the very end and wouldn't commit to the woman & child he claimed to love? Uhh....no, that did not work for me. When I purchase a book, I want a COMPLETE story with a HEA, not a lot of unanswered/halfass attempts to a HEA. I get that writer was being real, but at the same time, this is a fictional story, so I wanted a fictional HEA.

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a author I have not read until now. The story intrigued me so I entered in. Having been also a victim of a someone who drinks to much this kinda struck a chord also. Ezra pulls you into the story with first his drama but also his road to a different decision that is not a easy one but better one. You also have Juliana that is on the road with him in this one with you getting deeper into the story I have myself very many mixed emotions. So it is safe to say this author does a splendid job of giving you and making you feel the ups and downs and ins and outs of him and the relationship.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Other than a few grammatical errors, my only complaint was this book wasn't long enough! I wanted more time with Ezra and Jules and the Almeida clan!

[T.W. Time · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was everything I expected from Kika

I should have read thus earlier. It should not have taken the loss of this light to bring me to finally enjoy this amazing writer's gift again.
I first read this story when it was Everlark fanfiction. I had forgotten how vibrantly Kristin captured the absolute nightmare that is alcoholism.
She will always inspire me.
Thank you, Kika

[Diana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this free ARC book in return for an honest review, so here goes...
This is the first book I have read by this author, and I am really glad I did.

A beautifully told story that captivates the reader from start to finish. I literally could not put it down.An amazing story line that flows easily and is told from the male's pov, that helps you to understand his vulnerability and the emotional battle he faces daily.
An honest portrayal of an uplifting story. Well written and edited, to the point and completely relate-able. The dialogue between the characters is clear and convincing. Definitely a feast of emotions resonates throughout, poignant and heartfelt. You cant help but fall in love with the characters;;;; Jules was a saint in my eyes.

I have no hesitation whatsoever in recommending this book. A MUST read. Thank you KR