Damaged

The Everyday Heroes World

by Ember Dante

Dex
It’s all fun and games until somebody dies. I learned that lesson the hard way.

Being the front man for one of the world’s hottest rock bands wasn’t all glitz and glamour, and five years of hard partying propelled me down a dark path, ending in an overdose that almost landed me in the morgue. After a trip to rehab and a heated confrontation with the band, I needed an escape.

So, I ran.

Straight into a small-town hottie and her morning coffee.

Her beauty and feisty attitude intrigued me, but without knowing her name, tracking her down would be difficult. Luckily, fate intervened, and we both ended up at the same Christmas party. To top it off, she had no idea who I really was. That was my idea of heaven.

It didn’t take long to figure out that she was just as damaged as I was. My only hope was that I could convince her to give me a chance to prove that we could heal each other.

Holland
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. At least, that’s what I’d been told. I only wish Life hadn’t taken it as a challenge.

Losing my twin brother to a drug overdose and my fiancé to another woman meant that I had endured more than my share of heartbreak. I threw myself into my career as a therapist and addiction counselor to help others like my brother so their loved ones wouldn’t suffer a similar loss. It became my mission to save others, but I couldn’t save myself.

I was a hot mess.

Not as hot as the poor guy I dumped coffee on during my daily breakfast run. I was mortified. Until he opened his mouth. The man was an arrogant jerk. I couldn’t believe it when he showed up at the same Christmas party. Come to find out, he was some hotshot, famous musician. I wasn’t impressed. But as we spent more time together, I began to realize the attitude was just a façade, and underneath the glossy veneer of fame lay a tattered, wounded soul.

Could we build something real, or were we both too damaged?

213 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 23, 2021

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very deep story with sweetness. Dex is a rockstar who’s dealing with some serious problems, he’s done the rehab thing when he meets Holland, a therapist and they start seeing one another. Dax has finally found something he needs.
This definitely a darker side of stardom. The down side of stardom it self with starstruck fans, no privacy and the easiness of the vices.
I liked the relationship between Dex and Holland, they were sweet together.
It was an intense story that it told in real life many a time unfortunately today.
Definite a must read. May contain triggers.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a novel in The Everyday Heroes World Series and it is Dex and Holland's story and omg you are in for a roller coaster ride of emotions. Red is the lead singer and songwriter in the famous band called Electric Conception but after overdosing and nearly dying he realised that he needed to go into rehab but after completing his treatment and then having an argument with his band mates he takes off for a driven and ended up in Sunnyville. Holland is a psychologist and addiction counsellor in Sunnyville and when coming out of the coffee shop she bumps into a man and pours her drink all over him. Dex is intrigued by the beautiful woman with green eyes and wants to find out who she is only to meet again at a Christmas party. The next day it is decided that they would have a fling for the next two weeks with no strings or feelings involved but will that work out of will things get even more complicated between them only time will tell. The connection and chemistry between Dex and Holland was so strong and not that you could feel it sizzling of the pages of this book and I couldn't put it down and had to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. Dex and Holland had so much baggage and had gone through so much in there lives and I felt like I was there with them going through it all and this book was so emotional and addictive. Ember Dante is an amazing author and writer and I definitely recommend you read this book and others by her as she certainly knows how to keep her reader's attention and on the edge of their seats and I can't wait to read more of her books.

I Voluntarily Reviewed an Arc Copy of this Amazing and Emotional Book.

[Denise Hoover · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my gosh I loved this book! One of the first books I’ve read in 3 days since I have a newborn!

Dex gets his story and boy is it a great redemption! I love it when an author can make you love the enemy from a previous book. But please know this is a complete standalone.

This story is linked with the Everyday Heroes World… if you loved Dylan in Combust, she makes some cameos in this story. As do some of the others get some mentions. You’ll appreciate this book all the more if you read the other stories by this author.

Dex is a recovering addict, as we know from previous books. He works everyday to make sure he stays sober. So when he runs into Holland, literally, outside of the small town diner… he puts all of his focus on her. They are both damaged but perfect for each other to make them whole again. Holland is a therapist that tries not to over analyze Dex too often. But there’s just something about that rockstar.

They both have some things in their past that have been mistakes, that have made them who they are today. I love how much these two communicate with each other.

If you’re looking for a refreshing read, I think you should pick this one up and see how the damaged pieces are put back together again with Dex and Holland.

[Lisa Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dex is the lead singer for a band he has just gotten out of rehab after overdosing, He goes to see his band at the studio and sees someone leaving that was auditioning to replace him, he gets into an argument with the guys and does what make him calm down takes a drive. He ends up in a small town outside of San Francisco. He has a friend in town, small world he did not know, gets roped into a Christmas party, where he meets the woman spilled coffee on him a few days ago.

Holland is a therapist and addiction counselor, she chose the career after her twin died of a drug overdose, to help others where could not help him. That does not mean she is not a hot mess, her fiancé dumped her for another woman and she really has not put herself out there again. Dex crashes into her life, she does not want to like him but she sees the pain beneath the surface

This is my first book by Ember and I have say there will be more I will pickup to read. This book gives you all the feels, ups and downs. You want hug Dex one page, next you want to strangle him and then hug him again. Holland is such a wounded soul that you hope Dex will help her heal.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ember Dante's Damaged starts out introducing the rock star Dex who has addiction issues and never told his bandmates that he was going to rehab for months. The bandmates were understandably concerned, but Dex gets mad and runs away, ending up to a small town in which he meets Holland who is a therapist. .They hit it off, but his way of dealing with bad feelings is to run away, either into the addiction land or just away. Can they be happy or will he self-destruct? Holland has some traumatic history as well but it was more of a side issue to the plot of the book.

I didn't like Dex at first because some of his reactions were those of a jerk toddler, but I guess that was the point. He needs to redeem himself in a major way by the end of the book. This is well written and has some good dialogue.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[CYNDY · Rating 5 out of 5]

*****5 Smashed Starts*****
This was such a great story. Dex is dealing with some demons; the rock stars with some issues. Fresh out of rehab Dex see’s what has been going on with his band mates. Needing to escape it all for a while Dex ends up in Sunnyville. Meeting Holland was not planned but it was a but she what he needed. Holland is a psychologist and an addiction counselor and when coming out of the coffee shop she bumps into a man and pours her drink all over him. This meeting leaves Dex with a lot of questions; they hit it off but Dex not sure how deal with these feelings when it comes to Holland. Holland hasn’t had an easy past. But Holland see’s Dex for who he is and she just wants him happy and safe.
***** ARC for review from Book Sprout*****

[Caroline Doig · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my absolute favourite genre rockstars, bands etc and this is Dex’s and Holland’s story. Dex had just gotten out of rehab he didn’t tell anyone including his band where he was going so when he got back the band was having auditions to replace Dex so he walked out packed his bags and took off in his car, he drove and drove until he ended up in Sunnyville. Dex goes to get breakfast and he runs into Holland literally, there is so much more going on in this story but I will let you find out for yourself. This is a fantastic story I loved it but be warned that there is drug use and talk of addiction, I loved the characters and I highly recommend this book it’s well worth the read.

[Nicole Ortiz · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an OK story. Dex is a rockstar who ends up in Sunnyville when he leaves LA fresh out of rehab and after a fight with his bandmates. Holland is a therapist with a not so pleasant past. They meet at a mutual friends party and decide to enter into a friends with benefits relationship while he is in Sunnyville. I did enjoy some of this story, there was just some parts I couldn't get with like she just met him was so insistent on not being ready to date in the beginning of this book but offers him a FWB and claim to have strong feelings for him. Then with her occupation and her history she came off a bit unstable.

I received an ARC and volunteered to leave a review.

[casvec · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dex is dealing with his demons, just out of rehab he is seeing what is going on with the band. Needing to get away, Dex runs into Holland in a small town. Although the have a strong connection, their relationship is one of struggle as they fight their past.

Damaged is an amazingly written story that deals with the darker side of fame, the pain and pressures they go through and how they handle. Dex and Holland's journey is an intense one that pulls you in page after page.

[Victoria Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much going on in this book. Lives up to the title. Rockstar with some issues. Rehab, stardom and his life is not his own. As a star everything he does is scrutinized, watched and judged. He and Holland share a bond. It is a good read, my first by this author.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Mari (Mystics & Metaphysics Book Blog) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a touching read within the Everyday Heroes world. Dex and Holland are "damaged" in their own way and have issues to work through. One of them is their attraction which was fire. There are several triggers that may not be suitable for some but the author does a great job of balancing them with the humor, sweet, and steam.

[Jeanne Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 2nd book I've read written by Ember Dante; I can’t wait to read more of her books.

This is part of the Everyday Heroes World Series; it is a stand-alone book. The story is about Holland & Dex. He’s a rockstar and goes into rehab but ends up taking off. He meets Holland; she is a therapist.

I received a free copy of this book via booksprout and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

[E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this and getting to the "end" is frustrating. It leaves you wondering what happens next. Such a great book that I just need to know what happens to the characters. The author did an amazing job.

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Dex & Holland's book. It was an intriguing read. I got a copy of the book. And am voluntarily leaving my review.

[Susana Sousa · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rating as 4🌟🌟🌟🌟! A light read.....

Damaged is Ember Dante's contribution to Everyday Heroes World featuring Dex, a rockstar dealing with some serious problems and Holland, a therapist he met when 'running' from his reality.
This is on the lighter side even though the MMC is a rockstar with the life of a rockstar and demons of a rockstar. I liked these two together and it was ingenious how the author portrayed the life and vices of one main character as triggers to the essence of the other main character.
A simple read with a HEA.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Melanie Hull · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it and would definitely recommend it to others who enjoys this genre. I happily give it 5 stars.