Pretty Shattered Heart

by Robbi Renee

Heart can be defined as the central or innermost part of something. But when that core function is broken, shattered into pieces at the hands of the ones you love most–the distress, suffering, and anguish—can be debilitating.

Sexy, savvy, unbossed, and unbothered, Symphony James is always in control. As for her situationships with men, she dictates who, when, and more importantly, how. Secretly crippled by a tumultuous past, love, relationships, and family were never the desires of her heart. The savage sweetpea only experienced love with conditions until she met him.

Unlike most men, Tyus Okoro wasn’t intimidated by the hard-care, incorrigible, yet stunningly beautiful Symphony James. Her boss chick behavior was nothing but motivation for him to dismantle her complications—layer by layer. But would he finally meet his match?

Genres: Audiobook, Romance, African American Romance

272 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2021

About the author

Hey Loves! I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri (in the words of Nelly, “I’m from the Lou and I’m proud!) with incredible parents and two amazing older sisters. Born Stacey Renee, I was the baby of the bunch and always had a vivid imagination – was wise beyond my years (to grown for my own good) if you ask my mother!

My love for talking too much (ha!), journaling, daydreaming, reading & watching various genres of movies, books I went to journalism school, determined to become Oprah! After finishing my degree, I did everything but becoming a journalist. I dishonored my childhood dreams of being in some form of entertainment but found a way to use this big mouth for good in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space.

I rekindled my love for reading and writing during the 2020 pandemic where my alter ego & pen name, Robbi Renee was born. Robbi is my daddy’s nickname so my pen name pays homage to him. (Yep! I’m still a daddy’s girl!) Renee, as you can see is my middle name – Robbi Renee!

I started Love Notes by Robbi Renee as an outline to release all of the stories that live in my head. I was challenged to write and publish my first novella, French Kiss Christmas, published December 2020.

Robbi Renee draws upon personal experiences with life and love. My written works are inspired by my adoration for Black love, and stories of romance, heartache, trauma, intuition, and redemption.

Stacey/Robbi Renee enjoys her own Black family love story with her husband George and teenage son.

Reviews

[Annette Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty Shattered Heat more than lived up to its predecessor. I loved everything about this book but, I did not like Symphony. I was rockin’ with her in book one but, she turned into a completely different person. Symphony was immature, childish, and a hypocrite. She had absolutely no problem telling Syncere how she should let go of her pain and let King love her but, she couldn’t follow her own advice. Oftentimes, Symphony was difficult for no damn reason at all. I sympathize with her and the issues she had to go through with her parents but, she was just doing too much. This is why I don’t like for authors to write their heroines so difficult that they become dislikeable. I applaud Tyus. To put up with some of the shyt Symphony did, he had to love her. She took this man through it all the way to the epilogue. I was like, “Girl, if you don’t get your shyt together!” But, I have to give it to him. Tyus would not give up on her. He was 100% committed to helping Symphony heal and get past her trauma and pain. There was a lot of back and forth but, when she finally realized she was just was deserving of love as her Prima, Symphony stopped fighting her feelings and let Tyus love her. Pretty Shattered Heart was an emotional rollercoaster but, it was worth the ride. Symphony and Tyus’ love journey was complex and difficult but, I enjoyed every minute of it.

[Kameel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this couple really went through it…. But, Tyus was the standup man that we all would love. Tyus, was determined to show Symphony that she was worth it. Being in the medical field and understanding the help that her Prima sought a few years earlier, I’m surprised she didn’t realize a little therapy would have help her much sooner. But, Finally….Symphony & Tyus got to their HEA. TJ stole the show for me….I love stories with kids in them….Wesleigh’s performance was phenomenal as always!

[Sha Sha · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I didn’t realize that I started listening to the second book in this trilogy?until I was already invested in the story. First let me say that Wesleigh baby she needs an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Golden Globe, MTV award, BET award all the awards!!! LOL 😂😂😂 She just does the damn thing!!! This book had me feeling sad, mad, & glad they got it together in the end. I understand trauma and how parenting can really mess some people up but my goodness did Symphony get on my nerves in this story. Chile Tyus showed her his love with actions not just words and she still had the hardest time. Lawd Tyus didn’t give up tho but shit he sure could have walked away. Ending was sweet but it was a rollercoaster ride 🙄😆😬🥴

[Mika Verrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨Book Review✨

We’re diving back into the captivating world of the Pretty Shattered series, and if book one left you beautifully heartbroken, get ready because this installment is beautifully frustrating in all the right ways!

In **Pretty Shattered Heart**, we uncover the layers of Symphony’s character like never before. Right from the start, you’ll realize she’s a master at dishing out sage advice—but when it comes to her struggles, she’s a whole different story. While she guided her cousin Sincere through healing and embracing love in book one, Symphony just couldn’t seem to follow her own wisdom. It’s not that her trauma was more intense than Sincere’s, but that feeling of abandonment is a tough burden to carry! I found myself empathizing with her, but boy, did she test my patience!

Then there’s Tyus Okoro—a true saint in every sense! His patience and unwavering support for Symphony is downright impressive. This guy is all in, proving day in and day out that he’s not going anywhere. He’s the first person outside her family to offer her genuine, unconditional love, and it’s incredibly heartwarming to watch.

Robbie is absolutely nailing it with this series, beautifully illustrating that perfection isn’t a prerequisite for love. You can be navigating the complexities of your past and still be open to a love that feels like a dream come true. Get ready to feel all the emotions as Symphony and Tyus embark on this tumultuous yet tender journey!


Book: Pretty Shattered Heart
Author: Robbie Renee
Genre: Romance
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🥵🥵🥵🥵

[Antoinette (_literaryaura_) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

A pretty average read, however I enjoyed the story with the exception of hearing the word puss so often. I didn't even realize that this was book two of a trilogy but I don't think I will read books one and three.

[Dahyana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew! Symphony was a tough character to like, but damn, I understood her. Her past really did a number on her, and unfortunately, poor Tyus was the one paying the price. I mentioned earlier that King was the epitome of patience, but it’s actually Tyus who truly embodies that patience. That man is the definition of patience. I can't blame him, though. He was ten toes down for his woman, and that’s exactly what she needed. But in my opinion, Symphony was too grown to be coping the way she was. I get the trauma, but at some point, we have to try, especially when we have loving people standing in our corner....especially when you’ve got all the advice to give. Still, I have to applaud Tyus cause that’s his girl, and he was going to stick beside her.

[Katie ratherbereadinggg · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

[Keesha · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5⭐️ I love Robbi Renee, however I hated this book! The FMC in this book is childish, unstable and annoyingly wishy washy. I’m here for an MMC that’s a simp for his girl. Be consistent, intentional and apply pressure. However, I was irritated with him for sticking by her. Sir, you are a parent, you can not be in a relationship with someone so childish and volatile.
Far be it for me to say how someone should feel about their childhood trauma. But good grief! Symphony needed to go immediately to sit on that lady’s couch and stay until she got some coping tools. She repeatedly talked about her boss bitch attitude but she really only gave whiney child who was triggered by every single thing. I couldn’t invest in this couple. When the HEA did happen, I felt like yeah I guess. 🤷🏽‍♀️

[Niqua · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate to sound overly critical, but this book was unnecessarily over-dramatic. Normally, this book would have made its way to my DNF list because I spent more time being annoyed and chuckling at the over-the-top reactions without an appropriate build-up. Also, (and this is a pet peeve of mine), it grated my nerves that Tyus had this extreme undying love over nothing. The foundation of their relationship was weak. Robbi Renee's explanation of Symphony's reactions to her issues with her parents fell short, every time. However, I will say that I was impressed that Symphony stayed true to her apprehensions until the very last second... and even her decision to ease up off her insecurities and marry Tyus didn't have the proper build-up. It was a task to make it through the book.

[Michelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book did nothing but piss me off. I’m 97% finish ready to DNF. The FMC has literally pissed me off from the beginning of this book to the absolute last chapter. He has spent this entire book begging for this crazy ass girl to love him and she refuses to get past her “issues”. I wanted to scream “Girl leave this man alone so he can be happy!” I really like Robbi Renee and if the other two books are like this one, I can’t suffer through this again. This could have been an amazing story but now I’m traumatized from all her back and forth.

[Sheronda H · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Symphony was dealing with a lot of trauma. She was ver resistant with letting Ty in. Ty was very patient with her. I enjoyed their story plus reading more about King and Syncere. I wonder if they’ll be a book telling there women’s best friend, Aminah’s story.

[Ayanna First of BourbonStreetBookers · Rating 5 out of 5]

She did it again!

This was outstanding. There was so much more humor with Symphony's story, which gave some balance to her trauma. Rejection being the "it" that shattered her heart and her world. Experiencing authentic, organic, genuine love, protection and acceptance was monumental for this woman. Despite all the love she got, it's the love she was missing that delayed her to appreciate the love that she really needed. This was an excellent read. Excited about the release of Book 3! Great job! 🎉🎊

[Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great read!

This was a great story. I loved how Tyus loved Symphony despite all of her issues. I'm excited that there's going to be another book because although I want to read Aminah's and Nicholas' story, I want to hear more from Tyus and Symphony and the Cartwright family.

[Stephanie LeBlanc-Godfrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"adoringly kindred, her start was his finish, his beginning - her end"

My favorite line of the book and the essence of the relationship between Ty and Symphony!!! I loved their love and hated the pain and frustration they had to go through to get there. This book is beautiful and can't wait to continue the series!!

[Goddess’ Smut Library 🩷 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was kind of disorganized and all over the place. The FMC was obviously dealing with some mental health issues, and the MMC tried to love her through her issues. Then it just skipped to the epilogue, like it was very confusing. I only gave it the extra star because it was pretty spicy, but I wouldn’t read any other book in the series.

[Ebony · Rating 3 out of 5]

She played in that man’s face literally well into the epilogue. SMH.

[Emaleigh Nichelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

She needed therapy long before the epilogue. He applied pressure in an intentional way.

[Crystal Luckey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Conquest All!!!

Symphony didnt believe in love and she lived her life using men for what she wanted. Meeting Tyus and getting to know him, she felt something with him she never felt before. Months later, Symphony still can't get Tyus out of her mind, but when she is hit by one of her men, Tyus shows up when she needs him.the most. Symphony gave Tyus a hard time being with him, but she had her own demons she had to face. Finally giving in Symphony gave Tyus a try and it was the best decision of her life. Symphony was a stubborn woman, but all she wanted was to be loved. She had issues with her mom and dad and didn't want to get hurt. Tyus showed her what love was and that's all she wanted. This book had so much of what women go through in life and what we need to do heal. Im such a fan of Robbi and cant wait to see what's next!!!

[Felicia Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story I never wanted to end!

Well you've done it again Chick. Without spoiling anything Symphony got on my one last good nerve 😂. This woman took me on an emotional rollercoaster and I loved every minute of it. Keep writing these awesome books because you will always have a fan in me. Oh I'm sure I know whose book is next but I won't say. I wonder if it will start at the vineyard. If I could give this book more than 5 stars I would. Once again congratulations on on awesome book.

[MiMi · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are Not enough stars up there for this one!!!!

[Thea Marquetta · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really gotta stop reading these broken romance stories. They drive me insane with all the back and forth. Like I get it, you feel so broken and unlovable, but if that's the case just go be by yourself and stop involving other people in your drama. Tyus was a saint for all that he put up with. But really the story was way too drawn out. A theme with this author seems to be one of the main characters not being able to get out of their own way and it just irritates me.

[Tracy - loves to read · Rating 4 out of 5]

I get it but…


Symphony was a literal mess emotionally and mentally. Thoughts on relationships, love and marriage were all jacked up thanks to her wack job mother - btw how are you your own daughters tormentor?!? Being unwanted and unloved by your parents wreaked havoc on her whole life and outlook on life. She thought being a boss b and having situationships with hot sex, no commitment, drama or issues was living the life. Up until it literally slapped her in the face.
Tyus was a wonderful man - on his grown man ish handling his business, fatherhood and was an all around stand up guy who had BDE and could back it up. He saw her and thought she was the one, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.
She put that man through hell in her brokenness and he just held on for the ride. I wanted to yell at him “stand your ground!” Wooo! As my grandma used to say “I ain’t gon let this child worry me!” Symphony got me shaking my head. I was so annoyed with her and I wanted her to get therapy but a person has to want and seek therapy for themselves. I was also annoyed that every trial and struggle was followed up with sex like that makes these glaring issues go away. Sex every 2 pages. Also how about addressing her alcohol issues because she got down right pissy and passed out a lot, but I guess this was addressed in the therapy that she FINALLY went to. This is what made me drop off a star. Thank God there were secondary characters to break it up.

I get it, trauma can mess you up and it’s effects can last a lifetime and having someone who loves, cherishes, protects and supports you helps and can help you heal but YOU have to take the first steps because sometimes all of that ain’t enough.

Good read

[Sherley's Reading Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall Rating: 4.5

After reading Pretty Shattered Soul, I could not wait to read Pretty Shattered Heart. Having met Symphony in the first book, I knew she was a fun, outgoing, independent woman who didn’t have time for commitment. She was about being her and doing her thing.

Now, in this book, we got to know the REAL Symphony. I found her to be a more conflicted character than her cousin Syncere. Though Syncere had experienced a traumatic incident in her life, Symphony was a little bit more broken.

To me, Symphony was someone who was so used to being discarded and disappointed by others, that when she finally found someone who wanted to love her, in spite of who she was, she didn’t know how to let him love her. She’s the type of person who self-sabotages. Afraid of being abandoned by Tyus like her parents did her, she ruined it before he could walk away.

But thank the heavens above that like King in book one, Tyus, with his love and w his patience, was able to help Symphony Walk through her journey of healing.

I liked that we got to see King and Syncere again in Book 2 and their grandma was a hoot. I loved her.

As in the first book, Wesleigh Siobhan, as a solo narrator did a phenomenal job. To be able to “play” all of the characters in a book and keep the audience engaged is amazing. Never once was I confused about who was who as she perfectly embodied each and everyone of those characters. Brava Ms. Siobhan, Brava!

[Kanese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love me, Choose me

Symphony James, cousin of Syncere James from the first novel of this series, is a nurse. She casually dates and avoids men who have children and baby mamas/ex-wives. She dates either guys in their twenties or their 40s and 50s. This has been working for Symphony until she meets Tyus Okoro, an eligible bachelor with a 6-year-old son. Tyus and Symphony have an amazing weekend in Book 1. When she finds out he has a son, she proceeds to push him away and tries to keep him in the "Friends with Benefits" category. This is not enough for Tyus. He wants all of Symphony.
Unlike Syncere, there were times where Symphony WERKED my nerves. She came off as spoiled and rude during certain parts of the book. She has abandonment issues since she is the product of an affair and her mother blames her for her birth father not wanting to be in their lives. This causes Symphony's mother to have a mental breakdown and, like Syncere, G-Ma raises Symphony. I wish she would have used the same advice that she would give Syncere and sought out therapy for her pain. I feel that she was all in Syncere's business to avoid looking in the mirror. But now that Syncere has King and is going through her healing process, Symphony now has to tackle her own issues. On to Book 3....

[sweetconnectionswithtoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loving someone with a hardened heart.

First let’s mention the character names and how Wesleigh brought every character to life.
Symphony, Tyus, Syncere and King. These 4 people, love them.

You never hear about men waiting it with a woman whose heart is hard, typically they leave, most of the time it’s women waiting around for the man to change.

Symphony a boss babe cutie who made it very hard for anyone to love her. She made me mad a few times making it so hard for Tyus. I have to give it up to him, he was a gentleman for real, he stuck beside Symphony through the pretty and ugly behavior. This man loved this girl, he stuck beside her.

I loved how he loved on her regardless if she wanted it or not, he was patient.

Sometimes a person has to love themselves first and know that they’re complete before inviting someone into their life, and if you don’t know you’re complete without a man/woman you can not fully love or be loved.

Symphony forgave herself and she realized that she was complete without Tyus. Tyus was still patiently waiting and she accepted all the love he had for her.

This story was a 5🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Thank you Robbi this great story! 🩷

[Leslie Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Hearts Do Mend

This was a sweet love story. I love that this author makes the men in this series so endearing to the women they are chasing. Ty loves Symphony and doesn’t mind committing to her before she is really ready to even give him a chance. He chiseled away at her stony heart until he finally had it. The storyline is somewhat overwhelming mushy and “soft” at times. I love a gentle side to men but Ty didn’t communicate the way you would expect a black man willing to roll up into a car dealership and assault someone would talk. I loved to see that part of his character and also loved when he manned up with Symphony At Thanksgiving. Besides that this is a great read and I am loving this series.

[AMBER · Rating 4 out of 5]

February Read: Pretty Shattered Heart by Robbi Renee ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. This is book 2 in the Pretty Shattered series. This is the story of Tyus Okoro, Sr. and Symphony James. We first met these two in Pretty Shattered Soul when Symphony’s cousin Syncere fell in love and married Tyus’s best friend, King Cartwright. Tyus Okoro is an eligible bachelor with a 6-year-old son. Tyus and Symphony have an amazing weekend in Book 1. When she finds out he has a son, she proceeds to push him away, but for Tyus, it's something about Symphony that he can't let go of. She has abandonment issues since she is the product of an affair, and her mother blames her for her birth father, not wanting to be in their lives. Can Tyus be patient with Symphony & the boundaries he has to break through?

[Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

🙂

This is book 2 in the series. Symphony and Tyus story was complex. Tyus loved her unconditional from the start. Symphony was very complex. She is lucky Tyus’s love was so strong. He was amazing and kind.
I liked the continued look into Syncere and King’s story (book1) I hope book 3 will address Mariah (the adopted child) that was just left opened in book 1 and it wasn’t mentioned in this book. My only con is - The chapter in Mexico, was not necessary. They could have confessed the love anywhere. It seemed to be needed word space. Looking forward to book 3

[Nevada · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm still trying to figure out, the dad part. #lost, lol. The book was kinda interesting and kinda not. Because I want to see what happens, I will read the 3rd installment. Don’t be mad at me, but thinking this could've been 1 book. It wasn’t boring. I was interested. The reason for not getting married escaped me. A lot of loose ends. I picked this book because I received an announcement that book 1 was on sale, I found out I read book one, so I went for book 2, which wasn’t on sale. I will be acquiring book 3.

[Monique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Pretty Shattered Heart. I am just noticing since doing this review that this is book 2 out of 3. That is what I get for not reading the book description. LOL. I'm sure book 1 would have given me more information on why Symphony is so broken and why her and Sincere feel the way they do about certain things.

Even without reading book 1, I enjoyed book 2 and ready for book 3 of the Trilogy.

Oh yeah, if your looking for a book club. Check out the Shades of Pink Book Club on Facebook. We love African American Fiction and we would love to have you in our group.