Battered Voices

Shattered Dreams Duet #2

by Jarica James

After living through one of the hardest experiences of her life, Charlie is in danger once again.

Starting college was supposed to be a new chapter for Charlie. With the facility in the past and her captors in prison, she’s ready to focus on her relationships, friends, and new family.

But the past has a way of coming back to haunt you, and Charlie’s past refuses to let go. When an unexpected piece of evidence from her family’s cold case falls into her lap, she’s forced to uncover more answers. Answers that put her in danger’s path yet again.

Between juggling school and her overprotective boyfriends and girlfriend, Charlie is ready to lose her mind. At least she’s not trying to handle everything on her own this time, a lesson that wasn’t easy for her to learn.


Can Charlie and the FBI unravel the lingering secrets and solve the case, or will she be forced to face tragedy yet again?

This is a reverse harem NEW ADULT ffmm romance/mystery intended for readers 18 and up. The main character will not have to choose who she dates. There is some violence that readers may find triggering.

202 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 29, 2021

About the author

Jarica is an American author. She prefers writing paranormal and fantasy books. When she isn't writing she is playing her xbox with her husband and fellow nerd. She has two crazy boys who make writing a challenge, but one she gladly accepts.

Reviews

[Daisy Delfin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pages: 202
My rating: 3.5
MC: Charlie, Abbi, Cole, Adam
SC: Sophia, Alice, Trent, Detective Flynn, Detective Prince

The second book in the Shattered Dreams Duet is about closure. Charlie had to go trough so much, loosing her parents and brother, passed around Foster homes because the murder of her family and her getting hurt by one of the killers which led to damaged vocal cords was very traumatising for her. And the other foster families could not take this. Luckily she ended up in a different town with a good and understanding foster mum, who lost the love of her life and now lives for her job. But then she is kidnapped and used like a lab rat.

So she still does not know why all this happened but she finds out in this book. She again has to go trough some past and new trauma but at the end, she finds closure. And she really deserved the closure.

It was a short but entertaining read. It was hard to put down. And I enjoyed reading it very much.

[S.R. Harris · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great sequel to the first book.

I really loved that we got to see Charlie and her crew after high school. I loved how their relationship worked and the sexy times were really well written and it was just enough mixed in to the story that it wasn't too much.

I was happy to really get answers as to why they started with the unethical experiments in the first place since it wasn't really explained in the first book.

A really good way to wrap up the story.

[OneDayI'll · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trouble magnet rides again

Charlie has the worst luck. Who else could have lost her family, been bounced around through so many foster families, been threatened, nearly kidnapped, truly kidnapped, tortured, and then even after the FBI were involved, stalked some more?

Spoilers ahead.
So, forget everything I said about the last book and no TSTL moments. This one is riddled with them. I get standing your ground, not willing to hide anymore, needing to be strong. I do. All survivors do. But, geez, she put herself, Sophia, Adam, Abby, and Cole through so much in the name of it. He could have picked off every one of her loved ones to get her. So many possible hostages to get his way. And how the heck does a teen do better research than the FBI given ridiculous resources to stop what amounts to human trafficking/genocide. Sure it's medical not *that* kind, but it's still profiting off human lives and excessive suffering and deaths. This one lost the charm the previous one had and you will want to shake Charlie. And then Sophia for not talking sense into her. And then the FBI for not taking control of the situation. Trigger warnings for stabbings, stalking, attacks and past medical torture. Also, I'd say with the content, this is no longer a YA friendly book. The first one I said was older teen ok. This one I'd say is 18+ for sure. Everything wraps up with a neat bow, there's HEAs all over, it just was somehow more frustrating than the first lol.

[Tawny Oakland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seems to have earned a very mixed bag of reviews. Which surprised me, I was drawn in immediately to the story and read straight through till the end of the second book. It's one of the first stories I have read with FF in the harem. This was a nice surprise and added an interesting dynamic. I love how broken Charlie is. The trauma she experienced was both physical amd mental. I think the author showed a realistic path threw he triggers and how she was trying to cope with everything. I dont mind that the book was slow burn but I did miss some of the relationship discussions. Given the unique situation I would have thought they would have had a more in depth sit down about how to handle different situations. My only real complaint is how many bad things can happen to the same person. Like seriously Charlie is a magnet for bad shit. By the end it felt a bit unrealistic. But it still was an amazing duet to read.

[Richelle Zirkle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie and the gang are back and college has begun. Life is changing for the crew, and that means adapting to all the things being thrown at them. In all the ways that count, things haven’t changed a bunch. This is a group of people that still cares deeply for one another. When Charlie finds herself with more clues about the larger mystery surrounding her family’s murder and in danger once again, they’re there for her once more. Freshman year just got a lot more deadly and way more interesting. But this is a group that will stick together through it all… You can expect to find that all the relationships have progressed so there are both FF and MM scenes in this one.

[Elizma Heckroodt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Am I glad the story continued! I loved every second of it.

Still want more!!!

I was just a bit confused with the guy joining the group for lunch and never mentioned again. Trying to figure out what the purpose was. In the beginning I thought he would be playing a role further down the line but nothing...

Still enjoyed the story with again a bit of everything in a balanced dose.

Well done on another awesome story!

[Dominique · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was a bit excited for these characters to get a NA sequel! They had so much potential and James delivered. I liked seeing a realistic representation of mental health and moving past trauma, especially with the help of others. There were also a couple of twists I was NOT expecting. The steamy bits were the cherry on top! 

[Kimmi · Rating 3 out of 5]

should have been a standalone

I loved the first book it was such a great story and I thought it ended really well. I wasn’t even sure where else it could have gone. To go back and add more to the plot that was closed wasn’t the best way to go. I didn’t hate it but I also could have done without it

[Hannah Brooker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read!

Book 2 in the shattered dreams duet and though no where near as juicy and dramatic as the first it was still a brilliant read. It's a much sweeter was pg version of book one. I'm glad there was HEA and that you got to see them move on with their relationship.

[VANESSA BARRITT · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

I loved this 2 book series and the conclusion.
Sad to see it end but it was beautiful.

Charlie had overcome so many dark and desperate times, always looking over her shoulder,made me want to give her a big and Sophia omg such a beautiful human and so caring.

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found this one to be better than the last one especially plot wise, since there was more action, but the ending again. It felt too condensed and all over the place. It was also really underwhelmed it of all the plot twists in the book.

[B. Mardell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

Once again poor Charlie gets put through the ringer, but she finally gets the closure and HEA she truly needs with everything from her past. I loved the book so much!

[Jemma Newby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Again i was sucked into this book from the very first page. I loved Charlie so much in the first book , i couldn’t wait for this and it didn't dissapoint , it was amazing.

[Jens_Book_Cubby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this duet. I loved the characters and the character growth, as well as the intriguing storyline. I am definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!

[Boo · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyed

Interesting and added bonus. The last book felt complete. This was like a bonus book that went more in-depth and I really enjoyed it.

[Suzi Vee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. I think i enjoyed the drama of the first a bit more but overall a fun read.

[Slaughterhouse Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good

It was good. Good closure for the world. I like Charlie I still wish she the other guy got in her harem but ill survive

[Heather Freeman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Omg. I have waited and waited for this book and it did not disappoint. Poor Charlie’s struggles are not over now that she’s in university. At least she has her relationship with Cole, Adam, & Abby. As she struggles with finding a school, work, life balance things get another curve ball as the past rears it’s ugly horrifying head again. I’m so glad answers come from this. But wow. Too much for one girl. Also, as an MLT student who studies transfusion medicine stabbing someone and collecting blood in a vial from the wound would not allow anyone to perform a successful transfusion. Let alone have enough blood to potentially help some treat disease with their ‘magic’ blood lol