Broken (A Redemption Novel Book 1)

I kept reading all these reviews about what a beautiful friendship and fulfilling relationship these two characters had. Frankly, there is very little that is pretty about this relationship. You've got a heroine who wants to be hurt, and a hero who wants to hurt her. Each character is tormented by their own demons, and apparently that makes it okay to destroy a person, and then call it "love" a couple chapters later. At multiple points in this story, sex is used by the hero as a way to hurt, punish, and manipulate the heroine. Basically, for half of the book, any sexual contact had between the two main characters is sexual assault. I want to be clear: any time sex is used to shame, punish, hurt, or intimidate someone, it isn't sex. This is sexual assault.

It is excused and accepted because the heroine is described as turned on. (Which is a nauseating way to try and make sexual assault sexy.) And also because we are supposed to actually want these two characters to fall in love for some reason. And because no apologies are needed when it comes to True Love. That is, until the last chapter when the hero remembers he has a soul and declares his love, and the heroine forgets she has a spine and accepts it. There is some token resistance, but it's all for show.

Even if you were to ignore the assaults, there is no actual relationship building, you don't get to read about two people falling in love, and nothing they ever do together is even romantic. All their interludes can be summed up as: a man starved for affection turns to the only woman near his age, a woman who was chosen specifically because of her looks, to give it to him. Maybe if you squint while wearing rose colored glasses this may seem romantic. But you have to really want it.

Skip this one.

This wonderful new adult novel is the story of Olivia and Paul. Olivia needs to get away - from her parents, her friends, her life as it's been and volunteering to help an injured war veteran seems like a good way to do penance for her wrongs. What she doesn't count on is that she'll be the caregiver for Paul, a 24 year old man, scarred inside and out from his last tour of duty. Both have walls they don't want breached - but a simmering sexual attraction between them threatens to shatter those barriers. Will it be worth it for them to take a chance on each other?

I loved this story! Olivia is a very engaging character as a young woman who has made mistakes - ones she feels can't be forgiven. At the same time she is strong and determined, realizing that she must pull herself up by her bootstraps and find out who she is really meant to be. Paul is a handsome but scarred, brooding, solitary and lonely man. He too is looking for penance for his part in staying alive when his friends died on their last military mission. He is adept at keeping people out and wants nothing more than to be left alone. When Olivia shows herself to be determined to get through to him, he lashes out at her - an anger that quickly turns to passion. I found the sexual chemistry between the two characters to be riveting. The eventual love scenes between them were very emotional and intense. Having the scenes alternate in first person point of view made for a dynamic story, following the thoughts and feelings of Olivia and Paul as they traverse the minefield of relationship possibilities.

The secondary characters play key parts in the plot, as does the setting of the story. Keeping the characters isolated in a remote mansion draws out the tension between them, and made for a fast paced and hard to put down story. I can't wait to read more in this series. 5 stars!

I really enjoyed this story. I really loved Paul is changing through out this story. And I really liked Olivia, she is a very strong and funny person.

What is this story about.

The story is about Olivia and Paul. Olivia comes from a very rich family. Olivia is in collage studying so that she can work in her fathers company, all tho she's doing good in collage, it isn't what she wants to do.
She decides to take some time off from collage and signed up to take care of a war veteran. She wants to get as far away from her parents house and just life her live a little.
Paul has been threw allot during his deployment in Afghanistan. His father is doing whatever he can to take care of paul but the thing is Paul doesn't really want to be saved. He just wants to live in silence and just be left alone. He has chased off allot of nurses/ caretakers and he is willing to chase away the new one if it wasn't for the deal he made with his father. His new caretaker has to stay for four months, if not he will take away paul's trust fond
Paul has scares on his face, a bad leg and is a grumpy person, but even his hart can't resist sexy, funny and sweet Olivia, who is very determent to take care of Paul and deal with her own guilt.
Olivia was suspecting some old nice war veteran, she didn't think she had to take care of sexy, intense, brooding paul, who she is very very attracted to.

What did I love about this story.

I loved Paul and I really wanted to get to know him. His story was interesting and I really felt for him. He really was suffering from his PTSD and survivors guilt was keeping him from living.
I loved how Olivia was going whatever she could to help Paul and she was really persistent and funny doing it.
I really liked the side characters. They all really cared about Paul, even his father. I didn't think he actually cared but he was doing the best he could. I also think it would be hard for Pauls father to see his son like that.
I also really liked the ending, the way they truly want to make it on there own.

This book is about redemption and letting go of your past, and truly live your live the way you want to. Paul and Olivia where really good for each other.

Olivia is running away. She made a mistake, ruined a couple relationships and wants to hide. She takes a job as a caregiver for who she thinks is "crippled, middle aged recluse." Paul is not at all what Olivia thinks he will be. After coming home from the war injured and scarred (inside and out), he is hiding from the world. His father has given him an ultimatum: Olivia (who is now his 6th caregiver) stays for three months or he loses his very large inheritance.

Their first meeting does not go well at all and they leave that encounter being very angry, but also very turned on. They were both expecting the other to be the complete opposite of who they actually are, so it is all a bit jarring.

Paul gives Olivia absolutely no reason to be nice to him. He is just downright mean to her at times, but she knows that he is in a lot of pain, physically and mentally. They do start to bond over something that may seem very small, but to Paul it reminds of him of the man he used to be. Unfortunately it doesn't take much to set him off and just when you think think they are starting a real relationship, something happens and the two are fighting like cats and dogs. I still liked Paul, especially when he was with Olivia and I was rooting for them to make things work. He was dealing with a lot of stuff and Olivia was the only person who could make him face his demons, which is what he needed to do. And despite the crazy relationship that these two have, they have ridiculous chemistry. Every time they get together it is off the charts hot:

This was my first Lauren Layne book and I really liked it. I didn't know Olivia's back story, but it didn't matter. I read it very quickly and when it was over I immediately looked to see when the next book would be out. It also helps that this a twist on Beauty and the Beast, which is my favorite Disney movie.

( originally posted at { mignon mykel : reviews } on 9/2/14 )

I just loved BROKEN -- I wasn't sure I would. I should have believed in my love of Lauren's writing... I will know better the next time I see a character I'm not particularly interested in -- granted, the next books on her cue are Emma in the Stiletto series, and Sophie's BFF Will/sister Brynn's story in the Best Mistake series, and I've been waiting for both of these books.

So, why wasn't I sure I'd like this book?

....Olivia.

She's pampered and a rich-bitch and has a 'tude that I didn't care for in ISN'T SHE LOVELY. As a general rule of thumb, I don't like pretty, skinny girls. It's an issue I've had for a few years ;) And Olivia just fits the bill in her designer clothes and stuck up attitude.

But unfortunately for me, Olivia was looking to get away from home and needed a change, so she took on the caregiver role for some 70-year old man's son. What Olivia didn't expect was for his son to be her age.

Paul is a war vet who made friends with a bullet and other torturing when in Afghanistan. He lost his best friend and walks around with visible scars and a bum leg as a constant reminder. He hides behind his scars and lets anger rule his life.

He has gone through numerous care givers and his father is giving him one last chance -- see one through for 6 months, or you're cut off; finished, nada mas. His father has a trick up his sleeve though, in hiring young, pretty Olivia. And as much as he wants to throw two middle fingers up in the air, the money his father is giving him is actually going to his best friend's widow and daughter.

This story is very much a Beauty and the Beast story, but it's done in a way that you forget the Disney movie/Grimm fairy tale and focus very much on Paul and Olivia. It's a story of overcoming personal battles and fighting the fights that actually mean something.

I find myself wanting to see Olivia and Paul two, five, ten years down the road. I very much loved these two and their connection. Life is about finding someone who's demons play well with yours, and these two most certainly fit ;) Ha; or finding someone who's battles you are willing to fight, and vice versa.

“She makes me forget to breathe. She makes me forget everything.”

Broken is a beautiful story of love and redemption for a woman with secrets and a man with physical and emotional scars. Olivia Middleton is leaving her Park Avenue life behind to help an injured veteran in Maine. This happens to be Paul Langdon. He is no longer the star quarterback he once was. The war has left his soul in pieces. He has had countless of caretakers and he continues to chase them away. The moment Paul meets Olivia he wants to chase her away too. But, for different reasons. Little does Olivia know that by agreeing to attend to Paul, she is also risking her heart.

“But she responded. She responded like she was made for me.”

There was not one moment where I wanted to put this book down. Not one. You meet Olivia, the privileged girl who decides to drop out of college to help a veteran. She thinks this will be some sort of penance for her past sins. Until she meets Paul and sees what she’s up against. He’s angry, rude, disrespectful. She second guesses this job for a brief moment and then quickly commits to being there for Paul despite the backlash. As the story progresses, they slowly begin to get to know each other. Paul is hesitant on letting Olivia in, but his heart knows better.

If you think this is a fluffy story, you’re wrong. If you think this is the usual broken people healed by love, you’re wrong again. You are immediately drawn to Paul despite his reluctance to living life. He embeds himself in your heart and you want nothing more than to understand what broke him and what (or whom) can put those pieces back together. The author takes two shattered individuals in a situation where love or the idea of it seems impossible.Her writing style is flawless in the way she conveys this beautiful and emotional story. You do more than watch them fall for each other. You feel it.

“You made me whole. You took a wretched, broken soul and showed him how to take his life back.”

Broken definitely brings a refreshing twist to the NA genre. The characters and the storyline are genuine and will keep you immersed in the story the entire time. This story truly gives truth to finding love even in the darkest of places. You will feel the moment Paul’s dark soul comes alive the moment he sees the light in Olivia’s. Their love is unlike any I’ve read. It faces a darkness and sorrow not experienced in other books. Broken and it’s characters absolutely captured my heart and I highly recommend it to any fan of the romance genre.

I absolutely loved Broken!! I was hooked from the moment I picked it up; I couldn’t put it down so I read it in a day. Lauren Layne’s writing and storytelling keeps getting better and better with each new book she puts out. I’ve read all her books so far and for me Broken is by far the best. Lauren Layne is defiantly one of my favorite authors and I won’t ever wait to read her books.

Broken is the story of Olivia Middleton and Paul Langdon. The story is a great retelling of Beauty and the Beast, Olivia being the beautiful Upper East Side girl and Paul being the damaged, angry recluse. Olivia wants to get as far away as she can from her New York life and her biggest mistake. Relocating to Maine to help an injured vet, Olivia hopes that helping might be the start she needs to right her wrongs. What she wasn’t expecting to find is an angry man, around her age that she is completely drawn too.

Paul Langdon doesn’t think of himself as the good looking hometown football hero anymore but a disgusting man inside and out. Returning home from Afghanistan a completely changed man, Paul no longer wants to be around anyone, he would rather stay in his fathers secluded home drunk and alone. His father has sent many caretakers to try and help Paul out of his downward spiral but he has become good at chasing them away. That’s until a beautiful blonde shows up and turns Paul’s life upside down. Olivia awakes feelings and desirers in Paul that he thought he would never feel again.

Olivia and Paul butt heads at first, Paul not wanting to let her in and Olivia not letting him scare her off. Olivia slowly chips away at Paul’s defenses and starts to get a look at the real man under all the brooding and temper tantrums and what she finds is a man she could really fall for. That is if they are able to move on from their past and start looking toward their future.

Olivia and Paul had a fiery chemistry from the beginning and things just kept getting hotter and hotter between them. Even though Paul was a jerk and mean a lot of the time, I still couldn’t help falling for him. He was so broken and lost I just wanted to wrap him up and make it all better for him. I really connected with Broken and still can’t stop thinking about the characters and the story, Broken is going to be one of those stories’ that will stick with me.

I recommend this book to everyone. It’s a great story to get all wrapped up in and I felt like it could be read as a stand-alone too.

Come meet the recluse Beast/@sshole extraordinaire/Mr. Grumpy Oldman, who is non-other-than Paul Langdon. Dear Paul is 24 year old war veteran who busted up his left leg and had scars on his left face. He decided to live as a recluse at his father's mansion at Maine and stay away from humanity while he mourn for the life he could be having. The silver lining is he felt sorry for his dead best friend, Alex and currently providing for Alex's family. Or else, I would be more than glad to kidney-punched him and strangle him, despite him being a handicap.

After running off countless of caretakers, his father decided to hire Olivia Middleton, a 22 year old, New York socialite who had a sudden interest in philanthropy. Paul is warn that if he can't keep Olivia for three months, his father will kick him out of the house. Paul decided to play nice, but he never expect Olivia to be so young and not a middle age frumpy nurse. A normal guy would be elated, but for Paul, he is mad that Olivia remind him of a life he could never have.

Olivia didn't know what she is signing up for. But she knew she had to leave New York and away from a relationship disaster that she had caused. If being a caretaker for a war vet is what is takes, she will endure it. But one look at Paul, she is a goner. Okay, the man is a total @sshole, but he is hot.

Honestly, I felt it a bit tactless for Olivia to be drooling over Paul after the first meeting. Hmm... Anyway, they have this weird relationship of pissing off each other. Paul behaves as aforementioned, while Olivia kept pushing his buttons and annoyed him to no end. But what she did manage to spark up Paul's mundane lifestyle and force him back into the living.

I don't feel this book is overall emotional despite it touch on some war experience on Paul's part. Only when Paul finally recount his experience during his tour, did I felt like shedding some tears. Apart from that they both had a rather antagonistic relationship with tons of bickering going on like any normal young adult.

The ending is pretty well done, but a bit too abrupt for my taste. I would have appreciate if we can see how well Paul is adapting to his new lifestyle with Olivia. Both of them had grown so much since they first met. Olivia is no longer the self entitled rich girl who had no direction in life, and Paul is no longer the insecure recluse who was wasting off his life.

4 ½ stars
Review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book! It had all the elements that make her books some of my favorites: humor, snarky banter, and relatable characters. We originally met Olivia, the heroine of Broken, in Isn’t She lovely (which btw, I absolutely adored). In Broken, Olivia takes a job caring for an injured veteran as a means of running away from and obtaining absolution for a mistake she made. I actually thought Olivia was too hard on herself. Yes what she did was wrong, but I didn’t feel that it was as horrible as she felt it was. I really loved how sassy Olivia was and how she never took any crap from Paul, the injured vet she was caring for. She didn’t treat him fragilely because he was injured and she never shied away from looking at or talking about his injuries.

When we met Paul, the hero, he was broken, though mostly on the inside. He was a bitter, cruel bastard. So many times in Broken I hated Paul. I understood why he behaved as he did though. He had seen and been through some truly horrible things however; he was just so mean to everyone around him, especially Olivia. Eventually with Olivia’s help, Paul began to let go of some of the bitterness and we in turn began to see a kinder, gentler side to him.

I love Lauren Layne’s writing. I’ve said it before and I will say it again, I will read absolutely ANYTHING she writes. Her books suck you in from the start so that you just can’t put them down! Broken was no exception. I just HAD to know what would happen between Paul and Olivia and how they’d each resolve their issues. Layne’s characters are always relatable and likeable and she really gets you to care about them.

And as always with Layne's books, Broken contained a great deal of snarky banter, which I loved. She does snark better than any other author I’ve read. And it was the perfect amount of humor to balance out some of the darker, more serious moments in the book.

I have only one complaint about Broken and that was it’s length! I felt like it was too short! I would have loved a slower build-up to Paul and Olivia’s relationship. I felt there could have been many more shared, tender moments between Paul and Olivia, showing us, the readers, just how close they’d become. Now that’s not to say that there weren’t any tender moments in the book because there definitely were, but I wanted MORE of them! I really liked this couple and just wanted to spend more time with them.

Overall, another very good read by Lauren Layne. I would recommend Broken to readers who like real romances, particularly those with tortured heroes and the women who help them heal.

I absolutely love Lauren Layne's contemporary romances. They are clever and romantic and you can just lose yourself in them. I am still getting on-board with her YA books. I read the first book in this series awhile ago, and some how lost track that I had the next two books to read. What a wonderful surprise this week. So this story followed Olivia to Maine, after her disastrous introduction in the last book, as Ethan Price's evil, stuck-up, cheating ex-girlfriend. Or so we were lead to believe. I actually liked Olivia...people do stupid things when they are in their 20's. Plus, with how cute Ethan and Stephanie were...I didn't really give Olivia another thought. So in this book, it's all about Olivia finding her perfect match. And find it she did...in a wounded, military vet with the personality of battery acid. I must say I liked Paul a bit more than Olivia...Paul is complicated and dark, but underneath the acerbic nature, he just wants to be normal again. Olivia brings him back to life, in a manner of speaking, therefore, she's ok in my book. I enjoyed their story a lot and can't wait to tell you how everything goes for Michael, in Crushed, in my next review.

I received a copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

4.5 REDEMPTION STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

WOW, what can I say? This book was a pleasant and unexpected surprise. I was so hooked that I read 25% of the book without even stopping, not realizing that I had read so much.
This is a story of redemption. Of being broken and torn apart but then allowing life, circumstances and love to mend and repair, making you whole again, a better person.

"...Olivia hasn't just taught me how to love she's done something much bigger. She's taught me how to live."

Olivia was witty, stubborn, strong, funny, but real and instantly I wanted to be her best friend. I really enjoyed learning about her and seeing her thought process through this book.

"But that's not what bothers me. What bothers me is that I want *her* to be *mine* to take."

Paul was definitely an ass and beyond infuriating at times. Man, all those frustrating moments were frustrating. But they were so well written, so wonderfully worded, that at the same time they were less frustrating because Paul knew he was being so callous, so hurtful, so cruel. It's hard to put into words the way the frustration made me feel because though it was frustrating, it wasn't.

"No catch. Actually, that's not true. I fully intend to trade conversation for a blow job later."

And the sexual tension, the sexual chemistry, the steam, the spark was so palpable that it lit this book on fire.

"She takes a step closer. I take a step back, but I'm pinned by the weight machine. The little minx has me cornered. She scoots up nice and close. In other words, torment."

I look forward to reading more books from this Lauren Layne.

Broken was so good!!! I loved the plot, loved the characters and I can’t wait to read more from the author. I’ve been really into damaged hero books lately and Broken was one of the best ones I’ve read in a long time.

I liked the female lead Olivia right away. She has her issues: she’s grown up entitled and has never had to own up to her mistakes. As a way to remedy her sins, she takes on a caretaking job for an injured vet named Paul.

Paul isn’t your typical dreamy romance lead. He’s scarred from war—both physically and mentally. Paul has so much hate inside of him and I was really hoping he’d eventually let Olivia in as a way to heal from the past. Olivia and Paul had so much chemistry that the pages sizzled each time they were together.

I sped through this book. The pace was exceptional and I never felt the plot drag at all. Because Paul and Olivia are pretty isolated, the sole focus was mostly on his recovery and her quest for redemption. This kept the story from getting bogged down with too many subplots.

I liked the resolution although I did want a little more. I didn’t want to say goodbye to these characters that I fell in love with! I saw there are standalone spin-offs, so I’m hoping the duo pop up again.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Broken by Lauren Layne is a magnificent read packed full of heartache, pain, and finding redemption in the most unexpected places. Always the good girl, Olivia is swimming in guilt over one wrong choice and needs to escape her perfect;y sculpted posh life. She escapes to help a veteran in an attempt at gaining closure but she finds redemption isn't an easy task. Paul has been broken by war both physically and emotionally. He's stubborn and crass, but something about Olivia's resilience to his harshness gets under his skin.

I loved the dynamic between our hero and heroine. At times I melted over the genuine moments these two shared, but also cringed when Paul intentionally set out to destroy Olivia's spirit. Their relationship at times was tumultuous and destructive but also had the potential to heal and soothe the broken parts of each character. Even at their worst, I couldn't help but love these damaged characters.

The story flowed smoothly, and it was easy to get lost in Layne's fictional world. I loved the angst and uncertainty I felt at how the story might unfold. The drama doesn't stop until you reach the end. Broken showed me that even the deepest scars can be mended. These characters cannot erase the darkness in their pasts, but they can relinquish their guilt and invest themselves in creating a brighter future. Broken by Lauren Layne will lead you through heartbreak and tragedy to romance and redemption in this incredibly written stand alone novel.

4.5 Broken Stars

Olivia Middleton is an only child and who grew up with wealth and privilege. For years she was what everyone expected her to be the perfect student, daughter, and girlfriend to Ethan. Then one day she made a mistake. A mistake she can’t forgive herself for, so she decides to drop out of NYU the summer before her senior year and pursue a more philanthropic life. Her parents find her to a job in Maine caring for a wounded veteran, this isn’t exactly what Olivia had in mind, but she agrees to make her parents happy.

Paul Langdon is a damaged man, he has visible scars, but the worse of his scars are the ones you can’t see. He has been back from Afghanistan for 3 year and ran off numerous caregivers and nurses, but his father has given him an ultimatum: make it work with Olivia for at least three months or he will be kicked out of his home.

Olivia and Paul are both running and hiding from their past, both in need of repair. What will become of this pair can they help each other overcome the past or will they both just end up more damaged?

I have read a couple of books by Lauren Layne and this one is definitely my favorite. I loved seeing the journey and transformation in both characters. Paul and Olivia fought and bickered and it felt real to me. It wasn’t an insta-love connection, it was a relationship that took time, effort and patience.

I highly recommend this book. It is short, had some hot sexy times, angst, and some super sweet moments too.

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Ahh! Lauren Layne delivers another wonderful story that I enjoyed immensely. Broken is a about a guilt ridden young lady seeking her penance by doing charity work. But instead of going off to South America or Africa her well-to-do parents get her a position as a companion to a veteran that is a little closer to home. The veteran is also a young man disabled in the war who views his life as good as over the only thing keeping him going is paying medical cost for his dead best friends little girl who not only just lost her father but is trying to fight cancer. This story of Redemption is the first in the series and if they follow in Broken’s footsteps they are bound to be just as good.

Olivia Middleton is moving to Maine. She dropped out of school and has gotten a job as a caregiver. Family and friends think she is doing it out of the kindness of her own heart but the truth is she is just running away. Running away from friends and family, from the boyfriend she betrayed and the best friend she betrayed him with. Olivia feels like the worst person in the world and she hopes by helping someone in need that it will help her feel less like the scum of the universe.

Paul Langdon was the golden boy, son of a wealthy hotel mogul, high school quarterback the boy all the girls wanted. Until he disappoints his father by choosing to join the Marines and further disappoints his father when he comes back wounded the only one in his group to survive and scarred inside and out. Now Paul sits locked up in his house scaring away all the caretakers his father sends up. After the last one not lasting very long at all his father gives him the ultimatum keep this next one for at least three months or your out on your own no more money, no more house. Paul grudgingly agrees fro the sake of the little girl without a father dying of cancer.

Paul and Olivia are instantly attracted to one another but neither one wants to feel that attraction. The snide comments and hostile attitude gradually gives way to a companionable meeting and a truce. The friendship grows but Paul not wanting, not letting himself feel anything more pushes and discovers her secrets and rubs them in her face. Olivia stays the three months required for Paul’s agreement with his father but she leaves, broken hearted but better off then when she first arrived she learned self forgiveness is just a important as someone else’s. Paul is a sexy horrible mess but just maybe their is hope for him.

I loved the banter back and forth between Paul and Olivia, not to mention it leads to way steamier scenes. A tear-jerker but heartwarming and hopeful.

BROKEN tells the story of Paul and Olivia, a couple of young rich kids from New England who seek retribution and forgiveness.
The concept of being broken is a theme throughout the book. We discover that Olivia is broken due to failed relationships; Paul is broken in body, mind and spirit through his war injuries. Even Paul’s father is broken in his relationship with his son. It’s a last chance for them all to pick up the pieces and make themselves whole again.

The book’s portrayal of a wounded veteran and his life is highly accurate. Paul’s issues with PTSD, nightmares, physical limitations and alcohol abuse are a terrible reality for our wounded warriors. The fact that Lauren Layne chooses to portray Paul as having so many issues is a more accurate representation since many of these heroes suffer from multiple problems.

Paul’s intense anger at his condition and the world around him, bordering on the sadistic at times, drives the plot, creating the motive for Olivia’s need to be helpful. It’s this element that gives them both the strength to move forward with their new lives.

The secondary characters at Bar Harbor are an excellent addition to the tale but I found the characters tied to Olivia’s life in New York a bit two dimensional. However they don’t have much to contribute to the story so it doesn’t detract from the tale itself. The plot is highly character-driven and mostly believable.

One flaw I find in the story is the issue of why Olivia needs to leave New York for Bar Harbor. She is fleeing two bad relationships but I felt her problems were not sufficiently serious enough to merit the worry grief she felt. Olivia is portrayed as a strong woman with strong ideals but the fact that she is running from the adversity of a failed romance such as the one portrayed is not consistent with the character’s motives. The conclusion to the story, while meeting the HEA requirement, left me a little cold in that it seemed that the loose ends were wrapped up too quickly and neatly. It was my desire to see more of a fight or struggle between Olivia and Paul as they decide to give their love a serious try.

BROKEN is a good story about believing in someone and healing wounded souls. I would recommend it for its portrayal of the plight of our wounded soldiers.

Olivia needs time away from all those she knows. Everyone thinks she is doing it to help others but only she knows it is to help someone and to feel better about the mistakes she has made. She thinks it will be an easy job helping a veteran. Only she soon finds out he isn't what she thought he would be and he doesn't want her there. Paul is used to people giving him a horrified look. He was injured in the war and only wants to be by his self. He has ran every care taker he has had off. Now his father has let him know that he has to let this one stick around for three months or he is cut off. Olivia is the worse thing that he ever pictured. She makes him long for the days when he was young, carefree and had no scars. Both have inner demons they are battling and if they work together they may help each other and find happiness.

I have to say I read about Olivia in another book and she is not at all what I pictures from that book. Getting to know the real her was amazing. She is full of regrets and hates how things ended with her ex. She knows what she did is wrong and she hurt not just him but it also ruined her friendship with her best friend. She is not one to push people but she does manage to get them to do what she wants. With Paul she doesn't treat him like an invalid or like he is ugly. She gives him hell right back when he thinks he can push her away. I love how she stands her ground and tries her best to do the right thing for her. Paul at first seems like a huge ass. He is hateful to everyone and pushes all away. He doesn't think anyone will ever be able to see past the scars. He is very protective of people he cares about. I have to say I like the side of him Olivia brings out. He is a great guy and I love what he needs his money for.

This was a great story of two people who butt heads a lot. They both have inner scars and in Paul's case outer as well. Olivia gets him to want to heal and go out. She teaches him the world is still out there and he needs to join it. I have to say I enjoyed seeing Olivia get the closure she needs. She is a great character to get to know. I hated how Paul acted at first but I do say I can easily understand why he feels that way. To get to see the real Paul that Olivia brings out is a joy. There is plenty of hotness between them and I will say at first I worried how Olivia would act towards him but she did amazing. This was a wonderful book I could easily see myself reading again.

Having recently read another one of Lauren Layne’s books, I was really excited to start this one. As well as a little apprehensive to be honest. After reading the synopsis, it seemed a little dark. Being the fluff queen that I am, it gave me a little pause. However, after I started Broken, I could not put it down.

As we meet Olivia, she is a socialite seeking redemption from an unsavory situation between her ex-boyfriend. This is why she is self-exiling herself to Bar Harbor, Maine to take care of what she believes to be an old crippled vet. The crippled vet part she had right. Old? Not so much. Paul Langdon is beautifully damaged marine injured in Afghanistan that has cut himself off from society as he lets guilt and anger eat away at him.

I immediately got a Beauty and the Beast vibe when reading. Paul, injured both physically (his face was also scarred) and emotionally, he was the beast in this. And he didn't disappoint. He was a major dick! But you knew that it was a defensive mechanism and the whole time I found myself wanting Olivia to just come in and break down his walls.

Beauty Olivia was, but she wasn't some timid bookworm. She seemed to come alive when she was with Paul in a way she never had before. And it helped that they were both kindred spirits running from pasts that threatened to break them individually.

The attraction between these two basically melted the words off the page. Paul was someone Olivia should be scared of and he tried so hard to push his new caregiver away but Olivia went toe for toe with him. I liked that she didn't back down from him. I also loved that they had really great banter from the beginning. They just seemed to complement each other in ways others couldn't.

Lauren Layne seriously knows how to balance the sexy with the heart wrenching plots. The times that she went into the war aspect, I didn't feel overwhelmed by the heavy subject. It was tasteful and respectful. Sometimes I did find myself predicting some of the things that were going to happen. However, it didn't take away from the story at hand which in my opinion went hand in hand with the love story in the forefront.

~ Reviewed by Nikki @ Lazy Book Lovers

Know what's so great about contemporary romances? They mirror someone's reality. Pain and suffering aren't things I wish on anyone, but people live with one or both everyday. Emotional pain can be just as bad as physical pain. Denial, anger, and depression are all common reactions to whatever pain someone's feeling, but those reactions can be hard for others to deal with.

The intensity of Paul's pain is so well-written, there was little doubt left in my mind that his pain went deeper than scars and a shattered leg. It was emotional. Add to that the cause of his pain... He wasn't a pretty man to be around. He was surly, cynical, arrogant, and mean. Sometimes he was all of those because he didn't know how else to be, sometimes because he didn't know how to handle what he was feeling or thinking.

I wish I could say Olivia wasn't like that, that she was perfect for him because she was opposite of him. But she wasn't. She was just like Paul, running from a situation she didn't want to address, hiding from truths she didn't want to hear. Unlike Paul, she was willing to eventually face her past and deal with it but only after she was forced to.

Attraction wasn't an issue for these two. Their pasts were. Sex and euphoria were temporary escapes from the elephant in the room: Paul's refusal to really start living. Olivia said it best, "I love you, Paul, but I won't live for you." The decision to live beyond the walls imprisoning him had to be his choice. She couldn't make it for him, couldn't live like that with him. Just as she faced her past, he needed to face that one thing keeping him finally moving on.

This is a beautiful story about love borne from pain and tragedy and complete brokenness. It's about realizing how strong you really are, how physical appearances mean little to the one who loves you more than life itself. Ms. Layne did a stupendous job taking two twenty-somethings, making them grow up under difficult circumstances, and transforming into completely different people. Olivia and Paul might still be young in life, but they are old and strong enough now to handle anything that comes their way because they've overcome what held them back for too long: fear.

***Received from NetGalley via Tasty Book Tours for an honest review***

This is technically the second book in the Redemption series. Isn't She Lovely was a prequel to the series and this book is about Olivia, Ethan's snobby ex. Having shame over what she has done to Ethan, Olivia is seeking forgiveness of sorts by dropping out of school and volunteering to help others. Her initial goal was to go overseas though her wealthy family had other plans and Olivia will be helping a disabled vet who's wealthy father is a friend of a friend.

Olivia was initially expecting some older disable vet and was surprised to meet Paul who is not only downright sexy and good looking minus a scar on his face but is also right around her age. Paul is not thrilled when he learns another caretaker is coming his way and he is just as shocked as Olivia as he was expecting another middle aged or older woman, not a hot girl near his age.

I will not lie, Paul is a first class jerk. He has issues and a sense of guilt from his time overseas. With his war injuries he really feels that he is limited not only in action but in ability to be around others. He sees himself as a freak. Secluding himself in Maine, he has no issues of making his way back to the real world.

I did like the change which takes place with them. Olivia's sassy attitude was refreshing, though at times I could not believe someone as young as her would be strong enough against the emotional damage Paul inflicts. At times she seems like a doormat. Then towards the end she completely changes her attitude and it was odd in my mind. I wondered what happened to her patience.

Regardless, I did enjoy the story and the characters did have good chemistry. This book can be read as a stand alone but a reader would likely get more from the story if read in order. Plus, I really loved the first book.

Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 plus stars

LOVED this book!
Sigh... so much love for Olivia and Paul.

When Olivia Middleton abandons the glamour of Park Avenue for a remote, coastal town in Maine, everyone assumes she’s being the kind do-gooder she’s always been. But Olivia has a secret: helping an injured war veteran reenter society isn't about charity—it’s about penance. Only, Olivia’s client isn't the grateful elderly man she’s expecting. Instead, he’s a brooding twenty-four-year-old who has no intention of being Olivia’s path to redemption . . . and whose smoldering gaze and forbidden touch might be her undoing.

I fell in love with both Olivia and Paul, loved their interactions and the way they both brought out all these emotions in each other.
The chemistry and attraction between Olivia and Paul is off the charts. You can feel it from the moment they meet, it was that strong.

Paul is in such a dark place mentally, he's struggling with the memories and scars from the war that has him lashing out to anyone who attempts to get close.
When Paul finds out his father has hired Olivia to look after him he is pissed. OH BOY is he mad! The things he throws Olivia's way I would have been running out the front door from the first meeting! lol

But even though Paul's words hurt Olivia she doesn't give into his pity party, she was smart about the way she'd challenge him and slowly Paul was doing things he didn't think he'd be able to do again.

This book had me feeling so many different emotions. I was laughing one minute then getting all teary the next.

Lauren Layne has written a powerful and emotional story that holds your interest from the first page.
I finished the book and wanted to start it all over again, that's how much I loved it.

I highly recommend Broken and The Redemption series, you will not be disappointed.

Olivia and Paul were both broken. As the blurb goes, Broken tells the love story of the girl who has secrets and a guy with scars.

Olivia Middleton drops out of the university, abandons her luxurious life in Park Avenue for a remote, coastal town in Maine. If she were to have a choice, she would have wanted somewhere further, but she agreed to a compromise. Well, anywhere but New York. After what have transpired, she needed an escape. Most people would think she was off to save the world, doing something kind for someone, little did they know, it was about penance. But she was in for a big surprise when she came face to face with the ‘old’ man she was supposed to take care of – he’s a cranky twenty-four-year old who had no intention of making her stay a pleasant one. He’s a man who had flickered a spark inside of her that she didn’t expect. Chemistry – the first time they have met, you can already feel it between them. Sparks were flying all over, and the sexual tension was off the charts. I was glad she didn’t back out, instead, Olivia stood firm, and gave it her best shot. Gee – even from the start, she was already making me smile and making me proud.

Paul had driven out a lot of caregivers in the past. He was no longer the man he was used to be. Instead, he was replaced with a scarred, dark persona whose nights are filled with terrible nightmares that has been haunting him since he had come back home from the war. He wanted to be just left alone, and would do anything to maintain the solitude. But he needed to accept his father’s ultimatum and live with his newest caretaker for three months or he’ll lose everything. What he didn’t expect was a hot, twenty-two-year-old who makes him yearn things he couldn’t have.

Olivia didn’t give up. Day by day, she was working past his defenses, past his walls. It was fun watching him fight it, trying to stay like he was prior to her arrival. But this girl – she’s a force to be reckoned with. Before he knew it, he was doing things he didn’t know he was capable of.

Olivia had wanted him to live, and I was glad she did what she did. It was heartbreaking, but he needed a dose of reality. Even his father, whom I wasn’t really fond of, showed some emotions in the later part of the novel which had me teary-eyed. Paul may have allowed himself to fall in love, but Olivia, and the rest of the people who loved him wanted to watch him live again.

Oh, you will hate her before you love her. But I swear, before the novel will end, you will be head over hills in love with her. Olivia had come a long way. She might start out like a snob, or a brat, but she ended up grounded. I love how her ‘charitable’ endeavor changed her, even though it broke her heart. But the Olivia we knew in Ethan’s story almost ceased to exist. Yes, she still have those temptations and miss her extravagant lifestyle – but the new Olivia knows how to swallow her pride, lives on her own (in a not-so-glamorous apartment, I might say and pays for her own bills. Quite a change, right?

What I didn’t expect to see was her vulnerability. I was prepared to hate her more, to wish her ill after all she did. Instead, Lauren Lane managed to turn the tides and before I knew it, I was rooting for her happy ending!!

The author didn’t sugarcoat her imperfections, what she did. She knew what she did was bad, and is remorseful over it. I can feel her guilt, and her shame. It was eating her. Nevertheless, Lauren Layne showed that change is the only constant thing in the world. And even the meanest, toughest girl is capable of it – watching her transform through the pages, but still maintaining the feistiness in her without being a b**ch was pretty much a sight to behold.

They were an imperfect couple, with so many flaws but had found the perfect love in each other. I love how the story progressed – it didn’t drag, the pace was perfect. My emotions were all over the pages, I laugh, I cry, I fell in love, and got my heart broken somewhere. This was a great read – finished this in one sitting. Lauren Layne didn’t give me any reason to put this one down.

This one goes to my favorite list!

•Complimentary Copy was given in exchange for an honest review.•

More of my reviews at http://reviewsofabookmaniac.blogspot.com

An angsty modern day Beauty and the Beast where both are “completely shattered souls.” And while one is trying to put the pieces back together, the other has lost all hope. Can “two spoiled, damaged disasters” be fixed?

I briefly met Olivia in the prequel Isnt’ She Lovely. Other than her name, I knew the very basic about her and from that I wasn’t sure I wanted to know more. She seemed like a spoiled superficial rich brat with little substance. But appearances can be deceiving and the more I read about her the more I liked her.

Dropping out of NYU to basically hide from her transgression against her now ex-boyfriend Ethan and her best friend Michael, she moves to help care for a wounded veteran who she knows nothing about. Thinking she’ll be looking out for an older man, she gets the shock of her life when she meets Paul, “a guy who’s one part beautiful mystery and one part unpredictable beast.”

Wanting to atone for actions, she sticks to her assigned role as caretaker for Paul, even when he was downright mean. But she shows that his brooding, tormented and surly attitude won’t deter her and if anything she’s even more determined to break his emotional barriers and try to bring him back to a semblance of normal.

I found myself aching for and with Paul and at the same time wanting to smother him. His scars aren’t just superficial. He’s angry at everything and everyone. He carries an underserving guilt and is resigned to live out his life alone. Unloved and uncared for and making sure of it with his immensely horrid attitude. Especially towards Olivia.

“It’s just so romantic. The beautiful angel swooping in to save the surly d!ckwad who’s quite possibly a murderous recluse.”

But I was surprised with Olivia because she’s brave enough to see through his mask giving us glimpses of what’s underneath, bold enough to acknowledge their attraction, and then strong and confident enough to know that you can only help those who want it.

“I’m never going to understand what you’ve been through, Paul, or how you feel, but I do understand that the only person in control of it is you.”

“So those are my options. I can live in the light without you, or stay here in the dark with you.”

From my previous two Lauren reads, I was expecting a lighthearted book with great dynamics between the characters. This felt like something she needed to write. The dynamics were there, but what I got was a more touching, heartfelt story of two people who found redemption, love and happiness.

I loved the fact that I could have read through it in one sitting. It had me that absorbed in their amusing banter, angst and sexy hot mess.

I’ll be waiting for the next book in the series, but in the meantime I’ll looking for other Lauren Layne books.

**This ARC was kindly provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

5 Amazingly good stars

Why oh why did I wait so long to read anything by this author? Lauren Layne will definitely be on my favorite authors list!! I read "Isn't She Lovely" right before this since they have reoccurring characters. I really liked "Isn't She Lovely" and "Broken" is even better!!

Broken is Beauty and the Beast meets Gossip Girl! I loved every beautiful broken moment of this story. Olivia, who is Ethan's (from Isn't she lovely) ex. I questioned how much I would like reading Olivia's story because I didn't much care for her character in Ethan's story. However, my mind was quickly changed!!

Olivia is a Park West darling. She is getting ready to enter her senior year at NYU, she is the perfect daughter, friend, and girlfriend... or she was until she ruined it all. Now, heavy with guilt and broken hearted over losing the guy she thought she would spend forever with, she is looking to punish herself. To do penance for hurting those she loved. Olivia has decided she will drop out of school, runaway from the family business that is waiting for her, and be a caretaker to an elderly veteran in nowheresville Bangor Maine.

However, when Olivia arrives she finds the surprise of a lifetime. Paul, her elderly charge, isn't so elderly. In fact, he is her age, heartbreakingly handsome despite his scars, and has an attitude and mean streak as wide as Texas. However, Olivia came to do a job and she refuses to allow this bull headed veteran to scare or intimidate her like he has done everyone in the past. She still believes that there is something similar to a human in there, and its her job to bring that out.

Olivia never anticipated the feelings or the lust he would stir in her.

Paul has become a recluse. He doesn't want help from anyone. He is tired of the babysitters his dad continues to send. All he needs is his expensive scotch, his books, and solitude. He is scared, hideous, and afraid to face others. The worst part is, no one realizes that he is scared more than just on the outside, the worst of his scars are the ones no one can see. He is content to live this way until a blond pixie comes along and changes it all.

Paul was expecting a grandma caretaker like all the others he had ran off before. So when beautiful, young, and stubborn Olivia shows up in his home, he wants even more to scare her off.... except he can't because of an agreement he made with his father. He has to keep Olivia around for at least 3 months. The only problem is that she reminds him of all that he is missing out on. When he tries to push her away, she only comes back at him stronger. However, he knows, there is no way a girl like her could ever want a scarred, black souled, monster like him. However, when push comes to shove, will he want her enough to do what it takes?

This is a beautiful written tale of redemption, of being splintered into a million pieces, but allowing love and unlikely circumstances to begin to put those pieces back together again. Maybe even better than before. I have fallen in love with Lauren Layne's writing style and her characters. They are witty, stubborn, strong, funny, infuriating, and so so much more! I really cannot wait to read more by this author and highly recommend this book!

**ARC provided by publisher through netgalley for an honest review**

Olivia’s running from her mistakes, straight to Bar Harbor, Maine. She goes there thinking she’s going to help an elderly veteran, but she meets Paul Langdon, who is anything but. They’re both spoiled, and damaged and...you guessed it - there’s love.

The Good
Ms. Layne’s writing is pretty reliable - her characters are solid, and the dialogue’s funny and revealing and really brings out the connection and attraction that flares immediately between Olivia and Paul. Their chemistry and love scenes were certainly strong and kept me turning the page.

Their relationship is very much Beauty and the Beast inspired, and Paul’s war injuries have left him bitter and angry and most of all, afraid to show his face to the world. Olivia is the perfect young socialite on the surface, and the book begins with her parents throwing her a “congrats on dropping out of college” party. She heads to Bar Harbor to take care of Paul, as a way to figure out what she wants to do with her life, and to heal from the fallout of her mistakes with her ex-boyfriend and her best friend. Olivia’s a decent heroine who can handle whatever Paul dishes out. She’s able to tear down his walls, one at a time and I could believe that Paul was drawn to her, after spending so much time hiding from the world.

Paul started with a life of privilege, but his time in the military changed him and he’s spends alot of time like the Beast, hiding in his castle nursing his sore paw...I mean leg and face. Paul lashes out alot, and he can be cruel, but I liked that this book was split POV, so we spent a fairly equal amount of time in both Olivia and Paul’s heads and understood their motivations, and their pain.

The Could Have Been Better
I understand the nature of the story really supported keeping them isolated, but I would have liked to see Olivia interacting with the secondary characters more, like Kali, instead of being told of off-page conversations. I think there were a few times that I felt like there was something missing from the tale - for example, we never saw Alex’s wife and child, and other than one intense conversation, his torture in Afghanistan felt removed from the tale. As serious as his backstory was, I was left without a real understanding of his wounds until near the end, and even that didn’t have the emotional impact I thought it would have.

The Bottom Line
If you like Beauty and the Beast inspired tales, this may be right up your alley. I’ve enjoyed Ms. Layne’s writing in the past, and aside from some minor quibbles, I did enjoy this story.

This was my first time reading one of Lauren Layne's books and i will definitely be reading more works of hers in the future! Broken is about a young 24 year old wounded soldier named Paul who is use to pushing everyone out of his life until his new caretaker 22 year old Olivia refuses to give up on him. Paul has given up by keeping himself secluded from everyone and everything because he has become a broken mess inside and out after a tragedy while serving in the Marines. Olivia has a secret too that she feels guilty about and that is why she has run away to Maine. The dialogue between Paul and Olivia is hilarious, and she calls him out on being a jerk every time instead of running away or feeling sorry for him. Their relationship is very rocky at first, but then they start to give into their attraction for one another. Paul finally stops making excuses for himself, and realizes that he can still do things that he loved to do before the war. Thankfully they both are able to find their happily ever afters because of help from each other. This romance book had everything I was looking for in it love, redemption, steamy love scenes, exciting plot, and a true connection with the main characters. This book definitely has a modern day realistic Beauty and the Beast feel to it, but at the same time the author manages to make the story unique and refreshing. I love how Olivia became such a strong and stubborn women when you left New York because she gave Paul the hard love that he needed so desperately. It was beautiful how Olivia refused too see him as damaged and ugly! The only thing that this story was missing was an epilogue so with that being said please, please Lauren Layne write a epilogue or novella because I want to know more about this lovely couple!!!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept for providing me with an ARC copy of Broken through Netgalley!

Holy Freakin' WOW. I absolutely LOVED LOVED LOVED this book!!!!

A perfect Beauty and the Beast romance that completely captured my heart and made me feel right down to my soul. Lauren Layne writes a stellar romance about a girl looking for a second chance at life and a boy not wanting to try.

"Not so long ago, I was a bona fide romantic. I believed in true love and happy endings. And then I grew up."

Paul Langdon came back from Afghanistan a broken man. Scarred, injured and with little life left in his soul. Shutting out the rest of the world for what he hoped would have been for the rest of his life.

Olivia Middleton is looking to fix herself. Guilty of her past and wanting to find that second chance at life, she takes up an opportunity to care for who she believes is an old, retired war veteran.

Combine a beautiful twenty-two year old college drop out with the 'hating life' twenty-five year old and watch this incredible romance unfold.

So, their friendship starts off rocky. Paul not wanting Olivia around as he is aware that she could possibly be the key to bringing him back to life. But three months is all he needs to have her there in order for his father to keep his part of the deal. So the mind games begin and before he even realises it himself, his plan begins to backfire.

But that's all I'm saying about the storyline. It's beautiful to watch unfold without knowing more than that. The chemistry between Paul and Olivia is incredible. You feel it through the pages almost immediately.

"That went wrong. All wrong. I'd meant only to scare her off, the big ugly brute making a move, and instead she responded like a cat in heat. She responded like she wanted me. Which obviously was only a part of her game, but . . . for a second I wanted her to want me."

Lauren Layne writes awesome romance's. I am such a huge fan and Broken is a perfect example of why.

If you love those romances that hook you in, break your heart, make you feel soooo much and then slowly put you back together, rooting for the broken soul in the process, then this is the book for you!

*I received an ARC of this book free from NetGalley on behalf of Random House Publishing Group – Loveswept in exchange for an honest review*

I love wounded vet romance stories, especially when the woman is as feisty as the brooding-angry-hate-the-world man. Oh and Olivia definitely is. The way she reacts to Paul’s meanness is so perfect you can’t help but smile. She may not know what she’s doing, but she’s sure stubborn enough to stay at it.

Each has their reasons. Olivia is there for her version of redemption. Paul attempts to allow her to stay because of a promise which keeps him from kicking her out.

Paul couldn’t save his friend, but he he’ll do what he can to provide for his friend’s family. It’s his way of coping. Well, that and alcohol. When he’s graced with another companion he expects her to be like all the rest, freaked out about his scars and unwilling to take his mouthy insults, but he was wrong. Olivia is beautiful and she’ll take anything he throws at her. That is until he goes one step too far.

Broken is as heartbreaking as it is heartwarming. It’s a story about two people saving each other from themselves. The attraction between them is intense right from the beginning, even though they both do all sorts of things to ignore it. They’re the right amount of ‘opposite attracts’ to keep their interactions intriguing and keep the reader, in this case ME, completely unsure of what’ll happen next.

My Favorite Laughable Moments: There’s a few moments that had me laughing and all of them had to do with the way Olivia speaks to Paul. Like when she brings up his snake cane, or when she cajoles him into a meal with her. Loved those!

I was a little nervous when I started Broken, Olivia featured somewhat as the enemy in the first book in this series Isn’t She Lovely and I was interested to see what sort of story Lauren would give her.

We were pathetic privileged monsters, and I, for one, am determined to change, even if his isn’t.

Olivia in the first few pages of the book is someone I really though I wasn’t going to like, but as the story progresses, I fell more and more in love with her. Paul really does treat her pretty abhorrently at points, but rather than give up, pack up and go running back to her wealthy parents and hassle free lifestyle. She stands up and fights for herself, and for Paul.

She makes me long for normal. She has to go.

I loved Paul too, he was an absolute idiot in the beginning of their story, but as Olivia kept bouncing back from his attempts to get rid of her, he gradually opened up more, and you got too see the real guy beneath, and not just the miserable anti-social invalid, he wanted people to believe he was.

There has to be a human being left under the cold savage. I just don’t know how to reach him… yet.

There are a lot of moments in this where I had to stop and take a breath and wipe away a tear, don’t for one second think that this book is light and fluffy because it is being released under the Flirt/Rouge logo. Both Olivia and Paul have issues and secrets they are keeping from each other that they work through as the book progresses, and I struggled to put this book down.

She’s gorgeous and dazzling. I’m disfigured at best, monstrous at worst.

I adored the first book in the Redemption series, and I loved this one too, the ending just made me want to hug the random person sitting next to me on the bus. I hope we don’t have to wait too long for Michael to get his book, I am keen to see where Lauren takes us next.

”I’d go anywhere for you.”

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and I was my absolute pleasure to provide the above honest review.

4.5 Stars
BROKEN by Lauren Layne is a beautiful love story told in dual points of view. Paul Langdon is a brooding, wounded twenty-four-year-old war veteran. He is in self-imposed seclusion. He has scars on the outside, but they can’t rival the scars he carries on the inside. Olivia Middleton has left the glitz of Park Avenue for a coastal town in Maine to help an injured war vet reenter society. She is doing this for recompense for a wrong that she has committed and feels guilty for. She is expecting her client to be an elderly gentleman. Paul is trying to meet his father’s ultimatum that he accept and tolerate the newest caretaker for three months, or lose his inheritance. He keeps running them off, and his father is determined that he have one, for no other reason than human contact.

First, let me admit that I’m a total romance junky. My favorite theme is about “healing the broken soul.” I am a sucker for the “Beauty and the Beast” type of romance. This one fits the bill perfectly! Lauren Layne tells a beautiful story that wraps you up in it almost immediately and doesn’t let you go until the last page. Paul Langdon is definitely a tortured and broken soul. Having Olivia around only reminds him of what he can no longer have…or can he?

The banter between Paul and Olivia will make you laugh out loud. She is determined to get under his skin, and he is determined not to let her. It is fun to watch these two spar. Olivia is able to see through Paul’s rough façade to the kinder and gentler soul beneath. I loved watching her peel away the layers of this complicated man. Olivia is a strong and sassy heroine and does not let him wear down her defenses. She’s got this!

Lauren Layne has written a beautifully sexy and beautifully intense book. BROKEN was an incredibly memorable story and I know it's going to linger with me for a long time.

*An advance reading copy was generously provided by the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Broken! It's a story of redemption and self-acceptance with a Beauty and the Beast feel to it.

Olivia was trying to atone for her mistakes she made with her ex-boyfriend, which you'll be familiar with if you read the prequel (I didn't). Even though I didn't read the prequel, I didn't feel like I was missing anything, which is how a story should be written. I've recently come across several books that were part of a series but "could be read as standalones" that made me feel like I came in during the middle of a story. In that respect, the author did an amazing job of writing a true standalone novel. I think the prequel would just supplement an already great story!

While Paul was a bit frustrating with his hot and cold act, I still liked his character. He lashed out at Olivia a lot, who took it like a champ. I don't know if I would have stuck it out as long as she did. When they were able to get past their differences and form a relationship, they were adorable together. I found myself laughing out loud at their conversations.

Beyond the romantic relationship, we also got a glimpse into the interactions between Paul and his father. Paul's relationship with his father was strained. The picture we get of his dad is that he is unfeeling. However, we have to remember that we're reading from Paul's perspective which is skewed in a negative direction most of the time. When I took a step back, I could see that his dad was doing the best he could in an bad situation. He thought he was helping. We have to look past what Paul is seeing/feeling to recognize that his dad is a good man that only wanted to help his child.

This is a must read for anyone that likes to see people overcome their insecurities! I will definitely be reading more of this author!

*Thank you Netgalley for this review copy*

Now Broken is about Olivia Middleton a twenty-one year old socialite who drops out of NYU on her senior year to go help an injured veteran in Maine.

There she meets twenty-four year old Paul Langdon who doesn't want or need a caretaker. But Paul's father gives him an ultimatum and he accepts.

While I was reading Broken I kept feeling a Me Before You vibe. It wasn't that strong but it was strong enough for me to notice and I didn't really like it.

I also felt that the characters were okay, I felt that Paul was really mean and was really confusing to figure out. Even though this novel is in dual POV.

Broken was an alright read for me. Nothing amazing but nothing horrible.

I received an ecopy of this book through netgalley.

OH WOW. I thoroughly enjoyed Isn't She Lovely, and was so excited to read a new novel that was somehow related....I didn't initially remember who Olivia was, so didn't comprehend how she fit in (you know, being Eric's ex girlfriend, the one he didn't want to get back together with). I really want to go back and reread that book now though. I don't know where I'm going with this....let's start again.

I am a HUGE fan of Beauty and the Beast....mostly the Disney version, but so sue me. So I had a feeling this one was going to be a golden story for me, but in the wrong hands it could've been just good. In Ms. Layne's hands it was fantastic. Olivia was so sassy, and frankly hilarious, and I LOVED that Paul brought out this different side to her. There was so much passion between them right from the start, even if that passion looked like immense conflict and annoyance at first. I LOVED that they were BOTH something that the other person needed. It wasn't just about Olivia being there to heal Paul; it was about Paul being there to heal Olivia too.

And holy smokes the chemistry.... I mean seriously, that was just *sigh*....

And in case I'm giving the wrong impression, this isn't like a word for word retelling of Beauty and the Beast....but more like a real life story with elements inspired by the tale.

Can't wait to see how Michael's story is going to play out.

Broken is the first book in the Redemption series by Lauren Layne. It also follows Isn't She Lovely and shares one controversial character, Olivia. Olivia is floating with no idea what she really wants to do. She is going off to Bar Harbor, Maine to take care of a wounded war veteran which wasn't exactly the plan but it was better than staying in her old life. What better way to atone for her indiscretion that cost her both of her closest friends. Paul, said wounded war veteran, is far from doddering nor is he middle aged. In fact he is young, fit and gorgeous but disfigured with scars externally and within. Suffering from PTSD with no one who really seems to care, he has a burden that he can't seem to share. Lauren Layne is one of my favorite authors to date. She manages to craft a tale with all the makings of a very heavy angsty NA romance and turns it into something real. There was a good balance of witty charm, poignant moments, heavy almost dramatic situations that turn into something different and unique. This is an author who has her own voice and Broken highlights it even more. The characters of Paul and Olivia, the plot line and the great dialogue, they all clicked to make one great and captivating book. Looking forward to the next one.

Olivia Middleton abandons the glamour of Park Avenue for a remote, coastal town in Maine to help an injured marine. However, helping an injured war veteran reenter society isn’t about charity—it’s about penance. Her charge is a brooding twenty-four-year-old who has no intention of being Olivia’s path to redemption.

Paul Langdon will do anything to stay in self-imposed exile, even accept his father’s ultimatum that Paul tolerate the newest caretaker for three months or lose his inheritance. But Paul doesn’t count Olivia to make him long for things that he can never have. And the more she slips past his defenses, the more keeping his distance is impossible.

Will they help each other heal? Or are they forever broken?

Broken is told from both Olivia's and Paul's POVs. While I don't mind this, it's not my favorite way to read a book. I often forget who is telling which part of the story and have to double check whose POV I'm currently reading ;)

Olivia has her demons, as does Paul. This is the story of their healing, but it's a long road. Romance fans will swoon over Paul! I loved him. Olivia, I loved for how she was with Paul. How she laid down the law and made him better. Their love story is both believable and heartbreaking.

This was the first book I've read by Ms. Layne and I really enjoyed it. I look forwarding to reading more of her work.

I received an ARC of Broken from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

**I received this book from Random House-Loveswept through NetGalley for an honest review.**

This wasn’t your typical Lauren Layne novel for me. While it had its light moments this one bordered more on the serious side. Olivia has secrets. She leaves behind her cushy lifestyle to help who she assumes is an old injured war vet. She thinks her goodwill will lead her to some kind of penance and all will be forgiven. Paul is definitely a vet but he is in no way old. He was once the star athlete in his town but after some unfortunate events he is now an angry, scarred up shell of himself.

My initial thoughts after reading Broken were that I liked it. The emotions were all there for me. If I’m being honest though, Paul ran me hot so many times. He was an ass for more than half of the book but it was kind of understandable why he was the way he was. He was back and forth and the moment I thought he was going to live it up he would say/do something stupid. I thought Olivia did well in handling him at times but there were moments where I couldn’t blame her for breaking down. She wasn’t always easily offended which was quite impressive of her. My only issue was once the secret was revealed but I won’t elaborate on that.

***Review contains very minor spoilers***

As a modern riff on Beauty and the Beast, I think this story definitely worked. The main characters were well fleshed out, and the angst on both their parts felt genuine.

I liked Olivia. She read as very young, lost, and someone desperately trying to figure out who she really is. All of that felt real. My issue is that her backstory in relation to the plot did not. I understand her being upset over ruining what, up until then, had been life-long friendships. But, having spent most of the book thinking she’d done something truly heinous, discovering that the actual betrayal she committed was nothing more than a kiss, seemed…lame.

Similarly, it seemed as though the author made a huge effort to soften the blow on what happened to Paul as well. While I was impressed by the subtleties of his mental anguish manifesting in a physical way, it was still a bit odd to discover that his back-story wasn’t as bad as I’d expected. The author did a great job of building suspense, but pulling back at the last moment—in what I can only guess was an effort to make the book less dark— was incredibly disconcerting, and made the plot a bit anti-climactic.

3.5 rounded to 4 stars

**For the sake of full disclosure it must be stated that I received this book, free of charge, from Netgalley.**

This ARC was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I started out this book after reading Isn't She Lovely with not a lot of hope for Olivia. After reading the first chapter of this book I realized that what I thought about Olivia was completely wrong. Olivia is a rich girl but she is also extremely strong and kind hearted. Due to feeling guilty about what happened between her and her ex she ends up taking a job in Maine to be a companion to what she assumes is an older war vet.

Paul is most definitely a crippled old war vet. More like a handsome 24 year old war vet that can't deal with the what happened to him back in Afganistan. After his father forces him to accept having Olivia around for a minimum of three months they form a sort of bond not to mention the crazy hot chemistry that brews between them. As well as the stolen kisses that Paul takes from her.

I can honestly say that I have yet to read a book by Lauren Layne that was not 100% amazing. She drags you into the book until you can't put it down without needing to read at least one more page.

If you read any book I suggest that this be the one to read. You won't go wrong by picking up any of Lauren Layne's books.

I received a copy in exchange of an honest review.

I loved the book, a story of loss, betrayal, love, healing and hope told in a very compelling, touching and fun manner, a modern version of the beauty and the beast.

Olivia is a privileged young woman from Manhattan's 5th Avenue, who lives a life of contentment without happiness and feeling cornered to make a important life decision, makes a choice that betrays her long time friend/boyfriend Ethan and good friend Michael. Follows dropping out of college and looking for redemption in the form of employment as a caregiver for a war veteran, in a lost little city in Maine.
Paul is a war veteran who is tormented by survivor's guilt, being the unique survivor of his marine patrol, and bearer of disfiguring face scars and an afflicted leg-he' lives as an hermit in one of his father's remote properties in Maine. Getting those two broken souls together would lead to a long journey to healing, love and hope.
Ms Layne is a great story teller, the characters are well defined, realistic, with the right touch of wit and self-deprecation, it makes the reader laugh and brings tears to the eye and makes the book a definite page turner. The journey to trust and healing is not easy, there are field mines on the way, but every step is further in the right direction of redemption and rebirth of the soul.

Received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another FABULOUS read by Lauren Layne! She does New Adult right! The characters Layne creates are multi-dimensional and very easy to like. Yes, even Paul at his worst. Broody, sexy Paul. Yum… She doesn’t waste any time jumping into the story, either. You get just enough to know what’s going on and BAM! Off you go.

I particularly appreciate how she handles sexual tension between characters. I’ve only read two of her books now, but it’s never felt forced or contrived. The buildup is fantastic and the payoffs are explosive and extremely satisfying. Looking for heat? Right here. In spades.

This was a great followup to “Isn’t She Lovely.” It was fun getting to know Olivia and her side of the story. Is that a hint of “Beauty and the Beast” I detect? ;) I’m a sucker for any kind of re-telling, particularly a fairytale.

I’m officially hooked on Lauren Layne. I suspect I’ll be taking down the rest of her collection over the next few months… Thanks for the great vacay read!

These characters will draw you in, the dialogue won't let you go!

Olivia is seeking redemption. She is escaping a wake of broken hearts Isn't She Lovely and her penance comes in the form of taking care of angry, crotchety, damaged war veteran.

Unfortunately and fortunately he isn't the old decrepit man she expected. He young, smoldering and scarred.

Paul is a grade A, Arse. He is cruel and nasty, and frankly, I don't know how Olivia puts up with him. I understood she felt this was her penance and she forgives him because he is so broken, but some of the things he does are so malicious and mean.

Thus, the 1 star demerit.

I didn't feel that full circle moment where he makes up for all of the hateful things he did and said to her. I wanted that. I needed that to feel the HEA.

Excellent story and characters and I can't wait to see what Ms. Layne has for us next!

Oh what a beautiful heartbreaking story. It's very much a retelling of Beauty and the Beast in New Adult form. You have Olivia - who on the outside is rich and beautiful, perfect in every way. Except she's hiding a secret. She cheated on her boyfriend and doesn't feel worthy of love. She also doesn't feel like she fits in with her family and friends anymore. Then you have Paul - a battered war hero who is scarred and fighting demons. He fights the fact that he isn't what he use to be. They are both a mess but together they are perfect. Yet they fight it. I cried so many tears for the two of them. Their pain you could feel through the pages of the book. They had their moments Harvard's laugh. They also had moments of passion that set my cheeks on fire. This book was excellent. I loved it! I can't wait for more in the Redemption series.

Paul is a former star football player and damaged ex-marine. He has SO much self-loathing for his current situation. He has pushed everyone away from him, hell bent on living a life of solitude. Until he meets Olivia. She is a young girl with a deep guilt for the heartbreak in her life.

Olivia is a "rich girl" that is looking for redemption. She takes a job as a caregiver, in which she has absolutely no experience or qualification for. On her journey to redemption she helps a lost soul find his way back to himself and life in general.

I love this story of all the trials and tribulations that each goes through to help each other find their way back to who they truly are! This story is a great love story and tale of two people helping each other become who they are along with what they mean to each other.

My Review:
Wow, this book was good! On the surface Olivia has it all. She's young, she's gorgeous, she's rich, and she can afford to take a year off from NYU just because she's stressed and sad. On the other hand, Paul was wounded and scarred in Afghanistan and now lives the life of a hermit in his father's mansion in Maine. His father brings in companions to keep him from committing suicide, but Paul keeps chasing them off with his grumpy and cruel attitude.

But Paul isn't ready for Olivia when she shows up...gorgeous, his age, and she won't take his crap. Olivia is just what he needs. But Paul is what Olivia needs too, because under all the pretty wrapping she is just as broken as he is.

This is an angst-filled, emotionally riveting book. Paul is haunted...by what he's lost and by what happened to him. He's left physically scarred...both his face and his leg and as a result has hidden himself away. He's been this way for two years and refuses to accept hope for life again. But Olivia sees past all that. She sees the hurt, scared, but beautiful man below the surface and they form a sort of friendship that is also heavily laced with sexual chemistry. But Paul does everything he can to push her away. And Olivia is human...a lot of what he says makes its mark, but she still refuses to give up on him.

While anyone's heart would hurt for what Paul has gone through, Olivia is a bit harder to connect with. But she hates herself so much for what she did to her boyfriend Ethan and ultimately to Michael, that you can't help but feel for her too. She's not a bad person. She simply made a mistake and is doing what she can to rectify that now. Both of these characters are ones that make it so easy to fall in love with them. As a reader, I needed both of them to find hope and worried that it wouldn't happen. (Take note of my note below...I've been burned before by a similar story line.)

But ultimately it is a happy story. I cried along the way,but they were happy tears at the end and I adored this emotion-filled book. It was a great one. And now that I see there was a prequel with Ethan...must read that and am hoping that Michael will find happiness in Lauren Layne's fictional world someday too.

Note: this book CLOSELY resembles Me Before You by JoJo Moyes with the overall storyline. As an author, I'm a little uncomfortable with that. As a reader, I love it. I also adored that book, but the unhappy ending KILLED ME. I'm happy to say that although this story resembles that one, the outcome is much happier in this book. Thank goodness, because I really couldn't have handled another book like that one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in return for an honest review.