Blog Tour and Giveaway: Broken: Kelly Elliott
Broken (Broken Series #1)Kelly Elliott
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Release Date November 19, 2013
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Models : Gary Taylor and Tiffany Liller
Cover design: Angie Fields - I Love It Design Studio
Photographer : Golden Czermak
Layton Morris and his brother Mike grew up not knowing what
it would be like to live in a normal home. With no running water or electricity
in their home, no parents around to protect them, they quickly learned how to
survive and depend only on each other.
When a tragic accident takes Mike away from Layton, and the
only other person that he ever let into his heart walked away from him, leaving
his heart shattered, Layton focuses all of his time and energy into the ranch
he and his brother dreamed of. He makes a vow to himself to never let love in
again. The last thing Layton needed or wanted was more heartache.
Whitley Reynolds grew up in a privileged home in upstate New
York. When she landed the star football player in high school no one was surprised,
not even Whitley. She dreamed of a life with Roger living in New York City and
happily followed him there.
The first time Roger hit her for arguing with him about a
dinner party, she forgave him. The more it happened, the further Whitley withdrew
from her friends and family. One fateful day things go to far. Whitley makes a
promise to herself and finds the courage to do the one thing she thought she’d
never be able to do.
Fleeing with her best friend Courtney, Whitley was
determined to put her past behind her and start a new life in the small town of
Llano, Texas, where no one would ever find out about her past.
Will they both ever learn to trust and love again, or will
their pasts come back to haunt them, keeping them both alone and…
Broken.
Excerpt:
I rode along the fence line, just trying to clear my head.
This was where I did my best thinking. I loved it out here. I could get lost,
just being in the quiet of it all.
“Motherfucker! Son of a bitch! Stupid-ass car! Oh my God, I
hate you!”
What in the hell?
I came up over a small hill and saw a silver Lexus RX pulled
off on the side of the road. The girl standing next to the car, kicking the
wheel, was obviously from the city. She was dressed in light gray slacks and a
sheer white blouse. Her brown hair was pulled up and piled loosely on top of
her head. The way she was screaming at the tire and yelling at the car made me
smile instantly.
Too fucking cute. Damn
city girls.
“Piece-of-shit car!”
I let out a small laugh. “Excuse me, ma’am. You’ve got a
problem with your car?”
She spun around and threw her hands on her hips as she
tilted her head. When she crinkled up her nose, I guessed it was something she
did when she got mad.
“No, cowboy. I like standing on the side of the road in
Texas in the middle of July, yelling at my piece-of-shit car. I get a kick out
of it.”
Wow. What a bitch.
Yep, city girl. Bet she’s from New York or somewhere like that. “Wow. Full
of spit and fire, and here I was, trying to be a Southern gentleman and help
you out. If you prefer that I keep moving along, I’ll be more than happy to—”
“No! Wait! Oh God, please don’t go. I’ve been here for
almost an hour, and not one car has gone by. Not one! My cell phone doesn’t
have a signal, and you’re the first person I’ve seen. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean
to be such a bitch. I’m late for my first big job interview, and I really
wanted this to go so differently.”
When she tried to hold back a sob, my heart sank.
Ah, shit.
I guided Cricket up against the fence, and then I pulled my
leg over and jumped.
“Oh shit! Aren’t you afraid your horse is going to run
away?”
I smiled at her and turned to look at Cricket, who seemed
just as amused by her comment as I was. “You know, I think Cricket might
actually like you. She’s not one for taking to people, but look at how she’s
staring at you.”
I turned to see the city girl peeking over at the horse with
a serious face. She slowly turned back to me and smirked.
“Are all Texas cowboys so…friendly?” She used air quotes as she said friendly.
I gave her my oh-so-famous smirk with a dimple. She didn’t
want to, but her lips cracked with the slightest grin. My heart dropped, but I
quickly pushed away the feeling.
“Nah, I’m one of a kind,” I said with a wink. “What’s going
on with the overpriced piece of junk?”
She looked back at the car and then at me. “I didn’t call it
that.”
“No, ma’am, you didn’t. I did.”
Kelly Elliott does it again! This book brought out so many emotions. We cycled through highs, lows, and everything in between. And it was humorous and romantic as well. She brings us a whole new cast of characters to fall in love with (and become frustrated with as well).Whitley escapes an abusive relationship and leaves NY with her best friend Courtney. They settle in Llano, Texas. Whitley has been damaged and traumatized by the man that was supposed to love her. She wants to just start over and forget her past. Cattle and horse rancher, Layton has lost the people most important to him. He is also broken, beat down and trying to fill the void in his life in unhealthy ways. Both have serious trust issues and do not think they are looking for love. Their first meeting is definitely not a love connecton...they immediately annoy each other and are snarky, taunting, judgmental, and temperamental.
She's the only girl who has ever driven me insane with anger and lust at the same time.
"I hardly even know you, and to be honest, you've gotten on my nerves more than anyone ever has in my entire life."
But as they are constantly exposed to each other in their small town, a begrudging appreciation, attraction and friendship develops. I loved their banter, texts, and interactions. They were funny, flirty, and sexually charged. They kept trying to deny, trying to stay in the friends zone, but they just could not do it. They both had issues with jealousy and eventually it all became out of control. Their attachment and friendship became passionate and all consuming. They had both been so broken and hurt, but had the potential to heal the other and take away the pain. I loved them together. They had chemistry, passion, tenderness, and understanding.
"I see how you look at Whitley, and I see how she looks at you, You're both going to have to learn to let love back in."
Whitley had been meek and submissive in her previous life. But this city girl is not a stranger to country life. She is now showing her spunky and sassy side, but can also be totally sweet and nurturing. I really loved her personality. Their relationship went through stages even though it did happen a bit quickly, but once it was obvious they were going to be more than friends...they really were quite functional and adorable. And I could see their connection and feelings. And holy moly their chemistry and passion was off the charts.
This story took us in so many different directions. It showed how the idea of an idealistic future could be twisted and people could be broken. And how with the right support that it can be overcome and healing can occur. There was enough humor and romance to tone down the heaviness of parts of the story. I loved Layton and Whitley's relationship and how their missing pieces fit together and made them whole. There was tension, suspense, and angst(This is a Kelly Elliott book so there has to be angst!). I will admit that it was obvious to me that some things were bound to happen in the plot line, but it still did not detract from my enjoyment of the story or my reactions when it did finally happen. And there were other little things that became intricate connections that I felt added more interesting layers to the story.
And I think I was just as invested in their friend's Reed and Courtney's convoluted "anti-relationship" as I was with Whitley and Layton's. I really loved how their feisty characters played off each other, but I also just wanted to slap both of them or lock them in a room together. Their communication was so messed up and they were both so stubborn. They just kept breaking my heart. I cannot wait for their book Broken Dreams.
Kelly has managed to bring us a whole new set of characters to life that are worthy of falling in love with. She creates these communities with such complex, sweet, funny, strong, people that form such tight relationships and bonds. It was told in both Whitley and Layton's points of view. I loved them individually and as a couple, and also most of the side characters. I felt like I really got to know their multi-faceted personalities. And I hated the villians in this book with a passion(Oh how I wanted to back slap some women and hurt one particular man). This story line had tragedy, heartbreak, and loss. But it also had healing, love, redemption, and hope. I laughed, I swooned, I cringed, I gasped, and I teared up. It was an engaging, moving story that kept me up way past my bedtime in order to finish. A wonderful start to a new series by Kelly Elliott. I have to say that it rivals her Wanted series for me and that is one of my favorites.
Thanks to Kelly Elliott for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I made a mistake when I started Broken. I started reading at 7:00 at night. Midnight hit and I still didn't want to put the book down. Once I was in to Layton and Whitley's stories I needed them to have their resolution. I needed them to be happy. I needed them to be whole, and if I put the book down, they wouldn't have that yet. Yes, my feelings were pretty intense.
I really enjoyed watching each of the main characters come out of their shells and work through the influences of their pasts. The title is so fitting for these two. Both main characters are hurting. Layton lost his brother 6 months before. His brother was his rock, his business partner, and everything good about his life. As he's reeling from the grief of his brother's death, his longtime girlfriend leaves him, piling more pain on top of his pain. Whitley leaves her life in New York running from an abusive relationship that she realizes will lead to her death if she stays.
The people Layton and Whitley surround themselves with as the story progresses are a great support and encouragement for both characters as they work to rebuild their lives and move on from the past. This cast of characters is diverse, rich, and all up in each others business, leading to several humorous interludes. Except for Olivia. It wasn't long before I realized I hated her, but I think that was the point. And the things that come out of Courtney's mouth? Priceless.
Broken's epilogue is the only part of the book not in Layton or Whitley's perspective, and it added a great little teaser for book 2, Broken Dreams. The alternating perspectives throughout the book ensure that both characters have an equal part in weaving this story, and watching their stories run parallel leads to some interesting connections.
My only hesitation about the story line was the speed in which Whitley worked through her distrust of men. It seemed she was reserved and standoffish, and then suddenly she's no longer jumpy or uncomfortable around Layton. It just didn't feel like there was any process to that part of her healing. The timeline may have been longer than what sunk in to my head late at night, but either way, the story would not have held interest if it stretched on for too long in that platonic stage, so it didn't detract too much at all.
As evidenced by the late night (or early morning) time of completion, I absolutely loved Broken. The path to healing for both characters was not a straight line, nor were they even parallel paths for the two of them. There were moments where I felt heartbreak, comfort, humor and a whole lot of sweet.
Thanks to Kelly Elliott for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.
Really I'm just a wife to a wonderful
Texas cowboy who has a nack for making me laugh almost daily and supports my
crazy ideas and dreams for some unknown reason...he claims it's because he
loves me.....so I'll just go with that one!
I'm also a mom to an amazing daughter who constantly is asking me to make her something to eat while she has her fingers moving like mad on her cell phone sending out what I'm sure is another very important text message!
Oh...and I like to sit down and write in my spare time!
I live in the Texas hill country and one of my favorite things to do is go for hikes around our property with my second favorite man, Gus....my chocolate lab and my sweet girl Rose, our golden retriever. When I'm not outside helping the hubby haul brush or move rocks or whatever fun chore he has in store for me that day, you will find me inside reading, writing or watching HGTV and soaking in a nice hot bubble bath.....yeah that last one I just made up but it sure does sound nice!!!
I'm also a mom to an amazing daughter who constantly is asking me to make her something to eat while she has her fingers moving like mad on her cell phone sending out what I'm sure is another very important text message!
Oh...and I like to sit down and write in my spare time!
I live in the Texas hill country and one of my favorite things to do is go for hikes around our property with my second favorite man, Gus....my chocolate lab and my sweet girl Rose, our golden retriever. When I'm not outside helping the hubby haul brush or move rocks or whatever fun chore he has in store for me that day, you will find me inside reading, writing or watching HGTV and soaking in a nice hot bubble bath.....yeah that last one I just made up but it sure does sound nice!!!
11 comments
I loved it all <3
ReplyDeleteHavent read it yet ,i have a huge tbr pile .
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it yet. Haven't had time but it the first book ill pick up once i can.
ReplyDeleteI haven't read Broken yet, but it is on my tbr list!
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it yet, but it's on my TBR list! Thanks for the giveaway!
ReplyDeleteHaven't read it yet!
ReplyDeleteHaven't read but would like too :)
ReplyDeleteIt's on my TBR, so I don't have a favorite scene YET!
ReplyDeleteI have not read Broken yet :( I want to so bad!! I have read all of Kelly's other books & I adore them!!! Thank you for the chance!!
ReplyDeleteI have not read it yet, but I love the cover. Gary is a hottie
ReplyDeleteI haven't read it yet, but plan on it.
ReplyDelete