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mvbookreviewer's review
4.0
Shattered by Kate Kelly is a novel that hit the e-book stands on September this year. A romantic suspense that features a stalker killer and a past from which both the hero and heroine are trying to find their way out of, Shattered was a novel that I enjoyed reading.
When 27 year old Tess MacLean makes her way back to South Dakota after a 3 year period, its not at all how she has envisioned a return trip home back to everything familiar would be. With a killer close to her heels, Tess runs to the only person that she can count on, her ex-fiance Jay Rawlings who made it painfully clear to her during their last encounter that she was no longer needed in his life.
Jay is a man who kids himself into believing that all is right in his world by pushing away that nightmarish night from 3 years ago when everything in his professional and personal life turned upside down. Refusing to give anything a second chance to shatter his world once again, Jay believes that keeping people that he cares about at arms length is the way to live. However, once again when Tess tumbles into his life, needing him more than ever, there is little he can do to say no and turn her away.
Rusty skills that Jay has not used for far too long help him uncover the clues as to why Tess’s life might be in danger, the clues opening up a whole lot of mess that seems far more serious than he had believed at first. And to say that Tess once again opens up old wounds that has far from healed is an understatement.
Jay and Tess’s love had been a fiery and all consuming one before their future had vaporised right in front of them. And once again, those old feelings hit Jay with full force until he has no choice but to give in and experience that heady magic that had once been his life until he had pushed away the one woman who means everything to him.
A killer who is far too close to home than either Tess or Jay envisions stalks them both, biding his time until towards the very end where Jay has to confront his past demons once again to find closure from the nightmares that have been a constant presence in his life for far too long.
I loved Tess’s character far more than I loved Jay. Maybe it had something to do with that inner courage within Tess that refuses to give up or maybe because she is the straightforward type of heroine that I love so much. For me, Jay was a trifle bit too caught up in the past, maybe rightfully so at first, but there were times when I wanted to poke him in the chest and point towards Tess and their happily ever after. But in the end, Kelly managed to deliver an ending that fits, her writing style which is what made the story work for me at all times.
Shattered is a story of second chances blended well with suspense elements that guarantees an enjoyable read. Recommended for fans of the genre.
Rating=3.75/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Quote(s) included below the review!
When 27 year old Tess MacLean makes her way back to South Dakota after a 3 year period, its not at all how she has envisioned a return trip home back to everything familiar would be. With a killer close to her heels, Tess runs to the only person that she can count on, her ex-fiance Jay Rawlings who made it painfully clear to her during their last encounter that she was no longer needed in his life.
Jay is a man who kids himself into believing that all is right in his world by pushing away that nightmarish night from 3 years ago when everything in his professional and personal life turned upside down. Refusing to give anything a second chance to shatter his world once again, Jay believes that keeping people that he cares about at arms length is the way to live. However, once again when Tess tumbles into his life, needing him more than ever, there is little he can do to say no and turn her away.
Rusty skills that Jay has not used for far too long help him uncover the clues as to why Tess’s life might be in danger, the clues opening up a whole lot of mess that seems far more serious than he had believed at first. And to say that Tess once again opens up old wounds that has far from healed is an understatement.
Jay and Tess’s love had been a fiery and all consuming one before their future had vaporised right in front of them. And once again, those old feelings hit Jay with full force until he has no choice but to give in and experience that heady magic that had once been his life until he had pushed away the one woman who means everything to him.
A killer who is far too close to home than either Tess or Jay envisions stalks them both, biding his time until towards the very end where Jay has to confront his past demons once again to find closure from the nightmares that have been a constant presence in his life for far too long.
I loved Tess’s character far more than I loved Jay. Maybe it had something to do with that inner courage within Tess that refuses to give up or maybe because she is the straightforward type of heroine that I love so much. For me, Jay was a trifle bit too caught up in the past, maybe rightfully so at first, but there were times when I wanted to poke him in the chest and point towards Tess and their happily ever after. But in the end, Kelly managed to deliver an ending that fits, her writing style which is what made the story work for me at all times.
Shattered is a story of second chances blended well with suspense elements that guarantees an enjoyable read. Recommended for fans of the genre.
Rating=3.75/5
Original review posted on MBR's Realm of Romance
Quote(s) included below the review!
avoraciousreader68's review
2.0
Tessa MacLean was running for her life. Her boss was trying to kill her, had already killed a co-worker and she had no idea why. The only person she could trust was her former fiancé, Jay Rawlings. Jay is a former Detective turned rancher after a case goes horribly wrong and his sister is murdered. Three years have passed and he’s still subconsciously wallowing in guilt when Tessa shows up and the past and the present collide.
Decent writing and good storyline, but I couldn’t get past how whiny both Tessa and Jay were not to mention Tessa comes off as wimpy and Jay emotionally abusive. Also, Tessa has a killer on her tail. Someone who hasn’t hesitated to kill at least once already and has made no secret of the fact he’s on her tail every step of the way as she flees. And yet, that doesn’t stop her and Jay from doing stupid things to put her life in jeopardy. Such as leaving the safety of the house more than once or practically tearing each others’ clothes off in the barn right after Jay’s dad is attacked there. It was too much for me. I had no respect for them and started hoping one or both of them would get shot for being so hormonal and idiotic.
*The author provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.
Decent writing and good storyline, but I couldn’t get past how whiny both Tessa and Jay were not to mention Tessa comes off as wimpy and Jay emotionally abusive. Also, Tessa has a killer on her tail. Someone who hasn’t hesitated to kill at least once already and has made no secret of the fact he’s on her tail every step of the way as she flees. And yet, that doesn’t stop her and Jay from doing stupid things to put her life in jeopardy. Such as leaving the safety of the house more than once or practically tearing each others’ clothes off in the barn right after Jay’s dad is attacked there. It was too much for me. I had no respect for them and started hoping one or both of them would get shot for being so hormonal and idiotic.
*The author provided a copy of this book to me for review. Please see disclaimer page on my blog.