Monday 8 September 2014

Review: Broken by Lauren Layne

Broken (Redemption #1) by Lauren Layne
Publisher: Random House Flirt
Publication date: September 2nd 2014
My rating:  4 stars 
Amazon | Barnes & Noble 


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18755773-better-homes-and-hauntings

Lauren Layne’s New Adult novel tells the story of a girl with secrets, a guy with scars, and a love that could save them both... or destroy them.

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.

Paul Langdon doesn’t need a mirror to show him he’s no longer the hotshot quarterback he was before the war. He knows he’s ugly—inside and out. He’ll 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 on the beautiful twenty-two-year-old who makes him long for things that he can never have. And the more she slips past his defenses, the more keeping his distance is impossible.

Now Paul and Olivia have to decide: Will they help each other heal? Or are they forever broken?



My Thoughts:
I’m a huge fan of Lauren Layne because she shines in writing witty, chemistry laden romances guaranteed to tug at your heart!  I loved the first in this series, Isn’t She Lovely, so I was thrilled to have Olivia’s story. Even though she was technically the cheating girlfriend (not as bad as it sounds, I promise) I felt bad for her.

Olivia is trying to escape and redeem herself for a mistake that cost her longtime boyfriend.  Taking a job as a caretaker for an injured veteran satisfies her need for penance and to get away from all her friends, but Olivia doesn’t really know what she’s gotten herself into.  Thinking she’ll be caring for an old injured man, she’s shocked when she finds out that she’s the paid companion to a hostile man just a few years older than her.  Paul has horrible jagged facial scars on one side of his face and an injured leg, but that doesn’t hide the fact that he is gorgeous, and in spite of his horrible attitude Olivia is intensely attracted to him.

Paul is an ex-soldier suffering from a major dose of survivor’s guilt.  His only purpose in the world at this point is to provide for a fallen teammate’s spouse and sick daughter. So when Paul’s father makes sticking with his new caretaker/companion for three months a requirement for keeping his payments and house, he has to make nice with Olivia instead of scaring her off like he’s done with all the others.  He’s a smidge less hostile to Olivia.  And I do mean just a smidge!

Paul is “rude, angry and generally unpleasant” but even so there is combustible sexual tension between these two!  He had no idea Olivia would be around his age and beautiful.  She’s exactly the type of girl he’d date before his injury and facial scars, and it unsettles him. Plus, Olivia gives as good as she gets and doesn’t tip toe around Paul with pity.  She was blunt and rude right back, and it stunned him, spurred him onto rising to her challenges, and making positive changes.  Soon Paul is coming back to the land of the living while falling a little more for Olivia every day.  But he’s afraid once her time is up and once she realizes she could do better than a washed up, scarred vet, he’ll be alone, and the difference is, this time he cares.

Paul was moody, broody and sometimes downright cruel in his treatment of Olivia! He’d act like a petulant child and one of his tantrums was a completely disproportionate, over-the-top reaction to Olivia’s supposed transgression.  I wanted to knee him, good and hard for Olivia a couple of times! But then I thought about being in his head.  Paul was depressed and angry, and he had pretty much cut himself off from socialization, so some of his reactions were not coming from a mentally well-adjusted person.  Olivia is the first person he was actually opening up to in a very long time, so I could understand how a relatively small matter would come off as a huge betrayal to Paul. Thankfully, Olivia recognizes this to some degree and cuts him a break. 

Olivia and Paul’s interactions were the: “I hate you, I hate you, but really I want to tear your clothes off and ravage you!” type.  Paul’s rough, gruff and uncivilized manner was completely tantalizing to Olivia!  That dark and dangerous vibe he broadcasted was completely sexy! 

I lick my lips nervously, noting the way his eyes follow the motion of my tongue, and I finally accept that in spite of myself—in spite of the fear—I’m ridiculously attracted to him. Attracted in a fierce, animalistic way that I’ve never felt ever.

And Olivia’s irreverent rebuttals draw Paul in like a magnet! They couldn’t seem to keep their lips or hands off each other! Oh my!

Lauren Layne once again impresses with Broken. Paul and Olivia’s romance was filled with passion and heart, and was a pure pleasure to experience!





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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Rachel, you got me all excited for this book. I adore Lauren Layne's books and I binge-read most of them a couple of weeks ago.
I think I'm going to love this one as well. The characters seem great. I secretly love grouchy characters like Paul. Olivia sounds great too. I can't wait to read this! :)
Lovely review!

Unknown said...

This sounds so good! I like that Olivia gets her story, and that she wasn't written off as simply a bad, cheating ex. Paul sounds delightfully surly, and the chemistry between them is exciting.
Great review, Rachel!

Jenny said...

Hm. Normally the fact that Olivia is a cheater would have me steering way clear of this book, but clearly there's more to her story than that and if you say it's not as bad as it sounds, then I believe you:) Glad Olivia is able to see where Paul is coming from in some of his reactions and cuts him a break so their story doesn't result in over the top and unnecessary angst. Really excited for this one Rachel!

Brandie said...

I didn't realize this book was connected Isn't She Lovely! I loved that book. Your fantastic review makes me want to read this one sooner than I planned. Thanks for posting about it!

brandileigh2003 said...

The passion and heartache sounds like something I would enjoy

Heidi@Rainy Day Ramblings said...

I like the sound of the romance. It sounds like a terrific series. I will add it to my list.

Sarahbotbonkers said...

I have to admit this is the first time I've heard of Lauren Layne, Rachel. I wonder why because this one sounds so good just basing from your review. I might have lived under the rock not to have heard of Isn't She Lovely before. Reading your review, I felt your connection with the characters because you wanted to protect Olivia but still felt empathy towards Paul. I like characters who can make me feel that way. Definitely checking this out and Isn't She Lovely. Fantastic review, Rachel! :D

Mary @ BookSwarm said...

Okay, you did almost lose me in the first paragraph when you said she was the cheating girlfriend but, as I have faith in you, I kept reading. And...maybe? This is an author I haven't heard of before so I'm definitely intrigued.

joyousreads said...

I love me a broken hero. And I have a feeling I will like Paul despite his cantankerous attitude towards Olivia. :)

Great review, Rachel.

Tanja - Tanychy said...

And now I'm going to sing Stevie Wonder's song all day long :) You wanna join me? ;) But still this sounds so good and what's more emotional. I want that in my contemporaries. This is the first time I hear of this author so thanks for the introduction. Great review, Rachel :)

Keertana said...

I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Rachel! I know that the constant bickering and rudeness of these two characters really got to me after awhile and I just wasn't as big a fan of this novel as I have been of her previous work. Still, it was definitely a sexy read and I'm thrilled that you appreciated all its facets. Beautifully written review, dear! :)

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