AN AMAZON BEST ROMANCE OF THE MONTHBOOKLIST TOP 10 ROMANCE OF 2019What could two troubled souls from different walks of life have in common? Maybe everything. Andra Lawler lives isolated at her family’s horse ranch, imprisoned by the memories of an assault in college. When she needs help training her foals, she hires a Haitian-Creole cowboy from New Orleans with a laugh as big as the Montana sky. laugh as big as the Montana sky.
LJ Delisle can’t stand the idea that Andra might be lonely—or eating frozen TV dinners. He bakes his way into her kitchen with a lemon velvet cake, and offers her cooking lessons that set them on the road to romance. But even their love can’t escape the shadow of what they’ve been through. Despite their growing friendship and his gentle rapport with the horses, LJ is still an outsider facing small-town suspicions.
Before they can work through their issues, LJ is called home by a family emergency. In the centuries-old, raggedly rebuilt streets of New Orleans, he must confront memories of Hurricane Katrina and familiar discrimination. And Andra must decide if she’s brave enough to leave the shelter of the ranch for an uncertain future with LJ.
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I ADORED this book! I couldn’t read it fast enough. Both Andra and LJ had something terrible happen to them. They’d both tried to move on, but the trauma was always there. Both had very different ways of recovering. LJ is the kindest, gentlest man and yet his size was intimidating to most. I enjoyed the way he took care of Andra, but didn’t baby her. Both had very different backgrounds but their friendship took hold and I enjoyed watching things transpire. I liked the way Michelle brought to light real events and the way in which she told this story. It was heartbreaking but endearing and sweet at times, too. It was a beautifully written story and I can’t recommend it enough! Please do yourselves a favor and don’t miss this book!
Holy Hannah. This book just knocked my socks off.
A dynamic mixture of sweet, heartwarming romance set against gritty, honest, and thought-provoking real world trauma, Unbreak Me was incredibly compelling and impossible to put down. I was fascinated and heartbroken and swooning like crazy – sometimes all at the same time. This story was incredible, and important, and I suspect it will be sticking with me for quite some time.
I loved the tone of the storytelling. I loved how Ms. Hazen opened my eyes to a world I have no first-hand experience with, but didn’t make me feel like I was being educated. I was being drawn in immediately. I was given these characters who were so lovable and relatable and just…wonderful. And then I was given all the ways the world had hurt them. And it resonated with me in a way I can only attribute to the masterful way this author handled the storytelling. She opened my heart, shook it up a bit, and then pieced it back together in a way that feels a little raw and tender from the journey it took, but completely satisfied all the same.
I loved this so much. The balance between lighthearted flirty romance and heavier emotional punches was just right for me. Sure, it was heartbreaking – but the feel of that didn’t outweigh the joy of experiencing LJ and Andra falling in love, and it definitely didn’t diminish the fierce love I have for both of these characters (and frankly, LJ’s mama). It was layered, and nuanced, and perfectly written. I didn’t even see this book coming, and it absolutely bowled me over!
4.5 stars Unbreak Me is a beautifully written love story between two wonderful characters with the backdrop of rural Montana and urban New Orleans. It is a story of healing and hope and it puts you through all of the feels. Andra is a small town girl who suffered something terrible, leaving her with crippling anxiety. LJ finds himself as a horse trainer on her ranch after enduring the horrors of Hurricane Katrina. Both characters are survivors and they find friendship, healing, and love together. I adored LJ – he is strong, sexy, insightful, humorous, and caring. I loved how he was always trying to put a smile on Andra’s face and I also loved seeing how much he cared for her, his mama, his friends, and the horses. Essentially LJ is the perfect book boyfriend. This engaging love story is multilayered with rich culture, likable characters, and incorporates important issues that are both real and present today with honesty and respect – racism, sexual assault, mental health, and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina years later.
Sometimes you discover a book and it surprises you in the best way possible. For me, this was one of those books. After reading Andra and L.J.’s story my heart is lighter but my mind is full. I thought that this was such a beautiful and powerful romance. The storyline is a cleverly crafted blend of touching romance, harsh realism and timeliness. The characters and their story are very complex. Each has a painful past, has endured trauma and now they carry with them the baggage that resulted from having survived to tell the tale. These issues and raw emotions weigh heavily into the story and you can easily see that they have played a huge part in shaping who they are and how they see and deal with the world. There is so much here that will make your heart ache at the unfairness and injustices but also bright, shining moments of the good things in the world that give us all hope to keep going and maintain the belief that things will get better. This is not always an easy read simply because it often strikes too close to home to be so. In my opinion though it is so worth every moment of unease to experience such a memorable and moving romance.
For anyone who wants a real romance that’s also deep–here you go! This slow burn love story tackles trauma, sexual assault, and racism beautifully, is gorgeously written with emotional intelligence, has characters you can’t help but care about and (for your horse lovers out there) solid, accurate horse action! I could hardly put it down and ended up getting it on audio too, just so I could keep listening while doing barn chores. People: HERE IS YOUR COWBOY ROMANCE.
WOW! Michelle Hazen, Author of “Unbreak Me” has written a powerful, captivating, intense, intriguing, and emotional story. The Genres for this story are Multicultural Interest, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, and Fiction. There also are some Historical Facts that are true in this story. The story is set in two places, Montana, and New Orleans, and set in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. The author describes her dramatic cast of characters as complex, complicated, and flawed.
Angela Lawler, a young woman that owns a horse ranch in Montana, hires LJ Delisle, a “Haitian -Creole” “cowboy” who comes from New Orleans. Angela is subject to panic attacks after a traumatic incident happened in the past. LJ also has some traumatic and emotional history. LJ proves to be sort of a ‘Horse Whisperer”, and is very good with the horses. He also is a great cook.
Just as LJ is great in breaking the horses, he seems to have a calming effect on Angela and becomes a trusted friend. LJ feels like an outsider as he is doesn’t feel welcome with the other people on the ranch. The two start to become close, but a major family problem causes LJ to have to return to New Orleans. Is there a chance that Angela and LJ will ever be together?
In New Orleans, LJ is reminded of the horrors of Hurricane Katrina, and how it destroyed so many families. In New Orleans, there are areas where law-enforcement will question what he is doing because of his color.
I appreciate that the author discusses important and “heavy” topics like equality and discrimination, assaults, kidnapping, trauma, and panic attacks. The author also talks about the importance of family, friends, emotional support, love and hope. This is a thought-provoking and emotional story that I would highly recommend.
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Hazen’s ability to pen sensitive and complex issues with respect and compassion made this one of my favorite books of the year! Unbreak Me is a must-read for anyone who believes that love can heal even the most complicated of wounds. I can’t wait to see what Michelle does next.
Can two broken souls heal each other? Andra is been hiding in their family ranch working with her beloved horses for five years. After been kidnapped and raped she never got her life back. But when LJ, a very big black man, start working in the ranch a friendship start. She is starting to trust him. But suddenly he has to go back to New Orleans to take care of his ill mother. Andra follow him but their differences, their demons from their last will make very difficult for them to have a future together. A powerful sweet love and life’s story. I received a free copy of this book and I voluntarily reviewed it.
A Haitian-Creole cowboy from New Orleans comes to work on Andra Lawler’s family ranch in Montana. How different can their lives be? Can they overcome all the obstacles in their way and find happiness? There is much for them to overcome but doing so could bring them so much happiness.
I love the setting of the beautiful ranch. I could hear the quietness of the ranch while picturing the ranch hands hard at work mending fences, breaking horses, and doing all their other chores. It is a place of comfort, peace, and family.
LJ comes to the ranch to work and the first thing he sees in Andra. The attraction between them is felt instantly and Andra is frozen with panic. Their relationship has many obstacles the least of which is their different skin color and different upbringings. Andra’s dad sets the tone for the things to come for these two and I instantly knew it wouldn’t be easy for them. I loved how LJ took his time with her but didn’t treat her as being fragile or breakable. He flirted, he spent time with her, but he understood that he needed to tread lightly or he’d scare her away.
Unbreak Me pulled me in with the sweet story of LJ and Andra while bringing to light how difficult being together can be for some people. There are real-world problems mixed in with the fear of opening your heart within this book.
This is one of the best books I have ever read! Ever!! I read it months ago as an advanced reader copy and I am still thinking of the characters. This book is tragic, beautiful and full of hope. It tackles some very tough subjects with kindness and understanding. And I just want to say everyone woman needs a man like LJ and every person could use a friend like him in their lives. I fell in love with LJ, Andra and the whole book. I hated for it to end and cant wait to re read it.
Michelle Hazen has presented readers with a book that is deep, profound, touching and thought-provoking …and so engaging that you won’t want to put it down.
ThUnbreak Me is so much more than your typical romance story. It’s about two people that couldn’t be more different, coming together at an unexpected place and time and how they manage the hardships life has presented them.
Be prepared for the unexpected and be prepared to fall in love with these two people…and don’t be surprised if your heart is more open by the time you reach the end of the story.
I received a reader copy of this book with no obligation except to post an honest review. My heart is filled with this deeply touching story. Michelle has earned five stars for this book along with my deep appreciation for a job well done.
Tirelessly relevant. Heartbreakingly real. Hazen pulls no punches when it comes to speaking the truth. Unbreak Me is a celebration. Andra and LJ plow though the stereotypes of life to find a love that endures. These characters are proof that power comes from within. A powerful life lesson.
This book took me some time to get through. The first half was slow paced and I had trouble getting into the story; however LJ and Andra had a beautiful story that completely sucked me in for the second half.
LJ was such an incredible character. He was honorable, kind, funny and oh so gentle. And that gentleness came in handy when it came to Andra.
Andra was skittish from the moment they met. And for good reason; however LJ’s attraction to her as well as his desire to help her brings out Andra’s stronger side. For years people had treaded carefully around her which only amplified her feeling of being broken. But LJ wasn’t like that. Despite what she’s endured he treated her the same as he would any one…especially any woman he was attracted to. His approach allowed Andra to see herself in a new light and find a strength she though she’d lost years ago.
Though the book had a slow start, the story was wonderful. The characters possessed everything to make them relatable. Their chemistry was a fascinating combination of sweet and explosive.
An enjoyable and inspirational love story!
I was really excited about this book & it started out strong. About a third of the way through, I started to lose interest in the characters, as their stories never truly evolved. Overall, it was a cute book, but could have been condensed a bit.
***3.5 Stars***
I received an advanced copy of Unbreak Me from Berkley Romance via Netgalley. I also ended up winning a giveaway Michelle Hazen was hosting and received a signed paperback copy. Thank you to both Berkley and Michelle for allowing me to review this novel. I had initially intended to have my review up last month, but with life comes tragedies and let’s just say, It’s been a long month. All I can give you all is my honest unbiased opinion, so let’s get started.
About Unbreak Me:
Unbreak Me is what I like to call a ‘learning to live again’ romance. Both main characters have had great tragedies that they have had to crawl their way through in order to come out on top in the end. It is also told from Andra Lawler and LJ Delisle’s point of views.
Andra has had a tough past. Five years ago she was kidnapped, handcuffed to a bed and held prisoner for nearly a day until she escaped her rapist. Now five years later, she’s a shell of the person who she once was. She keeps to herself and barely laughs anymore, for fear something will trigger her anxiety and send her spiraling back into the black abyss of her panic attacks.
LJ Delisle is a new orleans city boy who has always dreamed of working and running a ranch. His passion in life is training horses and he’s damned good at it too. So he decides to hop in his truck and travel up to Montana to achieve his dreams. But life isn’t always as easy when you’re surrounded by close minded people.
When Andra first meets LJ, she instantly knows he’s going to be perfect for the job. Not only is this man caring and soft spoken around her horses, but he’s also gentle and his untraditional ways of training horses seems to be working in a short period of time. She finds him to be the perfect fit for her ranch. But not everyone is on board with hiring him, especially her close minded father. Because LJ Delisle is not only a city boy but he’s also African American.
Unbreak Me is a story of two broken souls seeking out the person they are truly meant to be with, no matter the consequences and negative thoughts that surround them. The heart wants what the heart wants.
My Thoughts:
Michelle Hazen is a fairly new to me author. When I read the blurb for Unbreak Me I knew I needed to get my hands on LJ and Andra’s story as soon as possible. I’m not that well versed when it comes to diversity in novels. It’s something I plan on changing and something I want to read more of in the future. Multicultural relationships bring something new to the table where reading romance is concerned. Not only are there new traditions to be told, but there are new experiences to be made. The door is wide open and so many possibilities are in the air!
Andra and LJ’s relationship started off extremely slow, but I found the slowness to be a breath of fresh air, especially given the fact that Andra was still internally suffering through everything that happened to her all those years ago. I’m really glad the author decided to take the slow approach to their relationship. From the start, LJ felt something in his soul that called to hers as their relationship grew and blossomed. All he wanted was to put a smile on her face and a lightness in her heart. He wanted her to open up to him and he wanted to be the man she could trust with all her secrets and all her pain. But with all great love stories comes even more tragedy. LJ and Andra are from two different worlds and were raised in two different cultures. But through all the trials and tests that were thrown at their relationship they always made it through.
She’s country to his city.
He’s the laughter that erases her pain.
She’s the light at the end of his dark tunnel.
One thing I really loved was LJ! This man was a freaking sweetheart and he had the southern gentleman vibe on lockdown! I honestly couldn’t get enough of this man. I could read several books based on his character alone if there were any. I just loved his overall attitude and the gentle way he was when Andra revealed all of her deep dark secrets….. I mean, the man handed her a screwdriver after she told him her traumatic story and it took all I had inside of me to not fall into a mushy puddle on my bedroom floor. He was the sweetest man and given all that the world threw at him and continues to throw at him on a daily basis, I admired this character trait. I loved his sweetness.
Andra was a little harder to connect with, but given all she’s been through, I can kind of understand why the author gave her such a closed off approach. When I eventually learned Andra’s truths, I fully understood why I couldn’t connect with her. It was in that moment that I felt her pain and her agony. It was absolutely devastating and LJ was the exact antidote she needed to get through all that pain she had built up. Little by little I watched both of their walls fall down. It was a special moment watching these two characters slowly fall in love through cooking lessons and training horses.
I love experiencing new cultures through reading books and internet research. It’s something I have always been passionate about. So when I read that LJ was from New Orleans, I was ready for the culture and for my imagination to run rampant! I have always found the Cajun and Creole culture lifestyles to be fascinating. I do have to say, I had a small dose of the culture but it wasn’t enough. I wanted and needed so much more.
Given the fact that I really enjoyed Unbreak Me, I have unfortunately address a few plot issues. first of all, I wanted more New Orleans culture and I would have liked to have more of LJ’s backstory before hurricane Katrina happened. I would have liked to view him as a little boy just to see where his love for horse training and ranching started. I needed those flashback moments, and I waited for them, but they sadly never came. I also would have liked more of a resolve between LJ and Andra’s dad. I felt that relationship left off on a shifty note. Of course you can’t change people’s views and there’s always going to be discrimination within closed minded people, but darn it, this is fiction and I wanted them to freaking hug it out!!!! How hard would that have been! I also would have liked to see Andra go through therapy, because obviously she suffered through ptsd in this novel and I would have liked that little tidbit to have been addressed.
But through it all I can say with an honest heart I really did enjoy LJ and Andra’s slow burn romance.
-Alecia @ The Staircase Reader
Such an amazing and powerful story of devastation and heartache and healing. Two people from very different walks of life form a bond neither saw coming. He is the hired help, but does so much more for her than whats in his job description. She accepts him as is and see’s the man he is underneath the color of his skin. There is a lot to this book. It deals with several types of tragedy. Assault (and the aftermath,) natural disasters (and the aftermath,) and discrimination that still goes on today. Mix these things together and you got one moving and emotional read. These characters were written perfectly for their roles. She is somewhat of a recluse and gun shy around men, and puts all her thoughts and energy into her horses. He has a positive vibe (and brings some comedy relief,) but you can still see the struggles he faces. The cards are stacked against this unlikely couple, and not only do they have to deal with the hardships of their pasts, they have to deal with those people who are the closest to them, working against them. While the happenings in the book are mostly on the sad side of things, there is beauty in it all. It is a wonderful story that I am happy I had the chance to read. It is a well told story. There are a few topics that could be triggers for some readers, but everything (even the bad) is written in a way that is considerate of sensitive readers. There is some sexual content. Due to the heavier nature of the book, I would suggest it be suitable for 18+.
This started off so strong for me and I was eager to learn more about the characters and their back stories. Less 20% in though it started falling. So many details without much depth made the book flat and bit dull for me. I was neither invested nor excited. The story had potential with the heavy topics introduced such as racism, sexual assault, and biracial romance. But the more the story progressed the more those topics just lingered there without much digging. The culminating conflict and resolution spurred from those things. There were some really excellent, sweet moments between the two characters during their courtship that really stood out. Further the understanding and patience from both of them regarding their plights was great too. Scattered moments of vulnerability and a true kinship kept me going in this contemporary romance book.
This story is a mixture of sweet, heart-warming romance set against gritty, honest, and thought-provoking real-world trauma.
The storyline is compelling and impossible to put down.
A great read
I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book was so different from Michelle’s rock band books that I have read before. She tackles the heavy and heartbreaking subjects of race, sexual assault and Hurricane Katrina in this story and does it so well.
It is a totally absorbing story of two people from very different backgrounds. LJ is from the Lower Ninth in New Orleans which is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina after 14 years but still retains its customs especially that of getting together on the porch and playing music. Andra lives on a sprawling ranch in Montana spending her days training champion horses. She seems to have a charmed life except that she is haunted by being kidnapped and abused when she was at college and has panic attacks that she is unable to control.
When LJ arrives at the ranch he is trying to get away from his past and build himself a new and brighter future as a horse trainer. Athough he falls at first sight for Andra he knows that she is very skittish like the horses he trains and that she is not ready for a romance. He works on becoming her friend by spending time with her and teaching her to cook to help build her confidence and take away her fears. This is a beautiful slow burning romance which becomes intense and passionate as these two fall in love. As LJ has to leave and go back to New Orleans to be with his sick mother, Andra follows him and experiences first hand just how different their lives are but despite everything she still wants this big gentle man to love her and will do work with him to make it work between them.
There is so much more to say about this book but it would take forever. I have read so few books as intense and heartbreaking as this one, especially as we relive the horror of Hurricane Katrina through LJ’s eyes and see the reality of his life as a poor black person who is just trying to get ahead while fighting against prejudice.
Don’t expect to come away from this book unscathed, it will stay with you for a while and will give you many things to think about. Michelle’s effort in researching and writing this book has to be applauded, it is so much more than just a romance story and it should have way more than five stars.
I enjoyed this book – the two main characters, LJ and Andra, were realistic and likable, and their relationship was sweet. I liked reading about both of the settings (Montana and New Orleans), as well as the details about horses, music, etc. I would’ve liked to read more about the side characters – since we see so little of them, when they do make an appearance, it’s kind of out of left field and ultimately less impactful than if we understood more about them and their place in the story. But overall, a good book!