Emma Harrington is an intelligent, confident, sweet and sassy woman.Or she was…before him.Emma sets out to rebuild her life and find the person she once was. A wrench is thrown into her plans when she meets Phoenix West, a sexy as hell, smooth-talking tattoo artist.As soon as Nix meets Emma, he knows he’s found something special. He can’t deny their connection and despite her reluctance, Nix … despite her reluctance, Nix slowly works his way through her hidden scars and into her heart.
Just when Emma starts to breathe again, her fear resurfaces, threatening her hopes for the future.
Will she ever be free to live the life she truly wants? Or will her torturous past finally catch up to her?
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This was my first read of A.M. Myers. The author shows promise. The structure and flow kept me on the edge of my seat and had me reading through squinted eyes at times….you know what I mean…like when you watch a movie hiding behind your hand. Other Myers books will be added to my TBR.
I found this after reading the Bayou Devil’s MC. Glad I did because I was wanting to find out what Nix and Emma’s full story was. This laid it out well and took my through the trials and abuse Emma had to survive to get strong again and find her HEA. This is were the Bayou Devils’ MC first gets introduced by A. M. Myers. It’s a strong romance book. Worth the read.
**This is from my blog dated 10-30-15) **
I am in quite a few (ok, lots) of Facebook groups for authors and bloggers. And a couple days ago a new author A. M. Myers posted that she was needing someone to read and review her new book, Hidden Scars. I didn’t ask what the book was about I needed a little bit of mystery. I was gifted a copy in exchange for an honest review. This is a book that is well worth the money you will spend on it. A.M. Myers blew me away with Phoenix (Nix) and Emma.
As I have done before I will put up my disclaimer of Domestic Abuse!! If this subject bothers you, you may want to avoid this book. Myers details the abuse so realistically. So if this subject is something you can’t stomach this isn’t the book for you.
Being a survivor of domestic abuse puts me in a unique position. I can either really relate to a character or I can tell when an author is trying to hard to push the issue. Hidden Scars made me relate. I cried, I screamed, I laughed, and I fell in love with Emma and NIx.
Emma is finally starting to step out of her shell and slowly becoming the person she once was, more conscious, but wanting to truly live life again. When she walks into the tattoo shop looking for Nix, a friend’s nephew, her life goes from black and white to full blown color, as does his.
Watch as Emma fights to keep what she has recovered in her life, her self esteem, her independence, herself against her ex, Ryan. Watch Nix battle along with her, trying to find the lines of friend and wanting to be more.
A.M. Myers has mastered character development and the flow of a story! She literally had me begging for more. Just ask her!! I have been reassured that there will be more to come, which I’m excited for, but until then grab Nix and Emma up and love them, laugh with them, cry with them, fight with them….but no matter what read about them!!
As I ended when I reviewed Ember Skies, I will end the same way here:
If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse (male or female) please get help!! Please reach out to someone, anyone. You are worth the fight!!
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE
I read these out of order. I started by reading Hopelessly Devoted and came back to read this one. My one huge hangup was the inconstancy of what happened at the end. That did not stop me from really enjoying Emma and Nix’s story. The things Emma went through made my heart ache for her. I could not wait to dive into the next book!
I couldn’t put this book down. This book was an roller coaster of emotions. My heart went out for Em & Nix. I was on the edge of my seat threw the whole book. I can’t wait to read more from this author.
This one was hard… not hard to review, not hard to read, but hard to get over! There are triggers in this book, but I loved every bit of this story. Emma was in an abusive relationship with a guy she thought was THE ONE! Unfortunately, the man of her dreams turned out to be a nightmare. Enter Phoenix! I absolutely loved Nix. He was perfect. He was strong, protective, and most of all… he was patient. At first, I was worried about how charming he would be, but Emma and Nix together were perfect. This book took me through an emotional wringer! I loved every minute of it.
This book needed a trigger warning. As a domestic abuse survivor I found it triggering a lot. I did however like the ending
Moving story of the patience involved in healing from abuse. Edited well.
Emma falls for the wrong guy, despite the fact none of her family or friends like the guy. Master of manipulation and abuse, Ryan presents a good front, but it is hiding a monster. Emma finally has enough, and begins to slowly put her life back together. Along the way, she meets Phoenix (Nix) and begins the journey to discovering real love. Nix is such a wonderful guy. Patient, loving, encouraging, and fiercely protective, he isn’t afraid of the road to helping Emma heal or the danger he himself could face.
The first part of the book is told alternating between past and present. We get to see Emma’s healing process as we see why she needs to heal. So many people get trapped in real life the same way as Emma did. So proud of her brothers and friends for not being afraid to tell her there was a problem with Ryan, even if she didn’t want to listen. I can’t stand to hear people comment after the fact that they knew something wasn’t right, but didn’t want to say. I loved that Tucker and Trey spoke up, but decided not to turn away because they knew she would need them when things went south.
Looking forward to Tucker and Trey’s stories.
Oh my gravy this book made me laugh, cry, sweat, and frantically turn the pages to see what happened next. Check it out.
I was hooked on this story right from the beginning. The alternating scenes of “then” and “now” pieced together the story well. I found myself becoming very upset with Ryan’s behavior and frustrated that Emma was putting up with it. Books that can elicit that type of emotional response always rank very highly with me. This book really did a great job of showing how the abuser slowly takes control. It was truly painful watching Emma crumble into a shell of her former self in the “then” scenes, but watching her grow stronger with Nix’s help and love during the “now” scenes made up for it. As Ryan’s behavior escalated and things got intense, I had a hard time putting the book down. I absolutely loved this book and cannot wait for the next from A. M. Myers.
Such an amazing story. I loved the absolute protectiveness of Nix. After such a destructive relationship, Emma struck gold with Nix. It was fantastic to see both their families come together to protect her.
Hidden Scars is my first book by A.M. Myers…and wow. This book was amazingly well written. Emma relationship with Ryan played out so heartbreaking….I almost believed the jerk myself…really great writing. Nix is a saving grace for Emma. Abuse of any kind is never acceptable, never….I had a relationship with my exhusband very similar, he always made me think it was me…I truly felt Emma’s pain and embarrassment. Great book…great characters really loved it!
4.5 Stars so im rounding it up to 5! This was a great book. Told from the past and present perspective. This is the story of Emma she is a girl who thought she found the love of her life, instead she got a abusive prick who not only hits her but emotional abuses her. She gets away and just when her life changes for the better her abuser comes back and he’s not taking no for a answer. Ryan will have her whether she wants him or not.
Hidden Scars by A.M. Myers an amazing five star read, this is a compelling and utterly amazing five-star read, it deals with issues that break your heart, and keeps you gripped from page to page not able to put it down until you have devoured every page. It shows that no matter how intelligent, confident, sweet and sassy a woman is they can still be duped and sucked into things no woman should face. As the main Character of this book Emma Harrington is such a woman, or she was until she met Ryan Wheeler, a sweet and smart man she gave her heart to, until he broke it and in the process left her a broken shell.
That is until one day Emma decided to take back her life, she decides to get a tattoo, a decision that will change her life as she walks into a studio belonging to Phoenix West, a sexy, smooth talking tattoo artist who melts her heart in ways she wouldn’t have imagined.
Nix manages to do something Emma thought impossible, he shows her she is worthy of love, and he manages to break down the barriers she has built around her heart. Until that is until an old fear resurfaces, trying to ruin any chance she has at a happy ending. Will the bonds Nix has encouraged Emma to build be strong enough, to see of the negative force? Or will she crumble and fold and give up her chance at happiness.
A romance with sizzle, steam, suspense, and danger. I really liked Nix and liked Ryan at first, but that soon changed! Nix and Emma were a great couple and you can’t help loving Nix…the sweet, hot, attentive boyfriend. Emma’s brother’s were great and I’d love to read their stories. The only thing I didn’t like was that sometimes Emma seemed so strong and at other times so weak. I felt that Nix and her brothers babied her too much at times. A good story and I did enjoy it. Loved the ending.
Emma wants to forget and wants her ex to stop contacting her, realising that she needs to take control of her life again she takes the first step. Tired of the men in her life babysitting her Emma realises she needs to take charge.
When deciding to get a tattoo has part of her change, Emma meets Nix and the chemistry is undeniable. With Emma’s past, though and self-doubt she can’t let anyone in. Although Nix is patient and persistent.
We see how Emma met Ryan and the connection that chemistry they had and how she fell for him, but also how the relationship went and why Emma wants to forget and feels worthless.
You see Emma work though everything in her mind and her determination to not let her past rule her future, the love and support she gets from Nix throughout it without expecting anything from her is amazing. Nix tells Emma that he wants to be her Lobster and will wait however long it takes.
You see the emotions that Emma goes through as her ex is still, continuing to torment her, the support and love she receives from those around her particularly Nix makes Emma realise that her past can’t control her future unless she lets it.
Wow, this book really touched my heart. There are some areas that broke my heart & I wasn’t sure if I would finish the book,but it was great. I had to take breaks bc of the abuse, but the ending really fit. I’m so glad I took a chance on this book. Great story and you will definitely fall in love with the characters.
Read another novel by a author I had not read before. The fun is discovering if I want to do it again read one by the time I finish. This is centered around Emma and Nix. Nix is one we probably could watch all day by the description with her being someone who we want to get it together. Her past has broke her into pieces with it slowly going back together. Patience is what we need with this one as does he when with her. It is like two steps forward and half one back dance too. When drama seeps it way in by then you are so part of them and their dance you can not let go. Healing is pictured in this so you can see through them. Emotions will be played and by the time you get to the last of this one you will have your answer with wanting to read another one by this author.
Emma’s story is an incredible tale from confident young woman, to dealing with an abusive boyfriend and coming back to the amazingly strong woman she has always been. There is instant attraction with Phoenix, which she tries and fails to ignore. Good thing since he was instrumental in her finding herself again. I loved this story!
I had a hard time getting started with this book but boy am I glad I stayed with it. This book hit so many emotions.
Emma thought she found a wonderful man, until they moved in together. When family and friends try to get her to slow down Ryan poisons her head that they are trying to break them up. Everything that she deals with regarding Ryan makes you feel for her and any other women who has gobe through that.
Enter Nix who starts as a friend and develops to more. He is her rock. I don’t think she could have gotten through what she did without him (or her brothers).
A great story. I will definitely be reading more from this author.