Beautifully Broken

Dark and scary in the beginning. But, the love story behind it is worth the read!!

I read the blurb, I’m familiar with the author, and so I dove right in. I expected lots of darkness and depravity and, in the beginning, the author did not disappoint. It was graphic and disgusting, turning my stomach and keeping me glued to the pages. But then the intensity kind of fell off and I was left with a story that had more of a contemporary feel than a suspenseful one.

So let’s recap the story… Girl is out with her parents on a beautiful day, appreciating time spent with her family, and then everything turns scary. She winds up in the hospital, learns her parents are dead, her uncle gives her fake papers and sends her out of the country. She only knows that someone is after her, but not why. Seven years go by with her moving from small town to small town, without forming any attachments, and she starts feeling the itch to move again. Too late, she’s captured and tortured and about to die when she’s saved. Predator comes through, rescues the girl, kills her captors, and takes her to safety. Trying to stay one step ahead of the bad guys isn’t easy when the girl is traumatized and scared, but he’s unwilling to let her go. While not really romantic, this story was still entertaining.

I’ve tried and tried and tried this author and I don’t have any plans of giving up. Her work always has a note that draws me in and I’m sure that won’t stop any time soon. So while this particular story didn’t completely blow me away, I’ll patiently wait for the one that will.

I read this book when it was previously written in 2016 under the title of Predator.
I loved it then.
Reread it now with the new title Beautifully Broken and still love it.
I think this book (previous version) is how I found this outstanding author.
This book is powerful and intense.
It again had me gripped from start to finish
So emotional and brought out so much feelings in me.
It’s raw and gritty and gut wrenching.
Parts are dark and devastating.
But in true Michelle Heard style there is light at the end of this dark seemly hopeless tunnel.
Damian and Cara are two broken damaged souls.
That bring life and light to each other.
They find solace and comfort together.
So after the heartbreak and anguish, tears and sadness this amazing author turns all this into something beautiful and heartwarming.

This is my second read of this book, it was originally published as Predator.

What an emotional ride for Cara and Damien. Cara is 18 and her world falls apart, she’s now on the run, seven years later and she’s made a mistake that is costly. Predator rescues her, he is supposed to kill her, but he keeps her. He sees something in her that is strength personified. There is so much that Cara is going though and Damien does not know how to deal with it, but he tries. “I live you” are their words to each other as they become each other’s whole life. It is a dark book but they do get their happily ever after. This is my second book by this author, and I highly recommend her books. I would purchase any future books to be sure.

Beautifully Broken was a beautiful story. 4 stars

The dedication made me teary, so I knew I was in for an emotional read. The horrors Cara faced were difficult to read, and my heart broke for her. She may have been broken, but she was a survivor; I very much admired her. Damian really was a true hero. I loved that I got to read his thoughts and feelings, because it helped so much. There were not a lot of steamy scenes, because this book was about much more than that. It was a beautiful story about loss, healing, redemption, finding love and accepting that love in spite of being broken.

*I received a copy of this ebook for my honest review that I am voluntarily leaving.*

°**° 5-Star beautifully written °**°

How beautifully written this heart-breaking book is!!!

Cara suffered one the worse of experiences that a woman can be handed out at the hands of men, and had also lost so much in her short lifetime. How she even managed to put one foot in front of the other is to me, a miracle in itself. That she even continued to see in a new dawn was a testament to her strength of spirit. I’m not usually up for really dark and challenging romance reads such as this one, and a trusted reading friend did warn me to consider carefully before venturing between the pages of BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN, but, I just love Author Michelle Heard’s writing, so I knew I had to give it a go. It’s an aptly bestowed title because this was exactly as Damian, Cara’s deadly rescuer saw her, and what he loved as an integral part of her. Not because she was broken, but because even in her brokenness, she had maintained her beautiful fighting spirit.

And she did keep fighting until she suffered one loss too many, and absolutely lost the will to feel or live. I’ve already been crying, but now, I’m another degree upset. She had been through so much and I was invested in her healing and recovery, right along with Damian who had admitted to himself that she’d brought his dead heart back to life. He just couldn’t lose her to the darkness of depression. Annnnnd now I’m full on bawling.

I just loved Damian so much. His was absolutely the best kind of love a person could have for another. Even though for now, she needed protecting and looking after, he viewed her as his equal partner. He admired her strength and loved her more each time that she lived through another day, and took each one as a victory on her part. When she could no long ‘feel’, and was drowning under the weight of her hopelessness, he was with her, urging her to ‘feel’ the physical aspects of life, like the ocean, barefeet in the sand, or the breeze on her face. He was such a beautiful person in his own right that I could cried every time I read more of the book. It was no longer Cara’s horrendous trauma that had me in tears, it was now Damian’s unconditional love for the beautiful woman with her strength and broken soul, that kept me sobbing.

How is it that Ms Heard can make the deadliest and most clinical alpha male a romantic hero, and take the soul-destroying trauma of a heroine and turn it into such a heart-breaking and healing compelling book??? Purely through the gift of her writing, and her love for her characters. What she writes, I will read. And even though this was not an easy read, it’s focus was on the healing gift of love and the strengths of Cara and Damian.

It’s not for the faint of heart, but if I’d passed on reading BEAUTIFULLY BROKEN, I would’ve missed out on an amazing 5-Star heart-wrenching book. I’ll also say now, that I’ve already read BEAUTIFULLY HURT and while it is also a stand-a-lone, we get to see more of Cara and Damian, so make sure you snap that up as well. Just sayin’ °**°

#mumsalwaysreading #bookblogger #bookreviewer #marnsreads #marnsj

Absolutely awesome read! Again I’m blown away with Michelle Heard. This dark romance will keep your attention all the way thru. The heroine endures so much pain, both physically and mentally, that it will definitely have your emotions going all over the place! The hero is perfectly swoon worthy! He sticks by her and is always there for her. Their story, although traumatic, is great!!!

Be warned, this book comes with a warning!!!! If you have triggers, I highly recommend you take that warning seriously. This read is not for the faint of heart. But if you have no triggers…. This one is a must read!!!!

This is a gripping, angsty, and inspiring story about tragedy and triumph. The main characters are inspirational and resilient despite having tragic pasts. This story evokes so many emotions. I could feel their pain but also their strength and perseverance. I loved the connection between Damian and Cara. Damian was so patient, kind, and gentle. Cara was an inspiration. Although this is a tragic story, the triumph and love shine through brighter than the tragedy. This is a must-read. There are triggers but they are handled with taste and tact.

***5 “I live you!!!” stars***

“I’m shattered to the bone.
It feels like my soul weighs a ton, dragging me under the wave of emptiness that keeps crashing over me.”

I’m so happy for the rebranding of this book, cause it gave me the opportunity to read this beautiful, even though heartbreaking story…
I love and trust Michelle Heard’s storytelling… She is always delivering simple, but in a way unique stories and she is touching the dark side with such a magnificent way…
She is making the heroes feelings yours and that’s an amazing talent. Don’t you think???
Even though, Cara’s feelings were soul deep full of heartache and depression, I wouldn’t change anything in this experience!!!

“There’s no escaping this nightmare…”

Poor Cara!!! That girl’s world turned upside down when she was eighteen and for the rest seven years she was in a constant run…
But then, they found her and a real hell started for her…
She was beaten and violated and she was one breath away from death when Damian found her and saved her…
A man with only one purpose in his life and from that moment, Cara became his only focus…
But the road to recovery and trust is too long and you have to be patient if you want to find a shred of light into the absolute darkness…

“It feels like I’m already dead because they killed my will to live.”

“I have to protect her because no one else will.”

This was a very difficult journey of a girl who lost herself because of the cruelity of others…
But she was lucky that a man like Damian was by her side to fight along her side…
Inevitable feelings got in the way, but healing was the most important thing…

“You’re either a fighter or a nobody…”
“I want to be a fighter.”
“Then fight, Cara… I’ll be there every step of the way to help you.”

I loved Cara so deeply… Her pain became mine…
I just wanted to hug her and shelter her for the evil of this world…
She was such a strong and beautiful creature… She was truly beautifully broken…
As for Damian??? He was the epitome of stength and patience… You couldn’t not fall for him…
He was the man that someone like Cara needed by her side…
These two were perfectly broken together!!! The only sure thing is that Cara and Damian will stay unforgettable to me!!!

“I see the most beautiful fucked up woman, and you’re perfect. You’re so beautifully broken, and it makes me want to keep you.”

Honestly, this is one of the most beautiful books of this author…
It’s talking about inner strength… About two broken souls that found each other in a tragic way…
About a connection on a deeper level…
This is a story that deserves to be heard and you deserve to freakin’ listen!!!
Just leave every hesistation out of the door and go for it!!!

“Don’t let them make you feel worthless because, to me, you’re fucking priceless.”

**I received an ARC for the exchange of an honest review**

Beautifully Broken is a standalone by Michelle Heard.

I was not ready for this book and I told Michelle as much. This was intense with emotions and very sensitive because of the nature of the topics in the book. This was about finding strength and the willpower to overcome.

Cara’s life was chaotic and was broken. She strives to survive and overcome the bumpy road she turned to. Damian rescued Cara, but he didn’t realize that she was capable of making him feel.

This was intense raw emotion capable of bringing me to feel. This book contains sensitive subjects that may be sensitive to some so be careful. This was an incredible story. Thank you Michelle for capturing this story so well. I enjoyed it.

I received a free copy of this book via Michelle Heard and am voluntarily leaving a review.