A poignant and provocative romance from USA Today Bestselling Author Alexa Padgett.
She aches to make her own music…but I burn for the perfect revenge.I never thought a late-night Scrabble game would blow my world apart. Moving letters. Keeping score. Swapping words and desire with a mystery woman who makes me fantasize of things I have no right thinking.I can’t get involved.I won’t.Despite the … things I have no right thinking.
I can’t get involved.
I won’t.
Despite the pull of her lush curves and the electric crackle of chemistry between us, I resist. Regan has aroused something far more desirable than revenge, and I can’t get sidetracked by my pesky feelings. Not now that my plot to pay back my best friend’s heartbreaking betrayal finally snaps into place, and I vowed years ago to see it to the bitter end.
And that means no emotional entanglements. Even for her.
Until a vindictive smear campaign aimed at Regan is followed by a bombshell that blows my world apart…and our fragile relationship crumbles.
Unless we both go all in and trust each other, we won’t be able to pick up the pieces.
Praise for Broken Rose of Texas:
“Each page full of sizzling scenes and packed with emotion. I couldn’t stop! It leaves you aching for more.” ~ Candace Osmond, USA TODAY Bestselling Author of the Dark Tides Series
“A great read.” ~ USA Today Bestselling Author Khardine Gray
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Broken Rose of Texas, An Austin After Dark Book 2 by Alexa Padgett
Regan Everly Leroux is a twenty-five-year-old pop princess that wants more than anything to branch out into the music that she loves. She feels trapped in the image of a pop princess.
Carter Grace has built a tech empire by not only his brilliant apps he creates but also being able to foresee the future in the ever-changing industry.
Regan has loved singing in front of a crowd and has felt at home on stage for as long as she can remember. Singing beautiful bluesy melodies with her mother had always made her feel special and that’s the kind of music that she wants to make. Unfortunately, her manager father has other plans for her and isn’t afraid to push for what he wants. Carter lost his girlfriend to his best friend years ago and has wanted revenge ever since for both. He is on the verge of taking his company over when he goes to a local bar and meets Regan. Their attraction is instant so when he asks her to go somewhere quiet to talk, she agrees. They spend the evening playing scrabble, eating pizza, and getting to know each other. The next few weeks they get to know each other by texts, phone calls and a special scrabble app he designed just for her. Unfortunately, articles are released with information about both of their pasts and career ending rumors. Can the fragile relationship they are trying to make handle it? Will they question each other’s motives, or can they trust each other to have their back?
Regan and Carter both have been burned in the past by someone that they loved and trusted. Carter has not been in a serious relationship for years following the loss of two people he thought he could trust. He slowly learns to trust someone else with his heart. Regan likes that Carter sees the real her and not the pop princess that everyone else sees. She can be herself and take that breath that she feels like she can’t do most of the time. Both learn that trust can be frightening but the rewards are so worth it in the end. I found it cute that they go to know each other with texts and phone calls. It was old school and rather sweet.
So good. This book checked all of the boxes for a really good book. Well written, good story just everything was good. I will be rereading this book as well as the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I thought Cam and Jenna’s story was heartwarming but it doesn’t hold a candle to Carter and Regan’s story.
Carter is a billionaire who was burned badly and won’t give his heart to anyone.
Regan is a pop superstar who was verbally abused by her boyfriend and is still living that mistake daily in the tabloids.
When these two meet the attraction is there but their walls are way up.
As the get to know each other They must continue to fight their past and how it us effecting their here and now.
Love us never easy but sometimes you need to let someone in and trust they won’t purposefully hurt you.
I ache for Regan (Eaverly) throughout this book and hoped she’d find someone to protect and help her.
I was given this book for an honest voluntary review
I’m a huge fan of Alexa Padgett and with each book it stays obvious as to why. Her writing is impeccable and her characters and storylines gripping. Regan is living in a gilded cage so to speak and she just wants desperately for change and when her and Carter first meet they are a fresh air for each other. Both have tremendous walls up cause of there past but all they know in that moment is that they want this game of Scrabble to never end. I loved every part of this book!!
Love the character’s first encounter.
… love their chemistry, love how they connected,
This book engulfs you, you are glued to pages, until you finish.
Definitely a must read, second in the series.
WOW!!!! What else is there to say. This was a really HOT story, and you will be missing out if you do not read it. I could not put it down it was that good!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Emotional and fascinating!
This book is steamy and amazing and will push your boundaries and leave you breathless!
I loved everything about it – the characters, the plot, the emotion, the writing, and the ability that the author had to tell me a story – all of it had me wanting this book to go on and on.
The chemistry between the H and h is great plus their attitudes and events going on make the story even richer.
I received a copy of this book. This review was posted voluntarily.
Wow! Loved this book for the strong characters and tightly woven story that is full of family dynamics, challenges of following one’s dreams, and knowing who to trust.
This is a romance with a bit of suspense all with a backdrop of high stakes business and rockstar lifestyle … except unlike most rockstar romances, the rockstar is our heroine.
Regan and Carter meet via an innocent one night stand that quickly turns into something more … with chemistry and depth. As their feelings grow, they realize that together they are stronger and together they can join forces to fight those who want to selfishly benefit from their successes.
There is family drama on both sides, betrayals, and family / friends who come forward to stand with our main characters when they need it the most. The characters, both main and supporting, are well developed and the storyline is well crafted.
This is the second book in the An Austin After Dark series, yet it is my first. I was able to read it without reading the first book, yet it’s now on my ‘must read’ shelf … and Ms. Padgett is now someone I follow.
I received an ARC. This is my honest review.
Wow! This book was amazing! Regan is a pop star looking for more. She wants to do something completely different with her music, but a controlling father is in her way. Carter is a tech mogul who doesn’t do commitment. They have both been betrayed by the people who are supposed to love them. There are many obstacles in their way, but I got an overwhelming sense of love from them both. When one is hurt, the other hurts deeply for them. One of my favorite parts is when Regan states plainly that she is not gonna be a one night stand and how their evening evolves from that. I loved everything about this book! The connection the reader has to the characters and the connection the characters have with each other is palpable. Very enjoyable read! Can’t wait for more!
This is a well written book with strong characters and a sizzling hot romance. The author does a great job bringing an emotion filled story with a bit of drama and mystery and describes her scenes beautifully. She flows the story fluidly and had me hooked from start to finish reading. I loved and would recommend this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Book two in Alexa’s Austin After Dark Series is Broken Rose of Texas, features wealthy tech businessman Carter and pop princess Regan.
When they meet unexpectedly in a bar, Carter has no idea who she is but he is instantly attracted to her and takes her back to his hotel room for what he thinks will be an enjoyable one night stand. Regan is not interested in a one nighter and starts to leave, but Carter wants to know more about her, invites her to stay to play scrabble and they realize that this could grow to be so much more.
Regan’s life is complicated and difficult as she tries to balance pleasing her father and establishing a new career for herself and she doesn’t want to involve Carter in her mess. Unfortunately, next day it hits the fan, as Carter finds out who she really is and lies about her night in the hotel begin to circulate on social media.
As Regan and Carter start to fall for each other he becomes more involved in her life, defending her against the forces around her that are trying to ruin her career and supporting her desire to change her musical direction and record with his brother Country Star Camden Grace.
This is not just a beautifully written hot and sexy love story, but a lot more. We gain an interesting insight into the workings of the music business and the life of a famous artist who has to deal with the people that are trying to ruin her career.
An amazing and very entertaining story as always from Alexa.
Broken Rose of Texas by Alexa Padgett
Regan wants an evening away from being the famous Everly. An evening out to listen to some one else make music seems just the thing. Until her eye is caught by the oh so handsome and alluring man across the bar. She is surprised he doesn’t recognize her, and takes him up on finding a quiet place to get to know each other better. But Carter’s idea and Regan’s idea of getting to know each other Are different. What follows is a wonderful story of life in a fish bowl of stardom, the problems and heart aches from their pasts getting in the way of their budding relationship. Carter understands some of this since his twin brother is the famous country star Camden Grace. Carter and Regan will have to navigate the pain and mistrust both of them have from past betrayals to find a love that songs are written about. Wonderful story, memorable characters that do our Texas heritage proud. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in e change for an honest review.
Not a pop song but a nice melody
Broken Rose of Texas is the first book I have read by Alexa Padgett so I was not sure what to expect. Also as it is the second book in the An Austin After Dark series I was not sure about whether it could be read as a stand-alone or not. But as the book description looked like it could be really fascinating and emotional I decided to pick it up and give it a try. What I found was that the story was really emotionally heartwarming it was not filled with a lot of drama or verve. The story is about Regan and Carter who meet at a nightclub and even though they leave together they do not end up with a one night stand. Instead they talk and have a game of Scrabble and begin what may become a relationship. But things are hidden and there are a couple bumps along the way to a HEA.
Overall I did like the story but just did not fall in love with it or really root for the characters. But as this is the first book I have read by this author I will definitely pick up another as I did like her writing style.
I received a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. My opinions are all my own.
All he wants is his revenge and nothing is going to get in his way, not even her. Everything about her calls him but he cannot let himself be sidetracked by her. What if feelings arise? What if someone comes after her? Can they trust each other? Follow them to see how it all ends
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a love story. Two people find each other as life goes on. A guitar maker and a country star, each has their own personal problems but find love the hard way. What happens will intrigue you to read the series. Great reading material.
Broken Rose of Texas by Alexis Padgett is a sweet, old fashioned love story about a young woman who is famous, and the man who steals her heart. Not knowing that she is famous, he pursues her- only to find out her real identity. Then he must convince her that he is interested in the girl he met, not the girl the music world knows and loves. And she faces a dilemma of her own- to convince him that she is interested in him and not just trying to use him to get to his famous brother to advance her career.
This story is #2 in the Austin after Dark series. It can be read as a standalone or you can read Deep in the Heart, which is the first book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book- I enjoyed it immensely! I really thought the plot was well thought out and I loved the characters and how well they played off of each other. Delightful!
Regan the popstar and Carter the businessman. They don’t sound like a great combo on paper, but in person, whew! Their chemistry is not to be denied, and feelings start developing all over the place. They both have insecurities and demons, though, so any kind of relationship will be difficult to maintain. Can these two let go and allow themselves to fall, to feel?
Since reading and falling in love with Cam and Jenna in Deep in the Heart, I have been a fan of this author’s. I am so glad to have gotten to read Cam’s brother’s story now because Broken Rose of Texas is just as good, just as readable as Deep in the Heart. I love Carter and Regan together – two damaged souls most definitely. But so perfect for each other. I am definitely looking forward to more of this series and much, much more from this author.
Broken Rose of Texas is an absorbing story about two people who make a connection that changes their lives. Regan is an unhappy pop star with a controlling father and a reporter intent on sabotaging her career. She’s had her heart broken by people she trusted and is wary of letting anyone in. Carter had his world destroyed by a woman who lied and used him and he spends his time plotting revenge until he meets Regan, but can he trust that Regan isn’t doing the same thing?
Alexa Padgett is a great writer and a wonderful storyteller. Her characters are complex and their emotional stories are beautifully told. Regan and Carter have both been terribly hurt by people they loved and it’s sweet to see them open up and trust again. I was quite caught up in the story and couldn’t put it down. Very enjoyable.
I am voluntarily reviewing an advance reader copy of this book.
A book full of mystery and romance with strong passionate characters with memorable chemistry. . Also beautiful cover
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This was a beautiful book full of emotions and wonderful characters. I loved how it played out and the story was really well written. I loved it and I would recommend it to others.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.