EXQUISITELY BROKEN
By M. Jay Granberry
4.5
Release Date June 11
This second chance romance had my heart in palpitations. The issues that tore Jake and Sin apart was hard for me to read but I found that M. Jay Granberry did it in a way where it had to be part of the story for all of it to come together. The actions of what happened in the past touched me. I felt the heartbreak and pain Sin went through because M. Jay Granberry captured my emotions through her words and made you feel as if it were happening to you.
Jake and Sin’s past broke me. The one thing I wish was that they had the talk about why. Aside from that I love how persistent Jake was and fought for what he truly wanted and that was Sin.
This story had me on a myriad of feelings. I was so angry at Jake but the anger lessened over time. Although, me as a person has a hard time forgetting past indiscretions. Lol. That’s when you know an author did her job right. She sucked me in and had me fully invested. This was an epic debut novel.
Author
cr8zysockbookblockwendy
3 years ago
This was the second chance love story of Sinclair “Sin” James and Jacob “Jake” Johnson. Sinclair was a poor girl that grew up in group homes turned rockstar. Jake was the rich boy who came from a family with a long standing history in Vegas. His last name widely known in the history of Vegas. He originally met Sin in their first year of college. This is sorta is the classic boy meets girl, boy’s family hates girl, but not exactly. I really liked this this take on it. It’s fresh and new. It has all the elements you want. The meet, the family drama, the fallout, the reunion. This story did have a different twist on the misunderstanding and because of that Jake does something horrible and Sin leaves for years. As the blurb states they meet when her band signs a one year contract to perform at his hotel. He makes it his mission to get her to forgive her and take him back. Forgiveness is a hard thing and this story is so true to that. The author did a great job at making this so organic and believable. You can feel the struggle for these characters. If they were truly meant to be together ,they would have obstacles that they had to overcome in order for that to happen. This book had some stuff in there that added drama to the story. I really liked that. Overall I really enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book.
Author
pwtrantertracey
3 years ago
This is an emotional story with steam, intrigue, and a happy ending, if you can get past the overload of misunderstandings.
A good read
I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Author
valeenrobertson
3 years ago
Jake is determined not to let Sinclair (Sin) go now that he’s seen her again. She’s in his hotel, in his town, and he wants a second chance. But is Sin willing to give him one?
I willingly admit that at first I was rooting for Sin to kick Jake to the curb. His betrayal is one hard for anyone to get past, and considering how important they were to each other when he betrayed her, it was all the worse. But, he wore me down, wore Sin down, with his persistence and his obvious love for Sin, and his obvious remorse.
Exquisitely Broken is one exquisitely emotional story. I hurt for Sin (and Jake) as they fought their way back to each other. And I cheered when they got there. Kudos to the author for this amazing second chance love story. I will be keeping her on my TBR list in the future!
Author
wssbookblog
3 years ago
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT!
Sin and Jacob…mmmmm.
Second chance romance in Sin City. I was so in awe of Sinclair (Sin). I love her character and her ability to overcome her tough beginnings.
Jacob on the other hand..hmmm. I did not want to like him. I still don’t think I do..I tolerate him because I don’t think he deserves a second chance BUT destiny/love/fate overrides all.
I really hope there’s more to this story… another Sin City Tale..Hint hint.. ADAM.
Kudos to the author for excellent writing.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 4/5
Secondary Characters~ 4/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 4/5
Addictiveness~4/5
Angst~ 4/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 4/5
Theme or Tone~ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 4/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5
Book Cover~ perfect for Vegas
Series~ A Sin City Tale
Source~ Kindle eBook – ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
Author
rosasharoniscreambookblog
3 years ago
“More than anything, I want to repent at the altar of Sin. Sink to my knees and beg forgiveness. Worship her body with my body.”
I honestly can’t tell you what it was that drew me to this book, it wasn’t the author because this is her debut novel. Most likely it was the title, I’m very drawn to broken characters. I guess I was just lucky to find it, because it’s amazing, and I’m so glad I didn’t miss out. The author’s writing style is very smooth and the characters just jumped off the page and into my heart. I’ll most definitely be stalking her in the future to make sure I don’t miss whatever is next.
Another thing that I’m drawn to is music. I really really enjoyed that side of this story. Broken hearts inspire the best lyrics and Exquisitely Broken was born from the ashes of her lost love. Sinclair (aka Sin) has been through hell, a few times. She’s had to fight for everything. She wasn’t raised on the rich side of the tracks, others might look down on her for that but that’s their issue, not hers. She’s not ashamed of her hard beginnings, it’s made her strong and brought her best friend into her life. Their shared hardships and love of music made them the perfect team.
Vegas is her home but she’s avoided it like the plague… because he’s there. She ran from him but unfortunately, she couldn’t get away from the love she felt for him, it followed her. It filled the pages of her songbook. It ran in rivers down her cheeks. Now, she has to go back to Vegas. She’s hoping that the man and the love no longer have any power over her. Good luck with that, right?
I confess I didn’t want to like him. There’s a reason she left him, and I don’t blame her. He hasn’t forgotten her and he wants another chance. He doesn’t deserve one. He’s determined to prove to her that they are meant for each other. “Sin may not want to want me, but I live under her skin and flow in her veins just as she does in mine. Us is not a choice. It never was, it’s inevitable.”
Will she give him another chance at what’s left of her exquisitely broken heart? Well, you’ll need to one-click to find out. In the meantime, I’m over here with my fingers crossed that the author will call this book one in a series and either start or finish with Adam…sigh. The line forms here…
Author
wendylivingstone
3 years ago
This author has done a great job in weaving this debut, and she is certainly an author to look out for in the future. This is Jake and Sinclair’s story. What happens in Vegas does not always stay there, and when Jake leaves Sinclair broken hearted, and she leaves town. When Sin comes back to town, she does her upmost best to avoid Jake, but he seems to be there at every turn. Jake deeply regrets his actions and driving Sin away, and he will do whatever he must to redeem himself and get Sin to forgive him. It is too late for them to reconcile. This is a good story which is an emotionally charged 2nd chance romance, with angst, and is an entertaining page turner. I look forward to reading more from this author and I recommend this story.
Author
fallingwiththeleaves
3 years ago
*review for audible version*
Jacob and Sinclair’s story is messy, complicated, heart wrenching, and oozing passion. The angst is strong. Jacob broke my heart knowing what he did in the past to Sinclair, it was hard to get over. I felt that despite that, deep down, they are meant. They’re each other’s other half and there’s no keeping them apart. Their story ripped my heart to pieces and had me a sobbing mess. There’s no doubt that you’ll become emotionally invested in this couple and their story. And the steam was off the charts, their passion will make you achy and needy and leave you panting. The narrators did an awesome job and they embody the characters so well. Overall a must listen!
Author
claretunilla
3 years ago
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed this and the audio was AMAZING. For a debut this really hits a lot of high notes. The writing was crisp and the chemistry between Jacob and Sin was off the charts, even given their past. This hit a lot of tropes I really enjoy. A huge thank you to Foreword PR for allowing me to volunteer to review the audio version of this. My opinions are my own and haven’t been influenced.
Author
brookemarie19
3 years ago
Talk about a second chance novel! This is probably the best second chance I have read in a long time, possibly ever. The struggle between heart and head is huge here and the twist towards the end had me crying like a baby. A must read listen for anyone who loves romance.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I do need to recheck my TBR lists, because I had this book under my M/M category. So, when I discovered that Sin was actually a woman I was a tad disappointed. But that is totally my fault, so I rearranged my mindset and read this book without thinking about my mistake. That didn’t make it any better, though.
From the slap to about 60% of the story, we are in front of a hot mess that made me so angry, that I was ready to throw the book into the fieriest fires of Hell and move on. Sometimes I should force me to quit. That would be more fair for everyone, but I just can’t. You never know when a book is going to change its course and wow you. The biggest issue I have with this one is Jake himself and how the cheating episode is treated. The “I love you so much so I cheated on you as a wake-up call” crap, or the “You are the coward for not figthing for us even though I was pounding your roommate” bullshit and other shameful and disgusting comments that put Jake in a position of being the bad guy and not the hero. But he is treated as the latter way sooner than emotionally healthy, which makes Sinclair look like a weak person who is easily seduced. Where is that woman who has steeled herself against Jake? That shell melts waaaaay too fast for my taste.
Thankfully, the book gets slightly better when Jake’s behaviour changes abruptly. He goes from blatantly consider himself the victim to own his mistakes and try to make amends the good way. Maybe it is too little, too late; but at least it makes the final push somehow bearable. Sadly, the book also lacks in closure. I’m not talking about the romance, that is tied with several jumps forwards. I’m talking about the other details that were dropped and never had proper development: the evil mother-in-law, Trina’s intentions, Jake’s illegal deals… All of those things could have an impact in the relationship between Jake and Sinclair, so I do not like that they are discarded without further explanations.
Author
e1obrien
3 years ago
I wasn’t too sure how I would feel about Sin and Jake.
You find out from the very beginning that they broke up 4 years ago. Several chapters include flashbacks that give you a glimpse into their past. I really would have liked to read the actual moment that tore them apart in one of those flashbacks. But they talk about it so much, I guess the author didn’t feel it was necessary.
Both Jake and Sin made mistakes in their past but Jake is ready to go all in the get Sin back. By the end, you might be all in, as well.
4 stars.
Author
monica
3 years ago
Sinclair (aka Sin) had her heart broken in Las Vegas four years ago when the love of her life cheated on her. Now she’s back, hoping she won’t cross paths with Jacob Johnson. As it turns out, her band signed a year-long residency to work for his hotel and Jacob is determined to prove to her how much he deserves a second chance…
It’s hard to believe this is Jay M. Granberry’s debut novel because the writing is so amazing! The depth and emotional intensity of the story make it captivating. The flashbacks add dimension to an already interesting plot. I can’t wait to listen to Adam’s story!
Narrators Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem did an excellent job bringing this story to life. Their voices compliment each other, making this book a joy to listen to.
Exquisitely Broken is a second chance contemporary rockstar romance written in dual first-person POV and performed duet style. It’s a standalone that ends with an HEA. No cliffhanger.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Author
bette
3 years ago
Great Story & Audible Listen Captivating & Heartfelt!
Exquisitely Broken
A Sin City Tale, Book 1
By: M. Jay Granberry
Narrated by: Lacy Laurel, Jakobi Diem
This is a great second chance romance, it is well written with interesting storylines and characters. The story grabbed my attention right from the star and held it straight to the end. The characters are complex and well developed. The band “Sin City” is finishing up a world tour, members of the band want to take a break from touring and when an opportunity comes up for a year residency at Vegas casino the band votes yes and they take them up on the offer. Sinclair “Sin” James is not thrilled about returning to Las Vegas but it is best for her bandmates. Her ex boyfriend lives in Vegas, she left him after he broke her heart and she never wants to see his again. Jacob “Jake” Johnson is the CFO, he helped build “The Hotel” a newer Vegas casino from the ground up. When he that “Sin City” will be the residency band he knew this was his opportunity to get the only woman who stole his heart back in his life, where she belongs. I loved how everything plays out in this book, the author plotted it out nicely, there are chapters that take you back to when Jake and Sin first meet, the majority of the story is current day but it is great to see what their story was then and to see what happened, what lead up to their heartbreak. There is never a dull moment in this book, there is plenty of drama, angst, heartfelt moments, so heartbreaking ones all leading to a great second chance romance. Thank you M. Jay Cranberry for this great story and the emotional rollercoaster ride. I loved the secondary characters and am looking forward to Adam and Seth’s story, I hope it comes to Audible soon.
I listened the the Audible edition, Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem are terrific narrators and voice artists. They did an amazing job portraying the characters and bringing them to life, giving each their own voice and personality. You could hear how much heart they put into their work as they capture the characters emotions and project into their performance. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank your for this great listen
Author
shedevilreads
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken by M. Jay Granberry is a second chance romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem.
This is the first book of M. Jay Granberry’s that I have read and it definitely won’t be my last. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. I cannot wait until the second book in the series Exquisitely Hidden is released on audible so I can get Seth and Adams love story.
Lacy and Jakobi did an amazing on the dual narration. They really brought the story to life.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves second chance romance or Rockstar romances.
TheNextStepPR Reviewer
Author
ishac
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken has so much going on, it’s hard to look away. Granberry creates a larger than life fantasy out of heartbreaking reality. At the heart of this emotionally stunning story is Sinclair James. Sinclair is a woman with the courage to follow her dreams, even as her heart was breaking around her. Just when she thinks she’s outrun her past, fate steps into to prove her wrong. Can the one that broke her heart, put the pieces back together? Exquisitely Broken brings the heartache even as it inspires. Emotionally, exquisite story.
Author
jocegermain
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken is a debut novel by M. Jay Granberry, and the first book in A Sin City Tale Series. This is a sexy second chance to love, and a Rock Star Romance. Sin (Sinclair) and Jake (Jacob) are great characters. Sin is a beautiful woman, strong, and independent. Jake made an unforgivable mistake that changed it all. Their story is mostly about redemption and forgiveness. Despite their past, they are great together, and they share a sizzling chemistry. The back and forth, past to present, is well done and easy to follow. I love the ending. Looking forward to listen to the next book in the Series, Exquisitely Hidden, Adam and Seth story. Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem did a great job with the narration.
Author
rabidreadersbookblog
3 years ago
I think I may have found a new to me author to love. I loved every inch of this story! This is the ultimate rock star, second chance lovers romance. But it’s also so much more. Sin (Sinclair) has come from nothing and is rising up to the top of the music world with her best friend Adam and their band Sin City. At the start of her college life she met Jake and a passionate relationship was created. But betrayal years later broke it. Now Sin and Jake are back in each other lives. He’s pushing for forgiveness. She is pushing to keep him in her past. She can’t let him break her again. But you can’t stop true love sometimes. That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy. If they don’t have their own selves standing in the way, they have his judgmental mother, the media, and a life altering experience. This author is amazing. There were so many times I was captivated by her writing. She had me cracking up, swooning hard, in shock, and just fully consumed by this story. And these narrators were perfect. One thing I loved they did was they were in each others chapters as the male and female voice. It really made the story more real to me. I am so excited this is a series because Sin & Jake weren’t the only characters I fell in love with. I can’t wait for more! I highly recommend this book. But listeners, get those head phone one because it’s gonna get hot!
Author
patty
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken
A Sin City Tale, Book 1
By: M. Jay Granberry
Narrated by: Lacy Laurel, Jakobi Diem
I cannot believe this is M Jay Granberry’s debut novel. This book had me from the start. I love Las Vegas, but never really thought of it as a place for second chances. Sinclair and Jake met their in college and had their relationship grew into something deep. But as life takes on a new path, circumstances pull them apart and they do not see each other for 4 years. Now back in Vegas, Sin finds herself face to face with her old love, working in his hotel and trying hard not to fall for him again. This story is emotionally charged and it’s so easy to become completely engrossed in it. Masterfully written with flashbacks and current times gave us the full picture, as their history is what made the story so rich and interesting. I found myself frustrated at times with Sin, angry at Jake and then doing a complete turn around and rooting for them.I also love the the twist and suspense that it thrown in, letting us feel the that anxiety as we wait for answers. It’s a book that fills in all those crevices and makes you overflow with wanting more. I can’t wait to hear Adam’s story!
Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem bring this all to life with a fantastic narration. It’s rich with love and emotion. Laurel always finds the personality of the character, but I found that with Sin, she has a true connection. She makes her real and enhances her story. Diem too becomes his character, and reveals Jake’s emotions so well, it’s hard not to get caught up in it. They make a great team and the storytelling is spot on.
This is the second book I’ve read from this author and I loved it as much as I did the other. Sin and Jake has a past of hurt, regret, betrayal, love and much more. However the one thing that is undeniable between them is their chemistry and the love they have for each other once Jake knocks down the walls Sin has built around her heart. I loved that these characters weren’t perfect, they definitely made mistakes and that made their story feel real. I loved the characters of Sin City and I can’t wait to read more of their story. I will be recommending this series to my book loving family and friends. This is a story worth reading!
EXQUISITELY BROKEN
By M. Jay Granberry
4.5
Release Date June 11
This second chance romance had my heart in palpitations. The issues that tore Jake and Sin apart was hard for me to read but I found that M. Jay Granberry did it in a way where it had to be part of the story for all of it to come together. The actions of what happened in the past touched me. I felt the heartbreak and pain Sin went through because M. Jay Granberry captured my emotions through her words and made you feel as if it were happening to you.
Jake and Sin’s past broke me. The one thing I wish was that they had the talk about why. Aside from that I love how persistent Jake was and fought for what he truly wanted and that was Sin.
This story had me on a myriad of feelings. I was so angry at Jake but the anger lessened over time. Although, me as a person has a hard time forgetting past indiscretions. Lol. That’s when you know an author did her job right. She sucked me in and had me fully invested. This was an epic debut novel.
This was the second chance love story of Sinclair “Sin” James and Jacob “Jake” Johnson. Sinclair was a poor girl that grew up in group homes turned rockstar. Jake was the rich boy who came from a family with a long standing history in Vegas. His last name widely known in the history of Vegas. He originally met Sin in their first year of college. This is sorta is the classic boy meets girl, boy’s family hates girl, but not exactly. I really liked this this take on it. It’s fresh and new. It has all the elements you want. The meet, the family drama, the fallout, the reunion. This story did have a different twist on the misunderstanding and because of that Jake does something horrible and Sin leaves for years. As the blurb states they meet when her band signs a one year contract to perform at his hotel. He makes it his mission to get her to forgive her and take him back. Forgiveness is a hard thing and this story is so true to that. The author did a great job at making this so organic and believable. You can feel the struggle for these characters. If they were truly meant to be together ,they would have obstacles that they had to overcome in order for that to happen. This book had some stuff in there that added drama to the story. I really liked that. Overall I really enjoyed this debut novel and look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
*I voluntarily reviewed an advanced complimentary copy of this book.
This is an emotional story with steam, intrigue, and a happy ending, if you can get past the overload of misunderstandings.
A good read
I received a free copy of this book via Hidden Gems and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Jake is determined not to let Sinclair (Sin) go now that he’s seen her again. She’s in his hotel, in his town, and he wants a second chance. But is Sin willing to give him one?
I willingly admit that at first I was rooting for Sin to kick Jake to the curb. His betrayal is one hard for anyone to get past, and considering how important they were to each other when he betrayed her, it was all the worse. But, he wore me down, wore Sin down, with his persistence and his obvious love for Sin, and his obvious remorse.
Exquisitely Broken is one exquisitely emotional story. I hurt for Sin (and Jake) as they fought their way back to each other. And I cheered when they got there. Kudos to the author for this amazing second chance love story. I will be keeping her on my TBR list in the future!
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT!
Sin and Jacob…mmmmm.
Second chance romance in Sin City. I was so in awe of Sinclair (Sin). I love her character and her ability to overcome her tough beginnings.
Jacob on the other hand..hmmm. I did not want to like him. I still don’t think I do..I tolerate him because I don’t think he deserves a second chance BUT destiny/love/fate overrides all.
I really hope there’s more to this story… another Sin City Tale..Hint hint.. ADAM.
Kudos to the author for excellent writing.
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 4/5
Secondary Characters~ 4/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 4/5
Addictiveness~4/5
Angst~ 4/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 4/5
Theme or Tone~ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 4/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5
Book Cover~ perfect for Vegas
Series~ A Sin City Tale
Source~ Kindle eBook – ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
“More than anything, I want to repent at the altar of Sin. Sink to my knees and beg forgiveness. Worship her body with my body.”
I honestly can’t tell you what it was that drew me to this book, it wasn’t the author because this is her debut novel. Most likely it was the title, I’m very drawn to broken characters. I guess I was just lucky to find it, because it’s amazing, and I’m so glad I didn’t miss out. The author’s writing style is very smooth and the characters just jumped off the page and into my heart. I’ll most definitely be stalking her in the future to make sure I don’t miss whatever is next.
Another thing that I’m drawn to is music. I really really enjoyed that side of this story. Broken hearts inspire the best lyrics and Exquisitely Broken was born from the ashes of her lost love. Sinclair (aka Sin) has been through hell, a few times. She’s had to fight for everything. She wasn’t raised on the rich side of the tracks, others might look down on her for that but that’s their issue, not hers. She’s not ashamed of her hard beginnings, it’s made her strong and brought her best friend into her life. Their shared hardships and love of music made them the perfect team.
Vegas is her home but she’s avoided it like the plague… because he’s there. She ran from him but unfortunately, she couldn’t get away from the love she felt for him, it followed her. It filled the pages of her songbook. It ran in rivers down her cheeks. Now, she has to go back to Vegas. She’s hoping that the man and the love no longer have any power over her. Good luck with that, right?
I confess I didn’t want to like him. There’s a reason she left him, and I don’t blame her. He hasn’t forgotten her and he wants another chance. He doesn’t deserve one. He’s determined to prove to her that they are meant for each other. “Sin may not want to want me, but I live under her skin and flow in her veins just as she does in mine. Us is not a choice. It never was, it’s inevitable.”
Will she give him another chance at what’s left of her exquisitely broken heart? Well, you’ll need to one-click to find out. In the meantime, I’m over here with my fingers crossed that the author will call this book one in a series and either start or finish with Adam…sigh. The line forms here…
This author has done a great job in weaving this debut, and she is certainly an author to look out for in the future. This is Jake and Sinclair’s story. What happens in Vegas does not always stay there, and when Jake leaves Sinclair broken hearted, and she leaves town. When Sin comes back to town, she does her upmost best to avoid Jake, but he seems to be there at every turn. Jake deeply regrets his actions and driving Sin away, and he will do whatever he must to redeem himself and get Sin to forgive him. It is too late for them to reconcile. This is a good story which is an emotionally charged 2nd chance romance, with angst, and is an entertaining page turner. I look forward to reading more from this author and I recommend this story.
*review for audible version*
Jacob and Sinclair’s story is messy, complicated, heart wrenching, and oozing passion. The angst is strong. Jacob broke my heart knowing what he did in the past to Sinclair, it was hard to get over. I felt that despite that, deep down, they are meant. They’re each other’s other half and there’s no keeping them apart. Their story ripped my heart to pieces and had me a sobbing mess. There’s no doubt that you’ll become emotionally invested in this couple and their story. And the steam was off the charts, their passion will make you achy and needy and leave you panting. The narrators did an awesome job and they embody the characters so well. Overall a must listen!
3.5 Stars
I enjoyed this and the audio was AMAZING. For a debut this really hits a lot of high notes. The writing was crisp and the chemistry between Jacob and Sin was off the charts, even given their past. This hit a lot of tropes I really enjoy. A huge thank you to Foreword PR for allowing me to volunteer to review the audio version of this. My opinions are my own and haven’t been influenced.
Talk about a second chance novel! This is probably the best second chance I have read in a long time, possibly ever. The struggle between heart and head is huge here and the twist towards the end had me crying like a baby. A must read listen for anyone who loves romance.
Original review: https://myshelfbooks.wordpress.com/2020/06/23/review-exquisitely-broken-by-m-jay-granberry/
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I do need to recheck my TBR lists, because I had this book under my M/M category. So, when I discovered that Sin was actually a woman I was a tad disappointed. But that is totally my fault, so I rearranged my mindset and read this book without thinking about my mistake. That didn’t make it any better, though.
From the slap to about 60% of the story, we are in front of a hot mess that made me so angry, that I was ready to throw the book into the fieriest fires of Hell and move on. Sometimes I should force me to quit. That would be more fair for everyone, but I just can’t. You never know when a book is going to change its course and wow you. The biggest issue I have with this one is Jake himself and how the cheating episode is treated. The “I love you so much so I cheated on you as a wake-up call” crap, or the “You are the coward for not figthing for us even though I was pounding your roommate” bullshit and other shameful and disgusting comments that put Jake in a position of being the bad guy and not the hero. But he is treated as the latter way sooner than emotionally healthy, which makes Sinclair look like a weak person who is easily seduced. Where is that woman who has steeled herself against Jake? That shell melts waaaaay too fast for my taste.
Thankfully, the book gets slightly better when Jake’s behaviour changes abruptly. He goes from blatantly consider himself the victim to own his mistakes and try to make amends the good way. Maybe it is too little, too late; but at least it makes the final push somehow bearable. Sadly, the book also lacks in closure. I’m not talking about the romance, that is tied with several jumps forwards. I’m talking about the other details that were dropped and never had proper development: the evil mother-in-law, Trina’s intentions, Jake’s illegal deals… All of those things could have an impact in the relationship between Jake and Sinclair, so I do not like that they are discarded without further explanations.
I wasn’t too sure how I would feel about Sin and Jake.
You find out from the very beginning that they broke up 4 years ago. Several chapters include flashbacks that give you a glimpse into their past. I really would have liked to read the actual moment that tore them apart in one of those flashbacks. But they talk about it so much, I guess the author didn’t feel it was necessary.
Both Jake and Sin made mistakes in their past but Jake is ready to go all in the get Sin back. By the end, you might be all in, as well.
4 stars.
Sinclair (aka Sin) had her heart broken in Las Vegas four years ago when the love of her life cheated on her. Now she’s back, hoping she won’t cross paths with Jacob Johnson. As it turns out, her band signed a year-long residency to work for his hotel and Jacob is determined to prove to her how much he deserves a second chance…
It’s hard to believe this is Jay M. Granberry’s debut novel because the writing is so amazing! The depth and emotional intensity of the story make it captivating. The flashbacks add dimension to an already interesting plot. I can’t wait to listen to Adam’s story!
Narrators Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem did an excellent job bringing this story to life. Their voices compliment each other, making this book a joy to listen to.
Exquisitely Broken is a second chance contemporary rockstar romance written in dual first-person POV and performed duet style. It’s a standalone that ends with an HEA. No cliffhanger.
I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Great Story & Audible Listen Captivating & Heartfelt!
Exquisitely Broken
A Sin City Tale, Book 1
By: M. Jay Granberry
Narrated by: Lacy Laurel, Jakobi Diem
This is a great second chance romance, it is well written with interesting storylines and characters. The story grabbed my attention right from the star and held it straight to the end. The characters are complex and well developed. The band “Sin City” is finishing up a world tour, members of the band want to take a break from touring and when an opportunity comes up for a year residency at Vegas casino the band votes yes and they take them up on the offer. Sinclair “Sin” James is not thrilled about returning to Las Vegas but it is best for her bandmates. Her ex boyfriend lives in Vegas, she left him after he broke her heart and she never wants to see his again. Jacob “Jake” Johnson is the CFO, he helped build “The Hotel” a newer Vegas casino from the ground up. When he that “Sin City” will be the residency band he knew this was his opportunity to get the only woman who stole his heart back in his life, where she belongs. I loved how everything plays out in this book, the author plotted it out nicely, there are chapters that take you back to when Jake and Sin first meet, the majority of the story is current day but it is great to see what their story was then and to see what happened, what lead up to their heartbreak. There is never a dull moment in this book, there is plenty of drama, angst, heartfelt moments, so heartbreaking ones all leading to a great second chance romance. Thank you M. Jay Cranberry for this great story and the emotional rollercoaster ride. I loved the secondary characters and am looking forward to Adam and Seth’s story, I hope it comes to Audible soon.
I listened the the Audible edition, Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem are terrific narrators and voice artists. They did an amazing job portraying the characters and bringing them to life, giving each their own voice and personality. You could hear how much heart they put into their work as they capture the characters emotions and project into their performance. They are entertaining storytellers and a pleasure to listen to. Thank your for this great listen
Exquisitely Broken by M. Jay Granberry is a second chance romance that I listened to on audio narrated by Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem.
This is the first book of M. Jay Granberry’s that I have read and it definitely won’t be my last. This book took me on an emotional roller coaster. I cannot wait until the second book in the series Exquisitely Hidden is released on audible so I can get Seth and Adams love story.
Lacy and Jakobi did an amazing on the dual narration. They really brought the story to life.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loves second chance romance or Rockstar romances.
TheNextStepPR Reviewer
Exquisitely Broken has so much going on, it’s hard to look away. Granberry creates a larger than life fantasy out of heartbreaking reality. At the heart of this emotionally stunning story is Sinclair James. Sinclair is a woman with the courage to follow her dreams, even as her heart was breaking around her. Just when she thinks she’s outrun her past, fate steps into to prove her wrong. Can the one that broke her heart, put the pieces back together? Exquisitely Broken brings the heartache even as it inspires. Emotionally, exquisite story.
Exquisitely Broken is a debut novel by M. Jay Granberry, and the first book in A Sin City Tale Series. This is a sexy second chance to love, and a Rock Star Romance. Sin (Sinclair) and Jake (Jacob) are great characters. Sin is a beautiful woman, strong, and independent. Jake made an unforgivable mistake that changed it all. Their story is mostly about redemption and forgiveness. Despite their past, they are great together, and they share a sizzling chemistry. The back and forth, past to present, is well done and easy to follow. I love the ending. Looking forward to listen to the next book in the Series, Exquisitely Hidden, Adam and Seth story. Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem did a great job with the narration.
I think I may have found a new to me author to love. I loved every inch of this story! This is the ultimate rock star, second chance lovers romance. But it’s also so much more. Sin (Sinclair) has come from nothing and is rising up to the top of the music world with her best friend Adam and their band Sin City. At the start of her college life she met Jake and a passionate relationship was created. But betrayal years later broke it. Now Sin and Jake are back in each other lives. He’s pushing for forgiveness. She is pushing to keep him in her past. She can’t let him break her again. But you can’t stop true love sometimes. That doesn’t mean it’ll be easy. If they don’t have their own selves standing in the way, they have his judgmental mother, the media, and a life altering experience. This author is amazing. There were so many times I was captivated by her writing. She had me cracking up, swooning hard, in shock, and just fully consumed by this story. And these narrators were perfect. One thing I loved they did was they were in each others chapters as the male and female voice. It really made the story more real to me. I am so excited this is a series because Sin & Jake weren’t the only characters I fell in love with. I can’t wait for more! I highly recommend this book. But listeners, get those head phone one because it’s gonna get hot!
Exquisitely Broken
A Sin City Tale, Book 1
By: M. Jay Granberry
Narrated by: Lacy Laurel, Jakobi Diem
I cannot believe this is M Jay Granberry’s debut novel. This book had me from the start. I love Las Vegas, but never really thought of it as a place for second chances. Sinclair and Jake met their in college and had their relationship grew into something deep. But as life takes on a new path, circumstances pull them apart and they do not see each other for 4 years. Now back in Vegas, Sin finds herself face to face with her old love, working in his hotel and trying hard not to fall for him again. This story is emotionally charged and it’s so easy to become completely engrossed in it. Masterfully written with flashbacks and current times gave us the full picture, as their history is what made the story so rich and interesting. I found myself frustrated at times with Sin, angry at Jake and then doing a complete turn around and rooting for them.I also love the the twist and suspense that it thrown in, letting us feel the that anxiety as we wait for answers. It’s a book that fills in all those crevices and makes you overflow with wanting more. I can’t wait to hear Adam’s story!
Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem bring this all to life with a fantastic narration. It’s rich with love and emotion. Laurel always finds the personality of the character, but I found that with Sin, she has a true connection. She makes her real and enhances her story. Diem too becomes his character, and reveals Jake’s emotions so well, it’s hard not to get caught up in it. They make a great team and the storytelling is spot on.
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This is the second book I’ve read from this author and I loved it as much as I did the other. Sin and Jake has a past of hurt, regret, betrayal, love and much more. However the one thing that is undeniable between them is their chemistry and the love they have for each other once Jake knocks down the walls Sin has built around her heart. I loved that these characters weren’t perfect, they definitely made mistakes and that made their story feel real. I loved the characters of Sin City and I can’t wait to read more of their story. I will be recommending this series to my book loving family and friends. This is a story worth reading!