What a fabulous debut story to start out with. It is so angsty and emotional; it had me silently crying at the deep feelings the words made me feel. The real problems and desperation that squeezed my heart and made me want to crawl into the pages to help these characters sort their lives out.
Sin and Jake are so heartbreakingly in love and so obviously hurt by past actions that seem to be impossible for them to get over. It made me desperate for them to sort themselves out and give each other a chance. The problems they have had made for some excellent moments of breath-holding anticipation. There is lots of action and people who made my blood boil; it definitely kept me turning the pages.
The writing is really good; so good in fact that I am amazed that this is a debut novel. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Author
ruby
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken is one of those books that you can’t put down until the very last page. And M. Jay Granberry is a author that you want to keep on your book roster! The fact that the book is set in Las Vegas drew me in like a moth to a flame, as it’s been quite some time since I read a book set there. Another thing is second-chance romance, which is one of my favorite tropes.
From the very first page, her words draw you into the a rock angel, Sinclair James’ world, I didn’t want to leave it, honestly. As the plot unfolded and thickened, I kept getting butterfly’s in my stomach. This is very rare for me. Once they started they didn’t stop. There are certain parts of the book that made me hold my breath. And those times are why I would definitely recommend this book, and I’ve added M. Jay to my favorites list. I know I am being vague but if I didn’t this review would contain spoilers and I think everyone should read this book without them.
We get to meet Sinclair or Sin, as she prefers, going home to Las Vegas for a resident job. She’s staying at The Hotel, yes that is it’s name. When she comes face to face with her Jacob Johnson, the man who broke her heart and trust in men. Everything she chose to forget comes flowing back and she causes a scene which shoves the two back together in order to put the media to rest. It during this time that we, the readers get a way to better understand exactly where Sinclair and Jacobs relationship ended and why, more than what’s on the surface.
Jacob is one of those characters you either love or hate. And well, I was on the fence, because while I understood how he felt, but I didn’t like the fact that he didn’t even try to talk to Sin about how he was feeling before the incident happened. Then he did the unthinkable, and screwed his relationship with Sin right to hell. With that said he did feel horrible for it and was going to stop at nothing to get her back. Once his POV got deeper, my feelings shifted. I began to like him but that one point was still in the back of my head.
Exactly like Sin.
She is a hands down the best character in the book. There are side characters that I loved and can’t wait for their (ahem Adams story) books but Sin, is the Queen. I immediately understood and connected with her from the very beginning. I loved that she didn’t care what others thought and was comfortable of being who she is, apologetically. She said exactly what she meant and didn’t let anyone stop her. Her lyrics for Exquisitely Broken were freaking HILARIOUS! The story behind them is not but I couldn’t stop laughing.
Keep in mind that their other forces at play. Forces of the dangerous kind.
This is a second-chance romance, that I will read again and recommend to anyone who loves Las Vegas and has a infinity for the brokenhearted.
Author
carvanz
3 years ago
Wow! What an emotional ride! This is one angsty story and I can’t believe this is Ms. Granberry’s debut novel!
Sinclair unwillingly returns to Las Vegas, a place where she experienced the truest form of love and then the most devastating lash of heartache. It’s been four years since she saw the man responsible for both, but Vegas is a well populated city and the odds are she won’t run into Jacob Johnson. Unfortunately, the odds aren’t in her favor. When her initial reaction doesn’t play well to the public, she finds herself once more in Jake’s presence and this time he’s playing to win.
Jake once had everything his heart desired, but insecurities and long separations had him making a decision that had unforgivable repercussions. Now, with Sin’s return, he’s determined to amend the wrongs of the past but in order to do so he has to tear down the walls that she’s constructed around her heart. Convincing her to speak to him, much less spend time with him, is an obstacle he sets out to overcome.
This couple were incredible! With flashbacks of their time together we see the all-consuming need Jake had to make Sin his own, the love these two shared, the struggles they experienced and then the deepest cut to their relationship. Written with such depth and intensity, the emotions these characters felt enveloped me from the first chapter until the very last page, showering me in all their brokenness, giving me glimpses of hope before snatching them away again. I wasn’t sure if I could survive until the end.
Dealing with a touchy subject to many readers, and something I usually steer clear of, I nonetheless shored myself up and continued on. I would have liked a bit more foundation for the reasons Jake made the decision he did. It was hinted at but never fully developed and I personally needed to see the deconstruction of their relationship that would lead him to the step he took.
”The opposite of love is not hate. Love and hate take the same kind of time. The same devotion. It’s not over until the indifference kicks in.”
Everything else about this book was exceptional! The pace was steady and never repetitive, the writing sharp and clear, and the heat level – Kindle melting good. Secondary characters were essential to the story and I wouldn’t mind seeing some of them get their own book. This ends with an epilogue that gave us a look at this couple in the future, but I must admit, I wanted it to be much longer. But then again, I’m that reader that believes you can never have too long of an epilogue or too many of them.
Overall, I highly recommend this book if heavy angst and second chances are your thing!
Author
inmyhumbleopinion
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken is an angsty second chance romance. He is from money she is from the wrong side of the tracks. He was smitten from first glance and convinced her to give it a shot. Then he messed up and she uses it as an excuse to break away even though it breaks her heart. Now four years later she is back in town and not the foster kid he first met. Can he convince her to let the past go and create a future with him? This book will twist you up and put you through a wringer before we get the answers.
Author
shaka
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken, a debut novel by M. Jay Granberry, is a beautifully written book full of heartbreak and angst, love and forgiveness. The narration for this book was perfect. Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem exquisitely narrated Sinclair and Jake exactly as I would have imagined them and made this book come to life. This book is so rich in content and drama! I love all the secrets and passion. This book is a MUST read/listen!!
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer
Author
grannypsc
3 years ago
Jake and Sinclair were together in college until she caught him with her roommate in bed. Being part of a band, she poured all her emotions into her songs. The band became popular and toured all over the world. A lucrative contract brought them back home to Las Vegas. Little did she know that year long gig was at Jake’s hotel. Will their encounter bring back the fireworks they once had? This is a second chance story of love.
Will his tortured soul bring her back to him? Could she trust him again? Can she open her heart and let him in?
The narration by Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem told the story with so much emotion! They give each character their own voice and personality! I enjoyed listening very much!audiobookobsessionreviewer
Author
kimmyjohnson
3 years ago
5 Exquisite Star!!
This was my first M Jay Granberry and I’m totally hooked! Exquisitely broken was an amazing listen that sucked me right in. Narrators Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem did an amazing job of bringing the book to life.
Sin is coming back to Vegas to do a year resident with her band, Sin City, at one of the hotels. Sin has avoided all things Vegas for the last 4 years due Jake Johnson. Jake was the one guy who broke Sin. Little does Sin know she’s about to come face to face with her past.
Jake is part owner of the hotel that is about to welcome their first musical residents. However Jake has been so busy that he didn’t think to find out who that group. Just imagine how Explosive that meeting was.
This is a total must read/ listen.
Author
debluvsdragons
3 years ago
This story was written wonderfully. This was a story that i enjoyed. Our main characters have a history that was not always rosy. When face to face again after 4 years the tension is off the hook and things happen.
When you believe in soul mates this story just cries out its real! Our characters made mistakes and when you have their individual pasts before they met it can make their story even more of a tragedy of circumstance.
I look forward to seeing what our author comes out with next!
Author
dbobholz
3 years ago
Rekindling a Broken Romance
Sin (Sinclair) and Jake came from two very different backgrounds but found their way to each other at college. Sin was trying to make it in the music business with her band Sin City and even though Jake came from money he was busy making his own business empire. The distance got to be too much for their relationship and the outcome left Sin devastated.
Years later Sin has made it big and her band is doing a residency at Jake’s hotel in Vegas not knowing Jake has any part of this very same hotel. It’s going to be hard to ignore Jake but she just can’t go through what he put her through again. Jake wants nothing more than to try to show Sin it’s different this time.
There are so many obstacles in Jakes way to get back with Sin but he is determined even though after this residency she leaves for the road back on tour as soon as this ends. Plus Sin has a stalker that may have just changed the whole ballgame.
Author
joy
3 years ago
An exquisite second chance romance.
“The opposite of love is not hate. Love and hate take the same kind of time. The same devotion. It’s not over until the indifference kicks in.”
Sin once loved him with everything she had. Her heart and soul was his. She even remade parts of herself to appease his needs. What did she get in return?
Betrayal, heartache and the means to make her a star.
Left broken and lost she funneled her pain into her music.
Each note the reflections of a tear.
Each stanza a broken piece of her once beating heart.
“I won’t let her down, not in this. Before, I lost my way and steered us both into shark-infested waters, and we’re still in survival mode. ” – Jake
Jake let his jealousy and his possessive nature color his thoughts. In an unforgivable act of betrayal, he destroyed the one real thing in his world. Sinclair. Now he has been given a second chance.
Can Jake atone for his past?
Can Sin see beyond the betrayal?
This is Granberry’s debut novel.
I want to start out with how much I loved the cast. The easy way they interacted with each other. The way their emotions were raw and uncensored just … absolutely intense. (And Mom – hope you choke on the lack of oxygen up there.)
I hope we get more from these characters.
The story was easy to follow and easier to believe. We are presented with dual POV’s which makes the ‘time jumps’ from past to present meld perfectly together giving the reader the perfect dose of angst, blended with some light suspense topped with a whole lot of groveling. And let us not forget how nuclear Sin and Luke are together.
There were a couple of scenes that I felt a bit “Huh?” after reading. I felt that certain people, as well as a few situations, needed a bit more. More detail or closure. They were introduced into the story as possible ‘problems’ (IMO) but then they seemed to be forgotten.
The kid? The parents? The Hotel fixer?
I did read an early comp copy so these issues may have been resolved.
Overall a wonderful first in what I am hoping will be a series.
Author
janczakmichalina
3 years ago
It’s hard to believe that “Exusitely broken” is a debut novel. Seriously it is and addicting page turner and you won’t believe that you’ve already finished yet you still will want more. Why? I will try to tell you in the best unspoilery way possible.
Main character of this story are Sinclair and Jake. Sinclair is back in Las Vegas city that she faced both true love and brutal heartache. But apparently world is not big enough place cause four years after said heartache she meets none other that Jacob Johnson and will have this time play her game to win.
Jake since Sinclair’s back decides to make all the wrongs toward her but to do so he has to destroy all wall built for that time around her heart. But even chance for a talk or a meet seems like really hard thing to obtain. But will he succeed? You need to read this book and believee when I say you definitely won’t regret it.
Another thing I love and really appreciate is when there is music in the book and here we have it quite a lot. “Exquisitely broken. ” came to live after Sin’s crushed heart. She had to struggle for basically everything. Hard beginnings made her a strong woman and gave her true best friend with whom she shared love of music and hardship. So it’s not surprise that they instantly became a perfect team. And now that she is back in Vegas she counts on it that Jake has no power over her. But as they say dreamers can dream right?
So if you want to know how that second chance romance will turn out you need to one click this book. I definitely reccomend it to you and I am looking forward for next books by M. J. Granberry because I think that we haveamy great stories ahead of us.
Author
rhondaziglar
3 years ago
4 1/2 STARS FOR EXQUISITELY BROKEN!! Wow….what a great debut book. This book touched all my emotion buttons and kept pushing. I really enjoyed these characters and they embedded themselves in my heart. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
Author
lizthompson
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken by M. Jay Granberry was an emotional and angst-filled second chance romance with all kinds of feels. Sinclair James was destroyed the last time she was in Vegas and now she is back, even though she has avoided it for years. But what are the chances she would run into the man that broke her heart? But when she can’t avoid him, can she keep him out of her heart?
Jake has a lot of regrets but letting Sin go was his biggest. He will do anything to show her he wants her back for good. Their past was heartbreaking, but can they now move forward? Exquisitely Broken by debut author M. Jay Granberry was such an emotional read. I am excited to read more from this author!
Happy reading!
Author
amazeballsbookaddicts
3 years ago
Exquisitely Broken is a great read. I loved this one. Sinclair (Sin) is a great character. She the lead lead singer of Sin City. She left Vegas but now her band is coming back to do a residence at The Hotel. Her band is important to her and I loved the guys. Her and her band-mates are like family. She doesn’t know it until it’s too late that the man her broke her heart four years ago is the CFO of The Hotel. Their first meeting at The Hotel doesn’t go the way Jake expected but I loved they way Sin reacted. She may have acted a little childish but made me like her even more. Jake and Sin didn’t have a good break up, she pretty much iced him out after finding him cheating. He wants a second chance but they need to do a lot of healing before that can happen. Jake steps up to the plate to win Sin back. I really liked this story. The story line flowed great and I got sucked into it and didn’t realized how long I had been reading. I’m kind of hoping the author’s next book will be about Adam but either way I’m definitely going to pick up whatever she writes next.
Author
gin
3 years ago
3.5 stars. A second-chance romance with emotion, angst and feelings on top of feelings. Whew! This one wore me out. Besides the second chance it’s also a rich guy/poor girl and a rockstar story. A lot going on without much real communication and tons of misunderstandings between the lovers, Sinclair and Jacob. They met in college when Sin was trying to get her music career off the ground and Jake was marching to his family’s tune of business in the casino industry. Sin’s so far on the other side of the tracks you need a long distance scope to find her and a past to tragic for words. While Jake is a Richie rich whose family’s fortune was made from nefarious Vegas means of the past. Needless to say his family’s not feeling this relationship and Jake sides with them. Strike one. Strike two? He cheats on her! That may count as two and three so he should be out but alas they’re soulmates. If only Jake can grovel enough for Sin to forgive him four years after she split when finding him in bed with her friend. This is told with flashbacks which tended to disrupt the story for me. I’m a fan of emotion but this was a little too angsty and what was up with a CEO calling his friend “brah”? I love a strong heroine and Sin fit the bill until it came to Jake but that’s what love can do to you. When Jake finally manned up he was great. A few years older looked good on him. Loved the Vegas casino backdrop and great secondary characters. Dan was a hoot! For a debut this was good and I think Ms. Granberry’s storytelling will improve with each book. I look forward to more from her. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Author
cherryredsreads
3 years ago
Exquisitely well done debut book from Author M. Jay Granberry!
I loved it all!
A well developed Angst, twisted, emotionally driven story that had me hooked from beginning to end.
Such wonderful characters of Jake & Sinclair. We see all their goods and flaws taking place in Sin City which was the ultimate back drop for this story.
Loved the way the author gave us such depth in getting into the power of love and what it takes to overcome the past , and go forward in having a second chance at the future with the one you truly love.
Go grab this book! I’m looking forward to reading more of Author M. Jay Granberry.
5 popped!
Author
rebeccafairestreviews
3 years ago
When I read the blurb for M. Jay Granberry’s debut romance, the two ideas I took away from it…the two reasons why I immediately wanted to get my hands on an ARC, were that Exquisitely Broken is set in Las Vegas and it’s a second chance love story, and if you’ve been reading my reviews, I clearly have a thing for soulmates getting another shot at forever.
Then, as I learned more about Sinclair James and Jacob Johnson’s history as well as where their lives were currently headed, I couldn’t wait to see how Granberry brought these two back together after the pain of Jake’s betrayal and how easily it seemed for Sin to walk away from the only man she ever loved.
In order to understand exactly where Sin and Jake’s relationship went wrong in the end, it’s necessary to see where they began, over a decade ago, and with that knowledge, it becomes clear that, even back then, there were so many obstacles for them to overcome and because they led such different lives with different interests and different paths to follow, the fact that they lost their way, acted out of spite, and refused to communicate six years into their relationship illustrates exactly why they’ve spent the last four years apart. But even after they broke each other’s hearts, their love never truly died and now with Sin’s band signed on to do a residency at Jake’s hotel/casino, it just might be the chance they’d never thought they’d have to let go of the past and move forward together, like they always thought they would.
I’ll be honest…I didn’t want to like Jake; in fact, for the first half of his and Sin’s story, I didn’t want Sin to take him back in any capacity. What he did broke her heart and fractured her soul in a way that’s never been repaired. But as the story went on, and Granberry allowed Jake’s voice to be heard, his perspective to be provided, I understood a bit better why he did what he did and what that act of betrayal cost, not just Sin, but him as well. I also have to say that the way he addressed Sin’s inability to fight for something worth it and how easily she ran away when things got difficult made sense to me and allowed me to see everything in a clearer light, even though I still found it difficult to get past what he did to her and their love.
Sin is such a beautiful soul and there’s a presence about her, not just because she’s stunning, but because she seems comfortable in her own skin and she’s not afraid to be who she is, even if people don’t like it. The fact that she uses her music to attempt to soothe her soul after things end between her and Jake fits the girl/woman that she is. The band’s first album, Exquisitely Broken, is Sin’s personal story – it’s the outlet she used to deal with the pain that Jake caused her. It’s a song…an anthem for the brokenhearted, and the lyrics become a battle cry – a way to release everything that coiled up inside her and demanded a way out – a necessary way to purge the painful memories. Her music is her lifeline…it’s the language she uses to speak to her fans, to herself, to anyone who has ever felt like her or been in similar situations and that idea resonates throughout the entire story line.
M. Jay Granberry crafted a steamy, angsty, and soulful second chance romance in her debut novel. I enjoyed reading Sin and Jake’s story, and I’m crossing my fingers that she’ll give me Adam and Seth’s story because I’m desperate for some insight on those two!
4 Poison Apples
Author
courtneyanderson
3 years ago
This was a very great debut novel, I thoroughly enjoyed the second chance romance because I feel the author put all emotions in one story. It contained all the feels from steamy, angst, anger, pain, heartbreak and I felt like I was enduring it all with the characters. Sinclair is part of a band and they are heading back to Las Vegas to do a show there but Sin doesn’t really want to go back because Las Vegas holds nothing but bad memories of how here and her ex ended. Jake is a big shot in Vegas and once he realizes that Sinclair will be back in his city he decides that now is the time to go for her and win her back, when he sets his sights on her he goes full force. This book had it all as I said and I loved every minute of it, I can’t wait to see what is next from the author
Author
bethanymaines
3 years ago
Sinclair James, known as Sin to her friends, was a wrong side of the tracks girl and Jake Johnson was from a moneyed family that wanted Jake as far away from Sin as possible. But when their relationship imploded due to Jake’s cheating, Sin’s singing career took off. Four years later, Sin is a bona fide rock star and the lead singer of Sin City and making her triumphant return to Las Vegas. But Vegas is a big town, surely, she can avoid Jake, right? Nope. Not a chance.
Sin and Jake’s second chance romance is packed with heartbreak, desire, and the hope that maybe this time things could be different. I read an Advanced Reader Copy and thoroughly enjoyed each twist as the characters struggled to overcome their past and carve out a new future. If you like your romances steamy and your endings happy then add this one to your list.
Author
athenadlexis
3 years ago
4 STARS
M. Jay Granberry is an ingenious author who has created flawed characters with redeeming qualities! This book is a MUST read!
Exquisitely Broken was exquisitely written! Jacob Johnson and Sinclair James, theirs is the story about second chances and whether or not you can move on from past hurts. When I began the book, I was upset with Jake’s actions that essentially caused the breakup, but in the end those feelings lessened as the story progressed since he was able to acknowledge his mistake.
”I own what I did. I won’t insult either one of us by pretending my actions were anything other than foul.”
Sin has as past that essentially would classify her as the girl from the wrong side of the ‘mountains’ that made it big. Although she had her heartbroken, there is still some hope in her heart.
“But maybe we have it all. Maybe we get everything.”
This debut novel was well written and the characters will entice you. Exquisitely Broken by M. Jay Granberry will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ELITE!!!
What a fabulous debut story to start out with. It is so angsty and emotional; it had me silently crying at the deep feelings the words made me feel. The real problems and desperation that squeezed my heart and made me want to crawl into the pages to help these characters sort their lives out.
Sin and Jake are so heartbreakingly in love and so obviously hurt by past actions that seem to be impossible for them to get over. It made me desperate for them to sort themselves out and give each other a chance. The problems they have had made for some excellent moments of breath-holding anticipation. There is lots of action and people who made my blood boil; it definitely kept me turning the pages.
The writing is really good; so good in fact that I am amazed that this is a debut novel. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Exquisitely Broken is one of those books that you can’t put down until the very last page. And M. Jay Granberry is a author that you want to keep on your book roster! The fact that the book is set in Las Vegas drew me in like a moth to a flame, as it’s been quite some time since I read a book set there. Another thing is second-chance romance, which is one of my favorite tropes.
From the very first page, her words draw you into the a rock angel, Sinclair James’ world, I didn’t want to leave it, honestly. As the plot unfolded and thickened, I kept getting butterfly’s in my stomach. This is very rare for me. Once they started they didn’t stop. There are certain parts of the book that made me hold my breath. And those times are why I would definitely recommend this book, and I’ve added M. Jay to my favorites list. I know I am being vague but if I didn’t this review would contain spoilers and I think everyone should read this book without them.
We get to meet Sinclair or Sin, as she prefers, going home to Las Vegas for a resident job. She’s staying at The Hotel, yes that is it’s name. When she comes face to face with her Jacob Johnson, the man who broke her heart and trust in men. Everything she chose to forget comes flowing back and she causes a scene which shoves the two back together in order to put the media to rest. It during this time that we, the readers get a way to better understand exactly where Sinclair and Jacobs relationship ended and why, more than what’s on the surface.
Jacob is one of those characters you either love or hate. And well, I was on the fence, because while I understood how he felt, but I didn’t like the fact that he didn’t even try to talk to Sin about how he was feeling before the incident happened. Then he did the unthinkable, and screwed his relationship with Sin right to hell. With that said he did feel horrible for it and was going to stop at nothing to get her back. Once his POV got deeper, my feelings shifted. I began to like him but that one point was still in the back of my head.
Exactly like Sin.
She is a hands down the best character in the book. There are side characters that I loved and can’t wait for their (ahem Adams story) books but Sin, is the Queen. I immediately understood and connected with her from the very beginning. I loved that she didn’t care what others thought and was comfortable of being who she is, apologetically. She said exactly what she meant and didn’t let anyone stop her. Her lyrics for Exquisitely Broken were freaking HILARIOUS! The story behind them is not but I couldn’t stop laughing.
Keep in mind that their other forces at play. Forces of the dangerous kind.
This is a second-chance romance, that I will read again and recommend to anyone who loves Las Vegas and has a infinity for the brokenhearted.
Wow! What an emotional ride! This is one angsty story and I can’t believe this is Ms. Granberry’s debut novel!
Sinclair unwillingly returns to Las Vegas, a place where she experienced the truest form of love and then the most devastating lash of heartache. It’s been four years since she saw the man responsible for both, but Vegas is a well populated city and the odds are she won’t run into Jacob Johnson. Unfortunately, the odds aren’t in her favor. When her initial reaction doesn’t play well to the public, she finds herself once more in Jake’s presence and this time he’s playing to win.
Jake once had everything his heart desired, but insecurities and long separations had him making a decision that had unforgivable repercussions. Now, with Sin’s return, he’s determined to amend the wrongs of the past but in order to do so he has to tear down the walls that she’s constructed around her heart. Convincing her to speak to him, much less spend time with him, is an obstacle he sets out to overcome.
This couple were incredible! With flashbacks of their time together we see the all-consuming need Jake had to make Sin his own, the love these two shared, the struggles they experienced and then the deepest cut to their relationship. Written with such depth and intensity, the emotions these characters felt enveloped me from the first chapter until the very last page, showering me in all their brokenness, giving me glimpses of hope before snatching them away again. I wasn’t sure if I could survive until the end.
Dealing with a touchy subject to many readers, and something I usually steer clear of, I nonetheless shored myself up and continued on. I would have liked a bit more foundation for the reasons Jake made the decision he did. It was hinted at but never fully developed and I personally needed to see the deconstruction of their relationship that would lead him to the step he took.
”The opposite of love is not hate. Love and hate take the same kind of time. The same devotion. It’s not over until the indifference kicks in.”
Everything else about this book was exceptional! The pace was steady and never repetitive, the writing sharp and clear, and the heat level – Kindle melting good. Secondary characters were essential to the story and I wouldn’t mind seeing some of them get their own book. This ends with an epilogue that gave us a look at this couple in the future, but I must admit, I wanted it to be much longer. But then again, I’m that reader that believes you can never have too long of an epilogue or too many of them.
Overall, I highly recommend this book if heavy angst and second chances are your thing!
Exquisitely Broken is an angsty second chance romance. He is from money she is from the wrong side of the tracks. He was smitten from first glance and convinced her to give it a shot. Then he messed up and she uses it as an excuse to break away even though it breaks her heart. Now four years later she is back in town and not the foster kid he first met. Can he convince her to let the past go and create a future with him? This book will twist you up and put you through a wringer before we get the answers.
Exquisitely Broken, a debut novel by M. Jay Granberry, is a beautifully written book full of heartbreak and angst, love and forgiveness. The narration for this book was perfect. Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem exquisitely narrated Sinclair and Jake exactly as I would have imagined them and made this book come to life. This book is so rich in content and drama! I love all the secrets and passion. This book is a MUST read/listen!!
#AudiobookObsessionReviewer
Jake and Sinclair were together in college until she caught him with her roommate in bed. Being part of a band, she poured all her emotions into her songs. The band became popular and toured all over the world. A lucrative contract brought them back home to Las Vegas. Little did she know that year long gig was at Jake’s hotel. Will their encounter bring back the fireworks they once had? This is a second chance story of love.
Will his tortured soul bring her back to him? Could she trust him again? Can she open her heart and let him in?
The narration by Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem told the story with so much emotion! They give each character their own voice and personality! I enjoyed listening very much!audiobookobsessionreviewer
5 Exquisite Star!!
This was my first M Jay Granberry and I’m totally hooked! Exquisitely broken was an amazing listen that sucked me right in. Narrators Lacy Laurel and Jakobi Diem did an amazing job of bringing the book to life.
Sin is coming back to Vegas to do a year resident with her band, Sin City, at one of the hotels. Sin has avoided all things Vegas for the last 4 years due Jake Johnson. Jake was the one guy who broke Sin. Little does Sin know she’s about to come face to face with her past.
Jake is part owner of the hotel that is about to welcome their first musical residents. However Jake has been so busy that he didn’t think to find out who that group. Just imagine how Explosive that meeting was.
This is a total must read/ listen.
This story was written wonderfully. This was a story that i enjoyed. Our main characters have a history that was not always rosy. When face to face again after 4 years the tension is off the hook and things happen.
When you believe in soul mates this story just cries out its real! Our characters made mistakes and when you have their individual pasts before they met it can make their story even more of a tragedy of circumstance.
I look forward to seeing what our author comes out with next!
Rekindling a Broken Romance
Sin (Sinclair) and Jake came from two very different backgrounds but found their way to each other at college. Sin was trying to make it in the music business with her band Sin City and even though Jake came from money he was busy making his own business empire. The distance got to be too much for their relationship and the outcome left Sin devastated.
Years later Sin has made it big and her band is doing a residency at Jake’s hotel in Vegas not knowing Jake has any part of this very same hotel. It’s going to be hard to ignore Jake but she just can’t go through what he put her through again. Jake wants nothing more than to try to show Sin it’s different this time.
There are so many obstacles in Jakes way to get back with Sin but he is determined even though after this residency she leaves for the road back on tour as soon as this ends. Plus Sin has a stalker that may have just changed the whole ballgame.
An exquisite second chance romance.
“The opposite of love is not hate. Love and hate take the same kind of time. The same devotion. It’s not over until the indifference kicks in.”
Sin once loved him with everything she had. Her heart and soul was his. She even remade parts of herself to appease his needs. What did she get in return?
Betrayal, heartache and the means to make her a star.
Left broken and lost she funneled her pain into her music.
Each note the reflections of a tear.
Each stanza a broken piece of her once beating heart.
“I won’t let her down, not in this. Before, I lost my way and steered us both into shark-infested waters, and we’re still in survival mode. ” – Jake
Jake let his jealousy and his possessive nature color his thoughts. In an unforgivable act of betrayal, he destroyed the one real thing in his world. Sinclair. Now he has been given a second chance.
Can Jake atone for his past?
Can Sin see beyond the betrayal?
This is Granberry’s debut novel.
I want to start out with how much I loved the cast. The easy way they interacted with each other. The way their emotions were raw and uncensored just … absolutely intense. (And Mom – hope you choke on the lack of oxygen up there.)
I hope we get more from these characters.
The story was easy to follow and easier to believe. We are presented with dual POV’s which makes the ‘time jumps’ from past to present meld perfectly together giving the reader the perfect dose of angst, blended with some light suspense topped with a whole lot of groveling. And let us not forget how nuclear Sin and Luke are together.
There were a couple of scenes that I felt a bit “Huh?” after reading. I felt that certain people, as well as a few situations, needed a bit more. More detail or closure. They were introduced into the story as possible ‘problems’ (IMO) but then they seemed to be forgotten.
The kid? The parents? The Hotel fixer?
I did read an early comp copy so these issues may have been resolved.
Overall a wonderful first in what I am hoping will be a series.
It’s hard to believe that “Exusitely broken” is a debut novel. Seriously it is and addicting page turner and you won’t believe that you’ve already finished yet you still will want more. Why? I will try to tell you in the best unspoilery way possible.
Main character of this story are Sinclair and Jake. Sinclair is back in Las Vegas city that she faced both true love and brutal heartache. But apparently world is not big enough place cause four years after said heartache she meets none other that Jacob Johnson and will have this time play her game to win.
Jake since Sinclair’s back decides to make all the wrongs toward her but to do so he has to destroy all wall built for that time around her heart. But even chance for a talk or a meet seems like really hard thing to obtain. But will he succeed? You need to read this book and believee when I say you definitely won’t regret it.
Another thing I love and really appreciate is when there is music in the book and here we have it quite a lot. “Exquisitely broken. ” came to live after Sin’s crushed heart. She had to struggle for basically everything. Hard beginnings made her a strong woman and gave her true best friend with whom she shared love of music and hardship. So it’s not surprise that they instantly became a perfect team. And now that she is back in Vegas she counts on it that Jake has no power over her. But as they say dreamers can dream right?
So if you want to know how that second chance romance will turn out you need to one click this book. I definitely reccomend it to you and I am looking forward for next books by M. J. Granberry because I think that we haveamy great stories ahead of us.
4 1/2 STARS FOR EXQUISITELY BROKEN!! Wow….what a great debut book. This book touched all my emotion buttons and kept pushing. I really enjoyed these characters and they embedded themselves in my heart. I can’t wait to read more books by this author.
Exquisitely Broken by M. Jay Granberry was an emotional and angst-filled second chance romance with all kinds of feels. Sinclair James was destroyed the last time she was in Vegas and now she is back, even though she has avoided it for years. But what are the chances she would run into the man that broke her heart? But when she can’t avoid him, can she keep him out of her heart?
Jake has a lot of regrets but letting Sin go was his biggest. He will do anything to show her he wants her back for good. Their past was heartbreaking, but can they now move forward? Exquisitely Broken by debut author M. Jay Granberry was such an emotional read. I am excited to read more from this author!
Happy reading!
Exquisitely Broken is a great read. I loved this one. Sinclair (Sin) is a great character. She the lead lead singer of Sin City. She left Vegas but now her band is coming back to do a residence at The Hotel. Her band is important to her and I loved the guys. Her and her band-mates are like family. She doesn’t know it until it’s too late that the man her broke her heart four years ago is the CFO of The Hotel. Their first meeting at The Hotel doesn’t go the way Jake expected but I loved they way Sin reacted. She may have acted a little childish but made me like her even more. Jake and Sin didn’t have a good break up, she pretty much iced him out after finding him cheating. He wants a second chance but they need to do a lot of healing before that can happen. Jake steps up to the plate to win Sin back. I really liked this story. The story line flowed great and I got sucked into it and didn’t realized how long I had been reading. I’m kind of hoping the author’s next book will be about Adam but either way I’m definitely going to pick up whatever she writes next.
3.5 stars. A second-chance romance with emotion, angst and feelings on top of feelings. Whew! This one wore me out. Besides the second chance it’s also a rich guy/poor girl and a rockstar story. A lot going on without much real communication and tons of misunderstandings between the lovers, Sinclair and Jacob. They met in college when Sin was trying to get her music career off the ground and Jake was marching to his family’s tune of business in the casino industry. Sin’s so far on the other side of the tracks you need a long distance scope to find her and a past to tragic for words. While Jake is a Richie rich whose family’s fortune was made from nefarious Vegas means of the past. Needless to say his family’s not feeling this relationship and Jake sides with them. Strike one. Strike two? He cheats on her! That may count as two and three so he should be out but alas they’re soulmates. If only Jake can grovel enough for Sin to forgive him four years after she split when finding him in bed with her friend. This is told with flashbacks which tended to disrupt the story for me. I’m a fan of emotion but this was a little too angsty and what was up with a CEO calling his friend “brah”? I love a strong heroine and Sin fit the bill until it came to Jake but that’s what love can do to you. When Jake finally manned up he was great. A few years older looked good on him. Loved the Vegas casino backdrop and great secondary characters. Dan was a hoot! For a debut this was good and I think Ms. Granberry’s storytelling will improve with each book. I look forward to more from her. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
Exquisitely well done debut book from Author M. Jay Granberry!
I loved it all!
A well developed Angst, twisted, emotionally driven story that had me hooked from beginning to end.
Such wonderful characters of Jake & Sinclair. We see all their goods and flaws taking place in Sin City which was the ultimate back drop for this story.
Loved the way the author gave us such depth in getting into the power of love and what it takes to overcome the past , and go forward in having a second chance at the future with the one you truly love.
Go grab this book! I’m looking forward to reading more of Author M. Jay Granberry.
5 popped!
When I read the blurb for M. Jay Granberry’s debut romance, the two ideas I took away from it…the two reasons why I immediately wanted to get my hands on an ARC, were that Exquisitely Broken is set in Las Vegas and it’s a second chance love story, and if you’ve been reading my reviews, I clearly have a thing for soulmates getting another shot at forever.
Then, as I learned more about Sinclair James and Jacob Johnson’s history as well as where their lives were currently headed, I couldn’t wait to see how Granberry brought these two back together after the pain of Jake’s betrayal and how easily it seemed for Sin to walk away from the only man she ever loved.
In order to understand exactly where Sin and Jake’s relationship went wrong in the end, it’s necessary to see where they began, over a decade ago, and with that knowledge, it becomes clear that, even back then, there were so many obstacles for them to overcome and because they led such different lives with different interests and different paths to follow, the fact that they lost their way, acted out of spite, and refused to communicate six years into their relationship illustrates exactly why they’ve spent the last four years apart. But even after they broke each other’s hearts, their love never truly died and now with Sin’s band signed on to do a residency at Jake’s hotel/casino, it just might be the chance they’d never thought they’d have to let go of the past and move forward together, like they always thought they would.
I’ll be honest…I didn’t want to like Jake; in fact, for the first half of his and Sin’s story, I didn’t want Sin to take him back in any capacity. What he did broke her heart and fractured her soul in a way that’s never been repaired. But as the story went on, and Granberry allowed Jake’s voice to be heard, his perspective to be provided, I understood a bit better why he did what he did and what that act of betrayal cost, not just Sin, but him as well. I also have to say that the way he addressed Sin’s inability to fight for something worth it and how easily she ran away when things got difficult made sense to me and allowed me to see everything in a clearer light, even though I still found it difficult to get past what he did to her and their love.
Sin is such a beautiful soul and there’s a presence about her, not just because she’s stunning, but because she seems comfortable in her own skin and she’s not afraid to be who she is, even if people don’t like it. The fact that she uses her music to attempt to soothe her soul after things end between her and Jake fits the girl/woman that she is. The band’s first album, Exquisitely Broken, is Sin’s personal story – it’s the outlet she used to deal with the pain that Jake caused her. It’s a song…an anthem for the brokenhearted, and the lyrics become a battle cry – a way to release everything that coiled up inside her and demanded a way out – a necessary way to purge the painful memories. Her music is her lifeline…it’s the language she uses to speak to her fans, to herself, to anyone who has ever felt like her or been in similar situations and that idea resonates throughout the entire story line.
M. Jay Granberry crafted a steamy, angsty, and soulful second chance romance in her debut novel. I enjoyed reading Sin and Jake’s story, and I’m crossing my fingers that she’ll give me Adam and Seth’s story because I’m desperate for some insight on those two!
4 Poison Apples
This was a very great debut novel, I thoroughly enjoyed the second chance romance because I feel the author put all emotions in one story. It contained all the feels from steamy, angst, anger, pain, heartbreak and I felt like I was enduring it all with the characters. Sinclair is part of a band and they are heading back to Las Vegas to do a show there but Sin doesn’t really want to go back because Las Vegas holds nothing but bad memories of how here and her ex ended. Jake is a big shot in Vegas and once he realizes that Sinclair will be back in his city he decides that now is the time to go for her and win her back, when he sets his sights on her he goes full force. This book had it all as I said and I loved every minute of it, I can’t wait to see what is next from the author
Sinclair James, known as Sin to her friends, was a wrong side of the tracks girl and Jake Johnson was from a moneyed family that wanted Jake as far away from Sin as possible. But when their relationship imploded due to Jake’s cheating, Sin’s singing career took off. Four years later, Sin is a bona fide rock star and the lead singer of Sin City and making her triumphant return to Las Vegas. But Vegas is a big town, surely, she can avoid Jake, right? Nope. Not a chance.
Sin and Jake’s second chance romance is packed with heartbreak, desire, and the hope that maybe this time things could be different. I read an Advanced Reader Copy and thoroughly enjoyed each twist as the characters struggled to overcome their past and carve out a new future. If you like your romances steamy and your endings happy then add this one to your list.
4 STARS
M. Jay Granberry is an ingenious author who has created flawed characters with redeeming qualities! This book is a MUST read!
Exquisitely Broken was exquisitely written! Jacob Johnson and Sinclair James, theirs is the story about second chances and whether or not you can move on from past hurts. When I began the book, I was upset with Jake’s actions that essentially caused the breakup, but in the end those feelings lessened as the story progressed since he was able to acknowledge his mistake.
”I own what I did. I won’t insult either one of us by pretending my actions were anything other than foul.”
Sin has as past that essentially would classify her as the girl from the wrong side of the ‘mountains’ that made it big. Although she had her heartbroken, there is still some hope in her heart.
“But maybe we have it all. Maybe we get everything.”
This debut novel was well written and the characters will entice you. Exquisitely Broken by M. Jay Granberry will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ELITE!!!