SOMETIMES THE DEEPEST SCARS ARE THOSE NO ONE SEES.Lilah seems to have it all—a great job and a gorgeous boyfriend, but underneath the perfect exterior are bruises left behind by a monster who claims to love her.Damian has a troubled past of his own. He vows to steer clear of love, that is until he meets Lilah—a woman whose secret is slowly consuming her. One look and he knows they’ve met before … secret is slowly consuming her. One look and he knows they’ve met before but he doesn’t know where.
Determined to help her escape the violent relationship she can’t seem to leave, he befriends her, vowing to keep her safe, but protecting Lilah comes at a price.
When their attraction turns into passion and their secrets threaten to tear them apart, will they fight for one another? Or will their demons swallow them whole?
Fragile Scars is a steamy contemporary romance with suspenseful undertones and isn’t suitable for those under 18. It contains strong language, sexual situations and references. It is the 1st book in the Fragile Hearts series. All the books in the series are standalone romances with a different couple, but past couples and characters do make an appearance in later books.
Author Note: Below is a trigger warning for those who may need it. Please stop reading now if you don’t want one. This story contains graphic violence and sexual assault, which may not be suitable for some readers.
more
h: Lilah
H: Damian
(Dual POVs)
Lilah is in an abusive relationship and feels forced to stay with her abuser due to blackmail. Damian spots Lilah and Lexi across the bar and sends them drinks when he sees that Lilah is sad. The next day, Lilah is leaving her apartment when she runs into Damian, who is interested in renting the apartment across the hall.
I’m going to chalk this up to a case of “It’s not you, it’s me”. Unfortunately, I feel like this book just didn’t work for me. It was very, very, very insta-love. I’m talking head over heels, can’t live without them, they’re ‘the one’, completely consumed in love in the matter of a few days. I didn’t enjoy the fact that Lilah had no fight in her when she was being abused. There were some aspects that I didn’t think fit in regards to Lilah being a victim of abuse. The twists and turns throughout the book kept it interesting, and I am glad I finished it. I loved the HEA ending!
Favorite quotes:
”You’re just so nice to me,” she grips my shirt, her forehead against my chest, “and I gave you the finger, twice.”
She’s an ember flame just waiting to engulf me. I don’t know when it happened or how, but the inferno is nearing, closing in around me until I beg to burn. -Damian
I’d be less painful if she just punched me in the dick. -Damian
This book was not what I expected. I found it difficult to read, because it was so well written! You could feel the pain, the terror, the protective nature of Damian. It sucked me in from the start and I couldn’t put it down. It was darker then I thought but it was an eye opener for me, scares me to think about! Well done and well written!
” She’s a drug I didn’t know I needed, and now that I’ve had a taste, there’s no way I could give her up.”
Fragile Scars was a roller coaster ride of emotions! This was by no means an “easy read” as the author tackles some very serious subject matter but the way in which Lilian Harris tells this story was just phenomenal. ALL THE FEELS! Lilah & Damien’s journey was one full of heartbreak, insta-love, pain, trust & hope… an undeniable and intensely beautiful connection. I was completely immersed in this book world, these character & their story and I hope that you enjoy this read as much as I did.
***ARC Provided in Exchange for an Honest Review***
5 FRAGILE HEART STARS!! Oh my….Lilah and Damian took me on one emotional ride that touched every part of my heart. Their story is tough, but so beautifully told by this author….she speaks to your heart. I am so excited to read the next book in this series….I loved Jax and Lexi in this book….I need their story now.
Four “really liked it” stars!
Color me impressed! This book took an incredibly sensitive topic, and showed it from multiple angles (insider, outsider, adult, child). And she showed it respect while doing it. She described the fear of being in a relationship with someone unpredictable and explosive, even had the heroine being more bold with Ash (the abuser) when she was interacting with him from a distance (phone/text). In my limited experience, that’s how it was. It was easier to be brave when they weren’t there in person. I related to that.
From what I could find I think this is the author’s debut novel, and I am blown away. Striking a balance between plot-driven and character-driven can be really hard, even for authors who have written a dozen novels– too much of one or the other makes for a dud. But this book didn’t suffer that. I enjoyed the different personalities of the characters and at the same time was glued to the pages by the plot.
She also did a great job weaving in little extras (like the bunny) to make it a fuller, richer story. I’ll say it again– I’m truly impressed that this was a debut novel.
I generally read darker romances with anti-heroes, but this one spoke to me. The male MC was definitely more hero than anti-hero, but I really liked him. He swooped in and saved the day, and it worked for me.
I recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance who like a hero that saves the day. Because, really… who doesn’t?
Find me at:
Instagram
Facebook
This book was so unpredictable!
One click you won’t regret it
3.75 stars
This was my first book by this author and I enjoyed it but I felt like some things that were important were glossed over.
The connection between Damian and Lilah was instant it only took their eyes meeting from across the room and you could feel the intensity of their connection. I loved Damian, he was the perfect hero in this story and Lilah showed a lot of strength when she had decided she had enough.
This was a heartbreaking story that dealt with major issues and I feel like they should have been handled in a more realistic way, people don’t go through situations like that and just get over it days later. I think the healing of the characters emotionally/mentally should have been addressed given the subject matter.
Fragile Scars will suck you in from the very start. My heart strings were pulled so many times. I can’t tell you home much I loved this one. I’m in love with Damian. He stole my heart with his back story. He is such a strong man and you will love him so much even more for everything he goes through. There is this kismet meeting between Damian and Lilah. The instant connection is so strong. Lilah is so stuck you can’t imagine what she goes through when it comes to her boyfriend. Meeting Damian changes everything for Lilah. I love how he sees the signs of what Lilah is going through and fights for her. He is so protective. You feel their love and bond grow stronger and stronger. Lilah and Damian have so much love that you can feel it pouring off the pages. I couldn’t stop reading this one. Finding new authors is something I am always on the look for and Lilian Harris is one of those. I feel in love with her words from the very beginning and I am so looking forward to what she brings next. I have a feeling the Fragile Hearts series is going to be come a new addiction for me.
This book had me hooked from the beginning! It is very well written, a very intriguing story, unpredictable, captivating, such a great debut book! It was a roller coaster of emotions and angsty, suspenseful! I love it! I’m looking forward to reading more of Lilian’s books!
Wow! This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. At times it was hard to read because of the subject matter…Harris is a very descriptive writer and nothing was left to the imagination. Yet, the love story between Damian and Lilah was as beautiful as it was traumatic. Having a front row seat watching as they overcame the trauma they both face (him as a child and her as an adult), leaning on each other, trusting in themselves and each other was a hell of a ride, but oh so worth it!
This is an extremely well written, emotional read that had me hooked from the beginning.i couldn’t put it down, I had to know if they got their HEA. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.
I am amazed by the fact this is a debut book! Holy moly what will the next and the next be like then? I am extremely grateful to have had this author recommended by a friend and I totally recommend her to everyone as well.
The emotions in this book are so intense at times I became a different person. I wanted to reach into the story, grab the abuser by the throat then knee him in the groin… and that was just for starters. How dare he! Now, yes, the scenes are described clearly and we certainly get the victim’s point of view but it is carefully written and not over the top. I also have to admit I empathised with the victims but also Damian. There were times when I wanted to shake Lilah and say tell Damian, get some help! But then the story would have been cut very short!
Likewise there are some lighthearted moments to balance the darker moments, especially when Jax is involved in the scene. Overwhelmingly though the story is a beautiful romance that fills your heart with love, hope and every Cupid inspired icon possible.
This story has every one of these in spades:
Wonderful characters
Terrific descriptions of settings and characters
Suspense
Angst and every other emotion as well
Romance
In short… read it!
What happens when all you know is abuse and hatred at 10 years old? Damian saw so many evil things when he was just a boy, but he vowed to NEVER turn into him he can’t. He’s been telling himself all these years he can’t have love or a family because he doesn’t deserve it or he thinks that he can do what HE did.
Damian’s life gets altered when he meets her, he meets Lilah, Lilah is gorgeous, snarky, and nervous. Something doesn’t seem right. He cannot stop thinking about Lilah, and Lilah cannot stop thinking of him. The Universe has a funny way of making sure they see each other again, that’s for sure.
Lilah struggles with a secret that no one knows but herself. Can she keep herself from falling off a proverbial cliff?
Can Lilah help Damian see that he’s not like him and he never will be? Lilian Harris
I was granted an ARC from Give Me Books Promo and Lilian Harris for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This book does have graphic domestic violence and verbal aggression. If this is a trigger for you, please don’t read this book.
This was my first read by Lilian Harris and sure as hell won’t be my last. Lilian filled my suspenseful loving heart with a book about two people whose background probably shouldn’t be together, but damn did they have off the chart sexual chemistry and their love, determination and stubbornness to get through the other side of things unscathed made me smile cry.
Damian Prescott doesn’t let himself get too close to any females for a relationship, for fear that he will turn into his father. That is until one night in bar, he see’s someone that keeps his attention and he doesn’t want to his eyes off of her.
Lilah may look like she has her life all together, but really, she is becoming an empty shell of a woman. Feeling as though she deserves to be suffering alone, rather than experiencing happiness. When Damian moves in across the hall from her she doesn’t hope for a hero, but a hero is what she may get from him.
This book. Oh, my goodness. I am always a little hesitant to try new authors, but damn Lilian Harris nailed it. I love suspenseful romance and she wrote a book that once I started, I couldn’t put down. The sexual chemistry was written beautifully and not over the top. I full on cried when I read the teddy bear scene. It was so sweet and was perfectly placed in the book that while there was domestic violence, there was a victim who took back her life and fought for what she wanted.
This is the first book in the Fragile Hearts series and I highly recommend that you read this book and series. I can’t wait to see what happens with Lexi and Jax in book two! I will be buying all the books in this series and can’t wait to see how it ends for everyone!
I absolutely loved this book. You will go through all the emotions. It’s a tough, but great read. Damien is a great book boyfriend and Lilah is such a strong heroine. This is an Insta-Love kind of read. I highly recommend this book.
Lilian Harris has hit a home freaking run with Fragile Scars. Lilah is hiding behind herself from an abusive relationship, until she meets Damain. He wants to help her to find herself again, but he doesn’t want to fall in love right now. I can’t believe the pure raw emotions that Fragile Scars had me going through. Yes, it really is that good. I can’t wait to read the rest of the series when available.
This was giving to me as an ARC and my first read by this author, this is her debut book. But she killed it! Had me hooked with the prologue!
The whole story was so heartbreakingly good. I loved every minute of it. I hated to have to put it down.
Damian broke my heart with his past but the man he turned out to be is everything. His heart and strength are just ah amazing. Loved him so much
Lilah oh this poor girl just broke me. I felt everything she felt as I was reading. But i was so happy she got a great ending.
I give this a 5⃣ and totally would recommend it to other readers.
**this is a book that talks and involves abuse in relationships so if you don’t like that then I wouldn’t recommend this book.**
Love isn’t painful, violent or cruel
Love feeds the soul, it’s cherishing and it’s wanting to absolutely protect the other at the cost of yourself. That is the love that Damian wants to show a tired and battle worn Lilah who has captured his heart and soul, in spite of the vows he has kept to himself since childhood, and in spite of the life modelled to him by his father. In Fragile Scars, the subject matter is heavy, but the writing is done well, and I adored the chemistry in the connection that Damian and Lilah had.
My heart was broken for both of them.
While we are with Lilah in her story as she experiences everything that any woman should not, I don’t believe that the burden upon us as readers was as onerous as it could have been. Lilian Harris wrote responsibly and as descriptively as she could while bearing the sensibilities of us readers in mind, and we are rewarded for staying with Lilah as we see her find her strength and security in the love she finds with Damian.
The moment of realisation and of a connection between them was a watershed moment for me in this book. My heart pounded and my brain turned to happy mush, but the story still wasn’t over. Happy endings sometimes don’t come easy for the characters or the readers!!!
This story is about bravery and survival, and discovering a love so deep that it will repair the victim right through to the soul. It is also about becoming your own honourable person in spite of any upbringing that is beyond the control of a child. It’s about preserving memories as well as saving yourself.
It’s a great book. 4.5 Stars
I received a copy of this book from the publisher/author to review.
Lilah seems to have it all-a great job and a gorgeous boyfriend, but underneath the perfect exterior are bruises left behind by a monster who claims to love her. Damian has a trouble past of his own. He vows to steer clear of love, that is until he meets Lilah-a woman whose secret is slowly consuming her. One look and he knows they’ve met before but he doesn’t know where. Determined to help her escape the violent relationship she can’t seem to leave, he befriends her, vowing to keep her safe, but protection Lilah comes at a price. When their attraction turns into passion and their secrets threaten to tear them apart will they fight for one another? Or will their demons swallow them whole?
This book is super emotional and if you have triggers be sure to read the warning carefully. This book is full of them and really put me through the ringer and I don’t usually have any triggers. Damian grew up in home filled with abuse and a father who killed his mother. Lilah is currently in a relationship and is being abused by her boyfriend. When Lilah and Damian meet they begin a relationship that is complicated to say the least and it becomes intense super fast. It doesn’t take Damian long to see the abuse and he is determined to protect her in all the ways only he can and he knows that he has to get her out of there. All while dealing with the past that he has to deal with. This book is good. It will break your heart in so many places but is so worth reading I really liked it even though it was a struggle to get through parts of it.
Wow, this book had my emotions everywhere! This is the first book I have read by this author and I definitely plan on reading more in the future.
This was a great read from a author I will continue to read after this one. Lilah and Damian for all intensive purposes are opposites and are both harboring secrets but they can’t stop their chemistry that basically seeps off the pages. Definitely recommend
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book