Fragile Scars (Fragile Hearts Standalone Series, #1)

Fragile scars is my first read from this author and it will definitely not be the last!!

Lilian brings a hard to read story to life with a brilliantly written read that has you gripped from the start.
Fall in love with damien as he fights to protect lilah from the one person she should never fear but is all too real this day and age, it’s a story full of hurt and heartache ,fear and pain and finding love when you least expect it.

This book is definitely a must read and I cant wait for jax and lexi’s story.

Omg my poor heart.

This book was amazing but it broke me, it pulled at every heart steing, I felt all the hurt, all the anger and sadness and finally all the shock and joy, it truly was a phenomenal read, my first one with this author and now she has me hooked.

This is my first time reading this author and I’m impressed with her plot and writing style. The story drew me in from the get-go and was an exciting read. It can be dark at times and so there is a small trigger warning on this book. Looking forward to more from this author.

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

This story was a tough one for me to review. The story was great and it flows well, the writing was fine and the characters are well defined. However, the depth of the story and the emotions it triggered was what really took hold of my heart. I did love the story but for me, I felt like it was missing a little something which I couldn’t quite put my finger on; hence the four stars.

Damian is so sweet and loving, it is sad that he couldn’t see himself that way. Witnessing him relive a horrible childhood tragedy as an adult broke my heart. You could feel his guilt and regrets from the past guide his present to protect his future; no way he’s letting it happen again. I was surprised by the intertwining connection between the characters that I did not see coming. It was an amazing twist that had my head spinning and the tears flowing.

Lilah is a brave, tough, and even though at times I just wanted her to run, I understood her fear. It may seem minor to some but he really had a hold over her. Her strength and need to protect Damian is perfect, to be honest, I wish they had told the truth from the beginning. When he came to the restaurant, I couldn’t stop the tears: what a great moment!

I can’t wait for Fragile Lies, Jax and Lexi’s story, I actually released an audible “Yes” when I found out they were getting a story! I love this friendship group they’re such a supportive and fun group. I’m looking forward to more and I’m also going to need Gabe’s story, fingers crossed.

A Really Enjoyable, Intriguing Story
I voluntarily reviewed an arc copy of this book. This is an enjoyable, entertaining book. I liked the well written storyline and the great characters, their interaction and chemistry really made for an interesting story. I found it an enjoyable, must read, romantic story

Fragile Scars by Lilian Harris is the first standalone in an interconnected series, Fragile Hearts. It’s also Harris’s DEBUT novel! Harris has added a pretty detailed warning so please heed that warning if you have triggers, this book does contain graphic depictions of violence and non-consensual sex. This one is a tough read for most even if you don’t have triggers BUT Fragile Scars brings light to a subject that if often not discussed.

Damian Prescott retired from Delta Forces 4 years ago and started his own security company JDG Global Security along with his two best friends Jax and Gabe. Damian doesn’t do relationships. He doesn’t do attachments with women period. For fear of becoming a monster like his father

But when Jax and Gabe talk Damian into a night out at the bar, everything changes.

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In walks a beautiful woman who immediately catches his attention.

Damian is instantly smitten with the beautiful albeit sad woman sitting at the bar with her friend.

Damian being Damian sends her a drink and a note.

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But things don’t go quite as planned, the beautiful sad girl has a boyfriend. Although Damian leaves the bar alone, he still can’t stop thinking about her.

Imagine his surprise when he moves into a new apartment and meets his new neighbor across the hall. It’s the girl who flipped him off at the bar, Lilah.

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Lilah McDaniel seems to have a perfect life. A job she likes, a sexy doting boyfriend that she’s been with for four years… but all is not as it seems in Lilah’s life.

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Damian and Lilah start up a very complicated “friendship” and it’s not long before Damian comes to realize that Lilah is in an abusive relationship. Her boyfriend Ash is both mentally and physically abusing her.

Both Damian and Lilah have been impacted by domestic violence, although in different ways and being around Lilah is bringing back all the horrors from Damian’s childhood. Damian grew up in a house filled with violence. Ultimately watching his father beat his mother to death… Damian’s need to protect Lilah quickly comes to the surface and he vows to do for Lilah what he couldn’t do for his mother, he won’t allow her to suffer the same outcome as his mother… no matter the consequences.

Damian does his best to get Lilah to leave Ash but he can’t make her. She has to have the courage to do that on her own, and for Lilah, leaving isn’t as simple as walking away.

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Lilah has a secret. There is more than just fear keeping Lilah with Ash. Ash has leverage over her, keeping Lilah docile and at his side continuing to take abuse from a man she stopped loving a long time ago.

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What does Ash have on Lilah?

Can Lilah break the hold that Ash has on her?

You’ll have to check out Fragile Scars to find out!

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Okay, first of all, I have to give Harris props! Again, this is her DEBUT novel and the fact that she chooses such a sensitive topic as domestic violence as her debut into the book world, was very risky! BRAV-FREAKIN-O for taking a chance like that. I always love authors who are risk-takers and who push the bounds a bit.

I really enjoyed Fragile Scars, but I didn’t LOVE it as much as I thought I would. There were a few reasons for my 3 1/2 rating. The plot had a lot of potential but in my opinion, it fell short. Fragile Scars had an “insta-love/insta-lust” feel to it. Ordinarily, I would appreciate that, I’m not really one for the slow-burns (I’m too impatient waiting for the good stuff ) BUT with a book that focuses on such a sensitive topic as this one does, I feel like it NEEDED those slow burn moments. But because of the length of the book, the characters and the plot don’t have the depth that was needed to truly submerse you into Lilah and Damian’s world and to make the timing of events more realistic.

After such a long term volatile relationship in which Lilah was in, I feel like there needed to be a “grace period” where Lilah rediscovers herself and gets the mental help that she needs before she jumps into another relationship. Coming from someone who has been in an abusive relationship, I feel like the sexual relationship would have been a huge hurdle for Lilah to overcome considering all she had been through but in Fragile Scars, that wasn’t the case. The majority of victims of DV will need more than just love to help them overcome the trauma and I would have really liked to have seen Lilah get that help. We know she found love, but did Lilah find Lilah?

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Even though there are some pretty graphic scenes, those scenes were needed to show just how bad things were between Lilah and Ash and weren’t just thrown in for the “wow” or shock factor. You are able to feel Lilah’s fear right alongside her. I was in an abusive relationship for 5 years and I related to her so much, much more then I wish I did, in those moments. Wondering if THIS is the time that he takes things too far. I admired Lilah’s character and the courage she showed.

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Even though I adore Damian and think he truly is a modern-day knight in shining armor, his actions and his words were conflicting at times. He truly cares for Lilah and wants to protect her but he also says he won’t push but yet seems to do just that. There were quite a few conflicting dialogues and scenes where Damian is concerned.

That ending, I will say I did NOT see that coming but I’ll be the first to admit that I was glad of it.

All in all, even though I didn’t LOVE Fragile Scars and found some parts of the story not as authentic as they could have been, I did enjoy this read. With all of the added suspense of Lilah and Damian’s story, it really was a page-turner filled with anguish, pain, as well as perseverance, support, and love.

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That being said, for a new author the writing was pretty good and I look forward to seeing more of Harris’s work.

Jax and Lexi’s story is up next in Fragile Lies and I will be checking it out.

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I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.

Fragile Scars the debut novel by Lilian Harris was an emotionally intense story about domestic violence and abuse and the effects on family members. The story has triggers so sensitive readers should take note. From the start it will evoke a range of emotions from you. The author did a good job portraying the emotions and struggles Lilah experiences with her boyfriend Ash while also portraying the insta-love she experience with Damien. I liked the secondary characters and how well they provided support and balance to the main characters. Fragile Scars was a gripping read and you will be hooked until the end. There were certain parts that felt a bit rushed however I would recommend it to lovers of contemporary romance.

This book deals with a serious subject when Lilah is being repeatedly abused by her boyfriend Ash. Ash is blackmailing her into staying in this horrible relationship and she feels trapped. I felt so bad for her and wanted her to fight but she felt she couldn’t fight back and had no one to turn to. One night she meets Damian out at a bar after a fight with her boyfriend, she expects to never see him again until he moves in next door. Damian was a character I absolutely loved. He was loyal, protective, sweet, caring, and amazing. He started to fall for Lilah and wanted her to leave her boyfriend, but Lilah never trusted him enough to think he could help or save her. It was frustrating that she was still with her abusive boyfriend and even still having sex with him all while lusting and spending time with Damian. I feel with the past Damian had he deserved a little better than that, he should have walked away when she never put enough trust in him to help her and she should have left Ash or waited until she could get away from him until she explored anything with Damian. I know abuse is hard on everyone especially the victim and I get Lilah was terrified, but she really should not have dragged Damian into the mix until she got help. Overall it was a good read, but some parts just irked me some and I really hope Jax gets a book.

This was the first time in reading this author with her getting to have me visit her worlds again. Lilah does it right away also getting her way into our hearts with all her tribulations that is hidden except from us readers. Then there is Damian whom you know about those famous last words gets bit. Also there is that intrigue that is going on. As this goes on it will slowly consume you as they are. As the story unfolds it pulls on the emotional strings digs dip also. You will quickly get through this because you want to see the outcome. This author will have you giving all she had so this was a surprise.

The depth of the characters in this is absolutely everything. The storyline is beautifully arranged and clever, with amazing chemistry.

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