My Life in Shambles is an emotional and sexy new standalone contemporary romance from the New York Times bestselling author of A Nordic King and The Pact.When Valerie Stephens made the resolution to say yes to new adventures, she never thought she’d end up in the tiny town of Shambles, fake engaged to one of Ireland’s top rugby players. But there’s a first time for everything.They say bad things … everything.
They say bad things happen in threes.
After my boyfriend broke off our engagement, I lost my apartment, and was laid off from my job, I can definitely attest to that.
They also say life is what happens when you say yes to new adventures.
So when my two sisters invited me to ring in the new year in Ireland, I decided to throw all caution to the wind and go for it. I was going to let “saying yes” be my new resolution.
Little did I know I’d spend New Year’s Eve having a hot and dirty one-night stand with Padraig McCarthy, one hell of a sexy Irishman. I also didn’t know that the brooding and intense sex god was one of Ireland’s top rugby players.
A rugby player with a proposition for me:
Come with him to his tiny hometown of Shambles and pretend to be his fiancé for a few days, just so that his ailing father can have some peace of mind.
It sounded simple enough.
It was anything but.
Not when a town gets up in your business, not when the media hunts you down, not when your past comes back in the picture, not when there are real hearts and feelings at stake.
Not when there are secrets that could break you.
They say life is what happens when you say yes to new adventures.
This is my life in Shambles.
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Karina Halle has done it again. She’s totally slayed me with her words. I’m in no way surprised, you understand. I, for one, am thrilled to see her return to her angsty and emotional romance roots. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve enjoyed her fluffier romantic comedies, too. But I just love how she breaks me and puts me back together with a book like My Life in Shambles. I’m not even sure I have words to do this book justice at this point, but I’ll try.
My Life in Shambles (a title I didn’t really “get” until it was spelled out for me at the very end, by the way) was gorgeous. The writing was beautiful, the characters were complex yet easy to root for, and the story did things to my heart. From the romance to the family dynamic and challenges that exist between them to the setting, every part of this book found its way under my skin. Once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. Which was an impressive feat considering I’ve been in a bit of a slump the last week or so. Not with this story though! Valerie and Padraig grabbed me from the very start and would not let go. They still haven’t and I don’t expect they will anytime soon.
I was on a roller coaster of emotions throughout My Life in Shambles. If there was a feel to feel, I felt it. I laughed and cried. I swooned and blushed. (Padraig has a fabulously filthy mouth.) I fell in love with his family and raged against Val’s mom. I adored the friendships and shipped Padraig and Val so hard it almost hurt. I’m a sucker for a “fake it till you make it” romance and theirs just got to me. Was it complicated? Sure. Some of the best love stories are, right? And Karina has a particular knack for writing those stories. This is one of my favorites of hers to date. If you’re looking for a romance to make you FEEL, look no further. You need some Val and Padraig in your life.
I received a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Favorite Quotes:
It takes a moment to change someone. Sometimes it just takes a kiss.
“Mo chuisle mo chroi.”
This damn country and Padraig have totally and completely captured my heart and I’m helpless against it.
“Tell me you love me and I’ll tell you I love you more.”
“Life is brilliant. And then it’s awful. Sometimes trivial or boring or mundane. You just have to push through all that bad stuff until it’s brilliant again. Always hold out for brilliant.”
I’ve been kind of in a reading slump lately and have been looking for a magic book that would pull me back into my love of reading. The kind of book you can’t put down and has you thinking about the characters for days after, as if they are real people. This book was exactly that type of book for me. I couldn’t put it down and these characters will stay with me the rest of my life. Absolutely gorgeous romance with fantastic writing and a beautiful story- I loved this book so much! A top pick of 2019 and one of my favorite books ever! I highly recommend this book!
WOW!!!!! This was such an amazing 6 star story that made me feel so many different emotions.
Valerie goes off to Ireland with her sisters. Before leaving the states, she had been down on her luck. Losing her job, her boyfriend left her. She’s got nothing left. She meets Padraig. He’s an Ireland native who’s about to loose everything he’s worked for. He’s hiding a huge secret. When it comes to light, he will need all the help he can get. He needs Valerie’ love more then anything.
This was such an amazing story with a storyline that made me feel a whirlwind of emotions. These characters felt real, with real problems. It was beautifully written with a seamless plot. This is a must read.
Standalone told in a dual POV with HEA. I strongly recommend this story.
This book was everything! I really don’t have the right words to express how amazing this book was. This is a book about stepping out of your comfort zone, taking risks, and embracing life. It was full of heart and hope. It’s a little more of an emotional read, and I definitely felt all the feels. Valerie and Padraig were perfection. They felt like magic together, and I really loved their journey. Definitely a must read! 5 stars!
OMG THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING!!!!
I really loved the relationship between Val and Padraig, they were meant to be together and all the things that had to go through, I loved the way the author described his disease and the way he felt..it’s hard and it was real and told in a very respectful way. As in Val, she also has a lot of insecurities about her body and what others may think about it and I believe that this is something very realistic and that I haven’t read on any other book
I went into this book completely blind. The moment Karina Halle announced it I avoid all excerpts and teasers because I had the feeling that it would knock me out of my mind and boy I was right!
This was the book I didn’t know I needed so much. Karina Halle has a way with words and with writing characters with so much depth and emotions.
They’re raw,real,troubled….
Valerie & Padraig’s story has some funny moments but it hits you right in the gut. Laugh,love,redemption,adventure ….this book was a rollercoaster of feelings and it hooks you right from the start.
I love this author’s writing and I’ve read all her books but I’ve gotta say that this one climb its way to the top. My favorite from her so far.
A MUST read even if you know Mrs. Halle’s work or not.
My Life In Shambles is a beautiful love story of two people who have struggled in life and still do. Their lives move forward but the struggles get bigger. As Padraig and Valerie’s relationship evolves from fake to very, very real, they both draw strength and wisdom from each other.
Karina Halle always writes the stories that hit home in some way, shape, or form, and My Life In Shambles hit deep in my soul. Taking family and loved ones for granted is so easy and keeping your feelings to yourself is so very common. And when time comes to an end, when life fades away, hopefully you’ve said what needs to be said. Leaving this earth with the important things left unsaid is sure to leave people feeling lost and even in shambles.
I left my heart in this book It was torn to shreds hoping for the impossible, praying for miracles, living the struggle that the characters faced. This story is real, raw, and painful. It’s heart-wrenchingly beautiful. It’s one of Karina’s best and since she only ever keeps getting better and better, I can’t wait to see what she has in store for us next.
This book holds so many life lessons. I’m marking it as a favorite for 2019. If you love a good love story that also touches on some very real and possibly unfair truths of life, My Life In Shambles is the book for you. One last tip, have a few tissues ready. I hope you cry with the characters, feel their love, feel their pain, feel everything.
6 STARS #TopReadList2019
Oh. My. Heart. It was left in disarray, after reading what will be one of my favorite books of the year! My Life in Shambles is an emotional and beautifully written love story, it captured my attention from the first pages until the very happy ending. Featuring two amazing, but oh so damaged characters, Padraig and Valerie, who were facing unexpected adversities when they meet and make an impulsive decision; their actions would have consequences no one saw coming. Be prepared to cry, laugh, and fall in love with this incredible romance, and Ireland, too.
“My feelings for you aren’t fake. They are very terribly real. You are the pulse of my heart, darlin’, and my heart won’t beat without you.”
Valerie Stephens makes a spontaneous decision to go to Ireland with her sisters for the holidays. It’s not as if she has anything to hold her back; she just lost her boyfriend, home and job in a matter of days. So here’s to being more open to new adventures, to being spontaneous and saying ‘yes’ more often, instead of worrying about the every single little thing. She’d overcome so much already, and had the emotional and physical scars to prove it, so she decided to take a leap of faith.
“It’s natural to be afraid, Padraig. But don’t let it control the way you live. You won’t have much of a life if that’s the case.”
Padraig McCarthy had always been a carefree and confirmed bachelor; he was a famous Rugby player and enjoyed all the perks that came with the fame, when his world was turned upside down after receiving devastating news. Not knowing what the future held in store for him, he meets Valerie on New Year’s Eve and unexpectedly suggests she join him to visit his family and pretend they’re recently engaged. He’d never had a relationship, it was something Padraig had avoided his entire life, and now he’s surprised to discover he has real feelings for Val. The last thing Padraig wanted were any more distractions, he didn’t need any more complications or worries. He had too much on his plate. But life has a funny sense of humor. Not.
“I’ve had your heart this whole time, I held it with my own. I just didn’t know for how long.”
This story is at times so incredibly heart breaking, but that’s when there’s a much needed humorous moment, or hot scene, to break the mood and spin the story so you feel a sense of relief. And the happy ever ending will have you crying, but with tears of happiness!
“Everyone is trying to protect themselves and in the end they shut out those that they love the most and that love them the most. We’re so imperfect, ye see. All of us. We’re made of broken bits and jagged edges and we expect to fit flush with each other like puzzle pieces but we can’t. And that’s not the point of family. You don’t need to fit, you just need to be close.”
I fell for this book when my eyes landed on the beautifulness that is that cover!! Can we l just stop and stare at it for a few minutes … the mix of the colors is plain beautiful and it captures your eyes and makes it impossible to walk away from the book without purchasing.
I was really surprised with how much I related to Valerie. I know I personally struggle with body image problems. I pretty much dislike my body half of the time. Her struggle and self loathing is so understandable and it just seems to make Valerie real. Even more than the struggle with her body is the way the fate of the universe is against her. Again, I get it and felt her struggle. There are times it doesn’t seem like life wants anything good to happen for me… like the world is plotting against me.
Everything changes with the luck of the Irish. Otherwise called Padraig. Miss Halle brings all the feelings out in this book. She seriously tugs at the heart strings while filling the wounded heart with hope. I love her positive reaffirmations. There’s so many of my favorites for books… sports romance, fake relationships, and Irish man, a woman struggling to find herself, and even some light and fun banter tossed in. It’s a book that will leave you feeling contentment.
I received an ARC of this book with the hope that I would leave an Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… my opinions.
Breaking up with your fiancé and losing your home and job in a short time. How do you get over that? My Life in Shambles tells the enchanting story of Valerie, and how she meets her Padraig. I love this couple, they’re just perfect.
“The rest of the world fades away and I know when it comes back into focus, everything will be different.”
Valerie is at crossroads. Her old life is pretty much gone (fiancé, home and job), and she has to figure out what her next step will be. But first, it’s time for a spontaneous trip to Ireland with her two sisters. Valerie is still licking her wounds, but when she sees Padraig, she can’t stop looking. Padraig is well-known rugby player in Ireland. He loves the sport and the perks that comes with it, but lately he’s rethinking his life. Valerie and Padraig are both not looking for love, but there is something between them that deserves to be explored.
“You’re not perfect. I’m not perfect. That’s okay.”
Valerie is my kind of girl; she’s sweet, loyal and kind, but she stands her own ground when needed. I felt sorry for her, she thought she had her life pretty much planned out, until everything went the wrong way. Padraig is in a rough spot as well, his future is about to change, and he doesn’t know what to do. Valerie and Padraig find that special love in each other were most of us are looking for and give each other the support they need. I love them for each other.
A Life in Shambles is my favorite kind of romantic story; a lovable leading couple, a realistic story-line and no over-the-top craziness. That doesn’t mean Valerie and Padraig have an easy road to their Happily Ever After, but they work through their ‘issues’ like real-life people. The story is told from a double POV, so you understand the couple’s actions and reactions. And Padraig’s Irish voice? I think I’ll have my hubby take an Irish language course or something like that….
“I stand there holding him and he holds me and the rest of the world does its thing whenever the two of us are together. It just dissolves. Until it’s just us.”
Valerie is home for Christmas with her parents and two sisters, having just broken up with her fiance and sleeping on a friend’s couch in NYC. When she wakes up on Christmas Eve to news that her entire department has been laid off and she’s also lost her dream job, she decides to take her sisters up on their invite and join their trip to Ireland for New Year’s. On New Year’s Eve, the sisters are in a Dublin bar and she spots a man at the bar who is approached constantly, is polite, but sends each person on their way. She notices that he seems broken. Rugby star Padraig is reeling from getting word of both his estranged father’s terminal condition, and his own shocking diagnosis. When Val approaches him in the bar he rejects her at first, then realizes she wasn’t like the others who have recognized him and soon goes to her table to talk to her. They end up having a fun night of dinner and dancing to ring in the new year, ending in a one night stand. He doesn’t quite want to let her go, though. He asks her to go home to Shambles with him as his fiance. He tells her it’s to give his dying father peace of mind, but really he wants to show his father that he is worthy of love, despite what he felt from his father.
Of course things get more complicated, and their lie is exposed. Soon Padraig’s illness can no longer be hidden and life changes for everyone involved.
This was a really good book. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t talk much about Padraig’s illness, but I will say that I figured out what it was as soon as the doctor started talking about his symptoms and could really relate, since someone in my life has the same thing. I cannot imagine how hard it would be for a professional athlete at the top of his game to feel so betrayed by his body.
Valerie was just what Padraig and his entire family needed. She was a catalyst for mending hurts between father and son. In return, Padraig helped her to find her backbone and stand up to her mother and begin to heal their relationship. These two found each other at the exact right time, for both of them.
This is another book with lots of highlighted passages for me. Some of my favorites:
“It takes a moment to change someone. Sometimes it just takes a kiss. I knew this before it happens. And when he leans in and the space between us dissolves, and his lips, warm, soft and commanding, meet mine, I k now that a simple kiss isn’t so simple at all and nothing will be simple after this.”
“What if is fear. Even if is faith.”
“Life is brilliant. And then it’s awful. sometimes trivial or boring or mundane. You just have to push through all that bad stuff until it’s brilliant again. Always hold out for brilliant.”
Karina Halle is one of the best at writing heart-wrenching, sexy, enthralling stories. Her latest, My Life in Shambles, is no exception. I devoured it in a day because I couldn’t put it down.
Halle’s contemporary novels all have a similar feel – lots of intense emotions, interesting characters, great settings – but none of them are ever close to feeling the same. I don’t know how she does it because she writes a lot of books and you’d think they’d start to get repetitive. Not with Halle. That’s one of the things I love about her books – they may have a trope you’ve read time and time again but she always manages to twist things just enough to keep the story feeling fresh.
This book is really heavy. There are illnesses (yes, plural) and childhood traumas (also plural) and the emotions that come from falling head over heels in love with someone after only a few short weeks. One of the things I liked about this book was jow it challenges our typical view of a Happily Ever After. I had to check myself a few times because of the…prejudice, I guess, I (and tons of other people) have. It’s uncomfortable, to be sure, but I’m happy Halle and her novel challenged my views. (OK, I know that’s super vague but I can’t give anything away!)
The characters were so multi-layered, just like real people, and the reader can’t help but fall in love with Padraig and Val as their feelings for each other grew. Val seemed older than her mid-twenties age but I imagine that has a lot to do with the issues she dealt with growing up. Padraig has just as many issues stemming from his childhood and teen years that shaped him. They were both able to face those traumas and have some healing and closure by the end of the book. An aside: I wanted to throttle Val’s mother. I could not believe some of the cruel things she was saying to her own daughter and how misguided she was. She thought she was saying it out of love but she was so out of touch with her daughter’s feelings that she couldn’t see how much pain she was causing. So frustrating!
Like all of Halle’s books, this one is super swoony. You’ll get so caught up in the love and lust that is practically leaping off the pages. So good.
All in all, My Life in Shambles is another winner from Karina Halle. It’s a must if you love real stories that have all the highs and lows life has to offer.
4.5 Stars
My Life in Shambles is the latest stand-alone novel by Karina Halle. Oh my gosh you guys-it was AMAZING!!! It was so good that I could not put it down. I know whenever I pick up a Karina Halle book, I’m in for an unforgettable experience. And man oh man was My Life in Shambles unforgettable. It was a beautiful and emotional tale that gave me all the feels.
“ It takes a moment to change someone. Sometimes it just takes a kiss.”
Valerie and Padraig…what can I say without giving too much away but wanting to shout from the rooftops how much I loved them. Valerie was such a strong character. Despite everything she’s overcome, her willingness to keep moving forward was admirable. And Padraig…he was so manly but had a soft, gooey center. His past and his issues did not define who he was and watching him grow over the course of the story was incredible. Together they were magic. Their chemistry was hot as hell and the sparks flew off the pages. I could go on and on…
“ I know that a simple kiss isn’t so simple at all and nothing will be simple after this.”
These characters were EVERYTHING! They stole my heart right from the start and didn’t give it back. Valerie and Padraig were well developed characters that were completely believable and relatable. My Life in Shambles was written beautifully and I highly recommend reading it!
Karina Halle delivered another delicious contemporary romance in My Life in Shambles. Padraig and Valerie were funny, sexy, touchingly poignant and swoony af. I thought their connection was outstanding as they both healed parts of one another that were broken and in need of love.
After Valerie Stephens’ life goes from bad to worse she decides to start taking life by the horns and go on more adventures. The result: She picks up and accompanies her sisters on a dream trip to Ireland. But she never expected to have a one-night stand with the intense and sexy rugby superstar Padraig McCarthy, let alone pretend to be his fiancé on a visit to his tiny hometown. But when lines get crossed and feelings start to develop, Valerie and Padraig must navigate tumultuous family drama, old hurts and new and terrifying secrets that come to light.
Gah! This story was just divine! I loved how connected Padraig and Valerie were and how they were each other’s support systems. This novel was sexy as all Halle’s stories are but also emotional and touching. I thought this lovestory was absolutely fantastic! Bravo! 4 stars! ~Ratula
My Life in Shambles is beautifully crafted. Valerie and Padraig have both been knocked down by life. They have had hits come from all sides and need to learn how to start their lives over. Valerie has broken up with her fiance and lost her job in a short span of time. She decides to join her sisters on a trip to Ireland and start to take risks. One of those risks was going home for the night with Padraig on New Years Eve. That night extends when Padraig asks her to be his fake fiancee so his dying father will think he has his life together. Their relationship develops from that lie and they learn to support each other. Both Padraig and Valerie are at pivotal moments in their lives and they chose to grow towards each other. My Life in Shambles is a skillfully crafted and beautifully written story.
I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*
Valerie and Padraig! Those two made my heart melt and ache and root for them through every hard obstacle! I adore Karina’s writing and pose and I seriously can’t decide which book of hers is my favorite. I LOVE THEM ALL! Set in Ireland with the gorgeous scenery, a one-night stand evolves into something more as Padraig needs to go back home and wants to prove to his father that he is not as broken inside as he feels.
I cried, I laughed and cried again because there is a secret that threatens to destroy Valerie’s and Padraig’s relationship and yet love can conquer through everything. Karina Halle is a masterful writer and knows how to pull your heartstrings.
A beautiful romance I couldn’t tear myself away from! A top read for 2019! Karina really brings out the heart and soul of her characters with her fantastic writing. Valerie and Padraig pulled at my heart strings and I enjoyed every moment! These characters are fighters, and they’re real and honest. Padraig and Valerie have so much passion from the instant they meet. My emotions were taken on a raw, heartfelt journey. This is a book I will not soon forget, and will definitely come back to. This read deserves all the stars!
What a wonderful romance! I’ve read many of Karina Halle’s books, and she is an excellent author who knows how to weave a story full of angst, drama, steaminess, and wonderful characters. The fact that this was sent in a foreign country just brought this wonderful novel up even higher. A deliciously delightful read.
I really like the writing of Karina Halle, but I have to admit that this is the book I least liked. It’s not a bad book, it’s far from it, but it didn’t meet my expectations. My Life in Shambles is a very dramatic and emotional book that tells of the journey of Padraig and Valerie.
I still have not decided which was the main reason why I didn’t like it as much as I wanted. The book proposal is good, but I couldn’t connect with the characters and the romance. I fell that something was missing, so this isn’t my favorite from this author, but still a decent read.
I forgot how much I enjoy the emotional and angsty Karina! This brought me back to some of my favorite McGregor men. I feel in love with both Padraig and Valerie so quickly. Padraig is such an interesting guy with many layers. He may internalize a lot, but I feel like Valerie just makes him open up a bit more, some times by force. He is this big tough rugby player, but he is really hit hard by life and Valerie is there every step of the way. She is a really strong woman and I love how much she is able to shoulder and take on. Both of them are so tough and I love how they are so dedicated to the other. Their story is so emotional and really touching. I love the world that Karina formed in Shambles and I just love the story she created for these two. My heart was so invested in it these two and I didn’t want it to end!