His wife went missing… …and the accusing looks tear him apart. Can Alex rebuild his life? Josie was the darling of Brunswick Bay Harbor. The locals rallied around her dreams of Olympic gold in swimming. It wasn’t to be and her life crashed down around her. Can she find meaning again? Alex misses his wife. Heartbroken and barely hanging on, he must raise his daughter alone. Living each day as … on, he must raise his daughter alone. Living each day as the prime suspect in the scandal of the century is more than he can bear. How could they believe it was him?
He needs help.
Josie needs a job, and the only one she’s qualified for is being a nanny to Alex’s adorable daughter, Hannah. Will working for the town’s most notorious murder suspect bring Jo the purpose she craves, or will it prove to be a deadly mistake?
Can two lost souls save each other?
You’ll adore this contemporary romance because true love is worth the struggle.
Start reading now.
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Shattered Diamonds is a tantalizing romantic suspense. Ann Omasta has written a realistic fiction with likable characters. I was drawn into the story from the first sentence in the book.
“Everyone in my beloved hometown thinks I killed my wife.”
When his wife, Claire, disappears, Alex is left bereft and suspected of murder. Afterall, it is always the husband, right? In addition to dealing with being shunned and vandalized, Alex must be both mommy and daddy to his adorable daughter Hannah. Hannah stole the show. Her vulnerability and pluck melted my heart. After a year of heartache and loneliness, it is not surprising that Alex eventually falls for the nanny.
There is natural progression of Josie, the nanny, slowly building trust in Alex. As a relative newcomer to town, she has been influenced by the town’s presumption that Alex has murdered Claire. However, as she gets to know him, she not only decides he couldn’t have murdered his wife, but also that she finds him irresistibly attractive. After a long battle with the attraction, a shocking twist puts Alex and Josie’s relationship in jeopardy.
Shattered Diamonds is a small-town, romantic suspense with a big heart. The delightful characters and quick pace of the story is totally engaging.
I received this book as a gift and am voluntarily leaving a review. This is a heartwarming story of two broken souls finding love in the midst of trying to find peace dealing with those incidents that brought them down. Allowing their hearts to open to love despite the words and actions of others, a beautiful love story develops. My only issue with the book is the fact that it ends in a cliffhanger and you have to get another book to finish the story.
Let me warn the reader. This ends in a cliffhanger! I took a star off for that alone.
An excellent depiction of how as family suffers at the disappearance of a family member. There’s speculation and suspicion. In this case persecution. Most of all no closure and way too many questions. Enter someone who breaks through the personal tragedies of father and daughter. The story could have happened any number of times, Having it brought to life so well by the author was a bonus.
I recieved a free Audible copy of this story, at my request, in exchange for a honest review.
I listened to the audio version of this book.
I felt sorry that Alex was ostracized by the people of the town in which he grew up. My initial thought was wondering what kind of people lived there, and were the police even investigating Claire being missing?
It was obvious from the beginning that Josie and Alex would develop a relationship, especially since she was the only person interacting with him. To top it off, Josie and Hannah were crazy about each other.
My main issues with this book was that it was a little too long for it to end up being a cliffhanger. I wouldn’t have bothered to get started had I known it ended in a cliffhanger. I try to avoid them.
The narration was ok. It was more like someone reading the book to me than someone who was really engaged in the story. I would give this book 3.5 stars.
I voluntarily listened to and reviewed this audio book received from the author.
Ann Omasta not only wrote this sweet small town romance, she also narrated it and brought three souls damaged by unforeseen circumstance together.
Warning this story comes with a cliffhanger, but I will wait for the hopeful conclusion and hopefully an HEA.
Thank you Ann for gifting me this audible book for a fair and honest review.
This story begins with a suspense, which is the disappearance of Alex Biggs’s wife, Claire, and almost everyone thinks he’s behind her disappearance. The whole city practically turns its back on him.
With summer approaching, Alex needs a nanny to be with his daughter, Hannah, the sweet little girl.
Josie Michaels has trained her entire life to win an Olympic gold medal, but when an injury steals her ability to swin competitively, she goes back to Brunswick Bay and ends up getting Hannah’s nanny job.
The relationship between Alex and Josie is cautious, as she still doesn’t completely trust him, but little Hannah blossoms in Josie’s care and manages to spend happy times with them.
When unexpected events threaten the relationship they have built, will they be able to overcome it?
This story ends in a cliffhanger and I’m anxious to read the rest of the story. I highly recommend the reading.
Shattered Diamonds is the first book in this brilliant new small town series. Both Josie and Alex have found their lives dramatically changed. Alex’s wife suddenly disappeared whilst Josie’s injury ended her quest for an Olympic medal. Circumstances brought them together and this is their story. The characters are great and you are instantly caught up in their lives and problems. Alex’s daughter Hannah is a little darling who stole my heart. This book shows the down side of small town life, it is beautifully written and the ending is great. It is however a cliffhanger ending which leaves you wanting more. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
Shattered Diamonds
Brunswick Bay Harbor Gems, Book 1
By: Ann Omasta
Narrated by: Ann Omasta
The perfect mix of romance and mystery, Ann Omasta has woven a story of two people trying to find their new normal. Josie Michaels had her dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer shattered. Coming to work att her aunt’s diner, she found her place was better suited working the summer as a nanny for Hannah. Hannah has been having a tough time since her mother went missing. Alex, her father has been accused of her murder, and in this small town, both are treated cruelly. Now with Josie there, a new sense of warmth is being shared, not only with Hannah, but a slow burning passion with Alex. Will these two be able to find love and live in this small town? I love this start to the series. Omasta has delivered a story with broken characters, and I really liked that while a healing has begun, it’s a very slow process. There is nothing easy, it feels realistic and at times the brutal honesty is heart wrenching. And the twist is a surprise and leaves me wanting book two! Narrated by the author, Ann Omasta brings the story to life just as she has written it. I enjoyed her voice and found her portrayal a great escape!
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Excellent Story & Audible Listen Entertaining & Engrossing!
Shattered Diamonds
Brunswick Bay Harbor Gems, Book 1
By: Ann Omasta
Narrated by: Ann Omasta
I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it is well written and well told with interesting and original storylines that captivated me from start to end and what an ending it is. This is the first book in the series and yes it ends in a cliffhanger but thankfully the next book is set to release soon. The characters are complex and well developed. Alex’s wife disappeared a year ago and life has not been easy for him in the small town he lives in. While there is no proof or evidence of foul play the people of he town point accusatory fingers at him blaming him for her disappearance. He stays with hopes of his wife’s return and for his daughter. The one person who is kind to him, Mimi, the owner of the local diner has a niece who is in need of a job. Josie Michaels, a competitor swimmer had dreams of competing in the Olympics unfortunately an injury took those dreams away. She did not have much of a life outside of the pool, after a failed attempt at waitressing her Aunt lands her a job as a nanny to Alex’s daughter. Alex is an author who works from home and needs someone to watch his daughter Hannah so he can work. I loved how Josie gave him a chance, also loved how great she was with his daughter. She was also great with Alex and they start to build a nice friendly relationship but they soon start to develop feelings, at first Alex pushes her away but the chemistry between them is undeniable. Anna Omasta did a fantastic job plotting out this story, in the background we wonder what happened to his wife Claire, curious minds want to know. The police were no help, no clues were given, no signs or accusations of foul play. Alex lived a year of heartbreak of not only losing his wife but of being accused by the people in his town of having something to do with her disappearance. My heart went out to him and his daughter. Josie’s dreams fell through but she is picking up the pieces of her life and finding a new way. The bomb dropped at the end is a surprising twist and I can not wait to see what happens next in these great characters story. Anna Omasta, thank you for this great story and the emotional rollercoaster ride.
I listened to the Audible edition, Ann Omasta is an entertaining storyteller, she not only created these characters but she also brought them to life right off the pages. She her characters they own voice and personality, she did a great job projecting the emotions of the characters and the drama of the story into her performance. Thank you for this great listen
I have not read a bad book from this author yet and this book is no exception! The great plot and character development kept me so engaged throughout the entire book that I had a very hard time putting this book down until the very last page was turned!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is a must-read book.
The author has written an engrossing story with appealing characters and a fascinating plot.
I love reading this author because she never lets me down with her stories.
I can’t wait for the next in the series.
Can these two people find away to overcome their failures and find love together?
Her injury broke her dream of Olympic medal in swimming.
Now she has to figure out next step to the future because being a nanny to a young girl as all she is qualified to do.
His wife disappeared leaving him and little girl behind.
People in the small town thinks he has something to do with it. Her aunt is person who doesn’t believe in this nonsense so this is how she got this job.
As they spend more time together, they are drawn to each other. Will their past hold them back from moving forward?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. A good start to the series but the story doesn’t end here in book one. You have to get the second book to continue on how Alex, Claire, Hannah and Josie all end up. How this small town reacts to everyone but a good start.
I love this book! Two broken people come together, even when their town is against them. Alex needs a nanny and Josie needs to find a new path in her life. Josie manages to make a connection with his daughter, and with Alex. Through all the gossip and drama they grow closer and finally admit to each other their true feelings. Sigh…so happy…..until the twist at the end of the book….OMG…..I wanted to yell out loud!!!! But…I loved it and can’t wait for the next one!
Alex’s wife has been missing for a year and almost everyone thinks he had something to do with it. Josie was a future Olympic Gold Medalist until an injury ends her dream. Alex’s is in need of a nanny and Josie needs a job. I loved the way Alex and Josie’s relationship grew and how great she was for his daughter. This is a well written story filled with mystery, suspense, heartache, steam, humor and a cliffhanger that left me wanting book two in the series.
This story ends on one heck of a cliff-hanger.
However, this is an amazingly well-written story. Loved the characters, including the stuffed giraffe!
Having grown up in a town smaller than this the judgemental attitudes of people was very well portrayed.
Another really good book by Ms. Omasta.
Can’t wait for what happens next
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This is great book that has wonderfully developed and engaging characters and a storyline that kept me interested from the beginning to the end.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received an ARC copy of this book for an honest review.
A deeply emotional book. I was fascinated by how everyone in the small-town easily believed the worst of Alex. The town believes that Alex murdered his wife even though there is no evidence to prove this and no body is ever been found. His daughter Hannah needs a nanny for the summer and even though Josie is hesitant to take the job, with her skills as a waitress nonexistent at her Olympic career in shambles after her injury she agrees to take the job.
Her love for Hannah develops quickly and easily and her relationship work with Alex develops slowly. Over time she develops feelings for Alex and the three become a family unit until A surprise visitor arrives. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
Exceptional! This is an extremely entertaining, captivating, and interesting page turner. A well written story; the plot is well-developed, relatable, emotionally deep, and consistent with intriguing characters. So much happened and I can hardly wait to continue this story in the next book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was drawn in from the beginning and connected with Josie and Alex, they are both a bit lost and Alex has the whole Bay is looking at him as a monster. When Alex and Josie are pushed together by her Aunt Mimi who happens to be one of the only people who believe Alex is innocent they have to over come their own fears as well as learn to be around each other. This is a highly addictive read that has you turning the page to see where things go for Josie and Alex as well as wonder what happened to his wife Claire and then when you get to the end …. Oh My God!!!!!