In New York Times bestselling author Ruth Cardello’s sexy and emotional romance, a billionaire dares to invest in the riskiest proposition of his life: a second chance at love.Single mom Heather Ellis would do anything for her adopted daughter, Ava. Even post an online reward for anyone who found the girl’s lost stuffed animal. Who’d have guessed it’d be returned by a drop-dead-sexy man with such … drop-dead-sexy man with such sadness in his eyes that she had to reach out to him? To Ava, he’s a hero. To Heather, he’s a fantasy that puts at risk the happy life she’s made for herself.
It’s been five years since billionaire developer Sebastian Romano lost his wife and unborn child in a tragic accident. Now he’s all business. No room for emotion. Until he stumbles across that damn stuffed wolf and the beautiful single mother looking for it. Is he ready to give love a second chance?
But there’s more to Sebastian, his family, and his past than Heather knows. More than even Sebastian knows. Will the life they’re building together be challenged when the truth is finally revealed?
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The Broken One is a great start to a new series for Ruth Cardello. In this, she creates a world I definately want more of. Not only did I enjoy this stand alone story, but she left me intrigued about the rest of the family we got a glimpse of in this story.
Sebastian is a jaded businessman whose life changed the moment his wife and unborn child died. He didn’t used to be this way, but he’s learned he has to keep people at a distance, so he’ll never feel that sense of loss again. He’s managed to cope the best he can and is there for his family to help run their company, but on the anniversary of his wife’s death, it is still hard on him.
That’s why when he finds a stuffed animal at his jobsite, he almost throws it away.
When Heather sends out an SOS to the Internet Gods in search of finding her daughters Wolfie, that was thown from the window, she never expects someone like Sebastian to return it. Yes – he’s all that and a bag of chips to look at, but his attitude was more than she could handle.
But fate has a way of interveining. Well – more like a meddling mother. But she means well and her intentions are driven by love.
This book has a fantastic story line. I laughed, I cried, I felt every emotion in between. I loved the family dynamics, the combustible chemistry and the perfect amount of sass against the traditional alpha male role. What’s more is that I can’t wait to here about Sebastian’s family and I am certainly looking forward to stories about his brothers.
Ruth Cardello masterfully blends powerful emotion, steamy romance, humor and a bit of mystery with The Broken One! I had pretty high expectations when I started this. Ruth Cardello is an incredibly talented author and the blurb was practically a checklist of things I love in a romance, but I was still blown completely away by this book. I felt everything with these characters from crying for them to full on laughing out loud all while I fell completely in love with their story.
While emotions were definitely heavier, especially with Sebastian, it’s not all ugly cry heartbreak. Heather and her adorable daughter a bring lightness that perfectly balances the heavier emotion. You’re pretty much guaranteed to end up with more than one happy sigh and maybe even a tear of happiness or two while reading this.
This book was an okay read. There were things I liked and disliked about the story. I liked the characters and there is a bit of mystery and suspense regarding Judy and her project. However, as much as I liked Heather and Sebastian together it seemed like all they did was argue. I loved Sebastian’s mom and there were definitely a few laugh out loud moments for me while reading this story but I wish there was more chemistry between Heather and Sebastian. There was sex and there was arguing and I just didn’t feel the love between them that I should have felt when he asked her what he did. There were some parts of the story that felt too slow and others felt too rushed but it has a HEA for the couple yet, it ends with a cliffhanger.
I was so excited to dive into the Corisi family again. I love all things Dominic Corisi. At first, I felt like Judy’s part of this story was confusing and too separate. But, once I understood where things were going, I loved that side part of the story. Sebastian and Heather have an incredible journey to love. I adored Heather and Ava. The way they became a family was so heartwarming, and their relationship was so sweet and funny. I loved that Heather did her best every day to be a good parent, but she recognized that she wasn’t perfect. Sebastian was a broken man, for sure. I felt his pain and grief. It was palpable. It made him come across as a major a$$hole, but underneath all that, he was a good person. The way Heather and Sebastian meet was so unique and sweet. Their attraction was evident from the start, and I enjoyed their back-n-forth. It took them awhile to figure things out with each other, and it was fun ride getting there. I am very excited for Judy’s quest to find more of the Corisi family. I think it will be a bumpy road, but worth it.
The Broken One is an absolute perfect title for this story. The author has an amazing ability to write stories that grab you by the heartstrings and yet have you laughing with the very next sentence. She writes such beautiful stories of family, strength, and loyalty and of course a romance with all the sighs in just the right places. Sebastian and Heather’s story is one I won’t forget for a long time because there is such a heartbreaking brokenness to Sebastian that it took not only Heather to bring him to himself again but also a very special little girl named Ava. The conversations between Heather’s best friend, Erica and her assistant, Terri are off the charts hilarious! I shed tears and had lots of laughs while reading this wonderful story of a second chance for a very deserving hero!
This is also the first book in what appears to be another hit series for this author!
I received an ARC from Netgally for an honest review, which I have provided.
The Broken One is the first book in this author’s newest Corisi Billionaires series and I couldn’t be happier to get back to this world. This book is all about Sebastian and Heather…plus her adorable daughter Ava. It all started with a stuffed animal and ended with a love that will surely survive every obstacle they face going forward.
I’m not going to lie and say that I didn’t start off a bit confused, because I totally was, but then the reasons were revealed and gosh, this author did an amazing job of blending everything together. This book is heartwarming and soul crushing from the start but one thing this author has taught me, is to just trust. Even though there were times that I wanted to cry for these characters, I just knew that she would put me back together.
I definitely recommend that this book be put on your must read list ASAP!
This is the first of the Corisi series by Ruth Cardello and boy did it start of sweet then blooming into a hot, passionate story. I loved how she brought these two together yet there was a bit of well hesitancy between them. Both are nervous when it comes to love again but having little Ava was a hoot seeing them well accomodate her. Heather may be a single mom but when it comes to love she was hillarious when and what to say when it comes to Sebastian. Now Sebastian is one brokenhearted man and seeing him learn to live again with Heather and Ava was beautifully done. All in all being the first book in this new series Ruth Cardello is starting off good and there is more in the Romano family cannot wait.
“I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own.”
I haven’t read any of the books about the Corisi family and whose I don’t think it’s necessary it has made me want to go back and read them.
Heather was a character I really admired. As a person as a mum she was flawed and she knew it. We weren’t given some ideal woman to aspire to being and that was so refreshing to read. I adored her relationship with Ava all their struggles just made it more realistic. Sebastian is the text book definition of a broken man. His past is heartbreaking and continues to define hum years later. I’m such a sucker for moody men they are usually the most interesting to read. Seeing Heather and Ava slowly bringing him out of his self imposed shell was beautiful to read.
The inclusion of June’s story confused me at first but as I read I realised the significance of this will become clear in future books.
The Broken Ones by Ruth Cardello a five-star read that will pull your heart strings. This is the first novel in the Corisi Billionaire series, and I can’t wait for the rest, I don’t want to say anything about this story as you really need to devour it yourself, its just that good. I haven’t read this author previously, but they will definitely be a one click author for me in the future. Wolfe story will pull at those heart strings even more than the rest of the story and that is a great story overall.
4 A Stuffed Animal Changes Everything Stars!!
This is my first book by Ms. Cardello and I’m so happy I took the advice of my friend to read this one. When I started the book I thought I knew what kind of story I was going to be getting into, but then things change and we’re taken down the path of another story…one of heartbreak, sorrow, redemption and finding a love that no one was expecting.
I don’t want to give too much away, but Sebastian Corisi is a man that’s more than broken and it’s heartbreaking a points. Heather and her daughter Ava provide him a chance to redeem himself in his own eyes and heart and they niggle their way right in there thanks to a lost stuffed animal. And so begins their story.
I loved this H/h so much. There’s a hidden side to them that kind of surprised me but totally felt right for them as a couple. And Ava is the cutest and sassiest little girl! She has a way of making even the gruffest of men melt.
There’s quite the suspense circling around the Corisi family and we just get an inkling of it as it’s intertwined throughout Sebastian and Heather’s story. I’m so excited to get deeper into this story and this family because it’s going to be a wild ride!!
After reading the blurb for The Broken One, I decided to give new-to-me author Ruth Cardello’s second chance-single mom romance a shot. Imagine my surprise when I opened my copy and instead of reading about Heather and her daughter or Sebastian, the billionaire workaholic I am reading about a young girl named Judy and her bodyguards. I thought for sure that I had gotten a mislabeled ebook. Good thing that I decided to find out what happens with the precocious Judy because the story jumps over to Heather and Sebastian and Judy is a piece of what I am guessing is a larger picture within the “Corisi Billionaires” series.
Heather Ellis is all about her daughter, Ava, having adopted her when Heather’s best friend died within hours of childbirth. Heather is a loving, responsible woman who didn’t know what she was agreeing to when she took on Ava, but she is all in just the same. Sebastian is a man who had it all. A wife he adored, a baby on the way, and a business starting to thrive when tragedy struck. On his own, he threw himself into work, leaving his humanity behind. The two have instant chemistry upon meeting so much so that it seeps from the pages, though they resist, each for their own reasons.
The story is equal parts heartbreaking and hopeful as Sebastian learns how to connect with his emotions again and Heather learns that being a mother can be one component of many in her life instead of the only one. There’s the right amount the push/pull of two people fighting their attraction without it edging into over-much. The interactions between the couple alternate between sexy and emotional and the side characters of Sebastian’s family and Heather’s friends add depth and humor. Sprinkled throughout are scenes with Judy from the beginning which adds a dimension of interest as to why it’s there which, I believe will be added to as the plotline weaves through new couples.
Two separate stories: one is a standalone romance with a HEA while the other starts an ongoing adventure.
The main story is the romance between Heather and Sebastian, but first we meet Judy, a nine-year-old girl with a powerful father who is determined to unearth the secrets of her father’s relatives for her school’s family tree project. These chapters are few, and aren’t directly connected to the romance, but hints are given as to how the two stories connect and it’s clearly set up for future books to explore Judy’s family tree and how that relates to the couples being matched up. In this book, the two story threads never cross paths.
Heather adopted her dying best friend’s baby and is wholly devoted to her daughter. Sebastian is on the other end of family happiness, having lost his pregnant wife years before. Finding the missing toy belonging to Heather’s daughter, and his undeniable attraction to Heather, finally forces him to deal with his grief and the prospect of moving on. We also get to know the entire Romano family as Sebastian and his brothers run their hugely successful chain of takeover-the-town big-box stores.
This was a lovely story, filled with honest emotions, strong family ties, and enough heat to make your kindle sweat. I really enjoyed the way the author had the characters openly examining all the parts of their arguments, realizing that there are better ways to communicate more effectively. I was invested in these characters right from the start, and I highly recommend this book. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
I love stories about families and their mysteries! This is the first book in a series. The Corisi family has secrets and nine year old Judy is relentless in her determination to uncover the truth.
In the meantime, a young single mom has a dilemma. Ava her four year old daughter accidentally let go of her stuffed “Wolfie” and he flew out the car window. Now, no matter how much she has retraced their steps, she cannot find him. Ava is adopted and Wolfie is her dear companion. Without him all Ava wants to do is cry. What is a mother to do? Well, placing an ad on social media is one way to enlist the help of friends and try to retrieve this stolen treasure.
Sebastian Romano is the head of his family grocery business. An empire for sure. Losing his wife and daughter in accident five years ago still has him withdrawn from the world in general. Business is the only language he speaks now. Finding a derelict stuffed toy while he is surveying a piece of land he wants to buy brings back memories of his lost family. Little does he know this toy is his link to changes he never imagined.
This is an endearing and tender story of love, loss, and hope. The meaning of family and the support our love ones provide makes this one of the dearest stories I have read this year.
I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the author for sharing a copy with me.
Awesome beginning to a new series!! I LOVE children in romances and it was great meeting Judy, Grace, Ava, Charlotte, Tyler & Kevin. All were a great contribution to the story. Sebastian had me wanting to hug him at times and I was swooning at other times. Heather is such a great character I wanted to be like her. She is a strong, independent woman trying to make it as a single mother. I loved her outlook on life and her positive attitude and confidence even when she wasn’t sure of herself. This story was, heartbreaking, exciting, sweet and funny. I LOL’d quite a few times throughout.
Yes, yes, yes! Another new to me author! A new person to stalk!
This is the first book by this author that I have read and I am going to be looking for more!
This story of Sebastian and Heather is fantastic!
A lost stuffed animal and destiny at it’s finest. This story is heartbreaking, it’s hopeful and with a dash of humor, it’s going to give you all the feels!
I loved the bit of mystery with the alternate POV’s, it’s making me crave more from this series.
Heather is smart, independent and a bit quirky, just what I like in a heroine. She is a single mom and she takes her job very seriously. I admired how she spoke her mind, and wouldn’t put up with any bad behavior from Sebastian.
Sebastian is a scarred fella. He has been dealt with heartbreak of an unimaginable level and has tried to make his way forward the best way he can. His family is trying to help him, but he needs the love of a good woman.
The mystery is intriguing and kept me guessing, I can’t wait to find out more clues in the next stories in this series.
Now I can honestly say this can be read as a standalone because I have never read Ms. Cardello’s stories before and this story grabbed me from the get-go and didn’t let me go until the end and I want more!
I loved this story – it was like two stories in one.
The beginning is Judy Corisi, daughter of Dominic and Abby Corisi (from Maid for the Billionaire) looking into her family tree. Not sure yet how this connects to the other story but I think eventually, we will find out.
Heather is a single other to Ava, who just lost her stuffed animal Wolfie. Heather posts a reward for anyone who finds her daughters favorite stuffed animal.
Sebastian Romano, hard, closed off business man is just the one to stumble across wolfie. Persuaded to bring the stuffed animal back to it’s original owners has Sebastian starting to question himself. Questioning how he became the cold, calculating man he is today.
With his family meddling and Heather calling him on his BS he starts to make changes. Can Sebastian be the man Heather and Ava need in their lives? Definitely one-click this second chance romance.
* A review copy was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley *
The Broken One is the first book by Ruth Cardello that I have read. This author and book were recommended to me and I am glad I took a chance on a new to me author. I thought this book was very enjoyable and entertaining to read.
I thought the concept of this book was an interesting one in that it was like we got a story within a story. You’ll understand it more once you read this book. I don’t want to give anything away. I will be honest, I didn’t really see the point of having Judy’s story in this one at times, but I am sure that will all become clear as this series releases each book.
In The Broken One, the main story is between Sebastian and Heather and her daughter Ava. This is a story about healing and learning to love again. Yes the main person who is the broken one is Sebastian, but I thought Heather was a little broken too. I thought they were good for each other and little Ava helped open Sebastian’s heart again.
Like I said Sebastian and Heather’s story is a romance story built around chance/fate. Heather is a single mother to her adopted daughter Ava. Ava has a stuffed animal named Wolfie, who she lost along the road. Desperate to find Wolfie for Ava, Heather puts out a message on social media…..Little did she know who would show up on her doorstep with Wolfie in hand. Sebastian is a broken man after tragically losing his wife and unborn child in an accident. He has been unable to move on and forgive himself for not being there for his dead wife. Little did he know how his world would change by bringing home a stuffed animal he found on the road. Can they get passed the past?? Will Heather be able to see passed Sebastian rough exterior?? Can they get their HEA?? Read this book to find out.
I have to give Heather a lot of props…she was a slightly broken woman, who has endured loss in her past, but still comes out strong. She was a strong, independent and fierce woman, who said it like it was. I loved that she put Sebastian in his place, but she definitely put up with a lot of his stuff. I would’ve kicked him to the curb long before he could’ve changed his behavior.. I was glad to see him grow as a person as the story played out. I truly thought Heather, Ava and Sebastian were good for each other. I hope we get to watch their relationship blossom even more in the other books in this series.
I loved getting to know Sebastian’s family. I loved his parents, and I can’t wait to read his brother’s books in the future.
I would for sure recommend this book to romance readers. If you like a story about a second chance at love and learning how to heal and move forward with your life, then this is the story for you.
This is a great story. It’s a new series start for Ruth Cardello with cameos of the Corisi family. It starts with the Judy Corisi trying to perfect a surprise for her dad Dominic. Then it cuts away to Sabastian and Heather. Heather’s daughter has lost her beloved stuffed wolf Wolfie. Sabastian happens upon it in a parking lot and intends to throw it away. His mother sees it in his office, she had seen the story of Wolfie on the internet and makes Sabastian return it in person. Sabastian is still mourning the death of his wife and son and has no intentions besides delivering it and walking away. Well, you’ll just have to read it to find out what happens. I loved this story. It grabbed me and held me until I finished. It can be read as a stand-alone but you’d be missing some of the backstory. I highly recommend this book. It’s awesome
And the legacy continues …
The Corisi adventures began with a domineering rogue and his surprise Cinderella. To be perfectly honest Dominic and Abby were the start of my love affair with author Ruth Cardello. Six years later and numerous favorites more and my heart still belongs to this unforgettable couple. The Broken One allowed me to revisit a few of my favorite characters, while introducing a new generation and reacquainting hearts with a few overlooked facts. This time around it’s Sebastian and Heather who have hearts skipping a beat. These strangers are the key to unraveling an emotion packed past and the start of a long overdo healing process. With a captivating backstory, a heartstopping romance and a crew of adorable matchmakers, Cardello reminds me why I continue to adore her talent now and hopefully years into the future.