Thrown together by fate and friends, a bad boy tattoo artist and down on her luck waitress are about to find that opposites really do attract in the follow-up to Scarlett Cole’s The Strongest Steel. All things, when placed under pressure, eventually break or leave a mark. Tattoo artist Brody “Cujo” Matthews knows how to keep things simple. Tattoos, a good time with friends–and steer clear of … friends–and steer clear of relationships.Abandoned as a child by a mother who refused to stick around to raise three boys she didn’t want, he has no interest in getting involved with complicated women. That all changes when he’s asked to help organize his best friend Trent’s engagement party, which means working with Trent’s fiancée’s best friend, Drea, the definition of high maintenance and sizzling curves. And the one woman he doesn’t want to walk away from.
Andrea “Drea” Caron is broke and tired. After years of caring for her ailing mom, she’s at the end of her rope trying to manage the piling medical bills, two jobs, and a life placed on hold. She certainly doesn’t need the added frustration of a sexy playboy tattoo artist messing up her best friend’s engagement party or her carefully balanced life. But when Drea witnesses the abduction of a woman from the café she works at, she can’t help but turn to the sexy, inked Cujo, who’s determined to prove to Drea that he’s someone she can count on forever. But as they attempt to bring the truth to light, someone is working to bring that forever to a sudden, deadly halt.
The Fractured Heart is a full-length romance in the Second Circle Tattoos series that can be read as a standalone!
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Luvd it so much.
This book is the second in the series and it was brilliant. I just luvd everything about it. I was dying to know what was goin happen with Drea and Cujo. There were at each others throat from the very start and just couldn’t stop but after spending a lil time together things started to changed. They both found each other very attractive but they just didn’t know each others history and why they had walls built up so high.
Cujo is super sexy I really like. This guy as seen and been through so much at a young age. But he as a great family around him that was all he needed. Relationships were not in his list neither were kids. He had his life sorted he had a job he luvd was in business with his brothers and had woman when he wanted them life was good. Until Drea started getting under his skin and got to know why she was so strong minded. But he couldnt do a relationship with her it wouldn’t be fair well that’s what he thought.
Drea is goin through so much herself she has 2 jobs helps look after her mum and runs the house. So there isn’t much time left for Drea to get much time to herself. Her life as been on hold for so long so doesn’t even know what she likes. But one thing she does like and that’s Cujo even though they can’t stop fighting over everything there is just something that is pulling her to him.
This story was addictive once I started I couldn’t put it down. There was so much I needed to know. Drea got themselves in some crazy shit. I was worried throughout the whole book about her I just knew something was goin to happen I just didn’t know when. This author is really becoming one of my favourites and I ve only read 2 of her books. I luv her writing I just get sucked in so quick. I also luv the characters and I m looking forward to more of these characters. I m really looking forward to Pixie and Dred’s story I just know that’s goin to be brilliant. I would highly recommend this book. I wish I had read it earlier I m just glad I finally got around to reading it.
Title: The Fractured Heart
Author: Scarlett Cole
Publisher: St. Martin’s Paperback
Edition: Edition
Amount of Pages: 283
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Adult
Date Read: 10-03-2019
Favorite Quote: “I don’t want a fling, Drea … When it gets hard, I want to be there for you … But that means you have to be there for me when I get hard.”
Review:
I really liked this book in the beginning. It started of great. It started off with a thrill, with some mystery and I was excited to see where it would go.
Sadly, for me, the mystery was a bit lack luster. There was allot of build up but it ended a bit quick and meh. Could be better.
I loved the chemistry between Brody, or Cujo as he goes by and Andrea or Drea. They had nice banter.
I really loved Cujo. He is a charming, nice guy.
Drea is admirable, she took care of her mother for years and it wasn’t easy for her. She worked her ass of and I really feel for her. However she got a bit annoying at times. I get she used to making decisions for herself and her mother but she took some really stupid ones.
If the mystery part was wrapped up a bit better, was explored a bit better then it could have been an amazing book.
Rating:
3 1/2 I liked it Stars
I enjoyed this book. It is the second in the Second Circle Tattoos series and it was lovely to meet another couple (Drea and Brody) and get to know their story.
Andrea “Drea” and Brody “Cujo” are working together to plan an engagement party for their best friends Harper and Trent (from book one of the series). Their perceptions of one another begin to change as they work together and begin to be attracted to rather than repelled by one another. Both Brody and Drea have had rough times and medical issues to deal with either in their own lives or the lives of those near to them. Into this mix add a crime, a mystery, some ups and downs in the relationship, someone vying with Brody for Drea’s attention, a missing mother showing up after years away and you have issues aplenty for the two of them to deal with.
Brody was a wonderful character though he did seem to make snap decisions sometimes and be a bit self-centered. Drea was a strong independent woman that did well as long as she had her days planned and had a schedule to follow but was at a loss when things changed. She also seemed a bit too eager to want to solve the mystery and at times took risks that were iffy at best. I liked Brody and Drea together, their love scenes were caring and steamy and I rooted for them to have their happily ever after. I did find the ending a bit abrupt and felt like there was a missing chapter that could have tied up loose ends before the epilogue.
Thank you to NetGalley and Saint Martin’s Press for the copy of this book to read and review.
Thrown together to plan an engagement party for their best friends, Cujo (Brody) and Drea (Andrea) think they have each other all figured out. Slacker tattooed player and sharp-tongued ball buster. They couldn’t be more wrong, and they couldn’t be more wrong for each other, until slowly they discover how right they can be together.
This book was full of so many twists and turns, all kinds of murder and mayhem surrounding Cujo and Drea as they explored their relationship and dealt with each of their own very messy family issues. It sounds like a disaster, but Cujo and Drea’s romance keeps you grounded as the suspense swirls around them. I loved it!
A sense of family
I started The Fractured Heart straight after I finished Trent and Harper’s story The Strongest Steel – and this was a book I could hardly put down. Andrea ‘Drea’ Caron and Brody ‘Cujo’ Matthews first meet when their best friends Harper and Trent start dating. And it’s clear from the very beginning that they don’t see eye to eye. But over the course of their story, the differences between Drea and Cujo are what endears them to each other, the chemistry between the two of them is smoking hot, and they discover that family isn’t just the people you’re related to.
Scarlett has written a fantastic story that has loads of drama, twists and turns – some so surprising that my jaw dropped! – and some swoon-worthy romance that will make you want Brody for yourself I was kept engaged with both the plot and the fabulous character development. I fell in love with Brody and Drea, and my heart broke when we discovered what each of them had been through. But don’t think it’s all serious, both characters provide plenty of laughs..
“He felt a level of comfort he hadn’t been able to achieve at the gym despite busting his ass by simply decorating a fucking cupcake. Someone should take away his man-card because he sure as fuck didn’t deserve it right now.”
…and I especially enjoyed the beautiful bromance between Brody and Trent
We also learn a little more about Trent and Harper who I just adore, plus get plenty of hints regarding the next book in the Second Circle Tattoos series (Dred and Pixie – bring it on!!)
Brody Matthews manages to catch the eye of every women he comes into contact with, and has never had any trouble convincing them to help warm up his bed for the night. He is a self proclaimed eternal bachelor that isn’t shy about making it known that he has no intention of ever doing long term with anyone or letting any woman close enough to penetrate the wall around his heart. So, when he crosses paths with the beautiful, and feisty Drea Caron, and she gives him the cold shoulder he is left wondering where he went wrong. He likes her and would love nothing more than to get her in his bed, but she isn’t interested in falling prey to his charming bad boy ways …
Drea Caron has endured more in her young life than most would ever dream of living through, and has had to give up on her own dreams to care for her ailing mother. Working two jobs and caring for her mother’s needs leaves very little time for her to have a personal life, so she has given up hope on even having the opportunity to have one. And even if the opportunity did present itself, she’s not so sure she’d even want anything to do with it, especially after being abandoned by her father, and watching her mother suffer the effects of being discarded by her spouse. The idea that a relationship may have this type of ending leaves her wanting to remain single…that is until she starts working alongside Mr. Brody Matthews!
I have been anxiously awaiting for my opportunity return to this series!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the first installment in the series and have been excited to see what Ms. Cole had in store next for these wonderfully crafted characters. And I have to say it was totally worth the wait, she completely exceeded my expectations and once again provided me with one VERY exceptional reading escape. Drea and Brody’s story was so amazing, and has been lingering with me all day!!!
I highly recommend you add this series to the top of your reading list, it is sure to satisfy all of your reading needs and then some… and Brody is sure to have you swooning the whole way through!