Book Review – Broken by Megan Hart

Broken
*clutching my heart* Ohhhh WOW!!!!! Yep there is no other way to exclaim my excitement over this one. This book turned my world upside down, and made me ride it that way, all the way to the end. I went in smug that I’d probably remain unaffected by the obvious erotic storyline, yet came out electrified, alive and buzzing with a need for MORE. But it’s not for the reason you’re thinking. Nope. Nuh uh. I realized this was going to be unputdownable very shortly into the storyline, when something made me gasp out loud and say “OH NO WAY!!!” (to my husband and all of my fellow Facebook readers).

I had just started the book, but I knew I had to share it with you guys ASAP:

“Maryse’s Book Blog: Ok I just started Broken. I’ve already swooned, fallen, and experienced a huge shock. I think I already have a feeling I know where this is going, and I will admit, I’m a bit scared… But I can’t stop reading.”

I went into this one having NO CLUE about the premise of the book (other than what was in the “product description” basically letting us know that the heroine was  infatuated with some sort of friend/womanizer that loved to tell her about his “sexcapades”).

He left out not even the smallest detail of sensation. He’d enthralled me, bound me with his words.

I expected the story to go a certain way. In fact, when I started getting many recommendations for me to read it (even more than with her book, “Dirty”) I checked it out.

Tracy: Broken by Megan Hart.  I don’t even know where to begin.  This is just an amazing book….it stays with you!  Has anyone read Megan Hart?

Chris: OK….the book I want you to read next is ….BROKEN!  This book is super intense and will make you cry but it was soooo good.

I had seen it in the past, when I was on a quest for the next big read, and noticed the high number of 5 star reviews for this book. I read the synopsis and thought it would be… well. Just super-sexy erotica. I knew I wanted to read it (I mean, that many raves for a book can’t be wrong) but I simply set it aside in my wish list and continued to look for something deeper. HA! THIS was what I had been looking for all along.

And I only realized it might be, when I read “Dirty“. After that book, I knew that the author had a certain writing style, an emotional, conflicted, realistic yet seriously troubled look into life, love and changes, and I knew this was more than just the “candy” that appeared in the excerpt.

And when I brought this book up to fellow readers (and my early emotional reaction to it),

“Maryse’s Book Blog: I’m in 60-something percent and I love this book sooooo much. Oh my god, I can’t believe how I can’t put it down, and how stressed I am reading it and how magically the author is telling this crazy but realistic tale. I just reached an infuriating part. Ugh! stupid ***! I’m so sad for every moment of her…. This will be in my top list I’m sure of it!”

the response was enormous!

Lauren: It’s the best/worst book ever! I’ve never cried so much reading a book in my life.

Christy: OMG!! I am sooooo glad you are reading this!! It was my first book of hers & got me addicted to her style. But this book just shocked me & broke my heart. Loved it!!

Maryse’s Book Blog: I think you guys are trying to kill me!

Kari: I read this and its really good!

Jenny: You’re making me nervous Maryse! Started Dirty this morning

Barb: I stayed up all night last night reading it. Wowza… Amazing, beautiful book.

Tonya: I’m 50% into Broken. I want to keep going, but I HAVE to get to bed. I’m getting anxious about what’s going to happen????

Christina: that book was just……wow.

Sheila:That book was great!

Chris: Megan Hart is amazing!!!! I knew u would love this book Maryse!

Crystal: I cried and smiled, wow, Broken was an amazing read.

I won’t even tell you what it’s about. I’m letting you go into this one blind, just like I did. Just wait until you get that warm fuzzy feeling, start falling… and then suddenly you get that “virtual” glass of ice water thrown in your face. The shock! There is a moment that will have you gaping, and then all the way throughout, you will be on the edge of your seat, sweating this whole situation with the heroine. Wondering, wishing, hoping, yet feeling completely devastated.

It’s a mess.

… when you’re mad, bad and dangerously in love, many things seems excusable that normally wouldn’t.

This author spins magic when she works a “love” angle, even if she only has a short chapter to make you feel it, and realize it’s happening. Because I FELT it. I was melting with the heroine (and not just where you think one would “melt”). There are unexpected surprises, little sweet and super tender moments, and then times when all of that “warm and fuzzy” is obliterated. And the author has a unique and clever way of handling both sides of the story. The “storytelling” if you will. I’ve never seen it done like this, before but wow, she’s gifted! I didn’t find myself skimming once, and the only reason I put this book down was to sleep (around 3am), and considering my “flu-ish” state I’m surprised I lasted that long. But this book had me adrenalized, and I fought my medicine-head tooth and nail.

“You know putting the onus of your happiness on someone isn’t healthy. But neither is refusing to allow someone to help you gain it.”

And as you read it, you’ll second guess everything. The choices, the soul-searching, how “things” are handled. As you watch this potential train-wreck play out, and you’ll probably cry. A few times. Happy tears or sad tears, I won’t tell you, but just know that while I had a hard time connecting to the heroine in Dirty, I had NO problem connecting to Sadie in this one.

The mirror tried catching my attention, but I ignored it. I no longer knew the woman who lived in there.

And when I finished, I was almost speechless but felt the need to say:

Maryse’s Book Blog: Done. Fan-freakin-tastic!

SO that’s all I’m telling you. Easily a FIVE star read for me, and it WILL make my best of 2012 list for sure. I know it. THIS is the kind of story that stays with you forever. Romance, sure, but… different. Now I’m onto my next Megan Hart! I know, I know, I have two unfinished books to read (that I was enjoying, plenty), but I’m stuck in this author’s world, and I’m not ready to leave it, just yet.

(BTW: read Dirty first, because this book occurs a year after Dirty, and Elle, the heroine in “Dirty” appears frequently in this one).

5 stars!

Interested in the series? Check out the reading order guide!