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Broken #2
Beautiful Broken Mess
Jace Riley and Audrey Mills had a tender and irresistibly passionate romance…until Audrey shattered his heart. Years later, she still can’t stop thinking about him. They shared kisses that she’ll never forget, and one brief, explosive encounter that she wishes she could. But no boy could rescue Audrey from her nightmarish home life, so she rescued herself, got through college and got into graduate school…only to find herself at the same school as Jace and his identical twin brother, Jaxon, who has his own complicated history with her.
It takes only one glimpse of Audrey’s long legs and brown eyes for Jace to ache for her once more. Yet he’s determined not to fall for her again. She ripped apart his heart and betrayed his brother…or so he thought. But what if Jace made a terrible mistake about Audrey? And what if he has one last chance to fix it?
Revised edition: This edition of Beautiful Broken Mess includes editorial revisions.
303 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
About the author
Kimberly Lauren
7 books2,437 followersFind me on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyLaur...
Kimberly Lauren is the bestselling author of Beautiful Broken Rules, Beautiful Broken Mess and Beautiful Broken Promises. Kimberly currently lives in Texas with her husband, two sons and their three dogs. She is a wanderer, an adventurer, and a traveler. She hasn’t seen it all but it’s on her list. Lately, if she’s not traveling or chasing a toddler she gets some time to write a book.
Kimberly Lauren is the bestselling author of Beautiful Broken Rules, Beautiful Broken Mess and Beautiful Broken Promises. Kimberly currently lives in Texas with her husband, two sons and their three dogs. She is a wanderer, an adventurer, and a traveler. She hasn’t seen it all but it’s on her list. Lately, if she’s not traveling or chasing a toddler she gets some time to write a book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 765 reviews
September 19, 2017
4-4.5 Beautifully Broken Stars!
Beautiful Broken Mess is Audrey and Jace’s story. As much as I loved Beautiful Broken Rules, Jace has been my favorite twin from the start. I just love him. Although this book, as a whole, wasn’t quite as good as the first for me, it was still a solid 4-4.5 star read!
Audrey’s life has been anything but easy. She had spent years with abusive parents and had some terrible things happen to her. In the thick of all the messed up areas of her life, she meets someone who changes her forever. Jace Riley. Jace is sweet to Audrey. Treats her like no one ever has. She is completely taken by him from the beginning. He makes her feel like no one ever has. From their first meeting, their first kiss, she is a goner.
Then things get really messed up. Misunderstandings and mistakes from both of them complicate and screw up everything for them.
Fast forward a few years... Audrey and her best friend Lane are starting graduate school. At the same school Jace and Jaxon attend. After some drama and angst, Jace and Audrey realize after all these years, they still want each other. But it’s still so complicated.
Jace and Audrey’s journey is a difficult one. It’s emotional, full of angst, and will break your heart at times. I’ve always loved Jace. There is something about this guy. He is hot, charming, sexy, tattooed and just a genuine person. When I first met Audrey in BBR, I hated her. I applaud the author for taking a character I really disliked, and making me love her. I really thought it would take time to get me to like her, but I loved her pretty much off the bat. Audrey had so much strength. She had been through so much, but never gave up. A very admirable heroine. I love how patient she was with Jace, understanding of his relationship with his brother and how he wanted to handle things.
I’m not going to lie, Jace isn’t perfect. He screws up in the book, but lets face it- these are some pretty intense circumstances so I think it’s okay to give the guy a break. He’s still my favorite of the series, even if he did mess up a bit. This is Jace and Audrey’s book, but we still get a lot of Emerson, Jaxon, Cole, Quinn, and we get introduced to a new character. Audrey’s best friend Lane. Mmm Mmm Lane. I really liked him. And I hear he’s getting his own book. That makes me really excited!
I adore these characters and this series. These are some great NA reads. The epilogue was amazing. The story, though a little heavy on the angst and drama, was still beautiful, passionate, steamy, heartfelt and emotional. I love this author’s voice. Her writing just flows. A very entertaining read!
**ARC kindly provided by author, Kimberly Lauren, in exchange for an honest review**
Beautiful Broken Mess is Audrey and Jace’s story. As much as I loved Beautiful Broken Rules, Jace has been my favorite twin from the start. I just love him. Although this book, as a whole, wasn’t quite as good as the first for me, it was still a solid 4-4.5 star read!
Audrey’s life has been anything but easy. She had spent years with abusive parents and had some terrible things happen to her. In the thick of all the messed up areas of her life, she meets someone who changes her forever. Jace Riley. Jace is sweet to Audrey. Treats her like no one ever has. She is completely taken by him from the beginning. He makes her feel like no one ever has. From their first meeting, their first kiss, she is a goner.
I can’t even call that a kiss because it was on a whole other level. He made me forget about everything... where I was, where I’m from, and even where he’s from. It was just my lips and his, dueling for more.
Then things get really messed up. Misunderstandings and mistakes from both of them complicate and screw up everything for them.
Fast forward a few years... Audrey and her best friend Lane are starting graduate school. At the same school Jace and Jaxon attend. After some drama and angst, Jace and Audrey realize after all these years, they still want each other. But it’s still so complicated.
Jace and Audrey’s journey is a difficult one. It’s emotional, full of angst, and will break your heart at times. I’ve always loved Jace. There is something about this guy. He is hot, charming, sexy, tattooed and just a genuine person. When I first met Audrey in BBR, I hated her. I applaud the author for taking a character I really disliked, and making me love her. I really thought it would take time to get me to like her, but I loved her pretty much off the bat. Audrey had so much strength. She had been through so much, but never gave up. A very admirable heroine. I love how patient she was with Jace, understanding of his relationship with his brother and how he wanted to handle things.
I’m not going to lie, Jace isn’t perfect. He screws up in the book, but lets face it- these are some pretty intense circumstances so I think it’s okay to give the guy a break. He’s still my favorite of the series, even if he did mess up a bit. This is Jace and Audrey’s book, but we still get a lot of Emerson, Jaxon, Cole, Quinn, and we get introduced to a new character. Audrey’s best friend Lane. Mmm Mmm Lane. I really liked him. And I hear he’s getting his own book. That makes me really excited!
I adore these characters and this series. These are some great NA reads. The epilogue was amazing. The story, though a little heavy on the angst and drama, was still beautiful, passionate, steamy, heartfelt and emotional. I love this author’s voice. Her writing just flows. A very entertaining read!
Lucky to have found you.
Blessed to have you.
**ARC kindly provided by author, Kimberly Lauren, in exchange for an honest review**
September 2, 2016
4 beautifully broken Stars
There are many words I could use to describe Beautiful Broken Mess (BBM), such as: avoidance, miscommunication, secrets, immaturity, frustration, angst!
The main theme of the BBM is ---- > Lack of communication.
I want to say is that I LOVE Beautiful Broken Rules (BBR), like hard. I love Kimberly Lauren as an author. I love her writing style, I love the way she forms sentences and creates enjoyable dialogue and descriptive words. It’s one of the reasons why I rate her so high.
HOWEVER
I did not agree with the BBM storyline. I didn’t agree with the “issue(s)” and the characters.
Audrey is from BBR and if you don’t remember her, she had a brief introduction as Jaxon’s ex-girlfriend, and she was not painted in the best light, but I didn’t really remember her, so that didn’t bother me. Jace can’t date a girl his brother has dated (some sort of bro-code). Jace pushes Audrey away. At the same time Audrey is dealing with past issues and hurt feelings.
BBM is very dramatic, it’s not the light hearted read I was familiar with from BBR. That’s okay, I love dramatic reads, so when I read the first two chapters and I was hit with a pow-wow in my face, I was really happy! I was grinning from ear to ear. I wanted to read about a dramatic, damaged Heroine. Please Jace come recues Audrey! BUT - > From chapter 3, everything shifts.
I did not find redeeming qualities in either main character. Another shocking factor is that BBM kind of showed me something about Jaxon and that kind of upset me too. I had a version of Jax in my head and after I read BBM, I now think of him differently and I do not like it.
To point out the positives, I LOVE EMERSON! I loved her from BBR and oh boy, I loved her in BBM. Thank god for that.
Also, BBM is a lot steamer! Oh hello, thank you. I really did think BBR was a bit tame, but it didn’t take away from the story line. I really enjoyed the extra steam in BBM, although the hint dominance in Jace was slightly off-putting. Again, I didn’t get it, but I kind of just kept on reading.
From there we get to know Audrey and kind of get her side of the story (sort of). I do not like angsty reads, so I can tell you, this will be a hit with a lot of people. I understand I am not the norm. It’s very rare when I love an angsty read. My definition of an angsty read is a struggle between the Hero and Heroine throughout the entire book, based on one or many issues (mostly miscommunication) that (in my opinion) can be easily resolved by a conversation.
I do not understand Audrey, nor do I sympathize what she went through. When she told me why she is the way she is, I see it, I process it, but that doesn’t really explain her actions (again, my personal opinion). She also has a best friend, Lane, who I didn’t care for. Don’t get me wrong, I love the guy best-friend/brother type, but I just didn’t feel it in BBM and I don’t know why. Yes, Lane is sweet and yes it added value to the read, but again, I do not get it.
Now there’s Jace. So as Audrey goes through her crap, we get to understand why Jace is so upset and yes, he lives in his brother’s shadow, yes he cares what people think, but come on, Jace, I wanted to reach through the pages and just SLAP HIM! Oh I was frustrated. I was beyond irritated with his reasoning and verbal abuse.
I struggled most with why Audrey and Jace could not work it out. Audrey would try to open up, but then she would shut down and tell Jace, she just can’t tell him anymore. Oh my god, are you serious?! Just when I thought they get past a silly little issue, there is another silly issue to overcome. Okay, no, it wasn’t silly nor little, to me the issue just didn’t seem like it was enough to warrant that much tension. I wanted to scream at them to just talk it out!
I understand this is a slightly less than glowing review and honestly BBM isn’t bad, it’s written very well. I see writing and story line as two different things. When I look at the development of characters, conversation flow and narrative tone, it’s a hit for me. I was never bored. Again, I love Kimberly’s writing. I had a huge issue with the story. Frankly the story didn’t fit my personality nor taste preference.
BBM will be a hit for a lot of readers. I know plenty of people who love this type of read. I am disappointed it wasn’t a hit for me, but I still love Kimberly’s writing and I’m still a major fan.
AN ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review
Series Order
REVIEW | AMAZON
AMAZON
Read
November 13, 2013 TWO OR FIVE STARS?
I'll be brief and explain my discombobulated self. Feel free to pop open the spoiler alerts since they're not really spoilers. I just felt like doing them.
Good writing style?
Good dialogue among characters?
Good book premise?
Good presentation of characters' issues?
Good angst?
Good sequence of events?
Good connection with characters?
Speed round
Would I recommend?
Would I re-read?
Chocolate or tissues while reading?
Peace out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I guess if you asked me what my overall reaction was, it'd be this:
Don't get me wrong, I TOTALLY love the dialogue and the writing style, but....*scratches head*
The beginning? I knew I was in for some serious angst because of the timeframe and what I could foreshadow happening so my reaction was:
Then it got.... interesting. I know this one scene had me doing this:
Then my emotions were everywhere. I was happy squeeeeeeing, then tearing my hair out from frustration, then crying a little, then I wanted to pick up a brick and go WHAM on my iPad. Repeat the cycle 10 times. I'm NOT pregnant okay? This is just what this book did to me. I have a migraine.
ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review
I'll be brief and explain my discombobulated self. Feel free to pop open the spoiler alerts since they're not really spoilers. I just felt like doing them.
Good writing style?
Good dialogue among characters?
Good book premise?
Good presentation of characters' issues?
Good angst?
Good sequence of events?
Good connection with characters?
Speed round
Would I recommend?
Would I re-read?
Chocolate or tissues while reading?
Peace out.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I guess if you asked me what my overall reaction was, it'd be this:
Don't get me wrong, I TOTALLY love the dialogue and the writing style, but....*scratches head*
The beginning? I knew I was in for some serious angst because of the timeframe and what I could foreshadow happening so my reaction was:
Then it got.... interesting. I know this one scene had me doing this:
Then my emotions were everywhere. I was happy squeeeeeeing, then tearing my hair out from frustration, then crying a little, then I wanted to pick up a brick and go WHAM on my iPad. Repeat the cycle 10 times. I'm NOT pregnant okay? This is just what this book did to me. I have a migraine.
ARC kindly provided by author in exchange for an honest review
November 12, 2013
Solid 4--Better than the first book--Stars!!!!
Note: I did NOT do a re-read of BBR prior to starting BBM and I really didn't feel lost or anything. In BBM we get a look at how Jace and Audrey met and what happened between Audrey, Jace and Jax. Once I started reading I remembered a lot more from BBR.
I think the thing that made this book stand out from BBR was that BBM was written in dual POV.
I really fell in love with Jace in this book.
BBM picks up pretty much right where BBR left off. Em is back from Africa and she and Jax are 100% on. We find out how Audrey, Jax and Jace met...as well as a closer look at Audrey's visit to Jace and Jax. My heart really broke for Audrey and what she had to go through in her past.
Audrey ends up getting accepted to grad school where Jax and Jace and the gang all go. I was worried going in to this book after all of the chatter about it being really angsty. But I guess I didn't find it to be all that bad. Or at least not the type of angst I was expecting.
I loved that once Jace realized that Audrey was back, their feelings for each other were just as present as when they first met. There wasn't a lot of juvenile drama surrounding them getting back together. Jace and Jax find out the truth about what happened all of those years ago and I was so sad for what Audrey had to go through all on her own.
We are introduced to Lane, who is Audrey's only "family". I loved how protective Lane was of Audrey. He was a mysterious character so I am looking forward to learning more about him in the next book.
The conflict that did occur wasn't drawn out and over dramatized. But Jace....seriously
Not cool. The gang really stuck by Audrey though when she needed someone the most...it just took Jace a little longer to accept everything that had happened.
I thought the ending was a bit cheesy and packaged a little too neatly. But there was a nice epilogue to finish Jace and Audrey's story off.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. It had some LOL moments, some sweet moments, some sad moments and several super sexy moments. If you were a fan of BBR, then I would definitely recommend reading Jace's story!!
Note: I did NOT do a re-read of BBR prior to starting BBM and I really didn't feel lost or anything. In BBM we get a look at how Jace and Audrey met and what happened between Audrey, Jace and Jax. Once I started reading I remembered a lot more from BBR.
I think the thing that made this book stand out from BBR was that BBM was written in dual POV.
I really fell in love with Jace in this book.
BBM picks up pretty much right where BBR left off. Em is back from Africa and she and Jax are 100% on. We find out how Audrey, Jax and Jace met...as well as a closer look at Audrey's visit to Jace and Jax. My heart really broke for Audrey and what she had to go through in her past.
Audrey ends up getting accepted to grad school where Jax and Jace and the gang all go. I was worried going in to this book after all of the chatter about it being really angsty. But I guess I didn't find it to be all that bad. Or at least not the type of angst I was expecting.
I loved that once Jace realized that Audrey was back, their feelings for each other were just as present as when they first met. There wasn't a lot of juvenile drama surrounding them getting back together. Jace and Jax find out the truth about what happened all of those years ago and I was so sad for what Audrey had to go through all on her own.
We are introduced to Lane, who is Audrey's only "family". I loved how protective Lane was of Audrey. He was a mysterious character so I am looking forward to learning more about him in the next book.
The conflict that did occur wasn't drawn out and over dramatized. But Jace....seriously
Not cool. The gang really stuck by Audrey though when she needed someone the most...it just took Jace a little longer to accept everything that had happened.
I thought the ending was a bit cheesy and packaged a little too neatly. But there was a nice epilogue to finish Jace and Audrey's story off.
Overall, I really enjoyed this read. It had some LOL moments, some sweet moments, some sad moments and several super sexy moments. If you were a fan of BBR, then I would definitely recommend reading Jace's story!!
March 11, 2015
IT"S LIVE on Amazon, BN & Kobo!! <3
November 3, 2018
*** 99c ***
4.5 Stars (Re-Read 8/1/2017)
5 Stars (First Read 11/21/2015)
I am always intrigued when the character no one really liked in previous books gets their own, and I almost always end up loving them! And this was no exception. This quote right here sums up how I feel about these types of books...
It's so unbelievably true and I loved the way the author handled it. Here are a few of the other things that I LOVED...
- The setup -
I'm glad we got to see all the interactions between the MCs (first meeting, fallout, reconciliation, etc.) In second chance stories, I don't like it when how they met and how it went to shit is just relayed as a story from MC to random person... I want the FEELINGS! So yeah I was very pleased :)
- The secondary characters -
Particularly Jax and Jace's mom. I loved the way she treated and respected her sons, it was so nice to read about a parent who trusted their kid's decisions and stood by them!
And Lane! I loved seeing Audrey have a male best friend and there be no weirdness between them, because IT CAN HAPPEN! ;) He was also pretty funny...
[after Audrey walks out in just her underwear and bra]
It's so random, but I was really happy to see something in this epilogue that is almost always left out of others.
- Jace -
He was a dope at times, but that's what pain does to a person. I did find myself slightly more frustrated with him this time around, not necessarily for the mistakes he made as a teen, but for something that happened later in the novel. This is where the 0.5 deduction, however stupid, came from. *Significant spoiler*
But before that I really loved Jace because even though he was hesitant, once he made a decision about Audrey, he stuck to it! He pursued her, admitted his mistakes, and genuinely cared for her (even before he knew everything). It was like he knew deep down that she wasn't the person everyone thought she was, even if he couldn't explain why. I just loved how he loved her.
This is last, but certainly not least, because man I freaking loved her. I might have more of a crush on her than I do on Jace (I do). This author really knows how to write amazing heroines. They are strong and confident but aren't afraid to admit their flaws and when they are feeling weak. Audrey's fears of how she might be received or perceived never stopped her from doing anything and I really admired that. She never tried to play the victim, even though clearly she was one on many occasions, she dealt with things and then got back up like it hadn't happened. She wasn't going to let anything ruin her life. I could go on and on because I love her and she was a great character, but I think this quote pretty much sums up why I love her...
Closure:
4.5 Stars (Re-Read 8/1/2017)
5 Stars (First Read 11/21/2015)
I never ate an apple again.This is such a random line and you won't understand until you read the scene, but it broke my freaking heart. I knew the second I read those words that I would love Audrey. I was already pretty sure. This was me when I'd discovered that she'd be getting her own book...
I am always intrigued when the character no one really liked in previous books gets their own, and I almost always end up loving them! And this was no exception. This quote right here sums up how I feel about these types of books...
It's so unbelievably true and I loved the way the author handled it. Here are a few of the other things that I LOVED...
- The setup -
I'm glad we got to see all the interactions between the MCs (first meeting, fallout, reconciliation, etc.) In second chance stories, I don't like it when how they met and how it went to shit is just relayed as a story from MC to random person... I want the FEELINGS! So yeah I was very pleased :)
- The secondary characters -
Particularly Jax and Jace's mom. I loved the way she treated and respected her sons, it was so nice to read about a parent who trusted their kid's decisions and stood by them!
And Lane! I loved seeing Audrey have a male best friend and there be no weirdness between them, because IT CAN HAPPEN! ;) He was also pretty funny...
[after Audrey walks out in just her underwear and bra]
"Doll, you know I'm not your gay best friend, right?"- The epilogue -
It's so random, but I was really happy to see something in this epilogue that is almost always left out of others.
- Jace -
He was a dope at times, but that's what pain does to a person. I did find myself slightly more frustrated with him this time around, not necessarily for the mistakes he made as a teen, but for something that happened later in the novel. This is where the 0.5 deduction, however stupid, came from. *Significant spoiler*
But before that I really loved Jace because even though he was hesitant, once he made a decision about Audrey, he stuck to it! He pursued her, admitted his mistakes, and genuinely cared for her (even before he knew everything). It was like he knew deep down that she wasn't the person everyone thought she was, even if he couldn't explain why. I just loved how he loved her.
You ruined me, and I never want to be put back together.
"The journey was hard, yes, but falling in love with you was easy. I could never regret falling in love with you."
Audrey is my peace at the end of a hard day or my excitement at the end of a boring one.- AUDREY -
This is last, but certainly not least, because man I freaking loved her. I might have more of a crush on her than I do on Jace (I do). This author really knows how to write amazing heroines. They are strong and confident but aren't afraid to admit their flaws and when they are feeling weak. Audrey's fears of how she might be received or perceived never stopped her from doing anything and I really admired that. She never tried to play the victim, even though clearly she was one on many occasions, she dealt with things and then got back up like it hadn't happened. She wasn't going to let anything ruin her life. I could go on and on because I love her and she was a great character, but I think this quote pretty much sums up why I love her...
If she wants a bouquet of roses, she's sure as hell not going to wait for me to give it to her. She'll go out and plant her own fucking garden.Safety:
Closure:
Want to read
November 11, 2013 Woohooo!!! Jace's book has been released!!!
When life's always been a mess, can you still turn it into something beautiful?
Jace Riley’s close connection with his identical twin brother, Jaxon, is put to the test when he tries to choose between keeping his promises and following his heart. Is this girl that still haunts his dreams, even after four years, really worth it? Jace can’t help but wonder if he made a huge mistake all that time ago when he let her walk into someone else’s arms, especially since that someone was his twin.
Audrey Mills often wonders at what point she should throw her hands up in defeat and allow all of the horrible circumstances of her life to overtake her. Despite the demons she has faced, however, something inside her won’t give in. When she leaves her small town in Texas to attend college in California, Audrey runs into the one guy who could make her or break her. But is the past they share too painful for them to overcome?
*****************************
Book #1 BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES is one of my favorite New Adult bad boy romance standalones. Highly recommended!! Here's my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
When life's always been a mess, can you still turn it into something beautiful?
Jace Riley’s close connection with his identical twin brother, Jaxon, is put to the test when he tries to choose between keeping his promises and following his heart. Is this girl that still haunts his dreams, even after four years, really worth it? Jace can’t help but wonder if he made a huge mistake all that time ago when he let her walk into someone else’s arms, especially since that someone was his twin.
Audrey Mills often wonders at what point she should throw her hands up in defeat and allow all of the horrible circumstances of her life to overtake her. Despite the demons she has faced, however, something inside her won’t give in. When she leaves her small town in Texas to attend college in California, Audrey runs into the one guy who could make her or break her. But is the past they share too painful for them to overcome?
*****************************
Book #1 BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES is one of my favorite New Adult bad boy romance standalones. Highly recommended!! Here's my review: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
November 13, 2013
4.5 stars
“Lucky to have found you. Blessed to have you.”
Wow...what a ride- beautiful, broken and messy! I loved it!
This is the story of Jace and Audrey. We meet Jace in Beautiful Broken Rules. He is Jaxon’s sweet and charming twin brother. I was really excited to read about him. It is quite funny to be in his head.
We meet Audrey in the first book too but she is not the girl I thought. I didn’t like her then but her story is soooo sad...it broke my heart. Let’s just say that her life is more than hard- with a fucked up family and awful things happening to her. I didn’t expect it to be so heartbreaking. But she is a survivor. Yes, she has her fare share of mistakes but that only proves that she is only human.
Jace and Audrey’s love story is seriously messed up. They start with a HUGE misunderstanding followed by mistakes made by both of them. But sometimes admitting your feelings is not easy. Often you have to fight for the one you love. I liked that their story felt real. Both of them are not perfect and they will hurt each other (sometimes in a serious messed up way).
“I’d walk through the sadness and the loneliness all over again for you.”
Another character I loved was Lane! He is simply amazing- hot, funny, protective. I can’t wait for his story- Beautiful Broken Promises. I am sure it would be great.
““Doll, you know I’m not your gay best friend, right?”
“Lane, I’ve seen you with too many women to ever think that.”
“Just checking”, he smirks, while blatantly checking me out.”
Kimberly Lauren’s writing style is great! She keeps the story interesting and the characters she creates are absolutely wonderful. I love Jax, Em, Lane, Cole, Quinn, Jace and Audrey.
“Lucky to have found you. Blessed to have you.”
Wow...what a ride- beautiful, broken and messy! I loved it!
This is the story of Jace and Audrey. We meet Jace in Beautiful Broken Rules. He is Jaxon’s sweet and charming twin brother. I was really excited to read about him. It is quite funny to be in his head.
We meet Audrey in the first book too but she is not the girl I thought. I didn’t like her then but her story is soooo sad...it broke my heart. Let’s just say that her life is more than hard- with a fucked up family and awful things happening to her. I didn’t expect it to be so heartbreaking. But she is a survivor. Yes, she has her fare share of mistakes but that only proves that she is only human.
Jace and Audrey’s love story is seriously messed up. They start with a HUGE misunderstanding followed by mistakes made by both of them. But sometimes admitting your feelings is not easy. Often you have to fight for the one you love. I liked that their story felt real. Both of them are not perfect and they will hurt each other (sometimes in a serious messed up way).
“I’d walk through the sadness and the loneliness all over again for you.”
Another character I loved was Lane! He is simply amazing- hot, funny, protective. I can’t wait for his story- Beautiful Broken Promises. I am sure it would be great.
““Doll, you know I’m not your gay best friend, right?”
“Lane, I’ve seen you with too many women to ever think that.”
“Just checking”, he smirks, while blatantly checking me out.”
Kimberly Lauren’s writing style is great! She keeps the story interesting and the characters she creates are absolutely wonderful. I love Jax, Em, Lane, Cole, Quinn, Jace and Audrey.
August 3, 2014
3.5 Stars!!
Another exceptional novel delivered by Kimberly Lauren!
I love the authors writing, there is no doubt about that.. it was just maybe the story was lacking FOR ME.. because in my mind, I kept comparing it to BBR
I'd be lying if I told you I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one. Because the first one was better in so many aspects.. that whole book was properly dedicated to Emerson and Jaxon.. and it was like a proper college romance [which I totally swoon over]
While BBM is too spread-out.. I DID ENJOY THIS BOOK, but if compared to the first one.. I'd choose the first one hands down.
This book is about Jace and Audrey..
I want to hug him and I want to hit him. I hate that I still think about him. I mean, we met, we had coffee once, and we kissed twice. Why after three years do I still feel a connection with him?
but it included everyone else's story too.. I felt like the author should have given their story more priority than getting Em and everyone back in the picture [yes, it was kinda needed.. but the focus I felt was shifting..]
The thing that made this book stand out from BBR was that BBM was written in dual POV! :D [I love getting inside the guys head..]
While BBR was lighter this had more of an angst thing going on to it..
Their lives were a Mess... but the joint these broken pieces of their lives and made it work for them.. :))
**Thank you Kimberly for providing me with an ARC**
- - -
ANDDDDDD... NOW WE ARE GETTING A THIRD BOOK!!
And I'm dying to get my hands on it, because I know it will be mad!! :D
~~
Just got my ARC!! So excited for this book!!
Lucky to have found you.
Blessed to have you.
Another exceptional novel delivered by Kimberly Lauren!
I love the authors writing, there is no doubt about that.. it was just maybe the story was lacking FOR ME.. because in my mind, I kept comparing it to BBR
I'd be lying if I told you I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first one. Because the first one was better in so many aspects.. that whole book was properly dedicated to Emerson and Jaxon.. and it was like a proper college romance [which I totally swoon over]
While BBM is too spread-out.. I DID ENJOY THIS BOOK, but if compared to the first one.. I'd choose the first one hands down.
This book is about Jace and Audrey..
I want to hug him and I want to hit him. I hate that I still think about him. I mean, we met, we had coffee once, and we kissed twice. Why after three years do I still feel a connection with him?
but it included everyone else's story too.. I felt like the author should have given their story more priority than getting Em and everyone back in the picture [yes, it was kinda needed.. but the focus I felt was shifting..]
The thing that made this book stand out from BBR was that BBM was written in dual POV! :D [I love getting inside the guys head..]
"Call it the 'White Knight Syndrome', but there's just something about a beautiful damsel in distress, and I sure as hell want to be the one to save her."
While BBR was lighter this had more of an angst thing going on to it..
Their lives were a Mess... but the joint these broken pieces of their lives and made it work for them.. :))
Anytime the line ‘I love you’ comes across the screen, Jace clutches at his heart and sings to my soul.
**Thank you Kimberly for providing me with an ARC**
- - -
ANDDDDDD... NOW WE ARE GETTING A THIRD BOOK!!
And I'm dying to get my hands on it, because I know it will be mad!! :D
~~
Just got my ARC!! So excited for this book!!
November 22, 2013
i found jaCe.... <3
And i couldn't put it down, i was like this zombie girl for a day, but it was so worth it, i was a little worried as every one with the triangle thing, but My girl Nailed it ... and i cant wait for the third one.... these books are so good, if u want to argue with me, read it u would not be disappointed
And i couldn't put it down, i was like this zombie girl for a day, but it was so worth it, i was a little worried as every one with the triangle thing, but My girl Nailed it ... and i cant wait for the third one.... these books are so good, if u want to argue with me, read it u would not be disappointed
Shelved as '1st-tier-tbr'
October 15, 2013Jace's story?!!!!
And its expected for Fall/Winter of 2013?? Not that far off...
But now...the wait
*Fingers crossed for Fall 2013 release*
Please please please please please
And its expected for Fall/Winter of 2013?? Not that far off...
But now...the wait
*Fingers crossed for Fall 2013 release*
Please please please please please
October 9, 2019
Before I jump into this review, I have a confession to make: I could not finish the audiobook due to the narrator. I am pretty sure that it is the same woman who narrated Beautiful Broken Rules. The one that ruined my reading experience for the first book. Maybe I am too harsh, but her voice acting is really distracting. Not only did all her men sound like old Cajun women with laryngitis, but Audrey sounded like she really needed to spit. My hair is standing on end just thinking about listening to this audiobook with earbuds; the stringy-saliva sound was amplified. And for the ones that read my BBR review, Em's voice was still equivalent to nails on a chalkboard. I really don't recommend opting for the audio with this one guys. I quit listening about a third of the way in, and I didn't regret it at all.
Audrey Mills got a character makeover in this installment. The once bratty, wannabe home-wrecker has a difficult past. Who would have thought it? She tells us about her terribly abusive parents and wanting to escape immediately after her high school graduation. She was just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel when she met the Riley brothers.
Jace Riley had never been drawn to a girl in his life. After his father's passing, he had been too consumed by keeping his twin brother tamed than to try to start courting some girl. Yet Audrey was different. After he knocked her down on the street, he took her for coffee and invited her to Cole's party. He was prepared to take the leap of faith with this girl. It all gets shattered when he walks into the party to find Audrey kissing his brother Jaxon. But that is just the beginning of their story.
Audrey managed to escape after graduation just like she had planned. What she hadn't planned was wrecking her relationship with the Riley brothers - especially Jace. She is now in grad school and conveniently, or inconveniently, at the same school as them. Lane, her best friend, tries to get her to tell Jace and Jax the whole story. However, Audrey is tired of seeking them out only to have them toss her aside. If they truly cared, they would listen. Right?
Jace is beside himself when he realizes that Audrey is attending his school. They are like magnets that keep gravitating towards one another. As much as he wants her, she is still off limits. He doesn't want Jax's sloppy-seconds even if, technically, she was his first. There is just too much history there for them to start over. He just wishes it didn't hurt like hell.
I loved seeing this couple come together. Jace has always been my favorite twin from the beginning, and I was thrilled that he was getting his own book. I must say that I was surprised that Audrey was his love interest. I totally blame the author for that. She made us hate Audrey in BBR; I was wondering how she was going to redeem her character. Lauren was really able to revive her, but it didn't match up to the Audrey in the first book. It didn't feel cohesive to me. However, I did enjoy this one much better than the first.
4 stars!
Audrey Mills got a character makeover in this installment. The once bratty, wannabe home-wrecker has a difficult past. Who would have thought it? She tells us about her terribly abusive parents and wanting to escape immediately after her high school graduation. She was just starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel when she met the Riley brothers.
Jace Riley had never been drawn to a girl in his life. After his father's passing, he had been too consumed by keeping his twin brother tamed than to try to start courting some girl. Yet Audrey was different. After he knocked her down on the street, he took her for coffee and invited her to Cole's party. He was prepared to take the leap of faith with this girl. It all gets shattered when he walks into the party to find Audrey kissing his brother Jaxon. But that is just the beginning of their story.
Audrey managed to escape after graduation just like she had planned. What she hadn't planned was wrecking her relationship with the Riley brothers - especially Jace. She is now in grad school and conveniently, or inconveniently, at the same school as them. Lane, her best friend, tries to get her to tell Jace and Jax the whole story. However, Audrey is tired of seeking them out only to have them toss her aside. If they truly cared, they would listen. Right?
Jace is beside himself when he realizes that Audrey is attending his school. They are like magnets that keep gravitating towards one another. As much as he wants her, she is still off limits. He doesn't want Jax's sloppy-seconds even if, technically, she was his first. There is just too much history there for them to start over. He just wishes it didn't hurt like hell.
I loved seeing this couple come together. Jace has always been my favorite twin from the beginning, and I was thrilled that he was getting his own book. I must say that I was surprised that Audrey was his love interest. I totally blame the author for that. She made us hate Audrey in BBR; I was wondering how she was going to redeem her character. Lauren was really able to revive her, but it didn't match up to the Audrey in the first book. It didn't feel cohesive to me. However, I did enjoy this one much better than the first.
4 stars!
December 8, 2013
„She showed up here hoping that I would take her back. I’m supposed to forget the fact that she has a kid with some other guy, that she cheated on me, and that I think she’s disgusting.“
-Jaxon telling Em about Audrey
.....ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME????
I was so excited about this Book, because..JACE!!! then I read about Audrey and I thought no that can't be, maybe I was mistaken and that stupid lying bitch with the baby in the first book wasn't audrey so I reread some Parts and that brings me back to.....ARE YOU F*UCKING KIDDING ME???
-WHYYYYYYY???
-NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Update: Just finished reading the Book. As expected I did not enjoy it.
I was not, am not, and will not ever be daccord with this Book's leading Lady.
The author just did a phenomenal Job in the First Book by portraying Audrey as a really mean bitch!!! And when you deliver Something this good you can't just take it back, no matter how hard you try. That's how I felt while Reading; she was trying waaaay to hard to make Audrey likeable, with her oh so sad Life: abusing Father, abandoning mother...and her wierd humor when in awkward situations... You remember that comment in Book 1 when she calls Jaxon "her hubby" in Front of Em? ...yeah that wasn't her being a bitch, that's just her wierd Humor 'cause she wanted to say Something funny.... ha-ha good one Audrey -.- !
Also, Emerson just Loves her from Second One ????? Not Even the tiniest bit sceptical or worried about her boyfriend's ex wife sudden appearance...and that after all the Drama she caused the Last Time ? And it's Not only Em, from Quinn to Cole to Jaxon ...everyone suddenly Loves this girl!?! I would've understood them showing some sympathy but immediately including her to their close group of Friends?
This whole Story with Audrey in this book just didn't seem right to me, especially not after her Performance in the first Book.
The only things I did like about this novel all involved EM and JAXON scenes.
I AM excited for the third Book though, 'cause Lane is an interestig, hot AND likeable Character with a promising storyline :))) keeping my hopes up for the third One to come..but for now BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES is my all time FAVEEEEE!!!!!!
Only 2 Stars :/ !
-Jaxon telling Em about Audrey
.....ARE YOU F*CKING KIDDING ME????
I was so excited about this Book, because..JACE!!! then I read about Audrey and I thought no that can't be, maybe I was mistaken and that stupid lying bitch with the baby in the first book wasn't audrey so I reread some Parts and that brings me back to.....ARE YOU F*UCKING KIDDING ME???
-WHYYYYYYY???
-NOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Update: Just finished reading the Book. As expected I did not enjoy it.
I was not, am not, and will not ever be daccord with this Book's leading Lady.
The author just did a phenomenal Job in the First Book by portraying Audrey as a really mean bitch!!! And when you deliver Something this good you can't just take it back, no matter how hard you try. That's how I felt while Reading; she was trying waaaay to hard to make Audrey likeable, with her oh so sad Life: abusing Father, abandoning mother...and her wierd humor when in awkward situations... You remember that comment in Book 1 when she calls Jaxon "her hubby" in Front of Em? ...yeah that wasn't her being a bitch, that's just her wierd Humor 'cause she wanted to say Something funny.... ha-ha good one Audrey -.- !
Also, Emerson just Loves her from Second One ????? Not Even the tiniest bit sceptical or worried about her boyfriend's ex wife sudden appearance...and that after all the Drama she caused the Last Time ? And it's Not only Em, from Quinn to Cole to Jaxon ...everyone suddenly Loves this girl!?! I would've understood them showing some sympathy but immediately including her to their close group of Friends?
This whole Story with Audrey in this book just didn't seem right to me, especially not after her Performance in the first Book.
The only things I did like about this novel all involved EM and JAXON scenes.
I AM excited for the third Book though, 'cause Lane is an interestig, hot AND likeable Character with a promising storyline :))) keeping my hopes up for the third One to come..but for now BEAUTIFUL BROKEN RULES is my all time FAVEEEEE!!!!!!
Only 2 Stars :/ !
October 4, 2016
This one is from my pre-blogging time. #99cents #sale (10/04/2016)
Sweet, sexy and secretive
I knew for a while that this book wasn’t just about smart, handsome, honorable Jace. I was aware the this story would also be about horrible, she-devil Audrey. And even though I got BBM from the moment it went live on amazon a day early, I was hesitant to start it.
I shouldn’t have worried though, because Kimberly did as Kimberly does, which is write a wonderfully sweet book about growing up and taking advantage when life gives you a second chance.
I was hooked from the start with a rhythm that didn’t allow me put the book down, its dual perspective giving us a better scope and understanding regarding the characters’ feelings and the action around them.
Oh and by the end of the first chapter I wanted to find Audrey personally and beg her forgiveness. Beautiful Broken Mess formally presents us an Audrey who “isn’t the type of girl to wait around for anyone; she’s strong and she makes her own happiness,” “she’s kind and forgiving.” It also introduces us to very delightful, caring and hunky dimpled Lane with a great sense of humor.
“Oh, and by the way, you break her heart, I’ll break your neck. Welcome to the family, bro! Can’t get rid of me now,” Lane says in an annoyingly cheerful voice, all while I’m stunned to silence.
And the fun doesn’t end there! We get to know how Cole and Quinn and Jax and Emerson continue with their lives and relationships and how they affect Jace and Audrey’s; we get to better know Jace and his take charge domineering side while secrets are unearthed and sexy and sweet is let loose.
“Audrey, there aren’t enough nights in a lifetime to get you out of my system.”
I can't wait for the next one!
November 8, 2013
5+ Stars!
I fell in love with Kimberly's writing when I first met this gang in Beautiful Broken Rules. Hands down in love. I think I screamed at all my friends to read it now. Well, she's done it again. MUST READ!
Not only do you love these characters to the extreme but you feel with them. Every emotion imaginable was felt for me and I loved every second of it.
Audrey. Oh I was worried when I saw Audrey was the heroine but let me tell you she took the prize for favorite heroine. It's been a while for me to connect and adore a female lead. She is... Amazing. Not saying anymore because I don't want to give anything away. ;-)
Jace. Holy cow. Now, I knew it would be pretty impossible to take my love from Jax. He came close but I'll always be a Jax girl.
Not only to I love this book, adore the author, and crave more but I can tell you right now this book will stick with me. These characters never really left from when I finished Beautiful Broken Rules. Can't wait to see what happens next for this series!!
I fell in love with Kimberly's writing when I first met this gang in Beautiful Broken Rules. Hands down in love. I think I screamed at all my friends to read it now. Well, she's done it again. MUST READ!
Not only do you love these characters to the extreme but you feel with them. Every emotion imaginable was felt for me and I loved every second of it.
Audrey. Oh I was worried when I saw Audrey was the heroine but let me tell you she took the prize for favorite heroine. It's been a while for me to connect and adore a female lead. She is... Amazing. Not saying anymore because I don't want to give anything away. ;-)
Jace. Holy cow. Now, I knew it would be pretty impossible to take my love from Jax. He came close but I'll always be a Jax girl.
Not only to I love this book, adore the author, and crave more but I can tell you right now this book will stick with me. These characters never really left from when I finished Beautiful Broken Rules. Can't wait to see what happens next for this series!!
January 7, 2014
The book starts from the beginning when Audrey meets first meets Jace
"I can’t even call that a kiss because it was on a whole other level. He made me forget about everything... where I was, where I’m from, and even where he’s from. It was just my lips and his, dueling for more."
And then goes to how she winds up with Jaxxon
And then what led to their drama and breakup.
Then it leads into what causes Audrey and Lane to wind up in the same college as Jace and Jaxxon.
And she becomes great friends with Emerson and the rest of the gang.
And how the relationship between Jace and Audrey eventually progresses.
“Jace, I've always wanted you, and I've never pretended otherwise. No one has even come close to making me feel the way I do when I’m with you.”
And then Jace is a bit of a douchebag.
And how they eventually get their HEA. (It was a little cheesy towards the end but whatever..)
“Lucky to have found you. Blessed to have you.”
Overall I enjoyed this but my I only felt mild sympathy for Audrey. I mean she did have a shitty childhood but she was kinda easy. I mean she automatically slept with Jaxon thinking he was Jace and then just totally ditched Jace.
I will say I'm glad everything was a misunderstanding and she wound up with Jace b/c Jace is just awesome. I love him!
I also love protective "big brother" Lane. He was a great addition and I love his relationship with Audrey.
Also thanks to Ms. Lauren for refraining from putting running in this book :)
"I can’t even call that a kiss because it was on a whole other level. He made me forget about everything... where I was, where I’m from, and even where he’s from. It was just my lips and his, dueling for more."
And then goes to how she winds up with Jaxxon
And then what led to their drama and breakup.
Then it leads into what causes Audrey and Lane to wind up in the same college as Jace and Jaxxon.
And she becomes great friends with Emerson and the rest of the gang.
And how the relationship between Jace and Audrey eventually progresses.
“Jace, I've always wanted you, and I've never pretended otherwise. No one has even come close to making me feel the way I do when I’m with you.”
And then Jace is a bit of a douchebag.
And how they eventually get their HEA. (It was a little cheesy towards the end but whatever..)
“Lucky to have found you. Blessed to have you.”
Overall I enjoyed this but my I only felt mild sympathy for Audrey. I mean she did have a shitty childhood but she was kinda easy. I mean she automatically slept with Jaxon thinking he was Jace and then just totally ditched Jace.
I will say I'm glad everything was a misunderstanding and she wound up with Jace b/c Jace is just awesome. I love him!
I also love protective "big brother" Lane. He was a great addition and I love his relationship with Audrey.
Also thanks to Ms. Lauren for refraining from putting running in this book :)
January 3, 2015
*ARC Given to Blog for Honest Review*
4.5 “lucky penny” “three-squeeze-thing” Kisses
I love this series. These characters are brilliant…amazing…fabulous…stupendous…I need more positive words! The Riley boys have taken total prison of my heart and I never ever want it back. Now…before you think I’m a crazy person (which I am) you have to read Beautiful Broken Rules to completely understand and grasp the utter obsession that I have. Just read it…you’ll understand, trust me. Plus, you have to read BBR before you even touch Beautiful Broken Mess…the events that happen in BBM are co-dependent on BBR…the characters won’t make sense, the story won’t make sense…the books cannot be read as standalones. Once you’ve been sucked into the vortex that is Jaxon Riley…only then are you prepared for Jace.
Audrey Mills…no joke, I did not like Audrey in BBR, for obvious reasons. After the first chapter in BBM I regretted any and all negative thoughts. If there was ever an example of how there are two sides to every story…Audrey is the epitome of that. Any pre-judgment I have of her, I regret more than words. On the outside, you would think Audrey has the world at her feet…she’s beautiful, 5’10”, brown hair, brown eyes…but she has a few skeletons in her closet. My heart broke into a million pieces for her…she has a shitty life because of her crap-tastic parents and just when she might get a glimpse of happiness in the form of the only boy who has actually made her feeling anything…like ever…it’s so quickly snatched away from her it makes your head spin. Then…to add insult to injury it gets worse ! Because…of course it does! That's just Audrey's life in a nutshell. There were very few times I didn’t feel bad for Audrey during the course of this book…I really just wanted her to be happy. Even her happy times are tinged with sadness because of what could’ve/should’ve been…and then there’s also the 18 years of conditioning that has turned her into this cautious girl who really struggles with letting her guard down. That’s just not natural for her. As if the conditions she was raised in weren’t rough enough, then she faced with one situation after another where she just can’t seem to win…the girl never catches a break. And what’s even worse…she’s only really loved (and been loved) by two people…her surrogate big brother/best friend/roommate, Lane…and the boy that stole her heart.
Jace Riley…is it possible to love two guys, that are so alike and yet so different? I hope it is…because that’s what I am facing right now with Jace and Jax Riley. Now…I am all about equality. Jax got a list…so Jace does to – it’s only fair! – so here we go:
1.) He’s tall…6’2” - LOVE!
2.) Dark Hair – all part of that TD&H package I love so much
3.) Gorgeous Blue Eyes…like the ocean *sigh*
4.) Smart as hell – double major, pre-med and business…Mmm…love my smart boys
5.) Twin Factor – double my pleasure, double my fun! :-)
6.) He too has a flaw like Jaxon…he loves to stick his foot in his mouth. A lot.
7.) More of those super sexy tattoo’s – he’s got more than Jax now!
8.) Former football player…turned boxer – the boy can kick some butt and has a killer body because of it…
9.) He souped up that old school Camaro
10.) Perks of being Jax’s twin…he gets to drive the motorcycle and big sexy truck too
11.) He’s sweet and sentimental and kind and has honest, good heart
12.) And still the best reason EVER….he’s from Texas!
As if I needed more reasons to love Jace…personality wise, he and Jax are very different. Jax is very much about action while Jace likes to sit back and think…for example, Jax does whatever he wants, while Jace will consider everyone else’s feelings before his own. He does have good intentions, he’s a great friend and amazing brother, but he also wants to be his own person…away from Jax, which is hard for him to come to terms with at times. I liked getting to know Jace more…but all it did was make me crave him more…funny how that works.
Jace and Audrey have a past…an interesting past too…and of course, one that involves Jax. Like I said, if I went with my gut based on what I thought I knew from BBR (which is what I did) you can imagine my surprise in learning the full story. It’s not easy. It’s actually frustrating…then sad…and heartbreaking…and it hurts. But even through all of that hurt and sadness…I truly felt their connection. There were so many outside forces that made their relationship difficult but when it came down to the core of Audrey and Jace…it was all good. He loved her, she loved him – case closed. It’s the rest of the stuff that got messy. They had chemistry…granted, not as much as Jax and Em IMO…but Jax and Em were off the charts. Jace and Audrey’s connection was very different in that respect though…while they had that electric magnetism that Jax and Em did…Jace is a very different lover than Jax. He’s a little dom – which…for the record, in case you were wondering is..H.O.T.. It’s very understated and I liked that, but I loved that Audrey brought that out in him and he was exactly what she needed.
My fav part about series…getting to see the original cast and characters…Jax, Em, Cole and Quinn. Gah! I forgot how much I missed them. And seeing them from a different POV, a different context…I couldn’t love them anymore than I already did. I loved that Em and Audrey were able to get the truth out in the open, bury the hatchet and just be friends. That’s my Em! So, this whole time we are getting Audrey and Jace…but we are also getting little bits and pieces of the others – they play their own parts in the plot as well and I SQUEE’d…on multiple occasions. Just makes me love them more and more…keep it up Kimberly Lauren. Oh…and the new boy on the block…Lane – do I even need to go into how much detail I crave this boy’s story??? OOOOMG…there is some juice there and I want it now! He and Audrey basically only have each other to rely on, I could not get enough of their friendship – he’s like an older brother and he’s just a million different kind of amazing, plus he’s a man whore, which means I have a soft spot in my heart for him already…and there is just so much more I want to know about him!
I really cannot get enough of this series…the writing is spot on for me. The number of highlights I made in BBR is pretty out of control and with BBM it is just as ridiculous. I could probably write a second review with just quotes…still never give away any of the plot or story and I would still have more to say about it. There are just some books that I can babble all day long about and never run out of good things to say…this is series is one of them. It has everything I like and just the right kind of balance to keep me completely engaged and in the moment with the characters. And OMG if you cannot tell how much I love the characters yet, then I am clearly doing something wrong. Apart from each other, Jace, Audrey, Jax, Em, Cole and Quinn are all amazing characters. Combined…the just blow me away. The emotions hit hard, the feelings are raw and genuine, the plot is engaging and the pace and flow is perfection.
The epilogue…surprised me! I mean…the final chapter was swoony and amazing and had me drooling all over myself with glee…and then, the epilogue and turns out their ending isn’t as simple as one might think. It was a longer epilogue than I expected, but I really liked how everything was tied up – and yet left me wanting more! Especially those last lines! Is it sad that I just want to make these 7 people like my bestest friends forever and just hang out with them? I can’t help it. They’re just the best...and I will never get my fill of them. Kimberly could write about them picking their noses and counting stars in the sky and I would eat it up with a big spoon and ask for more. They’re authentic and genuine and funny…and it helps that they are hot as hell and sexy as can be. To say I am anxiously awaiting Beautiful Broken Promises and all Lane’s goodness is an understatement. If BBR and BBM are the standards that have been set for this series…we’re in for awesomeness. EEEEP! Can’t wait!
4.5 “lucky penny” “three-squeeze-thing” Kisses
I love this series. These characters are brilliant…amazing…fabulous…stupendous…I need more positive words! The Riley boys have taken total prison of my heart and I never ever want it back. Now…before you think I’m a crazy person (which I am) you have to read Beautiful Broken Rules to completely understand and grasp the utter obsession that I have. Just read it…you’ll understand, trust me. Plus, you have to read BBR before you even touch Beautiful Broken Mess…the events that happen in BBM are co-dependent on BBR…the characters won’t make sense, the story won’t make sense…the books cannot be read as standalones. Once you’ve been sucked into the vortex that is Jaxon Riley…only then are you prepared for Jace.
Audrey Mills…no joke, I did not like Audrey in BBR, for obvious reasons. After the first chapter in BBM I regretted any and all negative thoughts. If there was ever an example of how there are two sides to every story…Audrey is the epitome of that. Any pre-judgment I have of her, I regret more than words. On the outside, you would think Audrey has the world at her feet…she’s beautiful, 5’10”, brown hair, brown eyes…but she has a few skeletons in her closet. My heart broke into a million pieces for her…she has a shitty life because of her crap-tastic parents and just when she might get a glimpse of happiness in the form of the only boy who has actually made her feeling anything…like ever…it’s so quickly snatched away from her it makes your head spin. Then…to add insult to injury it gets worse ! Because…of course it does! That's just Audrey's life in a nutshell. There were very few times I didn’t feel bad for Audrey during the course of this book…I really just wanted her to be happy. Even her happy times are tinged with sadness because of what could’ve/should’ve been…and then there’s also the 18 years of conditioning that has turned her into this cautious girl who really struggles with letting her guard down. That’s just not natural for her. As if the conditions she was raised in weren’t rough enough, then she faced with one situation after another where she just can’t seem to win…the girl never catches a break. And what’s even worse…she’s only really loved (and been loved) by two people…her surrogate big brother/best friend/roommate, Lane…and the boy that stole her heart.
‘“Oh, is that what this is…a pick-up?” I ask, while trying to tamper down my obnoxious smile.
“Damn straight.” He leans down so our faces are only inches apart, and I can feel his breath lightly teasing my lips. In a low but firm whisper, he says, “I like you, Audrey. I plan to take you out and kiss you goodnight over and over until you agree to let me do it all again the next night.”
Floor. Puddle. Me. Holy Hell.’
Jace Riley…is it possible to love two guys, that are so alike and yet so different? I hope it is…because that’s what I am facing right now with Jace and Jax Riley. Now…I am all about equality. Jax got a list…so Jace does to – it’s only fair! – so here we go:
1.) He’s tall…6’2” - LOVE!
2.) Dark Hair – all part of that TD&H package I love so much
3.) Gorgeous Blue Eyes…like the ocean *sigh*
4.) Smart as hell – double major, pre-med and business…Mmm…love my smart boys
5.) Twin Factor – double my pleasure, double my fun! :-)
6.) He too has a flaw like Jaxon…he loves to stick his foot in his mouth. A lot.
7.) More of those super sexy tattoo’s – he’s got more than Jax now!
8.) Former football player…turned boxer – the boy can kick some butt and has a killer body because of it…
9.) He souped up that old school Camaro
10.) Perks of being Jax’s twin…he gets to drive the motorcycle and big sexy truck too
11.) He’s sweet and sentimental and kind and has honest, good heart
12.) And still the best reason EVER….he’s from Texas!
As if I needed more reasons to love Jace…personality wise, he and Jax are very different. Jax is very much about action while Jace likes to sit back and think…for example, Jax does whatever he wants, while Jace will consider everyone else’s feelings before his own. He does have good intentions, he’s a great friend and amazing brother, but he also wants to be his own person…away from Jax, which is hard for him to come to terms with at times. I liked getting to know Jace more…but all it did was make me crave him more…funny how that works.
‘Twins? Jace is an identical twin? This has to be a monumental misunderstanding. First of all, there should never be two guys who look like this set free to roam the female population. Second of all, that should be the first thing that comes out of their mouths! ‘Hi, I’m Jace and I have an identical twin brother, so don’t accidently kiss him.’ Anything to help us poor confused girls out.’
Jace and Audrey have a past…an interesting past too…and of course, one that involves Jax. Like I said, if I went with my gut based on what I thought I knew from BBR (which is what I did) you can imagine my surprise in learning the full story. It’s not easy. It’s actually frustrating…then sad…and heartbreaking…and it hurts. But even through all of that hurt and sadness…I truly felt their connection. There were so many outside forces that made their relationship difficult but when it came down to the core of Audrey and Jace…it was all good. He loved her, she loved him – case closed. It’s the rest of the stuff that got messy. They had chemistry…granted, not as much as Jax and Em IMO…but Jax and Em were off the charts. Jace and Audrey’s connection was very different in that respect though…while they had that electric magnetism that Jax and Em did…Jace is a very different lover than Jax. He’s a little dom – which…for the record, in case you were wondering is..H.O.T.. It’s very understated and I liked that, but I loved that Audrey brought that out in him and he was exactly what she needed.
“I’ve walked passed so many pennies in my life, never bothering to pick them up because none of them were ever appealing to me. Then one day, I literally crashed into the most gorgeous penny I’d ever seen, so I picked her up off the ground, wiped away her tears, and became mesmerized by her every movement. Stupidly, I let that penny get away from me, and I’ve regretted it ever since. You were my lucky penny, Audrey, and I’ve been dreaming about you for years.”
My fav part about series…getting to see the original cast and characters…Jax, Em, Cole and Quinn. Gah! I forgot how much I missed them. And seeing them from a different POV, a different context…I couldn’t love them anymore than I already did. I loved that Em and Audrey were able to get the truth out in the open, bury the hatchet and just be friends. That’s my Em! So, this whole time we are getting Audrey and Jace…but we are also getting little bits and pieces of the others – they play their own parts in the plot as well and I SQUEE’d…on multiple occasions. Just makes me love them more and more…keep it up Kimberly Lauren. Oh…and the new boy on the block…Lane – do I even need to go into how much detail I crave this boy’s story??? OOOOMG…there is some juice there and I want it now! He and Audrey basically only have each other to rely on, I could not get enough of their friendship – he’s like an older brother and he’s just a million different kind of amazing, plus he’s a man whore, which means I have a soft spot in my heart for him already…and there is just so much more I want to know about him!
‘I look up into her eyes and ask, “What is your deepest fear?”
“Being alone,” she whispers back. “I didn’t realize how alone I used to be until I met Lane, and then I didn’t fully accept it until I found you again. I’ve finally freed myself from that fear. I don’t ever want to go back, but I know I can survive it.” I lean in and kiss her side one more time before standing up and looking down at her beautiful face. I grasp her face on both sides and speak to her, hoping it reaches the deepest part of her.
“Never again, baby. I never want you to feel alone again,” I express, and she stands on her toes to capture my mouth.’
I really cannot get enough of this series…the writing is spot on for me. The number of highlights I made in BBR is pretty out of control and with BBM it is just as ridiculous. I could probably write a second review with just quotes…still never give away any of the plot or story and I would still have more to say about it. There are just some books that I can babble all day long about and never run out of good things to say…this is series is one of them. It has everything I like and just the right kind of balance to keep me completely engaged and in the moment with the characters. And OMG if you cannot tell how much I love the characters yet, then I am clearly doing something wrong. Apart from each other, Jace, Audrey, Jax, Em, Cole and Quinn are all amazing characters. Combined…the just blow me away. The emotions hit hard, the feelings are raw and genuine, the plot is engaging and the pace and flow is perfection.
‘“I guess it means I.” Squeeze. “Love.” Squeeze. “You.” Squeeze. ‘
The epilogue…surprised me! I mean…the final chapter was swoony and amazing and had me drooling all over myself with glee…and then, the epilogue and turns out their ending isn’t as simple as one might think. It was a longer epilogue than I expected, but I really liked how everything was tied up – and yet left me wanting more! Especially those last lines! Is it sad that I just want to make these 7 people like my bestest friends forever and just hang out with them? I can’t help it. They’re just the best...and I will never get my fill of them. Kimberly could write about them picking their noses and counting stars in the sky and I would eat it up with a big spoon and ask for more. They’re authentic and genuine and funny…and it helps that they are hot as hell and sexy as can be. To say I am anxiously awaiting Beautiful Broken Promises and all Lane’s goodness is an understatement. If BBR and BBM are the standards that have been set for this series…we’re in for awesomeness. EEEEP! Can’t wait!
July 25, 2019
Loved the first one, this was more meh, but still an ok summer read 🙂
May 3, 2014
3.75 ~ 4 Stars
"The journey was hard, yes, but falling in love with you was easy."
"The journey was hard, yes, but falling in love with you was easy."
November 8, 2014
4.5 beautifully broken second third chance stars
This is the second book in the Broken series, and is an absolutely beautiful story of lovers reunited and moving on from the past. I loved Jace when we met him in Beautiful Broken Rules, and have been so excited to get to his story, and it didn’t disappoint.
Audrey and Jace met when they were 18. Their connection is instantaneous and all-consuming for both of them, however due to a (annoyingly avoidable) misunderstanding, they never got together, although their one meeting was enough to change them both forever.
Though they have some emotionally charged interactions over the years, it’s not until four years after that first meeting when they are at the same College that they reconnect for real. Still incredibly drawn to each other, from that very first moment that they see each other, chemistry is electric! And, best of all, neither of them deny it.
They acknowledge what is between them and don’t shy away from the fact that they want to be together. After all of their time apart, they aren’t prepared to waste any more time, and the development of their relationship is gorgeous – even though their situation is complicated, and there’s a lot they have to work through.
Audrey’s past with Jace and his twin brother Jax is extremely twisted. On the surface it sounds all kinds of effed up but, of course, there is so much more to the story than what we already know. When Audrey was introduced in Beautiful Broken Rules, she was there as the villain, and it’s like the author made her as horrible and hateful and she could, and then tested herself by making her the heroine of her own book to see if she could turn it all around. And she did it! I loved Audrey from the moment I met her. The retelling of events from the past – including the scenes in which she appeared during Beautiful Broken Rules happens early in the book so we get to see where she was coming from. Audrey’s whole story unfolds throughout the book though, and the moment where she shares her past with both Jace and Jax was heartbreaking. Only for even more heartbreak to come later on when the whole story comes out.
What Audrey has been through is truly horrifying, and the fact that she came through it all to still be gentle and tender-hearted with the ability to feel love and be happy is a miracle. She is so incredibly strong and intelligent, and I admired so much about her.
A big part of Audrey’s strength and stability is Lane. Audrey’s best friend, Lane is gorgeous, strong, and incredibly protective of his girl. They consider each other brother and sister, and the bond between them is absolutely gorgeous. I love the way he was always there for her, and completely on her side but he was also in Jace’s corner, encouraging him and urging him to make his move.
I totally fell in love with Lane in this book, and can’t wait to get to his story next.
There is a lot of time spent with Jax and Emerson and Cole and Quinn, which I loved. The story progression for the two couples is gorgeous, and I love seeing them all together. The dynamics are great – between brothers, new friends, lifelong friends, and lovers, and the way that Audrey and Lane are folded into their group is fantastic.
But it’s all about Audrey and Jace, and their story is beautiful. There are some beautifully sweet moments between them, and a whole lot of hotness, but it’s not all smooth sailing, and there is certainly some drama and heartbreak in there too. But their love for each other is amazing, and I loved every moment of their journey.
Oh, Jace, you gorgeous, sexy, loving, swoon-worthy man! How I love you! He’s not perfect, and he has some questionable moves throughout the book, but I truly felt for him. I Iove the way he loves Audrey, and his absolute devotion to those that he loves is amazing.
I devoured this book in one day. I couldn’t get enough, and got completely swept up in the story. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I squeed, and it’s all finished off with an epilogue that gives us a beautiful HEA for each of the couples. And even though part of it did have me raising an eyebrow, it was everything that I wanted to see, and it left me feeling giddy with happiness with a huge smile on my face.
I loved it – 4.5 stars.
This is the second book in the Broken series, and is an absolutely beautiful story of lovers reunited and moving on from the past. I loved Jace when we met him in Beautiful Broken Rules, and have been so excited to get to his story, and it didn’t disappoint.
Audrey and Jace met when they were 18. Their connection is instantaneous and all-consuming for both of them, however due to a (annoyingly avoidable) misunderstanding, they never got together, although their one meeting was enough to change them both forever.
Though they have some emotionally charged interactions over the years, it’s not until four years after that first meeting when they are at the same College that they reconnect for real. Still incredibly drawn to each other, from that very first moment that they see each other, chemistry is electric! And, best of all, neither of them deny it.
“Do you want me?” I ask.
“More than air,” she breathes.
They acknowledge what is between them and don’t shy away from the fact that they want to be together. After all of their time apart, they aren’t prepared to waste any more time, and the development of their relationship is gorgeous – even though their situation is complicated, and there’s a lot they have to work through.
“Audrey, you’ve been in my head since the moment I met you and you never left. “
Audrey’s past with Jace and his twin brother Jax is extremely twisted. On the surface it sounds all kinds of effed up but, of course, there is so much more to the story than what we already know. When Audrey was introduced in Beautiful Broken Rules, she was there as the villain, and it’s like the author made her as horrible and hateful and she could, and then tested herself by making her the heroine of her own book to see if she could turn it all around. And she did it! I loved Audrey from the moment I met her. The retelling of events from the past – including the scenes in which she appeared during Beautiful Broken Rules happens early in the book so we get to see where she was coming from. Audrey’s whole story unfolds throughout the book though, and the moment where she shares her past with both Jace and Jax was heartbreaking. Only for even more heartbreak to come later on when the whole story comes out.
“I don’t need to be saved. I already saved myself.”
“I can see that, and I’m having a fucking hard time with the thought that I should have been the one to do it. You shouldn’t have had to deal with everything all by yourself. I should have been there…I was so stupid…I should have been there.”
What Audrey has been through is truly horrifying, and the fact that she came through it all to still be gentle and tender-hearted with the ability to feel love and be happy is a miracle. She is so incredibly strong and intelligent, and I admired so much about her.
“Audrey isn't the type of girl to wait around for anyone; she's strong and she makes her own happiness. If she wants a bouquet of roses, she's sure as hell not going to wait for me to give it to her. She'll go out and plant her own fucking garden.”
A big part of Audrey’s strength and stability is Lane. Audrey’s best friend, Lane is gorgeous, strong, and incredibly protective of his girl. They consider each other brother and sister, and the bond between them is absolutely gorgeous. I love the way he was always there for her, and completely on her side but he was also in Jace’s corner, encouraging him and urging him to make his move.
“You either stop staring at her like she’s holding your next breath or you go talk to her.”
I totally fell in love with Lane in this book, and can’t wait to get to his story next.
There is a lot of time spent with Jax and Emerson and Cole and Quinn, which I loved. The story progression for the two couples is gorgeous, and I love seeing them all together. The dynamics are great – between brothers, new friends, lifelong friends, and lovers, and the way that Audrey and Lane are folded into their group is fantastic.
But it’s all about Audrey and Jace, and their story is beautiful. There are some beautifully sweet moments between them, and a whole lot of hotness, but it’s not all smooth sailing, and there is certainly some drama and heartbreak in there too. But their love for each other is amazing, and I loved every moment of their journey.
“I’d do it all over again, knowing that you were going to be there at the end. I’d walk through the sadness and the loneliness all over again for you. I truly was lonely, because you were always the one I wished I were with. I can’t regret it though. The journey was hard, yes, but falling in love with you was easy. I could never regret falling in love with you.”
Oh, Jace, you gorgeous, sexy, loving, swoon-worthy man! How I love you! He’s not perfect, and he has some questionable moves throughout the book, but I truly felt for him. I Iove the way he loves Audrey, and his absolute devotion to those that he loves is amazing.
I devoured this book in one day. I couldn’t get enough, and got completely swept up in the story. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and I squeed, and it’s all finished off with an epilogue that gives us a beautiful HEA for each of the couples. And even though part of it did have me raising an eyebrow, it was everything that I wanted to see, and it left me feeling giddy with happiness with a huge smile on my face.
I loved it – 4.5 stars.
November 22, 2013
In the first installment of this series, Beautiful Broken Rules, we meet Jace who is Jaxon's twin brother, and Audrey. In the first book I despised Emerson and Audrey but I really had a change of heart in this book. Audrey was a victim of circumstances. (Really unrealistic circumstances but hey it's book world)Once I saw what she came from and had been through I was a lot more sympathetic towards her. I already loved Jace from Beautiful Broken Rules so liking him was a given.
We find out that Jace actually met Audrey first and through some unfortunate events he lost her. I am not normally a fan of second chance romances but this one really had me hooked. I wanted Jace and Audrey to find happiness.I loved the fact that he was so possessive and controlling in this book. He liked to be on control and she needed to be controlled. She craved it. They were the perfect match.
I loved this book , and the characters so much more in this book. The whole gang was enjoyable. I really enjoyed seeing Emerson and Jaxon's story progress along with Cole and Quinn's. In this book we also meet Lane who is Audrey's best friend and he is super protective over Audrey. I can't wait to read his story in coming installments of this series.
I think it's a true testament to a writer's talent to be able to take a character that the reader absolutely hates from one book into a another and change their mind. Kimberly Lauren did this for me. I didn't like Emerson at all but she was a downright loveable character in this story. I really admire this writers style and storytelling. I was never bored and it was nice to see that characters have different sides to them instead of the normal one dimensional characters from a lot of books. At first I was really hesitant about reading this book because of the whole brothers situation. I am not a fan of that at all. I also don't like slutty girls. If you didn't care for these characters in the first book give them another shot. If you like New Adult romances then this is definitely a good read for you.
September 24, 2014
5 ocean blue, penny wearing Jace and Audrey stars!!
This book for me was a huge breath of fresh air! Thank you Kimberly for writing such an amazing story and sharing it with us. :)
This book captivates you from the beginning and ends up pulling in full circle some instances in Beautiful Broken Rules. You keep trying to figure out what happens with Audrey that could make Jace and Jax act like assholes. Well ladies, you find out and it wouldn't stun you more. I say there for a few minutes felling like I had been kicked in the stomach.
This book had amazing "side kicks!" Em, Quinn, Cole, Jax and the amazing Lane could not have been more of laugh, cry, and yell if you needed them too. They are there every time a brother or sister are needed, and they are a family. We watch them grow separately, as certain couples, and as a family.
The emotions you feel from everyone on this book is the most beautiful broken wrecking ball anyone could as for. All I want to do is re read this over and over again, because it would only get better every time I read it, I AM SURE.
The epilogue even threw you for a loop for a second, and that's when you know an author knows what she is doing. Well done Kimberly Lauren, well done. I couldn't be happier.
You. Are. Brilliant. ::three squeezes::
LOVE.
This book for me was a huge breath of fresh air! Thank you Kimberly for writing such an amazing story and sharing it with us. :)
This book captivates you from the beginning and ends up pulling in full circle some instances in Beautiful Broken Rules. You keep trying to figure out what happens with Audrey that could make Jace and Jax act like assholes. Well ladies, you find out and it wouldn't stun you more. I say there for a few minutes felling like I had been kicked in the stomach.
This book had amazing "side kicks!" Em, Quinn, Cole, Jax and the amazing Lane could not have been more of laugh, cry, and yell if you needed them too. They are there every time a brother or sister are needed, and they are a family. We watch them grow separately, as certain couples, and as a family.
The emotions you feel from everyone on this book is the most beautiful broken wrecking ball anyone could as for. All I want to do is re read this over and over again, because it would only get better every time I read it, I AM SURE.
The epilogue even threw you for a loop for a second, and that's when you know an author knows what she is doing. Well done Kimberly Lauren, well done. I couldn't be happier.
You. Are. Brilliant. ::three squeezes::
LOVE.
Want to read
September 12, 2013Audrey??? Really?? I don't know how I feel about that :/
July 20, 2014
It's Jace time!
Jace is the lovable identical twin of the boy that we fell in love with in Beautiful Broken Rules. But Jace was a bit of a mystery, that is until now. When Jaxon's ex Audrey shows up out of the blue we finally learn just what kind of past she shares with Jace. But we also learn just what really happened all those years ago between these three. And what a mess it was.
There are far too many secrets that are revealed in this to really say more about what this story is about. But let's deal with the elephant in the room... Audrey.
In Beautiful Broken Rules this was how I felt about Audrey:
And then I started to doubt my feelings.
And then I felt like a complete judgmental pile of shit.
I did not expect my feelings to completely change towards Audrey. I figured that I would get to a point of stomaching her, but I did not think that I would love her..
Jace was exactly what I needed him to be. He was a bit too considerate of everyone else's feelings, but that is what makes him just so lovable. And the whole gang was in the mix so we get plenty of time with Em & Jaxon and Quinn & Cole. But we get to meet Lane, who in turn will get his own book. And when the girls call him delicious, knowing the man candy they have tucked in their bed; you know that whatever his story will bring, it's going to get sticky hot!
The complete about-face that Audrey get's in this story was carried out perfectly. Although you wondered why at the start of this mess they never sorted this out, but there is no doubt that her character is absolutely redeemed.
And who would have expected quiet Jace to have a bit of controlling alpha-male in him. Jaxon is still my favorite of the twins, but that comes down to his pursuit of Em in the first book. Jace had him sweet moments (can we just all agree pennies and bottle caps trump flowers?) that had you swooning.
All in all, this one packed a nice surprise and lived up to the first in the series completely. I am not sure if Cole and Quinn will ever get their own story since so much happens with them through the two books, but I hope that maybe one day we'll get a little bit more of just these two. A great sequel to a fantastic series. Now let's bring on Lane!
January 6, 2014
Oh my… that ending made me cry. I LOVE this book! Kimberly Lauren is a brilliant author. After I finished Beautiful Broken Rules and found out the next book in the series was going to star the lying, slut Audrey, I was so disappointed and almost didn't read it. But, because Beautiful Broken Rules was so good I thought I would give it a chance. Man am I glad I did! It is amazing to me how the author made me do a complete 180 in going from hating Audrey to feeling sorry for her to finally loving her. There are very few couples I have rooted for more than Jace and Audrey. They had a very hard journey to each other, which made for a great book.
"The journey was hard, yes, but falling in love with you was easy."
Audrey is one of the strongest female characters I have ever read about.
"Audrey isn't the type of girl to wait around for anyone; she's strong and she makes her own happiness. If she wants a bouquet of roses, she's sure as hell not going to wait for me to give it to her. She'll go out and plant her own f*cking garden."
Jace just melts my heart. He is so kind, thoughtful, caring, loving, driven, sexy, and knows how to take control in the best way.
"Audrey, I need you to say it." "Say what?" she asks slowly. "Say what's written all over your face. Say what's on your fingers every time you touch me. Say what's in your eyes every morning that we wake up together. Say what your body feels every time I'm inside of you. Please… just say it."
I adore all of the characters in this series. I'm so happy that we got to still spend time with Jax, Em, Quinn, Cole, and new to the series, Lane. Lane… what can I say about that man? He is protective, caring, funny, and hot! I cannot wait for his book! Seriously, I cannot wait! This series has been so refreshing to me. In most series the author follows the exact pattern for each book so you will always know about when to expect conflict, drama, and the resolution. Kimberly Lauren doesn't do this. Jace and Audrey had their very own drama that was different from Jax and Em's story. The two stories flowed together smoothly, but had their own unique qualities. That was very much appreciated; I get so tired of reading the same pattern over and over again. I can't recommend this series highly enough! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
"The journey was hard, yes, but falling in love with you was easy."
Audrey is one of the strongest female characters I have ever read about.
"Audrey isn't the type of girl to wait around for anyone; she's strong and she makes her own happiness. If she wants a bouquet of roses, she's sure as hell not going to wait for me to give it to her. She'll go out and plant her own f*cking garden."
Jace just melts my heart. He is so kind, thoughtful, caring, loving, driven, sexy, and knows how to take control in the best way.
"Audrey, I need you to say it." "Say what?" she asks slowly. "Say what's written all over your face. Say what's on your fingers every time you touch me. Say what's in your eyes every morning that we wake up together. Say what your body feels every time I'm inside of you. Please… just say it."
I adore all of the characters in this series. I'm so happy that we got to still spend time with Jax, Em, Quinn, Cole, and new to the series, Lane. Lane… what can I say about that man? He is protective, caring, funny, and hot! I cannot wait for his book! Seriously, I cannot wait! This series has been so refreshing to me. In most series the author follows the exact pattern for each book so you will always know about when to expect conflict, drama, and the resolution. Kimberly Lauren doesn't do this. Jace and Audrey had their very own drama that was different from Jax and Em's story. The two stories flowed together smoothly, but had their own unique qualities. That was very much appreciated; I get so tired of reading the same pattern over and over again. I can't recommend this series highly enough! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
December 6, 2013
I LOVE Kimberly Lauren!! Another amazing read, review to come with my tour date on 12/2...
**FULL REVIEW**
Audrey:
“We sit there staring at one another and shockingly, it isn’t uncomfortable or awkward; it’s as if we’re having a silent conversation. Getting to know one another in this intimate, inaudible way. His eyes seem as if they’re peering into mine, trying to discover all of my secrets that are hidden in the darkest of depths. I hope he never has to know those secrets, although I would love to be comfortable enough with someone to finally divulge all of my thoughts. It sounds quite freeing, to be honest.”
Jace:
“You would wreck this girl, Jace. She just seems so fragile, yet deep in her eyes I can see fierceness, and damn if I don’t want to unleash that.”
That was then…and so much has happened to change the course of Audrey and Jace’s lives. A classic case of mistaken identity leaves both yearning for something they cannot have. Knowing that all either one has to do is say the words and things could be different…but everything just hurts too much. Jace won’t touch Audrey ever again because she is now with Jaxon. But Jaxon doesn’t really want Audrey, he just wants an excuse…and Audrey, once she realized that she had been with the wrong one, cannot go backwards. All she can do is hope that one day she can move on from Jace Riley, the one that got away.
Jace:
“There’s something about knowing how a girl feels, yearning for it, and knowing you can’t have her. I’ve had Audrey; she should be a distant memory at this point. But I still crave every dip and curve of her skin. My body knows where she fits perfectly against me and it won’t be satisfied until it has her again.”
Audrey:
“His eyes are haunted with countless emotions, and I pray to God one of those is not guilt. I want to scream at how irate I am that he never came to me and asked what happened. I want to cry because of everything we could have had. Ever after all that, I want to reassure him that he should never feel guilt, regardless of that he assumes my dad did. This is what Jace does to me. He makes me what to smack him and embrace him, all in the same beat of time.”
Moving on from “the one” is never easy. Both Audrey and Jace are away from home but in the same place…completely coincidental. Audrey wants closure so she can at least move forward; living all these years knowing that she was hated for a mistake that was never clarified has eaten away at her. Being broken from the beginning and having to cope with the numerous amounts of hardship, Audrey (along with the only person she considers family, Lane) move closer to school and decide it’s best to just leave things be…until Audrey comes face to face with Emerson once again. Working together won’t be easy but something has to go right. Thankfully, Em finally gets the story of Jace, Jaxon, and Audrey’s past and a friendship is forged from the honesty of the situation. Now, to just get the boys on board…
Audrey:
“Jace, I’ve always wanted you, and I’ve never pretended otherwise. No one has even come close to making me feel the way I do when I’m with you.”
Jace:
“I’ve always wanted to be here. I’ve watched my two best friends arrive at this very moment, the one where they realize that the girl they’re with is the one. But now that I’m here, can I handle it? Can I hand myself over, raw and unguarded? But if I don’t give my heart to Audrey, would there ever be anybody else worth it? Hell no.”
So, what do they do now? Can the past be forgotten so a future can be pursued? Life throws some serious curve balls and they have two choices; dodge and run or stand and catch. I love their emotion and how even the slightest outside influence can change the course of someone’s life.
“Lucky to have found you. Blessed to have you.”
Kimberly Lauren is so talented. This book is everything I hoped it would be and I loved every.single.page. After reading Beautiful Broken Rules, I definitely had no love for Audrey, but when she finally gets to speak (because she’s been silenced for so long), it’s amazing. Learning where she came from and what she endured is by far some of the most emotional parts of this story…but the love that started when she and Jace were young, then fizzled out only to be reignited later was beyond awesome. I love love loved Beautiful Broken Mess. I look forward to seeing where we are taken in the last book of the trilogy…SOON!
**5 Actions versus Words Stars**
**FULL REVIEW**
Audrey:
“We sit there staring at one another and shockingly, it isn’t uncomfortable or awkward; it’s as if we’re having a silent conversation. Getting to know one another in this intimate, inaudible way. His eyes seem as if they’re peering into mine, trying to discover all of my secrets that are hidden in the darkest of depths. I hope he never has to know those secrets, although I would love to be comfortable enough with someone to finally divulge all of my thoughts. It sounds quite freeing, to be honest.”
Jace:
“You would wreck this girl, Jace. She just seems so fragile, yet deep in her eyes I can see fierceness, and damn if I don’t want to unleash that.”
That was then…and so much has happened to change the course of Audrey and Jace’s lives. A classic case of mistaken identity leaves both yearning for something they cannot have. Knowing that all either one has to do is say the words and things could be different…but everything just hurts too much. Jace won’t touch Audrey ever again because she is now with Jaxon. But Jaxon doesn’t really want Audrey, he just wants an excuse…and Audrey, once she realized that she had been with the wrong one, cannot go backwards. All she can do is hope that one day she can move on from Jace Riley, the one that got away.
Jace:
“There’s something about knowing how a girl feels, yearning for it, and knowing you can’t have her. I’ve had Audrey; she should be a distant memory at this point. But I still crave every dip and curve of her skin. My body knows where she fits perfectly against me and it won’t be satisfied until it has her again.”
Audrey:
“His eyes are haunted with countless emotions, and I pray to God one of those is not guilt. I want to scream at how irate I am that he never came to me and asked what happened. I want to cry because of everything we could have had. Ever after all that, I want to reassure him that he should never feel guilt, regardless of that he assumes my dad did. This is what Jace does to me. He makes me what to smack him and embrace him, all in the same beat of time.”
Moving on from “the one” is never easy. Both Audrey and Jace are away from home but in the same place…completely coincidental. Audrey wants closure so she can at least move forward; living all these years knowing that she was hated for a mistake that was never clarified has eaten away at her. Being broken from the beginning and having to cope with the numerous amounts of hardship, Audrey (along with the only person she considers family, Lane) move closer to school and decide it’s best to just leave things be…until Audrey comes face to face with Emerson once again. Working together won’t be easy but something has to go right. Thankfully, Em finally gets the story of Jace, Jaxon, and Audrey’s past and a friendship is forged from the honesty of the situation. Now, to just get the boys on board…
Audrey:
“Jace, I’ve always wanted you, and I’ve never pretended otherwise. No one has even come close to making me feel the way I do when I’m with you.”
Jace:
“I’ve always wanted to be here. I’ve watched my two best friends arrive at this very moment, the one where they realize that the girl they’re with is the one. But now that I’m here, can I handle it? Can I hand myself over, raw and unguarded? But if I don’t give my heart to Audrey, would there ever be anybody else worth it? Hell no.”
So, what do they do now? Can the past be forgotten so a future can be pursued? Life throws some serious curve balls and they have two choices; dodge and run or stand and catch. I love their emotion and how even the slightest outside influence can change the course of someone’s life.
“Lucky to have found you. Blessed to have you.”
Kimberly Lauren is so talented. This book is everything I hoped it would be and I loved every.single.page. After reading Beautiful Broken Rules, I definitely had no love for Audrey, but when she finally gets to speak (because she’s been silenced for so long), it’s amazing. Learning where she came from and what she endured is by far some of the most emotional parts of this story…but the love that started when she and Jace were young, then fizzled out only to be reignited later was beyond awesome. I love love loved Beautiful Broken Mess. I look forward to seeing where we are taken in the last book of the trilogy…SOON!
**5 Actions versus Words Stars**
December 9, 2017
2 stars
When I see all of those 5 star ratings, I can't help but ask myself: is there something wrong with me? And the answer is: probably.
I did not enjoy this book at all. It might be my mistake because I'm a fan of urban fantasy and when I occasionally read contemporary romance, I want it to be cute and funny. This book was neither. I don't like dark twists and depressing story lines. I don't know why I thought this would be cute fluffy romance, but it wasn't.
WARNING: spoilers ahead
If there was only one thing wrong with Audrey's life, I would probably buy it as believable. I know that there are people whose lives suck. But I feel like everything bad that could happen to Audrey happened to her.
First of all, her parents were drunks and addicts. They hated her and her father was used to beating her up on regular basis. Their neighbors knew about it and yet they didn't do anything to help her. Audrey had barely any bed and food was rarity to her. Then, once, she met a boy. The boy fell for her immediately (because that happens all the time, right?). They decided to meet up, but poor Audrey mistook him for his twin brother and accidentally slept with the wrong twin. After she realized she made a mistake, she just kept dating the wrong one, because... I still don't understand why, but she did. Then her teacher raped her. She got pregnant. She married the wrong twin brother for a little while. Her father threw her up against the wall and she lost the baby.
At this point, I was like - what the hell am I even reading? But it wasn't all. After Audrey finally started dating the right twin (hooray!), the wrong twin fell into coma. Then the right twin yelled at Audrey to leave, because... well because the book needed a twist, obviously.
I mean, seriously, this book was just too much for me. I know this is a story that might actually happen to someone and if it did, I would feel really sorry for them, but for me, it was just too damn unbelievable and unrelatable. I mean, I usually read books about shapeshifters and vampires and I have no problem relating to those stories, but this one... I don't know. I just don't understand it, I guess.
When I see all of those 5 star ratings, I can't help but ask myself: is there something wrong with me? And the answer is: probably.
I did not enjoy this book at all. It might be my mistake because I'm a fan of urban fantasy and when I occasionally read contemporary romance, I want it to be cute and funny. This book was neither. I don't like dark twists and depressing story lines. I don't know why I thought this would be cute fluffy romance, but it wasn't.
WARNING: spoilers ahead
If there was only one thing wrong with Audrey's life, I would probably buy it as believable. I know that there are people whose lives suck. But I feel like everything bad that could happen to Audrey happened to her.
First of all, her parents were drunks and addicts. They hated her and her father was used to beating her up on regular basis. Their neighbors knew about it and yet they didn't do anything to help her. Audrey had barely any bed and food was rarity to her. Then, once, she met a boy. The boy fell for her immediately (because that happens all the time, right?). They decided to meet up, but poor Audrey mistook him for his twin brother and accidentally slept with the wrong twin. After she realized she made a mistake, she just kept dating the wrong one, because... I still don't understand why, but she did. Then her teacher raped her. She got pregnant. She married the wrong twin brother for a little while. Her father threw her up against the wall and she lost the baby.
At this point, I was like - what the hell am I even reading? But it wasn't all. After Audrey finally started dating the right twin (hooray!), the wrong twin fell into coma. Then the right twin yelled at Audrey to leave, because... well because the book needed a twist, obviously.
I mean, seriously, this book was just too much for me. I know this is a story that might actually happen to someone and if it did, I would feel really sorry for them, but for me, it was just too damn unbelievable and unrelatable. I mean, I usually read books about shapeshifters and vampires and I have no problem relating to those stories, but this one... I don't know. I just don't understand it, I guess.
November 15, 2013
OMG so many emotions after reading this book!!! I don’t even know where to begin. I was hooked from page 1. Meeting Jace in book 1 I saw him as laid back, reserved, calm, & the peace maker & then in book 2 he’s intense, possessive, & one sexy alpha male. It was a complete 180. I have to admit that I definitely judged Audrey poorly in book 1 & finally in book 2 getting to truly meet her & learn her story, I grew to love her & sympathize with her. She was given a shity hand in life but she survived it & pulled through. Not once did she let her past dictate her future. Jace saved her. When they meet it was so cute *sigh*. It was truly gut-wrenching seeing how things ended between them but even when the years passed, fate still managed to bring them together again. It was meant to be from the start.
This book was so emotional & angst-filled. The title fits it perfectly. I cried & I laughed. The sexual tension between Jace & Audrey was palpable & when they finally did have sex it was so hot!!! The chemistry between them could set a place on fire.
Reading book 1 I never saw the connection between them because we knew that Audrey was Jaxon’s ex but in this book everything becomes so clear. Secrets are revealed & lies are cleared. I love Jace with all my heart but there were moments that I wanted to slap him around for being a complete idiot.
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Kimberly Lauren’s writing. This series has become truly special to me. I loved seeing this different side to the twins & I loved that we got to meet new characters like Lane (I’m super excited for his book)! I really could just ramble on & on about this book. I was happy to see how things turned out for all these amazing characters. They've won a special place in my heart. Ms. Kimberly Lauren thank you so much for such an amazing series!
This book was so emotional & angst-filled. The title fits it perfectly. I cried & I laughed. The sexual tension between Jace & Audrey was palpable & when they finally did have sex it was so hot!!! The chemistry between them could set a place on fire.
Reading book 1 I never saw the connection between them because we knew that Audrey was Jaxon’s ex but in this book everything becomes so clear. Secrets are revealed & lies are cleared. I love Jace with all my heart but there were moments that I wanted to slap him around for being a complete idiot.
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Kimberly Lauren’s writing. This series has become truly special to me. I loved seeing this different side to the twins & I loved that we got to meet new characters like Lane (I’m super excited for his book)! I really could just ramble on & on about this book. I was happy to see how things turned out for all these amazing characters. They've won a special place in my heart. Ms. Kimberly Lauren thank you so much for such an amazing series!
July 7, 2014
4 stars
I liked this better than the 1st book. And gosh they made Audrey seem like such a raging beotch before. The one thing that got to me was the lack of groveling. I felt like there definitely could have been more. But overall a really good story.
I liked this better than the 1st book. And gosh they made Audrey seem like such a raging beotch before. The one thing that got to me was the lack of groveling. I felt like there definitely could have been more. But overall a really good story.
December 1, 2013
That was a fun read.
I hated not being able to finish it in one sitting.
The book grabbed me & didn't let go until the very end.
Jace is a sexy man!!
I hated not being able to finish it in one sitting.
The book grabbed me & didn't let go until the very end.
Jace is a sexy man!!
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