Broken (Broken #1)

This book had potential to be a good story. However, what ruined it for me was the language. The lead characters in this book are supposed to be business owning successful adults. However, nobody in this book seemed to have a vocabulary or thought process above the level of a high school senior. This author seemed to work hard to figure out ways to add the f-bomb in as many offensive configurations as possible–noun, verb, adverb, adjective. It was extremely annoying and often did not make sense in the context the author used the f-bomb. To me, this caused the characters to come off as immature brats. The other thing that came off as unrealistic was the overdone internal monologues the male characters would have with themselves. I just do not buy rough and tumble cowboys having high school girl thought processes like these men had on a regular basis. Finally, I was a bit bothered by how some characters were first portrayed as “good ol’ boys” sympathetic to the main characters just suddenly turning into one of the bad guys for no reason. The leap did not make sense. The random way this was done just didn’t work for me. I’m not saying this book was a total waste of time. There’s two stories going on here. The love story that develops between the main characters Whitley and Layton is kind of lovely to watch once you get past the immature language. Whitley’s best friend Courtney has a complicated love story of her own developing in the background too. Frankly, Courtney’s story was more interesting to me. Unfortunately, Courtney’s story is the sequel to this book. Due to the raunchy overused f-bombs in this book I really don’t see myself spending any money on the remainder of this series.

I rarely write reviews, but felt in necessary in this case. I read a lot and will download most anything that is free so I don’t expect great quality in every book. However, I feel authors should generally be able to follow a plot line. This was a rollercoaster for the characters and for me, the reader. The story starts off well enough, then comes the excessive and completely out of place swearing, whoa but I guess ok. Then the main character is attracted to every female in the entire story, a little weird and isn’t this supposed to be the good guy? And then the worst part, the winking! I started thinking everyone in the book had a neurological disorder with all the winking. Anytime a character talked they also winked! Who winks that much? By the middle of the book every time I saw the word winked I would feel annoyed. By the middle of the book only two weeks have passed, fairly normal for a quick romance story. Suddenly it is months later, huge plot holes. It’s as though the story got boring for the author and they just wanted to finish it up as soon as possible, ignoring important things started in the first half. At the end of the book I could only read a page a day because of the excessive winking. Did no one edit this book? I almost feel like I deserve an award for finishing it.

This book would have to be one of the best books I have read in 2018. Hands down one of the best. I fell in love with Layton straight away. His character was absolutely beautiful. The fact he was so broken by life and yet still so loving and not afraid to show his emotions. Oh my gosh… Whitley was such a lovely character as well. What she had been through and still be the person she was uplifting. A beautiful soul and she found her other half. Kelly Elliott wrote a stunningly beautiful story. My first book and can say it won’t be my last. I am totally hooked on her beautiful ability to weave a lovely heartwarming story. I was blown away how Whitley new about this little Texas town and that Laytons Dad knew all that had been happening. I loved how Kelly portrayed Laytons dreams especially the last one. That got a sob out of me. Hand on my heart!! I guess my only tiny (very tiny) gripe would be the letter from Laytons Dad to Layton and Whitley. It would have rounded out this book perfectly to know what those letters contained especially for Layton. Look forward to reading Courtney and Reeds story.

This is my first book by this author. I got it because a friend was reading it, and it was free! I’ll start with what I didn’t like. Get that out of the way first. . The overuse of cursing. I have NO problem with cursing. With an F-Bomb when and where you might expect it. But the cursing was just WAY over the top for my taste! Like the author couldn’t come up with any other words, but curse words. And it was even more offensive coming from the girl’s. That was my biggest gripe about the whole book. My opinion. 2. The hero, Layton, came off unlikable for me….until somewhere around chapter 12-14. Then, when he realized he was in love with Whitley, he became a likable guy. I wish he’d been likable from the start. With his heartbreaking backstory. He should have been. 3. At times, I found myself liking the hero and heroine’s bestie’s, Reed and Courtney more than the hero and heroine of this book. Don’t know that I’ll purchase Reed and Courtney’s story though, if it’s going to be full of just cussing again. What I Liked! 1. The storyline itself was amazing. 2. Whitley’s best friend, Courtney was a hoot! LOVED her! Love her job. 3. Loved Whitley’s parent’s. 4. Loved Layton’s friend, Reed. 5. Cowboys and horses. 6. Layton does eventually become likable. 7. LOVED the jewelry store scene, 8. Little Kate.

I’d downloaded this book last November, a year I’ve had this, but for some reason I hadn’t read it, how that happened god only knows. All I have to say is thank goodness I found it because I’m totally hooked. What a fabulous Author and a brilliant series so far, gosh I’ve only just finished Broken but don’t you just know when it’s all going to be so good.! I loved the whole storyline, the way it’s portrayed, the characters, everything, from the very beginning, Whitley and Courtney are great team there’s never a dull moment they certainly keep you entertained, but having said that there’s a lot of very sad moments especially with Layton and Mike and then when you realise Layton’s on his own, ooh dear it’s pretty heartbreaking, but it was so beautiful the way Whitley and Layton came together it was defiantly fate, they were made for each other, I honestly couldn’t fault a thing about this story, I’m going straight onto Broken Dreams now, can’t wait to read Courtney and Reeds story and I’m adding Kelly Elliott to my fav’s. If you love Melissa Foster and Jennifer Foor and all those types of Authors then you’ll love this series..!! Thank you ..

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