Review: My Favorite in the Series So Far!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 11, 2014
Oh my goodness! Broken Embrace is every bit as suspenseful as its two predecessors. And the suspense is gut-wrenching and very relevant. But I think it's the romance that gives Broken Embrace a completely different feel. Maybe because I couldn't help but feel Melissa and Brain really deserved their second chance. Maybe because I felt Brian's young family deserved some happiness as well. Whatever it was, I was racing through to see what would happen.Melissa Parker has loved Brian Hammel her whole life. It was supposed to be the two of them forever. So she was understandably devastated when Brian married their best friend, Julie, with no explanation. It's taken a long, long time for Melissa to recover but she finally was able to move on - to open her heart tom someone else. And to reconnect with Julie and her kids - but not quite with Brian. When certain events bring to light Julie's betrayals, Melissa knows she has to be there to support Brian and his children.Brian Hammel, whom I'd met in the two previous installments, is a man dedicated to his job as a cop, and dedicated to his family. So Julie's betrayal comes as quite a shock to him. At first, he wants to wallow in his own pain. But with Melissa's help, he realizes he needs to be present for his children. As Brian works towards rebuilding his family, he realizes he has a rare second chance to put everything right with Melissa as well.Witnessing the turmoil and the joy as these two find their way back to one another was heartbreaking and soul-mending. These two souls, whom fate chose to keep apart for so long, had quite the journey back. And although I wouldn't wish on anyone the events that brought them back together, I was elated that fate gave them a second chance.Brian's kids, Erin and Cody, were big parts in the story - especially Erin. Ms. Mason did an excellent job of developing them. I appreciated that because the relationship between their dad and Melissa affected them and I was glad they were considered. Watching Erin's struggles with the secrets she was hiding broke my heart. It's difficult enough being a teenager, but to add on keeping her mother's secret as well as her own was really challenging. Erin was very brave though and did what she felt she had to in order to protect others from suffering.I think this may be my favorite in the series so far. I can't put my finger on the why - maybe the character growth? - but Broken Embrace resonated differently in me. The story pulled me in and held me in its grip til the end. And I'm quite curious to see who the next installment will focus on.**I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.**