Review: HLB Reviews Shattered
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 23, 2014
Ah the story of a broken man. I absolutely love the story of the broken man. I think because the stereotype is so often that women are the ones who are broken and need to be put together by a man, so I love when books so off that anyone can become broken. This book involves snowboarding, which I am, well, let's say not familiar with the sport. I was a little worried that the book would be filled with lingo that I didn't know, and while there was a lot of snowboarding talk, the author did a great job of explaining what everything was, so I didn't feel confused at all throughout the course of the book.Ash's parents died in a car accident while on there way to watch him compete in the lead up to his making the Olympic team, and his brother was paralyzed in the accident. Suddenly Ash gives up snowboarding, is responsible for his fourteen year old brother, and is such a changed, broken, and guilt-ridden man that he is hardly recognizable. I really felt bad for him. Throughout the entire book, he's in such a bad situation, that I think anyone could emphasize with. There are moments when I really wanted to shake him though, he is dealing with such a hard thing, and he is absolutely doing the best that he can, but he makes decisions for everyone else based on what he thinks is right without ever consult anyone, specifically with his brother.Tansy is recovering from cancer, so it makes perfect sense that she devotes herself to her new job at the Make-A-Wish foundation. She is definitely someone who can identify with the people she is now helping in her job. And this is how she meets Ash, Ash who really sees her, makes her feel things that she has never felt before. I absolutely loved the two of them together. They just work. They both have so much to overcome, and they each have these walls built up, but when the two of them are alone together its like those barriers just disappear and they work so fantastically together.I really did enjoy this story, I liked the character dynamics a lot, there was kind of a built up angst that worked for the first part of the book, but once they finally came together it was great. I loved the writing style as well, and I have to say the other is great at writing the hot and heavy scenes. I really did enjoy this book from start to finish. I would recommend this to anyone who liked new adult romance, as well as people who like romances with a sports theme.