Review: Emotionally Engaging Story of Redemption
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 16, 2013
Though this is a novella, Broken: Secrets in Madison Falls, is a story full of emotional highs and lows with a fully fleshed-out romance amidst the healing power of love and redemption.  The author realistically displays the sense of family that comes from small town living and the ability to start over that it provides.Bella's life has been one of emotional pain ever since the death of her mother when she was young and she and her sister were sent from one foster home to the next.  As the older sister she set herself up as the protector, the one to take the pain so her sister would be kept safe.  Years of untold physical, sexual, and emotional abuse has created an adult afraid to love, unwilling to open her heart for fear of being hurt yet again.  It's made her a bit cold and guarded with her true feelings only surfacing in relation to her sister.  With the death of her sister she's left picking up the pieces yet again when she's made guardian of her nephew, Ethan.  Leaving the world of porn behind, which she worked in to financially support Ethan and her sister, she comes to this small town not expecting much but getting so much more than she expected.  Bella is a hard hearted character who's been through more than anyone should in her short lifetime.  Doing things she never wanted to do, selling her soul along with her body, makes for an unconventional heroine but she's definitely one in my book.Grant too has been hurt, by an ex-wife who cheated on him with his friend.  It's caused him to shut off his heart, but when he meets Bella he's drawn to her and together they'll heal each other.  Grant is a true white knight in that he's supportive of Bella and encourages her to open her heart and mind.  He never judges her as she expects him to do, even when it's clear he knows everything about her.  He shows her that she's desrving of love and that she needs to love herself just as much as he loves her.  He's a father figure for Ethan and a friend and lover to Bella and I absolutely adored him and couldn't have picked a better man to help Bella heal.Ms. Hanna portrayed small town life with its colorful characters and sense of closeness beautifully.  It's in this close knit caring environment that Bella can finally move beyond her past.  She really can start again.  Being able to see things through both Bella and Grant's minds made for an even more emotional story as their pain was made even more clear.  Thus, their mutual healing was even more satisfying.  The author brings forth some intriguing twists regarding Bella's past and ultimately wraps up everything in a nice and happy bow.  Ms. Hanna has created a memorable novella and I look forward to what she can create in a longer format.