Review: Perfectly Broken by Prescott Lane

Even after years of trauma therapy, Peyton still believes she’s broken. She has little desire to date or show off her natural beauty, content simply to hang out with her best friends and run her pie shop in New Orleans. But her world turns upside-down when a handsome architect and self-confessed player shows up in her shop and thinks she’s perfect, much more than the usual hook-up. While Peyton does her best to resist his charms, believing she could never be enough for him, she can’t deny the obvious heat between them. With Reed determined to have her, Peyton must decide whether to continue to hide behind her apron and baggy clothes or take a chance and share her scars with Reed, a man with a playboy reputation and scars of his own -- a dark past he can’t possibly share with Peyton, not after learning the horrors she’s endured. But if they can find a way to trust each other, and themselves, they just might be able to heal, to save each other, to live perfectly broken together.

4 Star Review by Nicole Lorenzo

Peyton Mayfield is still haunted by a terrible event that altered her life forever. She’s still plagued with nightmares and panic attacks and fears they will stay with her forever. She runs a very successful pie shop in New Orleans, attends her regular therapy sessions, hides behind her baggy clothes and has no interest in dating whatsoever. Then Reed Langston walks into her pie shop and changes everything. Reed is a well-known player. And as handsome as he is Peyton knows she needs to stay very far away from him. But Reed starts hanging out in her pie shop on a daily basis trying to get to know her. Peyton knows she could never be enough for a man like Reed, especially with her past, but he is not easily dissuaded and continues to pursue her.

"You can try a whole lot of different kinds of pies and never be satisfied. So you just keep trying them all. Or you can wait for that one special kind of pie that can satisfy you with one bite. So the question is- are you looking for variety, or are you willing to hold out for the real deal?"

Reed Langston is a player. He has no desire to settle down, he’s seen how bad a marriage can be thanks to his father. His father’s past actions have left a dark cloud over Reed that follows him everywhere. He has a few friends with benefits that he sees when inclined and then he sends them on their merry way. He likes it this way until he walks into a pie shop and see’s Peyton for the first time. Reed see’s something hidden behind Peyton’s frumpy clothes and demure smile. Something that normally wouldn’t interest a man like Reed. But he finds himself intrigued and tries his damndest to get her to agree to go out with him. Peyton isn’t like the women Reed normally spends his time with and maybe that’s exactly what he likes about her. Once he finally convinces her that he has a general interest in her, and that he is willing to take things at her pace, she finally consents to go out with him. For the first time ever Reed finds himself dating a girl where sex is not on the table right away, but he knows this girl is worth the wait.

“Well I've had variety, it left me hungry, unsatisfied, even a bit sick sometimes. But one bite, one nibble of the real deal...of you...leaves me happy, content, wanting more of you, and only you.”

The heat between Reed and Peyton is undeniable but Peyton is still terrified to take that next step with Reed. She doesn’t know if she can, despite how much she wants to. She knows she needs to tell Reed about her past, so he can understand how broken she really is. When she does find the courage to share her story with him, she is shocked to find that his feelings haven’t changed towards her at all.

"You are not broken...and I'll spend the rest of my life kissing every inch of you until you believe me"

 Reed has his own story to tell but after hearing about Peyton’s past he knows that it’s the last thing he wants her to know about. But when Peyton finds out anyway she is shocked and angry that he didn’t tell her earlier. Not feeling like she can trust him, she breaks it off with Reed. Now they are both alone and miserable. Can they both let go of their difficult pasts so they can truly be happy? Or are they both meant to remain broken?

"I know we're worth saving. We're not broken. We're perfect together."

Perfectly Broken is a sweet love story about two people who find, love and heal each other. Reed and Peyton both have difficult pasts that they have been hiding from. Only once they found each other were they able to let go and learn to be happy like they deserve. Peyton has suffered so much loss, but still she is a strong woman who took care of herself and others around her. Still she felt broken until Reed barged into her life and made her feel things she never though she could. Reed feared turning into his father, but also felt it was inevitable. Then he met Peyton and he found himself wanting things he never though he would.  Their story is sweet and slow building, overall I really liked it! This is the first novel I’ve read by Prescott Lane, I can’t wait to check out her other work!

“You happened to me, you changed everything.”