Review: Shattered by JL Drake

After witnessing the murder of her lover and the heartbreaking loss of their unborn child, Savannah wants to end it all.

Then she is given a second chance at love. 

Sadly, even when life hands you second chances it doesn’t always follow that things will work out the way you want them to.

Some lies can just be too painful to move on from.

What’s worse than being Broken?

Shattered…

4 Fantastic Stars!

Review by Jen Hagen 

After the ending of the first book, I had no idea how the author would even begin to piece me back together.  She did – although I am held together with glue and my cracks are still visible – and along with Savannah, we are both very, very fragile.  Any little disruption to our new-found acceptance is going to shatter us.  Where do I even begin??  How about this from the first chapter to get your curiosity peaking?   

It’s two in the morning, and since my pathetic attempt at suicide failed I have everyone in the house awake.

Poor Savannah.  My heart continues to break for her.  She is struggling so hard to overcome her devastation and Cole’s broken promise.  She is also starting to place blame and guilt on herself for something that she had no control over.  This would cause anybody to crumble, but when you add a kidnapping on top of all that, all Savannah wants is to stop the seemingly unending pain. 

My heart is shattered forever, and I know that even though I did not end my life today I have no desire to go on.

Savannah is surrounded by people that love her and want nothing more than to help her through this horrific time.  I adored how these strong special ops men cared for her and became soft-hearted whenever it came to her well being.  She pretty much had them wrapped around her finger.  Anything she asked for, they found a way to make it happen.  When Savannah decides she wants to go rogue and find answers on her kidnapping, she finds a weak link in the Shadow house and knows that he will help her.  Savannah still doesn’t know the extent of betrayal, and on her quest for answers she unwraps the magnitude of how deep this scheme flows.  This doesn’t end well, and I was left with a feeling of déjà vu.  Savannah has to be the strongest person I know both physically and mentally.  I continually asked myself “how much more can she endure?”

Savannah is given a second chance at allowing herself to feel something other than grief, to finally be able to love again (I’m not saying with who because this is a surprise!). Things aren’t always black and white though, and I despise what actions were taken to gain intel against “The American.”  It hurt both Savannah and myself.

“Think about how much that would hurt seeing me with another man, looking at him like that, even if it was for a good reason.”

“It would destroy me,” he admits, feeling sick.

She nods once, then slowly closes the door behind her. 

This sends Savannah into a questionable mode – Who is she now?  Where does she go?  Where does she really belong?  The operation has ceased so does she still stay in the house?  The best thing for Savannah is to finally take this time to answer these questions on her own and rediscover herself.  Perhaps the conversation she was hoping to have didn’t go as well as she thought it would, and this again made me hurt.

“It’s not a movie, Savannah.  This shit doesn’t work out.  It’s not always a happy ending.  You don’t belong here anymore.  You don’t need our protection now.” 

Not only was I hurting, but I was furious at these words that were thrown at her!  I think somebody is really going to have to woo me back into good graces in the next installment, because right now he is very low on my likable meter.  

I felt like the author had added considerable amount of depth to the characters and scenes, and personal thoughts were more detailed.  I have been very pleased with this series as it has included so many things I enjoy in a book.  The author has definitely kept us on the edge of our seats and I look forward to what the third book will bring.  Will we finally be able to breathe a little easier? 

I am a broken record when I say Savannah is the strongest person I know.  She will persevere.

I must move forward and not look back.