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Broken Dreams

(Shattered Lives #1)

Rissa Blakeley (Goodreads Author)

4.07 · Rating details · 110 ratings · 57 reviews

Elaina Cooper’s world was turned upside down on what was supposed to be the happiest day of her life. She was about to marry Henry Daniels, the man of her dreams -- or so she thought. Just as she was to walk down the aisle, screams pierced the air.

In the days that followed, questions lingered in Elaina’s mind. Why did Henry seem to know so much about what was h ...more

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ebook, 634 pages

Published April 27th 2014 by self (first published April 21st 2014)

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Start your review of Broken Dreams (Shattered Lives, #1)

Feb 23, 2016 Carol (StarAngel's Reviews) Allen marked it as on-hold-maybe-finish-later

I have to put this down for a bit. I just can't get into it right now.

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Aug 05, 2016 ☆Stephanie☆ rated it liked it

Recommends it for: Fans of romance, fans of erotica

Shelves: ya-science-fiction, goodreads-request, free-book-on-goodreads, new-adult

Title: Shattered Lives: Broken Dreams (Book 1)
Author: Rissa Blakeley
Publisher: Rissa Blakeley, 2014
Genre: NA Science Fiction, NA Paranormal

**I received a copy of this book free from the Author in exchange for an honest review**

This review can also be found @ my Goodreads page or TeacherofYa's Tumblr

My Review:

Ummm. How do I start this? Let me just say that the book was 634 pages. 634!!! I am just thrilled to be done. Whew! This has nothing to do with the content of tParanormal
...more

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Jul 06, 2014 Tiffany rated it it was amazing

556 Book Chicks was not expecting to like this one...
It's like that sometimes when Authors send you a request to read and review their book. It immediately puts pressure on you to like the book. Then there are times you discover a book that you wouldn't have necessarily 1-clicked on Amazon. And the Book Gods are screaming you were handed a gem of a book darling. LOL! My Book Gods often speak with a Southern twang. LOL!

I don't know if I would even classify this book as paranorma 556 Book Chicks was not expecting to like this one...
It's like that sometimes when Authors send you a request to read and review their book. It immediately puts pressure on you to like the book. Then there are times you discover a book that you wouldn't have necessarily 1-clicked on Amazon. And the Book Gods are screaming you were handed a gem of a book darling. LOL! My Book Gods often speak with a Southern twang. LOL!

I don't know if I would even classify this book as paranormal. It is, but it is so modern that you almost forget that it is "paranormal." It is so much more though...it's a story about love, forgiveness, starting over, and living life. And it is filled with action! I was a nervous wreck waiting...

Henry was sent to the US to complete a mission. Henry was trained to carryout this mission and he had every intention of doing so until he met Elaina. Then his mission changed to winning over the woman he loved, who had changed his whole purpose.

I loved all the action in this book...it was a page turner. The day Henry and Elaina attended the wedding, is the same day all hell broke loose in the city. Coincidence? No! Word had spread that Henry had derailed from his mission, but Roger was determined that the show must still go on. And so the world was exposed to the virus that caused humans to become undead. Who would escape the cluster fuck alive?

My holy shit moment...Henry, Elaina, Claire (Elaina's best friend) and Nick (Elaina's brother) were in the store looking for gas and supplies...when one of them is caught by an undead. There is also a kid in the store with a shotgun ready to take them all out if necessary. And when the kid tells them what he saw happened...they called bullshit. "I saw him go behind him after he yelled to you, covered his mouth wit' his hand, and put a gun to his head. It's true! Then he bit right down on his arm and was suckin' on it like a vampire!" OMG! I know you want to know who was hurt...and I can't wait for you to find out. But you have to read the book!

The suspense will almost kill you...I knew that Henry had secrets buried deep, but just when you discover one secret another 10 pop up out of nowhere. It's like he could never escape his past, and I found myself feeling so sorry for Henry. On top of all his secrets he has now found himself in charge of keeping his friends alive. Broken Dreams is a must read. I loved every second of it and I can't wait to read part 2.

~Tiffany (556 Book Chicks)

...more

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Jun 21, 2014 Veronica rated it liked it

I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads.

I should say upfront this book is not my usual genre but I was interested enough in the synopsis and the chance to read a long (more than 600 page) book so I decided to give it a go. I'm glad a did because it is an enjoyable story.

I like that events in the book followed different characters at different times. It didn't take too long for the apocalyptic event to occur and for our characters to be fighting to survive. The fight for ...more

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Jul 26, 2016 Sharon Mariampillai rated it really liked it

Shelves: must-read, 2016-reads, e-books, romance, books-i-have, suspense, new-adult, 4-stars, dystopians, fantasy

I received a copy from the author, in exchange for an honest review.

This was an interesting read. I think what made me want to review this book was that it was a paranormal dystopian. The characters were okay. I really liked Henry out of all of the characters. I thought he was the best character. He was attractive, and there was just something about him. I hope to see what happens to his character and the other characters. The story was very interesting. However, it was slow paced an ...more

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May 02, 2014 Heather rated it really liked it

Broken Dreams is unlike any other book I have read. I don’t want to give away anything that isn’t in the blurb, so forgive me if I am evasive, but I hate it when reviews give away things that I didn’t know from what the author shared when telling us about their book.

This is an excellent debut from Rissa Blakely. I am one of those people who believe that the longer the book is, the better it is for me. 675 pages made me extremely happy. I read this in two day, I was completely pulled into the story that i Broken Dreams is unlike any other book I have read. I don’t want to give away anything that isn’t in the blurb, so forgive me if I am evasive, but I hate it when reviews give away things that I didn’t know from what the author shared when telling us about their book.

This is an excellent debut from Rissa Blakely. I am one of those people who believe that the longer the book is, the better it is for me. 675 pages made me extremely happy. I read this in two day, I was completely pulled into the story that is Broken Dreams, a tale about surviving, about love even when there are humongous obstacles in the path, about being broken and patching yourself together to survive another day, and about friendships and what they can survive.

Broken Dreams is full of action and has quite a bit of gore, which I loved. It kept the book moving and made me want to know what was going to happen next. What can these people survive? What is going to be the breaking point? It is not just about Elaina and Henry (their hot scenes together are incredibly steamy for those who look for that mixed in amongst their adventure), there is a whole group of friends trying to make it: Nick, Claire, Thomas, Sophie, and more that we come to meet as we go along this journey, each one playing their own integral role.

The only critique I have is that I wish there was more … I don’t know what word I want … just more to the slower scenes, the conversations that weren’t arguments or full of adrenaline because they were fighting for their lives, they didn’t have that same level of energy, that same pull for me as the rest of the book. Do not get me wrong, they still were great scenes, they just felt a little bit flatter to me compared to the rest of the book.

Going through Henry’s past, bit by bit in the book was heart wrenching, hearing secrets come out in little pieces here and there added so much more intrigue to the plot and kept me guessing. You do not know which way Rissa is going to turn in Broken Dreams. This is one of those books where you don’t even try to guess ahead after the first couple of secrets come out because you realize that she is one step ahead of you at every turn.

All in all excellent book and a really great start to what promises to be an amazing series. I cannot wait to read the next one.

...more

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Jul 09, 2014 Mary Mooney rated it really liked it

I received a copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads, so here it is. After reading the synopsis, I was not expecting this story line. Liam's past broke my heart. He was being trained for a job and then beaten on a regular basis because he questioned those in charge. When he was sent to the United States to do the job, he began to have second thoughts. And after meeting and falling in love with Elaina, he changed his mind completely. But on their wedding day all hell broke loose. Pe ...more

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Mar 03, 2015 Nicole rated it it was amazing

Shelves: on-my-kindle

Freaking awesome. It sucks you in and eats at your brain, not letting go until you are emotionally spent and brain dead.
I was blown away at how much I enjoyed it. I'm working on book 2 now. Don't be turned away by the post-apocalyptic or zombie tags, this is more about the romance and the survival story. Henry is so attractive. You feel for him because of the torture that he goes through. His decision to leave the organization is what is the catalyst for the virus being released, but his l ...more

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Jul 12, 2014 S.M. Harshell rated it really liked it

Shelves: wicked-reads-review, suspense, 2014-challenge, 4-star, zombies

** I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads. **

I didn't know what to expect when I read the blurb, I was pleasantly surprised. 600 pages is a big commitment of time in a book, Broken Dreams did not disappoint!

Broken Dreams is the story about love and friendship but above all else survival. This story is action packed and well worth the time to read. I have stepped away from the paranormal reads, this was a great book to jump back into that genre with.

Can't wait to s ...more

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Jan 03, 2016 I’d just rather read 📚 added it · review of another edition

4 Stars

This book was good. It was slow in the beginning but picked up about halfway through. The emotional rollercoaster ride that the author takes you on with one of the main characters, Henry, is well, emotionally dark. It's a journey though that you have to take. I gave only 4 stars because to me there were to many flash backs.

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Jun 10, 2014 Kristin rated it it was amazing

I’m not sure where to start other than to say, hold on to your socks because they are going to be rocked with this new series!

Broken Dreams is the first book in a new trilogy by Rissa Blakeley and takes you on a journey with Henry, Elaina, Sophie, Nick, Claire and Thomas as they fight to survive what can only be described as the end of the world for them. The book is primarily told in Elaina’s point of view, but you will also see things in the third-person as well. Ms. Blakeley als ...more

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May 07, 2015 Nancy Brisson rated it liked it

This trilogy is written by the daughter of a couple in my yoga class. Their daughter has chosen the pen name Rissa Blakeley and the trilogy is called Shattered Lives (Volume 1, Broken Dreams; Volume 2, Awakened Desires; Volume 3 which is not yet available but it almost due out, Fractured Hearts.

These books are “fun fiction” although they also may strike a more serious chord if you are in the midst of a tempestuous relationship, which means that these books probably have the greatest appeal for younger readers. Fa This trilogy is written by the daughter of a couple in my yoga class. Their daughter has chosen the pen name Rissa Blakeley and the trilogy is called Shattered Lives (Volume 1, Broken Dreams; Volume 2, Awakened Desires; Volume 3 which is not yet available but it almost due out, Fractured Hearts.

These books are “fun fiction” although they also may strike a more serious chord if you are in the midst of a tempestuous relationship, which means that these books probably have the greatest appeal for younger readers. Fair warning though, there is a lot a graphic sexual material and violence in here that is not suitable to young adult literature. This puts the target reader in the 20-40 year old area, I would guess.

Henry falls deeply in love with Elaina as soon as he lays eyes on her and she loves him back just as instantly and intensely. But Henry has some mysterious qualities that Elaina wonders about. His eyes are a bright emerald green for one thing. He seemed to arrive in Elaina’s world as if he dropped in from nowhere for another. He appears to be wealthy but has a job as the head of a blood bank.

This book is full of undeads (not zombies) who have caught a virus that was released into the wedding of Henry and Elaina (the wedding does not take place, at least not then). Henry knows about the virus because he was raised by the “terrorists” who want to use the virus to gain power.

The virus crops up at Henry’s wedding because he is being punished for leaving the group that trained him. Undeads must be killed to render them true dead or they will pass the virus on to you by eating your throat out.

From this point on these stories are nonstop action, human angst, fear, and passionate, desperate love and love-making and moment by moment survival.

No I will not tell you why Henry’s eyes are bright emerald green because I think there is an audience for these books. In fact, I have left a lot for you to discover on your own. I will tell you that these are long books. However, if you are passionate about this type of novel they may not seem lengthy to you at all. I think these books would adapt well as movies.
...more

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Jul 23, 2014 Brenda rated it it was amazing

Henry Daniels went through Hell growing up, but it made him strong and he survived. Nothing could break him. Until he met Elaina. The black haired beauty held his heart and soul in the palm of her hand and held the power to bring him to his knees. And she loved him just as greatly.

Their wedding day should have been perfect, and it would have been....until the zombie apocalypse began.

Yep, you read that right. The zombie-freaking-apocalypse. What starts out as a typical boy ...more

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Jul 16, 2014 BooksandBeyondFiftyShades rated it it was amazing

Broken Dreams begins by introducing us Liam (Henry) at a training area in London. Henry is given an assignment to be completed in the United States. Henry is adamant about denying the assignment because he doesn’t want to leave Sophie behind.

He is not given choice and is sent to the US to complete his assignment. After arriving in the US and scouting his location as directed he meets Elaina in a neighborhood bookstore and immediately drawn to her.

Henry and Elaina’s wedding day arriv ...more

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Sep 18, 2015 Julie Ayling rated it it was amazing

I was given a copy Exchange for my honest review.
This is normally not a book I would pick up and read. But I'm so glad I did. This is a lot more than just just zombies, this book is about Love, and forgiveness, and family.
Henry who comes from a program where he was raised and basically molded to be what they want he live through hell until one day The program sends Henry and out into the real world to do his job.
Well Henry's out recruiting that's where he meets his black beauty Elai ...more

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Jun 29, 2014 Shelby rated it liked it

Shelves: series, wickedreviews, erotica, romance, sci-fi

*I received a free copy to read & review for Wicked Reads*

This book was an interesting mix of Romance and Zombie Apocalypse!
The story starts at the wedding of Elaina Cooper and Henry Daniels - and quickly the Zombie Apocalypse is upon them.
We get to know the characters, we learn their back-stories, and see who they really are.
I can't give anything away, this story was rather intense at times and laid back at others.
This story was FULL of action, adventure, general & erotic romance. I found mys ...more

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Aug 05, 2014 Elizabeth rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 2014

I hate cliffhangers then having to wait for subsequent books but I will just have to.
I was trying to figure out where this book was headed when I arrived at the wedding from hell - literally. I was initially annoyed as this is not my preferred genre, however I was already invested in the characters and it had been recommended by a friend; also I liked Rissa Blakeley's writing style.
I knew there had to be more to the story so wasn't surprised when it unfolded. Shocked and horrified ye ...more

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May 17, 2014 E.F. rated it it was amazing

Recommends it for: Everyone

I just finished reading Broken Dreams and all I can say is my mind is still reeling. This book is dangerous, sexy, emotionally charged, and just all around lip biting good! The characters are so well writing that they practically jump off the page and read their story to you. Henry, in particular, is now a favorite character of mine! One that I can’t wait to read more about in the next installment in this series!

Broken Dreams is such an fantastic debut novel and I cannot applaud Rissa Blakeley enough for c ...more

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Aug 12, 2014 Jessica Smith rated it it was amazing

I'm not sure how to review this without giving anything away, so I'll just say this: If someone had told me what "genre" this book was, I wouldn't have picked it up. And that would have been a HUGE mistake. HUGE. There is nothing cheesy about this book. The writing is witty, modern and sharp. I immediately fell in love with Henry, and instantly related to Elaina's sarcasm and childish mood swings. (You have them too and you know it!) Rissa Blakeley obviously writes from her heart and each charac ...more

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Apr 01, 2015 Elizabeth Robbins rated it it was amazing

Not your typical paranormal romance, for sure. What begins as a tale of pain and misery, for our reluctant hero, Henry, morphs into a beautiful romance when he meets Elaina. Their love is what ultimately carries them through the coming apocalypse (well that, and the booze, and (oh yeah) the blood...). This is a pretty high-intensity story, which is (thankfully) broken up some, by more peaceful retrospectives, and some surprising humor. The characters are very well described, and the plot is phen ...more

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Nov 14, 2015 Hazel Lewis rated it it was amazing

k I received this book for free for a honest review
Ok where do I begin?
I honestly thought this book is not for me yes I like paranormal but zombies uh no kinda freaks me out but I was pursuaded :) and I'm so glad I was
It starts of a bit slow (first chapter or 2) so I kept reading and wow it just got better and better it's got so many twists and turns that you don't expect you can't put this book down believe me between hunky Liam and all the different scenes wow it's definitely ...more

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Jul 24, 2014 Jody Pardo rated it it was amazing

I absolutely loved this book!!! I must say when I started to read this book I thought it was a romance book. I guess because I had been reading a lot in that genre and was in romance mode...and it is a romance but SO MUCH MORE! Ok so hot steamy scenes? Check. Violence and conflicts? Check. Hot Brit that my imagination runs wild as he switches from American to Brit lingo? Check. More steamy scenes in between rockin action scenes? Check. Oh did I mention undead Zombies?!? Double exponential check! ...more

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Aug 14, 2014 Kira Marchitto rated it it was amazing

For a first novel, this book was AMAZING!!!!!!!! I felt like she had been writing for years. This book has everything I am looking for:sex, suspense, intrigue, sex, drama and sex. I couldn't put it down. It only took me a week to read it but I would have been done sooner if I didn't have to sleep, eat, work and take care of my kids. I am sitting on pins and needles waiting for the next book.

If you are looking for a good book that will take you away from your crazy life for a little while then ...more

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May 14, 2014 Kara Gerena rated it it was amazing

Just finished reading Broken Dreams! It took me a little while because this is not a short story or even a normal size novel. The book is a great addition to the paranormal / erotica genre but it come with a vast uniqueness that I have not seen other authors attempt. After reading a few chapters in you will figure out that the female characters are the backbone of the relationships and to be honest, the whole story.this was a great read that kept me engaged with all of the twisters and turns and ...more

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Feb 24, 2015 Jessica Kong rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-and-reviewed, horror-thriller

Rissa Blakeley definitely knows how to pull your strings. She has created a story that will have you wanting to jump into the book and strangle certain characters. I know I did. This story has the perfect blend of action, drama and zombies. At times, I found it a little slow, but those parts were few, and the story is so well developed and satisfying that it really didn’t matter. I can’t imagine how any of the issues between the characters will be resolved, but I will be following along to find ...more

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Feb 20, 2015 Kristina Hoffman added it

This book was amazing! Her description of each scene and character were so surreal I felt like I was watching a movie! This is not only a paranormal book but also contains romance! If you love zombies and the apocolypse this book is for you, great job Rissa!!

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Dec 04, 2014 Riley K. rated it it was amazing

This was the first ever Rissa Blakeley book, I've ever read. She has earned a fan. This book is effing amazing and I cannot wait to read the sequel. From start to finish, you had me hooked. The characters were well written and the plot was simply amazing.

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Aug 24, 2014 Bianca42 rated it it was amazing

Fast paced twist on your typical zombie story. I can't wait to read more.

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Dec 09, 2014 Felicity Kates rated it it was amazing

Wow...just wow! this is such a gripping story. LOVED it!

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Oct 29, 2016 Samantha rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Broken Dreams had a very powerful beginning that pulled me right into the story and kept me hooked. When the story flipped to Elaina's point of view and the events connected with the virus started to happen, I had just as many questions and fears as she did. The odds were very much against them in this new reality and I needed to know what would happen next. Each time they went outside, my pulse was racing wondering if everyone would make it back alright. As more and more of Henry's secrets unfo Broken Dreams had a very powerful beginning that pulled me right into the story and kept me hooked. When the story flipped to Elaina's point of view and the events connected with the virus started to happen, I had just as many questions and fears as she did. The odds were very much against them in this new reality and I needed to know what would happen next. Each time they went outside, my pulse was racing wondering if everyone would make it back alright. As more and more of Henry's secrets unfolded, I found it nearly impossible to put this book down. I enjoyed the blend of past and present scenes. Blakely did a fantastic job of making the transitions very easy to follow. My jaw dropped after reading what happened between Sophie and Nate in Chapter 12. Wow. The surprises just kept coming. In Chapter 13, when Elaina desperately wanted to search for her mom and was trying to convince the others, it really tugged at my heartstrings. There were times when I found all of the emotions and secrets between Elaina and Henry to be a bit tiring, but based on his background I understood why he was the way he was and accepted it. I did want to shake him into simply telling her the whole truth and dealing with the outcome though. Once the truth finally came out at the gas station convenience store, I felt both satisfaction and trepidation about what would come next for them. When things went down at Elaina's mother's house, I felt such hopelessness for their situation as a whole. This book really made me run through every emotion there was to be had. I really loved that about it. They finally seem to feel as if they had gotten a handle on the situation, and then the planes came. My feelings of despair returned full-force. I wanted so badly for them to be successful, but the odds were always stacked against them. Blakely's storytelling and the continuous glimmer of hope kept me turning page after page in my need to see them overcome. Later in the story when Henry is battling his inner demons and using alcohol as a weapon, I felt all of Elaina's pain and frustration, but again I understood his actions came from the darkness that he had lived through. I desperately wanted her love and acceptance to be enough to pull him from the brink of the abyss. I am very much in awe of Blakely's writing and her ability to have me so invested in the lives of these characters. She really is an amazing author. This book was long, yet purposeful. It always kept moving forward and had me eager to keep going. The ending hit me like a slap in the face and already has me reaching for the next book in the series. Kudos on a fabulously engaging book! ...more

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About Rissa Blakeley

Rissa Blakeley

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Rissa Blakeley is the author of a fantasy paranormal series, Corvidae Guard, and a post-apocalyptic saga, Shattered Lives, which features a paranormal twist and has been adapted into graphic novel form.

As a native New Yorker, Rissa is now a Georgia transplant who is completely addicted to black coffee and La Croix, obsessively listening to songs on repeat. Her days are packed with char ...more