Shattered Hearts

King's Crossing #5

by V.M. Rheault

Secrets. Money. Murder.

Gage
When Zarah had her breakdown, I thought we were over. But I’m a tenacious SOB, and I’m not giving up on her that easily.
It doesn’t matter if someone blows up my truck as a warning to stay away from her.
Pop and I don’t stop investigating what was happening at Quiet Meadows, and after Zarah and I look around the sanatorium to see if it will help loosen some of her memories, I’m convinced the facility is the key to it all.
But there’s more against us than just Zarah’s past, and when she walks away, I have no choice but to let her go and try like hell not to look back.



Zarah
I’m not getting better. My memory is slipping away, and it scares me. The only constant in my life is Gage, but because of my uncertain future, being with him doesn’t bring the joy it could have.
As Gage and his father investigate the deaths of previous patients of Quiet Meadows, I dig into my own past, and we realize there was more to my parents’ plane crash, Max’s death, and Ash locking me away than we thought.
Through it all, I can’t stop thinking Gage could do better than a broken, damaged girl like me, and believing I’m doing the right thing, I let him go.
What I didn’t understand is I was stronger with him, and now I have to face the danger I’m in alone.


Author’s This series is better described as a serial, and you must start with book one. Also, books one, two, four, and five end in cliffhangers, and if you dislike those, please be warned because I hate saying, “I told you so.” :) These books are full of delicate material, and a complete list is available on the author’s website for your convenience. Thank you.

318 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 3, 2025

About the author

VM Rheault writes billionaire romance and contemporary romance under Vania Rheault. She's lived in Minnesota all her life, and fall is her favorite season. You'll always find her with a cup of coffee in hand while writing, reading, or snuggling with her cat.

If you want a free billionaire ugly-duckling full-length novel, sign up to her newsletter.

https://vmrheault.com/subscribe/

Reviews

[Nicole Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

King’s Crossing is changing. Though some bad guys have been dealt with, mystery still hangs in the air. Previous patients of Quiet Meadows are dying. It can’t be a coincidence, right? Let’s get down to what readers really care about. Zarah and Gage are still going strong. They have their issues but the love is strong though still fairly new. Zane and Stella have decided to hire Gage and his dad to investigate the weird coincidences. Outside influences are at play.

Zarah has started filling better and is prescribed a new medication. The new medications are not making Zarah feel better. Is this new medication the cause for Zarah not being able to concentrate?
Zarah wants to start making her own decisions, but is it safe? Zarah is afraid to tell Stella, Zane or Gage about what she she feeling. She is scared they might take away the little independence that she has gained. Someone is working against them. Outside influences will make Zarah doubt herself, and in turn, doubt Gage. Things are definitely changing in King’s Crossing. I can’t imagine what this next book will entail. This series is full of mystery centered around a family that wants to put the past behind them.

[ravenblackbird74 · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚Review ~ Shattered Hearts (King's Crossing, #5)
🖋Author ~ VM Rheault
🖋Features: Billionaires & Millionaires Romance, serial, cliffhanger, mystery
⭐️Rating: 5/5

Secrets. Money. Murder.
The intrigue and roller coaster of emotions continue in Shattered Hearts.

I started reading VM Rheault’s King’s Crossing series with the first book in the series, Cruel Fate. Gage and his sister Zarah almost inadvertently uncover heinous crimes involving the murder of their parents. The intricacy of the series maintains its grip, keeping me reading and turning the pages!

Gage ~ When Zarah had her breakdown, I thought we were over. But I’m tenacious. I’m not giving up on her that easily, not even when someone blows up my truck as a warning to stay away.

Zarah ~ is in a battle for her sanity. Discordant, disjointed memories bring to light a shocking discovery of abuse. But it’s more than just Zarah’s imprisonment at Quiet Meadows that is threatening her and Gage.

After reading Shattered Hearts, I was left wrecked and devastated for Gage and Zarah. Falling into Zarah’s world by mistake, Gage and his father are a steady, constant foundation with which Zane, Zarah, and Stella can find some stability. Unfortunately, they are entrenched in a treacherous and cunning game for their lives. With insidiously sly players surrounding them, who can they trust with their lives, with their hearts?  

 Protective Private Investigator MMC
★ Abused, Recovering FMC
★ Slow Burn
★ Cliffhanger (part of series)
★ Intense Drama

📍Read ~ Content Note available on author’s website

🖋Enjoyment: 5. Readability: 5. Writing: 5. 
🖋Setting: 5. Plot: 5. Characters: 5. 

https://linktr.ee/ravenblackbird74

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[Laura Moylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gage goes through a lot in this book as does Zarah and it just breaks my heart. I love how they are together and want them to be it for each other. I firmly believe that. Zane is beginning to realize that a lot that he did actually made his sister worse. Good thing Stella can interfere in some of his stupid moments with his sister. A lot of weird coincidences happen in this book. After the third one, my gut is telling me it’s conspiracy. It made me go back and read a few of the sections again and I believe that I’m correct in my assumption. There are a few things that shocked me during this book. There was also a bunch of stuff that made me tear up, as well as have the AC on from my freaking out or because of the steaminess between Gage and Zarah, as well as a bit from Zane and Stella. I love Linc, Gage’s dad. I love all of the dogs too. I just wanna squish them. I also felt sick to my stomach for almost half the book because of all those coincidences. Things get scary for a bit in it as well and I can’t wait to read the next book and I hope everything gets better and things get figured out before it is too late.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gage and Zarah. Zarah tries to confront her fears and past with Gages help and she knows shes slipping and walks away believing shes giving Gage a better life without her broken soul. But she continues to look into her past and Gage continues to look into the sanatarium. But she comes to some conclusions about Gage and her. To get the real experience of a twists and turns, suspensful, intriguing, wicked bad read with how deep the lies, betrayal, deciet and secrets run you have to start with Zane and Stella's story. There you are introduced to the charecters that shap this story. OMG such a great series. This reveals complex charecters and if you want a none stop page turning suspensful romantic thriller then I recommend this series.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ildikó · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** ARC review ***

MUST READ BOOKS ONE TO FOUR FIRST!!

TRIGGER WARNING : sexual assault, rape and mental health issues mentioned

You need to be cautious when reading this book also because it is very heavy emotionally. I had to take breaks between chapters.

Book five picks up two weeks after book four and it’s similar to the previous book with all the different emotions Zarah is experiencing. With the ongoing investigation, readers get a few clues that are only the tip of the iceberg. Zarah is slowly getting better and she is struggling in getting her memory back, having a normal life and trying to have a relationship. Luckily for her, she has Gage by her side to help her claim back some self esteem and power back.

Please note that this book ends on a cliffhanger!!

[KayCee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gage and Zarah's story continues in Shattered Hearts. As Gage and Zarah try to navigate her past and their feelings for each other, Zarah chooses to leave thinking it's better for Gage. Gage doesn't love this choice, but he needs to understand Zarah so he keeps looking into the sanatrium where her brother had her admitted. So many twists and turns, lots of action, lies, betrayal, and suspense. This book picked up right where Shattered Fate left off and leaves you wondering what will happen in the final book of Zarah's story.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shattered Hearts is such a good book. I felt so sorry for Zarah, she jus wants to get better but it seems to just be getting worse. Her life is a rollercoaster of emotions at this point. I love how gentle Gage is with her, and how protective he is. I really look forward to seeing how their lives change in the next book.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked shattered hearts which was Gage and Zariah’s story. It was an entertaining read. And a newer author, for me. I got a copy of the book and voluntarily leaving this review.