Logan Jackson is all tattoos, beard, and swagger. With his devilish looks and unrepentant charm, he’s a danger to my tattered heart. Especially when he makes it clear, I’m the one he wants. It doesn’t matter how desperately I want to give in to the heated promises in his dark eyes or how my heart always stutters in his presence. I have to think about my son and giving him the life he deserves. But I underestimated the sheer determination Logan has to break down my walls brick by brick. The closer we become, the harder it gets to keep the past from intruding. And I quickly realize the secrets we keep will either bring us closer together or destroy us for good.
Introducing A.K. MacBride, a passionate wordsmith with an insatiable love for crafting heartwarming love stories. She brews tales as tantalizing as her coffee and indulges in the bittersweet world of dark chocolate, all while savoring life's sweetest moments in a quaint South African town.
When she's not creating intricate tapestries of love, longing, and untold desire, you'll often find her lost in the aromatic embrace of freshly brewed coffee—her trusted companion in moments of reflection and creativity. As the rich aroma permeates her writing sanctuary, she lets her imagination soar, conjuring captivating characters and delightful encounters that leave her readers yearning for more.
But it's not just coffee that sets her heart aflutter. A connoisseur of the finest dark chocolate, she indulges in the velvety decadence, allowing its rich flavors to inspire her characters' intense passions and the intricacies of their relationships. Just as the delicate balance of flavors dances on her taste buds, her writing tantalizes the hearts of her readers, leaving them craving the sweetness of true love.
Amidst the joyous chaos of her literary world, she finds unwavering support and endless love in her husband and daughter. They are the pillars of her existence, a constant reminder that true romance is not only found within the pages of a book but also in the tender moments shared with loved ones. With their presence in her life, her stories overflow with authenticity, depth, and the promise of happily ever afters.
So, grab a cup of coffee, savor a piece of dark chocolate, and lose yourself in the tender embrace of A.K. MacBride’s enchanting tales. For within the pages of her novels, love blossoms, hearts mend, and extraordinary journeys of the heart await, all crafted with the delicate touch of a romance author who understands the power of a perfectly brewed love story.
This is the second book I’ve read by this author, and although the story itself was good and kept me wanting to flip the pages, I was disappointed with the lack of steam (especially as compared with the other book of hers that I read). I feel like it was a tease with all of the “I want to run my hands over that tattooed chest and the follow the same path with my tongue” by the female mc (Harper) along with the same detailed fantasy ideas from the male lead (Logan) only to get to the main event and be left with a very high-level view of the actual action. Didn’t do it at all for me there.
Otherwise, the plot was interesting and suspenseful, though mostly predictable. Character development was good (with the exception of Logan’s older brother — I assume there’s a back story that the author will get to in his own book down the line, but he came across as a total dick in this one - a little more about why would have been good here given his involvement in the culmination of the events leading up to the ending).
Overall, a decent read if you like a low steam setting and fast-moving story.
Plot —- 3/5 Main Characters —- 4/5 Supporting Cast —- 3/5 Steam Level —- 1/5 Violence —- some with possible triggers (domestic), but not explicit Language —- not egregious POV —- Dual
Harper having found herself trapped in a marriage with an abusive cop, refuses to allow the child she carries to suffer, and so she runs, and runs, never staying anywhere long, but when she arrives at Willow Creek, leaving won’t be so easy. Harper’s neighbour Logan is determined to get through the massive walls she keeps up, and Harper despite her wariness and determination to keep Logan at a distance finds herself unable to keep away.
Flynn, Harper’s little boy was an energetic sweetheart and I wish we had seen more off him, whilst he is in plenty of scenes, I don’t think the author took full advantage of him as a character.
Dual POV was a good touch, without it I think the book would have been a struggle to get through, that being said the book needed heat and steam. The connection between the main characters didn’t ensnare my attention like it should have.
A surprisingly light read given the tropes that frame the story, but on a night when sleep was difficult this made an enjoyable enough read. Although the book isn’t one, I would re-read.
3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Good clean romantic story 💕with likable H&h, both of whom have some baggage and secrets from the past. Logan is attracted to Harper, his next-door neighbor who is a single mom to an adorable little boy. He has been a playboy in his past but for the first time in his life he feels that with Harper he can have something more. Harper on the other hand despite feeling the attraction towards Logan, has a secret past life that she is running away from and therefore is afraid to plant any roots or build any long-term relationships. She knows that any possible relationship could jeopardize the truth coming out which could endanger her son's life. So she keeps Logan at a distance for self-preservation. However Logan slowly starts to break down her walls with some sweet gestures and they begin a cautious and low-key relationship. But danger in the form of Logan's family and Harper's past keeps threatening the couple. How they find their HEA is the crux of the story. 💘 In the beginning, the story felt like it had been lifted from a Hollywood movie (Sleeping with the Enemy, Enough) but the character of Logan saved it from being too cliché. Harper however seemed flighty and all over the place.🙄 The romance was sweet but there was very little steam and passion on the pages to reflect it. The supporting characters did not make any lasting impression and although I’m sure the author plans to write the next books in this series on some of these characters, I doubt I’ll come back for more. The stories will need a little more originality, some humor and extra steam to make them memorable. This one lacked all three. Good book, but completely forgettable.
An ARC was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review
Not bad but not great either. I felt like I was missing the first half of the book. I wanted to know how long they have known each other unless I missed it somehow. I also wanted to know if he’s been celibate during that time. It’s said that he’s not the manwhore everyone seems to think he is but I wanted a clear confirmation because he was already half in love with her. It’s also stated that he has not been getting laid for quite some time because all he saw was her when he thought about getting laid. But still not a clear confirmation. He was the bad boy with a heart of gold. He went to jail for driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs killing the girl that was in the car with him when he was young.
This is where I don’t mind cheating. She was married to an abusive asshole that played Russian roulette with her. So she ran while she was pregnant without him knowing so. There was a lot of pushing on her part.
There’s lack of steam. I also hated his big brother because of his meddling her ex kidnapped her and their son and his brother almost died when the heroine shot him by accident. What I liked about the hero is that he didn’t believe a word his brother said about the heroine. He believed her and defended her every chance he got. He wasn’t one of those assholes who believe someone else other than the woman they loved.
My goodness does A.K. MacBride know how to write a book that steals your heart! I cannot think of a single thing I didn’t love in this book. Between being on the edge of my seat with Harper’s secrets and swooning like crazy over Logan I read this book cover to cover without pausing. Not only does her wonderful writing create a world you never want to leave but it also pulls you in so deep it’s like you’re falling right along with Harper and Logan. With an undeniable pull to each other only being held back by a heartbreaking and traumatic past the chemistry between them was intense and immediate. But because of that past the build to the full beauty these to had was filled with immense sweetness and gentleness. I adored not only how brave Harper was, but also how kindhearted and loving she was. Between helping rescue animals find homes and being an amazing mother to such a cute little boy it was easy to like her right from the start. Logan had my heart nearly the second I met him. Who could resist a deliciously sexy man that not only falls hard for his woman but also loves her son with the fierceness of a lion? Trust me when I say Logan will have you swooning like the biggest fangirl on earth.
I received an ARC of this book and I am voluntary leaving a review. I was unable to finish this book. I basically skimmed through the book but I really tried but it is predictable. I do like how she handled the domestic violence in the prologue. Others may like it but I needed some heat and there wasn't any. They both had issues in their past that they needed to work through. I am sure it is a good book but it just wasn't for me.
I was offered a copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.
When I first started reading this book, I didn’t expect to enjoy this much. Being honest, I had lost the discussions in my group, and thought this was a different genre, more specifically a different book, similar name. After dealing with the disappointment I felt bad for having to read it in a hurry just because I had promised to do so, but since I never let pass the chance of reading new authors, I decided to get on the move and enjoy my reading... and that I sure did!!! 😉
Shattered, by MacBride was a delightful reading from first chapter. Yes, the story isn’t the most original one, since I had already read more than a few books and seen a couple of movies whose plot were very similar, but the author managed to use her writing to mislead me completely on how the characters were going to behave in their Romance. MacBride drove my anxiety to new levels while I expected the hot steamy scenes at the turn of every new page... and they didn’t... But the funny thing is that it didn’t matter. In fact it made me happily surprised that she had that much magic in arousing my imagination and was still able of keeping all that desire as a kind of “four walls secret”. Yep, it’s up to you to figure out those scenes. How good is yours??? Believe me, MacBride is that good!
The story takes place in Willow Creek, a typical small town where new comers are trending topics of neighborhood conversations and arouses the residents’ curiosity and gossiping before being accepted or rejected as part of the community. And that’s what Harper Evans is, a newcomer whose past is practically a secret, since keeping the details of her ”previous” life to herself is more vital than anyone in town could have ever imagined. Luckily or not, her attempts to maintain a discreet routine fails when destiny gifts her with a troubled tattooed single and very handsome man, whose brother happens to be Harper’s boss. Logan Jackson, the mechanic in town, has never being known as a good boy and is trying hard to correct his past mistakes and start a new life, but committing to a girl only was never part of the plan. At least not until the mysterious pretty Harper showed up in town with no history and no one but her cute son Flynn.
Can two people, trying so hard to leave their pasts behind and keeping deep secrets hidden, permit themselves to put their defenses down and risk their secrecies for a chance of love?
I don’t know if the Authors intends to write a series about the 3 Jackson Brothers, or go even further and create stories to other characters of the book as Brett and Lizzy, but I am already planning on reading her second book, which is coming in February of 2019.
Good romance. I was so afraid of her monster husband coming back at any moment throughout most of the book, but that fear got put aside whenever Harper and Logan came together. Although they were both hiding dark secrets, they were perfect for each other, especially the way Logan was with her little boy. Said little boy was so freaking cute, by the way. I personally don't like push and pull in my romances, so while I didn't care for that aspect, I did understand Harper being wary of letting someone else in after what she'd been through. The ending made me so anxious, but the last page left me smiling.
Shattered by A.K MacBride is a story about diminished hopes and dreams. About people who believe they are too broken for someone else. Harper ran away from her abusive husband when she was pregnant. And now, six years later she is still afraid he will find her and doesn’t stay at the same place for more than a few months. But Willow Creek is different. She likes it here, has a real friend who cares about her and a neighbor who is hell bent on dating her. Logan yearns for a family he can’t have. But after seeing Harper and her son, his desire skyrockets. He wants her, and she creates a safe distance from him. I liked the story. There was emotion, there was love and a cute kid. The kid stole all the limelight. It was adorable how he looked up to Logan and how Logan behaved when he was with him. The other characters were blurred for me. Logan’s brother was the only one with a lasting effect. This was a one-time well-worth read for me. I received an arc from the author and chose to review it.
My heart-felt thanks to the author for the ARC. Here's my honest review.
I fell in love with the story and with Logan and Harper/Sarah around 64%! That was when they went for broke, decided to open themselves up to one another. No secrets. No shame. No regrets. And what they kept locked up inside broke my heart. I got hit so hard by their pasts. Harper was so young so alone so helpless. While Logan was so young so lost so out of control. The title said it all.
It wasn't surprising that the beginning was driving me away. Harper was doing that out of self preservation and to protect her son. She was ready to run. Logan was holding on to his secrets. He couldn't bear to share them.
I know you will love this story too. Please give Harper and Logan more time to be themselves in your eyes.
Good story. I liked the ability to look into the minds of both Harper and Logan. The relationship progressed realistically, which I really appreciated. Overall good book and great characters.
When Sarah Mercer and her unborn child's life are threatened, she reinvents herself in the name of safety. Now, settled into the small town of Willow Creek as Harper, she finds herself acclimating herself and building friendships. Working as the local veterinarian assistant, Harper and her son, Flynn, begin to settle into a comfortable life, until they meet Logan, the local mechanic. Hiding a hidden past of his own, Logan is a risk Harper's head is not willing to take, but her heart is telling her otherwise. When trouble comes knocking at her door, Harper is forced to turn to Logan for help. Will she allow herself to let down some of her protective walls, or will she remain the stoic single mother, navigating life on her own?
This was a quick and enjoyable read right from the very first page. I loved the alternating perspectives between Harper and Logan, leaving me wanting to read one more chapter to find out what the next character was thinking. MacBride does a great job of using authentic dialogue and creating suspense and tension between the characters. Harper is the ultimate single mother, and Logan is the atypical knight in shining armor, making for a good love story... a love story that would leave any single mother feeling hopeful for the future. And little boy Flynn, he is the icing on the top of the cake. Creating a compelling storyline and leaving the reader wanting more is a strength MacBride demonstrates, and she really hits you hard right at the end of the book. Labeled at Willow Creek Book 1, this is the first in a series, and I am hoping to get my hands on number 2 soon!
Harper and her son at new to town. She’s sweet yet guarded and isn’t looking to give away her heart any time soon. Enter Logan. He wants Harper and is willing to put in the work. The man is patient, caring, and is amazing with her son. In other words he’s the perfect man! Swoon worthy is an understatement.
Heartfelt and emotional, the story pulled me in from the very beginning and never let go. A.K. MacBride has a way with making the reader feel every emotion as it was their own. The characters were all amazing and left me wanting more, but can we just talk about my love for Logan for a second? The man had my heart since the beginning and I never want it back! His love for Harper and her son melted my heart and made me want to jump him too. Reading Shattered once wont be enough, this is a book that you will be reading over and over again. 5 Stars.
This was a sweet read about an abused woman who leaves her husband and lands in a small town to start her life anew, where she meets a man just as broken as she is. Told from both Logan and Harper’s POVs, you’ll immediately love the witty and determined Logan. The sexual tension between Logan and Harper does exist but isn’t explicit. It’s a nice, clean and predictable read that flows well, but doesn’t have any plot twists to make it a unique story.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This was a sweet romance. It was quite predictable from early on and I have read similar stories with the same format.
Sarah/Harper is on the run from her abusive husband and is afraid to stay in the same place or let anyone break down her emotional barriers. The first man to make her feel in a long time is her neighbour Logan who she tries to avoid because of her reaction to him. Logan has felt an instant connection to Harper and her son since they moved into his town and despite feeling guilt and regret about his bad boy decisions in the past he eventually makes up his mind to pursue her. As Harper’s walls begin to break down and she sees the way in which Logan cares for her and her son she pushes him away. Logan is unwilling to give up and Harper spills the truth about her past. At this point some drama is obviously required and Harper’s husband appears and kidnaps her and their son. Logan comes to the rescue resulting in a HEA.
I liked the way in which the author wrote about the domestic violence it was to the point and not drawn out or over dramatised. I liked the relationships within the book between the friendships that Harper and Logan have and the relationships between Logan’s family members.
I didn’t like Logan’s brother Eli and usually there would be enough in his character to entice me to read his story however I didn’t get any aspect of his character that endeared me to find out more. I also prefer slightly more heat in my books which this didn’t have - it was too nice which is just my personal opinion.
The story was well written with an easy flowing plot.
I really enjoyed this book, I haven’t been able to put it down since I started reading it 3 days ago. Shattered was a sweet love story. I loved all the characters in this book and Logan’s close-knit family. This was the first book I have read by this author and it won’t be my last. I’m looking forward to reading the next instalment of this series.
This is my first book by this writer, and I was very impressed. An above average take on a single parent story, full of believable and real characters. Solid back stories and a super cute Flynn. What's not to love. Can't wait to read more
Harper Evans lived life by moving often and not getting close too close to anyone. Life on the run wasn’t easy, but she would do anything to keep her young son safe. But for the first time in a long time, Willow Creek feels like home, and, her sexy tattooed neighbor has more than a little to do with that.
Logan Jackson is tired of meaningless one night stands and is ready to settle down. He’s had a troubled past, but is ready for a fresh start and he wants that new start to include Harper and her son. He knows she’s got something in her past that has her guarded and ready to run, but he’s ready to give her every reason to stay.
Both Logan and Harper are carrying serious baggage with them. And, their pasts have left them both broken. Will they be enough to heal one another and have a chance at a future? And, what happens when the past shows up at Harper’s front door?
I love a book with imperfect characters who are broken come together to make each other whole, and A.K. MacBride does it beautifully in Shattered!
Harper is so strong and brave and being careful is tantamount to keeping herself and her young child safe and alive. Yet, she tries to give him as normal a childhood as possible. She can’t help falling for Logan no matter how hard she tries to shield her heart from him.
Logan has quite a past that has left him broken. He’s finally able to see a future, and it revolves around Harper and her son Flynn. He knows she’s terrified and ready to run. But, Logan knows that Harper is it for him. Even when she tries her hardest to push him away, he lets her know he’s not going anywhere!
Shattered is beautiful and emotional. It also has fantastic suspense as you can feel Harper’s fear and need to run. The chemistry between Logan and Harper burns hot giving readers a taste of steamy romance while also allowing for sweet moments with young Flynn.
You have to love a book with a woman willing to do anything to protect her child and man who knows exactly what he wants and who is willing to fight to get it! 5 stars for Shattered!
What an amazing new story by AK MacBride. This is an author that has only recently been introduced to me, but I have thoroughly enjoyed every story of hers I’ve tried. This book was just the newest one to impress me. Shattered featured Harper and Logan, two broken people who have darkness and pain in their past, who come together and change each other for the better. The baggage from both of their pasts is very heavy and gave me an angsty vibe, but it wasn’t overwhelmingly sad. This was honestly just the right level of angst for me. I loved how from the very beginning I was drawn in and invested in Harper. When she met Logan, I was excited and hopeful for her. He instantly came across as a sweet, caring guy and even when his past is revealed, it wasn’t something to make me like him less. He wasn’t blasé about what he’d done. He was clearly torn up about it and had turned his life around because of it. Harper deserved a good, protective person in her life like Logan and I just loved how everything came together. Another huge plus in this story for me was the performance by the narrators. Gregory Salinas is quickly making his way up my list of top male narrators. He’s been impressing me with every new story I hear him in. He has great passion and emotion in the right spots in my opinion. This was my first book with Stacy Gonzalez but I think she did an excellent job. She perfectly showed off the excitement, fear, anxiety and all the other things that were going on with Harper during this story. I would love to hear more from her in future. 🎧The Flock🎧
Get ready for fall in love with this story. This is the story of Harper (real name Sarah) who has escaped from an abusive husband with her young son. She has made a new life for herself in Willow Creek. She keeps to herself except for one close friend and a caring boss. But that doesn't mean she hasn't noticed her sexy neighbor Logan. He is part of the Jackson brother's who are the hotties of the town: Chase (her boss at veterinary clinic she works at), Eli (the sheriff that knows she is hiding something and is set to find out what) & Logan (the former bad boy trying to overcome his past mistakes). She tries to stay away from Logan, afraid to get hurt and she knows any day she is ready to continue to run. But the connection between them is so strong and Logan won't give up. This is a great story of strength, hope, healing, love, independence, finding true happiness and knowing we all deserve it. Our pasts doesn't determine our future. If domestic abuse is a trigger for you please note that is addressed in this story. But I promise you will come out of this story feeling empowered and cheering. But be careful because you are going to fall in love with Logan. I was swooning through the whole book. And Harper is a bad ass. She took her very scary and trapping situation and gave it the middle finger. She made sacrifices for her life and the life she carried inside her. That's a strong woman. And she is such an empowering role model for others in this situation. I highly suggest this book. I couldn't put it down or get enough. I am so excited for this series!
It's book 1 so I hope we get more. Harper runs away from an abusive husband has a child and ends up in Willow Creek. Logan has the hot for her but they both have secrets in there past. It's a good story but felt rushed in spots but would like to see what's coming next
Wow what a heart stopping and incredible book. Logan and Harper are amazing together and then there’s little Flynn. It’s a fast paced story that grabs you from the first chapter.
I loved this book and can't wait for the next in the series. I loved the characters except one, the book gives you a anger, violence, sadness, happiness, close-knitted family, friendships, lust and love.
⛔️⛔️⛔️STOP, SOME SPOILERS⛔️⛔️⛔️
Escaping her life of abuse Sarah Mercer no longer exists, she moved on. She's now Harper Evans, protecting her son living a single life and trying keep under the radar in a quiet little place called Willow Creek. Her neighbour Logan Jackson is sexy, has swagger for days and slowly seeps his way into her life. But will she ever be free from her past?
Logan has a shady past, but a heart of gold. When his neighbour enters his life he only has eyes for her, but she's guarded like the Crown Jewels then there's the issue that he thinks he's not good enough to be loved. But he can't resist the pull, he wants a life with Harper and little Flynn, so it's game on and he's in it to win it. Can her beat down the walls around her heart and will she want him anyway when the truth from his past is revealed?
Will they get an HEA? or will the past haunt both of them?
5 Stars... Talk about all the feels! This book has it all. I experienced so much in this book. Love, heartbreak, angst, some suspense and even a bit of humor. All in all, a perfectly balanced novel. This is an author I most definitely want to read more from.
Shattered is written in first-person with both Harper and Logan's perspectives; an aspect I love in a book. Both Harper and Logan have traumatic pasts. While Logan has learned from his past and is moving forward, Harper is still running from hers. As I mentioned earlier, this book has it all. I never felt frustrated with the pace and I loved both characters. In fact, I loved all the characters and can't wait for Logan's brothers to have their love stories written.
Harper is new to town having moved there recently with her little boy. Harper is a sweet, caring woman. However, she is very guarded, keeping only a few select friends. She works at the local vet which I believe is the perfect job for her kind and caring heart. Unfortunately, Harper refuses to give her heart away again. Past experiences have her keeping constant vigil on the walls she has built around her life. She is not letting her guard down. Ever!
Logan, who just so happens to be infatuated with Harper wants her heart. He knows that won't be easy and she is hiding secrets. That's ok because Logan is a patient man. I want to add here, that Logan was amazing. Yes, he's attractive and sexy and all those things that makes your heart grow. But most importantly, Logan is kind, caring, generous and patient. The way is was with Harper's little boy is nothing less than precious. He is a gentleman.
There is some angst and drama but I don't want to give too much away. This book was so great and you should get to experience all the feels on your own without any spoilers form me. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I have. I highly recommend Shattered as a must read!
This is my honest and unbiased opinion. Thank you for taking the time to read it. :)
He may just be the reason for her to stop running.
There comes a time when running is the only option. Which is exactly the choice Sarah Mercer was forced to make when she went into hiding from her abusive detective husband. She never stayed in one place very long, until she moved in next door to Logan Jackson. How different her life could have been if only...
There comes a time when running from yourself is no longer an option. Which is exactly the choice Logan Jackson was forced to make when when his life took a deadly downturn. He never believed he could ever have the kind of life he longed for, until Harper Evans moved in next door. How different his life could have been if only...
Shattered by A.K. MacBride is a very well written suspenseful romance. The characters are well developed and the plot is well woven. I liked both Harper and Logan, as well as the supporting characters.
Content alert: Sadly, Harper's story is not unique, which is why this book may be difficult for those who have encountered some type of abuse. Also, the dialogue in this story includes a moderate amount of swearing, as well as some fade -out and lightly described sexual content.
This book will have you addicted from the very first page until the end. It's a page turner for sure. The characters are so real and very broken and all you want to do is see these two hearts heal. A.K. MacBride knows how to write a book that will pull at your heartstrings. This is an emotional journey of 2 broken hearts becoming one.
Harper and Logan are two very complex characters. Both have made mistakes and have overcome some very difficult obstacles. So when you see these two come together you can't help but cheer them on. They are definitely a couple that will overcome any obstacles thrown their way. Add in a cutie putie little boy named Flynn and I couldn't keep the smile off my face while reading this book.
This story was told from both Harper and Logan's povs which I absolutely loved. I'm really hoping we get more books with this couple and the other Jackson brothers. This was my first time reading a book by A.K. MacBride and definitely will not be my last.