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Broken Things #1
Mask of Broken Things
Love shouldn’t hurt, but revenge can.
Stella has run for so long, haunted by her tragic past, until something snaps within.
Morally grey vigilante by night and café owner by day, she finds peace in the eyes of a regular customer.
Nick is a detective, searching for answers in two different horrific cases.
One is killing innocent women, the other is torturing questionable men.
He visits the café often and finds himself falling for the owner, not knowing she holds the clues he is desperate to find.
Everyone hides behind a layer of protective lies, unwilling to bare their true selves.
Love is found in an unlikely place, fear runs through the city, and hearts are tested.
Who’s mask will slip first to reveal the truth?
Stella has run for so long, haunted by her tragic past, until something snaps within.
Morally grey vigilante by night and café owner by day, she finds peace in the eyes of a regular customer.
Nick is a detective, searching for answers in two different horrific cases.
One is killing innocent women, the other is torturing questionable men.
He visits the café often and finds himself falling for the owner, not knowing she holds the clues he is desperate to find.
Everyone hides behind a layer of protective lies, unwilling to bare their true selves.
Love is found in an unlikely place, fear runs through the city, and hearts are tested.
Who’s mask will slip first to reveal the truth?
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Published July 11, 2022
37 people are currently reading
394 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
November 28, 2022
I wanted to like this book, the idea behind it is decent and had potential but the execution was mediocre. I liked the third POV with the older detective, which at the end of it turned out to be pointless, but hated the other two characters, they felt so disingenuous and the romance was bleh. I even found myself skipping the naughtier parts to get to the more interesting thriller bits. The dialogue itself was quite cringy most of the time, which brought me out of the story often. And the ending was anticlimactic to say the least. I still have no idea if this book wanted to be a thriller or romance, either way it didn’t hit the mark.
Overall, I just didn’t enjoy this unfortunately. More focus on the cat and mouse game would have made this a much more interesting read.
Overall, I just didn’t enjoy this unfortunately. More focus on the cat and mouse game would have made this a much more interesting read.
July 31, 2022
Oh me god, where do I even begin? When I applied for the ARC, I actually had no idea what I was in for and I didnt realise I would be hooked to it. I loved every moment of this book. Coming from a person who is a sexual assault and sexual harassment survivor, this book hit deep and gave me satisfactions that I never knew I needed. Author Tanya was very descriptive with everything and that made me love everything about the book. And omg the spicy scenes actually got me squirming in my seat. The book in my opinion was just very unique, the way it was written and the flow of it. And Tanya makes you feel as if you are the characters with the different POV's written.
Loving this book is an understatement. I admired every word in this book. This book is not everyones cup of tea, but coming from a person who wrote a mafia novel, i most certainly loved this read.
Let me rant again about the spice scenes, OMG THEY ARE DROOL WORTHY IN MY EYES. I mean, reading it was so satisfying and seeing how the characters cared about each others orgasms...ugh I admire reading that.
I would have finished this book way wayyyy sooner than I should have, but things happened. But overall, the book isnt too long or too short. It is just right.
Let me intrigue you future readers. I man in uniform is worth loving.❤
~Natalia
Loving this book is an understatement. I admired every word in this book. This book is not everyones cup of tea, but coming from a person who wrote a mafia novel, i most certainly loved this read.
Let me rant again about the spice scenes, OMG THEY ARE DROOL WORTHY IN MY EYES. I mean, reading it was so satisfying and seeing how the characters cared about each others orgasms...ugh I admire reading that.
I would have finished this book way wayyyy sooner than I should have, but things happened. But overall, the book isnt too long or too short. It is just right.
Let me intrigue you future readers. I man in uniform is worth loving.❤
~Natalia
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 29, 2023
3.5! MC is a serial killer and tackles heavy subjects in general! I enjoyed reading about Stella but wanted more into her background besides her abuse because everyone is more than just their negative situations. But when you feel for Stella you forget she’s a serial killer and start to question yourself a little. A whole rollercoaster of emotions so buckle up!
August 6, 2024
Serial Killer and Cop together, can they fall in love?
This was such an intriguing story with the serial killer first-off being a woman but also the fact that she begins falling for the detective trying to solve her crimes. This was a super fun twisted ride that I found I had a hard time putting the book down. I’m excited to continue the story with book 2. There are some hard topics discussed so check the list at the front of the book before reading.
This was such an intriguing story with the serial killer first-off being a woman but also the fact that she begins falling for the detective trying to solve her crimes. This was a super fun twisted ride that I found I had a hard time putting the book down. I’m excited to continue the story with book 2. There are some hard topics discussed so check the list at the front of the book before reading.
July 22, 2022
I want to start off by saying just because I wasn’t a fan of this book does not mean its not a good book for others. That being said I do think the author is going to write great stories! There was a lot of spelling, space and grammar errors for my liking. The story started off to me kinda confusing there was no real description of who the people where and throw in three people all at once with no background just made it messy for me. The story also reminds me a little of the mind fuck series in the sense girl and guy fall for one another, one is a criminal one is a agent.
Overall it’s a 3.5 for me but I’m definitely interested to see about future books from this author!
Overall it’s a 3.5 for me but I’m definitely interested to see about future books from this author!
July 4, 2024
I loved this book! Tanya Lynn beautifully crafted a story that I felt in my soul. I felt for Stella and cheered her on the entire book! There were times I worried that she would get caught, or that her past would end her. I can't wait to read the next book!
September 16, 2022
I was warned of the tropes when i read it, i really wanted to know how an abuser would feel and how it may affect their life and will they be able to move on completely, this book taught me a lot as you won't rest unless your abuser has been punished severely on the things they have done to you, so no matter how years would pass this feeling of being trapped will follow you until you feel that your right has been taken back, nothing else is soothing even love would be hard sometimes and trust people would be hard, even you would be so disgusted with the abusive men, and here the story starts ,
Before i start with good and the perfect stuff i wanna mention the only thing that i wasn't so aligned with is the many love scene at the start of the book which i couldn't understand how fast was that but it was okay after finishing them everything else was just perfect and very amazing.
So now i'm really aware of how abuse can damage you in many ways, and not justthe physical abuse i'm talking about it is about every single type of abuse, a word can be abuse and act can be like this even a look from someone eyes, so let's be here for each other and take care of people who are in need for help and give them the freedom they really need.
Let's start with the story :
the story begins when that cafe owner has been abused in her past life who seems to be her step dad and now all she do is bake not only pastry she bakes the abusive men's member the one she kills the one she notice in her coffee every day in revenge of that one person who ruined her life and her nights who used to abuse her all the time, by killing them she could prepare for her most awaited kill and would she do it at the end you have to read to know , and as the police can't find a trace for that killer as they call him as they thought the ghost killer , the investigator of this case has always visited her to bring coffee and some pastry and both of them can't hide that they are interested in each other as the times goes by they just fall in love with each other and more than love they felt safe in the presence of the other they were able to be happy while being together, and as the investigation linger and her kills are just perfect and her method was just perfectly made that no one even knew who she was. but then her abuser came back and all he did was to threaten her to expose her as the killer to her lover and that when her fear seeps in but at the same time she knew her time is here for her t finish her pain and end her killing cycle would she be able to do it or would she be caught before it, i won't spoil more you need to read to know. and i can't say but the ending was perfect cz everyone deserves to live happily and have another chance to live a normal full of love and hope.
Let's move the characters :
Stella the main character an she is the strongest one i have ever read about, how she came over her abuse and started a new life with no one there for her, and she just has made it to revenge and save many women from their abusive men, she was there for them to free them from their misery, while also her being able to love again with no fear of being abused again which is a huge step for her, i really love how she did this so she can feel free.
nick the one who had a hard past and difficult life all he was thinking about would he be alone all of his life only working on cases that can't be close but it was all changed every time he entered her cafe and that was amazing how he stood by her he is a man of his word he was able to protect her all this time, even though he was a bit stupid not knowing she was the killer he was looking for but she was the perfect killer.
Aruthur the second character nick friend the one he had no wife anymore the one he was so miserable in many ways he was there for nick all the time as a brother and more and all i need now is a book about him really or a sequel at least his character deserves to be mentioned.
but let's say a last word about the book :
really the book was great and i really enjoyed it and how the killing has been preformed and how the investigation went everything was perfect, and for sure i have learned a lot from how abuse really change your life. nicely written.
so let's move on now to the quotes i really liked:
To anyone who has been a victim of childhood abuse: I see you, I believe you, and I am proud of you
For anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault: I see you, I believe you, and I am proud of you
For anyone who has been a victim of any type of abuse: I see you, I believe you, and I am proud of you
His pleasure became her biggest shame, her biggest fear. He didn’t care about her feelings. To him, she was just his prey. He would take what he wanted
At least I was always close to home, although sometimes I wish I could leave everything and run away, but I felt safe here and that was priceless
Bookshelves line one wall with books I will never read, but only say I will. It’s home to me
Nobody who hasn’t been there fully understands how much torture you can endure for love. Only sometimes, it’s more toxic than other times
Most people didn’t think about these women as if they were regular people. Instead, they just rolled their eyes and believed the stereotypes
When you have no one or no one who cares about you, though, it’s a feeling deep within the pit of your stomach that makes you feel sick and full of rage all at the same time
Making her wish she was dead. Making her wish she could kill him. Making her wish she was literally anywhere but here. He wouldn’t let her float to a different universe. Making sure she took the punishment, humiliation, and pain that rained around her until she was alone, and the nightmares resumed
I wish I could clear the dark from his mind and brighten everything, because he doesn’t deserve the dark. I question how deep my feelings are for this man when I’m wishing he doesn’t feel pain and darkness, because I’ve never felt this way before. Never have I cared about a male enough to give a shit about whether his life is dark
feel entirely too safe, and it scares me when I think about how much I have given to him without him even knowing. My heart is falling fast, and my soul is connecting with another soul in a way that doesn’t hurt. I feel the butterflies that come when his name lights up my phone. I feel like I can stop fighting my past and that scares me. It's so damn scary that another person can make me feel this way. I think, I think I may love him—if I have any idea what love is at all
She’s my shine in the dark life I lead and at night she’s my moon
Baby, it’s real and if I’m dreaming you, with your gorgeous red hair, blue eyes that stare into my soul, lips that bless me in more ways than one, then don’t wake me up. You’re the moon to my night and the sun to my day
Finally, I had the plan, the money, and the escape to leave this horrible house. This tomb of painful memories. These walls held too many ghosts. Mother didn’t save me back then, and I certainly didn’t need her to save me now
I rush into his arms, almost knocking him over. He embraces me tightly. Nick makes me feel safe, like the monsters can’t reach me when I’m in his arms. I don’t know what I would do if he found out I am a monster as well
I feel so helpless. I wish I could steal the darkness from her memories, tear out the parts that make her feel unsafe and uncomfortable, and fill her with only light
The darkness irritates me. I hate how he has the power to cut off my light
“I think you deserve better than me. I’ve thought a lot about it. I don’t deserve someone as kind as you, as thoughtful, as respectful. I think… I think that I’m just too broken. My pieces aren’t put together as much as you think. I think you deserve someone who can give you everything and be a whole. Not a broken person.
Stella, I love you You've become the moon that lights my nights and the sun that lights my days. You're the light in my dark life, and I don’t want this to end
Sometimes the broken things shine brighter and better than they did before
Maybe my only purpose in life was to clear the world of these monsters acting as humans
Until that man came in. With the blue kind eyes, the exhausted face, and the stubble lined jaw. I started to feel my heart unfreeze. I began to feel something inside of me that I’d never felt before
I wanted to get you something that reminds you that you’re my bright moon and my bright sun. You bring the brightness to my day, no matter what time it is
The clouds parted when we met and the sun shone down on both of us. Our relationship is the light in both our lives.
The running was done, I felt. I was safe in my apartment. I had my career, and I’d reached my goals. My soul felt empty, and my scars weren’t healing; they were hardening. I pushed forward, and I continued to clean the scum from the earth. In each one, I saw both their eyes raking over me. Each day was the same. Except for when the man with the blue eyes came in. The pastry man. We bonded and flirted. He actually wants me for more than just sex. He wants me to be safe, he wants me to be loved, he wants to comfort me. My heart is melting each day we’re together. I have never had another person make me feel safe. Is this love? I don’t know, because I’ve never really felt it
Little mouse, you’re a fucking sadistic bitch. I had no idea you had it in you. I’ve explored all of you and I never saw this darkness. You were always light
already gone, and as I touch his neck with my gloved hand, I feel no pulse. He’s dead, along with my childhood, the years of torture, the years of those watchful eyes, the need to look over my shoulder. I’ll never feel his gaze on me again. I can live my life without the constant fear. I feel tears slowly sliding down my face and I’m confused.
Until I realize I cry for the child that didn’t deserve what was handed to her. I cry for the child who was lost, tortured, and neglected. I distance myself from the scene, walking to the van as I cry for everything that child lost.
Every horrific thing that ever happened to her. I cry for my future, the relief of being free. The past and present intertwine as I weep for everything that ever was, everything that couldn’t be, and everything that will be.
I feel something crack inside me as I listen to that child within. The vulnerable side of myself telling me that we’re safe for the first time ever. That we can’t fix the past, but we can make the future as bright as possible
There’s a great weight lifted since I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I don’t fear the gaze anymore, and I don’t have to look over my shoulder. Evidently, my dreams didn’t get the message.
I don’t know how this happened. He’s made me the happiest I’ve ever been. I didn’t know life could be this way. He listens to me talk, and actually hears what I have to say. He believes I’m worth so much. He loves me for all my strengths and things I think are flaws. He holds me so gently and doesn’t hurt me
I feel so lucky to be here with him. I have what I’ve always wanted: safety, love, and freedom
This time, I didn’t have to imagine his face. It was there for me to torture. The many years he spent torturing me, the many years he made me afraid to live my life, the many years he hurt me. I finally got to watch him die.
I just wanted to escape him, and I thought I had, because I finally felt free here.” Keeping a mask over your face so you don’t make anyone else feel uncomfortable. I knew she was a tough girl, but I see the reasons now
I just didn’t want to be ashamed. I didn’t want you to think I was too broken for you to love. I’m sorry
Stella, I can accept your flaws. I can accept your dark humour, your sarcasm, and your inability to be on time
It does. The blue sapphires remind me of her eyes and the middle shines like the light she brings to my life
“Stella, I have all my fun when I’m with you. I don’t want to go home; I want to be wherever you are, because you feel like home.
My happily ever after has finally arrived. I went my entire life never knowing what love was, never expecting someone to love me through all my broken pieces
Something inside broke and I cried for the past. For the child I didn’t get to be. I cried for the needs I had that were never met. I cried for the parts of me that are forever broken. I cried for the woman forever changed by one person’s actions. I angrily cried over all the work I had to do for me to heal, while they didn’t fix anything.
I cried for the validation I never got. For the terror I always felt. For the flaws I now felt because of other’s actions. I cried for the person I would never be. I cried for the things I had lost I was committed to the number twenty-four.
I was sad for the twenty-four years I’d lost.
The years I had been tortured. Yet I was pleased with the twenty-four stab wounds. It seemed like the right amount of punishment for so many years of justice I would never see
Before i start with good and the perfect stuff i wanna mention the only thing that i wasn't so aligned with is the many love scene at the start of the book which i couldn't understand how fast was that but it was okay after finishing them everything else was just perfect and very amazing.
So now i'm really aware of how abuse can damage you in many ways, and not justthe physical abuse i'm talking about it is about every single type of abuse, a word can be abuse and act can be like this even a look from someone eyes, so let's be here for each other and take care of people who are in need for help and give them the freedom they really need.
Let's start with the story :
the story begins when that cafe owner has been abused in her past life who seems to be her step dad and now all she do is bake not only pastry she bakes the abusive men's member the one she kills the one she notice in her coffee every day in revenge of that one person who ruined her life and her nights who used to abuse her all the time, by killing them she could prepare for her most awaited kill and would she do it at the end you have to read to know , and as the police can't find a trace for that killer as they call him as they thought the ghost killer , the investigator of this case has always visited her to bring coffee and some pastry and both of them can't hide that they are interested in each other as the times goes by they just fall in love with each other and more than love they felt safe in the presence of the other they were able to be happy while being together, and as the investigation linger and her kills are just perfect and her method was just perfectly made that no one even knew who she was. but then her abuser came back and all he did was to threaten her to expose her as the killer to her lover and that when her fear seeps in but at the same time she knew her time is here for her t finish her pain and end her killing cycle would she be able to do it or would she be caught before it, i won't spoil more you need to read to know. and i can't say but the ending was perfect cz everyone deserves to live happily and have another chance to live a normal full of love and hope.
Let's move the characters :
Stella the main character an she is the strongest one i have ever read about, how she came over her abuse and started a new life with no one there for her, and she just has made it to revenge and save many women from their abusive men, she was there for them to free them from their misery, while also her being able to love again with no fear of being abused again which is a huge step for her, i really love how she did this so she can feel free.
nick the one who had a hard past and difficult life all he was thinking about would he be alone all of his life only working on cases that can't be close but it was all changed every time he entered her cafe and that was amazing how he stood by her he is a man of his word he was able to protect her all this time, even though he was a bit stupid not knowing she was the killer he was looking for but she was the perfect killer.
Aruthur the second character nick friend the one he had no wife anymore the one he was so miserable in many ways he was there for nick all the time as a brother and more and all i need now is a book about him really or a sequel at least his character deserves to be mentioned.
but let's say a last word about the book :
really the book was great and i really enjoyed it and how the killing has been preformed and how the investigation went everything was perfect, and for sure i have learned a lot from how abuse really change your life. nicely written.
so let's move on now to the quotes i really liked:
To anyone who has been a victim of childhood abuse: I see you, I believe you, and I am proud of you
For anyone who has been a victim of sexual assault: I see you, I believe you, and I am proud of you
For anyone who has been a victim of any type of abuse: I see you, I believe you, and I am proud of you
His pleasure became her biggest shame, her biggest fear. He didn’t care about her feelings. To him, she was just his prey. He would take what he wanted
At least I was always close to home, although sometimes I wish I could leave everything and run away, but I felt safe here and that was priceless
Bookshelves line one wall with books I will never read, but only say I will. It’s home to me
Nobody who hasn’t been there fully understands how much torture you can endure for love. Only sometimes, it’s more toxic than other times
Most people didn’t think about these women as if they were regular people. Instead, they just rolled their eyes and believed the stereotypes
When you have no one or no one who cares about you, though, it’s a feeling deep within the pit of your stomach that makes you feel sick and full of rage all at the same time
Making her wish she was dead. Making her wish she could kill him. Making her wish she was literally anywhere but here. He wouldn’t let her float to a different universe. Making sure she took the punishment, humiliation, and pain that rained around her until she was alone, and the nightmares resumed
I wish I could clear the dark from his mind and brighten everything, because he doesn’t deserve the dark. I question how deep my feelings are for this man when I’m wishing he doesn’t feel pain and darkness, because I’ve never felt this way before. Never have I cared about a male enough to give a shit about whether his life is dark
feel entirely too safe, and it scares me when I think about how much I have given to him without him even knowing. My heart is falling fast, and my soul is connecting with another soul in a way that doesn’t hurt. I feel the butterflies that come when his name lights up my phone. I feel like I can stop fighting my past and that scares me. It's so damn scary that another person can make me feel this way. I think, I think I may love him—if I have any idea what love is at all
She’s my shine in the dark life I lead and at night she’s my moon
Baby, it’s real and if I’m dreaming you, with your gorgeous red hair, blue eyes that stare into my soul, lips that bless me in more ways than one, then don’t wake me up. You’re the moon to my night and the sun to my day
Finally, I had the plan, the money, and the escape to leave this horrible house. This tomb of painful memories. These walls held too many ghosts. Mother didn’t save me back then, and I certainly didn’t need her to save me now
I rush into his arms, almost knocking him over. He embraces me tightly. Nick makes me feel safe, like the monsters can’t reach me when I’m in his arms. I don’t know what I would do if he found out I am a monster as well
I feel so helpless. I wish I could steal the darkness from her memories, tear out the parts that make her feel unsafe and uncomfortable, and fill her with only light
The darkness irritates me. I hate how he has the power to cut off my light
“I think you deserve better than me. I’ve thought a lot about it. I don’t deserve someone as kind as you, as thoughtful, as respectful. I think… I think that I’m just too broken. My pieces aren’t put together as much as you think. I think you deserve someone who can give you everything and be a whole. Not a broken person.
Stella, I love you You've become the moon that lights my nights and the sun that lights my days. You're the light in my dark life, and I don’t want this to end
Sometimes the broken things shine brighter and better than they did before
Maybe my only purpose in life was to clear the world of these monsters acting as humans
Until that man came in. With the blue kind eyes, the exhausted face, and the stubble lined jaw. I started to feel my heart unfreeze. I began to feel something inside of me that I’d never felt before
I wanted to get you something that reminds you that you’re my bright moon and my bright sun. You bring the brightness to my day, no matter what time it is
The clouds parted when we met and the sun shone down on both of us. Our relationship is the light in both our lives.
The running was done, I felt. I was safe in my apartment. I had my career, and I’d reached my goals. My soul felt empty, and my scars weren’t healing; they were hardening. I pushed forward, and I continued to clean the scum from the earth. In each one, I saw both their eyes raking over me. Each day was the same. Except for when the man with the blue eyes came in. The pastry man. We bonded and flirted. He actually wants me for more than just sex. He wants me to be safe, he wants me to be loved, he wants to comfort me. My heart is melting each day we’re together. I have never had another person make me feel safe. Is this love? I don’t know, because I’ve never really felt it
Little mouse, you’re a fucking sadistic bitch. I had no idea you had it in you. I’ve explored all of you and I never saw this darkness. You were always light
already gone, and as I touch his neck with my gloved hand, I feel no pulse. He’s dead, along with my childhood, the years of torture, the years of those watchful eyes, the need to look over my shoulder. I’ll never feel his gaze on me again. I can live my life without the constant fear. I feel tears slowly sliding down my face and I’m confused.
Until I realize I cry for the child that didn’t deserve what was handed to her. I cry for the child who was lost, tortured, and neglected. I distance myself from the scene, walking to the van as I cry for everything that child lost.
Every horrific thing that ever happened to her. I cry for my future, the relief of being free. The past and present intertwine as I weep for everything that ever was, everything that couldn’t be, and everything that will be.
I feel something crack inside me as I listen to that child within. The vulnerable side of myself telling me that we’re safe for the first time ever. That we can’t fix the past, but we can make the future as bright as possible
There’s a great weight lifted since I don’t have to be afraid anymore. I don’t fear the gaze anymore, and I don’t have to look over my shoulder. Evidently, my dreams didn’t get the message.
I don’t know how this happened. He’s made me the happiest I’ve ever been. I didn’t know life could be this way. He listens to me talk, and actually hears what I have to say. He believes I’m worth so much. He loves me for all my strengths and things I think are flaws. He holds me so gently and doesn’t hurt me
I feel so lucky to be here with him. I have what I’ve always wanted: safety, love, and freedom
This time, I didn’t have to imagine his face. It was there for me to torture. The many years he spent torturing me, the many years he made me afraid to live my life, the many years he hurt me. I finally got to watch him die.
I just wanted to escape him, and I thought I had, because I finally felt free here.” Keeping a mask over your face so you don’t make anyone else feel uncomfortable. I knew she was a tough girl, but I see the reasons now
I just didn’t want to be ashamed. I didn’t want you to think I was too broken for you to love. I’m sorry
Stella, I can accept your flaws. I can accept your dark humour, your sarcasm, and your inability to be on time
It does. The blue sapphires remind me of her eyes and the middle shines like the light she brings to my life
“Stella, I have all my fun when I’m with you. I don’t want to go home; I want to be wherever you are, because you feel like home.
My happily ever after has finally arrived. I went my entire life never knowing what love was, never expecting someone to love me through all my broken pieces
Something inside broke and I cried for the past. For the child I didn’t get to be. I cried for the needs I had that were never met. I cried for the parts of me that are forever broken. I cried for the woman forever changed by one person’s actions. I angrily cried over all the work I had to do for me to heal, while they didn’t fix anything.
I cried for the validation I never got. For the terror I always felt. For the flaws I now felt because of other’s actions. I cried for the person I would never be. I cried for the things I had lost I was committed to the number twenty-four.
I was sad for the twenty-four years I’d lost.
The years I had been tortured. Yet I was pleased with the twenty-four stab wounds. It seemed like the right amount of punishment for so many years of justice I would never see
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 2, 2023
I truly wanted to like this book. It had such promise with the idea. The execution…not so good. I felt like there were so many incomplete thoughts and they were squished together. I honestly felt like it was a draft version that I read…
September 8, 2022
3.5 Stars
I was truly excited to read this book especially when I saw reels about it. The idea of a romance novel where the MC is a serial killer had me excited like a child on Christmas morning. I love anything that has to do with crime and investigation so you can imagine how happy I was when I started this book. I have to put a disclaimer that this book tackles heavy subjects such as abuse so before reading make sure you go check them out <3
I loved the overall plot of this book and the thought process behind it. How Stella literally slayed her demon. I liked how the author portrayed the reality of someone who had undergone abuse. I don't think that Lynn exaggerated it and it was authentic which broke my heart a bit and made me feel and empathize with Stella. Empathizing with her, in my opinion, is very important as Stella will make you think about your values and what is truly right. Is it right to have a predator live freely and do as they please? No. Is it right to kill a person? No. Is it right then to kill a predator and save those people who they are hurting and who will be hurt in the future? Well, dear reader let's just say that I was rooting for dear Stella from the beginning. This alone was fascinating and Lynn should be proud of her work.
Stella is a very interesting character and I really enjoyed reading about her even though I would have liked to learn more about her that has nothing to do with the past abuse. By this, I mean that she is more than the bad things that happened to her and I would have liked to have seen more about her hobbies or something that helped her cope that wasn't the killing or Nick. But that's a personal preference.
Speaking of the blue-eyed detective I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters (Nick and Stella), especially at the beginning of the book. Personally, I prefer if there is a bit of a slow burn even just a little. I felt that their relationship was fast, and rushed and that we didn't know much about Nick except the obvious. I also enjoyed the banter between Nick and Arthur. They remind me of Hank and Connor from Detroit Becoming Human.
Something that I also really enjoyed was the short chapters. As a slow reader, these made me feel accomplished and made me feel a wee bit better about myself so I really enjoyed that.
There were two things that made me lower my rating and give this book a 3.5. There were some grammatical and writing mistakes such as sentence structures etc that sometimes threw me off. The other thing that I didn't like much was how rushed the scenes were. There were no side plots for readers to learn more about the characters and to make us care more about them. The Anthony situation, in the end, was too easy I personally would have liked a little bit more of a fight.
One thing that I would have liked to see was a few close calls for Stella being close to getting caught or not having things go easy at keeping her secret. But this was a personal preference.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves murders, a strong female lead. Overall a thoughtful, short read that kept me curious till the end. I can't wait to read more from this author.
I was truly excited to read this book especially when I saw reels about it. The idea of a romance novel where the MC is a serial killer had me excited like a child on Christmas morning. I love anything that has to do with crime and investigation so you can imagine how happy I was when I started this book. I have to put a disclaimer that this book tackles heavy subjects such as abuse so before reading make sure you go check them out <3
I loved the overall plot of this book and the thought process behind it. How Stella literally slayed her demon. I liked how the author portrayed the reality of someone who had undergone abuse. I don't think that Lynn exaggerated it and it was authentic which broke my heart a bit and made me feel and empathize with Stella. Empathizing with her, in my opinion, is very important as Stella will make you think about your values and what is truly right. Is it right to have a predator live freely and do as they please? No. Is it right to kill a person? No. Is it right then to kill a predator and save those people who they are hurting and who will be hurt in the future? Well, dear reader let's just say that I was rooting for dear Stella from the beginning. This alone was fascinating and Lynn should be proud of her work.
Stella is a very interesting character and I really enjoyed reading about her even though I would have liked to learn more about her that has nothing to do with the past abuse. By this, I mean that she is more than the bad things that happened to her and I would have liked to have seen more about her hobbies or something that helped her cope that wasn't the killing or Nick. But that's a personal preference.
Speaking of the blue-eyed detective I really enjoyed the chemistry between the characters (Nick and Stella), especially at the beginning of the book. Personally, I prefer if there is a bit of a slow burn even just a little. I felt that their relationship was fast, and rushed and that we didn't know much about Nick except the obvious. I also enjoyed the banter between Nick and Arthur. They remind me of Hank and Connor from Detroit Becoming Human.
Something that I also really enjoyed was the short chapters. As a slow reader, these made me feel accomplished and made me feel a wee bit better about myself so I really enjoyed that.
There were two things that made me lower my rating and give this book a 3.5. There were some grammatical and writing mistakes such as sentence structures etc that sometimes threw me off. The other thing that I didn't like much was how rushed the scenes were. There were no side plots for readers to learn more about the characters and to make us care more about them. The Anthony situation, in the end, was too easy I personally would have liked a little bit more of a fight.
One thing that I would have liked to see was a few close calls for Stella being close to getting caught or not having things go easy at keeping her secret. But this was a personal preference.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves murders, a strong female lead. Overall a thoughtful, short read that kept me curious till the end. I can't wait to read more from this author.
March 22, 2023
This was not one of my typical reads!
Here’s what I enjoyed:
*The girl power! Loved that the main character was a strong, independent woman capable of holding her own.
*The baked goods / coffee! Great setting and flexible, realistic occupation for the protagonist. She was her own boss, set her own hours and was free to do what she needed to do when she needed to do it.
*The protagonist and male lead’s POV. I thought it was a good choice on the author’s part to include both because some scenes would be rendered better from both points of view.
*The plot. The irony of a murderer not just befriending the detective working the case, but forming an intimate relationship was pretty unique.
Things that kept me from rating it 5 stars:
*The third POV of the detective. Including the male lead’s partner as another pov seemed to serve little to no purpose. I was honestly kinda hoping that he would turn out to be someone more sinister or necessary to the plot, but he was just static and flat for the most part, serving as a means to cast a lens on the protagonist and male lead. Much of his pov was spent commentating on their relationship and —in reality— he’d be focused on a lot of other things moreso than that. (Though I understand the plot is focused on those two)
*The spicy scenes are not my cup of tea, BUT, they didn’t keep me from rating 5 stars. What did was the fact that the spicy scenes were so detailed and full of imagery, that it left me wondering why the rest of the story felt more like summarization (due to telling vs showing) in between the spicy scenes.
A good example of this would be how the narrator tells the reader what someone says to her rather than actually including the dialogue itself. I was confused why that happened throughout. I think that this book would have been a lot longer and a five star read if the author would put the readers into the scenes themselves instead of having the narrator summarize what happened for us. Show us what happened and then let us draw our own conclusions. :)
Overall, this was a fantastic debut novel. I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next and I very much appreciated the representation of a strong female character who was the victim of abuse but refused to be a statistic. Great job, author. :)
Here’s what I enjoyed:
*The girl power! Loved that the main character was a strong, independent woman capable of holding her own.
*The baked goods / coffee! Great setting and flexible, realistic occupation for the protagonist. She was her own boss, set her own hours and was free to do what she needed to do when she needed to do it.
*The protagonist and male lead’s POV. I thought it was a good choice on the author’s part to include both because some scenes would be rendered better from both points of view.
*The plot. The irony of a murderer not just befriending the detective working the case, but forming an intimate relationship was pretty unique.
Things that kept me from rating it 5 stars:
*The third POV of the detective. Including the male lead’s partner as another pov seemed to serve little to no purpose. I was honestly kinda hoping that he would turn out to be someone more sinister or necessary to the plot, but he was just static and flat for the most part, serving as a means to cast a lens on the protagonist and male lead. Much of his pov was spent commentating on their relationship and —in reality— he’d be focused on a lot of other things moreso than that. (Though I understand the plot is focused on those two)
*The spicy scenes are not my cup of tea, BUT, they didn’t keep me from rating 5 stars. What did was the fact that the spicy scenes were so detailed and full of imagery, that it left me wondering why the rest of the story felt more like summarization (due to telling vs showing) in between the spicy scenes.
A good example of this would be how the narrator tells the reader what someone says to her rather than actually including the dialogue itself. I was confused why that happened throughout. I think that this book would have been a lot longer and a five star read if the author would put the readers into the scenes themselves instead of having the narrator summarize what happened for us. Show us what happened and then let us draw our own conclusions. :)
Overall, this was a fantastic debut novel. I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next and I very much appreciated the representation of a strong female character who was the victim of abuse but refused to be a statistic. Great job, author. :)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2022
I’m going to give this one 4.5 out of 5, rounded up.
Stella is a broken girl whose experienced some truly horrific things. She’s doing her best to live her best life, but the terrible men she sees on the daily, terrorizing the people in their lives, really rub her the wrong way. How can you just turn a blind eye to the lives being ruined around you?! So, she takes matters into her own hands. By day, a gentle coffee shop owner, by night, a vigilante.
Nick is a detective, trying to clean up the messes left by worst kinds of people. He and his partner, Arthur, are facing one of the worst cases they’ve seen. With bodies piling up, and zero leads to go on, they’re really at a loss.
Two worlds collide when Nick begins to frequent Stella’s café, and they begin to build a connection. But how can the man investigating such brutal crimes possibly fall for the person committing them?!
Throughout this book, you’ll experience some seriously gruesome murders, some deliciously spicy human connection, and a whole lot of nail chewing suspense. There’s also a lot of childhood trauma involved with our main girl Stella, so that is definitely something you need to be sure you can handle before going in. It’s a twisty road, with characters you can’t help but love, and a killer we can’t help but root for. This is a debut novel from this author, and I can’t wait to see where she goes from here!
Stella is a broken girl whose experienced some truly horrific things. She’s doing her best to live her best life, but the terrible men she sees on the daily, terrorizing the people in their lives, really rub her the wrong way. How can you just turn a blind eye to the lives being ruined around you?! So, she takes matters into her own hands. By day, a gentle coffee shop owner, by night, a vigilante.
Nick is a detective, trying to clean up the messes left by worst kinds of people. He and his partner, Arthur, are facing one of the worst cases they’ve seen. With bodies piling up, and zero leads to go on, they’re really at a loss.
Two worlds collide when Nick begins to frequent Stella’s café, and they begin to build a connection. But how can the man investigating such brutal crimes possibly fall for the person committing them?!
Throughout this book, you’ll experience some seriously gruesome murders, some deliciously spicy human connection, and a whole lot of nail chewing suspense. There’s also a lot of childhood trauma involved with our main girl Stella, so that is definitely something you need to be sure you can handle before going in. It’s a twisty road, with characters you can’t help but love, and a killer we can’t help but root for. This is a debut novel from this author, and I can’t wait to see where she goes from here!
July 23, 2023
Where do I start? Ummmm, let me just say WOW!!!! I could not put this book down. It is an amazing book and I would recommend to anyone. Check your triggers.
And I know that this book isn’t for everyone, but DO NOT BE NASTY with your reviews. If you don’t like it because it’s not your cup of tea, that’s fine. I understand people don’t always like the same books.
Stella has had a traumatic childhood. She told her mother what was happening and her mother didn’t believe her and calls her a liar. Let’s just say she is a bada$$ unaliver by night and a cafe owner by day. She unalives men who do terrible things to women and children. And she feeds her victims p3nis’s from the previous person.
And she falls for a detective named Nick. She doesn’t know he is a detective right away. And he falls for her to, that is why he is always going to her shop. Sick and twisted, H3ll Yeah, do I love it, H3ll Yeah I do. Am I sick and twisted person, yes I am.
Go show this amazing author love and support. Go get her books. You won’t be disappointed.
And I know that this book isn’t for everyone, but DO NOT BE NASTY with your reviews. If you don’t like it because it’s not your cup of tea, that’s fine. I understand people don’t always like the same books.
Stella has had a traumatic childhood. She told her mother what was happening and her mother didn’t believe her and calls her a liar. Let’s just say she is a bada$$ unaliver by night and a cafe owner by day. She unalives men who do terrible things to women and children. And she feeds her victims p3nis’s from the previous person.
And she falls for a detective named Nick. She doesn’t know he is a detective right away. And he falls for her to, that is why he is always going to her shop. Sick and twisted, H3ll Yeah, do I love it, H3ll Yeah I do. Am I sick and twisted person, yes I am.
Go show this amazing author love and support. Go get her books. You won’t be disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2023
Rooting for the serial killer is not usually where I find myself, however Stella captivated my heart. The definition of morally grey, a victim of childhood abuse, Stella makes it her business to punish men she comes across in abusive relationships. Without wanting to give too much away I won't elaborate on her so-called revenge, however I will say that I will never look at a sausage roll the same way again.
I really enjoyed the fact this was also a romance as well as a thriller, and the fact Stella's beau was also the detective leading the investigation into the murders she committed, had me guessing until the end how their relationship would pan out.
Be warned the book deals with some heavy triggers, such as childhood abuse, and domestic violence. Be sure to know your own limits before reading.
All in all a fantastic read, and I am already looking forward to reading more from this author.
I really enjoyed the fact this was also a romance as well as a thriller, and the fact Stella's beau was also the detective leading the investigation into the murders she committed, had me guessing until the end how their relationship would pan out.
Be warned the book deals with some heavy triggers, such as childhood abuse, and domestic violence. Be sure to know your own limits before reading.
All in all a fantastic read, and I am already looking forward to reading more from this author.
August 3, 2024
Mask of Broken Things by Tanya Lynn is a thought provoking psychological romance thriller that I couldn’t put down. Before getting into the review, the book goes into a lot of heavy topics and triggers so please check the trigger list before reading. The first thing that drew me into the book is that the FMC is the morally grey character and the MMC is the sunshine, a dynamic twist I enjoy. Since it’s a Tanya Lynn book the dialogue, banter, and spice, between the FMC and MMC is incredible! The FMC is by far my favorite character in the book. Despite an impossible life she has kept moving forward and she’s so easy to root for. The twists and turns that develop through out the storyline revealed details I wasn’t expecting. It seems like a picture perfect ending, but a last open ended question has me excited for book two. I definitely recommend reading Mask of Broken Things by Tanya Lynn.
April 10, 2023
The Mask of Broken Things by Tanya Lynn is a stunning read that I couldn't put down. This book is a thrilling tale that will keep you turning pages as fast as you can read them. Although flawed and morally gray, the complex protagonist Stella is impossible not to root for. I found myself invested in her journey despite this.
The writing is beautiful and doesn't rely on excessive gore to create suspense. I was so engrossed in the story that I found myself neglecting my responsibilities just to finish reading it. Tanya Lynn is an outstanding author who has crafted a masterpiece that I'm ecstatic to recommend to anyone who loves a gripping, emotional, and beautifully written story.
The writing is beautiful and doesn't rely on excessive gore to create suspense. I was so engrossed in the story that I found myself neglecting my responsibilities just to finish reading it. Tanya Lynn is an outstanding author who has crafted a masterpiece that I'm ecstatic to recommend to anyone who loves a gripping, emotional, and beautifully written story.
July 27, 2023
Check your trigger warning. It’s about a young woman who was abûsed and neglected as a child by those that should have protected her. Now shes has become a serial unaliver vigilante. Saving one life by taking another. But what happens when the hot guy that comes in her bakery flirting with her turns out to be a detective? Can she stop her revenge for love? Oh and let’s not forget she’s being hunted by the abûsive step father.
This story is intense. The writing was well done. Definitely kept me on my toes. The characters are very relatable. I felt their emotions. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
This story is intense. The writing was well done. Definitely kept me on my toes. The characters are very relatable. I felt their emotions. I can’t wait to see what happens next.
March 23, 2024
A little cliche, I don’t think it is meant to be a deep book I read it skimming over because it isn’t a book that makes you think. Would have liked the partner to be more developed- definitely thought he was going to be a red herring or suspect if not the actual bad guy. The MMC is flat and needed to be better developed- don’t really know what she saw in him or why she felt “safe” with him and would have really appreciated that in their first sexual encounter he be more of a consent king. Also for a twist would have been fun if fantastic granny was actually an abusive AH but that’s just the meanie in me.
August 23, 2022
I want to start off saying that I’m giving this book 3.5 out of 5 stars.
Overall the story isn’t bad, however I did feel that there were some moments when it was lacking.
It was a bit hard to keep with since the story is being told from 3 different point of views and also there are flashbacks of the past for one of the characters. After a bit I was able to put it together just fine.
Honestly I don’t hate it, it’s a good story and I enjoyed most of it. However I feel this isn’t a book that I would probably see myself re-reading in the future.
Overall the story isn’t bad, however I did feel that there were some moments when it was lacking.
It was a bit hard to keep with since the story is being told from 3 different point of views and also there are flashbacks of the past for one of the characters. After a bit I was able to put it together just fine.
Honestly I don’t hate it, it’s a good story and I enjoyed most of it. However I feel this isn’t a book that I would probably see myself re-reading in the future.
June 19, 2023
Mask of Broken Things is a spicy dark romance with bits of mystery/thriller flare. You follow Stella who is a young female and has survived horrific childhood trauma while also seeking revenge on those who bring harm to women and children. During the day she cheerfully operates a café, baking pastries and cookies, and she's also dating a detective. The drama is intense, and check your triggers with this read. I loved this book and Stella's revenge journey, as well as her emotional journey. I love how the MMC detective, Nick, makes Stella feel safe and warm, while also making her feel sexy.
June 29, 2024
Dark with a purpose and a must read
This book comes with trigger warnings but honestly it is more validation for those of us who have lived abuse that there is light beyond the darkness. Stella may not be your typical heroine, but she more than anything shows that while your past shapes you it doesn't own you! Nick is sexy supportive light and doesn't disappoint. Overall this book was hard to put down and I asked about the next one because it is so good. This should be on your TBR if you love murder, romance and thrills.
This book comes with trigger warnings but honestly it is more validation for those of us who have lived abuse that there is light beyond the darkness. Stella may not be your typical heroine, but she more than anything shows that while your past shapes you it doesn't own you! Nick is sexy supportive light and doesn't disappoint. Overall this book was hard to put down and I asked about the next one because it is so good. This should be on your TBR if you love murder, romance and thrills.
July 26, 2022
3.5
This book had a lot going on, it's a mystery and it's told in different points of view, it also follows different story lines. The female main character has two points of view, one in the past and one in the present, but the past one advance through her life until it reaches the present and then we get to a point where both points of view overlap each other and that was very confusing.
Overall it was a very compelling and interesting book to read, I think thrillers and murder mystery book lovers will enjoy this one. I know this is the author's first release and I'm very curious to see more of her work in the future.
This book had a lot going on, it's a mystery and it's told in different points of view, it also follows different story lines. The female main character has two points of view, one in the past and one in the present, but the past one advance through her life until it reaches the present and then we get to a point where both points of view overlap each other and that was very confusing.
Overall it was a very compelling and interesting book to read, I think thrillers and murder mystery book lovers will enjoy this one. I know this is the author's first release and I'm very curious to see more of her work in the future.
January 16, 2023
Morally Grey FMC is my mood.
This book really exceeds my expectations so much. Morally gray FMC's that are Vigilante serial killers can be a bit scary for some but I enjoyed the execution of it all. The MMC was great. The story was good. There's no fluff to be found. For a debut novel it was great!
This book really exceeds my expectations so much. Morally gray FMC's that are Vigilante serial killers can be a bit scary for some but I enjoyed the execution of it all. The MMC was great. The story was good. There's no fluff to be found. For a debut novel it was great!
May 16, 2023
In Mask of Broken Things, Stella makes you question your beliefs about right and wrong. While some things in her past are horrifyingly wicked, how much should she let this impact her future? Without giving away too much, I appreciated and understood Stella's decisions. I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read more from this author.
May 23, 2023
A power book of female rage after years of abuse. Stella is a coffee shop owner by day and vigilante killer by night targeting abusive men. But what happens when she falls for the detective who is investigating the string of murders she is responsible for. Check your triggers, this is a violent book with dark flashbacks.
is there ever a point where enough has been done and can love heal the past.
is there ever a point where enough has been done and can love heal the past.
June 3, 2023
Buckle in because this romantic thriller holds nothing back! I often enjoy stories of revenge or vigilante justice, and Mask of Broken Things was right up my alley. I also don't mind a little smexy time, and this book had some HOT scenes. This story is dark and violent, so check your content warnings. This was the first book we've read of Tanya Lynn's, and it won't be the last
August 28, 2023
DNF 22% . Good concept but for me it lacked depth. The murders were rushed, the romance left me mhe.
There was no description. The monologues were lacking any imagination and the sentence structure was really simply for me to embrace myself into the story.
I’ll try different books by this author. Not giving up just yet.
There was no description. The monologues were lacking any imagination and the sentence structure was really simply for me to embrace myself into the story.
I’ll try different books by this author. Not giving up just yet.
February 12, 2024
I liked this book for the most part but was really quite disappointed in the ending. With the way it was going I really thought it would end with a cliffhanger but instead was very anticlimactic and I found I didn’t have much closure from it. The random 3rd point of view was also confusing. Would have made more sense if it was a bit more consistent.
October 31, 2025
Every time I read a Tanya Lynn book I think "she cant top the last book of hers I read" and every single time she proves me wrong. I have been making my way through Tanya's back log and had somehow not read her first two works. I finally read them this week and LOVED them. The female rage, payback, vigilante, getting rid of the scum of the earth had me cheering so much through this book
December 31, 2025
Wow.
Dark. Twisted. & seriously heart wrenching.
Stella has dealt with so many horrible things in her life, & has taken justice into her hands. Literally.
But then she meets Nick. The detective investigating the ghost killer. HER.
Their story is only just beginning and I cannot wait to see where book two takes us 😍
Dark. Twisted. & seriously heart wrenching.
Stella has dealt with so many horrible things in her life, & has taken justice into her hands. Literally.
But then she meets Nick. The detective investigating the ghost killer. HER.
Their story is only just beginning and I cannot wait to see where book two takes us 😍
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 18, 2022
One of my favorite books.
I can really feel the suspense; you're kept on your toes pretty much from the beginning to end. All three main characters are likeable in their own ways.
Overall, this is a great mystery, albeit rather dark, and I would recommend reading it.
I can really feel the suspense; you're kept on your toes pretty much from the beginning to end. All three main characters are likeable in their own ways.
Overall, this is a great mystery, albeit rather dark, and I would recommend reading it.
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