SHATTERED BY YOU – TEAR ASUNDER #3 by NASHODA ROSE

“I don’t know where to start.”
“Wherever you can, baby.”

Nashoda Rose certainly knows how to tell a story! We’ve been addicted to this series from day one and if this latest offering is any indication, our addiction shows no sign of abating because we thoroughly enjoyed this book and its characters. The camaraderie between the band member who are more like a brotherhood than a band was heart-warming, the witty banter was giggle worthy, and this, together with those heart crushing moments made Shattered by You a page turner.

‘We all know the definition of shattered: to break into pieces; to weaken, destroy; to damage, as by breaking or crushing. ‘

Crisis and Haven were like night and day yet they flowed off one another so beautifully.  Crisis the fun loving, sexy, incorrigible flirt who seemed to breeze through life with a sort of ease was the perfect counterpart for the detached and aloof Haven. Crisis saw beneath her cold façade and was totally unaffected by her indifference towards him and others, instead seeing the survivor who lay beneath.

“You didn’t break, Haven. Your pieces may have been scattered, but they didn’t break.”

Crisis admired Haven’s strength and tenacity, yet could see the vulnerability of a young woman whose walls could shatter any minute.  Crisis offered her friendship, a sounding board knowing her walls would eventually shatter and recognised the impact that fallout would have on them all.  Crisis never wavered in his support of Haven; building up her trust, helping her to open up, to lay herself bare emotionally, ensuring her he was in for the long haul and didn’t we love him for it!

Asking Haven to trust him with the memories of her cruel, tragic and horrendous past was something Haven found extremely difficult. The memories were terrible enough for her to deal with, she didn’t want to share those nightmares with Crisis or her brother Ream, instead finding outlets to deal with the painful treatment she’d been forced to live with and keeping it bottled up inside.

“I’ll sum it up for you. I want you, and I think you know that. No, I know you know that. But you won’t trust me and I won’t be with you if you don’t.”

Crisis! We loved this guy!  His very naughty mouth, his sexy demeanour was irresistible alright but it was his heart that won us over. What a guy! And oh those scenes with his Mum…seriously…we MELTED! Crisis could have a dirty sexy mouth one minute, and be sweet and swoony the next.

Our hearts went out to Haven and her brother, Ream. These twins shared such a strong bond. The life they had been dealt was devastating to say the least. Their bond made it even more painful and debilitating for Haven to share her past and we really did feel the anguish Ream endured over the unnecessary guilt he carried for the pain his sister suffered.

“I want my sister.”
“That sister, the one you loved, she’s dead, Ream. I can’t give you her. You can just love me for who I am now or…not.”
“Jesus, I do love you. I always will.”

Haven was a true survivor and her strength was so admirable. In saying that, we did have a bit of an issue with some of her actions. Whilst we understood and felt the passion, chemistry and extent of the feelings between Haven and Crisis, we couldn’t connect with the lust she voiced especially after living through such a traumatic, past. What this young girl experienced didn’t bear thinking about. The fact she survived was a miracle and so her inner monologue at times didn’t gel with what she had lived through and there were moments we felt as though we were being ‘forced’ to comprehend her behaviour.

‘Prince Charming was a fucking fairy tale. No guy was going to save you. You had to save yourself.’

In saying that, it didn’t take detract from our enjoyment of Shattered by You. This story brought us the ugly and dark, suffering and survival, beauty and pain, love and light as we lay witness to the love and devotion of an extended family and the passion and truth between a couple who fought to leave the past where it belongs. All told with intensity, humour and heart by an author who really knows how to deliver a fabulous story!  Now bring on Kite’s book!

**Reviewed from an ARC copy provided by the author via Netgalley.**
NB:  This book can be read as a standalone but has interconnecting stories and characters and contains spoilers for book two – we highly recommend reading the series in order.