Review: Unbreak My Heart by Nicole Jacquelyn (Fostering Love #1)
Note: This ARC was provided by Forever (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I just wanted her. Even without the kids, I'd want her. The kids just made that bond a million times stronger. I wanted her to look at me the way she'd looked at me when we were stupid teenagers--like I could do anything. I wanted to see all the changes that carrying Iris had done to her body. I wanted to map her curves with my fingers and know when she was about to start her period because I'd been with her so long that I could recognize the signs. I wanted the little things and the big things.
But she'd never believe me if I tried to tell her that.
Nicole Jacquelyn is a new author to me. I've come across her motorcycle club series and its spin-off on Goodreads and have actually added them on my to-be-read list. But there was something about her new novel that just called out to me. The synopsis was far too intriguing to resist and thank goodness I didn't even try to because requesting for the advanced copy of this book on NetGalley was one of the best reading decisions I've made this year. It's an intense story, one that enticed varied responses and reactions from, both negative and positive. I felt for one main character, especially as she filled in a role that wasn't given to her but one that she was meant to have, and felt like strangling the other in utter frustration while trying to understand that he was struggling with his own reality. Unbreak My Heart proved to be a book worth gambling on. Not only has it put the author on my radar as well as bumped up her back list on my TBR list, but it's given me a continuing series to look forward to. This was a wonderfully worthwhile novel.
Katherine Evans once considered her foster cousin her best friend, but Shane Anderson made sure to drive a wedge in between them, one that just happened to be the friend she brought home from college. Shane went on to marry Rachel, bringing three children into their family with a fourth one on the way. Kate's friendship with Rachel remained, the two becoming best friends and Kate a second mother to the Anderson kids. When tragedy strikes, Kate steps in and for a year, she and Shane form an uneasy partnership for the sake of his four children. But all it takes is one drunken night to change the already strained dynamic between them. Shane is full of guilt over what happened, and he sees Kate as someone trying to take over the role that once belonged to Rachel. However, he also can't help but want her in a way that he's never wanted any other woman. Upon his return from deployment, his confused thoughts and feelings lead Shane to commit a devastating betrayal, one which he and Kate may never come back from.
I lost count of the number of times I seriously wanted to physically hurt Shane. The man spoke and acted without thinking, only to later regret what he said and did, and it didn't just happen a couple of times. His treatment of Kate was abhorrent and yes, she allowed him to treat her like she wasn't worth anything to him or his children. The turning point in the story was a long time coming but when it did, God, how satisfied I was! I also needed to give Kate's adopted twin brothers, Abraham and Alexander, aka Bram and Alex, a hug after they did what they did on Kate's behalf. They went about it in their distinctive ways, which definitely piqued my curiosity as to how their own stories would later play out in the series, but their love and protectiveness had me teary-eyed. Speaking of tears, I had more than a few while reading this masterpiece of a novel. For me to be as reactive as I was while reading this was proof how much it affected me. Unbreak My Heart is, without a doubt, one of the best books I've ever read. Five-plus stars. ♥
Release Date: 07 June 2016
Date Read: 07 June 2016
Learn more about Nicole Jacquelyn.
Comments
Post a Comment