Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven

Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



When I finished Bad Romeo I wanted to delve immediately into Broken Juliet because I had to know what happened between and to Cassie and Ethan. And even though I had Broken Juliet on my Kindle, queued up and ready to go, I forced myself to read something else in between. I needed to come down from the rollercoaster ride the Ms. Rayven took me on in Bad Romeo. I had to make sure that I was starting the second part of Cassie and Ethan’s journey from sound footing, even if they weren’t. I also had to make sure that I could give Broken Juliet its own review, rather than reviewing the two books as a series. But because Broken Juliet picks up right were Bad Romeo leaves off – with the knock at the door – I found myself sucked right back into Cassie’s anxiety, her fear, her doubt, her mistrust, her love, and her brokenness.

Even though I finished book one less than 24 hours ago, I still find myself amazed at Ms. Rayven’s ability to draw me in with a writing style I tend to dislike – Cassie and Ethan’s diary entries. And again, her shifts from present to past to present work seamlessly to reveal exactly what it was that Ethan did that broke Cassie – because he did break her – and how it is now affecting their present. I absolutely enjoyed this book, both of them actually but especially Broken Juliet. The author managed to twist my emotions so fully that I was simultaneously hopeful for the present because of the progress that Ethan has made in the intervening years AND fearful and anxious as I waited for the other shoe to drop in the past. Even knowing that Ethan left her and how heartbroken that left Cassie, I still wasn’t prepared to actually relive that moment with Cassie. And just when I thought everything in the present was going to work out and Cassie was finally going to get her happily ever after, a single phone call sends her (and me) running back behind the wall she built to keep her heart safe. I honestly did not know if the author was going to give Cassie and Ethan the happy ending I thought they deserved.

While I again found the acting elements fascinating, I enjoyed Cassie’s therapy sessions even more. They not only provided an excellent means of revealing the painful events of the past, but they also provided even more insight into Cassie and what she endured as she tried to fight Ethan’s insecurities in their previous relationships. Even though we didn’t see any of Ethan’s sessions, his behavior in the present was a testament to how committed he was to exorcising his demons. And because we were well acquainted with the explosive sexual chemistry between them from book one, the sexual tension in the present between Cassie and Ethan was that much more palpable. Because I don’t want to ruin the reading experience for anyone by spoiling the ending, I will simply say that I absolutely loved Broken Juliet and was satisfied with the resolution the author provided Cassie and Ethan. I look forward to rereading both books, and I’m really looking forward to reading Elissa’s story in Wicked Heart.

I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewed by Angela at Crystal's Many Reviewers!

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