Even after years of trauma therapy, Peyton still believes she’s broken. She has little desire to date or show off her natural beauty, content simply to hang out with her best friends and run her pie shop in New Orleans. But her world turns upside-down when a handsome architect and self-confessed player shows up in her shop and thinks she’s perfect, much more than the usual hook-up. While Peyton does her best to resist his charms, believing she could never be enough for him, she can’t deny the obvious heat between them.
With Reed determined to have her, Peyton must decide whether to continue to hide behind her apron and baggy clothes or take a chance and share her scars with Reed, a man with a playboy reputation and scars of his own — a dark past he can’t possibly share with Peyton, not after learning the horrors she’s endured. But if they can find a way to trust each other, and themselves, they just might be able to heal, to save each other, to live perfectly broken together.
With Reed determined to have her, Peyton must decide whether to continue to hide behind her apron and baggy clothes or take a chance and share her scars with Reed, a man with a playboy reputation and scars of his own — a dark past he can’t possibly share with Peyton, not after learning the horrors she’s endured. But if they can find a way to trust each other, and themselves, they just might be able to heal, to save each other, to live perfectly broken together.
by Prescott Lane
ARC Review
Released; March 25, 2014
My rating: 4 of 5 ⭐️
Even after years of trauma therapy, Peyton still believes she’s broken.
She has little desire to date or show off her natural beauty, content simply to hang out with her best friends and run her pie shop in New Orleans. But her world turns upside-down when a handsome architect and self-confessed player shows up in her shop and thinks she’s perfect, much more than the usual hook-up.
While Peyton does her best to resist his charms, believing she could never be enough for him, she can’t deny the obvious heat between them. With Reed determined to have her, Peyton must decide whether to continue to hide behind her apron and baggy clothes or take a chance and share her scars with Reed, a man with a playboy reputation and scars of his own -- a dark past he can’t possibly share with Peyton, not after learning the horrors she’s endured.
But if they can find a way to trust each other, and themselves, they just might be able to heal, to save each other, to live perfectly broken together.
*****
The heroine is crippled by a single violent and traumatic event, something author Prescott Lane is being very respectful of, and makes sure that all other characters are as well. Even 'frequent flyer' Reed, our hero, who does not make it a habit to be the most insightful or sensitive soul, but even without having the knowledge of her background, he senses a tentative darkness in Peyton and treats her with greater care than he has ever afforded any of his 'buffet---fillers'.
Ms. Lane has written the best character, when she created Peyton's trauma therapist, Dr. Lorraine. A middle-aged, completely unconventional and hilariously straighforward woman, who didn't pull any punches and refused to treat anyone like a victim, nor did she allow anyone to view themselves as victims. In contrast, Dr. Lorraine seems unafraid to push Peyton beyond her comfort zone, where everyone else more or less tiptoes around her.
Best example of that is Griffin...... you snooze, you lose, buster!!
Reed had a pretty cocky and aggressive approach initially, hiding his own skeletons, but he was pretty much knocked on his ass by Peyton, causing him to step back and letting her set the pace. But his very obvious interest in her and claim on her, was enough to give her that little shove she needed to start expressing more of an interest in the world around her again.
Well-written, although at times a tad juvenile in terms of the behaviour and reactions described, given that we are talking about people in their late twenties and not their late teens. Nevertheless, a very sensitive combination of issues that are very carefully handled in an interesting story with tremendous character growth for both protagonists.
✨A stirring, potent and emotionally healing story.✨
**Copy provided in return for an honest review.**
Prescott Lane is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and graduated from Centenary College in 1997 with a degree in sociology. She went on to Tulane University to receive her MSW in 1998, after which she worked with developmentally delayed and disabled children. She currently resides in New Orleans with her husband and two children.
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ReplyDeleteAny time, Nancy!
DeleteWow even the side cast sounds wonderfully developed. I would def enjoy this one as well it sounds moving and emotional. I also like how the event in questions seems to be written respectfully. Great review, Margreet!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Giselle! Much appreciated! It is an emotional read, although laced with a good amount of humor as well....
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