Title: Broken
Series: Brody Brothers Series
Author: Stacy Gail
Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Cowboy/Rancher Romance
Release Date: June 17, 2020
Release Date: June 17, 2020
“The Hatfields and McCoys have nothing on the Brodys and Smileys.”
The feud was all Winnie Smiley heard about while growing up next door to those arrogant cowboys, the Brodys. Smiley homestead might be a dilapidated eyesore that she’d run away from as a teen, but it did possess something the Brodys had schemed in vain to get—Smiley Lake. Now, with the region crippled with drought and her monstrous father burning in hell, Winnie stands to inherit the lake. She knows that’s why Des is suddenly everywhere she turns, but that doesn’t matter. She’d never had a chance to grab at happiness before, so even if it’s just the lake Des wants, she’s going to make damn sure she’s part of the deal.
“The Smileys live to screw with the Brodys.”
After nearly dying on the horns of a murder-happy bull, former rodeo star Des Brody now has to figure out his place on Green Rock Ranch. All his brothers are settled with their new families, and they know exactly what to do to make Green Rock run. But Des? All he can do is try to make sure the empire they’ve built doesn’t shrivel up and blow away in the drought. Landing Smiley Lake is key to stabilizing Green Rock’s water supply, but there’s an obstacle—Winsome Smiley. Only she’s not really an obstacle. More like a meal begging to be eaten.
And he’s hungry as hell.
“I’m a Brody, and a Brody always gets what he wants.”
When Winnie doesn’t inherit Smiley Lake, she assumes she and Des are finished before they even began. To her shock, Des has other ideas and shows her an undiscovered world of pleasure. But just as she starts to believe Des wants her solely for herself, she discovers he hasn’t been totally upfront with her. Now she had a choice to make—trust her heart, or believe her ancestors had it right in saying that a Brody can never be trusted.
***This contemporary romance is the fourth and final book in the Brody Brothers series. While it may be read as a standalone, I suggest reading the first three books, BRANDED, BRACED and BRUISED for a more enjoyable read. This book contains multiple sex scenes and lots of swearing. It also contains a bossy Alpha who may compel you to throw your Kindle at the nearest wall (please don’t). No cheating, no love triangles, no cliffhangers. HEA guaranteed. Due to adult language and sexual content, this book is not intended for people under the age of eighteen***
***TRIGGER WARNING*** This book contains a heroine who suffered sexual abuse as a child, and a hero who suffered physical and emotional abuse. If you have issues with these elements, this book is not for you.
“What do you want in life, Winsome Smiley?” Automatically he turned in the direction of his old room, the one and only place that had been somewhat of a safe haven in this nightmare place. “What hopes and dreams does the girl next door have?”
“Probably not the kind that would set the Brody world on fire.”
“All that matters is if those dreams set your world on fire. Do they?”
She nodded in a shy little way that made him want to tug her to him and never let go. “I’ll admit, I do have a few dreams that are near and dear to my heart. What about you?” she added, glancing up at him with those heart-stopping pale eyes of hers. “What is it that you want out of life? Name the first thing that comes to mind.”
“You.”
Her gasp probably wasn’t the most encouraging response he could have hoped for. At least he had her attention.
“What?” she whispered, her free hand fluttering up to her chest. “Sorry, I misheard you. What?”
“You heard me just fine.” He didn’t bother to hide how closely he watched her, gauging her reactions to see just how far he could push things. “Though I think I need to make sure you understand me.”
“Um…”
“I’m attracted to you, Winsome—the look of you, the sound of you, the scent of you. I want you, more than I’ve ever wanted anyone in my life, and I want you to want me the same way.”
“Des.” As he watched, her eyes darkened with both an arousal that thrilled him and an alarm that made his teeth grind. “You can’t just pop off and say things like that.”
“Yeah I can, and I’m not done yet. I’m not done, because I want you to know the thoughts that go through my head whenever I look at you are so X-rated they’d make a porn star blush, and I’m not ashamed to admit it.”
“Holy crap,” she whispered.
“That’s why I want you to hunger for me like you haven’t eaten in a week and I’m your favorite dish. That’s how I hunger for you, so I won’t be happy until you feel the same way. I want you naked, and I want to be naked with you. In fact, I’ve wanted that from the moment I found you skinny-dipping. That’s a night I’ll never forget. I got so hard for you I couldn’t sleep that night. Not even jerking off with your name on my lips when I came was enough to satisfy me, and the cold shower I took afterwards didn’t cool me down either. So I’m not going to lie to you. When you ask what I want out of life, you are the first thing riding the top of my wish list. It’s best you know that.”
A competitive figure skater from the age of eight, Stacy Gail began writing stories in between events to pass the time. By fourteen, she told her parents she was either going to be a figure skating coach who was also a published romance author, or a romance author who was also a figure skating pro. Now, with a day job of playing on the ice with her students, and writing everything from steampunk to cyberpunk, contemporary to paranormal at night, both dreams have come true.
Des did not have an easy childhood as through no fault of his own not everyone wanted him on the family ranch, and they were determined to make his life as difficult as possible. His way of escaping was to compete in rodeos, but an injury has him back on the ranch determined to prove that he deserves to be part of the ranch and the family.
Winnie still bears the emotional scars of her past and the only thing that would bring her back home is the death of her father. As teenagers she and Des were attracted to each other but what she didn’t know is that outside forces conspired to keep them apart. It may be the water on her father’s ranch that brings them together but is that all that will keep them together?
Neither Des nor Winnie have completely healed from the past which adds some complications to their journey but in each other they find the love they both deserve.
HOSTED BY:
Kari's Book Reviews and Revelations 