Review: Shattered Edge by A.M. HARGROVE

Series: Edge Edge #2

Genere: Adult Contemporary

Publisher: A.M. HARGROVE

Release Date: February 14th 2013

Format: aARC submitted for review by author

Rating: 5 Stars

Synopsis:

An Edge Novel

Their trial relationship was meant to last six months, but things didn’t quite work out the way they planned...

Justin Middleton, who has left a string of broken hearts across the state of South Carolina, has only one thing on his mind, and that’s winning Terri Mitchell’s heart in six months. That’s all the time she’s given him...six short months. If he can’t do it by then, they’ll go their separate ways. 

Terri Mitchell knows she’s lost her mind when she even suggested this harebrained scheme. She finally thinks her heart is on the mend from her past encounter with Justin. However, when he shows up at her house late one night looking deliciously sexy and irresistible, her iron will to fight him vanishes and the words tumble from her lips before she’s barely aware of what she’s done. 

Within weeks, both of them find themselves passionately involved, but when Terri’s brother, Preston, shows up, mysterious things begin to happen, turning their blissful world into something dark and dangerous.

This was my first experience reading an A.M. HARGROVE book and let me tell you, she didn't disappoint. This wasn't your average love story, with hot sex and a few minor issues. NO! This book was so much more. It starts out with Terri Mitchell at her friend Lexi's wedding. When her old flame Justin Middleton tries to talk to her she won't hear it at first. See these two have past issues that has kept them from being together and Terri can't just forget. Justin begs for another chance to do things right this time and she agrees to give him 6 months to earn back her love and trust. It doesn't take long to earn his way back into her bed because these two go at it like rabbits! He finds any excuse possible to get her in his bed and Terri just can't help herself because she has always had a thing for Justin. They build their foundation little by little with hardly any bumps in the road...well unless you count her junkie of a brother, Justin's crazy admirer at work and Terri finding her dad in a compromising position. Just your every day run of the mill drama that Terri and Justin get through together. Justin was amazing you guys. He was sweet, loving and attentive to Terri. He really showed how much he wanted to win her back and did EVERYTHING to prove it to her.You will fall in love with him just like I did with everything he does. Things go pretty well for them and I started to wonder if this book was going to be just fluff or would there be anything substantial to sink my teeth into. I got about 3/4 of the way through and got my answer. After the tragic death of Terri's father Justin steps up and takes care of her and does something so sweet it will make your teeth hurt! They are the height of happiness and you are on top of the world with them until Hargrove throws a curve ball that will blindside you! Terri and Justin are torn apart by outside forces you won't see coming. I don't want to give too much away because it's really juicy. I love a good mystery and the last quarter of the book made me sad and angry but ended with a really great payoff. It was worth the anguish I went through seeing these two people who I fell in love with being tortured.

Let me talk about Terri for a minute because she was such a strong female character and I love that in a leading lady. She fought her way back from an injury that nearly cost her something vital. With everything she faced she grew stronger, even when she hit her breaking point as almost every person does, but she eventually grew determined and even more strong than she ever thought possible.

As for Justin, let me just say that I am so in love with him! Almost so much, that I feel like he is real. Yes he was a past womanizer and a little bit of a man whore but he redeemed himself so much in this book. When he said he was going to prove to Terri that he was good for her, he damn sure stepped up and proved himself. The things he said and did were swoon worthy no doubt but it was his faith fullness even during the rough times that made me fall. During the time of the book that made me angry and sad Justin was steadfast in his commitment to Terri. I like to think there are men out there who when they know a woman is the one for them, they know no other woman will ever come close and therefore never move on. I know that isn't true especially in today's world but it was so endearing to see Justin realize he would never find someone like Terri.

The main thing I loved about this book is how love won out in the end. These characters fight tooth and nail, go through heaven and hell and still manage to find their way back to one another in the most beautiful way. 
Filled with surprises, steamy moments and sweet romantic love Shattered Edge was a really fun and exciting roller coaster ride that will most likely leave you saying "Aww". Now I just have to go back and read the first book Edge Of Disaster because I usually end up reading book 2 first!

“I’ll hold you close. I won’t let you fall. I’ll even carry you if you need me to. Just please don’t say no, Terri.” eARC Loc. 137

“Terri, that thing you did earlier...you know, with the ice? I’m gonna do that to you sometime. Just giving you fair warning.” eARC Loc. 1642

“When I’m with you, there always seems to be this urgent need to feel your skin against mine. All of it. Thoughts of you arouse me, even when my mind should be occupied with other things.” eARC Loc. 2467

“I just realized something.” “What would that be?” I asked her. “I love you now more than ever.” eARC Loc. 3211

                      About The Author:

One day, on her way home from work as a sales manager, A. M. Hargrove, realized her life was on fast forward and if she didn't do something soon, it would quickly be too late to write that work of fiction she had been dreaming of her whole life. So, she rolled down the passenger window of her fabulous (not) company car and tossed out her leather briefcase. Luckily, the pedestrian in the direct line of fire was a dodgeball pro and had über quick reflexes enabling him to avoid getting bashed in the head. Feeling a tad guilty about the near miss, A. M. made a speedy turn down a deserted side street before tossing her crummy, outdated piece-of-you-know-what lap top out the window. She breathed a liberating sigh of relief, picked up her cell phone and hit #4 on her speed dial.

"Hello."

"Boss, is that you?"

"Why yes, A. M., who else would be answering my phone?"

"Er... right. Well, I'm calling to let you know you can pick up my luxury Ford Focus at Starbucks near the interstate."

"Why ever would I want to do that?"

"Because I quit you idiot!"

A.M. hit the end button and speed dialed her husband.

"Hi hubs, can you pick me up at Starbucks?"

"Sure... Having some car trouble?"

"Not at all. I don't have a car to have trouble with because I just quit my job."

"WHAT?!"

"It's time for a new career and I am going to be a very famous novelist."

So began A. M. Hargrove's career as a young adult paranormal romance author of self-published ebooks. Her series, The Guardians of Vesturon, centers around a family of six siblings and is a mix of humor, mystery, suspense and of course, love. Survival is her first book in the series and her second, Resurrection will be released in January.

If you're wondering, it didn't happen EXACTLY that way, but....