Book Review — Broken Course (Wrecked & Ruined) by Aly Martinez

“Seven years ago, my life changed forever. Then fate led me to Leo James. He taught me that crazy could be perfectly normal and it shouldn’t hurt to breathe…”

• Buy BROKEN COURSE (Kindle)

I loved this book!! It was a gorgeous romance and a perfect conclusion to this series — a sexy, heartwarming story of two broken people finding love in the most unlikely of places. I highly recommend these books for all fans of unique love stories, second chances, and protective Alpha males.

My strong recommendation is to read this series in order.Chronologically, Broken Course is actually the fourth (and last) book you should read about this set of characters. While each book is a standalone about a different couple, all the stories are strongly tied in together and I promise you’ll have a much stronger emotional attachment if you read them in order. (See the bottom of this post for more details.)

This is Sarah and Leo’s story and it was so fitting to have theirs be the final part of this series. Since the beginning, Sarah’s journey has been tragic, painful, and while I would understand why some reader might have even disliked her, I personally felt pity for her. What happened to her was life changing and devastating and I was so happy to see her finally reach a place of happiness and healing. Seven years ago, she was involved in a horrific accident that she survived but at the cost of the losing the woman she used to be. Her personality change was like turning into a new person. Overcome with guilt, she struggled for years with her new reality, feeling utterly unworthy of love or life and just wanting things to end. Her previous emotional connections were no longer meaningful and she felt lost, and completely alone…

“My world may be filled with people, but somehow, I still find myself completely alone in the shadows of my mind… I had every memory from my old life but none of the emotions to match them. “

Leo James was protective by nature and profession, and tortured by a past he was forced to relive each day in his head. The never ending guilt of the horrific things he was forced to do while working as an undercover agent haunted him. Both him and Sarah reached points where they thought they couldn’t make it any further, both so broken by their pasts that they lost any hope for their future. But somehow, together, they were able to build something beautiful.

“I like her despite her past, and in some sick way, I’m hoping that, if I can overlook the things she did, maybe she will be able to do the same with me.”

Now, despite the pain in their pasts, this book was actually a lot of fun. I really appreciated that the author lightened it by incorporating oodles of humour. I must have laughed right out loud at least once per chapter. Everything from their hilariously horrific first date, to their non-stop banter, to their flirty texts really balanced out the more emotional sides of the story.

“I really fucking hope you cleaned the cobwebs out of your panties, because… I want you to run into that man’s bed, strip naked, and let him kiss you wherever the hell he wants. You did NOT tell me he was that good-looking.”

“Yes, I did!” I whisper-yell back to her while glancing over my shoulder to make sure Leo can’t hear us. But, much to my dismay, he’s very obviously listening. His confident shit-eating grin is impossibly wide.

I actually think that Sarah’s best friend said it best. Her accident had essentially made her into a new person and the only hope she had of building a future would be to embrace that new person with someone who would accept her as she was now without judgment.

“Everyone in Sarah’s life has known her for years. I think someone finally needs to hear her side of the story without the clouds of the past fracturing her truths. Someone needs to finally know that woman standing in the parking lot right now.”

And I loooooved the way Leo was with her. As someone with a dark past of his own, he understood the need to be accepted and there were no double standards in his mind. He was calm, patient, caring, and protective of her… allowing her the safety to just be herself and willing to stand up for her no matter what.

“Aw, did you get upset because someone made me cry?” …

“I’m serious, Sarah. I was pissed.”

She wraps her arms around my waist and starts laughing again. “Oh God. What did you say?”

“I don’t even remember exactly. But I’m pretty sure I called you my woman and pissed on someone’s leg.”

This story has a really wonderful way of standing on it’s own while tying together all the parts of the stories in the series so far. All these people had had their lives entwined in some way. Everything all tied back to that fateful accident that changed all their lives and this was the last piece to be healed.

“He takes two giant steps forward, pulling me into his arms. “We’re going to be okay. I refuse to accept it any other way.”

And, true to this author’s style, there’s a twist towards the end that added an absolutely wonderful storyline in that honestly just made the book. It was the missing link and perfectly rounded out the story. But I won’t say anything because it’s a really great surprise to discover as you read.

Ooooooohh!! And lets not forget the infamous vegetable report!! Its here. *waggles eyebrows* Pretty sure I’ll never look at parsnip and plantain the same way again!

Gah. And the epilogue was perfect!! I literally just started crying when I saw whose POV it was in. Truly a gorgeous way to end all these stories. It tied everything up, was loaded with emotion, and brought the stories in all the books full circle in every way.

I highly recommend this series as a top favorite. These love stories are quite unique and unconventional but that’s what makes them so wonderful. They’re emotional, funny, angsty, heart-wrenching, sweet, and everything you could ever want. I’m such a huge fan of Aly Martinez’s writing. I’ve now read every book in this series and loved every one. I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next!

Rating: 4.5 stars!!

•  Buy BROKEN COURSE (Kindle)

 

*** SERIES READING ORDER ***
Interconnected standalones. Should be read in order.

CHANGING COURSE
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

STOLEN COURSE
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback| Read my Review

AMONG THE ECHOES
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

BROKEN COURSE
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review