Into The Night Book Reviews: Blog Tour: Nearly Broken by Devon Ashley

Welcome to our spot on the Nearly Broken blog tour. Devon Ashley has done a wonderful job with Megan's story. It deals with an issue that is incredibly, well "disturbing" to quote the cautionary note that accompanies the book, but sadly one that is a reality in our world.

We hope you enjoy our post as much as we enjoyed reading this fabulous novel.

Title: Nearly Broken

Author: Devon Ashley

Release date: June 4, 2013

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Age Group: New Adult

Event organized by: AToMR Tours

We’d both gone missing at one point, but Claire had one thing I didn’t. Someone to notice. So why was I the one still here and she the one still gone?

Nineteen year old Megan Smith has spent the past year working in a small town diner in the middle of nowhere. Life is quiet, simple, safe. Then comes the news that her look-a-like has gone missing.

Claire.

Still damaged both physically and mentally, Megan's not looking to be noticed. Wherever she goes from here, it's a road she needs to take alone. But when Nickolas Ellis takes the job as the new nightshift cook, it scares her how easily her defenses crumble down, down, down for him. But there are secrets she can't bear to share with just anyone, unspeakable acts that continue to haunt, and when the similarities of Claire’s abduction couples with the fear of an unwanted visitor in town, the urge to run before it all happens again intensifies, threatening the only happiness Megan's ever found.

New Adult Romantic Suspense / Realistic Fiction

Recommended for 17+ for mature and disturbing situations, language and sexual content.

No, no…just no. I kept repeating the mantra in my head: I will not kiss Nick. I will not kiss Nick.

Though I really wanted to. Really, really wanted to know the feel of his lips and have his hands press against my back again, eliminating all space between us. My mind then upgraded that simple kiss to a few make-believe scenarios that were so graphic my body was in constant movement, slowly squirming in a wavelike motion. When a longing moan escaped with my breath, my eyes bolted wide.

“Shit!” I threw the covers off and rolled out of bed. Hightailing it to the shower, I offered a quick good morning to Nick on the sofa, noting the wicked smile he gave in return. Oh, God. Please tell me that moan wasn’t loud enough for him to hear!

The hot water worked wonders on my tight muscles, and by the time I dressed and came back out, I was so relaxed I no longer opposed the flirtatious smiles Nick continued to throw my way. But when he turned his back, my eyes began to narrow. This was the first morning since becoming roommates that he decided not to bother with a shirt, strutting around in nothing but a pair of loose-fitted cotton pants, luring my gaze to the sexy sculpture of his upper body.

I cursed the butterflies flittering inside and my damn eyes, which couldn’t seem to stop looking.

God, I hated him. Well, not really, but I hated how efficient he was in making me want him. Ever since he activated those butterflies last night, I just couldn’t shut the damn things off. They were still flitting around, making me antsy and driving me crazy for not kissing him. And despite my best efforts to convince myself to not get involved, I felt my resolve dissipating. I wanted to rewind time so bad, and this time ignore the distractions and stay put in his arms for that kiss.

I entered the kitchen, where he was already leaning over the counter drinking his coffee and reading the paper. Seriously, what time did he wake up every morning to get all that before I even woke up? I hung my head backwards, just realizing he absolutely was half-naked for my benefit, because he would’ve had to put on a shirt to go out. Sucking my lower lip in and out of my mouth, I focused in on the black tribal sleeve tattoo that began halfway up his upper left arm and curled over the edge of his shoulder. I couldn’t see it at the moment, but I knew it covered part of his chest too. “Is that your only tattoo?” I asked. I knew it wasn’t. I had already seen something resembling jagged edges peeking out over the edge of his pants. I’d only asked because a sense of playfulness was overtaking me. And my eyes desired a special treat.

“No. I also have a sunburst, but I doubt you’d want to see it.”

Taking the bait, I inquired, “Oh, yeah? Why’s that?”

He twisted his torso towards me and took the longest sip of coffee ever. Fighting the extension of his already curving lips, he replied smoothly, “Because it’s some place you’re too shy to look.”

Nearly Broken deals with subject matter that I’ve only encountered a couple of times previously and Devon Ashley handles it in a way that doesn’t shy away from the brutal reality of human trafficking. It is explicit in its detail of the degradation of young women by those involved in this practice, so if that is not something you want to read about then you should heed the advice that accompanies the book:

New Adult Romantic Suspense / Dark Realistic Fiction

Recommended for 17+ for mature and disturbing situations, language and sexual content

and choose an alternative read.

I really don’t want to disclose the story line in this review, which is quite a challenge, but I'm going to give it a go.

Megan is a fabulous character. She is resilient yet fragile, courageous yet terrified and deals with the situations she faces in what I considered to be a very realistic manner. Past events drive her behavior and she grapples with a constant, yet unknown, threat. It is not until certain puzzle pieces come together that she truly understands the consequences of her past for her future.

Nick is to die for. He is smart, caring, a talented chef and will stop at nothing to be with the woman he loves.

Nearly Broken is beautifully written. The story flows effortlessly and you are caught up in Megan’s world very quickly. Her emotions are clear and vivid and her experiences are haunting. I found myself immersed in her world and praying that the outcome would be what she deserved.

There is a beautiful love story woven throughout Nearly Broken, despite the bleaker elements of the subject matter. It is one filled with hope and a promise of happiness that was heart warming. Nearly Broken also carries with it intrigue/suspense as we wonder about the ‘villain’ and what impact he will have for other characters. The core subject matter is quite bleak, although I think Ashley has handled it well.

I really enjoyed Nearly Broken. It is not a story for the faint hearted with some fairly graphic detail about the human trafficking/sex trade and yet intertwined with this dark element there is a beautiful love story that is a delight to read. I think it is both the stark contrast between and blending of these two elements that makes Nearly Broken such a wonderful read.

4 out of 5 stars

I’m a mom, wife, a lover and a fighter, coffee addict, wicked knitster, Microbiologist, baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to death for that last ~~twinkie~~ bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh yeah, and writing is cool too!