Book Review: ‘Lovely Shattered Secrets’ by Abbey Easton

We already know I’m a sucker for a romance novel. Add in some suspense and I’m all over that. But then you sprinkle in a little small-town vibe and you’ve got me hooked. With all that, it’s no wonder this book drew me right in. I’m also a sucker for a character in law enforcement. Meaning this book was a winner before I even started reading it. But when I did, it made me realize Abbey Easton is just my kind of author! I was about to read book number three when I realized this was a series and decided to go back and start from the beginning. And I am glad that I did. So keep reading for my review of Lovely Shattered Secrets by Abbey Easton!

Rough Beginnings

Right from the beginning, it was easy to understand what a strong and selfless character Atlas is. The way he did his absolute best to protect his brothers was incredible. And Atlas has been through it. Losing his mother at a young age, being abused by his father, and then losing his youngest brother because of their father was a lot. Especially since all of that happened by the time Atlas was nine years old. His story could have been a devastating one. But instead, he worked hard to become a cop in a small town and do his best to protect others. Because that is just part of his personality. Atlas is also doing his best to keep his brother Ty in line since he spends most of his time acting out. Atlas is an extremely protective character who puts others’ needs before his own.

Image via Abbey Easton

Wren can relate a bit to having a rough childhood. She also lost her parents. Though it happened when she was a little older and she had a grandmother to take her in. But then her grandmother became ill and Wren ended up taking care of her and then herself. She did spend a short amount of time in foster care and ended up in a bad situation with a past relationship. It took a lot of strength for Wren to not only get away from her bad situation but to start over somewhere new. And while it takes a little bit, Wren allows herself to put her trust in others. Something she hasn’t done in a long time. But her past isn’t done with her yet and she has to continue putting trust in others to make sure she can keep herself safe.

Growing Together

There was an instant connection between Wren and Atlas that I thought was so organic and believable. They didn’t just jump into bed with one another and profess their undying love. They met and became friends and couldn’t seem to find the words to explain the connection that was happening between them. Atlas didn’t understand why he felt as protective over Wren as he did of his own family. And Wren couldn’t understand why she found herself wanting to lean on Atlas and spill all of her secrets to him. Since they live in a small town, there was no way to avoid each other and the way their story and relationship unraveled was nothing short of amazing. And definitely swoon-worthy!

When they were able to tell one another where they came from and receive no judgments from the other about the choices they made, I was all in for these two to get together. But there were outside forces trying to keep them apart and their feelings about themselves were getting in the way as well. So while Wren and Atlas may have some bruises on their souls, they are in no way broken. And I loved reading about the way they opened up to one another about their pasts. The way they chose to lean on each other and heal together. I think that’s the making of a bond that will never be broken.

Master of the Craft

The way the action and suspense parts were written honestly had me gasping out loud at times. Abbey Easton is a master of the craft because I would be reading and swooning only to suddenly feel a rush of adrenaline. But she didn’t rush anything. It was like you could feel the pressure mounting and get the sense that something was going to happen. And then when it did, it was something you wouldn’t have predicted. I think that’s pretty impressive. Something else impressive was the way Abbey Easton writes relationships. And not just romantic ones either. Sibling relationships, friendships, and romances are written realistically and beautifully. It really made me care about the characters and what was happening to them. I found myself getting mad for them, sad, scared, and happy for them.

Image via Abbey Easton

Have you read Lovely Shattered Secrets by Abbey Easton? Is it one you’ll be adding to your TBR list? If you have already read it, what did you think of it? This novel is not only one that I absolutely recommend to others, but the author gets a strong recommendation from me as well! I also recommend reading the other books in the series, even though each of them are standalone stories. Find and follow us on Twitter @capeandcastle to discuss your favorite books and authors! You can find me on Twitter @Sarah_Jeanne17. I’m always game to talk about books! Also, be sure to check out our site for more content on all things Disney and beyond!