Broken Boys Crave Chaos by JB Heller {a review}

 

Broken Boys Crave Chaos, by JB Heller, is book four in a sexy, new adult romance series that can be read in order or as standalones. If you love books with strong, independent, female leads and swoon-worthy, cinnamon roll heroes that know how to please their partners, then you should definitely one-click Kass and Ariel's story today.

I have read all the books in the Broken Boys (formerly Moments) series, and have been eagerly anticipating Kass as a main character. Seeing how he was as a side character, and the nerdiness that he exhibits, had me falling. Whoever he was going to be paired with was going to need to be strong, be able to hold their ground, and willing to fight for their relationship.

In Broken Boys Crave Chaos we have Kass who is willing to just remain single. He doesn't need a partner in his life right now, so it's not an issue. Now if he could just get his career in order, that would be great. Flash forward a bit to when Kass is at his condo, and he watches a woman kick ass in the lobby. Ariel is a bounty hunter, and she just caught her man. Of course her actions also ignited a spark in Kass, and he had to know who this woman is! Turns out this is the same woman who had commented about his appearance earlier when he had been at lunch with Chance. After a conversation with his friends, it is discovered that Trick knows exactly who this woman is, and sets up a plan for Kass to run into her. That encounter at the gym, plus the events that happened right after lead to a conversation. In that conversation, Kass was placed firmly in the friend zone. He's going to do what he can to get out of it, and turn this friendship into a true relationship.

Let's start with my rating...I gave Broken Boys Crave Chaos 3.5 stars over on Goodreads. I loved the meet cute. Loved the premise of the story. Love the characters. This book had potential. That being said, it wasn't my favorite of the series. It was still a good read, it just missed the mark a bit.

Ariel is a strong, badass woman who takes no crap from anyone. She also goes after what she wants. She's confident in who she is, and she doesn't want a relationship. She's perfectly content with how things have been going. The way she loves her family, and the heartache of the past, have her keeping her circle tight, and outsiders do not get in easily. Ariel is a fantastic partner for Kass. 

If you're not familiar with Kass, he is you quintessential cinnamon roll hero. He's sweet, he's loving, he's passionate, he has alpha tendencies, and he'll have you falling in no time. Kass is a writer. He could easily take advantage of his family's business, and go that route, but he wants to write. Now if the paper he works for would just give him the chance. Earlier I mentioned about his nerdiness. He is extremely intelligent, and he also happens to enjoy the "nerdy/geeky" fandoms. Which those don't always appeal to the masses, but he is who he is. 

While I loved certain parts of the story, something was missing. Or at least from my perspective.

Part of me feels that Ariel and Kass wanting different things, relationship wise, steered the book in an unexpected way. And perhaps it wasn't fully flushed out. We had this budding relationship that went from introduction to steamy to the emergency brake being pulled. 

In the beginning I wasn't rooting for them. Not at all. I could not see these two getting together for a happily ever after. For me there just wasn't the believability that these two would make it. And that's all on me, not on the author. Did that opinion change through the course of the book? Slightly. I never found myself getting emotionally invested. Which if you know me, that isn't how it usually is. Usually the characters draw me in, hold me hostage with their story, and I am 100% invested. That didn't happen with Kass and Ariel.

When it came to the moment of conflict, it was decent. Not over the top, and it didn't blow me out the water. I understand the reasoning behind it all of it. Really though that conflict was just fear based. It was getting in the characters head, and them needing to work out their issues.

Part of me wishes that Kass and Ariel's careers had intertwined a bit more. I know they briefly did, but then that storyline disappeared, and nothing (but jealousy) came from it. I think that if Kass had been doing more of an investigative type story on Ariel's family business, it would be have been more intriguing. Plus then it could have brought in the forced proximity trope. Also it may have added the element of suspense. Not knowing what was going to happen as she "hunted" for these people, and the how each take down would go. But that's just me, and what I wish had happened.

Still though the story was decent. We briefly were able to catch up with former characters. I do wish we had seen more of Chance and Carter, or even more of Scout, but it is what it is. Mase was in it plenty. Quite honestly this was a launching point for the new Hunter Sisters series that is coming sometime in 2022. That is really the only reason that I can see Ariel and Kass being together. I know. I know.

Don't get me wrong, I did like the story. I loved the characters. Separately. I loved the bounty hunter aspect. Putting it all together just missed for me. Do I still think you should read it? Absolutely. What is the saying..."No two persons ever read the same book". (Edmund Wilson) So just because this is how I felt about the book, doesn't mean you will feel that way.

A 3.5 star rating, is still a pretty fabulous rating if I do say so myself. I mean on my rating chart I say "I enjoyed this book, but it was missing something, or didn't give me what I wanted." I stand by that.

Go give Broken Boys Crave Chaos a read for yourself, and let me know your thoughts. I bet we will differ. Which is awesome. Because that leads to conversation, and understanding the other readers perspective.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts. I greatly appreciate it.

Laura

Cover Design: Tall Story Designs
Photographer: Miguelanxo

Is there anything worse than the friend zone? I think not...

I'd just given up on relationships when a pocket-sized Lara Croft came storming into my lobby and knocked me on my ass.

We're opposites in nearly every way, but there's something about her that calls to the most primal parts of me.

Problem is, she's planted me firmly in the friend zone. At first, I thought I could deal with it. However, the better I get to know the badass bounty hunter, the more certain I am that friendship can go screw itself...

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Meet J.B. Heller

JB Heller is an average Aussie housewife and Momma in her early 30's with a wicked sexy imagination. She's also the owner of a randy Eclectus parrot with boundary issues.

These days she writes mostly contemporary romance and romantic comedies, drawing inspiration from her everyday life.

Monday to Friday you can find JB glued to her laptop weaving words or trolling Pinterest for her next potential muse. Come the weekend, it's family time. (And of course lots of reading and Netflix binges.)

Connect with J.B. Heller here!

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Thank you to J.B. Heller and Wordsmith Publicity, for providing me with an advanced review copy of Broken Boys Crave Chaos.

Broken Boys Despise Deceit by JB Heller {a review}

Broken Boys Despise Deceit by JB Heller is a new adult, second chance, love triangle, contemporary romance involving a friends with benefits arrangement gone wrong.

Broken Boys Despise Deceit is the third book in the Broken Boys series, and can be read on its own or enjoyed in series order. Now pay special attention to that "enjoyed in series order" comment. If you want the full effect of story, you really do need to go and read the first two books. Trust me on that. Otherwise there could be a little confusion. Especially when it comes to Kass.

Typically this is where I would recap the story. But honestly, the description that JB Heller has created, perfectly sets the stage. It tells you what you need to know without telling you the full story. So I apologize, but I'm going to skip the recap this time around. I'm afraid of spilling too many details, when in reality it's best for the reader to experience this book just knowing what the description says. Does that make sense? I think it does.

Broken Boys Despise Deceit was a quick read, but definitely had some harder topics discussed throughout. From Scout's traumatic past, to the health issues that Mase's dad was facing, to the emotional issues that both characters were dealing with, it was just a lot. Kass definitely has some issues as well, but his were not as pronounced as the other two. I enjoyed just about every moment of it. I will admit tears fell a couple times, but I chalk that up to me being an emotional reader.

Mase struggles with wanting a happily ever after. Quite frankly he doesn't believe in them. 

"Finding a decent woman is like finding Willy Wonka's golden ticket."

But it has been years since he's witnessed what a loving relationship could be. So he doesn't have that exposure. He doesn't have the knowledge of what a true love can be. Mase is perfectly content keeping it to friends with benefits. Nothing more is needed. That is until he catches feelings, and it freaks him out.

Speaking of a FWB relationship, that is exactly what he and Scout have had for the last year. It's working out great for both of them. That is until one night when everything changes. 

Mase and I, we're like two forces of nature coming together to create a beautiful cataclysmic event. It's big, it's beautiful, it's loud, it's completely devastating, it's us.

Friends, we are getting our moment of conflict early on in this book. And everything that happens after this point is just setting the ball in motion. Things are about to change, and no one is really going to be the same. Is that a bit dramatic? Eh, maybe. But it's also truthful. Once you read the book, you'll understand.

Now you're probably wondering, where does Kass come into play in this story? Well...Kass arrives on scene right after the moment of conflict. It's who Scout calls when she needs a ride to urgent care. She tried calling her bestie Chance, but Chance was a bit "busy" with Carter. Kass has had a crush on Scout for a while now, but she doesn't feel the same way.

I wish I could fall for someone like Kass. He's sweet, caring, and kinda sexy in a hot nerd way.

So when she turned to him in a time of pain, that relationship, that friendship, changed. And what transpired has the potential to change her friendship with Chance as well. Therefore it's of no surprise what Scout chose to do next.

And what happened next changed Mase completely. He became more focused on helping train Zeke, and he started going rounds with Trick. It worked out well because Trick had some issues he needed to work out in the ring as well, so having Mase to spar with worked out perfectly. As Mase deals with his dad's declining health, his time at the gym increases even more so. Then there's the fact that only ONE person knows where Scout is, and all that person will say is that she's safe and doesn't want to be found.

Flash forward a year. Chance and Carter just received news about a baby girl, and Mase is excited to be an uncle. Although he has no clue what to do with a baby.  Carter tells Mase all about the baby, and how she has down syndrome just like Carter's sister Bella. Mase is overjoyed about his best friend's news, and decides to do a little shopping to spoil the baby. Zeke tags along for the adventure, and he also let's Mase know that Milo, his partner, is offering to do pallative care for his dad. So when the time comes, he has someone in his corner. While the guys are finishing up their shopping spree at Target, a woman walks by with a baby strapped to her chest. Mase would know that woman anywhere. It's Scout. Of course right when they are beginning their conversation, two things happen. One a panic attack sets in, and two Kass appears and asks a question.  From that scene on Scout, Mase, and Kass become a team. They have a mission to accomplish, and it's going to a bit of time to figure it out. Of course they also need to talk to Chance about it all.

That reconnection scene in the Target parking lot doesn't quite sit well with me. The way it all played out just had Scout on the defensive. I don't care for how Mase or Kass acted. All they could think about was themselves. They didn't stop to think about Scout, or little Harley. I'm glad Zeke was there though as he was the only one in control. The other two were just focused on if Harley was theirs or not.

I will say I did like how Scout handled the difficult conversation. She could have easily chose not to share that with the guys. She could have easily just done the test, and said she'd be in touch. Instead they became a team.

The first scene at Carter and Chance's house brought on a little laughter. It lightened the mood just a smidgen. Especially since everyone knew that Chance could sniff out their story, and she did. Chance was immediately curious, and was not taking no for an answer. 

The second scene at Carter and Chance's is where the truth came out. Everything was revealed, and it truly was a judgement free zone. I think that Chance was just so excited to have her best friend back in town. She needed her. She missed her. And now they were both moms, and they could do this together.

The scene at the gym brought on the tears. When Trick said what he did, and when Zeke went to call Milo, the tears just started flowing. What can I say, I'm an emotional person.

Mase's community, his surrogate family, now gathered around him. Together they remembered, they celebrated Mase's dad. They gave him the send off he deserved. All his pain was over, and now it left Mase to grieve. Thankfully he had his friends by his side. Of course the fact that his relationship with Scout was getting back on track was just a bonus. These two were going to get their happily ever after. It may have taken a year apart for it to happen, but it was happening.

As for Kass, well, his story is yet to be told. But it is the next book in the Broken Boys series. So stay tuned for Broken Boys Crave Chaos. It's rumored to be releasing on April 12, and it is available for preorder.

Loved this book. I will say love triangle isn't my favorite trope, it's actually towards the bottom of the list, but this book was still good. I hope you'll pick it up and give it a read. Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Broken Boys Despise Deceit.

Laura

Cover Design: Tally Story Designs
Photographer: Regina Wamba

Friends with benefits are all fun and games until someone goes and catches feelings… 

Unfortunately, that idiot would be me. I didn’t know how or when it happened, I just knew I couldn’t let it change things between Scout and me.

But with one wrong move, the choice was taken away from me and she skipped town without so much as a goodbye.

For over a year I’m left wondering what made her run. But nothing could have prepared me for the truth. I hate secrets and despise lies, yet she’s guilty of both.

I need to figure out how to trust her again because there's only one thing I know for sure right now... I can't let her slip through my fingers a second time. 

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Meet JB Heller

JB Heller is an average Aussie housewife and Mumma in her early 30's. She lives on a mini farm with her family and a few cows, sheep, a parrot, cats, fish, dogs, and a butt load of chickens. It's JB's dream to one day add a llama to the mix and an alpaca or two.

She writes across several genre's including RomCom, Romantic Suspense and Contemporary. You can always expect a healthy dose of heat, intrigue and wit in her stories.

Monday to Friday you can find JB glued to her laptop weaving words or trolling Pinterest for her next potential muse. Come the weekend, it's family time. (And of course lots of reading and Netflix binges.)

Want to know more about JB? Check her out, you’ll be guaranteed a good laugh if nothing else.

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Thank you to J.B. Heller, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with a review copy of Broken Boys Despise Deceit.

Broken Boys Fight Harder by JB Heller

Broken Boys Fight Harder, by JB Heller, is a steamy second chance, contemporary romance about the power of secrets and fighting to keep the things we hold dear. If you want a romance with all the feels you can only get from a bad boy falling for the good girl, then this book is for you. One-Click now to embark on an emotional journey of two opposites navigating their way through college, family trials, and self discovery.

In Broken Boys Fight Harder we meet Chance Haynes and Carter Cross. They are both in their final year of college, and are busy preparing for life after graduation. Before that can happen though, Chance is given an assignment to take photos of the football team. This isn't the usual for her, but the editor in chief isn't backing down. He wants these shots, and he wants her to be the one taking them. Chance heads over to get started, and walks into the locker room. It is there that she runs into Carter, and they begin to banter. There is clearly an attraction between these two opposites, and this is how their journey towards their happily ever after begins. From there it's a whirlwind romance,  complete with drama, and a family secret being revealed. It definitely isn't an easy ride though, and it is full of frustration, pain, heartache, loss, and love. 

I've read Broken Boys Break Hearts, and fell hard for Hux and El's story. So when I started Broken Boys Fight Harder, I was surprised to see that this book was about Hux's little sister, Chance. For some reason my mind thought it would be about other characters. I wasn't expecting this 20 year jump. That's on me though. Really I should view Broken Boys Break Hearts as the prequel for this series. It set the stage and put the ball in motion.

Back to the book at hand though. Chance is taking after Hux with her love of photography. Which I love that he helped fuel her passion.

Photography, to me, is like being given the opportunity to see the world with a whole new perspective.

I do wish that within the book we would have seen more of her pursuing her passion. It would show up from time to time, but it wasn't what we were supposed to take away from Chance.

One thing to know is that Chance loves her family fiercely. From her mom and dad, to her big brother, her sister-in-law, and her nephew. It's always comical to talk about Kassidy being her nephew as he's only two years younger than her. Throughout this book though, we see that Chance realizes something is off with her family. She notices these little tidbits. From the way Hux and her dad interact, to how things suddenly go a bit quiet, and it's making her question things. Rightfully so. I mean if you read Broken Boys Break Hearts, then you know what Hux went through with his Dad. But all of that is being kept quiet when it comes to Chance.

Carter isn't as close with his family. His parents are not the best, but then there is his big sister Bella. He would do anything for her. Any problems she has, he wants to guide her through to a resolution. It's not just because she has down syndrome, but because she is a remarkable person. Unfortunately his parents don't feel the same. Another thing to know about Carter is that he is a talented football player. He's had offers from the NFL, but is choosing not to follow that path. He has his eyes on MMA. But that goal is going to cause some issues in his relationship with Chance.

I really want to talk about the scenes that involve Chance's dad. But at the same time, I shouldn't because it has the potential for spoilers. What I can tell you is that both scenes are emotional. There is hurt, anger, frustration, and heartache all involved.

Carter and Chance intrigued me right from the get go. As their story continued to unfold, I found myself struggling to put the book down. Then suddenly our couple had their HEA, the stage was being set for Broken Boys Despise Deceit, and I still had questions that were not answered. So that was disappointing. But ultimately I did enjoy the story. Rating wise, I opted for 3.5 stars. Honestly it would have been a 4, but it was those couple of unanswered/unfinished storylines that I just couldn't move past.

I hope that you'll give Broken Boys Fight Harder a read. It is a good story, and the characters are easy to fall for. Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts.

Laura

Side note: Broken Boys Fight Harder was previously released as Moments of Clarity in 2016, and has since been rewritten and now includes new content. The new title had been Losing Focus, but it was recently retitled as Broken Boys Fight Harder.

Cover Design: Tall Story Designs
Photographer: Michelle Lancaster
Model: Andy Murray

 

Her name was Chance, and I’d give anything for a second one with her…

She swept into my life like a hurricane, annihilating everything that came before her. Football, fighting, girls, none of it mattered anymore. The nerdy chick with a camera around her neck somehow managed to soothe the rage that thrummed beneath my skin.

I should have stayed away, but I didn't and Chance quickly became my center. Sparking something in me I didn’t even know I was capable of.

Then she learned her family’s dirty little secret. And slowly, but surely, she began to pull away from me.

Without her, my demons returned in full force. I needed her back... I just had no idea how to make that happen.

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Meet JB Heller

JB Heller is an average Aussie housewife and Mumma in her early 30's. She lives on a mini farm with her family and a few cows, sheep, a parrot, cats, fish, dogs, and a butt load of chickens. It's JB's dream to one day add a llama to the mix and an alpaca or two.

She writes across several genre's including RomCom, Romantic Suspense and Contemporary. You can always expect a healthy dose of heat, intrigue and wit in her stories.

Monday to Friday you can find JB glued to her laptop weaving words or trolling Pinterest for her next potential muse. Come the weekend, it's family time. (And of course lots of reading and Netflix binges.)

Want to know more about JB? Check her out, you’ll be guaranteed a good laugh if nothing else.

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Sign up for JB's newsletter & receive a free e-book!

Thank you to J.B. Heller, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with a review copy of Broken Boys Fight Harder.

Broken Boys Break Hearts by JB Heller {a review}

Broken Boys Break Hearts is a new adult, second-chance, contemporary romance about learning to love and trust against all odds. It is a complete story and can be read as a standalone or enjoyed as book 1 in the Moments series. One-Click now to embark on an emotional journey of two opposites trying to navigate their way back to each other after years apart.

"How do you stop seeing yourself a certain way when it's all you've ever known?"

Huxley Haynes is doing his best to survive. His goal is to graduate high school early, and get out of Shiloh Springs. All his life he has been told that he ruins everything, that he's not wanted, and that it's all his fault. How can Hux not believe that when it's what is said to him on a regular basis? Thankfully he has his job, as well as photography, to keep him occupied until he can leave.

Enter Eliza Quinn. Eliza is part of the popular crowd. She's well know, and liked by everyone. She has a heart of gold. One other thing to note is that Eliza has always noticed Huxley. Even when he thought he was invisible, she saw him. She was intrigued. So when the moment presented itself for her to get to know him, she jumped in with both feet. And what she discovered was a man who thought so little of himself, but continually proved how amazing he is.

What happens next is a whirlwind romance that left both of them broken hearted. But when we jump forward 5 years, our couple is finally able to reconnect. But can they move past the pain of the past, and move forward together?

"Oh, trust me, I know I would end up hurting. But hurt and I go way back. I can handle it."

The way their reunion happened was so good. When an exhibit for Hadley was booked at the family hotel, Eliza thought nothing of it. Then when Hux found out where his exhibit was being held? He was worried. He had a feeling he'd run into her, and while that was everything he wanted, he wasn't ready. 

One last thing...this book does have a content/trigger warning for abuse (mental, emotional, physical). So if that is something you cannot read about, then don't grab this book. But to be fair, the abuse storyline is just a tidbit of the overall story.

Thank you for taking time to read my thoughts on Broken Boys Break Hearts. I hope that you'll consider picking this one up!

Laura

Cover Design by Tall Story Designs
Photographer: Michelle Lancaster
Model: Lochie Carey

She wasn’t meant for someone like me. But I took her anyway…


Eliza Quinn signified everything I didn’t deserve.
I never should have talked to her, touched her, kissed her.

She made me want things I couldn’t have.
But I fell for her so hard and so fast.
Even though I knew we were destined for disaster.

Staying with her was never an option.
I was leaving Shiloh Springs, and not even she could stop me.

Five years later, I think I've moved on.
Then my manager books my next photography exhibition at the most luxurious hotel in New York City.
The Quinn Plaza, Eliza’s family’s hotel.

The second our eyes lock, I know two things.
1- I need her back.
2- She hates me…

Broken Boys Break Hearts was previously released under the title Time-Lapse.

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Meet JB Heller

JB Heller is an average Aussie housewife and Mumma in her early 30's. She lives on a mini farm with her family and a few cows, sheep, a parrot, cats, fish, dogs, and a butt load of chickens. It's JB's dream to one day add a llama to the mix and an alpaca or two.

She writes across several genre's including RomCom, Romantic Suspense and Contemporary. You can always expect a healthy dose of heat, intrigue and wit in her stories.

Monday to Friday you can find JB glued to her laptop weaving words or trolling Pinterest for her next potential muse. Come the weekend, it's family time. (And of course lots of reading and Netflix binges.)

Want to know more about JB? Check her out, you’ll be guaranteed a good laugh if nothing else.

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Sign up for JB's newsletter & receive a free e-book!

Thank you to J.B. Heller, and Wildfire Marketing Solutions, for providing me with a review copy of Broken Boys Break Hearts.