Layton Morris and his brother Mike grew up not knowing what it would be like to live in a normal home. With no running water or electricity in their home, no parents around to protect them, they quickly learned how to survive and depend only on each other.
When a tragic accident takes Mike away from Layton, and the only other person that he ever let into his heart walked away from him, leaving his heart shattered, Layton focuses all of his time and energy into the ranch he and his brother dreamed of. He makes a vow to himself to never let love in again. The last thing Layton needed or wanted was more heartache.
Whitley Reynolds grew up in a privileged home in upstate New York. When she landed the star football player in high school no one was surprised, not even Whitley. She dreamed of a life with Roger living in New York City and happily followed him there.
When a tragic accident takes Mike away from Layton, and the only other person that he ever let into his heart walked away from him, leaving his heart shattered, Layton focuses all of his time and energy into the ranch he and his brother dreamed of. He makes a vow to himself to never let love in again. The last thing Layton needed or wanted was more heartache.
Whitley Reynolds grew up in a privileged home in upstate New York. When she landed the star football player in high school no one was surprised, not even Whitley. She dreamed of a life with Roger living in New York City and happily followed him there.
The first time Roger hit her for arguing with him about a dinner party, she forgave him. The more it happened, the further Whitley withdrew from her friends and family. One fateful day things go to far. Whitley makes a promise to herself and finds the courage to do the one thing she thought she’d never be able to do.
Fleeing with her best friend Courtney, Whitley was determined to put her past behind her and start a new life in the small town of Llano, Texas, where no one would ever find out about her past.
Will they both ever learn to trust and love again, or will their pasts come back to haunt them, keeping them both alone and…
Broken.
3.75-4 Stars
“The future needs your attention right now. It has something beautiful to offer you, but first…you must let go of the past in order to receive It.” ~ Robert Tew
First off I have to say that I’m in complete cover love with this book. It’s Gary-Fucking-Taylor on the front, people! That right there is reason enough to buy this book. Imagining him as Layton throughout the whole story just put my libido in overdrive.
“When you first met me, Whitley, I was so damaged. I had a broken heart that was still bleeding. When I look into your eyes…I feel…like my heart is healing.”
Whitley is running from her ex. Abused and broken, she moves from New York to a small town in Texas. She’s weary of men and is definitely swearing them off. However, thing change when she meets Layton.
Layton has lost everyone he’s ever loved. His dad left him and his older brother, Mike, after their mother passed away; they were only 16 & 18 years old respectively. They were alone and had to fend for themselves. Then Layton lost his brother, Mike, while he was on duty in the Marines. Oh! But that’s not it. The love his life, at that time anyway, Olivia, left him the day after he found out about his brother’s death. It was safe to say that Layton, too, was broken.
When they first met, the sparks were definitely flying, but not like what you would think. They bantered like no tomorrow, but both couldn’t deny the underlying lust they had for each other. When they finally fall, they fall hard. But what happens when both their pasts are constantly hounding them…will they remain intact?
“You told me last night I healed you, but you healed me just as much. I love you, Layton. I’ll love you forever, too.”
If you’re a fan of Kelly Elliott’s Wanted Series, then you will absolutely enjoy this new series. If you haven’t read any of her books, then this would be a good time to start. However, you need to know a couple things before diving into this book:
One: This is very much an insta-love relationship. As much as they fought each other in the beginning, it didn’t last long - they hook up and declare their love pretty freaking fast. So if you don’t like those, then you will have a huge problem with this.
Two: Once again, Ms. Elliott leaves us hanging. No worries, there is a HEA for Layton & Whitley, but the cliffhanger relates to what I assume will be the next book in the series featuring Reed & Courtney. Speaking of this….OH MY GOD!! Ms. Elliott, you never disappointment me, you ALWAYS make me want the next book…like NOW. Ugh. I guess I’ll have to wait (again) to get my HEA for Reed & Courtney. I can’t wait!
