Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf: Blog Tour: Broken Beautiful Hearts by Kami Garcia (Review & Excerpt!)

From the #1 New York Times bestselling coauthor of BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, comes BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS—a red-hot romance that will break your heart and put it back together again! Don’t miss this stunning new title from Kami Garcia!

Synopsis/Cover Image from Publisher's Website:

From #1 New York Times–bestselling author Kami Garcia comes a red-hot romance that will break your heart and put it back together again.

Her heart has to break before it can open.

When star soccer player Peyton Rios receives an offer from her first-choice college, senior year starts off exactly as planned. But when Peyton uncovers her boyfriend’s dark secret, she confronts him―and finds herself falling down a flight of stairs. Peyton’s knee―and maybe her dream of going pro―is shattered. Everyone is talking: Was she pushed, or did she fall? Peyton knows the truth, even if no one believes her.

He has to let someone in before it’s too late.

With her future on the line, Peyton goes to stay with her uncle in a small Tennessee town to focus on her recovery. Dating is the last thing on her mind―until she meets sweet, sexy Owen Law.

But Peyton doesn’t trust her heart, especially when she senses that Owen is hiding something. When their secrets are finally exposed, Peyton has to decide if love is worth fighting for.

Review:

I love Kami Garcia's books and I love YA contemporary so it was a no-brainer for me to add Broken Beautiful Hearts to my TBR pile. I had heard mixed things about it; however, I was hopeful that I would enjoy it.

As it turns out, I'm so glad I gave Broken Beautiful Hearts a try. This book is the perfect combination of heartbreaking and heartwarming. I laughed, I smiled, I cried...I honestly wish it would've went on for ever, that's how much I enjoyed Peyton's story.

Peyton was hands down my favorite part of Broken Beautiful Hearts. From the moment she is first introduced I connected with her. She was smart as well as ambitious, and more importantly, I gave her major credit for standing up for herself, for speaking the truth no matter how many people told her she was lying and/or wrong. She was much braver than she gave herself credit for, and I also was incredibly proud of her for continuing to live her life, no matter the obstacles she faced. It wasn't always smooth sailing - especially with new boys and mean girls on the horizon - but it's part of what made her journey all the more realistic. Ultimately, Peyton learned to stand on her own, to speak up, and be brave, and it was such a fantastic journey to witnesses.

In addition to Peyton, I loved her family. Her twin cousins were lovable yet disastrous. Some of the things they did/said were hilarious in a "I-can't-believe-this-is-happening" kind of way but one thing was clear: they'd do anything for their cousin. I also have to mention Owen, the love interest. He was sweet, sexy, and strong, and like Peyton, facing his own demons.

The plot in Broken Beautiful Hearts mainly revolves around the outcome from Peyton's fall.

Kami Garcia does a fantastic job of handling abusive relationships. I felt that it was realistic portrayal, and I especially appreciated that she addressed several different situations that can occur. Throughout Beautiful Broken Hearts, Peyton deals people (friends and strangers) refusing to believe her, her friends turning their backs on her, and her ex-boyfriend stalking her, refusing to take no as an answer. It was heartbreaking yet it was important to see, because as much as I like to think things like this don't happen they do. It's what makes people so afraid to report abuse, and ultimately, it's what makes stories like Peyton's that much more important.

Last but not least: the mystery and the romance. There's a mystery that pops up in this half-way through, and it made me even more addicted to the book. The outcome surprised me, and I thought Kami did a great job of bringing it all together. As for the romance, I appreciated that it didn't overtake the novel; instead, it was a sweet side part and part of Peyton's journey in moving on. Owen and Peyton had great chemistry and funny banter.

In all, if you love YA Contemporary, I definitely suggest giving this try. Peyton's story is one I won't forget for some time.

4.5 stars!!

Broken Beautiful Hearts will be released February 6, 2018!

Source: eARC provided by publisher - thank you!

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Pre-Order Beautiful Broken Hearts (buy links)

HEAR IT FIRST!

Pre-Order a digital or print edition of BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS by #1 New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia and be the first to hear an exclusive announcement from Kami about her next book--a secret project her publisher is keeping under wraps!

Fans of Beautiful Creatures, Dangerous Creatures, and The Legion series won't want to miss this exciting news!

This is a limited time offer! So hurry! Registration ends on February 28, 2018! You must register your preorder to receive the exclusive announcement from Kami!

“Something wonderful happened to me as I read this—I fell in love. Genuine, shattering, deep, heart-pounding love. Thank you, Kami Garcia, for Peyton and Owen. We need their story." —Jennifer Niven, New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places and Holding Up the Universe

About the Author:

Kami Garcia is the #1 New York Times, USA Today & international bestselling coauthor of the Beautiful Creatures and Dangerous Creatures novels. BEAUTIFUL CREATURES has been published in 50 countries and translated in 39 languages, and the film Beautiful Creatures released in theaters in 2013, from Warner Brothers. Kami’s solo series, The Legion, includes the instant New York Times bestseller UNBREAKABLE, and the sequel UNMARKED, both of which were nominated for Bram Stoker Awards. Her other works include THE X-FILES ORIGINS: AGENT OF CHAOS and the YA contemporary novels THE LOVELY RECKLESS and the forthcoming BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS (February 2018). Kami was a teacher for seventeen years before co-authoring her first novel on a dare from seven of her students. If she isn’t busy watching Supernatural, Kami can teach you how to escape from a pair of handcuffs or bake a Coca-Cola cake. She lives in Maryland with her family, and their dogs Spike and Oz (named after characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer). Visit Kami at www.KamiGarcia.com.

Excerpt:

Tess pulls into the hospital driveway and stops near the glass doors to the ER. She leaves the car running and hops out. “I’ll be right back.”
Once I’m alone, the panic hits me full-force. Some of the shock of Reed pushing me has worn off, and now all I can think about is my knee.
What if I can’t play soccer anymore? Permanent damage could keep me off the field—and end my career before it begins. Every once in a while you hear about a situation like this on the news. A high school athlete blows out a knee or an elbow during senior year, and it’s game over. What else will I do if soccer isn’t an option?
Nothing. I’ll do nothing.Going pro has been my dream for as long as I remember. The folded acceptance letter is still tucked in my back pocket. I don’t have a plan B.
Tess returns with two nurses, and the three of them to help me out of the car and into a wheelchair. Inside, a nurse wheels me through a pair of double doors that lead to an examination area, where hospital beds are lined up along the walls and separated by privacy curtains. Once I’m settled in a hospital bed, Tess sits with me as the nurse takes down my personal information.
“Can you tell me where it hurts and describe the pain?” the nurse asks. “I’ve had some shooting pains, but there’s also a weird pulling feeling.
Is that bad?” I ask.
“I’m not a doctor, sweetheart. But don’t worry. This is an excellent hospital.” The nurse takes notes on a form attached to her clipboard. “How would you rate your pain, on a scale of one to ten? One being no pain and ten being unbearable pain.”
“If I don’t move my knee, it’s around a five. But if I bend it, the pain shoots up to an eight or nine.”
More like a ten.I’m trying to be brave. A ten seems like a pain level of someone who survived a car crash, not a fall down the stairs. But if the nurse asked me to rate how scared I am right now, it’s a twelve.
“How did you hurt your knee?” the nurse asks.
If I say Reed pushed me intentionally, he might get arrested. If Tess weren’t in the picture, I would’ve called the police already.
But Mrs. Michaels can’t support herself and Tess on her own. She tried before and it didn’t go well. It seemed like every year they were moving into another crummy apartment. When Mrs. Michaels ran out of friends’ couches to crash on, Reed started working even more extra hours to help out.
“I fell down a flight of stairs,” I say.
“Did you hit your knee against anything?” She scribbles more notes on her clipboard.
“My kneecap hit the ground.”
“On the sidewalk,” Tess adds, wringing her hands.
The nurse finishes writing. “A doctor is going to come and take a look. Can I call someone for you?”
“I already talked to her mom,” Tess says. “She’s on her way.”
“I’ll be back to check on you in a few minutes.” The nurse pulls the privacy curtain around the bed, and Tess and I are alone again.
“Thanks for not saying anything,” she says.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I’m telling the truth.”
Tess presses the heels of her hands against her temples, like she’s fighting the worst headache of her life. “I don’t know what you want me to say. You’re my best friend. I want to believe you. But we’re talking about Reed. He’s my brother. He wouldn’t lie to me. And he loves you. He’d never hurt you.”
Until tonight I thought the same thing

Kami Garcia’s BROKEN BEAUTIFUL HEARTS – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:

January 29^th

Becky on Books – Review & Excerpt

Devilishly Delicious Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Review & Excerpt

Read. Eat. Love. – Review & Excerpt

The Book Maven – Review

January 30^th

Angie and Jessica's Dreamy Reads – Review & Excerpt

Bibliobibuli YA – Excerpt

Kelly's Book Blog – Review & Excerpt

Lauren's Crammed Bookshelf – Review & Excerpt

Moonlighting Scrivener – Review

Resch Reads and Reviews – Review

January 31^st

Booknerd1107 – Review & Excerpt

Loves Great Reads Blog – Review & Excerpt

MrsLeif's Two Fangs About It Book Reviews – Review & Excerpt

Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt

What Is That Book About – Excerpt

YA/NA Book Divas – Excerpt

February 1^st

A Page to Turn – Review

Dazzled by Books – Review & Excerpt

Ellie Is Uhm ... A Bookworm – Review & Excerpt

Mundie Moms – Review & Excerpt

5 comments:

AlyssaJanuary 30, 2018 at 6:51 AM
I got a review copy of this one and I need to read it soon! I adored Garcia's previous contemporary novel and I'm sure I'd like this one. It sounds awesome. I'm glad you enjoyed it, Lauren!

Have a wonderful day. =)

Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
NickJanuary 30, 2018 at 7:34 AM
I liked her contemporary book, so I'm definitely interested in this one. It sounds like the perfect combination of angsty and romantic.
Glad you enjoyed it!
InkSlinger PRJanuary 30, 2018 at 5:39 PM
Thank you so much! ~Jessica, InkSlinger PR
Samantha@WLABBJanuary 30, 2018 at 6:39 PM
I adored The Lovely Reckless and am really excited for this book. We seem to vibe the same for most books, so if you liked, I should like it too. Great review!
Carole's Random LifeJanuary 30, 2018 at 7:41 PM
It has been a long time since I read anything by Kami Garcia. I really like the sound of this one so I may have to give it a try. Glad you enjoyed it, Lauren!