Reviewed by Marieke
TITLE: Shatter
SERIES: Unbreakable Bonds #2
AUTHOR: Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliot
PUBLISHER: Drake and Elliot Publishing
LENGTH: 290 pages
RELEASE DATE: April 26th 2016
BLURB:
Maverick trauma surgeon Ashton “Snow” Frost keeps the world at a distance, relying only on his three closest friends to keep him connected. But when a ghost from their past returns to Cincinnati, Snow stands to lose everyone he loves. Framed for murder and reeling from attacks on his friends, Snow is pushed to his breaking point.
Jude Torres won’t let the doc shatter. The paramedic has been attracted to the doctor since he first laid eyes on him at the hospital, even if the arrogant, solitary man doesn’t fit into any of his plans. One hot, reckless kiss shows that Snow isn’t who he appears to be. And one night together will never be enough. Jude will fight for the doc.
Fight to keep him whole. Fight to keep him safe. Fight to simply keep him.
REVIEW:
When Rowe’s wife Melissa dies in a car accident that leaves Ian severely hurt, Snow has a hard time dealing with it. When Rowe blames him for not being at the hospital to save her, he shatters. But Jude Torres, is there to keep him up and make him focus on what’s important.
They find out later that the car crash was no accident, and that someone is framing Snow for murder. Snow knows who did it, even seen the guy––almost getting run over in the process––but doesn’t tell his friends until he absolutely cannot hide it anymore.
Turns out it’s someone from Ian’s past who has come back for revenge. Thankfully they have one annoying police officer on their side. Jude is getting more and more involved too, even if that irritates and scares the crap out of Snow. Snow doesn’t do feelings when it doesn’t involve his ‘family’ but keeping Jude out of his life and his hearts seems impossible.
This book was just as exciting and full of suspense as Shiver, and it was just as well written. Jude is a perfect partner for Snow, who’s almost cold and uncaring…or so he wants people to think. In truth, Snow is so full of emotions and caring, he doesn’t know how to handle it. He overloads and does something stupid or aggressive. But Jude knows how to guide him and release all that pent up frustration. He calms Snow.
It was amazing to read how Snow relaxes and starts to be more human when he’s around Jude. But it’s also hard to follow some of his thoughts and feelings. They’re so scattered and sometimes even neurotic, that it was a bit foreign for me. I do get and admire his unconditional love for his friends, and his dedication for his job.
Snow is part scary as fuck and part amazingly loyal and loving. But even his loving can be terrifying in its intensity. He thinks he has to protect his family and lover with his life, but takes that a tad too literal.
Overall I enjoyed this story a lot. It kept me reading and on the edge of my seat. The only reason why I didn’t rate it as high as the first book in this series, is because the relationship between Lucas and Andrei got to me more. They were somehow warmer. (Okay there must be a couple of Snow jokes here, but that’s not what I was going for)
Jude is a great guy and he has the potential to be as warm as Lucas and Andrei, but Snow is too messed up still, to have that connection. I sincerely think that in a next book (please let there be a next one) their relationship will have grown into something more than where this story ended. I hope we get to see some of it.
RATING:
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