Reviewed by Lady Macbeth
TITLE: Mighty the Fallen
SERIES: SHATTERED #1
AUTHOR: Dianna Roman
PUBLISHER: Wild One Press
LENGTH: 260 Pages
RELEASE DATE: January 13, 2026
BLURB:
Chris “The Mighty” Mightener had it all—a full-ride athletic scholarship, an illustrious college football career, and then a first-round draft pick to the NFL. From king of the campus to a world of endorsements at his fingertips, the future was golden. But the higher you fly, the harder you fall.
Fifteen years later, the past catches up with him harsher than it ever has. As if broken dreams and broken bones weren’t enough shame to carry, his “dirty” little secret walks back into his life, stirring memories of heated nights that Chris has only dared to dream of since his downfall. To make matters worse, his secret looks better than ever. For the first time in years, he finds himself wanting something other than being left alone in his misery.
How can he face Jeremy Tanner as a shell of the person he used to be? He has nothing to offer the man he took for granted all those years ago. How “The Mighty” has fallen.
REVIEW:
This has been a very emotional read and I loved it so much.
Remy and Chris had an arrangement in college where they regularly used to hookup in secret. Chris was the star football player, destined to great achievements and he couldn’t be caught having a relationship with a male student. So they never really talked or just spent time together, they only met to have sex. The night before graduation, they said an awkward final goodbye.
15 years later, Remy, a physical therapist, just bought his first house and he’s determined to put pause on his love life, since no boyfriend has ever given him the romance he craved.
One day at his new job, he meets Chris again for the first time since that night.
Chris is a broken man, both physically and emotionally: his career ended with a car accident that was completely his fault and left him with a body constantly in pain.
I adored the slow burn of this story, how they got to know each other for the first time, how they had the chance to both remember old things and discover new ones, how they both were very interested in building a friendship, not daring to hope that the other one had romantic feelings.
I loved Chris’ development so so much: from a bitter man who believed he deserved all the pain and solitude to a man who worked hard to be better, not only for Remy, but for himself too.
A sentence Chris said broke my heart, when he realised that during college he took time to see Remy’s worth, that he should have known he was someone special. Instead he put football and parents expectations in front of everything, in front of him.
“I always want to kiss you.”…
“Oh…It never seemed like that back in the day.”
The damage I’ve done. The fucking damage.
Remy was adorable, a mix of messiness and confidence. He was very much determined to help Chris manage his pain, he was competent and sure of himself and then he was the cutest dork who blushed and rambled around Chris.
I didn’t mind at all the low level of spice and I was actually very intrigued by the fact that they had to work hard to have full intercourse: Remy, again, showed Chris that he was worth more than just the sex, that he loved him no matter what and that he deserved a second chance at life.
In the epilogue (and what a good epilogue!) the author mentions an interesting development for Jamie (Remy’s best friend), I wonder if she’s planning a book for him too.
So much recommended.
RATING: 
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