Fractured Freedom: A Brother's Best Friend Second Chance Romance (Tarnished Empire)

I just finished Fractured Freedom by Shain Rose.I really really liked it...but there were a few things that bothered me about it (Overall ⭐⭐⭐⭐). This is one of the first times I have really taken notes while reading the book so here goes my thoughts as I read.From the very beginning the steam starts out strong (Overall steam factor was like a 10/5 it was super hot). Dante is one of the dirtiest talkers I have ever met, like holy hell batman. Boy is he ever possessive too. I loved it! Plus this continues throughout the book so even better.Both Deliah and Izzy going through pretty hard times, very different from each others though. From the beginning, not knowing fully Delilah's struggles, I truly felt bad for Izzy. She feels so unwanted, and in actuality is making something of her life but can't tell anyone which then makes them believe the worst in her.My heart then breaks for Dante, getting that Dear John letter on top of confronting Delilah and getting spurned once again. Delilah has her reasons and it's also part of the trope of I love you but think you don't love me therefore I won't communicate that love with you and round and round we go.So years pass and they cross paths again and the sparks fly but Lilah is trying to separate from everything from back home (they are in Puerto Rico now) including Dante. She has her reasons, which are valid but it doesn't change the fact that she should really communicate better not only with Dante but her family as well.Then there comes the jealousness, both of them goad each other and it becomes some BS that they both need to stop. That's something that bothered me, not just in this book but in everyone I encounter with this, it seems like the heroine never gets over the hero to the point of no one coming close to him but the hero has no trouble sleeping with a whole slew of women. Maybe I'm reading too much into that and maybe I'm holding the man to a higher standard, but that's how I feel every time I read that particular situation.On the whole I really enjoyed it to the point of not being able to put it down, even if there were some parts I didn't love.

I devoured this book literally started it on my lunch break and really didn’t want to go back to work. Awesome story line a few parts I wasn’t fond of but it was still ABSOLUTELY PERFECT. Dante was the perfect mix between bad ass sex on a stick and perfect gentleman. Lilah was a good girl and never got into any trouble but always wanted to venture into the world of wild and crazy. I’m not gonna spoil anything cause OH MY OH MY IT IS SOOOOOO GOOD. Just go get get right now it is so worth it in every way. Okay on to another one of Shain’s books because now I’m addicted and have to get my fix lol

I seriously couldn’t put this book down. I finished it all in one day. From the beginning to the end I was hooked. The angst, the spice, the banter was so good!! I love that Delilah was known to be this good girl (lamb) to everyone. But like many who go through something traumatic which I felt many could relate to in many ways. You basically learn to not back down when people expect perfection and push back when needed. I love Dante & Delilah’s relationship. Mostly because he’s a alphahole. Lol but they have history & they had this special connection already so I felt like they knew how to challenge each other. Not to mention their chemistry was HOT. i definitely recommend this book.

This book was intense from the beginning. The main characters share an obvious connection but since it’s the FMC brother’s best friend she tries to hide it until the perfect opportunity presents itself and she finally has him all alone. The MMC has fallen hard and is ready to put it all on the line for her, even after she’s ghost him. With a turn of events years later they find themselves trapped with each other. They can’t ignore the lingering connection despite how hard they try. Secrets are revealed, trust is strained, they are self sabotaging, and people are our to hurt them. Despite the hurdles there is an amazing ending for this couple.

I’m going to say this, the story was better than some. Thankfully it wasn’t painful to read. It flowed together smoothly, and was hard to put down!Even the miscarriage(s) were spoken well about, and not difficult to read.One complaint is going to be the forced separation of the characters. Forcing the characters to “think” and “feel” things is awkward. Forcing her to think, “Well he only thinks of me as a friend, so this can never be more,” should be better written. It’s like saying, THIS IS HOW THE CHARACTER SHOULD FEEL, even though everything else points to them together. Weird.

Overall, I liked the book well enough. The story was good and the Dante storyline was interesting (I wish we got more of it, honestly).However... I was so frustrated the entire time, and not in a fun way. I know that the entire point of many romance books is the drama, and that miscommunication is a very common vehicle. This book took it to an excruciating level. The couple kept going in circles constantly, and it got to the point where I felt like the FMC was willfully taking everything the MMC the wrong way; reading into things when he was literally saying exactly what he meant.This whole book could've been eliminated with one uncomfortable conversation between the main characters. Instead there were chapters where they were just repeating the same argument over again. Not to mention how there were sudden changes in their relationship without seeing evidence of them actually addressing their issues.I wish that Dante had been more fleshed out and that we'd gotten more about his side of things (deeper emotionally, like Delilah's side). I really enjoyed his character and feel like the author missed out on an opportunity to give us more of him. Instead, we were given more of Delilah (which was the same stuff repeated over and over).I do admit that the spice was very nice, and that much I have no complaints about.

Honestly, I was mixed feelings about this book, it’s a romance but a mafia book, but a lot of rough topics TW definitely needed for this, and it has ALOT OF SPICE. What’s a spicy mafia book without a bit of mistaken identity and brothers bestfriend thrown in there.I’m glad I picked it up because it had some of my fave tropes but I also cringed a lot... but then I couldn’t take my eyes off it. In reality if I was ever spoken to like perfect, innocent Delilah was in this book I would have decked someone, however, with their history and her clear enjoyment of it I continued on.I’m a sucker for a love story and rooting for people despite the odds so when ex special forces, childhood sweet heart, tattooed secret mafia family Dante’s path collides with His best friends younger sister again after what happened a few years back. Well of course I’m hooked.If this is your vibe, I imagine you’ll love it but if spice and some crude wording isn’t for you, I’d skip past this one. The plot is top notch action filled though.

Dark and delicious. First book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely read more. This book covers mental health issues and miscarriage, and does it well. The battle of living with mental health issues is well written, and the understanding that there no quick or easy fix, no simple way out, is a good representation of the reality of mental health issues.Add in a burning hot dominate man, a strong and likeable female lead and a healthy smattering of smut, and this books a winner.Be warned, if you aren’t into Dom/sub, kink play or dirty talk, this isn’t for you. Readers who love darker romance with these tropes will love it.I would love a book about Izzy and Cade, there’s definitely a story there too

I initially saw this book on BookTok and immediately knew I had to give it a go, because I was seeing it everywhere. At first, I was a bit hesitant because there was some mixed reviews but, like 99.9% of the time, it didn't stop me from picking it up. This book is an emotional rollercoaster and I would wholly recommend it. I don't usually like second chance romances because it feels like you've missed out on so much but this book had the perfect amount of flashbacks and it was hella steamy.

It started good but after they meet again it starts bad. She is very whiny,childish,they fight over and over on the same subject!!I’m sorry i couldn’t finish.

This my first book by Shain and I loved it and will definitely be reading more.Who doesn't love a brothers best friend, second chance romance!!The emotional rollercoaste you will go on is one of the best. I was crying, laughing and falling in love with all of these characters.The spice and kink exploration in this book was 🔥 🥵