The Fractured Heart (Second Circle Tattoos, #2)

by Scarlett Cole

[Linda]

This review was originally posted on (un)Conventional BookviewsI thought I already knew Drea and Cujo (Brody) from their appearances in The Strongest Steel, however, there was so much more to both of them than the bordering on mean teasing, and the way they did their best to stay clear of each other. In The Fractured Heart, I got a very good understanding of why they were both shying away from a relationship. They were both amazing, loyal friends to other people, but they didn't feel like a romantic relationship was for them. Seeing the reasons behind this, through a series of difficult things they had both gone through in the past - and which followed them in the present made me love them even more than I already did.

Drea showed so many different sides of herself, and I think what touched me the most was her vulnerable side. Usually she was hiding that part behind a prickly exterior and some bordering on rude comments - but it was the best way she had found to keep her heart safe. Caring for her mother and holding down two jobs, while also trying to figure out her feelings for Brody, and who the mystery lady who was chased at gun-point through the café made Drea's life extremely busy. And it also made her feel like she didn't even know herself anymore. She couldn't remember the last time she did something because she wanted to do it. Or what kind of things she enjoyed doing if she did have time off from everything else.

Brody was a lot deeper than I had thought, too, and I loved how he thought things through, and how important it was for him to not repeat his parents' past. At times, he acted rashly, but those knee-jerk reactions were the only way he found to deal with everything that could potentially hurt him. The chemistry between Drea and Brody was amazing, and I loved their banter! It was sexy at times, and sassy at others. And they were both brutally honest, even if they sometimes didn't really know what they wanted or how to get about to actually achieve what they were aching for.

The overall storyline was well executed, and I enjoyed that Trent and Harper were a part of the story here, too. The main and sub-plots made it difficult to put my kindle down, I could never find a place where I didn't have the feeling of needing to now what would happen next. All I can say is that I loved The Fractured Heart, and am already impatient for the next installment in this series.