Shattered
A Dark Romance Novel
She wasn't looking for love. Just a way to breathe again.
But what she found were two men-one who wanted to own her, and one who wanted to save her.
After surviving a trauma that nearly broke her, Emery Hayes is just trying to make it through the day. Love isn't on her radar. Neither is desire. But when she meets Jace Bastian, a magnetic and dangerous man with demons of his own, she's pulled into a world of shadows, secrets, and seduction. He makes her feel alive again-but at what cost?
Then there's Jordyn Kavenaugh. Soft-spoken and steady, he sees through Emery's defenses and reminds her what safety feels like. As the tension between them grows, Emery finds herself torn between the one who awakens her fire and the one who grounds her.
But healing isn't a straight line-and neither is love.
As Emery tries to find her footing, she must learn the difference between passion and possession, between comfort and control...
And what it truly means to choose herself.
A dark, emotional romance for fans of It Ends With Us and Still Beating, Shattered explores trauma, recovery, and the fragile strength it takes to reclaim your power-even when your heart is on the line.
Trigger warnings apply. Not all love is safe. Not all monsters hide in the dark.
Review :
"Beautifully written, raw and real. From a troubled childhood to a traumatic young adulthood, Emery's journey is emotional, powerful, and beautiful. One of my top 5 reads all year."
"There's nothing better than when an author loves their work and knows how to use a wide range of words and expressions in their writing. Emery's story was intense. You felt her trauma, her pain, her childlike emotion that she was so desperate to allow to heal and mature. The uncertainty she had in her own desires and just falling into what she knew without realizing it, is something anyone who's been a victim of any form of abuse can recognize without batting an eyelash.
Mary was able to hone in on that. The repetition of situations, due to familiarity...becomes addictive. A comfort, despite the open wounds and shattered heart. Because we "know" that feeling and believe we can survive that more than healing, and allowing for ourselves to be truly loved.
Em had to fight for the freedom of herself. Not an easy feat! But when she finally realized her true value, there was no stopping her. And that victory is priceless."
"Intense. Suspenseful. Gut and heart wrenching. Brutal. But absolutely beautiful. I felt emotions i didn't know i was capable of reading something."
"If you've ever been in an abusive relationship this book will make you think and it will help you to heal It will help you realize you are not alone and you can get out before it's too late.
The author did an amazing job portraying the different forms of abuse that can happen in a relationship."
"This book was amazingly written. The storyline kept me interested the whole way to the end. There were definitely some parts of the book that had me messed up so please pay attention to the triggers. This is a DARK romance and it goes deep at times. The ending had me crying it was that good. Can't wait to read more from Mary! "
"Lydick has a poetic and beautiful way with her words. Definitely recommend if that's the type of writing you enjoy!"
"The writing is great and so is the plot! Emery is so strong yet so weak. Love will do that. Jace is controlling, abusive and obsessive. Jordan is sweet and caring. The triangle just kept me going, kept me on edge and I loved it!"
"This story was so relatable for me. I cried with her. I healed with her. 10/10 to the author."
