The Broken One by Brittney Sahin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fake marry her brother’s best friend to catch a killer? Sure…. What could go wrong?

Growing up on a ranch with four older brothers, Ella Mae Hawkins is no stranger to rugged and tough men. But her heart has always belonged to the one man she couldn’t have.

After a secret, romantic weekend three years ago with him leaves her brokenhearted, Ella Mae accepts an opportunity to go to Paris and pursue her fashion dreams. It’s supposed to be her chance to get away and start over.

Instead, she’s going there with the same stubborn man who claimed he was too dangerous for her—as his fake wife.

Jesse McAdams, a former Army Ranger, has spent half his life away from his small hometown. But one thing has always remained One woman owns his heart. The problem? She could never know how he really feels.

But after their hot weekend in New York, it’s been harder than ever to resist the sassy, headstrong Ella Mae. Especially when they can’t share a room without arguing, which often leads to desire.

Joining the team at Falcon Falls Security was supposed to bring the redemption he needed, so he can finally be the man Ella Mae deserves. Instead, the fabric of lies he’s woven over time quickly unravels, exposing his secrets, and places a target on the heads of everyone he cares about.

Despite her shock over his past, Ella Mae finds herself falling for her brother’s best friend all over again. But this time, the stakes are higher. This time, she’s in danger. And the man who put her there is now her husband.

Can Jesse protect her, and piece Ella’s heart back together? Or will he shatter it? For good…

The Broken One

Too Broken to Love Her—Too In Love to Let Go

The following ratings are out of 5:
Romance: 💚💜💙
Heat/Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Chemistry: 🧪🧪🧪🧪
Story/Plot: 📕📗📘📙
World building: 🌏🌍🌎🌏🌍
Character development: 😋🙂☺️😘🥰
Narrator(s): 🎙🎙🎙🎙
Narration type: Dual Narration

🦸🏻‍♂️ Hero: Jesse

Jesse has spent years quietly pining for Ella—his little sister’s best friend and his best friend’s little sister. A double off-limits combo that he never dared cross. When a planned girls’ trip to New York falls through due to his sister Rory’s illness, Jesse steps in so Ella won’t travel alone. But he suspects the entire town conspired to set them up. Still, even in the city of possibility, Jesse shuts Ella down again. Haunted by his past as an Army Ranger and covert assassin, he tells her he’s too broken to offer her anything real—and refuses to let her hope for more.

🦸🏼‍♀️ Heroine: Ella

Ella grew up on a ranch with four brothers and a heart full of Jesse. She’s loved him since she was a teenager, boldly asking him to be her first kiss—and later, her first everything. He rejected her both times, and again in New York. But when Jesse finally admits he wants her, even if only for a weekend, Ella takes what she can get. She promises to move on afterward, even if her heart never got the memo.

🔥 Plot Snapshot

Three years after their emotionally charged weekend, Jesse is working for Falcon Falls Security and moonlighting as a custom furniture maker in Alabama. Ella’s been dating, and Jesse’s been…stalking her dates. Not in a creepy way—just enough to make sure she’s safe. (Sure, Jesse.)

When Jesse’s former boss Thatcher resurfaces, so do the ghosts of Jesse’s past. Thatcher wants him back for one final mission tied to Jesse’s last assignment—and warns that Ella’s life is at risk if he refuses. Jesse’s team at Falcon Falls is ready to help, but Ella has no idea what Jesse’s been hiding. And if he wants to protect her, he’ll have to face the darkest parts of himself.

❤️‍🔥 What Worked

• Brittney Sahin nails the continuity. Even though I dove into this audiobook right after Book 1, the recap was seamless and helpful for anyone jumping in fresh.
• The fake engagement/marriage trope hits harder when the couple has years of unresolved longing. Jesse and Ella’s history makes every moment ache.
• Savanna’s meta-romance commentary is gold. Her callout of Jesse’s “I’m not good enough for her” trope is spot-on and cathartic.

🤨 Room for More

• Jesse was a standout in Book 1, but here? He’s a heartbreaker on repeat. His self-imposed penance keeps wounding Ella, even when all she wants is to love him.
• Their love was never in question—only Jesse’s belief that he had to earn the right to it. That internal struggle dragged on a bit too long.

🎧 Narration Vibes

Dual POV narration by Tyler Johnson and Ava Lucas brings depth to both characters. Tyler’s voice suits Jesse’s age and emotional restraint, though he leans a bit stiff—which oddly works for Jesse’s tightly wound persona. Ava’s sultry, Southern-inflected delivery is pitch-perfect for Ella. However, both narrators falter slightly when voicing the opposite gender, which occasionally pulls you out of the moment.

📝 Final Thoughts

This audiobook delivers emotional tension, high-stakes suspense, and a romance that simmers with history and heartache. Jesse and Ella’s journey is messy, raw, and deeply human. If you love protective heroes, heroines who fight for their own happy ending, and a fake engagement that feels anything but fake—this one’s for you.

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