Audiobook Review: Unbreak My Heart (Unbreak My Heart #1) by K-lee Klein

Brett Taylor has been doing just fine living in his little world of grief and pain for the past three years—thank you very much. Losing someone special is life changing, and Brett doesn't understand why everyone and their damn dog thinks they can get all up in his business about moving on. He's accepted his job going from musician to rancher without relying on anyone else's opinion, and he doesn't need some city kid coming into his life to break the habits he's been practicing—grief, isolation, and a whole lot of Jack Daniels.

JT Campbell was on a quest to escape his old life, and to figure out who he is and where he belonged as he moved from one meaningless job to the next. He wasn't looking to save anyone, let alone a secretive, hotter-than-hell rancher who wore his heart on his sleeve. He likes working for Brett, but it's been made perfectly clear that any relationship other than professional will never see the light of day.

But when JT's lust turns to love, and he gives in to his desire to find out what makes Brett tick, will his patience and support result in Brett lowering the walls he's built-up enough so JT can unbreak his heart?

Listening Length: 10 hours 27 minutes
Narrator: Nick J. Russo

Reviewer: R *A Reader Obsessed*

This was a classic second chance romance made all the better by having it feature a likeable, brooding cowboy and the young stranger who captures his heart.

Brett has been wallowing in grief and guilt over the death of his partner 3 years ago. He’s functional but barely, often drowning his sorrows in good ole Jack Daniels. When his overbearing, meddling mom brings home a guy she found on the highway, Brett is none too happy nor impressed.

JT hasn’t really had it easy either. He’s long been searching for something. What exactly, he’s not quite sure. He just knows that he’s his own person and because his family couldn’t accept that, there was no reason to stick around. Somehow, JT finds himself on Brett’s ranch, and he’s willing to try it out for awhile. Why not, right? He never anticipates falling for his gentle grieving boss.

Both these men are attracted to each other, and both fall hard and fast, but that doesn't mean those feelings are easily accepted. There’s definitely too many obstacles and issues standing in their way, so their dance is quite a long one. JT is patient, understanding, and willing to do whatever is needed so as to not spook Brett further into more self destruction. Brett’s internal struggle is a big one, as he tries to reconcile his conflicting feelings about wanting happiness and moving on.

These two together were very, very nice. I enjoyed their banter and interactions - tentative at times, uncontrolled at others. The UST, the foreplay, the culmination? Yep. No complaints here. There is of course the obligatory plot reveal that causes all sorts of drama. You know it’s gonna happen, there’s many hints at it coming, and it explodes quite messily. Of course it does. However, this is fiction and romantic fiction at that. After a cathartic painful reveal, things are finally allowed to heal.

This is one of those instances where the audio actually raised the rating for me, as Nick J. Russo excels at bringing out the charismatic, subtle southern charm that is all Brett. This is a highly emotional story, one that is full of grief, self recrimination, and reticence, all the way to hope, lust, happiness and eventually love. Russo gets every single one of these nuanced emotions just right, along with showcasing Brett’s rawness in his devastation, his anger, along with all his vulnerabilities and doubts. Know too that JT and the other supporting characters are richly portrayed as well, their personalities distinct and fully realized. I’m truly impressed.

So yes, this was definitely a story about second chances, however scary and thrilling they may be. Emotionally touching and sexy, this was made all the better by a truly heartfelt narration.

Thank you to the author/publisher for the audio in exchange for an honest review