This was a very sweetly told story which begins with Cassie living her dream - engaged to a man she adores; a successful, well known and wealthy man. Everything is going along swimmingly when Cassie returns to their apartment earlier than previously scheduled and finds her fiancee in bed with her very good friend. Cassie leaves the relationship and the city to live in a little beach town and recover from the betrayal. As she heals she finds that there are still decent people in the world, including handsome young men.

A well written and delightful read. Strongly recommend. Hoping for a sequel!!

This was a fairly solid read. It's well written, and there's a lovely sentiment to the story. But the inciting incident came a little later than it should've, the beginning felt like it was dragging on for ages. The characters we're well developed, and the plot was well paced. But I couldn't take another minute or mention of Cassie's ex Seth, and that took away a lot of my impression of the book - the story focuses on her moving on and dealing with the past, it's understandable why he's heavily featured. I guess it wasn't the right time for me to read the book, considering I enjoyed many aspects of it, but I can't bring myself to love it. I'll give it a shot again soon.

Review: I would first like to thank Aria for asking me to be apart of the blog tour for What Becomes of the Broken Hearted by Lisa Hobman. I have loved previous books by Lisa so was keen to read this one. 

I was not disappointed this is a truly wonderful read. It was very hard to put down and I went through many emotions while reading it. Lisa has again created some very real 3D characters, some I loved others I really hated. 

Poor Cassie comes across at first as a women who is very much misunderstood and doesn't know her own self just yet. She has lost her self to love which I feel is something we can all relate to in some way. All changes when she sees for her own eyes what we all know, her fiancée is not what he wants Cassie to believe he is. Upon arriving on the coast everything slowly improves for Cassie, especially when she starts to open her heart again to the very handsome Mac.   

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted is a book that shows that taking a leap of faith is sometimes what the heart needs to be fixed. 

A brilliant read perfect if you love a good romance.

I have to say I was quite disappointed with the lack of backbone of Cassie, or her lack of being able to decide anything for herself. Her fiance is manipulative, though seems sweet on the surface.

Drama unfolds and Cassie tries to start over in a seaside town, finding that it more suits her. Needless to say she hasn't changed much and lessons seem to still be learned. Mac is a welcome addition but she doesn't let him in very quickly.

The second half of the book was more enjoyable, the first half a little slow. I liked their connection and the small town appeal. The ex makes a surprise return and makes Cassie's fresh start a little rocky.

This is the dark side of romance; Cassie thinks she has everything and is prepared to ignore her lover's controlling personality. When he lets her down, she runs and tries to rebuild her life in a coastal village on the Scottish borders, but he hasn't finished with her yet.

Cassie's lack of self-esteem is symptomatic of someone in an abusive relationship and makes her story believable. Even though she leaves Seth, her life is plagued by his influence making even friendships difficult. Mac's caring personality, lets Cassie believe in a future again but she still doesn't believe in herself.

This is a realistic love story, which highlights abuse and how difficult it is to escape from. The community in the coastal village provides a source of hope and support in this story and finally helps Cassie live her life again.

I received a copy of this book from Aria via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Blurb :
Cassie Montgomery can remember a time where her life seemed pretty perfect. By day she was setting up her own little business in her sleek penthouse apartment, and by night sleeping on gazillion-count Egyptian cotton sheets next to her fiancée, once reputed to be Glasgow's most eligible bachelor.
And yet one ordinary, fateful day, Cassie uncovers a secret that shatters her heart into tiny pieces, and changes her life forever...
Escaping to a rural and idyllic coastal village, Cassie finds a cottage that, from the moment she steps through the rose-surrounded door, feels instantly like home. And then there's Mac, the cool surf teacher, who makes her question what really makes her happy – and makes her wonder if maybe, she might already have found the answer...

My Thoughts :
We meet Cassie Montgomery, after finally leaving her fiance Seth who is just a horrible, manipulative person and doesnt deserve her she moves to a lovely little cottage far away to start afresh.
Cassie then meets Mack and at first isnt very nice to him but slowly she opens up but can she ever mend her broken heart!?.
I didnt like Seth atall and much of the first part of the book was of their arguments which I felt dragged a bit but overall a nice read with a few twists and turns trown in along the way. A lovely setting with a few supporting cast.
Looking forward to Lisa Hobman’s next release.

Firstly, I double dare you not to be singing the song with the same title, made famous by Jimmy Ruffin, as you pick up and dive into this compelling read. It’s a song that would definitely have made our delightful Cassie’s playlist I am sure. Thankfully, our artful author Lisa Hobman reassures us with this tale that something good can indeed come of the broken hearted. The characters are people that you really will want to spend time with and who you care about by the turn of the first page. It’s so hard to put this book down. It will be calling to you across the ether, making sure that you don’t spend too much time away – for this story moves along at such a pace, with so many unexpected twists and turns, you just can’t not know if our heroine is going to be ok? The opening lines of the song echo the path of pain that Cassie has to make peace with.

“As I walk this land of broken dreams, I have visions of many things. But happiness is just an illusion, Filled with sadness and confusion.”

Our heroine is so down to earth and true to life; her story hits all the right notes and in sharing it she certainly teaches us that trusting our instincts, instead of burying them in the name of love, would certainly save us from some of that ‘sadness and confusion.’ And keep reading as there is a visit to the most divine beach hut in the world- I really want one now.
The kinder souls in Cassie’s story say that ‘if something is worth having it’s worth fighting for’ and this book is Cassie’s fight song! I really enjoyed listening to her as she found her true voice. Along the way Cassie illuminates shadows lurking in the hearts and minds of those who are weighed and measured and found wanting, she unearths hidden treasures in the most unlikely of places and she teaches us to hold dear to our dear ones, whilst we still can. Ultimately, she finds shelter from the storms of life in the kindness of strangers, the world of canine cuddles and natures healing balm. As she re-discovers the ‘fire within her soul’ she remembers that ‘all that glitters is not gold’ and finds the courage to trade the shiny brightness of designer handbags and elegant soirées for a heart of gold residing inside a most flawed yet handsome diamond in the rough.
Cassie’s story helped me to remember to be grateful for all the good people in my life and to remain open to love and kindness, to love as if I have never been hurt before. If I could recommend a song to Cassie, to any of us who can count ourselves as having walked amongst the broken hearted, it would be ‘I hope you dance’ sung by Lee Anne Womack.

‘I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin' might mean takin' chances, but they're worth takin'
Lovin' might be a mistake, but it's worth makin'
Don't let some Hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin' out reconsider
Give the Heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.
I hope you dance... I hope you dance.’

Coffee Cup Conversations and Teapot Talking Points:
If you and I dear reader were sitting down together today, snuggled up under a blanket in the beach hut by the sea, having both read the book, here are a few of the points we could mull over together, as we sip our lattes and look out at the pebbles on the beach.
Have you ever spent time in a beach hut or beachside home?
Friends of ours from way back when had a wonderfully extended beach hut. It was such a luxury to open the doors out onto the beach and literally only have to trot a handful of steps to the seashore. I love the look of the huts that you see at English seaside resorts. They look so loved and peeking inside as you trundle all your kit down to the beach with other bods, they are somewhat of a curiosity. Some folks have them well and truly organised, with things put away in neat little magical cupboards with folding tables and hooks galore. Others have cute little curtains and seating arranged. Others still have kettles and stoves and well, look like you could move straight on in. I wonder if you can rent them on Airbnb? I am tempted to have one in my garden – just somewhere I could sup my tea, write, read and do art and craft!
Have you ever followed the sun and taken a spontaneous trip?
I often suggest to my hubby that one day we just pack up a picnic and some layers of clothing and follow the good weather wherever it may lead us. I think that this would be a very enjoyable way to see more of our lovely countryside and could lead to some new discoveries and amazing memories. When I was a child I used to do a similar thing with my bike – a friend and a picnic and I would meander our way around our neighbourhood. I bet it would be a great way to discover hidden treasures, and it would definitely get us up off the sofa and out of the house. I suppose that is why hobbies like geocaching are so popular.
If you were part of a seaside community, what business would you run?
I love the idea of being part of a small coastal community, a little fishing village in Cornwall would suit me just fine. I once passed a potter’s house in Polperro and the little studio looked out over the tiny harbour – it was idyllic. I’m hopeless at making clay into anything remotely useful, but I have dreamt of having a little office with a similar view. I think that maybe I would like to open a bookshop with a café attached and become the hub of community life? What about you? Would you like to open up an Antiques shop or a local eatery? It sounds like the stuff dreams are made of.

Seth is a really rotten guy, which Cassie FINALLY realizes. When she moves out, she moves to a small village and, of course, meets another guy, Mac, who is a good guy. I would have liked this better if there had been less drama and more self examination. And I would have liked more atmospherics from the town. There's a whole genre of this sort of novel- woman leaves man and finds a future elsewhere- but this isn't one of the better examples. Sorry about that. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

Cassie thinks she has everything she wants : a gorgeous fiance named Seth, a new business and good friends. This changes when she finds Seth cheating and when she tries to leave, he won't let her go.
This is not the book for me. Cassie needed therapy, not a new boyfriend. I didn't feel any real connection between Cassie and either of the men with whom she was paired. Seth's attitude and increasingly erratic behavior was only missing a twirling mustache.

I’ve just finished “What becomes of the broken hearted” by Lisa Hobman and I really really enjoyed it 😊

💫Synopsis💫

Cassie Montgomery can’t believe her luck. She’s building up her small business and has a wonderful boyfriend and living the life of luxury. Then one day, after discovering an awful secret, her whole world comes tumbling down around her.

She decides to move away and make a fresh start for herself, and finds a cottage in an idyllic little town, and soon discovers this is where she has belonged all along. She also discovers that it is never too hard to let people back in to her heart and life, and learns to trust again.

💫Review💫

I really enjoyed this story and, although I predicted some parts of the plot, there were certain twists and turns that I had not seen coming, therefore keeping me on the edge of my seat to see what would happen next.

The description of the lovely little town that Cassie moved to was wonderful and I could picture myself walking along the beach, admiring the cute little beach huts. When she meets Mac, the owner of the cottage, I instantly fell in love with him, and his aloofness.

All in all a really addictive read, with the right amount of humour, romance, intensity and an ending that had me sobbing like a baby. I give this book a well deserved 4.5 ⭐️ stars 🌟

Cassie Montgomery lacks for nothing, but seemingly with no power to decide anything for herself - not even her wedding dress. But she can only make one decision when she walks in on her fiancee with another woman. She picks a place by the coast to retreat and build a new life for herself. It takes her some time to open her heart to the new people around her, but discovers that love is possible again.

Had not read this author's previous title 'The Road Trip', but this did not defer from my enjoyment of this novel. It was great to share Leanne & Maddy's adventures across Italy & Croatia after escaping their humdrum teaching lives following alucky win on the lottery - something that we all dream about. Obviously there is lots of fun to be had along the way, including a few handsome men! It also made the beauty of Italy & Croatia come across to the reader, wanting you to head there for an adventure.

I enjoyed reading this book but found it quite slow to get started. Too much of the book seemed to be focussed on Seth and Cassie when they were a couple.

Seth breaks Cassie's heart. She doesn't know what to do next, apart from escape Glasgow. She ends up in a Scottish seaside town where she meets Mac. They don't hit it off on their first meeting, but eventually become friends.
But Seth is not going to let her go that easily and keeps turning up, unwilling to accept that she won't go back to him.. You wonder how he kept this side of him hidden from her for so long.

This was a sweet story. The setting was a fun treat along with the Scottish slang. Seth was horrendous and evil. There is a lot of drama in this tale, so many sad and crazy things happen. It all wraps up to a HEA which I like but considering what had gone on in it may be a bit too tidy. As for the solution to Seth, that would never happen to a person like that... The epilogue was cute but a bit over the top. I believed she was walking into her wedding and I thought for a second “Seth number 2 much??”. This story had some good bones, setting, characters, dialogue, drama just maybe a tad too much...still quite enjoyable!

This was just not for me I guess. From the opening paragraphs I was completely and utterly turned off as a reader.

Felt the book was rather long. It had too much drama This drama ruined everything.I found myself screaming at the character for not being strong and standing up for herself.

This is the third book I have reviewed by Lisa Hobman after A Seaside Escape and A Year of Finding Happiness. What Becomes of the Broken Hearted focuses on Cassie Montgomery, who had a priveleged life as the fiancé of Seth, a Glasgow bachelor. That was, before a secret had her packing her bags and leaving him. She does what many of us do and flees. Post-breakup, nursing a latte and a cookie, she is advised to close her eyes, point to a place on a map and go wherever it points to. I did like this spontaneity and was rooting for her and boping she found happiness.

She ends up in a cottage in a small village and meets Mack. Is he the one for her? Much of the book is taken up with arguments between her and Seth, and she is hostile towards Mack at times. The book's plot is not as involved or detailed as in her other books, and there is some word repitition and a lot of clichés and some predictability but I did enjoy the way Cassie stood her ground and did not let people get to her. She was very angry for much of the book but was great when she was in a good mood.

The book lacked some description in surroundings and setting and much of it has arguments and there are a lot of feelings flying around. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to Lisa Hobman and Aria for an ARC in exchange for an honest and voluntary review as well as a chance to participate in the blog tour for this title.

It took me a little while to like Cassie, the main character, but as the story developed I slowly admired her determination. A story of believing in yourself and not falling for any type of deception. Based in a small village, Cassie starts to remember who she is, what she likes and learns to trust again.

My review has been posted to my blog & Goodreads.

Review has also been tweeted as usual.

Thank you! :c)

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted, The most heartwarming and feelgood novel you'll read this year,  Lisa Hobman

Review from Jeannie Zelos book reviews

Genre:  Women's Fiction, Romance

Gah! Once more “women's fiction”, and as usual I have to have a quick moan – why do we do this – cut off potential readers? Who says men won't/don't read romance, they certainly write it, so why exclude them this way?

So, this story...I'd loved Lisa's A Year of finding Happiness, the only other book of hers I'd read, and was hoping for something similar, romance, with a solid story and some drama. I did get it but...in a much more muted way.
I couldn't see why Cassie ever thought she was in love with Seth in the first place, he was clearly so arrogant and supercilious, and when he's caught out his reaction is exactly as you'd expect. I also wondered why Seth was with Cassie. Did he ever love her or did he just want a complaisant wife he could mould, as he clearly was already shaping Cassie's day to day behaviour. I like to think he loved her at the start at least, and just maybe it was Cassie's low self esteem that let her stay with him when clearly he was trying to change her.

Then That happens, and Cassie's off. Wow girl, you go! I was cheering her on even while I could feel her heartbreak, and up til now things kind of went as I expected.
When she reaches the new home though she's really a first class b itch to Mac, she's hurting I know, but it wasn't Mac that hurt her. They have a few not so good interactions, but slowly she opens up, and Mac tries for a fresh start and to help her. He's a genuinely kind man, one of the good guys, and for all Cassie's rudeness he sees she's hurt and still looks out for her. I loved Mac. And his uncle Rab, they felt like people I'd love to know. Cassie – well, I so felt for her at first but she was so outright rude to Mac I got cross with her. I hate plain rudeness.

Looking back at A Year of ….I can see what I enjoyed about that, and its the drama and the unpleasant ex that topped the story for me. We've both of those here, but Seth somehow didn't engender the same feelings. I guess I felt the drama in the later part of the book just didn't fit the character I felt he was, whereas in A Year of it was exactly what I would expect Alice to do. The actual drama itself was fine, added to the story, and worked to move things forward.

I adored Rab, was so emotional over him, the village setting and characters were perfect, Mac was just wonderful, Cliff gets a special mention, and an extra helping of imaginary dogs treats ;-) I guess its just the Cassie/Seth relationship and the actions that sprung from it that didn't work so well here for me. Its a good read, but unlike a Year of, it was one I could, and did, put aside at times for other things. I did love the ending, kitsch, but still just perfect and left me feeling a little choked. The magic moment all we romantics dream of!
Its a perfect beach read, or one for those times when you need a story you can pick up and put down for a while, but it wasn't a must-keep-reading five star for me.


Stars: Three and a half, some really great elements let down for me but a few things that felt out of place. As ever though, that's just one opinion, it will be perfect for others.

ARC supplied by Netgalley and Publishers