The Broken One is an absolute perfect title for this story. The author has an amazing ability to write stories that grab you by the heartstrings and yet have you laughing with the very next sentence. She writes such beautiful stories of family, strength, and loyalty and of course a romance with all the sighs in just the right places. Sebastian and Heather’s story is one I won’t forget for a long time because there is such a heartbreaking brokenness to Sebastian that it took not only Heather to bring him to himself again but also a very special little girl named Ava. The conversations between Heather’s best friend, Erica and her assistant, Terri are off the charts hilarious! I shed tears and had lots of laughs while reading this wonderful story of a second chance for a very deserving hero!

This is also the first book in what appears to be another hit series for this author!

I received an ARC from Netgally for an honest review, which I have provided.

Eagerly anticipated this book; and it did not disappoint! I loved the whole series before. And to get a new twist coming into the family was fantastic!
I found the love story between Heather and Sebastian beautiful and InStyle with the Italian family stories from other books. I look forward to the next book and finding out the secrets buried in the Corisi family
Congratulations to Ruth Cardello on another addictive read

Italian men seem to be recurrent theme in many NA novels and I am certainly enjoying it. A story f second love with a cute lil kid also? It certainly had it charm although the story was much more fast paced than the normal books I love. Still it was a nice change with a sweet romance to keep it going. I was a bit confused on the Judy side story and even at the managed only to grasp a bit of it but I’m guessing I should read the previous books in order to actually understand full story. I would definitely love to read the rest of the Romano brothers stories when they are up and know what happens to Ava when she finally gets her sibling.

This is the first of the Corisi series by Ruth Cardello and boy did it start of sweet then blooming into a hot, passionate story. I loved how she brought these two together yet there was a bit of well hesitancy between them. Both are nervous when it comes to love again but having little Ava was a hoot seeing them well accomodate her. Heather may be a single mom but when it comes to love she was hillarious when and what to say when it comes to Sebastian. Now Sebastian is one brokenhearted man and seeing him learn to live again with Heather and Ava was beautifully done. All in all being the first book in this new series Ruth Cardello is starting off good and there is more in the Romano family cannot wait.

"I received an eBook copy from the publisher for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own."

This book was so good. The characters were so good and Ava was a sweetheart. It was so cute the interactions with Wolfie. Heather and Sebastian were perfect for each other. It took awhile to get it right, but they finally did. The little side story with Judy was a little confusing, but I think it will resolved in the next book. It will be interesting to see what develops. Again. I very good book that I recommend. I got this book from NetGalley for an honest review

Single mom Heather Ellis would do anything for her adopted daughter, Ava. Even post an online reward for anyone who found the girl’s lost stuffed animal. When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Ruth Cardello is magnifysent and amazing writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.Can't wait for the next book.

I’m a sucker for a book like this, heartbroken lost man who just needs the right woman (one with an adorable child) to bring him back to life. Perfect amount of tension and angst (or as I like to call it argh what are you both doing !) lovely read that will leave you content, happy and wanting your own Sebastian

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

If you love a good man whose heart has been broken and just needs the right woman to put it back together, you’ll enjoy this book. It’s clear from the start that our hero, Sebastian, is a good guy who has experienced a lot of loss, and it’s hardened him in a major way. Seeing him slowly rediscover the man beneath the surface was great, and really the foundation of the book.

The story follows Sebastian, the head of his family business. He was once married with a baby on the way, but a car accident changed his life immensely. Now he is cold and a bit ruthless, providing for his family by being a workaholic. When he finds a stuffed animal on the side of the road, it brings back a lot of bad memories, but he finds himself returning it to its owner. He is immediately taken by the child’s mother, but he’s no longer the guy who wants a wife and child so he messes up their interaction. What follows is a series of run-ins where Sebastian and Heather dance around whether or not they’re going to pursue the attraction that sparks between them - and if Sebastian is ready to move forward.

There’s a lot to like about the story; the writing is solid, the characters are likeable as a whole, and I felt the chemistry. Sebastian definitely got on my nerves a few times, and his whole hot then cold act got old quickly, but I never truly disliked him. It’s a slow burn in that these two take a while to truly move forward. I’m not sure exactly what the plan is for the “Judy” chapters, but it definitely threw me off when beginning the book. I assume we’ll learn more about that as the series continues. Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with an ARC. I enjoyed reading this new-to-me author and am voluntarily leaving a review.

It was one step forward then two steps back with Heather and Sebastian's relationship. One of them always did or said something after a perfect get together to spoil what had just happened. Boy, once they figured it out though, they were full steam ahead.

🐺 How many wolves can one little girl raise while her mom tames a wounded widower?
4.5🌟stars
💕This romance had lots of family-time warmth, heat and some very lovable characters. Single mom Heather's meet-cute with stunning Sebastian was unusual, all thanks to her adorable adopted daughter and her companion stuffed wolf. The length of the story was good, the dual POV gave a good insight into the couple's emotions and motivation, and the author peopled their world with just enough secondary characters. I especially liked Heather's neighbor Erica and her small, noisy tribe!

Perhaps most important, the story gave Heather, and more particularly Sebastian, reason and room to grow emotionally and chance opening their hearts. I thoroughly enjoyed their story, especially when Ava got involved.

There are some chapters, including the first, that seem to be from a different book entirely! I thought I had picked up the wrong book when I started the story and it did not jive with the book's blurb! Apparently these chapters draw Sebastian Romano and his family into a bigger drama that will run throughout the series. It teases and draws you in to learn more, but I would not call it a cliffhanger. I personally steer away from books that end with a cliffhanger and this story does have an HEA.

Thanks to Montlake Romance and NetGalley for providing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest review.

The Broken Ones by Ruth Cardello a five-star read that will pull your heart strings. This is the first novel in the Corisi Billionaire series, and I can’t wait for the rest, I don’t want to say anything about this story as you really need to devour it yourself, its just that good. I haven’t read this author previously, but they will definitely be a one click author for me in the future. Wolfe story will pull at those heart strings even more than the rest of the story and that is a great story overall.

This book did not disappoint!!! I absolutely loved Heather and Sebastian. They were perfect for each other and their characters definitely made me smile a lot. This was a funny story with heartbreaking moments but it was also sweet and had everything I look for in a romance story. I devoured this story in one sitting. I look forward to reading more books from this author and I will definitely be recommending this one to my family and friends.

Received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

Hmm. I'm not sure what to write about this one. I will say that the beginning, and the scenes with Judy confused me - I'm still trying to see how they will all fit with the bigger picture, but I had to keep checking to make sure I was reading the right book.

I was also a bit thrown off by the trajectory of Sebastian and Heather's romance. While the attraction is clearly there, there is enough animosity to make it seem like they would never get together. It then progressed very quickly, to the point that I thought Cardello forgot a chapter or two. My head was spinning with how the story ended because I just didn't feel that there was enough development in their relationship.

I'm interested where she takes this series...

This is my first Ruth Cardello book and I loved it! It is mostly a fun, thoughtful romantic comedy with a tiny side dish of intrigue.

A cute but well loved stuffed animal named Wolfe is lost and found, bringing together an independent single mom (Heather) and a grieving widower (Sebastian). I don’t know who the “Broken One” refers to because they both have issues. Despite having an instant attraction to one another these two have a rocky initial courtship. Heather tends to shut down when she perceives her independence or integrity questioned. She has had to be strong to survive being abandoned by her own mother at an early age. Sebastian still feels guilty about pursuing something lasting with Heather because he hasn’t dealt with the pain of losing his wife and their unborn child.

Somehow, they manage to make things work. And Ruth Cardello makes it work, too! You would think that the subject matter might be weighted down with all the pain and introspection of the storyline. However, she makes it a lot of fun. The main characters are good people with inherent wit and humour and great survival instincts. Heather’s friend, Erica, for instance, ever the helpful bestie, gifts Heather a box of one hundred prophylactics. These find their way into the most hilarious scenarios that had me laughing out loud in public places. How do explain to curious onlookers that you’re laughing about a box of condoms? You don’t - but it’s also almost impossible to wipe the stupid smile off your face!

Heather and Sebastian’s story is complete without a cliffhanger. The INTRIGUE that I mentioned is supplied by a tidbit of a plot where a young girl from a wealthy and secretive family is searching for information about her father’s family tree. What this has to do with Sebastian and Heather remains to be seen ....

I have read Ms. Cardello in the past but this new novel by her is awe-inspiring. Sebastian lost his wife Therese five years ago and never recovered. Heather became a single mother after her best-friend died and left her daughter Ava to Heather. One night as Heather and Ava is going home Ava loses her favorite stuff animal and is fretful about it. Sebastian finds the stuff animal and through social media returns it back to Heather. This is so much more than a simple romance. Both leads are dealing with issues that has happened in their life especially Sebastian. There is also a mystery brewing. The story starts with a child name Judy who wants to know about her dad's side of the family and so the reader never get the answer to whom is Judy's family but the readers have an idea. Review on goodreads and amazon.com

Two separate stories: one is a standalone romance with a HEA while the other starts an ongoing adventure.

The main story is the romance between Heather and Sebastian, but first we meet Judy, a nine-year-old girl with a powerful father who is determined to unearth the secrets of her father's relatives for her school's family tree project. These chapters are few, and aren't directly connected to the romance, but hints are given as to how the two stories connect and it's clearly set up for future books to explore Judy's family tree and how that relates to the couples being matched up. In this book, the two story threads never cross paths.

Heather adopted her dying best friend's baby and is wholly devoted to her daughter. Sebastian is on the other end of family happiness, having lost his pregnant wife years before. Finding the missing toy belonging to Heather's daughter, and his undeniable attraction to Heather, finally forces him to deal with his grief and the prospect of moving on. We also get to know the entire Romano family as Sebastian and his brothers run their hugely successful chain of takeover-the-town big-box stores.

This was a lovely story, filled with honest emotions, strong family ties, and enough heat to light up your make your kindle sweat. I really enjoyed the way the author had the characters openly examining all the parts of their arguments, realizing that there are better ways to communicate more effectively. I was invested in these characters right from the start, and I highly recommend this book. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

When Heather’s search for her daughter’s lost Wolfie are unsuccessful she is running out of options so she decides to post her plea on social media with the hope that it will bear some results. She wasn’t prepared for the sexy yet cold man that appeared at her door to turn her life upside down.

Even though its been years since Sebastian’s family passed away and the grief and guilt he feels make it seem like it was only yesterday. When he finds a well used Wolfie he can’t resist picking it up and bringing it back to his office. What started out as a way of appeasing his mother has started to be come complicated.

Both Sebastian and Heather have painful pasts which affect their current relationships but with the advice of her friends and his family they help heal each other.

Brilliant. Loved this book and a fab start to a new series. Totally recommend this and all of her books to read

I love stories about families and their mysteries! This is the first book in a series. The Corisi family has secrets and nine year old Judy is relentless in her determination to uncover the truth.

In the meantime, a young single mom has a dilemma. Ava her four year old daughter accidentally let go of her stuffed "Wolfie" and he flew out the car window. Now, no matter how much she has retraced their steps, she cannot find him. Ava is adopted and Wolfie is her dear companion. Without him all Ava wants to do is cry. What is a mother to do? Well, placing an ad on social media is one way to enlist the help of friends and try to retrieve this stolen treasure.

Sebastian Romano is the head of his family grocery business. An empire for sure. Losing his wife and daughter in accident five years ago still has him withdrawn from the world in general. Business is the only language he speaks now. Finding a derelict stuffed toy while he is surveying a piece of land he wants to buy brings back memories of his lost family. Little does he know this toy is his link to changes he never imagined.

This is an endearing and tender story of love, loss, and hope. The meaning of family and the support our love ones provide makes this one of the dearest stories I have read this year.

I am voluntarily reviewing this book. Thanks to the author for sharing a copy with me.

Well, I’m definitely in the minority here, but this didn’t work for me. This is a new to me author and I thought this would be a good start since this is the first book in the series. Unfortunately, I was lost immediately. There were so many characters mentioned in the first chapter, and I had absolutely no idea who they were. It sounds like they may be from other series? Then, the book starts to get into Heather and Sebastian, who were never mentioned in the first chapter. I made it to 20% hoping I could find out what was going on, and unfortunately, I didn’t get answers. And ultimately, I did not connect with the characters enough to continue. The writing was good so maybe it’s just my frame of mind. But, for me, it didn’t work and I chose not to continue for those reasons.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.