Broken Dreams by Abbie Roads is by far my one of the best reads in 2023. I can’t wait for this book to be turned into a movie because it’s that good. It has dual POV, don’t touch her vibes and an obsessive serial killer.
The book starts out with Evanee needing saved from her childhood rapist, AKA her stepbrother. Lathan is more than willing to step up and brings Evanee home. Lathan however has a medical condition due to an attack when he was younger where he can’t hear well. He does have an overactive sense of smell and can smell people’s memories that makes up for his lack of hearing. Evanee, or Honey as Lathan calls her, doesn’t have any scent memories and is an ease to Lathan’s everyday self-perpetuated isolation. As the story goes on, it is found that Honey and Lathan are a set of mystical soulmates. This helps protect them and find out who is a serial killer that Lathan has been searching for. This results in the serial killer being invested and interested in Honey. To the point of kidnapping. The story results in a happy ending overall.
I loved this book so much. It had a lot of twists and unexpected turns in it. Abbie Roads makes you root for everyone’s mental growth including the serial killer. It talks about mental health and trauma in such a way that I haven’t read in a book in a long time. Plus the way she writes, you can visualize everything so well. It reads just as a horror movie I’ve seen but the love interest actually wins in the end. It would make a great movie and I really hope Abbie gets to do that!
Only thing I disliked about this book was that sometimes the story switched point-of-views but it wouldn’t say who was talking. It was easy to tell the difference but that’s the only thing I wasn’t a fan of.
I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars. It was very well written, had a great plot and great characters. Lathan is 100% the guy I would want to come save me if I was kidnapped by a serial killer. I was hooked and if I didn’t need sleep I would have finished it all in one day.

I loved this so much it has everything you want in a book, fantasy, crime thriller/mystery and true love romance. I thought all these elements fit so well into the book and made a great story. This is the second in a trilogy, but it can be read as a stand-alone (although I definitely recommend checking out the other books in this series) and I was blown away by how great this is. I do think maybe there should be a trigger warning for abuse and SA but it is worked very skilfully in the book. I have nothing bad to say about this really it was a really great read, interesting characters with "powers" and a fated love which helps them uncover the culprit.

I voluntarily read an advanced copy of Broken Dreams by Abbie Roads. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC.

I enjoyed the fantasy element that was combined with the thriller/romance genres. It made the story that much more engaging. The romance was pretty good and I give this story a solid 3/5 stars.

I’ve been searching for more books that combine my true loves of romance and thrillers so when I saw this one from Abbie Roads I JUMPED on it! And I’m so glad I did!! This is the second in a trilogy of interconnected stand alones - it’s being re released on May 9 - and the first is already in KU for you to start in anticipation!!

Lathan has an abnormal ability to smell things and people, including scents tied to memories. It’s a curse, he’s always sick and hates being around people, but he works with the FBI using his skills to solve cold cases. One evening, he rescues Evanee, from being assaulted by her stepbrother, and he realizes when he is with her, everything is toned down and tolerable. Evanee also has a gift - she can see murders happening in her dreams. Together they’ll find out they’re fated to be together, help Evanee escape her truly heinous past, and bring down a prolific serial killer.

The characters/ couple from the first book show up in this but not in a way that spoils their book if you read out of order. Both Lathan and Evanee have horrible childhoods, and the abuse and SA Evanee suffers at the hands of her stepfather and stepbrother are brought up a lot, as a TW. But I loved their chemistry and their crime solving! I tore through this and immediately downloaded its predecessor. For you if you love
- overprotective mmcs
- badass heroine
- criminal minds or law and order
- fated love
- virgin mmc
- crime and romance!!

Loved this, would recommend

There is a serial killer on loose and only Lathan Montgomery knows and he hopes that with his skill he can convince the FBI of the same thing. The Strategist he has been nicknamed has been killing for a while now, but no-one knows who it is or where he his hiding. Every lead they have comes up cold. That is until Lathan meets a mysterious girl on the side of the road in the desert. Evanee Brown ever since she was a little girl has been in danger, and if she isn't careful, it has caught up with her again, this time in the form of her evil stepbrother Junior. Luckily Lathan was in the right place at the right time as he steps in to protect Evanee. He takes her back to her house, only for her to fall asleep and during her dream world she meets a little girl who hands her an eye. She wakes up screaming and in her hand is an eye. What does this mean and how can it be? Lathan is about to discover that yes, his world can get stranger than he is used to as turns out Evanee has a gift. The dead can come to her in her dreams. However, paired together Lathan and Evanee are dangerous as they are the only two people in the world with the power to stop the elusive serial killer known as The Strategist. What will happen though when tragedy strikes the pair? Can their love for one another keep the other surviving and with love as strong as theirs can they fight to be together once again in life or death? If you are looking for a good FBI/ Serial Killer/ Abilities type mystery then check out Abbie Road's new book Broken Dreams because as you read , you will be kept on the edge of your seat with suspense.

This book is the second book in the series but can be read as a standalone. If you like very dark, thriller romance with a paranormal angle, which sometimes makes it a plot convenience, then you’ll love this unputdownable book and this series

Lathan works as an FBI consultant, he has a unique talent, he can detect scent memories (SM) from other people, and therefore it’s convenient when he’s trying to solve a cold case. One day on his way home he ran into Evanee who at that time was being harassed by her tormentor. The weird thing is that Lathan can’t detect Evanee’s SM and once Evanee meets Lathan, she starts having nightmares.

Near the end of this book, somehow it took weird turns with the relationship between the serial killer and Evanee, which I was hoping there was some kind of explanation but apparently it ends in a bizarre way.

Each book in this series contains some paranormal angle that is bound by the legends in this town, but each of them contains a totally different story and criminal case.

Overall it was still a good thriller with enough suspense, and lots of romance thrown in.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

⚠️TW: sexual abuse, gruesome murder, physical violence, torture, kidnapping

Broken Dreams by Abbie Roads is book two in the Beautiful Nightmare series.

This book is absolutely wild in the most beautiful, brilliant and calculated way.
The paranormal suspense was brilliantly captured throughout.
Along with the stellar romance and intriguing storyline.
Abbie Roads brings the best emotions into her characters.
All of the characters have such depth and are so layered, that getting to peel them off makes for a fantastic experience.
The author paints such a vivid picture with her words it's like you are there watching everything unfold
A phenomenal story with drama, mystery, suspense and romance Roads had me on the edge of my seat from start to finish.
An amazing dark romantic thriller and I can’t wait to read Shattered Dreams!

(This book can be read as a standalone.)

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Xpresso Book Tours for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

It was tough to classify this book. Broken Dreams is tagged as a dark romance, but I would argue it is more of a thriller with lots of romance thrown in. I waffle between calling it a thriller with romance or paranormal dark romance. Regardless of the official genre, the book delivers.

I was on the edge of my seat from start to end. The pacing is quite quick, keeping characters on their toes and throwing problem after murderous problem at them in rapid secession, even the reader doesn't get a break. It was almost a relief when I finished, I don’t know how the Abbie Roads fit so much heartbreak, evil, and triumph into one book. Broken Dreams doesn't deal in mystery like a typical "who dun it", but uses the knowledge given to readers early on to induce anxiety and horror as we continue the story wishing we could tell our hero and heroine what we know.

Evanee, aka Honey, had a terrible life permeated with evil since she was young. There is no way not to feel sorry for her, what she was been through, and the constant fear she lives in. Honey was very naïve for being a fighter and survivor, perhaps because her abuse started at such a young age. Her desire for affection and protection clouded many decisions that she made throughout the book.

"She was a total and complete hypocrite. She hated hypocrites. Hated herself for how she'd reacted when he'd handled her issues with grace and treated her with dignity." - Honey

Latham was such a unique character, I almost don’t know how to describe him. He was complex, with scars that ran just as deep as Honey's did. His protectiveness towards her was immediate and he does everything in his power to make Honey safe. Their connection was instant, and though neither understands really what is going on, they come to rely on each other for comfort and support as they work to uncover whoever is out to get them.

"Everything vanished except the vivid sensation of her feminine curves burrowing into him, seeking his safety, his comfort, his warmth. She was cool where he was on fire. She was soft where he couldn't bend." - Latham

The end of the book took a wild swing in the wrong direction for me, rather than ending on a huge high note. There were some elements that didn't make sense and out-of-character decisions took me out of the story.

"The last fragile thread bearing the full weight of her sanity snapped. Evanee heard the soft snap, felt the pressure release resonating through her body. Hopelessness smothered her, killing the will to live." - Honey

Ultimately, Broken Dreams is not for the faint of heart. Sexual abuse, physical violence, and torture themes are very prevalent in the story, so please read the trigger warnings before picking this book up. At the end of the book, we are giving a small teaser into what book three will be about, I am dying to know more about Thomas.


*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sequels have been known for not being as good as the first book...so NOT the case here. Roads knows what she's doing when it comes to writing and setting a suspenseful scene!! This sequel is as good as, if not slightly better, than the first book!! More suspenseful and more gripping...you just can't put it down until you've finished it on one go. The phrase "tragic beauty" comes to mind while reading these beautifully written books!! This book is a number two in the series and can be read as a standalone, but it's a better reading experience if you read the first one before this one!

Like with Dangerous Dreams, the first book in this series, I'm struggling with how to review this book. But I can tell you that I found it nearly impossible to put down after starting it.

As with book 1, this book has a paranormal angle, with both MCs having their own unique abilities. Evanee's is new, only developing after she meets Lathan. I won't say much about it other than to say it's a dream thing because it's better to experience her talent as it unfolds in the book. I wasnt fully sold on her ability, truth be told. It is a really weird one that sometimes feels more like a plot convenience than anything else. But I loved Lathan's ability and found it plausible. Sure, reading other people's memories by smell is a stretch, but smelling emotions is very synesthesia like and totally convincing.

That said, I do wish Lathan and Evanlee had more "normal" time. We know very very little about Evanlee outside of her horrible past, depressing present, and instalove of Lathan. Does she have talents? Dreams? Does she know what she wants to be when she grows up? I felt distanced from her. I also wanted her to stop sticking out her tongue at Lathan's friend Gill

Lathan is a little more developed in that we know how he uses his ability, and we get a sense that he has at least a few connections, like with his dog and Gill. That said, I'm not sure we ever learned how he met Gill, only that Gill has been the only one there for him. I also think we needed the dog either to play a larger role (tighter bond with Lathan) or to be deleted as a character. And while I adored that he was a virgin, I feel like maybe elements of that trait are on a cutting room floor somewhere. And when he finally is intimate with Evanlee, I needed more.

I think when romances feature MCs with dark or traumatic pasts (content warnings at the end), it's hard to create a clear promise of a better future. We know that trauma stays with a person. If we knew more about Evanlee and Lathan outside of their respective difficulties, it would be easier to believe in that better future.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher and Netgalley. I'm writing this review voluntarily, and it reflects my honest opinion. Thanks!

Content warnings: Violence, death, sexual abuse of a minor, murder

Tense, extreme, and addictive! Two broken souls find and complete each other. With a backdrop of surviving extreme abuse, overcoming the past, and a serial killer tracking them both - just wow. Not for the timid, but a fantastic read.

“Sacred are the wounded, for they shall balance the earth.”

Where to start. This was crazy. In a good way. This brought on so many emotions. Fear, suspense, anger, you name it. I'm not typically into thrillers but I love a good dark romance, and this was a great first for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the writing and plot. The plot alone was interesting, but the characters were as well. Very different from anything I've ever read.

I do not want to give anything away attempting to summarize this book because duh it's a thriller. We should be guessing till the very end. Throughout the beginning of the book, I was questioning everything and anything. Any new character introduced. I had my guess and was right, but it's not one of those, oh it was predictable moments. When you do find out your kind of left hanging in suspense wondering where they are at and when they'll appear. SO many other things are happening at once, but it felt like it was hanging over every other tragic incident like a dark stormy cloud. I was just waiting for the inevitable rain. It felt ominous.

The genetic anomaly that the main MC, Lathan uses to solve cold cases was unusual and complex. Lathan was just a complex character in general. Very rough around the edges since his genetic anomaly has forced him into seclusion to avoid being overwhelmed. He was very protective over Evanee, rightfully so. Both MCs have tragic pasts, and some things never leave whether physically or emotionally. In her case, both. Check the trigger warnings, that's for sure. Sexual assault is a very heavy topic in this book. Never by Lathan though.

Again, I don't want to give too much away so I'm also going to avoid diving into Evanee. The connection between the two MCs was instant. I was so hooked by it wondering what was going on between them and when it was finally explained I was just mind blown.

There was so much going on that I could not put the book down because I simply could not find a moment that allowed me to. The writing was easy to follow and flowed beautifully throughout this chilling stand-alone. It was written in third person POV, which I oh so love because I sometimes get distracted by the repetition of "I."

I would definitely recommend this to anyone that enjoys romance in their thrillers. It had me sweating for a multitude of reasons.

Wow! This book was a roller coaster ride! So many emotions and so many twists that I don’t know where to start! First, Lathan was amazing. He was stoic, grumpy and so closed off because of his ability that he felt like his life would never hold anything good beyond his job. Stumbling into Evanee he realizes that something is different. She triggers peace in him, and not his ability. For Evanee, Lathan represents everything that’s been missing in her life… safety and acceptance. These two are literally destined for each other, but there’s also a serial killer on the loose. One who is studying Lathan as much as Lathan has been studying him. This book was fast paced, full of emotions, mystery and suspense! I highly recommend this read!