REVIEW: A Facade to Shatter by Lynne Raye Harris

A Facade to Shatter by Lynne Raye Harris

‘If you stay, you might get more than you bargained for,’ he growled. Because he was primed, on edge, ready to explode. It had been so long since he’d felt desire that to feel it now was a huge adrenaline rush. Like flying. ‘I’ve already had more than I bargained for today,’ she said hotly, color flooding her cheeks. ‘I’ve had to parade around in front of everyone in a hideous dress that made me look even fatter than I am. I’ve have to endure the whispers and stares, the laughter, the humiliation.’

Lia Corretti is used to be invisible in her powerful family. Her father sent her to live with her grandparents when she was a baby, and she’s never fit in with the other members of the family. But the way she is humiliated at her cousin Alessandro’s reception is the last straw. When she meets handsome American Hero Zachariah James Scott IV, she feels an immediate connection with him, as if someone else may know what it’s like not to fit in. She can’t help but be attracted to him. Ending up in his bed will be the most rebellious thing she’s ever done in her life.

“‘You should go,’ he said. ‘Walk away. It’s safer.’ She blinked. ‘Safer? Are you so dangerous, then?’ He swallowed. ‘Perhaps.’ Her gaze was steady, penetrating. ‘I’m not afraid,’ she said softly. ‘And I don’t think you’re dangerous to anyone but yourself.'”

Decorated war veteran Zach Scott hasn’t felt normal since his aircraft was shot down, leaving him with debilitating headaches that ended his career as a pilot and nightmares of the night he was rescued. Being with Lia for a few days recaptures some of that normalcy for him, but he knows it can’t last, so he leaves Sicily and Lia behind and goes back to his isolated existence.

When Lia shows up, informing him that their whirlwind affair had unforeseen consequences, Zach is determined to do his duty and marry her. But will the nightmare of his past and Lia’s feelings of inadequacy manage to keep them from the happiness they could have with one another?

A Façade to Shatter by Lynn Raye Harris is a great story about two people, damaged in different ways who try to make a relationship out of an intense connection. I related to Lia’s character’s feelings about her body and her position in her family. Her issues weren’t as easily seen as Zach’s, but they were just as intense. Zach’s struggles with PTSD broke my heart. Ms. Harris does a good job of depicting Zach’s issues without letting them overpower the story. I also enjoyed Lia’s willingness to believe that she could make her relationship with Zach work despite their issues up to the end.

What I didn’t like as much was the backstory with Lia and Rosa. I know that A Façade to Shatter is in a series and that Rosa will probably have her own book at some point, but I don’t think it added to this story. Also, there wasn’t any real resolution, progression, or even a lead in to Rosa’s story that would make this subplot feel more complete. It felt as if this part was added in to keep it connected to the other stories, but it just wasn’t as meaningful to me.

I think that A Façade to Shatter is a well written book, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to read a book with realistically depicted characters who are willing to fight for the connection that they feel towards each other.

Book Info:

 HJ Recommends
Published September 17th 2013 by Harlequin

Congratulations, Lia,’ he said, his voice chilling her. ‘You’ve won the jackpot after all.
‘You’re about to become a Scott.’

‘This is not how I wanted this to happen,’ she said, on a throat-aching whisper. Tears pressed the backs of her eyes. She couldn’t let them fall.

‘You came here,’ he said, his voice hard. ‘What did you expect? Did you think I would be happy?’

She dropped her gaze. A single tear spilled free and she dashed it away, determined not to cry in front of him. Not to be weak.

‘I had hoped you might be, yes.’ She lifted her chin and sucked back her tears. ‘Clearly, I was mistaken.’

‘We’ll marry,’ he said. ‘Because we must. But it’s an arrangement, do you understand? We’ll do it for as long as necessary to protect our families and then we’ll end it when the time comes.’