I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Literally Yours PR, all opinions are my own.
This is the conclusion of the Shattered Hearts Trilogy, and I'm really happy with how things wrapped up. This doesn't read as a standalone, you really need to read the series in order 1. Broken Romeo 2. Rebel Romeo, and finally 3. Forbidden Romeo to really understand what happened between the main characters Kate and Holden. I feel you can get away without reading the companion novellas from Kate's perspective during their time in college (Shattered Juliet and Ruined Juliet) but they do add some details that you don't get in the Romeo books. I would recommend reading all of them in publication order so they make sense.
As with the previous books in the series this is told from Kate/Katherine's perspective current day and Holden's perspective 5 years ago via journal entries when they were in college together. This picks up where book 2 left off with Kate reeling from several major blows to her professional and personal lives as those around her continue to try to break her and her newly rekindled relationship with Holden. All of the secrets, lies, and betrayals are finally revealed between the present day scenes and Holden's journal entries. We finally learn what happened between Kate and Holden that was so terrible that they hadn't spoken for 5 years prior to their current production and why everyone is so hell bent on ruining Kate's future as an actress.
This was such a fitting conclusion to the series! We finally learn about the tragic ending to Kate and Holden's relationship in college and we get to see them rekindle things and face everyone that got in their way in the present. I really liked the character development we get from both Kate and Holden throughout the series, but we really get to see how far the have both come in this final installment both personally and professionally. If you are looking for a good enemies to lovers with a Romeo and Juliet theme, give this series a go. I really enjoyed it.
Ruined Juliet, an all-new emotionally charged, sports romance from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!
I should hate Holden Dorsey after what he did to me. I want to hate Holden Dorsey.
So why can’t I stop picturing him late at night when I’m alone in bed?
I’ve worked too hard to get into this prestigious theater department and land the lead role in Romeo and Juliet. I’m not going to let anyone stand in my way… especially not my rebellious Romeo.
I should have learned my lesson the first time. I should have stayed far away from Holden.
Amidst acting in one of Shakespeare’s most notorious tragedies, we’re living our own. Holden vowed to pick up my shattered pieces and fix me, but it’s too late.
“As much as I’d love to stand here and chat with you, I’m late for class.”
I move to keep walking, but with a single step to the side, she blocks my path once more. “About that. As you know, Holden needs this class and the show credit to graduate on time. And it seems that he’s been a little distracted by you these last few weeks. Since you’re only a freshman, you have plenty of time to make this class up later in your college career.”
Folding my arms, I narrow my gaze at her. “Distracted how?”
She titters a laugh that’s faker than the cubic zirconia earrings my sister gave me last year for my birthday. “Oh, you know college boys.”
“I don’t really. As you said, I’m only a freshman.”
“We got a call from his football coach that his games have been slipping a little.”
“And you think that has to do with me? Not the fact that he’s stretched really thin by taking on a second extra-curricular activity that’s very demanding?”
She pauses and gives another quiet chuckle through her nose. Makeup has settled in the few creases around her mouth that I have no doubt if she knew were there, she’d have run straight to her cosmetologist to fuel up on some botox. “My son is used to a demanding schedule. So the only variable I can see… is you.
If you care about Holden at all, you’ll quit this class. And this show.” If there was ever a kick in the pants to fuel me to get my part back… This is it. No one strong arms me out of what I want to do. One way or another, I have to convince McCay to take me back.
“Wow,” I chuckle. “Does that actually work? Playing the whole ‘if you love my son, you’ll do this for him’ game?”
“We all make sacrifices for the people we love.”
“Good point. I wonder what sacrifices Holden will make for me.”
Holden and I aren’t in love. Not by a long shot. But I revel in the shock that takes hold of Mrs. Dorsey’s expression as she realizes what I’ve just implied. “And,” I add while I’ve got her speechless, “unfortunately, the add-drop time for our semester is already over. I can’t quit the class without taking an incomplete.”
To her credit, she recovers quickly. The polite exterior has given way as she rips a checkbook out of her Louis Vuitton purse. “Classes here are what? Four thousand a semester? So, what if I give you, say, six thousand … for your troubles.”
“I can’t be bought.” My cheeks flush red at my statement. Because that’s not exactly true, Kate, is it? Holden has bought me for a heck of a lot less than that. He bought my panties. He bought my dignity. He bought my innocence.
Ignoring the shame bubbling inside me, I hold my ground firmly as she sighs. “Fine. Ten thousand, then. But for that price, I expect you to steer clear of my son for the rest of the year.”
She scribbles a check and tears it from the book, holding it out to me.
“No, thank you,” I say, folding my arms.
“Take the check.”
“I don’t want your money,” I snap. “I don’t want another penny from your freaking family.” I yank my phone out of my bag. Even though I’m officially late for class today, there might still be time to plead my case to McCay. I type out a quick email to her.“In fact, I had quit the show with Holden this morning, but just because you thought you could buy me off? I’m emailing the professor right now to rescind my resignation.”
“You have to trust me, this is for your own good,” Mrs. Dorsey pleads. “This is one part. One class. All you need to do is stay away from my son—”
“Mom!” Holden’s voice comes out of nowhere and both Mrs. Dorsey and I jump at his rumbling baritone.
Good lord, the guy is even more delicious today than usual. His dark hair is still shower-damp and his amber eyes look golden in the morning sun.
I tear my gaze away from him and force my rapidly beating heart to slow, reminding myself that Holden Dorsey stands for everything I hate about privilege and high society.
“Holden!” Mrs. Dorsey clasps the collar of her silk button down shirt. “You scared me.”
“What the fuck are you doing here?” he asks stepping between us.
Her eyes dart between Holden and me. “I-I’m here to see you, of course!” she says in a sickly sweet voice, then holds out her arms to hug Holden. “I wanted you to see I was okay despite our little chat the other night.”
“Uh-huh.” he lets her hug him, but I note the stiffness in his shoulders and the fact that he doesn’t hug her back. Instead, he yanks the check from her hand and holds it up. “And what’s this? What was all that talk the other night about your regrets? About how much you wished I would find someone special?”
I’m not sure what was said in their conversation the other night, but it’s clear it’s not my place to interject.
Mrs. Dorsey winces. “I did mean that. I do regret what we did to Megan and I want you to find someone.”
“Just not me,” I say, deadpan, then turn to look at Holden. It’s all too much. This freaking family has more money than they know what to do with and they think they can just buy people off. “Like mother, like son, huh?”
He does a double take at me, seeming confused. Of course he’s confused. When he last saw me, we were making out in a hot tub. I was about to call things off with my secret panty buyer to give it a real try with Holden.
And then, I discovered he’d been lying to me.
He is my secret panty buyer.
But he doesn’t know that I discovered his secret.
In his mind, we are still on the cusp of getting together.
Well, Holden, you have a rude awakening coming.
“One crazy thing at a time, please,” he says, then turns back to his mom. “Go home, Mom. Go back to Dad and to your martinis and your club and stay out of my love life. And feel free to pass that message onto Dad, too.”
Mrs. Dorsey looks briefly hurt. “Your father doesn’t know I’m here. But trust me, be happy I’m the one here and not him. He won’t be nearly as generous with his offer.”
He glares at her for a long moment before turning to me, holding up the check. “Do you want this?”
“No,” I hiss, not hesitating for a second to answer.
Not missing a beat, he tears up the check, tossing the pieces at his mother. “Well, there’s your answer. And next time you’re too drunk to function, call someone else to take care of you.”
“Holden—”
“I don’t want to hear it right now.”
Like a dejected child, she turns and walks back to her car, teetering on her kitten heels, leaving the two of us standing there outside my dorms.
I watch his mom get into her BMW, rev the engine and peel out of the parking spot.
A breeze catches the ends of my long blonde waves and whip them across my face. A strand gets stuck in my lip gloss and before I brush up into a ponytail, Holden reaches out, twisting his finger around the errant strand and tucking it behind my ear. Unable to stop my reaction, I shiver at the feel of his gentle touch as he asks, “Were you really going to quit the show?”
I blink, slowly, shaking off the fog that surrounds me whenever Holden's skin touches mine. “I was. Until your mom offered me money to quit. Stupid pride.” I pause and hold up my phone to show him the email I just sent to McCay. “I should have taken your mother’s ding dang money for something I was doing anyway.”
He smirks. “But you don’t like being told what to do.”
Heat blasts the apples of my cheeks. “No, I don’t.”
“Don’t quit,” he begs and I can’t help but wonder if he knows why I’ve distanced myself.
“Why shouldn’t I?” I challenge him back.
“Because you were born to play this role. Because you are Big-Juliet-Energy if I’ve ever seen it.”
Big Juliet Energy. I smile to myself and drop my gaze to the cement sidewalk. He’s one to talk. He’s got Big Romeo Energy.
Holden continues his groveling and I have to admit, it feels good. I want him on his knees begging, even if I don’t want to admit it. “Please, Katherine. If you quit, I’m going to be forced to act with Addison as my Julie.”
Wait a minute.
Wait a fluffing, forking minute.
“Why did you quit in the first place?” he asks as my gaze snaps up.
“What did you say?”
“I asked why you qui–”
“Not that. About Addison getting my part.”
He sighs. “Yeah, Addison is now officially your understudy. So if you quit, I have to do this whole show with her as my Juliet.”
No.
Addison has been trying to undermine me for weeks.
She can’t have my part.
She can’t have Holden.
I am Juliet. And Holden is my Romeo.
For more information about Katana Collins and her books, visit her website: https://katanacollins.com
I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Literally Yours PR, all opinions are my own.
If you haven't read the other books in the series, I would suggest starting with either Shattered Juliet or Broken Romeo. Then I would move on to this book, but I would suggest reading Rebel Romeo first, then onto Forbidden Romeo. This is told from Kate/Katherine's perspective during her college years with Holden as they take place during Rebel Romeo. There is overlap in events, but as with Shattered Juliet we only get her perspective. In the Romeo books Kate tells the story from the present, while the past is told from Holden's journal entries from college. The Juliet books give us insight into what Kate's experiences and feelings were during their time together in college. While many of the scenes repeat, it is nice to get to know Kate and get her thoughts. I often wonder what she was thinking and why she did some of the things that she did, and this gives us an opportunity to get to understand her a bit better
This is a nice recap of events to tide you over until Forbidden Romeo comes out later this year, and it adds more depth to some of the scenes between Kate and Holden as their relationship was beginning. We get to know them a bit more as they learn to embrace their vulnerability and use it in both their personal and professional lives.
I am anxious to find out how things end for our characters as the final act is closing in and Rebel Romeo ended on a pretty big cliffhanger. I was hoping to gain more info in this installment but I am quite certain the finale will be worth waiting for.
Holden didn’t set out to betray me… but that’s just what he did.
Twice.
Rebel Romeo, an all-new enemies to lovers, second chance romance, and the second book in the Shattered Hearts series from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!
They say history repeats itself. Same Holden. Same me. Same heartbreak and betrayal. Only this time, I’m not the same shattered college freshman who runs away from a fight broken-hearted. I’m not going to fall on my knife, like Juliet. This time, I stay. And I fight.
It’s bad enough that my director is my first love and the guy broke my heart. But now his most recent ex-girlfriend, the stunning Tony-Award winning actress, Missy Howl, is my producer on the show.
I have one more chance to prove to everyone that I deserve this lead role on Broadway. Everything’s on the line: my career, my apartment... and my heart.
I know falling for Holden again would be nothing short of a tragedy, but I can’t help the spark of hope that maybe we can rewrite the script for ourselves. But when it comes to star-crossed lovers, Shakespeare said it best himself: “These violent delights have violent ends.”
I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Literally Yours PR, all opinions are my own.
This picks up where Broken Romeo leaves off, so you really can't read this as a standalone. You may also want to start with Shattered Juliet as that has some extra info that will lead into the story that picks up in this book.
Kate has finally gotten a part in a show that might be her big break on the Broadway scene, the only catch is her ex is the director. Kate has everything to lose, and she feels like she is reliving the play they were in together in college. The story is told from Kate's perspective in the present, and Holden's perspective 5 years in the past during her freshman year and his senior year. Just like in their college days, the current production appears to be mirroring the same antics. Holden has nothing to lose, and Kate is being used as a pawn for others gain and amusement. Holden's politician of a father has been meddling in both the current production, and there are hints that he meddled in their college performance as well leaving Kate betrayed and embarrassed. There are quite a few players that don't want to see Kate and Holden succeed as a happy couple, and quite a few more that don't want to see Kate become the successful actress and performer that she has always dreamed of becoming. Unfortunately tragedy has struck and she is forced to choose her personal life over her career, and she isn't sure who she can trust Holden when she needs someone in her corner.
As I mentioned this is told in alternating POVs and alternating timelines. As Holden's POV progresses toward the final act, we get closer and closer to finding out what really happened to the production of Remy and Julie that they were rehearsing for in college and the betrayal that split them apart so catastrophically. In Kate's POV, there are quite a few characters that want to rip her to shreds and upend everything she has worked so hard to achieve. As she and Holden finally begin to reconcile there are several people willing to stand in the way of their happiness. I am anxious to find out if the show will go on or if our leading lady completely breaks after the final reveal. There are still so many unanswered questions, but I don't think this story will end in complete tragedy.
This book has quite a few heavy moments and some very emotional ones. Kate is forced to face her emotions and vulnerability, while Holden is forced to face his own actions and motivations. There is a lot of angst in this installment, caused by a lot of obstacles placed in the way of our star crossed lovers. There are quite a few supporting players, some good and some villainous.
Like Broken Romeo, this does leave off with another major cliffhanger. When I first started this series I thought it was a duology, so I was pleasantly surprised that it was actually a trilogy. I got to about the 80% mark and realized there was no way things were going to wrap up in a satisfying way in the remaining chapters. When I got to the final pages I realized there had to be another book because Katana would not do this to us, and indeed there is another book. Ruined Juliet is out in April and Forbidden Romeo the conclusion to the is out in July. I cannot wait to find out what happened 5 years ago between Kate and Holden and what is going to happen present day. With all of these actors around it is sure to be nothing less than dramatic.
I was looking for a job, not a Romeo… because everyone knows how that story ends.
Broken Romeo, an all-new enemies to lovers, second chance romance, and the first book in the Shattered Hearts series from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!
I’ve got three hundred bucks left in my bank account, two jobs, and one final chance to make it as an actress in New York City.
After years of being a chorus girl, I arrive at my first Broadway audition for a leading role thinking I finally have a shot at making it...until I come face to face with the director, Holden James—the rich quarterback from college who broke my heart and stabbed me in the back three years ago.
But I’m not the same girl I was in college. And unlike three years ago, I now know just what—and who—I’m dealing with. This time, I know how to play the game. In this cutthroat business, I need to remember the truest theatrical lesson of all:
For never was a story of more woe... than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
My shoulders go rigid. I have thirteen missed calls.
Thirteen.
Most days, I get one or two calls tops… and they’re usually spam.
Not only do I have thirteen missed calls, but I have thirteen new voice messages. All from the same 516 area code.
I press play and hold the phone up to my ear.
Holden’s voice filters from the speaker. “Kate, it’s me. Look, we need to talk. I don’t want to have this conversation over the phone—”
She wasn’t exactly memorable back then. The echo of his voice roils my stomach, and I pull the phone away from my ear to look at the phone number he called from.
The same number as the other twelve messages—Holden’s number.
Holden called me thirteen times.
My breath catches. I haven’t known his number for years. I haven’t known how to reach him, despite the multiple pissed off speeches I’ve memorized through the years. Speeches I thought he’d never hear because I never had a way to contact him…
Until now.
The power of that makes my heart patter against my ribcage with the speed of a hummingbird’s wings.
It’s a power I shouldn’t be trusted with.
I delete the messages and shove my phone back deep into my pocket as Jill gives me a questioning glance. “Who was that?”
My throat tightens. She’s the one person I can’t lie to. “It was him.”
Her eyes go wide, filling with hope. “Maybe—”
“No,” I cut her off.
“You don’t even know what I was going to say!”
Curt finishes taking an order and scribbles some initials onto a cup, then thrusts it at me to make the iced matcha latte. I bend, retrieving the green powder from its container, and toss a scoop in the bottom of the cup.
“Fine,” I concede, uncapping the almond milk.
“What were you going to say?”
“Maybe he’s calling to offer you the part—”
“No,” I answer again, shoving the ice scoop into the bin.
“But how do you know?”
“I just do.” I dump the ice into the tea shaker, then push the lid on top. Giving it a good shake, I speak over the clatter. “If you’re being offered a role, the director isn’t the one who calls you. The casting director calls your agent. Then your agent calls you with the contracts that you comb through before there’s any formal acceptance.”
I hate the deflated look on Jill’s face. In some ways, she’s taking this even harder than I am.
Or I’m just that good at shutting off my emotions.
Which is the exact reason I didn’t get the part. Because Holden knows me too well. He knows I have trouble connecting, exposing my vulnerable side. Especially with him.
“The only reason Holden would call me himself is if I didn’t get the part, and he thinks this somehow makes him the hero to tell me in person.” I stare into the frothy light green beverage and snap the lid on top, avoiding Jill’s pitying stare.
A deep voice speaks up, resonating over the ambient noise of the coffee shop. “Maybe if you returned my calls, you’d know what the hell I wanted.”
My breath stalls halfway out of my lungs, and I snap my gaze up.
Holden.
For more information about Katana Collins and her books, visit her website:
Broken Romeo, an all-new enemies to lovers, second chance romance, and the first book in the Shattered Hearts series from USA Today bestselling author Katana Collins is now available!
I’ve got three hundred bucks left in my bank account, two jobs, and one final chance to make it as an actress in New York City.
After years of being a chorus girl, I arrive at my first Broadway audition for a leading role thinking I finally have a shot at making it...until I come face to face with the director, Holden James—the rich quarterback from college who broke my heart and stabbed me in the back three years ago.
But I’m not the same girl I was in college. And unlike three years ago, I now know just what—and who—I’m dealing with. This time, I know how to play the game. In this cutthroat business, I need to remember the truest theatrical lesson of all:
For never was a story of more woe... than this of Juliet and her Romeo.
I was provided an ARC of this book via the Author and LiterallyYours PR, all opinions are my own. I did purchase a copy on release day.
This is the first book in the Shattered Hearts series and follows Kate and Holden as they navigate Broadway as well as deal with the fallout from their days acting in college where they met. I didn't realize there is also a prequel Shattered Juliet, which I have not read yet. I do plan on reading that soon to gain additional perspective. Broken Romeo is told from Kate's perspective in the present and 5 years ago from Holden's perspective via his journal.
Kate is a down on her luck actress. She's never really broken onto the scene despite being extremely talented. She's gotten some small parts, but she is at her breaking point. She is broke and about to get evicted when her agent calls about one last audition that might just be "the one". When she finds out her ex who singlehandedly broke her heart and ruined her career is directing the show she isn't so sure about the role. Holden has had a ton of success on the stage despite the fact that he was never destined to act. As a senior and a football player, he was short on credits and took a theater class to get an easy A and the credits he needed to graduate. There he meets innocent freshman Kate and gets the lead in the production of a retelling of Romeo and Juliet. Kate and Holden have chemistry both on and off the stage, and we learn through his journal entries about his developing feelings for her and the expectations put on him from his parents. Present day we are told upfront that Holden betrayed Kate at some point during their time in college but we never find out what exactly he did. When they reunite 5 years later during his directorial debut, Kate and Holden still have that same chemistry but it is fueled by her rage at what he did. We slowly get bits and pieces of the backstory with more to come in the next book.
This first book gives us insight into both characters in the past and where they are at today. Kate's character only just begins to show backbone I wanted to see from her when book 1 ends. I hoping we see more of that from her in book 2 as things are sure to heat up as the show progresses and more personality conflicts arise. The same goes for Holden. We've got alot of conflict brewing and he is in the middle of all of it. I'm looking forward to seeing how their characters develop in the next installment.
This does end on a cliffhanger, and I'm looking forward to getting my hands on Rebel Romeo, which comes out in February 2024. Fortunately we don't have to wait very long to find out what happens to our star-crossed lovers.
Forbidden Romeo by Katana Collins
