Joelle Knox | Saucy Southern Readers

Anything But Broken

Hurricane Creek Series – Book 1

By Joelle Knox

Synopsis

The first in a New Adult series about small towns, fast cars, bad boys and the girls who keep falling for them.

After five years, tragedy brings Hannah Casey back to Hurricane Creek to bury what’s left of her family. She’s flunking out of college, haunted by scandal, and the only person who cares is Sean Whitlow, an irresistible bad boy with a soft spot for her. The problem? He’s her dead sister’s ex.

Sean doesn’t bleed red, he bleeds motor oil. During the week, he struggles to turn his auto repair shop into a profitable business. But when Saturday night rolls around, he’s the reigning stock-car king of the local race track. He doesn’t know how to lose-or how to walk away and leave Hannah alone with her grief.

Between her grades and her wealthy family’s dark secrets, Hannah’s barely holding her life together. And the last thing Sean needs is to get tangled up with another Casey girl. As the attraction between them spins out of control, they’ll either find a love with no limits-or go up in flames.

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Excerpt

I don’t stay in bed. By the time Sean comes knocking on Evie’s front door, I’ve washed my face, brushed my teeth, and torn through my room, kicking dirty clothes into the closet and wondering how I made such a damn mess when I don’t even have all my things with me.

I’m at the door before I remember I forgot to change, and it’s too late now. So I answer the door in my pajamas—cotton shorts and a tank top that feels transparent right now.

“Hey. Come on in.”

“Good morning.” He actually did something, one of the bright blue boxes from the bakery down the street from the boutique, and he hands it to me as he walks in.

“Thank you.” I carry the box into the living room, where my quilting supplies are spread out on the floor in front of the TV. Evie helped me sort scraps last night, and I went to bed without putting anything away. “Are you thirsty? I can make coffee, or we have some Cokes.”

“The bakery thinks of everything.” He tilts his head toward the box, and I open it to find two covered cups of coffee nestled inside along with the pastries.

“You’re going to spoil me,” I tell him as I sit on the couch. The coffee table is another of those pieces that looks either cosmetically distressed or lovingly salvaged—only now I know which. Evie finds them at flea markets and yard sales, dropping ten dollars on pieces of furniture no one wants, only to turn around and make them beautiful.

Just like Sean and his car—or me with my scrap quilts, I guess. Maybe we’re all obsessed with rescuing broken things.

Sean takes one of the coffees and sprawls out beside me, one arm looped casually around my shoulders. “Got any plans for today?”

Just the hospital later, but I don’t feel like bringing it up. So I reach for one of the pastries instead, breaking off a corner to nibble. “Not really. I need to open up my laptop and actually deal with some of my email, I guess.”

“Sounds fun.” He wrinkles his nose as he leans his head back and closes his eyes. “I left Gibb alone at the garage.”

I should probably feel guilty about that, but it’s hard to when he’s here, next to me, and I get to snuggle into his side as I eat breakfast. “I’m sure he can handle it. He seems really good at his job. Evie says he is, anyway.”

“She’s right.” Sean tilts his head my way and opens one eye. “You look good.”

My cheeks aren’t the only part of me that heat at the compliment. I abandon the pastry and coffee in favor of curling closer to him, because every point of contact means another giddy spark of anticipation.

It’s easier to flirt with him in text messages, but I try to capture a hint of that mischief as

I smile at him. “I stayed in my pajamas just for you.”

“I like it.” The back of his hand brushes my bare thigh.

An accident? I don’t want it to be. Holding my breath, I shift closer, chasing his fingers.

But he hasn’t moved, so I wind up rubbing my leg against his hand.
Sean is watching me now. “Does Evie come home for lunch?”

I don’t think I’ve been here long enough to know for sure, and I can’t remember right now, anyway. Because that’s not what he’s really asking. This isn’t safe like the lake, with people nearby to keep us from going too far.

Whatever too far means.

“I think she might be meeting Sawyer for lunch,” I tell him, because I know she talked about it. Was it today? God, I hope so, because I can’t think with Sean watching me.

He slides his free hand into my hair and cups my neck. He doesn’t say anything, but he’s utterly focused on my mouth, and he draws in a sharp breath when I lick my lips.

It’s the reminder I need—that I’m not the only one caught in the grip of needy hunger. I press my hand to his chest, splaying my fingers wide. Not to hold him back, but to brace myself as I lean in.

He lifts me into his lap instead, his steely grip a shocking reminder of his strength. I end up perched on his thighs, my knees riding alongside his hips. Straddling him, and it’s nothing like the lake. We might be wearing more clothing—well, he is—but there’s no darkness or water to hide behind.

He can watch my cheeks flush, and he can watch that warmth spread. My tank top is too thin to hide the tightening tips of my nipples, so I crush my chest to his and kiss him before reality can catch up with me.

But it isn’t reality that crashes into me a heartbeat later. It’s sensation, the tightness spreading into a deeper heat as his tongue slicks over mine, and his fingertips edge beneath the hem of my tank top.

I want to melt. Everything inside me is screaming for it, but I break away and pant against his cheek. “I should tell you. That I still don’t—that I’m not ready—”

“For sex?” His voice is low, hoarse. Filthy.

I never thought anything could weaken my resolve. But I didn’t know I could feel like this—flustered and turned on and achy. Empty, and just thinking that makes me feel debauched. “Can we still do other stuff?”

His chest rumbles beneath mine, and his hands slide higher up my back. “Hell, yeah.”

Michel’s Review

When I accepted this ARC for review I had no idea who Joelle Knox was. I just assumed that she was a new writer. The synopsis for this book sounded intriguing. I love New Adult romance. When I found out that Joelle Knox was the dynamic writing team otherwise known as Moira Rogers and Kit Rocha, I was elated. Donna and Bree have been creating magical romances for years. They have a special chemistry that makes their books come to life. I was pleased to see that they chose to start writing in the New Adult genre.

Anything But Broken is a solid start to the compelling new series, Hurricane Creek. Hurricane Creek is a small town in Georgia. Like most small towns, it has it’s secrets, it has it’s powerful residents, and it has it’s share of broken people. Small town life revolves around status, gossip, racing, and football. This is your typical southern town. Joelle Knox infused life into this town and introduced us to some of it’s dynamic younger residents that are making a name for themselves and carving out their futures.

Hannah Casey has returned to Hurricane Creek after being away for five years. Her family sent her and her sister away in order to keep their deep dark secrets. Now she has returned to bury her parents. Her sister passed away after they were sent away to South Carolina. She would of done anything to avoid coming back and dealing with the ugly truths her parents left behind. She has been alone far too long and was never really able to develop as an individual because of her parents demands . Now she is not only mourning her loss, she is also floundering because she doesn’t know who she is.

Sean Whitlow is Hannah’s sister’s ex boyfriend. He knows some of her family secrets. He knows how her parents suppressed her in her younger years. He’s there to help Hannah deal with the tragic loss as well as helping her find herself.

Hannah is going to face some ugly truths about herself. She is going to find that her family kept more secrets than she realized. She will also find love. Sean Whitlow will open her eyes and steal her heart. Along the way she will reconnect with old friends, make peace with the past, and become a part of a real family.

I loved this book. It dealt with some very heavy issues in a very honest realistic way. The authors did not sugarcoat it and tapped into the emotions that go along with alcoholism and mental health disorders. They gave the readers a positive outlook and showed that there is help if you are brave enough to reach out.

I am looking forward to the next book in this series. The authors created dynamic secondary characters that are screaming for their own stories to be told.

I highly recommend reading Anything But Broken by Joelle Knox. It will not disappoint.

The Hurricane Creek Series

Anything But Broken – Book 1

Sean doesn’t bleed red, he bleeds motor oil. During the week, he struggles to turn his auto repair shop into a profitable business. But when Saturday night rolls around, he’s the reigning stock-car king of the local race track. He doesn’t know how to lose–or how to walk away and leave Hannah alone with her grief.

Buy: Amazon / B & N

Anything But Perfect – Book 2

Coming 2016

Anything But Tempted – Book 3

Coming 2016

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About Joelle Knox

Joelle Knox is the penname of co-writing team Donna Herren and Bree Bridges. Best friends for years, they’ve been collaborating and publishing together since 2008. As Kit Rocha they write the award winning dystopian erotic romance Beyond series, and as Moira Rogers they’ve penned dozens of paranormal novels, novellas and stories.