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Deadly Sins #1
Break My Bones
Sticks and stones do break bones, and words will surely hurt you.
Staring down the barrel of a loaded 9mm is a wake-up call, especially when it’s your husband’s finger on the trigger. Brooklyn James’s only thought is to take her baby and run. It's better to end up on the streets than suffer one more day beneath her husband's hand.
Finally back on her feet, Brooklyn is stronger, better prepared, and determined not to run. That is until she gets the call that her husband has been released from prison after serving his three years for DWI.
Cain James has his wife on his mind, always. With his friend Donovan at his side, anything is possible. He can find her, bring her home, make her love him again. While Cain has serious anger issues, Donovan is much worse. Cain can’t control his friend's sick, twisted mind and even sicker actions.
Donovan has Cain's best interest at heart, and he'll do whatever it takes to help Cain bring his wife home—including murder. After his time in prison, Cain doesn’t want to hurt his wife again and becomes a man torn—divided between the darkness inside him, his twisted love, and his lifelong protector, Donovan.
As Cain tries to convince his wife that he’s changed, he watches the bodies hit the floor one by one at the hands of his sidekick. Enraged by his estranged wife’s new love and conflicted by his own anger and need to protect his family, Cain unravels.
He can’t live without her, and he won’t let her live without him.
Staring down the barrel of a loaded 9mm is a wake-up call, especially when it’s your husband’s finger on the trigger. Brooklyn James’s only thought is to take her baby and run. It's better to end up on the streets than suffer one more day beneath her husband's hand.
Finally back on her feet, Brooklyn is stronger, better prepared, and determined not to run. That is until she gets the call that her husband has been released from prison after serving his three years for DWI.
Cain James has his wife on his mind, always. With his friend Donovan at his side, anything is possible. He can find her, bring her home, make her love him again. While Cain has serious anger issues, Donovan is much worse. Cain can’t control his friend's sick, twisted mind and even sicker actions.
Donovan has Cain's best interest at heart, and he'll do whatever it takes to help Cain bring his wife home—including murder. After his time in prison, Cain doesn’t want to hurt his wife again and becomes a man torn—divided between the darkness inside him, his twisted love, and his lifelong protector, Donovan.
As Cain tries to convince his wife that he’s changed, he watches the bodies hit the floor one by one at the hands of his sidekick. Enraged by his estranged wife’s new love and conflicted by his own anger and need to protect his family, Cain unravels.
He can’t live without her, and he won’t let her live without him.
ebook
First published October 19, 2019
About the author
Rachael Tamayo
15 books306 followersRachael Tamayo is the bestselling author of the award-winning Deadly Sins Series, and award-winning thriller, Crazy Love, among several other titles. Before she started her writing career, she was a highly awarded 911 emergency services dispatcher with twelve years of experience and many commendations under her belt. Upon exiting law enforcement, she’s focused her writing career on the dark, suspenseful, and psychological after beginning as a romance author. Now Rachael uses her dark thriller as a sort of self-therapy after all those years answering 911 calls and works all that she knows and was exposed to into the frighteningly realistic and layered characters her readers know and love her for. Rachael lives on the Texas Gulf Coast in Houston, Texas with her husband of eighteen years this May, their two children, and two sister-pups they rescued from a dog shelter two years ago.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
October 28, 2019
This one ended up being a mixed bag for me. I found the Cain storyline intriguing even though it was very obvious what was going on with him right from the start. Despite that, I found him to be an interesting character. The let down in this one was the romance between Brandon and Brooklyn. It was underdeveloped, rushed, and far-fetched. I almost think this book would have been better with no romance in it at all. 
October 16, 2019
Break My Bones is, unfortunately, an all too real account of domestic violence and the long term effects of being a survivor. From the very opening pages, I felt my heart rate ratchet up. Brooklyn and her daughter Carissa have been saved by the system that will go on to disappoint them. Rachael Tamayo is a new to me author and upon finishing Break My Bones, I immediately began looking for her other novels for a near-future read.
The story is told from both Brooklyn' POV and that of her husband Cain. She recounts the abuse she has suffered at his hands and how she has tried to heal in the few years that Cain has been imprisoned. Not for abuse of her though and so when he is released, Brooklyn is surprised to hear it after the fact. She's right to be afraid, just as she is trying to move on, and she finds herself experiencing the effects of the PTSD her husband created.
The pacing of this story keeps the reader thoroughly engaged, afraid of what might happen as Cain worms his way back into his wife and daughter's lives. She's clearly aware she will have to push for divorce, but antagonizing Cain in any way is very risky. He's truly the scariest kind of boogie man as his emotions are manipulated by his "friend" Donovan. There's a great twist to the story and some consequences that come from Cain's mental break.
Tamayo's writing is very descriptive which goes to the fact that the blurb should contain a "trigger" note about domestic abuse and addiction. All in all, I recommend this read, keeping in mind the triggers and the dark nature of the storyline.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
The story is told from both Brooklyn' POV and that of her husband Cain. She recounts the abuse she has suffered at his hands and how she has tried to heal in the few years that Cain has been imprisoned. Not for abuse of her though and so when he is released, Brooklyn is surprised to hear it after the fact. She's right to be afraid, just as she is trying to move on, and she finds herself experiencing the effects of the PTSD her husband created.
The pacing of this story keeps the reader thoroughly engaged, afraid of what might happen as Cain worms his way back into his wife and daughter's lives. She's clearly aware she will have to push for divorce, but antagonizing Cain in any way is very risky. He's truly the scariest kind of boogie man as his emotions are manipulated by his "friend" Donovan. There's a great twist to the story and some consequences that come from Cain's mental break.
Tamayo's writing is very descriptive which goes to the fact that the blurb should contain a "trigger" note about domestic abuse and addiction. All in all, I recommend this read, keeping in mind the triggers and the dark nature of the storyline.
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*
December 19, 2019
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Wow! This book is heavy and explores so many subjects: domestic violence, sexual assault, and mental illness.
Read full review in the 2019 December issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Wow! This book is heavy and explores so many subjects: domestic violence, sexual assault, and mental illness.
Read full review in the 2019 December issue of InD'tale Magazine.
September 18, 2019
I received an ARC of this book for my honest opinion on it. Written in dual POV's, the story pulls you in from the very beginning. There was something I figured out early on, but it didn't take away from the story for me. A few times my mouth dropped open in shock and disbelief at what was happening. Just a warning, there are a few trigger moments for victims of abuse, physical and sexual, so take caution when reading this story. That being said, it was very well written, thought provoking, suspenseful, and at times even creepy. This was my first read by Rachael Tamayo and I am now a fan! I look forward to seeing what comes next.
August 20, 2019
Oh man,this was a tough read. Huge trigger warnings for domestic abuse, sexual assault, miscarriage, damaging portrayal of a mental illness. I guess it is exactly how it really is in an abusive relationship: the endless cycle of " I love her,I can't live without her,but she has to be taught a lesson". But after reading a book that is a repetition of that cycle over and over again- I just felt tired and drained. And something that really bugged me was the portrayal of schizophrenia. My grandfather had it so I know firsthand what it was like to live with someone who has it. Now,I am not saying that it was easy or that he was a particularly nice person, and because of his illness I will never know which part of it was his personality and which part was the illness, but what I do know is that it was nothing like how it was described in this book.
So yeah... There definitely needs to be an awareness of domestic abuse, but I just feel like this book goes too far.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
So yeah... There definitely needs to be an awareness of domestic abuse, but I just feel like this book goes too far.
Thank you to netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 15, 2020
Way to predictable for me.
July 24, 2019
A Tightrope between An Abusive Husband and A New Life and Love
Take one demanding, abusive husband, Cain, who equates marriage with ownership. Add one sadistic sidekick, Donovan, who believes it’s his obligation to goad his friend into settling the score with his wife—whether her indiscretions are real or imagined. And finally, the woman, Brook, who’s tired of running with her child and has decided to make a stand against Cain. Those elements define a nail-biting, gut-wrenching tale of domestic violence. And that’s exactly what Rachel Tamayo delivers in Break My Bones. The prose is descriptive and raw—not for young audiences. The pacing is fast, as the story moves between the ‘lessons’ Cain taught his wife in the past to the reconciliation he plans for their future—a reconciliation on his terms or else. There is something of a twist in this part of the story. The actual situation, however, seems apparent long before the reveal, robbing the book of some additional drama.
There is a second theme in the story—a new love. During the time that Cain is in prison for DWI, the only crime he’s been convicted of perpetrating, Brook starts to rebuild her life. She pulls herself out of poverty. She buys a gun and gets into shape in preparation for her husband’s release. Those measures, however, prove completely ineffectual, as he easily overpowers her, again and again. Another hope for escape, however, presents itself in a new love she didn’t want, never expected, but can’t resist. Brandon enters the picture, offering Brook the shelter she needs to find herself in this violent storm and to discover a romantic side that’s been buried under Cain’s domination. Author Tamayo, as a past romance author, portrays this budding relationship with sensitivity and well-turned prose.
But for this story-line to work, the author must walk a tightrope between the terror of Cain and the tenderness of Brandon. If Brook runs, changes her name, gets Cain arrested for his abuse, gets a restraining order, whatever … end of story. But she doesn’t take any of these decisive steps. Much of that inaction is understandable, as Tamayo skillfully portrays the conflict a woman trapped in an abusive relationship must feel—turning against a first love, the father of her child—as well as the terror if she missteps. But several scenes are hard to explain by emotional conflict, such as Brook’s selective memory. At one point in the story, she claims she has no proof of her husband’s abuse to take to the police, and yet, he broke her wrist and her back is covered with scars from cigarette burns. And while Brook’s inaction could be due to psychological turmoil, the paralysis extends to others. For example, after finding out that Cain had broken into their house in the middle of the night to confront Brook, her friends don’t call the police. And they have a young son. The same strange immobility affects the receptionist at the murdered lawyer’s office. Too many things happen that feel like conveniences the author has taken to keep Brook in the danger zone between a madman and a new love. As a result, the drama feels artificial in places.
Overall, Break My Bones is a chilling tale of domestic abuse, the psychological conflict of a woman caught in it, and the hope of a new start and a new love. With some alternative plotting to remove the world’s blindness to a man desperately in need of help, the story could have been even better.
I was given a free copy of this book. I elected to write this candid review.
Take one demanding, abusive husband, Cain, who equates marriage with ownership. Add one sadistic sidekick, Donovan, who believes it’s his obligation to goad his friend into settling the score with his wife—whether her indiscretions are real or imagined. And finally, the woman, Brook, who’s tired of running with her child and has decided to make a stand against Cain. Those elements define a nail-biting, gut-wrenching tale of domestic violence. And that’s exactly what Rachel Tamayo delivers in Break My Bones. The prose is descriptive and raw—not for young audiences. The pacing is fast, as the story moves between the ‘lessons’ Cain taught his wife in the past to the reconciliation he plans for their future—a reconciliation on his terms or else. There is something of a twist in this part of the story. The actual situation, however, seems apparent long before the reveal, robbing the book of some additional drama.
There is a second theme in the story—a new love. During the time that Cain is in prison for DWI, the only crime he’s been convicted of perpetrating, Brook starts to rebuild her life. She pulls herself out of poverty. She buys a gun and gets into shape in preparation for her husband’s release. Those measures, however, prove completely ineffectual, as he easily overpowers her, again and again. Another hope for escape, however, presents itself in a new love she didn’t want, never expected, but can’t resist. Brandon enters the picture, offering Brook the shelter she needs to find herself in this violent storm and to discover a romantic side that’s been buried under Cain’s domination. Author Tamayo, as a past romance author, portrays this budding relationship with sensitivity and well-turned prose.
But for this story-line to work, the author must walk a tightrope between the terror of Cain and the tenderness of Brandon. If Brook runs, changes her name, gets Cain arrested for his abuse, gets a restraining order, whatever … end of story. But she doesn’t take any of these decisive steps. Much of that inaction is understandable, as Tamayo skillfully portrays the conflict a woman trapped in an abusive relationship must feel—turning against a first love, the father of her child—as well as the terror if she missteps. But several scenes are hard to explain by emotional conflict, such as Brook’s selective memory. At one point in the story, she claims she has no proof of her husband’s abuse to take to the police, and yet, he broke her wrist and her back is covered with scars from cigarette burns. And while Brook’s inaction could be due to psychological turmoil, the paralysis extends to others. For example, after finding out that Cain had broken into their house in the middle of the night to confront Brook, her friends don’t call the police. And they have a young son. The same strange immobility affects the receptionist at the murdered lawyer’s office. Too many things happen that feel like conveniences the author has taken to keep Brook in the danger zone between a madman and a new love. As a result, the drama feels artificial in places.
Overall, Break My Bones is a chilling tale of domestic abuse, the psychological conflict of a woman caught in it, and the hope of a new start and a new love. With some alternative plotting to remove the world’s blindness to a man desperately in need of help, the story could have been even better.
I was given a free copy of this book. I elected to write this candid review.
August 30, 2019
Thank you @Netgalley for this book in exchange for an honest review.
**
First off, HOLY FREAKING FRICK!!!!
To say the Rachael Tamayo captured me with this book would seriously be an understatement. I could not get this book out of my head. Between Cain and his weird friendship with Donovan, to Cain's relationship with his wife Brooklyn and their adorable child. I really could not stop my brain from spinning. 5 out of 5 stars on this book. I will be looking up Rachael's other books so I can devour those.
**
This book is a hot topic book with the main topic being domestic violence. Cain and Brooklyn are high school sweethearts. They met when he was 16, and her 13. It was love at first sight and Cain knew Brooklyn would one day be his wife. Brooks family however did not support this relationship. They said Cain was bad news. When she fell pregnant in high school she ran off with Cain and never spoke to her family, shy of her sister, again. Their daughter Carissa is now 5 years old, who is a bit confused as her Daddy hasn't been home for 3 years.
You see Cain has a temper(understatement of the year), as well as a drinking problem(again, another understatement). After a nearly deadly altercation at home, Cain is arrested and charged with his 3rd DWI. During those three years Brook thinks she is finally free from her beyond abusive husband. When he is finally released he promises he's a changed man... he only ever hit her because Donovan pointed out how she was defying him, Donovan egged Cain on. Donovan brought out the absolute worst in Cain; sadly Cain can't seem to shake Donovan from his life. He's the one constant, always there protecting him from his mother boyfriends and school bullies. That is until Donovan does the worst, as bodies start piling up will Cain be able to rid himself of Donovan's influence, of will he finally do as Donovan wishes and silence Brook's will for good.
**
By the end of this book I was in my feelings. I wasn't 100% how I felt, but my heart was breaking for Cain in a way I didn't think was possible. Thank you Rachel from evoking such emotions!
**
First off, HOLY FREAKING FRICK!!!!
To say the Rachael Tamayo captured me with this book would seriously be an understatement. I could not get this book out of my head. Between Cain and his weird friendship with Donovan, to Cain's relationship with his wife Brooklyn and their adorable child. I really could not stop my brain from spinning. 5 out of 5 stars on this book. I will be looking up Rachael's other books so I can devour those.
**
This book is a hot topic book with the main topic being domestic violence. Cain and Brooklyn are high school sweethearts. They met when he was 16, and her 13. It was love at first sight and Cain knew Brooklyn would one day be his wife. Brooks family however did not support this relationship. They said Cain was bad news. When she fell pregnant in high school she ran off with Cain and never spoke to her family, shy of her sister, again. Their daughter Carissa is now 5 years old, who is a bit confused as her Daddy hasn't been home for 3 years.
You see Cain has a temper(understatement of the year), as well as a drinking problem(again, another understatement). After a nearly deadly altercation at home, Cain is arrested and charged with his 3rd DWI. During those three years Brook thinks she is finally free from her beyond abusive husband. When he is finally released he promises he's a changed man... he only ever hit her because Donovan pointed out how she was defying him, Donovan egged Cain on. Donovan brought out the absolute worst in Cain; sadly Cain can't seem to shake Donovan from his life. He's the one constant, always there protecting him from his mother boyfriends and school bullies. That is until Donovan does the worst, as bodies start piling up will Cain be able to rid himself of Donovan's influence, of will he finally do as Donovan wishes and silence Brook's will for good.
**
By the end of this book I was in my feelings. I wasn't 100% how I felt, but my heart was breaking for Cain in a way I didn't think was possible. Thank you Rachel from evoking such emotions!
October 19, 2019
Break My Bones was a story I never saw coming, and man, it messed with my head. HOLY HELL it's a very realistic account of domestic abuse which had me forced to pause for moments to catch my breath. It's told in the dual POV of Brooklyn the victim, and her abusive husband, Cain. And I have to say that it made this story all the more terrifying to be honest. Brooklyn knows that she has to get her daughter away from her husband Cain, and recounts the events that has given her some real PTSD, as she tried to heal once Cain was sent up the river. Unfortunately, that didn't last long enough, and when he gets out, he wants to win his wife back. To make matter worse, he has a new friend named Donovan, who is straight up psycho, leading to all kinds of, as the blurb says, bodies hitting the floor. While Cain is trying to worm his way back into his wife's life, she's terrified, and is so cautious, since law enforcement isn't her friend, as they let her down so badly. She needs a divorce, but it's not going to go over well, so yeah, the f-bomb worthy twists started to really amp up, which found me on the edge of my seat, just about having panic attacks. Let me tell you that the buildup to the big ending will try to bring you to your knees like it did me, and since I'm not even going to go into any detail about it, you really need to one click it for yourselves. However, this is a big time realistic story with triggers, so please be warned. HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
July 20, 2019
This book is a gripping and heart-wrenching tale of a love gone horribly wrong. The author tells a truthful and insightful tale of how half of this poisoned pair finds a healthier love while the other spirals horribly deeper into the worst aspects of human behavior. I really appreciated how deep psychosis was treated with respect and NOT demonized, and how the “victim’s” feelings were truly given without unfair judgement. This is a tragic, but hopeful love story with a truthful conclusion. Meanwhile you get to take a suspenseful ride through the lovers’ saga.
August 20, 2019
WOW! Where to begin........Break My Bones is a story about abuse and the fear it bring with it.
It's about a woman who wants to protect her child at all costs and will do anything to make that happen, even if it means killing someone.
The emotion in this story felt real and makes you stop and think about what people in this situation go through. Suspenseful, heartfelt, and all around great!
It's about a woman who wants to protect her child at all costs and will do anything to make that happen, even if it means killing someone.
The emotion in this story felt real and makes you stop and think about what people in this situation go through. Suspenseful, heartfelt, and all around great!
June 25, 2019
Break my Bones is a great cat and mouse style thriller! Sure to be enjoyed by anyone who loves a fast paced thrill!
Releases October 2019
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Releases October 2019
Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
April 4, 2019
Such a thrilling read!
June 18, 2019
Break My Bones is a great thriller that I could not put down. Interesting characters and well written.
June 19, 2019
Good read. While it has more than its fair share of cliches, it had a very unique storyline. It covers domestic violence very realistically. Will note this author for future books.
September 11, 2019
This is a mixed bag.
It's is incredible gripping in a lot of places and so very gut wrenchingnly sad in others. It deals with a lot of issues that would be triggers for many people... Luckily I'm not one of those people.
What I did find though was a lot of repetition where Cain and Dominic are concerned and by the end I found myself wondering why certain things weren't spotted by certain a lot sooner in Cain's life. It kind of felt a bit unrealistic in a sense.
It's is incredible gripping in a lot of places and so very gut wrenchingnly sad in others. It deals with a lot of issues that would be triggers for many people... Luckily I'm not one of those people.
What I did find though was a lot of repetition where Cain and Dominic are concerned and by the end I found myself wondering why certain things weren't spotted by certain a lot sooner in Cain's life. It kind of felt a bit unrealistic in a sense.
January 6, 2020
There is murder, suspense, rape, stalking, abuse and many other topics included in this book. It evoked a few different emotions in me during my read. Anger and sadness are a couple of them. I didn't want the book to end. Even with the heavy topics it was enjoyable to read.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy to honestly review.
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy to honestly review.
August 31, 2020
This is a brilliant read.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuousluy.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
Wonderful well written plot and story line that had me engaged from the start.
Love the well fleshed out characters and found them believeable.
Great suspense and found myself second guessing every thought I had continuousluy.
Can't wait to read what the author brings out next.
Recommend reading.
September 24, 2019
“He made me understand that no one would be there for me except me, and possibly him."
Cain loves Brooklyn. But his violent temper and excessive drinking has divided them. After three years in prison, all Cain cares about is getting back to his wife and child, but Brooklyn isn’t so easily convinced this time, especially with the likes of Donovan, Cain’s deviant best friend still looming around.
The codependent relationship Cain has with Donovan is so relatable. He's seemed to outgrow him after his time in prison, and wants to be a better man, but can’t shake this loyalty to him because they grew up together. Despite Donovan hindering Cain to make positive choices, Cain still can't let him go, even if it means losing the one thing he wants the most; his family.
The abusive relationship between Cain and Brooklyn is so real. I love how the author gives us an inside look into Cain’s twisted mind believing he is only hurting Brooklyn to make her learn. What is not so believable is the relationship between Brandon and Brooklyn. After a couple hours being trapped inside an elevator and one date, Brandon's offering Brooklyn to move in with him and tossing around the L word like Halloween candy. No man would be that quick to go all in with a chick he just met, unless they were bat shit crazy, and in that case, Brooklyn should be on high alert and run as this would scream red flags to a woman just exiting a controlling, abusive relationship.
I almost wish the story focused purely on Cain and Brooklyn. Not sure if there's room for romance in such an epic thriller. More Cain. More Donavan! Brandon just doesn't stand a chance against these darkly beautiful men!
Cain loves Brooklyn. But his violent temper and excessive drinking has divided them. After three years in prison, all Cain cares about is getting back to his wife and child, but Brooklyn isn’t so easily convinced this time, especially with the likes of Donovan, Cain’s deviant best friend still looming around.
The codependent relationship Cain has with Donovan is so relatable. He's seemed to outgrow him after his time in prison, and wants to be a better man, but can’t shake this loyalty to him because they grew up together. Despite Donovan hindering Cain to make positive choices, Cain still can't let him go, even if it means losing the one thing he wants the most; his family.
The abusive relationship between Cain and Brooklyn is so real. I love how the author gives us an inside look into Cain’s twisted mind believing he is only hurting Brooklyn to make her learn. What is not so believable is the relationship between Brandon and Brooklyn. After a couple hours being trapped inside an elevator and one date, Brandon's offering Brooklyn to move in with him and tossing around the L word like Halloween candy. No man would be that quick to go all in with a chick he just met, unless they were bat shit crazy, and in that case, Brooklyn should be on high alert and run as this would scream red flags to a woman just exiting a controlling, abusive relationship.
I almost wish the story focused purely on Cain and Brooklyn. Not sure if there's room for romance in such an epic thriller. More Cain. More Donavan! Brandon just doesn't stand a chance against these darkly beautiful men!
July 31, 2019
What would you do to save yourself?
From the first moment you meet Brooklyn, you love her. Totally relatable, street-savvy yet vulnerable, Brooklyn is the wife of an ex-con with a bad temper and an even worse friend who has him under his complete control.
After she meets sexy and handsome Brandon, she has a chance for happiness. Her hopes could be dashed when her husband (Cain) gets out of prison and hunts her down.
Cain and his best friend Donovan go on a murderous spree trying to force Brooklyn to bend to his will. But she vies for a life free of beating and rapes at the hands of Cain who is driven by Donovan's urging.
Rachael's writing is excellent. Her storyline is complete and the characters are fully fleshed out. Cain's story arc is amazing. Her world-building is spectacular and perfectly executed.
Written in the same vein as B.A. Paris's "Behind Closed Doors" this story will keep you riveted.
From the first moment you meet Brooklyn, you love her. Totally relatable, street-savvy yet vulnerable, Brooklyn is the wife of an ex-con with a bad temper and an even worse friend who has him under his complete control.
After she meets sexy and handsome Brandon, she has a chance for happiness. Her hopes could be dashed when her husband (Cain) gets out of prison and hunts her down.
Cain and his best friend Donovan go on a murderous spree trying to force Brooklyn to bend to his will. But she vies for a life free of beating and rapes at the hands of Cain who is driven by Donovan's urging.
Rachael's writing is excellent. Her storyline is complete and the characters are fully fleshed out. Cain's story arc is amazing. Her world-building is spectacular and perfectly executed.
Written in the same vein as B.A. Paris's "Behind Closed Doors" this story will keep you riveted.
February 11, 2020
Tamayo simply rocks. Great story, great writing.
October 10, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
This was a quick read, and quite the entertaining one. It really put you in the mind of the victim as well as someone battling extreme mental health.
However the twist? I am not sure if this was supposed to be known by the reader but I figured out the twist in the first few chapters. I also felt it was too short, I wanted it to be a bit longer.
Otherwise, great read while trying to figure out what book to read next!
This was a quick read, and quite the entertaining one. It really put you in the mind of the victim as well as someone battling extreme mental health.
However the twist? I am not sure if this was supposed to be known by the reader but I figured out the twist in the first few chapters. I also felt it was too short, I wanted it to be a bit longer.
Otherwise, great read while trying to figure out what book to read next!
December 14, 2019
This was edge of your seat thriller
December 13, 2020
Twisted, suspenseful, and sexy...I couldn't put it down.
August 10, 2020
In Break My Bones, the first book in the A Deadly Sins Novel Series, author Rachael Tamayo weaves a riveting psychological thriller that easily draws the reader in with its dark storyline that follows the traumatically disturbing marriage between Brooklyn and Cain James.
Brooklyn and Cain were high school sweethearts, who ran away and got married after Brooklyn got pregnant, and her family stopped talking to her. Their marriage wasn't all romance and roses, instead it was filled with horrifying domestic violence because of Cain's drinking, and his dark obsessive, possessive, and controlling nature, and dangerous anger issues.
Cain was sent to prison for three years after a third DWI charge. In that time, Brooklyn is determined to never let Cain harm her again, and she learns self-defense and moves forward making a new life for her and Carissa, their five year old daughter. Cain gets released from prison after doing the three year sentence, and is determined to get his family back. But to make things even worse, Cain's childhood friend Donovan constantly taunts Cain to be a man and take his family back at all costs. If Cain can't have Brooklyn, then no one will have her. So follow along as Brooklyn and Cain's story unravels in a dangerous and horrifying way, as Cain descends into a mental dark hole, while Brooklyn is determined to put Cain in her past once and for all.
Break My Bones is a gritty and disturbing tale that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions, and has many social triggers (domestic violence, miscarriage, mental illness, and suicide) intertwined with the psychological thriller theme, that will definitely take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride.
The dark intensity of the alternating first person storylines told by Brooklyn and Cain is multilayered and complex. Author Rachael Tamayo does a phenomenal job of delving into Brooklyn and Cain's traumatic marriage, and the darkness that follows after Cain is released from prison in a realistic style. It has a lot of intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of psychological thrillers, I must admit that this story was troubling and very dark, but this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline does succeed in leaving the reader emotionally spent with it's surprising ending.
Break My Bones is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard psychological thriller junkie!
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Brooklyn and Cain were high school sweethearts, who ran away and got married after Brooklyn got pregnant, and her family stopped talking to her. Their marriage wasn't all romance and roses, instead it was filled with horrifying domestic violence because of Cain's drinking, and his dark obsessive, possessive, and controlling nature, and dangerous anger issues.
Cain was sent to prison for three years after a third DWI charge. In that time, Brooklyn is determined to never let Cain harm her again, and she learns self-defense and moves forward making a new life for her and Carissa, their five year old daughter. Cain gets released from prison after doing the three year sentence, and is determined to get his family back. But to make things even worse, Cain's childhood friend Donovan constantly taunts Cain to be a man and take his family back at all costs. If Cain can't have Brooklyn, then no one will have her. So follow along as Brooklyn and Cain's story unravels in a dangerous and horrifying way, as Cain descends into a mental dark hole, while Brooklyn is determined to put Cain in her past once and for all.
Break My Bones is a gritty and disturbing tale that is rich in detail and vivid descriptions, and has many social triggers (domestic violence, miscarriage, mental illness, and suicide) intertwined with the psychological thriller theme, that will definitely take the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride.
The dark intensity of the alternating first person storylines told by Brooklyn and Cain is multilayered and complex. Author Rachael Tamayo does a phenomenal job of delving into Brooklyn and Cain's traumatic marriage, and the darkness that follows after Cain is released from prison in a realistic style. It has a lot of intriguing and suspenseful twists and turns that leaves the reader with no other option than to keep turning the pages to find out what happens next. As a diehard fan of psychological thrillers, I must admit that this story was troubling and very dark, but this fast-paced white-knuckle storyline does succeed in leaving the reader emotionally spent with it's surprising ending.
Break My Bones is one heck of an adrenaline rush that is a must-read for the true diehard psychological thriller junkie!
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October 19, 2019
Cain James is in prison for a DWI charge although he’s lucky that he was never charged for abusing his wife, Brooklyn. Now he is out and with his best friend Donovan’s help he is going to do whatever it takes to get his wife back and there isn’t anything that he or Donovan won’t do.
Brooklyn James has become a single mom to 5 year old Carissa and she has gone through so much including enduring abuse at the hands of her husband and losing everything and having to start all over. Now she is ready to move on with her life and perhaps that includes dating Brandon Maradona, the cute IT guy that is fixing the computers at her office.
But Cain isn’t ready for Brooklyn to move on and how far will he go to get her back?
This was an interesting book about moving on and overcoming everything and really dealing with the unknown.
This is one of those difficult reviews to write as you don’t want to give anything away about the twists in the book as it’s something certain readers will pick up on and others won’t. I had figured everything out right from the beginning partly due to another book I have read. That being said I really enjoyed the book and all of the twists that it had.
I loved Brooklyn and the strength she had as a mom and how there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t have done for Carissa. I was so sad at everything that she endured from start to end and how her and Carissa had to live after Cain was in jail.
Cain was interesting as it was obvious how much he loved Brooklyn yet he was struggling with everything. Yet he managed to get his job back but his friendship with Donovan was very toxic and he struggled with what Donovan wanted him to do.
I was never sure how far Cain and Donovan would go and I understood why at the end that Brooklyn was willing to do whatever she needed to do to make Cain understand that she was willing to be with him to keep Carissa safe. I can only imagine what Brooklyn was going through but realizing that people died would have definitely motivated me as well.
The end was sad as I felt like it wasn’t a good ending with evil winning and Cain not getting the help he really needed. 3.5 stars
By Rebecca
Brooklyn James has become a single mom to 5 year old Carissa and she has gone through so much including enduring abuse at the hands of her husband and losing everything and having to start all over. Now she is ready to move on with her life and perhaps that includes dating Brandon Maradona, the cute IT guy that is fixing the computers at her office.
But Cain isn’t ready for Brooklyn to move on and how far will he go to get her back?
This was an interesting book about moving on and overcoming everything and really dealing with the unknown.
This is one of those difficult reviews to write as you don’t want to give anything away about the twists in the book as it’s something certain readers will pick up on and others won’t. I had figured everything out right from the beginning partly due to another book I have read. That being said I really enjoyed the book and all of the twists that it had.
I loved Brooklyn and the strength she had as a mom and how there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t have done for Carissa. I was so sad at everything that she endured from start to end and how her and Carissa had to live after Cain was in jail.
Cain was interesting as it was obvious how much he loved Brooklyn yet he was struggling with everything. Yet he managed to get his job back but his friendship with Donovan was very toxic and he struggled with what Donovan wanted him to do.
I was never sure how far Cain and Donovan would go and I understood why at the end that Brooklyn was willing to do whatever she needed to do to make Cain understand that she was willing to be with him to keep Carissa safe. I can only imagine what Brooklyn was going through but realizing that people died would have definitely motivated me as well.
The end was sad as I felt like it wasn’t a good ending with evil winning and Cain not getting the help he really needed. 3.5 stars
By Rebecca
November 15, 2019
This was an interesting book about moving on and overcoming everything and really dealing with the unknown.
This is one of those difficult reviews to write as you don’t want to give anything away about the twists in the book as it’s something certain readers will pick up on and others won’t. I had figured everything out right from the beginning partly due to another book I have read. That being said I really enjoyed the book and all of the twists that it had.
I loved Brooklyn and the strength she had as a mom and how there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t have done for Carissa. I was so sad at everything that she endured from start to end and how her and Carissa had to live after Cain was in jail.
Cain was interesting as it was obvious how much he loved Brooklyn yet he was struggling with everything. Yet he managed to get his job back but his friendship with Donovan was very toxic and he struggled with what Donovan wanted him to do.
I was never sure how far Cain and Donovan would go and I understood why at the end that Brooklyn was willing to do whatever she needed to do to make Cain understand that she was willing to be with him to keep Carissa safe. I can only imagine what Brooklyn was going through but realizing that people died would have definitely motivated me as well.
The end was sad as I felt like it wasn’t a good ending with evil winning and Cain not getting the help he really needed.
This is one of those difficult reviews to write as you don’t want to give anything away about the twists in the book as it’s something certain readers will pick up on and others won’t. I had figured everything out right from the beginning partly due to another book I have read. That being said I really enjoyed the book and all of the twists that it had.
I loved Brooklyn and the strength she had as a mom and how there wasn’t anything she wouldn’t have done for Carissa. I was so sad at everything that she endured from start to end and how her and Carissa had to live after Cain was in jail.
Cain was interesting as it was obvious how much he loved Brooklyn yet he was struggling with everything. Yet he managed to get his job back but his friendship with Donovan was very toxic and he struggled with what Donovan wanted him to do.
I was never sure how far Cain and Donovan would go and I understood why at the end that Brooklyn was willing to do whatever she needed to do to make Cain understand that she was willing to be with him to keep Carissa safe. I can only imagine what Brooklyn was going through but realizing that people died would have definitely motivated me as well.
The end was sad as I felt like it wasn’t a good ending with evil winning and Cain not getting the help he really needed.
July 15, 2020
While reading Break My Bones, my Kindle was like a yo-yo in my hands. I kept tossing it down, cringing, but then I'd pick it right back up because I had to know what happened next. The domestic abuse depicted within these pages is realistic, horrifying, raw, and happening in ways similar to this all over the world right now.
I loved Tamayo's writing style. This story pulls you along whether you want to go or not.
Brooklyn is an easy character to like and empathize with, though I did groan at some of her choices (or lack thereof). Donovan is a little too good to be true, but will appeal to readers who enjoy the 'knight in shining armor' kind of thing. Cain's complexities seemed obvious to me, and probably will to many readers. While I don't think it detracts from the reading experience at all, I would've preferred for the issue to be incorporated into the story, rather than attempting the big but anticlimactic reveal at the end. I had trouble believing that Brooklyn wouldn't have seen these glaring signs in her husband throughout the years.
I had some minor quibbles with the plot, largely having to do with things Cain did and the lack of police involvement. Plausibility is a leap, but still the story held me captive.
This story excels at depicting the plight of a woman trapped in an abusive relationship, the cycle of love/hate, and the paralyzing fear.
I loved Tamayo's writing style. This story pulls you along whether you want to go or not.
Brooklyn is an easy character to like and empathize with, though I did groan at some of her choices (or lack thereof). Donovan is a little too good to be true, but will appeal to readers who enjoy the 'knight in shining armor' kind of thing. Cain's complexities seemed obvious to me, and probably will to many readers. While I don't think it detracts from the reading experience at all, I would've preferred for the issue to be incorporated into the story, rather than attempting the big but anticlimactic reveal at the end. I had trouble believing that Brooklyn wouldn't have seen these glaring signs in her husband throughout the years.
I had some minor quibbles with the plot, largely having to do with things Cain did and the lack of police involvement. Plausibility is a leap, but still the story held me captive.
This story excels at depicting the plight of a woman trapped in an abusive relationship, the cycle of love/hate, and the paralyzing fear.
October 20, 2019
Raw and powerful
This story is absolutely amazing, and yet also terrifying. I enjoyed each word, and could relate with the characters. I found a lot of truth behind Cain's words and actions, and unfortunately, this story could be real. And in some ways, it probably is. I've read Tamayo's work in the past, and I can say that this is not only favorite, but probably (in my opinion) one of her best works she's written. "Brooklyn is mine, like I possess her, and I need to reclaim my property. Mere hours ago, I pretty much agreed with him, my love for her making me crazy." This quote is pretty much the state of mind, and it keeps the character focused on one thing, and though he says its regret, it's more about possession and obsession. I read this book from beginning to end in a sitting, but sometimes, I had to stop, as I could relate a little too much to the story, but I continued reading, and am glad I finished it. I can definitely say that the ending was very unpredictable, and yet, very satisfying. I look forward to reading more by this author.
October 21, 2019
This is the first book I have read by Rachael. I loved this book. It was different than I thought it would be. This book is about domestic violence so if that is a trigger for you than be warned. Brooklyn has been through so much at the hands of her husband Cain. When he went to jail, she took the chance and left with their daughter. Now its three years later and he is out. She knows it is only a matter of time until he comes for her and their daughter. She is going to fight this time and not just cower in fear. There is a twist to this book that has to do with Cain. Cain is fighting with himself most of the book. He doesn’t want to hurt her again but he does. The twist made this book for me. I highly recommend this book and I look forward to more in the series. The twist almost made me feel for Cain. It doesn’t excuse what he did but it gives you almost an understanding. I love that Brooklyn wants to stand her ground. She is learning to love and feel again thanks to Brandon. This book was a great read. Congrats Rachael.
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