REVIEW - Secrets of a Broken Girl by Mary E. Palmerin

Secrets of a Broken Girl by Mary E. Palmerin

Synopsis

Lyla Harper's life has always been shadowed. With her childhood full of unpleasant memories that she tries to tuck away and forget about, she succeeds at putting on a happy front and convincing those around her that she is content. But she isn't.

Meet Lyla Elizabeth Harper, a teen whose journey is less than ideal. She experiences heartache, loss, bullying, but through it all she strives for hope. She counts down the days until she has the chance to start over in a new city, unaware of her past. A city far away from the recollections that have scarred her physically and mentally.

In this prequel novella to Succumbing to Scars and Sorrow, you will be faced with the ghastly and horrendous events that plague Lyla, starting on the day of her eighteenth birthday, a day that changed her forever. Lyla thought that she was broken before, but she was wrong. Davis Moore, a 22 year old handsome cop and also Rigdon's golden boy, steals something that is irreplaceable from Lyla on that fateful night on Brownsmith Road.

Others will challenge her will and strength, testing her and pushing her to the brink of giving up.

Will Lyla be able to trudge through the deep rut that she is stuck in to move to Chicago and start her life over? Or will the evil events consume her and leave her grounded, unable to lead a life free of pain?

**Graphic content, not suitable for readers under the age of eighteen.**

Review

This is a prequel novella before Mary's fifth book in this series releases in September. It gives us the backstory of the main character, Lyla Harper, and the life she lead before college.

Even as a character in a book, it's horrible for someone to experience such negativity in high school from fellow students. Especially when that negative attention and disparagement leads to drug and alcohol abuse, and self mutilation, just to escape what's been drummed into your head. You're worthless, you're nothing, you're ... *insert insult here* etc. Lyla turns to these outlets on a regular basis and finds herself trapped in a viscious cycle until it's forcibly broken. But unfortunately, it seems the break just breaks her more.

Feel Lyla's slipping self worth and her own life blood slipping through her fingers. Feel the anguish of the nasty voices running their mouths off through her head and the oblivion she seeks snorting coke. As her life plummets in a downward spiral, she keeps a count on how long it'll be until she's able to graduate and escape the horrid little town she lives in.

Definitely worth a read, but fair warning, there is more nastiness than what I mentioned, so be prepared. It really tugs on the emotions.
It is with trepidation that I look forward to the full length novel to start this series - If college is giving her the fresh start she so desperately needs, then what the hell is going to go wrong next?? I guess I'm waiting now to find out!

Sorrow series reading order:

0.5 Secrets of a Broken Girl (Novella)

1. Succumbing to Scars and Sorrow

2. Shadows of Scars and Sorrow

2.5 His Armored Heart (Novella)

2.75 Trials of the Mutilated Beauty  (Novella - Releases Sept 2nd)

3. Surpassing Scars and Sorrow (slated to release Dec) 

About the Author

Mary E. Palmerin is 27 years old and resides in Indiana. She is married, has two small boys and usually has her nose in a good book when she isn't writing. She has been writing since she was a young girl, scribbling fairy tales down on notebook paper, creating poetry through her teen years, and many shorts in between, all of which she has kept. Mary enjoys telling tales that are both raw and real, seeing it as a gift to be able to evoke various emotions from her readers.

She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, traveling, anything outdoors, relaxing by the pool with a good piece of literature, red wine, coffee, tattoos, and HEA!