Shattered

I thought I was broken when I met him. I didn’t know what broken really was until he loved me.

Emery is no stranger to chaos. She’s survived a turbulent childhood, built walls no one can climb, and taught herself to breathe in the silence of her own pain. But when she meets Jace Bastian—a powerful, obsessive man with secrets darker than her past—her world doesn’t just tilt, it shatters.

Jace offers her everything: protection, luxury, devotion. But his love comes wrapped in control. And Emery doesn’t realize how deep she’s sinking until she’s gasping for air.

Then there’s Jordyn. Steady, kind, and impossible to ignore. The boy with soft eyes who sees through her armor, the man who refuses to let her drown—even when she can’t see a way out.

Torn between two worlds—one that owns her and one that could save her—Emery must make an impossible choice. Stay in the gilded cage that’s killing her slowly, or risk everything to find the girl she used to be.

A story of trauma, obsession, survival, and the aching, brutal road to healing, Shattered is a gripping dark romance that will break your heart and slowly stitch it back together.

Trigger warnings apply. Not all love is safe. Not all monsters hide in the dark.

©2025 Mary A Lydick (P)2025 Mary A Lydick

Unforgettable for every woman

A harrowing, vulnerable, and raw account of narcissistic abuse. So many people can see themselves in Emery, and her story. Shattered shows an absolutely brutal, but overwhelmingly true account of what so many people are hiding behind closed doors. The suffering they hide from their friends and families, how subtle and sneaky the road to an abusive relationship is, and how impossible it can feel to tear away from. As a survivor of narcissistic abuse, I myself can see myself in Emery's story, root for her, and cry tears of joy for her successes. I can find healing in confronting the things I've faced, by reading it through the lens of another.

Emery's story is one that is so gruesome and painful; but so familiar, and necessary to be told. To be seen. This book paints her story in a true and authentic light, masterfully crafted between expertly chosen words, and a gripping story you won't be able to put down.

Dark and fast paced

The writing is great and so is the plot! Emery is so strong yet so weak. Love will do that. Jace is controlling, abusive and obsessive. Jordan is sweet and caring. The triangle just kept me going, kept me on edge and I loved it!

Absolutely amazing! 5⭐️

One of my top 5 reads all year! Emotional, compelling, beautifully written. Broken, shattered, rebuilt…Emery’s journey is raw, real, heartbreaking and beautiful.

ABSOLUTELY EMOTIONAL

This story was so relatable for me. I cried with her. I healed with her. 10/10 to the author.

Spice and regret passion!! 😍

I loved this book overall!! It starts out very quick and gets right to the meat. My heart was wrenched with every decision Emory made 😭❤️ So good!