Unbreak My Heart

By: K-lee Klein

Narrated by: Nick J. Russo

Brett Taylor's world collapsed three years ago when he lost the love of his life. Almost as bad as the grief is the advice he's starting to get from everyone and their brother, telling him it's time to move on. They're flat-out wrong. He left his career as a musician and escaped to his ranch because he needs the peace and quiet, and he's doing just fine. He doesn't want anyone invading his memory-filled, booze-fueled solitude.

JT Campbell's world has been defined by his parents' money, status, and his own empty relationships, until he's desperately sick of it. A quest to find something meaningful leads him to Brett's failing ranch. It's supposed to be a brief stay. JT never wanted to be anyone's savior or compete with the ghosts of lovers past. Still, he can't help wanting this gruff and grieving man.

JT's mind knows it's a bad idea, but his heart keeps pushing him to find out what lies beneath Brett's rough and broken exterior. Brett's not going to make it easy. JT can only be patient, keep his sense of humor, and hope for the day he may be allowed far enough into Brett's world to unbreak his heart.

©2016 K-lee Klein (P)2017 Dreamspinner Press

Yay!

If you could sum up Unbreak My Heart in three words, what would they be?

beautiful, sad, funny

What does Nick J. Russo bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Nick brought out the passion that the writing calls for. I remember reading this book when it first came out. It's one of my favorites. I get nervous when one of my favs goes to audio. A terrible narrator can make a great book unbearable. I'm glad Nick did it. I knew then it will be good.

so freaking awesome, and such awesome narration!

Any additional comments?

Independent reviewer for Divine Magazine, I was gifted the AUDIO file of this book.

I usually write a blurby bit but for this one I'm gonna jump straight in, with an apology up front if I gush too much.

So, I went on holiday, and there I am, poolside, listening to this book. Oh, I CANNOT separate the book from the narration, I simply can't!. So, I'm poolside. I'm thinking this is good, I like this. Then I really don't like this, its making me cry! Its making me cheer, and making cry again, and its making sit straight upright, and shout, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! And its making me cry again. And people came up to me, asking if I was okay, cos let me tell ya, I was bawling my bloody eyes at this book!!

Brett's heart break at losing Walt 3 years ago jumps off the page from the very beginning. His battle with himself comes over with every letter and song he wrote after Walt's death. It comes over with every emotion as Nick J. Russo narrates them, and reads the letters and songs. Brett's fight with himself to give in to love again, to let someone else in, after so much heart ache comes at you, in random places along the way, that just breaks your own heart for him!

JT, the kid, has attraction for Brett from the beginning, and I loved that he lets Brett take the time he needs, that JT is so patient with Brett and his yoyo-ing back and forth. Loved how JT himself was so heart broken when Brett found out what JT had done.

As I said, I simply CANNOT split the narration from the story itself. I have no doubt, none at all, had I READ this book, it would still have been a 5 star read, but so much of the emotions can't be portrayed when reading. THAT can only come from a highly skilled narrator, and Russo is such a master at his craft. I have listened to his work before, and loved all of them, but this one has to be my all time favourite.

Its the way Russo reads Klein's work, because, without HER words, Russo wouldn't be able to give over such emotion and heart break, and such joy again, once Brett finally, FINALLY lets JT in.

There is, at the very end of the book, a song Brett writes for JT. I don't usually use bits from books in my reviews, but I felt the need to do it here. These words touched me, possibly more so than the rest of the book, no idea why, but they did, and they NEEDED to be included.

SO I give you...

A Song For The Kid, by K-Lee Klein

One hundred miles from Dallas
On a ranch southwest of town
An old heart battered and broken
Was somehow saved and found

They had nothing much in common
A burnt-out musician and a college boy
One from California
And the other Southern as a belle is coy

But an interfering mama
And an old cowboy with a quiet way
Saw fit to toss them together
And the rest is history as they say

Well, the musician he was stubborn,
Determined his heart would never beat again
But the kid was kind and patient
Didn’t give up on what could have been

I was lucky to find true love once
When I was barely that California boy’s age
Self-condemned to toss my heart and soul
Beside my lover in his dark, lonely grave

But now I understand the meaning
Behind it’s better to have loved and lost
Because there’s room in my heart for my beloved departed
And for the new feelings that kid has caused

So it’s with a hopeful heart and willing spirit
I’m begging for a lot more time
Because there’s nothing as important in my life
Than needing that kid to be mine.

And though I don’t believe in marital bliss
Or in ceremonies trumped up for show
If you’ll take my hand I can promise you
I’ll never let you go

I don’t have a whole lot to offer
Someone with so much potential drive
Just a bare-open, battered heart
And an old guitar with a long-ago country vibe
But I can vow to love you
With every inch of my soul
With this bandaged heart
And just one important goal

Please be my partner in life
My friend at my side
The one I turn to during the day
The one I hold at night

I wanna make you feel as loved
As the warmth I have inside
I wanna hold you so close to me
Our hearts beating side by side

I promise to love and honor
And try to see things your way
I promise, Darlin’, to love you
Forever and a day

So please be my partner in life
My friend at my side
The one I turn to during the day
The one I hold at night
’Cause without you I’m cold
I’m shut down and alone
I can’t seem to function
And my heart turns to stone

So please be my partner in life
My friend at my side
The one I turn to during the day
The one I hold at night
I’ll hold back the sun
Or steal the moon from the sky
I’ll sail you round the world
And together we’ll fly

So will you be my partner?
Will you be the love at my side?
Will you be the one I turn to all day?
Will you be the one I hold at night?
I love you, kid, with all my heart
From morning to night, from dusk to dawn
All I need is a chance
For our hearts to become one
Let me show you how much love
You make me feel every day
I’m completely in love with you, Darlin’
So please—what do ya say?

And FIVE full stars for the book AND the narration. I cannot express who much i freaking loved this book!!!

** same worded review will appear elsewhere**

and now I'm blubbering again, just reading the song words!!

Unsuspectingly awesome!

So Good! I can't even find the words for this book. It felt so rich, a bit heartbreaking but a while Lotta healing, a whole Lotta love, humor and It really came full circle. I love the falling in love process between J. T and Brett.

This was a story of a great love lost, but a greater one found in the process of grieving (albeit after 3 years, everyone grieves at their own pace) Throw in a meddling mama with a father figure /best friend /brother and you've got the recipe for this story.

The author took us on a journey and it slowly unwrapped throughout the book at the perfect time when u needed the answers to your questions. My favorite scenes were the barn with the two MCs and at Thanksgiving. You have to get the book to understand. Plus, the song at The end was so fitting for all they went through. It is a really well written book and perfectly narrated by Nick J. Russo, you could always tell who was speaking at any given time. Loved it. Job well done.

A sweet story.

I truly enjoyed this story.

Brett broke my heart. No spoilers ;)..... but his grief and sadness was well written and you genuinely feel for him and the pain he is experiencing.

JT is ok. I found him grating at times. His constant psychological evaluation of things was a little dull and predictable. But he is a good character.

The supporting characters are also enjoyable.

Overall it was a very sweet story and I do recommend it. :) :).

perfect the book was just perfect!!!

did I loved it ?
of course I did, I loved the writing style the perfect as always, lovely and talented Nick j. russo...
I loved that the songs in the book was actually written.
I felt much more from the lyrics of songs that I could ever felt by the words of the book....
the story was absolutely beautiful I love the characters... each one of them and I can count only 5 of them in the book it was genius!
the fells!!! owww the fells!!! So much guilt!!! So much hurt!!! so much pain!!! and so much loveeee!!! loved the book so much!