Fractures in Ink

Worth. Trust. Love. Every being on this planet struggles with these issues. They’re a common thread. They tear us apart; they put us back together. Fractures in Ink, Helena Hunting’s third novel in the Clipped Wings series, is a beautiful character study on being human – broken pieces and all. “The emptiness was a lot bigger than I’d expected it to be.”Chris Zelter is trying to live a life free from the horrors of his childhood. Co-owner of a successful tattoo shop, Inked Armor, Chris spends his days inking his art onto the human canvas and his nights in the arms of the one woman he can’t get out of his mind. Conditioned from early childhood to see himself as lacking and unworthy of affection and love, Chris battles with his belief that he does not deserve good things in his life – nothing good lasts forever anyway. He’s just waiting to be traded in for the ‘newer better’ model. “But if there’s anything we do know, it’s that people survive trauma and learn how to move on.”Lately life seems to be one struggle after another for Sarah Adamson (h). Horrible job: Check. Crappy Car: Check. Mountains of debt: Check. Non-committal boyfriend: Check. It doesn’t seem to be getting any easier either. Forced to make ugly choices in order to achieve her dreams, Sarah spends her days in a prestigious MBA internship and her nights slinging drinks at a seedy strip club. Doing everything she can to avoid the pole and all it entails, her world is narrowing every day. Those dark choices are becoming more and more comfortable places for her to hide in. The product of a broken childhood as well, Sarah’s got walls up too – and she’s not letting them down for anyone. Except, maybe Chris. “He was as gorgeous on the outside as he was on the inside, and I’d stupidly given him up.”The heart and soul of Fractures in Ink is the painfully raw struggles Chris and Sarah have in learning to forgive and love both themselves and each other. The push and pull of feeling so very broken and unworthy yet wanting each other so desperately, only to feel they don’t deserve one another is heartbreaking. On the outside Chris and Sarah struggle with many everyday issues couples confront. The layered depths of each of their internal struggles, rooting from childhood trauma’s, takes you into the very real and powerful emotions and baggage this couple carries – both separately and together. They are both damaged but their jagged pieces fit together so very perfectly. “Sarah and I didn’t talk about feelings, or make plans for the future, so this honesty and vulnerability was new.”The secondary storyline of Chris’ sister Ivy learning to accept and come into her own life apart from her abusive mother and father was a chance at redemption for Chris. Guilt overwhelms him for his perceived part in Ivy’s neglect and he’s ready to do anything to help his baby sister. Their relationship progress steadily and is heartwarming to see. “People can only fix themselves.”The Inked Armor crew provides Chris and Sarah with the care and love you expect from their adopted family. The unwavering support Chris receives provides solid footing when he starts to slide into self-doubt and negativity. Meanwhile, the ladies provide short reprieves for Sarah – a chance to let her hair down and have a good time. Even during difficult times, when Chris and Sarah are separated, they don’t turn their backs on her. It is a very real commentary on the bonds of their friendships. “I may not have much in the way of education, but I had good people to keep me in line and make sure I didn’t f*** things up.”While this story is very much emotionally focused its steam factor is very present. Their burning passion for each other is very tangible. The time and attention Chris pays to Sarah is a fantasy any woman desires. “And it might tangle me deeper in something I wanted but couldn’t have.”There are so many words that come to mind while immersed in this story. Heartbreaking. Raw. Gritty. Powerful. Afraid. Unworthy. Beautiful. Honest. Loving. Real. While the angst factor is present I never felt hopeless on the journey. The storyline moved forward at a steady pace which had me reading this novel in one sitting. Chris and Sarah’s relationship was at times heartbreaking and yet always beautiful to watch unfold. If you like raw and powerful contemporary romance, I highly suggest you read their story – this is one happily ever after you’ll be glad to work for. “That’s why I want to be with you, and that won’t change, no matter what else about my life does.”K’s Category: 3rd date, multiple novels read by author to date.Characters: M/FOM/OW: NoSex: Yes, descriptiveHEA: YesStandalone: Yes, the author specifically wrote this novel as a series standalone….however once you’re done here go back to the beginning with Hayden and Tenley in Clipped Wings (Clipped Wings #1).

Two years. TWO years.... well maybe over two years now, that I have waited for Chris and Sarah's story. To say that I'm excited that this day is finally here is a MASSIVE understatement! This book was worth the wait and honestly I would have waited two more years. I love these characters THAT much! I have been Helena's fan since her fandom days, so these characters have been apart of my life for a very long time. You can ask the rest of the Sisterhood about my love for these books (and Hayden). Haha, I push them on everyone and everybody knows, Hayden is mine ladies!!!!!! So anyways, I know Helena wanted Fractures in Ink to be a standalone, but personally I say read the others first. 1) Duh Hayden! 2) These characters are amazing and I think if you take the whole journey with them, you will connect more and 3) Chris and Sarah. It's nice to see those snippets of how their relationship started.THIS COVER!!! I've been drooling over it since I first saw it. I think it's absolutely perfect (insert heart eyes emoji)!!!I'm sure when you think of Helena Hunting, her Pucked series comes to mind. I love that series, but this book is alot different than those books. This book is heavy, it's emotional, it's heartbreaking, it's angsty, it's sexy and it's beautiful. This book will take you to deep places but I PROMISE you, she puts the pieces back together so beautifully and she gives them a perfect HEA.We first met Chris in Hayden and Tenley's story. He has been a long time friend to Hayden and he is also a tattoo artist at Inked Armor. Chris has a bad past and you knew his scars ran deep, but we never got the chance to know what had happend until now. I knew it was bad... but I wasn't prepared for how bad it was. My heart absolutely broke for him. For everything that he has been through, he's such an amazing guy. He is sweet, caring, and trustworthy, but he also doesn't take any crap from anyone. And OMG he's sexy!!! Those tattoos and his moves in the bedroom paint a very vivid picture! He never thought he was worth anything. He thought that Sarah was too good for him. He never knew and he had never had anyone show him how much he was truly worth. That's why Sarah was the perfect match for him. She had her own messed up past, but she was gentle, patient, and caring.Sarah is Tenley's best friend and they used to be neighbors. She lives above the bookstore and coffee shop that is across the street from Inked Armor. She works at a strip club as a waitress to pay her way through school. I was really excited to dive into Sarah's past because she was really closed off. She never really gave information about herself to anyone willingly, which is surprising because she was there for and helped Tenley so much dealing with her past. I honestly don't know how Sarah does it. She is way stronger than I am because the stuff that she endures would be hard on anyone... but it's like nothing can knock her down and veer her off the path that she has set forth for herself. She is so determined! I love that about her. Her passion for all things was admirable. She didn't think she was good enough for Chris and he didn't think he was good enough for her... so you can see how this could cause some issues.Chris and Sarah were perfect for one another. Both were damaged, but they came together in this beautiful way that makes it special. It takes a certain special person to be ok with their pasts and also current situations, and look passed it and in their situation, I'm not sure that I could.We got to catch up with the gang, Hayden, Tenley, Jamie, and Lisa, which was great, but we also got to know Chris' sister, Ivy. I loved seeing Chris as the protective big brother and I loved seeing this young impressionable girl, that he got to "fix". He heped make her life something different and it was sad and beautiful at the same time. It was nice to see the gang take her on as their little sister too.Overall this story was everything I wanted it to be and more. It gave me all the feels and that's all I could have wanted from this book. I savored it like a fine wine, because I had waited so long to read it, and also because I knew once I finished it..... there wouldn't be anymore. These Characters are so special to me. They are all living in Chicago, hanging out... and I'm not ready to say goodbye to them! Helena, I know you probably don't and won't have anything else planned for them, but just so you know, I would wait another five years to get a peak inside of their world again. Thank you Helena for fighting for us and writing this book. Fractures in Ink get 5 beautiful angsty stars from me!!! If you love this book and haven't read Clipped Wings and Inked Armor (and the three novellas that accompany them) please read them! You won't regret it!!!

5 Intensely Fractured StarsI was so excited about this book. Sarah and Chris both featured in Hayden and Tenley's story, plus the novellas so I was raring to dive into this one.This book is beautifully written and the characters are captivating. I felt incredibly protective of Sarah, and actually all my sympathy was with her when the fragile bubble around them began to disintegrate. They both keep secrets from each other but they do that to shield each other. Their intentions are good but it could lead to the utter destruction of their relationship. At one point something happens, Chris is angry and upset and he gets some seriously nasty digs in verbally to Sarah. It was brutal but it was Sarah's reaction that made me cry. She is a fantastic heroine. oh my heart- I think Sarah broke me a little. I have to say, the reaction of Hayden & Jamie to Sarah at that point shocked me. She is so alone- more so than Chris and I think that was why my sympathy was more with her.There are events in this book that are gritty and brutal but they are well balanced against a backdrop of lighter moments and two people who truly love each other. You never feel like it's going to swallow you whole. Ms Hunting will take you to the edge, make you look down into the emotional maelstrom that her characters are experiencing and then she gently eases you back and carefully puts together all those damaged, fractured pieces.There is angst (seriously, my heart was in my mouth at times) , there is a lot of sexy hot stuff, there is camaraderie, there is fun and banter. And ultimately there is a love story and it is quite the story.....Dual povHEA? YesCheating? NoI really hope this isn't the end, I would love more books about the other characters

10++++ Stars!!!Wow not really sure where to start about this book! It's amazing beyond words.This book has ALL the feels in it.. so much emotion.. so much love and so much angst!This has been a long awaited book for me and it did not disappoint one bit.. this whole series captured me and pulled me into the stories from their first pages and wouldn't let me put them down until I was finished.Helena Hunting you've done it yet again and written another award winning book that deserves so much praise and thanks.This book is on the same story line as The Clipped Wings & Inked Armour series but could be read as a stand alone.please everyone buy this book!!!Chis & Sarah <3

I read the pucked series and enjoyed them, so I thought I'd read other books by this author.I saw this was a standalone (which I prefer) & gave it a go.I don't like it, I probably should have read them in their standalone order, but I can't believe that this is the same author writing this boring not at all exciting drivel!!!Very disappointed indeed

I really felt for Chris, he desperately wanted more, however he never felt good enough.His parents had disowned him, only to come out of the woodwork to manipulate him further.Sarah frustrated me in this, she should have left the club and followed her heart instead of causing everyone so much heartbreak.Great read highly recommended

Chris and Sarah's story that is full of emotion.What with Sarah working her sock's off and Chris trying to help his family out the best he can, you can't help but hope they will both get a break and realize they are made for each other. This book had me hooked just like all of Helena Hunting's other books.