When Ruby Lee walks back into Ryan Steel's life all of the sedate life he was trying to cultivate in his vineyard is quickly turned into chaos.

My customers can't wait until the next one is out. I pre order at least 10, and we are a small, independent bookstore that mainly deals with used books and some new.

I like Shattered much more than I liked Craving, which is the only other book in this long series that I've read. This time it starts off Ryan Steele's journey to love. Ruby Lee is a detective apparently featured in some of the previous books of this series. She's an interesting character - smart, tough and with some inner scars thanks to her evil father (one of Talon's kidnappers/abusers/torturers). When Ryan sees her on the plane when they're flying to Jamaica for Talon and Joe's weddings, he upgrades her to first class and a tentative bond is made between the two. But, it's when they're in Jamaica and he finally sees beneath the drab clothing she normally wears, that Ryan first notices her as a beautiful woman.

There's a little bit of suspense and intrigue and more focus on the investigation into Talon's kidnappers. And then the crazy cliffhanger. Yes, I said cliffhanger. Of course there's a cliffhanger. It seems as if this entire series is based on cliffhangers, which drives me nuts. I probably won't bother reading more about Ryan, even though I like him more than I like Talon in Craving, because I have a feeling this is one of those never ending series that's a time and money suck. But, I do like Shattered and Ryan and Ruby make an interesting, sexy, entertaining couple. If you're a fan of this series, you'll most likely enjoy Shattered, even though it's apparently lighter in tone than any of Talon and Joe's books.

4.5 stars Excellent contemporary intense story with intrigue, suspense and romance. Note that this is a series/saga so the books need to be read in order. Ryan is a winemaker and ranch owner. He is one of the Steel brothers. Each one has his own story but this one focuses on Ryan. Ruby is a police detective who is making it her mission in life to find her murderous father. There is a lot of back story brought into this story. This is the first book in this series that I've read so the author helped me understand some of what this family has suffered through. Ruby's father is a repeat and murderer. There is a cliffhanger. I received a complementary copy of this book via NetGalley and chose to write a review. I'd like to read the entire series all at one time as I avoid books with cliffhangers.

This book is good for the suspense and always making you wonder. If you like cliff hangers and sequence this book is for you if not keep going past it. It's kinda slow but I would for sure keep reading the sequence.

I thought this book was the best in the saga yet! The ending had me wishing for more!

Generally, I enjoyed the smaller plot of Ryan and Ruby finding each other, but the overarching plot that is carried throughout the series was confusing for someone who has not read the rest of the books.

Ryan Steel is putting his work on pause so he can enjoy his brother’s weddings in Jamaica. He wants to have some drinks, enjoy the sun and, hopefully, get some company in bed.
Detective Ruby doesn’t know what love is since she was fifteen. She has known the Steel family for some time thanks to her investigation on their case but being near Ryan is still somewhat different and scary. She’s full of ghosts and fears but she can’t ignore the way their pasts are so connected. Or the way he looks at her.
But maybe their future together can’t handle their pasts…

Ryan is the youngest brother and definitely my favorite. He’s lighter, funnier and exactly my kind of sexy. He’s also really sweet, but they were all sweet with their loved ones so that’s not exactly news. I just love that he’s so easygoing.
Ruby is a detective who has been helping Melanie with Gina’s parents. Her current goal is to put her father behind bars seeing as he’s one of Talon’s abductors. So, as you can imagine, Ryan has a lot of reasons to hate Ruby’s guts. But, to my surprise, that is not the case which made me really happy. Ryan is actually apologist that she’s not her father and she’s not to blame because of her father’s mistakes.
The book is my favorite yet. For the most part of it, no one talks about Talon’s abduction seeing as they’re all in Jamaica. But, at some point, we obviously get back to that subject. There’s some resolution regarding some questions that started in the previous book but a new mystery comes up which leads to the cliffhanger of the book. And oh my god! This is the cliffhanger of all cliffhangers! Just when I thought nothing more could happen to that family, Helen Hardt goes and writes one hell of a twist. I am honestly still happily shocked with the way the book ends!
I really need to say how amazing Helen Hardt is! After seven books about the same story, she still amazes me with her ability to leave me craving for more. Things never get bored and always feel like new subjects.
All in all, I really loved the book (as the entire series) and I can’t recommend enough Helen’s work.

Once again a great book. Love this series and can't wait until the next one. I liked the way the book interconnected with the others. A must read

Okay a part f me saw the cliff hanger coming here but it still hit me like a ton I f bricks... Helen Hardt is simply amazing this series just keeps twisting and turning but there's always plenty of the hot stuff too!! Good reads and amazon

This was my first Helen Hardt book and I liked it very much.
It is very well written.

4.5 Stars

Shattered is honestly the first book written by Helen Hardt that I have read. Although I would recommend reading the previous six titles in the Steel Brothers Saga, I didn't feel lost as snippets of information from the previous titles was revealed throughout Shattered.

I adored Ryan and Ruby a pair of complex, endearing, and wounded characters.

Ruby is innocent in many ways, yet jaded in others. Despite her upbringing, Ruby has chosen a profession that seeks justice and redemption for her father's sins. She is strong, independent, compassionate, caring and a huge amount of integrity.

Ruby is a rancher, and a winemaker, his family is integral to his identity. He's charismatic, kind, caring, assertive and sexy.

What starts as a holiday with family and friends, has some intriguing twists and turns. Strong themes of intrigue, family, fear and deception flow throughout the story line.

Shattered is a tangled web of lies, deceits and secrets. You are left with more questions than answers, and I will be eagerly anticipating the next title Twisted in the Steel Brothers Saga.

Ruby and Ryan find themselves spending time together while attending the wedding of his brothers. It is a destination wedding to Jamaiica and both of them are sorely in need of a vacation. They histories are intertwined by their fathers and both of them have scars from their respective childhoods. Ruby's dad almost molested her and Ryan barely escaped the same fate as his brother, Talon. Neither one of their dads was the upstanding citizen everyone thought them to be. While on the island, they find two out of three girls went missing while on jet skis with strangers. Ruby knows that somehow that is linked back to what was going on with her father but she just can't figure out how to prove it. I liked how she let herself out of her comfort zone and let Ryan in. Ryan knew he needed to tread carefully with Ruby and did his best to do that. Life threw more obstacles at these two and the end left me wanting to know more about what was happening. I will eagerly await the continuation of their story. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

4.5 stars
The Steel Brothers saga continues with Shattered, the seventh book in the series and it is not a standalone. These books must be read in order to fully understand the depth of the storyline and the masterful way it has been crafted by the author. I will caution that it deals with some very dark themes and for those with certain triggers please read with care.
The story picks up where the last book ended and the brothers along with their fiancées are heading to Jamaica for a destination double wedding. Joining in on the festivities is Detective Ruby Lee at Melanie’s request to be her maid of honor. While spending time together, Ruby and Ryan grow close and become unwittingly involved in the first of many suspenseful intrigues that sets up new questions as to what was really going on with the group that Ryan’s and Ruby’s fathers were members of? But they are not the only secrets in need of discovery as the older Steel Brothers are withholding information as well. How will Ryan react when he learns the truth? As with the previous installments, this book ends with a cliffhanger and it is one that leaves the reader SPEECHLESS! I highly recommend this series and am counting down the days until the next book, Twisted, is released in December.
I volunteered to read an arc for a review.

Couldn't put this book down, I loved every minute of it!

Ruby had been a cop for eleven years and a couple months ago she became a detective.Ruby had run away from home as her father Theodore had tried to rape her so Ruby did not trust men and had been on her own since. at fifteen years old Ryan is the youngest of the Steel brothers he is a rancher and winemaker. Ruby is trying to find answers to questions no one wants answered but her. Ruby and the Steels past are entwined together . Ruby’s father is one of the men who had kidnapped and assaulted Ryan’s brother Talon. Ruby wants to find out what exactly and who her father is.Ruby is determined to close this chapter in her life by capturing her convict father So Ruby has a personal interest in the mystery the Steel brothers are trying to find,Talon had been kidnapped as a kid by Ruby’s dad and Talon’s half uncle and his dead father had been involved.Talon and had been raped and tortured while he was held. Ryan carries a lot of guilt that he had escaped what Talon had endured. Ruby had never taken a vacation, work was Ruby’s solace was work and kept her mind busy. Then Ruby was asked by Melanie to be her maid of honor.Melanie did not have any close family or friends but Melanie knew more about ruby than anyone in the world. Even though Ruby knew nothing about weddings. Melanie is marrying Jonah in a double wedding with Ryan’s brothers. Ryan thinks he may get some answers from Ruby. Ruby is definitely attracted to Ryan but she isn’t looking for a relationship at least she wasn’t before she met Ryan.. Ryan also hadn’t been looking for a relationship but he started having feelings for Ruby. T+RYan and ruby got to know each other better during the wedding festivities. But Ruby felt Ryan could get anyone why would he want her especially with who her father is and what he had done. He was a monster as far as Ruby is concerned and he had deeply hurt the Steel family. As time goes by Ruby opens up and shows the real her not just the cop. The brothers think they all know who did it but are having a very hard time finding out for sure. Then RYan finds out some things his brothers and sister haven’t told him and he is terribly hurt. Ryan gets a phone call from his mother yet she killed herself years ago didn’t she ?
This was a great book to read. I loved the plot and pace. This was very dark at times. But it captured you and kept you right until the end without letting go. It broke my heart at times and i choked up while reading this. This was very erotic but I felt it was tasteful. I loved the twists and turns I also loved the slow build romance. This was well written with mystery and intrigue. I loved everything about this but I hate cliffhangers and this ended in one. The cliffhanger is why this is a four and not a five rating. I also do love the characters and the twists and turns and i recommend. Also there is six books before this one and I recommend you read them in order so everything will come together for you.

Wow...this book has all kinds of twists and turns and ends in a cliffhanger! I liked the story and Ruby and Ryan were great together. Can't wait for the next book to see what happens!

This is a hard review to write because I’m a little lost—not with the events in this book though. Of late, I find myself pulled into reviews of books that aren’t standalones when I haven’t read the prior books in the series. The blurbs are so thought-provoking I can’t help but accept the request. Since Shattered is a family saga, I mistakenly thought each book would stand on its own. It doesn’t completely.

The story of Ryan and Ruby starts with Shattered; however, there is so much going on that begins in the previous books that it frustrates me a little. That doesn’t mean that what happens within the covers of Shattered isn’t a good yarn; it is, but I have questions. There are lots of players and secret societies that I know about a little, just not enough. Add to my frustration; there is a cliffhanger as well. Any who…

Shattered by Helen Hardt is the story of Ryan Steel and Ruby Lee meeting and developing a relationship. Ryan is the youngest of the Steel brothers. The poor guy is living with a lot of guilt that is recapped loosely in this book. I feel bad for him because he questions his actions as a child, but I don’t ache for him as I normally do in these situations.

Ruby Lee is a cop and the daughter of a mad man behind a lot of the Steel family’s pain. I can commiserate with Ruby more than Ryan for some reason that I can't grasp entirely. (What a great couple pairing and setup to a real drama.) The couple meets when Ryan and Ruby are thrown together during the destination wedding of the two older Steel Brothers. Their attraction is immediate.

Shattered (and the series) deals with the dark topics of human trafficking, secret societies, abuse, and rape. Mystery and thrillers draw me because of the dark. I’m drawn to dark. The way this genre puts me on edge and tests me to work through the clues and hints to come up with my answers before the author reveals them is a challenge for me. Coming so late to the series I didn’t feel the same angst nor the stomach clenching that typically keeps me invested, and I’m positive that reading the early books would stir me up.

Ms. Hardt is an excellent writer. I appreciate an author who isn’t afraid to make the bad guys BAD guys. The evil is abundant here. I don’t see anyone changing the black hats to white or even gray for these characters. The characters are great and multi-dimensional. They grab my imagination to the point that I want to know more.

I recommend Shattered. However, I also recommend starting at the beginning. The mystery and suspense have me hooked, and I’ll get the next book (available December 2017) to see what happens next with Ryan and Ruby. Hopefully, we find out their parents’ role in the evil that surrounds them. It isn’t absolutely necessary to read the series, but I believe it is easier to be a part of the story if you have the series I want to get the first six books but it isn't in my budget right now, but I will get caught up by December.

Wow I loved this book.I have fallen in love with the characters in this book
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5+ smoking Hot Stars
This is NOT A STANDALONE BOOK! You MUST read in order to get what's going on!

WOW WOW WOW I absolutely love the way Ryan & Ruby story starts out & I can't wait to see where their story will lead.
This is Ryan & Ruby's 1 book in their series of 3 books although this is really book #7 in the Steel Brothers Saga of 9 books so far. Really hoping tho that the amazing author Helen Hardt does continue the series a little more because honestly I'm not ready to leave Talon, Jade, Joe, Melanie, Ryan Ruby, Bryce & Marg. I love how Helen Hardt has made this series so interesting by weaving smaller stories and plots into the main story line. Connecting characters together one by one yet leaving you just enough satisfied but also leaving you going WTF just happened! Lol This book has romance with heat that's Scorching like no other. Not only does it have the Romance but it has Mystery & Suspense. This book and series is packed full of so much goodness that you will want to devour it to the very end and do it in one sitting no less! Helen Hardt's books just keep getting better and better with each new book. I will say this I'm a huge fan of authors such as James Patterson, Patricia Cornwell, Janet Evanovich and to me I would buy a Helen Hardt Steel Brothers Saga book before I would buy one of them. Helen Hardt is just as amazing as James Patterson if not better!
One-click this book and series today and I promise you won't regret it!