I was really surprised at how much I enjoyed this. I originally looked into the book because I thought the cover was cool. The description made it sound like it wouldn’t be bad so I gave it a shot. I’m glad I did. I stayed absorbed from the onset. I loved the main characters and their interactions and I really hated the the bad guy (the brother). It was pretty sex forward and the language was a little crude for my taste in areas. This is not really my thing, but it didn’t take away from the story. One thing I would change would be to add just a smidge more to the ending. Maybe add in an epilogue or an extra chapter. It was a sweet ending, but I want to see everything tied up with a nice little bow. I’m not a big fan of using my imagination or thinking too hard.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this awesome book

after losing her parents in an accidental crash Charlie Dawson runs away from everything her family, the business and her life and started afresh in LA

but now she is back for her sisters wedding and she cant avoid her family any longer...

but first a bit of nostalgia and she goes to her favourite gay bar... and ends up having a one night stand.... that blows her mind

you can only imagine her shock when at a family dinner that night she meets her one night stand and not only that her one night stand is her brothers girlfriend......

but this story is so much more...its about family dynamics and family betrayals and its not long before it becomes evident that ian their brother is doing untold damage to the legacy left behind by their parents

and as the wedding looms so does the attraction between charlie and her one night stand and the disaster that her brother is creating with their hotel chain...

its a one way train of disasters....

what a ride this book gives you.... the fairy tale wedding in new york and the attraction between charlie and annie..... wow just wow

I ended up not being a fan, though this book may be a good fit for those who are fans of insta-love, and don’t mind reading about infidelity.

Charlie left NYC to avoid her grief after her parents died in a car crash. Now, she’s back in NYC to be maid of honor in her sister’s wedding. Charlie sleeps with Annie, but what was supposed to be a one-night stand turns into more. Annie is closeted AND the girlfriend of Charlie’s younger brother, Ian. Ian is sexist and the one who prevented Charlie from inheriting anything after their parents’ death.

I didn’t get a strong sense of the brother’s motivation. The justification given by the book didn’t seem convincing. He seemed evil for the sake of being evil. As a result, the character came off as flat. Most of the conflict in the book revolves around Ian and his plans to sell their family’s hotel chain. I don’t find reading about corporate machinations compelling, so I wasn’t as interested in that aspect of the plot.

I also didn’t find Annie and Charlie’s relationship believable. They start talking about love and forever quickly and I didn’t feel like the book adequately developed their emotional relationship. It felt like the sex scenes were written at the expense of the emotional intimacy.

There were also a few things in the book that rubbed me the wrong way. First, the way the characters used alcohol to cope with their emotions seemed unhealthy. I don’t expect book characters to be perfect, but I was uncomfortable with how the book seemed to normalize their level of drinking. Second, at one point Charlie makes a comment that a bisexual character refers to as biphobic, but the comment is never addressed. Third, most of Charlie’s family members seem fine with the fact that Charlie started dating Annie before Annie and Ian broke up. Kat (Charlie’s younger sister) is supportive of the relationship between Charlie and Annie. At one point, Kat says that Charlie dating Annie is equally as problematic as the time their cousin dated her therapist. A therapist dating a patient is a totally ethical boundary violation and can be harmful; it felt icky to see it being made light of.

Riveting. I was on the edge of my seat wondering which way this family drama and romance would turn next. Charlie Dawson returns to NYC after four years to take part in her beloved sister's wedding. On her first night in town she visits her favorite bar and old hang out. While there she meets Annie and takes her back to her hotel. It is insta lust and attraction on a new level for both of them. She doesn’t expect to see Annie again and is shocked when she arrives at a family dinner and is Charlie’s estranged brother’s girlfriend.

There are of course other complications. There are issues with the family business and her parents will. Annie’s family is involved in the business dealings as well. Also everyone is trying to get along as to not disrupt the countdown to the wedding. I like that there is time for dates, trysts and learning about each other so it doesn’t seem as surprising that they both feel a strong connection. It is told first person from Charlie’s POV but Annie shares enough of her feelings and background to get a good feel for her character. I thought it was left open ended as far as what the future would look like for the pair and what happens with her brother. I don’t know if that was intentional leaving it open for a sequel, or if it is to let the reader fill in the HEA.

This is the first book I’ve read by the author and I will look for future works. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

First book by this author, but won't be my last. Woods is an author to look out for. This book was engaging and well written and kept me reading until I finished.

Charlie Dawson left home four years ago after her parents died and her younger brother cut her off from the trust fund. She sold her condo and her gallery and fled to LA. Now she's back for her sister's wedding and everything that comes with it, including seeing her brother who she hasn't seen since she left. She doesn't expect to meet someone her first night in town, nor to have such a connection with someone she just met. It's just supposed to be one night so when she goes to a family dinner, the last thing she expects is to see her again and as her brother's girlfriend.

This is all done in first person and I wish I could have known Annie's POV which would have given some more insight into the story, but it was very well done and kept me interested. The chemistry was written very well and you could feel there connection jump off the page. The other thing I wish is the ending would have been better written and we would have gotten more closure with the brother and their relationship and the families. It felt open ended somewhat and I didn't like that.

Overall, a very enjoyable book and I do recommend it. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story was very good and instantly hot I couldn’t stop reading it and would love more to see the after, after effects.

YES and more please! This book is so good!!! My only complaint is that I finished it too soon and want more! I was invested from the start and finished reading it in a day and a half. So hard to put it down!
Charlie leaves everything and everyone behind when she moves from NY to LA trying to escape the pain after the death of her parents. She has returned to NY for her sister’s wedding. On her first night in town she meets a hot, mysterious woman named Annie and they share a night of intense passion, agreeing they will never see each other again. They don’t even exchange contact info. The next day she meets with her family and things get complicated.
The story is well written, entertaining and flows smoothly. It is witty, humorous, steamy and completely engaging. The characters are easy to care about unpacked well. The storyline is believable and interesting throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this debut book.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Shia Woods is a talented writer, and it shows in the book 'The Broken Lines of Us'. The book is full of surprises and it starts out full throttle with Charlie coming into town for her sister's wedding and on the same day, meets Annie. A passionate one-night stand turns into a surprise when Charlie meets Annie at an event, and one thing after another starts to unfold between Charlie and Annie's families. Charlie's sister, Kat, and cousin are funny, kind, and great supportive characters, along with Charlie's aunt and uncle. And there is a big showdown with her brother and his running of the family business. The book is dramatic, and the ending is a bit rushed, but overall, it's a great read.

Years after leaving New York for LA, Charlie Dawson is calledback to attend her sister's wedding. Worse, she's asked her to be the maid of honor!

But history catches up to her, and her brother's mishandling of the family business complicates things.

And, of course, the first night she's in town, she meets a gorgeous woman, Annie.

The book is a good mix of romance and drama. The cast is fun, the situation is interesting and the storyline is good. I'd willingly read more from this author.

Unbelievable! This story took me on so many twists I got whiplash. I was just not expecting everything that popped up and I loved it. Each time I thought I figured out why something happened or was happening I was thrown for a loop. Honestly this was well written with so much drama the story never stalled. The relationships were very believable and the romance was amazing. I loved the dynamics of all the characters involved, no one held back from saying what they actually meant but boy could they hold onto secrets and grudges. Honestly just grab this book and read it. My only gripe is that I felt like the ending was rushed and some questions were left unanswered which was a let down but I would definitely read it again.

Charlie Dawson has come home again for her sisters wedding. Charlie isn’t happy about being back in the city that took so much from her.
A chance encounter led her to Annie and they spent a sex driven night together. Knowing one night is all they’ll have.
Imagine Charlies surprise when she sees Annie again at the final planning and parties for her sister. There will be even more surprises as Charlies brother sells the family empire without a word to anyone.
The stakes are high for everyone especially Charlie and Annie.
This was a quick and enjoyable read I would recommend.

Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks #TheBrokenLinesOfUs for this ARC