Review and Author Interview: Broken Juliet – Leisa Rayven

Shannon’s Thoughts

BROKEN JULIET was a sequel I was looking forward to, if only because I had this burning need to see if author Leisa Rayven was going to be able to let Cassie forgive Ethan.  I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed.

When we last saw Ethan and Cassie, he was outside her apartment trying to thaw the ice that had collected around her heart.  And as BROKEN JULIET unfolds, we discover that both characters are broken and have to fight their way back to each other.  We also discover that Ethan’s not quite the asshole we thought he was.  He truly was broken.  He may not have gone about what he did the right way, but I could understand that he why he left Cassie.  He wasn’t going to be good for anyone until he figure out what he needed to do to become a man worthy of Cassie.  He did it and it left me kind of proud of him for doing it.

Cassie was a different story.  I know her heart was broken, but she ignored a lot of signs when it came to Ethan that he wasn’t in the best place to have a relationship.  I didn’t expect her to easily forgive Ethan, but as they got older and she saw the visible change in Ethan, I think she should have let the past go.  She eventually did, with some professional help and Ethan, but they did manage to get to that HEA place.

A satisfying ending to the romance of Cassie and Ethan.  They fought hard, but in the end you knew that relationship was going to last.

Tell us about yourself.

I’m an Australian author, mum of two gorgeous boys, wife to an amazing opera singer, lover of guacamole, world-class snuggler, and firm believer in true love.

What three things about you might surprise your readers?

I’m a classically trained actress, but most of my career has been spent in musical theater.

I grew up on a can farm in Australia and was once trapped in the toilet with a 6 foot long king brown snake.

I fold all my laundry with mathematical precision. Sad, really.

Is there a genre(s) that you think “I might like to write one of those.”?

I actually looooove paranormal and horror books, and grew up devouring pretty much everything Stephen King and Dean Koontz wrote. I’d love to write something really dark and violent. Not sure what that says about me.

Tell us about [Broken Juliet].

Broken Juliet is the sequel to Bad Romeo and concludes the story of Cassie Taylor and Ethan Holt. Ethan was the great love of Cassie’s life, but he abandoned her, leaving her broken and cursing his name. Now, they’ve been cast together in a hot new Broadway show, and Ethan is begging for another chance. But Cassie has trouble believing he’s a changed man, and is desperate to protect herself this time, no matter how drawn she is to him.

Where did the idea for the storyline come from?

I was thinking about Romeo and Juliet one day and it occurred to me that at the beginning of the play, Romeo has just had his heart crushed by Rosaline, and yet when he meets Juliet, he’s more than happy to open up himself up to love again. I didn’t think that was realistic. Then I thought, what would have happened if Romeo was so damaged by life, he was terrified of his feelings for Juliet and so pushed her away? That to me was a far more compelling story.

What do you think readers will like/love about [Cassie and Ethan]?

I think Cassie and Ethan have an interesting evolution as people and as a couple. When they’re in drama school, Cassie is open and loving and Ethan is closed off. In the present, after Cassie’s had her heart broken and Ethan has dealt with his issues, they’ve reversed roles – suddenly Ethan is loving and determined to win Cassie back, and Cassie’s heart is cowering in the corner like a dog who’s been beaten too many times. At the heart of it, they’re both good people who are just trying to protect themselves against more heartache.

What was your favorite scene from the book?

There’s a scene in the past which happens about a year after Cassie and Ethan have broken up for the first time, and after a college party, Ethan drives Cassie home. Being together again reminds them both how much they miss each other and I love the tension of how hard it is for them to stay away from each other.

Who are some of your book boyfriends?  What draws you to them?

I have so many I can’t say them out loud. They all get very jealous of each other. I’m a sucker for the good guy. I don’t mind if he’s damaged and guarded with a dash of alpha, but in his heart, he has to be a decent human being.

If you had to pick a favorite cocktail of choice, what would it be?  (It can be non-alcoholic too)

Cocksucking Cowboy – hands down. Bailey and butterscothc schnapps in a shot glass. A mouthgasm in every mouthful.

What’s next for you?

I’ve just finished the third book in the Starcrossed series, starring Ethan’s stage manager sister, Elissa. Here’s the summary:

Liam Quinn is talented, gorgeous, and one of the biggest movie stars in the world.

He’s also only man Elissa Holt has ever truly loved.

After being out of her life for six years, he and his gorgeous fiancé are set to star in the new Broadway show Elissa is stage managing. Both Elissa and Liam try to ignore the connection they both still feel, but when late night rehearsals bring them together, the lines between what is and what could have been get blurred.

Falling for Liam again would be a tragedy in the making, but as any good romantic will tell you, love doesn’t always follow the script.