The Beauty of Broken Things

 Victoria Connelly

United by tragedy, can two broken souls make each other whole?

After the tragic loss of his wife, Helen, Luke Hansard is desperate to keep her memory alive. In an effort to stay close to her, he reaches out to an online friend Helen often mentioned: a reclusive photographer with a curious interest in beautiful but broken objects. But first he must find her—and she doesn’t want to be found.

Orla Kendrick lives alone in the ruins of a remote Suffolk castle, hiding from the haunting past that has left her physically and emotionally scarred. In her fortress, she can keep a safe distance from prying eyes, surrounded by her broken treasures and insulated from the world outside.

When Luke tracks Orla down, he is determined to help her in the way Helen wanted to: by encouraging her out of her isolation and back into the world. But Orla has never seen her refuge as a prison and, when painful secrets and dangerous threats begin to resurface, Luke’s good deed is turned on its head.

As they work through their grief for Helen in very different ways, will these two broken souls be able to heal?

Purchase Link

Today I am thrilled to take part in the blog tour for The Beauty of Broken Things by Victoria Connelly. Thank you to Rachel’s Random Resources, the publisher, and the author for a copy of the book, which I have reviewed honestly.

My Thoughts

I was immediately attracted to the description of this book. Two broken souls brought together by tragedy and together finding a deep connection that helped them to discover a sense of belonging again.

Orla lives alone in a remote castle, choosing to see no-one, not even Bill who tends her garden. She gets enjoyment from collecting damaged porcelain and photographing them to show off their exquisite beauty.

When a young man calls by she refuses to answer the door and asks him to leave. However, Luke needs to see Orla to explain why her friend Helen (his wife) hasn’t been in touch. He has sad news that her online friend has tragically died and needs to pass on a gift that Helen wanted Orla to receive.

 I loved the descriptions of the ancient castle and the remote windswept beach where Orla walked her dog One Ear. The detailed imagery of the delicate china teacups and vases with a hairline crack or tiny chip made me think of the history behind the pieces. Orla saw that a minor imperfection didn’t alter the beauty of the piece. In fact, she cherished the items because they became truly unique. I loved the analogy between damaged porcelain and broken souls, which was exquisitely written.

The connection between Orla and Luke was extremely poignant. They gave each other comfort and helped to restore confidence. There is drama in the plot and relatable characters, especially Bill and his wife Margy who were warm and caring. This is a captivating read that steals your heart. A simple but stunning story, wonderfully crafted by a talented author.

I have previously reviewed One Last Summer by Victoria Connelly. It is a beautiful story about friendship. You can read my thoughts here.

About The Author