Breaking Lauren is what you get when danger and innocence collide creating one intense ride! The sheer brokenness of these characters pulled at my heartstrings from the very beginning and kept me reading until I was finished. Danny and Lauren are each damaged in their own way and at times I wasn't sure either of them could be helped. When they're forced together through unexpected circumstances they discover that they're more similar than different and they might actually be able to help each other. Danny is caught up in a world of darkness that feeds off of his pain and while he doesn't enjoy it per se, he sees no way out. He's tried playing by the rules in the past, even standing up for what's right but that only ended badly. Still shouldering the guilt, he does whatever necessary to dull the pain, knowing the relief is only temporary. When he meets Lauren, he wants nothing to do with her initially, but can't seem to fight their connection. Her innocence unnerves him because he doesn't feel worthy of her yet she seems to be the one person who understands him. The more time he spends with her, the stronger his need to protect her is. His feelings for Lauren have the potential to save him or send him over the edge. Lauren has always lived in the shadow of her siblings, but when a series of events forces her family to relocate to California, she gets a chance to reinvent herself. She dreams of a picture perfect life, the kind her mother tries to foster at home but like anything kept under a plane of glass, it can shatter if not handled with care. She's consumed with becoming a cheerleader liker her sister and mother were, and longs to be part of the popular crowd. Josh Miller, the reining "it boy" is the guy all girls are crushing on and Lauren is no exception. When he turns his attention to her she can hardly believe her luck. Josh and Danny are at opposite ends of the social spectrum and she's convinced that by going out with Josh, she'll have the life she wants.Lauren discovers soon enough that no one is who they seem and everyone has secrets. Despite the feelings she has for Danny, she continues to focus on her warped sense of reality which made me not like her very much sometimes. She gets so caught up in appearances that she fails to see what's right in front of her. Like magnets drawn together by unseen forces, Danny and Lauren continue to find themselves in each other's company. He makes her feel things she's never felt before and "gets" her in ways that Josh doesn't. How long can she fight her feelings for Danny before she loses everything she's trying so desperately to hold onto?This book is an intense roller coaster of emotions and left me wanting the next book NOW!
