2 out of 4 stars
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Let me start by saying Heartaches 3 should not be read alone, nor should it be the first book read out of the trilogy. Third in the series, Heartaches 3 begins with Rafe, Anna, and Suzi scheming to end Aunt Bella’s impending marriage to Peter Preston, Anna’s rapist and Rafe’s biological father. They come up with a wild plan and very hastily carry it out within the first few chapters.
The story only gets more complicated from there. H.M. Irwing hints at past events throughout the book, reminding the reader of Anna’s abusive step-father, her step brother Brian who couldn’t be trusted, and Jason and Matt Preston, who raped Anna at the request of their father. Irwing also brings up Rafe’s past abuse from Eric Dayton and the events from Syria, which is what links Ned Slater and Suzi into the story.
The minor characters play small roles along the way that don’t seem to do much for the narrative, other than mix in a few happy chapters throughout the somber tale of rape and revenge. Suzi finds her happy ending in a predictable, yet surprising place. Matt Preston (Anna’s first boyfriend and also one of her rapists) admits his faults and feelings to Anna, then runs away from his father and their toxic home. Lastly, Anna and Pat share a special day that strengthens and solidifies their friendship.
The way all of these abusers and rapist are brought together seems choppy and almost like it does not belong in this book. Rafe’s biological dad and step brothers, who raped Anna, work for Eric Dayton, who raped Rafe. Eric and the others are bringing drugs into Australia, but instead of calling in the police, Anna, Rafe, Pat and Dan work with Ned to find the drugs and take down the bad guys to finally rid Anna and Rafe of their evil abusers. The ending tries to finish off the series, but still leaves a lot to the reader’s imagination, which can be a good thing.
The main characters’ story in itself is good. I enjoyed reading about the pure love between Rafe and Anna, and the few other romances included in the story. But the minor characters and relationships were not explained well enough to make a great impact in the story, and possibly cluttered it up more than anything. I noticed a few words were used a lot throughout the book, but that did not affect my reading too much. Overall, I rate Heartaches 3 a 2 out of 4 stars, mainly because of the choppy introductions and unnecessary characters, and how the last few chapters seemed out of place.
I think anyone who likes to read a slightly raunchy romance with a touch of BDSM, some action scenes, and the pure romance and attraction found in the first two Heartaches books would enjoy this final installment in the series.
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Heartaches 3
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