4 out of 4 stars
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The second novel in the Bad Vibes series by H. M. Irwing, titled Heartaches 2, would surely delight anyone who looks for an intriguing drama about love. It tells of a love between two people, each with a muddled past, a past that even when buried under layers of time, its miasma still reaches out to mingle with the present. This, Anna Simmons, learned the hard way as she and her boyfriend Rafael Brown embark together on a life that is filled with love for each other, but also overflowing with hate and vengeance for all who wronged them.
At present, Rafe holds a post in a military training school, while Anna trains under his wings. He thought his enemies were left behind once he shipped out of Syria where he was a soldier, but back home, the roster of his enemies includes his half-brothers, his father, and his commanding officer. Incidentally, Anna was abused by these same persons. With the help of Rafe who has even turned against his family, will Anna get her revenge?
It is amazing how the author has woven a complex tale of love and hate, passion and vengeance, while at the same time showcasing life in affluent Australia, with such libertarian women and arrogant men. With the complexity of the characters interacting, the events interweaving into the core of the story itself, you might be tempted to say, for the characters it has been a small world indeed. I had ventured some guesses on several junctures of the story to predict the outcomes of the storyline but proved wrong. The twist and turns just made me realize I really could not just see them coming.
Heartaches 2, being a romance novel, the reader must expect scenes of erotic nature, but assuredly, the dialogue and narrative I had found, did not go beyond bounds of desirability and good taste. The portrayal seemed just natural for all the scenes in bed and other places wherever the characters were compelled upon by their libido. And the sexual themes presented may be said as relevant to the times, with the current upheaval in moral consciousness, that is, without saying whether I may be in support of them or not. There is homosexuality, bisexuality, sadism, and maybe, fetishism that the readership here I may advise as discretionary.
I am impressed with the thorough editing, yielding only a few errors. And the style of writing is clear and forceful. My rating for this novel is 4 out of 4 stars, recommended for adult readers of romance novels.
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Heartaches 2
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