Review by KellyS_888 -- Heartaches by H.M. Irwing

KellyS_888 · Post by **KellyS_888** » 21 Jul 2019, 11:58

[Following is a volunteer review of "Heartaches" by H.M. Irwing.]

2 out of 4 stars

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If you like tales of obsessive love and aggressive mattress workouts, then you might like Heartaches--Bad Boy Vibes by H.M. Irwing.

Anna Simmons' life has been one tough row to hoe. At 10-years-old, she had to bury her father, whom she adored, and now, at 18, her unadorable stepfather, who was murdered by his biological son, Brian. Surprisingly, Brian is not a suspect in this murder. He is dodging a powerful drug lord, to whom he owes money, and he continues to hide out with Anna and her mother, tyrannizing over them both.

Anna, who has a great body and low self-esteem, is dating Matt Preston and believes he is her "savior." She can't see that he's only interested in one thing. Matt finally introduces Anna to his brother and father, and the three men drug and rape her. Turns out that Matt's father, Peter Preston, is the drug lord to whom Brian owes money. The reason Matt started dating Anna is because Brian had offered up his naive stepsister to Peter in order to buy himself time while he tries to come up with the money. Brian disappears after this incident.

Rafe Brown's life hasn't exactly been a pleasing ride on a pink unicorn, either. As a child, he witnessed his stepfather snap his mother's neck. He endured years of abuse at his stepfather's hands. He joined the army to grow a backbone and ended up being drugged and raped by Captain Eric, the head of a powerful date rape drug ring. Rafe came home after that.

Several weeks later, Anna and Rafe attend the same Greek naming ceremony. They run in the same social circles because Anna's mom is friends with Rafe's aunt, but Anna and Rafe were never close. They also haven't seen each other for a very long time. In a very odd scene, Rafe orders Anna, a distant acquaintance at best, to tell him why she looks so distressed. She actually obeys, and then he demands that she come live with him so he can protect her! Again, she obeys. They fall in love as they struggle to heal, the latter of which becoming even harder when they wind up being forced to coexist with their rapists. They are protective of one another and do everything they can to help each other, including seeking justice and, ultimately, planning revenge. Will the Preston men and Captain Eric get what's coming to them? Will Brian?

After I read this book, I had to double-check that it is categorized as a romance novel. You see, Rafe is not exactly Romeo. Many of his actions prove him to be selfish and/or controlling. For example, his overbearing conduct throughout their first conversation. Also, his response after the Preston men rape Anna a second time (Rafe initially walks away from her, wordlessly, because he feels that she must not have trusted that he could help her, so she had executed her own plan only to "get herself raped again (55)."). Worst of all is his reaction when Anna finally summons the courage to tell him her most troubling secret. He doesn't approve of her confession, so he physically "punishes" Anna until she cries. He keeps saying he wants to help her, then lashing out whenever she is at her most vulnerable. Yet she still thinks of him as "a treasure she doesn't deserve (56)."

As for Anna, I think it's shocking and unforgivable that she tells Rafe, post sex, that he has a ways to go before he can live up to her rapists! "...you do have a little competition on you to wipe out your predecessors of not one, but three Prestons. I do believe you have your work cut out for you. But cheer up, you're off to a good start (99)!"

Those are the reasons why this book does not feel like a romance novel to me. Neither of the characters are likable and their love is hardly something to root for! And that was definitely something I didn't like about this book.

The other thing I didn't like was the author's propensity for awkward sentences. "Half afraid, but unable to tear her gaze away from the quiet menace that shadowed Brian Simmons, Anna's green gaze didn't waver from where they rested, on the darkly knowing eyes of Brian Simmons (2)." "She knew it was not just the great sex, even though that has been amazing, to put it mildly, no this was something more (100)." The second sentence is not only an awkward run-on, it is also missing a comma.

If I can be open with you, the thing I liked best about the story was...the sex scenes! I know the soft porn element is the reason why many women read these types of books, and Irwing knows how to deliver! This author has a knack for description, depicting mental illustrations painted with carefully chosen words that have connotations which invoke the reader's senses. I imagine that, to some, it will seem unusual that someone could be turned on by sex scenes of this nature, but it's more common than you think. Psychology Today states that 62% of survey participants admit to fantasizing about rape*. And in this particular case, it's important to know that the author makes it clear that Anna actually enjoys the experience, which is the reason she makes that dumbfounding comment to Rafe. Anna's pleasure allows the reader the peace of mind to enjoy her own.

However, readers who are triggered by accounts of sexual assault should probably avoid this story. In addition to the adult themes, there is also a frequent use of mature language, both profane and carnal, so I would not recommend this book to younger readers.

I give Heartaches--Bad Boy Vibes 2 stars out of 4. I deducted one star for the awkward sentences, as well as the spelling and punctuation errors that I came across. I deducted another because I do not like how this unhealthy, codependent relationship is portrayed as a loving romance. I hope in the next installment, either Rafe grows up or Anna grows a pair and kicks Rafe in his!

*Castleman, Michael M.A. "Why Do Women Have Rape Fantasies?" Psychology Today. 1 Aug 2015. Accessed 18 July 2019.

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Heartaches
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Erin Painter Baker · Post by **Erin Painter Baker** » 11 Aug 2019, 17:22

Congratulations on your first review! I really liked how you brought some research into this, and were honest about your reactions to the story as a whole and the specific elements of the sex scenes. It is one of those interesting things that women can have rape fantasies, but still not want their romance stories to be ones of control.

Smb7 · Post by **Smb7** » 19 Aug 2019, 16:49

I think the reviewer was very informative about the book. She did an excellent job of the details of the main purpose that the book would be about, and I agree with not portraying the mention of rape as any kind of love story. Thumbs up to the reviewer for such a review that makes you want to read the book, but with the realization that the rape parts in the book should not have it portrayed as a love story. That is something very horrifying to someone who goes through it.

Smb7 · Post by **Smb7** » 19 Aug 2019, 16:52

Great job to the reviewer. They are right, that you should not protray an act of rape as a love story. The reviewer brought put a lot of detail , that makes me want to read the book. Great job