Review by rhendel -- Heartaches 2 by H.M. Irwing
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rhendel
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Review by rhendel -- Heartaches 2 by H.M. Irwing
[Following is a volunteer review of "Heartaches 2" by H.M. Irwing.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Heartache’s 2 – Bad Boy Vibes by H.M. Irwing is the second installment of the Bad Boy Vibes trilogy, centered around Anna Simmons. In this book, Anna Simmons and Rafe Brown struggle to work through the abuse and violations both have faced in the past, while simulaneaously trying to nurture and navigate their new relationship. When the tormenters from their past resurface and new secrets are revealed, Anna and Rafe are forced to face the past and determine what their future will hold.
It should be noted that this book discusses adult topics, such as rape, drugs, and fighting. It also is a romance novel and includes fairly detailed romantic scenes that may not be suitable for children or young teenagers.
To be transparent, I accidentally read the third book in the trilogy before this one, so I had already been aware of the ending. However, that didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book and, in fact, I enjoyed this installment much better than the finale. I found the storyline compelling and the characters much more likeable, and was engaged throughout the entire book. It’s a pretty quick read at about 150 pages, and with the story drawing me in right from the beginning, I finished the book in just a few hours. There are a few big surprises that create a bit of drama and suspense, which I think is what made the book so compelling and enjoyable to read.
Despite enjoying the storyline and the twists and turns throughout, there were a few issues I had. The biggest one is that despite all the growth Anna has done throughout the series thus far, she’s still very dependent on a man. While she has moments of personal strength, the majority of the time Anna wants Rafe to come save her or protect her. I had hoped that the difficult situations she faced in the past would help her learn to rely on herself, rather than on a romantic interest, but that was not the case. There’s also the introduction of a new character whose main goal is to marry a rich man, and lies about herself in order to do so. That was pretty disheartening to read, and I couldn’t sympathize or connect to the character because of that.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It was an engaging book that I couldn’t put down, and had some exciting and suspenseful moments. However, I think there could have been some stronger character development, particularly with the female characters. Just because it’s a romance novel doesn’t mean the women all need to be damsels in distress just waiting for a man to save them.
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Heartaches 2
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3 out of 4 stars
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Heartache’s 2 – Bad Boy Vibes by H.M. Irwing is the second installment of the Bad Boy Vibes trilogy, centered around Anna Simmons. In this book, Anna Simmons and Rafe Brown struggle to work through the abuse and violations both have faced in the past, while simulaneaously trying to nurture and navigate their new relationship. When the tormenters from their past resurface and new secrets are revealed, Anna and Rafe are forced to face the past and determine what their future will hold.
It should be noted that this book discusses adult topics, such as rape, drugs, and fighting. It also is a romance novel and includes fairly detailed romantic scenes that may not be suitable for children or young teenagers.
To be transparent, I accidentally read the third book in the trilogy before this one, so I had already been aware of the ending. However, that didn’t impact my enjoyment of the book and, in fact, I enjoyed this installment much better than the finale. I found the storyline compelling and the characters much more likeable, and was engaged throughout the entire book. It’s a pretty quick read at about 150 pages, and with the story drawing me in right from the beginning, I finished the book in just a few hours. There are a few big surprises that create a bit of drama and suspense, which I think is what made the book so compelling and enjoyable to read.
Despite enjoying the storyline and the twists and turns throughout, there were a few issues I had. The biggest one is that despite all the growth Anna has done throughout the series thus far, she’s still very dependent on a man. While she has moments of personal strength, the majority of the time Anna wants Rafe to come save her or protect her. I had hoped that the difficult situations she faced in the past would help her learn to rely on herself, rather than on a romantic interest, but that was not the case. There’s also the introduction of a new character whose main goal is to marry a rich man, and lies about herself in order to do so. That was pretty disheartening to read, and I couldn’t sympathize or connect to the character because of that.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. It was an engaging book that I couldn’t put down, and had some exciting and suspenseful moments. However, I think there could have been some stronger character development, particularly with the female characters. Just because it’s a romance novel doesn’t mean the women all need to be damsels in distress just waiting for a man to save them.
******
Heartaches 2
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Like rhendel's review? Post a comment saying so!
Latest Review: Waterworks by Jack Winnick
