Review by Sandra_99 -- Heartaches by H.M. Irwing

[Sandra_Prakash]

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

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3 out of 4 stars

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Heartaches by H. M. Irwing is a captivating and shocking romance novel. The first book of the trilogy introduces us to the protagonists- Anna and Rafe. Anna is a gullible girl who gets drugged and raped by her boyfriend. After her world gets turned upside down, she meets Rafe in a family gathering. Rafe sees through her pain and insists on helping. Anna immediately senses that Rafe is hiding dark secrets too. This unexpected encounter forces them to confront the horrors of their past and get justice together.

Heartaches is perfect for adult readers who prefer emotionally heavy love stories with major sub-plots. However, a few aspects of the book can be a put-off for many readers. It has graphic descriptions of sexual scenes, including the drug-induced rape. The protagonists are victims of rape and physical abuse. The backgrounds of the characters are quite alarming. I would not suggest this book to anyone for whom such violent themes can be a trigger.

The characterizations of Rafe and Anna are splendid. Irwing has possibly done the best job in meticulously noting the feelings that a victim would go through. The love between Anna and Rafe is gradually developed. Irwing skillfully captures the conflicts, insecurities, desires, and hopes of the characters. The side characters are also well-portrayed. Irwing makes us feel the transformation of the characters through the book.

I would rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. I feel that there is one major flaw in the book. The rape scene also shows the victim's lust for being sexually used. The book clearly explains that this happens because of the drug. However, the mere suggestion of lust can give very wrong notions of rape. This worry is heightened because novels do not usually give vivid descriptions of the actual rape. The drug factor can be easily overlooked in the book. I would have given 2 stars because of this mix of rape with lust but, the story is good. I would recommend the book if the reader does not mind the violent themes and the explicit description of rape.

The book is well-edited. The plot is captivating. The anguish of the characters reached my heart. Irwing has done an excellent job. The relationship between Anna and Rafe is unlike a conventional love story. Irwing has carefully described all the incidents and feelings that bring them closer. I enjoyed the book despite the one major flaw.

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Heartaches
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