Take a photo of a barcode or cover
2.88 AVERAGE
2.88 AVERAGE
I must be in the minority here, because this book just didn't work for me. I never really got why Rhys was so into a character like Cory, when all he had was a couple of months in high school and then nothing for 15 years. And Cory was an ass for like...92% of the whole story, and so indecisive, that I felt like Rhys was just too much of a pushover to put up with all the push-pull that Cory put him through. Even though the story was from Cory's POV, I never got his motivation for his actions or what he felt for Rhys.
Note: An ARC was provided by the author via LesCourt ARC Team.
I'm feeling a tad torn about how to rate this book. The writing was good, and I liked Rhys. Unfortunately, Cory was the headliner here, and well, I'm sorry but I wasn't a fan. Sure, I understand that the guy had the sort of childhood that guaranteed a whole slew of emotional scars, but he was a major asshat for nearly all of the book. While I can sympathize with what he may have gone through, his experiences also do not excuse his bad behavior. To be perfectly honest, I didn't get what Rhys saw in Cory and why he seemed to have this decade and a half-long crush on him. Yeah, Cory was nice to him, but the fact that Cory couldn't remember ever even meeting Rhys and then proceeded to take advantage of Rhys's being such a nice guy didn't really sit well with me. By the time the book ends, he does begin to turn over a new leaf, so the happy ending is a bit more believable. S.C. Wynne had a promising story, enough that I was entertained for the duration, but my dislike of Cory did affect my overall experience. Damaged Heart receives three stars. ♥
I'm feeling a tad torn about how to rate this book. The writing was good, and I liked Rhys. Unfortunately, Cory was the headliner here, and well, I'm sorry but I wasn't a fan. Sure, I understand that the guy had the sort of childhood that guaranteed a whole slew of emotional scars, but he was a major asshat for nearly all of the book. While I can sympathize with what he may have gone through, his experiences also do not excuse his bad behavior. To be perfectly honest, I didn't get what Rhys saw in Cory and why he seemed to have this decade and a half-long crush on him. Yeah, Cory was nice to him, but the fact that Cory couldn't remember ever even meeting Rhys and then proceeded to take advantage of Rhys's being such a nice guy didn't really sit well with me. By the time the book ends, he does begin to turn over a new leaf, so the happy ending is a bit more believable. S.C. Wynne had a promising story, enough that I was entertained for the duration, but my dislike of Cory did affect my overall experience. Damaged Heart receives three stars. ♥
While the premise of this book, confronting your past and not letting it affect your life any longer, is a good one, but the main characters left a lot to be desired. Cory comes home after his mother dies, planning on selling his parent's house and leaving again. But he meets the contractor, Rhys, who had a crush on him in high school. Cory isn't what you consider a relatable protagonist. He's very closed off, showing little to no emotion and is the biggest jerk at times, and nothing really changes his demeanor, not even being with Rhys. And that lack of character growth kept me from truly enjoying the story. Also, you can understand Rhys had a crush on Cory, but he didn't know the real guy back then and despite his feelings, he let Cory lash out at him, which was unfair. In the end, Cory was the exact person he was at the beginning and despite that, Rhys fell for the man, which at times was mind-boggling.
Not a lot of meat here
I kept waiting for there to be more here but it just never happened. I just couldn’t care about these main characters and there sin’t much of a story.
Cory left his miserable home at 18 and is returning for the first time 15 years later a very successful lawyer. He is an unhappy, miserable human being with no attachments to anyone and no friends. He supposedly has no ability to form attachments or socialize. Sorry, not buying it. He’s supposed to be a big hot shot celebrity lawyer, with his own practice in LA but has no charm or social skills?! And he’s only in his early 30’s? Curmudgeon might work for an old, established guy but not someone who hasn’t even been in practice for 10 years.
Rhys is thrilled that Cory is back because he’s had a crush on him since HS...where they were only in school together a couple months and the basis of this crush is that he loaned him a pencil and shared his book. Something Cory doesn’t even remember happening.
It’s all just too ridiculous. And the ending makes no sense. I can’t say more because spoilers, but the whole epilogue had me going “huh?!”
There’s just not a lot of there, there.
I kept waiting for there to be more here but it just never happened. I just couldn’t care about these main characters and there sin’t much of a story.
Cory left his miserable home at 18 and is returning for the first time 15 years later a very successful lawyer. He is an unhappy, miserable human being with no attachments to anyone and no friends. He supposedly has no ability to form attachments or socialize. Sorry, not buying it. He’s supposed to be a big hot shot celebrity lawyer, with his own practice in LA but has no charm or social skills?! And he’s only in his early 30’s? Curmudgeon might work for an old, established guy but not someone who hasn’t even been in practice for 10 years.
Rhys is thrilled that Cory is back because he’s had a crush on him since HS...where they were only in school together a couple months and the basis of this crush is that he loaned him a pencil and shared his book. Something Cory doesn’t even remember happening.
It’s all just too ridiculous. And the ending makes no sense. I can’t say more because spoilers, but the whole epilogue had me going “huh?!”
There’s just not a lot of there, there.
DNF at 25% because although there are some good elements, the MC 'voice' is wooden and the attraction poorly supported. This reads like an early-career romance. Maybe the author did it deliberately for this cold character, but it is not working for this reader.