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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
As much as I enjoyed the first book of this series ("Little Lies"), I think "Bitter Sweet Heart" was even better. The book's protagonists, Maverick Waters and Clover Sweet, were incredibly likeable and three-dimensional, and despite their age difference, they were absolutely perfect for each other. I loved their immediate chemistry as well as the deep bond they formed as they got to know each other.
Clover and Maverick's story was something of an emotional roller coaster, both because of the initially forbidden nature of their relationship and because of the emotional baggage they were each carrying. For example, Maverick blamed himself for his sister Lavender's childhood trauma and put a lot of his time and energy into making up for that perceived failure. He was also struggling with the idea of forever living in his hockey legend father's shadow if he decided to follow in his footsteps with a career in the NHL. Even as she faced her own challenges, Clover was incredibly supportive of Maverick as he tried to figure out his path, and he was just as supportive of her.
Overall, I loved this story and highly recommend it for all fans of emotional contemporary romance. I can't wait for Maverick's cousin BJ's book next!
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
Clover and Maverick's story was something of an emotional roller coaster, both because of the initially forbidden nature of their relationship and because of the emotional baggage they were each carrying. For example, Maverick blamed himself for his sister Lavender's childhood trauma and put a lot of his time and energy into making up for that perceived failure. He was also struggling with the idea of forever living in his hockey legend father's shadow if he decided to follow in his footsteps with a career in the NHL. Even as she faced her own challenges, Clover was incredibly supportive of Maverick as he tried to figure out his path, and he was just as supportive of her.
Overall, I loved this story and highly recommend it for all fans of emotional contemporary romance. I can't wait for Maverick's cousin BJ's book next!
*Review copy provided by the author. All opinions expressed are my own.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Wow! I'm speechless once again. I'm a fan of Helena Hunting, but I was both nervous and excited to read Maverick's story. Nervous because Little Lies (Kody and Lavendar) will always be my favorite and I wasn't sure Maverick's story could measure up. Boy was I wrong! I was excited too because we didn't really get a deep glimpse into Maverick's character in Little Lies.
Bitter Sweet Heart is the story of Maverick and Clover romance. But it's also so much more. We see how Lavendar's trauma and social anxiety issues affected Maverick as her sibling. The most important lesson from this book, in my opinion, is that trauma affects not just the victim but also those closely connected to the victim. Lavendar's trauma definitely shaped how protective and self-sacrificing Maverick was in all his relationships. I really felt for Maverick. It seemed like his needs and the pressure he suffered from was overlooked by his family. Then along comes Clover who totally gets him! That's what made their relationship work. Clover grounded Maverick and Maverick gave Clover freedom and a feeling of protection. I loved it when Maverick taught her self-defense so she could be her own hero.
I know I'm gushing over this book, but I loved it! I don't think my review gives it justice. I highly recommend reading Bitter Sweet Heart. I can't wait to see whose story is next. I'm hoping its BJ, a guy with much hidden wisdom and depth.
Bitter Sweet Heart is the story of Maverick and Clover romance. But it's also so much more. We see how Lavendar's trauma and social anxiety issues affected Maverick as her sibling. The most important lesson from this book, in my opinion, is that trauma affects not just the victim but also those closely connected to the victim. Lavendar's trauma definitely shaped how protective and self-sacrificing Maverick was in all his relationships. I really felt for Maverick. It seemed like his needs and the pressure he suffered from was overlooked by his family. Then along comes Clover who totally gets him! That's what made their relationship work. Clover grounded Maverick and Maverick gave Clover freedom and a feeling of protection. I loved it when Maverick taught her self-defense so she could be her own hero.
I know I'm gushing over this book, but I loved it! I don't think my review gives it justice. I highly recommend reading Bitter Sweet Heart. I can't wait to see whose story is next. I'm hoping its BJ, a guy with much hidden wisdom and depth.
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Read this if you:
*Enjoy Student/Teacher tropes
*Like Contemporary Sports Romances
*Appreciate humor, passion, and heartbreak
*Enjoy Student/Teacher tropes
*Like Contemporary Sports Romances
*Appreciate humor, passion, and heartbreak
Synopsis: Maverick is headed off to his senior year of college with a career in the NHL in sight. After Clover literally floats right into him on his dock, he decides one last summer fling never hurt anyone. He walks out without leaving his number as he has other plans for life. Clover lands herself a one-year job at a prestigious college as a professor. She can do anything for a year, until one cocky student walks through the door. Will having Maverick as her student change the plans?
Reader’s Thoughts: I am not usually one for super long reads however this book stole my heart from the very beginning. The humor, passion, and heartache in this book were the perfect storm. I adored each character from the very beginning. Hunting spends just the right amount of time in each portion of the story giving you the right amount of detail allowing the reader to feel as if they are living the story right along with Maverick and Clover. The side characters in this novel were just as enjoyable, bringing the right amount of detail to the storyline.
Bitter Sweet Heart was the first book I had read by H. Hunting. It is the 2nd book in the Lies, Hearts, and Truth series. Even though this is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone. There was not a time that I felt lost or that I should have known more to follow along. With that being said, now that I know this is part of a series, I am dying to get my hands on book number one.
Available September 1st 2022
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you, @SocialButterflyPR and @helenahunting for providing me with a complimentary review copy. In no way has that influenced my voluntary review.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Clover literally floats into Maverick's life at the end of one summer, and after spending one night together, they don't expect to see each other again. Clover unknowing takes a job as a long-term substitute professor at Maverick's college when he walks in late to his class and sees her there. What happens when they keep running into each other on campus? Clover says they need to keep things professional. With some added problems in Clover's life, Maverick ends up coming to her rescue a few different times. Once the school year ends, Maverick graduates and Clover's teaching contract ends, they discuss making things official, but Maverick has a potential professional hockey career ahead, so where will that leave them? Can they make it past their demons fighting against them?
QOTP: How do you feel about next generation books? Where the book focuses on children from a previous book? This is my first and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would.
LOVED: Maverick's growth. Your heart will break for him, but it all turns out so wonderful.
AWW: So much. Maverick is not just some young hockey player. He has a heart and he genuinely cares about everyone, but he's definitely alpha too.
LOL: "You're about as inconspicuous as a fully dressed person in a modest colony."
FAVE QUOTE: "We're only real in the cosmos we create with each other."
BEST SPICY SCENE: Honestly, they were all great 😅
THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU IF: you love a strong alpha with a huge heart.