lady_h_reads 's review for:

Frozen Hearts by R.A. Smyth
5.0
challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️½
Perhaps I’m not as broken as I believe. Perhaps there’s something in the water at Halston U. Or perhaps their damage speaks to mine in a song without words. One that, instead of breaking us apart, melds us together.
 
Five enthusiastic stars!
 
Holy shit, this book wrecked me. I am still reeling from the high state of anxiety I held while reading. It goes from light and fluffy to dark, dark quickly. Sunshine and rainbows to thunder and lightning. And it doesn’t let up. I loved it! Give me all the pain. All the angst.
 
There is substantial character development. The MCs’ backstories are revealed like the rings of an onion, garnering sympathy and giving them depth. There is a shared darkness and harsh edges; everyone is slightly damaged.
 
You may come to love and then hate the MMCs. At more than one point, I wanted to give them a dick punch. It has been a long time since I have such strong feelings about a MC’s behavior. I will require some growth and groveling before their redemption arc is complete.
 
I adore the FMC, Riley. She is a survivor, arising from the ashes even stronger. This isn’t to say she doesn’t struggle at times, but she is not broken. The things she suffered did not break her. She has become a close second to Hadley (from Pacific Prep), my favorite FMC RA Smyth has written.
 
This is medium burn, transitioning from steamy to spicy by the end of the book. You cannot deny the characters’ sexual chemistry, pulling them together almost against their better judgment. There is lots of sexual tension that builds up to the spicy scenes. Please read the TW available in the book. Not every scene is entirely consensual. 
 
I need Part Two. I need the grovel. I need the redemption. But more than anything, I need Riley to get her HEA.
 
Highly recommended!
 
Genre: Dark College Bully Romance
Tropes/Features: Very dark elements, elite college, bully, rich vs. poor MCs, chosen family, revenge plot, trauma survivor FMC, golden retriever hockey player, former football player turned fighter, stepbrother, kidnapping, dubcon/noncon 
Narrator: Multiple 1st Person POV
Relationship Type: Why Choose MFMM, medium burn, steamy-to-spicy (lots of sexual tension, kinks)
Book Type/Ending: Halston U Part One, cliffhanger
TW/CW: Extensive list in book
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