Tattooed Heart

Stagwood Falls: Love in Ink #2

by Elizabeth Barone

Sabella makes a living covering up people’s bad tattoos, creating art out of regrets and mistakes. When she finds herself separated from her high school sweetheart turned heartbreaker, she doesn’t just go into hiding; she takes her best friend up on an offer for a fresh start at her new tattoo shop and runs all the way to Stagwood Falls, an idyllic town reinventing itself after its own heartache. It’s the perfect place to hide, and it’s where she finds a new purpose: teaching the healing power of art to a community that's desperate to move on. Unfortunately, to put her plan into action, Sabella must enlist the help of one sexy, sensitive town social worker, Benton Rhinehart—AKA the guy who wants nothing to do with her after their first encounter ended in hurt feelings and a wounded ego.

Benton gives everything to the people of Stagwood Falls, but the bank still took all he had when the recession hit. Instead of rebuilding himself, he eagerly dove headfirst into solving other people’s problems. So when Sabella comes to him with her community art program plan, Benton doesn't hesitate to throw himself fully into it, even if that means working with the woman who shamelessly snubbed him the first time they met. Despite their rocky start, it's hard to ignore that Sabella and Benton make a great team. Their business relationship quickly turns into a friendship they both desperately need. Even though they're better off as friends, the more time they spend together, the harder it is to ignore that there's something much deeper going on. But when Sabella’s ex comes to town saying everything she wants to hear, she has to choose between her heart and her dream. Both feel like the same thing, and choosing wrong is one mistake she won’t be able to cover up.

200 pages, ebook

Published November 28, 2023

About the author

Elizabeth Barone writes romance with a body count—sometimes figuratively, sometimes literally (but always fictionally, for legal reasons). She writes both because life isn’t just dark or light, it’s both.

Before publishing her debut novel, she was a web designer writing code instead of stories. It took a debilitating autoimmune disorder to shove her onto the path she was always meant to be on.

Elizabeth has published over a dozen novels, and has so many ideas for more, she finally has the job security she always dreamed of. She lives in Connecticut with her husband Mike, more coffee mugs than she’ll ever need, and too many characters “talking” to her.

Reviews

[Bitterblue's books · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book left me seething by the end, and honestly, I regret reading it since I was having a good reading streak this month.

Let's start with something false that it's in the blurb: she's not divorced! Sure, she asked for it before bailing and moving to another town, but her husband was adamant about not signing the papers, and she continued her life for A YEAR simply swiping it under the rug. And this makes her a cheater, there's no other way around it.

This synopsis was full of things that in reality were half-baked: her tattoo shop? There are just a few perfunctory scenes inside it just because it's her job. The art program that she starts? We literally see it in passing, described by a third person, we never see her actually do anything with it.

Sabella is supposed to be 35 but has the emotional maturity of a high schooler. She left her husband because he didn't want children for ten years, and thinks that by ignoring him, he'll sign the papers. Then he comes into her town full of shit, thing that everyone around her could see, and she threw everything away (not that honestly what she had was worth it) to follow this spineless and useless husband in his newfound shitty life, only to fall into the same and trite patterns.

Now, let's talk about Benton, who is as fascinating as a goldfish. He is easily offended by the slightest thing and doesn't talk to Sabella for months because of a harmless joke that she made where she made fun of both of them! Not just him, she put herself in the joke, but nooo, let's act like a prissy princess.
His POV was a pity party from the first page to the last, and I couldn't stand him, I just wanted him to shut up.

There was absolutely no chemistry between them, and I don't understand why they would be wasting time with each other: she wanted kids, he didn't. To her it's a dealbreaker, or at least it is with her husband and not with the hunk who pays attention to her, so I guess she doesn't want kids anymore.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lenaasty · Rating 2 out of 5]

way too realistic for me. they're together at 30% and navigating a relationship where one wants kids and the other doesn't for the remaining 70%. no drama, just (mainly) good vibes


[arc review, honest opinion]

[PP's Bookshelf · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love a book when the characters are complex and their feelings leave you torn inside. Tattooed Heart by Elizabeth Barone definitely falls in that category. Sabella and Benton got into a tangled mess of scorching hot passion and confusing feels but finally love cleared everything.

I love sassy heroines with touch of vulnerability. And everything about our tattoo artist Sabella screams "I am the queen but my armor has cracks too". She comes from an unstable home but a loving biker father who introduced art and tattoo in her life & she has made out a name for herself. She has been separated from her dbag high school sweetheart husband who was basically an addict and waste of space and refuses to give her an official divorce. She is rebuilding her heart and the small town is an amazing place to heal. I like how she is aware of her weakness and Strengths. She is talented and witty and smart and so kind. But she definitely makes some super bad decisions irrationally and hastily those made me shake my head. How on earth did she give the hubby a second chance? Benton pushing her away isn't a good enough reason. Wanting a baby is a more stupid one.

Now about Benton. Hmm this guy has even more issues than Sabella. Deep abandonment issues. Those seep into his life even now. He works hard as social worker and stretches himself thin to help others but he is surprisingly messed up about his own feelings. He has this ridiculous insecurity about not having enough materialistic possession for Sabella and he childishly pushed her away repeatedly. Sabella never ever cared for it and she showed so repeatedly. I think it's kind of admirable that he wants to be the man. He had to work through his issues and he did. Just took a long time. He was really caring and protective all the time. He has a tender heart. The chemistry was never lacking.

The last few chapters were definitely full of angst and emotional shocks but I am glad Sabella and Benton found their way through the mess.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily

[Adrianna Heaney-velu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sabella, a struggling tattoo artist, dreams of a life of art that helps people cope with life issues they are dealing with. After her messy divorce she found herself in a small town working for her best friend at her tattoo shop. Her dreams of facilitating art that heals will only be possible with the help of Benton, a social worker that ended in a night of hurt feelings. Benton is always helping everyone else and never himself, so he is more than happy to help Sabella with her program. As Sabella and Benton work relationship grows so does their personal relationship.

“Tattooed Heart” by Elizabeth Barone is a great miscommunication trope book. I liked reading and was very sweet with the relationship, even the ups and downs. I waited patiently for their relationship in the book to work because I knew they are perfect for each other once they get over the miscommunication. The cover is also so beautiful. 4 out of 5 stars.

[Bonita Soley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Family lost and found, making your own family as you find your way. Of course there is a Rocky romance or two intertwined, but more about the strength of love and friendship, and often forgiveness, of self and others. A very warm read.

[lizzi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do not love this book. I think any time you've got a character that is running from their old spouse (unless it's an abusive spouse) you've got someone who is selfish and makes shitty decisions. Enter Sabella, the Queen of bad decisions.

First of all, you can't make me hate the husband and then have her get back together with him. One moment we hate him and now we're all supposed to like him again? It feels like a group text when your friend gets back with THAT guy. I can't say that either of these male leads is a winner, because every single character in this book needs intensive therapy.

Benton is a man child. There is no way around it. I was exhausted reading him. I get it, he's tortured, he wants to provide, etc. But Jesus H Christ my boy, if a woman is with you because she wants material things, what are you DOING?

Also, it's a huge trigger that should be added, but Sabella isn't divorced. Not even close. She left papers, he said no, rather than follow that up like an adult and have a default order made to force a divorce, she just fucks off to lalaland until ole hubby decides "let's try again" and she's like "well nobody else will love me so I guess so!" It didn't fit with her personality, at all.

[Mery · Rating 3 out of 5]

☁️ Secrets
🥑 Open door
✨ Found Family
💔 More than one love interest

Thank you Netgalley for the e-arc.

Meh. That was my global feeling about this book… I don’t usually find the synopsis lacking, but in this case, it was not the same story. I felt like the ‘mayor’ arc was supposed to be important but it was not mentioned at all in the synopsis ? Some with the ex, he came back at 70% percent, whereas Benton competing for mayor was in like, 3 or 4 chapters in ?

Also, Spoilers !!! I did not like it when the main character goes from one love interest to the other, only to go back to the first… I mean, going back to her ex, just to dump him a week later ? What about Ben’s feelings ?!
I didn’t like Sabella’s personality at all, I find her a bit self centered. the only part of her character I liked were her background. She’s had a different and weird upbringing, even tragic at times.

[CR · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another take it or leave it story. It wasn't bad it was worth the read but I don't think I would read it again. I am not sure if I would read anything else from this author as well. The characters were ok at the most and well also kind of meh. The story itself was lack luster and just wasn't enough.

[Clif · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great love story!!!

[Grace Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book and a nice read, didn't feel that it was anything special but I did enjoy the book throughout. Recommend for your next read