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The Orchid #4
When Hearts Awaken
A ballerina stronger than her scars. A billionaire broken behind his charm. Blistering hate unravels into consuming love. But will their dark secrets heal them or destroy them?
Taylor Peyton-Anderson’s world shattered one night when she was sixteen, leaving her broken but not defeated. Six years later, ballet has become her escape and her salvation. Her only goal—survive long enough to become a principal dancer.
No love. No weaknesses. No distractions.
Charles Vaughn is everything she despises—the media’s golden prince, the older charismatic billionaire who wields his charm like a weapon. But beneath his perfect smile lies a fractured soul carrying secrets as dark as her own.
After their first meeting ends in fiery sparks, they’re thrown together on an international ballet tour to save his company’s reputation.
Soon, their blistering hatred burns into something even more dangerous. He sees through her carefully crafted armor, and she uncovers the broken man beneath his façade.
But when the monsters from Taylor’s past resurface, and the secrets Charles is hiding threaten to tear them apart, will their fragile connection survive—or will it destroy them both?
Hate brought them together. The truth could tear them apart.
Tropes in When Hearts Awaken:
Enemies to lovers
Billionaire
Age gap
Trauma healing
Who did this to you?
I’ll burn the world for you
Touch her and die
Slow burn
Goth ballerina and complicated hero
Brother’s best friend
Swoony text messages
Found family
Mental health representation
Dark topics but the romance isn’t dark
Spicy and angsty
Dual POV and HEA
Taylor Peyton-Anderson’s world shattered one night when she was sixteen, leaving her broken but not defeated. Six years later, ballet has become her escape and her salvation. Her only goal—survive long enough to become a principal dancer.
No love. No weaknesses. No distractions.
Charles Vaughn is everything she despises—the media’s golden prince, the older charismatic billionaire who wields his charm like a weapon. But beneath his perfect smile lies a fractured soul carrying secrets as dark as her own.
After their first meeting ends in fiery sparks, they’re thrown together on an international ballet tour to save his company’s reputation.
Soon, their blistering hatred burns into something even more dangerous. He sees through her carefully crafted armor, and she uncovers the broken man beneath his façade.
But when the monsters from Taylor’s past resurface, and the secrets Charles is hiding threaten to tear them apart, will their fragile connection survive—or will it destroy them both?
Hate brought them together. The truth could tear them apart.
Tropes in When Hearts Awaken:
Enemies to lovers
Billionaire
Age gap
Trauma healing
Who did this to you?
I’ll burn the world for you
Touch her and die
Slow burn
Goth ballerina and complicated hero
Brother’s best friend
Swoony text messages
Found family
Mental health representation
Dark topics but the romance isn’t dark
Spicy and angsty
Dual POV and HEA
427 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 5, 2025
224 people are currently reading
856 people want to read
About the author
Victoria Lum
11 books342 followersVictoria is a lover of all things romance, including movies, books, and television shows. A hopeless romantic since childhood, she is always dreaming up stories and happily ever afters. Caramel lattes are her fuel in the morning and she can usually be found reading anything she can get her hands on. She lives with her family and a beautiful Siberian husky in sunny California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 336 reviews
March 9, 2025
No clue as to why i kept reading.
Because i had so many reasons to dnf it
Jotting some of them down below:
“His eyes are dilated. I can barely see his irises anymore.” HOW THE FUCK CAN EYES BE DILATED?!!
“Come for me, minx. Give me more of your cum. Let me feel you flood my fingers.” IS SHE A WATER TAP 🚰
“So you didn’t come and leak all over my fingers that night?” LEAK??!!!!! TF IS GOING ON !!!!!
“Look at my 🐓 weeping for you.” WEEPING??!!! I HATE THIS SO MUCH.
“Are you greedy for my cum?” I HATE MYSELF FOR NOT DNFING IT :)
Because i had so many reasons to dnf it
Jotting some of them down below:
“His eyes are dilated. I can barely see his irises anymore.” HOW THE FUCK CAN EYES BE DILATED?!!
“Come for me, minx. Give me more of your cum. Let me feel you flood my fingers.” IS SHE A WATER TAP 🚰
“So you didn’t come and leak all over my fingers that night?” LEAK??!!!!! TF IS GOING ON !!!!!
“Look at my 🐓 weeping for you.” WEEPING??!!! I HATE THIS SO MUCH.
“Are you greedy for my cum?” I HATE MYSELF FOR NOT DNFING IT :)
December 30, 2025
Taylor was such a strong FMC, I fell in love with her like in an instant, right from the epilogue. Like ma'am what do you mean she wanted to be Odette but ended up being the black swan 😭😭 I swear I got chills and couldn't wait to devour this story.
Charles the charming billionaire, who looked as badass as any usual MMC but this one literally wore heart on his sleeves.
The scars and pain they both had and how they healed each other by their love for one another was truly heart warming.
The connection between Charles and Taylor was truly captivating, encompassing banter, love, pain, and a range of other emotions. I appreciate how the author prioritized their genuine bond over mere lust, maintaining a perfect balance between physical desire and emotional connection. Their relationship was built on playful teasing and clever remarks, yet beneath the surface, Charles perceived a hidden vulnerability in Taylor. He witnessed her pain in unguarded moments and yearned to be the one to mend her heart. For Taylor, Charles was more than just a lover; he was her pillar of strength, her protector, and the soothing balm to her wounds – her everything.
Similarly, Taylor saw through Charles's facade from their first encounter, recognizing his masked emotions. She challenged him at every turn, pushing him beyond his comfort zone. Though initially hesitant to fully commit, witnessing her eventual leap of faith towards him was beautiful. She became his protector and healer, just as he was hers. They were truly made for each other. The kind of couple that makes you believe in true love. Alas it's only fictional.
God me when. 😭
Charles the charming billionaire, who looked as badass as any usual MMC but this one literally wore heart on his sleeves.
The scars and pain they both had and how they healed each other by their love for one another was truly heart warming.
The connection between Charles and Taylor was truly captivating, encompassing banter, love, pain, and a range of other emotions. I appreciate how the author prioritized their genuine bond over mere lust, maintaining a perfect balance between physical desire and emotional connection. Their relationship was built on playful teasing and clever remarks, yet beneath the surface, Charles perceived a hidden vulnerability in Taylor. He witnessed her pain in unguarded moments and yearned to be the one to mend her heart. For Taylor, Charles was more than just a lover; he was her pillar of strength, her protector, and the soothing balm to her wounds – her everything.
Similarly, Taylor saw through Charles's facade from their first encounter, recognizing his masked emotions. She challenged him at every turn, pushing him beyond his comfort zone. Though initially hesitant to fully commit, witnessing her eventual leap of faith towards him was beautiful. She became his protector and healer, just as he was hers. They were truly made for each other. The kind of couple that makes you believe in true love. Alas it's only fictional.
God me when. 😭
February 5, 2025
**6 Stars**
🌶️🌶️🌶️
When Hearts Awaken is my new favorite romance from Victoria Lum. This book put me through so many emotions, and I continue to be impressed by her writing. She has made me cry in two of her books now because she takes a billionaire romance and makes it so much more. This book deals with some very traumatic events and the long-term effect that trauma has on a person. Victoria handled all of these elements with sensitivity and care. She has a way of writing such relatable and well developed characters that make her books more emotional.
Also, Charles Vaughn is now on my book boyfriend list, and he is my new favorite Victoria Lum hero. This man is PERFECTION!!!!
Taylor and Charles have disliked each other since they met due to a disastrous first meeting. They avoided each other the last couple of years, but it has been difficult since Charles is a close friend of her family. They have to deal with each other more now that his company is sponsoring her ballet companies' production of Swan Lake. It has always been Taylor's dream to perform the lead of Odette since she was a little girl, but she has been struggling to perform the white swan because of her previous trauma. Charles is also dealing with guilt and trauma from his past mistakes with his sister. They come together in such a beautiful way to work through their demons. They realize they both had jumped to the wrong conclusions about each other and started to fall hard.
I loved their dynamic and how hard they fought for each other. Taylor was such a strong character and a true survivor, but she always felt alone. Charles comes into her life and shows her she will never be alone again and that she can always depend on him. This man was so swoon-worthy, and the way he wooed her melted my heart. He would send your roses (with thorns) because he knew she loved them and to show her he loved her thorns and all. He would also give her daily reasons he loved her. Charles was so protective and supportive to Taylor... I love this man!
I appreciated the way these two communicated and didn't let anything come in between them. Taylor's journey was so heartbreaking, and I loved seeing how she fought for herself and other SA victims. This story was very powerful and meaningful, with so many beautiful moments. I did already guess the twist early on in the book, but it has me so excited for the next book.
I highly recommend the Orchid series! Please check for triggers before reading this book, but I will list them below.
Triggers:
Kinks: BDSM, breath play, impact play
Thank you to the author for providing the ARC.
🌶️🌶️🌶️
When Hearts Awaken is my new favorite romance from Victoria Lum. This book put me through so many emotions, and I continue to be impressed by her writing. She has made me cry in two of her books now because she takes a billionaire romance and makes it so much more. This book deals with some very traumatic events and the long-term effect that trauma has on a person. Victoria handled all of these elements with sensitivity and care. She has a way of writing such relatable and well developed characters that make her books more emotional.
Also, Charles Vaughn is now on my book boyfriend list, and he is my new favorite Victoria Lum hero. This man is PERFECTION!!!!
Taylor and Charles have disliked each other since they met due to a disastrous first meeting. They avoided each other the last couple of years, but it has been difficult since Charles is a close friend of her family. They have to deal with each other more now that his company is sponsoring her ballet companies' production of Swan Lake. It has always been Taylor's dream to perform the lead of Odette since she was a little girl, but she has been struggling to perform the white swan because of her previous trauma. Charles is also dealing with guilt and trauma from his past mistakes with his sister. They come together in such a beautiful way to work through their demons. They realize they both had jumped to the wrong conclusions about each other and started to fall hard.
I loved their dynamic and how hard they fought for each other. Taylor was such a strong character and a true survivor, but she always felt alone. Charles comes into her life and shows her she will never be alone again and that she can always depend on him. This man was so swoon-worthy, and the way he wooed her melted my heart. He would send your roses (with thorns) because he knew she loved them and to show her he loved her thorns and all. He would also give her daily reasons he loved her. Charles was so protective and supportive to Taylor... I love this man!
I appreciated the way these two communicated and didn't let anything come in between them. Taylor's journey was so heartbreaking, and I loved seeing how she fought for herself and other SA victims. This story was very powerful and meaningful, with so many beautiful moments. I did already guess the twist early on in the book, but it has me so excited for the next book.
I highly recommend the Orchid series! Please check for triggers before reading this book, but I will list them below.
Triggers:
Kinks: BDSM, breath play, impact play
Thank you to the author for providing the ARC.
March 13, 2025
“Roses are more beautiful with thorns.”
Victoria Lum is an amazing writer and this may be my favorite book of hers yet! We see snippets of Taylor and Charles’ banter and energy in the other Orchid books but it doesn’t prepare you for the masterpiece that is When Hearts Awaken!
Watching Taylor’s healing journey and seeing Charles stand by her was everything I could have wanted. The two of them are absolutely perfect together.
The twists that kept coming had me reading this entire book in one day. Add in the spice and you have perfection!
Overall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
Victoria Lum is an amazing writer and this may be my favorite book of hers yet! We see snippets of Taylor and Charles’ banter and energy in the other Orchid books but it doesn’t prepare you for the masterpiece that is When Hearts Awaken!
Watching Taylor’s healing journey and seeing Charles stand by her was everything I could have wanted. The two of them are absolutely perfect together.
The twists that kept coming had me reading this entire book in one day. Add in the spice and you have perfection!
Overall
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶️🌶️🌶️/5
February 3, 2025
✨ ARC Review ✨
Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75/5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶.5
Am I in love!? YES, I Am!!
This was such a heart-wrenching yet beautiful read. This is my first time reading a book by Author Victoria Lum & I can confidently say it won’t be the last. I’m in love with her writing. It was fresh & captivating—I’m honestly in awe of how she uses words. She made me fall in love with these characters & they are gonna stay right here in my ❤️
I was so curious about their stories & it went beyond what I thought. Taylor Peyton-Anderson, Our strong FMC, is a dedicated badass ballerina with the softest heart. Survivor of SA but she didn’t let it drown her. She stands strong & fierce. She knows what she wants & goes after it with her everything. Charles Vaughn, Our billionaire MMC, has tons of hidden scars & broken relations with his family—a man who wears his heart in his eyes but doesn’t know. Both went through so much but seeing them heal & finally be able to move on & fall in love was so moving & painful.
The chemistry between Charles & Taylor was so captivating. It had all—banter, love, pain, & so many other emotions. I love how the author didn’t just focus on lust or the smut part. She showed the actual connection between them. She kept a perfect balance between lust & love. Their relationship was built on playful jabs and witty retorts. But beneath the surface, Charles sensed something in Taylor, a fragility she never revealed. He saw her pain in the moments she thought no one was watching. He knew, without a word spoken, that he wanted to be the one to heal her. Charles was more than just love to her. He was the strength she leaned on, the shield that protected her, the balm that soothed her wounds. He was her everything. Same goes for Taylor… She saw Charles's fake smile the first time she met him & recognised his mask. She called out to him at every step and made him do things out of his zone. Slowly she realised Charles’s true intentions towards her but was scared to leap & seeing her finally take that leap towards him was so beautiful. She protected & healed him too. They both found their home in each other.
Now the main question: How can I get Charles for myself!? Tell me, PLEASE. This man stole my heart & left me with nothing. The notes, the roses, the love, the bonding… everything was just 🤌🏻The plot twist… GIRL!! I did not see that coming! I literally needed a minute to process it.
Plus point for Charles here, The man did not waver from his promise to Taylor. He said, “I promise you, Taylor. You aren’t alone in this. Not anymore.” & he did not break his promise. When the storm came, it was hell for both but Charles cried for Taylor. This man earned my respect there. I'm totally head over heels for this guy.
I can't recommend this enough! You’re gonna be obsessed 🤭
⚠️ A very important note: Please be sure to check the trigger warnings before you start this beautiful story. It's essential. ⚠️
Ratings: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.75/5
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶.5
Am I in love!? YES, I Am!!
This was such a heart-wrenching yet beautiful read. This is my first time reading a book by Author Victoria Lum & I can confidently say it won’t be the last. I’m in love with her writing. It was fresh & captivating—I’m honestly in awe of how she uses words. She made me fall in love with these characters & they are gonna stay right here in my ❤️
I was so curious about their stories & it went beyond what I thought. Taylor Peyton-Anderson, Our strong FMC, is a dedicated badass ballerina with the softest heart. Survivor of SA but she didn’t let it drown her. She stands strong & fierce. She knows what she wants & goes after it with her everything. Charles Vaughn, Our billionaire MMC, has tons of hidden scars & broken relations with his family—a man who wears his heart in his eyes but doesn’t know. Both went through so much but seeing them heal & finally be able to move on & fall in love was so moving & painful.
The chemistry between Charles & Taylor was so captivating. It had all—banter, love, pain, & so many other emotions. I love how the author didn’t just focus on lust or the smut part. She showed the actual connection between them. She kept a perfect balance between lust & love. Their relationship was built on playful jabs and witty retorts. But beneath the surface, Charles sensed something in Taylor, a fragility she never revealed. He saw her pain in the moments she thought no one was watching. He knew, without a word spoken, that he wanted to be the one to heal her. Charles was more than just love to her. He was the strength she leaned on, the shield that protected her, the balm that soothed her wounds. He was her everything. Same goes for Taylor… She saw Charles's fake smile the first time she met him & recognised his mask. She called out to him at every step and made him do things out of his zone. Slowly she realised Charles’s true intentions towards her but was scared to leap & seeing her finally take that leap towards him was so beautiful. She protected & healed him too. They both found their home in each other.
Now the main question: How can I get Charles for myself!? Tell me, PLEASE. This man stole my heart & left me with nothing. The notes, the roses, the love, the bonding… everything was just 🤌🏻The plot twist… GIRL!! I did not see that coming! I literally needed a minute to process it.
Plus point for Charles here, The man did not waver from his promise to Taylor. He said, “I promise you, Taylor. You aren’t alone in this. Not anymore.” & he did not break his promise. When the storm came, it was hell for both but Charles cried for Taylor. This man earned my respect there. I'm totally head over heels for this guy.
I can't recommend this enough! You’re gonna be obsessed 🤭
⚠️ A very important note: Please be sure to check the trigger warnings before you start this beautiful story. It's essential. ⚠️
Read
February 16, 2025Dear Readers,
Today is a special day—WHEN HEARTS AWAKEN is officially out in the world! This is my 8th book in my almost 2 year author career so far and it's by far one of the most difficult books I've written because it tackles a tough topic that unfortunately happens to often in the real world. Taylor is a bad*ss heroine, a fighter, a warrior, and I hope her story resonates with you.
Writing this book was an emotional journey—one filled with late nights, intense emotions, and characters who refused to let me go. Taylor and Charles’s story is raw, angsty, and deeply personal, and I’m beyond grateful that I get to share it with all of you.
To everyone who has followed my writing, preordered, added it to your TBR, or just cheered me on—you mean the world to me. 💖 Your support, your messages, your excitement… it fuels every word I write.
For those of you diving into this book, I hope Taylor’s resilience and Charles’s devotion pull you in, make you feel, and remind you that even in darkness, love has the power to heal. And if you haven't read it yet, I hope you'll check it out.
WHEN HEARTS AWAKEN is now live on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited!
Enemies to lovers, billionaire romance, angst, spice, swoony text messages, and a hero who will burn the world for her.
If you’re reading, I’d love to hear what you think! Drop a comment, send a message, or share your favorite quotes—I can’t wait to hear from you!
With all my love and gratitude,
Victoria
Today is a special day—WHEN HEARTS AWAKEN is officially out in the world! This is my 8th book in my almost 2 year author career so far and it's by far one of the most difficult books I've written because it tackles a tough topic that unfortunately happens to often in the real world. Taylor is a bad*ss heroine, a fighter, a warrior, and I hope her story resonates with you.
Writing this book was an emotional journey—one filled with late nights, intense emotions, and characters who refused to let me go. Taylor and Charles’s story is raw, angsty, and deeply personal, and I’m beyond grateful that I get to share it with all of you.
To everyone who has followed my writing, preordered, added it to your TBR, or just cheered me on—you mean the world to me. 💖 Your support, your messages, your excitement… it fuels every word I write.
For those of you diving into this book, I hope Taylor’s resilience and Charles’s devotion pull you in, make you feel, and remind you that even in darkness, love has the power to heal. And if you haven't read it yet, I hope you'll check it out.
WHEN HEARTS AWAKEN is now live on Amazon & Kindle Unlimited!
Enemies to lovers, billionaire romance, angst, spice, swoony text messages, and a hero who will burn the world for her.
If you’re reading, I’d love to hear what you think! Drop a comment, send a message, or share your favorite quotes—I can’t wait to hear from you!
With all my love and gratitude,
Victoria
March 24, 2025
ARC REVIEW!
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 add the infinite stars too.
This is the first time I have read this author but lord knows she got me hooked with her writting. And there is no way I would be able to sit still until I finish her other books. And Charles and Taylor, you both guys are FREAKING SURVIVORS!!! Never been more proud being a woman.
Like my heart can't ever convey what I am feeling in this moment but sure all I can say is all of you should read this book (AFTER READING THE TW'S). When I say this book is not for soft hearts I mean it. It's not insulting but yeah dealing with this level of trauma is definitely something to be proud of and needed to be taken care of.
The way author dealt with each and every aspect of the book is totally freaking mind blowing and I am happy to say the author did taken care of all the sensitive topics so thoroughly it practically made my heart bleed.
Charles god my god! I don't loving him is enough for what I feel for him but yeah I would practically bow down on his feet with respect and Taylor I can practically kiss her feet and be her slave for a lifetime at this point.
You guys are FREAKING amazing and survivors.
To the black swan. You will be missed. 🖤
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 add the infinite stars too.
This is the first time I have read this author but lord knows she got me hooked with her writting. And there is no way I would be able to sit still until I finish her other books. And Charles and Taylor, you both guys are FREAKING SURVIVORS!!! Never been more proud being a woman.
Like my heart can't ever convey what I am feeling in this moment but sure all I can say is all of you should read this book (AFTER READING THE TW'S). When I say this book is not for soft hearts I mean it. It's not insulting but yeah dealing with this level of trauma is definitely something to be proud of and needed to be taken care of.
The way author dealt with each and every aspect of the book is totally freaking mind blowing and I am happy to say the author did taken care of all the sensitive topics so thoroughly it practically made my heart bleed.
Charles god my god! I don't loving him is enough for what I feel for him but yeah I would practically bow down on his feet with respect and Taylor I can practically kiss her feet and be her slave for a lifetime at this point.
You guys are FREAKING amazing and survivors.
To the black swan. You will be missed. 🖤
February 6, 2025
omg this book....😭🫶 loved the book, loved the characters, LOVED THE PLOT I never saw that coming it was so good also the characters my girl taylor is so strong I love her character also Charles I love you. YOU ARE BEST CHARLES. writing was so gripping and amazing and book was so beautiful. overall very nice highly recommend
February 7, 2025
The moment I signed up for this book, I knew I was gonna love it. But what I wasn’t expecting was for it to absolutely ruin me.
When Hearts Awaken is such a beautiful yet tragic, poignant story that follows two broken souls—Taylor Peyton-Anderson and Charles Vaughn—and their journey of healing. I love this book so much. There’s always that one book where the characters, their pain, and their happiness feel so visceral. When Hearts Awaken is that book for me.
🩰𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓– 𝐌𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚
Her life was ruined when she was sixteen. But Taylor didn’t give up. Yeah, she was plagued by the incident, her faith in love and in men was shattered. But she didn’t let it get in the way of her dream—to be a principal ballet dancer.
Despite everything, Taylor is the kindest person. The way she cares for her family, her friends, and her juniors at the ballet company is so sweet. She sees herself as a black swan, and yeah, she is, but to me (and I think you’d agree when you read the book), Taylor Peyton-Anderson is a phoenix.
♠ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒔– 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐯𝐞
Charles Vaughn—the charismatic CEO of the Bank of Colombia. The media calls him the golden prince, but behind that charm and perfect smile, he’s haunted by grief. He carries the weight of one mistake, the one that put his sister in a coma.
He wears a mask, hides behind fake smiles. He may look like a grumpy billionaire, but like Taylor says, Charles wears his heart on his sleeve.
❤️𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 & 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒔– 𝐌𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞
At first? They hated each other. Their personalities clashed hard. But slowly, they started to understand each other. To heal each other.
Charles made Taylor believe in love again. And Taylor helped Charles show his real feelings. Two broken souls. Two dormant hearts. And when they met, their hearts awakened.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster, and I loved every second of it.
When Hearts Awaken is such a beautiful yet tragic, poignant story that follows two broken souls—Taylor Peyton-Anderson and Charles Vaughn—and their journey of healing. I love this book so much. There’s always that one book where the characters, their pain, and their happiness feel so visceral. When Hearts Awaken is that book for me.
🩰𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓– 𝐌𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥, 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠, 𝐁𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐚
Her life was ruined when she was sixteen. But Taylor didn’t give up. Yeah, she was plagued by the incident, her faith in love and in men was shattered. But she didn’t let it get in the way of her dream—to be a principal ballet dancer.
Despite everything, Taylor is the kindest person. The way she cares for her family, her friends, and her juniors at the ballet company is so sweet. She sees herself as a black swan, and yeah, she is, but to me (and I think you’d agree when you read the book), Taylor Peyton-Anderson is a phoenix.
♠ 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒔– 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐯𝐞
Charles Vaughn—the charismatic CEO of the Bank of Colombia. The media calls him the golden prince, but behind that charm and perfect smile, he’s haunted by grief. He carries the weight of one mistake, the one that put his sister in a coma.
He wears a mask, hides behind fake smiles. He may look like a grumpy billionaire, but like Taylor says, Charles wears his heart on his sleeve.
❤️𝑻𝒂𝒚𝒍𝒐𝒓 & 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒔– 𝐌𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐅𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐩𝐥𝐞
At first? They hated each other. Their personalities clashed hard. But slowly, they started to understand each other. To heal each other.
Charles made Taylor believe in love again. And Taylor helped Charles show his real feelings. Two broken souls. Two dormant hearts. And when they met, their hearts awakened.
This book was an emotional rollercoaster, and I loved every second of it.
February 12, 2025
"What would it feel like to let someone in and have her love all parts of you, including the parts you hide."
Taylor was such a badass FMC !!
Charles Vaughn ?!!! ❤️❤️
Also the way Charles was ready to burn the world for Taylor had me swooning!!
Loved this book so much. The chemistry? Omg!!
Their banter ?!!
Also there is a plot twist that i didnt see coming and it literally felt like cherry on top.
Go read this if you want to have a rollercoaster ride💗
I cant believe i havent read this authors work before.
I am going to go and read all the other books in series now.
Taylor was such a badass FMC !!
Charles Vaughn ?!!! ❤️❤️
Also the way Charles was ready to burn the world for Taylor had me swooning!!
Loved this book so much. The chemistry? Omg!!
Their banter ?!!
Also there is a plot twist that i didnt see coming and it literally felt like cherry on top.
Go read this if you want to have a rollercoaster ride💗
I cant believe i havent read this authors work before.
I am going to go and read all the other books in series now.
February 13, 2025
This one 😮💨😮💨😮💨😮💨
This entire book was driven by plot with such great angst, emotional storyline, and twists you’ll never see coming.
I highlighted so much in the book, because simply they’re quotable and memorable quotes.
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐌𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧. 𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝.
Taylor’s story is a lot of women’s stories unfortunately. But, the way Victoria told the story, impactful yet raw. An unforgettable story, she just knows how to make me emotional.
Charles is the prime example of “he never quits” and gosh do I love him for it! The irresistible Dom He is. The barre scene
Looooooord. I love his methods 🥵
Tropes:
Angst
Self healing
Mild enemies to lovers
Age gap (13 years)
He’s her boss
Light BDSM
Red, yellow, green 😮💨
Barre scene
Redemption
This entire book was driven by plot with such great angst, emotional storyline, and twists you’ll never see coming.
I highlighted so much in the book, because simply they’re quotable and memorable quotes.
Ratings: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Spice:🌶️🌶️🌶️
𝐌𝐲 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐈 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧. 𝐍𝐨𝐰, 𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐟𝐨𝐮𝐫, 𝐈’𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝.
Taylor’s story is a lot of women’s stories unfortunately. But, the way Victoria told the story, impactful yet raw. An unforgettable story, she just knows how to make me emotional.
Charles is the prime example of “he never quits” and gosh do I love him for it! The irresistible Dom He is. The barre scene
Looooooord. I love his methods 🥵
Tropes:
Angst
Self healing
Mild enemies to lovers
Age gap (13 years)
He’s her boss
Light BDSM
Red, yellow, green 😮💨
Barre scene
Redemption
February 1, 2025
When Hearts Awaken by Victoria Lum
This is the fourth book in The Orchid series, featuring Taylor Peyton-Anderson, a ballerina and a rape warrior, and Charles Vaughn, the hot CEO of the Bank of Columbia. The cherry on top? They hate each other… or do they?
Trigger Warnings: Please, please, please check the trigger warnings before reading. I didn’t—and I should have.
What I Absolutely Loved ❤️
- The essence of the story: "Roses are more beautiful with their thorns." Chapter 27 is hands down the best chapter ever written. I have never related to a chapter this much.
- The banter? Spicy. Delicious. Perfection.
- The minor characters are my favorite! The girl gang? I manifest that energy. I wish I had such girls in my life.
- There’s this one chapter where Charles helps ballerina students because Taylor was sick and didn’t want them to miss out. He bent down and painted with them?! Excuse me?! Are you kidding me?!
- And the best part—he sent her a dozen roses every single day. I WANT THAT TOO! What is this behavior?!
What Didn’t Work for Me 🙅🏻♀️
- I haven’t been a fan of smut lately, so I had to skip through a lot of chapters. But that’s a me problem. If you enjoy smut, the book has some well-written BDSM scenes.
- One thing that weirded me out: Taylor was having a major panic attack, and right after, she demanded BDSM from him—for the first time. It was unsettling. But given her trauma, it’s difficult to fully understand what she was feeling in that moment.
Overall Experience: I was giggling and kicking my feet at their banter. Chapter 27 absolutely wrecked me. And that’s an understatement. I might be exaggerating, but that topic is very close to my heart.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Note for the Author: The author has done a commendable job tackling such a difficult topic—rape and sexual assault. The writing truly immerses you in the victim’s journey—from being a victim to a warrior, and ultimately, a survivor.
This is the fourth book in The Orchid series, featuring Taylor Peyton-Anderson, a ballerina and a rape warrior, and Charles Vaughn, the hot CEO of the Bank of Columbia. The cherry on top? They hate each other… or do they?
Trigger Warnings: Please, please, please check the trigger warnings before reading. I didn’t—and I should have.
What I Absolutely Loved ❤️
- The essence of the story: "Roses are more beautiful with their thorns." Chapter 27 is hands down the best chapter ever written. I have never related to a chapter this much.
- The banter? Spicy. Delicious. Perfection.
- The minor characters are my favorite! The girl gang? I manifest that energy. I wish I had such girls in my life.
- There’s this one chapter where Charles helps ballerina students because Taylor was sick and didn’t want them to miss out. He bent down and painted with them?! Excuse me?! Are you kidding me?!
- And the best part—he sent her a dozen roses every single day. I WANT THAT TOO! What is this behavior?!
What Didn’t Work for Me 🙅🏻♀️
- I haven’t been a fan of smut lately, so I had to skip through a lot of chapters. But that’s a me problem. If you enjoy smut, the book has some well-written BDSM scenes.
- One thing that weirded me out: Taylor was having a major panic attack, and right after, she demanded BDSM from him—for the first time. It was unsettling. But given her trauma, it’s difficult to fully understand what she was feeling in that moment.
Overall Experience: I was giggling and kicking my feet at their banter. Chapter 27 absolutely wrecked me. And that’s an understatement. I might be exaggerating, but that topic is very close to my heart.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Note for the Author: The author has done a commendable job tackling such a difficult topic—rape and sexual assault. The writing truly immerses you in the victim’s journey—from being a victim to a warrior, and ultimately, a survivor.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2025
Rating: 5✨
Spice: 3.75🌶
Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. This review is voluntary & honest.
VICTORIA HAS DONE IT AGAIN. This book has 100% become my top favorite read of hers so far. I could not put it down & when I absolutely had to, I could not stop thinking about it & the need to get back to it. I knew Taylor & Charles story would be a good one from their interactions alone in the previous books in The Orchid series, but I did not think I would love it THIS MUCH.
📣 Now, before going into the rest of the review, I would like to remind those interested in reading this book to please look at the trigger warnings before reading it! It is VERY important that you do so! 📣
Let me just start of with saying that this love story was a captivating & passionate one. This book had dark themes to it, but it definitely was not a dark romance. This story was one of healing, of getting past a tragic past & coming out stronger, of finding the one who will face your monsters alongside you & love you for who you truly are. Thorns & all.
Taylor Peyton-Anderson, my absolute ballerina Queen. I do not think I can love her character any more than I do. Her story, her journey, it made me feel the deepest of emotions & I was wholeheartedly rooting for her, ready to face everything head-on next to her. Her strength & her fierce personality were some of my top favorites, but her soft moments where the inner Taylor, the one hidden behind her mask & walls of protection, shined were absolutely heartwarming. I just wanted to give her the biggest hug throughout the whole book.
Charles Vaughn, my broken hero with a mask of his own. The persona he shows the world of the prince, the charming billionaire, stealing the hearts of many while holding his own broken-down heart in his sleeve. Waiting for the right person to come & bring it back to life. His story is also one that will make your eyes teary & your heart hurt, but his journey is also one that will bring the brightest smile to your face by the end. He is a fierce lover, who shows you what loving someone unapologetically looks like. He is someone who loves so deeply & fights dirty if needed for those he cares for. My little cinnamon roll who can be intimidating when he needs to be. I wholeheartedly love him & will forever be obsessed with him. I need a Charles in my life. And also, the moments he had me gasping for air while also going absolutely feral? Like, yes sir, consider me a GONER.
Taylor & Charles’ story was a magical & delicious one. Their banter is absolutely top tier & the chemistry between them is unmatched. You could see the fire between them from their first meeting & every single moment between them had you needing more & more. Victoria’s writing in this book is also incredible & easy to love. You fully become immersed in this story & world she has created & feeling like you’re part of this story as well. This series also has one of my favorite found families, this group of friends & family members would do anything for one another & it makes my heart so happy to see it. All relationships, familial, platonic or romantic, bring something to the overall story & are therefore so important.
You definitely need to read When Hearts Awaken & the whole “The Orchid” series if you haven’t already. I 100% recommend it. This one is for my age gap girlies, who love enemies to lovers love stories, incredible banter, swoon-worthy moments, a delicious slow burn & an “I’ll burn the world for you” MMC with an FMC who will do the exact same thing for him. This is for sure a MUST READ! 💛
Spice: 3.75🌶
Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. This review is voluntary & honest.
VICTORIA HAS DONE IT AGAIN. This book has 100% become my top favorite read of hers so far. I could not put it down & when I absolutely had to, I could not stop thinking about it & the need to get back to it. I knew Taylor & Charles story would be a good one from their interactions alone in the previous books in The Orchid series, but I did not think I would love it THIS MUCH.
📣 Now, before going into the rest of the review, I would like to remind those interested in reading this book to please look at the trigger warnings before reading it! It is VERY important that you do so! 📣
Let me just start of with saying that this love story was a captivating & passionate one. This book had dark themes to it, but it definitely was not a dark romance. This story was one of healing, of getting past a tragic past & coming out stronger, of finding the one who will face your monsters alongside you & love you for who you truly are. Thorns & all.
Taylor Peyton-Anderson, my absolute ballerina Queen. I do not think I can love her character any more than I do. Her story, her journey, it made me feel the deepest of emotions & I was wholeheartedly rooting for her, ready to face everything head-on next to her. Her strength & her fierce personality were some of my top favorites, but her soft moments where the inner Taylor, the one hidden behind her mask & walls of protection, shined were absolutely heartwarming. I just wanted to give her the biggest hug throughout the whole book.
Charles Vaughn, my broken hero with a mask of his own. The persona he shows the world of the prince, the charming billionaire, stealing the hearts of many while holding his own broken-down heart in his sleeve. Waiting for the right person to come & bring it back to life. His story is also one that will make your eyes teary & your heart hurt, but his journey is also one that will bring the brightest smile to your face by the end. He is a fierce lover, who shows you what loving someone unapologetically looks like. He is someone who loves so deeply & fights dirty if needed for those he cares for. My little cinnamon roll who can be intimidating when he needs to be. I wholeheartedly love him & will forever be obsessed with him. I need a Charles in my life. And also, the moments he had me gasping for air while also going absolutely feral? Like, yes sir, consider me a GONER.
Taylor & Charles’ story was a magical & delicious one. Their banter is absolutely top tier & the chemistry between them is unmatched. You could see the fire between them from their first meeting & every single moment between them had you needing more & more. Victoria’s writing in this book is also incredible & easy to love. You fully become immersed in this story & world she has created & feeling like you’re part of this story as well. This series also has one of my favorite found families, this group of friends & family members would do anything for one another & it makes my heart so happy to see it. All relationships, familial, platonic or romantic, bring something to the overall story & are therefore so important.
You definitely need to read When Hearts Awaken & the whole “The Orchid” series if you haven’t already. I 100% recommend it. This one is for my age gap girlies, who love enemies to lovers love stories, incredible banter, swoon-worthy moments, a delicious slow burn & an “I’ll burn the world for you” MMC with an FMC who will do the exact same thing for him. This is for sure a MUST READ! 💛
February 12, 2025
Spice: 3.
Tropes:
billionaire
age gap
enemies to lovers
found family
gothic ballerina
mental health rep
trauma healing
touch her and die
brother's best friend
Dual POV
Trigger Warnings:
self harm
s3xual assault
Victoria Lum is the queen of emotional romances. And I love every story I read by her. Truly, she has a beautiful gift of drawing you into her characters and making you feel so intensely about them. That's what I mean by emotional romances. The characters she writes are sometimes flawed, sometimes scared, sometimes wholesome, sometimes a hero/heroine.... they're just so well written. That said, When Hearts Awaken put me thru an emotional journey and I suggest reading the Author's note in the beginning- there are trigger warnings that shouldn't be taken lightly. Victoria handles these issues with grace and understanding, and I really felt the PTSD that Taylor shows was very realistic. I loved that about this story. It was real. And I hope it helps heal someone, if they need healing.
When Hearts Awaken has 2 parts. Part One takes place after events of When Hearts Ignite (book 2) and Part Two is "present day." We finally learn Taylor and Charles back story, why they disliked and hated each other so much during book 3 (When Hearts Surrender). I liked this story! It was good to see how they got where they did. Have you all watched "Center Stage?" It was a movie released probably 25-30 years ago. Anyways, I got Center Stage vibes reading this book and I'm here for it.
My favorite was Part Two though! In the present day, Taylor is living with PTSD and hasn't told a soul about the night that changed her life forever. When the lead ballerina, at her ballet company, hurts herself, Taylor- her understudy- has to step up to be the White Swan/Black Swan. While Taylor has the black swan down, she struggles with the innocence/love, that the white swan portrays. After some triggering moments, Charles- who happens to be there, and Taylor start moving from the "enemies" category to the "Friend" one. Will they allow their hearts to be awoken by one another?
I loved this book. Truly. I want to call Charles a golden retriever hero, but honestly, I don't think golden retriever covers him. He's good, he really is, but he will kill you if you hurt Taylor in any way. I felt so much for him when it came to his sister Firefly being in a coma. I can't imagine the heartbreak he was going thru, having to make medical decisions. That in itself is hard.
It was beautiful seeing the Anderson family again. I love them so much. I do wander... will we ever get an Elias Kent book? Because I'm 100% here for it. LOL I know he's not an Anderson, but maybe a spin off?
ALSO THAT ENDING! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! SOOOOOOO good!
Tropes:
billionaire
age gap
enemies to lovers
found family
gothic ballerina
mental health rep
trauma healing
touch her and die
brother's best friend
Dual POV
Trigger Warnings:
self harm
s3xual assault
Victoria Lum is the queen of emotional romances. And I love every story I read by her. Truly, she has a beautiful gift of drawing you into her characters and making you feel so intensely about them. That's what I mean by emotional romances. The characters she writes are sometimes flawed, sometimes scared, sometimes wholesome, sometimes a hero/heroine.... they're just so well written. That said, When Hearts Awaken put me thru an emotional journey and I suggest reading the Author's note in the beginning- there are trigger warnings that shouldn't be taken lightly. Victoria handles these issues with grace and understanding, and I really felt the PTSD that Taylor shows was very realistic. I loved that about this story. It was real. And I hope it helps heal someone, if they need healing.
When Hearts Awaken has 2 parts. Part One takes place after events of When Hearts Ignite (book 2) and Part Two is "present day." We finally learn Taylor and Charles back story, why they disliked and hated each other so much during book 3 (When Hearts Surrender). I liked this story! It was good to see how they got where they did. Have you all watched "Center Stage?" It was a movie released probably 25-30 years ago. Anyways, I got Center Stage vibes reading this book and I'm here for it.
My favorite was Part Two though! In the present day, Taylor is living with PTSD and hasn't told a soul about the night that changed her life forever. When the lead ballerina, at her ballet company, hurts herself, Taylor- her understudy- has to step up to be the White Swan/Black Swan. While Taylor has the black swan down, she struggles with the innocence/love, that the white swan portrays. After some triggering moments, Charles- who happens to be there, and Taylor start moving from the "enemies" category to the "Friend" one. Will they allow their hearts to be awoken by one another?
I loved this book. Truly. I want to call Charles a golden retriever hero, but honestly, I don't think golden retriever covers him. He's good, he really is, but he will kill you if you hurt Taylor in any way. I felt so much for him when it came to his sister Firefly being in a coma. I can't imagine the heartbreak he was going thru, having to make medical decisions. That in itself is hard.
It was beautiful seeing the Anderson family again. I love them so much. I do wander... will we ever get an Elias Kent book? Because I'm 100% here for it. LOL I know he's not an Anderson, but maybe a spin off?
ALSO THAT ENDING! I DID NOT SEE THAT COMING! SOOOOOOO good!
February 5, 2025
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
ARC Review
Check TWs
Tropes:
Billionaire Romance
Age Gap (12 years)
Hate to Love
Goth Ballerina
Angsty
Brother's Best Friend
Trauma Healing
I don't know how to describe this book other than perfect. The tension, the emotions, the banter, the suspense, the plot twist at the end(!!!) were all so amazing! This book is #4 in the series, but can definitely be read as a standalone.
Taylor(Tay) has been through hell and suffered alone for years. Even with her fierce and take no shit personality, to protect her heart, she's turned her heart to stone and heads behind a gothic persona. Now her future and only escape is in the hands of a man that represents everything she hates.
Charles learned to hide his true feelings and to put on a façade in order to succeed in the business world. He believes feeling too much and showing those emotions will only bring downfall. He's done a great job in controlling his emotions until he meets Taylor, the girl that makes him feel.
Part 1 was amazing at setting the mood for this story. The world building of characters and the events that led up to both Tay & Charles personalities that they have. Even though Part 2 is about a 1.5 years after Part 1, the time jump doesn't feel like one and the transition is smooth.
The enemies to lovers vibes in this story were chef's kiss, but the couple are never really enemies. Just people that felt like they were looking into a mirror when they saw each other, but they weren't ready yet. The banter and tension between these two was 🔥🔥. Both pushing and pulling one another I was giggling & kicking my feet the whole time!
The growth that both Tay & Charles showed was superb! At first they seem very different from one another, in reality they are one and the same. They both hid behind a mask to protect themselves and others with no one seeing them or their pain. When they finally took off their masks, the world was a much brighter place!
This story had very sensitive topics and I believe they were very accurately written. The PTSD that Taylor was going through with her coping mechanism for that trauma. It broke my heart, but was very well written.
Yes, it's a slow burn. With Taylor's trauma it was expected and very much appreciated. While the two of them were attracted to each other, they needed time to heal & grow emotionally. Charles' patience and love he showed Taylor had me melting! He recognized Taylor's trauma and did everything in his power to treat her the right way.
That plot twist at the end SHOOK me! I was not expecting that, but I absolutely loved it! Also, Victoria had me good with that suspense and who the actual culprit was! I was seconding guessing myself just like Taylor.
Ethan is such a kind soul! I'm so excited for his story next!
ARC Review
Check TWs
Tropes:
Billionaire Romance
Age Gap (12 years)
Hate to Love
Goth Ballerina
Angsty
Brother's Best Friend
Trauma Healing
I don't know how to describe this book other than perfect. The tension, the emotions, the banter, the suspense, the plot twist at the end(!!!) were all so amazing! This book is #4 in the series, but can definitely be read as a standalone.
Taylor(Tay) has been through hell and suffered alone for years. Even with her fierce and take no shit personality, to protect her heart, she's turned her heart to stone and heads behind a gothic persona. Now her future and only escape is in the hands of a man that represents everything she hates.
Charles learned to hide his true feelings and to put on a façade in order to succeed in the business world. He believes feeling too much and showing those emotions will only bring downfall. He's done a great job in controlling his emotions until he meets Taylor, the girl that makes him feel.
Part 1 was amazing at setting the mood for this story. The world building of characters and the events that led up to both Tay & Charles personalities that they have. Even though Part 2 is about a 1.5 years after Part 1, the time jump doesn't feel like one and the transition is smooth.
The enemies to lovers vibes in this story were chef's kiss, but the couple are never really enemies. Just people that felt like they were looking into a mirror when they saw each other, but they weren't ready yet. The banter and tension between these two was 🔥🔥. Both pushing and pulling one another I was giggling & kicking my feet the whole time!
The growth that both Tay & Charles showed was superb! At first they seem very different from one another, in reality they are one and the same. They both hid behind a mask to protect themselves and others with no one seeing them or their pain. When they finally took off their masks, the world was a much brighter place!
This story had very sensitive topics and I believe they were very accurately written. The PTSD that Taylor was going through with her coping mechanism for that trauma. It broke my heart, but was very well written.
Yes, it's a slow burn. With Taylor's trauma it was expected and very much appreciated. While the two of them were attracted to each other, they needed time to heal & grow emotionally. Charles' patience and love he showed Taylor had me melting! He recognized Taylor's trauma and did everything in his power to treat her the right way.
That plot twist at the end SHOOK me! I was not expecting that, but I absolutely loved it! Also, Victoria had me good with that suspense and who the actual culprit was! I was seconding guessing myself just like Taylor.
Ethan is such a kind soul! I'm so excited for his story next!
March 14, 2025
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Spice: 🌶🌶🌶
Angst: 💔💔💔💔
Cliffhanger? No
Do I recommend it? YES!!!!!!!
Tropes: Romantic Suspense, Enemies to Lovers, Billionaire, Age Gap, Trauma Healing, Who Did This To You?/, I'll Burn the World For You, Touch Her and 💀, Slow Burn, Goth Ballerina/Complicated Hero, Brother's Best Friend, Swoony Text Messages, Found Family, Mental Health Rep., Dark Topics But Beautiful Romance, Spicy and Angsty
Taylor Peyton-Anderson’s world shattered one night when she was sixteen, leaving her broken but not defeated. Six years later, ballet has become her escape and her salvation. Her only goal—survive long enough to become a principal dancer. No love. No weaknesses. No distractions. Charles Vaughn is everything she despises—the media’s golden prince, the older charismatic billionaire who wields his charm like a weapon. But beneath his perfect smile lies a fractured soul carrying secrets as dark as her own. After their first meeting ends in fiery sparks, they’re thrown together on an international ballet tour to save his company’s reputation. Soon, their blistering hatred burns into something even more dangerous. He sees through her carefully crafted armor, and she uncovers the broken man beneath his facade. But when the monsters from Taylor’s past resurface and the secrets Charles is hiding threaten to tear them apart, will their fragile connection survive—or will it destroy them both?
When an author has the true mark of talent, it can be surprising what their work can evoke in our hearts. Every year, I read a lot of romance, and only a small percentage affect me the way these particular stories do. Taylor’s journey was painful, yet rather eye-opening. I loved that Taylor was a dancer and that Charles could meet her on many different levels. As they were able to heal each other, I felt my whole being begin to heal as well. There were so many scenes that I loved enough to read more than once. They made the overall experience one I don’t intend to forget. The found family aspect was another that I ate up along with the suspense-fueled angst. I could go on and on, but I don't want to accidentally give anything away. When Hearts Awaken needs to be an addition to your library. This is my honest opinion, freely given.
Angst: 💔💔💔💔
Cliffhanger? No
Do I recommend it? YES!!!!!!!
Tropes: Romantic Suspense, Enemies to Lovers, Billionaire, Age Gap, Trauma Healing, Who Did This To You?/, I'll Burn the World For You, Touch Her and 💀, Slow Burn, Goth Ballerina/Complicated Hero, Brother's Best Friend, Swoony Text Messages, Found Family, Mental Health Rep., Dark Topics But Beautiful Romance, Spicy and Angsty
Taylor Peyton-Anderson’s world shattered one night when she was sixteen, leaving her broken but not defeated. Six years later, ballet has become her escape and her salvation. Her only goal—survive long enough to become a principal dancer. No love. No weaknesses. No distractions. Charles Vaughn is everything she despises—the media’s golden prince, the older charismatic billionaire who wields his charm like a weapon. But beneath his perfect smile lies a fractured soul carrying secrets as dark as her own. After their first meeting ends in fiery sparks, they’re thrown together on an international ballet tour to save his company’s reputation. Soon, their blistering hatred burns into something even more dangerous. He sees through her carefully crafted armor, and she uncovers the broken man beneath his facade. But when the monsters from Taylor’s past resurface and the secrets Charles is hiding threaten to tear them apart, will their fragile connection survive—or will it destroy them both?
When an author has the true mark of talent, it can be surprising what their work can evoke in our hearts. Every year, I read a lot of romance, and only a small percentage affect me the way these particular stories do. Taylor’s journey was painful, yet rather eye-opening. I loved that Taylor was a dancer and that Charles could meet her on many different levels. As they were able to heal each other, I felt my whole being begin to heal as well. There were so many scenes that I loved enough to read more than once. They made the overall experience one I don’t intend to forget. The found family aspect was another that I ate up along with the suspense-fueled angst. I could go on and on, but I don't want to accidentally give anything away. When Hearts Awaken needs to be an addition to your library. This is my honest opinion, freely given.
February 5, 2025
Ever read a story which knocked on the door for the little girl in you, the girl with her unfulfilled dreams? This is one of those books which hold your little finger throughout the journey.
"A story of Odile who wants to be Odette with her Prince charming and their happily ever after."
Taylor Peyton Anderson,OMG I have no words for this beautiful strong willed girl. Absolute respect for her character, her tenacity, her resilience.Our own,Black Swan with her prefuntory behavior to keep the people at a distance at the same time,her furtive inner monologues of how much she cares potraying her temerity.
Charles, the charming billionaire living a masquerade life with mask of his own. A hard working and an idiosyncratic person for the world with his heart on his sleeves, waiting for someone to look behind the facade.
Their journey of healing is absolutely mesmerizing, two broken hearts mending each other's pain. But magic takes time and these two fierce personality in one place, chemistry is bound to be sizzling.Their head on banter is concocting a magical world on its own, even they are not aware of.
They bicker,but understand the broken heart calling to each other. Charles,the caring and the most understanding human being. I loved how he was able to read between the lines and beyond the words. Where are these human existing🥹🥰?
The writing is so meticulous with the power to hold your heart and the globe of its own its own. The mystery is solved, families are reconnected and between the chaos , a love story is blooming ,together they transpire the hidden devils and the 'Blackswan' shines like a 'moon'.
If you love the little ballerina who admires the spinning black Swan as much as Odette and have a prince of her own despite being the Odile, this is your stop to get enamoured with the soon worthy couple and their banter and the boisterous journey where their broken world gets mended with her own Prince Charming and Ballerina.
"A story of Odile who wants to be Odette with her Prince charming and their happily ever after."
Taylor Peyton Anderson,OMG I have no words for this beautiful strong willed girl. Absolute respect for her character, her tenacity, her resilience.Our own,Black Swan with her prefuntory behavior to keep the people at a distance at the same time,her furtive inner monologues of how much she cares potraying her temerity.
Charles, the charming billionaire living a masquerade life with mask of his own. A hard working and an idiosyncratic person for the world with his heart on his sleeves, waiting for someone to look behind the facade.
Their journey of healing is absolutely mesmerizing, two broken hearts mending each other's pain. But magic takes time and these two fierce personality in one place, chemistry is bound to be sizzling.Their head on banter is concocting a magical world on its own, even they are not aware of.
They bicker,but understand the broken heart calling to each other. Charles,the caring and the most understanding human being. I loved how he was able to read between the lines and beyond the words. Where are these human existing🥹🥰?
The writing is so meticulous with the power to hold your heart and the globe of its own its own. The mystery is solved, families are reconnected and between the chaos , a love story is blooming ,together they transpire the hidden devils and the 'Blackswan' shines like a 'moon'.
If you love the little ballerina who admires the spinning black Swan as much as Odette and have a prince of her own despite being the Odile, this is your stop to get enamoured with the soon worthy couple and their banter and the boisterous journey where their broken world gets mended with her own Prince Charming and Ballerina.
January 30, 2025
If you have read the previous books in this series, you knew that the tension between Taylor and Charles has been building in previous books. We finally get to see their story come to life!
TW: Please check trigger warnings if you have any known triggers as this book deals with some hard topics.
💛Hate to love
💛Billionaire romance
💛Age gap
💛Slow burn
💛He will burn the world down for her
💛He falls first
Charles and Taylor have ran in the same circles for the last few years and during that time, they have never seen eye to eye. Now Charles's company is in charge of the ballet that she is starring in.
Taylor has been working her little booty off for the role of Odette, and now that it is finally hers, it seems that her past demons are catching up to her. I was rooting so hard for her to be able to find the answers that she is needing.
Charles, also know as the Prince, is a golden boy. But his eyes are heart are set on Taylor. And when he finds out things that are haunting her, he wants to jump right in and save her. But this goth Princess does not want to be saved.
The push and pull between these two was so serious and I loved that for them. Because it made their coming together that much sweeter!
There are so many things going on behind the scenes that I don't want to spoil, so it is best to go into the book blind.
Now I can't say who the next book is about without spoiling, but OMG AM I READY!!
TW: Please check trigger warnings if you have any known triggers as this book deals with some hard topics.
💛Hate to love
💛Billionaire romance
💛Age gap
💛Slow burn
💛He will burn the world down for her
💛He falls first
Charles and Taylor have ran in the same circles for the last few years and during that time, they have never seen eye to eye. Now Charles's company is in charge of the ballet that she is starring in.
Taylor has been working her little booty off for the role of Odette, and now that it is finally hers, it seems that her past demons are catching up to her. I was rooting so hard for her to be able to find the answers that she is needing.
Charles, also know as the Prince, is a golden boy. But his eyes are heart are set on Taylor. And when he finds out things that are haunting her, he wants to jump right in and save her. But this goth Princess does not want to be saved.
The push and pull between these two was so serious and I loved that for them. Because it made their coming together that much sweeter!
There are so many things going on behind the scenes that I don't want to spoil, so it is best to go into the book blind.
Now I can't say who the next book is about without spoiling, but OMG AM I READY!!
August 23, 2025
For the readers who like a good touch her and die moment, let me introduce you to Charles Vaughn. ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
(Dedication) When Hearts Awaken (The Orchid, #4)
by Victoria Lum♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
𝗇𝗈 𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖡𝖴𝖳 𝖢𝖧𝖤𝖢𝖪 𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖢𝖶'𝗌 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖺 𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗌 & 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗌 ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗪... there is a lot to be said for this novel. Difficult situations were handled in the best possible way(s). Overall, this book was powerfully crafted. I had a few small issues with some minor things/points.
“Your body is mine,” he rasps, his words thick with promise. “Your pain is mine, your orgasms are mine, and your enemies are mine.”🖤🌹
𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗦: 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘄𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗠𝗖
𝗧𝗔𝗬𝗟𝗢𝗥: 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀, 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗙𝗖
♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞
𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧
★★★★☆
ғᴏᴜʀ sᴛᴀʀs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ғɪᴠᴇ
♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
(Some of the BEST lines of dialogue from a MMC inside this book) And damn to Tay's inner thoughts .... damn
♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
I reach down between my legs and twist the small metal piercing through my tights. A VCH piercing I got for pain, not for pleasure. Tears spring into my eyes at the sharp pain radiating from my core. I don’t cry. I haven’t been able to since I was sixteen.
🫧
“I’m going to kill the bastard who hurt you. I’m going to cut his dick off and make him swallow it as he bleeds on the ground before you.” 🎯🔥🖤
★•*´¨`*•★• Happy reading ┊┊┊┊ ➶ ❁۪ ｡˚ ✧
(Dedication) When Hearts Awaken (The Orchid, #4)
by Victoria Lum♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
𝗇𝗈 𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗌 𝖡𝖴𝖳 𝖢𝖧𝖤𝖢𝖪 𝖳𝖧𝖤 𝖢𝖶'𝗌 𝗂𝖿 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝖽𝗈𝗇'𝗍 𝗌𝖾𝖾 𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗌𝖾 𝖺 𝗌𝗉𝗈𝗂𝗅𝖾𝗋𝗌 & 𝗒𝗈𝗎 𝗁𝖺𝗏𝖾 𝗄𝗇𝗈𝗐𝗇 𝗍𝗋𝗂𝗀𝗀𝖾𝗋𝗌 ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗪... there is a lot to be said for this novel. Difficult situations were handled in the best possible way(s). Overall, this book was powerfully crafted. I had a few small issues with some minor things/points.
“Your body is mine,” he rasps, his words thick with promise. “Your pain is mine, your orgasms are mine, and your enemies are mine.”🖤🌹
𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗘𝗦: 𝗮𝗯𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝘄𝗲𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗠𝗖
𝗧𝗔𝗬𝗟𝗢𝗥: 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘀𝘀, 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗠𝗙𝗖
♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
𝗦𝗢𝗟𝗜𝗗 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞
𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗 𝗣𝗟𝗢𝗧
★★★★☆
ғᴏᴜʀ sᴛᴀʀs ᴏᴜᴛ ᴏғ ғɪᴠᴇ
♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
(Some of the BEST lines of dialogue from a MMC inside this book) And damn to Tay's inner thoughts .... damn
♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧
I reach down between my legs and twist the small metal piercing through my tights. A VCH piercing I got for pain, not for pleasure. Tears spring into my eyes at the sharp pain radiating from my core. I don’t cry. I haven’t been able to since I was sixteen.
🫧
“I’m going to kill the bastard who hurt you. I’m going to cut his dick off and make him swallow it as he bleeds on the ground before you.” 🎯🔥🖤
★•*´¨`*•★• Happy reading ┊┊┊┊ ➶ ❁۪ ｡˚ ✧
January 30, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW ✨
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
First I want to thank author for giving me the opportunity to read this arc❤.
Our fmc, Taylor Peyton Anderson, a goth ballerina🩰,with her sarcastic and cool replies hides her vulnerable self behind this mask, she got broken in past and she hides herself and her heart. (My Taylor baby needs biggest hug🥺)
Our mmc, charles Vaughn, a hot & handsome bachelor CEO of the bank of Columbia with sweet, kind and charming personality but he is also broken and hides his true emotions.
The story starts with charles collaborating with ABTC ballet academy for world ballet tour and Taylor punching charles on face in their first meeting 😂. As the story continue we see how both annoy each other but they feel connected because they both are same, broken and wearing a happy mask.
Their story was literally everything, although at starting I was so confused (one of the reason because there were too many characters and I haven't read the previous books😭) but as I continue reading about them, I feel every emotion. I giggle at their banter🤭, laugh at their messages🫶 and importantly cried while reading about Taylor's past🥺.
My favorite part about the story was the roses with those glitter thorns😭🌹❤ (charles has made me such a simp for him because that man literally thinks alot about the ones he care about) and those notes with reasons📝 (infinity reasons🥺)
Their story was literally "when she thinks she is hard to love but he loves her like breathing" Trope😭❤️🩹.
(Ps: need a charles for myself ASAP😩)
I would recommend it to everyone, just give it a try I'm sure y'all will fall in love with them❤
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5
First I want to thank author for giving me the opportunity to read this arc❤.
Our fmc, Taylor Peyton Anderson, a goth ballerina🩰,with her sarcastic and cool replies hides her vulnerable self behind this mask, she got broken in past and she hides herself and her heart. (My Taylor baby needs biggest hug🥺)
Our mmc, charles Vaughn, a hot & handsome bachelor CEO of the bank of Columbia with sweet, kind and charming personality but he is also broken and hides his true emotions.
The story starts with charles collaborating with ABTC ballet academy for world ballet tour and Taylor punching charles on face in their first meeting 😂. As the story continue we see how both annoy each other but they feel connected because they both are same, broken and wearing a happy mask.
Their story was literally everything, although at starting I was so confused (one of the reason because there were too many characters and I haven't read the previous books😭) but as I continue reading about them, I feel every emotion. I giggle at their banter🤭, laugh at their messages🫶 and importantly cried while reading about Taylor's past🥺.
My favorite part about the story was the roses with those glitter thorns😭🌹❤ (charles has made me such a simp for him because that man literally thinks alot about the ones he care about) and those notes with reasons📝 (infinity reasons🥺)
Their story was literally "when she thinks she is hard to love but he loves her like breathing" Trope😭❤️🩹.
(Ps: need a charles for myself ASAP😩)
I would recommend it to everyone, just give it a try I'm sure y'all will fall in love with them❤
February 5, 2025
⭐: 4.5/5
I don't know what to say. This book is one hell of an emotional roller coaster. I am lost at words.
First of all, an appreciation for the author's writing. It's so intriguing from the prologue itself! The way she knows how to handle complex topics, the observations and research clearly shown in her writing and display of emotions🤌
Secondly, the Plot!! I DIDNOT SEE the Plot Twist coming!! The story feels like a full circle. Absolutely loved it and can't wait for the next book already😭
Thirdly, THE NICKNAME. Omg the nickname Minx is my favourite nickname😭🫶 The way it rolls off the tongue so easilyyyy omg. And the way charles say it🤤🛐 This man has me on my knees no cap.
Now, talking about the story
Both Charles and Taylor have their own past traumas which catch up their present making it difficult for them to leave it behind and move on. Taylor has been through alot in her past and Charles her supposed enemy (😭) helps her heal😭🤌 The man stood with her through thick and thin. Always trusted her. Saw the beauty in her thorns. The man had alot on his plate too but my babies were always there for each other. Never let another be alone.
My fav quote from the book is definitely Roses are more beautiful with thorns and also 'No book-shaming is allowed' Coz hell yeah No book shaming!!
It is a must read. Add it to your TBR coz this book deserves it!!
I don't know what to say. This book is one hell of an emotional roller coaster. I am lost at words.
First of all, an appreciation for the author's writing. It's so intriguing from the prologue itself! The way she knows how to handle complex topics, the observations and research clearly shown in her writing and display of emotions🤌
Secondly, the Plot!! I DIDNOT SEE the Plot Twist coming!! The story feels like a full circle. Absolutely loved it and can't wait for the next book already😭
Thirdly, THE NICKNAME. Omg the nickname Minx is my favourite nickname😭🫶 The way it rolls off the tongue so easilyyyy omg. And the way charles say it🤤🛐 This man has me on my knees no cap.
Now, talking about the story
Both Charles and Taylor have their own past traumas which catch up their present making it difficult for them to leave it behind and move on. Taylor has been through alot in her past and Charles her supposed enemy (😭) helps her heal😭🤌 The man stood with her through thick and thin. Always trusted her. Saw the beauty in her thorns. The man had alot on his plate too but my babies were always there for each other. Never let another be alone.
My fav quote from the book is definitely Roses are more beautiful with thorns and also 'No book-shaming is allowed' Coz hell yeah No book shaming!!
It is a must read. Add it to your TBR coz this book deserves it!!
February 9, 2025
*ARC review* Ma'am! How you get better with each installment of this series I can not understand, but I'm beyond happy that you do! Lol. Since meeting Taylor in When Hearts Ignite, I've been a fan of her grit and tenacity, so I couldn't wait to see what her book had in store. Charles also has been a constant, and with the bickering him and Taylor have done over the last few books, it left me desperate to know more about him, too! This story was a complex balance of dark and light, each character having their own demons to deal with while trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel. As I've come to expect from Victoria Lum, there were twists that were completely unexpected even when you think you know what is going to happen, and as I've said before Victoria Lum is the only author who I willingly let put my heart through the ringer, because she always puts it back together in the end! This story was so beautifully done, taking such care with the sensitive parts while also giving me the glorious 🌶🌶 parts to have me swooning and kicking my feet! This can be read as a standalone, but you should really read other books in this series to get a better appreciation for Taylor and Charles before you get here, as it makes it that much more impactful!
March 14, 2025
I love this series and I could not wait for this book!
I love Victoria Lum’s writing and this book kept my attention from the first page.
This book follows Charles and Taylor and wow I love them together. They had the best banter and chemistry.
Taylor’s story was heartbreaking but her growth was inspiring and I loved how strong she was by the end of the book. Charles was exactly what Taylor needed and Taylor was what Charles needed. I loved how hard they fought for one another and were so loyal to one another. Charles helped Taylor feel safe again and showed her what love is and I just loved him!! I can’t say enough good things about him. The daily reasons why he loved her and the roses with the thorns 🥹 my heart melted.
Even though I was able to guess the plot twists especially the big one at the end I was still shook when it was revealed!
I highly recommend checking trigger warnings!
I cannot wait for Ethan’s book!!
Rating ⭐️: 5/5
Spice 🌶️: 3/5
Dual POV
🖤 Billionaire romance
🖤 Age gap
🖤 Ballerina FMC
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Trauma x healing
🖤 Slow burn
🖤 Dom/ sub
🖤 Found family
“𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓼, 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓼. 𝓓𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮.”
Thank you to Victoria Lum for the arc!
I love Victoria Lum’s writing and this book kept my attention from the first page.
This book follows Charles and Taylor and wow I love them together. They had the best banter and chemistry.
Taylor’s story was heartbreaking but her growth was inspiring and I loved how strong she was by the end of the book. Charles was exactly what Taylor needed and Taylor was what Charles needed. I loved how hard they fought for one another and were so loyal to one another. Charles helped Taylor feel safe again and showed her what love is and I just loved him!! I can’t say enough good things about him. The daily reasons why he loved her and the roses with the thorns 🥹 my heart melted.
Even though I was able to guess the plot twists especially the big one at the end I was still shook when it was revealed!
I highly recommend checking trigger warnings!
I cannot wait for Ethan’s book!!
Rating ⭐️: 5/5
Spice 🌶️: 3/5
Dual POV
🖤 Billionaire romance
🖤 Age gap
🖤 Ballerina FMC
🖤 Enemies to lovers
🖤 Trauma x healing
🖤 Slow burn
🖤 Dom/ sub
🖤 Found family
“𝓘 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝔂𝓸𝓾, 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓼, 𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓻 𝓭𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓯𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓻𝓼. 𝓓𝓸𝓷’𝓽 𝔂𝓸𝓾 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓬𝓱𝓪𝓷𝓰𝓮.”
Thank you to Victoria Lum for the arc!
February 3, 2025
Format: 📱eBook 📱 (ARC)
Check TWs before reading
The Black Swan and her avenging archangel.
It's been over a week since I finished reading, and I still can't put into words how much I absolutely loved this book. Lum just has this way of drawing you in with her characters, truly wanting what is best for them, connecting to them, before the main story even unfolds.
Taylor is phenomenal. She is brave and feisty, strong (and strong-willed!) and so full of need to be the best Giselle she can be. Her past was something tricky to read about at times, but that's a testament to how well Lum wrote her character - it was treated with the utmost respect, but it still broke your heart as you read. I truly loved the push and pull between her and Charles, and I love that through it all, she didn't change what made her, her.
Charles - my god. This man is the ultimate book boyfriend. The king of consent. Just every green flag wrapped into a billionaire cinnamon roll - though he doesn't always let it show. But he does for the right person - and watching his walls crumble with Taylor was amazing. I'm obsessed. I've already told Lum that he is my favourite of her book boys - something I never thought I'd say after reading the twins' stories. But the Dom side of him? Holy hell, he switches from sweet, "I'd do anything for her" to "yes, Sir" in no time and I was here for it.
The narrative in itself was so extremely well written - just when you think you have it figured out, you get more information that has you wondering, but then something else happens and you find yourself questioning the true plot. But when it all comes together, it's a total "aha", and for me, a semi "I knew it" moment - but it was so fun going along for the ride.
Another fantastic entry in The Orchid series, and so excited for the next book, after our couple was teased within!
Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.
Check TWs before reading
The Black Swan and her avenging archangel.
It's been over a week since I finished reading, and I still can't put into words how much I absolutely loved this book. Lum just has this way of drawing you in with her characters, truly wanting what is best for them, connecting to them, before the main story even unfolds.
Taylor is phenomenal. She is brave and feisty, strong (and strong-willed!) and so full of need to be the best Giselle she can be. Her past was something tricky to read about at times, but that's a testament to how well Lum wrote her character - it was treated with the utmost respect, but it still broke your heart as you read. I truly loved the push and pull between her and Charles, and I love that through it all, she didn't change what made her, her.
Charles - my god. This man is the ultimate book boyfriend. The king of consent. Just every green flag wrapped into a billionaire cinnamon roll - though he doesn't always let it show. But he does for the right person - and watching his walls crumble with Taylor was amazing. I'm obsessed. I've already told Lum that he is my favourite of her book boys - something I never thought I'd say after reading the twins' stories. But the Dom side of him? Holy hell, he switches from sweet, "I'd do anything for her" to "yes, Sir" in no time and I was here for it.
The narrative in itself was so extremely well written - just when you think you have it figured out, you get more information that has you wondering, but then something else happens and you find yourself questioning the true plot. But when it all comes together, it's a total "aha", and for me, a semi "I knew it" moment - but it was so fun going along for the ride.
Another fantastic entry in The Orchid series, and so excited for the next book, after our couple was teased within!
Thank you to the author for the eARC opportunity. These are my honest thoughts that I have provided voluntarily.
February 6, 2025
Thank you to Swipe The Book PR and the author for providing the review copy. All opinions are my own.
Fourth book in The Orchid series, When Heart Awakens is the story of Taylor and Charles. A ballerina with severe PTSD and a broken CEO with scandals, When Heart Awakens is intense and dark. The romance isn’t twisted and the couple develops a bond that one can see developing with every chapter. I love a book with a good mental health representation especially when it comes to sexual assault. Taylor’s response to meeting someone who reminded her of the dark night of her life, somehow the body always knows even if our mind is not convinced. It was so difficult to read some of her chapters, my heart broke for her, but she was so brave even when she was falling apart. A well written FMC is always appreciated. I loved the easy chemistry the MCs had and I loved how supportive and understanding Charles was.
Some of the scenes were so beautiful and some were equally heart breaking. It’s a perfect cocktail of passion, intense, broken and beautiful and if you love romance novels that have dark themes but the romance is nothing but a green flag, you need to give this book a try. This was my first book in the series and I am going to be reading the rest of Victoria’s work soon.
Fourth book in The Orchid series, When Heart Awakens is the story of Taylor and Charles. A ballerina with severe PTSD and a broken CEO with scandals, When Heart Awakens is intense and dark. The romance isn’t twisted and the couple develops a bond that one can see developing with every chapter. I love a book with a good mental health representation especially when it comes to sexual assault. Taylor’s response to meeting someone who reminded her of the dark night of her life, somehow the body always knows even if our mind is not convinced. It was so difficult to read some of her chapters, my heart broke for her, but she was so brave even when she was falling apart. A well written FMC is always appreciated. I loved the easy chemistry the MCs had and I loved how supportive and understanding Charles was.
Some of the scenes were so beautiful and some were equally heart breaking. It’s a perfect cocktail of passion, intense, broken and beautiful and if you love romance novels that have dark themes but the romance is nothing but a green flag, you need to give this book a try. This was my first book in the series and I am going to be reading the rest of Victoria’s work soon.
February 4, 2025
Roses are much more beautiful with thorns.”
ARC review 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I devoured this book in just 2 days!! That's how much I loved it.
🩰 Taylor Petyan is a confident, badass ballerina who showcases her strength to the world. But beneath her happy facade lies a girl who desperately needs love, warm hugs, and healing.
🖤 Charles Vaughn, the strong CEO of Bank of Columbia, charms everyone with his personality. Yet, hidden scars lie beneath his mask.
This book tore my heart apart, only to lovingly stitch it back together! The tension, understanding, and chemistry between the female and male leads were incredible. The age gap trope was handled beautifully, adding depth to the story. The side characters, particularly Taylor's siblings, added warmth to the story. The way the mmc and fmc leads helped each other heal their wounds was an emotional and heartwarming moment for me!
Another thing that completely stole my heart was Charles's infinite reasons for loving Taylor, and those romantic rose bouquets...😩 Where can I find a guy like Charles?!
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to all age gap romance fans - trust me, it's worth it! 🩰🖤
A big thank you to author for the ARC of this fantastic book - I loved it! 💕
ARC review 💕
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I devoured this book in just 2 days!! That's how much I loved it.
🩰 Taylor Petyan is a confident, badass ballerina who showcases her strength to the world. But beneath her happy facade lies a girl who desperately needs love, warm hugs, and healing.
🖤 Charles Vaughn, the strong CEO of Bank of Columbia, charms everyone with his personality. Yet, hidden scars lie beneath his mask.
This book tore my heart apart, only to lovingly stitch it back together! The tension, understanding, and chemistry between the female and male leads were incredible. The age gap trope was handled beautifully, adding depth to the story. The side characters, particularly Taylor's siblings, added warmth to the story. The way the mmc and fmc leads helped each other heal their wounds was an emotional and heartwarming moment for me!
Another thing that completely stole my heart was Charles's infinite reasons for loving Taylor, and those romantic rose bouquets...😩 Where can I find a guy like Charles?!
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to all age gap romance fans - trust me, it's worth it! 🩰🖤
A big thank you to author for the ARC of this fantastic book - I loved it! 💕
February 7, 2025
I wholeheartedly recommend this series. It’s a tribute to true love, based on respect, patience, and trust. The men in this story are models of healthy love and dedication, and this makes every page filled with emotion and authenticity. ❤️ They are willing to do anything for their women—women with painful pasts and traumas. What makes this series truly special are the authentic relationships between the characters, especially the way the men are portrayed as loving and deeply involved. Each man in this series is more than just a male character; he becomes a pillar of support and protection for the women in his life. They gather the broken pieces of their women and put them back together, piece by piece. 😍 Plus, the series also has humor, spicy and passionate scenes that make you feel envious. 🤭 It’s also about united families who fight together when one member is in trouble. In short, it has everything. ❤️
March 3, 2025
definitely read the trigger warnings for this one, it's darker than the others in the series so far
this one also introduced more side characters so that's fun
enemies to lovers in a contemporary setting is also weird for me like you're not fighting in opposing armies, it's more of annoyance to lovers. this one maybe could be
it's always interesting reading ballet romances as a previous dancer and for the most part this was actually quite good. but there was one moment where she said something about doing fouettés around the male dancer, and fouettés aren't ever done around someone they usually stay in place. there's better turns if the choreography requires you to go around a person. the little things that can pull you out of the story if you know the subject i guess
this one also introduced more side characters so that's fun
enemies to lovers in a contemporary setting is also weird for me like you're not fighting in opposing armies, it's more of annoyance to lovers. this one maybe could be
it's always interesting reading ballet romances as a previous dancer and for the most part this was actually quite good. but there was one moment where she said something about doing fouettés around the male dancer, and fouettés aren't ever done around someone they usually stay in place. there's better turns if the choreography requires you to go around a person. the little things that can pull you out of the story if you know the subject i guess
February 5, 2025
This is book 4 in The Orchid series by Victoria Lum. This is Charles and Taylor’s story. We have seen bits and pieces of them throughout the series and now their full story comes to life. Charles is in charge of the ballet that Taylor is in and they haven’t always gotten along. But Taylor isn’t going to let that get in her way. She has waited her life for the role of Odette. Taylor has some secrets and some trauma that are a threat to get in her way. Charles is very attracted to Taylor and feels constantly drawn to her and as he discovers that she has secrets he wants nothing more than to protect her.
The beginning of the story went a little slow for me but it really picked up towards the end. The amount of twists and surprises really blew me away! Charles and Taylor were so sweet together. Their romance was slow with some push and pull but they both really helped each other and the support that Charles gave Taylor was everything she needed. And the ending, holy crapps I am excited for the next book!
The beginning of the story went a little slow for me but it really picked up towards the end. The amount of twists and surprises really blew me away! Charles and Taylor were so sweet together. Their romance was slow with some push and pull but they both really helped each other and the support that Charles gave Taylor was everything she needed. And the ending, holy crapps I am excited for the next book!
February 1, 2025
✨ARC Read✨
✨🖤When Hearts Awaken🖤✨
Author: Victoria Lum
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨Please check the trigger warnings✨
This book has such an emotional take on SA.
There is sadness, anger, grief, healing, happiness.
This book was such a good healing experience. The way the author took something so devastating, and turned it into a learning experience about healing from trauma, was outstanding.
I really liked the tension between the MMC and the FMC. The plots twists were soo good!
The best part is the fact that no matter what is thrown their way, the MMC and FMC are strong and will fight for each other.
✨🖤When Hearts Awaken🖤✨
Author: Victoria Lum
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
✨Please check the trigger warnings✨
This book has such an emotional take on SA.
There is sadness, anger, grief, healing, happiness.
This book was such a good healing experience. The way the author took something so devastating, and turned it into a learning experience about healing from trauma, was outstanding.
I really liked the tension between the MMC and the FMC. The plots twists were soo good!
The best part is the fact that no matter what is thrown their way, the MMC and FMC are strong and will fight for each other.
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