My Heart Still Beats: Tempt, Book 1

by Helen Hardt

Some days I can almost see the person I used to be. See the version of myself that felt joy, even passion. But she's gone . . . just out of reach.

Life moves on for everyone else, though, and as my best friend's maid-of-honor, I have a bachelorette party to plan—in Jamaica, no less. And that means working side by side with the best Benjamin Black.

Billionaire. Workaholic. Ultimate bachelor. The perfect catch for any woman—unless she's lost her sense of self.

Apparently my body hasn't gotten the memo. Because from the second we meet, something begins stirring, warming my blood. And when our hands touch, it's a heady reminder that even if I feel numb, my heart still beats.

He's nothing like I thought. Every moment with him unshackles a little more of my fears, cracks another layer of ice.

But I should be afraid—and so should he. Because the past never lets go so easily.

Contains mature themes.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Dark, Dark Romance, Suspense, Fiction

Audible Audio

Published November 26, 2024

About the author

#1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, and #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author Helen Hardt's passion for the written word began with the books her mother read to her at bedtime. She wrote her first story at age six and hasn’t stopped since. In addition to being an award winning author of contemporary and historical romance and erotica, she’s a mother, an attorney, a black belt in Taekwondo, a grammar geek, an appreciator of fine red wine, and a lover of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. She writes from her home in Colorado, where she lives with her family.

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Reviews

[Casey Reads 🌸 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a story of trauma with a love story mixed in. Trigger warning: there are active rape scenes in this book and murder.

I thought I was really gonna love this story, but I found Tessa highly annoying. I know she went through trauma, but she literally came off as such a self centered btch. I couldn’t stand her.

The saving grace for this book was the ending which was very exciting and had tons of action. The flashbacks I enjoyed too. If it weren’t for those and for me wanting to know the truth about Ben’s past I probably would have DNF’d.

This had a good premise, Tessa was just not a good character in my opinion. I would still try this author again, because there were some really good scenes.

Thank you to netgalley and entangled publishing for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Chris C - A Midlife Wife · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to say there is a lot to unpack in this one. Hardt never shies away from any topic and this particular one includes many triggers so make sure to read this disclaimer before diving in.

With that said, this book is not just about someone’s trauma. It is about connecting, healing, and finding the right someone who is strong enough to handle your fears. Someone who will guide you, stand with you and help heal the trauma in a patient and loving manner.

This book brings an amazing character developed in Ben. He is everything. His patience and love shine through. He is not only hot and kind, but he is a perfect balance for her. Their love story sparks joy and swoons as he cares for her.

Hardt normally writes her stories with plenty of heat and erotic themes, but My Heart Still Beats is pretty light on the heat level. However, the romance and emotion definitely make up for that!

All in all, My Heart Still Beats is a romance story that showcases strength and compassion while developing a beautiful love for the ages.
~~~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/my-heart-sti...

[Wobilba · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

I enjoyed Braden and Skye’s story so I was really excited going into this story(Braden’s younger brother & Skye’s best friend) but unfortunately it fell flat for me in every aspect. The romance, characters, plot, writing and even the dialogue.
Honestly, nothing about this story felt authentic to me. Ben and Tessa’s romance felt forced, the mystery blackmailed kinda felt far fetched and then Tessa was hit with SA upon SA 💔😭.
I wished Tessa had done some self journey and discovered instead of having a man hand hold her through it all.
I really couldn’t connect with these characters on an any level
I did however enjoy seeing glimpses of Skye & Braden though

Thanks to Entangled and NetGalley for the ARC!

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a solid 3 for me. I was expecting a little bit of a darker story and romance based on the trigger warnings. I wish there had been a little more background for Ben and his past misdeeds- that felt a little rushed and underdeveloped. I liked how patient he was with Tessa due to her recovering from SA and then another family tragedy; however, I felt his emotional regression with his past wasn’t as believable. Overall I liked the book! Makes me want to go read Braden and Skye’s story.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Literally Booked Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

⚖️⏳⚖️
📖Review
4🌟🌟🌟🌟
📖Book 19/100
📚My Heart Still Beats
💫Genre:
Dark Romance
✍️Author:
Helen Hardt

📝Synopsis 📝
Tessa is overcoming trauma yet has to plan her best friend’s wedding since she’s the maid of honor. Skye is marrying a billionaire who has a brother who is the best man and seems to be attracted to Tessa instantly. They meet to discuss the bachelor and bachelorette parties and the story takes off from there.

My thoughts 💭
This one reminded me a bit of Fifty Shades of Gray with a twist of The Town. This was indeed a heavy one with many triggers but a darn good one. Tessa is a strong one who’s suffering through her PTSD yet goes through the process of learning to trust and love again. I loved the Hispanic element added to it, but Hardt had me with the Boston setting. I loved how both the female and male main characters had their demons to overcome. I read this one in less than a day, and I couldn’t wait to see how it ended. I did not like the inner dialogue and how she kept referring to her mom as “mommy.” I also felt the ending was a bit rushed, but I loved the plot to it….Two broken souls who help each other heal from their past. This was my first book from this author but not my last.
✨✨✨✨✨

⚠️Trigger Warnings⚠️
PTSD
Rape
Murder
Violence
Assault
Blackmail/Extortion
Religion
Loss of a Loved One

🤍Thank you so much @netgalley and @entangled_publishing for approving this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

✨Publishing Date:
May 28, 2024

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[AvidReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75🌟

This is my first book from this author and I really enjoyed it. I was hooked from the first chapter itself and I finished it in a day.

Ben and Tessa knew each other through Ben’s Brother and Tessa’s BFF for sometime now, but they never met face to face.
After surviving a horrific incident Tessa has become a recluse and I loved how Ben was drawn to her from the first meeting itself and tried to help her. He constantly tried to uplift her and helped her heal without pushing her boundaries. I really liked him.
I also liked that, they communicated openly with each other, especially in the last scenes (those are my favourite too).
Tessa was such a strong woman. Both of them had flaws and made questionable decisions but it just made the story somewhat realistic.

But I will be honest, I didn’t like some of their choices and decisions.
Epilogue was so cute.

Recommended and safe but TW.

I received an advance review copy and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jen Altman · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the moment I read the dedication of this book - going out to those who have fought depression - I knew this book would break my heart in the best ways. 🥹❤️

My Heart Still Beats is about so much more than just romance. It’s filled with the stories of two families, culture, the choices we make, trauma, grief, and of course the healing power of love 💕 It’s beautiful and at times gut wrenching. This book covers some of the hardest topics so check the trigger warnings before reading.

For the first half, I was absolutely entranced by this book. Time flew by and the short, fast chapters kept my attention as I swooned over Ben Black. 😍 Tessa hasn’t been dealt the easiest hand and truly deserves the world. I was very invested in watching her get a much-needed HEA.

The pacing of the second half slowed a bit for me, and certain aspects felt overplayed/redundant. What started as a 5 ⭐️ read dropped a bit, but it was still a really great story! This is my first book by Helen Hardt, and I’d definitely pick up another.

4.25 ⭐️ rounded down

Thank you to NetGalley & Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

My heart still beats is such a great read. This was a very emotional story. 

Tessa and Ben are the two main characters. Tessa has been through some trauma and is in a dark place. Tessa is the maid of honor for her best friend and Ben is the best man for his brother. The two have to plan the destination bachelor and bachelorette parties together. 

I enjoyed the flashbacks. I really wanted to learn more about Ben and his story. I loved how Ben really helped Tessa and was her rock. 

Ben and Tessa were two broken souls who helped each other heal from their past. 

This book deals with darker topics so make sure you check tws.

*thank you to entangled/Amara and Helen Hardt for this paperback 

[Ashlyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5 stars

So I received an early copy of this book to provide feedback on it before it is published. Not sure how much of this will change so please keep that in mind when reading my review if you haven’t read the book yet.

First off, I want to say that I did enjoy this story. It was raw and emotional. I felt so sad when I learned certain things that had happened to the characters. There is on-page triggers, especially for sexual assault and death so please keep that in mind before you read this. Again, it’s very raw and heartbreaking. However I do enjoy these types of stories, so I personally didn’t mind.

This is my first book by this author, and I did like it. I think the author did a great job telling a story of someone who has gone through an experience and is trying to live their life afterwards. I did find some things a little repetitive, but again, I had an early copy.

A couple things are that this is apparently a standalone; however, I kept feeling like I was missing something from the story from two of the side characters. Then when I read the author note or whatever at the end, I found out that those two characters did in fact have a story for themselves. I think the cross between the two makes it so I almost wanted to read the other book first so I could have understood it more.

This story also has little parts that flashback to the past, and while not full chapters, it could be considered a past/present book. Personally, I wanted it to have just flashbacks instead of being full on written from the past sections.

I liked the MMc and how he was dealing with his own past and how it haunted him. At the same time, he was the person that the FMC needed him to be, which I loved. He was very patient and understanding with her.

My biggest complaint is honestly the very end. I kind of felt like it was too abrupt and wanted a little more from it. But overall I did enjoy the story and think this is perfect for anyone who wants an emotional read.

[Finucha · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I was going to love this book passionately since the prologue and first chapter, already relating to the fmc and the representation quotes about mental health being accurate and hitting a little to close to home, lol. Unfortunately it wasn’t the case, and that’s was kind of disappointing. However, somehow after hitting the hundred page mark - even with the characters pulling the ‘insta love’ card, the dramatics and wattpad vibes - I wanted to finish it to know what was going to happen lol. It was mid, not gonna lie - Ben and Tessa I liked but felt lacked emotional connection as a couple, they barely got to know each other until the last couple of pages, and their overall ‘relationship’ was rushed(also I didn’t like one bit their first sexual encounter, more so how he acted knowing it should be important to her) - but it was still so dramatic and the mystery of what could happen with everything that’s happened on the past kept me locked in. Overall I’d recommend it if you want a goofy and fun palette cleanser, but do check trigger warnings because there’s lot of sensitive topics and a particular scene is heartbreakingly descriptive and delicate.

[Kristin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was such an emotional read. I feel for these characters and felt everything they were going through and experiencing. Tessa has been through some really traumatic events recently and as we learn more of her story there is past events too. She used to be fun, bubbly, outgoing but now just a shell of herself. Life keeps going on even though you feel like yours is crumbing. Her best friend is getting married and she has a bachelorette party to plan and attend. She meets Ben- the brother to the groomsman. He swoops on and is such a golden retriever character. His patience and kindness to Tessa is beautiful. He really understands her trauma and trying to help her start again. Ben has also had a traumatic past and meeting Tessa seems to be what he really needed. A beautiful touching emotional story.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 My Heart Still Beats Stars

If you have read the FOLLOW ME Series, you've met Braden Black and Skye Manning. This is the story of Braden's brother, Ben, and Skye's best friend, Tessa.

Braden and Skye are getting married, and it's up to Ben and Tessa to throw them a Bachelor and Bachelorette party. But Tessa has become a shell of herself since her attack, so she has difficulty wrapping her head around anything, even her best friend's party. Can she pull off a fun-filled weekend in Jamaica and make sure Skye has a great time?

𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒏 𝑬𝒙𝒄𝒆𝒓𝒑𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 ➡ https://bit.ly/NBReviewMHSB



**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books
You can find me here:  https://linktr.ee/NadineBookaholic

[Christi Leaverton · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Heart Still Beats was three ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. Thank you New Galley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC. These are my honest opinions.

Everything in this book was just so nice. The dialogue, the triggers, the relationships. It was too nice. Everything was very closed door (or barely peeking) - the spice, the trauma, all of it. If you like mostly closed door, you will probably love this book.

It was kind of flat for me. I read the trigger warnings and braced myself, but that wasn’t really necessary. A three star for me is, it was mostly okay and I may or may not suggest it.

[Patricia (Spellbound Stories Trish) · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s not very often that a book takes me down a path, that becomes cathartic to me. I have read dark, light, fade to black and many more. Once in a while I find a book that reaches into my very core and heals it just a little. My Heart Still Beats healed so many parts of me that I was a shattered, emotional wreck and this book was the book I needed in this very moment!

I have come to love Helen Hardt’s words and the worlds she creates but I have a higher love and ultimate respect for her because this book tackled what I call the Mean Reds (thank you Breakfast at Tiffany’s) in a way that I haven’t seen many books do and do it with absolute justice.

Tessa has fought a battle many would collapse from and she’s still standing. Each day she fights for peace and that battle cannot be done alone, enter Ben! The man was taken by her instantly but he knew she needed a friend more than anything and he became her rock. These two were there for each other every step of the way. It was a tough journey but so beautiful seeing them heal and help each other.

A very emotional read but one that will change you for the better after.

[TheSassyNerdBlog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Firstly, the dedication in this book grabbed hold of my heart so much. I already love, admire and will read everything Helen Hardt writes… However, I knew by the dedication she left to her readers with this book that this book was going to be phenomenal, incredibly profound, emotional and inspiring.. and it made me want to read it even more and I was not disappointed. Because be mindful that this book is a dark, emotional romance with a happy ending. However, the story includes elements that might not be suitable for all readers.


𝗧𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗚𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗔𝗥𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗚𝗦:
🖤 Sexual Assault
🖤 Physical Assault,
🖤 R@pe,
🖤 Child Molestation,
🖤 Suicidal Thoughts,
🖤 Suicidal Ideation,
🖤 Depression,
🖤 Anxiety,
🖤 PTSD,
🖤 Panic Attacks,
🖤 Murder.

𝗧𝗥𝗢𝗣𝗘𝗦:
✨ Billionaire Romance
✨ Dark Romance
✨ Emotional Story
✨ Trauma Healing
✨ Mental Health Rep
✨ Mixed Race FMC
✨ Destination Wedding
✨ Mild Spice
✨


Tessa used to be a fun, bubbly, young and happy woman who lives with no fear Until the unspeakable happens and she experiences some trauma (Sexual assault/abuse) and her life and the way she viewed it it all changed and now she’s a shell of the person she use to be. She quickly withdrew and became extremely closed off and found it hard to really trust anyone or know or trust anyone’s real intentions. She feels like she’s never going to be happy again, never going to see the old, happy person she was and now she has to pull herself together and act like everything is fine because her best friend is getting married and she’s in charged of the bachelorette party and the last thing she wants to do is let her best friend down but how can she plan a party and act happy when she just wants to go and hide away from the world?



Ben is a rich, sexy reformed business man that works along side his brother Braden. He’s charming, sweet and is a reformed playboy that has a way of sweeping girls off their feet. He knows Tessa and what she has been through so when Ben sees her for the first time he’s extremely protective of her and wants to make her life easier for her and will go to great lengths to do that..He can see the darkness, the torment, the hurt, the fear and the scars that are inside her.

The more time Ben spends with Tessa, the more his feelings grow and the more of a connection they make. Every time he’s in the same room as her she gives him butterflies and makes his heart skip a beat. He’s falling in love with her. It’s clear as day. However, he knows she’s not ready and may never be ready for anything more than friends. That doesn’t stop him from trying to make her life easier, protecting her and trying to make her happy again. He will everything he can to make sure she gets the happiness she deserves.

Ben also has a sordid past that no one close to him knows anything about and while Tessa is slowly finding herself again and in a better head space, Ben’s darkness and demons start to surface.


Helen Hardt is known for her spice when it comes to her books and don’t get me wrong… I LOVE IT! However, this was a little different, it still had spice but this book focuses heavily on the angst, emotion, romance and the connection between these two characters.

This book was not for the faint of heart. It really hit home for me on a few occasions and I had to take steps away from the book at times. In saying that, I think this book and these intense dark topics were handled with care, well-written and executed perfectly. This book took me on a rollercoaster of emotions. I laughed, I cried and at one point I wanted to throw my kindle at the wall.

5 STARS!

[Eclectic Review · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I enjoy Helen Hardt's writing. The story revolves around Benjamin Black, the playboy billionaire brother of Braden Black, the protagonist of the Follow Me series. Benjamin is a kind and stable character, unlike his volatile and controlling brother, and he finds himself drawn to Tessa Logan, a woman dealing with PTSD from a recent sexual assault.

Tessa is trying to plan her best friend Skye's bachelorette party, but she's struggling to cope with her trauma. First of all, why would Skye put that pressure on her? Enter, Ben who  understands what it's like to fight demons, and he's determined to help Tessa find happiness again. However, his own past transgressions threaten to ruin everything.

The romance between Ben and Tessa is heartwarming, and it's clear from the start that they are meant to be together. Ben's slow and confident pursuit of Tessa is important to her recovery, and his awareness of her trauma is touching. Tessa's journey towards healing is heart wrenching and inspiring, and I was happy that she finds her strength again with Ben's devoted support and encouragement.

I appreciated that this story was not just another billionaire rescuing a woman in distress. Both Ben and Tessa have suffered greatly and need to learn how to live again. The plot has a lot of potential, but unfortunately, it falls short for me. The story felt repetitive at times, and I wish more time had been devoted to exploring Ben's past. The ending felt rushed, and I was disappointed that the resolution of Ben's past was not given more attention.

Despite its shortfalls, My Heart Still Beats is a good read that explores the themes of love, healing, and finding happiness after trauma. It's not a perfect book and it has triggers, but it has its moments of charm and emotional depth. 

Thank you to Ms. Hardt for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review.

[Jessica Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! It covers a very heavy subject that is shown on the page, but I think the author handled it really well and didn't go into it any more than was absolutely necessary for the reader to know. Because this book has such heavy subjects, I'd highly recommend everyone read the trigger warnings in the beginning.

This story follows a woman who was recently raped and is tasked with planning a bachelorette party for her best friend. The best man asks her to meet up so they can plan both the bachelor and bachelorette (which are set to merge towards the end of the night), which challenges Tessa's fear of not only being out in the public, but around men. Ben screws up multiple times with her, and I think the dual POV was definitely the right choice here because I very much liked to get his insight on when he knew he messed up, and then Tessa's reaction to it afterward. In doing my research, it seems this book follows another one, but I didn't feel like I was missing anything because I hadn't read that series. However, I might go back and read it now!

The only critique I can give about this book is that I feel Tessa's level of comfort with Ben was a little too quick at first. I didn't quite believe that a woman who hadn't been out much and was stressing over sitting at a table with a guy would suddenly be okay with driving home in a car with him and letting him know where she lived. Otherwise, this was a great read and I'm now going to put this author's other books on my backlog!

[Courtney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will be quick with this one because well, I don't have too much to say on this one.

My Heart Still Beats was right down the middle for me. With the trigger warning, I was expecting it be darker, and while for some this will be triggering, for me, it was just down the middle.

This book is perfect for those wanting to dip their toes into dark, emotional romance. There isn't alot of depth to the darkness (sort of closed-door) that gives you and idea but never very detailed. Alot of this book is very surface level, never getting too descriptive. And for many, that's what they want.

Helen definitely focused more on Tessa than Ben and I think that may hurt this story a bit. The plot was ok, but definitely had the potential to be more. The ending was probably the best part but still felt rushed.

Overall, it was right down the middle for me. But again, I think those looking to try out a darkish romance would enjoy this one.

[Anns Bibliotherapy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book prepared for a rough story, I read the trigger warnings, I had read other books by the author, and I thought I was ready... spoiler, I wasn't.

This story isn't just about their romance, it shows how you can help someone who's been through trauma, shows that relationships are possible through patience and respect, and most importantly shows that things can get better.

If you're looking for a compelling story or a trauma-laden romance Ben and Tessa's story is the one for you, it's beautiful and tragic, full of pain healed by love and friendships strengthened by truth and trust.

All of that to say this is a five-star read for me, I can't get the story out of my head and I'm not mad about it.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for providing a copy of this e-book, I have voluntarily read and reviewed it and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

[wellreadtraveler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tessa is tormented by a traumatic event that she feels she’ll never recover from. Her trust was broken and her body taken against her will. To top things off she’s been let go of her job and has to put a smile on her face and plan her best friend’s bachelorette party. She’s hardly left her house but she needs to do this for her friend, and her therapist has assured her she can move on.
Tessa meets the best man Ben and instantly feels comfortable with him. Dark, mysterious, rich, and hiding his own demons, Ben has this need to care for Tessa. Ben knows he needs to be gentle with Tessa and he’ll do anything to make sure she feels safe, and Tessa knows a little about Ben’s childhood and that behind those kind eyes there is pain.
The two will come together to plan an amazing party in Jamaica and their feelings for each other will continue to grow. Tessa will need to learn that not all men are bad despite what her past has shown her. She deserves love and to be taken care of, and Ben might just be the one.

[Amber Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Entangled Publishing. Here is my review:

My Heart Still Beats by Helen Hardt grabbed my attention from the beginning. I was immediately intrigued by what secrets Ben was hiding, but I was equally fascinated by his character. He was such a kind, thoughtful gentleman to Tessa. He treated her with such respect and patience after she endured such a harrowing experience.

Tessa was such a heartbreaking character, but portrayed so well. Helen really showed Tessa’s evolution from a victim to a survivor. She did it in such a way that showed sensitivity and compassion to those who have experienced similar trauma.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engrossed the whole time. I am going to highly recommend it to all my groups, followers and friends.

Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishers.

[Ashley W · Rating 2 out of 5]

First and foremost, trigger warning for SA. The story was heavier than I thought it was going to be. I never really fully connected with the story and felt like an outsider looking in, instead of a part of the story. This read was just OK for me and not as enjoyable as the Follow Me series. Tessa is trying to plan her best friend’s bachelorette party and is failing. She has a traumatic past she is dealing with. Ben is the best man and steps into help Tessa. He has a past of his own and throughout the story they help heal each other. I was left wanting more and felt unfulfilled at the end. Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tessa was recently sexually assaulted by her on again/off again boyfriend. She is struggling but her best friend's bachelorette party is coming up and she is supposed to plan. Enter Benjamin Black, the brother of the groom, who offers help. Cautious around men now, Tessa tries to avoid Ben but there is just something about him....
Opinion
Like all of Hardt's books, I could not put this one down. Hardt just knows how to end a chapter making you want to read the next one RIGHT NOW.
Hardt's books all have some type of darkness to them as well (with a good balance of light thrown in as well.) This book contained sexual assault and the fallout from it. But Ben has some darkness too that led to a cliffhanger in this book.
I'm not sure how many books are going to be in this series but I notice that Hardt likes to write in threes for each couple. I hope that is true for this one because I am enjoying Ben and Tessa.
Many thanks to Net Galley and Entangled Publishing for providing me with an ARC of this book.

[Jessica Morales · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tessa has been through a traumatic experience. Which has forced her to stay inside her apartment as much as she can.
Braden Black has a secret in his closet from his past. We are told of this in the prologue. This book also had warnings for those who can't read about murder. I actually didn't find this book as a dark or gruesome book.

Tessa is shocked by how comfortable she feels around Braden. I love how their love helped them fight their trauma.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Check the trigger warnings before reading this book.
I could relate to Tessa’s journey of healing and I felt seen while reading this book. Although I wish it followed more of Tessa’s self healing journey without having a man guide her.

[Shani’s Shelves · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF halfway through. The writing is stilted, the dialogue is awkward, and the romance was insta-lovey and unbelievable. I got tired of all the trauma that kept happening to everyone. Not the book for me.

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[Devika · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Heart Still Beats is a real emotional read. Every theme just hits you and Helen Hardt made it all feel so real. I could only feel compassion for Tessa and Benjamin, which both have been given a special place in my heart. I have never read such an amazing, emotional but dark book before, but wow! This book is just everything I wanted it to be and I hope there will be more books like this in the future.

Please be aware of trigger warnings before reading this book

Check out my full review on my blog Boekensteeg

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Heart Still Beats is a dark romance by Helen Hardt. This is a standalone (I think) but the main character Benjamin Black is mentioned throughout some of her other series including Follow me about his brother Braden Black.

Tessa is damaged. After being drugged and raped multiple times by the man she thought she loved, Tessa barely survived the ordeal. Now she is only a shell of the woman she once was.

Tessa needs to get herself in order though because her best friend is just about to marry gorgeous billionaire Braden Black and she is her maid of honour tasked with planning a bachelorette party together with Braden’s younger brother Benjamin.

Benjamin Black knows what Tessa has been through and is carefully managing interactions with her as they plan the parties. After meeting with her he offers to make the bachelorette arrangements while he does his brother’s party. She clearly is still struggling and while he knows he shouldn’t even go there, he can’t help but notice how gorgeous she is and feels an immediate connection with her.

As Benjamin takes his time with getting to know Tessa, she works through her demons and recognizes her own attraction, even though she thought she would never feel these things again.

While I liked the premise of Tessa and Benjamin’s story and have definitely enjoyed this authors dark spicy stories in the past, I didn’t believe Tessa and Benjamin’s connection. It seemed forced at times and I wasn’t quite sold. I do enjoy this author so it’s still a decent story but not my favourite. This is a 3.5 star for me.

[Ria Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Their hearts still beat

Helen Hardt's MY HEART STILL BEATS begins with a dedication which hit my heart, so I knew that this was going to be a story driven by emotions. For me, it was so much more than a love story, it was a beautiful story of understanding, courage, support, choices, and healing. A story of two people haunted by events from their past that shook their worlds. Once I started reading, I found it difficult to put down, the emotions that were drawn from me were deep and, at times, cathartic.

Tessa Logan's life was turned upside down when she became the victim of a harrowing abusive assault. No longer was she carefree, bubbly, and full of life, she became withdrawn, reclusive, and unhappy, the woman was she simply disappeared. She faced a daily battle to move on, to trust others, until she met him. Benjamin Black, billionaire businessman, a man who had risen from poverty through hard work, a charmer, a man who cares for others, is also facing his own battles, demons from the past that have come back to haunt him. The moment he meets Tessa he feels an instant need to protect her, to become the person she could rely on, to be her rock. Gaining her trust was going to be difficult, but Ben was determined to be there for her.

MY HEART STILL BEATS was heavy on emotion, especially Tessa's, as she struggles with her past and opening herself up again. As she spends more time with Ben, she slowly learns to trust and smile again, he listens and encourages her to gradually let down the walls she has built. She's also slowly opening her heart to him. Ben is extremely patient with Tessa, he allows her to take her time with her choices, never pushing her further than what she can cope with. He wants her to experience life and happiness again, but at her own pace. While they spend increased time together their connection grows deeper, and falling in love is not something they are expecting. While Ben is focused on helping Tessa his demons are coming for him, he needs to bury them again before his world blows up.

Yet again Helen Hardt has delivered another book that was hard to put down. She dealt with topics which were intense, dark, and life altering, and did so with care, empathy and understanding. My emotions were sent on a ride of ups and downs, from joy to sadness, from calmness to rage, it had me smiling, laughing, and shedding tears. My only let-down was that Ben's past, and its resolution, wasn't given the attention it truly deserved. Other than that, this book was beautifully written, with a focus on learning to heal, trust, and love again.

TRIGGER WARNING: Ms. Hardt has included warnings in regard to her story, please take notice of them.

MY HEART STILL BEATS: a story of two people showing themselves they can overcome their demons and prove their hearts still beat.

Read and Reviewed for Reading Is Our Satisfaction

✨✨✨✨✨ FIVE BEATING STARS ✨✨✨✨✨

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 4/5
I received an ARC for my honest opinion.

This book does have a lot of triggers so make sure to read the disclaimer before you dive in. Here are a few triggers for your reference though: sexual assault, rape, child molestation, and depression. There are more but I wanted to focus on the ones that I think are important for readers to know about right away.

With that being said, this book is so much more, it is also about healing, forgiveness and connecting with others. I really enjoy this author a lot, I just read Blossom last month and it was the same way with that book. Yes, this author does talk about the hard stuff, but the way that she writes about it and the healing and care that is really where she shines. In this book you will find a strong woman that was so lost and not sure of how to come back out of her dark place. Until she finds someone who cares about her and understands what she needs to help her pull herself out of that hole.

It is a love story, but it’s not just a knight and shining armor saving her, but the actions he takes, the steps that he gives her to heal in the way that she needs is what makes this story amazing.

Ben is a fantastic character. He is everything most women would love, He is smart, kind, understanding, and is not pushy at all. I like that he put his feelings aside and just tried his best to give Tessa what she needed, he even knew at times what she needed when she didn’t and that is all because he has his own demons.

Tessa is a great female character, and I can’t say that I can relate to her but I understand all the hardships that she was going through. I really enjoyed getting to see her shine through all the heartache that she has been through in her life and to see her finally say enough is enough and she pushed through all the hurt and learned to become a strong woman from it.

I really enjoyed this author’s way of not being scared of writing about the topics that are scary and hard, but she writes the books to show that yes even when you’re in that dark hole there is hope out there and to ever give up on your happiness.

I want to thank NetGalley and Entangled Pub for the opportunity to review this book.