Buried Hearts

In the Dark #3

by C.E. Johnson

"Love will take you down faster than any bullet. You cry tonight. Tomorrow, you bury it."

Jolene had her life planned out. Nursing school. Husband. House with a picket fence. She had all her boxes checked until her life flips upside down. Turns out, O'Reilly's Pub is the perfect place for a freshly unemployed,divorced woman who currently lives in her parent's old house to get stood up on her first attempt at dating again. She's giving up on love and that ridiculous dating app. However, that doesn't change the fact that she needs a date to her best friend's gala.

The last thing Paul wants to do is attend a gala with his first love, parading around as her fake boyfriend. With the memory of her heartbroken face still haunting him, even years later, he agrees to go, hoping this will make up for the pain he caused her.

The plan? Go to the gala, make her ex-husband hate himself, then let her go. But that plan blows up the minute he believes Jolene has a stalker.Paul will have to put his guilt behind him if he's going to keep her safe. He won't lose another person he cares about. Especially not the woman he never wanted to leave in the first place.

Genres: Romance, Mystery

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 28, 2019

About the author

C.E. Johnson writes protective hero romance with a side of suspense!

She wrote her first book in 2017 and hasn't stopped writing since. C.E. is best known for her romantic suspense series, The Elements of the Heart, which features protective heroes, strong heroines in danger, small town feels, and love that will have your heart swelling.

She's a dog lover, iced coffee enthusiast, and dreams of living in a cabin deep in the woods one day like so many of her characters do.

C.E. Johnson currently lives in the Midwest with her husband, two kids, and a bunch of spoiled rotten animals.

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Reviews

[Angie Klug · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh CE Johnson...You Delivered!!

I'm already a huge fan of the Dark series, so I've been counting down the days until Paul got his own story. Paul was the strong, loyal, mystery man in the first two books. The man with all the secrets. And I HAD TO KNOW THE SECRETS!!

Buried Hearts gave me just that. Paul will now be one of my all time favorite bad boys with a soft center <3 Jolene is a sassy and sweet counterpart to Paul. I loved seeing their second chance romance play out. I could completely identify with the way they took care of one another.

These characters are loving, broken, loyal and I only wish they were real so I could be part of their circle of friends!

[Amy Popewiny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy literal cow! I just finished this story and had to review it immediately. The main characters Paul and Jolene are both so broken, but like a puzzle they must put their pieces together to make something beautiful. Paul is so protective and it makes him that much more sexy.

Paul and Jolene loved each other long ago, but problems beyond their control ripped them apart. As fate would have it they see each other again. They now must decide if they are strong enough to move past their baggage to find love once again.

I would definitely recommend this book to everyone who has ever felt like they aren't in control of their life. This book makes you realize if you really want something then take back the steering wheel and fight like hell for what you love.

[Reckless Readers · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader of C. E. Johnson’s In the Dark series, I have been waiting for Paul’s story. With a rollercoaster of emotions, including lots of suspense and romance, I truly connected with Paul and Jolene.
Through her writing, C. E. has a way to grab your heartstrings as you read of Paul’s tortured soul and the darkness that surrounds him.

**Review by Kathy Dunn**

[Coco.V]

🎁 The complete In the Dark Series (3 book series) is FREE on Amazon today (3/14/2020)! 🎁

[Tracey Vuolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Buried Hearts just took top spot as my favorite C.E. Johnson book. This story is so emotional and it has something for everyone! Once you read it, you will be giddy with excitement because it’s just that darn good! Paul is such a tormented soul because he is holding on to a secret and a situation from from his past! It’s amazing how when you make decisions with the best of intentions things can still spiral out of control. Jolene is heart broken for more than one reason, but full of fire that should never be tamed.
I needed Paul and Jo to be together as much as I needed my next breath! And who knew I was going to have such a soft spot for Everest!

You need to read this book to find out the significance of the red dress, the dream, and “fancy” alone. The elements of surprise, fear, hope and love will have you turning the pages reaching for that happily ever after. Once you read this story I hope you think the title and cover are perfect because I sure do. This couple and this story touched me in such a magical way that I couldn’t keep the smile off my face when it was over. Ms. Johnson my heart is no longer buried in this story because I’m shouting out to everyone that it must be read.

[Melissa Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm Sucker for Second Chance!!

I am a sucker for second chance romance and this is no exception. Paul and Jolene stole my heart. We always see ourselves differently than what others perceive us. Sometimes the way people see us, though, is nothing like who we actually are. People take small things that they know, or think they know, and form biased opinions. Also, sometimes we do things in the moment, without actually thinking about who will be affected and what will actually happen. We are all susceptible to this. We are only human after all. Love. Loss. Forgiveness. Acceptance

[Michell Hall casper · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first read by C.E. Johnson and it won't be my last.

This was a great second chance romance. It had all the feels. And then it keeps you on the edge of your seat. Because it has that edge of danger to it. And I love books that keep you guessing throughout. And Johnson keeps your attention from the beginning to the very end.

I loved the storyline and all the characters created. The connection between Paul and Jolene was perfectly written. Even though this is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone. And was easy to follow. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by this author and I have to say I enjoyed it very much. I've always liked second chance romances and this was a good one. You get totally involved in the story and it's like you are there watching this! I'll be looking for other books by this author!

[Nanedsmomba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I didn’t know if my heart could take so much pain and suffering for Paul. The man had a rough past. Jolene also had her fair share of pain and disappointments. Both of them need to fight their demons to be able to find their love again.
Great series and awesome book! Love CE’s writing style even more with each new book I read of hers.
Nanedsmomba- reviewer and blogger for Life Reads With Friends

[Spicy_Little_Italian_Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a story! Buried Hearts was great on many levels. But I personally think it excelled in its story aspect. The story is great with some characters that you can really relate to and be one with. It had plenty of wow moments, and some moments where you just wanted to hug every character and take their pain away!!! Paul’s character had the most growth I felt in the connected series than any other. For someone who is so damaged from trauma and loosing love to regain that hope in a lost but reunited love in Jolene is/was my favorite part of the entire book! He catapulted my reading experience to the stars! Jolene as a character was extremely shy I felt at first but as the book progressed her shell opened up a whole lot and I really liked her. Her love for her parents but still being faithful to Paul is very admirable and it added to my reading enjoyment from her. We also get to see some familiar faces in Benson and Sophie and Finn and Daphne! I really loved it and I would recommend this book if you love damaged hero’s with healing hearts and the heroines to save them

[Jennifer Pierson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Paul is a tortured soul, who keeps his feelings buried deep, but has one night of the week, Wednesday, when he drinks them away. On one particular Wednesday night, he sees a blast from his past, when a woman that he loved but lost, Jolene, comes in, he ends up helping her, starting them on a second chance journey. However, things are different, as Paul is different, and when danger comes after Jo, Paul isn't sure he will be able to keep her safe. I went back & forth on how to write this review because I loved the story line, but there were some things missing for me. See, it felt like too much of Paul & Jo's past was glossed over, and then what Paul went through after was as well, so I didn't quite feel the angst levels that I should have with Paul's suffering. It's not that I didn't want them to have that second chance because I did, I know I may be coming off confusing, so you'll just have to read it for yourselves, because it's really hard to explain without giving too much of the story away. I loved the twists, because they did make me drop some loud f-bombs, and the cast of secondaries added more depth to the story for sure. One more thing, one of the biggest bombs dropped at the end, really had me jacked up, but then the the ending was too rushed after in my opinion. And trust me, I really hate saying this stuff, because I did love everything else for real. Anyway, I do HIGHLY RECOMMEND!

[Joyffree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful second chance romance

I am going to have to go back to the beginning of this series
I want more
More of the characters, more of that special magic that was prevalent in the bonds they all shared - More of their adventures -More of everything
This was a new author for me and will definitely be added to my must-read list

Paul has lost so much trying to do the right thing - his failure to protect those he loves still haunts him, he feels responsible what happened even if it truly was out of his hands. I absolutely adored his character. He was smart, reserved, handsome with that Alpha aura, but he was never arrogant about it.
Jo - what can I say my heart bled for her - talk about getting shafted no matter which choice you make - It seems she has finally found her breaking point. Her life had been carefully constructed to please her parents and put on an airs of accomplishment and a false picture of perfection to her families peers - That was until a combination of betrayal and tragedy has her reevaluating what she truly wants in HER life.
This was, for me, an almost perfect second chance romance. It had all the twists and suspenseful moments, laughter, friendship and the sweetest romance surrounded with a cast that just leaves you wanting to spend more time with them

[Joyffree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful second chance romance

I am going to have to go back to the beginning of this series
I want more
More of the characters, more of that special magic that was prevalent in the bonds they all shared - More of their adventures -More of everything
This was a new author for me and will definitely be added to my must-read list

Paul has lost so much trying to do the right thing - his failure to protect those he loves still haunts him, he feels responsible what happened even if it truly was out of his hands. I absolutely adored his character. He was smart, reserved, handsome with that Alpha aura, but he was never arrogant about it.
Jo - what can I say my heart bled for her - talk about getting shafted no matter which choice you make - It seems she has finally found her breaking point. Her life had been carefully constructed to please her parents and put on an airs of accomplishment and a false picture of perfection to her families peers - That was until a combination of betrayal and tragedy has her reevaluating what she truly wants in HER life.
This was, for me, an almost perfect second chance romance. It had all the twists and suspenseful moments, laughter, friendship and the sweetest romance surrounded with a cast that just leaves you wanting to spend more time with them
Reasons I enjoyed this book:

[Deanna Hopping · Rating 5 out of 5]

This whole time we have followed Paul the quite best friend always lurking in the back ground, now it’s his time to shine. Paul is a creature of habit he goes about his normal day and on Wednesday nights he likes to unwind at O’Riley with enough rinks that he doesn’t have to have the nightmares that night. One night while the pub. Hi high school sweetheart walks in and he sobers up and hides so she doesn’t see him at all the last time they seen each other he broke her heart and she never wanted to see his face again. Well that changed quickly when she got so drunk he wasn’t about to let her drive back home. And that is where fate got them back into each other’s lives to fix the past and help Paul realize he wasn’t some broken man or was he after lol he is still holding on the thing from his past that torture him every night. Is Jolene the glue that will pull Paul back together and help him let go of his demons from the past or will they end up going their separate ways. This book was amazing the mystery yes there is mystery you aren’t going to see until it hits you in the face.

[Julia Butterfield - Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very enjoyable second chance story from a new to me author, with suspense, betrayal and a broken soul trying to heal from mistakes and events of the past.

A chance meeting brings Jo back into Paul's life. Although he tries to stay away the memories of their past love, their attraction and chemistry is very hard to ignore, but there is a lot of pain and betrayal to forgive. Can Jolene forgive the past and help Paul's battered buried heart to beat again?

Paul has been haunted by nightmares for years which fuel the feeling that he's always failed everyone he loved. He's broken, but when Jo's life is threatened, can he overcome his fears and feelings of inadequacy and give everything he has to save the woman he has always loved?

I did enjoy this book, it had a good storyline and some great characters and I'm keen to go back and read their stories. My only gripe, if you can call it that, was perhaps the lack of detail surrounding the conversations between Jo and Paul around why he left originally. Without saying too much, I felt there should have been a bigger reaction/response from Jo about where he ended up after he left and who he met there. Jo's conversation with Everest came as a bit of a surprise. I'm greedy for angst, emotion and reaction and I personally would have loved more depth and detail around that reveal. However, the story built to a wonderful conclusion where I got all that tension, suspense and emotion this story deserved. The final scenes and revelations were spot on.

This is the third book in a series but can be read as a standalone - 3.75 stars

[Novel Grounds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Officially a fan of this author! I have been binging her books so be prepared for all the reviews.


I love a good broken read that has all the emotions edna ll the healing. This was one of those and I absolutely fell for the characters. Paul and Jolene were everything. I loved how they grew int his book and UGH the love y'all. It was there.

Another reviews said that this book makes you fight like hell for what you want. I totally get that with this book. It was a second chance romance that I was 100% here for.

[Polly Barreto · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buried Hearts is the third book in this series but can be read as a standalone, but you will want to go back and grab books one and two! Trust me!

I love a good second chance romance and Buried Hearts was not only good, but fantastic. Paul and Jolene have a past, they were high school sweethearts (oh young love at its best) until one fated day broken them apart.

Years later, fate once again has made an appearance and has brought them back together again. This is a great story about loss, friendships, forgiveness, and love. Especially the love part.

Buried Hearts is my favorite out of this series. I loved them all, but Paul and Jolene’s story just kept pulling at my heart strings!

[Joy Westerfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was my first read by this author and it blew me away with how incredible it is. The story of Paul, a man who can’t get over his past, and Jolene, his high school sweetheart who he was no longer with, will entrance you from the very first paragraph. When Paul and Jolene meet up unexpectedly years later, the feelings are still there, but Paul doesn’t feel worthy of love. But when something happens to threaten Jolene’s life, Paul won’t stop until she’s safe. Can these two work it out and be together? This story will keep you on the edge of your seat, and you won’t want to put it down! I absolutely enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author!

[Shayne Ryder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those books that comes along and just captivates you. You start reading, and before you know it- the book is over! The book is beautifully written and doesn’t inundate you with too many details. She has found the perfect amount of detail to relay what needs to be felt, but no so much you feel the book is all ‘fluff’ with it. My only complaint would be that I wanted more!! But that’s only because I loved it so much. Any longer and I feel like it would have lost some integrity and was only written longer to make the aword count higher. I loved everything about this book, and wouldn’t change a thing

[Wendy Livingstone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the third book in this series but can be read as a standalone. Jolene and Paul were high school sweethearts until circumstances separated them. These two are both broken, and when Jolene is in danger, Paul is determined to protect her no matter what. This is a well written story which has an engaging plot, and is emotional, heartbreaking, thrilling, with betrayal, forgiveness and love. I look forward to reading more from this author, whose work I recommend for all.

[Brandy Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought Buried hearts was a good story it would be the first one that I have read by C.E. Johnson and I'm looking forward to see what's to come . I am a fan of a good second chance romance and that was what this was it had be on a roller coaster of emotions through out the story . C.E. Johnson really know how to tell a story to were I'm hooked and not wanting to let go of the story and the couple . I can't wait to see what's to come .

[Michelle Sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

There is nothing that CE Johnson writes that I don't love but Buried Hearts is my new favorite. I have read this book twice already and can't wait to get home tonight to read it again... it is THAT GOOD! The first time I read it I stayed up half the night to finish it, not wanting to put it down. If you are looking for something incredible to read, get this book now! Congratulations CE Johnson! I can't wait to read your next one!!

[Cassie Ashford · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart is still pounding after reading this book! This is my first book from C. E. Johnson. It’s not the first in the series and I feel this one at least can be read as a stand-alone. I’m going to get the first 2 books ASAP to read! Paul and Jolene’s story is tragic but they end up together when all is said and done. This book had me captivated from page 1!

[Jenelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

CE Johnson had me hooked after reading the first page of this book (all of her books start that way). I simply couldn’t and didn’t want to put it down. I loved Pauls story! I could feel everything emotion from each character. It had me crying and laughing at the same time. I’d recommend this book to everyone!

[Jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing second chance read.

This book will grab you by the hand and take your heart on a emotion filled journey. There is romance with some suspense added in.Jolene & Paul were wonderful characters who each had there own goals , that just happened to bring them back together.

[The Color of Ink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always tell myself that I couldn't possibly like C.E. Johnson's next book more than her last. However, she has proven me wrong yet again. Her writing and characters just keep getting better. This was a great story and I highly recommend the read. I'm looking forward to the next!

[Raissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing!!

Another great book by C.E. Johnson. I am now a loyal fan! I love the character development and how the stories intertwine between series. I finished this book wanting to know what happens next. Please give us more!!!

[Kat B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Did a really great job of building up the suspense until the very end. The ends wrapped up a bit too neatly to not feel contrived. The ending also felt very flat.

The story could also use an editor. The misused words (your/you’re) were distracting.

[Gale Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been s excited to get Paul’s story and now I’ve finally read it. It’s amazing and intense and I loved every minute of it. I always get happy to see our other couples and bring this all to an end. Great book!

[Kathy Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid reader of C. E. Johnson’s In the Dark series, I have been waiting for Paul’s story. Read the rest of my review on the Reckless Readers page and be ready for a rollercoaster of emotions!