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Hart #4
Matters to Me
My name is Heath Germaine.
As the starting cornerback for the Southeast San Antonio University football team, all eyes are on me. Under such crushing pressure, there’s no room for error in my bid to reach the NFL and help support my large family.
With stakes this high, who can afford distractions? Not me, which is how I ended up in a fake relationship with the most irritating woman I know – Lauren Bagley.
As a competitive gymnast, her only focus is securing a spot at the college nationals competition. If being her pretend boyfriend helps keep the idiot guys on her team off her back and the cleat chasers off mine, it’s a price I’m willing to pay.
Nothing is real. We’re only pretending. Everything’s a game. So why does she suddenly matter to me?
As the starting cornerback for the Southeast San Antonio University football team, all eyes are on me. Under such crushing pressure, there’s no room for error in my bid to reach the NFL and help support my large family.
With stakes this high, who can afford distractions? Not me, which is how I ended up in a fake relationship with the most irritating woman I know – Lauren Bagley.
As a competitive gymnast, her only focus is securing a spot at the college nationals competition. If being her pretend boyfriend helps keep the idiot guys on her team off her back and the cleat chasers off mine, it’s a price I’m willing to pay.
Nothing is real. We’re only pretending. Everything’s a game. So why does she suddenly matter to me?
246 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 16, 2020
62 people are currently reading
429 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
August 19, 2020
Fake fiancés ⭐️
Athletes hero and heroine ⭐️⭐️
Nice banters and well developed background story and side characters ⭐️⭐️
I read this book with the same passion and voracity as I eat my mother lasagna 🇮🇪
Tasting every bite/page
Nice discovery ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Athletes hero and heroine ⭐️⭐️
Nice banters and well developed background story and side characters ⭐️⭐️
I read this book with the same passion and voracity as I eat my mother lasagna 🇮🇪
Tasting every bite/page
Nice discovery ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
July 16, 2020
Heath and Lauren have a not so good track record when it comes to being in the same place together. They basically tolerate each other for the sake of their friends. Heath is destined to be drafted into the NFL and is completely focused on being the best athlete and student he can be. He sees Lauren as a bit of a party girl, the sort of girl he steers clear of.
Heath appreciates everything his family has done for him and his dream is to be drafted, earning him enough money so his parents can have a stress free life. He is close to achieving everything he has been working so hard for. The last thing he needs is a girl distracting him from this path to success.
Lauren has just been humiliated by a guy she trusted and Heath happens upon her doing the walk of shame. Being an older brother of three sisters, he can’t help but offer to help her. Giving her a ride home morphs into being her fake boyfriend within a few days and to be honest, he doesn’t mind, he is hoping it will keep other girls from hitting on him too.
Heath soon finds out that Lauren is not the person he assumed she was. In fact, she is more like him than he realised. She is focused on her gymnastics and her goal of getting a coveted spot in her favoured event and she trains hard to improve every day. Just like Heath, her health and fitness are her focus so she understands his need to focus on football.
When Lauren’s worst nightmare comes to fruition, she ends up relying on Heath more than she thought she would and it doesn’t take long for the ‘fake’ to change to real between them. Lauren has been burnt in the past so is treading carefully but so far Heath has shown her what no other guy has before, he is thoughtful, caring and completely trustworthy.
When Heath goes through his own personal crisis Lauren feels completely abandoned and now she is wondering if she misread him. Maybe he is just all the other guys, maybe she doesn’t matter to him at all?
If you have been reading this series then you will remember Heath and Lauren from Matters of the Heart as the best friends of Jaxon and Annika. If you haven’t read the other books, don’t worry, this can be enjoyed as a complete stand alone story.
Heath appreciates everything his family has done for him and his dream is to be drafted, earning him enough money so his parents can have a stress free life. He is close to achieving everything he has been working so hard for. The last thing he needs is a girl distracting him from this path to success.
Lauren has just been humiliated by a guy she trusted and Heath happens upon her doing the walk of shame. Being an older brother of three sisters, he can’t help but offer to help her. Giving her a ride home morphs into being her fake boyfriend within a few days and to be honest, he doesn’t mind, he is hoping it will keep other girls from hitting on him too.
Heath soon finds out that Lauren is not the person he assumed she was. In fact, she is more like him than he realised. She is focused on her gymnastics and her goal of getting a coveted spot in her favoured event and she trains hard to improve every day. Just like Heath, her health and fitness are her focus so she understands his need to focus on football.
When Lauren’s worst nightmare comes to fruition, she ends up relying on Heath more than she thought she would and it doesn’t take long for the ‘fake’ to change to real between them. Lauren has been burnt in the past so is treading carefully but so far Heath has shown her what no other guy has before, he is thoughtful, caring and completely trustworthy.
When Heath goes through his own personal crisis Lauren feels completely abandoned and now she is wondering if she misread him. Maybe he is just all the other guys, maybe she doesn’t matter to him at all?
If you have been reading this series then you will remember Heath and Lauren from Matters of the Heart as the best friends of Jaxon and Annika. If you haven’t read the other books, don’t worry, this can be enjoyed as a complete stand alone story.
July 17, 2020
4.5 star review Matters To Me (Hart #4) by M.E. Carter
This is the first book that I have read in this series and I had no problem reading this as a stand alone. This is Heath Germaine and Lauren Bagley’s story and I found, like other books from M.E. Carter that it was well written and entertaining.
What happens when a “fake” relationship suddenly becomes complicated? Heath and Lauren are so opposite that it is hard to believe that a relationship between them could work. However from a fake relationship, to friends, to lovers, their journey was entertaining and fun to read.
I found the characters had depth, were easy to relate to and I really liked them both. Lauren is feisty and focused and a loyal friend, whilst Heath was swoon worthy and caring. Together these two made a great team.
There were times that I laughed and times I wanted to cry but at the end of the book, I was left with a smile on my face.
This is the first book that I have read in this series and I had no problem reading this as a stand alone. This is Heath Germaine and Lauren Bagley’s story and I found, like other books from M.E. Carter that it was well written and entertaining.
What happens when a “fake” relationship suddenly becomes complicated? Heath and Lauren are so opposite that it is hard to believe that a relationship between them could work. However from a fake relationship, to friends, to lovers, their journey was entertaining and fun to read.
I found the characters had depth, were easy to relate to and I really liked them both. Lauren is feisty and focused and a loyal friend, whilst Heath was swoon worthy and caring. Together these two made a great team.
There were times that I laughed and times I wanted to cry but at the end of the book, I was left with a smile on my face.
July 16, 2020
Winning the Fake Relationship Game!
4.5 stars for Matters to Me – The Hart Series Book 4
This is the first book I’ve read in The Hart Series by M.E. Carter, and I’m so glad I did! After reading other books/series she’s written in the past year, her works have all gone automatically onto my TBR. Since I read the series out of order, I can absolutely tell you that all the books are easily read as stand-alones (I know some people worry about that, and I get it!). If this is your first foray into the world of the The Hart family, you’ll find nothing lacking, and will not be disappointed.
So - why did I love Heath and Lauren’s story? There were many things that piqued my interest about this series and this story – I am always down for a good sports romance, plus I’m a big fan of M.E. Carter’s writing and world building. She infuses such a relatable quality into all of her characters, immersing you in the richness of their thoughts and their world. While reading, you feel as if you are directly observing events rather than simply reading their retelling. She has a wonderful attention to detail that brings her stories instantly to life.
There was a lot of emotion in this book as well – the scars of past hurts, the bonds of friendship between characters, the strain and pressures of competition, and the folly of youth, to name a few. It’s definitely a book where I laughed and I cried, caught up in the developing relationship as these two focused, stubborn, and loyal characters worked toward happiness and success. Truly a well-plotted and emotional read that keeps you immersed to the very end.
Matters to Me is truly a heartfelt winner, classically combining friendship, romance, exceptional character depth, witty dialogue, and sexy fun. Next on my TBR – two of the books in this series that I haven’t made it to yet. They’ve jumped up to the top of the pile – and I can’t wait for what’s next!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My general rating rationale:
5 – Can’t say enough amazing things, loved the characters, fabulously detailed plot, a quick hook, intense investment in both story and characters (including supporting characters) throughout the book. Will tell anyone who will listen that they should read it.
4 – A very good book. Engaging, with well-developed characters, a great plot, relatable scenarios; keeps you invested to the last page. Will recommend to reader friends.
3 – Perfectly fine story, perhaps some minor editorial errors. Entertaining. Typically with this rating I feel like there could have been MORE – be it believably/relatability, character development, internal dialogue, explanations or depth, richness to the overall storyline, etc. May lose a bit of engagement here and there but always finish reading.
4.5 stars for Matters to Me – The Hart Series Book 4
This is the first book I’ve read in The Hart Series by M.E. Carter, and I’m so glad I did! After reading other books/series she’s written in the past year, her works have all gone automatically onto my TBR. Since I read the series out of order, I can absolutely tell you that all the books are easily read as stand-alones (I know some people worry about that, and I get it!). If this is your first foray into the world of the The Hart family, you’ll find nothing lacking, and will not be disappointed.
So - why did I love Heath and Lauren’s story? There were many things that piqued my interest about this series and this story – I am always down for a good sports romance, plus I’m a big fan of M.E. Carter’s writing and world building. She infuses such a relatable quality into all of her characters, immersing you in the richness of their thoughts and their world. While reading, you feel as if you are directly observing events rather than simply reading their retelling. She has a wonderful attention to detail that brings her stories instantly to life.
There was a lot of emotion in this book as well – the scars of past hurts, the bonds of friendship between characters, the strain and pressures of competition, and the folly of youth, to name a few. It’s definitely a book where I laughed and I cried, caught up in the developing relationship as these two focused, stubborn, and loyal characters worked toward happiness and success. Truly a well-plotted and emotional read that keeps you immersed to the very end.
Matters to Me is truly a heartfelt winner, classically combining friendship, romance, exceptional character depth, witty dialogue, and sexy fun. Next on my TBR – two of the books in this series that I haven’t made it to yet. They’ve jumped up to the top of the pile – and I can’t wait for what’s next!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My general rating rationale:
5 – Can’t say enough amazing things, loved the characters, fabulously detailed plot, a quick hook, intense investment in both story and characters (including supporting characters) throughout the book. Will tell anyone who will listen that they should read it.
4 – A very good book. Engaging, with well-developed characters, a great plot, relatable scenarios; keeps you invested to the last page. Will recommend to reader friends.
3 – Perfectly fine story, perhaps some minor editorial errors. Entertaining. Typically with this rating I feel like there could have been MORE – be it believably/relatability, character development, internal dialogue, explanations or depth, richness to the overall storyline, etc. May lose a bit of engagement here and there but always finish reading.
March 21, 2021
This was a story of Frenemies that turned into Fake boyfriend/girlfriend turned into lovers.
There was something special about how Heath tried to make Lauren feel better and how he was willing to protect her , even if they weren’t really friends.
Lauren has trust issues and anxiety but that doesn’t slow her down or hold her back from reaching her goals. That is what Heath and Lauren have in common, they are both goal oriented and focused on reaching their goals.
Along the way they developed feelings for one another and then the story moves onto more.
M.E.Carter has a knack of drawing you in with these characters and their real life stories that it makes you want more when you’re done!
4 happy stars!
There was something special about how Heath tried to make Lauren feel better and how he was willing to protect her , even if they weren’t really friends.
Lauren has trust issues and anxiety but that doesn’t slow her down or hold her back from reaching her goals. That is what Heath and Lauren have in common, they are both goal oriented and focused on reaching their goals.
Along the way they developed feelings for one another and then the story moves onto more.
M.E.Carter has a knack of drawing you in with these characters and their real life stories that it makes you want more when you’re done!
4 happy stars!
July 29, 2020
To start, I read the Hart series out of order. I went straight from reading book one to book four. That doesn’t stop me from loving this book. The amount of background information from the other two books that was inserted in the book made it easy to fall along.
Okay so I LOVE THIS BOOK!
This book also tackles so much of what a girl goes through with how she views herself with guys. Does he truly like me or is he just getting into my pants.
I love the relationship of Heath and Lauren. It was far from love at first sight. But I like how they built their relationship on getting to know one another lol even if it did start out as a fake relationship. They get each other. They learn from each other.
I love how the characters grow. Heath has a big heart and cares so much for the little people that he allows in his circle. He is able to open up to Lauren. Also he realizes that it’s okay to not have to carry the weight of others on his back. Through Lauren’s injury, she is able to see that actions truly speak louder then words( Con is such a butt and his cousin needs to step her game up if she wants to compete). Also the injury allowed her to extra time to focus on her goal and perfect her floor routine.
Okay so I LOVE THIS BOOK!
This book also tackles so much of what a girl goes through with how she views herself with guys. Does he truly like me or is he just getting into my pants.
I love the relationship of Heath and Lauren. It was far from love at first sight. But I like how they built their relationship on getting to know one another lol even if it did start out as a fake relationship. They get each other. They learn from each other.
I love how the characters grow. Heath has a big heart and cares so much for the little people that he allows in his circle. He is able to open up to Lauren. Also he realizes that it’s okay to not have to carry the weight of others on his back. Through Lauren’s injury, she is able to see that actions truly speak louder then words( Con is such a butt and his cousin needs to step her game up if she wants to compete). Also the injury allowed her to extra time to focus on her goal and perfect her floor routine.
August 22, 2020
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
It had been a minute since I’d been in the Hart world, but I easily fell right back i to it. Although, new readers to this series could easily read this story also. I absolutely fell in love with Heath. He was everything a strong, yet sensitive alpha should be. Lauren was spunky and definitely stronger than she gave herself credit for. I look forward to Kiersten’s story.
It had been a minute since I’d been in the Hart world, but I easily fell right back i to it. Although, new readers to this series could easily read this story also. I absolutely fell in love with Heath. He was everything a strong, yet sensitive alpha should be. Lauren was spunky and definitely stronger than she gave herself credit for. I look forward to Kiersten’s story.
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July 30, 2020The things I liked: We had a lot of sports. I enjoy hearing about how passionate someone is and the little details about their chosen sport. I appreciate that the Football Player respects and sees her Gymnastics as a Sport and not a hobby. I really did enjoy that the Leading Lady was open with her sexual needs and did seek out guys to fulfill that even if the way she went about it may not have been the "healthiest." I like that there was diversity - the Hero was I would have to guess African American though it didn't come out and actually say that.
Their relationship was fake and honestly it felt fake the entire time. Even when the Hero was saying he started to have feelings for her it felt more like he was starting to appreciate her body and her dedication to her sport yet he still didn't like her... he didn't crush on her... there was no SPARK.
I haven't read many books in their series. I feel 0 need to dip into the rest. I was hoping for a spicy enemy to lovers book but it just felt like an enemy to platonic friendship.
Their relationship was fake and honestly it felt fake the entire time. Even when the Hero was saying he started to have feelings for her it felt more like he was starting to appreciate her body and her dedication to her sport yet he still didn't like her... he didn't crush on her... there was no SPARK.
I haven't read many books in their series. I feel 0 need to dip into the rest. I was hoping for a spicy enemy to lovers book but it just felt like an enemy to platonic friendship.
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September 5, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon & on Apple iBooks today (9/5/2021)!🎁
October 12, 2020
Really enjoyed this book. The characters were lovable, funny and interesting. Loved how their relationship grew and how they got to the point they fell in love 🥰
July 16, 2020
The Hart Series is my favorite by this author and I was looking forward to a new installment.
Heath & Lauren are both competitive athletes. And they hate each other. Or do they?
We know Jaxon and Annika from prior books. Heath is Jaxon's buddy and roommate. Lauren is Annika's friend and roomie. The four of them get together from time to time, but everyone thinks Lauren and Heath despise each other. But then - something happens! A "pretend" relationship beneficial to them both forms and it's fun to watch where that goes
This book had a lot of emotion - family, pressures of being an athlete, romance, and life in general.
I enjoyed a little more of Jaxon and Annika, and seeing where life take Lauren and Heath when they both decide to let their walls down and see what can happen.
Heath & Lauren are both competitive athletes. And they hate each other. Or do they?
We know Jaxon and Annika from prior books. Heath is Jaxon's buddy and roommate. Lauren is Annika's friend and roomie. The four of them get together from time to time, but everyone thinks Lauren and Heath despise each other. But then - something happens! A "pretend" relationship beneficial to them both forms and it's fun to watch where that goes
This book had a lot of emotion - family, pressures of being an athlete, romance, and life in general.
I enjoyed a little more of Jaxon and Annika, and seeing where life take Lauren and Heath when they both decide to let their walls down and see what can happen.
August 2, 2020
Football Happiness
I loved this book! Watching two individuals maneuver between school sports and love made m feel right at home and in sync. Add in the absurdity of life and friends and you have the reality of life. Great read!
I loved this book! Watching two individuals maneuver between school sports and love made m feel right at home and in sync. Add in the absurdity of life and friends and you have the reality of life. Great read!
July 25, 2020
Heath and Lauren are among my favorite characters.
They are seriously couples goals. 🥰 I love their dynamic so much. Every girl should have a guy who takes the time to get to know her that way. All the big heart eyes!!!
They are seriously couples goals. 🥰 I love their dynamic so much. Every girl should have a guy who takes the time to get to know her that way. All the big heart eyes!!!
July 12, 2020
4.5 Stars for Matters to Me
This is the first book I have read in this series and I throughly enjoyed so I’m going to say you can definitely read this book as a stand-alone, that being said I would like to catch up with the previous stories as soon as time permits because if the rest of the books are as entertaining as Matters to Me it will be a series I will read over and over.
Lauren is a gymnast trying to be the best but that means she needs to put her feelings away and become as sassy as the rest of the team around her and it takes a night she would rather forget for her to put the anger and sass needed into her routine. That night also leads to her needing a friend and a helping hand and that’s where Heath comes in. A fake boyfriend was all he was ever meant to be but when your best friend is a swoon worthy football player it’s hard to keep your feelings in check but what Lauren never expects to happen is Heath to feel the same about her....
This book touched me on so many levels, I smiled, I laughed, I swooned and at times I wanted to cry for this adorable couple. If you are looking for a book with characters you will fall in love with and a story that will leave you smiling like a Cheshire Cat look no further, this gem is for you.
This is the first book I have read in this series and I throughly enjoyed so I’m going to say you can definitely read this book as a stand-alone, that being said I would like to catch up with the previous stories as soon as time permits because if the rest of the books are as entertaining as Matters to Me it will be a series I will read over and over.
Lauren is a gymnast trying to be the best but that means she needs to put her feelings away and become as sassy as the rest of the team around her and it takes a night she would rather forget for her to put the anger and sass needed into her routine. That night also leads to her needing a friend and a helping hand and that’s where Heath comes in. A fake boyfriend was all he was ever meant to be but when your best friend is a swoon worthy football player it’s hard to keep your feelings in check but what Lauren never expects to happen is Heath to feel the same about her....
This book touched me on so many levels, I smiled, I laughed, I swooned and at times I wanted to cry for this adorable couple. If you are looking for a book with characters you will fall in love with and a story that will leave you smiling like a Cheshire Cat look no further, this gem is for you.
July 16, 2020
Unlike the other books in the Hart series, this book doesn't feature a Hart family member as one of the main couple characters, but we do get plenty of Jaxon and Annika. Lauren and Heath featured prominently in Matters of the Hart and it's nice to see them. Carter nails that feeling of discomfort when an encounter goes wrong that almost all women have had and she handles it well. The story developed naturally. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one and hopefully more to come.
July 17, 2020
This was a very cute college age romance. I loved Heath. He was such a protector of everyone. I loved Lauren for her sassiness. Her boldness. It was nice to see more of Annika and Jaxon. I’m excited for the next book.
July 16, 2020
This book was incredible! it hooked me since page 1! the author did a great job tackling very important issues in today's society! I loved Heath and Lauren!
June 24, 2020
“If I’m going to fall in love with anyone, he deserves it the most. It just makes things more complicated. And complicated makes me nervous.”
I enjoyed this unique take on a fake relationship to friends to lovers romance. Heath and Lauren, at first glance, were as different as they come- but as they peel back the layers, you can see a lot of similarities in the two and it makes for a touching friendship that slowly moves to more.
These were the two most self aware characters... Lauren in particular knows her mind and knows her limits and knows herself better at 22 than anyone I’ve ever met, and I really enjoyed getting inside her brain a bit. She is feisty and tender hearted and loyal to the few who have proven they deserve it. Her struggle with anxiety and the way it is written is so real, like reading something private out of a psychologist’s journal. It didn’t feel manufactured so they heroine had a “flaw”, it was completely natural and real and I really appreciated that part of her being so relatable.
Heath is yum... as any tall, dark, and handsome football playing Hero should be. He owns up to his bias and his faults and that kind of honesty was refreshing and encouraging. I loved and ached with how he cared for his friends, his family, and his Lauren.
I really enjoyed the progression of their relationship. It was sweet and loving. Heath is trustworthy and safe, respectful and kind. He is exactly what our hurt in the past heroine deserves.
I cannot wait to see what comes next!!
July 18, 2020
The h having sex with someone else at the beginning of the book , an ONS that ended badly, is a big NO for me. It ruins the story for me ..
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2021
Eh. It was ok. It doesn't have the constant homophobic and sexist remarks of the other Carter football book I read, so there's that.
Just, a lot of stuff rubbed me the wrong way. There was some good stuff. As an enemies to lovers this works pretty good. And the fake relationship too. I don't usually find fake relationships believable, but this one was.
But then there's things like how over and over Heath kept talking/thinking about all the women who try to purposely "trap" football players (by getting pregnant). I kept waiting for a scene where he realizes how sexist and misogynistic all this was but it never arrives. It's made clear that it's ok that Lauren likes sex, but apparently other women who like sex are just trying to trap men and we get to the end of the book with all this woman hate still going on.
Which goes along with a scene at the beginning where Lauren has a "not like other girls" moment as she thinks about how she doesn't dress up fancy to practice like the other gymnasts do. I really wasn't sure what was the point of that, other than trying to get us to hate the other women for . . . dressing up?
Lauren does party a lot and dresses up, but that's ok somehow because she's not like the gymnasts who dress up to work out. When she dresses up it's empowering, when they do it, well, you know. Sigh.
The other female gymnasts are all vague except one. Ellery is perfectly nice and even tries to warn Lauren about an asshole. Lauren immediately decides that Ellery is being a jerk and ignores her, but over the course of the book they become friends. But all this made me wonder if the other gymnasts were actually jerks because there is not a single scene where another female gymnast is mean to her. It's all vague things we're told about her not being welcomed. So yeah, probably not what the author meant, but given her treatment of Ellery and nothing concrete happening with the other gymnasts, I ended up thinking the problem was all her.
Nothing was resolved with the male gymnast. He was absolutely cruel to her and all the others were too (even the "nice" one didn't stand up to her, and I was annoyed that she didn't tell Ellery that when she asked Lauren her opinion of him), but by the end, nothing was really wrapped up and that was left hanging.
Just overall, a lot of stuff I really didn't like here.
Just, a lot of stuff rubbed me the wrong way. There was some good stuff. As an enemies to lovers this works pretty good. And the fake relationship too. I don't usually find fake relationships believable, but this one was.
But then there's things like how over and over Heath kept talking/thinking about all the women who try to purposely "trap" football players (by getting pregnant). I kept waiting for a scene where he realizes how sexist and misogynistic all this was but it never arrives. It's made clear that it's ok that Lauren likes sex, but apparently other women who like sex are just trying to trap men and we get to the end of the book with all this woman hate still going on.
Which goes along with a scene at the beginning where Lauren has a "not like other girls" moment as she thinks about how she doesn't dress up fancy to practice like the other gymnasts do. I really wasn't sure what was the point of that, other than trying to get us to hate the other women for . . . dressing up?
Lauren does party a lot and dresses up, but that's ok somehow because she's not like the gymnasts who dress up to work out. When she dresses up it's empowering, when they do it, well, you know. Sigh.
The other female gymnasts are all vague except one. Ellery is perfectly nice and even tries to warn Lauren about an asshole. Lauren immediately decides that Ellery is being a jerk and ignores her, but over the course of the book they become friends. But all this made me wonder if the other gymnasts were actually jerks because there is not a single scene where another female gymnast is mean to her. It's all vague things we're told about her not being welcomed. So yeah, probably not what the author meant, but given her treatment of Ellery and nothing concrete happening with the other gymnasts, I ended up thinking the problem was all her.
Nothing was resolved with the male gymnast. He was absolutely cruel to her and all the others were too (even the "nice" one didn't stand up to her, and I was annoyed that she didn't tell Ellery that when she asked Lauren her opinion of him), but by the end, nothing was really wrapped up and that was left hanging.
Just overall, a lot of stuff I really didn't like here.
August 4, 2021
Review: 4.5/5 ⭐️
Steam: 2/5🔥
This is book 4 in the #hartsseries by @authormecarter
I read/listened to the first 3 books a while ago and decided to come back to it because it kept being in the back of my mind.
Heath is an athlete. One of the best football players. He thinks he can’t afford any distractions, from anyone or anything else but making his goal of the NFL. Being more than a little judgy about Lauren comes back to bite him in the butt. Especially when he realizes how wrong he actually was.
Lauren had built up walls to avoid letting anyone in. Her defenses are pretending not to care what other people think. But when things on her gymnastics team get to be too much, she reaches out to the one person who she thinks can’t stand her.
These two might have started off in a fake relationship, but we all knew it was going to change. Having more in common than they thought, lines blur and walls break down.
This series has a lot of hard hitting topics. Somethings not always as spoken about. I would recommend it to anyone!
Now I need to keep going with the series!
Steam: 2/5🔥
This is book 4 in the #hartsseries by @authormecarter
I read/listened to the first 3 books a while ago and decided to come back to it because it kept being in the back of my mind.
Heath is an athlete. One of the best football players. He thinks he can’t afford any distractions, from anyone or anything else but making his goal of the NFL. Being more than a little judgy about Lauren comes back to bite him in the butt. Especially when he realizes how wrong he actually was.
Lauren had built up walls to avoid letting anyone in. Her defenses are pretending not to care what other people think. But when things on her gymnastics team get to be too much, she reaches out to the one person who she thinks can’t stand her.
These two might have started off in a fake relationship, but we all knew it was going to change. Having more in common than they thought, lines blur and walls break down.
This series has a lot of hard hitting topics. Somethings not always as spoken about. I would recommend it to anyone!
Now I need to keep going with the series!
July 7, 2020
Matters to Me by M.E. Carter is book four in her Hart Series, a series of interconnected stand-alones. For best reading experience I recommend to read the books in order. The previous books are Change of Hart, Hart to Heart and Matters of the Hart.
This is Lauren and Heath' s story.
Lauren is a competive gymnast, driven and about to go on top.
Heath is a good guy, sports star at his college, has some issues, is a loner and needs a partner, bad.
Both start fake dating because of, sorry not sorry, no spoilers here. And tht fake dating leads to true love, sigh, puddle of goo. But the way to their hea is a long and difficult one, there are wrenches thrown their way, twists and unexpected turns that had me in suspense from start til the last page.
I loved Lauren and Heath's story, I loved the characters and connected easily with them.
Next is Kiersten's story in Matters to You and I can't wait to get my hands on this book.
This is Lauren and Heath' s story.
Lauren is a competive gymnast, driven and about to go on top.
Heath is a good guy, sports star at his college, has some issues, is a loner and needs a partner, bad.
Both start fake dating because of, sorry not sorry, no spoilers here. And tht fake dating leads to true love, sigh, puddle of goo. But the way to their hea is a long and difficult one, there are wrenches thrown their way, twists and unexpected turns that had me in suspense from start til the last page.
I loved Lauren and Heath's story, I loved the characters and connected easily with them.
Next is Kiersten's story in Matters to You and I can't wait to get my hands on this book.
July 3, 2021
**3.5**
Heath and Lauren have been forced into each others lives because of their best friends, Jaxon and Annika. There has always been a strong dislike for each other but when Heath sees Lauren walking home one morning he stops to give her a ride which starts the beginning of them seeing each other differently. So when Lauren is being bullied but finds that saying Heath is her boyfriends gets them off her back they agree to a fake relationship. But the more time the spend together the more they both don't want anything to be fake.
The start of this book left a really sour taste in my mouth that I really struggled to over come. While I liked Heath and Lauren and I loved the way that their story played out I was really disappointed that the most descriptive smeksy scene was with Lauren and OM. I enjoyed Heath and Lauren, I enjoyed their story and respected their struggles but this wasn't my favorite. But I know that is a me thing so I would still recommend this one.
Heath and Lauren have been forced into each others lives because of their best friends, Jaxon and Annika. There has always been a strong dislike for each other but when Heath sees Lauren walking home one morning he stops to give her a ride which starts the beginning of them seeing each other differently. So when Lauren is being bullied but finds that saying Heath is her boyfriends gets them off her back they agree to a fake relationship. But the more time the spend together the more they both don't want anything to be fake.
The start of this book left a really sour taste in my mouth that I really struggled to over come. While I liked Heath and Lauren and I loved the way that their story played out I was really disappointed that the most descriptive smeksy scene was with Lauren and OM. I enjoyed Heath and Lauren, I enjoyed their story and respected their struggles but this wasn't my favorite. But I know that is a me thing so I would still recommend this one.
July 16, 2020
Another great addition to the Hart Series!
I’m a huge fan of the Hart Series by M.E. Carter, they all have a realistic down to earth feel like most of Carters books. Matters To Me certainly didn’t disappoint.
The book focuses on Annika and Jaxon’s best friends, Heath Germaine and Lauren Bagley they have never really taken a liking to each other and would felt more like frenemies. After an unfortunate incident, Lauren finds herself accepting a friendship branch offered by Heath and things move along from there, fake boyfriend anyone? They quickly learn they share more in common than each being an athlete competing at an extremely high level in their respected sports.
There are many things in this book, love, family, expectations and pressure. I loved getting a glimpse of how Jax and Annika are doing in this book.
Definitely worth a read!
I’m a huge fan of the Hart Series by M.E. Carter, they all have a realistic down to earth feel like most of Carters books. Matters To Me certainly didn’t disappoint.
The book focuses on Annika and Jaxon’s best friends, Heath Germaine and Lauren Bagley they have never really taken a liking to each other and would felt more like frenemies. After an unfortunate incident, Lauren finds herself accepting a friendship branch offered by Heath and things move along from there, fake boyfriend anyone? They quickly learn they share more in common than each being an athlete competing at an extremely high level in their respected sports.
There are many things in this book, love, family, expectations and pressure. I loved getting a glimpse of how Jax and Annika are doing in this book.
Definitely worth a read!
July 30, 2020
Quite honestly, this is not a book I likely would have picked up, even though I love the author, if it wasn't part of a series. I'm old enough that college romance just isn't really my thing, but I really enjoyed the original two Hart books, so I had to continue the series. I'm really glad I did because Matters to Me turned out to be a beautiful, very enjoyable story.
Something I really appreciated about this book, is that the relationship between Heath and Lauren developed in a way that seemed very genuine and real. This is true of most of M.E. Carter's books that I've read actually.
This is the first book of the Hart series to not center around the Hart family, but Jaxon (and Annika) make plenty of appearances. We met both Lauren and Heath in the prior book, so telling their story was a great next step for the series. The preview for book 5 already has me hooked, can't wait!
Something I really appreciated about this book, is that the relationship between Heath and Lauren developed in a way that seemed very genuine and real. This is true of most of M.E. Carter's books that I've read actually.
This is the first book of the Hart series to not center around the Hart family, but Jaxon (and Annika) make plenty of appearances. We met both Lauren and Heath in the prior book, so telling their story was a great next step for the series. The preview for book 5 already has me hooked, can't wait!
November 22, 2020
This book was recommended, if I remember it correctly, in an author's FB group. It's the first book I've read by this author, and it started out well.
I was invested and curious, but then I got to the point where Lauren got injured, and I figured it'd wrap up quickly.
That was, according to my e-reader, half-way into the book. And from that point, it dragged way too much for my taste. I lost interest, even though the writing didn't change.
I also feel like where it started, with Lauren being pestered by her fellow gymnasts, was solved way too quickly.
If you're going to make one part of the book so llong, and then soemthing that was crucial to the story so short, it just doesn't make sense to me. But well, that's just me.
While the story and writing were good, so far it's put me off reading more from this author.
I was invested and curious, but then I got to the point where Lauren got injured, and I figured it'd wrap up quickly.
That was, according to my e-reader, half-way into the book. And from that point, it dragged way too much for my taste. I lost interest, even though the writing didn't change.
I also feel like where it started, with Lauren being pestered by her fellow gymnasts, was solved way too quickly.
If you're going to make one part of the book so llong, and then soemthing that was crucial to the story so short, it just doesn't make sense to me. But well, that's just me.
While the story and writing were good, so far it's put me off reading more from this author.
July 11, 2020
4.5 stars
Matters to Me is a wonderful story where the characters are in college and how they deal with every day life!
I liked how Lauren was, how she became stronger and sassier due to certain circumstances! As a gymnast she strives to do her best but after a fateful night and some rather not nice words, she has to try and harness her anger to put it into her routine!
Needless to say she doesn’t count on Heath and when she proposes a fake boyfriend situation, he obliges! Can these two get past their indifferences and become real friends??
There were many aspects of the book that I thought really showed how everyone copes with certain feelings!
This was a beautiful story and I enjoyed everything about it!
Matters to Me is a wonderful story where the characters are in college and how they deal with every day life!
I liked how Lauren was, how she became stronger and sassier due to certain circumstances! As a gymnast she strives to do her best but after a fateful night and some rather not nice words, she has to try and harness her anger to put it into her routine!
Needless to say she doesn’t count on Heath and when she proposes a fake boyfriend situation, he obliges! Can these two get past their indifferences and become real friends??
There were many aspects of the book that I thought really showed how everyone copes with certain feelings!
This was a beautiful story and I enjoyed everything about it!
July 16, 2020
This was the first book I read from M.E. Carter's Hart series, and I am glad I picked it up!
Heath and Lauren's relationship starts off as fake, a convenience to help both of them. However, things begin to heat up between them and it's only a matter of time before things get real. They are both top college athletes so I enjoyed getting to see both their dedication to the sports and the goals they were working toward.
The story was nicely paced and I thought the author did a nice job with the evolution of Heath and Lauren's relationship. There's a secondary cast of characters that I am sure have books earlier in the series. I really want to go back and read their stories too!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
Heath and Lauren's relationship starts off as fake, a convenience to help both of them. However, things begin to heat up between them and it's only a matter of time before things get real. They are both top college athletes so I enjoyed getting to see both their dedication to the sports and the goals they were working toward.
The story was nicely paced and I thought the author did a nice job with the evolution of Heath and Lauren's relationship. There's a secondary cast of characters that I am sure have books earlier in the series. I really want to go back and read their stories too!
Thank you to the author for providing an ARC for an honest review.
July 16, 2020
I really love when ME Carter writes Contemporary Romance. Her books have a lot of depth to them, and her love stories have a genuine feel about them. And given that Fake Relationships is my favorite of all the tropes out there, I have to say that Matters to me definitely did the genre justice.
This is a really quick and easy read, but there were a lot of twist and turns in it that I wasn't expecting. I was impressed with the flow of the book and how natural the relationship of the Main Characters developed.
My only issue with it was that I'm not a huge fan of reading about sports in books. I love watching sports on TV, but reading about all the details of the competition just overwhelmed me a little. But I think that's more of a personal opinion than an actual issue of the book.
Also, I'd definitely recommend reading at least Matters of the Hart (book 3) before reading this one, as there are a lot of crossovers between the two of them. But overall this book was a really good read, and I'm excited to see that the series is continuing. This is some of ME Carter's best writing, and I can't wait to see what she does with the next set of characters!
This is a really quick and easy read, but there were a lot of twist and turns in it that I wasn't expecting. I was impressed with the flow of the book and how natural the relationship of the Main Characters developed.
My only issue with it was that I'm not a huge fan of reading about sports in books. I love watching sports on TV, but reading about all the details of the competition just overwhelmed me a little. But I think that's more of a personal opinion than an actual issue of the book.
Also, I'd definitely recommend reading at least Matters of the Hart (book 3) before reading this one, as there are a lot of crossovers between the two of them. But overall this book was a really good read, and I'm excited to see that the series is continuing. This is some of ME Carter's best writing, and I can't wait to see what she does with the next set of characters!
July 15, 2020
Y'all - there are no words for how much I loved this book! ME Carter is on of my favorite authors (and humans) EVER. I was a little nervous about this story - Ms. Carter has managed to rip my heart open with every book in the Hart Series, and I have loved every second of it! Heath and Lauren's story was AMAZING! What started off as a frienemies relationship that turned into a fake relationship the eventually turned into one of my favorite love stories ever! There were a few times I wanted to shake Lauren and smack Heath, but I loved them so much! I cannot wait for more!!! FIVE HUGE STARS!!!
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