Hidden Hearts

The Women of HEARTS #1

by Marci Bolden

Former Army Sergeant Holly Austin and her team at the HEARTS agency don't normally find the police at their door. But it's been weeks since a local woman vanished into thin air...and now there's a second victim.

Police Detective Jack Tarek wasn't officially working the Julia Frederickson case until a second victim made the matter personal. Holly is willing to cooperate with Jack "unofficially," but she quickly becomes a distraction he can't resist. The leads on their cases might be running cold, but the attraction between the investigators is sizzling hot.

With every lead a dead end, those close to the investigation grow increasingly impatient for answers. Just as hidden secrets come to light, one of the investigators vanishes without a trace. The HEARTS team has just hours to solve the case--or risk losing one of their own.

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Romance, Fiction

308 pages, Paperback

First published October 15, 2019

About the author

As a teen, Marci Bolden skipped over young adult books and jumped right into reading women's fiction and romance novels.

Marci lives in the Midwest with her husband and numerous rescue pets. If she had an ounce of willpower, Marci would embrace healthy living but until cupcakes and wine are no longer available at the local grocery store, she’ll put that ambition on hold and appease her guilt by reading self-help books and promising to join a gym “soon.”

Marci also writes as Marci Wilson.

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden Hearts, by Marci Bolden, is full of action and romance.
I was captivated by the world of HEARTS which is an all women Private Investigation Agency.
This is former Army Sergeant Holly Austin's story. She teams up with Detective Jack Tarek when women go missing. They make quite a team in this page turning romantic suspense.
I look forward to the next book in "The Women of Hearts" series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Pink Sand Press for an arc of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

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

Nice mixture of police action, drama, thriller, suspense, and sweaty romance.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I love when an author takes a female and makes them the bad ass in the story. But it wasn’t so much that she was a bad ass, it’s the fact that she is hiding shame, pain, and so many other emotions. She can’t let go until she meets the one person who completely understands her.

The relationship between Jack and her is powerful. The suspense portion of the story almost takes a backseat to their budding relationship.

But there is another story going on that is tense and time is of the essence. The author uses extreme detail that can get down right shocking. She keeps us on our toes with many twists in the story.

A balanced blend of romance and suspense, Bolton writes a compelling story full of emotional highs and lows. One you won’t want to put down.

* Copy received for review consideration
Full Review - https://amidlifewife.com/hidden-heart...

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden Hearts is the first book in this series, and it is a very good start to what looks like a very promising series.

Holly Austin former Army Officer runs HEARTS a Private Investigation Agency solely run by women. They have a new client Eric Fredrickson who employs the agency to look for his missing wife Julie, who disappeared whilst out shopping.

The agency teams up with handsome and charismatic Detective Jack Tarek who is investigating the disappearance of his moms neighbour and thinks the 2 cases are linked.

Jack and Holly make a great team and soon the sparks are flying as they try to resist each other. Resistance is futile!!!

There are some very strong characters in this book and I look forward to the next book to catch up on Jack and Holly and see what happens next for HEARTS.

A great suspense book with a sprinkling of romance!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

[Nadine Bookaholic · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful start to the series. Hidden Hearts had me at the edge of my seat with anticipation on what would happen next and I cannot wait to continue the series.

HEARTS is a Private Investigation Agency run by all women and they were hired to find a missing woman, Julia Frederickson, Former Army Sergeant Holly Austin (the owner of HEARTS) decides to take lead on this case and in the process she teams up with Detective Jack Tarek whose neighbor has just gone missing and thinks there may be a connection in the two cases.

The closer Holly and Jack work together the harder it is for them to fight the chemistry that is brewing between the two of them. I love that neither of them put up to much of a fight against the "We're working together we can't do this" and just went for what they both wanted and boy were they good for one another.

This story grabbed a hold of me and didn't want to let me go, through all of the twists and turns the struggle to find the missing woman and the clock they were racing against had my heart beating out of my chest at times. Holly and Jack make a great team and all of the ladies of HEARTS are a force to be reckoned with. If you enjoy a good romantic suspense I highly recommend this book.

Happy Reading!!!

**I have voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Readers Copy of this book for my Blog, Nadine's Obsessed with Books** 

You can see this and other Reviews I have written along with various cover reveals, excerpts, and giveaways here Nadine's Obsessed with Books

[Amanda Hupe]

"Mystery, Suspense, and steamy romance...who could ask for more!"

Check out my full review at:

http://magazine.indtale.com/magazine/...

[oohlalabooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this was an action packed page turner, I loved it! This book has everything - thriller, suspense, action, and romance. The characters are wonderful, love the chemistry between Holly & Jack. This is a great start to a series. Can't wait to read #2! Thanks to NetGalley and Pink Sand Press for making this ARC available to read.

[Alex (HEABookNerd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

HIDDEN HEARTS was really great and I enjoyed both the suspense and the romance in this one. Holly is a strong woman who has no issue taking care of herself but she's also afraid to let other people close, even the other women who work at HEARTS. She's a hard shell to crack but as she starts working with Jake she slowly begins to trust him and share things with him that no one else knows. Jake was a really great hero who's protective but doesn't get in Holly's way (at least not after the first time) and he respects and even adores how strong she is. In fact, Holly is definitely the dominant one in the relationship, especially in the bedroom, and I looooved their dynamic.

In addition to Holly and Jake, we also learn a little bit about the other HEARTS women and I thought it was really cool that it was an all female investigative agency. They all have their quirks and their baggage and I'm excited to read their stories next.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review


Content Warning: Holly's mother was attacked, raped, and murdered in front of Holly when she was a child; references to racism against Muslims, trauma from military warfare, kidnapping, and workplace sexual harassment.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s always so exciting when I find a new author! Especially when that author has other books that I can read while I wait for new books. Hidden Hearts has all my favorites: romance, suspense, strong heroine and all the feels. This book started running from page one and never stopped. Never lost my attention. I will gladly be adding all of this author’s books to my TBR.

[InD'tale Magazine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: 3.5/5.0

Mystery, suspense, and steamy romance...who could ask for more! The mystery around the missing women is beautifully crafted!

Read full review in the 2019 December issue of InD'tale Magazine.

[Allyson Abu-Hajar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Julia Fredrickson is out shopping, and like several other times, she gets a feeling that she is being watched. Feeling foolish, and no longer able to linger in the grocery store, she heads to her car and vanishes.

Holly Austin, one of the PI's at HEARTS Investigative Services, is pondering over photos posted on the whiteboard of the forty-three-year-old blonde with blue eyes, Julia Fredrickson. Holly has taken the lead on the investigation.

Holly has a tough exterior, and has suffered a tragic experience in childhood that has left her with a need to always be in control and trust issues.

Detective Jack Tarek seeks Holly out, and after an initial greeting of having his face planted into the rug, informs Holly that he believes his case and hers are related. His mother's next door neighbor went missing in the same manner as Julia.

Jack inserts himself into the investigation, and offers to share information with Holly.

As Jack and Holly team up together to work on their cases, they also start to get close. When a lead doesn't pan out like they hoped for, Jack could lose his job, but neither are aware of the danger from an unexpected source closer than they think.

This book had me turning pages as fast as I could, to find out what happened next. I loved that HEARTS Investigation was run by all women, each exceptional in her own way. There were quite a few laugh out loud moments in-between intense scenes. I enjoyed this book from start to finish, and hope to read more about the HEARTS women.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy and I have voluntarily reviewed this book.

[Mystica · Rating 4 out of 5]

The HEARTS agency deals with a myriad of domestic problems - cheating husbands, small time crimes but when two women go missing and there is no apparent link between the two, other than a close physical similarity, Holly and her team must dig deep to find out what is it that they cannot see.

When the Police Department in the form of Detective Jack enters the scene, a kind of romance enters the story and though I went into this thinking it was just a mystery murder sort of read, the romance did not detract from the story.

The story was serious - two missing women finally turning up dead and the third escaping at the last minute but at the same time the romance sizzling between Holly and Jack was reminiscent of Miss. Fisher in the TV series!

[Kathyk21 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hidden Hearts by Marci Bolden is a tough mystery sprinkled with delightfully humorous scenes. Holly Austin runs a detective agency of women operatives. The women are smart and tough, but very loving and lovable. Police detective, Jack Tarek, asks for their after having been slammed to the floor by Holly. This is a good mystery and an enjoyable romance. It is an excellent read.

[Terry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heart-pounding story till the last page!

Holly Austin has been a loner since she was eight ... when her mother died and her father became an alcoholic. After two tours in the army she opens her own Private Investigation firm with other women just like her. One week into a missing woman case, Detective Jack Tarek barrels into her office with a second missing woman who vanished the same way as in Holly's case. The attraction between the two is evident to anyone who sees them together, but they have to keep their minds on the cases and find these women ... dead or alive.

I just love Ms Bolden's books and this one is no different. I could not put it down, reading into the wee hours of the morning ... on a work day! I loved that Holly was tough as nails and she didn't let anyone get away with anything. I laughed so hard when she met Jack and body slammed him. And then there's Jack ... a strong man who's protective and has a heart of gold ... what's not to love? This book checked all the boxes for me ... it was funny, it was intense with lots of twists, the steamy scenes were ... WOW! ... and then there were many WTF moments. I highly recommend this book and I can't wait for the next book in this series!

I received an early copy courtesy of Pink Sand Press through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read three books by Marci Bolden now. All three have been totally different. but all three have been totally amazing! Ms. Bolden writes a good story, no matter what type or genre.
Hidden Hearts is the darkest of her books that I have read. It is a romantic suspense that really grabs your attention from the very first page. It keeps you guessing and flipping pages as fast as you can. It is scary and kind of creepy.
Jack and Holly end up teaming up to try to solve several cases in which women have been abducted. Holly is a fierce woman who needs no one and doesn't give an inch on anything (including sex). Jack is attracted to her strengths, but can sense she has some issues that she struggles with. He is willing to accept whatever Holly will give him. Her getting involved with him is viewed as a weakness on her part by some and her saving grace by others. Is is getting in their way of solving the case and saving the women? As they struggle with the case and with their relationship, danger may be headed their way.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

[Lauren at Live Read and Breathe Reviews · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars!

Source : eARC for Honest Review Courtesy of Pink Sand Press via NetGalley
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Part of 1 a series

This is my first time reading Marci Bolden, and I was pleasantly surprised with this story.

Holly Austen is in charge of a private investigation company called Hearts. Where her and a few other woman whom are outcasts or have person stories make up the team. Holly is no non sense and rarely shows emotion. She also has her own personal baggage which drives her to many of her behaviours.

Jack Tarek whom is a police detective needs the services of Heart to help him help his mother. There is an instant connection between Jack and Holly which I quite liked.

This book had lots of suspense with a nice blend of romance. It was quick paced and kept me enthralled. I will continue with this author and this series.

Things I didn't like. Her thinking she failed her case when she had no chance from the beginning and the fact that the name of the company is hearts it doesn't fit any of them so that was hard to wrap my head around at times.

[Myreadbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the Netgalley website and the Pink Sand Press who allowed me to read this book which is the first of the series: "The women of Hearts".

It features Sergeant Holly Austin who is part of the HEARTS agency, who will find the police at their doorstep, they who had never had the opportunity to do business with her. For weeks, a woman from the neighborhood has been missing, and now a second woman has also gone missing. Jack Tarek was not investigating the first disappearance until now, now with this second missing woman, he is making it a personal investigation. Holly is going to investigate with Jack. It will turn out that every lead they have will be a dead end, and by the time they have something to go on, an inspector will disappear as well. The HEARTS team is not going to have much time to solve this investigation or they will lose one of their own.

A book read in one go, so much so that I hooked into the story, so captivating, addictive, full of suspense and twists and turns with endearing characters. Can't wait to see what happens next.

[Mommysmoose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, just Wow. I couldn't put this book down even if I wanted to, which I didn't. This author is able to write any style of book and still be able to have you hooked from the first page. I cried through her last book and now with this one, the suspense almost killed me. The characters were awesome. Who doesn't love a woman who can take care of herself. Holly has strength and courage and just the right amount of Heart. As the head of a Private Investigation service, she is always looking out for her clients and her co-workers. When Jack shows up with a missing piece to her puzzle they team up and try to find 2 missing women before it's too late. This book was so realistically written that you could visualize what the two women went through. A really great crime novel, with more. It will grip you and hold you until the very last page. And just when I thought that Marci had written her best book yet, she goes and writes another that I love just as much.

[Lisa Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great start to a new for me series. I just saw that books two and three for the series are out in Kindle so definitely checking out the rest of the crew from HEARTS stories.
While I found Holly more than a bit prickly, she grew on me and I loved her with Jack. There was a perfect mixture of romance and suspense that had me staying up all night devouring this book. While I don't want to say anything that will ruin the story for you, the layers of the characters and crime will keep you reading long after you should have turned off the light.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley
Copy provided for the purpose of providing an honest review.
This does not affect my opinion of this book.

[Laura Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Hearts is a fast paced book that I couldn’t put down. I felt like I was right there with the characters experiencing what they were experiencing. Holly’s story gripped me from the beginning and I couldn’t wait to find out more about her. Jack’s character was mesmerizing, I felt myself smiling at his antics toward Holly and wishing I was Holly!! The women of HEARTS are strong, independent,empowering, take care of themselves badasses. Let’s face it the world needs more strong women leads in books, movies and tv. Marci Bolden gives her readers characters they can look up to and who can empower other woman. I can’t wait for book #2 of this series!

[Tanya Vought · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a good read! I was sucked in right from the first sentence!!

Hidden Hearts was intense, dark, gripping and sexy! It had fabulous characters and 2nd characters that kept you glued to the pages!!
I loved H and J so much. I loved their banter, attraction, sass-- just loved them together!

What a wonderful story!

If you're in the mood for a thrilling ride with romance also involved this is your kinda book!!

4.5 stars from me!

*Recvd a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Former Army Sergeant Holly Austin and her team at the HEARTS agency don’t normally find the police at their door. But it’s been weeks since a local woman vanished into thin air...and now there’s a second victim. Police Detective Jack Tarek wasn’t officially working the Julia Frederickson case until a second victim made the matter personal. Holly is willing to cooperate with Jack “unofficially,” but she quickly becomes a distraction he can’t resist. The leads on their cases might be running cold, but the attraction between the investigators is sizzling hot. With every lead a dead end, those close to the investigation grow increasingly impatient for answers. Just as hidden secrets come to light, one of the investigators vanishes without a trace. The HEARTS team has just hours to solve the case—or risk losing one of their own.
This was a pretty good book. The story was well paced. The main characters were really exciting to follow on their journey. I hadn’t read this author before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was not disappointed!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the frost book in the series so we are meeting Holly for the first time. She is a physically and mentally strong woman who learned self defence as a child after witnessing her mother’s murder. She went on to join the Army and serve two tours in Iraq. She can’t get rid of the guilt she feels over the death of the people she loves or worked with. She creates a kick ass Detective agency with a group of women who are all strong and fearless. It is one of their cases that this frost book is centred on.

I like that the characters are strong independent women and that they are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves. The romantic interest in this book appears because of their mutual cases and they quickly develop a physical relationship. I found the sex to be a bit graphic and drawn out and I didn’t feel the story needed this much sex. It takes away from the crime part of the story. I believe the author could have spent more time in describing some of the Crimean parts and less on the sex. Therefore, this was more of a romance than a mystery.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am pleasantly surprised by this first book in the Hearts series. Marci Bolton does what few authors accomplish; launch a series with a fully fleshed out novel. Hidden Hearts has strong character profiles, both the PI Heroine and the Hero Detective are engaging, layered and interesting. I really appreciated the introduction of secondary characters that are fully dimensional, and I am anticipating their presence in future n\book.
The plot of Hidden Hearts is well woven, there are enough twists and turns to keep one reading, and the romantic scenes are well placed and move the story along. I look forward to the rest of the series.
3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

[April Harvey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe this sat on my TBR pile for so long! The women of the Heart Investigation Team are such compelling characters. Each one brings their own past experiences and expertise to the team to help find all these missing people. I loved the writing style of Marci Bolden. It just reaches out and grabs your attention and never lets it go until the end of the book. Also, can I just say the chemistry between Jack and Holly is HOT. I feel like this will absolutely be a series I read from beginning to end.

Thanks so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Turningcover · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Holly was working a case involving the disappearance of a woman, another one goes missing. Holly was ex-military and never forgot her training. She was a fearless woman. Holly, along with the ladies at the HEARTS Agency, was headstrong and self-reliant.

Jack came to Holly when his mother was concerned with the disappearance of her neighbor. They began working together privately.

After spending time together, things began to heat up between the two. With Holly doing things her way, can they continue to work together to solve the cases?

The story captured my attention from the beginning to the end. Just know you will find suspense and intense chemistry.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

One missing woman. A coincidence. Two missing women. Is it still a coincidence, or are they connected? Dive into this mystery to decide for yourself. Enjoy the journey of a strong woman uncovering the mystery and struggling with issues of her own. Hidden Hearts is a great read with lots of wonderful details. I couldn't put it down and finished it in less than a day! Definitely exited to read the second book in the collection!

[Emily Higgins · Rating 3 out of 5]

Holly Austin and her team at HEARTS investigative agency have been hired to find a woman who disappeared weeks ago. The police have had no luck finding the woman. The ebook version of this novel has a heart logo appearing sporadically throughout the book which covers the text so you have to guess what happens on that page. It is an annoying distraction. Perhaps the print version doesn’t do that.

[Tracy Broemmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Hearts is such a fun, easy read! Ms. Bolden packed this story with action, suspense, and lots of steam! I felt at home with Holly and her team/coworkers the minute I started reading, and I was hooked by the end of the first chapter. Holly's intense, driven nature makes her a complicated heroine, and I loved the steam between her and Jack! Looking forward to reading the next in the Hearts series!

[Gail Williamson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this advance copy of a detective mystery, and although I did complete it, I found it quite disappointing.
With the promise of missing people in the story, I found it odd that so much emphasis was placed on the cliche romance between the two main characters. The supporting characters were so predictable that it was a sleeper for me.
I tried to the end, but you might like to re-consider.

[Rona Nimmo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hidden Hearts by Marci Bolden

A well written fast paced book.

The characters were quirky mostly likeable some you will loathe.

The book has a Fabulous storyline though some may find this upsetting in parts. There is intrigue, laughter and a few steamy moments.

A very well rounded book I absolutely loved it and look forward to the next book in the series.

Very well down Marci