Sometimes looks can fool you. But sometimes, they can’t.
The only thing Alex ever wanted was to be left alone in his secluded cabin, away from people who judge him for the scars he wears as a badge of dishonor. He got used to living with it along with severe PTSD from his years in the Navy. And he likes it just like that: alone and quiet.
The only thing Freya wants is to get her car fixed and get the hell away from Little Hope, where she got stuck thanks to a popped tire and “helpful” locals. Unfortunately, those friendly citizens of said town and fate have other plans for her: they like to stick their noses where the sun doesn’t shine. As a result, Freya becomes well acquainted (a little too well) with Alex, who is rude, messed up, and hot as hell with his huge, damaged body and hidden under the ever-present cap eyes.
After just a few days, this weird little town in Maine begins to feel like home, and Alex starts to feel more like a man and not a growly bear people constantly warn her about. But everywhere she goes, her troublesome past follows.
Will she stay at Little Hope, where bears are seemingly everywhere? No pun toward Alex intended…I think.
They say All Roads Lead to Maine. But to they end there? . . . This slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers, contemporary romance is standalone, featuring an ex-military guy/jerk with a severe case of PTSD and anger issues and a woman on the run from her troublesome past. The steam level is boiling (eventually). Their life isn't easy, so some profanity is present. Has triggers (see above). It can be read as it is, but better if enjoyed as part of the series. Each book contains a story about a different couple.
Ariana Cane is the queen of sizzling slow-burn romances that blend heart-pounding chemistry. A die-hard Disney fan, she sprinkles a touch of magic into her stories, keeping readers hooked as her characters navigate their way to happily-ever-after. 💖
Forget insta-love—Ariana’s all about crafting damaged alpha heroes with layers of depth and complications that unravel like a perfectly plotted fairy tale. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her dreaming up new ways to torture her characters (and readers!) with a cup of decaf coffee or striding the Disney parks because it’s her happy place.
Writing about herself in the third person? Let’s just say it’s as tricky as convincing her characters to kiss and make up before the final chapter. 📚
✔️Small town romance ✔️Dual POV ✔️Grumpy x sunshine ✔️Forced proximity ✔️Witty banter ✔️Action packed storyline
Freya and Alex are so perfect for each other. Both independent individuals who learn to love each other despite the trauma they both have been dealing with. Their individual stories are enough to make you root for their happiness amongst the chaos.
Freya is on the run from her past, Alex is an ex military man trying to avoid his past as well. They find solace in each other's companies.
The action is great in it. The smut is juicy in it (tho I didn't really like the "python" references). The supporting characters have backstories of their own.
But despite all that, it kinda missed the mark for me. The writing was pretty average and it got a bit dull for me in the second half. The book is marketed as "enemies to lovers"- it's not. Their personalities clash, which gives an impression of it, but it's just grumpy x sunshine trope. It's also marketed as "slow burn"- it depends on how the reader perceives it; I thought it to be more on the insta- lust side. Yes, the sexual tension and yearning exists but it was more lust to love development.
It does have its up and down moments. But I'll definitely continue with the next book in the series.
⚠️Trigger warnings- PTSD, domestic abuse and abusive ex⚠️
Thanks to @Leonie for recommending this series to me <3
I struggled to finish this story, it was very very predictable and the writing style was adequate. The main characters didn’t manage to excite me and in the end I was left with many unanswered questions concerning the secondary ones. I suppose the author wanted to create a mystery as to read the next parts, but I will abstain from them.
Haunted Hearts is the author's debut author. Let me tell you, she knocked it out of the park and hit a home run—this book has everything and more.
Alex and Freya are our two smokin’ hot main characters. Both with emotional baggage and really can't commit one hundred percent. One has severe PTSD; the other has a history of domestic violence.
Freya is a strong female protagonist who is sassy, kind, and full of life. Hiding a secret and on the run. Alex is very much misunderstood. He has a heart of gold. Don’t get me wrong. He is one grumpy man with pent-up energy. And both are in desperate need of healing.
Haunted Hearts is a hidden gem and a breath of fresh air. If I don’t know this is the author’s debut novel, I wouldn’t have a clue it’s not. She wrote with her emotions and shows. It’s raw, emotional, and beautiful. She created a small-town feeling set in New England; that is friendly and cozy. Of course, you have your mean girls and town gossip. Now add a phenomenal plot, and you have a recipe for a fantastic book. That I absolutely loved. If you like a small town slow burn, this book is for you.
This book literally felt perfect. I honestly don´t have anything to critique.
From the first moment they meet, the chemistry between Freya and Alex is through the roof, when I tell you this book is so hot. The angst, the tension, the build up to the relationship, everything was literally perfect. Freya and Alex bicker like an old married couple from the beginning on and all the other side characters and Little Hope itself were written perfectly. Each side character has their own backstory and history, so they feel like genuine people instead of just being there for the plot.
I absolutely loved each scene. That scene where she takes care of his scars? Damn that was something else. This book just kept getting better and better and almost had my crying happy tears for Alex and Freya at the end.
I really hope the next book will be about Kayla and Justin, I loved them so much in this book.
Overall it was fantastic and I would highly recommend it.
Trigger warnings: PTSD, domestic abuse, trauma and war stories
pretty average small town romance with a dash of suspense. I wasn't big fan of the mc's, the H annoyed me with his wishy-washy behavior and the h needed more backbone. the side characters were more interesting. it was way too long, the middle part dragged a lot and there was a lot of repetitiveness.
Tropes: banter, forced proximity, tending to wounds, overprotective, grumpy/sunshine, small town
"What?" I ask, confused. "Just admiring the view." He grans as his gaze sweeps up and down my figure. "God, woman. You're so gorgeous."
General Review: I loved this!! FREYAS CONSTANT SASS? AMAZING. ALEX IS A MOODY ASSHOLE? YES BUT WE LOVE HIM. THE BANTER?? PERFECTION. THE SMUT?? DELICIOUS. This just had the perfect amount of wit, humor, complications, resolves, and gossip every small town romance needs, and it was so well written!! The dual POV made it even better seeing from both sides the mutual attraction they have but denying themselves UGH IT WAS SO GOOD. I'M ALSO IN DESPERATE NEED OF FINDING OUT WTF IS UP WITH JUSTIN AND KAYLA.
"I thought I had it tough," I murmur. "You did. You cant compare our traumas. We both have different scars, but they're still there."
This book is such a great representation of DV and PTSD and it was such a beautiful healing story. I especially love how in the end the characters healed separately before they were in a committed relationship with each other. Often in romance stories, it's portrayed that finding love is the treatment of all trauma they've endured which is definitely not true or realistic.
Characters: Freya - SASS QUEEN I'm in love with her and her boldness. She's a truly strong MC and a capable independent woman who knows how to take care of herself. The fact that she calls Alex's dick a python is still the most hilarious thing to me. Alex - I NEED AN ALEX BEAR HUG!!!! This man is basically a huge irritable bear that's secretly very cuddly. He's also a very traumatized sad boy. I need to also give him a hug because he needs it. Justin - I WANT HIM TO BE MY BIG BROTHER. He's literally the perfect guy best friend Kayla - BESTIE LETS MEET UP AND TALK TRASH ABOUT EVERYONE ELSE. A perfect supportive queen
Favorite Scenes: (no spoilers) - "Did you get wet yesterday" "Yeah. It was a rainstorm" "Good" - Freya taking off Alex's shirt - "Good girl" - "How about instead, even though it sounds like a fantastic conversation to have, you go have a shower, or...I don't know...go chop a tree or whatever manly thing you feel you need to do" - Freya rubbing oil on Alex's scars - "If I see even a scratch on your face...I'll end up killing this motherfucker" - Alex helping Freya through her nightmares - Freya defending Alex - Bear attack
I have never read a book this poorly edited. It is filled with spelling errors, grammatical errors, continuity issues, incorrect words, punctuation errors, and is 150 pages too long. It's just disastrously unedited.
My favorite line was (and I quote), "He tastes like mint and has a warm, cozy evening." 🙄 WHAT. AM. I. READING.
There are a lot (and I mean A LOT) of story errors. And many parts that just don't make sense. For example, the FMC is a nurse who somehow doesn't know the name of the muscles that make a man's Adonis' Belt. The FMC calls it "that V thing". Even I know that, and I'm not a nurse, just a perv. A nurse who repeatedly refers to a pen!s as a "python". A nurse who doesn't seek medical care when she is badly injured.
This is intended to be a Beauty and the Beast retelling, but the hero is just awful and stays awful up until the end. In fact, almost every character (and there are way too many) was grossly unlikable.
If you are going to self-publish you can, but you MUST pay for a good editor. If you won't you end up with books like this one.
Immediately this story started off strong for me. We meet Freya and she's sassy and sarcastic and I love it. I think I had laughed out loud at least a half dozen times by page 20. I thought she came across as super relatable and I liked her instantly. I generally dislike weak female main characters so that isn't a problem here. I can tell right away that Freya isn't a doormat. Hallelujah!
Before we even get formally introduced to the other main character, Alex, I'm already interested in him just by the way everyone is talking about him. I already start feeling defensive towards him and I haven't even gotten to his POV yet.
So anyway, Freya's car breaks down in this little town in Maine, population like, 100. She's looking for help to get her tire fixed and she ends up having to deal with Alex. Who isn't the most popular dude around. He's grumpy, reclusive, and he's got burn scars covering a large portion of his upper body.
Little do you know, two of my biggest loves in life have been Sandor Clegane (The Hound) and The Phantom of the freaking Opera so Alex is over here speaking my damn language.
This story is great! It starts off kind of light but not fluffy and the tension just builds and builds. I could not put it down. I ignored my whole family to read this book because I needed to know what happens next. 🤣
The writing is really witty. The banter between the two MC's is great! They're both pretty feisty and I'm here for it. Plus, it's full of pop culture references, which I love!
For a good portion of this book, I couldn't tell how to take a lot of the side characters. They all felt real shady. It started feeling like they were all lying to Freya and just being real suspicious. As we get to know them more, some of them came around but I've still got my eye on a few others.
I love Alex and Freya together. I love that they don't feel so broken with each other. I also love that Alex let's Freya have her strength. You see it in the more intimate scenes and it's everything! There was a short part near the end that I felt like Alex needed a good kick in the shin but luckily, he was mature and rational enough to see the error in his ways and apologize. I love a man that can own up to his bullshit!
My only complaint here is that I need to know WHAT THE HELL is happening (and what has happened) between Kayla and Justin. As I'm reading, the pages are going by and I'm telling myself that it's gotta be coming up! The explanation has got to be next! 🤯 Looks like I'll be sitting on my hands until book 2 comes out!
Don't worry though, our main characters got their HEA! Excellent book! You gotta read this! I will share my new book boyfriend with all of you!
I received an advance copy of this book and let me tell you it did not disappoint! I loved every second of it! You get a unique look into each character, what they are thinking, feeling, and seeing. It makes you feel like you are dead center in the town of Little Hope.
Both Alex and Freya are batting big their own battles and that comes with baggage which can lead to some triggers while reading. The beautiful story of how it beings them together is where you fall in love with both of them!
This is a story of love, how baggage doesn’t define our future, and how some of our most important battles shouldn’t be handled alone.
I wasn’t too fussed on this. I enjoyed the start and the ending but the middle really tested me. I was so close to not finishing this, and I’m surprised I managed to pull through.
First things first, the fact that this is a closed door romance was a bit of a disappointment. I mean I get it, I don’t mind them every once and a while, and when written good they can be good. But with this story there was a bit too much sexual tension for me to ignore it and not be disappointed. While this left me disappointed, it wasn’t the biggest reason I didn’t enjoy this book.
If I’m being honest, I’m not sure what the biggest reason I didn’t enjoy this is. I think it’s the fact that nothing really stood out heaps to me. Like there wasn’t something specific I LOVED about it, I was just very ‘meh’ about everything. The characters were fine, the storyline was alright? The drama was eh and kind of annoyed me, but yeah nothing I really loved. Wait no that’s wrong I absolutely loved the scene where she was massaging him. That was hot I’m not even going to lie. And that scene is what made me read this book. And I found out this wasn’t a spicy book:(
I understand why people loved this, don’t get me wrong, but it just wasn’t for me, unfortunately.
“I checked maps and found a small town at the bottom of the mountain called Little Hope. Does it mean that there is still a little hope left? Or is it that we’re relying on simply a little hope?”
I would never know that this is a debut novel. Ariana has created a perfect world with likeable and compelling characters. Freya is running from her past and Alex is hiding from his (and everyone else in his small town). A chance encounter, on a mountain road, throws them together. I enjoy couples that fight for each other through barriers. I love Frey’s inner monologue. I can’t get enough of strong female best friends. I’m curious where Alex buys his lamps?
This book has everything I long for in a book. A small town, a grumpy mmc, a strong female main character, and an emotional ride.
I cannot stress enough how much I love Freya and Alex. They both have a lot of tough pasts that follow them through this book. It was incredible to see them get their ending they deserved. I loved watching them grow separately as characters and together.
I absolutely love Little Hope. The vibes and the atmosphere of this small town is EVERYTHING. It added so much to the story. I fell so in love with the small town setting.
You truly feel for Freya and Alex as you learn more about their past and watch them learn to trust each other. You see so many ups and downs in this book that pushes for the perfect ending.
An incredible debut novel. Ariana Cane outdid themselves!
I was graciously provided the opportunity to read this before release.
For an authors debut novel it sure as hell did not disappoint! When I pick up a book knowing it has a lot of my favorite things in it I tend to go in with my expectations high and this book had me up all night craving more Alex and Freya. If your looking for a slow-burn, grumpy sunshine, forced proximity, strangers to enemies to lovers, ex-military, small town romance than this book it HAS to be added to your list! This book contains just the right amount of spice, angst and romance all wrapped in one and it left me wanting more Freya and Alex! Definitely check trigger warnings for this one. Thank you Ariana for trusting me with your first release, this book comes out February 22 so if this review hasn’t already convinced you to be ready to buy it, you’ll be missing out!
Freya is running from her past but as her luck would have it, her car brokes in a small town called Little Hope.
So now Freya is stuck in this town in Maine, for a week and meets a rugged and scary man, Alex who prefers to be alone in his cabin.Well, Alex has his reasons for being the way he is but Freya can't seem to stay away from him. The author delves on many important issues and has depicted them nicely in her debut novel. The writing style and the entire plot is amazing. The book did have some nice steamy scenes but even though the book is a slow-burn one I still felt that Freya and Alex's chemistry to be a bit rushed in few places.
I honestly loved the supporting characters - Kayla, Justin ,Jonah and even Jake! More than the main characters,if I'm being honest! And I'm looking forward to know more about these characters in the next book of the Little Hope Series.
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Haunted Hearts is Book 1 of the Little Hope series and will be published on 22nd February 2022.
I'd like to thank the author for providing me with an e-ARC for an honest review.
Haunted Hearts by Ariana Crane 5 stars This is Ariana Crane’s debut novel and she absolutely rocked it. Alex and Freya are both damaged in their own ways but they come together wonderfully. What I loved was that they both inspired the other to get better. I loved Freya and her strength and her tenacity. Alex, baby boy, I loved that he finally opened himself up to Freya and his family despite the past. The spicy scenes were hot and heavy and you could feel the chemistry between these two. With an amazing couple, wonderful side characters, and the thriller-like plot once when it picked up, Ariana Crane is an author to look out for in the future. I can’t wait for Kayla and Justin’s story and more of Little Hope, Maine! X Tw for Domestic Abuse (not from the hero) and PTSD and violence (not to the heroine from the hero). Wonderfully done, Ariana!
I really liked this book! Ariana Cane did a fantastic time on her debut novel and she will definitely be an author I will be following in the future!
Alex is the grumpy, hidden away ex-Marine suffering from PTSD and his entire life gets thrown through a loop when he finds Freya in her broken down car just outside of his sleepy little town.
Freya is running from her own demons, trying to find her place in the world, but she finds a kindred spirit in Alex.
I feel like many romance novels that do the grumpy/sunshine trope tend to only have the the emotional issues with the man, but one thing that Ioved here was that both characters were dealing with their own demons.
Many romance books also seem to have love as the “fix” to any mental illness, and I loved that Ariana actually focused on the fact that you have to want to seek treatment and get help, that you have to want to get better and that you can’t except someone else to fix you. I really loved that Ariana focused on finding love through our imperfections and through acceptance.
This book was a whirlwind of emotions and had my heart feeling so many things. I already plan to share my copy with other friends because I know they’d love this book!
I am always a sucker for a small town romance as well. I blame my casual obsession with Hallmark movies.
I received an ARC of this book from the author. This in no way effected my review.
It’s been awhile since a story has grabbed me so tightly that I couldn’t stop reading until the early hours of the morning—but Haunted Hearts did just that! Ariana Cane weaves a tale so captivating, with characters so passionately developed you feel like you’re experiencing their pains right alongside them, it sucks you right in and doesn’t let go. This story is so well written and the plot so beautifully developed its hard to believe this is her debut novel!
Haunted Hearts is a beautiful story of two lost and damaged souls finding solace in each other, slowly working to try and mend each other’s broken parts even when they feel like they have nothing left to give.
“It’s a healing. Which of us is receiving it, I have no idea, but it’s a healing nonetheless. For me, it is a force built from connecting with another human being who’s managed to grant me a feeling of safety and calm. For him, I’d say it’s remembering how to feel human touch again.”
Freya, our scared fmc is on the run from a tragic haunting past until fate puts her in the small town of Little Hope—and right in the path of our emotionally and physically scarred hero Alex, a man who’s dealing with so much of his own trauma and severe PTSD he’s essentially a growly, grumpy mountain man of a recluse. But when Freya’s past follows her to this sleepy small town, putting her once again in danger, Alex realizes there’s so much more to life than just his own pain and starts to open up.
This book contains the perfect blend of mystery, intrigue, spice, romance and tons of angst that left me wanting more, more, more! The tension and chemistry that burns between these two scarred characters makes for a beautiful story that draws you in and takes you on an emotional journey of growth and acceptance. There is so much depth to both these characters, you can’t help but become immersed in their pain and root for their connection. I absolutely loved watching these characters grow, heal and overcome their tragic pasts—even during the times I wanted to smack them upside the heads for being so stupid 😂
Overall if you’re a fan of slow burn, small town, ex military, forced proximity, enemies to lovers romances with a sexy scarred hero and a frosty heroine looking to overcome her tragic past then this story is the one for you!!! Cane masterfully created a phenomenal story with a town steeped in mysteries and angst galore, an intriguing plot that doesn’t let you go and a story rich in characters that make you question their every motive all while falling in love with them. And man, I cant wait for the second book in this series because I NEED Kayla and Justin’s story ASAP!
This book comes out February 22 so go and one click this bad boy now!
First of all thank you Ariana Crane for the eARC! I'm really appreciate it!
5-freaking-starssss!
In first few lines in the book I knew that it's gonna be one of my 5 star read and it is indeed. I loved Alex & Freya so so much! Ahhhh and also the "Little Hope Town"! A small town with so many people's hope. When Alex met Freya for the first time at a stormy midnight her whole life changed. Alex & Freya both changed each other's life! They are mean to be. Freya is the shooting star who fulfilled Alex's wish which he didn't even ask for. A really good wish.
About Freya.......she's really a strong women with a full heart. She suffered a lot in her life which hurt me so badly ahhhh. But the sufferings stop when she met Alex at Little Hope. This small town made her life like a dream. She was happy I was happy.
And Alex.......he was mentally dead. When Freya showed up he became the luckiest boy in the town.
I absolutely adore a well written enemies to lovers romance and this book is beyond spot on! I was sucked into this story and I honestly did not want it to end. This author seriously knows how to write and I will be reading everything I can get my hands on from here on out. Definitely a must read for romance lovers!
Freya is on the run from her abusive ex-husband. She finds herself with a flat tire in the middle of Maine at midnight in a downpour. A stranger, Alex, stops to ask her if she needs help but she’s in a strange place in the middle of the night. She’s scared of him and waves him off.
Freya ends up in the town of Little Hope. The townspeople are suspicious about her arrival but once they hear her story she begins to make friends and feel safe there.
The problem with a small town is the gossip. Gossip of the past can haunt anyone. Alex and Freya are constantly dealing with gossip of Alex’s and the other townspeople’s past.
Will Freya’s ex find her? Will Alex be able to deal with his past?
The tension between Alex and Freya gripped me immediately!! The way Alex let’s her take care of him is so sweet. Alex is haunted by the scars of his past while Freya finds his scars to be a part of the man he’s become. She has unwavering faith in him even we he doubts himself. This romance was fate!!
I liked the premise, but it quickly spiraled out for me. A woman on the run who was abused by her husband very easily trusts strange men after one interaction. He has PTSD and says he doesn’t like to be touched but two pages later she’s giving him a massage. That’d be more believable if at least slightly more time had passed.
She keeps saying “i can’t stay here,” goes back to his house and then it repeats in these 108 pages i read. Like pls let’s move this along with something else. She also does something’s that i just don’t believe a woman on the run would do around a stranger.
It’s also very instalust. She hears his voice for the first time and already gets shivers like… from the voice of a strange man on the side of the road in the middle of the night. Like. We hear about how her body is reacting to him a lot in these first 100 pages too, and to be marketed as slow burn it just feels like i want a little more build up before we get to this intense lust and attraction.
There’s also inconsistencies that just irritated me. She says she didn’t take her luggage from her car, only had her purse, and then two pages later when she’s about to leave she pulling her luggage to the door. And then three pages after that we’re reminded her luggage is still in the car.
There’s a POV from another character and it looks to also set up his book, but like at this point i don’t care about him. Let’s get this information a different way.
Freya is on the run from her past when she is stopped in town by car trouble. The town and Alex soon grow on her, along with their pushy attitudes and nosiness. Alex and Freya both have had difficult pasts and need time to deal with them, before they can safely unite into a relationship. The characters have terrific backstories and intense feelings. The storyline is a roller coaster of entertaining situations and banter, town busybodies, surprises, twists, forgiveness - their own - and so much more. Loved the slow build which seemed so real and had you rooting for them. Great ending that brought it all together. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I wanted to like it but unfortunately it was boring. The friends from the second book are the heroes in this one and I couldn't care less about their story 😔
I was pretty much obsessed with this book from the moment I read the synopsis. Then I started it and holy moly… immediately it drew me in and I could not put it down. This is one of my favorite books that I have read in a long time.
Freya: I loved her whit and humor and her snarky side. She has been through hell and still she stands tall and strong. She was an amazing female MC and so we’ll written. I loved seeing her story unfold and how she dealt with everything. She’s a total badass in my eyes.
Alex: ohhhh Alex. He’s the tall, muscular, grumpy male that we love to see. He has also been through hell and I absolutely loved seeing his character develop throughout the story. He started off cold and harsh and we see him melt and develop this love and affection for Freya. I just loved him.
Overall, this book is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star read for me. I honestly loved everything about it. The characters are so well written as is the plot. This is the first book I have read by this author but I can honestly say it won’t be the last. Highly recommend!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
This was my first read from this author and I absolutely loved the first person point of view of the story which is always a deal breaker for me. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future. . I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
What a phenomenal debut novel! Alex and Freya’s story was absolutely wonderful. I laughed, I gasped, maybe cried a little, but I definitely fell in love with these two characters, the wonderful town of Little Hope and the amazing people that make up this little town!
Freya is an amazing woman, a fighter, a survivor and sarcastic as hell. She is the kind of woman that you instantly feel a kinship with and want to be BFF’s with her for life. Her resiliency to forge through anything pulled on my heartstrings and broke my heart at times. The things she had to endure were incredibly traumatic and heartbreaking. But her lightheartedness and wit kept me laughing out loud and her ability to see the good in people blew me away. I totally love this woman.
Alex – well he’s quite a handful. He suffers from severe PTSD making him a grumpy, growly and highly agitated man. But he’s damn sexy (even with his scars). You can’t help but love this man even if he frustrates you at times.
Freya and Alex have an instant connection that may seem at times that they don’t like each other but underneath it all they are slowly forging a bond that is irrefutable. Their chemistry was crazy hot and you just knew these two were going to explode at any given moment and when they do, you better hang on to your kindle tightly as it just might catch on fire!
As a first novel this story was beautifully written. It pulled me in right from the start and had me completely captivated by everything transpiring on the pages. The amount of emotions poignantly written on each page oozed off the pages and seeped into my heart.
I can’t wait to get more juicy stories about the other wonderful people that make up Little Hope!
What a wonderfully written debute novel from Ariana Cane! A book filled with heart, love, humanity at its rawest, banter and above all, ACCEPTANCE. Sprinkled with a good dose of small town gossip, and a cast of supporting characters that make you want to stay in Little Hope for the long haul. This story focuses on Freya, a lonely and abused woman with the spirit of a warrior queen, and Alex, an ex-soldier( marine, ha!) with the defeated heart of a warrior, lost in the scars of his past. Reading this novel and getting to become a part of Freya and Alex's lives was such an emotional ride. Reading along as they healed each other and themselves, as they became the people that life tried to defeat out of them made their hard earned HEA feel so victorious as a reader.
TW: PTSD, abuse, BEARS( of the animal and human variety), broken lamps.
Tropes: Beauty and the Beast, grump/ sunshine, small town, slow burn.
Haunted Hearts was a first read for me by Ariana Cane and I really enjoyed her writing style. Even though, the plot is surrounded by two damaged souls, either by PTSD or by domestic abuse, I never felt too emotionally drained. The author supplies ample amounts of bantering and hilarious back and forth between the sassy heroine Freya and the brooding, grumpy hero Alex and lots of tiny town everyday issues so you end up reading the whole book in one sitting. All in all, I look forward to reading more stories by Ariana Cane.
What a great debut for author. This book has it all. Small town, ex military, haunted hero/heroine, SLOW BURN, With grumpy/sunshine feel.
It was very well written and really shows and is descriptive on how PTSD can affect a person. PTSD is Not just a ex military symptom, anyone with a trauma can deal with PTSD. It was tastefully written.
The supporting Character where great and where written in wonderfully that you can just tell there is more to this small town that just needs some exploring.
Alex and Freya are both wounded and have demons to fight. It goes to show that when you find and appreciate your support system, things can be overcome.
This story is about love and healing. Beautifully written.
It warms my heart when an author addresses the normal yet important issues in life that are left unspoken for. People think speaking about their problems will create more problems but in reality, if we have someone to talk to about anything in our lives and any issues then everything becomes a piece of cake. I loved how this story grows on my soul, it’s a perfect blend of emotions, romance, and unspoken triggers.
The story is fast-paced and has an absolute perfect rhythm to it. Alex and Freya are the main characters and we get to see both of their POVs which adds extra softness to the story and helps in understanding it better. Having to deal with PTSD is not easy and with both of their rough pasts, it becomes difficult. Freya is running away from her ex-husband and Alex is having his own hell of a story. When they both come face to face, the story takes an intense turn. I enjoyed the banter between them.
Side characters are so beautifully portrayed that you want to see more and more of them. I’m glad Kayla and Justin will be getting their own story.