Book Review | Craving – Helen Hardt

Craving
By: Helen Hardt

Series or Standalone: Steel Brothers Series
Book # In Series: 1 of 23
Genre: Dark Romance with Suspense
Publisher: Waterhouse Press LLC
Publication Date: May 3, 2016
My Format: Paperback | Pages: 288
My Rating: 4 Stars

Blurb:

Your escape into a world of dark mysteries & spicy romance.

After being left at the altar, Jade Roberts seeks solace at her best friend’s ranch on the Colorado western slope. Her humiliation still ripe, she doesn’t expect to be attracted to her friend’s reticent brother, but when the gorgeous cowboy kisses her, all bets are off.

Talon Steel is broken. Having never fully healed from a horrific childhood trauma, he simply exists, taking from women what is offered and giving nothing in return…until Jade Roberts catapults into his life. She is beautiful, sweet, and giving, and his desire for her becomes a craving he fears he’ll never be able to satisfy.

Passion sizzles between the two lovers…but long-buried secrets haunt them both and may eventually tear them apart.

My Review

Last year I received Craving by Helen Hardt from my boyfriend for Christmas. I remember reading this book and feeling every emotion I keep harbored just for books such as this one. I remember crying hopeless tears and shedding rivers of pain due to all the turmoil Talon faces in this novel. I remember the countless times I wished for the best but also prepared for the worst to happen. This year Mr. Man gifted me Obsession (the second book in the Steel Brothers series) so of course, I had to reread Craving just to rehash all the pain and agony in order to prepare myself for Jade and Talon’s second book. 

This is my second time reading Craving by Helen Hardt. I loved this one just as much as I did the first time reading it. But this time is different. I anticipated the brutal cliffhanger and I looked forward to the ending just so I could finally pick up the second book just to see how Talon and Jade fare through the storm swiftly approaching their *relationship*. 

Let it be a warning, this novel (and series) comes with some pretty heavy triggers based around children. And to be honest, the first time I read this novel I skipped through the flashback moments. Any form of child abuse makes me feel stabby and pisses me off. So I found myself easily skipping on those graphic moments. I don’t have to read it in detail to understand what took place. I found myself dropping a rating due to the graphic material in these moments.

But in the end, I loved Talon’s story and I have a feeling I’m going to love this man even more when he  finds his redemption and gains that sweet victory when he finally gets his revenge on the three who took his innocence in such a brutal and disgusting way. I’m sitting here chomping at the bit, waiting for him to gain that inevitable peace in his life.

Now onto Jade. I’m loving Jade and her softness towards Talon. This is a woman who is putting her heart on the line in order to show a broken hero he is worthy of the greatest love a man can find. No matter how many times he rips her heart out and mends it, she knows the love he has hidden behind stone walls is greater than any other. This woman may seem weak to some, but I see her for who she is. She’s a warrior willing to stand beside her man and fight her soulmate’s unspoken demons. This is truly fate working in her mysterious ways.

Overall, I am loving this series. I have a feeling the conflicts are about to get worse for Talon and Jade, before they get better. But I’m prepared and I’m hopeful for the happiest of ever afters. If any bookish character deserves it, it’s this man. I highly recommend Craving by Helen Hardt to those who love romantic suspense. And once again, be warned this one comes with some dark trigger warnings.

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Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3z5CI1S
Amazon World: http://getbook.at/CravingHelenHardt

Peace Love and Happy Reading,

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