REVIEW: BLACK HEART BY R.L. MATHEWSON (CURSED HEARTS #1)

There was something seriously wrong with Marty. That was the only explanation that she could come up with. Why else would she feel this way for the biggest SOB in town? Granted, he was also the hottest man in town, but he was also arrogant, callous, and determined to drive her away even as he drove her crazy with his touch. She should just walk away from him and probably would if it wasn’t for this connection that she’d always had with him that kept making her want more with the one man that couldn’t give her anything more than heartache.

He should have left and never looked back when he’d decided to finally do the right thing and push Marty out of his life, but instead he stuck around to torture himself by staying close to the one woman that he could never allow himself to have. She deserved better than him, better than the tortured existence that he led and better than the horrifying future that waited for him.

Kindle Edition, 418 pages

Published June 22nd 2013

Bought from Amazon

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So I'm sitting here..thinking about this novel and I've got so many jumbled thoughts I don't know where to begin. It's been over a decade since I've read anything in the paranormal genre (ahem...Interview With a Vampire--just to date myself a little bit...Hey, no dating here. I have that series! Okay, maybe a little since I haven't finished it...ADD and all that) not because I'm opposed to it or put off by it..I'm actually not sure why. I guess, maybe, after the Anne Rice series there wasn't anything else like that (at least that I knew of) and I got bogged down with college and work and life..and, well, here we are.

I am glad that you brought up the paranormal aspect of this early. Note: this is the beginning of a paranormal series. I had no idea either. I am not opposed either, because I love many series in that genre. I just had no idea until well into it that this particular book was one! And that is completely my bad because well...that series is called Cursed Hearts...so that probably should've been a good clue. But since I am me...it wasn't!! 

Tristan and Marty's story was reminiscent of the Neighbor from Hell series from this author. Our two main characters are  loaded with witty quips, awesomely embarrassing moments, and an undercurrent of heated chemistry. Tristan is a loveable asshole--always eager and willing to be a jerk. Marty, while sweet natured, is evenly matched as she can hold her own against him and then some. They've known each other since childhood and have been matching wits ever since.They are drawn to each other and obviously care deeply about each other, even when they do everything in their power to forget or push these feelings away. Their push and pull makes for an interesting first half of the novel. It helps establish the depths that they will go to, in the last half, to protect and take care of each other.

Oh my goodness...the funnies and embarrassing moments in this definitely reminded me of R.L's other work...but made me remember why I absolutely love her books. Not that I had forgotten per se, but it had been a while since I dove into one of her series and I had seriously missed her. *hugs* I also am particularly fond of any funny moments that involve handcuffs and playful payback...so I was completely sold on this book! (Yeaahhh, you wanna know allllllll about that...sigh!)...and Tristan is a hawt-ee to the nth degree...and to-mat-o/ta-mah-to on his assholey-ness...sure he is that, but he also is fiercely loyal to his family and doesn't take crap off of anyone at his work. He's funny and sexy and my heart absolutely melted for him after reading that prologue.

Sounds like a normal contemporary romance, right? It is...but it isn't...as is established in the prologue. Holy Prologue, Batman! Something is seriously wrong with Tristan. My heart hurt for him. Once you meet Shayne and understand who he is, the not normal part of this story comes in to play. As we watch the relationship between Tristan and Marty struggle to get off the ground, the 'why is Tristan such an a-hole' question becomes easier to answer..but you want him to fight for her and them and for him to JUST TELL HER. Then again, if he did tell her why he's pulled away from her for so long, she may not believe him...or worse...she may think he's nuts. What a conundrum. The last 20% of this novel goes a long way in filling in the blanks with important details and introducing some new players...setting us up for novel number two. Yes! There's a second novel...the first one leaves you feeling somewhat safe but with lots of questions about what will happen next.

I one chaptered myself really, really late last night because I was obsessed with knowing what was going to happen. Are they going to get together. If they're together will he tell her? Will he continue to keep his secrets locked deep inside like he has for his entire 29 years....ack...it was killing me! And while we got lots of details before the end...we definitely have a long way to go before this story is complete. The upside to this, is we're 99% certain that it seems like the next books will be companions and center on other people, but continue the big story....dun. dun. dun.! 

What a great read! A very, very, very nice surprise. I loved it.

Shelley: 4 Stars
Courtney: 4 Stars