Book Review: Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann

Synopsis 

WARNING: This book contains subject matter that may be sensitive for some readers. There is dark and triggering content between these pages. 18+ only. Please read responsibly.

When Cora attends her sister’s birthday party, she expects at most a hangover or a walk of shame. She doesn’t anticipate a stolen wallet, leaving her stranded and dependent on Dean—her arch nemesis and ultimate thorn in her side.

And she really doesn’t anticipate waking up in shackles in a madman’s basement.

To make matters worse, Dean shares the space in his own set of chains.

After fifteen years of teasing, insults, and practical jokes, the ultimate joke seems to be on them. The two people who always thought they’d end up killing each other must now work together if they want to survive.

But Cora and Dean have no idea their abductor has a plan for them. A plan that will alter the course of their relationship, blur the line between hate and love, and shackle them together with far more than just chains.

Good grief! Now I see what all the fuss was about with this book. I'm suffering from twelve different emotions right now and I can't even articulate what I want to say. I'll tell you this though: get ready for an emotional torture roller-coaster ride.

After having this one on my tbr for a while, I decided to start this book on a whim. I couldn't remember what the Synopsis was or if this was a duet or a trilogy and I liked that I was entering into the unknown of some sorts. Everything was going smoothly and I had no reason to raise alarms because I only knew that this was going to get emotional. Well let me tell you..

Dean and Cora were always in each other's orbit but one fateful night, sealed their future forever. From mild banters to pranks gone wrong, to say that these two have a disdain for each other is putting it mildly. What happens when the fight for survival opens up another world you had no idea of even existing?

I was honestly not expecting to be so wrapped up in this story. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it and I couldn't wait to jump back in. It honestly consumed me for a few days and even though I had a love/hate relationship with it at times, I can't deny that this was a really powerful love story about survival, selfishness, sacrifices, and dipping your toe into forbidden waters. It's going to take a while to get these characters out of my head but I would go through every late night read again promising myself just one more chapter.

If you're looking for a dark emotional torture romance, I highly recommend you go with this one. But be warned. This one is going to hurt.