Intense and emotional
921704
Without a doubt one of the finest books I've ever read. Riveting, engrossing, and emotional. I read this book in one weekend. Truely shows the humanistic side of war, you feel a bond with the characters.
2500712
Roman and Leo's story is, at times, heartrending to read, whether it be Roman's back story or how in love and hopeful they had been as teenagers only to have everything ripped apart. This book comes with trigger warning, specifically those having to do with homophobia and familial violence. Without giving too much away, one of the main characters suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and repressed emotions and memories. For a great deal of the book, the intensity is there but right beneath the surface, almost as if the reader is waiting for everything to come to a head. The author deserves kudos for taking this story in a direction that I wasn't expecting, and the resolution, while a long-time coming given it was all set into motion when Roman and Leo weren't even adults, played out in what I felt was the best possible and most realistic manner. This is a book that I won't soon forget and I hope you experience the same when you discover His Truth. Five-plus stars.
3113489
I can't wait until the end of my review to tell you...5 stars for this intensely emotional and simply overwhelming story that I already want to re-read even though I just finished it.  This is the first book I've read by this author, and the moment I finished I put her entire backlist on my TBR list.  Yes, I really did think this book was that good.

This story was character driven, and both main characters grow and evolve throughout the story.  I was totally drawn to Isaac, he grabbed my heart right from the very beginning and it honestly ached for him through the entire book.  He is blatantly honest, open and is so genuinely innocent that even as a reader I felt my protective instinct rise to the surface for him.  Watching as his world expands and he learns about family, his sexuality and love is achingly sweet.  Jon is the perfect counterpoint to Isaac, knowing too much of the world already.  He is extremely compassionate, and very eager to help guide Isaac.

The relationship between Jon and Isaac develops slowly and naturally as Jon is sensitive enough to allow Isaac to explore things at his own pace, not just between the two of them but also between Isaac and his grandfather, Henry.  Jon helps Isaac become comfortable with the world outside of the box to which Jon has willingly confined himself, helping him to trust again.  The dynamic between them is intense and complicated, and develops into a bond that is strong and filled with emotion.  As Isaac and Jon grow closer, Isaac becomes more and more open with Jon, and is extremely accepting of the things he learns about Jon's past.  The two of them are very aware of each other's needs, and sensitive to each other's emotions and issues.

The story also has some great supporting characters, some who were introduced in the previous books in the series and others who we meet for the first time.  They are well developed, and do add depth to the story.  I haven't read the first two books of this series yet, but it didn't hamper my enjoyment of this story at all...and after meeting the supporting cast I can't wait to go back and read the other books.

Emotions run extremely high throughout this story, mainly due to Isaac's difficulty interacting with the outside world.  There is also a big dose of drama toward the end that feels a bit over the top, but is a huge catalyst for the overall story.  From the moment I opened this book until the very last page, I could not pull myself away, and I was completely engrossed.

The Heart As He Hears It is an stunning 5-star read and a top recommendation for me.  M/M romance fans will not want to miss this one, you'll definitely want to add this to your library.  I do recommend this to those 18+ due to adult language and M/M sexual content, as well as mentions of some disturbing subject matter concerning things Isaac witnessed as a young child.

The Heart As He Hears It is not to be missed, and will tug at your heartstrings while making you smile, laugh and maybe even cry...just like I did.
3378957
Cover- 5/5
Storyline  Intense and Emotional
Romance- Sweet and Endearing
Heat Factor- There is minimal heat it is more an emotional connection
Drama  Emotional and my heart ached a lot when I was reading this
Tears- Bawled my bloody eyes out!

At the time I read Fragile Bonds I was going through some emotional upheaval myself so when I was reading it those emotions were projected onto my feeling for this story and I want to tell Sloan what an amazing job she did writing this book, the emotions and the feelings in this book are spot on. To have to care for someone that is dying has to be one of the cruellest but yet fulfilling of jobs there is. I should know I have done it. Twice
Sloans word hit me in the heart I think she wrote it with just enough drama so that it was never overly done and you as the person reading the book could totally relate to it.
All the characters in this book are wonderfully written and developed so you feel what they are going through.
I think what got to me most is this book is so real and this story could be anyone.
This book is more than a romance it is an emotional experience and one I highly recommend everyone take.
Dont be scared to feel, just read it.
1528189
Intense. That is the first word that comes to mind when I think of what I just experienced. This book was INTENSE. I just finished reading it and my heart is pounding, my eyes are still burning with tears. I LOVE IT. That's what reading is all about and for me this was a truly intense reading experience. Raw by Belle Aurora is dark, it's full of emotion and it will make you question everything about yourself. Did I fall for Twitch? Yes I did and I fell hard. Did I hate him? Yes I did and I hated him hard. It's that kind of story. I found myself wondering how I could possibly be pulling for him, how I could possibly want him to get his HEA. He deserved it although he didn't. And Lexi...a smart, witty adorable girl with so much going for her. How is it possible she goes down this path with this stranger? At times I found myself praying everything would work out for them yet at times I just thought she'd be so much better off leaving and not looking back. I felt so conflicted, but I loved every minute of this crazy ride! Twitch and Lexi have so much in common and yet they're so different. And the supporting characters were all wonderful. Nikki and Dave are the ultimate BFF's and Lexi is so fortunate to have them in her life, much the same way Twitch has Happy. They also serve the purpose to lighten the mood of the story just when you can't take the darkness anymore. It was nice to be able to laugh at times throughout the story, to take a break from the heaviness and heartbreak.
I also love that the author tells the story exactly the way it needs to be told. It's not hearts and flowers. At all. In fact there are times when you will want to close your eyes and look away and that's okay. Some of the details are gruesome. But it is so worth it to see past that and see this crazy journey to the end. The twists and turns are like no roller coaster you've experienced, right up until the end. I did manage to predict most of what was going to happen but it still came as a surprise when I turned out to be correct.

Raw is an exciting, heart-pounding love story like no other and I highly recommend it when you're in the mood for an intense emotional ride that is just, well, raw. Thank you once again Belle Aurora for such a wonderful reading experience.
3059687
This book is gonna hit you in the feels and it packs a powerful punch!  Nolan and Analisa's story is a two sided coin with both good and sad. Even though you know what's coming, it still hits you really hard. There's not a lot of MC action in this one but the Night Horde still plays a key role. It was nice to catch up with Nolan though because he's a great character and so deserving of love.
129167
As a reader who loves stories full of intense emotions and complicated and tarnished heroes, I was sucked into this story from the very first time I met Camden in a previous installment of the Gloves Off series.  He's a bad boy who's done some truly bad things who's now alone because of his choices.  He was once at the top of the UFC with fame and fortune but fell very far into a dark abyss of illegal fighting which caused him to make many enemies.  One in particular, Scar, wants him dead for his betrayal and it's put Camden on the run from one safe house to the next.  Camden might not feel he deserves help in staying safe but there are those who still care about him despite everything he's done.  Camden doesn't feel worthy of forgiveness though.  He's in a dark place, a lonely place that's closed off his emotions.  The scars he carries on the outside have permeated inward to leave him numb and emotionally lost.  It's going to take a lot to gain forgiveness, and acceptance of that forgiveness, to return him to the land of the living.  It's a rocky journey, with surprising emotional depth, amidst a threat of danger and all along you can feel Camden's turmoil.  He's been running for so long, but there comes a time when you can no longer run from yourself.

Police detective Brooklyn has been running too.  Ever since her sister died and her boyfriend cheated on her she's been left alone and adrift.  She was assigned to watch over Camden from afar, never getting close to him.  Fate had a different idea though and throws these two lost and damaged souls together to help each other heal from their pasts.  Brooklyn's a strong-willed woman who tells it like it is.  She knows she shouldn't get close to Camden but his pain is palpable and his loss calls to her.  She's a good woman who sees a bit of goodness left in Camden and wants to help foster it.  While pulling him out of the darkness she too finds a sense of peace amidst the battling of demons in their chaotic journey to HEA.

Theirs is an intensely emotional and steamy relationship, full of dangerous twists and turns, along with uncompromising honesty.  They're an engaging couple and compelling individuals surrounded by equally engaging secondary characters whose stories have been told in previous installments and who bring heart, and a sense of family, to the story.  Camden's truly tortured by what he's done but when given a chance at happiness he grabs on to it wholeheartedly, he doesn't wallow in pity, which made for a richly rewarding and romantic journey to HEA.  All in all I found this an immensely satisfying story with an unforgettable and multi-faceted hero and an uncompromising heroine.  It's an unforgettable story and for those who haven't read Ms. Dover's Gloves Off series yet, here's a reason to start NOW.
3345586
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This book is intense and emotional. It will have your emotions on a rollercoaster. You will not be able to put the book down. I definitely recommend reading it.
4880861
The Darkest Sunrise by Aly Martinez is one of the most intense, emotional and anguished stories I have read in a while.
I found myself connecting with the heroine in the story, Charlotte, and her pain very easy. She was a character I was rooting for from the first page of this book. She has had many things happen to her that has brought her such terrible pain and she is literally dying inside yet you wouldnt know this. Then we get to see Porter and his story is told in this book and I felt so much for him and what he is going thru. When Charlotte and Porter are introduced to each other, its like a punch to the system. They both have gone thru so much yet they are finally getting some light shined back into their lives. Porter sees and recognizes the darkness in Charlotte; its the same kind he sees in the mirror himself every day. Intermixed with the heartbreak is witty humor and sassy banter between Porter and Charlotte placed in just the right places when needed. This emotional read takes the reader on a journey that had me on the edge all throughout until the very end when the book ends on a VERY EPIC cliffhanger. I have to say Aly Martinez is one gifted storyteller who will take you on a beautiful and perfectly timed emotional journey that leaves the reader primed and ready for whatever is coming in her books. I cannot wait for book # 2 The Brightest Sunset.

My Rating: 4.9 stars *****
"I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
4075822
I've held off reading this book for a few weeks because I needed to be in a place where I could emotionally deal with the content of this book.  I knew what was going to happen.  Kyle was going to die.  The only question was when it was going to happen in the story and (for me) just how emotionally devastating this was going to be.

If you follow the blog, you know that I have been on a New Adult kick. I like how emotionally challenging and gritty the titles I've picked up are. I figured, based on the buzz for this book, that this would absolutely fit into group of books I've been reading. I won't lie....there are some really, really tough moments.

Nell is absolutely, positively broken by the death of Kyle. She's closed all her emotions off and lives in this place where the only thing she feels is pain and guilt. Her feelings are understandable. Her family's lack of intervention are not. At the beginning of the book, I was given a feeling that Nell was close with her parents. Even if her father is a hard-assed CEO during the day, they seemed like a close family and one that would intervene if their only child seemed to be on a downward spiral. As we met up with Nell in present day and saw how much she had changed after Kyle's death, I had to wonder just why her parents weren't doing something to help her because it was fairly obvious that she was floundering. Luckily for Nell, Kyle's older brother, Colton, crosses paths with her and is able to help Nell start to deal with a lot of her issues.

Colt was special. For the son of a prominent Congressman, he had a truly horrible, horrible late teen/early twenties. He'd done some things he wasn't proud of, but it was what he needed to do to survive when his family turned it's back on him. Colt has a very skewed vision of himself because it's tainted by his parents perception of him, the demons of his past and what he thinks is his lack of worth. With Nell, he recognizes a person in pain and he wants to help her let go of her pain and learn to deal with Kyle's death. His persistance with Nell made me love him. I wanted Colt to find a way to truly be happy and to let go of all the crap that occurred in his past.  He had a way of compartmentalizing things he didn't want to deal with and sometimes Nell went into her own little box.  But Colt was trying to dig himself out and finding that happy place.

I liked the story and I liked both characters.  They were both (story and characters) were incredibly complex.  The only thing that was holding me back from loving this book was the response from both Nell and Colt's families.  I really needed to see, the families reaching out.  To let Nell flounder they way she did was inexcusable to me.  She can be broken and not responsive, but they should have been on her to get help.  Then there was Colt's family.  There was more there that needed to be said between Colt and his parents and we never got it.  There was the attempted apology, but that only scratches the surface of their family issues.  I'm hoping that with the upcoming release, FALLING INTO US, the author give us that insight so I can feel like everyone was on the road to a better place and not hanging in a sort of "Maybe I'm OK" limbo.
2427893
This is a very intense book. The memoirs pull you in with sentimental moments of early childhood, then strike hard with intense scenes of domestic abuse. This isn't light reading; Sarah Sawyers-Lovett plunges into a dark, troubled past, and doesn't seem to hold anything back. Sexual abuse, drug abuse, poverty, mortality, sexual identity...it's a very difficult journey, andt a powerful one. I appreciate that it doesn't wallow in the bad times, but lays them on the pages right alongside the happier, playful times. This is emotionally charged work, offered in the raw by a very strong author. I don't often encounter work so naked and brutally honest. Highly recommended.
2033015
The next book in the Grim Bastards MC series centers around Brew and Addy.
Their story is intense and there is so much underlying emotions that at times you just want to scream or cry or both.

Emily and Shelley bring out the emotions in the readers very well.  I fell hard for Brew and his protective nature.  Even when his temper gets the better of him.  Addy is so strong and amazing!  I don't know how she does what she does and still manages to try to live each day.  Who knew that "meeting" Brew would impact her life so greatly.

Family isn't about the blood you share but the bond that is shared between people who would do anything for each other.  Brew and Addy find family in one another and the club, because their own families chose other people or things over their flesh and blood.  But, even through everything these two only come out stronger in the end.
440832
A forbidden love, and obsession leads young Jevaughn down a dark and dangerous path. All he wanted was love and he got much more than he bargained for. The author did a great job of expressing the pain and misery this young man went through. Being attacked by his own mother had me jumping in my seat, it was so sad and scary. The dialog was believable and that speech from Dre to Dizzy about why he loved Jevaughn and not him was real talk. Dre got a little bit of my respect right then. What Jevaughn went through was very emotional and traumatizing as were the people that surrounded him.
Kraigie reminded me of the lovable but dangerous Fergus from the Crying Game and I truly felt for him.
Jamaican American Thug was dark, intense and heart wrenching. If you're not shy and afraid to read something different, this is the book for you.
3509379
This book is intense because it dealt with some real issues; alcoholism, drug abuse and cheating. Some might find these topics a no-go but lets be real  THESE ARE REAL LIFE ISSUES. Nicos story is an emotional read and lord knows it tested my patience many times, but I am glad I stuck it out. If youve read Gabes book you know a little about Nico and Jill. Their journey transpired over years and Nico has put Jill though so much pain, but she loved him.

What would you do if you walk into your boyfriends apartment, heavily pregnant only to find him in bed with another woman? For Jill that was the finally straw, Nico has broken her heart and promises too many times, now she has to focus on her baby and no longer the man. Things for Jill go from bad to worse that day, but she manages to pull through and move on with her life. I am going to tell you why I loved this characters. Her heart still loved the man but her focus was solely on their daughter. Jill has not seen nor spoken to Nico in over a year, until she gets a phone call from Italy. Nicos mother has cancer and her only wish is to see her granddaughter.

You know that saying you have to hit rock bottom for a person to get better? That is the case with Nico.  Not even seeing the pain, disgust and hurt in Jills eyes was Nico able to see all the wrong he did. NO what broke Nico was almost losing Jill and their unborn child because of his destructive ways. Nico has always managed to win Jill back, but this time it was different, Jill was done. During the course of a year, Nico seeks help for his addictions and move back home to Italy, only seeing glimpses of his daughter, Nicola. So I know I should hate this characters, and let me assure you I did, but what changed for me was his remorse, his sense of guilt and his determination to make things right. Although he loved Jill and his daughter, he knew his addiction damaged their relationship and it was his turn to give Jill want she wanted.

There is so much pain and devastation between Jill and Nico that even a simple conversation is volatile. I loved how the author slowly wrote Nico and Jills journey, not leaving any of the ugly out. I truly appreciated and connected with the characters and their story. It was not a simple to forgive, it took work, a lot of work but their connection and bond is very intense. Nico and Jill have their work cut out, but can you forgive infidelity? Can you get past constant disappointments? How strong and powerful is love? Is it enough to forgive and move forward?
4339265
This was an intense, gut wrenching story that will definitely have your emotions at the forefront. There is love, sadness, good times, intense connections, and once again, those Irish men you can't get enough of. Just make sure you have some tissues handy throughout. And be prepared for the ride
3001211
Uhhhh this book has sooo many emotions. Which should be expected if you have read the blurb before hand. Our female lead Hannah has lost her husband to a heart attack. Being a single parent is hard enough but running into the spitting image of your late husband is really hard to see and cope with when you're still grieving. Hannah is having a hard time already and now things are getting even harder when her daughter is even confusing her uncle Wes to her dad and sometimes Hannah does that as well.  Yet as Hannah lets herself get to know Wes (her late husbands twin brother) she realizes all the differences they have and the ones they don't are really good qualities. Plus the more we learn about Wes we realize that maybe he was the right brother all along.

I love the connection that Wes and Hannah have. Wes understands her pain and has felt some of it himself. He is able to speak what Hannah is feeling and able to see through her lies before she can. It was amazing to watch a women so broken, so afraid that life is too short and not forever realize she has a future ahead of her with someone who could be a forever.

I ADORED THIS BOOK. I CONSUMED EVERY PAGE AND COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I WAS FIERCELY IN LOVE WITH THE CHARACTERS AS INDIVIDUALS AND EVEN MORE TOGETHER. THE EMOTIONS WERE PERFECTLY WRITTEN TO CAPTURE YOUR HEART AND SOUL AND THEN WRITTEN TO FIX THOSE HOLES WITH AN AMAZING MOVING ON LOVE STORY THAT I DID NOT WANT TO END.
2299316
What a gut punch. This book is raw, emotional and at times very hard to read.  I had to stop several times because of it and believe me, it was difficult to go back in. This is definitely not your typical sports romance. It explores the ugly side of relationships that you rarely hear about.  I loved the connection that August and Iris had from the beginning and that never wavered over the years, even though she was tied to someone else.  I have to say honestly that I both loved and hated this story. I loved that August and Iris finally got their happy ending, but I hated the road she had to travel to finally get there and the heartache she had to endure. This is a story that will stay with me for some time.