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apagetoturn's review
5.0
While this book is called the third in a series, you DO NOT have to read the first two to read this one. I didn't, and I still loved this story so much.
Jaxon Hart is college bound, set to play football, although he doesn't necessarily have the natural talent for it like his father, Jason Hart. After a random night of fun and a chance meeting that was completely unexpected - Jaxon meets Annika. Annika is a freshman at college, with an overprotective parent and her nose in the books. From this place of uncertainty grows a relationship of true admiration and strength. This story wraps about them beautifully and the characters are so well-rounded. It reminds me why I love ME Carter books; she takes care of her characters. You always end up caring for them just as much.
Jaxon Hart is college bound, set to play football, although he doesn't necessarily have the natural talent for it like his father, Jason Hart. After a random night of fun and a chance meeting that was completely unexpected - Jaxon meets Annika. Annika is a freshman at college, with an overprotective parent and her nose in the books. From this place of uncertainty grows a relationship of true admiration and strength. This story wraps about them beautifully and the characters are so well-rounded. It reminds me why I love ME Carter books; she takes care of her characters. You always end up caring for them just as much.
debs_shelves's review
5.0
I loved this series and Jason Hart and was looking forward to this installment. It did not disappoint.
We knew Jaxon in the first two books in the series, but he was a child. He is all grown up and a collge student.
His meeting Annika comes under horrible circumstances, but ends up being a turning point for them both. A tender, sweet love story but not without issues, due to the circumstances. I really don't want to give too much away, so I will avoid any other details.
Also, I had loved Jason so much in the first two books, that it made me a little sad that for a time during this book I really wasn't liking him so much. Thankfully, that didn't last.
And Jaxon - well, he grew up into a wonderful young man despite (or perhaps because of) all of what he went through, both as a child and in this book.
The Harts will always have a special place in my heart, and Annika has joined them there!
We knew Jaxon in the first two books in the series, but he was a child. He is all grown up and a collge student.
His meeting Annika comes under horrible circumstances, but ends up being a turning point for them both. A tender, sweet love story but not without issues, due to the circumstances. I really don't want to give too much away, so I will avoid any other details.
Also, I had loved Jason so much in the first two books, that it made me a little sad that for a time during this book I really wasn't liking him so much. Thankfully, that didn't last.
And Jaxon - well, he grew up into a wonderful young man despite (or perhaps because of) all of what he went through, both as a child and in this book.
The Harts will always have a special place in my heart, and Annika has joined them there!
reading_with_2_book_lovers's review
5.0
this is the first story I've read by this author and wow how I loved it, I devoured this book in a day.
jaxon hart is Such a swoony, sexy character.
I volunteered to read a copy of this book
jaxon hart is Such a swoony, sexy character.
I volunteered to read a copy of this book
christyheartsbooks's review
5.0
Jaxon is living the college life, playing football and working nights at a bar as a bar back. Despite tension with his dad he is loving life and feeling good after his childhood fight. One night at work changes everything for him. His life is not the same when he saves Annika. Annika is the studious girl who just wants to work her butt off to get into the program of her dreams. When her roommate and best friends drags her out to a bar to live up the college life, Annika will never the be same again, but Jaxon is the light in her dark, her savior.
Another gut punch by this author that I was not prepared for. I loved Jaxon's heart and devotion. I loved how supportive and protective he was. My heart broke for Annika but I loved her strength and resilience. Both of these characters were extremely likeable and relatable. Even though I have never gone through their tribulations, I felt their pain and anguish; to me that is a testament to this author's skills. I am super salty at the tension between Jason and Jaxon but if I am honest it felt real to me. I can really relate to Jaxon because I am also the adopted kid whose parents had bio kids. I have been in his shoes. So maybe that is why I didn't like it because it was too close to home BUT that is real life so I respected that aspect of Jaxon's journey. Damn it I am crying again. Ugh. I loved this book but there are triggers.
Another gut punch by this author that I was not prepared for. I loved Jaxon's heart and devotion. I loved how supportive and protective he was. My heart broke for Annika but I loved her strength and resilience. Both of these characters were extremely likeable and relatable. Even though I have never gone through their tribulations, I felt their pain and anguish; to me that is a testament to this author's skills. I am super salty at the tension between Jason and Jaxon but if I am honest it felt real to me. I can really relate to Jaxon because I am also the adopted kid whose parents had bio kids. I have been in his shoes. So maybe that is why I didn't like it because it was too close to home BUT that is real life so I respected that aspect of Jaxon's journey. Damn it I am crying again. Ugh. I loved this book but there are triggers.
Spoiler
Annika is raped on scenesi0bhan's review
4.0
I’m an eclectic reader, I’ll give anything a try. My bookshelves are covered in all kinds of reads – from deep philosophical tomes to mindless romance, from edge of your seat thrillers to quick and easy young adult novels, and everything in-between. I would like to think this makes me a pretty good judge of books, that I can work out what to expect, yet Matters of the Hart managed to prove me wrong.
Although the synopsis intrigued me, it left me with rather broad expectations. I thought it would be your typical sports romance – lots of drama and plenty of steam – yet it turns out I was completely wrong about this one. Sure, there was some sport, along with drama, but labelling this a standard sports romance is such an injustice. This is a deeply moving read, one of the most powerful books I have read in quite some time. This is one of those books where, upon completion, you need to sit down and spend some time wrapping your head around the emotions brought about throughout the story.
You see, this one will hit you so hard.
There are plenty of books on the market that deal with heavy topics, yet I have never read one that hit me quite the same way this one did. I started the book at midnight, telling myself I would just read a couple of chapters before bed, and the next thing I knew it was coming up to three o’clock and I was a bundle of feelings as I turned the last page. It grabbed me from the very start, and each page I turned left me feeling more and more.
Although Matters of the Hart is the third book in M.E. Carter’s Hart series, it works perfectly fine as a standalone. There are elements throughout this one that clearly link back to Change of Hart and Hart to Heart, but it is not necessary to read those books first. Matters of the Hart stands solidly without any knowledge of the prior books. You will be left with the desire to go and read the prior books upon finishing this one, though, as you’ll want more details about the past of the characters. Such is where I’m currently sitting – I adored this one, and now I have the desire to immerse myself even deeper into the world through getting the history of the characters. As I said, though, you do not need to know anything about this series to enjoy this one.
Matters of the Hart sucks you in from the very first page, leaving you desperate for more of the characters and their story. It is filled with heavy topics, aspects that will threaten to leave you bawling, and it is painful in the most beautiful of ways. It is not for the faint of heart, but those who are willing to read this will be rewarded with a truly amazing story.
I’m not going to go into detail about all the topics covered, because of spoilers, just know they’re all really well done. I especially enjoyed watching the way our female character developed over the course of the book, the way she reacted to what happened to her. As someone who works with victims of such crimes, it was great to see a story reflect the journey so well – looking at how it impacted her life and the life of those around her, along with the various emotional states experienced after. By the time we reached the end, especially one of the scenes towards the end where she has a lot to say, I could feel my emotions flying all over the place. It reminded me so much of the some of the cases I have worked, of the pure emotions felt whenever a person reaches the point of empowerment where they feel able to share their story and make a difference for the future. Honestly, it hit so close to home – especially with how I then went to work the next day and dealt with such cases, the emotions of the story fresh in my mind and making me realise just how real it was.
I was so close to giving this one a five-star rating. In fact, a small voice in the back of my head keeps suggesting I go and change this to a five-star rating. It’s just little things, such as repetitiveness in the writing, that had me holding back on handing that five-star rating. It’s an elusive rating for me, one I so very rarely give. But this is certainly the closest I have come in a long time.
Without a doubt, this is one of the strongest four-point-five-star ratings I have given in a long time. So worth reading.
Although the synopsis intrigued me, it left me with rather broad expectations. I thought it would be your typical sports romance – lots of drama and plenty of steam – yet it turns out I was completely wrong about this one. Sure, there was some sport, along with drama, but labelling this a standard sports romance is such an injustice. This is a deeply moving read, one of the most powerful books I have read in quite some time. This is one of those books where, upon completion, you need to sit down and spend some time wrapping your head around the emotions brought about throughout the story.
You see, this one will hit you so hard.
There are plenty of books on the market that deal with heavy topics, yet I have never read one that hit me quite the same way this one did. I started the book at midnight, telling myself I would just read a couple of chapters before bed, and the next thing I knew it was coming up to three o’clock and I was a bundle of feelings as I turned the last page. It grabbed me from the very start, and each page I turned left me feeling more and more.
Although Matters of the Hart is the third book in M.E. Carter’s Hart series, it works perfectly fine as a standalone. There are elements throughout this one that clearly link back to Change of Hart and Hart to Heart, but it is not necessary to read those books first. Matters of the Hart stands solidly without any knowledge of the prior books. You will be left with the desire to go and read the prior books upon finishing this one, though, as you’ll want more details about the past of the characters. Such is where I’m currently sitting – I adored this one, and now I have the desire to immerse myself even deeper into the world through getting the history of the characters. As I said, though, you do not need to know anything about this series to enjoy this one.
Matters of the Hart sucks you in from the very first page, leaving you desperate for more of the characters and their story. It is filled with heavy topics, aspects that will threaten to leave you bawling, and it is painful in the most beautiful of ways. It is not for the faint of heart, but those who are willing to read this will be rewarded with a truly amazing story.
I’m not going to go into detail about all the topics covered, because of spoilers, just know they’re all really well done. I especially enjoyed watching the way our female character developed over the course of the book, the way she reacted to what happened to her. As someone who works with victims of such crimes, it was great to see a story reflect the journey so well – looking at how it impacted her life and the life of those around her, along with the various emotional states experienced after. By the time we reached the end, especially one of the scenes towards the end where she has a lot to say, I could feel my emotions flying all over the place. It reminded me so much of the some of the cases I have worked, of the pure emotions felt whenever a person reaches the point of empowerment where they feel able to share their story and make a difference for the future. Honestly, it hit so close to home – especially with how I then went to work the next day and dealt with such cases, the emotions of the story fresh in my mind and making me realise just how real it was.
I was so close to giving this one a five-star rating. In fact, a small voice in the back of my head keeps suggesting I go and change this to a five-star rating. It’s just little things, such as repetitiveness in the writing, that had me holding back on handing that five-star rating. It’s an elusive rating for me, one I so very rarely give. But this is certainly the closest I have come in a long time.
Without a doubt, this is one of the strongest four-point-five-star ratings I have given in a long time. So worth reading.
emjayae149's review
4.0
Matters of the Hart is a wonderful story about two people who go through a harrowing experience and come out at the other end stronger, together and in love. The author writes sensitively about several topics that expose the main characters’ vulnerabilities and skillfully avoids taking the book into angst-filled depths.
This is the first book I have read in the Hart series and I never felt lost. I am sure people who have read the previous books will enjoy the insights in this book.
This was a high quality book and I will definitely be adding the earlier books in the series to my “to read” list.
This is the first book I have read in the Hart series and I never felt lost. I am sure people who have read the previous books will enjoy the insights in this book.
This was a high quality book and I will definitely be adding the earlier books in the series to my “to read” list.
shelbyjo's review
emotional
hopeful
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Sexual assault
kimmylovestoread's review
5.0
I received an advanced copy of this book with the promise of an honest review.
Let me just say this: Jaxon Hart is a prince among men. But Jason Hart did raise him, so duh. That's just a no brainer.
Jaxon is now in college and forging his own path to success. Everything is going great and then one night he meets Annika. Actually saying he "meets" Annika feels weird. He doesn't meet her. He saves her. Their meeting may be under the worst possible circumstances, but those circumstances allow the two of them to form a bond that is so vital to the story.
I loved Jaxon and Annika so much! I will admit that I was a little wary of how their relationship started, but it didn't take me long to get on board. They just understood each other. More than once Annika mentions how Jaxon represented safety to her and that was so important. These two fall for each other and they fall fast, but they also take it slow because that is what needs to happen.
While this story is about Annika and Jaxon, it is also about a topic that is so relevant to today. It gave way to a very emotional read and more than once I found myself tearing up. There is a note at the end of the book that explains where this story came from and how recent events may or may not have played a part. There are also details in the book that let you know the author made sure to do her research.
If you love the Hart family like I do, this book is a must read. If you are new to the Hart family, this is a good place to start. Either way just read the book!
Let me just say this: Jaxon Hart is a prince among men. But Jason Hart did raise him, so duh. That's just a no brainer.
Jaxon is now in college and forging his own path to success. Everything is going great and then one night he meets Annika. Actually saying he "meets" Annika feels weird. He doesn't meet her. He saves her. Their meeting may be under the worst possible circumstances, but those circumstances allow the two of them to form a bond that is so vital to the story.
I loved Jaxon and Annika so much! I will admit that I was a little wary of how their relationship started, but it didn't take me long to get on board. They just understood each other. More than once Annika mentions how Jaxon represented safety to her and that was so important. These two fall for each other and they fall fast, but they also take it slow because that is what needs to happen.
While this story is about Annika and Jaxon, it is also about a topic that is so relevant to today. It gave way to a very emotional read and more than once I found myself tearing up. There is a note at the end of the book that explains where this story came from and how recent events may or may not have played a part. There are also details in the book that let you know the author made sure to do her research.
If you love the Hart family like I do, this book is a must read. If you are new to the Hart family, this is a good place to start. Either way just read the book!
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