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A review by kfriend
These Reckless Hearts by E.M. Moore
4.0
Well what an epic conclusion! My, how this series has bashed its way into my heart. Truth be told, the first book didn’t sell me- and Moore knocked me out so thoroughly with the Heights Crew, I was worried I’d never find anything with that magic. But Moore sure knows how to build a series and evolve a harem over time- and every book in this series got better and better. Of course, the Heights Crew I’m pretty sure will always take the top spot for me, but this series sure went out with a bang, and I have a softness for these characters that rivals it.
While I love the men, this series, like so many of Moore’s, is really about the destiny and power of our heroine, Dakota. She’s such a fierce heroine, one who has been - though I’ve loved as her relationship evolves with the guys that we get to see the softer aspects of her- the wounded parts of her start to unearth, and we see the nuances of this girl that for so long as just been trying to survive. I love that she gets to be strong, capable, smart- she gets to be the LEADER.
And Moore knows how to write a compelling, complicated, and nuanced harem- I love Wyatt, Stone, and Lucas each in their own way. This was the first reverse harem series where I became fiercely attached to one of the leading men early on, far more so than the others- but trust in EM. She sold me on them- in part because they let Dakota shine. They support and uplift her. They believe in and follow her- while still being delicious and alpha and protective. I love them all, and it was sweet and sexy to watch Dakota solidify her bonds with each and for them to figure out how to work as a unit (though, if I’m honest, my main guy still owns me a little bit more). And Cole’s role in this is just the icing on the cake- I LOVE LOVE that EM is exploring a deep platonic chemistry with these two- he’s part of her little harem family, but not in the way others are, and I found that dynamic so interesting and rewarding.
Of course, since this is our finale- we get all the suspense and action. I ended up getting more into the treasuring hunting component of this story a bit more than I expected (though its still not “My thing”), but the relationships evolving become more and more the focus as they all try to navigate elevated danger and more shocking revelations. Like all EM series ending books, the finale is dangerous and exciting, and a bit bittersweet. But the hardship along the way is all worth it in the end- and what a wonderful ending it was.
While I love the men, this series, like so many of Moore’s, is really about the destiny and power of our heroine, Dakota. She’s such a fierce heroine, one who has been - though I’ve loved as her relationship evolves with the guys that we get to see the softer aspects of her- the wounded parts of her start to unearth, and we see the nuances of this girl that for so long as just been trying to survive. I love that she gets to be strong, capable, smart- she gets to be the LEADER.
And Moore knows how to write a compelling, complicated, and nuanced harem- I love Wyatt, Stone, and Lucas each in their own way. This was the first reverse harem series where I became fiercely attached to one of the leading men early on, far more so than the others- but trust in EM. She sold me on them- in part because they let Dakota shine. They support and uplift her. They believe in and follow her- while still being delicious and alpha and protective. I love them all, and it was sweet and sexy to watch Dakota solidify her bonds with each and for them to figure out how to work as a unit (though, if I’m honest, my main guy still owns me a little bit more). And Cole’s role in this is just the icing on the cake- I LOVE LOVE that EM is exploring a deep platonic chemistry with these two- he’s part of her little harem family, but not in the way others are, and I found that dynamic so interesting and rewarding.
Of course, since this is our finale- we get all the suspense and action. I ended up getting more into the treasuring hunting component of this story a bit more than I expected (though its still not “My thing”), but the relationships evolving become more and more the focus as they all try to navigate elevated danger and more shocking revelations. Like all EM series ending books, the finale is dangerous and exciting, and a bit bittersweet. But the hardship along the way is all worth it in the end- and what a wonderful ending it was.