Hearts and Bruises

A.M. Brooks

Genre- New Adult, Darkish Vibes

Release Date- March. 19, 2019

Blurb-

With love comes pain.
And with pain comes scars.

Believe me, I have had my share of it all.
After my mother’s death, my father couldn’t deal.
So once again, we’re moving.
To a town full of lies, darkness, and corruption.
All masked in sunshine and money.

But then I meet him…
My biggest mistake.
My biggest temptation.
A royal pain-in-the-ass.

And Darrian King is no prince.
He’s controlling, aggressive, and downright wrong for me.
But what he dishes out,
I give right back.
After all, love hurts.
And so do we.

TBR

My Review

Hearts and Bruises is A.M. Brooks debut novel and OMG did she knock this one out of the park! If I hadn’t been told this was her first release, I never would have known! If this is the type of writing we are getting already then I can not wait to see what she comes up with next! The writing was excellent, the plot was awesome, I am just in total shock that I enjoyed this book as much as I did!

Hearts and Bruises is told from Nora’s POV and then the epilogue is told from Darrian’s POV. I love dual POV so I’m hoping that means book #2 will be dual. There is a HUGE cliffhanger, like seriously HUGE but the 2nd book, Hearts and Flowers is set to release summer of 2019 so we don’t have too long to wait- THANK GOD!

Hearts and Bruises is a story about two kids from different backgrounds just trying to get through high school. Nora, trying to figure out how to fit in with the wealthy popular clique, and Darrian trying to navigate between who’s really his friend and who’s just using him because his last name is King as well as dealing with all the other pressures that come with being in high school.

Nora is no stranger to change. Her father has packed them up and moved more times then I have fingers. Their latest move has them in Araminta, California and at this point, she doesn’t even bother unpacking.

Everything changes when Nora gets an invitation to a beach party her first night in Araminta.

“The Kings?” I asked.
“Mmmhmm,” she said, taking a drink. “Ethan, his twin brother Elijah, and their cousin, Darrian King. The Kings.”

The Kings are the popular kids, the boys who rule the school, and one of them has taken an interest in Nora.

Darrian King is a typical high school boy, except he feels like he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Between the expectations his father has for him, trying to excel in his basketball career, and not knowing who really is his friend and not just around because of who his family is, he’s close to cracking but still keeps that ‘oh so sexy’ smirk firmly in place.

After a rough introduction, Darrian and Nora become fast friends and even though he swears he doesn’t want a relationship and that they are NOT in a relationship, the way he is with Nora sure seems like they are.

After my interview with A.M Brooks, who said that the first sex scene was one of the hardest scenes for her to write, I was blown away by the hotness level! 🔥🔥🔥

Darrian pushed my legs wider with his thigh before pushing in. I drew a breath at the fullness of him stretching me. “Nora,” he said, laying his forehead on mine again.

Although I really loved this book, there were a couple of things that I didn’t care for. The back and forth between the two was starting to get a little carried away. Just when you think things are going so good for them BOOM knucklehead does the next stupid thing to hurt Nora.

Then Nora would just forgive him! No groveling, no ass kissing, nothing! Just a few sly words and a couple smirks and she was back fawning all over him.

It was just confusing because of the way Nora’s sarcastic, snarky attitude is written, you would think she would be a whole lot stronger than that. I wanted her to just slap his ass in the mouth or key his car, SOMETHING other than breaking down. Especially after that conversation in front of everyone in the cafeteria, ohhh I wanted to slap Darrian’s ass sooo bad!

“Darlin’, I’m a King. I don’t know what you thought was happening but we” —he pointed between myself and him— “are nothing. I’m not your boyfriend, I’m not your friend. These guys over here” —he pointed to the table full of the people I had been spending the past two weeks with— “are my friends, not yours. I get enough pussy. I don’t need you hanging on me offering low-grade quality.”

Darrian is very, very close to being unredeemable but I still have hope for him yet! I’m really hoping that he gets his shit together and stops making assumptions because of things other people (A.K.A haters!) say!

That cliffhanger, OMG! I can’t even…. all I’m going to say (again) is THANK GOD book #2 releases soon! I will impatiently be waiting for Hearts and Flowers to release this summer!

If you like YA reads with a whole lot of angst and drama, a total asshole hero, and a sweet but snarky heroine then Hearts and Bruises is for you!

Star Rating- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Exclusive Excerpt

About The Author

A.M. Brooks

AM Brooks is an author with a variety of stories; Contemporary Romance, New Adult, and mature YA Her writing style is suspenseful and sometimes leads to heart-wrenching conclusions. With a background in forensic psychology, she really goes for those investigative, dark and twisty feels. And of course, lots of love!

Brooks enjoys reading as much as writing. Television shows such as Criminal Minds, Scandal, and One Tree Hill are her go-to binge-worthy series. She loves spending time with her friends and family with a good glass of beer or wine. If she isn’t reading or writing, Brooks is Pinteresting future home projects for her wonderful husband to accomplish.

Author Links :

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Personal Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/625793331210669/?source_id=1470628236571029

Amazon Author Page: COMING SOON

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-m-brooks