Review by klbradley -- Heartaches 2 by H.M. Irwing
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Review by klbradley -- Heartaches 2 by H.M. Irwing

4 out of 4 stars
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Heartaches 2: Bad Boy Vibes is the second installment in the Heartaches series written by H. M. Irwing. Although listed as the second installment it a series, from reading the synopsis of the story I felt that I would be able to pick up quickly on the story line. Having chosen to read this book by thinking it sounded like a lighthearted romance novel, my expectations were quickly changed once I realized the depths of the drama that was about to unfold.
The main character in the story is Anna Simmons, who we know from the introduction of the story has dealt with an incredible amount of betrayal and deceit from those all around her. Having suffered from sexual abuse at the hand of her step-father as a child, then again by the family of the man she first fell in love with, Anna’s search for someone true and kind is met by Rafe, the man to change her life. Having dealt with his own form of traumatizing sexual abuse, Rafe understands Anna’s need to feel safe and content with not only their relationship, but also with herself. With only a few close people knowing what the two of them have experienced, things take a complicated turn when a wedding is announced and everyone involved in their terror will be present.
With a relentless amount of drama surrounding the main characters in this story, I found the characters to be multilayered and full of personality. Each character has something different to bring to the story, which provides a full insight to everyone’s side. With each new chapter, we are given a deeper understanding to the background information to each character.
I was pleased with the editing and proofreading that went in to the story, as I was able to successfully read the story without any spelling or grammatical errors getting in the way. Although the storyline seemed a bit hard to follow in the beginning, I was quickly able to catch on, thanks to the inclusive dialogue between characters.
Possibly because I started the series in the second installment, and not having known the detail and depth that would be coming, I was a little thrown off by the unpleasant and dark story line. Though usually something I am more drawn to, I think I was expecting a bit more of a light romance read that what I found myself immersed in. I now plan to go back to the first installment in the series to see just what all I have missed out on and how that could help to deepen the story even more. I’m pleased to give Heartaches 2: Bad Boy Vibes a rating of 4 out of 4 stars and would recommend to readers who enjoy deep and dramatic romance novels. Due to the mature content in the novel, I feel the need to give a trigger warning, as one of the most prominent themes in the book revolves around traumatic rape and abuse.
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Heartaches 2
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