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… 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.
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Hearts and Bruises by A.M. Brooks is the story of Darrian and Nora.
After Nora’s mother died her father started moving them around a lot. So Nora has never had any real friends or a stable life. This latest move has put her in site of Darrian. Darrian is a rich kid who doesn’t do the girlfriend / boyfriend life. But they go forward to have some hot encounters. There is more going on with Darrian that his father expects from him. Nora has taken the role of taken on others people problems which causes added things in her life. Darrian is at first a hard to like hero but he starts to getting better. This isn’t your cookie cutter romance..there are some bumps in the road. I hope to read the next book in this series.
Nora has moved with her father more times than she can count. When she gets invited to a beach party to make some new friends she meets Darrian King and that moment will change her life forever. When two teenagers from very different backgrounds like each other & fall for one another can it truly work or does your families wealth, influences & school cliques get in the way. This YA gives you a true picture of a girl trying to fit into a world way out of her means and a boy that doesn’t know what he wants. I really hated Darrian in this book!! There is also bullying in this book if that is a trigger for you. Told in Nora’s POV and ends in a major cliffhanger.
This one surprised me. As mad as I was at the characters, as much as I hated the drug use, I was drawn into this one and had to keep going. There was something about Nora and Darrian that I could relate to, no matter how I felt about the decisions being made, over and over – I was engrossed. I hated the life that Nora was forced to live, but I hated the way she was treated even more. She certainly was on a different level than most high School Juniors, having been taking care of herself since her Mother’s death, needing someone to make her feel wanted, loved. But I wanted her to stand up on her own and show her strength. I could see Nora slowly coming around, learning to take charge, I wanted more of that…
The ending left me hanging and I can’t wait to see what this Author has in store in Hearts and Flowers – I’m hopeful for some apologies and growth.
Hearts and Bruises is A.M. Brooks debut novel, but you would not believe that after reading this emotional and angsty as f*ck story that had me wholeheartedly captivated within the first few words on the page. The moment I began reading I was instantly sucked in and found myself devouring this story in one sitting because I was completely invested in every second of Nora Sutton and Darrian King. Their romance started off with a bang right from the very beginning and before I knew it, I was falling hopelessly in love with them. Suddenly without a single warning, things drastically changed between them and the entire dynamic of the story took a turn I certainly did not expect. However, I absolutely loved every single twist and turn that the rollercoaster ride of their relationship took me on!
My chest was beating in overdrive and all my heartstrings were being pulled in a million different directions as their story totally engulfed my every thought and emotion. At times I found myself right on edge, wanting to scream out in frustration from all the angst that surrounded these two. Who knew that loving someone could cause so much pain, but oftentimes the truth will set us free!
There is so much more I want to say, but it’s impossible to comprehend all of my emotions right now, especially after that shocking ending. I cannot wait to dive into the next book, Hearts and Flowers, to see what’s in store for the next part of Nora and Darrian’s journey! If it’s anything like the first book, then I know I am in for a bumpy ride…
I.Loved.This.Book.
This is a major love/hate relationship story with a lot of back and forth and I am ALL for it. My emotions felt like they were a ping pong ball going back and forth between swooning over the crazy chemistry between Darrian and Nora and then basically trying to resist the urge to throw my kindle across the room from anger. DARRIAN! My man, what on earth are you doing!? You’re killin’ me over here!!
My emotions were running wild on this book. But that’s what makes a story so good!!! When it makes you feel and makes you react with strong emotions, then you know it’s an amazing book. Hearts and Bruises definitely did that for me. I loved every second of it! A.M. Brooks you have made a fan out of me!
Okay, let me back up here quick to recap the story. It starts out with Nora and her dad moving again to a new place. She’s invited to a party and one thing leads to another and she meets Darrian and the story takes off from there. There’s soooooo much angst, swoon worthy moments, what the hell!? Moments, drama and tears. This book has it all, people!
A.M. Brooks knows just how to pull on your heart strings! One second I’m all smiles and floating on cloud 9 and enjoying life and the way the story is going and the next second my happiness is ripped away and I’m screaming at my kindle WHAT ARE YOU DOING DARRIAN!?
You NEED to read this book. Like right now. I can’t stop thinking about it and going over and over in my head what just happened.
I need book two ASAP! I have to know what comes next!
Hearts and Bruises by
Let me start by saying I did enjoy the book and while I felt like it was a trainwreck waiting to happening I couldn’t put the darn thing down. The only reason this book didn’t get five stars from me is because the main character couldn’t seriously be that dumb lol. I felt like it was pretty much a Scream movie moment when they are discussing that the idiot always runs upstairs when they should run out the front door. I thought you can’t really be that dumb one to many times so I had to take a star away. She does grow a backbone and does a heroic thing no one else in the school has the guts to do so she’s earns some brownie points. But that epilogue, seriously I am already wishing book two was in audible because like wtf I need to know what happens. It was a jaw dropping moment that has me like noooooo!!!! I like the narrator and love to listen to books once I start because a good voice can make the book that much better! It’s well written, heartbreaking, angsty and had those awe moments that get you in all the feels.
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.”
girl slapping guy
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!
*I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
5 EMOTIONAL STARS!! This story had my emotions all over the place. I have such a Love/Hate relationship for Darrian. Nora is so strong and beautiful, this girl has confidence like no other. My heart ached for her and Darrian. Their story is full of angst and love, it had me flipping pages so fast I finished in one sitting. I need the next book…..NOW! I definitely think this story is a 1-Click book.
HEARTS AND BRUISES
by A.M Brooks
4
Release Date March 19
This book by A.M Brooks had me feeling all sorts of fckd up. Her writing was so good that you would never know that this is her debut novel.
Darrian King is a character you love to hate. But in all honesty I just hated him. Nora started out being feisty but ended up be so naive and a pushover.
The push and pull between the two was annoying. Not in a bad way as it worked well with their character development and the storyline. It was what we would say is typical teenage behaviour.
A.M Brooks definitely has all the issues of young adults perfectly depicted. So many aspects were covered in Hearts and Bruises, the pressure to do well, social standings, peer pressure, drugs, etc…
This book had me feeling frustrated, annoyed and had my blood pressure rising at a point or two. Lol
Book 2 cannot come quick enough. She has her work cut out for her to redeem Darrian’s character. Congrats to A.M Brooks on a awesome debut novel!
YA/NA has definitely become my go-to reads lately. I’ve had such great experiences with reading this genre that I devour these books in hours.
Hearts and Bruises had its moments where I felt like I wanted to jump into the book and knock some sense into these teens but the drama, the suspense and the angst had me intrigued to no end. There was a constant in this book that had me pushing for more and more and the author didn’t disappoint.
Granted, many people feel frustrated with the fact that the main characters could either be pushovers or be pushed around. Darrian was kind of a prick but usually rich f*cks are and since they think they rule the town they live in, they think they can also rule the girl’s hearts as well.
Nora was tired of the constant moving around and when her father chose Araminta, CA to settle roots, she felt like hopefully this could finally be called home. She made friends quite fast and even though she wasn’t comfortable around that specific crowd, she immediately bonded with a few of them and managed to fit in.
Her relationship or non-relationship with Darrian (as he called it), was volatile they had a strong pull that always managed to get them back together. Darrian was like a puzzle and Nora wanted to unravel that puzzle so badly.
She might have been a pushover, but she was determined to fix the boy who stole her heart, the problem was, does the boy want to be fixed??
I was transfixed with this story from beginning to end!
A.M. Brooks did a magnificent job with this story and now I can’t wait for Hearts and Flowers. These cliffy’s are going to be death of me, I swear 😉
Let’s me start by saying that this a solid 5 star story. This is a first book by this author and if I wouldn’t have known this before going in, I couldn’t have said it was. It was addicting, captivating and entertaining. I was hooked from the get go. The storyline was solid and it didn’t have any unnecessarily details just to fill a page. If I a story gets a reaction out of me then it’s a 5 star for sure.
Let’s talk about the storyline a bit without given out spoilers. This is a YA story that deals with some difficult subjects. Addiction. This story deals with drug and emotional kind.
Let’s focus on the characters. Darrian was an A*^!*le. He wants to change for Nora but he ends up hurting her more then anything else. He’s conflicted. I wanted to throw my kindle a time or two. I hated him but then he’s a young man who’s being rules by his parents. He tried, I’ll give him that. There’s Nora whom I wanted to shake a time or two. I wanted to say “WAKE UP”. But she’s survived things that left her emotionally vulnerable. An absent father so she turns to Darrian who gives her some attention.
All this said I devoured this story in a matter of a few short hours. There is a cliffhanger. The story is told in Nora’s POV mostly. Bottomline this comes highly recommended.