He was faithful, until he wasn’t.She was honest, until first touch…And against all that is pure and noble, they fell in love.Warning: This is not one of those novels where the characters’ actions are justified. It is merely a story about two people–two flawed humans–who fall in love under forbidden circumstances. It is intended for audiences 18+ years of age due to explicit sexual content.
* I received an ARC of this book and this is my voluntarily, honest review of it *
This is one of the most difficult reviews that I ever had to write. Because this story did so much to me, it was such an emotional story and I really want to do it justice with my review. But I must confess that I don’t know if I can do that. I don’t know if I can find the right words to honor it. But I will try my best and hope that I can express my emotions into words.
First, I will start by telling you that ‘Heartless’ is one of my FAVORITE books of 2017!!
Secondly…. YES, in this book the main male character does cheat on his wife. But I do hope that some readers will still give this book a try because the story is also about love.
The night that governor Michael Cavanaugh and Blaine Foster met, they didn’t know that that was the beginning of something special, that their lives would never be the same again.
Both are in a relationship when they meet. Michael has been married to his high school sweetheart Veronica for 15 years and Blaine is together with her boyfriend Mateo. Blaine loves Mateo but lately (since he moved in with her) they are having a lot of arguments. Their arguments leave Blaine always sad and frustrated. After another argument, Blaine meets a new customer at her workplace, a customer who tries to get her to smile, something that Blaine is surprised and grateful for.
Michael will never be able to explain why it bothered him so much to see Blaine so distressed that night. Why he wanted to see her smile but he did and at the end of that night Michael got his smile from Blaine. The more they get to know each other, the more both are realizing that something is going on here. But what? Can they give in to it? What about their partners? Is it just lust or is it love?
At one point Michael will have to decide if this chemistry between Blaine and him is worth it all. His marriage, his carrier. Is it just the forbidden that makes him feel so much? Or is he falling in love with Blaine?
First, I want to say that like so many other romance readers I don’t like cheating in my books. But after reading and loving R.C. Martin other books, I decided to trust this writer with the story and I’m really happy that I did. Because yes, the book is about ‘cheating’ but it’s also about ‘love’. And sadly the circumstances and the timing of falling in love with someone can be terrible wrong but that doesn’t make the feeling any less true.
‘Heartless’ is a story about emotional and intelligent conflict, about guilt, about saying goodbye to a future that you once dreamt of but also about passion, desire and love. It’s about being human, about making faults, about hurting people, about having to accept that maybe along the way you changed into another person with different desires and longings.
The story is told from both POV’s which I really appreciated because it gave the story more depth. I liked both characters very much. Michael is an ambitious, dominant man and Blaine is a young woman with a kind heart. The sex scenes were hot and naughty. I love the fact that we got an epilogue at the end. I really needed that.
‘Heartless’ was definitely a story that I didn’t expect from this writer but sometimes those are the best surprises!
A steamy read that leaves you wanting to be the next Mrs. Canvaugh. My favorite trope is political romance, and this book filled my reading pleasure. Michael an approachable man gets a history lesson from the beautiful Blaine. A angel is sent that is the temptation to his marriage, a relationship that is guarded. A marriage that is going through the motions He desires transparency and openness, Blaine is that for the governor.
Another cheating book? No, it’s more than typical cheating book. This is a man that who and desires to be honest and this alone makes it more.
Happy Reading…
My cheating binge continues. Great storyline and likable characters. My only issues were the position Michael held and the amount of times he was in and out of Blaine’s condo, I find it hard to believe he was never seen or recognized and some of the chapters seemed to drag on longer than they needed. For some reason I was really drawn to Clay’s character and wish there was more of him in there or possible a novella about him. Great book overall!
HEARTLESS by R.C. Martin
Infidelity…is it always wrong? And, if it is not…when is it right? What are the repercussions of infidelity and how is the fallout dealt with? Is acting on interest in another ever okay when married? These are some of the questions I asked myself while reading. The author states in the blurb that this is a book that has real characters who are not perfect and that is abundantly clear…this is a story that will linger and cause readers to ponder…at least that is my opinion.
Blaine and Michael really seem to have nothing in common but definitely are attracted to one another. Both are in relationships when they meet but that doesn’t stop them from beginning an affair. A secret liaison that begins as lust but develops into more – and this is one reason I believe taking that first step into the forbidden might be “wrong” if your commitment to marriage vows is to be honored – this couple took that step and then had to deal with the repercussions. Michael’s choice impacted his wife, family and political career. Blaine’s choice impacted others but not quite so much as Michael’s choice did.
I am conflicted. In some ways I don’t understand why the two did what they did since they seemed so very different and incompatible. In other ways I totally understand. I am happy the couple brought out the best in one another and eventually found a happy life together. I understand how those around them must have felt. I felt for all of the characters. I cared. I wanted to intervene. I wondered if Michael’s infidelity would be a one-time thing. That said…this book must be a good one to evoke so many thoughts and feelings. I am not fond of first person dual view books but in this story it provided context and background information that was important. The ending had me scratching my head but thankfully it all came out right in the end.
Thank you to the author who gifted me a copy of this intriguing book through NetGalley – This is my honest review.
4 Stars
I am at a total loss of what to write. I read the book cover to cover and I immediately wanted to read it again. I absolutely loved it. I loved the characters flaws and all. The writing was impeccable. I was held captive chapter to chapter. Wanting more. Craving more.
Yes, this is a forbidden romance between Michael a married 37-year-old Governor and Blaine a 24-year-old college educated bartender, who is also in a relationship. that works at an upscale bar and restaurant where they met. This is not a torrid tale of just wanting an affair for sexual gratification, it’s about meeting someone and finding an instant connection. Michael had been with Veronica for 20 years, married for 15 of them and never once strayed. Never had the urge or need to. The journey I took watching this love affair unfold tore at my emotions. My heart ached for them and for Michael’s wife Veronica. Families torn apart, living in secret, stolen moments and periods of silence. I felt all the emotions! Beautifully written.
I know there are people that don’t read books that have spouses cheating and I respect that, but this book brings you right along with the characters as they go through so much conflict, turmoil, grief over a loss of a relationship, regret, and I also felt a love that was so profound and deep. I felt the connection that was soul deep, it was a once in a lifetime love. I laughed, I cried, yes, sobbing at the loss that they were going through.
I don’t want to give away anything because you need to read this beautiful book for yourself. It is told in dual POV, so you are in the characters heads, which I loved. I want to leave you with a portion of the Author’s Note at the end of the book, “By nature, forbidden love is complicated, messy, ugly and sometime wrong. Nevertheless, we all have our stories to tell, our crosses to bear, and the grace to try again, to grow and to be better people with the dawning of each new day.” Never has a truer word been spoken!
I highly recommend this beautiful and heartfelt forbidden romance.
OK let me first say that as much as I love this author I just knew deep in my heart this would be the first book I gave her an utter fail on. I mean come on, she warns us up front that cheating is in it and I HATE cheaters. Then I started reading. The more I read the more I loved it. The story is done so well as you move from emotion to emotion and yup them emotions take you from the dark to the light and back again. It wasn’t planned. They tried to avoid it. They don’t ask for forgiveness and it isn’t given. The path wasn’t planned nor was the act. It weighed on them and almost destroyed everything but they couldn’t stop. By the end you are wanting them, needing them, cheering them on. No they are cheaters it shouldn’t be this hard to hate them but it is.
I hate what this author did to me. She broke me down and made me want good things for these two. She played me like a fiddle and now I have to tell the world this book, this story, these two, you have to read this to believe it. I didn’t want to give this 5 stars to be honest I started reading it with a close mind knowing this would be the book that made me never read this author’s stuff ever again in life. Now I am eating crow and singing praises, dang it. But yeah it’s that good.