NoraHe broke me. He gave me everything I never knew I wanted then in one moment destroyed all my happiness.Now I’m back in Araminta to finish senior year before I move on and leave this town full of fake and corrupted people behind. I don’t expect him to chase me. To change the game. He wants my heart but it’s destroyed. Even as we fight back against his enemies who want to ruin his name, he puts … want to ruin his name, he puts me above all else.
He wants to protect me. Fix me. Claim me. Too bad I’m not the same girl I was. I can’t forgive him….
Darrian
I’m sober.
So fuckin sober.
I’m broken and bruised but the only pain I feel is watching her and knowing I can’t have her. Danger lurks around us. My enemies are growing in numbers. I need to keep her safe and untouched by the chaos I created. I will destroy the walls around her heart and prove to both of us that I am the man she wanted me to be. She wants to breeze in and fade out…not this time. She’s back and she will be mine. I can’t live without her.
more
Darrian is sober now and of course full of regrets for how things went down with Nora. He also wants to protect her from his past, from the people and things who want to hurt her because of him. Will Nora allow him in? Is a second chance anywhere in the realm of possibility? Or is Darrian doomed to love her from afar?
Nora just wants to get through her last year with her head down. She knows she has to face Darrian at some point, but does it have to be now? Sigh…
Damn! This conclusion to Darrian and Nora’s story was pretty brutal and angsty. Darrian really did a number on Nora’s poor heart and I loved seeing her keep him at a distance for a bit. And I loved how much he really groveled to her, to get her to forgive him and allow him back into her heart. I have to admit, though, that if I had been her, I probably would have kicked him to the curb and wouldn’t have let him back in. But I’m vindictive and Nora isn’t so…
I really liked Hearts and Flowers. Darrian and Nora make for a compelling, interesting couple. As second chance romantic suspense goes, this one is pretty damn great.
I always loved second chance romance and this book proves why I really enjoy a great love story. A beautiful story that goes through a lot of angst and obstacles to finally have that happy for now if not happily ever after ending. I liked the characters and the dynamics between them was really good, the banter, the tension,everything made for an enjoyable read.
I absolutely love second chance stories because whoever messes up has a chance to redeem themselves and Darrian definitely redeemed himself in Hearts and Flowers.
I get it, Darrian was a major jerk to Nora in the first book BUT he thought he had a reason to hate her and in the process of hating her, he fell in love with her and when he found out the truth, it was too late for him to go back and explain to Nora why he did what he did because Nora had left and wasn’t planning on coming back.
Darrian will do anything in his power to try and win his girl back. We learn a lot about Darrian in this book and I totally was on board with him rectifying his mistakes and showing Nora that he truly did love her.
Ms. Brooks has totally made me a fan of her writing and I can’t wait to see what she has planned for us next!
Hearts & Flowers is book two in the Hearts Series by new author A.M. Brooks. Told in dual POV we continue with the conclusion of Nora Sutton & Darrian King’s story. H&F is a two-part story so Hearts and Bruises (Hearts Series) MUST be read first. This review may contain spoilers from Hearts and Bruises if you have not read book one yet, proceed with caution.
After that heart-dropping cliffhanger book one ended with I have been on pins and needles waiting for this one! A.M Brooks did NOT disappoint! YA/NA is one of my favorite tropes and A.M. Books is most definitely a new author to watch for in that category!
In Hearts and Bruises, we see Nora finally leave Darrian for good. He wanted her father and her out of town so he completely broke her heart to make damn sure it happened. But now that her father was found innocent, he realizes it was all for nothing. Darrian is determined to win back the girl of his dreams BUT this time, it’s gonna take a whole lot more than a few pretty words for Darrian to get back in Nora’s good graces.
There was so much back and forth with Darrian and Nora in Hearts & Bruises, they were completely toxic together. But in Hearts & Flowers, Darrian is clean, and his eyes are wide open. Darrian is finally ready to face the consequences of his actions (even though legally there won’t be many thanks to dear ol’ Dad) but the point is the old Darrian wouldn’t have thought twice about how his actions harmed anyone but himself. Now he’s finally starting to get it, and he has a whole lot of making up to do to Nora, the person he hurt the most.
After what happened with Roman and Zero-Thirteen Nora’s life is in danger, and the one person that can protect her, she won’t let even come near her. But Darrian isn’t giving up that easy and he won’t stop until the girl he loves is safe.
But what if it’s too late?
Darrian is ready to fight for Nora but after all the hurt he’s caused can Nora forgive him yet AGAIN?
A.M. Brooks has done it again. I am still blown away that Hearts and Bruises was her first release! She has killed it with Hearts & Flowers. This plot, these characters, ALL OF IT!
Nora, I really wasn’t loving after book one. I was just so tired of her letting Darrian walk all over her, time and time again and then all he had to do was throw a few pretty lines at her and all was forgiven. NOT THIS TIME! Nora is done with his crap and she’s making him pay his dues before even considering getting back together.
“She was magnetic and I was attracted to her force.”
Darrian I absolutely hated. But Darrian has come a long, long way. He’s went to rehab and he seems to really have his head on straight now without all the drugs clouding his mind. I was so, so proud of him in a couple of scenes when he could have thrown away all his hard work but he was committed and he stuck with it. The way he “wooed” Nora this time around *SIGH* I never thought I would say this but Darrian King turned into book boyfriend material! PLUS I loved that it was dual POV this time around so we actually were able to get in his head and understand his side of things a bit more.
“Please heal me. Keep me. Fight for us with me.”
These two together, at first I would have said NOPE, wayyy to toxic. But Darrian has really turned it around. There was so, so much more character development this time around and I loved the new improved Darrian, and I’m sure Nora did too. These two together can go either way, it can be like fire and gasoline or they can be like peanut butter and jelly. We saw fire and gasoline in Hearts and Bruises but we saw peanut butter and jelly in Hearts & Flowers. The only thing I would have liked to see a bit more of is detail to the sexy scenes. I understand it’s a YA/NA so there is a fine line but I would have liked a little more description.
I honestly could not ask for a better ending than that epilogue! It was everything! *SIGH*
I can NOT wait to see what A.M. Brooks comes up with next… maybe Trent & all the crazy stuff he’s got going on?? I would be fine with either of the secondary characters honestly I’m just not ready to say goodbye to this crew yet!
I highly recommend checking out the Heart Series!
“Our love is terrifying, exciting, and real. It may not always be story-book ending beautiful, but it’s us. It’s our story.”
I voluntarily reviewed an advance complimentary copy of this book.
Hearts and Flowers is the second book in the Hearts series and picks up where the first book ends. This story had it all, drama, suspense, danger and will give you all the feels. Its a story about trust, forgiveness and getting the help needed to make life changes. This second chance romance was given to us in dual POV and had some twists and turns you won’t see coming. With amazing characters and a griping storyline that will have you hooked, Heart and Flowers was a fantastic read and I would recommend it to all lovers of YA romances.
5 HEARTS AND FLOWERS STARS!! I love Darrian and Nora!! This book picks up where Hearts and Bruises ends. There story was all over the place with feels, drama, suspense and love. These two are so perfect for each other you feel it in your heart. A.M. Brooks has won me over with her storytelling and I can’t wait for the next book. You definitely need to 1-Click these two book.
AM Brooks left us with so many questions after the first book. She broke me and I wasn’t sure I’d be able to forgive Darrian’s actions in Hearts and Bruises.
Darrian and Nora were toxic together but somehow had a connection that worked. Once that toxicity was cleared up they became perfect together.
There was plenty of suspense, angst and love throughout the book. I kept picturing myself at their age to see how I would have reacted to all that was happening. Nora and Darrian were far from perfect but AM Brooks made us feel for them. This second chance romance is a must read.
4 STARS
Love is never easy and this second chance romance proves just how tough it can be.
Hearts and Flowers is book two in the Hearts Series by A.M. Brooks. This story begins where the first book left us with Darrian absolutely breaking Nora with his actions. I was gutted for Nora after Hearts and Bruises ended, so going into this book I needed to find out what happened. I felt Darrian was able to redeem himself and protect Nora at the same time from the danger she unknowingly was in. Overall, I loved the journey and outcome of this book.
If you’re looking for angst, suspense, and a second chance romance, pick up this MUST read series. Hearts and Flowers by A.M. Brooks will join the ranks of the BIBLIO-ELITE!!!
I voluntarily received a copy of this for an honest review!
I have to say after getting the first book in this series I was quite excited to get the next one too. Darrin and Nora’s story picks up right where it left off. You don’t feel like you’ve missed anything. There is many other little couples and tales going on in this book. But it doesn’t take away from anything, in fact it adds to the exhilarating and suspense filled drama that rotates around these two lovers/enemies.
I want a Trent book. Please tell me there is a chance!
This book is the conclusion to Hearts and Bruises. I love this series so much. I read this book in one sitting. I was so captivated by this story and these characters. Nora and Darrian have so much bad between them in just the year The have known one another. Love, hate, drugs, bullies and so much more. This is one series that will absolutely be staying with me for a long time. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SERIES!
*Magic Beyond The Covers Book Blog*
HEARTS & FLOWERS, A. M. BROOKS is book 2 in the Hearts Series. This continues the story of Darrian and Nora, so you really should read the previous book ‘Hearts and Bruises’ first.
Darrian had issues in the last book that made him make very bad decisions and acted in a way that truly hurt Nora. But in this book he comes back to a goal to get Nora back, pay for his mistakes and do all he can to protect Nora. Nora felt that should could fix anything and that did lead to her being more open to Darrian in the a last book but in this book she isn’t going forward with that attitude. Darrian hurt her and she plans to be done with him but of course her feelings and Darrian don’t seem to be getting the message.
Overall enjoyed their story.
This is the continuation of Hearts and Bruises. Hearts and Flowers is not a standalone. This 4 star story had me reading it in one sitting.
Nora and Darrian story continues. Will they get the HEA they deserve?
This was an highly entertaining story that was full of drama. It was never dull. I read it in one sitting because I had to see how it would end. I would safely say it was addicting. The only reason I didn’t give it a 5 star was purely subjective. This was a storyline made for YA. I personally tend to stay away from those storylines but since I had already read the first part, I wanted to read the rest.
The author really knows how to addict a reader to the writing and the amazing characters that were created. A duet worth reading. Told in a dual POV