Hearts and Thorns

REVIEW: 4.5 STARS
“Need and love were a force we couldn’t contend with and forever lost the battle to.”

Once again, Ella Fields made me a tangled mess of emotions for yet another one of her angsty YA/NA romances that took me on one helluva ride. It’s no secret I enjoy her stories and how well they work for me. To put it simply, her words dance on the page. They’re so animated and I love the visual she gives me and she never fails to put me IN the story. Did I want to throw my kindle? I might actually admit that this time. But that’s also what keeps me coming back for more. In true Ella Form, she sets to motion some chains of events that are very uncomfortable and hard to stomach. Definitely not for the faint of heart. I won’t lie but I also have never claimed her books are all hearts and roses. This is literally….Hearts and Thorns.

“A hunger like ours didn’t leave a lot of room for caution.”

Ella’s words made me question….why is this so wrong? Why is a love that’s soul shattering like Jackson and Willa’s so wrong? I love that she can make me think outside the box; she can make me question the rule versus accepting the consequences for such a questionable action. The uncomfortable side to this whole forbidden love is made very blurry because, well – they aren’t related. But the fear and public opinion they were sure to face definitely made for a tough space to be in – on a painful perch to watch it all unfold. Add to that a very cocky teenager with pride, a young love so hopeful, and my heart was literally put through the wringer. My heart broke for their situation in every corner of every world in every realm. In no way would you be able to justify any of that with the parental units, let alone those with black and white thoughts of wrong vs right, pure vs soiled.

I know I’ve wanted Jackson and Willa’s story since I first met them in Kiss and Break Up. They were already telling their story in the background at that point and there was no denying their connection. It was electric between them….a live wire with a pulse. Their chemistry was palpable. I felt it, I hurt for it, I needed more of it. It was caustic. It was raunchy. It was equal parts confidence destroying and confidence building. Was it toxic? In a way, maybe – but some of the deepest loves are purely undeniable in every way, regardless of the obstacles. I couldn’t walk away from what was happening, and I wanted to make it all better – but damn, it was a rough ride. Such perfection mirrored in destruction.

“Time didn’t change someone’s effect on you; it merely hid it from you long enough to believe it could.”

I couldn’t help but love them, just not their circumstance. As heartbreaking as it was, it was frustrating too because I obviously got to see it from two different POVs so I had more knowledge of the emotions and the questions flitting through their minds. But that didn’t prepare me for the drama that lie ahead. So, so hard. Oh gosh, this one had my heart in a vice – squeezing ever so tightly. I was freaking out. Still thinking about it makes me sad. The words on constant repeat in my mind, doing damage to my heart were, “This isn’t fair.”

I can’t deny the angst in this one had me pacing and breathing funny, because how do you put into word form the emotions that a teenager goes through with a first love that happens to be forbidden? I don’t know how, but Ella seemed to do it just fine. It’s amazing how she can steal every emotion from me at varying times in the story, repeatedly – yet, they all make sense at the time I’m feeling them. I should be mad, but I have a boo-boo lip out. I should be swooning, but I want to claw his eyes out. I want to hug them and cry, but I want to slap him too. Every single emotion played a role in this book and I couldn’t deny a single one.

I love the way Ella Fields gives a voice to miscommunication with emotion and resentment in a matter of sentences. I love the turmoil she puts me through and it always reads effortlessly. I love that she gives painfully heartbroken lovers a story to tell. I’ll always stand in line for the riot she will inevitably cause in my heart….willingly.

“A goodbye that never should’ve been a hello.”
~BEE

Is it even possible that your books get better and better, the answer is YES! Hearts and Thorns by Ella Fields is a gut wrenching tale of love, loss, and heartbreak as both Willa and Jackson try to come to terms with this push and pull relationship they have. You will easily have a love/hate relationship with Jackson but like all of Ella’s stories there is just something that keeps you coming back for more! I would highly recommend this book!! Awesome job

I was hoping that this stepbrother romance story would be a 5 star read for me and although it was a good read, it’s a one time read for me. I liked the characters but I enjoyed the first part of the story more than I did the second part. The back and forth with Jackson and Willa was a lot. Jackson’s attitude toward Willa was unnecessary when a lot of things could have been avoided had he just told her his plans. The drama with Willa and her mom Victoria, regarding the truth about Victoria’s sister seemed unnecessary and wasn’t really needed. Victoria could have let Willa know the truth early on and so could have Daniel. I wanted to feel bad for Ainsley but I didn’t because after all those years she still had a nasty attitude. Ainsley knew she was second best and was fine in that spot so she couldn’t be mad when the person in first place decided to take her spot by Jackson’s side. The story wrapped up nicely and overall it was a good read but I needed something more to make this a 5 star read for me. I would give other books from this author a try.

Ella Fields is a master at angst-driven young adult romance, and she definitely does not disappoint with Hearts and Thorns. A forbidden step-sibling love story, this book will have you feeling EVERYTHING. I wanted to cry, scream, and throw my Kindle. Then as I turned the last page, I just wanted to beg for more. 5+ stars!

This is Willa and Jackson’s story. They were step siblings who fell in love at an early age. They hid the relationship from their parents, their friends and everyone, but were discovered and had to live a nightmare. They both suffered, had their hearts broken apparently due to miscommunication. Later on they get a chance of reuniting, but he’s with someone else and is very cruel towards her even though several years had gone by. Throughout the ordeal she develops a closer relationship with her father and learns about her mother. In the end, Jackson’s friend, Lars, helps him see clearly and realize that he will lose her for good if continues to be so stubborn. At last they finally see eye to eye and get their HEA.

This story captivated me from the beginning. What I especially loved about this story, was the build-up of Willa and Jackson’s relationship. We see them progress from young kids to adults. Their story is a step-siblings romance like no other; it’s forbidden, full of betrayal, angst, secrets, and vengeance. Hearts and Thorns is intense, raw, and emotional; a journey of both love and anguish, and everything in between. Another fantastic read from Ella Fields.

Hearts and Thorns was full of angst, heartache and the unexpected. Willa and Jackson have always been there for each other. They were able to protect, comfort and build an unbreakable bond. Growing up together was a blessing and a curse and they did their best to try and hide their feelings for one another. They know their love is forbidden, but they cannot deny their love and desire for one another. So many people stood in the way of their relationship, but their biggest obstacle was themselves. They were young, naïve and vulnerable and didn’t realize how fragile life and love could be. I wanted to pummel Jackson. Willa was stripped away from all that she knew and Jackson went silent leaving Willa to wallow in her insecurities making her wonder if he truly loved her. Jackson wasn’t there for Willa when she needed his comfort and protection the most. Mistakes are made and life takes them in two different directions not knowing if they will ever see one another again.

My first Ella Fields read! Oh my, this is so not my last. Everyone said her words will tear you to pieces and then make you whole again. Boy, were they right!

Jackson and Willa had a beauty connection felt like true love, but they were raised as step-siblings. There is no way the world would ever see this relationship as ‘right’. Would they ever experience true love again?

There were moments in reading this story that I said to myself, okay this is too much I do not want to know what happens next. Yet, I found myself reading, crying, laughing, getting mad, then being overjoyed.

Now I am off to read all the other Ella Fields books. New fan for life!!

It didn’t matter that I’d been his first. Not when I wanted to be all the in-betweens and his last too.

Hearts and Thorns by Ella Fields is book three in the amazing new adult romance, Magnolia Cove Series. You guys I have been waiting for Jackson and Willa’s story ever since I first found out that it was going to be a “step-sibling” romance! I can’t tell you how much I have loved every single book from this series and all the characters included but I was REALLY looking forward to this one! As usual, Fields did NOT disappoint! I’m all about the taboo/forbidden and a stepbrother/stepsister romance is about as forbidden as it gets! Hearts and Thorns is NOT an easy read, but all the anguish and heartbreak is sooo worth it in the end.

Jackson and Willa Thorn grew up in Magnolia Cove. Although they share the same surname and have been raised in the same household since the two of them were still in diapers, Jackson and Willa are STEP-siblings.

But Willa and Jackson weren’t your typical step siblings. The two of them shared a bond much closer than normal and have always been close.

But over the years, the dynamic of their relationship began to change as Jackson and Willa grew up.

Until…

One birthday. One moment. One kiss… changes EVERYTHING in the Thorn household.

Jackson and Willa tried not to let their ever-growing feelings cause heartache to their family so they ignored the feelings and hoped that with time, they would fade. But the love these two shared was not something that could be ignored and eventually, they give up trying to.

If hiding is all we’ve got, I’ll happily hide forever.

Jackson and Willa try and keep their relationship under wraps, they know that their parents nor their small town would be able to accept a relationship between the two. But the lies and the sneaking around begins to build up until their secret is exposed.

When Jackson and Willa are forced apart, their plans for the future seem further away than ever before and when life begins to take them both in different directions… they are both left heartbroken.

I hate you because I could never actually hate you, and that makes me hate you so much.

Can Jackson and Willa find their way back to each other?

Can Willa and Jackson beat the odds stacked against them?

You’ll have to check out Hearts and Thorns for yourself to find out.

No matter how much time passed, nor how hard I’d tried, I’d forever be in love with my stepbrother.

I love that in Hearts and Thorns, we went through every stage along with Willa and Jackson. From them growing up together to the beginning of their feelings, to finally giving in to their feelings, to the mistakes that were made, the anger, and then the devastation and heartbreak. And then again, five years later as they finally found their way back to each other again.

I feel like I need you to breathe properly.

Jackson is… *SIGH* I loved Jackson, I really did. BUT, let me warn you now, once he’s been hurt, he has a mean streak. Some of the things he did or said to Willa were just plain cruel. They had BOTH been hurt. But his heartbreak and anguish in those moments… sheesh! I just wish he didn’t jump to conclusions so dang much! Teenagers! Smh…

In the battle of who hurt who the most, you fucking won, Willa.

Willa was such a sweetheart, even though there were a couple of things that totally shocked me that she would do… for starters *cough, cough* … Todd… but they were both hurt and I get it but I didn’t like it… But the way Willa’s Mom treated her after finding out about her and Jackson’s relationship… I was extremely shocked! Obviously, I didn’t think they would be pleased, but to do what they did and then pretty much completely remove her from their lives… yeah I felt so bad for her. Thank God for her bio-Dad though, he was great! And Willa made a life for herself, despite them.

I didn’t think it would be this hard. Trying to breathe without you.

Even in the other Magnolia Cove books, when I first realized that there was always something MORE going on with Jackson and Willa, I have LOVED the two of them together. But to finally see all the stages of their love, *SIGH* Even though I wanted to shake BOTH of them for about 50% of the book! But I tried to remember that they were only eighteen when things started to fall apart but sooo much of their anguish and heartbreak could have been avoided if they had just TALKED to each other instead of jumping to conclusions or keeping things from one another.

But enough about, let’s get to the good stuff! The sexy scenes! Oh my, oh my! I mean, FORBIDDEN ROMANCE! Do I really need to say more? It’s forbidden, it’s hot, and Jackson… SMOKIN HOT!

Ella Fields has no qualms about crushing a reader’s heart to smithereens. and that’s exactly what she does to you with Hearts and Thorns. She spends 50% of the book making you fall completely in love with these characters and rooting for them to somehow beat the odds and then just when you think they are RIGHT THERE, they are GOING to make it… she breaks them. And you in the process. Trust me, you are probably going to shed a few tears and you may even wanna break some stuff but I promise, you’ll still root for Jackson and Willa, and that ending will make it all worth it. As usual, BRAV-FREAKIN-O Ella Fields, I was sooo looking forward to Jackson and Willa and you freakin delivered!!

I absolutely recommend checking out Hearts and Thorns, as well as the rest of the Magnolia Cove Series. If you are looking for an emotional, heartwrenching and heartwarming, angsty read then look no further because you have found it!

We weren’t only soul mates. We were stitched at the seams, unable to part
without losing fragments of ourselves.

– Hearts and Thorns by Ella Fields is book three in the amazing new adult Magnolia Cove Series. I have been waiting for Jackson and Willa’s story ever since I first found out that it was going to be a “step-sibling ” romance! I can’t tell you how much I have loved every single book from this series and all the characters included but I was REALLY looking forward to this one! As usual, Fields did NOT disappoint! I’m all about the taboo/forbidden and a stepbrother/stepsister romance is about as forbidden as it gets!

– I mean, FORBIDDEN ROMANCE, need I say more?

ℂ – Nope, no cliffhanger. After a whole lot of heartbreak, Jackson and Willa do finally get their happily ever after.

– There are difficult subjects that could be considered triggers.

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10 Ten star read!!!
Wow oh wow!!! What a way to start my reading for 2020!! This is one I’ve been waiting for and I was prepared to be put through the wringer. Well let me say that I wasn’t really prepared after all. Ella has gone to a whole other level with Willa and Jackson’s story.
One minute I was wanting to shake both of them for the hurt they were causing each other, the next I was a blubbering mess for the pain they were both in.
Such a painful,heartbreaking and beautiful story that will stay with you forever.
Have your wine, chocolate and tissues ready cause you’re going to need them, Hearts and Thorns is so worth the emotional roller coaster ride!!!!