In an instant he became her hero. Then he became her lover and her friend.My name is Jaxon Hart.You watched me grow up. You watched me fight for my life. Now, I’m fighting for hers.From the second I laid eyes on Annika Leander, I wanted to help her. Protect her. Vindicate her. But she’s got baggage to get through. Hell, we both do.A funny thing happens, though, when you finally connect with … though, when you finally connect with someone in a different way than you ever have before. The baggage doesn’t seem so heavy.
I suppose that’s really the only thing that matters when the heart gets involved.
more
This book is deals with a more tragic topic than I usually go for (see other reviews for trigger warnings) but the author handles it beautifully. I listened to this one on audio and the narration is fantastic.
Matters of the Hart is the third book in the Hart series. Where in books 1 and 2 we read about Jason and Addison, this book gives us son Jaxon Hart’s story. This book can be read as a standalone, but the books are all so good and none should be missed!
“Gently, I talk to her again. “It’s okay. You’re safe now. I won’t let him hurt you anymore.”
Even though Jaxon is dealing with some baggage, he is protective, heroic, strong and just an amazing person. He meets Annika on the worst day of her life. Annika has so much that she she has to go through and works hard to be strong, but definitely needs someone to lean on.
“I realize my new reality is the two separate parts of my life…before last night and after last night. I’m only five minutes in, and the after is already proving to be harder than I expected.”
This story just pulled me in from the start. There are some extremely difficult to read parts, but all so worth it! Such a romantic, beautiful story and so emotional. I was definitely brought to tears, but the story is an uplifting Must Read!
-5 Stars-
Jaxon Hart has been dealing with the disappointment of not living up to his father’s ideals and decides he needs to live his life for himself. He goes to school during the day and at night he works in a bar, but one night changes everything. Annika was just planning on a night out with friends and it turned into her worst nightmare, never did she think that during this worst of her life would a hero appear and protect her. Jaxson and Annika’s story is a hard one but one that gives hope. This book was so emotional and I cried for both Jaxson and Annika. I wish I could rate it higher than five stars because this story is so profound. Reading the note from the author at the end of the book brought me to tears and just made this book become so much more. This is definitely a must read book, such an important story to be told. It is a story of hope out of the darkness and that even when things seem hopeless their are those in your life that will fight for you when you don’t have the strength.
Jaxon is living the college life, playing football and working nights at a bar as a bar back. Despite tension with his dad he is loving live and feeling good after his childhood fight. One night at work changes everything for him. His life is not the same when he saves Annika. Annika is the studious girl who just wants to work her butt off to get into the program of her dreams. When her roommate and best friends drags her out to a bar to live up the college life, Annika will never the be same again, but Jaxon is the light in her dark, her savior.
Another gut punch by this author that I was not prepared for. I loved Jaxon’s heart and devotion. I loved how supportive and protective he was. My heart broke for Annika but I loved her strength and resilience. Both of these characters were extremely likeable and relatable. Even though I have never gone through their tribulations, I felt their pain and anguish; to me that is a testament to this author’s skills. I am super salty at the tension between Jason and Jaxon but if I am honest it felt real to me. I can really relate to Jaxon because I am also the adopted kid whose parents had bio kids. I have been in his shoes. So maybe that is why I didn’t like it because it was too close to home BUT that is real life so I respected that aspect of Jaxon’s journey. Damn it I am crying again. Ugh. I loved this book but there are triggers.
So this book has a very hard storyline which makes it a hard book to read. Thankfully this author treated the the topic of sexual assault with respect that being said if you are a victim this book may not be for you.
So we get to see Jaxon all grown up and struggling to find his place in his world and family. Feeling inadequate and fearing father is disappointed in him. While working at a bar he rescues Annika from a horrible sexual assault. The two become incredibly drawn to one another and begin spending time together despite being warned that it might not be real. They face their demons together and get the happily ever after they both deserve.
Wow! This story started out with a major punch to the gut. I think I cried right away. My heart was enveloped in so much hurt for Anika, but at the same time warmed by Jaxson. I absolutely loved, adored, and enjoyed every single moment of this book.
Oh my heart! Wow I’m so glad you wrote this book, kept the Hart family going. This is probably the best feel good book ever. I don’t want to spoil anything so I won’t, but this is definitely a must read book.
Jaxon & Annika’s story is FANTASTIC! Emotional, sweet, heartbreaking, REAL, and amazing. I loved it! My heart broke for the things these two go through, but their strength & resilience is full of hope and love and beauty. Great writing, great story, and the ending pulls everything together to make the smile bigger than the tears.
We also get some Hart to Hart time w/ Jason & Jaxon, and their relationship. They have some things to work out, and I teared up at their conversations. LOVE!!!
This goes into my Top Reads of 2018 category! : )
This story will rock your world and have you thinking about it nonstop. 2 people come together during something tragic and fall in love. But during this time they question if they really do love each other OR is this just feelings from that tragedy. The feelings of protection and safety. Its hard to write this review without spoiling it. Its a definite must read and will have you hooked from the first chapter!
It is about a very important subject matter.
I loved Matters of the Hart, a beautifully written, heart wrenching story due to the sensitive subject matter it deals with. This is the third book in the Hart series, featuring Jaxson Hart; it’s an emotional story that had me crying at times, laughing more than once, and just incredibly happy with the perfect ending!
**PLEASE, please note: Anyone with triggers should ask someone who’s read it, if they have questions about the sensitive subject matter, before starting this book. Do not take this warning lightly.
Jaxson Hart, twenty-one, is the son of retired football legend, Jason Hart. He’s on the college football practice team, never playing on game day, something that doesn’t bother him; he loves the sport but knows his limitations and is okay with it. After deciding to switch majors, from business to pre-med, he’s a little concerned about telling his dad. They’ve been having some personal family issues lately and it’s been causing a rift between them.
Annika Leander, nineteen, is a happy to be at school, rooming with her best friend, Lauren. Annika’s smart and studious; she wants to be a physical therapist, working for a football team. And she’s excited to be away from her loving, but over protective, dad and older brother.
When Annika, who’s never been one to go out much, is dragged along to a local nightclub by Lauren, she never expected the night to end with her in the hospital, a victim of a horrible crime. There she meets Jaxson who was a witness to what happened to her and rescued her.
“We tried to get him to leave several times to rest, but he keeps saying until he knows someone is here to take care of you, he’s not going anywhere.”
Jaxson is that guy. The honest to goodness, kind hearted and thoughtful guy, a real life hero. He feels the need to protect Annika and when they start spending time together they can’t deny the attraction they both feel and have been afraid to acknowledge. He’s amazed at her resilience and strength, and she feels safe and protected with him by her side.
“Right now, I feel safer with you than anyone else in this entire world.”
This story had me on the edge of my seat at times, there’s so much more than just what happened to Annika; Jaxson’s life feels like it’s slowly unraveling as he has to come to grips with some big issues from his past he was unaware of. This is a one-hundred percent HEA that made me cry tears of joy at the en
I still need to recover from this book because holy cow! Carter did me good!! What a freaking page turner!’ This is a book you have to read in one sitting and no distraction okay? Good now wait for release and read it!!
If I could give this 10 stars I would.
Matters of the Hart follows Jaxon Hart in his junior year of college. I spent about half of this book in tears – Carter has such a gift in developing her characters in a real, personal, and relatable way. She did it again with Matters of the Hart; these are my favorite characters of her. Jaxon has this soft, brave, bold personality and comes into his own and finds his voice throughout this story. And Annika. Wow, Annika. She is fierce, strong, and SO worthy.
While this was a tough read to get through because of the subject matter; this is a book that everyone needs to read. I will shout it from the rooftops – this NEEDS to be read and heard! This is Carter’s best work, in my humble opinion, and Annika and Jaxon’s story will stay with me for a long, long time.
Before I begin my review of Matters of the Hart, I have a confession to make… I didn’t read the second book in the series. I know, I know. I’m crazy, right? But almost every reader has that one thing that triggers them. The one style of book that they just can’t handle reading, and for me, it just happened to be the subject matter of Hart to Heart. But honestly, maybe it’s a good thing? Because if you haven’t read the second book, or even the first book (which I did read and only gave three stars), then here is an honest opinion from a somewhat outside perspective for you.
Matters of the Hart was really really good. From the second I started the book, I fell in love with the characters. And while Jaxon was great, Annika was even more amazing. I connected with her so deeply that she has become one of my favorite female characters of all time.
And while the subject matter of this book may also be a trigger for certain people, I can promise you that it is done in the most genuine of ways. It isn’t an easy read, but it an amazing story, and I got lost in the characters and invested in their lives. It’s a beautiful depiction of how being broken can actually make you stronger.
I don’t want to give anything away, so I won’t say any more about the story. But as someone who is an extremely tough reviewer, this book is most definitely worth the read. I haven’t read anything this powerful since “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover. Everyone needs to read this book.
You had me at the hashtag on this one, ME Carter, and I can’t wait to see what you come up with next.
Matters of the Hart is M.E. Carter’s best work yet. I cried, I laughed, I held my breath. Carter made me feel every emotion possible throughout this book. Matters of the Hart was beautifully written. Once I picked it up, I could NOT put it down.
Unfortunate circumstances may have brought the main characters together, but they both grow as people because of these circumstances. They overcome so much together and their love is so touching and sweet.
At one key point in the book, I swear Carter *micdropped* The scene was just so perfectly displayed and the emotions were so real. This is a book I will re-read because it made me feel so many things, and I want to experience that again.
As ME Carter is so good at doing, she surprised me, this time with the circumstances surrounding Jax and Annika’s relationship. I have never read a book with this storyline before. Jax and Annika are so real, and I was so invested in the characters that I couldn’t stop turning the pages. This is a beautiful story of love but also of how we can help strengthen each other in the most difficult of times. My heart broke for Jax and Annika, and in the end I was overjoyed for them. Carter continues to amaze me with her ability to write new and unique novels and to keep the reader mentally and emotionally invested. This is a must read for 2018!
Oh my heart! This book is fantastic and has surpassed all others of its type for me this year! M.E. Carter has her finger on the pulse of current events and brings them to life in the most absorbing way possible. You’ll laugh a little and cry a lot. Your heart will swell with emotion and you’ll definitely commiserate with these characters as well. No need to think about this one. You absolutely DO want to read it. Right now. Don’t wait!
I don’t give 5 stars out easily. A book needs to resonate with me on many levels to get 5 stars. Matters of the Hart is one of those books. Even though this is a romance in the midst of the unspeakable, Annika and Jaxon’s relationship develops at such a true pace. Their struggles and hurdles are real and they work through them with compassion and respect. I think every high school/college boy should read Matters of the Hart to learn exactly how to respond when faced with a choice between protection and vindication, how to support her through the emotional aftermath and the right way to grow a friendship into a mutually loving relationship.
Yes, this book is #3 in the series and we are reminded why we fell in love with the Hart family to begin with, but it is not completely necessary to read the first two books to understand the amazing family dynamics and what made Jaxon the hero he is today.
I couldn’t put this book down and you won’t be able to either.
Okay, I will be honest. I have not read the first two books in this series yet. They are sitting on my shelf just waiting but for some reason I haven’t picked them up yet. That changes very soon after reading this one.
This book is easily my second favorite of Carter’s work and probably her best work to date. She was able to pull all the emotions out of me and did it with such grace that I didn’t even realize what was happening. There are some tough spots in this book but let me tell you, like my favorite book, Carter wrote those scenes seamlessly and with compassion. She made you feel what the characters were feeling.
I won’t go into much more on this as I don’t want to spoil anything but don’t miss this one. It’s worth every angry, sad tear and definitely worth the smiles and heartwarming strength.
There is absolutley NOTHING better for me that falling in love with a book for the first time. The best feeling in the world is finding your perfect book match and being sucked in from the very begining. The ups and downs, through sorrow and resolution.
I’m not afraid to say I’m an ugly reader. I am the type of reader that gives nothing but 100% devotion and dedication to characters I love. I talk about them as if they’re real people, I imagine scenarios I would talk to them, where I would comfort or yell at them. I am the type of reader who throws her Kindle and yells at a character to WAKE UP and SMELL THE COFFEE or rocks in a corner and cries when they’re hurt. Much like people, I feel passionately for those books and characters I love.
#MOTH (Matters Of The Hart) pulled all of that from me. The tears that hurt so good and the lingering feeling that I was a part of something special are still with me. I went on a rollercoaster ride with this one and I hope you will too.