5 STARS!!!

Summary

Jay Longmire had it all – a successful business, a beautiful wife, two loving children.  But one normal Sunday evening in Ann Arbor, everything was ripped from his arms at knifepoint.  He has retreated to Traverse City to hide from the world, nursing his physical and emotional wounds and trying to cope with mind-numbing guilt over his inability to protect his family.

Abby Powers serves him coffee he never drinks and has become obsessed with the movie-star handsome but melancholy man.  And the anticipation of his appearance every day takes her mind off her own messy life.

What begins as a near desperate physical connection out of the blue develops into a friendship that has the potential to heal two damaged hearts.  But Jay is terrified to love again.  While Abby’s fierce independence forces them both to acknowledge the deeper relationship they both desire, but that remains just out of reach.re had it all–a successful business, a beautiful wife, two loving children. But one normal Sunday evening in Ann Arbor everything was ripped from his arms at knifepoint. He has retreated to Traverse City to hide from the world, nursing his physical and emotional wounds and trying to cope with mind-numbing guilt over his inability to protect his family.

Abby Powers serves him coffee he never drinks and has become obsessed with the movie-star handsome but melancholy man. And the anticipation of his appearance every day takes her mind off her own messy life.

What begins as a near desperate physical connection out of the blue develops into a friendship that has the potential to heal two damaged hearts. But Jay is terrified to love again. While Abby’s fierce independence forces them both to acknowledge the deeper relationship they both desire, but that remains just out of reach.

Denise’s Review

I had the privilege of ARC reading Healing Hearts by Liz Crowe.  

This book will release on January 1st and will launch the new Challenge series for Decadent Publishing. The series will be made of stories where the “challenge” must take a central role in the character’s romance.

Well, let me say hats-off to Ms. Crowe; she took this challenge and crafted a powerfully emotional, gut wrenching and heartwarming story. 

Jay Longmire’s challenge was losing his wife and two children in a brutal attack. How do you recover from that, can you even allow yourself to live again? 

Reeling from the tragic event, Jay isolates himself in Traverse City.  

Abby Powers serves Jay coffee everyday. As Abby sees Jay, the reader is provided an amazing visual of how this experience has effected him. Abby’s concern and curiosity about this mysterious man translates into the reader wanting to know more about it, you find yourself glued to your Kindle wanting to find out this handsome man’s story. 

Jay starts to open up and his memories of these events are described with such mastery of the english language that you will feel chills up and down your spine.   Jay’s spiral into isolation, seclusion and depression will break your heart.  This journey to rediscovery is so beautiful that it will light up your heart. 

The connection Abby and Jay develop is tangible, you can feel the sparks during their first encounter, oh yes the sex in this book is hot.  Their first encounter is steamy and layered with emotion.

You will also feel Abby’s pain as she learns the reason for Jay’s isolation.  The friendship this couple develops provides for some wonderful dialogue, the banter between these two may have you to laughing out load.  

Jay is scared to move forward and though Abby is compassionate and truly takes pride in helping others, she is so independent she is fearful to rely on anyone. 

Witnessing these two connect was so enjoyable.  Ms. Crowe created a believable and endearing story with layers and supporting characters such as Jay’s sister that truly add to the beauty of this story.  

There is a scene at the hospital that will melt your soul.

I have always believed, it is not what life gives you, it is what you do with it.  Jay was dealt such a devastating blow. Is it possible to allow yourself to love again after that?  You will thoroughly enjoy experiencing Ms. Crowe answering this question. 

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good epilogue. Well the ending to this book is masterful. In true Liz Crowe fashion, the reader is provide a happy ending that feels real and will leave you with smile from ear to ear.

This story will stick with you. You will find yourself thinking about it days later. 

Healing Hearts is wonderful story of love, second chances, and an example of the need to move forward even in the face of unimaginable tragedy.  

Ms. Crowe, I adored this book.  

Decadent certainly selected an amazing story to launch this line with; though I am not sure how anything could compare to this.

I encourage readers to pick up a copy of HEALING HEARTS, curl up and allow the story to captivate and entertain you. 

About the Author

Mom of three teenagers, and soccer fan, Liz lives in the great Midwest, in a major college town. Years of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as an ex-pat trailing spouse, plus making her way in a world of men (i.e. the beer industry), has prepped her for life as erotic romance author.

When she isn’t sweating inventory and sales figures for the brewery, she can be found writing, editing or sweating promotional efforts for her latest publications.

Her groundbreaking romance subgenre, “Romance for Real Life,” has gained thousands of fans and followers who are interested less in the “HEA” and more in the “WHA” (“What Happens After?”)

Her beer blog a2beerwench.com is nationally recognized for its insider yet outsider views on the craft beer industry. Her books are set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch and in high-powered real estate offices. Don’t ask her for anything “like” a Budweiser or risk painful injury.

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Website www.lizcrowe.com

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