Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and author for the copy of this eARC for my honest review. All ratings and any reviews are opinions of my own.

“He’s the only calm to my madness, the only light to my dark, the only sweet to my bitter remains.”

I have to preface this by saying I don’t think the writing is worthy of 4 stars (and when I first started the book I was looking at peoples 3/4 star reviews and judging them heavilyyyy but my mind has been changed).

I was instantly hooked by this book because of the premise and I applied for an arc last year and have only just got around to reading it now…whoops (thank you netgalley).

As I started all I could think was this book had such a wattpad feel with “oh popular bully guy” and a “smart stubborn bookish girl”. (Sidenote: I did feel immediately uncomfortable by Cora calling Dean attractive so much because like chemistry aside that’s your sisters fiancé love). And this didn’t set me up for much hope. Alongside this I also have criticisms over the whole actual kidnapping scene because hello logistics..??( I have to admit I thought there was a second kidnapper). And also the pacing was a bit all over the place and In my personal opinion I think the book needed to start in a different place or their time in captivity needed to be longer.

Hartman writes incredible romance and the way she has you stressing over all the conflicting feelings is a testament to this. Cora and Dean were so messy and it was so painful but in such a beautiful way.

However, there was something missing within the first 25% or this book and I don’t find it surprising with the content. This is an extremely difficult plot to pull off and although I think the execution of getting to the end of the event wasn’t the best she pulls it together with the romance.

At the start of the book I wondered how they were going to play it because Mandy and her sister seemed so close and it all seemed so healthy. I do understand the couple had been together 15 years but after the kidnapping Mandy turned into a horrible person. I’m sorry but feeling neglected from no sex for 6 weeks after her partner of 15 years watched her sister be r*ped for 20 days???!!!! (Baring in mind this is all she knew about) I am trying to think within her perspective a little with the fear and worry that she was going through but it was just pure selfishness on her part. That made her unlikeable and therefore hard to garner sympathy for.

I enjoyed the conflicting emotions between Cora and Dean and it reminded me why I enjoyed reading a previous book by this author. The building of love, the guilt the longing and relief all came across in such a good way. It’s just a shame it’s only reserved for these two characters.

Ps. The locket was incredible and I loved it

Pps. Rip blizzard… that hurt

This book was so dark and so beautiful. I loved this book, Jennifer just knows how to tug at your heartstrings, rip them out and mend it all together again. This is the second book I've read by this author and I need to read the rest of her back list. This is easily my top 5 for this years reads of dark romance. I wish I could get more of Cora and Dean but with the end that she gave us was perfect. I wasn't too fond of how her sister and her friends just wanted her to get over it. Like it was nothing, but you can't be a goof writer if you have characters that you hate right? I loved it and I can't wait to read more by her.

Dark romance that reads a little like a contemporary. Hartmann has a knack for making you care about characters even when the content is somewhat dark. This book has stayed with me long after reading it and will always recommend to others wanting to read a dark romance with character connection.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶🌶🌶

This book was tragic and heartbreaking in the best way possible. Definitely check trigger warnings, as it is a dark romance, but it is amazing. It was my first Jennifer Hartmann book, but certainly not my last. She is my favorite dark romance author. She will shatter your heart into a million pieces and then put it back together again, every time.

I love this book so, so much. Jennifer does a fantastic job at portraying realistic and raw characters with emotional stories that captivates you from the first page and never lets you go until the very end. I cannot recommend this book enough!

Omg this was a wild ride! a good one! I was hooked immediately! It was my first Jennifer Hartmann book but definitely not my last

Wow. This book stayed with me for a long time after and got me feeling all the feels. The twistedness of the storyline pulled you in and broke your heart. What a compelling read.

This dark angsty romance is a book I can’t stop thinking about. This book is dark so dark it was a tough read but watching these characters rebuild their lives was awe inspiring. This book follows Cora and her sister’s boyfriend Dean after they are kidnapped and held captive by a serial killer while held in captivity. Dean and Cora do not have the greatest track record they can’t stand each other but the two are forced to work together to stay alive.

This book was so so dark if you have any triggers , please check the trigger warnings as this is full of them. This book was way more than a romance it really goes into what these people are feeling after such a horrible experience and how they came back from it. While this book is dark it’s also so uplifting seeing people go through absolute hell and come back from it. The writing in this book was addictive I found myself thinking one more chapter until I finished the book in less than a day. This is my first book from Jennifer Hartmann but it won’t be my last. I would like to thank net galley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

This is amazing- 5 STARS scream it from the roof top and shout.
I would say check the trigger warnings for sure but it is so good.

This book is NOT for the faint of heart. PLEASE CHECK TW PLEASE 🙏🏻

This was my first dark Romance and it did not disappoint. It was the perfect gateway for me into the genre. At first I was like “what did I get myself into..?” And then I was like “I can’t put it down” 🤣

The main characters are taken captive for 3 long weeks and forced to do heinous things. After their emotions are a little murky because they have started to have feelings for eachother. The catch is the MMC is the FMC’s sister’s fiancé at this time. The two have been battling with their minds in their hearts for 15 years convincing themselves they don’t have feelings for each other that they hate each other, but their personal experiences in their shared trauma brings out their true feelings which causes them to face many conflicts throughout the story.

This is a story of trauma, growth, redemption, forbidden romance, what’s meant to be will be, and finding yourself again after such incredible (bad) and horrible traumas. Thank you netgalley for the opportunity!

This book was everything I didn’t expect. It was raw, emotional, healing. It made you feel everything. Can’t wait to read the next one. Jennifer Hartman is an incredible writer!

Such a heart wrenching, dark, beautiful book! This was unlike most romance books I read and I could not put it down!

I love Jennifer and her storytelling skills. The way you can feel each emotion so strongly!? AHHH. Lotus made me fall in love with her books and this one is just as beautiful.

I’m deeply sorry to the girlies that love this book, bcs while I picked it up to break me out of my slump, looks like it did the job but not in the way I was hoping. Also maybe look away now before it’s too late. Yes, it also made me super critical. And trust me, no one is sadder than me to not love a much loved book and share in the mutual excitement over it. Alas…

I’m totally being dramatic, because it was not all bad. The concept and the plot are compelling, and there are some solid moments. Said solid moments even had me sobbing. But those were overshadowed by my complaints. Firstly, I wasn’t a fan of the writing style (I know and accept this is a me problem). Secondly, I’m confused did this not go through a round of editing and proofing especially when the publisher got the rights? That sounded very harsh, but there’s several instances of blatant misuse of words (like she definitely meant retch instead of wretch that one time) that was just jarring to me.

Anyway neither of those things are my main problem with the book. I can get over those things. It was the fact that I didn’t take to any of the characters. Not only did I not connect with them, I actively disliked them. Dean first. Dude, you so clearly have a thing for your fiancée’s sister. Come on, why was he with Mandy for 15 fudging years while figuratively pulling Cora’s pigtails on the playground the whole time bcs he liked her? Worse, you can see in his pov how derogatory his thoughts are of his long time gf? Like wow is the entire reason you were with her the whole time the proximity to her sister? Yikes. Mandy is no prize but she didn’t deserve that. The best part is everyone saw it. Except for the trio in question apparently. Dude is either exchanging the most juvenile pranks with Cora (seriously someone needed to slap them) or thinking mean things about his fiancée. What a catch, man. He sounds much better towards the end but then that’s Cora’s pov so what does that tell you.

Speaking of her, I didn’t mind her but she gave off major not-like-other-girls vibes (so of course Mandy had to be the girly, slightly b!tchy sister), which turned me off. She also comes off much better in Dean’s pov but lost me a little in her own. I understand they both made a lot of selfish choices partly due to their traüma but they were already so shady before it that it didn’t soften me any. I will say I felt more feelings than I expected to after disliking everyone for most of the book.

The story is unique and definitely engaged me beyond like the first quarter, and I blew through the rest in one sitting. I appreciated that there was actual healing and a strong push pull between them due to the forbidden nature of their bond. I wasn’t quite convinced of their love or longevity past their shared traüma in the beginning, but I at least changed my mind about that by the end. However, the dogs are my favorite character in the book and all the stars are primarily for them and the tears I shed during the book.

This book gave me all the feels! I loved this journey! This author is a go to of mine and it was such a great read. Get some tissues ready!

This book was so heartbreaking. The events in the beginning are absolutely horrible. Its amazing this author can make you feel like you are right there with these characters going through the same thing. Jen really knows how to keep you on edge, your heart in your throat the entire time shes writing.

I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley and rated it 3 stars. I picked this book up due to the gorgeous cover. I was attracted to the locket and the underwater background. The book isnt the type of literature I typically indulge in but I thought I would give it a chance. The book unfortunately wasn't something I enjoyed. It resembling a poorly made lifetime movie. It had incredibly poor writing and was exasperating to endure. The storyline revolves around kidnapping, rape, and torture, with the inclusion of a serial killer. Additionally, the mentally afflicted main characters struggle with alcoholism and one even contemplates suicide. Although this book wasn't for me it doesn't mean it's not for someone us.

I thought this was a well written book with excellent character development. The story centers around Cora and Dean and their journey. Although they were in an awful, nightmarish situation, they managed to survive it. Their love story is one of pain, struggle and healing.

Just thinking about this book still makes me want to cry!

Cora and Dean's story is one full of grief and trauma yet also so much healing both individually and together. Everything that they went through brought them closer to where they were meant to be. I think it's better to go into this book not knowing too much about it, but it is certainly hard to get through parts of it. I teared up or cried multiple times while reading Still Beating, but all of the tears were so worth it in the end.

CW for sexual content, rape, assault, kidnapping, miscarriage, suicide attempt, self-harm, alcohol abuse .

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the ARC of Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann!