After a night of drinking with her sister and sister’s fiancé Dean (whom she does not get along with and has it for the last 15 years) Cora find herself stuck at the bar with no ride. After exhausting all other options, Cora hesitantly calls Dean who comes right over. On the way home, they are stopped, incapacitated and taken.

Both of them wake up chained in a basement where they spend the next 3 weeks enduring abuse inflicted by their captor and (while at gun point) each other. Having only each other to rely on, they form a bond as a means of coping with their situation. Once an opportunity for escape presents itself, they immediately work together to find freedom.


And that’s just the first 1/3. The reminder of the book deals with the aftermath and Cora and dean trying to find a way to move forward with their lives and cope with what happened to them in both healthy and unhealthy ways.

They find solace in one another after being unable to reconnect with family and friends who just don’t understand what they’ve been through, much to their own dismay and that of Cora’s sister/Dean’s fiancé.

This book will have you cringing, crying, laughing out loud, and believing in the hope for healing after unimaginable trauma.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebook Bloom Books for providing me with an eARC of Still Beating in return for my honest opinion

Dear lord I was not ready for the emotional roller coaster that is Still Beating. This book is extremely triggering, I definitely recommend reading through the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book before you start reading (thank you Jennifer Hartman for taking the time to list these).

Still beating is a dark romance, but it is so much more than that. Please be warned it touches on some pretty intense stuff, including but not limited to; kidnapping, abuse, SA, the fall out after surviving a traumatic experience, miscarriage, self harm, mental health issues/PTSD and suic*de attempts.

The book is a dual POV, which I appreciated as it made it easier to understand both Cora and Dean’s thoughts, their struggles and demons post their shared traumatic experience. I agree with others that both characters were a little hard to love at times, but to be fair they were both in very dark places and dealing with cosmetic pretty messed up trauma so I’m going to give them a bit of a break… I also wasn’t the biggest fan of the love story/connection between those two, yes they had a past where they were clearly harbouring some pent up feelings for each other through their pranks and their “hatred” for each other but Dean was Cora’s sisters fiancé???? And the things he had to do to her in the basement?! Again I get that was the whole purpose of the “matchmaker” and the connection they’ve formed through their shared grief and trauma but wtf? Overall I don’t believe I understood Dean or Cora enough to fully comprehend their relationship.

The side characters… I know that Hartman probably made Mandy insufferable to make the reader sympathise and side with Cora and Dean but man was she cold and unsympathetic of what those two had gone through. Mandy and Lily (Cora’s best friend) both try to push Cora into dating like immediately after she survives the trauma like WTF?? The girl’s just been kidnapped, locked in a basement and SA’ed and you think she needs to get laid?!!

Overall this book was a roller coaster that I wish I had of jumped early. It was a little too dark and the story was intriguing but just felt underdeveloped and the ending a little too happy (?).

WOAH. Just WOAH.

I didn’t know much about this author- but when a bunch of blogger groups are buzzing about a book, you tend to notice. So I blissfully added this to my TBR without really knowing just what I was getting myself into.

And oh my, there might not even be words. This story is dark, haunting, painful and faw- but also hopeful, sincere, and profoundly tender. A story of incredible contrasts- the dark and light, peaceful and traumatic- and what emerges is a love story that is incredibly complex and original. One that perhaps we can’t even full explain or understand, but one that we feel soul deep.

Full disclosure, this will not be a story for everyone- and not only because of the repeated disturbing and deeply painful trauma our leads suffer at the hands of a madman. Some will have trouble with the “sister swapping” trope- the complex and challenging history of Dean and Cora’s relationship as well as the “cheating” elements that ensue much later. For me, it was hard to see this as cheating -and it’s really not the POINT of this story. But, for some, it might not be your cup of tea.

And, while I normally populate the “no spoilers camp,” I feel like this is a story that I would actually go into with eyes at least somewhat open. I read many reviews so I could make sure the triggers here were what I could handle- I have very few, but to me the triggers here don’t really lie in the physical nature of the trauma- it is more so in the psychological turmoil both characters experience in the aftermath. That is what makes this story so profoundly unsettling yet beautiful- but it was hard to read, hard to experience, and at times hard to digest. So, tread lightly if you have either triggers or more strictly constructed conceptions of safety when it comes to romance. This may not be for you.

But for everyone else, this is a story that will unsettle and challenge. Early on, JH is depicting abject trauma and juxtaposing it with sweet and pure moments. And later, the story explores the lingering impact of both those experiences- not only the pain of their horrific situation but the powerful but quiet ways these two characters connected to survive, the unexpected safety they found in the most horrific experience.

I must also mention that the narrative structure of this story was really clever- a story told in multiple parts, with each part told solely from one POV, either Dean or Cora’s. It makes for such a more psychologically and immersive experience- because that is REALLy what this story is about, the nexus of trauma and connection. What is authentic vs. what is enabling or healing. And that is MESSY. So messy. But undeniably right. JH finds the most right, the most pure, the most beautiful love story within something so wrong, so depraved, and so ugly.

This is not an easy romance- but it is incredibly rewarding, if the triggers are something you can work through. You will be gutted, ripped apart, and horrified- but hopefully you’ll also find the power and light. I know I did- days later, I’m still thinking about this love story and what it says about the human heart and mind. It will stay with you- even if the journey there is far form easy.

I did not expect to cry in this book. What an absolute emotional rollercoaster.

I've been going in to most of my reads lately completely blind (highly recommend) I don't read the back or anything. The only thing I thought I knew about this book was it was dark romance, but it turned out to not really be that. This book is dark and there's romance but I wouldn't call it a dark romance.

Cora hates Dean (her sister's fiance and parter of 15 years) they've known eachother since school and hes always picked on her, over the years its evolved into a stream of prank wars on eachother.

After going through a very traumatic experience together they are bonded in a way no one else can understand.

That's all I will say on the plot as I highly recommend going in blind for this one. I was on the edge of my seat, heart racing one minute, and breaking the next. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time.

Wow!!! This will easily be one of my top reads of 2023.

While some of the content is difficult to read, seeing the bond form between Dean and Cora made me unable to put this book down. Their trauma bond felt completely authentic and raw - I could feel their pain as they tried to navigate their personal healing journeys. It all felt so painful and ugly yet beautiful and redemptive.

You could never think that such a dark story could have such an amazing happily ever after but this one did and it was everything my heart wanted it to be. I wanted them to find their way to each other in a healthy way and it was oh so satisfying!

This book is a home run and I highly recommend it!

Do you love criminal minds but wish those stories went further in depth with the victims. What happens to them when the story is over. Did they ever find peace? if so, then you’ll love this. Truly, this book shook me to my core. I cried, read with the lights on, screamed, and cried some more. This story is very dark, and rather then fade to black - the author chose to write the trauma front and center. There are so many SA survivors, men and women, and seeing Deans and Cora’s journey to healing was heartbreakingly beautiful. Their chemistry could literally be felt through my kindle. And their banter I feel saved them both and us readers. Sure the first half of this book was shocking, but seeing how everyone handled everything all left for some twists and turns I wasn’t expecting. If you love dark romance, READ THIS.

Update.
I read this book as an indie pub, I loved it with my whole heart.
I thank Netgally for the early copy of the updated edition, the new cover is gorgeous and so is the unforgettable and heartbreaking story of Cora and Dean.


Edit

Seconda rilettura. Ho una dipendenza. Amato.
Prima Rilettura. Amato quanto la prima volta.



L'ho amato dalla prima all'ultima pagina, mi ha emozionato e intrattenuto alla perfezione. Ho sofferto insieme a Cora e, con lei, mi sono innamorata di Dean.
Bellissimo.
P.S. non lo definirei propriamente dark, è più un contemporary con elementi dark.
P.P.S. leggendo alcune recensioni da 1 stella, pare che la relazione quindicennale di Dean sia stato il marchio d'infamia per condannarlo e declassare il libro a "schifo". Non so, certamente ci sono delle imperfezioni e il dettaglio sopracitato è un po' irreale (soprattutto visti gli sviluppi e considerato il fatto che quando si sono conosciuti Cora era single) ma questo buco di trama non compete con le emozioni che la storia mi ha fatto provare, che cancellano ogni possibile difetto.

4⭐️ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️
PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD CHECK TW'S AND PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

I'm speechless. 🫢 I'll preface by saying I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a dark romance girlie (no judgement at all for those who enjoy the genre) after reading THIS particular book, I reminded myself why that is. All I can really say is I get it. It may not be where I gravitate all the time, but if I were to indulge it in... I'm very glad I read this book.

Was this book perfection? Absolutely-freaking-not. It is a dark romance, rightfully so. To expect anything more or less is really asking to be disappointed. About 5-10% in, I was already sweating and questioning my life choices, but nevertheless I persevered! It was a bold story to tell. Dean and Cora have spent the better part of 15 years antagonizing each other. Harmless pranks, scowls, and colorful insults- the whole nine yards. Anyone with 2 eyes and more than 1 brain cell would automatically deduce that hm, maybe these two might actually like each other instead 🤔 But no, Dean's actually engaged to Cora's sister, and they've been together for the past 15 years 🫠. Then Dean and Cora go and get kidnapped by a serial killer and trauma-bonded for weeks. I did say this story was bold.

I have maybe 3-4 personal qualms with this book that have been touch on multiple times by other readers/reviewers so I won't harp on it. lol I let a lot more things slide in dark romances vs. my usual fluffy contemporary romances because though it's fiction, trauma responses are real. It makes for a damn good story... but not so much in real life. These two and maybe, definitely even a few side characters (Mandy) would benefit with a buttload of ✨therapy✨


thank you to bloom books, netgalley, and Jennifer Hartmann for the eARC!

Still Beating was a dark and emotional story, full of trigger warnings and forbidden romance which is not my usual jam but I really loved it. It was very intense and sad and had me on the edge of my seat. While it’s full of terrible things that happened, it’s also a story of resiliency and true love finding a way. Beautifully written and unforgettable.

This book is one of my favourites of all time. Jennifer Hartmann has a way with words that just tug at the heartstrings. This book constantly kept me on my toes and made me shed so many tears. Dean & Cora are the very definition of soulmates and reading about their journey from enemies to lovers was so satisfying,

Um, wow. Check out the trigger warnings on this one, because while it is an amazing and beautfiul story, it is also very dark and contains many instances of horrible abuse.

Cora can't stand her sister's fiance, Dean, but when she needs a ride home from a bar late at night, he is the only person she has to call. What she doesn't realize is that she and Dean will end up in a madman's basement struggling to survive, with only each other to lean on.

This book is an amazing story of survival, and then the even more daunting task of healing from merely surviving into living again. While Still Beating contains horrors that I could not have imagined going into the book, it also has beautiful moments of tenderness, of acceptance, and of rebirth into different people. There is heartbreak, and a very real look into how being saved from a terrible tragedy is only the beginning.

This book was the very best of dark romance. It made me angry, and it made me cry with both anguish for the characters and with happiness. I'll be thinking about this one for long after I've finished reading it.

Thank you to Bloom Books and to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.

This is such a heartbreaking beautiful book! These 2 characters, enemies were forced into a traumatic time together and formed a strong trauma bond. Only having eachother left to fall back on. Love Conquers all. Check trigger warnings.

This book gave me so many mixed feelings and emotions; which Jennifer Hartmann is the queen of doing. I really love a good romantic suspense novel, but this one was truly a romantic horror/thriller.

The growth and change that Dean and Cora go through in this book is immense and very heavy. As I was reading, some of the story gave me the "ick" and I wasn't sure whether I should be rooting for the couple or not. That however, is not a bad thing. Love and life are complicated, and this story showcases that.

Make sure you check out the trigger warnings for this book because there are many. It's dark and twisted, but also a beautiful love story.

5⭐️ 3🌶

“It’s still beating. You’re still okay. And I still love you.”

This book was everything. It was beautiful, horrifying, heart breaking, and healing. I read it in one day and I don’t care if it is still the beginning of the month, this is my favourite book of the month. Nothing is going to come close. I know it.

Cora and her sister’s fiancé Dean hate each other. They are constantly bickering and pulling pranks. But when the two of them are kidnapped by a serial killer and forced to forced experience, witness, and participate in his sick desires they are bonded by their trauma. After their escape they struggle with returning to their lives and find comfort in each other even when they feel they shouldn’t. Unfortunately while they struggle to cope they hurt themselves, each other, and those who love them. But with time and a lot of hard work they begin to heal.

I loved Dean. I mean I know he was a bit of a jerk by calling Cora by her full name which she hates, or offering her cornstarch covered donuts. But she gave it as good as she got and it was apparently pretty early on that he really did have a good heart. He proved that while they were being held captive.

My heart really broke for Cora. She had so much anxiety and insecurity even before the kidnapping. She was understandably even more of a mess after. But she always had good intentions and never wanted to hurt anyone. I just wanted to hug her and her dogs.

Please please read the trigger warnings. This book deals with some pretty terrible things including kidnapping (not the sexy mafia kind), SA, PTSD, attempted suicide, and more. If you have triggers please do your due diligence before reading.

Omg these books, this author!!!!! Wow, so many heartbreaking times in this story. I devoured this book in one sitting! Thank you for the ARC.

Definitely read the trigger warnings

~This book was given to me by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Cora and Dean survive a kidnapping together after spending years of hate brewing.

I really enjoyed the character development and relationship between Cora and Dean. The plot and premise of this book is much heavier than something I typically read, but I enjoyed it.

Definitely check trigger warnings.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC for my honest review.

I had a tough time with this one. This really is a dark romance that pulls at someone’s heart strings but I found myself frustrated by the actions of the male main character because of how selfish they were. It felt like there was this love story that was always there which is so messed up as the sister was with him for 15 years!! Wasn’t the book for me but I appreciated the ending where they finally got therapy.

Wow and I say that not in a good way! This book is something else. I can’t believe I forced myself to read it. Honestly I’d leave 0 stars if I could. The rape and trauma in this book is just not okay. I don’t see how anyone could enjoy reading this garbage.

Traumatic, heartbreaking, and hopeful. That about sums up this book. It starts off with Cora and Dean at odds, a years-long relationship of push and pull (almost enemies). Quickly, it careens into darkness, with Cora and Dean kidnapped and forced to endure the worst horrors.

It is in the aftermath that we see everything spiral, the relationship between Cora and Dean gets messier before it has a chance to even think about seeking lightness. They are both clinging to each other, the only ones that know the true depths of suffering that happened in that basement. But there are numerous odds stacked against them. Chief of which is Mandy, Cora's sister, and Dean's fiance. But even more than that, are the demons they each carry, the nightmares that they keep sinking into, and the desperate means by which they attempt to cope with their trauma. In the darkness they found each other, but what does that truly mean for each of them? How can they go from pranks and antagonizing barbed words to what looks suspiciously like love?

My only wish is that Mandy had a little more heft to her character. I didn't mind the ways she attempted to reach out, as everyone deals with tragedy differently, but she did feel (even as a side character, but one with a heavy role to play) too much like a caricature at times. However, the emotional waves that we get with Cora and Dean were excellent. And the Epilogue with Tabitha lent a counterpoint to the whole story that was surprisingly needed, and incredibly bittersweet.