4 stars

This book covered a whole lot of ground in a short amount of time and honestly… I was here for it. I did not read the story of Skye and Braden first, so I was going into this story world for the first time.

This story does have active depictions of rape/sexual assault and murder. Take this into consideration before reading. Sexual assault and it’s mental/emotional trauma is a major theme here. Like a lot.

- I loved the protectiveness and care between Ben and Tessa. In everything they did, they were thinking of the other and it showed.
- The bachelor/eye weekend in Jamaica was honestly so cute and so fun. I felt like I was living it up with them.
— I’m glad the male dancer arrangement was an accident because I was about to riot if Ben had done it on purpose.
- The portrayals of assault and trauma were very vivid but also very respectful and I love how Tessa’s processing of grief and trauma was expressed.

- I wish Ben hadn’t lied to Tessa for so long about his past. Like you were fully in love and still afraid to share THAT, despite knowing how much it could/would affect her?? Like dude you’re an adult please get with it.
- Why tf do rich people get away with everything? Maybe this kind of story is just not for me but like… I get enough of rich people doing what they want and paying off whoever they need to in real life, I don’t need it in my books.
— That being said, I do like Ben and Braden and their overall approach to problem solving in the end.

Tessa is a shell of the woman she used to be. She's lost in trauma and depression with no real desire to find herself again... that is until Benjamin Black comes along. Everyone knows what happened to her, what she endured, and it shows every time they talk to her, and in the way they treat her. But he doesn't, he truly sees her, doesn't want to shelter her away from the world, he instead wants her to find her way into it again, and leave the darkness of her past behind. It's a journey she has longed to take, but never found the courage to do on her own... but now she doesn't have to.

My Heart Still Beats is the story of a woman who has lost herself, she's drowning in depression and past trauma and has no idea how to escape that is until an unexpected meeting changes everything. Tessa and Ben were brought together by their friends impending marriage, but it's an unexpected connection and a need to survive that is going to keep them together. These two find instant sparks, but it's Tessa's apprehension to trust Ben and self doubt that leaves them hanging in the balance. Little by little Ben brings her out of her shell, reassures her that she can put her trust in someone, that she can have happiness after such tragedy. It's a beautiful and very emotional journey, one that will do a number on your heart, but totally worth every ounce of pain. I loved what I found between the pages here, it was an emotionally charged journey that really packed a punch, but by the time the last page came things hit a lighter, happier note. Highly recommend you take a chance on this one, it's pages will wreck your heart in the best of ways!

I requested an advanced copy of this title from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving my honest and unbiased opinion.

Thankx Netgalley for the arc <333

Well idk if its just me but smth was missing, like it could have been a 5 star but smth felt not completed..?
And i do understand she was healing but the amount of times she went like "since then..." it was almost annoying sorry... and i do fell so bad for her she was SAed as a child, as an adult. She never thought she would be able to have a relationship with again but here we are hehe Ben is just so special and gentle (only) with her.

Together, they were able to heal <3

There were a lot of triggers in this story, but I still enjoyed my first book by Hardt. The writing was crisp and interesting. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Okay, so I did not expect this book to be this heavy. Tessa went through so much and it was deeply saddening. Ben also was dealing with his own past issues. So they were there for each other throughout it all. I liked how Ben supported Tessa and understood her. I sympathized with Tessa but sometimes she was a bit too much and came across as a bitch tbh. Still, Tessa & Ben were meant to be because they fit so good together. But I felt like I barely knew them as individuals aside from knowing about their pasts. Also, the pacing felt slow and the end was really abrupt. Despi e that, I have read books by the author before and I really enjoy her writing so I'll be looking forward to see what's her upcoming release.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange of an honest review

Loved it. Beautifully written with lots of emotions and painful past experiences. Loved Tessa and Ben, both are strong characters. Tessa’s past was tragic, and she is suffering emotionally, but Ben gave her strength, true love, and a chance at happily ever after. When Ben's past catches up, she gives him her full support. I felt connected to both and loved their chemistry. It's not only about romance but about relationships and strength. Engaging throughout. Highly recommended. Thanks a lot to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This was an emotional ride. Definitely check the triggers. Tessa is a shell of herself after ending up in the hospital as a result of being drugged by her then boyfriend. Her best friends wedding is coming up, and she's being forced out of her comfort zone to help plan it with the groom's brother, Ben.

Ben is now successful and happy, but his past doesn't seem to want to stay there. Dirk Conrad comes threatening Ben with a gruesome crime they committed together as teens, asking for money in exchange for silence.

As Tessa becomes closer to Ben, she begins to heal in ways she never thought possible. Ben is taking care of her in ways she didn't know she needed, and helping her heal from both past and present trauma.

This book was heavy and sad, but also very romantic.

Wow! What an amazing story. Ben and Tessa’s story is a very powerful and moving story. I absolutely loved it! Such important topics to talk about and I loved how strong Tessa was and how attentive and supportive Ben was even when he was fighting his own demons! Tessa was there for Ben too and it made their relationship so strong!!
I loved the visits from Skye and Braden too. Can’t get enough of their world!

Thank you Helen for a great story and continuing with The Black Family! 💜💙

5/5⭐️
2.75/5

Helen gives us an angsty & powerfully emotional romance that left me emotionally destroyed but in all the right ways.

Helen give us Tessa & Ben's story which is a match up I never saw coming but I'm thrilled about it.

Benjamin Black has a past that's threatening to destroy his future and he's determined to keep it buried. Tessa has been through a horrible life changing trauma and understandably unable to move past it.

In preparation for Skye & Braden's wedding Ben & Tessa have to work together to throw them their Bachelor & Bachelorette parties. Ben is ready to get to work on throwing the best Bachelors Party for his Older Brother.

Tessa is not as prepared or inspired to do this. Her past trauma is still fresh and not letting her go on with her life. She's absolutely wreaked and she's just going through the motions.

This book honestly wasn’t what I was expecting and I was unfortunately a little disappointed. I really enjoyed reading it at the start (and I get that the main character was recovering from trauma so I’m not trying to belittle that trauma) but I was really hoping there would be more spicy scenes than there was. Plus, I felt as though the ending was pretty rushed. It didn’t feel like it got wrapped up properly and it felt a little unfinished and thrown together. This was a good slow burn romance that deals with a lot of mental health issues and trauma and I’m glad they were represented properly. Overall, this book was a good quick read, but I just wish it got to the romance a little bit sooner. Like there’s an entire half chapter where the main character describes in detail how she’s making cheese enchiladas, refried beans, and margaritas. I really didn’t need those descriptions to make the book more enjoyable. But I digress, this book will be good for those who like a good slow burn romance with a billionaire.

First off the dedication got me alone. Those simple connecting words are important. 🖤

This book was a dark romance. Trigger warnings for mentions of child molestation, date rape, and some explicit violence.

Tessa used to be the life of the party. Until she wasn’t. Until he stole her life force.

Ben used to be a playboy down for some BDSM not wanting to get attached. Trying to forget his own demons of his past. Then he saw Tessa and his life changed.

Forced proximity to start. Slow healing trauma. Finding someone who accepts your brokenness and helps you find your way back into yourself so you’re no longer a shell of a person.

Just remember, sometimes the past comes back to haunt you…

I enjoyed this story immensely. It was healing trauma in ways I’ve never read before. How paths intertwine. Climbing back up from the darkness.

My only nitpicks are, wanting more from the ending. A little less rushed. Also a little more of the Ben BDSM background.

It took a little bit of time to process this book. It is a dark romance where both the FMC and the MMC have trauma they are dealing with. I enjoyed how the story intensifies to understand their history and the mystery surrounding their stories. This is not a story for the faint of heart as there are multiple dark storylines(read trigger warnings) but the beautiful part of the story is how they are learning to heal with each other and with love. I really appreciate the title and the meaning of it while reading the story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for giving me a chance to read the ARC. The review of this book is my own opinion.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. Tessa and Ben were easy to love. I liked the depth of the back stories. Tessa annoyed me a little with how much she said thank you for small things. I'm sure that was due to her trauma but I still found it overkill at times. Despite the small annoyance I enjoyed reading this and I will definitely be reading more books by Helen Hardt.

2.5 stars

I enjoyed Braden and Skye’s story so I was really excited going into this story(Braden’s younger brother & Skye’s best friend) but unfortunately it fell flat for me in every aspect. The romance, characters, plot, writing and even the dialogue.
Honestly, nothing about this story felt authentic to me. Ben and Tessa’s romance felt forced, the mystery blackmailed kinda felt far fetched and then Tessa was hit with SA upon SA 💔😭.
I wished Tessa had done some self journey and discovered instead of having a man hand hold her through it all.
I really couldn’t connect with these characters on an any level
I did however enjoy seeing glimpses of Skye & Braden though

Thanks to Entangled and NetGalley for the ARC!

“𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠?” 𝐇𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐈 𝐝𝐨𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐩𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲. 𝐇𝐞 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭. “𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐬.”

Rating: 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Pub Date: 5/28/24

Thank you @entangledpublishing and @netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first read by this author. I found her writing style flowed well and was engaging. I was able to quickly read through this novel without issue.

The story is an insta-love dark romance. Not dark in the smut arena, more so in the trauma arena. There are explicit SA scenes that are described in the book that give a background on one of the characters. There is also murder described.

With that said, I think the premise of the book was well intentioned. A story of compassion and grace, allowing someone to heal from their trauma in their own time while offering them guidance and support when needed.

This book was not my personal favorite, and didn’t speak to me in any way. However, this would likely be loved by many others who can relate to the characters/fans of insta-love trope.

#myheartstillbeats

Thanks to Entangled and Helen Hardt for an e-ARC of this book! First and foremost, if you have any triggers please be sure to read the trigger warnings as there are many throughout the book.

My favorite thing from this book? The meaning behind the title…”my heart still beats and that alone is a reason to be grateful”. This was a heavy book that I enjoyed for the first half and less so the second half. I really don’t like when relationships in books go from meeting each over to telling each other they love each other more than life when they have only known each other for two weeks. I’m not a fan of insta love stories like that so that’s mainly where this story fell apart for me. I appreciated the dive into deeper topics but think it could’ve been done better.

Spice: 🌶️.5

Please read the trigger warning for this book. In my opinion, the title alone let's you know that there will be some sort of trauma in this story. Ben Black is in his early 30s and considered a billionaire playboy. He is good looking, smart, compassionate, protective, and yet guilt ridden. There's a lot that he's keeping hidden under that calm, cold exterior. Tessa is closed off, anxious, depressed, scared, unfocused, and snarky. This poor girl can't seem to catch a break. There are some very dark situations in this book for these characters to navigate through. We watch as they grow, challenge one another and except each other regardless of those traumas. This story made me angry, broke my heart, and slowly helped me put the pieces back together. I was here for the roller-coaster ride of emotions. This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm definitely interested in reading more.

A gut-wrenching romance about a woman who with the help of a core group of friends and a love interest can cope with her trauma, open her heart to love, and feel like herself again. My Heart Still Beats is worth the roller coaster of emotions.

Tessa used to be a vibrant young woman who lived life with no fear, but that all changed after she experienced trauma (SA). Quickly she becomes more closed off and questions everyone's intentions. It feels like she will never be able to be happy again and yet she has to pull it together because her best friend is getting married and is in charge of planning her bachelorette party. Letting her friend Skye down is not an option but how can she plan a party when it's hard enough to get out of bed?

Ben Black is a wealthy, businessman part of a successful enterprise alongside his brother, Braden. He is charming and somewhat of a playboy. He knows about Tessa and knows what she's been through. As soon as he meets her, he is protective of her, which shocks him. Of course, he would empathize with anyone who faced that type of trauma, but this is different. He feels a connection but won't push her. He will prove to her that she can trust him.

I feel like Helen Hardt handled this story so preciously. She didn't minimize the trauma of SA and did a great job at showing all the ups and downs of living with fear from trauma. Tessa never thought she would be able to have a relationship with a man again let alone fall in love. And with Ben it just makes her want to try. He is so special and gentle with her. It made it that much easier to appreciate Ben's character. While Ben was used to using his charm to bed women, he knew he would have to take it slow with Tessa. He didn't see it as a chore and understood the importance of making her feel safe. All around, the growth of both Tessa and Ben is stunning. Tessa may have felt damaged goods, but Ben had his own demons to deal with. Together, they were able to heal. This beautiful love story had me feeling raw with emotions and it was so true to the story and characters.

this was such a great book! omgggg i loved the vibes and romance so much! it definitely had some dark and intense triggers, so i'm glad there was a trigger warning to set me up for what it entailed.

3.5 stars
Tessa’s life has dramatically changed from her happy-go-lucky nature to now a woman who barely leaves her house. She has suffered trauma and the steps to recovery have been slow.

Tessa’s best friend is marrying a billionaire and she is in charge of the bachelorette party and weekend in Jamaica, all expenses paid. She should be ecstatic, but she is dreading every moment. She eventually relents and meets with the billionaire brother of the groom, Benjamin Black for party planning. He seems great and almost trustworthy, but Tessa won’t make that same mistake again.

We slowly get the details to what happened to Tessa not long ago, and the more pieces we receive, the more understanding is given. Somehow, the author made Tessa relatable with her fears, depression and idiosyncrasies, regardless of the trauma.

I did feel I was missing part of the story. I felt that part of her history was not given to me to fully understand. I also felt the same about Ben. He all of a sudden appeared and was 100% “in” regardless of how little they knew each other. With some of those interactions I felt the need to suspend my belief to further the story. It did not feel as genuine as I would have liked.

Ultimately the story was about trauma and love. It was not about “overcoming” her fears, but working through them to heal. It was also about leaning on others when you do not have the strength to lift yourself up. I loved this message and the hope Hardt depicted. The end was fast-paced and well worth the slow build up. It was raw and emotional but not for those who are sensitive readers. I recommend this for romance readers that enjoy a darker element with a happily ever after ending.

Check the triggers on this one, they’re intense! Entangled is always great to post them on their website, plus I have them listed on my blog.

Thank you to Entangled Publishing for the copy!

The book releases May 28, 2024.