I asked to review this book thinking it was a mystery thriller. Although it was not my usual read it was a good story. I would call it a family feud type of story with a very strong female lead. If this is your preference then you will enjoy it.

An absolutely flawless triumph of a novel. I loved Tess Sharpe’s last YA book but this adult novel from her is fantastic. The pacing was great, the characters gritty and well rounded and the ending satisfying. I loved it!

Southern Gothic is my jam and Barbed Wire Heart sounded right up my alley. Of course, when you compare anything to Winter’s Bone I’m even more on board. Harley McKenna’s character did in fact, read a lot like Ree Dolly with her badass nature and overall inability to sit on the sidelines letting someone else handle business. It’s an admirable quality and I’m quite fond of this characteristic in female characters. For some reason though, something about the characters, the atmosphere, and the story itself just never rang true for me. It felt like a combination of a lack of authenticity and simply trying too hard to fit in all the guns, the drugs, the bad men, and excessive violence that are characters in and of themselves in novels of this ilk. Whatever it was that ultimately turned me off from this story, I wish it wasn’t the case because I had high hopes for this one.

Harley McKenna is a daughter, a fighter, a friend, and a victim. She’s shot a man, buried a mother, and plotted revenge, but her most defining characteristic – the one she can’t seem to escape – is being the only child of the Duke McKenna, the most notorious criminal in northern California. Duke – widower, gun runner, and meth dealer extraordinaire – is grooming Harley to take over the family business. And she plans too, but not before she transforms her family’s empire by whatever means necessary.

Barbed Wire Heart is a sharp, feminist novel about the length we’ll go to protect those in need and how hard we hold on to the ties that bind – even when they’re strangling us. Harley is a brutal character raised by a vicious killer, but that’s not what defines her. The novel weaves her past with her present, telling the story of how Harley came to be who she is and contextualizing the extreme measures she uses to defend what’s right.

Tess Sharpe has created an arresting family dynamic in the McKennas, no pun intended, and though I can’t speak to the constant Breaking Bad comparisons the novel has drawn, I will say it’s a compelling story worth your consideration.

This novel made me question the way I define "good people" . I don't know that the main charachter, Harley, could be described as typically good. Tess Sharpe brings to life a world that I know nothing about. Her protagonist, Harley is a strong intelligent woman raised by the leader of a major meth ring. Through the use of alternating past and present chapters the reader gains more insite into Harleys motives than than they do into most characters in most novels.
I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this novel. It isn't the type of book I normally would pick up. I found myself distracted at work while I wondered how Harley would deal with the competing drug dealers, or how she would protect the Rubies- women in the run from horrible sutuations.
Don't let the idea of a book about a meth ring turn you off. This book was wonderful.

I wanted to like this more than I did. I finished it and immediately forgot what it was about and can only vaguely remember.

Having read Tess Sharpe's Far from You, I was really excited to read her second book. Now, it's been a while since I've read Far from You, but I do think some of Barbed Wire Heart is similar. Both are so good and honest and raw; I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Some of the plot in Barbed Wire Heart was difficult for me to really get into, but that's probably just because I usually don't read books with drug plot lines. However, once I got into it, I got into it.

Harley McKenna is probably one of my favorite characters now; she's harsh and jagged, but she'd have to be to survive in this world. She carves her own way as a female living in a male-dominated environment. Not only does she gain power over men who look down on her, but she also makes the county a better place for women, especially women who have suffered abuse, and their children.

Tess Sharpe crafts a fast-paced thriller of a novel. With fleshed-out characters and plot twists that will leave you reeling, Barbed Wire Heart is stunning read. Pick it up today.

“The first rule of North County: Never fuck with the McKennas.”

Harley Jean McKenna is 22 years old and she is hard as stone. Her daddy, Duke McKenna, is king of his own crime empire in North County, California - drugs, guns, money lending plus legitimate businesses too. And he's raised Harley to take over his empire one day.

This book is not for the weak hearted because Duke and Harley do everything needed to keep control of their kingdom.

There is a hint of the Hatfield-McCoy battles because there is another family that would like to take everything from Duke, including Harley.

If you've never watched the TV show JUSTIFIED, you should. It takes place in Kentucky rather than California but the Bennett family is similar to the McKenna family. Margo Martindale gives the performances of a lifetime in the second season of the show as the matriarch of the Bennett clan. She could be a role model for what Duke wants Harley to grow up to be.

I loved this book. I loved the characters, the storyline, the descriptions of northern California.

I've seen comparisons of this book with WINTER'S BONE and I don't disagree. I think it's just as good as WINTER'S BONE. And if this book is ever made into a movie, I would love to see Jennifer Lawrence play Harley.

I received this book from Grand Central Publishing through Net Galley in the hopes that I would read it and leave an unbiased review.

Barbed Wire Heart is the story of Harper McKenna, the daughter of the most powerful criminal in North County. Her father's biggest rival, Carl Springfield, is starting to make moves against them, specifically with an eye on Harper herself, and if she wants to avoid a bloody and violent turf war, she must stop him at any cost.

I don't know many authors better than Tess Sharpe at writing compelling mystery thrillers. There's something about the way she writes that just keeps you on the edge of your seat, completely hooked from start to finish. She did it with Far From You and she's done it again in Barbed Wire Heart. Not only that, she manages to make you feel hugely for the characters when they're in the midst of doing some brutal things. (I say characters, I mean the women. The men - minus Will - can pretty much all choke I don't care.)

And it is a very brutal book - within the first few chapters someone is tortured and then shot, but it's never graphic violence, or violence for the sake of violence. There are points to these scenes and a lot of it actually happens away from Harper's point of view. And it doesn't romanticise these gangs, like some books veer into on occasion. It sets it up so you're in full support of Harper's mission to dismantle the whole thing.

The best thing about this book is the women. How many thrillers do you read that have a woman as the main character, let alone a capable woman who'll do anything to protect the other women in her care? Normally, the only woman involved is the love interest/person to be saved from the bad guys, and they only end up tagging along and being generally useless, so to have Harper as the main character was hugely refreshing. I think I'm going to be spoiled for thrillers from now on.

Tess Sharpe is a new name for me since I don't read much YA nowadays. However, I might have to check out her other books because this her first novel for adults blow my mind. I can honestly say that I was both surprised and delighted on how good the book is. Now, I felt right from the start, reading the first chapter that this felt right, it caught my attention and I was sucked into Harley's world. A friend on twitter called this rural noir and that is a fitting description of this book.

Harley McKenna is the only daughter of Duke McKenna, North County's biggest baddest criminal. She's been working for him since she was sixteen collecting debts as he's trained her to one day take over after him. However, time is up now, his father's archnemesis Carl Springfield, the man who is responsible for Harley's mom's death, is closing in on them and Hartley has decided enough is enough, and she knows that this world that here father and Springfield has created, a deadly world will be the end of her. So, she decided to change it all, and take out both her father's and operation and Springfields.

Barbed Wire Heart is a gritty book about family, survival, and meth. Harley is not your typical young woman, she watched her mother get killed when she was little. Not long time after that did she watch her father kill a man. That's just a small part of what she has been through and through this story, we get to follow Harley as she once and for all change, her future, at the same time do we get interwoven chapters from her childhood and teens that explain how she grows to be the woman she is today. It's such a fabulous book. I loved reading it, I found Harley to be such a wonderful character and I was totally engrossed in the book. Yes, it's a violent book, but it's a violent world that Harley lives in. However, there are some lighter moments, one of the best and most heartbreaking chapters is one of the shortest when Harley recollects a memory of her father from when she was little. It was heartbreaking. I could go on and on about this book, but I will just say that this is a book that I'm truly glad that I read and it's definitely one of the best I have read this year.

Imagine you are eight years old. Imagine you see your father bringing a man into a shed. Imagine watching your father kill that man.
This is how Tess Sharpe starts our journey with Harley, protagonist of her newest novel, "Barbed Wire Heart". I probably don't have to tell you how hard it was to put down this book after a start like that.

I have to admit, this novel was different from what I expect – much so. Some things were not surprising: this is a story about violence. Domestic violence, sexual violence, deadly violence. It's there in all its facets, from people you expect it from the most, and from people you should expect it from the least. From people close to you who mean well and are violent nonetheless.
It would have been easy to make this another "simple" revenge story. Tess Sharpe wrote a better one. "Barbed Wire Heart" understands that violence cannot be the goal. A means to an end, yes, but never the solution itself. And so it becomes a story that talks about how to overcome that violence. Whether it's women who give shelter to others, where they can feel safe again. Or women who protect each other. Or a young man who has been through much himself, and yet is gentle and kind. Or the conscious decision to do things differently.

The book speaks up about sexism and the most brutal parts of the rape culture we live in. To a smaller degree, it also speaks about racism faced by Native American characters, though not quite enough, I think. Generally, I was missing some intersections. What about trans women for example? Tess Sharpe emphasizes that all women deserve support but never spells out what "all" means, exactly. Sadly, I think we live in a time when that's still necessary.
What it does spell out, though, is how important empowerment is. Do take action yourself or to get others to have a choice again. To give back some level of confidence, to have them stand up for themselves.

For that, I loved the book. For the author's willingness to talk about difficult issues without being clichéd or getting lost in stereotypes. For letting characters be "soft" and "hard" at the same time, for letting surviving be a strength, for not ignoring uncomfortable discussions about our loved ones' faults. (Also, apart from all this, "Barbed Wire Heart" is an gripping thriller.)
And for this: at the end of the day, other people's sexism is their weakness. They won't see you coming.

A quick word on the topic of sexuality, as some of you might go into this book with certain expectations. I know I did after reading and loving "Far From You", Tess Sharpe's YA novel. I expected "Barbed Wire Heart" to not have a full cast of heterosexual characters, and I wasn't wrong. There are mentions of queer relationships. But apart from that, sexuality is not a topic and outside the text it was revealed, that Harley is indeed heterosexual. I have to admit, I was a bit disappointed at first. Yet it doesn't take away any of the importance of the topics the book does talk about.


Thrilling, painful and important. Have a look at the content notes, but if you can read this one, do give it a try.

This book was very different from what I normally read. I was a little nervous going into it as I thought maybe I wouldn't like it but as you can see from my rating I really enjoyed it!

We meet Duke and Harley. They are an unstoppable Father/Daughter Duo and they are tough as nails. They are the McKennas and if you live in the area you know that the Mckennas run this town. This book definitely tackles some hard subjects however if you really think about it it's also taking us through a father/daughter relationship when the father is raising his daughter, a love story with Harley and the bond women can form when they have something in common.

If anyone has ever watched Breaking Bad (which I've only watched one episode with my Dad and that was enough haha) this is kind of similar but with more of a southern twist to it. I'm a midwest girl myself but I really enjoyed getting to know Harley, Duke and the rest of the characters. They were weirdly relatable just not in the drugs and violence kind of way.

Trigger warning: this book tackles some really rough subjects: drugs, abuse, rape and violence (in specific mostly guns). So if any of these are something you can't handle I would proceed with caution. However Tess Sharpe weaves all of these tough subjects throughout the story while still telling the story in a real way.

Ultimately what I loved about this book was the strong female presence. I feel like when you think of tough subject (see trigger warnings above) men mostly come to mind. However the women in this story were far more powerful then the men. They were tough, smart, tactful and empowering. Personally, i'd want to be part of the Rubies (that's what they call themselves) rather than against them.

Thanks to Grand Central Publishing and Tess Sharpe for an ARC of this book. This hits shelves on March 6th and I would pick it up if you're looking for something new!

As much as I love the mystery/thriller genre, plots can start sounding similar after reading one too many of them. This is probably part of the reason why I ended up enjoying Barbed Wire Heart that much; this thriller is like a fresh breath of air or an oasis in the middle of a desert. And by this I don't mean this story is a softie and has a low adrenaline level. On the contrary: Barbed Wire Heart is a mean trigger-happy powerhouse that isn't for the weakhearted. Why mention an oasis then? Because this story is pretty darn original and simply different from most popular thrillers out there today. Barbed Wire Heart isn't about the good against the bad; the lines are more blurry than that. The main character Harley McKenna is the daughter of what is basically a druglord and she is one heck of a badass female lead. Her daddy has been teaching her the tricks of the trade ever since she was little, which was necessary because of their rivalry with the Springfields. This book doesn't dance around the dirty details of their war and problems and trigger warnings are in place for violence, abuse, rape, guns and drugs among other things. Barbed Wire Heart isn't afraid to go ugly and for me it was one of the stronger assets of this story. Because it makes Harley and her history feel real; the messiness and sometimes shocking details making you root for her and hope she will be able to achieve her goals... Both her character and the other important ones are very well developed and fleshed out, and it was great seeing the dynamics between them. The story itself switches between present and seemingly random bits of her past, always told from her POV, and this mix help show how she became the woman she is today and why she is doing what she does. The writing style is excellent and the direct and bold way of describing the situations added to the authentic feel of it all. Another element I could really appreciate was just how much it showed the power of women and especially the Rubies (abused women Harley helps protect) having enough and not taking abuse any longer. There are some heavy scenes included in the plot, but the overall (feminist) message is clear: stop underestimating women, because they will fight back. Barbed Wire Heart isn't just a drug inspired criminal story where two different families are taking it up against each other. It's so much more. And it's without doubt one hell of a ride.

This was not for me. I read about 20 percent and felt overwhelmed by the violence. I DNF. I suspect, however, that this will resonate with others who will appreciate that Harley is such a strong female character.

This is a brutal and violent family drama set in the mountains and forests of poverty stricken North County. This is redneck country, where men who rape and abuse women are easily forgiven, after all, women are to blame for being such a terrible temptation. Harley McKenna is 22, and the only daughter of the feared Duke, crime boss and the law, whose momma died at the hands of Carl Springfield when she was a young child. This instigates a blood feud and war against the Springfields that is to define Harley's blood drenched life as Duke grooms her to take over his criminal empire. Harley is the apple of her father's eye, as she is raised by Duke to survive and rule. Harley feels a myriad of feelings towards Duke, love, hate, resentment whilst worshipping the ground he walks on, in every way possible she is a daddy's girl. She is now planning to wage war against everything Duke stands for, the deepest betrayal, to protect everyone and everything that matters to her. Like so often with plans, it barely survives the battlefield.

The narrative goes back and forth in time, focusing on significant issues and events in Harley's life that have shaped who she is, such as the first time she saw her father killing a man at 8 years old, the day her beloved Uncle Jake was killed, her encounters with the Springfields, and how Brooke ends up being her best friend. Interspersed are the lessons that Duke metes out, such as her training to become the best shooter in town, an expert with a knife, and good at hunting and killing people with impunity. Duke protects her, keeps her from school and ensures she has companionship with Will, but is not beyond terrorising her to teach her all that he knows as he moulds her in his image. Harley's totally committed to protecting the rubies, women who have been abused, who reside at the Ruby, run by Mo, an enterprise she inherited from her momma. As she begins to destroy Duke's meths business, she reflects on when she turned from Duke and turned to Will instead, and how the McKennas fall hard and fast, loving only one in their lives. Harley may be her father's daughter by nurture, but by nature, she is her momma's, to whose grave she brings offerings from the forest. More than anything, she is determined to deal with the racist and murderous Carl Springfield, but will family secrets impede her?

This may not be a book for everyone, many may find the level of brutality, abuse and violence too much for them. Indeed, Tess Sharpe has issued her own warnings of trigger issues. Sharpe has written a gritty story that I found utterly compelling. Women take front and centre stage in the narrative, being at the end of horrifying rape and abuse, and Harley is willing to do whatever it takes to ensure that they are protected. Harley is a product of her environment and upbringing, with all that entails, so it is hardly surprising just how much blood letting there is in her quest. It informs how she conducts herself and whilst this might make some uneasy, I loved her character. Not everything is perfect, there are aspects of the ending that did not sit well with me, but that does not affect how superb I thought the novel is. Providing you can handle the brutality and abuse issues, this is a great read which I recommend highly! Many thanks to Grand Central Publishing for an ARC.

Top notch thriller, with one of the most memorable female character i have found in crime fiction. A very promising new voice in this genre.

A story of family and betrayal. This story was highly predictable and felt that the story really didn’t advance quickly.

I am obsessed with this book. Once I started it I couldn't put it down and after I finished it, I kept thinking about it. I think this was pitched as "feminist Breaking Bad" and I see that, but it reminded me so, so much of Justified. So if you like Justified or Breaking Bad or just, you know, damn good books, I HIGHLY recommend this one. It was intense and dark and real. Harley is an incredible main character and I loved her from page one. She has such a protective instinct for the women in her county and it was so nice to get a female main character in a story like this. I'm going to be thinking about this one for a long time.

A list of trigger warnings, courtesy of the author (there are a lot):
http://sharpegirl.tumblr.com/post/165904058329/trigger-warnings-for-barbed-wire-heart

My feelings towards this are as ambiguous as Harley's morale code: technically a bit a dubious by normal standards, but leaning towards good? My English major side loved it; my reader side feels ambivalent. I do think the feminist Walter White/Breaking Bad comparison is accurate.

Great book! Looking forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend!