3 Stars

I’ve been a fan of Monica Murphy since her One Week Girlfriend series. This sounded a little bit like that series when I read the blurb. The problem for me was that I didn’t feel empathy for the heroine, Jen. Her choices were dubious and somewhat idiotic and she had no common sense. She supposedly put a lot of effort into this big revenge plan and into using Rhett to get back at her mom.

“I’ve got him right where I want him.”

Perhaps if I had read some more chapters about her childhood. I just needed more background so that I could understand her need for revenge. Also, what exactly was her revenge plan? It was unclear.

The hero, Rhett, is a really nice guy but I didn’t really feel a connection between them. Jen was using him but she was also finding herself liking him, which would ruin her big revenge plan. There seems to be a little hope for her as she makes more poor decisions until she doesn’t know if she wants to continue with this mysterious plan.

“My decisions have led me down this path, and now it’s become so awful, so fraught with too many scary unknowns, I don’t think I can handle it any longer.”

There were a few other mysterious characters and situations. There was a cliffhanger so I guess I have to decide if I want to see what happens next or not. Will the truth come out?

I received this book as an arc from Netgalley.

I don't really like the revenge scenario in this book, what a bunch of wasted energy on Jensen's part! With that being said though, the way the book ended does make me want to see where this goes.

Now this is a cliffhanger book that not only held my interest but had me rooting for the bad guy (or girl) in this case.

Jen is a bitter, vengeful girl looking for revenge for a past that left her alone and working in a seedy club to make ends meet. Her target is popular college football player Rhett Montgomery. Why, you may ask? It all centers on a woman she doesn't remember but who destroyed her childhood. But can Jen keep her bitterness and lies intact once she knows the 'real' Rhett behind the popularity and wealth?

I'll be honest, I really loved and felt bad for Jen and the pain she endured as a child. The story weaves between Jen's past and present in a smooth way and reading her backstory really helps in explaining some of the selfish and hardened parts of Jen's personality. Rhett, though, seems one dimensional and boring. I hope he has more of a personality in the next book in the series.

4.5/5*

This book was provided by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you EM Publishing and Netgalley!

Her Defiant Heart is the first book in the Damaged Hearts series and tells the story of Jensen and Rhett.

Her Defiant Heart is the second book I read by Monica Murphy and it was totally different than the first book I’ve read by her, Saving It. I mean this in a good way because Her Defiant Heart was such an interesting and addictive read.

I really liked the main character Jensen because she kind of reminded me of Joe from the TV show You. She always talked to herself like Joe did in the TV show, and I kinda liked that she was a bit psycho. Rhett was also an interesting character because Jensen never believed him so you don’t trust him either.

Her Defiant Heart was such a fast paced read and I couldn’t get enough of the story and the characters. There were some plot twists, and I couldn’t help myself from buying the two other books in the series. I really wanted to know what was going to happen to the characters.

I think that the second book in the series, His Wasted Heart, was the best book in the series and I really recommend checking out these books!

My heart broke during this book. All she wanted was to be loved. I literally cried for her. And Rhett was the perfect male protagonist. The only downfall of this book was that it was quite short and I felt that it was a bit rushed towards the end.

Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to read and give my honest opinion.

"Before you embark on a journey of revenge...dig two graves" Jen grew up a solitary child with just her wounded father for love. Her mother left her when she was a baby and the despair of their lives embittered her father. After her father passes, Jen embarks on a journey of revenge toward the mother that abandoned her. She targets her step brother Rhett, who begins to melt her revenge focused heart.

What did I like? The chemistry coming from Rhett is panty dropping and swoon worthy, and they just work as a couple. Jen is so guarded though and just keeps herself distant which may or may not work in her favor. The cliffy at the end though was utterly cruel.

Would I buy this book? Of course, I love this author and I think this book was a hit, just wish I had been gifted the next two. I would definitely recommend this, loved it.

Thoughts for the author? Gift me the other two :) I would have been happy to read the whole series. I will however keep looking on Netgalley and we might get lucky!

I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I wished that it was made known that this book ended with a cliffhanger. This book was an okay read. I absolutely loved Rhett, he was sweet, smart, charming and absolutely too polite to Jennifer (Jensen). She didn't deserve an ounce of kindness from him with her attitude. I disliked Jensen, her attitude made her unlikable. Yes, she went through a lot living with her dad and her mom leaving but treating Rhett the way she did was unacceptable. She should have saved all of the hate and anger for her mom. The ending was a bit predictable but even so, it didn't leave me wanting to read the next book. Maybe if I would have liked Jen more, I would have been interested in reading the next book but I didn't and I won't.

Absolutely loved this book and can't wait to read more. This book kept me hooked through it all and I need more ASAP. Loved the characters. Just loved everything about it. And I'm so excited to read book two. I will definitely be reading more books by this author.

This book was pretty good for me. "Jensen" didn't come across as a great heroine. I wanted to hate her sometimes for what seemed to me to be a petty revenge plan. Her mother seemed like the smart one to get away because to me it was her father who was the total butt. She put herself in dangerous-for-no-reason situations and just seemed really obtuse sometimes. But with all that said, I knew how it would end but that didn't stop me from totally buying the next one to see what would happen.

Thanks to netgalley and social butterfly for free copy!

Thank to netgalley and the author/publisher for the Arc for my honest review.

After reading this book, I would definitely check out other books by this author.

Easy to read and follow. Beautifully written.

I voluntarily received a copy for an honest review!

I have to say first that this isn’t a complete story. Secondly, I’m highly disappointed. It is troubling. I really thought we were getting somewhere and it cut off and felt like it was I. The middle of a thought.

I loved Rhett from the minute Jensen meets him. I’m not a big fan of hers, but I understand she has her reasons for being so difficult. I feel like there is s9mething going on between him and the evil step mom cause he kinda fastly got through it and moved on. Jensen’s life story is hard so hard. I really feel for the girl. I want to bring her home with me and show her people can love you truly.

I hate how it ends...like I’m so torn because most of it was really good. But the end just made me mad. Like how long do I have to wait to finish this book. I love this author....please bring out the second part soon.

This book is the first in author Monica Murphy’s contemporary, new adult DAMAGED HEARTS romance trilogy focusing on college students Rhett Montgomery, and Jennifer ‘Jensen’ Fanelli. I always love Monica's books, but truly no one writes college romance better than her!

This book will keep you wanting more, since it is a part of a trilogy it ends on a cliff hanger. I'm looking forward to the next part of this series and highly recommend it if you enjoy young adult, college romances.

2,5 stars
This first book in the series is introductory. It´s only introduces us some principal characters. It hardly tell us anything about Jen`s revenge, just that she is willing to do everything to destroy the woman who left her when she was a child.
Not even important characters like her mother appear in this book, she only names her explaing why she hates her mother so much. I suppose that in the next book there will be more development in this part of the story.
On the other hand, I have not understood some Jen`s behaviors. She ends up being attracted to Rhett but, in exchange of money, she betrays him accepting a job that just causes her many problems.
He has liked me more that he. He is noble, attentive, sexy and romantic guy.
Although it is a little predictable book, it reads quickly and it is easy to understand to me.
The end is abrupt and open, since there is continuation. It leaves you wanting to know more.

First, this book ends in a cliffhanger which irritates me since you must read the next book to find out what happens to the characters. Although, now I'm invested in the characters, I have to find out what happens to them. I will be buying the next books in the series. This book focuses on Jensen's perspective. 

Jennifer Fanelli or that's what her name used to be. Now, she goes by Jensen. Her plan...her revenge plan ...to destroy her mother through the boy she raised as her son, Rhett Montgomery. The pretty boy basketball player, frat boy, and Mr. All-American rich boy next door. Everyone loves him. The more time Jensen spends with him, the more she likes him. She keeps hoping that he's secretly a jerk or kicks puppies. He isn't. She has numerous secrets...the first being that Mrs. Diane Montgomery is her mother. She doesn't want Rhett to find out any of her dirty secrets. Instead of enacting revenge, she wants a relationship with him.

4 <b> Revenge </b> Stars
Confession .. I may be obsessd with Monica Murphy!i have almost read everything she has ever written. I have never written her version of revenge tho! This story is about Jensen who has changed her name to hunt down and ruin Rhett Montgomery since her mom left her for his family. Her entire plan is to make Rhett fall in love with her ( her stepbrother) and then introduce her to his mother for the ultimate revenge slap in the face.
<b> My mother turned me into this. I'm a slut, a whore, a user, a manipulator, a woman bent on revenge. All because of her.</b>
Revenge has slowly ruined Jensen because Rhett is the perfect book boyfriend and she is realizing that her revenge is convoluted. I need book 2 so therefore you know.. the plot twist and the lack of answers is killing me!!! I just finished this ARC and was like damn how long do I have to wait for this series to release.. to then discovered ALL 3 books are out already!!! So that’s awesome when I get a chance to return to the series!

I have read a number of Monica Murphy's other books and loved her series with Drew, Fable, and Owen. So, I was quite excited to preview Murphy's latest book, Her Defiant Heart. Unfortunately, I was sadly disappointed. That said, I was compelled to finish the book, so I give it a reluctant 3 stars.

The story surrounds a revenge plot that practically falls apart the instant the main character, Jensen, confronts her target, Rhett. And why? Because Rhett is so attractive, thoughtful, and well endowed. Seriously?!?!? Oh, and unbeknownst to him, he is her step brother. Ughh!!!

The characters are flat and beyond stereotypical. She's from the wrong side of the tracks, grew up in a trailer park, and works at a topless bar to make ends meet when she's not going to classes and studying for school. He's ridiculously wealthy, belongs to a frat, but is a gentleman. She wants revenge of some sort because her mother abandoned her. But the revenge never really emerges. He finds her intriguing because she's playing coy. It's a complicated mess - but not in a good way.

The ending is abrupt and a cliffhanger. It's meant to entice readers to read the next book but comes off as contrived. As Romeo once said to Juliet, "Dost thou leave me so unsatisfied?" Will I read the continuation? Maybe...

Initially Jensen's story seems to be one about revenge. Once she actually meets her target, Rhett, she realizes that he isn't at all what she expected. He seems to be nice and kind. She decides she can't use him as a tool for revenge against her mother who abandoned her when she was young. Jensen finds she is actually falling for her stepbrother...the problem now is how to tell him the full truth about who she really is. Even worse, that isn't the only secret she's keeping from him....

Her Defiant Heart was a good start to this series. I always enjoy Monica Murphy's writing. I've noticed that this is the first of three books and I'll be buying the next one right away. I have no choice since this book ends on one heck of a cliffhanger!

Her Defiant Heart
By: Monica Murphy

📚💕⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💕📚

Being a huge fan of Monica Murphy going down this road of hidden romance is absolutely captivating.

“The writing is flawless, and the words are so captivating, the plot had so many twists and turns and none that I was expecting, and many shocking moments."


Life can feel like a cruel joke. I grew up poor and motherless, with a father who never got over his wife’s abandonment. But now he's gone too, and I'm dead set on finding the woman who so carelessly tossed me aside when I was a baby.

I want revenge. And I'm going to get back at my mother any way that I can.

I change my name. Start my new life in college, and just happen to cross paths with the gorgeous, ultra-rich Rhett Montgomery. He's immediately interested in me, not that I'm surprised.

You see, I planned it that way. I meant for him to find me. He's the one connection to my mother, and I'm using him, so I can destroy her. But I didn't plan on Rhett being so charming. Sweet. Sexy.
And I definitely didn't plan on falling for him either…

I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engrossed throughout. I really loved the characters and the way they interacted with each other. This is a fun, hot, romantic must read book and I would definitely recommend this book to anyone.

This book has everything I love in a book. Then you add that it's beautifully written and believable. It is easily a five star read. Written in dual POV my personal favorite this story flows so incredibly well that the next thing you know your 80% into the book and loving every second of it. The believable way the characters interact is perfect. Run, Hop, Jump or use your (1 click) finger to do whatever you have to do and get this amazing book. It'll break your heart, you'll want to scream with frustration and it'll let you discover that love just might conquer all. The chemistry is steamy and sweet and oh so romantic.

Thanks Netgally for letting me read and review.📚💕

copy received for honest review
This is a book that keeps you anticipating what will happen next. mystery surrounds Jennifer Fanneli. She is on a mission. Jensen/Jennifer wants revenge. She has planned for a long time. Rhett Montgomery is unknowingly a major part of her plan. What she does not count on is liking him. The more she is around him, the harder it is to keep focused on what she wants. She has major secrets and just when Rhett gets close she pulls away. When he finds out one of her darkest secrets will he help her or abandon her like everyone else in her life? this is a angsty read that will keep you on your toes. I can't wait until the next one!

This was a unique twist on the taboo stepbrother romance genre. I enjoyed the book, I couldn't seem to stop reading. I've really got mixed emotions about Jensen I really don't like her for many.reasons but then a lot of who she is isn't her fault. I like Rhett pretty well and genuinely feel bad for him for falling into Jensen's trap. I will definitely seem out the next book as this one ended in a big cliffhanger.