Tropes: Dark Romance, Romantic Suspense

TW: Rape (there is a lot and it's graphic), Suicide, Self-Harm, Animal Death, Miscarriage, Overdosing, PTSD, Murder, Kidnapping, Physical Abuse

Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for providing me with an E-ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

Still Beating follows our main character and her sister's fiancée when they are kidnapped by an unhinged serial killer and are chained up in his basement to undergo weeks of torture. This serial killer gets off on making his captives fall in love with each other and then killing them.

PLEASE DON'T JUDGE THIS BOOK BY THE COVER BECAUSE I THOUGHT THIS WAS A CUTE, FLUFFY CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE, AND IT'S THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE. I guess this is what I get for not reading the synopsis, LOL. Even though this book was completely different than what I was expecting, I LOVED IT. Be ready to have your heart ripped tf out because this book will tear you apart. This book is different from other books that I've read before. The way that the author wrote this book was genius. The storyline had me hooked right from the very beginning. I loved Cora and Dean, and how they helped each other through their traumatic experiences they went through. I loved how the author wrote the decisions that had to be made for the characters - they were mature and realistic. Highly recommend this book, but definitely look into the trigger warnings before reading!!

That fine line between love and hate is about as sharp as you can get in Still Beating. The kind of story that had me both craving and at the same time hesitant to turn each page. The way Jennifer Hartmann crafts this story, you can't help but feel every single emotion possible as she gives Asher and Cora the chance at love that should have never been. Forcing them together in the most horrific of ways, knowing the other was their only salvation. Their only hope. And perhaps always their only choice.

What a book. I mean I knew Hartmann could grab my heart like no one else but I really wasn't prepared for how this story would develop. Two people always at odds, finding themselves trapped at the hands of a psychopath and realizing through the rawest of ways that maybe, just maybe, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to their deep-seated feelings about each other. Cora and Asher could push each other's buttons like no one else. And as soon-to-be in-laws, they are put to the ultimate test when their lives are abruptly changed within twenty days of despair, coming out the other end fully respecting and wanting more than they could handle.

I simply could not get enough of this book. Despite all the suffering, not just wrt Dean and Cora but also for the blindsided Mandy, the rich emotions that Hartmann brings forth are nothing less than magnificent. And every decision whether or not it would hurt was masterfully crafted as the push and pull between Dean and Cora gets to a fever pitch that is bound to destroy them both.

Both Dean and Cora are great characters in spite of their flaws and desperation to simply feel after all they endured. Dean, in particular, and all of his selfless acts, had me swooning for him even though it felt somewhat wrong to do so since this is not your typical romance. And he's not your typical hero. Instead, he's a man who survived the worst of the worst and simply wanted the woman he first saw all those years ago in high school no matter the damage they might inflict upon each other. Dean's defining decision late in the book was beyond raw and my own heart bled wondering just how Cora could pick up the pieces of her repeatedly broken soul and if there could be a future where the hurt for both of them and for Mandy might ever subside.

I didn't know how this would all turn out but I was there for every last bit of pain and wanted to stand by both characters even if it meant they would forever live separate lives. I will say for those who have not read any spoilers that I was very content and extremely satisfied with how Hartmann completed Dean and Cora's difficult journey. She didn't make it easy either on them but to say that love truly does conquer all is most definitely quite the understatement where this incredible book is concerned.

5++++++ stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for giving this ARC, and this doesn't influence my review. Okay, so considering that this book had a lot of sensitive topics, there should have been trigger warnings. The synopsis made it seem like it wasn't major, but there was so much stuff that should have been listed as a warning. I did not know that I was going into: r*pe, forced r*pe from another person, abuse, depression, and more. I advise the author to add all this to the synopsis for the book.

I am apparently in the minority with my opinion on Still Beating, but it just didn’t click with me. And it’s not the dark or traumatic romance that is in it because that doesn’t bother me. I don’t know if I can pinpoint exactly what I didn’t like about it, but I just didn’t connect to any of the characters. And I will leave it at that!

If you love hurt/comfort fanfic, this romance as dark as midnight is for you. And the trigger warnings abound. The angst of the first couple of chapters reaches dizzying levels, with the premise being that the protagonist Cora is abducted by a serial rapist and killer, in the company of none other than her sister’s hated fiancé. And of course they fall in love during their captivity, which keeps you reading, because how on earth are they going to get out of this predicament even if they survive the kidnapping???

Yeah, no trope catches my attention quite as fast as two horror survivors locked up in a basement together. The added social drama only made me more googly-eyed.

To be fair, I would give this 2,5 stars if I could, because it wasn't all that terribly executed, but the later 2/3 of this novel just went on and on uninterestingly. A lot of the argument points are regurgitated and discussed time and time again. I also have to add that – excessively repeated expletives in inner dialogues aside - Still Beating is not badly written, although I do think some words‘ meanings escape the author’s understanding.

In the end, I simply wasn’t interested in the mid tiktok smut the story devolved into, and I skipped the epilogue after the first sentence, for my own mental health.

This was such an emotional book. Before this I hadn't really read many dark romance books. I was unsure wether to read this or not but I am glad that I did! I could not put this book down, I was so consumed with this story and the relationships within this book. This book was so heartbreaking and I was crying for Cora and Dean. The book was so well written for a dark romance and it has definitely convinced me to read more dark romances and more of Jennifers books. I don't want to say much more without spoiling it but I think it's worth the read. If you are thinking of reading this make sure you read the trigger warnings beforehand.

Holy dark romance wonder!! I loved this book. It seriously tore me to shreds in the best way. I can only imagine what these characters would feel. I was completely invested in Cora and Dean, despite how it is between them in the beginning and Cora's sister Maddy's role in their everyday lives. The beginning is definitely dark, and the middle is heart wrenching, but man that ending put me back together again when I didn't think it was possible. Seeing these two not only live through the actual trauma, but also in the aftermath, had me unable to put this book down. This book will have you confused on what you actually feel, because you'll feel so damn much. I sincerely recommend going into this one with an open-mind and let the wonder that is Jennifer Hartmann take you through this amazing story.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
4/5⭐️
2.5/5🔥

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/𝐂𝐖/𝐓𝐖/𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬:
MF/dual POV/dark romance/HEA/enemies to lovers/kidnapping/sexual assault/rape/violence/murder/self harm/reference to miscarriage/loss of pet

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Cora and Dean have known each other forever and have spent at least that much time being enemies. Pranks, insults, taunts, you name it… that’s them summed up in a few words. It doesn’t help that he is engaged to her sister and around all the time. After a night out with friends, Cora needs a ride home and even if the last person she wants to call for a ride is Dean, he is the only one available. Little do they know that night will change the trajectory of their intwined lives forever. Being kidnapped, held hostage, and forced to do unspeakable things, Cora and Dean only have each other to cling to in the deep dark cellar that will become their home for 3 weeks.

There are so many words to describe this book but raw, tragic and heart wrenching are some that come to mind. After Dean and Cora’s escape, separated by real life, they struggle to move forward from their trauma while ‘normal’ life threatens to pull them under. They knew before they escaped their relationship would forever be changed.

I felt like Cora struggled the most, barely keeping her head above water but that could be because I feel like we didn’t a lot of Dean’s healing. It seemed to be him keeping Cora afloat and him dealing with his relationship with Cora’s sister, Mandy. I felt like she was extremely inconsiderate for the healing Cora and Dean were trying to accomplish.

The information that surfaces about their kidnapper afterward was definitely twisted, but it was intriguing to have this in the story also. As Cora and Dean follow the news stories, I think this really made them question if their feelings were real.

I loved the aspect of Cora being able to bond with another survivor. I like the POV from Tabitha after the end of the book and I can’t help but hope maybe she will get her HEA in a future book. [if there isn’t one already; I haven’t looked into that.]

Dean’s decisions toward the second half were painful but necessary. Seeing them come out the other side of this was gratifying. This was definitely dark and messed up, but the overall story was something I won’t easily forget.
at least thatthat’s in a few words It doesn’t help that he is engaged to her sister and around all the time.AfterCora needs a ride home and even if the last person she wants to call for a ride is Dean, he is the only one available. Little do they know that night will change the trajectory of their intwined lives forever. Being kidnapped, held hostage, and forced to do unspeakable things, Cora and Dean only have each other to cling to in the deep dark cellar that will become their home for 3 weeks.
raw, tragic and heart wrenching After Dean and Cora’s escape, separated by real life, they struggle to move forward from their trauma while ‘normal’ life threatens to pull them under. They knew before they escaped their relationship would forever be changed.

I felt like Cora struggled the most, barely keeping her head above water but that could be because I feel like we didn’t a lot of Dean’s healing. It seemed to be him keeping Cora afloat and him dealing with his relationship with Cora’s sister, Mandy. I felt like she was extremely inconsiderate for the healing Cora and Dean were trying to accomplish.

The information that surfaces about their kidnapper afterward was definitely twisted, but it was intriguing to have this in the story also. As Cora and Dean follow the news stories, I think this really made them question if their feelings were real.

I loved the aspect of Cora being able to bond with another survivor. I like the POV from Tabitha after the end of the book and I can’t help but hope maybe she will get her HEA in a future book. [if there isn’t one already; I haven’t looked into that.]

Dean’s decisions toward the second half were painful but necessary. Seeing them come out the other side of this was gratifying. This was definitely dark and messed up, but the overall story was something I won’t easily forget.

** 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 … 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘐 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦, 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 =𝘋 **


𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:

I don’t know if there is a sense of dramatic irony in the fact that I’ve been taken captive with the one person in the world I hate most, or if there is a semblance of relief in the realization that I am not alone in this.

I hold on to him. He’s still my lifeline. He’s still all I have. We’re in this together.

She doesn’t need to pretend with me, though. She doesn’t need to hide. I’m here, and I see her—every scar, every flaw, every broken, hollow piece. And I understand.

This is rough and raw and dirty, and we’re animals clawing at each other, biting, all primal growls and desperate thrusts. It’s fitting, I decide. After all, we were created in darkness. It’s in our blood.

I need him. He’s the only calm to my madness, the only light to my dark, the only sweet to my bitter remains. He tames me. He heals me.

This book was PHENOMENAL. I found the plot in this book to be captivating. I read this book in only a few sittings and was sucked in every time. There was trauma, there was toxicity, there was a lot of dark feelings, but there was also growth and healing (and a HEA).

The characters in this book have my heart. Cora and Dean WENT THROUGH IT. The evolution of their relationship throughout the book was heartbreaking at times, but it was such a hard situation and they really did their best. They are such a precious couple to me now and I want to protect them at all costs.

This was my first Jennifer Hartmann book and it definitely will not be my last! I highly suggest checking the TW before reading. I found a lot of the traumatic events to be tastefully written as it is clear what is happening, but it is not described on page. If you want an emotional punch with happiness in the end, check this out!

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book was so emotional!!

I have never came across a book like this or a plot it is such a heartbreaking and healing romance I highly recommend!!

Check trigger warnings!

This was good and enjoyable and a solid read, but was it UN-put-down-able? Not for me. I struggled with the dark romance element, mixed with enemies to lovers AND a kidnapping. I think I could have done with one less major element and it would have really soared.

OMG THIS BOOK!!!!
What did i just read. I honestly couldnt put it down. Cora and Deans story consumed me from the first page untill the last. What a ride this story was. This was my first Jennifer Hartmann book and wont be my last. Her writing is everything! She managed to take a book about some horrific events and with her beautiful writing she enveloped me into the story, hooked me in and didnt let go. I felt like i was a part of this story. i think i went through every emotion with these 2. This book broke me. I wont give much away as this is one that needs to be read without too much being given away but i would strongly advise you heed the content warnings.
The audio was so good. Id really recommend the audio for this one. The narrators did a brilliant job with conveying the emotions the characters were going through and you felt like a part of the story almost like your a fly on the wall. Simply brilliant and one i wont forget in a hurry.

Jennifer Hartman is severely underrated because her stories are unlike any others on the market and they are so worthy of your time and money. She's one author who promises a life-changing read and commits to it. Her books are so original, her writing brilliant, and her character's journey so heartwrenching. I'm constantly drawn so deep into the web of her stories that I can feel every moment, word, and emotion the characters feel. I do not want to spoil the incredibly well-crafted story Hartmann created in Still Beating but I do want to say that's it dark, angsty, painful at time but by the end you feel comforted, healed, and reminded that the pure love that Cora and Dean share can salvage their souls, soothe their scars, and seal their hearts. There are triggers so make sure to check the warnings and know that it's haunting and hard at times but trust in Jennifer Hartmann's penmanship that she will deliver a HEA worthy of these two beautiful characters and an arc that shows us that love can illuminate the dark and heal the hurt! Jennifer Hartmann is the reason my heart is still beating so please enter this heartbreakingly beautiful world she's poured her own beating heart into!

Whew that was dark. This one is for the true crime girlies, but the main trope is forbidden love. It’s genre bending for sure and has open-door scenes, so for those that love mystery/serial killer/romance vibes, it may be a great fit.

⚠️ Go into this knowing that the list of trigger warnings is like minimum a hundred different things.

Overall a good read and I loved the reference to Oliver in Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann (a fav of mine)!

This book is incredible. I really don't have the words. It's dark & daunting. It's angsty. It's healing. My emotions were all over the place. Just check your triggers. I really can't say anything more without giving away anything. I've never read anything like this. Jennifer knows how to pull out your feelings & make you feel them. Wow.

I wanted to love this dark romance, with enemies to lovers mixed with a little kidnapping. Unfortunately something about it just didn't connect for me and I found the romance a bit flat. Disappointingly, I think this one wasn't for me!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

5 ⭐

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

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann is one of my favorite books ever!!
From the very first page to the epilogue, it's an endless rollercoaster of emotions. I felt everything from sorrow to cheerfulness for Cora & Dean.

They endure very tough situations that they won’t forget and will tie them stronger forever & ever.

Throughout the whole book, Cora faced up to hard circumstances with her family, especially her sister, Mandy. When I read the scene of Mandy arguing with Cora about what happened in the basement with Dean, it broke my heart entirely.

I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves an emotional-all-crying-night book.

I don't even know how to review this book without giving things away or saying too much. Everything said that it's DARK and it really is. The first 30% could be one of the most intense and dark romance set ups that I have ever read. But what comes after and how it all comes together is completely addicting. I started this after dinner and did not go to sleep until it was done.

This is the story of Cora and Dean...and their abduction. Please read content warnings. Please know that this is a dark romance. But also know that the work it takes to get there just leaves you turning pages for more.

"It's still beating," he whispers, his words a soft kiss against my lips. "As long as it's beating, you're okay."

Cora and Dean have been at each other's throats for fifteen years and counting, since Dean is engaged to Cora's sister. They can barely tolerate each other, always going the extra mile to prank one another. After a night out of drinking, Cora needs a ride, and in swoops Dean to help her, never expecting their lives would be tragically and irrevocably changed.

"It's just you and me, Cora. Focus, okay? Look at me... Focus on my voice..."

Cora and Dean are kept captive for weeks, their experience completely horrendous. I was heart-broken and appalled and enraged for them. But Dean... Oh, Dean... Despite going through some of the similar things as Cora, he always stood his ground; he became the one thing Cora needed to be able to survive what they were going through. Even through what Dean was forced to do, he never took advantage of the situation and would suffer along with Cora; my heart was shattered into tiny pieces.

"You don't feel like my enemy anymore," I finish. You feel like my lifeline.

One thing this book took note of throughout the plot was the very true definition of trauma, of what it's like to go through something so harrowing, and just because you're out of the situation, doesn't mean you're automatically healed. Things just don't go back to the way they were, the person doesn't go back to who they used to be. And Jennifer Hartmann depicted that trauma so devastatingly beautiful. Her eloquent prose made way for understanding the horrendous experience. One of the things that stood out to me was how, no matter how long time has passed, it doesn't mean you can bounce back.

Personally, I've had close family members tell me, "It's been six months. Why aren't you better?" There's no timeline for healing, there's no timeline for being able to get your breath back normally after a horrifying experience or from dealing with the feelings of the aftermath. I applaud the author for giving a poignant feel to the healing process.

"There's no shame in the struggle."

I love that the new bonus scene focuses on Tabitha, who's story is releasing next year! Just the little we got hurt my heart so much. I feel for Tabitha, and I just know her story will destroy me.

Overall, Still Beating depicts a heart-rending, touching, and beautifully tragic story of survival, healing, and finding love through the darkest moments of life.

"As long as it's beating, I'm yours."

IF YOU LIKE:
- Dark Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Forbidden

Please check TW before reading!

Wow just wow this book left me speechless. This book was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking but beautiful at the same time. Dean and Cora went through so much and survived it all. This book was so emotional and angsty. I even teared up a couple of times. Toward the end, I couldn't put my Kindle down I was so invested. I loved that the story was told in parts it flowed nicely, and how we saw the past a few times also. I loved Dean Asher so much! This book is very dark and not for the faint of heart so please check TW before diving into this book. Thank You NetGalley and BloomBooks for an ARC copy of Still Beating I greatly appreciate it. I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

“It’s still beating. As long as it’s beating, you’re okay.”