You may think me a prude but honestly I was not expecting to be reading soft porn. This was way out of my comfort zone. I tried but could not get half way through this book. I enjoyed the storyline aside from the detailed hook ups. If you are a fan of 50 Shades of Grey (aka soccer mom porn to some of my friends) you will probably like it.

A book for people who liked reading 50 Shades of Grey.

This is my first book by this author. I had no preconceived notions and truthfully no idea what kind of book this was going to be. I can honestly say I was presently surprised and patting myself on the back for picking this one.

My first impression of this book was nothing like my thought on the last page. The book starts out kind of like a sweet contemporary romance. I thought this was going to be the story of Jade redeeming Talon from his demons and loving him back to health. I thought they were both going to be each others redemption and ride off into the sunset. Jade had been left at the altar, Talon had battle demons, you can see where this is going right? Wrong! The first shock is that this is book 1 in a series. I'm not sure how many parts it is but hopefully it is only 2 parts. I was not expecting that or the extremely steep cliff we get left hanging on at the end. SN: I'm not really into serials these days. I want instant gratification. I will only recommend a series if it was really good and this one is good enough.

As the story unfolds, you find out that nothing is quite what it seems. One of the most shocking things is that Jade is much stronger than she seems at first. Jade isn't taking any crap but somehow she is also secure enough to deal with Talon's brand of crazy. I loved how Jade threw herself in front of the moving truck that was Talon's total inability to cope with past trauma. Talon was a soldier but the source of his trauma is much deeper and much more disturbing than I saw coming at first. Talon has series issues that he has had for a long time. Jade is the only person who has been able to get close to him and at every turn he tries to boot her out of his life. The push and pull between these characters is intense times 10. Every interaction was like a slow build up followed by an explosion. It was really something to watch happen.

Oh, and did I mention that the sex is filthy, dirty and hot? That is something I really wasn't expecting. Jade had only had one partner so I didn't think she was up for the super hot nasty. Talon was all semi-cray so I didn't know what that was going to be like. But omg, it all came together, a lot. I loved it.

Ok, a couple quick notes, Jade's first lawyer job is ridiculous and completely unreal. Sometimes Jade gave in to Talon and I wasn't sure it made sense. Talon crossed the line with his aggression a couple of times and I felt like what he needed was to be slapped, not screwed. Which brings me to my next point- part of Jade's strategy for dealing with Talon's issues is to give him her body. I'm not sure that was everything that he needed and many times in the book I wished Jade had pushed Talon more to open up or get help. Last note, nobody in this book can hear. Jade and Talon are banging away making all kinds of noise in a house with all kinds of people but no one ever discovered they were together. I'm just sayin...

I wished we could have gotten more answers in this installment but in the end you wind up with a good book and many many questions.

"Craving" is a hard book to review since it is a partial story. I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley, therefore I did not read any of the reviews. The subject was dark with a lot of things that could have been a really great story. I was wanting to see the healing and the HEA for Talon and Jade. That was not to be. I was reading it to the end when it just stopped nearly mid-sentence. The resolve of the story apparently takes place over three books. For Talon and Jade's story in eBooks, that is a total of $23. That alone would keep me from buying the next two books. I am sure that if it had been a complete story, I would have given it more stars. I would like to thank NetGalley and Waterhouse Press for gifting me "Craving". My opinion is my own. This is mine 2.25 Stars!

Both the language and the sex were off-putting. I could not finish the novel.

There is rarely a book that I don't finish, sadly this is one of those books. Kept waiting for the characters to have some kind of emotional interaction that wasn't one dementional and monotone. Really tried to get past the extremely boring parts, tried to jump forward to see if it got better, but it just didn't. Talon was rude, regardless of his issues, and Jade was boring and immature at 25 years old. Nothing what I read did it for me. I really hate leaving poor reviews, I know it takes a lot for an author to write books, but this one was just not worth the read. Sorry.....

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC copy of this book

I'm on the fence with how to rate Craving, but because I tend to give authors the benefit of the doubt, I rounded up to 3 stars because 2 stars seems too low for something that did keep my interest and has made me intrigued enough to read the next installment. Jade was left at the altar in the beginning of Craving, and she's taken up her best friend's offer to come live with her and her brother on Marj's ranch. When Talon is the one to pick her up at the airport, she's instantly drawn to him, even though he's frankly kind of a dick to her.

Unfortunately, he doesn't ever warm up to Jade outside of the bedroom, and she's constantly being whipped back and forth with Talon's hot and cold attitude toward her. He's obviously attracted to her, and the sex scenes are pretty steamy, but outside of the bedroom the two do not do much communicating. In fact, most of their relationship is based on their attraction to each other, not based on any kind of compatibility or shared interests.

I wish I could say that I connected to and liked Talon and Jade, but I can't. Talon is a serious asshole and even though I know he has reasons for some of his behavior, being damaged does not excuse or condone the way he treats Jade. And Jade is such a doormat that I was frustrated with her the entire time. I wanted her to stand up to Talon and demand he treat her better, and not just use her for sex. She deserved for him to open up to her, or if he couldn't open up to her, she needed to leave him and not go back to him. When the ending happened (a cliffhanger, no less!!) I can't say I was surprised, but I was really pissed. Jade deserved better, and I hope she tells Talon where he can go when she sees him next.

I'll probably pick up the next two parts of Talon and Jade's story only because I absolutely hate not knowing what happens, not because I actually like them.

OMG I need Obsession like now!! How can I possibly wait?! LOL this series is amazing and is going to continue to be. Jade and Talon's chemistry....hot, raw, all that! Be aware there's a cliffhanger but the next book is out in a couple of months. You absolutely won't regret this one. I love Helen's other books for sure but this one is my favorite thus far!

Jade's looking for a place to get away from the humiliation of being left at the alter and her best friend's ranch is perfect. There Jade meets Talon Steel, her best friend's brother, and is instantly drawn to him as he is to her. He has a dark past that he is struggling to deal with and Jade thinks she can help. This is book one in a series that ends on a cliffhanger.

Unfortunately I took quite awhile to read and review this book. Simply put it was just not holding my attention. That is until about 75% thru the book. It was a heartbreaking story that was dark and hard to read thru. I'm not going to say much except I am considering continuing the series. If I do I will let ya know!

I enjoyed this book. I like that it is part of a series where we get to learn about each brother and their back stories. I found the characters to be very realistic but I did have issues with the darker side of Talon's past. It reminded me a bit of Fifty Shades. Jade is a very easy to relate to and her friendship with Talon's sister helps to carry the story along. I will be reading the rest of the series.

I have been hearing about this series for a few months and I'm really mad that I waited this long!! This was AMAZING!

I can't wait to read the next book...

'Craving' by Helen Hardt is book One in the "Steel Brothers" Saga. This is the story of Talon and Jade.
There is a cliffhanger to this book so please make note of that. I will say that even though I am not a fan of cliffhangers I understand how much another book was needed when dealing with Talon and Jade's story. In addition, please note I thought this was shadowing on a Dark Romance type theme. Not so much heart and flowers of traditional romances.
Jade is uprooting herself from her hometown after being left at the alter. Her best friend Marjorie talks her into coming to stay with her and look for a job there. So Jade heads out to make a new start!
Marjorie’s brother Talon picks her up at the airport. This is the first time Jade has met Talon and she is shocked by her reaction. Jade is quickly hot for him but he is not a talkative person and seems distant. Not like his brothers and sister.
Talon too can't believe how much he wants Jade but he has a mind set not to get close to any women...and just take what they willing give. But that is hard to stick to around Jade...but he does tries to keep a distance.
It didn't take long to fall in love with this story!
"My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read."
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What a sizzling story! I can't wait to read the rest of the Steel brothers series!!

A very hot and heavy read. Cannot wait to read the rest of the series

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the rest of the series. These characters are both flawed and have demons they need to overcome and walls they need to scale. There is a lot of heat, sex, lust, and crazy passion. Now on to the next book in this series.

**Received this ARC for review from the publisher via NetGalley**

I struggled to finish….

I hate giving bad reviews as I imagine it takes a lot of work for the author. But I struggled to finish this book and am very disappointed on many levels.

Firstly, there is no forewarning of possible triggers for child abuse which is descriptive in nature. This alone made me not want to continue to the next book. Secondly, it ends abruptly. Thirdly, there is a lot of gratuitous sex scenes used as filler, held loosely together by little plot. I lost focus in several mundane descriptions about food, wine, whiskey, filler dialogue, almost as if it was deliberate tactic to prolong the storyline until the next book. Apparently Talon and Jade’s story completes with 3 books until you get to their HEA. And with a hefty price for each ebook, it will be quite an investment for a reader.

Craving is the first book in the Steel Brothers series. There are family secrets being held amongst the three Steel brothers that hint of a big betrayal, they don’t even want to let their younger sister, Marjorie, to know the truth. The horrible childhood trauma that Talon survives continues to haunt and torment him through to his adult life. No explanation or why he was kidnapped. But you get enough carrot to pull you down through this over extended story.

I received a copy and voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book from Waterhouse Press via NetGalley.

I'm a sucker for tortured hero/betrayed heroines, so I jumped at the chance to read this story. But I just didn't feel it.

Jade is at her friend's ranch to heal from her romantic betrayal...and yet I don't buy it. Her emotional pain doesn't even seem buried so much as...non-existent.

Talon's pain just comes off as pretty contrived. The hardest thing for me, though, was the pacing and description came off as pretty amateur. That coupled with the weak character development, this story just didn't do it for me.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

Title: Craving
Author: Helen Hardt
Publisher: Waterhouse Press
Series: Steel Brother Saga # 1
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Rating: Five
Review:

"Craving" by Helen Hardt

My Thoughts....

Interesting series 'Steel Brothers Saga # 1' that features Talon Steel and Jade Roberts who were definitely two broken souls. This author gives the reader quite a good story and be warned it end on a cliffhanger where you will have to get the rest of the story in later series. Be ready for quite a emotional roller coaster ride and lots of twist and turns for these two. The main question is will they be able to heal each other?

After Jade is left at the alter on her wedding day she goes to stay with her friend, Marjorie Steel
at the Steele brothers ranch while she is waiting to get her results from the bar exam to become a lawyer. What will happen after Jade meets Talon Steele? Will it be something their for them especially for Talon at the first sight of her[picking her up from the airport? But as we read their is a lots that had gone on with Talon not only was he returning from the Marines but something had happen to Talon in his past during his childhood. What was Talon's childhood secret that it seemed that he was always struggling so hard with especially when he was with Jade? And then their was the question to what was it between Jade and Talon as it seems that he simply craved her..all the time? Why was it so hard for Talon to open up about what had gone on with him especially to Jade. Will he seek help? This is a very mature adult read so be aware that this story is loaded with a lots of erotica sex that will be all over the place for these two. Well, to get all of these questions answered and so much more you will have to pick up "Craving" to see just how well this author brings it out to the reader. It will be one heck of a good read.

So, I guess the reader will have to get the next series to see if these two finally get their HEA.

Really good storyline. Excellent chemistry between characters.