4.5 stars !
What a story!! Full of love , grief , betrayal & hope . I read this in 1 setting! I couldn’t out it down , I was firstly annoyed by dom and how he cast Kelly aside kept her at arms length, the. Anger for what he did to her ! The grief that follows for both of them is heartbreaking you could feel the loss and pain. The way it’s written is fantastic I felt the words and shared their pain . I had this hope that they would sort it out at the same time I wanted her to cut it all off! No going back. I’m glad he found help for himself and the breakup being the kick he needed for him to help himself sort his grief and be better and be better for her . Just absolutely loved this story and especially the ending as a reader I felt we got to feel everything , every single emotion. I loved the writing and the side characters . Job well done on an amazing book!

Be still, my heart: first love.
I spotted this on NetGalley, and from the cover to the description, I was hooked immediately (even though my TBR is miles long, haha).

This was such an honest look at how beautifully messy first love can be. Denise Henry captures the ache of two people growing up and growing apart—a challenge that feels especially raw in young relationships, where you’re still figuring out who you are while also trying to figure out who you are together. TL;DR: it’s hard as hell, full of change, growth, and heartbreak.

I appreciated that the author didn’t sugarcoat the MMC’s infidelity, allowing the FMC to truly sit with her heartbreak and lingering feelings. It’s never easy to let go of the only love you’ve known, but through that pain, she finds resilience and new opportunities for herself.

While I don’t usually enjoy infidelity tropes, Henry handled it with real sensitivity. And can we talk about the supporting characters? I adored how Mia and Kennedy, and I loved that Peter held Dominic accountable. Now, where can I find friends like that?

Thank you to NetGalley for the eARC!

Review to be published on Goodreads and Bookbub 10/16/25

Bruised Hearts (Hearts In Bloom, Book 1) marks the first romance book written by Denise B. Henry; the author indicates that she has penned two children’s books. Her romance debut hits all the right notes. Ms. Henry gives her readers an emotionally rich story with compellingly complex characters caught in a web of love, lies and pain. The story takes place in the UK, but these familiar missteps could take place anywhere in the world. When our story starts, Kelly is celebrating her sixteenth birthday and the only way her day could be better would be for the new boy she is crushing on to come to her party. Dominic has noticed Kelly and is excited about the chance to get to know her. One would think that with this sweetly realized beginning that Kelly and Dominic would live happily ever after, right? However, circumstances, tragedy and hubris greatly diminish their chance for happiness. Years pass and the once giddily united couple grow farther apart; Dominic has closed himself off from his emotions AND from Kelly. The tension in their relationship is so achingly taut that something MUST give. In a moment of arrogance and weakness Dominic makes a choice that shatters their already fragile bond. How will they ever come back from that? Unfortunately, there is no clear path to reconciliation; Kelly is mortified and wounded; Dominic is defensive and clueless. Into this cauldron of emotions, slides Erik Andersson, rich, perfect, professional and with his eyes and interests firmly fixed on Kelly (Erik needs his own story, ijs😊). Bruised Hearts is a very mature story with an throbbing under current of “realness”. Readers inhabit the “mess” that Dominic has created right along with our beleaguered couple; their happily ever after scenario is not guaranteed and, like Dominic, we are willing to accept the journey’s end because the trip was stellar.

Favorite Lines:
Kelly Bamford. Even just seeing her name on the screen made my stomach flip a little.
---you’re the first boy that has ever given my daughter a rose. I’ll make sure to remember your face.
The last time I said good evening, he replied “Is it?”
“Every time I ask you to show up, you have some excuse. I’ve been patient, supportive and understanding. But tonight….I need you.”
When he spotted me, his face broke into a smile, like I was still his, like everything was normal.
Now I needed a plan to win back the love of my life.
This is heartbreak—the kind that scars. You can’t bulldoze your way through it.
It’s almost like I can’t function; I can’t truly be me without her.
Sixteen years, you wasted sixteen years of my life. And I will never get that back.

Wow! This book took me on a journey. The FMC & MMC absolutely had some serious growing up to do at the start to finally earn that real HEA. Their true commitment wasn't just to each other, but to figuring out how to love themselves first. What a great read! I can't wait to see what this author does next.

Bruised Hearts is the debut novel by Denise B. Henry and I was very impressed. This book was very well written and had great characters and story development. The story was entertaining, sexy and emotional. I'm looking forward to reading more from this author and can't wait for book two.

Quick Summary: A hurting you hurts me gen-fic romance

My Review: Bruised Hearts by Denise B. Henry is book #1 in the Hearts In Bloom series. It is scheduled for release on 10/27/25.

About the Book: "Dominic Moretti was the boy who stole my heart at sixteen and promised me forever.

Then one night, one mistake, and the trust we’d built since childhood went up in flames."

In My Own Words: Shards of brokenness cut two hearts to the quick. What was left afterwards was painful yet healing.

About the Characters:

Dom - > Shattered, hurting, hiding, broken, lost, teetering, remorseful

Kelly - > Loyal, loving, encouraging, supportive, unsteady after betrayal, hesitant, guarded

Eric - > Charming, respectful, patient, tender, willing, open, decent

Kennedy & Mia - > Fam, faithful, protective, real

Peter - > Honest, straight talker, true bro

Dom's Uncle - > Father figure, fair, wise, lovely

Amber - > Sneaky, forward, troublemaker, messy

About Dom and Kelly: The sweet start to Dom and Kelly's relationship was so believable. After tragedy struck, things were never the same. Dom took Kelly for granted, and I didn't like that. She was so focused on him that she failed to express what she needed. It was one-sided. If I'm being totally real, it was challenging for me to like Dom. By the time he made his poor choice, I was like Kennedy and Mia, in terms of a response. I'm sure I even said, "Bye, boy!"

About the Conflict: There were a number of issues in this novel. The conflicts revolved around relationships, trauma, infidelity, betrayal, grief, anxiety, deception, and immature/mature love.

About the Nod to Mental Health: It was great to see that Dom and Kelly had access to a counselor. With everything that transpired, it was very necessary.

My Favorite Scenes (coded, so as to avoid spoilers):

- A Single Rose
- Here with You
- An Uncle's Wise Words
- The Antique Box
- Graveyard Thoughts
- Don't Run

My Final Say: This was a very contemporary story. It was really realistic and highly emotional. The PR description - "We were each other’s firsts. First kiss. First love. First heartbreak." - was 100% on the nose.

I think many readers will be able to relate to what happened with this couple. It was sad to see how something so right could end up going so terribly wrong. In the end, I will say that choices can make or break relationships. I will stop there, because if I keep going, I will say too much.

Other: Readers who enjoy second chance love stories, reconciliation romances, and stories of healing after tragedy may like this story.

*** Potential readers should read any and all content warning indicated. Some of the presented elements may be triggering. ***

Rating: 4/5
Recommend: Yes
Audience: A
Status/Level: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Emotional Arc: +
Tissues: 1-tissue read
Triggers: Yes
Content Warning Advisory: Yes

Thank you to the author, to the publisher (Manu House Press), and to NetGalley for granting access to a digital ARC of this title in exchange for an honest critique. The words that I have shared are my own thoughts and opinions and have been voluntarily submitted. I appreciate the opportunity.

Thank you Netgalley for letting me read and review this book! I have been having so much fun reading romance books lately! I had a good time reading this. I enjoyed the characters and the writing style. Also, the cover is stunning! "Fans of Colleen Hoover, Emily Henry, and Nicholas Sparks will love Bruised Heart, a heartfelt contemporary romance about childhood sweethearts torn apart by betrayal, tested by heartbreak, and forced to decide if first love can really survive forever." I can't wait to read book two!