***REVIEW *** HEART BREAKER by Cole St. Jaimes

                                                                           Aidan

                                                                            Surf.

                                                                           Fuck.

                                                                        Get high.

Sounds like the perfect day to Aidan Callahan. As second-born son to Chicago’s most influential business owner, Aidan’s life has always been about responsibility. Tradition. Toeing the goddamn line. Just do as you’re told, Aidan. Don’t make waves.

Well, screw that. Riding waves is way more fun than making them.

Hawaii is paradise on earth. Smoking hot women. Tiny bikinis. As far as Aidan’s concerned, wild horses couldn’t drag him kicking and screaming back to the windy city. Or at least that’s what he thought.

When his brother crashes his Mercedes, killing himself on impact, Aidan finds himself next in line to the Callahan fortune and all the ties that come with it. And this time there’s no getting out of it.

                                                                              Essie

                                                                         A warm bed.

                                                                         A steady job.

                                                               A brother who loves her.

For Essie Gray, life’s been one hard kick in the teeth after another. With her parents both dead, her brother is her only living relative. That is until Vaughn’s truck is written off, his life snatched away by the careless actions of a rich playboy in a flashy sports car.

Now, the only thing that will bring Essie peace is revenge. She must take what was taken from her. Only when the name Callahan has been wiped from the face of the earth forever will she be able to start living again.

Of course, the new head of the Callahan Corporation isn’t what she expected. Aidan’s sexy and sad, and just as damaged as she is. Will she be able to distance herself enough to accomplish her goal?

After all, ruining a man’s really hard when you find yourself falling for him… 

 

Heart Breaker is a debut novella, or, more accurately book one in a series.   The premise of the story is two people dealing with an accident that changes their lives.  Aidan has to step in, taking the place of his brother and run the family business.  Essie is full of anger and the need for revenge against the family that took her brother from her leaving her alone.  

What I like:

The writing is very good.  The story flows smoothly from one event to the next.  It is very easy for the reader to capture a mental image of the events and to feel the characters’ anguish and joy.   

Aidan’s character grows as the story unfolds.  At first I felt like he is a playboy only interested in fun.  It is long though before he true character comes out.  He has a heart, dreams and ambition.

What I didn’t like:

ESSIE.  I just don’t get this woman.  She has so much anger.  While I understand why she is angry I don’t get her revenge focused on someone who didn’t do anything to her.  As much as I tried I just couldn’t relate.  At first I thought it was a man’s perspective on how a woman would act in this situation but even that doesn’t make sense to me.  I have to admit that I just don’t like this character.

Serials.  I hate them.    Needless to say there is a cliff hanger and I haven’t found any indication regarding when the next chapter will be released.  Serials and cliffhangers are bad enough but not giving an estimate of a release date is one of my biggest pet peeves with writers today.  I don’t care if the next release is five years down the road.  Let your fans or potential fans know what to expect. 

Stepping down from my soap box now...   Cole Saint Jaimes is a good writer and shows a lot of potential.  I’m sure he will be a success.  I’m looking forward to the next book and a roll out plan for the series.  I want to know what happens next.

 

3.5 STARS

 

AMAZON US / UK