Hearts of Tar: A Fantasy Romance

I enjoyed reading this book, I would have rated it higher except for the fact that even though it read like a standalone it shouldn't have been, I felt that Miri's story should continue, I mean she became pregnant and I felt the author pushed this aside, yes its mentioned several times but for the most part ignored for the majority of the book except when Miri's life was in danger. Also was Miri carrying a boy or a girl if you are going to have a pregnant character at least let your readers know that much, not doing that felt like a let down at least to me. However the overall story is an interesting take on the Fae myths and enjoyed reading how strong Miri's bond with her sister was and how it got stronger as the story progressed. Hopefully the author expands on the hearts of tar world she created.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review You'll love this book if you like romantic fantasy with growly alpha heroes who will kill anyone who touches/looks at their lover wrong and independent and intelligent heroines! I definitely did. It was a fun novel that was a quick read because it was so easy to get immersed in the story and world. The fantasy world was quite creative and was a unique take on the fae and forbidden forests. The descriptions were very vivid, and it was easy to understand and envision the world the author created. I would have liked to know more details about the kinds of magic the fae used, but since the story was focused on Miri getting used to her changing life and she did not have magic in the beginning, the lack of details about the magic system made sense. I hope the next book goes into more detail as Miri’s magic develops. This book did not end on a cliffhanger, but there were some unsolved storylines to be resolved in future books, but it also worked as a standalone story. The characters really made this story; Miri was confident and loyal to her loved ones, I loved her relationship with her little sister Eve, I wish we had seen more of Eve, and it was nice to read about how easily most of the fae accepted Miri and Eve into their world after her change. Miri and Eerin’s relationship followed the enemies to lovers trope, and Eerin was a typical alpha male with a hatred for humans. The end battle proved that Eerin’s hatred was justified, but I wish the author had shared more details about the previous war that killed Eerin’s family and left him with such prejudice. Fingers crossed for details in a future book. Eerin had excellent character growth as he slowly accepted his love for Miri, and it was fun to read his continual denial that he was growing to care for her while actively seeking and protecting her. Miri and Eerin had a lot of chemistry, and I thought the sex scenes were steamy but not too overly explicit, and their chemistry was furtherer developed by their banter. There was an instant of dubious consent, but both Eerin and Miri were under the influence of magic, not completely opposed to having sex, and neither regretted what they did afterward nor felt taken advantage of. The situation may be triggering for some readers, but it was a crucial scene that made sense within the plot. After some initial discomfort on my part while reading, the character's understanding reactions later made it easier to accept. I can’t wait for the sequel!