Friday 29 May 2015

Birthday Presents ~ Happy Birthday Staci Hart & Giveaway

 
Today is Staci Hart's birthday and with our new Birthday feature comes gifts and reviews. Donna came across Staci Hart by pure accident as one does, but it was these covers that Donna died for and made her download that first book. This was a serial read and it was highly addictive, full of suspense, romance and Parkour all rolled into one fantastic read.
 
Giveaway:
 
To win the Hardcore series for kindle all you have to do is post on Staci Hart's page saying Happy Birthday and mention The Romance Cover. Staci's page: https://www.facebook.com/stacihartnovels?fref=ts
 
 
Our Review:
 
Hardcore Series by Staci Hart
Hardcore Volume 1 ~ 4.5 stars
Hardcore Volume 2 ~ 4 stars
Hardcore Volume 3 ~ 4 stars


“Don’t run from me. Run with me.”

From the moment I started reading Volume 1 I fell in love with this series and once you start reading you really begin to understand just how damn perfect the covers are. I have never come across a book about Parkour or base running as it is known and the way the author describes the activity was absolutely breath taking. I felt the thrill of the run and with the added vivid descriptions and imagery your heart couldn’t help but thump, thump, thump.

By day Cory is a bike messenger, but this is more as a smoke screen because by night she is part of a team of thieves who target electrical stores. These thieves are like no other, they have their MO down a pat and by using Parkour as a means of escape are virtually undetectable and cannot be followed.

Cory was a beautiful character inside and out despite her nocturnal activities. Cory had been running all her life, never feeling loved or fitting in at home, just merely surviving until she was old enough to get out. She always felt like a mistake and her parents made sure she knew it. Cory had nothing to live for until her sister was born and then she became everything. Determined not to let her sister live the life that she had Cory does what she does so that her sister can have the life she didn’t. Cory pays for everything for her sister including her education, hence the activities that she currently finds herself doing.

“What are you running from? My answer: Everything.”

One night while running from their latest heist the crew are all being chased by another gang of Parkours, Cory is really good but the guy on her tail is even better. He eventually runs her down thoroughly impressed by how far and for how long she managed to evade him. With the adrenaline running high these two have one hell of a “on top of a building scene,” seriously hot!! But one time will never be enough and once their paths cross again, neither will be able to look back.

“His body was a silhouette against the lights of the buildings that stretched up around us. He was a god or a superhero, something out of a myth or legend, too good to be true. Too good to be mine.”

Van Collins is a professional photographer and has used his love of Parkour to get some out of this world shots that have elevated him to super stardom, insanely rich, he cannot believe that he has found the perfect woman. Someone that gets him, someone that loves Parkour as much as he does, someone that is just as good at it too and someone that he shares some intense chemistry with.

Knowing the company that Cory keeps you know that the fact he is insanely rich is going to cause problems and when Cory is blackmailed to betray him, huge choices and sacrifices are made.

“You don’t know anything, Van. If you did, you’d never want me. That’s the honest truth.”

I loved the plot of this story, all the characters had their place and reason for being and all played a massive part in this tale. As I said above the way the Parkour is described has you salivating and if I wasn’t my age or build it is something I wouldn’t mind trying…well actually being afraid of heights probably not, but if I didn’t have a fear of heights this is something I would definitely want to do. Seeing a city from a totally different angle than anyone else, the peace and quiet, the burn of the chase, the adrenaline rush all these factors so vividly described that I lived this series.

The romance side between Cory and Van had me swooning, neither character had really opened themselves up to love before and you could really feel their chemistry. From that first scene, you knew what they shared was powerful and I couldn’t help but champion these two along. Just a note Cory was bi before she met Van and there is one small F/F scene in the first book.

“…how I feel about you, how you feel about yourself. I wanted you to fill that space on my wall. In my heart. In my life.”

You certainly find out who your friends are the hard way and this is no different for Cory, I loved the way that the good ones stuck together and helped each other out when times got bad. This is a book about friendships and family, betrayal, forgiveness, second chances and living life to the max. This book is also about love, how when you find “the one” you know and will do anything and everything to make it happen even if your heart rules over your head.

“You’re good, Cory. Even when you’re bad.”

This was my first Staci Hart read and it certainly won’t be last. Cannot wait to read what else this author has written. If this serial is anything to go by, I am in for a treat.


Buy Links:

Hardcore Vol 1:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1xb4mbt
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1BQ8ttr

Hardcore Vol 2:

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1GR05cZ
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1wVdbpu

Hardcore Vol 3: 

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1AAvzjL
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1AAwrok

 

1 comment:

  1. Thanks for the post and your thoughts, I enjoyed reading them. I have not read these books and the sound great and are on my tbr list. Thanks for the chance to win! I stopped by Staci's fb page and wished her Happy Birthday. I mentioned you but could not tag you. Have a great weekend. =D

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