If you love hurt/comfort fanfic, this romance as dark as midnight is for you. And the trigger warnings abound. The angst of the first couple of chapters reaches dizzying levels, with the premise being that the protagonist Cora is abducted by a serial rapist and killer, in the company of none other than her sister’s hated fiancé. And of course they fall in love during their captivity, which keeps you reading, because how on earth are they going to get out of this predicament even if they survive the kidnapping???

Yeah, no trope catches my attention quite as fast as two horror survivors locked up in a basement together. The added social drama only made me more googly-eyed.

To be fair, I would give this 2,5 stars if I could, because it wasn't all that terribly executed, but the later 2/3 of this novel just went on and on uninterestingly. A lot of the argument points are regurgitated and discussed time and time again. I also have to add that – excessively repeated expletives in inner dialogues aside - Still Beating is not badly written, although I do think some words‘ meanings escape the author’s understanding.

In the end, I simply wasn’t interested in the mid tiktok smut the story devolved into, and I skipped the epilogue after the first sentence, for my own mental health.

This was such an emotional book. Before this I hadn't really read many dark romance books. I was unsure wether to read this or not but I am glad that I did! I could not put this book down, I was so consumed with this story and the relationships within this book. This book was so heartbreaking and I was crying for Cora and Dean. The book was so well written for a dark romance and it has definitely convinced me to read more dark romances and more of Jennifers books. I don't want to say much more without spoiling it but I think it's worth the read. If you are thinking of reading this make sure you read the trigger warnings beforehand.

Holy dark romance wonder!! I loved this book. It seriously tore me to shreds in the best way. I can only imagine what these characters would feel. I was completely invested in Cora and Dean, despite how it is between them in the beginning and Cora's sister Maddy's role in their everyday lives. The beginning is definitely dark, and the middle is heart wrenching, but man that ending put me back together again when I didn't think it was possible. Seeing these two not only live through the actual trauma, but also in the aftermath, had me unable to put this book down. This book will have you confused on what you actually feel, because you'll feel so damn much. I sincerely recommend going into this one with an open-mind and let the wonder that is Jennifer Hartmann take you through this amazing story.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬:
4/5⭐️
2.5/5🔥

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬/𝐂𝐖/𝐓𝐖/𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐬:
MF/dual POV/dark romance/HEA/enemies to lovers/kidnapping/sexual assault/rape/violence/murder/self harm/reference to miscarriage/loss of pet

𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰:
Cora and Dean have known each other forever and have spent at least that much time being enemies. Pranks, insults, taunts, you name it… that’s them summed up in a few words. It doesn’t help that he is engaged to her sister and around all the time. After a night out with friends, Cora needs a ride home and even if the last person she wants to call for a ride is Dean, he is the only one available. Little do they know that night will change the trajectory of their intwined lives forever. Being kidnapped, held hostage, and forced to do unspeakable things, Cora and Dean only have each other to cling to in the deep dark cellar that will become their home for 3 weeks.

There are so many words to describe this book but raw, tragic and heart wrenching are some that come to mind. After Dean and Cora’s escape, separated by real life, they struggle to move forward from their trauma while ‘normal’ life threatens to pull them under. They knew before they escaped their relationship would forever be changed.

I felt like Cora struggled the most, barely keeping her head above water but that could be because I feel like we didn’t a lot of Dean’s healing. It seemed to be him keeping Cora afloat and him dealing with his relationship with Cora’s sister, Mandy. I felt like she was extremely inconsiderate for the healing Cora and Dean were trying to accomplish.

The information that surfaces about their kidnapper afterward was definitely twisted, but it was intriguing to have this in the story also. As Cora and Dean follow the news stories, I think this really made them question if their feelings were real.

I loved the aspect of Cora being able to bond with another survivor. I like the POV from Tabitha after the end of the book and I can’t help but hope maybe she will get her HEA in a future book. [if there isn’t one already; I haven’t looked into that.]

Dean’s decisions toward the second half were painful but necessary. Seeing them come out the other side of this was gratifying. This was definitely dark and messed up, but the overall story was something I won’t easily forget.
at least thatthat’s in a few words It doesn’t help that he is engaged to her sister and around all the time.AfterCora needs a ride home and even if the last person she wants to call for a ride is Dean, he is the only one available. Little do they know that night will change the trajectory of their intwined lives forever. Being kidnapped, held hostage, and forced to do unspeakable things, Cora and Dean only have each other to cling to in the deep dark cellar that will become their home for 3 weeks.
raw, tragic and heart wrenching After Dean and Cora’s escape, separated by real life, they struggle to move forward from their trauma while ‘normal’ life threatens to pull them under. They knew before they escaped their relationship would forever be changed.

I felt like Cora struggled the most, barely keeping her head above water but that could be because I feel like we didn’t a lot of Dean’s healing. It seemed to be him keeping Cora afloat and him dealing with his relationship with Cora’s sister, Mandy. I felt like she was extremely inconsiderate for the healing Cora and Dean were trying to accomplish.

The information that surfaces about their kidnapper afterward was definitely twisted, but it was intriguing to have this in the story also. As Cora and Dean follow the news stories, I think this really made them question if their feelings were real.

I loved the aspect of Cora being able to bond with another survivor. I like the POV from Tabitha after the end of the book and I can’t help but hope maybe she will get her HEA in a future book. [if there isn’t one already; I haven’t looked into that.]

Dean’s decisions toward the second half were painful but necessary. Seeing them come out the other side of this was gratifying. This was definitely dark and messed up, but the overall story was something I won’t easily forget.

** 𝘞𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘦 𝘪𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘫𝘰𝘣 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘦, 𝘐 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘳𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴, 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘨𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘴 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 … 𝘩𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘐 𝙙𝙞𝙙 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙡. 𝘐𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝙖𝙗𝙨𝙤𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙚 𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙖𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙮 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘭𝘶𝘥𝘦, 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴. 𝘒𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘰𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘭𝘺 =𝘋 **


𝐐𝐮𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐬:

I don’t know if there is a sense of dramatic irony in the fact that I’ve been taken captive with the one person in the world I hate most, or if there is a semblance of relief in the realization that I am not alone in this.

I hold on to him. He’s still my lifeline. He’s still all I have. We’re in this together.

She doesn’t need to pretend with me, though. She doesn’t need to hide. I’m here, and I see her—every scar, every flaw, every broken, hollow piece. And I understand.

This is rough and raw and dirty, and we’re animals clawing at each other, biting, all primal growls and desperate thrusts. It’s fitting, I decide. After all, we were created in darkness. It’s in our blood.

I need him. He’s the only calm to my madness, the only light to my dark, the only sweet to my bitter remains. He tames me. He heals me.

This book was PHENOMENAL. I found the plot in this book to be captivating. I read this book in only a few sittings and was sucked in every time. There was trauma, there was toxicity, there was a lot of dark feelings, but there was also growth and healing (and a HEA).

The characters in this book have my heart. Cora and Dean WENT THROUGH IT. The evolution of their relationship throughout the book was heartbreaking at times, but it was such a hard situation and they really did their best. They are such a precious couple to me now and I want to protect them at all costs.

This was my first Jennifer Hartmann book and it definitely will not be my last! I highly suggest checking the TW before reading. I found a lot of the traumatic events to be tastefully written as it is clear what is happening, but it is not described on page. If you want an emotional punch with happiness in the end, check this out!

I received a copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The book was so emotional!!

I have never came across a book like this or a plot it is such a heartbreaking and healing romance I highly recommend!!

Check trigger warnings!

This was good and enjoyable and a solid read, but was it UN-put-down-able? Not for me. I struggled with the dark romance element, mixed with enemies to lovers AND a kidnapping. I think I could have done with one less major element and it would have really soared.

OMG THIS BOOK!!!!
What did i just read. I honestly couldnt put it down. Cora and Deans story consumed me from the first page untill the last. What a ride this story was. This was my first Jennifer Hartmann book and wont be my last. Her writing is everything! She managed to take a book about some horrific events and with her beautiful writing she enveloped me into the story, hooked me in and didnt let go. I felt like i was a part of this story. i think i went through every emotion with these 2. This book broke me. I wont give much away as this is one that needs to be read without too much being given away but i would strongly advise you heed the content warnings.
The audio was so good. Id really recommend the audio for this one. The narrators did a brilliant job with conveying the emotions the characters were going through and you felt like a part of the story almost like your a fly on the wall. Simply brilliant and one i wont forget in a hurry.

Jennifer Hartman is severely underrated because her stories are unlike any others on the market and they are so worthy of your time and money. She's one author who promises a life-changing read and commits to it. Her books are so original, her writing brilliant, and her character's journey so heartwrenching. I'm constantly drawn so deep into the web of her stories that I can feel every moment, word, and emotion the characters feel. I do not want to spoil the incredibly well-crafted story Hartmann created in Still Beating but I do want to say that's it dark, angsty, painful at time but by the end you feel comforted, healed, and reminded that the pure love that Cora and Dean share can salvage their souls, soothe their scars, and seal their hearts. There are triggers so make sure to check the warnings and know that it's haunting and hard at times but trust in Jennifer Hartmann's penmanship that she will deliver a HEA worthy of these two beautiful characters and an arc that shows us that love can illuminate the dark and heal the hurt! Jennifer Hartmann is the reason my heart is still beating so please enter this heartbreakingly beautiful world she's poured her own beating heart into!

Whew that was dark. This one is for the true crime girlies, but the main trope is forbidden love. It’s genre bending for sure and has open-door scenes, so for those that love mystery/serial killer/romance vibes, it may be a great fit.

⚠️ Go into this knowing that the list of trigger warnings is like minimum a hundred different things.

Overall a good read and I loved the reference to Oliver in Lotus by Jennifer Hartmann (a fav of mine)!

This book is incredible. I really don't have the words. It's dark & daunting. It's angsty. It's healing. My emotions were all over the place. Just check your triggers. I really can't say anything more without giving away anything. I've never read anything like this. Jennifer knows how to pull out your feelings & make you feel them. Wow.

I wanted to love this dark romance, with enemies to lovers mixed with a little kidnapping. Unfortunately something about it just didn't connect for me and I found the romance a bit flat. Disappointingly, I think this one wasn't for me!

I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

5 ⭐

"“It’s still beating. You’re still okay. And I still love you."

Still Beating by Jennifer Hartmann is one of my favorite books ever!!
From the very first page to the epilogue, it's an endless rollercoaster of emotions. I felt everything from sorrow to cheerfulness for Cora & Dean.

They endure very tough situations that they won’t forget and will tie them stronger forever & ever.

Throughout the whole book, Cora faced up to hard circumstances with her family, especially her sister, Mandy. When I read the scene of Mandy arguing with Cora about what happened in the basement with Dean, it broke my heart entirely.

I absolutely loved this book and would recommend it to anyone who loves an emotional-all-crying-night book.

I don't even know how to review this book without giving things away or saying too much. Everything said that it's DARK and it really is. The first 30% could be one of the most intense and dark romance set ups that I have ever read. But what comes after and how it all comes together is completely addicting. I started this after dinner and did not go to sleep until it was done.

This is the story of Cora and Dean...and their abduction. Please read content warnings. Please know that this is a dark romance. But also know that the work it takes to get there just leaves you turning pages for more.

"It's still beating," he whispers, his words a soft kiss against my lips. "As long as it's beating, you're okay."

Cora and Dean have been at each other's throats for fifteen years and counting, since Dean is engaged to Cora's sister. They can barely tolerate each other, always going the extra mile to prank one another. After a night out of drinking, Cora needs a ride, and in swoops Dean to help her, never expecting their lives would be tragically and irrevocably changed.

"It's just you and me, Cora. Focus, okay? Look at me... Focus on my voice..."

Cora and Dean are kept captive for weeks, their experience completely horrendous. I was heart-broken and appalled and enraged for them. But Dean... Oh, Dean... Despite going through some of the similar things as Cora, he always stood his ground; he became the one thing Cora needed to be able to survive what they were going through. Even through what Dean was forced to do, he never took advantage of the situation and would suffer along with Cora; my heart was shattered into tiny pieces.

"You don't feel like my enemy anymore," I finish. You feel like my lifeline.

One thing this book took note of throughout the plot was the very true definition of trauma, of what it's like to go through something so harrowing, and just because you're out of the situation, doesn't mean you're automatically healed. Things just don't go back to the way they were, the person doesn't go back to who they used to be. And Jennifer Hartmann depicted that trauma so devastatingly beautiful. Her eloquent prose made way for understanding the horrendous experience. One of the things that stood out to me was how, no matter how long time has passed, it doesn't mean you can bounce back.

Personally, I've had close family members tell me, "It's been six months. Why aren't you better?" There's no timeline for healing, there's no timeline for being able to get your breath back normally after a horrifying experience or from dealing with the feelings of the aftermath. I applaud the author for giving a poignant feel to the healing process.

"There's no shame in the struggle."

I love that the new bonus scene focuses on Tabitha, who's story is releasing next year! Just the little we got hurt my heart so much. I feel for Tabitha, and I just know her story will destroy me.

Overall, Still Beating depicts a heart-rending, touching, and beautifully tragic story of survival, healing, and finding love through the darkest moments of life.

"As long as it's beating, I'm yours."

IF YOU LIKE:
- Dark Romance
- Enemies to Lovers
- Forced Proximity
- Forbidden

Please check TW before reading!

Wow just wow this book left me speechless. This book was gut-wrenching and heartbreaking but beautiful at the same time. Dean and Cora went through so much and survived it all. This book was so emotional and angsty. I even teared up a couple of times. Toward the end, I couldn't put my Kindle down I was so invested. I loved that the story was told in parts it flowed nicely, and how we saw the past a few times also. I loved Dean Asher so much! This book is very dark and not for the faint of heart so please check TW before diving into this book. Thank You NetGalley and BloomBooks for an ARC copy of Still Beating I greatly appreciate it. I received an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

“It’s still beating. As long as it’s beating, you’re okay.”

3.5/5

"He is enough. His heartbeat is all I need."

Cora and Dean, her sister’s boyfriend, haven't been able to stand each other since high school. For 15 years they have mercilessly teased, pranked, and annoyed each other to no end.

One night at a bar, Cora’s wallet gets stolen and she has no way to pay for a ride home. As a last resort, Cora relents and calls the last person she wants to deal with. Dean. But when he comes to pick her up they both get attacked, kidnapped, and held captive for three weeks before managing to escape.

This was definitely a hard-hitting novel; trauma, survival, healing and hope are all very intense themes woven throughout. This was well-written (though I would definitely check the trigger warnings for this book before going into it), and my only grievance is that I would have liked to see a little more of Dean and Cora before they got kidnapped. We get flashbacks that help add to their story, but for a while it really seems like they go straight from hating one another, to not.

Still Beating was originally published in December of 2020, and is now set to be re-released with a brand new cover on July 11, 2023. Thank you to Bloom Books, NetGalley and the author for the digital advanced copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jennifer Hartmann's Still Beating is a gripping exploration of dark and taboo themes that pushes the boundaries of traditional relationships. The story follows Cora Lawson and Dean Asher, whose lives are intertwined in a tumultuous relationship filled with teasing and pranks. When they find themselves trapped together in a madman's basement, they must confront their shared trauma and rely on each other for survival, discovering a bond that transcends their troubled past. The book stands out for its powerful character development and evocative writing style, as Hartmann skillfully crafts a narrative that goes beyond a typical captivity story.

Hartmann's descriptive and emotive writing shines in Still Beating, capturing the raw emotions and harrowing experiences of the characters. The author expertly balances darkness and hope, infusing moments of light amidst the story's intensity. The realistic portrayal of the characters' emotions and their evolving connection is commendable, as readers witness the growth of Cora and Dean from adversaries to partners. While addressing uncomfortable subjects such as sexual assault and self-harm, the book challenges societal norms and sheds light on their impact.

Despite the book's commendable qualities, some readers, like myself, may struggle to connect with the characters. Still Beating's intense narrative may be overwhelming for those who prefer lighter content, leading to skimming over the more traumatic parts. However, Hartmann's courage in tackling difficult and rarely discussed subjects deserves recognition. The book's well-crafted narrative and exploration of challenging themes make it a compelling choice for readers who appreciate darker and more intense storytelling.

This book killed me. I saw it all over TikTok and was scared to read it, but as heart wrenching as it was, I am thankful I got an ARC from NetGallery!! Jennifer’s writing was so descriptive and it made me feel as if I was a fly on the wall witnessing the horrible things the characters went through before overcoming them, growing and healing themselves before reuniting at the end!

Not all love stories begin with hearts and flowers and pretty words. Some begin in darkness, reeking of despair and pain, anguish, and terror. That is where Cora and Dean found their story changing forever. Dean was supposed to be marrying her sister, Cora saw only the years of pranks and hurt feelings when she looked at Dean. Until the night they are taken and the unimaginable happens. This is a story of healing and forgiveness, pain, and acceptance. It may have some darkness, but that's always when you find the light, if you look hard enough.