Thank you NetGalley and the Publisher for an advance e-copy of My Heart Still Beats in exchange of an honest review.

Helen Hardt's latest novel, explores the life-changing power of love amidst the depths of trauma. Ben and Tessa both scarred by their past, find solace and healing in an unlikely connection.

The story revolves around the forced proximity between the main characters, a trope that Hardt handles with skill and sensitivity. The characters' reluctance to open up is palpable, yet their undeniable chemistry and desire for redemption draw them together.

The romance is heartwarming and sensual, balancing the darker elements of the plot with hope and resilience. Hardt's writing is both evocative and emotional, capturing the complexities of love, trauma, and the journey towards recovery.

However, there are some elements of the story that feel somewhat not needed in the story and could have been omitted without detracting from the overall impact. Additionally, the novel's trigger warnings should be taken seriously, as the subject matter may be sensitive for some readers.

Despite these minor flaws, 'My Heart Still Beats' is a captivating and ultimately satisfying read. Helen Hardt's ability to weave a compelling tale of love and healing is evident throughout. Fans of romance and those seeking a thought-provoking and emotional story will find this novel both enjoyable and impactful.

**Rating:** 4.5 out of 5 stars

**Pros:**

* Sweet and steamy romance
* Compelling characters and forced proximity trope
* Heartfelt and evocative writing
* Themes of trauma, healing, and resilience

**Cons:**

* Some unnecessary elements in the plot
* Subject matter may be sensitive for some readers

My Heart Still Beats by H. Hardt, published by Entangled Publishing is a full length stand alone.
This is a dark read. The story deals with sensitive content, consider you warned.
A lost soul meets her soulmate on a friends wedding. But sometines love isn't enough.
An emotional read that gives all the feels and deserves all the stars.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc of this book. Helen Hardt has done it again, another amazing book. I am already a giant fan of Helen Hardt's writing and prior to reading her books I was not a fan of dual point of view books. Once I started reading Helen Hardt, I now love dual point of view books. This book is Tessa and Ben Black's story. You may recognize Ben Black as the brother of Braden Black and Tessa as the best friend of Sierra from the follow me series. This book keeps you interested from the first chapter to the epilogue. Once I started reading this I could not put it down. This book does address some trauma and has some very serious moments, make sure to check the trigger warnings. This book is also very emotional. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for the next book from Helen Hardt.

From the moment I read the dedication - going out to those who have fought depression - I knew this book would break my heart in the best ways. 🥹❤️

My Heart Still Beats is about so much more than just romance. It’s filled with the stories of two families, culture, the choices we make, trauma, grief, and of course the healing power of love 💕 It’s beautiful and at times gut wrenching. This book covers some of the hardest topics so check the trigger warnings before reading.

For the first half, I was absolutely entranced by this book. Time flew by and the short, fast chapters kept my attention as I swooned over Ben Black. 😍 Tessa hasn’t been dealt the easiest hand and truly deserves the world. I was very invested in watching her get a much-needed HEA.

The pacing of the second half slowed a bit for me, and certain aspects felt overplayed/redundant. What started as a 5 ⭐️ read dropped a bit, but it was still a really great story! This is my first book by Helen Hardt, and I’d definitely pick up another.

4.25 ⭐️ rounded down

Thank you to NetGalley & Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

A sweet and steamy romance from bestselling author, Helen Hardt. Two individuals both overcoming trauma in their own ways who come together in a forced proximity love story. This one is marked as a darker romance due to the subject matter but the love story itself between the main characters is sweet with a happy ever after. Check the trigger warnings and take care if you’re an abuse survivor. I liked this one, but there were a few things that I thought felt forced and could have been taken out and still been fine. I’ve read Helen Hardt before and if you’re a fan of hers or of romance in general this one would be something you’d enjoy.

She's a lost soul but she meets her soul mate when she meets the billionaire best man at her best friend's wedding....

It's a dark angsty romance. Ends with a happy ending of course because it's a romance. :) Both major characters deal with a lot of trauma from the past but it's worth the read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.