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Series: Battered Hearts; Previous Book: Defying the Odds
Heavyweight UFC fighter, Romeo Wellings comes from the hard streets of New York where his family ties to the mafia cause him nothing but pain. His life takes a surprising detour when he crosses paths with the twin sister of his long-time enemy. After a steamy, one-night stand, he faces the fight of his life, but it's not in the cage. The secret relationship that blooms between Romeo and his real life Juliet has him battling his family and a dark past rather than let her go.
The only lawyer in her hometown of Garnet, Jules Conner is also a volunteer Sheriff's deputy and co-owner of a successful MMA training center. Strong and dependable, Jules is always there for those who need her. Until one forbidden night in Las Vegas with Romeo leaves her feeling so alive she can't stop reaching out to the sexy bad boy of the UFC, even knowing the forbidden love affair could jeopardize everything.
As the tide rises against them and the people they love work at keeping them apart, Romeo and Jules hold onto a dream for a better life together and vow to go down fighting rather than accept a tragic ending.
Anonymous
Posted April 18, 2013
Loved both books! Will there be a third???
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.MMA fighters are becoming the heroes of choice lately, so it takes some clever writing to set each apart. Kele Moon succeeds by presenting us not one, but many strong and capable men who prove they have a heart of gold when not punching at others. Throw in a bit of mafia ties and you end up with one totally suspenseful story and another satisfying release in Ms. Moon's Battered Hearts series.
With a couple named Romeo and Juliet you know the path to a HEA won't go smoothly, and from an unhappy twin wanting to maim a boyfriend to a hit sanctioned by a mafia family, there's all sorts of obstacles to true love that are heartwrenching and kept me frantically turning the pages as the tension kept ramping up. For Juliet Conner, the MMA has always been a big part of her life and after a recent championship bout that took an unexpected turn (in the previous installment) she comes in contact with Romeo "The Gladiator" Wellings and a thank you dinner turns to an intense relationship that cleverly builds through texting and late night video chats. Once he comes to town to improve his fighting technique their relationship deepens until his family ties come back to haunt them and they're forced to go on the run and tragedy strikes again.
Juliet's not your typical looking heroine. With a body honed through many years of fighting herself to being taller than almost every man she's known, her and Romeo are the perfect match. She's competent and more than capable of defending herself. Her mother died giving birth to her which has led to an intense bond between her and her twin. They both believe they're cursed to lose the ones they love so it's surprising how quickly she bonds with Romeo. And bond they do! The chemistry between them is electric and their sexual encounters hot. The encounters are nicely spaced throughout the story though and don't detract from character development.
Romeo, along with his two younger brothers, are a charming set of characters forced into doing things they didn't always want to do. With a grandfather who's the head of a crime family it's no wonder their lives are in constant turmoil. Whenever they try to get out it pulls them back in and it almost destroys them time and again. Romeo was forced into caring for his brothers at an early age so their bond is unbreakable and they're not afraid to show their emotions to each other which made me love them even more. With all the bad in his life, Juliet's the one bright spot and he's desperate to keep her. Again, he's not afraid to tell/show her how much he loves her which made him an even more uniquely memorable hero who I was cheering for every step of the way.
The fight scenes in this story are vivid and the world of the MMA realistically displayed. The danger and feelings of inescape with relation to the Moretti brothers and the mafia are poignant and keep a constant feeling of sadness and tension surrounding them, particularly Cassanova who's still knee-deep in that world but has me feeling very sympathetic towards him and desperate to see him find happiness. Younger brother Valentino is equally as charming, constantly in action with a bit of boyishness remaining. He too intrigues me and I look forward to his future in the MMA as he continues to train in "hicksville".
Star Crossed has wonderful characters and action that keeps you on the edge-of-your-seat. This is definitely a series that continues to entertain and I hig
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 17, 2013
Not as good as the first but well worth the time! Waiting for Wyatt's story.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 5, 2013
I just adore this series. The characters are great and you can't help fall in love with them.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 25, 2013
Loved this book! Great series!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BeckeyWhite
Posted March 12, 2013
I agree with many other reviewers there are many similarities between this story & the Shakespeare tale. BUT there is a slight twist with more muscles and a bit of some erotica elements. I found the book to be an interesting and enjoyable story to a point. There was some part of the book that seemed to be dry and slow. I personally found it interesting to see how Romeo and Jules built the relationship between them.
Anonymous
Posted March 7, 2013
Great book. Loved romeo
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.CDKeith
Posted February 28, 2013
You gotta love Romeo and Juliet. This was a great book and I may have liked it more than the first. A steamy one-night stand turns into unforgettable love story. Juliet lives on the straight and narrow. She is a lawyer who volunteers for her brother the Sheriff when he needs her. While in Vegas she hooks up with Romeo, a MMA fighter and also her brothers long time enemy.
Romeo is stuck in his life because his brothers are sons of big time mafia. He can't get his mind off of Jules and has to have her even if it is long distance. They are quickly wrapped up in each other and their secret love affair. I'm talking secret, hot, hot affair. Even over the phone and online they are burning it up. When he gets the opportunity to train in her small town he is gone. By this time they are completely in-love with each other.
They both a very close bond with their sibling. Jules and Wyatt are twins. Romeo has spent his life taking care of his brothers. Both of them love their family but realize they can't live without each other. Even with all the things working against them, this Romeo and Juliet are going to get the happy ever after.
Thank you to Kele Moon and NetGalley for allowing me to read.
Anonymous
Posted February 15, 2013
The names of the main characters make it obvious there will be tragedies, yet that doesn't detract from the surprisingly solid writing. It's not great literature but it IS a good story. The MMA references and cast of characters remind me of Lori Foster's books, but with better grammar. I don't mean bad language, I mean bad grammar. I live in the South and NEVER hear the word "ain't" as often as this book uses it. Juliet's bad grammar is grating because lawyers are generally bright. Ever heard of John Grisham? Fairly literate fellow and well-spoken too.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted January 30, 2013
Great story. I could not put it down.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.shirley_frances
Posted January 28, 2013
3.75 stars A great addition to the series!
Romeo is a proud, Italian man who has had a rough life that served to encourage his determination to be the best at what he does. His life revolves around his brothers and his career until an unexpected encounter with Jules Conner. After a night of talking and sizzling sex he is left wanting more - not only from her, but from life.
Juliet Conner is a strong, professional woman who dedicates her life to her work and her family. She's independent and self-sufficient but underneath it all she wants to love and be loved by a man that is her equal. She is attracted to Romeo instantly and after he rocked her world she convinced herself that it meant nothing and that he was not for her. But after months of continued long-distance communication, Romeo shows up at her hometown to train in her gym and she cannot stay away.
After reading Defying the Odds, the first book in the Battered Hearts series, I was hesitant to read this second intallment. I believed that I would encounter the same issues as before, but I was determined to get through it and I was not disappointed. Although the story gives off a feeling of 'insta-love' between Romeo and Juliet, this was not the case. The love between these two developed through shared phone calls, chat sessions and text messages. They got to know each other very well before they really engaged in a relationship and through this communication I got to know them too, which helped me connect to them fully and encourage me to cheer them on to get together.
With complex characters, off the charts hot sexual chemistry and an engaging plot, Kele Moon's writing was very good. I enjoyed visiting with Clay and Melody and was glad to see how their relationship was holding up. I also liked getting to know a bit more about Wyatt, Jules brother. There were additional characters introduced, including Romeo's brothers Valentino and Casanova. Wyatt and 'Nova' played an integral part to the resolution of the conflict and I can't wait to read more about them.
I appreciated the fact that the Kele Moon took her time in bringing Romeo and Jules together. They were head-strong individuals with personal issues that affected their relationship one way or the other, but it was Romeo who had the most issues to deal with. He was conflicted about many things, but his main concern came down to his past and how it was affecting his present life. He was an interesting character to get to know and I enjoyed discovering all the layers he had hidden under all that muscle.
Filled with flirtatious dialog, erotic and emotional moments, Kele Moon brought to the page a great follow up book to the series. I look forward to reading more about these characters.
Anonymous
Posted January 26, 2013
Loved this book
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.BookAddictedMom
Posted January 17, 2013
Romeo and Juliet. Not exactly the same star crossed lovers from Shakespeare but they are definitely meant to be. Romeo was introduced briefly in the first Battered Hearts book where he meets Clay and Melodie. This book picks up right where book one left off. Juliet asks Romeo to dinner to thank him for rescuing Melodie. Juliet is immediately drawn in to his good looks and charm. Sparks fly right from the beginning.
Romeo has a past he is trying to hide. Juliet knows he is a bad boy and that she shouldn't want him. But one kiss from this hot Italian fighter and she knows she's in trouble.Romeo's family history is dark. As his tale unfolds, Juliet finds herself in the middle of something much bigger than she imagined.
This book was 5 steamy blazing hot stars. Kele Moon knows how to write a love scene that will curl your toes. Amazing book. Just the right amount of action and intrigue to keep you glued to the book. Juliete's snarky banter is wonderful. I can not wait to see how the next book comes together. I am hoping we get to see Wyatt and his lost love.
Anonymous
Posted January 4, 2013
Pured at pebblesplash
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.SuzyQ49
Posted September 28, 2012
I loved Book 2 in the series even more than Book 1, and I really loved Book 1. Jules and Romeo are such a fascinating couple. I love how strong Jules is. Again, I could not put this book down. Spent a whole day sitting in a chair reading. I was sad to see the story over. Now I am waiting for Book 3. Ms. Kele Moon makes you believe these are real people out there. You become friends with them through the books. I can't wait to see what happens next.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 15, 2012
Very fun to read...romeo is a mma /mobster and juliet is a lawyer/deputy of the law. Two people who should not be together that are. I loved the new adaptionof the classic tragedy with a new twist....could not put it down
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 7, 2012
What can I say? This is one of my favorite stories. I really love the tough guy and lost girl books but this is not that story. Juliet is strong and independent and can take on anyone, well except Romeo. He gives her a run for her money from the start. I love both of their personalities and the way they even each other out. I also love the fact that they can stand up to each other, both strong and independent on their own! This is a must read!
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 6, 2012
Can't wait to read more. Actually found myself wanting to hear Nova's story next
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 25, 2012
Too short but i really enjoyed it.
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
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Posted January 14, 2013
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Overview
Series: Battered Hearts; Previous Book: Defying the Odds
Heavyweight UFC fighter, Romeo Wellings comes from the hard streets of New York where his family ties to the mafia cause him nothing but pain. His life takes a surprising detour when he crosses paths with the twin sister of his long-time enemy. After a steamy, one-night stand, he faces the fight of his life, but it's not in the cage. The secret relationship that blooms between Romeo and ...