SIX OF HEARTS (Hearts #1) by L H COSWAY

“You’re my home, Matilda.”

Gitte: The synopsis for Six of Hearts had us salivating in bookie joy didn’t it, Jenny? We were desperate to get to this story in our schedule and as we began to read we revelled in the prologue.

“So, sit back, relax, and let my girl tell you our story. You’re in for one hell of a ride.”

Seriously, I was hooked and thought this is going to be an incredibly emotional story and I was so ready for it! The mystery and intrigue, the humour and banter was fantastic to begin with and I was enjoying the great writing of L H Cosway.

“Please don’t push for more, even if it feels like I want you so badly it hurts, even if I’m the one doing the pushing.”

I absolutely LOVED Jay Fields; what an awesome character. So unique in his profession; so incredibly funny and sexy; so enigmatic. I just knew he had a real emotional story on how he ended up where he was in life. Jay kept me reading when the story slowed right down and kept to-ing and fro-ing. He’s why I kept turning the pages.

“If you’re hedging for me to reveal my secrets you’re shit out of luck.”

I have to say, Jenny I was kind of disappointed in this story. In a few words why; well, it came across as an episode of Britain’s got talent with Darcy Oakes and I didn’t feel any emotion as the whole story was in Matilda’s POV. I laughed and I swooned; but I felt none of that raw gritty emotion that should come with a character so broken and hurt by circumstances beyond his control. Jay Fields lost his inner tortured voice and Matilda just wasn’t a strong enough female character to tell it. I found her childish and naive on the whole and lacking any conviction. Their banter was spot on but it wasn’t enough. I wanted to feel and experience and sadly I couldn’t.

“I’ll never hit a lady, but I’ll slap a bitch.”

So whilst this story wasn’t what I expected from that hard hitting synopsis and start, I did enjoy it. I had to finish to see where everyone ended up. I liked it, but I didn’t love it, Jenny. How did you feel in the end?

Jenny:  My thoughts mirror yours G.  From the outset this was a book we had to 1click! We were in the mood to get stuck in after that synopsis sounded so unique and intense. THAT prologue….well, it sucked me in straight away! It was harrowing and I steadied myself for what I thought was going to be a raw, intense and emotional read. I had expected my heart to be put through its paces.

“It’s like being locked in a world where violence is God and you’re constantly waiting to become the next victim of its wrath.”

I’m a bit bummed that Six of Hearts didn’t quite grab me the way I had anticipated. Sure, like you I relished the intrigue and mystery of Jay’s story unfolding but sadly I didn’t experience the emotion Jay’s tragic and painful past should have evoked from me and I did think Jay’s POV could have assisted in that area though I really did enjoy this authors writing style.

“When you’ve got nothing, you’ll justify many things in order to survive, even hurting people.”

The back and forth banter, innuendos and double-entendres had me smiling and the dry humour certainly provoked a few giggle and I did enjoy this authors writing style.

“You’re so full of yourself.”
“You wish you were full of myself.”

Jay’s character was the draw card in Six of Hearts for me.  I adored him and he was the glue that held everything together. He was such a beautiful, wickedly witty and engaging character with an air of mystery about him. It was him I was enthralled with and it was him who kept me turning the pages. I was so intrigued to see his how story played out.

“I think you underestimate my ability to accept you, Jay, even your bad bits.”
“You can’t say that, Matilda. You can’t say that until you know everything.”

This was sweet, it was funny, mysterious and certainly swoony and I did enjoy Six of Hearts. I’m not sure if the real life aspects of the story with parallels to what’s been in the news, Darcy Oakes and the illusionist, Dynamo brought too much ‘real‘ into my fiction or the fact that I didn’t feel the emotional connection that made this an enjoyable rather than a wow read for me.