Gorgeous, gentle story with two very different MC's. They are very different. Both have pasts that have left scars...

There are no major conflicts or drama's that need solving. No true clashes. No, this story is more about the journey. A journey to figure out a future, to perhaps find peace and along the way to find unexpected friendship and the beginnings of a relationship that could last. Isabelle Rowan makes the Aussie outback come to life with her descriptions. And her characters as always just about walk off the page! My only complaint is (as always) that I want more lol. I'd love to read more about these guys and how they build their future together. ( )

Isabelle Rowan’s The Red Heart is a beautifully written romance between two very unlikely lovers. Please click HERE to read my review in its entirety. ( )

Read for a challenge with specific categories.

2.5

If I hadn't run out of interesting looking options for this category, this would have been a DNF for me. Frankly, it was quite boring, and I didn't really get it. One of the former may be the cause for the other... There were a few good moments, but the majority of the story just didn't do anything for me. ( )

A Hearts On Fire Review

THREE & A HALF STARS--An ex-junkie/ goth (Daniel) does some soul searching in the Australian desert. On his search for self(?), he meets a wandering PTSD-suffering, scarred ex-soldier (Sam). Together, they join forces to help one another and their struggles on their 'walkabout' to Uluru - the Red Heart.

The end.

Not.

This novella has beautiful descriptions of Australian desert, sometimes so good it felt like you were on the journey with Daniel. The story is more so about his point of view than Sam's. You are introduced the bare minimum about Sam's past, I did want to know more about him -why is running away from home, how long has it been since his injuries, what his feelings about Daniel, etc.

This story was more about the introspection than romance, barely any time was spent describing the minimal sexual acts between the two gay men out alone on their self-imposed camping trip. (Alright, I was a little disappointed-but that is my pet peeve, maybe it is not yours?)

The ending did not feel rushed it leaned closer to HFN with a small HEA feel. Daniel claimed to be in love with Sam fairly quickly, after knowing him for less than half a week. I wished it was not included in the story because it cheapened the authentic, motivating, rebirth vibe it was going for. I had to take away half a star from my original 4 star rating just for the unnecessary insta-love from Daniel. It was a feeling from left field for me. Both men were interesting, Sam was a wilderness man compared to the urban-city goth in Daniel.

Here's my favorite quote from this story that I think encompasses the major feeling:

“We make a messed-up pair, don't we?"

"The soldier and the junkie," Daniel said with a self deprecating chuckle.

"Ex-soldier and ex-junkie," Sam corrected him. "We're getting there.”

And both men will continue to get "there" and your taken for their journey. Readers of stories about growth and overcoming hardships will enjoy this story the most." ( )

Really sweet with a good HFN ending. I'd love to see more from these two men, so totally, yet differently damaged. I love a good goth, so I fell a bit in love with Daniel, but liked Sam a lot too. It would be nice to know more, how Daniel ended up an addict, and what happened to Sam, but I'm happy just reading about their simple but healing journey, and have hope for their future. ( )