Books like Paper Hearts

★★★★ 1/2! Paper Hearts (stand-alone), book 2 of X. A story of broken hearts, second chances & heart-stopping love!\ \ \ “They say it takes twenty-one days to break a habit. It’s been approximately one thousand eight hundred and twenty six since I last held her hand in mine and I’m still waiting for the remnants of her to break off of me.”\ \ \ Books in Hearts series are stand-alones:Book 1: Kaleidoscope HeartsBook 1.5: Torn Hearts - Prequel included in book 2Book 2: Paper HeartsPaper Hearts (book 2, including prequel) is a story of an epic love and second chances. The prequel takes us back in time to 18 year old high school student Mia Bennett, Meep aka Road runner and 22 year old university student Jensen Reynolds budding romance and later their devastating breakup when Jensen shattered Mia’s heart.Fast forward five long years story picks up as now aspiring photographer Mia and popular newspaper columnist Jensen’s paths cross again when Mia takes a temporary job in New York at the same newspaper. Even though she moved on Mia is still broken. Jensen matured, his life went on, but his futile attempts to apologize and make amends met with silence.\ \ \ “And nothing is more haunting than regret.”\ \ \ Story follows them finding their way through, rehashing past hurts and could-have-beens and their take on the events to broke them apart. It’s about opening the lines of communication, forgiveness, second chances and heart-healing love.\ \ \ “I’ve lived in pain since the moment I lost you. I’ve learned to live with it, but I haven’t learned to accept it.”\ \ \ Jensen Reynolds, the man, the lover, the rebel, the writer, the poet and the father. Love, love, love his voice. And as much as I am a sucker for ruthless moguls I am awarding five stars to easy-going, lovable, matured, patient, frustrated, reflective, insightful and humorous. He captivated me with his wit, humility, sincerity and his unwavering love.\ \ \ “I’d rather live my life in flames than be numb without her.”\ \ \ Though I can appreciate Mia Bennett, Meep aka Road runner’s pain, I might have wished for less miscommunication and more honesty. Six words to describe Mia: Broken, determined, immature, private, wishy-washy and stubborn.\ \ \ “Come back to me, my little Road Runner, my world is cold and boring without you.”\ \ \ Paper Hearts is told from Mia’s POV, but sprinkled in with Jensen’s Talks, his highly popular newspaper column where he gives candid glimpses into his life and feelings. It’s a bittersweet, yet heart-warming tale of mistakes and pain; regrets and amends; love and healing. Then ending was perfect, with epilogue several years into the future.Heart-breaking set-up! Heart-tugging plot! Heart-warming story-telling! Heart-stealing Jensen Reynolds!\ \ \ “Missing: my muse. If found, please return.”\ \ \ ***Hero rating: 5 stars Heroine rating: 3.5 starsSexual tension rating: 4 starsSex scenes rating: 4.5 starsSex scenes frequency: 4 starsPlot rating: 4 starsDialogue rating: 4.5 starsStorytelling rating: 5 starsStory ending rating: 5 starsBook editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): N/A, ARC************************************************Overall rating: 4.5 starsWould I recommend this series: Yes.Would I re-read this series: Maybe later.Would I read future books by this author: Yes.Thank you to all the shhluts, Liz, Jabby, Tanaka, WaWa, Timi, LoLo, Maricris, Kay, Mer, Myla, Mad, Snow, Dawn & Naw for (F) Buddy reading on Shh… https://goo.gl/ZsJJKK\ ARC to be provided to me by author Claire Contreras, in exchange for an honest review.\