![Bitter Sweet Heart by [H. Hunting, Helena Hunting]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/W/WEBP_402378-T2/images/I/51LhaO2UjZL.jpg)
Bitter Sweet Heart
By: H. Hunting
Genre: New Adult/College Romance
Publisher: Indie
Publication Date: September 1st, 2022
My Rating: 4 Stars
My Format: eArc Given For Honest Review
Blurb:
From the outside looking in, I live a charmed life: hockey legend for a father, my own promising future in the league, a great family, awesome friends.
It’s not untrue, but it’s not quite that simple either.
My dad’s advice has always been to make hockey my number-one priority—at least until I make it to the pros. So, going into my senior year of college, I have a plan. I’ll put in the effort required to pass my classes, play hockey like my life depends on it, and avoid relationships. All I have to do is stay focused on the end game.
It should be easy.
But when a woman literally floats into my dock, just before summer ends and my senior year begins, I can’t resist one last hookup. What harm could a one-night stand do? It’s not like we even exchanged numbers.
Everything is fine until I run into her on campus.
It’s a big school. I should be able to avoid her.
Except she happens to be in my class.
And she’s not a student.
She’s my professor.
Bitter Sweet Heart is the newest standalone by H. Hunting. If you love forbidden vibes with a touch of taboo and a hint of suspense with your romances, I highly recommend you pick this bad boy up!
If you’ve read Helena Hunting, let me introduce you to H. Hunting. From what I’ve read, she’s the same author, but with a more suspense-filled twist. H. Hunting brings darkness to her usually light sexy and comical romances. So if you’re looking for a bit more suspense definitely pick up H. Hunting’s books. This is the first I’ve read under this alias, but I can tell you right now, Little Lies is now being added to my September reading list!! I need Lavender and Kodiak’s story right now!!
But we aren’t here to talk about Lavender Waters… today, we’re here to talk about her older brother Maverick. It’s his turn to find love!! Before I dive into all that is Maverick, I want to first and foremost say, I FREAKIN’ LOVE GENERATIONAL SPIN-OFFS!! If you’ve read Helena Hunting’s Pucked series, you may recognize the last name ‘Waters’. That’s right! Maverick…and Lavender… are the children of ALEX WATERS and VIOLET HALL!!! How did I not know that before diving into this book! How did I not know this new take was a generational spin-off… I’m legit kicking myself for not diving into H. Hunting’s novels sooner.
Let’s get back to Maverick’s story!
It was only supposed to be a one-night stand, a fling in the summer night, an itch to scratch, and a means of rebellion due to her soon to be ex-husband not signing the divorce papers… She was never supposed to see him again. And she never thought she’d see Maverick again, until Clover’s one night stand shows up to her creative writing course….as her new student. But let’s be honest, in romance, is it ever just a one-night stand?
Maverick’s mind is everywhere it shouldn’t be, mainly focused on a one-night stand who gave him the best night of his life. But as fate would have it, when he walks into his creative writing class, he sees his one night stand, unbeknownst to him, also happens to be his new college professor… Can you say, DRAMA?
Now, Maverick is stuck between a rock and a hard place, also known as his life after college. Should he continue walking in his father’s shoes and accept the NHL contract, or should he walk the path that goes in the opposite direction of the NHL… It’s time for Maverick to decide his own future. But within this new journey comes the past that he thought he got over, is slowly sneaking back up on him resulting in sleepless nights and nightmares. And it all goes back to the creative writing essay he just turned in and the professor he can’t shake from his memories….. And here lies the promise of suspense!
My Thoughts:
Bitter Sweet Heart by H. Hunting was exactly what I needed to get me out of this epic reading funk I’ve been in lately. This novel legit has everything I love in romance, an alpha-male, a heroine that is trying to stand on her own two feet and regain her independence, a touch of suspense, and a forbidden vibe. What’s not to love about Maverick and Clover’s story!
I can’t say this enough!! I loved Maverick’s character. This man is sweet and caring, but you mess with those he holds close to his heart, and you’ll see rather quickly this man will do everything in his power to protect. It’s ingrained in the very fiber of his existence. And here-in lies the alpha-male tendency. I loved how protective he was with Clover. And believe me when I say, after the schmuck she was married to, she could use a little alpha in her love life!! This man goes from teddy bear to grizzly bear in a heartbeat. My heart loved his protective nature! Even in those times when he and Clover were keeping their distance, and even when she was so back and forth with their relationship, he was always their for her when she needed him. This right here screams book boyfriend!
And now we have Clover. I loved Clover and all she stood for. I also loved the trepidation she felt about diving into a relationship with a 21 year old man. She listened to her heart, her soul, and her brain… and believe me when I say, all three were at war within herself. I do have to say, though, the back and forth gave me a touch of emotional whiplash. I could have done without so many back and forth moments.
I’m not going to lie, I went into this one unknowing of the contents inside the story. I didn’t read the blurb, which is something I found myself not doing lately, I just knew I wanted to tread this story. So imagine my surprise when I found out Clover is Maverick’s soon to be professor and that this novel has a twist on the age gap trope. In my reading history, I found two books I read with reverse age gap tropes, and in all honesty I wasn’t a fan of either… but this one was different from those other two. I loved the fact that Maverick and Clover met before she was his professor, and I loved the fact that they did not continue a relationship until after he was finished with her class. This woman and this man showed maturity. Sure it was hard for them to wait, but these two did the right thing in order to protect both of their bums.
Now onto the main reasoning behind why I gave this book a 4 star rating. I loved the story, but the moments between Violet and Clover really set me off. I expected Violet to champion Maverick, because that is her son (21 years old) dating a slightly older woman (29 years old). But something about their conversation had me not liking the situation and feeling slightly wrong about said situation when in the long run, they did everything right. I was a bit annoyed with this moment. Also, i wanted more from the epic showdown. I felt like this moment was a bit too fast paced for my liking. But let’s chalk that last bit up to spoiled reader syndrome.
Overall, I really enjoyed Bitter Sweet Heart by H. Hunting. I can’t wait to read more from this series of standalones in the near future!
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Amazon: https://amzn.to/3QgXLW0
Peace Love and Happy Reading,
The Staircase Reader 
I was a little surprised by the Violet/Clover conversation, but then I also tried to put myself in Violet’s place if it was my daughter and an older professor (even only be 8 years) and I don’t know that I would have been exactly cool with it either. It’s the professor part that had me pausing because there is something worrisome there as a parent. At least for me.
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That is very true. Looking at it through Violet’s eyes, I would be a little worried too. I would see their intentions as not being good at all. It is or should be the initial knee jerk reaction of any parent.
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