There were some good things in When Hearts Awaken, and unfortunately, there was so bad. More bad than good. The good— the romance, well, mostly. For the most part, I enjoyed Taylor and Charles’ romance. I think they were at their peak in the early characters of the book. Lum had a strong dynamic going with them, and I bought into their hatred of each other. However, their “hatred” burned too quickly for me. I would have preferred one or two more chapters before they flipped the switch.

Taylor felt more of a stronger character than me than Charles. Taylor’s journey was more rewarding and developed than Charles. Although, it’s unfortunate that her older sister—Grace—and her had little scenes together. I read Grace’s book, and I could have sworn Taylor was such a huge presence, which is why it felt disappointing not to have Grace in the same level.

The plot for When Hearts Awaken was too soapy. It’s tiring how everyone and everything in this series connected, and it makes the plot twists not as jaw-dropping. Additionally, it feels as though plot points have been recycled. For example, I’ve read at least three books within this series, and after the main leads meet for the first time, there is always a time jump and a strong dislike of each other.

Final Thoughts

When Hearts Awaken did not meet my expectations. I recall being excited to read Taylor’s story when I first met her in Grace’s book (When Hearts Ignite). I think she deserved a much better story. One that is original to her and doesn’t feature reused story beats.

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