Carved Wooden Heart
by
Elizabeth Horton-Newton
and
Starla Hartless
|
|
Starla Hartless was born in a small town in East Tennessee. Growing up in the Smoky Mountains gives her a unique insight into the sense of community and the culture of the area. She brings this to her first full length novel, "Carved Wooden Heart". Currently available on Amazon and Createspace, the story follows Knoxville girl Daniela (Dani) Stone through her often painful and traumatic romantic relationships. With assistance from author Elizabeth Horton-Newton who brought her knowledge of New York to the story, Starla and Elizabeth have woven a tale of sex, love, heartbreak, and grief with characters that leap off the page. More than just another love story it is the story of the strength of a young woman as she faces and overcomes tragedy to become successful and fulfilled. It's a story that will make you cry, make you laugh, and in the end, inspire the reader to never give up on dreams.
From their first meeting Dani was drawn to Jesse. After a hot and sexy few days his dark side emerged and she knew he was more than she could handle. What she didn't know was that a seed had been planted that would change her life forever and take her on paths that would bring her both joy and break her heart. Could she ever find true happiness or had she lost all hope of that the day she walked away from Jesse? Fiery passion, tragedy, and uncertain futures make "Carved Wooden Heart" a compelling read. ***Recommended for mature readers due to graphic sexual content.***
EXCERPT:
"It had taken me almost a year to get the interview with the artist Jesse Wolf Carver. A renowned indigenous carver, he rarely granted interviews and when he did they were short and not very sweet. Temperamental and extremely private he would only discuss his art. Little was known of his training, his history, or what he thought about anything other than his carvings. It wasn’t even certain that the name he used was really his own.
The carvings themselves were controversial. Enormous traditional Pacific Coast masks, many decorated the walls of his studio. Recent showings of his work included smaller carvings of masks and figurines in various poses."
Fun Contemporary Romance, March 6, 2017
By
Over The Rainbow
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Carved Wooden Heart (Kindle Edition)
Daniella is a young woman just beginning to find her way in life. Jesse is an artist haunted by personal demons. When Dani's work brings them together, a brief interval of passion leads to feelings deep enough to last a lifetime. But fate is a fickle thing, and a series of chance events soon forces them apart. But, sometimes, seemingly harmless actions can have lasting consequences, and life doesn't always lead us along the road we thought it would.
I enjoyed this book. It's a contemporary romance that reminded me of the style of an Olivia Goldsmith novel. As a transplanted New Yorker, myself, I found the Manhattan setting nostalgic. The description of the scenes was detailed enough that I could almost smell the street-cart food and hear the taxi horns blaring. The characters are interesting and complex enough to keep you interested in their stories. And the love scenes are hot enough to keep romance fans happy. All-in-all, a fun story. Five stars.
By
Over The Rainbow
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Carved Wooden Heart (Kindle Edition)
Daniella is a young woman just beginning to find her way in life. Jesse is an artist haunted by personal demons. When Dani's work brings them together, a brief interval of passion leads to feelings deep enough to last a lifetime. But fate is a fickle thing, and a series of chance events soon forces them apart. But, sometimes, seemingly harmless actions can have lasting consequences, and life doesn't always lead us along the road we thought it would.
I enjoyed this book. It's a contemporary romance that reminded me of the style of an Olivia Goldsmith novel. As a transplanted New Yorker, myself, I found the Manhattan setting nostalgic. The description of the scenes was detailed enough that I could almost smell the street-cart food and hear the taxi horns blaring. The characters are interesting and complex enough to keep you interested in their stories. And the love scenes are hot enough to keep romance fans happy. All-in-all, a fun story. Five stars.
5 stars ENJOYABLE
By Molly Gambiza on January 29, 2017
Format: Paperback
Elizabeth Noreen Newton at her best! Another cracking romantic story full of adventure, love, humour, heartache and strength. I like Dani’s strength, she knows what she wants no matter what…..
Romantic tips in abundance! Elizabeth Noreen Newton doesn’t rush her love scenes, exactly how it should be. Carved Wooden Heart is a memorable love story. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
By Molly Gambiza on January 29, 2017
Format: Paperback
Elizabeth Noreen Newton at her best! Another cracking romantic story full of adventure, love, humour, heartache and strength. I like Dani’s strength, she knows what she wants no matter what…..
Romantic tips in abundance! Elizabeth Noreen Newton doesn’t rush her love scenes, exactly how it should be. Carved Wooden Heart is a memorable love story. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Review by Anita's Haven
Having already enjoyed some of Elizabeth Horton-Newton’s writing (the intense thriller Riddle and her fascinating short story Old Habits in Twisted Tales), I was rather intrigued to see how she would handle the genre of romance (with elements of erotica). Starla Hartless remains a mystery to me, but this partnership might prove quite successful in this genre.
Not usually an avid reader of romance/erotica, I read the book with curiosity, comparing at first with other works by E. Horton-Newton. The writing is easy to follow and has a steady flow to it. The timeline and subplots all fit nicely as we follow Dani through her love life and professional growth, sometimes going topsy-turvy in comparison to the traditional romance ways (she both meets and loses the passionate lover in the first part of the book, but read on for more surprises). You will enjoy reading about how she grows as a person, about her friendships and family ties, and of course, the steamy bedroom scenes, if you are a fan (quite hot, though never vulgar). There is passion, lust, skin, heat, but also emotion and tenderness.
However, what I find the greatest value in this book are the characters who evolve over time, following the romance stereotype to a certain point, yet preserving a believable feel to them, which makes you root for them or against them. The contrast between the men in Dani’s life is really interesting to observe, and your preconceptions of them change throughout the book as the subplots entangle and resolve. Dani, the heroine, grows through the story, from the naive young journalist who falls head over heels for a hunk, to the responsible, strong and decisive woman. Jesse is intriguing, too, and I bet romance fans will go crazy over the wild artist that he is. Doug is such a promising man who genuinely loves Dani and saves her in her hardship (not liking the mistakes he made out of that love though;). Brandon will keep the readers’ interest in suspense (avoiding spoilers) and Dylan – he is just a treasure. My absolute favourites are the side characters – Dani’s gynaecologist, Kelly, Milagro, Kathryn, and Dani’s parents who made me smile, chuckle and even tear up by the end of the story. The authors must have had so much fun weaving their scenes into the mix.
I am absolutely certain Carved Wooden Heart will provide romance fans with all the elements they expect, and then some, including the wonderful scenery and amazing dream houses in the wilderness. Your very own jacuzzi house in the mountains, to share with the love of your life? Oh come on, who’d say no to that!?
Having already enjoyed some of Elizabeth Horton-Newton’s writing (the intense thriller Riddle and her fascinating short story Old Habits in Twisted Tales), I was rather intrigued to see how she would handle the genre of romance (with elements of erotica). Starla Hartless remains a mystery to me, but this partnership might prove quite successful in this genre.
Not usually an avid reader of romance/erotica, I read the book with curiosity, comparing at first with other works by E. Horton-Newton. The writing is easy to follow and has a steady flow to it. The timeline and subplots all fit nicely as we follow Dani through her love life and professional growth, sometimes going topsy-turvy in comparison to the traditional romance ways (she both meets and loses the passionate lover in the first part of the book, but read on for more surprises). You will enjoy reading about how she grows as a person, about her friendships and family ties, and of course, the steamy bedroom scenes, if you are a fan (quite hot, though never vulgar). There is passion, lust, skin, heat, but also emotion and tenderness.
However, what I find the greatest value in this book are the characters who evolve over time, following the romance stereotype to a certain point, yet preserving a believable feel to them, which makes you root for them or against them. The contrast between the men in Dani’s life is really interesting to observe, and your preconceptions of them change throughout the book as the subplots entangle and resolve. Dani, the heroine, grows through the story, from the naive young journalist who falls head over heels for a hunk, to the responsible, strong and decisive woman. Jesse is intriguing, too, and I bet romance fans will go crazy over the wild artist that he is. Doug is such a promising man who genuinely loves Dani and saves her in her hardship (not liking the mistakes he made out of that love though;). Brandon will keep the readers’ interest in suspense (avoiding spoilers) and Dylan – he is just a treasure. My absolute favourites are the side characters – Dani’s gynaecologist, Kelly, Milagro, Kathryn, and Dani’s parents who made me smile, chuckle and even tear up by the end of the story. The authors must have had so much fun weaving their scenes into the mix.
I am absolutely certain Carved Wooden Heart will provide romance fans with all the elements they expect, and then some, including the wonderful scenery and amazing dream houses in the wilderness. Your very own jacuzzi house in the mountains, to share with the love of your life? Oh come on, who’d say no to that!?
5.0 out of 5 stars In love with Jesse.
By nerdy girl on December 22, 2016 Format: Kindle Edition|Verified Purchase Not only is Jesse Native American, he's a relatable character, which means he's gorgeous, flawed, and makes the ups and downs that he goes through and is put through so believable. Poor Dani finds her true love then loses him, and life slips slowly downhill from there as she goes from one trial to the next until she's back where she should have always been. A long read but it wasn't long enough. I hated for the story to end. Great job, ladies. Book 2 anyone?😂 5.0 out of 5 stars High Octane Romance and a Twisty Adventure
By Claire Stibbe on November 13, 2016 Format: Paperback Verified Purchase Carved Wooden Heart is a mixture of high octane romance and a twisty adventure that will keep you up at night wondering how the characters will all evolve. Having already read Riddle and View From The Sixth Floor, I knew Horton-Newton’s work very well. In collaboration with Starla Hartless, an author I wasn’t familiar with, I was glad to find the voice kept up with the traditional clipped pace I was used to. Erotic romance is not a genre on my regular radar but I found this book to be suspenseful and humorous and very well written. Dani is a character you will want to root for. A mixture of naivety and passion at the outset, she quickly learns that the steely hearted man she has fallen for is not quite your traditional Romeo. The reader gets glimpses of his armored heart with hints of extraordinary charisma that provides a knot of tension throughout the book. But any coping mechanism Dani hopes to achieve gets swiftly tossed out of the window as Jesse takes her on another rollercoaster ride of emotions. I must say, Dani is hard to outmaneuver and that’s what I like about her. She’s ready to accept the consequences of her actions even though she is relentlessly in pursuit of love. There are a few scenes of graphic intimacy which will convey a reader fairly rapidly to steamsville and many twists in the trail leaving her better equipped to deal with the next hurdle. And she does it all with such panache.The characters are intriguing and cleverly individual, from Doug the savior to Dani’s parents, all the way down to a very believable and lovable boy called Dylan. This book is not unputdownable – in fact you have to put it down in order to slow down a racing heart. But if you do put it down for too long you deprive yourself of the unique pleasure of unearthing the mysteries of Dani’s sometimes vulnerable and intense journey. It has everything I have come to expect and enjoy in a Horton-Newton novel. 5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and Passionate
By Lynda M. FILLER on November 11, 2016 Format: Kindle Edition Verified Purchase I loved this intimate story. From the very first page I was pulled into this beautiful powerful romance. The unique nature of Jesse's work and the incredible attraction between the two lovers were elements that kept me turning pages well into the night. I look forward to more from Ms. Elizabeth Horton-Newton. |
A Must Read
By Kathy Harralsonon October 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Another must read! The author doesn't disappoint the reader with another page turner with Dani and her intrigue and romance.
By Kathy Harralsonon October 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Another must read! The author doesn't disappoint the reader with another page turner with Dani and her intrigue and romance.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story I will read again and again!
By Kathy Broggy on September 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
I couldn't put this book down. I was totally invested in Dani and her choices. I laughed, I cried! Elizabeth Horton-Newton developed her characters so well that I felt like I knew these people! I believe this is one of those books that I will read again and again. Love the cover!
Can't wait for the next book from this author, she has never disappointed me!
By Kathy Broggy on September 25, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
I couldn't put this book down. I was totally invested in Dani and her choices. I laughed, I cried! Elizabeth Horton-Newton developed her characters so well that I felt like I knew these people! I believe this is one of those books that I will read again and again. Love the cover!
Can't wait for the next book from this author, she has never disappointed me!
5.0 out of 5 stars interesting story about love, fate and choices!
By Alexis Alvarez on September 24, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Great new novel from Elizabeth Horton-Newton! Follow Dani as she meet mysterious and sexy artist Jesse, then loses touch with him. By the time they meet again, fate has taken her along a dramatically different path, and her life -- full of new people, love and tragedy, makes her into a different person from the girl he once knew. Dani needs to make critical choices about love and family, not just for herself, but for the ones she holds most dear. I love that Elizabeth included details about Native American traditional carving! I was fascinated to learn about it.
By Alexis Alvarez on September 24, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Great new novel from Elizabeth Horton-Newton! Follow Dani as she meet mysterious and sexy artist Jesse, then loses touch with him. By the time they meet again, fate has taken her along a dramatically different path, and her life -- full of new people, love and tragedy, makes her into a different person from the girl he once knew. Dani needs to make critical choices about love and family, not just for herself, but for the ones she holds most dear. I love that Elizabeth included details about Native American traditional carving! I was fascinated to learn about it.