REVIEW: Hard Heart by Elise Noble

Hard Heart by Elise Noble is the 8th book in the Blackstone House romantic suspense series.

Hard Heart is the 8th book of Elise Noble's Blackstone House series... and oh my God I am so excited to read this, I have been waiting through six whole books for this very book! Levi’s story! (I KNEW HE DIDN'T DO IT!!! *squeals and does the toldjaso dance"

I had to laugh when Sera was looking at the files and she came across this one and thought to herself, “this guy is either a wacko conspiracy theorist or the world‘s biggest scapegoat“ and I knew… I just KNEW that was our guy's file... And sure enough!

The picture we have always from his roommates in the previous books had has been of a spoiled, overmedicated mama’s boy (but with a good heart) who absolutely would not do well in prison. And remember, too, every single roommate still struggled with believing that Levi had murdered Ruby, and had only, reluctantly, come to accept it as fact because there simply wasn't anyone else who could have (right from the beginning I had settled on Gray as the suspect. On a twofold basis: One, he was in Florida at the time of the murder which automatically made him a non-contender for the suspect list. So who better to actually be the killer? Two, he became a politician. 'nuf said).

So it was actually fascinating to see how zen Levi has become in his circumstances in prison. Yet Levi has managed to turn things around and make something of himself, bait in an extremely limited fashion. But still… It’s amazing that he thought this all through and created it from nothing.

Sera's first interview with Levi was a real eye-opener. We have heard discovering Ruby’s body from several points of view now, but none so poignant as hearing it hearing Levi tell Selah the entire story as he experienced it. I have to say, the little vignettes we see of his memories of Ruby, and their relationship, are in equal parts heartwarming and sad. We see a deep connection between them that not even their roommates were aware of.

And as for his account of his mother... oh my God, Munchhausen syndrome by proxy!! That makes so much sense in retrospect, and I can’t believe that I didn’t make that connection. In retrospect, from everything we knew of her from the roommates, it makes SO much sense! Levi wasn't just a mama's boy... he was fully aware of what was happening, and trapped. And when he described as Jerry having the EQ of a polar bear, I almost spit my drink! I mean. He's not wrong <snickers>

Oh, and I really love Rhoda and Grandma Thea, we all should have ex-in-laws that great!

There were a bunch of fabulously funny moments, but a couple stood out: So there was this fabulous scene when Jester takes Sera to a warehouse, I just about choked when I saw… Oh wait I can’t tell, spoilers! Let’s just say, prepare ahead of time and don’t take a drink right at that moment when she walked into the garage. And then, I almost woke up the whole house when I barked with unexpected laughter at the imagery called up of a couple of one percenters outside the Chuck E. Cheese! And frankly, the whole thing with the motorcycle club was just freakin' hilarious. Sometimes I wanted to just lay on the floor and drum my heels while howling with laughter.

Honestly, I can’t even remember a time when I was so absolutely breathless to find out what happens next. But then there was also that conflict: wanting desperately to read faster to find out what happens, but wanting to read slower because you’re at 63% and you don’t want the story to end

And oh my God, Jezebel/Jerry,… She… She… I can’t say, because spoilers but oh my God oh my God oh my God you will not believe it!!!!

BUY THIS BOOK! Do it now. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200. Just buy the damned book! You won't be sorry!