Still Beating

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 52,053 ratings

Price: 4.99

Last update: 12-21-2024


About this item

☆ #1 Amazon Bestseller in three separate categories! ☆
WARNING: This book contains subject matter that may be sensitive for some readers. There is dark and triggering content between these pages. 18+ only. Please read responsibly.

When Cora attends her sister’s birthday party, she expects at most a hangover or a walk of shame. She doesn’t anticipate a stolen wallet, leaving her stranded and dependent on Dean—her arch nemesis and ultimate thorn in her side.
And she really doesn’t anticipate waking up in shackles in a madman’s basement.
To make matters worse, Dean shares the space in his own set of chains.
After fifteen years of teasing, insults, and practical jokes, the ultimate joke seems to be on them. The two people who always thought they’d end up killing each other must now work together if they want to survive.
But Cora and Dean have no idea their abductor has a plan for them. A plan that will alter the course of their relationship, blur the line between hate and love, and shackle them together with far more than just chains.

REVIEWS ☆☆☆☆☆
"Powerful, horrifying, intelligent, exquisite, unputdownable--this book will haunt you, arouse you, and hug your romantic soul so damn hard. What a treasure! The tragedy, the love story, and the meticulous, poignant execution of plot and character development will leave you thunderstruck and so very satisfied. Bravo, Jennifer Hartmann. This novel is a work of art." - Pam Godwin, New York Times Bestselling Author
"I'm still recovering from this book. Still Beating is an absolutely gripping romance that had me completely enthralled. This book will leave you reeling. I was completely captivated from beginning to end. This is one of those books that I will absolutely never forget. I don't know if I will get over this one." - Melissa Teo, Booksmacked Blog
"If you are looking for a slow burn book that will absolutely tear your heart to shreds then look no further... Dean and Corabelle had me falling in love with them from the beginning. The trauma that they experienced was unimaginable and my heart was beating so fast through the entire experience. I love that Jennifer made the characters healing so real and raw. The words jumped from the pages and threw emotions at me like a MLB fastball." - Dirty Little Secret Book Blog
"WOW. Jennifer Hartmann's emotional brand of writing leaves me breathless, every stinking time. This book is a roller coaster... you find yourself laughing at the banter and antics between the H and h, but then you're crying on the next page. I cried so many ugly tears during the reading of this book...prepare yourselves. One of the best I've read in a while." - Author, E.R. Whyte

From the Publisher

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Wendy@Cr8zysockbookblock
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tragically Epic and Unforgettable!????????????
    Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2022
    HHH-OOO-LLLL-YYYY COW!!
    OH MY HEART Y’ALL! I almost failed to find words… almost. Still Beating is a literary journey the likes of nothing I have ever read before and I say that in the best possible way. This book broke me, left me haunted for days, even weeks after reading. It took me months before I was actually able to fully emotionally process this amazing story enough to write my review.

    What a dark and tragically beautiful love story. Hauntingly perfectly and painfully raw. Poignant and gritty. Dark and original. This complex love story kept me captivated from the very beginning through every gut-wrenching, soul searing, unforgettable moment.

    Dean and Cora have known each other for such a large chunk of their lives. There’s history, and complications involved. This is not a second chance romance. Dean has been with Cora’s sister for many, many years. Dean and Cora have NEVER had any relationship before. Nor do they really get along all that well. Which brings such an impact to the importance of the story going forward. I don’t want to give away anything specific but I will say something crazy, scary and tragic happens and they are both involved and then need each other to survive. This changes everything about Dean and Cora and who they were before. This grows their relationship in unimaginable ways. Tortured, tried and tested in every sense of the words will grown them as individuals and as a couple united by their shared traumatic experience.

    Dean had always been such a jerk to Cora in the past but holy gah the way he was with her through their shared devastating encounter, the things forced upon them. I don’t have words. Cora pretty much didn’t care for Dean from the get go, but then the attachment, the bond she formed with him during her tragedy. Something so profound could only be understood and grown between two people that shared an experience such as they did. Dean was literally a hero in the pit of hell. She is calm to him in the midst of the chaos. He was her salvation in those darkest of days and she was his light in that basement.

    The writing was absolutely spectacular in this book. I literally felt every fear, every heart stopping, gut wrenching, emotion.The ways in which the author was able to grab us and pull us into the inner struggle these characters felt was immaculately thought out and flawlessly executed. Pain, disgust, depravity, and the confusion and devastation at discovering what new feelings lie between them. Their seriously complex relationship they had up until that point just got way more complicated. They were not friends, they were sorta enemies that semi-tolerated each other. But now they have become EVERYTHING to each other.

    This book is dark, it definitely has what might be triggers for some readers. But if you are not easily offended by things please take a chance on this book. It is amazing. Yes, there is some dark and disturbing material. But the way Jennifer Hartmann handles this the best way she can. With realism, and awareness. With scenes that scream of research and believability. and at the heart of it is a beautiful tale of survival, comforting another and a love born from tragedy. SIX SENSATIONAL STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ because five won’t cut it.
  • SHERRY K NELSON
    4.0 out of 5 stars Tragic with a great ending
    Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
    This book kept me interested from the start. It was very scary and intense at times. I loved the story line and it was well written and easy to follow. I'd like to say this book is a romantic thriller. Definitely worth checking out.
  • Reading with FeFe
    5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite book from Jennifer Hartmann!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 25, 2023
    1st person/dual pov
    Spice: 3.5/5

    So I read this book back before I started really writing full reviews. I've been going back and filling in some of my favorites with more detail to explain why you should give them a chance. This was one of the first books to introduce me to Jennifer Hartmann and it instantly became my favorite of hers. I won't lie and say that several of her other books have not come very close to taking that number one spot from this one because all of the ones I have read since this one are just that good. However, this one stood out to me because this was one of the first times I had read a book where the entire story not only put me in the characters' mindset as if it were me living through these events. The way the emotions and the surroundings are described is not only beautifully done it is also easy to read and picture in your mind.

    This story also had a feeling of authenticity to it that had me believing something like this could actually be happening out there somewhere in the world. I mean realistically it could but where most fictional realism keeps this feeling of unbelievability throughout the book this one went in the opposite direction and it paid off in spades. From the events that led to the situation the main characters find themselves in, to the trauma they go through together (which is both heartbreaking and beautiful at the same time), and then to how they recover from that trauma the blinders were completely off. There were no rose-colored glasses or promise of a perfect ending where everything magically works out because it's a romance book. Now I'm not implying there isn't a happy ending just that the way the characters get there felt natural and true to their characters. They had to work for their ending in a way that felt real.

    The spice is also very well written because you can tell it isn't there just to make the book "spicy" but to enhance the emotions that are being felt throughout the story. It evolves with them and compliments the connection that develops so that it's more than just sex tossed in for those who prefer to read books that include it. I guess what I'm trying to say is each aspect of this book no matter how light or how dark had a purpose. It doesn't tell you a story it makes you live it.

    It was darker than I anticipated it would be so if you're someone who has triggers or doesn't normally read darker romance I encourage you to read through the trigger warnings before starting. But if you decide you can get through the darker content you will close this book with a new favorite in your hands just like I did. And if you haven't read anything from this author before be prepared to dive into the other books Jennifer has written because there is a spark to the way she writes that will have you constantly coming back for more.
  • Kaylee Atkins
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beauty built from a nightmare
    Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2024
    Hands down my favorite book that I’ve read!!! It’s so dark and so absolutely beautiful! I feel like I healed with the main characters from their trauma. Such a well written, tragic and beautiful love story. Highly recommend reading!
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
    I was very concerned about this being a "dark" romance the way some others can be. To my relief this wasn't the case. The author handled sensitive topics and material well. There was no gratuitous descriptions which I was thankful for. A journey of trauma and love. HEA. Lovely.

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