Review: With Every Heartbeat by Linda Kage

I used to think everything was black and white, truth or lie, easy or hard, that if I could just escape my strict, overbearing, abusive father, my life would be perfect. But since I’ve found a reason to risk his wrath and leave, to help a friend in need, I’ve come to realize everything I thought I knew is wrong. 

Friends have their own agenda, honesty comes with a dosage of lie, easy doesn’t even exist, keeping secrets sucks, and love...love is the most painful thing of all. 

Maybe if Quinn Hamilton hadn’t asked me to skip classes for the day and help him pick out an engagement ring for my best friend, I wouldn’t have fallen for him so completely on that sunny Tuesday afternoon and I wouldn’t feel so conflicted. But I did, and I can’t take it back, no matter how hard I try. So I have to deal with the fact that even I’m not as good, or honest, or caring as I’d always thought I was, and no matter what I do next, someone’s going to get hurt. Probably me.

-Zoey Blakeland

5 Star Review by Jen Skewes

I have a book hangover and it has With Every Heartbeat written all over it.  All though when has Linda Kage not given me a book hangover with one of her books, especially when it comes to the Forbidden Men.  This is Quinn’s story.  The sweet loveable Quinn that we just adored.  And I think you will love him even more after you read his story.  

Quinn is a sophomore and on the football team.  He is Ten’s roommate and good friends with the rest of the crew.  He is a bit shy and introverted and has a past childhood that he very rarely talks about.  He is dating Cora who is the first girl that he has ever been with.  He loves her, waits on her hand and foot and just honestly is the perfect boyfriend.  Even though I was not a big fan of Cora’s at all.  But he loved her and wanted to make her happy.  She was it for him, until her best friend Zoey comes to town and starts rooming with Cora. 

Zoey is also a bit shy.  Cora and Zoey became friends in high school.  Zoey didn’t have many friends.  Her mother died during childbirth and her father was an abusive jerk.  Cora in a way took Zoey under her wing.  She would do anything for her and that is the exact reason why she has basically left her father and enrolled in the same college as Cora.  She wants to help her best friend.  But little did she know she was getting a lot more than she bargained for when it came to Cora.  But that’s another story for another day becauase I do not want to give anything away.

Zoey has seen pictures of Quinn and knew he was cute but she never expected the reaction that her body felt the first time she saw him.  He was hot!  Quinn wanted nothing more than for his girlfriend’s best friend to like him.  He wanted her to feel comfortable and wanted to be her friend.  But he could not deny the attraction he felt when he was with her. They both felt it.  They were in each other’s thoughts more often then they should be.  But they are both very loyal people.    Quinn would never do anything to betray Cora.  The fact that he even looked at Zoey in that way made him feel guilty.  And Zoey would never do anything to betray her friend, no matter how she felt about Quinn.

Something happens that brings Quinn and Zoey together.  And Oh. My. God when these two finally have their moment together it is just amazing!!  I felt it all in that moment.  I felt the connection between them, the attraction, and the love.  I wanted to savor this moment by reading it word for word but at the same time I wanted to read as fast as I could because I needed to know what would happen afterwards.  While Quinn and Zoey are meant to be together, there is a lot standing in their way.  There are a million reasons why they should not be together.  But at the same time many reasons why they should.   They are two pieces of a puzzle that just fit perfectly together.  I wanted them to realize their feelings for each other.  I wanted the day to come when Cora would get what she deserved and these two could be together. 

Linda Kage has outdone herself once again.  It is no surprise that I am a huge fan of her writing.  Each book in this series just keeps getting better and better.  With Every Heartbeat has drama and angst.  I didn’t like Cora and knew that something was going to happen and just waited on the edge of my seat for all to come crashing down.   There were a few twists that will completely take you by surprise.  Quinn will completely melt your heart with his sweetness.  And Zoey will capture your heart.  She is so sweet and beautiful and has been through so much in life.  And her reasons for moving to help Cora are completely selfless.  What I love about this series is that each one is different and unique in their own way.  Each couple has their own story to tell.  I love how Ms. Kage brings out all of the emotions in you.  Her writing is flawless.  I also loved that we got to see the “crew” throughout this book.  It just made me want to go back and read their stories all over again.   Another amazing job!!  I hope this series never ends.