The Heart of It by M. O’Keefe
Contemporary Novella
Released: February 29, 2016
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

You know when you are reading a book and it’s amazing, and you can feel like it’s going to be a five-star read and you just sink into the story and smile and swoon and everything is great with the world?

This happened, but then the book ended – abruptly. Now – I knew this book was only 67 pages (per Goodreads). Towards the end of the book, we started skipping ahead – one week later, one month later, one year later. And then – bam, the end. And my kindle was at 77% and I wanted to cry and yell because I barely got to know these two and I needed to see them happy.

Gabe grew up and hockey was his passion – but after years of sexual abuse from his coach, he had to walk away. Counseling helped a bit, but now as a twenty-four year old, he has found his way back onto the ice, but not able to have sex with a woman unless he is completely drunk. Gabe is a gentle giant – huge, clumsy, awkward, and I just adored him. He ends up hiring a woman named Elena from an elite private escort company as a date to see if he can have sex sober. On their fourth “date” he tries really hard but freaks out again.

Elena trusts Gabe and knows he is a good guy, but battling some dark demons. When he is unable to have sex again with her, she forces him to talk. He admits things and is able to go through with the deed. Awwwww Gabe. But then he wants her to start admitting things – things with her family she doesn’t like to talk about and Elena is the one that gets scared off and leaves.

And then time jumps forward, and forward some more – and all of a sudden a year and a half has passed and they haven’t seen each other and then they see each other and the story ends.

And huh???

Wait – what about happy sex between them? What about a genuine date between them? What about Elena and her sister and their bad relationship??

We get teased with a brilliant emotional story – but it’s not enough.

Seriously an almost amazing read. Almost.

P.S – Molly O’Keefe is on my – omg I will read anything she writes list.

Grade: In my fantasy world where this is 350 pages, an A+. In reality, where this book is less than 60 pages, C+.

Goodreads l Author Website

Kindle ($.99/Unlimited)