Harsh Kindle Edition

On the one hand, our first-person point-of-view protagonist is the same everywoman we see in a lot of romance novels, but on the other hand, the male love interest, Vincent Rossi, is a much richer character than we usually get to enjoy.By “richer character”, I mean in terms of richness of character; he’s not the vain billionaire control freak we see increasingly often in romance novels—and nor, for that matter, is he prone to the emotional outbursts associated not only with archetype, but also with many other male love interests in romance novels, included to show sensitivity and such.Instead, Vincent is understated from start to finish. He’s quiet, but not timid. Even-tempered, but not cold. Strong, but not arrogant. Profound, but not self-absorbed.For that matter, he’s physically attractive, but neither he nor the narrator are preoccupied with looks. Notwithstanding the abs on the front cover (I think it is now required by law to have abs on the front of romance novels that have at least one male character?), we’re given enough information about his looks to imagine him physically, and the rest conveyed by his bearing, and we care much more for his slightest smile than we do for his jawline, or for a flicker of feeling in his eyes than we do for the thick eyelashes we’d be hearing about a male protagonist having in another romance novel.Anyway, as I’ve talked about Vincent for four paragraphs (I think he sells the book though, in fairness), I’ll close with a note in the story itself: the action and mystery part was to me neither especially exciting nor mysterious, but I don’t think readers are reading the book for this.

Harsh is a true romantic story with stress on emotions and feelings rather than on sensuality and hormones. It is a love story of sunshine versus storm where both are attractive and vulnerable but with a terrible truth between them that has the power to wreck havoc between them. The heroine is an underworld don's daughter and the guy is an ex-convict. However, nothing is villainous or criminal in the book while violence is limited and disapproved. The romantic built up is steady and the love is sweet and giving rather than demanding and dominating. I loved the fact that there were two epilogues so that we could look further into the lives of the protagonists while not lingering on obvious things like enchanting weddings and honeymoons.The story is narrated in the first person and alternates between the two lead pairs (mostly the heroin Annalise). Vincent the hero is short on words but large in everything else. The book gave me a warm feeling even in my middle age.

Harsh by Debra Doxer is a contemporary romance novel involving a young girl named Annalise who is the daughter of a mob boss and her bodyguard. There is some darkness to this book, especially when you get into the background of the characters, particularly Vincent, Annalise’s bodyguard. The two lovers are total opposites from each other, but still, somehow, they find a love with each other. This story is really about the characters’ past life and personality unfolding while their love story develops and blooms. The author does an amazing job building up the background as well as the personalities of each character. I almost felt as if they were real people that I knew! I felt so connected to them, which made their love story even more personal and real for me. I was definitely kept on the edge of this read, wondering how everything, including the dark secrets and past, would play out in terms of love.

This is a romantic story about Annalise and Vincent. Annalise is the beautiful daughter of a crime boss who only seeks a normal life with college and friends. Vincent is the big quiet guy who has been hired to be her body guard and follow her around. As the story develops, feelings of contempt change to like and then something stronger. Love blooms between these two lovers but secrets buried just below the surface may destroy everything. A well written love interest that keeps you reading to see what happens between the two lovers. A must read for any real romantic out there. Check this one out and tell me what you think.

Crime-family stories are not really my thing, so I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed this romance. It was extremely well-written and the relationship between Vincent and Annalise unfolds gradually and doesn't feel like the typically college-age romance and drama with instant attraction and a quick fall into a bucket of love. My biggest gripe with the story is that despite being the daughter of a mob boss, Annalise isn't just squeaky clean...she's borderline angelic. Although she does have some emotional baggage, she's almost too perfectly good. Vincent never felt like a bad boy or brooding type to me (despite jail time for a B&E and being associated with the mob) so he was easy to like.

I can't say I didn't see the ending coming. Doxer did a great job foreshadowing the twist. But I fell in love with Annalise's view of the world. When life demanded that she break apart, she found reasons to smile. It's the only version of "happiness is a choice" that I'll ever agree with.

Harsh takes an interesting look at clashing personalities and how our mood and outlook can affect both us and those around us. However, even that description is a bit emotional for how tense this book truly is. It is much more of an action story that combines some equally interesting elements.While I found these elements to be a large theme, the story is an action drama that evaluates some interesting psychological questions. A great for those that want action, or those that want to get a bit philosophical.