Heart of Darkness

By: Gabi Moore

Narrated by: Billy Harrison, Nikki Hampstead

Length: 5 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

Ex-military Zack Hunter has done things.

Bad things.

But he's determined to serve out his full sentence at Blantyre Correctional Facility, do the time and clear his conscience.

Nobody has ever cared about Zack's dark past before - until now, that is.

Madeleine Bright is a timid veterinary surgeon with a soft spot for sick animals and an ex-boyfriend from hell. When she signs up for a prison dating site out of curiosity, she has no idea just how much her life is about to change.

Maddy and Zack's connection is instant and electric, and they soon find themselves taking one another to exciting, shadowy places neither of them have ever explored before.

But when Zack's past threatens to catch up with them, he has to make a difficult decision: can he open his heart to Maddy completely, no matter how dark that heart is?

©2016 Gabi Moore (P)2017 Gabi Moore

An open heart knows no bounds

A great story that brings 2 battered and beat down individuals. You will fall for Zack and Maddie through their quest to find true love. Ms. Moore did a great job of taking us on this journey that at times was difficult to hear, but as always was worth the time. While falling in love with each other these two find that before you can truly love someone else, you must first learn to love yourself.

sexy, intriguing, battle worthy, cute, steamy as a

steamy, Battle worthy, cute, sexy as he'll, good read. did I say steamy? intriguing read

Good Story

This is the first time I have read a book by this author. Be prepared that the story only goes 8% in the book. She has crammed a lot in the book so you are getting more for your money. There are other stories included. I like this story, it was a good story. I listen to the audio and loved the narrators.

Madeleine aka Maddy was a curvy vet. She loved animals and had a good heart. She was also one that let people run over her. Even had an abusive ex. She knew what it was like to be hit around, so I can see her type going on an inmate dating site. I guess she was lucky. Things could of went a whole lot different for her.

Reading Zack’s story was truly heart breaking. He was a former solider and had seen and done way to much. I do not want to reveal to much but I will say this, I do not feel he belonged in prison. I felt the justice system truly failed him. He had punished his self way to much. He was having a hard time letting go of the past. He felt unworthy of someone as good as Maddy.

We got to know a little about Maddy and Zack’s exs. Maddy’s ex was named Alex. He had some series anger issues. No matter how many times Maddy told him they were not together he did not believe. It was like it did not sink in.

Zack’s ex we only got a small glimpse but it was enough. Her name was Maggie. Reading about her I could see she liked everything to rotate around her, she was manipulative, and loved drama.

I felt sorry that Zach had to spend 2 years away from his mother who truly needed him. We got to see his mother’s every day struggle. She truly is lucky that he was willing to help her out once he was out of prison. He loved his mother and it broke his heart to see the woman he knew all his life gradually checking out of life.

This story will cover about PTSD. It shows a little of the struggle people with PTDS go through. How some people can take advantage of those with the issue and how some can be that helping hand they need.

I loved reading the romance between Maddy and Zack. Maddy needed excitement in her life and in her bedroom. Zack will give her that. Zack needs someone that can understand him. Someone that will give him the wildness he needs and crave and Maddy is more then willing.

This was a good story and glad I got to read it.

Truly Moving

absolutely loved it. you felt everything,,,it was like I was there, in the moment. awesome

No Spoilers

If you could sum up Heart of Darkness in three words, what would they be?

Acceptance - Understanding - Hope

What did you like best about this story?

I loved the alternating POV with not only the characters but via the narrators - Zack is just one of the most complicated endearing book boyfriends I have encountered in a long time
- Maddie is a sweet yet explosive little thing - Maddie and Zack meet in an on line chat room- both believing they will never meet in person -they bare their souls to one another -Fate, with her wicked sense of humor has other plans for the two

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

At times the scene and voice of the narrator almost seemed monochrome - lacking the emotions I felt while reading the scene - more the female narrator than the male - possibly just the voice she used for him?

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

When Maddie encourages Zack to let go and embrace himself completely - assuring him that she would be there no matter what - it was a very emotional and slightly scary scene

Any additional comments?

A wonderful story about love, acceptance, and understanding-There is some violence (possible trigger for some) and explicit sexual content -

Great

What a great story. I read the book before I listened to it. The audio version is better than reading in some ways. The feeling the readers put into this story is amazing. This is a great book to read or listen to.

Great Story

If you could sum up Heart of Darkness in three words, what would they be?

Gripping, dark, heart-wrenching

Who was your favorite character and why?

Madeleine is so timid and lets herself be walked on by everyone, including an abusive ex. When she finally starts to stand up for herself and realizes what she wants and needs from a relationship, she's such a strong person - even to the point of being exactly what Zack needs without letting go of herself.

Have you listened to any of Billy Harrison and Nikki Hampstead ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I think the narrators are new to me, but they did so well with this one. The voices were perfect for these characters.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

At the edge of the darkness, lies hope.

Any additional comments?

Heart of Darkness grabbed me from the very beginning and didn't let go. I don't want to give spoilers, so I'll just say that I felt as though I was taken on a journey with both Maddy and Zack and what an incredible journey it was. Kudos to Gabi Moore for tackling not one, but two prevalent topics in this wonderful tale - PTSD and domestic violence. Watching these characters develop was a true joy.

Good read.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. If you like dark, dirty and explicit.

What did you like best about this story?

I like that they were both able to move past their fears.

What about Billy Harrison and Nikki Hampstead ’s performance did you like?

Their reading was clean and expressive.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I didn't laugh or cry. I got angry a few times.

Any additional comments?

This book is filled with dark, dirty, and explicit. It's also filled with a budding love story and offers insight into life after war.

Great story!

This was a good book that was a bit dark. Zach was a damaged and with Maddie's kindness and understanding the pair come to find love. Maddie is as equally damaged but learns to find her inner strength. I thought the characters were well written and realistic. The plot moved along well and I enjoyed this book from start to finish. The liked the narration of this story through the two different narrators telling the story from both Zach and Maddie's POV.

Overcoming The Darkness

I voluntarily received this arc book for an honest review!
WOW THIS IS SO INTENSE AND EMOTIONAL.....Hot, Raw, Sexy, Heartbreaking and so very real. So many people suffer from PTSD and abuse. Gabi really did her research and I could really understand the pain Zack and Maddy felt. They needed to fall apart so they could heal and come together. Such a powerful story!

Heart of Darkness review

The narrators were good. The story quite a drag,some issues in the end were not addressed.I feel the ending is a bit hurried.Would love to know what happened to the ex and the mother.