Review: Hardcore Volume 1 by Staci Hart

*** Part 1 of a 3 part serial ***

Cory James has never known a life where she wasn’t running. Running from the cops, her home, her past. Running from love. The only time she’s free is when she throws on her hood and takes to the roofs to become a part of New York, to climb to a place in the city where she doesn’t feel alone.

Stealing is nothing, lying inevitable, byproducts of survival. A way for Cory to provide for herself and for her younger sister, Jill, give her the life Cory couldn’t have. For five years, Cory set up a long line of teetering dominos, one by one, choice by choice.

Meeting Van is the first domino to fall, and once they crash into each other, it’s only a matter of time before her whole world is in danger of falling apart. She can tell herself over and again that she doesn’t care, but it’s a lie. She knows it from the first time she says his name, but she can’t let him in, not when she has a job to do, a job that could rip her life apart at the seams. One that she’ll have to betray Van to finish.

He’ll follow however high she can climb, but she can only run for so long before she has to choose.

Paperback
Published January 27th 2015 (first published January 22nd 2015)

Source: Purchased

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Shel: The cover is what grabbed me but the story is what kept me reading. I loved that Cory is not your run of the mill female heroine; she's tough and wonderfully flawed. While I don't know her as well as I hope to, I know that I like her and I'm very curious about her. Court: I agree. Cory's hobby (and job) makes her an anti-heroine (is that right? I hope I'm using that right) because she is so flawed. She's doing bad things for the right reasons, and has a lot in that head of hers that is messed up. I can't wait to see how this series goes because she has lots and lots of stuff to work on! 

Shel: Van is also someone I want to know more about...if there's anyway I could have that shower scene (actually EITHER shower scene) repeated with me as the main character, I'd be eternally grateful. Court: Hahhahaha. Those scenes were hot. As is this character, and his views on his art, his life, and his passions. Seeing people and things for their absolute finery and little things that artistic people usually get more than "normal" people...Van is just as intriguing as Cory. Their meeting alone, y'all...whoa. 

Shel: *ahem* ANYWAY. I'm interested in seeing what happens with Van, too. Will he remain as steady and good-natured as he seems? Is there more to him than what he appears to be? If he remains as is, I could totally dig it and if his story is more than meets the eye, I can get behind that too. Court: I would like to believe that he will always be the good guy...BUT...I bet there is some dirty grit to him too, considering how they met! 

Shel: The gang of girls Cory runs with also has me full of questions; I want to know more about them and how they all fit together. Court: Side-series waiting to happen...yes...*hint* hint* Staci Hart

Shel: As you can see I have a ton of questions and I'm very, VERY curious and eager to see what Staci Hart does with the dilemma Cory finds herself in. This was a great way to spend my Saturday morning and I definitely recommend you grab this one soon. Court: I am impressed with the writing, the plot, and the characters and how much we got in a such a short time. Serials are totally doing it for me, and I can't wait for the next installment to come out! Soon, so soon! Thank God! 

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About this author:

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life: a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, even though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. Her favorite word starts with f and ends with k.

From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics.

Find her here: Goodreads | website | FB | Twitter