REVIEW: Heart-Shaped Hack by Tracey Garvis-Graves

In Heart-Shaped Hack (Kate and Ian #1) by Tracey Garvis-Graves, Kate Watts enjoyed her career as a lawyer at first but always wanted to do something more meaningful. Deciding to open a food pantry in Minnesota has been fulfilling but definitely challenging as the holidays approach. After her on-air appeal for funds, Kate receives startling monetary donations a few months before catching a glimpse of her savior. And he is nothing like she expected him to be.

“What are you saying? That you’re a thief who steals from other thieves?”
He wrinkled his nose, and it was adorable. Stop! Thief!
“It sounds so distasteful when you say it like that. I prefer master appropriator of Ill-gotten funds. You can call me master for short.”
“I have lots of things I’d like to call you. Master is not one of them.”

Kate is skeptical but yet still intrigued by Ian, especially after her Robin Hood explains he is a professional hacker who takes money from the so-called bad guys and donates it to needy causes. The gorgeous man knows way too much about her while she knows nothing about him. Not even his last name. But Kate and Ian are soon inseparable and as danger finds its way into their lives courtesy of his job, she’s not sure she can let him go. Even if it means changing her life completely.

‘She had come to the realization that being with Ian meant accepting him on his terms, and for now she was willing to do that. She was starting to suspect there might come a day when she’d have to reevaluate and make a choice.’

Heart-Shaped Hack was a highly entertaining but still emotionally fulfilling romance that left me wanting more of our main characters and their incredible story. A bit of suspense, lots of laughs and sexy scenes–this one had it all.

“Always choose love. Always choose the adventure. You’ll never regret it.”

It’s a little bit difficult to describe this book, mainly because what appealed to me may not necessarily be what draws other readers in. I think for some, it will be the exciting suspense in regard to Ian’s dangerous job as a hacker. Others will enjoy watching Kate and Ian fall in love. While I loved all of those things, it was the intelligent humor along with Kate and Ian’s dialogue that stole the show for me. I wasn’t expecting to literally laugh out loud so many times or to fall head over heels for Ian like I did.

Speaking of Ian, I truly wasn’t sure if I would like him at all when we first met him. He was self-assured to the point of being arrogant. Plus he came across, well, stalkerish. It kinda creeped me out at first. But, he was charming and charismatic from the get-go, which was also what Kate noticed, so Ian worked his way into her (and my) heart quickly. I loved how he used his skills as a hacker to do good for others, hence the Robin Hood reference in the synopsis. Ian really was a good soul who proved himself by the end.

Kate was a great character as well. She gave up her law career to help the needy. I mean, how commendable and lovely is that? I could really empathize with her wanting to give her clients every means of support available, even if it meant accepting donations from Ian who didn’t necessarily get the money in a traditional manner. I thought Ms. Garvis-Graves created our heroine to be realistic, holding back a bit with Ian until she understood who he really was, and loved watching her become devoted to him.

If you’re not already a fan of Tracey Garvis-Graves, I think reading Heart-Shaped Hack will immediately turn you into one. And be on the lookout in the not-so distant future for a sequel to Kate and Ian’s wild adventures!

Book Info:

Published August 25th 2015 | by CreateSpace | Kate and Ian #1

When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.

Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.

But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.