A Thousand Heartbeats

Princess Annika lives a life of luxury in the kingdom of Kadier, but her life is not her own. After her mother disappeared without a trace, her father became cruel and heartless, controlling his daughter with no regard for her happiness. Her dream of adventures and love beyond the pages of her books are crushed when her father arranges her marriage to a cowardly duke for political gain.

But her duty lies with her people, even at the cost of her freedom.

Lennox is devoted to his people and to reclaiming the throne that was stolen from them. Far away from Kadier, he has trained for revenge since the King executed his father without mercy. Rising in ranks as his people plan to stage an insurrection, Lennox has nothing to lose, but everything to gain.

But at what cost?

When circumstances force these two unlikely individuals to meet, will love be enough to surpass duty? Or will the sound of a thousand heartbeats be lost in the aftermath of revenge?

Fans of The Lochlann Treaty, The Divine and the Cursed, and The Riven Kingdom series will rally for A Thousand Heartbeats!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The plot was complex without being overdone. The reader didn’t have to grapple with the created world, nor was confused by the relationships between the characters throughout. The tension and heartbreak that surrounded the characters was not contrived, but rather flowed naturally through the story. The love between the female lead and the male lead did not arise instantaneously and developed organically, adding realistic expectations to an otherwise fictional plot.

“But what was louder than all of that was the painful certainty that I’d finally felt the love I’d read about in hundreds of books, the overwhelming and crushing weight of true love. And it was attatched to the one person I could never have.” 

– Kiera Cass, A Thousand Heartbeats

The characters were well-rounded and possessed a depth of emotion that is not commonly found in young adult fiction. The regrets of the male main character were executed flawlessly, even heart-wrenchingly, to where the reader could understand the motivations behind his actions and even mourn with him for the choices Lennox was forced to make. The female main character, while fierce and fiery in her disposition, had a degree of gentleness about her mannerisms that softened her just enough to be her own character rather than a copy of the aggressive and action-driven Lennox. Annika’s skills and temperament complement Lennox without overshadowing their interactions and the story altogether.

On a personal note, I appreciated that Annika did not come by her skills as a manufactured virtuoso, but rather that she was trained (albeit in secret) before meeting Lennox. Even more so, I love how she used her physical skills to supplement her mental tenacity and viewed “survival” as a battle of wills and minds rather than solely battle of strength. Most of all, the theme of forgiveness plays largely throughout this story, and I was moved by the journey that each character took to find forgiveness in each other and also the strength to forgive themselves.

If you are looking for a book that will relentlessly tug on your heart-strings, motivate you to root for the enemy, and strike a chord deep in your soul, A Thousand Heartbeats should be on your TBR.

Happy Reading,
~the Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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Uninvited: Living Loved When You Feel Less Than, Left Out, and Lonely

For those of you who have been around a bit, or have dived into past posts of mine, you will see I am a BIG Lysa TerKeurst fan. I love her confident and emphatic writing style and how she can seamlessly weave God’s word throughout her narrative. Quite frankly, half the time you forget that you have a book in your hands rather than a good friend in front of you, giving you faith-filled words of encouragement.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

I believe, however, the main reason why I enjoy reading Biblical narratives by Lysa TerKeurst is that she provides a different perspective than the “self-love” narrative that mainstream media ushers to young women. Instead of clinging to the idea that we are all superior “goddesses” as many an influencer has promoted, this author instead confronts the reader with their own flaws–or more adeptly put: sin–and puts it starkly against our identity in God. TerKeurst dives deep to address common transgressions that the world excuses: bitterness from rejection, resentment, anger, pride, and selfishness and uses scripture to neatly unravel the lies we tell ourselves and gently points us toward God’s grace and goodness. She uses humorous, self-deprecating, relatable portrayals of past sin to describe how these internalized thought patterns ultimately harm our relationships with others, but also inhibit our ability to surrender wholly to God.

“Bitterness, resentment, and anger have no place in a heart as beautiful as yours.”

Lysa TerKeurst

While this book may not be as deep as some of the apologetics reading that I have lined up, I would still recommend this book to any young woman today. There are so many Christian women who struggle with one form of rejection or another, and they let it fester inside of them. Social media and the current culture certainly do not help as they feed this negativity, resentment, and pure self-entitlement. We desperately need more books like Lysa TerKeursts to set against this narrative within the world and to remind us that we “live by every word that comes out of the mouth of the LORD”, rather than devouring the empty words and promises of man.

Happy Reading,
~the Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

Instagram: @browneyedbookaholic

It’s Not Supposed To Be This Way

Sometimes you have everything and you are blissfully happy and content. You love your life and are satisfied to continue this seemingly perfect moment in your life.

Sometimes in an instant, it’s all gone. Your knight in shining armor turns out to be a deceptive dragon, or your seemingly bright and silver future suddenly is only worth the same as a piece of dull aluminum.

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^Life^

You become scared and lost and all your heart feels is hollow yet aching for what could have been. During this moment all that you’re left with is a handful of shattered dreams and prayers that you could just go numb to the world and the hurt…

However, these are the moments where you have two choices.

Option One: sit and wallow in a pile of soggy tissues~letting the situation control and break you…become bitter and miss the lies of the past. *not entirely productive*

Option Two: you could pick yourself up, be thankful that you were given the opportunity to work on yourself and your faith, and move forward without looking back. During this time you are able to temporarily lean on those who in this very moment show their loyalty and love.

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Lovelies, you are allowed to sit and wallow for a small amount of time…just don’t sit long enough to grow roots in your sadness. No good plot was made from the princess sitting around waiting to be saved. Acknowledge what happened, and learn from the lesson, but don’t give power to the situation that almost broke you. Instead, be empowered by your reaction to this moment in your life and how you fought to fall in love with yourself again. the best thing is–these heartaches and disappointments will someday be unexpected blessings that will shape you into the ferocious warrior (or kind-hearted pixie) that you were meant to become!

Remember…in the best books, the hero was broken to where they didn’t think they could carry on. Root for yourself like you would cheer on your favorite character. Because eventually…you will be someone’s favorite character in this beautiful, messy and bittersweet story that you are creating.

Happy Reading,
~The Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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The Relentless Series

Sara Grey found her father murdered when she was only seven years old. Ten years later, she has an undying need for justice, a voice in the back of her mind, and a gift for healing that is just one of the many secrets that she holds dear. When she stumbles across the world of demons and finds herself targeted, it is going to take the Morhiri warriors to protect her. Only…what if Sara isn’t as human as she has been led to believe?

Fans of the Percy Jackson series, Crave, and the Vampire Academy will devour this series!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The first book is rather slow in development, but when looking at the series holistically this needed to be done to lay the foundation for this complexly created world and new supernatural species. The other books in the series make up for this with their unexpected plot twists that captivate the reader and enthrall them until the end. Additionally, any questions that the reader is left with in Book 3 are all answered in Book 4 which is centered on Nikolas’ perspective over the last three books. Lynch does such a wonderful job in the second book to boost the plot and create some tangible action and the beginning of a breathtaking romance.

This should have been the first series that I recommended to you all. I was waiting for a good time to post about this book and then realized that all that I was doing was depriving you of one of the best-written series that I have ever read. Lynch absolutely has made me a super fan and I cannot wait to read the rest of her series and continue to follow the stories of Sara’s friends.

Happy Reading,
~The Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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The Lochlann Treaty Series

Princess Charlotte has had her entire life laid out in front of her for her. Marry her childhood friend Oliver to secure the treaty and rule by his side. At least…this was the plan until her fiancé was captured, moments before she was to walk down the aisle to him.

Charlie is tired of sitting on the side and decides to leave the protection of her “gilded cage” to save her betrothed and the fate of her people. The only obstacle in her way is Oliver’s irritatingly aloof and arrogant brother, Logan. 

Logan believes that Charlie is a spoiled puppet for the crown. Little does he know, she will do anything to show him that she is stronger than she appears in order to save her people. But when a series of betrayals follow her, she realizes that playing warrior is not as easy as it looks.

There’s too much on the line to give up this far. 

Follow Charlie’s transformation from a pampered princess to a renowned Warrior Queen in The Lochlann Treaty series! 

Fans of the Red Queen, Outlander, and the Ranger Apprentice series will rally for The Lochlann Treaty!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The plot was wondrously intricate and had incredible depth to its structure. The formation of this world was all well thought out, with glimpses of an underlying fantasy society at its edges. The storyline did not drag out but instead developed at an intense pace that served to enthrall the reader and become emotionally invested in the outcome of the story. Additionally, the plot was vague enough to mask the motivations of the characters but complex enough to keep the reader wanting more. The reader was able to experience the same emotions as Charlie firsthand as they deeply felt each betrayal that was cloaked by the beautifully developed storyline.

“You should never be ashamed of your scars. That’s the proof you have of surviving the monsters who thought they were stronger than you.” 

~Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison, The Lochlann Treaty

Charlie was a brat to begin with and written in such a way at the beginning of the story that the reader was forced to hate her and her pampered upbringing. The character development, even solely within the first book is remarkable. The obstacles that she faces and eventually overcomes demonstrate how her character becomes the way that she is. A strong, passionate, loyal Warrior Queen that all readers can strive to embody. Logan is protective and steadfast but it isn’t until the later books that the reader can see where his motives developed and the reasoning behind his choices. The reader can see how he grows to become not merely a soldier but a confidant and friend. These characters are far from infallible but their human-like qualities are so well written that the reader is able to see themselves in these personalities and fall in love.

This is the most incredible character development and enemies-to-lovers series EVER. Yes, there are parts of this series that are absolutely heartbreaking but that causes you to bond with the characters that much more and see their struggle (plus it helps that the authors offer an apology at the end). This is the best mix of a Scottish highlander/fantasy/epic romance you will ever find! I have so many highlighted notes just from book one and this book has become a part of me.

I absolutely adored this series and believe that this is the best summer reading that I have bought thus far! I cannot recommend this book enough. You will be a stronger person and feel more empowered after reading this series.

Happy Reading,
~the Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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Forest of Firelight

Her beloved twin, Braeton, heir to the throne, is dead. Princess Amalia is left with a heavy crown-which is all that she has left of her brother-and a duty to choose her husband before her father dies. She dismisses fanciful notions of love as she sets her sights on the journey to find the next King to rule alongside her. However, someone has already targeted her. 

Huntsman Rhys has two goals. Befriend the princess. Betray the princess. 

He was not prepared to meet the absolute danger magnet that is Princess Amalia. And he was certainly not prepared to fall for her innocence, her beauty, or her kindness. He certainly was not prepared for the prophecy to save their kingdoms from the evil that comes out of the Chasm created by their ancestors. 

The only question remaining is whether will Amalia be able to forgive him when she finds out who he is… much less what he has done? 

Fans of The Prime Prophecy Series, the Lord of the Rings, and fantasy romance will fall in love with Forest of Firelight.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The plot is slightly predictable in its simplicity but by no means poorly written. There’s not much suspense, but what it lacks in this, is made up for by moments of heartbreak and pure, wholesome romantic tension. There is a clear storyline and character goal that is quite easy to follow. This serves to form an enjoyable, rather quick read while causing the reader to wait in hopeful anticipation for the next book (which comes out in August!).

“You admit it—you followed me.”
“I did.” Truth.
Still wary, she asks, “Do you mean me harm?”
“No.” Truth.
“What do you want from me?”
“Nothing.”
Lie.

-Shari L. Tapscott, Forest of Firelight

This is where Forest of Firelight truly shines. Amalia is beautifully created to be innocent without being stupid. She does have her share of human and embarrassing moments that successfully serve to endear her to the reader. Rhys is begrudgingly protective which is a nice change from the territorial neanderthals that YA literature is known for. The reader is able to witness the struggle between loyalties that these characters have to skillfully navigate and weigh for themselves which ever-changing path would be best for these developing characters to follow.

Why must I fall in love with amazing books that don’t have the sequel coming out until August?! Shari L. Tapscott is a phenomenal author. I have had the pleasure of reading her other series which is why I was so excited to read her new series! I was shocked by Forest of Firelight.

This. Is. Her. Best. Book. Yet.

Trust me you won’t want to miss out on this book! My only recommendation is that you buy the second book immediately after it comes out because you will desperately want to know what comes next.

Follow Shari L. Tapscott’s website here for her next releases and places where to find all of her series!

Happy Reading,
~the Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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Crave

Both of her parents are dead and her bright and sunny San Diego is far behind her. Grace is sent to live with her uncle and her cousin at the Katmere Academy deep in remote Alaska. Little does she know, the Katmere Academy is home to the young supernatural. Witch, shapeshifter, and vampire cliches make up this reclusive boarding school and her presence is not welcome by all. But as war looms at the edges of the relationships between the supernatural races, it becomes clear that Grace was not sent here for her safety. She was brought to be the bait. As Grace attempts to survive this academy, she finds her loyalties divided. She must decide where to place her trust…and her heart.

Fans of Twilight, Vampire Academy, and the Harry Potter series will want to take a bite out of this new series!

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The storyline forms in a suspenseful manner and develops intuitively throughout the novel. Wolff’s expert writing shines through as the reader is kept wondering about what will happen next. The beginning chapters serve as a means to bond with Grace and experience first-hand the off-putting atmosphere that surrounds this academy as Grace does not comprehend the danger that she has gotten herself into. The later chapters connect the reader to the characters in a more profound way that will stick with them long after the book has ended and leave them desperately wanting to know the outcome. Additionally providing the alternative point of view at the end of the book shows just how much the readers (and the main character) missed behind the chilling earlier scenes.

“Deep down, I am not different from you. I dreamed you, I wished for your existence.”

-Tracy Wolff, Crave

The characters themselves were believable and genuine. Grace was adequately “fragile” for being a human without being weak. She additionally is strong, passionate but also endearingly human in her motivations. The reader’s heart will ache with the losses that she has but celebrate with her small victories. Jaxon is the definition of a misunderstood bad boy but underneath that cold, somewhat frightening exterior is a broken, scared boy that clicks so perfectly with our kind and innocent Grace. Each character contributes something meaningful and intentional to the plot.

Let me make something clear. This book is not Twilight. The plot is completely different, the characters are completely different, and the writing is completely different. This book is infinitely better. Some complaints about this book are that all of the boys fall for Grace similar to that Twilight. The important distinction between the boys of Twilight and the boys of Crave is that the boys in Crave all want something from Grace and use Grace for their own factions’ goals. It is not actually insta-love or insta-lust.

Now that that is cleared up, I love this book with all of my being. I love the twists that Wolff brings to the supernatural world to spice up a familiar plot and make it her own. I love the humanity that is shown in these characters and the harsh realities that they face. I love that my heart was racing during parts of this book because I was feeling what the characters were feeling. I absolutely, positively cannot recommend this book enough. 

Follow Tracy Wolff’s website here for her new releases (Crush, the next book is released September 29, 2020!) and places where her book is available!

Happy Reading,
~the Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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Summer Flings & Pet Peeves

Hello readers, bibliophiles, and bashful bookworms! I hope that you are all enjoying your summer so far! Sunshine, pink lemonade, and a good book protected from the pool. That is how I love spending this time of year. Plus there’s more time for reading! But we can’t forget to talk about one of the best parts of summer. Two words.

Summer flings.

Summer Loving GIFs | Tenor

No, no, no ~ I’m not talking about the summer flings you’re thinking of. I am talking about our book summer flings. Like normal summer flings, we readers find ourselves with (at best) looser standards, an exciting story, and a lesson that will last us until the next unsuspecting book cover that catches our eye. At worst, we wake up in the morning, bleary-eyed from a reading hangover, shell-shocked with our last night stand lying in bed with us with its pages sprawled everywhere.

Geology Sheldon The Big Bang Theory GIF - GeologySheldon ...

Here are some of just a few lessons I’ve learned this summer alone from my many, many, many book flings.

1. Don’t just jump into being exclusive: Borrow the book, read the reviews, and do your work to see if this book is worth the $15. Don’t just fall for the newest release or the most stunning book cover you’ve ever seen. Books are expensive these days and you don’t want to always put your time into a book that you know isn’t your type. But don’t be afraid to try new things either!

2. Don’t put your heart on the line until you know it will last: Sometimes authors do these evil things such as not finishing a series (I am looking at you, Donna Flynn). Check to see if this book series is already done or if the author has a good track record about completing books or if they are popular. Also, make sure that during this time you are taking the time to drop ratings on books you like to encourage the author to keep writing! Otherwise, you could be waiting a while for the next book, if it’s published at all.

I Did My Waiting GIFs | Tenor

3. Don’t waste your time with multiple love interests: (totally my opinion but still a good lesson) there is nothing worse than an RH (reverse harem) novel. Just chose a man and stick with it! Otherwise, the book feels completely unfinished or the author looks lazy. And honestly, your reading standards hit rock bottom at this point.

Either way, our book summer flings allow us to grow as individuals and readers. This summer alone I have learned so much about what books I love, what books I hate (peep above), and what I want to challenge myself to do in the Fall. I hope you learn from my few summer flings and share some of your own summer flings in the comments!

THIS WEEK:
~my summer flings so far~
1. Crave by Tracy Wolff
2. Forest of Firelight by Shari L. Tapscott
3. The Lochlann Treaty by Robin D. Mahle & Elle Madison
4. Enlightened by Samantha Britt

Happy Reading,
~the Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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Seasons of the Storm

Jack Sommers made a mistake one cold, desperate night. More than one. His first mistake was sneaking out. His second mistake was making a deal with Gaia for immortality rather than facing death alone. As a result of his choice, he became a Winter, an immortal embodiment of the season. The catch is, he has to die…repeatedly. Summer kills Spring, Autumn kills Summer, Winter kills Autumn, and Spring kills Winter. It was not until a certain Spring that Jack began to regret his choice of immortality. Because he met Fleur a beautiful, vibrant, pink-haired Spring.

A Spring whose only way to live is to kill the opposing Season, Jack. 


Jack and Fleur slowly fall for each other, against the rules set firmly in place by Chronos himself. But what if the rules aren’t there to protect the Seasons but instead force them to be weak. With the help of their Handlers and two other Seasons, they will have to fight to escape the eon old cycle. Will their strength be enough? 

Fans of Maggie Stiefvater, the Hunger Games, and the Rise of the Guardians will love to binge-read this new novel in one sitting.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

The book begins with a Hunger Games-esque opening, which develops into an intense, strongly paced storyline that naturally flows consistently throughout the novel. While the beginning (and by this I mean the prologue) is nearly entirely predictable, the rest of the story is full of unexpected changes and ever-evolving characters.  Cosimano forms an intricately created world with complex but seemingly natural inner workings. The storyline centers upon a well-developed theme depicting the consequences of choice. While this seems to be the stereotypical choice for these types of novels, Cosimano expertly weaves it into her story in a way that engages the reader and wonderfully resolves with the climax of the story. 

“I”m terrified to let go. That I’ll open my eyes and this shining, sparkling moment will be gone.”

-Elle Cosimano, Seasons of the Storm

The characters of this story surprised me. I was prepared for the angsty teenagers who are ruled by their hormones under the guise of moral righteousness. I was so happy to be proven wrong. There are clear character motivations that create a phenomenal balance of sacrifice and gains within the plot. Yes, romance does exist however it coincides in harmony with the other character’s objectives that it served to sweeten an already pure and incredible story.  I appreciated how the flawed characters were portrayed with humanistic tendencies with hints of the seasons that they embody which cause the reader to become emotionally invested in their outcomes. 

Personally, I appreciated the intricacies of the plotline and how emotionally invested the author made me in the characters. When there was a loss, I physically had to set the book down for a few minutes to emotionally comprehend what I had read before I was able to continue. Despite the tears I shed from this book, both from happiness and sorrow, I am so blissfully content with the ending and I look forward to the sequel that I pray will be published soon.

Follow Elle Cosimano’s website here for new releases and places where her book is available!

Happy Reading,
~the Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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Wolfish Charms

Vivian James has been seeing ghosts since she could remember, until one night, they disappeared with the death of the only family member that she had left. Gaining visions of the future and a handsome gangster by the name of Argus Ward by her side, she will stop at nothing to get revenge and find the beast. But will love distract her from her goal?

Thank you Jenna Collett for my first ARC book in exchange for an honest review!

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Jenna Collett has done it again. This book was absolutely phenomenal and better than the first book in the series, Spellbound After Midnight, which I did not think was possible! Tessa and Derrick from the first book were still large characters, but I fell in love with Vivian and Argus. I usually cannot get into fairytale retellings but Jenna Collett made me not want to put this book down (I accidentally lost a full night of sleep thanks to this book). The plot was wonderfully surprising with unexpected plot twists which served to enhance character progression while remaining believable. There were no plotholes that I could note and there was just enough left for a continuation of the series. All in all this book is now on my favorites shelf and I am a Jenna Collett fan for life!

“Ghosts were funny things. Somethings they were people who were lost or had something left undone. Other times, they were places with memories that haunted you. Both needed to be set free.”

-Jenna Collett, Wolfish Charms

Happy Reading,
~the Brown-Eyed Bookaholic

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