When the Sea King falls for the fake princess meant for his son.
Royal by name only, Thalia Faircaster has lived her life by the sword, in service to an isle that is rapidly descending into ruin—the lands growing bitter and infertile, even as the population grows.
When an alliance with the Northern Sea Realm promises her people a new home, Thalia willingly accepts the charge of escorting her adopted sister across the oceans to witness her wed to the Sea King’s only son.
King Vaarin’s people are cursed with infertility, and a royal marriage with a blessed Faircaster royal will dispel the blight on his people.
But the sea is a mercurial mistress, bringing a storm that tears Thalia’s sister and crew from her, leaving Thalia for dead.
Until King Vaarin finds her, mistaking her for the crown princess.
He believes Thalia to be his son’s betrothed, the key to restoring the fertility of his people, and his to protect until they reach safe waters.
The alliance is vital to Thalia’s people, and so she takes her sister’s place. Willing to woo the prince and seal the agreement.
So why is it the ancient king that makes her pulse race?
The Oceans Heart is a standalone romantasy filled with angst, sizzle, and the delicious tension of a forbidden romance.
Debbie Cassidy lives in England, Bedfordshire, with her three kids and very supportive husband. Coffee and chocolate biscuits are her writing fuels of choice, and she is still working on getting that perfect tower of solitude built in her back garden. Obsessed with building new worlds and reading about them, she spends her spare time daydreaming and conversing with the characters in her head. She writes Urban Fantasy, Romance, Fantasy and Reverse Harem Fantasy. All her books contain plenty of action, romance and twisty plots.
The Ocean’s Heart is a book in the Lunaterra Chronicles, and trust us when we say this...you’re going to absolutely want more when you’re done! Thalia is an adopted princess on a journey with her adopted sister (the true princess) to meet her soon to be husband. Imagine treacherous seas, danger from unseen foes, secrets from the past, and so much more. Of course, the way that this story starts off? It will have you hooked...fully. This book is short, fast-paced, and full of drama. The romance moves quickly, but it works! There is a touch of steamy, but not enough for those with greedy souls. LOL! We get an open-ended ending, so whether the story continues into the rest of the Chronicles or whether we’ll have to wait for more...only time will tell. But this is a story we eagerly devoured, and will be begging for more of.
I’ve been reading this author for a long time, and I think this is the first novella I’ve read by her. First off, this is a well-written and entertaining story, and I really liked our main characters Thalia and Vaarin. Thalia is such a strong, vibrant character, and I love how she can really take care of herself. While this book is a novella, the author still makes this feel like a complete book, and you are completely invested in the storyline. I was hoping one thing would happen in this (no spoilers!), but it didn’t, and I was a little let down. LOL! Anyway, a good way to while away an afternoon. Recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.
Sigh! That was just so stinking incredible. A strong, capable heroine. A hero that valued her strength. Now, he wasn’t perfect; he was a bit of a prideful jerk before the end, but he was redeemable and was able to learn his lesson. Now, because this novella had limited pages and needed to have a fairly narrow focus, I still have some questions and I'm hoping that the author will expand more on this story in the future, because I'm nowhere near done with these characters. I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the author.
Debbie never lets me down. I’ve loved all of her books. This is a novella but it reads like a full length book. Nothing felt rushed or missing. I enjoyed the main characters. FMC is strong and resilient. MMC is hot and allowed the FMC to fight for herself which I love so much. I hope this ends up becoming a full length book so a few things can continue and be expanded.
This is a book in a 13 book multi author series. I’ll definitely be reading the other 12 books!
My only complaint with this book like every single other Debbie Cassidy book is that it’s just not long enough! I’m really hoping to get to see a continuation of this couple because I need more! I devoured this in one sitting and I do not regret ignoring my adult duties for the day. I don’t know how the author does it but every single time I read one of her books am immediately immersed into the world and nothing else matters. I absolutely loved everything about the characters and the story, but I wish it had been some more groveling at the end because the Lord knows I was about to throw a throat punch through the book around 85%. Thalia deserved more groveling from Vaarin….
I picked this novella up this afternoon in hopes of getting back into a reading mood and this did just that! Even though it was short, the storyline and the characters made it feel like a full book. My first book by this author and it was a nice palette cleanser and a fun time!
Fun entertaining story! Enjoyed the sea king, fake princess scenario, and the whole thinking she’s meant to marry his son. Nice to have a bit of the forbidden. Enjoyed this novella!
this was so good! but, honestly, anything by Debbie is amazing!!
the fmc is amazingly beautiful and so capable. the mmc is stubborn and prideful but the love they have between the two of them... chefs fricken kiss. it ended on a cliffhanger because let's be real, all the good ones do... so I can't wait for the next one!!!
All you really need to know is this book was AMAZING and I could t put it down. I’m OBSESSED with King Vaarin!!!
The natural resources of the human isle our FMC inhabits has been dwindling and the country falling into ruin while the population continues to grow. The Northern Sea realm has been suffering from infertility. In an effort to help both realms, an alliance was made. A princess of the isle (one who carries a bloodline that will restore the fertility of the Northern Sea Realm) will marry the prince of the Northern Sea Realm and in exchange the isle will receive food and supplies that will help their people survive. Easy enough bargain, right? Well….
Our FMC, Thalia, is a royal, but not by blood. She was adopted by the king when he found an infant left on shore all alone. He loves her but the Queen? Not so much. She’s been preparing all her life to obtain a ship of her own and fight for the survival of her home isle. Thalia was charged with escorting her beloved sister, Briony, to her new home. In return for doing so, she would finally achieve her dream of owning a ship & exploring the world.
But like most cases, things don’t go according to plan. Thalia is forced to put Briony on a separate vessel when looters attack their ship and a storm wreaks havoc. Thalia comes up with the perfect plan to “become” Briony in order to prevent the looters from looking for and kidnapping the princess. In the little battle, Thalia is left for dead… where she’s found by King Vaarin. (Swoon)
Her plan worked. King Vaarin assumes Thalia to be the princess and plans to keep her under his protection until they can reach the safety of his homeland. Thalia is uneasy about maintaining the false identity, but understands that her people will die without the alliance. Especially when she finds out her poor sister didn’t make it.
The two grow closer throughout their journey and an attraction develops between them. Turns out the king doesn’t want to give her up to his son. He wants to keep her for himself. But his most unforgivable act? Liars. Read to find out what happens when our king finds out what his little princess is hiding from him and how he reacts! Also, who IS Thalia? Where did she come from?
Cliffhanger but totally worth the read! I can’t wait to continue their story!!! Did I mention I LOVE King Vaarin?!
The Ocean’s Heart is a standalone story set in the Lunaterra Chronicles series. This series has not disappointed - every story I’ve read so far has been wonderful!
Thalia is a royal, but not by blood. She’s been preparing all her life to obtain a ship of her own and fight for the survival of her home isle. The natural resources of her isle have been dwindling, and the country falling into ruin while the population continues to expand. Meanwhile, the Northern Sea realm has been suffering from infertility.
In an effort to help both realms, an alliance was made. Thalia’s sister Briony - a princess of the isle - carries a bloodline that will restore the fertility of the Northern Sea Realm. In return for Briony’s marriage to the prince of the Northern Sea Realm, Thalia’s isle will receive food and supplies that will help their people survive. Thalia was charged with escorting her sister to her new home. In return for doing so, she would finally achieve her dream of owning a ship & exploring the world.
Unfortunately, things don’t go according to plan. Thalia is forced to put Briony on a separate vessel when looters attack their ship, and a storm wreaks havoc. Thalia decides to appear to be Briony in order to prevent the looters from looking for and kidnapping the princess. In the battle, Thalia is left for dead. She’s found by King Vaarin.
King Vaarin assumes Thalia to be the princess, and plans to keep her under his protection until they can reach the safety of his homeland. Thalia is uneasy about maintaining the false identity, but understands that her people will die without the alliance.
The two grow closer throughout their journey, and an attraction develops between them. But what happens when the truth comes out?
This was another excellent book in the series. The world building is great, and although I really appreciate the quick reads, I get so drawn into the setting and characters that I wish there was more because I hate to see the story end!
I had been reading a few books since my last Debbie Cassidy book and I could tell. So when this little gem fell into my lap I sighed a happy sigh as I knew I would be in for a good time. I went into this book with expectations, (besides it being written by Debbie and Debbie being awesome!) and had no clue about the story when I started it before I went to sleep except that it was part of an anthology series. Suffice it to say it didn't make it to my normal night time reading the following night because I devoured it.
Thalia is a relatable character with resilience and strength, despite being orphaned and despised by the wife of adopted father, the king of a struggling people. She is on a mission to help save her people by escorting her sister, (in every way except by biology) to her betrothed, whose people will, upon joining, give them the resources they desperately need.
Thalia's journey is fraught with loss and challenges and also a chance at love. An adventure with steamy scenes and a HEA.
As I have not read any of the other books in the series, I cannot say how well it nestles itself among the others, but what I can say is that Debbie Cassidy's characters, storytelling and world building is what propelled me on a fast forwards pace through it.
The worst thing about it? It isn't part of a full series that she is telling. Yet, despite that? it felt complete start to finish. I didn't feel shorted despite my desperate desire for more story, (well I am not gonna lie I can never have enough of her storytelling, but that being said...) would I have liked to known more about Thalia and what happened next? Absolutely! but it felt complete and well told.
Debbie lovers will rejoice in an extra bit of joy from her storytelling apart from her series, and readers of this series hopefully will read this and discover a new favorite author.
Thalia is the adopted daughter of the King of Faircaster. Although the King adopted her and fully accepted her the Queen never did, so although she was raised as the sister of the crown Princess she never took on that role. Instead she is chief of the royal guard and bodyguard to her sister Bryony. Faircaster Isle is growing barren with failing crops and as the population is booming the people are in danger of starvation. An alliance is formed with the North sea realm who have a problem with fertility so it is agreed that in exchange for a new home Bryony will marry the son of King Vaarin of the north sea realm thus restoring fertility to their race. As Thalia escorts Bryony to meet her new husband the ship is caught in a storm leaving Thalia seriously wounded. When King Vaarin finds the ship and rescues her he believes her to be her sister, the potential saviour of their people and Thalia allows him to believe this as without this deal her people have no hope for survival. She just needs to keep up the pretense till the marriage contract is fulfilled although she knows when she is found out ... her life will be forfeit.
This book was amazing. I loved the story, it was a real high stakes adventure, and I really connected with the characters, Thalia was an amazing FMC. I loved the chemistry between the 2 main characters, it was obvious from the beginning they should be together even though he thought she was meant for his son. The only reason this did not get 5 stars from me was because I was a little disappointed at the ending. There is a HEA of course but it seemed to cut off just as something life altering was about to happen. I think a couple more pages or even paragraphs telling us the outcome would have definitely made it 5 stars for me. Even without that though it is still a brilliant book
The Ocean’s Heart is part of the Lunaterra Chronicles, but it’s a standalone within the series. Thalia was found as a baby in the ocean, and one of the human kings found her and adopted her. Now years later, she is a princess by name (although her stepmother absolutely hates that she is) but not by blood. Since her adopted people are dying, her father brokered a deal with the Sea Fae King – her sister Bryony’s hand in marriage to his son for their people to move to one of their islands that can hopefully nourish them.
On the voyage over, the ship carrying Thalia and her sister is besieged by a rogue group called the Obsidian Pearl who are trying to kill the princess. Thalia gets her sister off on another boat and pretends to be the princess while fighting them off. Nearly dead, she is found by King Vaarin, of the Sea Fae, who takes her aboard his own ship thinking she is the crown princess. Trying to protect her, they once again try to get away from the Obsidian Pearl and travel to the Cursed Island. Thalia does not tell Vaarin that she is not in fact the princess he thinks she is since now it is up to her to save her people.
Spending so much time alone together make them fall in love – even though they are desperately trying to escape the clutches of the Obsidian Pearl. But when he realizes that she has lied to him, can he forgive her since he is his heart’s true love?
Loved this story and the characters – for such a short book of Debbie’s she sure did pack a lot of action and romance within it! Fantastic read and I highly recommend it!
Ocean’s Heart by Debbie Cassidy is one of those rare reads that grabs your heart and doesn’t let go—not just because of the slow-burn, forbidden romance (though that’s definitely a highlight), but because of the fierce determination that pulses through every page. From the start, I was hooked by Thalia Faircaster—a warrior with a strong sense of duty, loyalty, and a heart that refuses to settle for less than what it truly wants. When circumstances thrust her into the role of her sister, betrothed to the Sea King himself, she walks a dangerous line between loyalty to her people and the undeniable pull toward Vaarin, the brooding, ancient King of the Sea Realm. The romance is breathtaking in its restraint—tense, aching, and emotionally charged. You feel every stolen glance and every moment of closeness like a tidal wave waiting to crash. But it’s not just about love; it’s about agency. Thalia isn’t content to be a pawn in anyone’s game. She fights—against expectations, against fate, and for her right to choose not just who she loves, but who she wants to be. Debbie Cassidy weaves this tension beautifully into a world that’s both mystical and grounded, full of political stakes, rich lore, and layered characters. Ocean’s Heart isn’t just about romance; it’s about taking control of your story, even when the world expects you to follow a script. If you're drawn to fantasy with grit, grace, and a heroine who will claw her way toward what she wants—love included—this book is absolutely for you. Don't forget this is a stand alone but part of an amazing series with multiple creatively genius authors.
I love it when a book starts with a sentence that has me doing a double take, a whammy I just HAVE to say, "like what now????" And what a brilliant "what now" opener, what a riveting first chapter, which soon had my eyes going wider and wider, at the unexpected turn of events! I've only recently discovered this author and I'm lapping up her writing like a puppy after a run!
Thalia and Princess Bryony are on the way to secure an alliance through marriage, Bryony's marriage to a mer Prince. Even though they weren't sisters by blood, Thalia was taken in as a babe by the king, the bond and love is that of true siblings. I loved the differences in their personalities and the genuiness they shared. And then.... tragedy struck...and then mistaken identity was assumed....and then...oh dear heavens THEN I was salivating in absolute delight! I loved the spin in this tale, a hardened king, who's completely unravelled by a feisty young woman, even if he thinks she's unattainable, even if he thinks she's THE Princess he needs to wed his son to. A magnificent read with stunning characters and a whirlwind ride!
Wow does this author pack a lot in this book! This is a novella but glory be, by the the strength of the plot, by the strength of description and vividry, it felt like a full novel, it read like a full novel. A book so cool and fast paced, a read with all the glorious vibrancy of the storytelling is sublime. I sure as heck hope Debbie writes a full series, because I definitely need to know more!
I’m not usually one for shorter books. I don’t always feel like I get enough of the story or get to know the characters enough. However, this one left me pleasantly surprised! It was a full story, not rushed, and it gave me plenty of time to fall in love with the characters. By the time I was done, I felt like I’d been with these characters through an incredible journey – because they certainly had an incredible journey!
Debbie Cassidy never lets her readers down with her creativity in who her characters are, and what her characters are. I immediately fell in love with Thalia and her kick ass ways – how confident she is, with a sprinkling of smart ass. When she meets King Vaarin, I worry it may be a situation where ‘strong girl gets saved by stronger man,' but that’s absolutely not the case. From moment one, he’s constantly in awe of the strength this princess (she’s pretending to be) has both physically and mentally, and especially in her confidence. Don’t even get me started on the hotness factor he’s got going with not only his looks, power, protectiveness, and all the other goodies you look for; but also, there’s nothing hotter than a man that respects, appreciates, and is super attracted to all the things that make Thalia powerful.
Of course, they don’t meet under calm, normal circumstances, and the constant action and COOLEST, creepiest enemies only highlight what a creative writer Cassidy is, and why there’s no book she writes that I won’t immediately read. This is 1000% a can’t miss!
The books I've read with a sea theme are few and far between. Then Debbie Cassidy has to go and write one that centers on the sea fae of all things, and she had me.
I'm so happy I gave this book a chance. Thalia and Vaarin were easy to like from the start. With her brave and adventurous spirit and him being all broody and protective, I loved it. Vaarin and Thalia were magnetic. They couldn't help but be drawn together, and it was so easy between them. Lots of flirting and sharing some deeply emotional stuff. I was invested pretty early on, so this whole secret-keeping business had me on a knife's edge for the majority of this book. It was pretty rough.
Besides the romance, I loved the adventure aspects. There were battle scenes, different creatures, and all kinds of backdrops that just added to the fantastical part of the story. Debbie included loads of details, including a great backstory for both MCs. However, it was the plot twist that got me. I didn't expect it; in fact, what I did expect didn't even happen. I was shocked, but in a good way.
When I got to the end, I was so not ready for Thalia's and Vaarin's story to be over. Ugh! I want more, but it's not in the cards. The Ocean's Heart was such a delightful read. It surprised me and most definitely adds to the plus column when I’m considering reading more sea-themed books. If you're looking for a quick romantasy with lots of adventure but on the lighter side, I highly suggest this one.
The Ocean's Heart by Debbie Cassidy is part of The Lunaterra Chronicles series and tells the story of Thalia Faircaster, who is forced to take her sister's place after she is lost to the sea as the future bride of a sea prince, which should save both, hers and his people. After she is left for dead , King Vaarin saves Thalia, mistaking her for the real princess, but as they fight their way through dangerous situations, they find themselves in a forbidden connection, which complicates everything.
I have to admit that I was a bit confused at first about everything, but I am guessing it's only because I haven't read the other books in this series to get an idea about the bookverse in which this story is happening. As I kept on reading, I found myself more and more invested in the story and Thalia and Vaarin's attraction to each other, and I learned and understood more about that world. I definitely love Thalia! A strong, selfless, and decisive person. Even though she lost almost everyone she cared about, she still didn't give up and made hard choices and risked herself for her people.
I found king Vaarin to be a bit childish but at least he made one good choice in the end after being "kicked in the behind" by someone. 😆
The only thing I didn't like is that ... It's just one book. I need more of Thalia!!! Pretty pleaseeeeeeeeeeeeee!
I'm going to preface my review by admitting that I am a huge fan of Ms. Cassidy's work. Also that these are my personal opinions, they may differ from yours, and that's ok.
Unfortunately, if this was the first time I read her work, because this is a novella, I wouldn't truly appreciate the quality of work she normally writes, the build up and strength of the relationships in her work. This novella felt a little rushed (because it's a novella, I know) with both the FMC herself, and the relationship with the MMC.
The FMC herself was very likeable, as was the MMC. The story interesting and I read it in one sitting, I couldn't put it down. It was the first book I had read based in this world, and I have already pre-ordered the others in the series (knowing they're all novellas) as I want to find out more.
The spicy quantity was low, but understandable considering the length of the book. The spice quality, as per usual with Ms Cassidy, was great.
Normally I would give Ms Cassidy's work 5 stars, as the quality of writing, relationship building, etc is outstanding. Unfortunately I can only give this one a 4star as it's still quality writing, but gave me a rushed feeling.
So, I love all things Debbie Cassidy, this intriguing quick fantasy read included. I’ma say 4.5 stars, because it’s so good but it’s too brief! It’s about 130 pages, so as good as it is, I found myself really wanting it to be more of a full-length novel with more detail and depth, and not so quick of a resolution. Regardless, Debbie Cassidy brings it, as usual, with the creative world building and fascinating well thought-out beings.
It’s MF, has some steam, but mostly it’s a really cool story of a secret identity the MFC has hidden to protect her people. She’s pretending to be her sister for an arranged marriage, but falls for the future husband’s father, the jaded daddy-Sea Fae-king, instead.
This is one book that’s part of a multi-author set of stand-alones set in the same world. It’s short, and packed full of intrigue and tension, a bad-ass MFC mortal, (or is she?) a schmexy daddy sea fae king, some creepy other sea fae things, other bizarre creatures, etc. Give it a read, if you’re in the mood for all that. And a HEA (HFN? Not sure if the other authors will write about characters from this one that I need answers about!)
So, I love all things Debbie Cassidy, this intriguing quick fantasy read included. I’ma say 4.5 stars, because it’s so good but it’s too brief! It’s about 130 pages, so as good as it is, I found myself really wanting it to be more of a full-length novel with more detail and depth, and not so quick of a resolution. Regardless, Debbie Cassidy brings it, as usual, with the creative world building and fascinating well thought-out beings.
It’s MF, has some steam, but mostly it’s a really cool story of a secret identity the MFC has hidden to protect her people. She’s pretending to be her sister for an arranged marriage, but falls for the future husband’s father, the jaded daddy-Sea Fae-king, instead.
This is one book that’s part of a multi-author set of stand-alones set in the same world. It’s short, and packed full of intrigue and tension, a bad-ass MFC mortal, (or is she?) a schmexy daddy sea fae king, some creepy other sea fae things, other bizarre creatures, etc. Give it a read, if you’re in the mood for all that. And a HEA (HFN? Not sure if the other authors will write about characters from this one that I need answers about!)
Debbie Cassidy’s The Ocean's Heart is part of The Lunaterra Chronicles series and was an absolute amazing addition to the series! Deb ie is a master at creating mind blowing detailed stories with tons of action, drama, twists and turns, endless intrigue and suspense and of course all the emotions and steamy chemistry a reader could ever hope for—and this one was no exception! If you love a good forbidden, mistaken/secret identity romance full of delicious angsty heat and tension this is the one for you!
This is the story of Thalia, a dedicated adopted sister just trying to do her duty to deliver her sister to the Sea King, Vaarin, to be married to his son which will help both her people and his when a storm brings danger and causes nothing but mayhem and chaos. When disaster and tragedy befalls their journies and leaves Thalia in her sisters place she has no other choice then to pretend to be her and woe the prince—except for one problem. It’s his dad that’s captured his attention. ;) And while this story may be a short read, it’s still packed full of all the delicious ingredients to keep you entertained until the end!
"You are afraid...." He lightly touched my cheek. " He will not harm you. I will see to it." "I will protect you."
"You are an amazing woman. You're not just beautiful, but you are intelligent and strong of body and mind, and I am so very honoured to know you."
As always Debbie Cassidy delivers a brilliant short story. This is a standalone fast paced romantasy with forbidden romance, delicious tension and a HEA. Thalia and Vaarin are great characters. Both ruled by a sense of duty over their own happiness and desires. A storm hits, separating Thalia from her sister the crowned princess and leaves Thalia for dead until King Vaarin finds her, mistaking her for the princess. He believes she is his sons betrothed, the hope of his people and his to protect until they reach safer waters. The alliance between the princess and the king's son is vital to Thalias people, and she is willing to woo the prince to seal the agreement made. But will they both do their duty to their kingdoms or succumb to the desires of their heart?
What. An. Opener! If this book doesn’t hook you from the very first sentence, I’ll be shocked! It may just be one of the wildest book openers I’ve ever read—and it only gets better from there! Now, in all honesty I did not realize that while this is a standalone, it’s also part of a bigger series of stand alone books. I’ll have to go back and read the first two, but I didn’t have the patience to wait and went ahead and read this first. I LOVE Debbie Cassidy, especially after finding her Gargoyles series. I honestly don’t know how she creates such incredibly vivid, entrancing stories! Her world building is absolutely top notch! I couldn’t put this book down! The forbidden aspect, when they both so clearly wanted each-other from the beginning, was just wonderful. They had incredible chemistry! I think it moved a little faster than her books normally go, but it was a stand-alone. I could easily see this story built upon and expanded into more books. I’d also love to see an epilogue. Overall I loved it, but I’d definitely love more!
Thalia is journeying across the seas with her sister, who is set to marry the Sea King's son, when disaster strikes. She's the only one left, and when she is rescued, her rescuer believes her to be the Princess, and she doesn't correct him. She knows how important the alliance is to her people and will do what she can to save them.
Then comes the King, who finds the Princess alone aboard the deserted vessel. She is to be his son's wife, but he can't help the feelings he begins to have for her. Now enemies are after them from all sides, and it's a dangerous journey to the safety of his own Kingdom.
I absolutely adored Thalia; she is sassy, brave and has a few tricks up her sleeve that definitely impress the King. She wants to save her people and will do what she must to make that happen. I won't say too much as I don't want to spoil the story for anyone who is going to read it.
This was a great addition to The Lunaterra Chronicles shared world and I hope to read more of the standalones in this series
I really enjoyed this story! Thalia is determined to help her sister fulfill a royal engagement to the Sea Prince—but when their ship is attacked by a group of sea thugs, everything changes. To protect her sister and the crew, Thalia convinces the princess to escape while she pretends to be her in order to buy them time.
Of course, things don’t go as planned. Thalia ends up being rescued by the powerful and dangerously sexy Sea King, Vaarin. With enemies closing in, the only solution is a rushed marriage to keep her safe—but that’s only the beginning.
I won’t spoil the rest, because this story is best experienced without too many details. If you love a strong female lead, a possessive sea king, and a plot full of action and heart, this is the book for you.
It’s also a quick, fun read—perfect if you’re in the mood for something fast-paced and full of fantasy romance.
🖤Paranormal Romance - MC is a Sea Fae 🖤Dark Romance 🖤Age-Gap 🖤HEA
This is going to sound crazy, but the only thing that could have made this better was if it ended a little earlier in a big cliffhanger, leading to a longer second book. I know a lot of people have cursed this author for her cliffhangers, but I just loved the build-up to get to that point and I saw a bunch of possibilities to make this into a longer series. Alas, it wasn’t meant to be.
That being said: this was a wonderful novella. Yes, it’s short, but the way it dives right into the story with a fascinating plot and a scorching age gap romance, I didn’t feel like we needed more. Would I have been mad if there had been? Most definitely not. But I enjoyed it like this as well. There are two amazing characters, lots of action, tension and secrets between them, and a fascinating world we get a glimpse of, and I’m excited to discover more about. A definite must-read if you’re looking for a short fantasy story!
The Ocean’s Heart is one of those books that just hits the spot when you’re in the mood for a short, simple, and satisfying read. The plot moves along smoothly—nothing too complicated, but still engaging enough to keep you turning the pages.
What really stood out were the characters. The female lead is strong, likable, and easy to root for, and the male character balances her perfectly—solid, dependable, and just as well-developed. Their dynamic kept the story interesting, and I found myself genuinely wanting to see where things go for them next.
It’s not a heavy or overly emotional book, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need—a cozy, enjoyable escape with characters you want to follow beyond the last page. I’ll definitely be picking up the next installment to see what’s in store for them.
If you’re looking for a light read with a good heart, The Ocean’s Heart is worth diving into.
This is a super cute book that had some Little Mermaid vibes mixed in. Thalia is the FMC that was adopted by the king and raised with his daughter as the daughter's guard. They are on their way to the princesses wedding when they get attacked at sea. Thalia takes her place to ensure her people hold up their end of the proposal when the sea king, Vaarin, saves her. The princess was to wed his son. Vaarin and Thalia take a detour from their destination to out run the pirates. They end up falling for each other till Vaarin finds out she has been lying and banishes her. He realizes he was a fool and finds her while on her quest to find her real parents. And that is where the book leaves us.
I loved the characters and world building that you can always expect from Debbie. I was hoping for more at the end and not left wondering who Thalia's parents are as there were clues that she is from the sea as well. I do recommend this book, just know you won't get all your answers at the end.
The Ocean's Heart by Debbie Cassidy book in The Lunaterra Chronicles ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🌶🌶💀 An exciting unputdownable standalone romantasy filled with sea fae, sea monsters, arranged marriage, forbidden romance, cursed Kings, mistaken identity, and finding your heart. Thalia escorts her sister, the Princess to Merida but they are abushed by sea creatures. Thalia dresses like the princess and sends her sister off. Things don't go as plan. Overrun and defeated, Thalia lays freezing to death only to be rescued by the King. Mistaken as her sister, she lets the ruse continue to save her adoptive father's kingdom. However an undeniable chemistry develops between the Sea King Vaarin and Thalia. The Ocean's Heart is full of tension, spice and fate. Tropes: Forbidden romance. Age gap. Mistaken identity. Cursed kingdom. Action. Suspense. 3rd act breakup. Quotes: I smiled, cold and calm. “Your souls it is, then.” I drew my sword,
“You will not disobey me again,” he said, his voice a thick, gravelly rumble. “Do so, and I will punish you.”“You think that was a punishment?” Why did I say that? “Maybe I liked it.” For Thalor’s sake, shut the f--k up, Thalia. “Maybe I’ll misbehave so you can do it again.”