Heartbeats

Oak Harbor #0.5

by Melody Grace

(Alternate cover edition of ASIN B01FFWMXDE.)

Can one moment change your life forever?

For Eva Carmichael, it’s the second she lays eyes on Oak Harbor’s troubled bad boy, Finn McKay. He’s bold and reckless, and leaves a trail of broken hearts in his wake. She should stay away, but she soon discovers they have more in common than she ever dreamed. They’re both living with painful secrets, and a true self they keep hidden, not letting anyone in – until she takes a leap and risks it all…

Finn knows Eva is too good to be true. He’s been counting down to the day he can turn his back on Oak Harbor for good, and finally escape all the dark, painful shadows of his past. But this girl is impossible to ignore. Her smile makes him forget himself, and just one kiss could redeem it all. He’s determined not to fall, but then one night changes everything…

Two unlikely hearts. One intoxicating romance. This epic love story is only just beginning.

Heartbeats is a novella story set before the events of Heartbreaker.

Genres: Romance, Short Stories, Amazon, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Novella, Young Adult

99 pages, ebook

First published May 11, 2016

About the author

NYT bestselling author of small-town romance. A new chapter in the Sweetbriar Cove series begins with Two Hearts - July 30th!

Reviews

[Lacey Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaker is definitely one of my fave reads of 2016! So I was super thrilled to find out Melody was going to do a short prequel featuring Finn and Eva.

This prequel gives the readers a glimpse at their beginning. You find out more about Finn's past, Eva's fears, and of course, that fateful night that changed everything for them. I LOVED reading it. I only wish there was more! ;)

A beautiful start to an epic love story.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so happy that Melody made a pre-qual to Eva's and Finn's story! I loved Heartbreaker. I really enjoyed getting to see Eva and Finn younger and how they first met. This is sweet super short read. My only thing is I wish it a longer - up to the point here Finn leaves. But I did adore this book.

[Bethany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so excited when I heard that Melody was writing a prequel to Heartbreaker! I couldn’t wait to read it.

Heartbeats is a novella that tells the story of Finn and Eva before Heartbreaker. It dives deeper in to their relationship before it all fell apart. The reader gets a better understanding as to why Finn does what he did that lead to the events in Heartbreaker. This is definitely a must read if you read Heartbreaker and Heartbreaker is just a must read. :)

I received this book in exchange for and honest review.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We hide our true selves so deep that it’s not until we start to gently peel back those layers of half-truths and scared pretense, and discover a heart so unexpected and true, that we know we can’t be without it.”

“I didn’t know what it felt like to live out loud, to leap without looking, love without fear. To feel a passion so wild and out of control it scared and thrilled me in equal measure. to have my heart broken so thoroughly, I thought I’d never piece the shattered pieces of myself back together again.”

What an amazing novella. Heartbeats is the prequel to Heartbreaker, and I’ve gotta tell you, this might be short story/novella, but boy does it ever pack a punch!

Heartbeats takes us on an one emotional journey. You’re immediately sucked in and intrigued by Finn and Eva. You get to see Finn and Eva meet for the first time. You get to see them fall for each other and all the obstacles that life throws their way. There’s not too much I can really say about this novella. Since it is so short, I don’t want to spoil anything for you. What I can say is this: Readers asked for more Finn and Eva, and Melody Grace has delivered. She made me swoon and if you can believe it’s possible, she made me fall deeper in love with these characters. If you’re a fan of Finn and Eva’s I would definitely recommend checking this little novella out. You won’t be disappointed.

*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*

[Coco.V]

💝 FREE on Amazon today (12/15/2017)! 💝

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Melody Grace has a way with making you feel the characters in her books. In Heartbeats she went back and gave you the beginning of Eva and Finn's story. She gives you the feel of that 1st meeting of 2 characters who've watched each other from afar, never dreaming of being able to be that "one" for each other, each helping the other with to break out of their comfort zone. If you've already read Heartbreaker, you won't want to miss this glimpse into the beginning of their love story. If you have yet to read Heartbreaker, do yourself a favor and get it now so you don't have to wait one second to continue on with Eva & Finn, because you definitely will want more of Eva & Finn. Another wonderful read from Melody Grace where you'll want more and more of Eva & Finn.

[Deanna Sauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eva & Finn's story begins here, detailing the moment they meet and begin to fall in love and all the beautiful feelings and apprehensions that go along with that. They each have personal reservations but are still inexplicably drawn to one another.
This novella is excellently written in a dual POV, it's incredibly easy to get pulled into their story and feel their emotions as you read.
Nobody captures the beauty & whirlwind of emotions falling in love entails quite as eloquently as Melody Grace.

*ARC provided for honest review*

[Donna ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars
My only complaint was I still wanted more. This is a short sweet novella on how Finn and Eva meet. I am loving this new series from Melody. This can be read before or after Heartbreaker. I was happy for a little bit more of Finn as he pierced my heart in Heartbreaker. Apparently Melody has a thing for natural disasters. You will totally understand that comment if you have met Emerson from her Beachwood Bay series and read this novella.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbeats is the perfect prequel novella to Heartbreaker!!! I read Heartbreaker and loved it!! However, I was left with wanting more and wanting to know how Eva and Finn met. Heartbeats gives you those details and more!! Melody Grace is one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to read her next book in the series!!

[Janeiowa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very predictable and immature characters. This should probably be labeled as YA.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just Okay

I gave this set of books 3 stars instead of 2 stars because the second book had a bit more storyline than the first book.

The first book Heartbreaker was 70% explicit sex and dirty language, 30% storyline. I skipped through most chapters because to much sex gets real boring. Eva was a teenager when Finn left town and in her twenties when he came back. Both are still young yet Eva acts like life is over because he left her.

Reckless Hearts had a better storyline yet more explicit sex and filthy language especially during sex. There were a lot of page flipping to get past it. Delilah got on my nerves with her insecurities and self doubt. Will did not lie about his past relationship, they didn't know each other long enough for him to bare his soul. When he did try Delilah shut him down because Eva was coming to visit. Will was constantly bending over backwards trying to please her yet her trust issues made you want to slap her. She's supposed to be strong yet she's very needy.

[Joana Miguel]

Wow!

I loved both stories;
Eva and Finn touched my heart with their love for each other; Eva's particular chapter in New York kind of struck a chord with me because sometimes we think that to move on we have to loose ourselves; luckily Lottie's troubles saved her from herself, even if by then she'd already realised that she wasn't fooling anyone.

As for Delilah and Will; all I can say is wow! Her relationship with her Dad kind of directed her path in love and accidentally, or not, in life; she was so focused on not giving herself to anyone that she gave herself completely to her job; just to learn that she was being taken for granted there;
She soon realizes that and moves on both in life and in love.

Well done Ms. Grace
Both of these books touched personally.

[Susanne Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book. These characters were amazing and so well thought out and portrayed. Seeing Eva and Finn connect so quickly was brilliant and watching their teenaged relationship slowly unfold was beautiful. I loved how he was there for her and coached her through her stammering stage fright.
I can’t wait to read the follow on book.

[Sherri Nix Botta · Rating 5 out of 5]

fantastic

I loved the wonderful characters, I enjoyed laughing with them, and cheering them on. Ms. Grace knows how to write a smooth story and makes you care about her people. Cannot wait for the next book.

[Jodie D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Melody Grace. She's an amazing author and this book didn't disappoint. I loved every word.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartbeats

Sweet novella. Definitely makes me want to read on about these two, I'm interested in what happens next with them.

[Eileen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finn and Eva

A quick read to get the background on the beginning of the oak harbor series. I have read several MG 's book and they never disappoint.

[Barbara Barber · Rating 5 out of 5]

On my gosh

I just love every book I have read i can't wait to be able to buy Eva and Find story ! Soon

[Karen Wood · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this insight into the start of Eva and Finn's relationship, even tho I read this second it still gave me so much of the background on them and how it all started, loved it!

[Vicki Pilant · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Oak Harbor Duet

Download this collection and read it! It has some wonderful stories in it and I enjoyed every one of them.

[Sylvia Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

All or Nothing

I chose this rating as I did a lot if page flipping as the sexual content was a bit much to much. Not into that behavior.

[Susan Garatino · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not My Cup of Tea

The basic story lines of each of these novels had possibility, but a bit graphic for my taste. Just not my cup of tea
.

[SynergyQuest · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hometown charm

The Oak Harbor Duet is a great combo read. It has them all the hometown charm you’d expect, and the level of sexy I require in my reads.

[Inga · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not much of a book, just a few pages.
Cliffhanger that is just wrong.
Should have been done in 1 book

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moments that change our lives arrive just like any other: stunning in their ordinariness, a second ticking on by, blink and you miss them spinning past. But they shiver through our lives like an earthquake, radiating out from that single heartbeat, shaking our very foundations, and revealing cracks and deep crevices that, in time, will fill up our lives with a future we could never dream of.

Having read and loved HEARTBREAKER by Melody Grace, I was excited to see that Melody had written HEARTBEATS, a novella that gives the backstory of Eva Carmichael and Finn McKay. Because, really, when you're reading a sort of second-chance epic love story, who wouldn't want a snapshot into the past to see where everything started?

I'll be honest, there isn't one book that Melody has written that I haven't adored, and HEARTBEATS is no different. I fell in love with Eva and Finn in HEARTBREAKER, so I couldn't wait to see how their story started.

Eva and Finn couldn't have been more different. He, wildly popular, the sexy high school senior with the mysterious demeanor and sex appeal for days. She, the shy girl, happy to stay under the radar and keep to herself.

...I was just sixteen, still locked tight in a cage of my own making, moving through the world at a whisper even as my voice inside was crying out to be heard. I didn't know what it felt like to live out loud, to leap without looking, love without fear. To feel a passion so wild and out of control it scared and thrilled me in equal measure. To have my heart broken so thoroughly, I thought I'd never piece the shattered pieces of myself back together again.

The two of them shouldn't have worked as a couple, but opposites, as we know, attract like mad, and neither Finn nor Eva could escape each others' pull, falling for each other against all odds. But the road to love is often filled with twists and turns, and takes a lot of effort to get to an even place, something that these two find out very quickly.

I thought that the hard part was over, that now that we'd found each other, everything else would fall into place. But sometimes, those moments that change everything take a darker turn too...I couldn't begin to imagine the desperation that would drive us apart, heartbreak that would take years to heal. A love that would somehow find a way to bring us back to ourselves, rebuild everything we'd lost, and make us whole again...Finn was right. It was only just the beginning.

HEARTBEATS is a perfect introduction to Finn's and Eva's story, told with all of Melody's usual passion and angst. It's meant to be, and is, a snapshot into their past, and is like a delectable appetizer that leaves you wanting more. 4.5 delicious stars for Finn, Eva, and the beginning of their unbreakable bond.

***ARC generously provided for an honest review.***

[Coryann · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's hard to get too rapped up in a novella. But Melody Grace did a pretty good job with this one. I'd like to give it 3.5 stars. I like the two main characters so I am curious to see where she takes the story in the full book, Heartbreaker!

[buzy_reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finn's life revolved around the disappointment of his parents. His mother left when his dad returned from the military becoming an alcoholic. Finn defined himself by his father's choices. He father sat in a bar drinking everyday until he passed out repeating the process.
Meanwhile, Finn was graduating high school and trying to plan his future away from the small town gossip. Finn was counting down the days until graduation until he met Eva. Eva offered a reason to stay. Eva lived a life of solitude due to a stammer brought on by nervousness. Finn tested her limits that day at the creek challenging her to lose control and do the unexpected. Finn gave Eva the defining moment in her life to let lose the fear and take control of it.
Born and raised on opposite sides of town they found common ground in high school. They had a yin and yang connection. Opposites brought together by an instant connection.
Heartbeats was a prequel for Heartbreaks that offered a promising beginning for Finn and Eva. With one fear conquered and many more to face Finn and Eva began a journey into the unknown.

[Alphas Do It Better Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short but beautiful tale about two young people that find themselves and each other. They, also, take the first taste of young love in each other's arms. Each of our characters is fighting something bigger than themselves. Finn is waiting, just biding his time until he can blow the little town he grew up in. Haunted by being the "man of the house" for too many years, he only reveals the cocky, God's gift to women facade that he's cultivated through the years, making sure never to reveal his true self.

He's watched Eva, the shy, retiring girl a couple of years behind him in school, for years. She's a knock-out but she acts like she doesn't know it, rarely even speaking. When she stumbles upon him in a private moment, they finally talk and begin to learn each other. Eva loves being with him, he pushes her to truly live in the moment, rather than being a casual observer in life.

This book is under 100 pages and is really a prequel to the author's next book, Heartbreaker. A short, enticing read to introduce us to these new and complicated characters.

Review by AnnMarie

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

See how I all begins!

When a book is a second chance romance, I love getting the back story! Especially when they're young. There is just something so nostalgic about young, innocent love. It takes you back to your youth and let's you reminisce about the good old days. Finn and Eva are able to find love, even through the chaos of insecurities and a rough home life. Now may not be their time, but true love never dies.

“Promise me, Finn, this is for real. You’re not going to wake up tomorrow and forget I was ever here.” After tonight, I couldn’t forget this girl if I tried. She’s a part of me now, and there’s nothing I can do to fight it anymore. All I can do is shield her from my demons and do everything I can to make sure I don’t drag her down. She deserves everything, and I’m going to make sure she gets it all. “I promise,” I tell Eva, holding her tight. “This is just the beginning.”

[Jo Overfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing story!

I was completely glued. I could not take my eyes off of this story. The whole time I was reading it, I felt like I was there watching them as they went through the journey. My second thought was they should make this into a movie. OMG! Finn stole my heart, and had me swooning from the absolute beginning. His story had me emotionally in knots. I can't download the next book fast enough to continue reading the story. I highly recommend this series. A must read.