A Thousand Heartbeats

 

Some people get excited about a new song that their favorite artist releases. I get excited about new books that my favorite authors publish. One of that authors is Kiera Cass, author of The Selection series. Thanks to an Amazon email, I was instantly informed that she had a new book coming out. Did I pre-order it? Why, yes. Yes I did.

A Thousand Heartbeats is the love story between two people who were definitely not supposed to fall in love. A real Romeo and Juliet kind of thing. Annika is a princess who isn't in control of her own life. Her father has become cold and unfeeling. He is determined to marry Annika off for political gain. Lennox is a soldier in the Dahrainian army, determined to reclaim what has been taken from him- Annika's castle and country. Only one of them can win. There is no happy ending meant for these two. With everything and everyone around them fighting against them, how can these two young lovers find a way to overcome?

Once again, Kierra Cass is the reason for late nights and very little sleep. This may be one of her longest novels, but it sure didn't take long to read. I couldn't put it down! I absolutely had to find out how it ended, and then was sad when it did. Dear Kierra Cass, please write another book ASAP. Sincerely, an overcaffeinated, tired, diehard fan. 

The Betrothed

I love Kiera Cass! She is funny, intelligent, and she never disappoints me. I was beyond ecstatic to learn that she was working on an all new series and pre-ordered it on Amazon. When it arrived I devoured it! I couldn't read it fast enough and was completely, 100% satisfied! It lives up to the clean, adventurous, fairy-tale romances that we have come to expect from Kiera Cass.

Hollis Brite is a noble young lady living in the palace. She has watched King Jameson flit from one girl to the next, always getting bored with them in the end. When the king turns his attention on Hollis she knows that the courtship won't last long, but is determined to make the most of his attention while it lasts. That is why she is so surprised when the king keeps dropping marriage hints around her, and her relationship quickly changes from casual to serious practically overnight. This is everything she has ever dreamed of obtaining, especially since she hopes that this future will finally appease her parents, who have always been rather disappointed that she was not a boy. The closer she gets to the crown however, the more she wonders if her dreams at royalty were actually misplaced? Being queen, it turns out, comes with some side effects that she never imagined.

This is a wonderfully written novel that takes you on some very unexpected twists and turns right to the very end! You are just as caught between choices as Hollis is, and find it hard to decide what you want for her. I can not wait to continue Hollis's story in the next book, I hope Kiera is a fast writer!

The Selection series

I am such a hopeless romantic. So when I can find a really good, not too cheesy book that feeds that part of me, I am a happy girl. Well, I have found just such a series. The series is called 'The Selection' by Kiera Cass. It is about a futuristic society who has a monarchy government. When the prince becomes a certain age 35 girls are drawn at random to move to the palace and go through a modern day Bachelor (like the tv show) type ordeal. So basically the prince dates 35 girls at one time and eliminates them when he feels like it won't work out. The main character is America, who is not sure if she should sign up for the selection or not. On the one hand if she happens to be chosen her family will be provided with food and money while she is away, things they never seem to have enough of. However, if she goes she may lose the love of her life and be stuck courting a stuffy prince who she has no interest in whatsoever.

I keep trying to find the words that describe how amazing this series is... but there are none. I have eagerly anticipated the printing of each book and novella, just like I did with Harry Potter, so I believe that says it all. I have recommended this series to quite a few people, and not one of them has come back and told me that they didn't like it. More often then not, they come back mad that I so rudely messed up their sleep schedules because they couldn't put these books down.