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Heart Beats #4

Embracing the Beat

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Dreams and hearts have something in common: their ability to shatter.

Michaela

Going from a record label back to my hometown was something I never imagined. When I realized my dream was nothing but a nightmare, I couldn’t run fast enough. I wasn’t expecting everyone to see me as some big star…and I definitely wasn’t expecting my older brother’s best friend to be living down the hall.

West Abbott starred in every single one of my teenage daydreams. And now he’s quickly becoming the subject of every adult fantasy too. He’s my brother’s best friend, but that does nothing to stop the fire that sparks when he touches me.

But will he still want me when he finds out the dream world I’ve told him about is nothing but make believe?

West

The Mikey I remember is still the two-year-old with platinum blonde dandelion fluff for hair. But that’s not who I find in the kitchen at three in the morning. Mikey is now Michaela, and I can’t ignore that she’s all woman now. And that I want all of her.

She’s a famous singer. I’m a broke history teacher. She’s my best friend’s baby sister. And for every excuse I come up with to stay away from her, my attraction to her grows until I can’t resist her any more.

But I can’t help feeling like she’s hiding something from me. And one lesson I learned after my last relationship crashed and burned? Never fall in love with someone keeping secrets.

Embracing the Beat is the fourth book in the Heart Beats series. If you like stories with steamy romance, strong heroines, and alpha heroes, you’ll love Michaela and West’s story.

336 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2022

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About the author

Breanna Lynn

14 books549 followers
Breanna Lynn writes all about swoony heroes and the resilient heroines who bring them to their knees. Her stories are full of love, laughter and, of course, happily ever after.

A classy connoisseur of all things coffee, Breanna lives in Colorado with her two sets of twins (affectionately referred to as the Twinx) and spends the majority of her time preventing their attempts to take over the world. When not running after her kids, their two dogs, or two kittens, Breanna can be found binge reading, listening to music, and crafting her next heartwarming romance while also on the lookout for her next caffeine fix.

Follow Breanna on social media or subscribe to her newsletter for her latest book news, caffeine inspired ramblings, or tales of Twinx Tasmania by clicking here: https://linktr.ee/authorbreannalynn

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
Profile Image for Julie Booklover.
1,388 reviews70 followers
July 20, 2023
West and Michaela, have more reasons for them not to work, but the attraction and chemistry are just too hard to resist. Since childhood, they have known each other; has the attraction always been there? However, their story pulled me in and held on to the end. There is a lot of emotional push/pull and working through pasts. I recommend reading the book and enjoying the ride.
Thank you to the Author for the advanced copy; this is my voluntary review.
Profile Image for Heather Edwards .
515 reviews12 followers
May 28, 2022
This was a fantastic read! I absolutely loved it! Book #4 in Breanna Lynn's Heart Beat Rockstar series. It can definitely be read as a standalone.

Michaela and West have known each other since they were kids. He's her older brother, Sawyer's, best friend. (My favorite trope! 😍). Michaela comes home after a horrible experience happens to her on her tour. West finds in her parent's kitchen as he's staying with them until he gets back onto his feet, financially. Who he sees is no longer a child but, a grown up Michaela. She's always had a crush on her older brother's best friend and now they get to see where it takes them.

There is definitely plenty of emotions that made me laugh and cry. I loved how they have amazing chemistry and they connected so well. I also got mad at West because of his responses to Michaela during an intense conversation. He redeems himself after some serious groveling and they both got their HEA!!

I definitely recommend!!
Profile Image for Tammy.
868 reviews8 followers
May 28, 2022
Such a great read - I'm so loving this series.
The crap that Mikey went through, with regards to Reverb Records and her slimy manager - thankful she went home and ran into her brother's best friend, West - you know what that means - forbidden relationship - but they navigate and the story moves along at a nice pace, with upheaval, of course. Family nosing in - unexpected surprises, and of course, lies/truths rearing their ugly heads, leading to outbursts and words being said. Scars heal, but words linger........

Profile Image for Jenna.
694 reviews6 followers
May 23, 2022
Breanna Lynn delivered another great rockstar romance! Michaela and West have an emotional journey with a lot of push and pull. An entertaining story that kept my interest and had me wanting to keep reading!
August 10, 2022
*** 4.5 Stars ***

Embracing the Beat (Heart Beats #4) by Breanna Lynn is a contemporary age-gap best-friend's-sister/brother’s-best-friend rockstar romance told in first person dual POV. Although it’s book four of a series, it can be read as a standalone. However, reading the previous books first provides the most enjoyable experience because those characters reappear in subsequent books. Embracing the Beat follows the romantic relationship between a teacher and a rock star who grew up together.

I loved West and Michaela’s story. They were both likable, fully developed characters and well matched as a couple. There was a smidge of a forbidden element to their story that I enjoyed as they hid their relationship from Michaela’s brother Sawyer. Although, I never really thought he'd be opposed to it. This book was steamier than I expected, with a nice sprinkling of kink. It was also very sweet. I’ve enjoyed every book in this series so far, and Embracing the Beat did not break that streak. I highly recommend it, along with the others in the series.

*** I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC. ***
Profile Image for Katie | Bewitchedbookmama .
70 reviews5 followers
May 23, 2022
Tropes: Brother’s Best Friend, Rockstar Romance, Age Gap, Surprise Pregnancy
PoV: Dual

Embracing the Beat is Book Four in the Heartbeats Series, and while they can be read as standalones, I always recommend going back and reading the entire series either before or after this one. There are some interwoven characters and I think you appreciate them more if you know their story too! (I’m sorry, I’m always going to be a die-hard Jax fan!!)

Once again, Breanna Lynn, hit all the right notes with Michaela and West, and I can’t wait to get this book in paperback to add it to my shelf. At one point, I got annoyed with my real life responsibilities because I really just wanted to finish this book.

Also, can we please take a moment to appreciate West? Even though the man has no common sense and I wanted to smack him upside the head once or twice.. There is something about a sexy history nerd who likes to take control in the bedroom.

I can’t wait to see where Breanna Lynn takes us next!
1,271 reviews
May 25, 2022
Michaela is a rock star who is no longer filling stadiums, but now she's singing in dives and getting farther and farther away from fame. Her manager is a slob who can't keep his hands off of her. When he forces her into an untenable situation, she is ready to bail. Reverb is a record company without a lot of scruples, but they have yet to be caught. When she does run and gets home, she finds West in her house. He's the crush she's had since she was old enough to know him and, as her brother's best friend, that's been her whole life. West is attracted to her, and knows that she is definitely attracted to him, but he won't do anything about it because that's Sawyer's little sister. I was annoyed with West as he argued with himself over whether he should or shouldn't start something with Mikey. She put her heart out there and West had a bad habit of hurting her. He was a "woe is me" character, pining over what he once had with his cheating fiancée, and hating what happened with her lies. As the story progresses and Mikey and West get closer, I want to punch him for being so cruel to the woman he's falling in love with, even if he refuses to admit to it. When he went ballistic and accused Michaela of possibly getting pregnant by some other guy, I was too mad to hope that he could ever get the girl, let alone have a happy ever after. He redeemed himself, barely. I did like the end of the story and the epilogue is to die for!
Profile Image for Libby.
291 reviews14 followers
May 20, 2022
Michaela was first introduced in Written in the Beat as a side character who was sent to be Jax's date. Embracing picks up a few years later with her being out on what should be an enjoyable experience for any up and coming rockstar. If only her manager wasn't there.

West Abbott is the best friend of her older brother. When circumstances in his own life force him to move back home to Philadelphia, he never expected to find a fully grown up version of the little girl who always tagged along behind them.

Sparks and heat are instant between them that lead to the hottest scene ever, involving a tie. The only problem is he believes he would never be enough for the famous singer, and she believes he would never accept her if he knew the truth.

I fully embraced, (see what I did there,) this read from the first page. I couldn’t put it down. Next to Jax and Charlie’s story, (not that I haven't loved them all,) this one holds the most heart. I highly recommend this story of secret love and what can happen to a heart when the love is fully embraced!
5 reviews
May 24, 2022
West and Michaela are FIRE! This is my favorite of all, in Breanna Lynn's Heart Beats series.
A very well written book with the perfect amount of dialog versus storyline, and plenty of spice!

Michaela, the singer with a record deal and tour contract and West, the seemingly sweet history nerd with his guard up high because of his cheating ex, come together under simple circumstances. Their chemistry is off the charts in a literal heart beat and West has an unexpected naughty side that is so hot! Hitting the ground running with their sexual exploits brings them to a full blown relationship quickly. Until West makes a huge mistake because he's stuck in his feelings about his past. Michaela decides to leave to protect herself from this side of him that she didn't believe could exist and continues to proceed with her career.
Thankfully West eventually deals with his demons and fights to win Michaela back.

This book hits all the right notes of lust, love, reality, communication and the eventual HEA. I highly recommend this book!
2,296 reviews34 followers
May 21, 2022
Embracing The Beat is the Fourth Installment in ( the Heart Beat Seres by Breanna Lynn ) and trust me when I say that if you are as much of a fan as I am of brothers best friend and rockstar romances then you are not going to miss Michaela and West emotional journey . Two people that are just so likable and relatable as well as very multi layered . To say that their journey Is far from easy would definitely be a understatement. They have many obstacles to work though in their lives as well as Ups and downs . But one thing is undeniable and that is the off the charts chemistry and the connection they share . If you are looking for a romance with all the feels , look no further because Embracing The Beat has it in spades . It’s angsty , emotional, heartbreaking, heartfelt, filled with humor , witty banter , sending chances , unexpected surprises, love , family , friendships and so much more . I laughed , I cried and I found myself rooting so hard for Michaela and west to get their happy ending . Unforgettable, Unputdownable and pure perfection
Profile Image for Juliesbooks.
290 reviews7 followers
June 23, 2022
Embracing the Beat is book four in the Heart Beat Series. This book is a brothers best friend, slight age gap and accidental baby book.

Michaela is a young up and coming Rock Star who’s career isn’t going as planned, she goes home to figure her life out and finds that her brothers best friend is staying at her parents house. Their attraction to each other is instant but Michaela has secrets that may get in the way,

West is a recently separated (not married) history teacher who has been betrayed and lied too. One things he hates is secrets.

I didn’t feel the chemistry between these two at first, he was newly separated and it felt a little rushed, but as the story unfolded it picked up speed.

You get to see a few characters from previous books which I enjoyed. This book can be read as a stand alone so you do not need to read the other books to enjoy this one. I would recommend this book.

I hope there is a book about Michaela’s brother Sawyer, he sounds very mysterious and interesting.

Profile Image for Brandi Blanton.
171 reviews
May 20, 2022
Embracing the Beat is book four of the Heart Beats series of interconnected standalones. I have not read the other books so I do need to go back and do that! This is also my first book by this author but I was lucky and got to ARC read it- I am excited to go back and see the other characters in the other books

Michaela is a singer that left town to pursue her music career, after a bad tour she's home for a break. Her brother’s best friend, and an old crush, West, is a teacher struggling after being cheated on, who is now living back at Michaela's parents home.They are both in a bad place. But they have also had a thing for each other for a while.

Who doesn't like a brothers best friend trope?

This book has all the angst, tension, heartbreak, secrets, uncertainty, drama, friendship and spice. It was a page turner for sure!
516 reviews4 followers
May 9, 2023
Michaela and West have known each other forever. West is her brother Sawyer’s best childhood and she grew up secretly crushing on him. West is back in their hometown of Philly, staying at her parents’ house while they are traveling for 3 weeks after breaking up with his fiance. Michaela is unaware when she arrives home in the middle of the night after a terrible end to the tour her music label had her on. Their attraction now is immediate and they are surprised when her family is all on board with their relationship. But when jealousy rears its ugly head and their relationship gets a big surprise, can West find a way to win her back?

I have read the other books in this series as well and really liked them, probably a bit more than I liked this one. I think this works as a stand alone but you understand more about the musicians Michaela works with by reading the other books.

I read an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Trish.
850 reviews27 followers
May 20, 2022
Embracing the Beat is book four of the Heart Beats series of interconnected standalones. I love that we get to see more of the couples from the previous books in this series.

Michaela is a singer that is running from a record label and manager that are nothing but bad news. She ends up back at her childhood home to find out that her brother’s best friend and her teen crush, West, is living at her parents home. West has recently moved back to his home town after leaving his cheating fiancé. He doesn’t think he will ever be able to trust a woman again.

This book has angst, heartbreak, secrets, uncertainty, drama, friendship and spice. I absolutely loved Michaela’s brother Sawyer! I really hope he gets his own book because I need more of him!
Profile Image for Taylor.
18 reviews6 followers
May 26, 2022
Mickey and West are two people who have every reason to stay as far away from one another as they possibly can. But sometimes feelings are just too strong to resist, and for Mickey and West those words are true.
Mickey finally got her dream job, being a singer. But unfortunately for her, her dream was as far from reality as possible. A crappy record label and a sleazy manager make up her reality and it sends her rushing back home.
West, down on his luck after a rough break up, is living at Mickeys house and helping them out in return.

The chemistry between these two character is amazing(as always).
I highly recommend you read this series in order, all of Breannas books are amazingly written, and worth every second!
Profile Image for Vee.
264 reviews1 follower
June 6, 2022
Michaela and West are the full package of swoony goodness. Michaela returns home in the midst of some personal struggles and discovers West at her parents' house. Both characters are well developed and are facing some personal challenges. But they find that their childhood friendship was a little more special to each of them. They have an undeniable connection that seems to bring them together and provide something they both need. Over the course of the book relationships deepen and truths come out. Both characters go through a lot of growth, and we see a lovely found family through all of the side characters. This book is full of heat, heart, and all the swoony goodness you can handle. I received an advance copy of this book and all views are my own.
Profile Image for Anij.
1,047 reviews10 followers
June 22, 2022
“You’re a temptation…and I have no faith in my self-control.”

This story, Michaela and West’s story, was deeply satisfying. They were both so wounded it was heartbreaking to see. I loved how strong she was despite her past and how she didn’t hide what she felt from herself. Their chemistry was smoking and despite their bumps along the way I knew they would be fine in the end. They were basically perfect for each other and so deserved their HEA. This book was steamy than I thought it would be and I loved it all the more for it. While it was great catching up on old friends from prior books in the series, this really can be read as a stand alone. Be careful, though, once you read it you might be hooked and feel a need to go back and read the first three books. It’s ok if you do. They’re just as wonderful as this one is.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 2, 2022
4⭐️ 4🌶

So I fully admit that I skipped the first book in this series. I’m not a fan of OW drama and while I don’t blame Kayla for Jax’s lack of communication with Charlie, because she was mixed up in it, I was really hesitant to like her.

That being said this book would get a four star rating for West alone. I love a dom who likes a little bondage. He was so sweet and nerdy and caring, until he wasn’t. I’m so mad at his ex for hurting him so badly. He definitely screwed up big time and he deserved that punch from Sawyer (I’m dying for a Sawyer book BTW), but a small part of me understood why he reacted the way he did. But he was still wrong and if I was Kayla I would have made him grovel a bit more before eventually forgiving him.

Profile Image for Erica Rogers.
524 reviews17 followers
May 17, 2022
We are finally getting Michaela as our main female character and finding out so much more about her. We find out about her struggles with her career as well as the awful record label, Reverb (which we know from the past how horrible they really are). She is back home for a break after the worst tour and experience ever.

West is Michaela’s brother, Sawyer’s best friend. So West and Michaela have grown up together. He is a high school history teacher and so passionate about his profession. There has always been this attraction for Michaela towards West Burt he is just now realizing it on his end, even though to him it is completely forbidden.

There is a journey we go on with Michaela. Not just with her career but with love and her personal life. She is just on the struggle bus but has the support of so many people including her bestie Mia. We really get to see her growth and strength throughout this story.

Breanna Lynn gave us this couple we want to root for. Because lets be real, “Brothers-Best-Friend” is always a great idea and fantastic trope. But we also just want to root for Michaela the whole time too. Life is throwing her pounds of lemons and watching her make the sweetest lemonade out of them is worth it all.
Profile Image for Mary Rose.
590 reviews26 followers
May 16, 2022
Michaela and West's story is a tumble of emotions from the moment they reappear in each other's lives after several years. West is Michaela's older brother's best friend, so you already expect some should we/shouldn't we drama that brings the good kind of tension. Then throw in West's past relationship issues and Michaela's recent circumstances, and you have a recipe for an angsty cocktail. Throw in a ton of great steam, and this book delivers on both plot and romance. I really loved how Sawyer came in during the second half of the book as the protective bulldog of a brother when West wronged his baby sister. I hope we get a story from him too!
Profile Image for Amanda.
2 reviews
May 17, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the rollercoaster of emotions. Was a bit worried after seeing the TW for attempted SA, but Breanna Lynn handled it brilliantly. You really feel for both Micheala and West as they try to deal with their own issues and navigating through the change in their dynamic/relationship from brother's best friend/best friend's little sister to lovers. They're both flawed but I was rooting for them from the start. It was nice to see characters from the previous books show up.
Profile Image for Savannah Medina.
613 reviews22 followers
May 20, 2022
Oh. My. Goodness. Breanna did it again! This woman absolutely and utterly blows me away with every single book she writes! The way her writing evokes emotion, the way I get completely engrossed in the story and am completely unable to put it down until I've finished it, she is just incredible! Michaela and West are the epitome of brother's best friend and I love it so much! These two will absolutely steal your heart and never let you have it back! Absolutely 5 lyrical stars from me, absolutely well done! See y'all on another page!
Profile Image for Colleen Daley.
303 reviews33 followers
May 22, 2022
Another fantastic read in the Heart Beats series! I love the connection with music in this series and this book is no exception. Michaela is struggling with a slimy music rep and terrible music label who doesn't care about her or her music. West is a history teacher who remembers his best friend's little sister and can't seem to stay away from her now. However, West has experienced some issues in his last relationship that make it difficult to trust her. This was a wonderful story with some surprises along the way and a sweet HEA. This was a fantastic romance and fun to see a female rockstar!
Profile Image for Nikki.
538 reviews17 followers
June 8, 2022
This is the 4th book in the Heart Beats series. This book was so much better than what I anticipated it was going to be. I was hooked so fast, turning the pages to see what’s going to happen next. Can’t go wrong with a brothers best friend trope. Will definitely go back and read the first 3 in this series.

Michaela followed her dreams of becoming a rockstar only for it to lead her to a horrible manager and deal. Needing a break, she returns home and back to her childhood house. But West is there also. He was her biggest crush and brothers best friend growing up. He’s a history teacher and heartbroken after leaving his fiancé after she cheated on him. Will Michaela and Wear be able to co-exist without acting on their chemistry and attraction? It will they finally get together?

Full of emotions, secrets, heartbreak, drama, steam, angst, twists, tension, and so much more. Loved the epilogue!

I received this arc and am voluntarily leaving my honest opinion.
50 reviews
June 21, 2022
Dreams and Secrets

Singer Michaela King thought she had achieved her rock and roll dreams until the last night of her first tour. She runs home to Philadelphia to regroup only to rediscover her childhood crush is living in her home.

High school history teacher West Abbott is staying with his best friend's parents while restarting his life after a messy break up.

Can they get past all the secrets and find new dreams together?

I loved this best-friend's-little-sister, friends-to-lovers, HEA.




Profile Image for Caroline Doig.
5,368 reviews46 followers
July 12, 2022
This is my absolute favourite genre rockstars, bands etc and this is a fantastic addition to this series and this is Michaela’s and West’s story. Michaela a rockstar and West a teacher grew up together West is best friends with Michaela’s brother she used to hang around them when she was a kid and when she was older she had fantasises about West. Now when West see’s Michaela she’s no little girl anymore she’s a gorgeous woman but Michaela is hiding something and she believes that West won’t accept her because of it. I loved this story and the passionate chemistry between the characters and I highly recommend this book it’s well worth the read.
1,314 reviews9 followers
June 17, 2022
I love that these books are linked by shared characters but that they are dominated by one band or family.
There are a lot of unspoken & spoken comments on how different sexes are viewed in society. Michaela has been branded by the media as the temptress and when she returns home she finds comfort with West, who has his own issues to overcome.

I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
110 reviews4 followers
December 4, 2022
Another great book by Breanna Lynn!

If you have read Breanna Lynn's other books you have already been introduced to Michaela. She kept appearing and messing with the lives of the characters we love. With this book Breanna reminds us to never judge someone without understanding the entire story. Michaela will make you fall in love all over again. And West will break your heart but will put it back together. Loved this book! Don't forget to download the bonus epilogue! I love how Breanna lynn knows what we want and gives it to us!!!
2 reviews
May 18, 2022
Michaela And West were everything. From the moment they first see each other again to the end. I literally read this book in a day. I was sucked in. The angst in this book is exactly what I like lol. The brother best friend trope is my favorite kind of trope. I’m excited to see who’s story we get next. Hoping it’s her brother lol I need more of him. Can’t wait to have this book on my bookshelf.
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