The Heartbeats of Aloha by Brooke Gilbert Series: Under the Hawaiian Stars #1
on July 1st, 2025
Genres: Comedy, Fiction, Romance, Adventure
Buy on Amazon, Amazon UK, Amazon Canada, Amazon Australia, Available with KU Subscription, Storygraph
Goodreads
𝙎𝙚𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙙𝙮, 𝙧𝙚𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙩𝙚. 𝘾𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙧-𝙘𝙧𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙬𝙖𝙮 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧?
Reef has been in love with Luna since they were kids. As a secret romance novelist, he pours his unrequited feelings into his books, reliving their love on the page. But when Luna’s uncle proposes a fake relationship to thwart a stunt her PR wants to pull, Reef’s wildest dreams and worst fears are about to collide.
Luna never stopped loving Reef, even when she broke his heart to protect him. Music became her refuge, but fame brought unexpected complications. Now, fate has brought them back together, but the demons of their past threaten to consume them both.
As Reef and Luna navigate their rekindled feelings amidst a whirlwind of secrets, heartache, and desire, they’ll discover that sometimes reality is even more extraordinary than fiction. When their truths come to light, will their love survive, or will they wish they’d left the past buried in the sands of time?
The Heartbeats of Aloha is a poignant, swoon-worthy standalone in the International Soulmate series. Immerse yourself in:
~A heart-melting second chance romance
~The lush, tropical beauty of Hawaii
~A fake relationship that feels all too real
~Deep, nuanced portrayals of mental health and disability
~Unforgettable characters, including an adorable canine companionIf you love emotional journeys filled with tender moments, sizzling chemistry, and the healing power of love, then Brooke Gilbert’s moving story is a must-read.
Let the rhythm of the islands guide you to your next great romance. Grab The Heartbeats of Aloha today and lose yourself in Reef and Luna’s unforgettable love story!
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Exclusive Excerpt of The Heartbeats of Aloha
“Yes, sir. Locke told me a little about your story. It’s really sweet. I’ve always been a hopeless romantic, I guess. Not exactly something you hear about a guy being—”
Louis spoke up and, as he did, I felt someone lean against me. I didn’t realize during Louis’ interrogation that Luna had drifted toward me. Her body heat enveloping me as her arm intertwined with mine. All complete with her head resting delicately on my shoulder. Her movements echoed Tutu’s, and it unfurled this warmth inside of me. Especially when Luna’s eyes tenderly drifted up to meet me. There was a fondness in them–maybe even proudness-that overwhelmed me.
Louis’ velveteen voice cut through my thoughts. “Being a hopeless romantic isn’t a bad thing, especially for a man, Reef. Creative and sensitive men don’t have to finish last. I sure didn’t.” He gazed over at Tutu. “But in answer to your question of how one stays in love for so long, I’d say it all depends on the person you’re with. Taking a chance on reconnecting with Lani was the best thing I ever did. Heck, taking a chance the first time was also the greatest thing I ever did, because it meant I got a second chance later.”
My eyes opened, thinking about what Louis had just said. I had to agree. . . I wouldn’t trade my first experience with love for anything. No matter how it ended.
Louis studied me, lost deep in thought. “The timing wasn’t right at first, but if I had held onto that and had not tried again, I would have missed out on the best thing that ever happened to me. And I’m thankful every day. I think being grateful for the person you’re with deepens your love in unbreakable ways. Maybe that’s the key–being thankful for your person and who they are. For what makes them special and how they make you feel special in return.”
I saw moisture glisten in Tutu’s eyes. “Louis–” She tilted her head up and kissed him softly. The love I was witnessing made this bravery bubble to the surface. Because, as Louis was implying, the worst option was not trying at all. His words, ‘things are different this time’, were finally making more sense. Or becoming more believable.
Tutu slowly pulled back to look at Louis, remarking, “I think that’s the best advice I’ve ever heard. I’m so grateful for you too. Every day.” The couple across from us seemed completely carried away by each other. So much so that I wondered if dinner was going to be forgotten altogether. But I didn’t care, I just wanted Luna close. And I got my wish as she continued to snuggle closer into me, the heat inside me only continuing to grow. Until it felt like an uncontrollable forest fire, one I didn’t know how to put out.
About Brooke Gilbert
Brooke Gilbert is a Tennessee native, a microbiology graduate of the University of Tennessee, and a border collie mom. She is, as you may have already guessed, a hopeless romantic and a lover of Jane Austen. When she isn’t writing, she works as a jewelry designer, an audiobook narrator, and a graphic designer. Her writing features characters with autoimmune disorders, something she deals with herself. She believes it is important for these types of characters to be seen in modern literature and started writing so she could see someone like herself in literature. She is considered a medical mystery and has several rare autoimmune disorders. These disorders caused her to withdraw from Physician Assistant School, but she is happy to be pursuing her dreams of designing, creating, and writing. She thanks God for leading her heart on this new path and recites “perhaps this is the moment for which you were created” in times of doubt (Esther 4:14).
She loves watching classic films (thrillers and romantic comedies, too), reading, playing the ukulele, painting, dancing, Pilates, and spending time with her dog, family, and friends. One of her favorite quotes is from Flashdance: “When you give up on your dreams, you die.” She believes that if you’re waiting to pursue your dreams, stop waiting and start doing. Your time is now. And may you never stop being a hopeless romantic. Contrary to popular belief, it’s a very good quality. She’s still looking for her Mr. Darcy.
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