BOOKWORM REVIEW: Breathe by Isabel Jolie
STEAM: 🔥🔥🔥
Breathe is a wonderful exploration of how love can be very complicated. Along with strong elements of mystery and suspense, Isabel Jolie took us on an emotionally engaging journey with David and Kairi.
David and Kairi were once high school sweethearts who thought that they would be each other's happily ever after forever. However, as most high school sweethearts do, they drifted apart, and Kairi fell in love with someone else, completely breaking David's heart in the process.
When Kairi witnessed the death of Lara -- her only other love than David -- in the most horrific way, she built an impenetrable fortress around her heart. Now she's back in her hometown, and so is David. Can David find a way to get through Kairi's heart of stone?
This was a tale of many layers. It was interesting to see how David and Kairi dealt with her bisexuality, and I am glad that it was carefully done so as to not have a David vs. Lara dichotomy. Rather, it focused more on Kairi's self-discovery and being honest with herself and the people she loves, including David. Jolie also did a phenomenal job in framing David's perspective to be a betrayal of friendship -- why couldn't Kairi trust him enough to be forthcoming after their history together?
This is not a slow-burn in the sense of steamy moments -- which are pretty hot -- but I find that it gave slow burn vibe for their emotional connection. There was a lot of history to address and a lot of trust to rebuild, and I love that we got to go on a journey with them as they work those out.
Just like Crushed, there is a secondary plot of Kairi's security crew tackling a national threat, and it is nicely interwoven into the main story.
** I am voluntarily reviewing an advance copy of this book. Thank you to Isabel Jolie and Grey's Promotions for providing an ARC. **
David
She was my first love. I thought I knew everything about her.
I was wrong.
Our relationship ended as most do. Badly. I never thought I'd see her again. Especially not in this small town.
But here she is.
My heart remembers her, but my head is telling me she's not the girl I loved.
I'm starting to think she was never who I thought she was...
Kairi
I didn't want to go back to Howell Mountain. Not ever.
But my team and I need to get off the grid, and we're out of options.
No one can protect me from him, though.
Being with David again makes me feel like a teenager. But I'm not that girl anymore. I'm a black ops hacker with a target on my back and a mission to complete. I can't fall for him.
Because love—and the loss of it—almost destroyed me once.
I won't give it a second chance to finish me off.
Breathe is a stand-alone romantic suspense novel. No cliffhangers, no prior interaction necessary. Contains: hackers, a bisexual secret agent, sexy times in a steamy vineyard, and love on the cusp of an epic blackout.
Get Your Copy → http://mybook.to/breatheij
Add to Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3J10PTG
Isabel Jolie, aka Izzy, lives on a lake, loves dogs of all stripes, and if she's not working, she can be found reading, often with a glass of wine in hand. In prior lives, Izzie worked in marketing and advertising, in a variety of industries, such as financial services, entertainment, and technology. In this life, she loves daydreaming and writing contemporary romances with strong heroines.
Connect with Isabel
Website | http://www.isabeljoliebooks.com
Goodreads | https://bit.ly/3xNixn7
Amazon | https://amzn.to/2Xshfl2
Facebook | https://bit.ly/3fZyVL2
Instagram | https://bit.ly/3sskdS9
Twitter | https://bit.ly/3sg5JVc
Bookbub | https://bit.ly/3yNk9hU
Pinterest | https://bit.ly/3shhlqM
Newsletter | https://bit.ly/3seT2da
ABOUT THE BOOK
Moving forward isn't possible when hunted by your past.David
She was my first love. I thought I knew everything about her.
I was wrong.
Our relationship ended as most do. Badly. I never thought I'd see her again. Especially not in this small town.
But here she is.
My heart remembers her, but my head is telling me she's not the girl I loved.
I'm starting to think she was never who I thought she was...
Kairi
I didn't want to go back to Howell Mountain. Not ever.
But my team and I need to get off the grid, and we're out of options.
No one can protect me from him, though.
Being with David again makes me feel like a teenager. But I'm not that girl anymore. I'm a black ops hacker with a target on my back and a mission to complete. I can't fall for him.
Because love—and the loss of it—almost destroyed me once.
I won't give it a second chance to finish me off.
Breathe is a stand-alone romantic suspense novel. No cliffhangers, no prior interaction necessary. Contains: hackers, a bisexual secret agent, sexy times in a steamy vineyard, and love on the cusp of an epic blackout.
Get Your Copy → http://mybook.to/breatheij
Add to Goodreads → https://bit.ly/3J10PTG
MEET ISABEL JOLIE
Isabel Jolie, aka Izzy, lives on a lake, loves dogs of all stripes, and if she's not working, she can be found reading, often with a glass of wine in hand. In prior lives, Izzie worked in marketing and advertising, in a variety of industries, such as financial services, entertainment, and technology. In this life, she loves daydreaming and writing contemporary romances with strong heroines.
Connect with Isabel
Website | http://www.isabeljoliebooks.com
Goodreads | https://bit.ly/3xNixn7
Amazon | https://amzn.to/2Xshfl2
Facebook | https://bit.ly/3fZyVL2
Instagram | https://bit.ly/3sskdS9
Twitter | https://bit.ly/3sg5JVc
Bookbub | https://bit.ly/3yNk9hU
Pinterest | https://bit.ly/3shhlqM
Newsletter | https://bit.ly/3seT2da