Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Breathe by Kristen Ashley - Review







Author: Kristen Ashley
Publication Date:  11 December, 2012
Publisher: Forever
Series:  Colorado Mountain, book 4
Genre:  Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: 18 and up

Rating: 5 Stars


Book Description:

There's nothing like the first time . . .

In Carnal, Colorado, Faye Goodknight is the town's quiet, shy librarian. She may also be Carnal's last remaining virgin. For years, Faye has had a crush on Chace Keaton, but the gorgeous cop has always been unattainable. She's resigned to live contentedly with only her books for company-until Faye suddenly meets Chace alone in the woods . . .

Chace doesn't think he's the good guy everyone believes him to be. He's made a lot of choices he regrets, including denying his feelings for Faye. Through his choices, he's come to believe the pretty librarian is too good for him, but after their time in the woods, Chace realizes that she may be his last chance for redemption. Soon, their long simmering desires grow to a burning passion. Yet always casting a shadow over their happiness is Chace's dark past . . .


My Review:

This was my favorite of the series so far. Chase is the classic Kristen Ashley alpha male with one huge difference...He wasn't a straight up jerk. I have struggled with the Heroes in this series so far because to method have come across as complete jerks but Chase broke that mold and I am so happy for it. Yes, he's bossy and yes he definitely had a moment or two where I narrowed my eyes at him and wanted to grump but he never made me want to toss the book and scream about 'why won't that heroine just freaking walk, WALK!' Interestingly enough this is one of the most emotionally difficult books I have ever read so you wouldn't think that I would have loved it so much but in all it's pain it was truly beautiful. The speech given towards the end by Jeremiah...my heart exploded all over the pages as tears washed all the evidence away. The struggle, the message, the love....truly, truly one of the most beautiful books I have ever read. So thank you Kristen Ashley for giving that to me, to us. Thank you for reminding us in this difficult challenging world that beauty exists and that we can create that beauty. This entire book reminded me of something that is important to my family, this portion of the West Point Cadet Prayer:


"Strengthen and increase our admiration for honest dealing and clean thinking, and suffer not our hatred of hypocrisy and pretence ever to diminish. Encourage us in our endeavor to live above the common level of life. Make us to choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong, and never to be content with a half truth when the whole can be won. Endow us with courage that is born of loyalty to all that is noble and worthy, that scorns to compromise with vice and injustice and knows no fear when truth and right are in jeopardy. Guard us against flippancy and irreverence in the sacred things of life. Grant us new ties of friendship and new opportunities of service. Kindle our hearts in fellowship with those of a cheerful countenance, and soften our hearts with sympathy for those who sorrow and suffer."

I am sad that it has taken me this many years to come into this world that Kristen Ashley created.  I don't know what rock I have been hiding under but I am happily out in the light now and never wanting to go back. Like Kristen Ashley's Heroes and Heroines it may have taken me a long time to get to my 'happiness' but now that I have found it I refuse to give it away.

Make sure that when you pick up this series you check out Kristen's suggested reading order.  I went a bit out of order as I first came across Kristen's books when I read her Unfinished Hero's series first.  I can say that having read that first didn't make a huge difference but like she suggests I highly recommend reading Rock Chick but stopping before Rock Chick Revolution and sneaking in books 1-4 of Colorado Mountain first because there is an important connection.

I really can't say anything more, I think that sums it up.  I would tell you about the couple and the basics of the story, how well I think the author writes, all about character development, and how steamy it is, but I think in all honestly to do that would take away from how this book left me feeling and that feeling it gave me is the greatest part of the book so in short, read this book. You will of course need to have read the first 3 books in the series to get the full grace of this one and I hope that you will.

~ HAPPY READING ~ 




Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA. She nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorise and she hadn't taken her first breath!).

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana but has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write.

Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multi-generational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland and existed amongst the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up.

And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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