Book Review -- Breathe

I recently won a copy of Breathefrom the generous Sloan Parker. I have to admit this was a little out of my comfort zone as a male/male romance. So if that bothers you, you will likely want to avoid the rest of this post.

Lincoln McCaw lost everything -- his home, his job, his partner -- after he caused a fatal accident. A year later, he's drowning the guilt and despair in whiskey, but he needs to move on. His sister and her kids are counting on him. Then he meets a man who ignites a passion Lincoln thought he’d never find. Too bad one night is all they can have together. Now he needs to figure out how to turn away from the only person who makes him feel alive…before whoever is sending him threats decides Lincoln needs to suffer more than he already has.

Jay Miller is surrounded by grief and misery until he finally gives in to all those years of sexual fantasies about being with another guy. Realizing he’s ended up in the arms of the man who caused his wife’s accident, he tries to pull away. But how can he give up a friendship he needs more than anything -- a friendship and a love that could save him? He may not have time to make the choice before someone else destroys it all.

As I said, this was outside my norm of man/woman romance but Parker did such a masterful job of breathing life into characters that I was caught up in Lincoln and Jay's story. The fact that it was two men was secondary, for me at least, to the amazing struggle these two people had to overcome to be together. To have such a major event tie them together while holding them apart at the same time, well, it left me breathless.

Forgiveness. Second chances. Love. All played key roles in the theme of this story. Added to that is the mystery around who's threatening Lincoln. Parker did an excellent job at keeping me guessing. I thought I knew, then bam! Love it when a twist like that comes along.

And of course, there is sex. It is a romance (romantic suspense), an erotic one at that. The tension is high, the stakes are huge, the sex sizzles, and Parker keeps the emotions in the forefront. Thus, the scenes are so much more.

In the end this was an amazing read of a poignant story with characters who stayed with me long after the last page was turned. I will definitely be reading more from Sloan Parker!

January's Reading Summary

Total number of books read: 8 -- Yikes, I better pick up the pace or I won't even come close to reaching 100 books this year.  Admittedly, I've been sidetracked with learning new dietary things and toying with my own writing. 

Monthly reading goals:

1. 1 new-to-me author each month -- Sloan Parker
2. 4 genres/sub-genres each month (I'm adding to that at least one book a month must be non-fiction and/or writing related.) -- Failed at reading a non-fiction this month despite trying a couple times, my head just wasn't having it. Fantasy (see #5), Science Fiction Romance (Lady Doctor Wyreby Joely Sue Burkhart), M/M Erotic Romantic Suspense (Breatheby Sloan Parker), Paranormal Romance (In the Darkest Nightby Patti O'Shea) -- yep, Romance a big theme this month but I got different sub-genres in there so it counts :)
3. 4 release years each month -- N/A
4. 1 book from glommed author (A glommed author is someone whose books you’ve bought a bunch of after reading one or two that you love.) -- N/A 
5. 1 book from unfinished pile till depleted -- Holly Lisle's Courage of Falcons
6. Alternate male and female authors (I will say at least one male author per month.) -- Failed at reading a male author in January (darn you George I'm calling you out for not getting your story to me this month J/K sorta)
7. Write a note to 1 author each month -- see #1