Friday, September 27, 2013

FRISKY FALL SATURDAY: HE SAID/SHE SAID: BREATHE (COLORADO MOUNTAIN #4) by KRISTEN ASHLEY



Summer is over, but just because the temperature is dropping, doesn't mean we have to stop reading scorching hot books! Frisky Fall Saturdays is a weekly post dedicated to sexy stories. Feel free to join in. (let us know so we can add a link to your post) As those leaves start piling up in the yard, ignore them and pick up a sexy book!

The Autumn Review
Insightful Minds Reviews
Globug and Hootie Need a Book

**The books featured on FRISKY FALL SATURDAYS are for adults. If you are under 18 years of age, or do not like smexy books, please stop here. **



Since falling in love with Kristen Ashley's writing in the Rock Chick Series, I've decided to dedicate one week each month to more of her books. First up is the Colorado Mountain Series, at the insistence of my friends Erin, Cindy and Jess. But this time around, I'm doing "He Said/She Said" reviews with my guy, who read this series first.


Breathe (Colorado Mountain, #4)Series: Colorado Mountain #4
Category/Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self-Published (now published by Forever)
Publication Date: 7/23/12
Format: ebook
Pages: 554
Source: Purchased
Rating:

When the local police department's secrets are revealed and the wife he's forced to marry is murdered, Chace finds himself the town of Carnal's hero. Knowing how deep in the mud he was forced to sink, Chace feels he'll never get clean. The quiet, content future he envisioned of the love a good woman with whom he could build a family was now beyond his reach. The only thing he can do is find his wife's murderer.

But he isn't the only one looking.

While searching for new leads, he runs into Faye Goodknight, the town's quiet, shy, pretty librarian. Chace has long since had his eye on what could possibly be the town's last remaining virgin but he has also long since given up hope he could make her his. Faye is pure and clean and Chace refuses to dirty her with his sordid past.

Pure and clean Faye may be, but when the shy librarian is forced to go head to head with the man who she's had a crush on since he hit her hometown, Chace finds Faye is full of surprises. And he doesn't know what to do with her.


He Said.....


Breathe has to be my favorite of the series, so far. I’m also going to go so far as to say that I liked these more than the Rock Chick series. Call me crazy?… To each their own, I guess. I was either reading The Gamble or Sweet Dreams, I don’t remember which, but I mentioned this same thing to KA and she was shocked as well. Happy, but shocked. Now don’t get me wrong, the RC series was a freakin’ blast to read, they were fun, exciting and full action, and I wish it wasn’t over. But, this series, for some reason, was a lot more relatable…

I absolutely loved Faye Goodknight. And for good reason – she is pretty much my wife in book form. She, like Faye – the town librarian, is kinda shy but also the strong, silent type with a big heart. Never one to raise a ruckus unless provoked, and always with her nose in a book (or her kindle). And the TV geek? Just a couple of weeks ago, while eating, our eight year old started to talk about Star Wars – like he knew all about it – and she put him in his place like she had just watched each movie… Rattling things off that I didn’t even remember.

Faye has had her eyes on Chace since he moved to town 13 years ago, immediately falling in love, and vowing to save herself for him. He was the one for her. Chace Keaton is a good guy, one of the only “good” cops left in Carnal, with a difficult past and present. He, too, has had eyes for Faye, but having to deal with his asshat of a father and the unsolved murder of his wife, Chase is in a dark place and he’s allowing these burdens to keep him from her.

“Everything that was Chace Keaton urged him to follow her. To ask her to dinner. To get to know her. To find the right time to taste her mouth. To find the right time to taste her body. To take the time to teach her how to pleasure his. To lay his burden on her.”


As much as Chace is fighting his urge for Faye, he can’t help but notice the little things about her. Little things that send him over the edge.

“Top to toe, she was an itch he’d wanted to scratch for a long time. Faye Goodknight talking and reacting two feet away, her voice coming at him, her face expressive, her scent filling the room, she wasn’t an itch. She was a craving.”

Chace doesn’t push, knowing Faye’s lack of experience, he takes his time. But, once Faye is ready to explore beyond kissing, the connection between them is “frakking” ridiculous. Faye goes from quiet librarian to eager student, unleashing the librarian stereotype and becoming a wildcat in bed! 



She said....


Breathe. Was. Frakking. AWESOME. I loved loved loved loved every single thing about this book.

Starting with Faye Goodknight. Out of all of Kristen Ashley 's heroines, she is the one I identified with the most. So much so that my husband sometimes calls me  "My Faye". Faye is a librarian, always has her head in her e-reader, a sci-fi geek (a good thing), shy and quiet, though very strong in spirit. She inexperienced in love and relationships, and while that hasn't applied to me in many, many years, I can identify with her shyness and innocence in spirit. But clearly, Faye is more awesome than I could ever be. I just love a heroine whom I feel "speaks" for me.

Faye has been in love with Chase Keaton for thirteen years, from a distance. Age difference, life, and a steamy pile of poo kept these two apart. But once they get it sorted, Chase and Faye were a brilliant couple. Chase loves everything about Faye, and it was the sweetest thing to see him embrace Faye exactly as she was. Chase was pretty fabulous himself. A man determined to live right, clean, and free of the filth that corrupted his life. Chase provably initially infuriated me less than any man in this series, with the exception of Max.

Breathe has a beautiful love story. And I love how Kristen Ashley writes intimate scenes. I find myself getting so caught up in these moments, and am always surprised to realize that the words she uses and the scenes she creates are not very explicit at all. She just has a way of building intensity and steam without giving away very much. I love it.

I can't quite believe I am actually saying this, but I love the Colorado Mountain series even more than Rock Chick. While both series are awesome, this series has more relatable characters living easier to identify with lives. Minus the murders and kidnappings, of course. The heroines in the series range in professions, life styles, and ages ranging from twenty-nine to early 40s. The men vary from a (wrongly convicted) ex-con Harley mechanic to a contractor, a cop, and an ex-NFL pro/bounty hunter. So maybe most of us can't relate to everything about these folks, but we can relate to their feelings and experiences in love and relationships. I can't wait to continue my love for this series with Jagged.


A Favorite Moment:

  "When I was sixteen, I saw you and when I did, I was young, romantic, and it might sound stupid but the minute I saw you, I knew I wanted to give that to you. I knew it was only you. I waited thirteen years, honey. It was worth the wait." 


Colorado Mountain Series


  The Gamble (Colorado Mountain, #1) Sweet Dreams (Colorado Mountain, #2) Lady Luck (Colorado Mountain, #3)
 Breathe (Colorado Mountain, #4) Jagged (Colorado Mountain, #5)

(covers lead to GoodReads page)
Kaleidoscope (Colorado Mountains #6) release 2/4/14

Purchase Breathe



About the author:
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.


Website  |  Twitter  |  Facebook   |  GoodReads



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15 comments:

  1. This series is seriously getting better and better. I'm glad you enjoyed Breathe that much and it seems to me you really loved it. I cannot wait to see what you think of the last one. Great review :)

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  2. I love it when you gang bang reviews! This series looks like another one you like I needed to add. Great job guys

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  3. I love the he said/she said review format!! It's great to hear both of your takes on the same book. So fun!! This series sounds really great too.

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  4. I love this series and I have a hard time thinking that I'd love the Rock Chick series more, but you never know. I still need to read them. I'm going to read Jagged and then maybe continue on with her Dream Man series. I read the Mystery Man but never continued.

    Love your reviews, Eric and Andrea! I felt Faye was a kindred spirit with her love of books and all things sci-fi and geeky. When she wanted to go into depth explaining Angel and the Buffy history I was over the moon! I loved that she had some sass, too! Especially when she didn't take Chace trying to pull away when they got back from dinner with his mom. Loved it! :)

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  5. You two are getting a big kick out of this series and I notice Eric's review for this one is more detailed and insightful.

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  6. Love both of your takes on this, and of course Faye and Chase sound wonderful. This series should totally be in a ebook box set!!

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  7. It sounds like I really need to read this series! Another wonderful review and even more convincing that it's a must read!

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  8. Andrea, You have outdone yourself on this review! I am so excited about this series. The quotes you chose and your descriptions make me want to get my hands on these books ASAP. They are going on my TBR today.

    Thanks for the great review.
    RO
    A Bookish Escape

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  9. Eric, You did a great job on the guys perspective in your review. Thanks for making it so delectable!

    RO
    A Bookish Escape

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  10. OMG!! First of all, I'm shocked you're both saying this series is even better than RC! Gosh, which series shall I read first?!? And I love, love it Andrea that Faye is a character that speaks for you...and that Eric recognizes her as you in book form! :) Awesome 'frakking' reviews!!

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  11. Omg I love this he said/she said review thing (: awesome!!!
    This series sounds so good. And now after reading your guys' praises I am even more stoked to read it (:
    The only KA books I've read are the first rock chick book & her paranormal book, until the sun falls from the sky. I enjoyed them book and am looking forward to reading more (:
    Have a great day!
    Elizabeth @ Blue Eyed Book Reviews

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  12. Wow, another great review guys. Ya'll have convinced me I need to check this out for sure, and you both like it better than Rock Chick, which makes even more curious. I'll be looking forward to your next He said, she said - until next time, "May the Force be with you." :)

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  13. I have to read the Rock Chick series first, but I love that you guys love KA's books as much as you do. Makes me excited to read them too!

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  14. Wow! I think it's awesome how you and your husband can read and talk about the same books. I'm so jealous :) I think it's great that you could relate to the main character, and Eric saw you in her as well. Whew! You two have me eager to read this story! I like the idea that Chace took his time with Faye, and she came into to her own sexually! Andrea, I love the favorite moment you chose to share. It's so sweet! Great Team Review!

    Lindy@ A Bookish Escape

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