Welcome to my stop on the Just Breathe Blog Tour! The tour is being hosted by Mirely at Rumor Has It; you can find the entire tour schedule here. My stop includes my review of Just Breathe, and Giveaways!
He made a deal with the devil to save the woman he loves…
After tragedy rocks the foundation of their relationship, Australian Sentinel Gavin Cassidy and whale biologist Zoe Morgan call it quits. Gavin can’t forgive himself for shattering her trust, and being with the sexy rock star is killing Zoe. Literally.
But love—and duty—are powerful motivators, and alliances are forged in the most unlikely places. With the key to salvation locked inside the mind of an unconscious child, Gavin must find another way to snuff out the Fyre Elementals before millions of humans die, or make good on his deal with the devil and lose the one he loves. Again.
*This book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18.
**The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.
INHALE...EXHALE...JUST BREATHE...
Look. I'm not even going to pretend that Just Breathe is just any other book. Or that I don't have seriously strong feelings about each book, the series as a whole, as well as author Kendall Grey. The Just Breathe Series is one that I've become deeply invested in, beginning nearly two years ago when Grey first started telling me about the concept. I'm not going to pretend that I didn't go into this book whole-hearted and expecting epicness. Of all the books that are coming out in 2013, Just Breathe is the book that sat atop my most-wanted list. After reading, Just Breathe sits at the top of my "Favorite Books Ever" list; followed closely by Inhale and Exhale. So just know right now, I'm going to be gushing and dramatic throughout this review.
Just Breathe is a huge story. After the hellaciously shocking ending of Exhale, I was geared up for a fight. I almost felt as if I had to go into this ready for battle. The Dreaming, Australia, even the world, was at stake. And so was Gavin and Zoe's relationship. So I hardened my heart (what a joke!) and girded my loins (heh) and settled in. Bring it.
What Grey delivered was fantastic. Gavin and Zoe are in a bad spot, with the situation in The Dreaming, and with each other. There were feelings of betrayal, anguish, self-loathing, anger, and most importantly true love, that were swirling through their atmosphere. Could Zoe ever truly get past what happened? Could Gavin ever forgive himself? Would their fragile, new relationship survive? Would they even live to see it through? Because not only do they need to sort things out with each other, they need to save the world. And that duty to what's right is what comes first for the pair. It was a beautiful thing to see Gavin come from that very first scene of Inhale, all the way to becoming the honorable man I always knew he could be. To embrace the warrior within the man. And not only does Gavin reach his potential, but so does Zoe. She started the series as a determined, yet haunted woman, full of self-doubt and guilt. Throughout the series she evolves and moves toward her true self. She may be human, albeit with an extra ability, but she has the power to create miracles. Destiny brought them together.
Though the series has centered around Gavin and Zoe, there is a wealth of secondary characters in the series. Jack, Zoe's father, was brilliant. He's smart, a smartass, a good father and a good friend. The man is like a sensei. One of my favorite characters. Jet, Vexx, and Byrne were new characters in Just Breathe (though the are introduced in the Ephemera stories) and they each made a nice impact in the story. Scarlet...I can't even type that name without snarling. Seriously one of the most vile, horrific, yet alluring characters I have ever met. (Voldemort who?) I hated, hated, HATED her and wanted her to die a watery death. And Sinnder. Sinnder is complex. He started the series as a bad guy, and slowly revealed glimpses of a pained man behind the Fyre. Though it wasn't always apparent, I had faith in him.
To say that I was happy with Just Breathe would be a massive understatement. I was overwhelmed by such intense emotions. As I read, I alternated between smiling, swooning (hot fudge!), sobbing, gasping, shaking, and laughing. Just Breathe was the ultimate package of awesome. I absolutely swear, it was perfect.
Just Breathe is a series that lives. The characters, the emotions and reactions they evoke, have become a part of my life. The amount of love, thought, time, and tears Kendall Grey has put into this world is apparent to those who read it. I said before that the Just Breathe Series is art, pure and simple. Art is not only something we can see and touch, but also something that inspires, causes intense feeling, thought, and discussion. By my simple terms, no books fit that definition better than Inhale...Exhale...Just Breathe.
Thank you, Kendall Grey. I will never forget Zoe, Gavin, Jack, Yileen, Lily, Sinnder, Adriene, Jet, Byrne, Vexx and the rest of the characters (yes, even that miserable bitch Scarlet.) You've given me more than I could have ever dreamed of. It has been a real privilege to fall in love with your books.
Favorite Quotes:
"You staked your claim on me the moment I rescued you in the Dreaming. My heart--my Water--belongs here with yours." He slid his palm to the center of her chest where the traitorous organ thudded loud enough to hear.
Emotions in a flurry, she closed her eyes and gave in to them. Just feel him. Just breathe him. ~ eARC 34%
His friends probably never saw past the happy-go-lucky rock star persona, but she did. The passion, the mastery, the depth of feeling--
The Dreaming and its Sentinels had claimed him like an early death.
So unfair.
Gavin deserved a beautiful life he'd never get to lead, thanks to the Fyres.
Palming the tears aside, Zoe shuddered through a hard breath, those touching notes stealing bits and pieces of her soul. Didn't matter. He could have them. ~ eARC, 60%
He couldn't tell if she forgave him, pitied him, or was saying goodbye, but as long as she held onto him, he didn't care. For now, she ws all that mattered.
Several minutes passed before she pulled away. When she looked up at him, her face filled with pride. "I love who you are, Mr. Perfect. Don't ever change. For me or anyone else."
His heart swelled, his senses soared, and his Water bubbled. He snatched her back into his embrace and kissed her like it was the end of the world. Tears mingled with Water...Rising and falling...Ebbing and flowing...
Dizzying. ~ eARC, 75%
Gavin inhaled a breath and released it slowly. He was ready to take that leap and risk crashing a thousand times for Zoe. "I'm certain. I love Zoe. This is the only way we can be together. Where she goes, I go." ~eARC, 93%
Just Breathe Series
(click on cover to hit the GoodReads page)
My Reviews of:
Just Breathe Ephemera
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My Reviews of:
Get Inhale for FREE at:
Purchase Just Breathe :
About the author:
Be sure to check out the Just Breathe Trilogy website for all things Just Breathe!
All profits from the sales of INHALE, EXHALE, and JUST BREATHE will be donated to whale education.
Connect with Kendall at:
GIVEAWAYS
Kendall is currently holding a giveaway for a Kindle Fire HD
CRN Care Package
One CRN T-shirt
One Signed Inhale Postcard
One Signed Exhale Postcard
One Inhale USB
One Exhale paperback
One Just Breathe paperback
One Mug
Scarlet's Chai
Zoe's fave brew
Sinnder's Ginger Snaps
Gavin and Yileen's Tim Tams
I also have one ecopy of any book in the series, including the Ephemeras, to give away. To make this super easy for you, simply comment to enter. Which Element would you most like to be: Erthe, Fyre, Waeter, Aer? You can also tweet or share the giveaway on Facebook for an extra entry. Just leave a link.
