I've been a Shannon McKenna fan since I read Behind Closed Doors (McCloud #1) back in 2002, and I've yet to be disappointed by one of her novels--this one is no exception. It includes all the things that made me a fan of her work from the very beginning: strong, handsome, smart and sexy alpha males--often in the military or dark ops, their singular devotion to and intense protection of the women they love, women who all have wills of their own and strong backbones to not be pushed around by those men, and some of the sickest, most evil and depraved villains in modern fiction. I simply could not put this book down, and it gets 4.75-stars from this reader.

I strongly recommend first reading book #1 of The Obsidian Files, entitled, Right Through Me. The torturous background endured by the heroes in this series is beyond an easy explanation, and even though I read Right Through Me, it still took a while to get my bearings, as the past was a slow reveal. My Next Breath carries on that tradition, but doesn't completely cover the history revealed in the first novel, a history that I feel is essential to understanding this second novel in the series.

Zade, the hero in My Next Breath is, as was Noah Gallagher in the first novel, a non-consenting, genetically modified and enhanced, superbly fit, super soldier, who, unlike many of the others who were experimented upon, managed to survive what was done to him with some degree of his sanity intact. He wages a constant and painful battle against his programming. His brother, Luke, was also a victim of the same, and he was abducted by one of the other program victims whose experiences turned him into a greedy, malevolent, soulless and heartless villian, with an agenda of his own. In this novel, Zade is trying to find Luke, fearing that he might already be dead, but wanting proof-postiive of that fact.

Many of the devices used in those evil experiments were originally designed to help people, and they were designed by the ex-fiance of Noah Gallagher, Simone Brightman. Simone is still reeling from the break-up of her engagement to Noah, but Zade believes that she may be the key he needs to find his missing brother. She was a buttoned-up, tightly controlled and cold fish of a woman with Noah, but when Zade sets up a situation where he can meet and rescue her from would-be thugs, she's anything but the frigid woman she was with Noah. Although I was less than thrilled with the manner in which she was manipulated and lied to by Zade, his love and concern for his missing brother, trumped my feelings about the way he chose to initially met Simone.

Simone has worries of her own--her mother died from a genetic brain abnormality and she's beginning to show the symptoms of the same malady, but when she tries to have her DNA tested, her stepfather, a controlling businessman who seems to be using Simone for his own purposes, must find a way to stop her and get her back under his control. As Zade spends time with her, he begins to suspect that she too may have been experimented upon and modified.

And all of that is just for starters--this is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride of a story. It contains both graphic violence, scenes of torture, threats of rape and some of the hottest sex scenes you're likely to find in modern romantic fiction. Some of the aforementioned may be triggers for some, so this information comes as a warning to those readers.

If you're wondering why I rated this excellent novel at marginally less than 5-stars, it's that what I was expecting would be a wildly exciting climatic ending seemed to be just a bit of a let-down and fell just a tad short of thrilling ending I expected. It also comes with the information that there is still a cliffhanger at the end, in addition to the HEA, and the next novel in the series cannot arrive soon enough for me.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance reader copy of this novel and received no compensation for doing so. The opinions expressed are my own.

Shannon McKenna does it again! If you read her regularly, this should come as no surprise—she never disappoints.

THE OBSIDIAN FILES series is a rollercoaster ride of action, sensuality, betrayal, suffering, and redemption. MY NEXT BREATH is book 2 in the series, picking up a few months after the first. When I saw who the heroine was, I admit I hesitated for a second. Simone had not been a favorite character from the first book, where she appeared briefly—as a potential enemy. My next thought was, “Oh…this is going to be good. If she’s going to be the heroine, there’s a LOT messed up in her life right now we don’t know about.” And I was right—the attraction between Simone and Zade is instantaneous but their secrets might be insurmountable if the truth is ever revealed.

Ms. McKenna has the gift of making you instantly care deeply about her characters. The paranormal aspects could be ripped from today’s headlines of breakthroughs in genetic manipulation and merging technology with the human body. The book’s visceral emotion keeps you on the edge of your seat as you watch the characters walk into situations you know are going to go sideways. Her beyond-steamy love scenes are breath-stealingly erotic and flow seamlessly from the action. Her suspense and torture scenes are skin-crawlingly creepy and showcase the nearly demonic depths that her twisted villains will descend to in their greedy malice. Her fight scenes leap off the page with detailed, staccato action that brings the reader right into the fray.

There’s a surprise around every corner, and always another disaster looming for the survivors of the Midlands experiments—a group of genetically and technologically modified escapees trying to survive and stop the twisted people who experimented on them. They walk a fine line between expediency and becoming what they fought to escape. You’ll find yourself re-reading the first two books in the series as you await the next story to find out how the overarching plot resolves.

Sexy, suspenseful, raw, and powerful—Shannon McKenna provides it all, masterfully, and you’ll find you just can’t wait for more.

This is Shannon McKenna in true crazysauced, cracktastic form. Her heroes are always gaga with lust, but Zade was totally cranked up, amped up, and dialed up for Simone. Simone is also a new fierce person, bearing no resemblance to her pale, polished former self (she was Noah's jilted fiancee in Right Through Me, book 1).

It's hard to describe Zade and Simone's story without giving away critical spoilers to the Obsidian universe. You really need to read the first book (Caro and Noah's story) and wait for the next book to get more answers. Fingers crossed for Asa's book soon.

One nitpick: the story takes some time to gel. Even having read the first book, I was a bit lost when Zade and Simone first meet. But once they join forces, it is game on. Like every Shannon McKenna book, the action and sex are almost nonstop. This was a sexy, sleek, sci-fi thrill ride.

A night watch and a staged attack… that’s how the book bursts open.
And all it takes is one sentence… One sentence and you’re hooked.
The action has already set its own pace and it’s up to you to follow.
So here you are, already impatient and waiting for what is next.
Zade is waiting, calculating, observing… and so are you.
You hear what he hears, see what he sees and wait as he waits…
After reading the first book of the series, we are all on Zade’s side. His actions are justified. He is doing what he’s doing for a good reason. We are all team Zade. Yeay! You go man!
But then, we met Simone. And it only took a few lines to switch teams!
She is a fighter and survivor, in her own passive way… even if she’s not aware of her actions at first. Later on, all that is amplified, not so passive anymore. She Becomes the action.
With every turned page, we ache to know more.
We are waiting for the action, the final battle – we do know it is coming.
We are waiting for the moment of truth – also we do know it is coming.
We are waiting for the other characters to come back – will they?
And that is not boring at all. On the contrary. IT is the wait that makes the excitement even better and the end that drives us to ask for more.
Every now and then, we take a break from our heroes and we get a look at the conspirators of the great evil. We get a taste of the evil minds messing with the lives of our Modifieds. We get wired up, on our nerves, we hate them. And as much as we hate being with them, we do know that they are going down one way or the other.
Our minds go like “oh you’ll see you evil scums, they will win, they will end you, WE know something you don’t” and somehow, through that, McKenna gives us some kind of power and comfort while reading.
Wait. I do not mean that knowing this will affect your reading in any way.
NO.
The excitement is better, the reading is better, and most of all McKenna always hides some little surprises that you do not expect… Good surprises? Bad surprises?
Who knows?
It’s only a few pages till the discovery that will make you cry, laugh or simply shock you.
And yes! There will be books on the way… There is no reality in which they stop.
Is there?
Let’s just keep the happy thoughts and go back to My Next breath…
And oh yes, it is my next breath… it will be for the whole next year…
Unless, of course, the next book in the series would be published earlier…
Oh, I can’t wait!
I needed more already and I was not even finished with the book in my hands!!
When I reached the last few pages, I felt my heart jumping through my chest into my hand.
I even threw my Kindle away at some point.
The excitement, the fear were more than I could handle.
You know how, when you watch a movie, sometimes you close your eyes because you can’t look but you still hear what’s happening?
Well, guess what, I tried that with the book and it didn’t work.
If I close my eyes, everything stops too.
Yeah, I know… but that scene at the end made my heart miss a beat.
I needed to breath before diving in the book again.
And…
IT WAS WORTH IT
I LOVED EVERY BIT OF THE ENDING
EVERY BIT OF THE STORY
And I truly think that what makes McKenna’s stories great are those little insecurities of her characters, the little flaws that despite having them, the heroes turn out to be great!
So who’s next? Asa’s story? Luke’s? Brenner’s? Hannah?
We’ll see…
This book is to be read and re-read.
I know I am going to do that very very soon!
From a great exciting beginning and creepy, scary, twisted villains to a great surprising nerve sitting heartbeat stopping ending!
Living in these pages for the few hours that I did was floating to another world where despite all the misery, you would like to be stuck there with the characters.
A book loaded with suspense, thrills, mind-blowing discoveries and erotic scenes.
From Humoristic to Sarcastic replies…
From Heart-melting to life-threatening moments…
From Breath-grabbing suspense to slow comforting scenes…
Shannon McKenna’s plots are nothing but EXTREME.
OH YES! YOUR MIND WILL BE MESSED UP!
But the thing is, you want it to be.

I was given an ARC in exchange for a honest review .
Shannon McKenna is one of those authors that doesn't disappoint her readers.
This book has it all from romance, suspense, and action. This being the second installment of the Obsidian files be ready for the ride.
Zade Ryan is a super soldier in search of his brother Luke and thinks only one person can help him.
Simone Brightman is not what Zade thinks. Simone is hiding from her step-father and trying to get her life back. Together they will take you on the roller-coaster ride of emotions.
Read twice it's that good!!!!!

My Next Breath is the 2nd installment in Shannon McKenna series The Obsidian Files. I am learning these books must be read in the order of publication. If you read the first book. Then you will know that Simone was the woman with Noah when he first glanced upon Caro.
Well, now we will learn Simone story. Simone is the inventor of the tech that captured Luke in Right Through Me. Matter effect she is the inventor of almost everything that is being used against Zade and his fellow super-soldiers. However, she is unaware that the tech she builds is being used for something totally than what she invented them for.
But she will come to find out with the help of Zade Ryan, a Rebel who is out to find his brother and if possible take Obsidian down along the way.
I am so into this series. My Next Breath just like Right Through Me was fast paced, and intense romantic suspense. Some characters from the previous books make appearances, the chemistry between Simone and Zade was truly hot. After finishing reading My Next Breath, I am so ready for the 3rd book.

Wow! totally enjoyed the book. An exceptional idea with great follow-thru. Solid!

You can never go wrong with a Shannon McKenna book, ever! I am such a huge fan.

This is the second installment of the Obsidian files and I am loving this book and this series. WOW! She can write and I love the paranormal edge.

This book is Zade's book and he is determined to find his brother, Luke, by whatever means necessary and if necessary that includes seducing the buttoned up Simone Brightman who has developed some of the equipment used to program their brains.

Simone is having her own hard time and she's not sure exactly what it is, but she has an idea and it's not good. She is afraid she is heading down the road in her mother's tracks, and going to die of the same awful disease. She has sequestered herself in her condo to work and hasn't come out for anything, which has made making contact with her very difficult for Zade.

But tonight she's out with a group of kids and Zade is going to take his opportunity. He has to get to Luke.

What he finds out is Simone might be in as big a trouble as Luke if not more in the immediate and sets out to help her. He'll find Luke, who he hopes is still alive, but he needs Simone alive to help..

I love the twists and turns that McKenna puts in her books, they are never boring. The characters are always full of personality, whether they're good or bad, and the plot always thickens.

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent story and fast paced action. Very erotic and a page turner. A little confusing at first but doesn't distract from the overall story.
Zade is a super soldier who is looking for his brother. Simone is a biomed engineer who invents ways to help people with neurological conditions. What she doesn't know is some bad people have being using her inventions to make the super soldiers. Simone has debilitating headaches and gets tested for a genetic disorder that her mother had.
Zade thinks Simone knows where his brother could be, so he sets up a situation where he saves her. She decides to live a little and has sex with Zade. What neither expect is the instant attraction. The bad guys are after them and they have to stay one step ahead of them, while trying to find his brother.
I don't know if any of this makes sense but I didn't want to say too much without giving everything away. I love Ms. McKenna's books and can't wait for the next one.

Shannon Mckenna’s latest work does not disappoint. She once again offers pulse-pounding action, sinister villains and heart-tugging characters.

This book is the second in her new series, focusing on escapees from a prison-like genetic modification center known as the “Midlands.” Zade is the focus in this book, a man consumed by his quest to find his missing brother. He will find Luke at any cost--even if it means going head-to-head with Obsidian--the nefarious group seeking to continue their work with brain implants and other gene alteration. Getting close to Simone Brightman is the first step in Zade’s plan to get to Luke.

This Simone is not the same refined, demure fiancee we saw in Right Through Me. Simone, now single and a bitter about her latest failed engagement, is much changed. Feeling suffocated by her step-father, Simone leaves the office behind, preferring to work from home. The last thing she expects on a rare evening out, is to be attacked--and then rescued by the mysterious Zade. Will she take a chance and trust a stranger?

This book is stunning follow-up from Right Through Me and leaves the reader wanting more. A compelling read, recommended to anyone who enjoys a complex characters, grisly villains and tons of action.