The start of this series about three sisters were sweet, interest grabbing and easy to connect with.

Each sister was dealing with their own grief in losing their mother and moving on.

The writing style of the author was easy to follow and pulled me in more as the story developed.

This was a sweet story about a family being there for each other while working through grief with a sweet romance developing as well.

Reason to Breathe is a gripping story about sisterhood and family with a dash of romance. Three sisters come together after the death of their mother and face challenges with the past and the present. The story leads the characters through grief with hope and faith intertwined. If you enjoy a clean storyline written from a faith perspective, then you will surely enjoy this sweet read about three sisters and their journey.

I always enjoy books by Ms Raney. God and family are always first . I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

Classic Deborah Raney. I loved this story...I loved these characters. I loved this setting. I guess that I loved everything about this novel. I hope you will too.

A great author and a great read! Raney has created great story full of hope and inspiration. Definitely a recommended read.

The moment I started reading this book I was pulled right into the story. The Chandler Sister's have just lost their mom, something I myself can envision since my parents are in their 80's. As they deal with their grief their dad makes things even more painful by telling them he's staying in Florida leaving them in a situation that they weren't prepared for but had to find their way out of, together.


Ms. Raney showed the sister's honestly, with all of their flaws, scars, and strengths. I found myself caring for each of the sisters, even praying for them as I read the book.


I had lots of different emotions as I read this book. Frustration at the father's abandonment of his daughter's during a very difficult time in their lives and confusion as to why he was doing what he was doing. Even with those feelings the thread of hope winds its way in, through, and around the story. We all need hope and Ms. Raney uses the worst emotion of grief along with horrible circumstances to show that hope is always there we just have to look a little harder during those times.


I highly recommend this book and look forward to more installments of the Chandler Sisters.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher as a blogger with Just Read Tours. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Reason to Breathe by Deborah Raney was a highly enjoyable and emotional book journey. This is the story of three sisters and their father navigating foreign waters after a devastating three years of cancer battle took their precious mother and wife away from them. There are some big surprises and truths uncovered for each, crisis’s of faith, but all in all the hope to continue living with a new and different life.
Many people have faced similar struggles as this family has, myself included, and while this story brought up some of those memories and feelings, I can look back now and see the goodness of God now through those years even when I didn’t then. And as this family moves on and time becomes a buffer from the painful to a different future then what they hoped for, they too will see the blessings that were there all along and remember their mother for who she was. I am really looking forward to more of this series and more of these sisters’ stories.
There is also a beautiful and well-told love story in the midst of these pages that certainly had some challenges and obstacles to overcome to true love. I hope we get more of that story as well. This was a great read and a favorite for 2018.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Reason to Breathe is a wonderfully crafted story, one that leaves you feeling good after the last page is turned. It felt like coming home in a way, because the setting is that of Langhorne, Missouri, same as the previous Chicory Inn series. Contemporary romance/women’s fiction is my favorite genre and Deborah Raney does it exceedingly well.

One thing I liked about this story and others by Raney is that life isn’t always happy, and we see fictional characters exploring real issues in an uplifting way. The story is kicked off when the Chandler sisters – Phee, Joanna, and Britt – discover that their father is acting totally out of character after the death of their mother three months previously. Phee seems to have the most difficult time – and had I learned that my father was moving some distance away, with plans of remarrying a nurse he met during hospice care, I would experience great difficulty also. I know that people deal with grief in many different ways, but I didn’t care for Phee’s father for a long time and hope we see his character grow through the series.

This is mainly the story of Phee and Quinn, who works for her father and unwittingly finds himself thrust in the middle of a rough situation. I liked the sweet chemistry between them and that there’s no arguing, but rather, their friendship has to steadily progress through the overcoming of several obstacles – such as age difference and trust issues. Spiritual themes are gently woven throughout, reminding us of God’s timing in all situations and that He often places people in our lives exactly when we need them.

I enjoyed Reason to Breathe so very much and eagerly anticipate coming back to these characters in future series books. Recommended.

I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this story, especially since the author tackled sisters and their complex relationships with one another. I look forward to reading more books in this series!

A book that I picked up at a timely point in my life. Deborah deals with the struggles of caring for a parent that is ill. Thank you for allowing me to read this book.

4.5 Stars

Deborah Raney has a gift for taking a story and adding elements to give it so much depth that it reaches across a multitude of reader likes.

In Reason to Breathe, Raney introduces three sisters who are getting back to life after the loss of their mother. When they agree to take on a huge project, Phylicia has no idea she’s about to face a crisis of identity.

This book has so much to recommend it! There’s the journey of grief the sisters and their father are on, the fun elements and details of the sisters’ experience getting the cottage together and livable, the mystery of what’s going on with the girls’ dad and the mystery surrounding a photo Phylicia finds, and, of course, some romance.

And though that sounds like a lot, Raney expertly fashions all of these pieces with the thread of faith that brings them together to make something beautiful.

I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

“Reason to Breathe” made me So. Happy.

First, it’s a new book by Deborah Raney. I’d forgotten that detail, so when I checked my calendar and discovered it was due for reading and review…I only started squeeing when I saw the author’s name. A bit like Hermione nearly jumping up and down in her seat because she knew the answer. “Me me me! Pick me!”

So yay!! New book by an author I enjoy immensely.

Second, it’s just a darn good book. It took a while to keep the sisters straight, but I eventually managed, and quickly got drawn into their story. I can’t wait for the others in the series (and assume that each sister will get their own book…right, Deborah? Lol!).

The sisters are likable, relatable characters, and I had plenty of true LOL moments. Drinking a beverage while reading proved dangerous at times, in fact!

The plot was thought provoking and poignant, dealing with some deep topics not often covered in Christian fiction.

A thoroughly enjoyable read and one I’d happily revisit in future, not least in anticipation of subsequent books in the series!

I received a copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

A mix of subjects — a fixer-upper project, a grieving family, and a budding romance — combine in one very good contemporary novel by Deborah Raney. Raney has the knack of bringing her fictional worlds to life, and Reason to Breathe is a great example. The first novel in the Chandler Sisters series, this book had everything I could want — real and relatable characters, great writing, and a naturally developing love story. Add in the Christ-centered message and you’ve got a winner. This one is a recommended read!

I loved all the characters in Reason to Breathe, but Phylicia (Phee) and Quinn are the focus of this first book. Their relationship has a few obstacles — an age gap, trust issues, and uncertainties of family dynamics — but it definitely is a romance readers will cheer on. The fixer-upper story line is a great vehicle for the budding romance and fun for the reader as well. Phylicia and Quinn are both believers, and Raney develops their relationship with an emphasis on God-honoring actions. In today’s world that is indeed refreshing. In fact the entire novel is infused with spiritual truths including the major theme of God’s timing — a message I certainly needed reminding of. Although Reason to Breathe is Phee and Quinn’s story, the two other sisters, Joanna and Britt, play major roles in the action. I am looking forward to the development of their characters and storylines.

Well-written and true to life, Reason to Breathe is a great choice for all readers.

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

I thoroughly enjoyed Deborah Raney's new series about the Chandler sisters. Having a sister myself who is my best friend, I could definitely relate to the bond between the sisters. Though not to cancer, my sister and I lost our mom when we were in our 20's, so I could empathize with the emotions the sisters were experiencing. I also found the love story between the oldesr sister Phylicia, who this first novel focused on, and Quinn swoon worthy.

I look forward to the next books in the series. I want to thank Gilead Publishing for providing me with an advanced reader copy through Netgalley for my honest review.

Reason to Breathe by Deborah Raney was a delightful read about 3 sisters and 3 cabins to renovate. This book focused on the oldest sister. I'm looking forward to reading the next 2 books in the series about the other 2 sisters. Great kickoff to a new series!!!

I always enjoy this author’s books and Reason to Breathe was no different. A great plot, well developed characters and setting. Hoping to see books featuring the two remaining sisters. Highly recommend this book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is my unbiased review.

I loved this first book in this new series by Deborah Raney. The Chandler sisters differ in ages and personalities, but they are fierce in their love and devotion to each other. In this story, they are grieving the recent loss of their mother. Their dad is also struggling with the loss of his wife and they are missing his strength and support. This story focuses on the growing relationship between Quinn and Phylicia. They both face the challenge of learning to trust and love again. This is a sweet, heart-tugging story and I enjoyed reading their story. I’m guessing the other books will feature the other two sisters, and I’m looking forward to learning their stories, too.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

One of my writer friends has lots of good things to say about women's fiction by Deborah Raney, which is why I asked to review Reason to Breathe.

I was disappointed.

The book got off to a bad start by using a couple of plot tropes I don't enjoy.

Their father decides to take off to Florida and leave his daughters with the responsibility of packing up and selling the family home. I was prepared to forgive this at first. After all, the man is evidently grieving the loss of his wife, which means we can give him a little grace when it comes to making a decision like this which is selfish on several levels. But he lost my sympathy somewhere in chapter two when he lets slip that he's now engaged ... to a woman who nursed his wife in the hospice. No, the father isn't a major character but him acting like an idiot is what sets the rest of the plot in motion.

In his absence, daddy asks work colleague and longtime friend Quinn Mitchell to step into the gap and help the three sisters sell the house. Here we get into the plot point which really turned my stomach: Quinn apparently has feelings for the oldest sister, Phee, and has had since she was sixteen and he was twenty-eight. Okay, so they are now actual adults at almost thirty and forty-two, which is more socially acceptable (and even believable). But it still left me with a sour feeling.

Reason to Breath is the first book in the Chandler Sisters series, but it took me about three chapters to work out which sister this book was about. The three sisters lost their mother to cancer three months ago. I kind of thought it might be about three sisters working together to recover from their shared grief, but that wasn't what came through. It almost felt like their mother's death and father's abandonment was just a convenient device to get the three sisters to work together on a common project, because none of them had any ongoing grief issues. That seemed odd for what I was expecting to be women's fiction.

The three sisters decide to buy a fixer-upper property with the money their mother conveniently left them. The once-waterfront property conveniently has three dwellings so they can buy it together but not live together (because that would apparently drive them all crazy). I'm not a fan of home renovation in real life, on reality TV, or in fiction, so this was also a bit of a yawn. Quinn offers to help with the renovations, so that pushes him and Phee together and allows their relationship to develop.

Reason to Breathe wasn't women's fiction. But it wasn't quite a romance either. I absolutely believed Quinn's feelings for Phee, but Phee herself never came alive as a character for me. She had no goals beyond the obvious (finding somewhere to live after her father decided to sell the family home). She had no reason to fall for Quinn, but also nothing stopping her (beyond the twelve-year age gap).

Overall, Reason to Breathe didn't start well for me, and never got deep enough to redeem itself. It tried. It tried to be deep and funny and romantic. But it never convinced me of the underlying premise, so it tried and failed for me.

If you're looking for some hard-hitting and emotional women's fiction that touches on loss and grief, then I don't recommend Reason to Breathe. Instead, try Where Hope Begins by Catherine West. And if you're looking for a fun romance series featuring three sisters, read True to You by Becky Wade.

Thanks to Gilead Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Phylicia Chandler feels so lost without her mother, who had recently died of cancer. Phylicia, along with her two sisters, Joanna and Britt helped take care of their mom during her illness. One of her mom's regrets was not getting to see any of her daughters marry. Phylicia is twenty-nine and only having had a handful of dates, feels something may even be wrong with her and that she'll never have a family of her own.
To top everything else off, their father has gone to Florida, only a couple months following his wife's death. He said it was for work, and granted, he has traveled there for work in the past. But, now is just not a good time for him to leave. The girls still lean on him and they'd like the four of them to be together so soon after their mom's passing.
Their father has passed on duties to his employee, Quinn, to see after the girls and to even guide them into purchasing property as an investment. Quinn, while not appreciating being put in the middle of things, does appreciate the extra time he gets to spend with Phylicia. He has known the entire family for many years and has cared for Phylicia for a long time, unbeknownst to her.
A big unwelcome surprise is when their father tells them, via phone call, that he is engaged to be married to non other than their mom's hospice nurse! The girls, naturally, feel he has betrayed their mom. Was this going on while their mom was still living? So many questions, yet he seems to be avoiding their phone calls and questions. What is really going on with their father?
Is Quinn in on this? Is he keeping secrets from the girls?
Their father, Turner, also put the task on the girls of getting the home they grew up on ready to sell and on the market. What is he thinking, they wonder?
Great story. Lots of emotions. You'll laugh and cry with the characters.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Gilead, and was not required to give a positive review

Phylicia, Joanna and Britt are the Chandler Sisters who recently lost their mother and are trying to find their way without her. Suddenly their father, in his own stage of grief off and goes to Florida. The girl’s lives are turned upside down by this unexpected event. How do they go on? Will their father sell the house? Where will their little sister Britt live now? The girls have a lot of unanswered questions.
To help answer these questions, Quinn Mitchell enters the story. He is a long-time family friend and business partner with the girl’s father. Their father has asked Quinn to guide the girls into settling into their new lives. He suggests that the girls buy a piece of property that has three cabins on it as a place to live and as a new business venture. Now the girls have yet another unexpected event to deal with. Should they buy the fixer upper cabins out in the wilderness?
Quinn also finds himself drawn to Phylicia. He remembers her growing up and has always felt something for her beyond friendship. Phylicia is also drawn to Quinn, but doesn’t know how to handle these new feelings. Will their friendship turn into something more?
Although the story focuses on Phylicia and Quinn, the reader really gets a chance to know the other two sisters, Joanna and Britt. The relationship the sisters have is friendship and sisterhood. They stick together through it all and are there to support each other. This is the first book I have read by Deborah Raney, and I really look forward to the next book in the Chandler Sisters Series. Thank you to Gilead Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review