Unexpectedly funny and engaging.

"On paper" as they say, this looked like a regular light romance, but it delivered more.

Jem works as a paramedic. Her work brings her across police officer Rosie, and the two form a sweet bond of friendship and perhaps the beginnings of a budding romance.

But there's a darker plot behind the light-hearted banter between Jem and Rosie.

My favourite part of this book was the way Cari Hunter crafts realistic and entertaining conversations between the characters and the use of colloquialisms.

Very enjoyable.

It's the best book I've read in a while. A grime crime story, two very likable, but unusual main characters and an atmosphere as I used to imagine England with rain, rain and rain.

I can’t wait for the audiobook version to experience it all over again.

I loved this book! A medical romance mixed with a police-crime-mystery, I can’t think of much better than that. A few people had mentioned this is different than Hunter’s normal books. I love her books normally so I was a little worried what that meant, luckily this exceeded my expectations instead.

I love cops and docs type books. This story is about Jem, an unlucky paramedic and Rosi, the kind of cop you would want as a friend. While the two keep meeting under strange circumstances, their feelings being to grow. Do they have a chance together or is Jem too unlucky for the both of them? If you did not already know, besides being an author, Hunter is a paramedic in real life and it sure showed in this book. All of the medical scenes felt so well done that I was really impressed. In fact I was impressed the whole book. I heard that this book took a little while to get into, I didn’t have that issue at all. I was hooked after the first page and I hated to put the book down because I had to sleep. The setting was really well described; heck the weather is almost the third main character. The whole book played like a movie in front of my eyes where I could see everything. Not that this is a surprise to any Hunter fan but her writing just felt really top notch to me.

This book takes place in England and as others have mentioned there is a lot of slang readers from other countries might not be used to. I used to watch Big Brother UK plus a bunch of English comedies and mysteries with my father growing up. I’m guessing because of that I didn’t have much trouble with the slang. I only had to look-up 4 words and only once did my Kindle not know what one meant. I’m personally for the slang. When I read a book that takes place in England by an English author, I want to feel like I am really there. So I actually appreciate Hunter not dumbing things down for us Americans.

As I mentioned above besides being medical and a mystery, this is a romance too. This book has a ton of excitement but Hunter took the time to write two extremely likeable characters that you hope can somehow have a HEA. My only small complaint of the whole book was the choice of the relationship conflict. There was so much going on in the book that it just wasn’t needed. But it’s such a small complaint in my absolute enjoyment of this book that I’m just forgetting about it.

If you are a Hunter fan you are going to love this. If you are a cops and docs type fan, read this. If you just want something with some page turning excitement that is well written, grab this. I’m so happy that this book was everything I was hoping for and even more. I have not rated too many books 5 stars this year so I’m really happy to have another to add to my favorites of 2019 list.

Jem and Rosie sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g. Maybe not a tree. More like a desperate anxiety-filled moment shared by Jem and Rosie in a story filled with desperate and dangerous moments for our two heroines. When author Cari Hunter promised to deliver a romance instead of her usual murder and mayhem she didn’t say her characters would be spared the harsh realities of life on the cold, wet streets of Manchester.

Breathe is a mystery/thriller/romance readers breath of fresh air. This is a slow burn romance featuring two characters so real you wish you could invite them out for a pint after work. Jem, an asthmatic paramedic is a magnet for the tough cases and the worst working conditions yet maintains her sunny disposition in a career that is not for the faint of heart.
Rosie is a cop with a joie de vivre which helps her remain positive no matter how many finger searches of filthy flats she must endure.

A cop and a paramedic. Don’t get me started on how many nurses end up with cops and paramedics IRL. The stresses, long hours, dangerous and ungodly working conditions make those quiet and safe moments that much sweeter. I love how natural the bond between Rosie and Jem forms. You want them to be a couple from the first moment they haul the groom-to-be wearing only a learners permit license plate out of harm's way.

You sympathize with Jem’s self doubt and admire Rosie’s courage. This book might be slow to gather momentum but wow, hang around for the ride of your life. No couple gets an easy flower petal strewn walk in a novel written by Cari Hunter. You know these women will face challenges both internal and external and you know they are in for a rocky road to happiness. Take a walk on the wild side and by all means, bring your inhaler. You’re going to need it.

ARC received with thanks from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for review.

This one was a difficult start for me, and here's why...I didn't understand the first third! And I grew up with a British grandmother! At first, I tried to muddle through. Then I kept a dictionary handy, but it was useless. After a while, I gave up trying to understand them and just let myself be taken by the characters. Jem and Rosie are so charming, so unique that it's hard not to connect with them.

I'm glad I stuck with this one, and you should too!

Jemima "Jem" Pardon, an EMT/Paramedic
Rosie Jones, a police officer

On page three I already I knew I was going to have a hard time reading this book. The preponderance of British slang demanded I stop every paragraph or so to look up a term. I'm ALMOST (but not completely) certain the author did not mean for this to be a requirement, so my advice would be to either gloss over all the words and phrases you don't understand (and hope you can figure them out in context), or read books by authors whose phraseology you understand. One way or the other, this book appears to have been written ONLY for those intimately familiar with British slang, and if we don't like it, the rest of us can go read something else, written by someone else.

I really tried to give this book a chance, but even skipping ahead a few pages here and there to get some context and furtherance of the story line, it never made sense.

I'm sure there are many other people who liked or loved this book, but I'm afraid I am not one of those people. My advice to the author? If you want your books to sell on both sides of the Atlantic, please tone down the slang. Your potential audience will love you for it.

Ok so I’m going to start off with saying Cari Hunter is a legend in the mystery/thriller genre and that part of the story was as usual brilliant ! No one can deny her ability to keep you hooked and demand your full attention because with her books, you can’t just let go. You have to keep reading and reading :)
Unfortunately and I have a big feeling that I will be one of the very few who had a problem with this book. My god I had such a tough time understanding the British slang! It reached a point where my confusion was extremely frustrating which unfortunately led to me almost giving up on continuing the book. It’s ok if you check the dictionary one or twice but at a certain point I just couldn’t even understand the dialogue between the characters.
Having said all this, I do recommend it to everyone who can let go of the language barrier because the storyline itself is brilliant!
“I received an ARC for an honest review.”

3.80 STARS rounded to 4 STARS

Jem is a Paramedic and suffers from Chronic Asthma. Rosie is a Police Officer and likes to do things her own way. I did like the book, but for me, it was my least favourite from the books that I have read by this author. I know I will probably be in the minority but the book didn't have me turning page after page to see what happened next like her previous books.

The book was written well and has some great characters. I loved Rosie from the beginning but Jem took me a little longer to like. To begin with, she just annoyed me but by the end of the book she had grown on me. The pace was good. I enjoyed the interaction between all characters. Great bunch of secondary characters.

Overall, I did like the book I just didn't love it.

I received an ARC copy of the book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

This was my first Cari Hunter book and I really wasn't sure what to expect. I must admit that I enjoyed it. I don't normally read mystery romance books, but occasionally I find one that looks interesting. Breathe was indeed interesting. This romance is for sure a slow burn and typically they drive me crazy, but the mystery part of this was enough for me to not think twice about it. As I look back upon my feelings after reading this, I think I will have to check out more of Hunter's books. I found I really like the quirkiness of Jem and Rosie. They were actually a perfect match for each other. There were many occasions where I actually LOL at the dialogue between them. I did struggle a little at the beginning of the book to understand the British terminology, but once I looked up a few of the phrases/words I as okay. The MCs for sure had chemistry and I was rooting for them throughout the entire book. The mystery portion was really good too. I didn't find it left me unsettled or super nervous about what was to come. I actually was excited to see what was going to come next.

I rate this one 4 stars.

Honestly, I have no idea how to start reviewing Breathe, because everything about Hunter’s writing turns me back into my 16-year-old fangirl-flailing self who isn’t capable of any coherent thoughts. Hunter’s books have this little magical je ne sais quoi that makes me want to curl up in bed with a hot drink and stay up all night to read – my idea of heaven.

This book is good. So good in fact, that the first thought that crossed my mind when my cat woke me up in the middle of the night was, “I can’t wait for my alarm to go off so I can read more of my book.” Of course, once my alarm did go off, I wasn’t as keen to get up.

Jem Pardon is a paramedic in the Manchester area who believes she used up all her luck the day she was adopted. Out on a call one night, she meets Rosie, a police officer. From then on, a series of (un)lucky encounters bring them together, and they get caught up in a case about missing children.

Both MCs are very likable, well-developed and they are both unafraid to show a little vulnerability. There’s a bit of miscommunication between them, especially on Jem’s part, but I feel it’s authentic to her character. I like that their relationship kind of start off as friends and it evolves organically into something more. Hunter always writes flawed, but fun characters that I really want to spend time with. Whenever I finish one of her books, I’m always a little sad to leave these people behind. In Breathe, I could relate to Jem and I wish I had a friend like her. She’s awkward as hell, her lungs are crap, but she’s funny, compassionate and she likes books!

"And squeezing in a novel at the last minute. It made the bag weigh a ton, but she always felt better if she had a book with her."


If that isn’t relatable... Anyway!

As usual, the cast of side characters is fab. Particularly, Jem’s dad who isn’t exactly subtle when it comes to setting his daughter up with Rosie. Also, special mention to Fluffy, Rosie’s bearded dragon. I just love his name.

The dialogue is heavy with British slang, and I had to use the dictionary on my Kindle a few times, but I loved it. I think it brings more authenticity to the story. Everything about the writing in this book is great. Cari Hunter has the ability to describe emotions and everyday actions with uncanny accuracy, and it just makes for a greater reading experience.

I hope the author decides to turn this book into a series because I need more Jem/Rosie. That last chapter was such a freaking tease :o

In case it isn’t clear, I highly recommend you give Breathe a read! Anything by Cari Hunter, really.

Thank you to Bold Strokes Books for providing me with a free copy of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It has taken me quite a few days to be able to write this without smashing the keyboard, using an excessive amount of exclamation points or using caps lock. Hopefully this review makes sense even though my thoughts are all over the place.

Cari Hunter is an expert at grabbing the reader’s attention with the very first sentence and refusing to let go until the last sentence of the novel. That is exactly what she has done with her latest action-adventure book Breathe.

This tale has all the elements we have come to expect from Ms. Hunter’s novels. We have the vividly described setting of the city of Manchester and surrounding area with the gloomy and somewhat scary mood that fits the story since the city is experiencing copious amounts of rain and dangerous flooding. The main characters are so well drawn that I felt like I knew them and wanted to be friends with both of them. The pace of the story is perfect, and even though this is an action-adventure/ mystery, Ms. Hunter does occasionally include bits of humor to lighten the tension of the plot. I especially loved some of the characters’ names, and I’m not only talking about the main character Jemima (Jem) Pardon. Some of the minor character names had me chuckling. The main characters, Jem and Rosie are really perfectly developed and their attraction to each other is very easy to see. They have a slow-burn romance that works well in the story.

This is a wonderful story filled with action, some violence, angst, humor and love; all of the elements we expect from such an excellent author. This book is definitely in my list of favorites, and I will be looking forward to more from this wonderful author.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Rainbow Reflections:
https://rainbowreflections.home.blog/

I was given this book as an ARC in exchange for an honest review from BoldStrokes Books and Netgalley.

Oh my wow was this a page turner, I've ignored my wife for the last 24 hours so I could get through this quickly. I really enjoyed this book, and I am usually not a huge fan of mysteries. I think that my only gripe with this book was the immense amount of British slang and words, I just did not know what some of them meant and because I had to stop and google it, it made staying the the story harder. At some point I just gave up and figured I would get the meaning through context clues.

The two main characters Jem and Rosie were delightful. I liked how quirky they were and how much they liked each other from the start, but the book didn't focus so much on their romance because there was a mystery to solve and just like in real life you can't stop working to fall in love, and I liked that this book felt realistic. This was a love story wrapped in a mystery and not the other way around and that makes a load of difference. The story itself is about a cop and a paramedic who end up together during a rescue mission. During this book there was a freak rain storm and that was making everything harder for the two of them, not to mention Rosies's e who wouldn't take no for an answer. There is also the overall plot about missing children.

This book had action, it had angst and it had two adorable main characters. They were quirky and funny and just right for each other. The love scene is magnificent and Ill leave it up to you to enjoy. I will definitely be reading a lot more Cari Hunter books in the future.

Even though I was not familiar with some of the wording the author used throughout the story, I still found it extremely captivating. This was mainly due to the very likable characters and the storyline itself.

When you place an asthmatic paramedic and an exuberant cop together, you know there will be some interesting situations involved. One placed both their lives in danger as they tried to rescue two teenage runaways…and had a first date of sorts at the same time in a hospital. This was also where the characters connected on a deeper emotional level after a harrowing shared experience. Their dialogue was both witty and emotional with a rather cute scene that took place, of all places, in the hospital bathroom. With scenes like this one, the author allowed her characters to slowly develop a trusting friendship which eventually developed into a romantic one. Their relationship was well paced and felt real.

The angst moment between the characters was true to form with the character’s expected emotional meltdown. It was not forced or played out, but it dealt with the realism of their situation. It was well written and supplied very meaningful insights into Jem’s foster care system background.

This story dealt with many dangers and the author successfully added to those intense situations by throwing torrential storms in the characters’ path and thereby heightening the level of engagement.
This was one of those books that was hard to put down until it was finished. It was one of those stories that demanded your attention and it all began with its one word title-Breathe.
Highly recommended!

I loved this book...might be because if my job in the medical world but I just can't resist a book about a paramedic..and a lesbian one at that. ;)

The book is about a paramedici with severe asthma and a police officer who cross paths when there is a young boy murdered and both are first on the scene in their respective work fields. They hit it off and keep seeing eachother while also trying to find out who is responsible.

This book gives you a really british feel with the way people are talking and Jemima and Rosie are fun, quirky characters that had me chuckle aloud. The romance and mystery aspect worked well together, improved by both ladies who are easy to relate to because they are not perfect and their interactions were fun and believable. All in all a very good read and it will make me seek out more of this author.

With Breathe I have to say Cari Hunter did it again. She delivered another novel that can rival with its predecessors. In true Cari Hunter style we‘ve got some pretty nasty weather (no frost this time but heavy rains) all throughout the book. Lots of brews and biccies, pies and butties. I’m always looking forward to Hunter’s plethora of British slang and food stuffs ;-)

Our main characters Jem (the asthmatic paramedic) and Rosie (the copper with hair dressing skills) have great chemistry. Their romance is (very) slow burn and runs in the background of the plot like we usually see with this author’s couples. Rosie is a true gem and Jem is a bit broken but both women figure it out in the end.

Hunter’s dialogue is to die for. I had many a moment where I lol’d and you really need that lightness when the themes in the book are pretty heavy. Another given is the hurt/comfort part, where one of the characters (or both) get wounded badly. Although it was hair raising, it seems a bit less than I’ve seen in her other books. Maybe it was because the relationship angst was turned up a bit more than usual, who knows.

Anyway, if you are familiar with Cari Hunter and love her work you really don’t have to ponder. It’s great and just put it on your Kindle. If you’ve never read Cari Hunter and wonder what all the hoopla is about, just try this one. I know you will get hooked like all the rest of us.

f/f … wait for it… just, wait for it… explicit ;-)

Themes: Manchester, rain, flooding, teens living rough, severe asthma, Rosie’s ex was an interesting one, when Jem went rock climbing (LOL!), sucking your brew through a twix is apparently a thing, a page turner!

5 Stars

* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books Inc. for an honest review.

I was so excited to get my hands on this one, and it did not disappoint.

Jemima Pardon is just Jem. She is a hardworking paramedic with a history of severe asthma, and well, self proclaimed bad luck. She can’t keep a girlfriend and all her simple emergencies turn into chaotic ones, making her work partners want to transfer elsewhere. Enter Rosie Jones, a self assured police officer with a sometimes stubborn approach to crises. They meet at an emergency when they help a guy that is literally hanging off a bridge. There is mutual interest but soon they get tangled in a homicide investigation that threatens their lives and their budding attraction.

You know, I was rooting for these two mains to end together (well that was an obvious statement!). Towards the end of the story, I started to ponder why I felt like they belonged together. What was the exact moment when I became a believer? The answer is there wasn’t one. Ms Hunter’s writing is just so smooth. She’s such a great story teller that the relationship just happens. Nothing seems forced, and that is just fantastic.

There are plenty of secondary characters in this one. All well developed and with great interactions with the mains. Amazing now hat I think about it, how many she included in this story. Cops, paramedics and hospital staff. Even the crazy woman that took Jem on a date! Seven that I can think of the top of my head. This gives me hope, maybe a little at least, could this be the beginning of a series?

The weather was another big character in this book, as was the setting. It seemed to rain constantly in this story! It served the mood of the story very well. Ms Hunter’s descriptions are spot on and left me feeling cold and soaked as if I had been in the rain with the characters. The scene involving the main crime was fantastic. The river, the water rising, the patient’s condition and what Jem went through...felt like I was there throughout that difficult situation. My only regret is not knowing my way through England. The author’s ability to concisely narrate locations will be thrilling to people familiar with the addresses and towns mentioned. Maybe I’ll buy a map for the next one.

The crime itself was embedded throughout the entire book but I felt this one was more character and less crime driven than her other books (such as ‘No Good Reason’), where the crime is the main story. Officially, ‘Breathe’ (brilliant tittle by the way) is in the action/adventure and romance category versus crime/mystery. For the hardcore mystery readers this may be a little disappointing. However, that is not me so I thoroughly enjoyed it!

My only negative comment would be the reason for the mains’ conflict. I do not want to give anything away but I felt the reason being on the silly side. But since Jem is such a Gem, I forgave her.

My two cents on the cover, loved it. The design by Jeanine Henning is great. Colors and font are spot on. The waves in the center of the cover remind me more of an EKG than a capnograph but cryptic enough to have caught my attention.

Overall another great story by Cari Hunter. 4.5 stars

ARC generously provided to me by BSB via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Cari Hunter’s most recent novel is a breath of fresh air. (couldn’t resist).

Hunter’s distinctive story-telling made Breathe a pleasant break from the some of the more improbable plot devices and characters I tend to run across in lesfic. There’s a wonderful sense of realism to this book that makes you feel like the author has plunked you smack-dab in the middle of a city in northern England. Hunter sets the and tone and atmosphere from the start with the use of local vernacular in the dialogue and narrative that puts you into the thick of things – you may find yourself inadvertently adding some of the idioms to your own vocabulary (but don’t because without the proper accent you’ll sound like a scrote).

I’ve been struggling at trying to categorize this book as there’s a bit of mystery, a bit of suspense, a bit of action, a bit of humour and a bit of romance. The elements of the mystery and suspense are woven neatly into the overall story as seemingly disparate incidents and characters expand the scope and gravity of the investigation. It’s a nicely balanced blend that allows the characters of Jem and Rosie to stand out and makes this a thoroughly enjoyable read.

Jemima Pardon is a paramedic who, if not for bad luck, would have no luck. She’s resolved to the fact that no one wants to partner with her – either on the job or romantically. Enter Rosie Jones, a funny and confident police officer, who doesn’t seem to mind Jem’s spate of bad luck. From their first meeting, there’s a tangible connection between the Jem and Rosie – they share an irreverent sense of humour as well a serious sense of responsibility as first responders. This connection grows as they cross paths again at a crime scene where a young teen is found beaten and bleeding out in the woods and in the resulting investigation into his death. The characters and their relationship build naturally as the story progresses. They both come alive on the page and you’d be hard-pressed to not get invested in them – either as individuals or as a potential couple.

It is obvious that Hunter herself is a paramedic and the level of authenticity that she gives to the story is impressive – she evokes all the frustration, anger, ridiculousness, sadness, joy and satisfaction through her characters and the situations they find themselves in. She immerses the reader into the action so that you feel you are right there, experiencing all the sights, smells, sounds and gives the book a level of gritty authenticity.

For one reason or another, I had taken a break from reading lesfic while Hunter put out several books so I missed them when they first came out. Based on how much I enjoyed Breathe, I’ll be digging through her back catalogue to get caught up.

Definitely Recommended

Breathe will be released in September 2019.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this one.

Breathless.

That is what you will be feeling several times throughout this book as Jem and Rosie find themselves in intense scenarios time and again. Jem is an asthmatic paramedic. Rosie is a hairdressing police officer. They meet when called to the same scene early on.

This book is well written, has great characters, and delivers excitement through suspenseful situations. I loved the dialogue between everyone. Rosie was swoon worthy. Jem was sweet and a bit misguided. Both were flawed women navigating their lives.

Very slow burn. In fact, the romance aspect is not exactly front and center. The ongoing investigation into a kid's death is the driving story line. Which is OK. It felt extremely well balanced and natural. I am primarily a romance reader and sometimes can get bored while reading things happening outside of the budding love between main characters. With this one, I was truly engrossed.. It didn't just keep my attention, it demanded it.

Not sure if this will be the beginning of another series. I felt like we didn't have much closure/resolution from Jem and Rosie's families. They were kind of there for creating backstory and I was surprised they didn't feature in the epilogue at all. But that is just being super nit picky.

Oh, and this full on contains Brit speak. Biccies, wellies, brew, meat pie, boots, blokes, bloody hell, mates, taking the piss, kerbs, bollocks, pillock, lads, tyres, arse, cheeky git, sod off, knob, butty, hallo, right-o, hen, a fiver, copper, cock of your fringe, footy, mam, mum, sozzled, rabble, bugger, aye, etc. I need a translator for some of it.

I recommend this to people who like to read good books, paramedics, police officers, detectives, doctors, rock climbing, runaways, potential romance, action, suspense, investigations, and twix straws.

<i>I received an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.</i>

I have a problem... See, now that I've managed to inhale (Breathe... Inhale... see what I did there?) this book, now I have zero new Cari Hunter books available to read on my Kindle all over again! I really honestly wanted to pace myself and savor this read, but that lasted all of 24 hours once this book started mocking me on my Kindle.

If you haven't picked up one of Hunter's novels yet, you must be living under a rock. Hunter has quickly become my favorite mystery / suspense author and no matter what she writes, I will pick up her books immediately. For that matter, I'll likely also pick up the audio version to re-'read' the book once that comes out too! Look - Hunter is just one of the best in the genre and you need to stop and pick one of her novels up now if you haven't already.

In fact, if you're just not a mystery reader, this is the perfect book to get your toes wet. Breathe isn't too heavy on the violence or suspense, which is actually rare for Hunter. It's definitely got a wonderful element of mystery to it, but this book has the feel of a romance more than any of her previous works - and it's perfect for the characters. I thought Meg and Sanne from the Dark Peak series were going to be my favorite lesfic couple for years to come, but MCs Jem and Rosie come in a very close second! They're adorable together, very believable, and the situations they get themselves into are quite hilarious!

I do have to admit though, my stupid American brain had a bit of trouble getting into this one at the outset because Hunter holds no punches and doesn't dumb down the English slang whatsoever. While I love that, it also took some getting used to in the first few chapters. I found myself not really knowing the characters yet, so I was wondering whether a phrase coated with slang was meant to be humorous or not. It did take a bit for me to get used to, but all of a sudden, I realized that I was REALLY into this book and wish the percentage points would stop getting closer and closer to 100%!

Do yourself a favor and pick this one up, even if you're not a real mystery fan. The mystery is wonderfully written, yet also tame enough that even those of you who are diehard romance readers will still like this book. 4.25 stars.

**Many thanks to Bold Strokes for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.**

Why have I never read Cari Hunter’s books before? How did I miss them?

Jemima – Jem – Pardon is a Manchester paramedic with severe asthma and what she sees as the worst luck, both in her personal life and in her work, as the cases she’s sent to often turn out to be more serious than announced. I’m pretty sure these people are actually lucky she’s the one sent to take care of them but I’m not the one she needs to hear this from. On a rainy night (there’s a lot of rain in this story), she meets Rosie Jones, a police officer whose outlook on life is a lot more optimistic than hers. They meet again on another case, the death of a teenager and that’s when it all really starts.

First of all, I love that Hunter stuck to English English rather than some universal English (thank you Bold Strokes Books for letting it be), it gives the story a different flavor and tone. The atmosphere building was excellent. Reading is also a way of traveling and I love it when I get the feeling that I’m really « there ».

I don’t usually need to check the meaning of words and it was a little fastidious but totally worth it. The meaning was usually obvious in context so don’t let that stop you from reading. I just like to learn stuff on the way, from time to time. That’s how my mother taught me to read in English when I was a teenager: most of the time, you don’t need a dictionary, since if you keep stopping to check words, it gets boring really fast. Either the word is a common one and will come back later in the story and the context will make it understandable, or it’s not a common word and you probably won’t ever really need it.

Anyway. The whole plot around missing teens was well thought and intriguing, the action scenes were breathtaking (Jem is not the only one who needs to remember to breathe, at times). Yet what I enjoyed most was the characters. I enjoyed meeting Rosie and Jem most of all, and laughed out loud more than once at their dialogues, but I also liked Harriet, Ferg, Jem’s dad (I wish there had been more about her mum) and both women’s colleagues, and enjoyed disliking Steph.

There’s also something about the way Breathe is written that makes it very visual, I kept feeling like I was watching TV, or a movie. What it reminded most of, in its atmosphere, is Collateral, with Carey Mulligan.

It’s not always easy to explain why you like a book, what makes you give it five stars. Some books I love because they make me feel warm and cozy, others because they make me happy, others (especially adventure, sci-fi or fantasy) because they bring this excited energy I associate with childhood, this feeling of sheer freedom. Others, and this one falls into this category, because they make me feel my brain working, the cogs turning. In other words, they make me feel alive.

Cari Hunter wrote on her blog about Jemima Pardon graduating from a joke to a full-blown story and am I glad she did.

I received a free copy from the publisher for an honest review.