I was fortunate enough to read an early copy of Michelle Hazen's Breath the Sky and it's not to be missed. Set in the Mojave Desert, this book follows the unlikely friendship between Jack and Mari as it moves towards something more intimate, even as both are working to overcome a history of abuse. The dynamics between the gruff Jack and sweet, brownie-making Mari are fantastic, especially as Jack slowly comes out from behind the wall he's built around himself. 5 stars!

Ya'll the absolute cuteness, the shy, awkward, struggles of these two lovebirds....I could barely stand it!

Gruff, secretly sweet man + reserved, intelligent woman / (working through past trauma) x (genuine respect) = the most adorably heartwarming love story I've read in ages.

I'd literally been tweeting about wanting to read something with a gruff, grumpy love interest who was secretly a huge softy, and Breathe The Sky delivered! Jack is the actual grumpiest and he seems to get grumpier, the more he's trying to cover up being a good person.

And our girl, Mari. This sweet, quietly strong woman who's been through hell and back. She sees right through Jack's facade, understanding him in a way that no one else does. It's almost like they speak the same language. <3

There's something really amazing about the way Hazen crafts her characters. It's so much more than beautiful people with a lot of chemistry. Her characters *feel* real. They have so much depth - fear and pain and hope and plans...and the way they fit together is MAGIC.

But you know what the very best part of Hazen's books are? That the women fix themselves. Their men support and love them, but it's the women who choose to face their trauma head-on and take their power back. It's so empowering!

Honorable Mentions:
- Desert sex with very large...um...cacti. *wink*
- A look into a fascinating career/lifestyle that is completely foreign to me -- working on desert build sites.
- Overcoming past domestic violence trauma to find love and happiness.**

**I do think it's important to note that said violence never takes place on the page. This is a story about battling (and overcoming) your demons, not living them.