Can't Hardly Breathe

Can't Hardly Breathe is about a girl in a small town that grew up surrounded by bullies and in need of human kindness.  This story takes place in a small town in Oklahoma but it could be anywhere.  There is still gossip and everyone knows each other's business just like how I imagined a small town to be.

I really loved this book.  My emotions were all over the place.  For me, Dorothea was written perfectly.  We were given a brief glimpse in to her high school years, which was plagued with bullies, that gave us the reason why she grew into the person she is today. I love the fact that she never gave up on believing in people.  She has inner strength that I'm not sure that she even knew she had.

Daniel was Dorothea's crush in high school.  He never knew what kind of impact he made on her life until years later.  He had his own hurdles that he had to get through and I liked that because you never know how someone else handles what has gone on in their life. And everyone handles everything differently.  Daniel really cares about his dad, Virgil, and wants him to live a long life and will sacrifice his own happiness to make sure that happens.

Dorothea's best friends Lyndie and Ryanne are amazing friends.  They aren't perfect and they have life issues of their own but they come together to help each other.  They are a great shoulders to lean on. Dorothea's family on the other hand is somewhat missing in action or the enemy.  Holly, Dorothea's sister, is selfish and still has some emotional growing to do.  She has her own reasons for acting the way she does but that doesn't excuse some of her behavior. And her mother seems to just be going through the motions of life and doesn't seem to be there for either of her children in the beginning.

Daniel also has great best friends and business partners in Brock and Jude. They went through a lot together in the service and they are really the only ones that understand what each of them have gone through.  I also loved Daniel's dad, Virgil.  And it is apparent that Virgil loves his son.  Virgil also has some great one liners that make you laugh out loud and also make you think.

I really couldn't get enough of this book.  It touched my heart.  Dorothea and Daniel have great chemistry together and I loved the strength that both of them had to show.  And I also loved the fact that this book illustrates that words matter, especially in kindness. And that life does go on after high school.

I love this author and this series! So sexy and fun. Great characters and story. Just wonderful!

Can't Hardly Breathe was such a fun book for me! I've been in a bit of a reading slump so I decided to pick up  this book. I'm a sucker for romance novels, even the cheesy ones. This book was far from cheesy. I loved every minute of it. 

The book starts out sharing a glimpse into Dorothea (don't call her Dottie!) and Daniel's past. Beginning the story the way she did, I think Gena Showalter set the tone for the rest of the book very well. Dorothea is tough as nails but because of things in her past, she has convinced herself otherwise. Her self-esteem is lower than lower as we meet the present Dorothea. It's very easy to relate to and sympathize with her. Who hasn't had  a moment of feeling like they weren't worthy? 

One of my favorite things about this book is that Dorothea doesn't just think she's not the traditional standard of beautiful, she really isn't. Every guy in town isn't falling all over themselves for her attention. Well, not at first, anyway. She's beautiful to Daniel. He sees her in a way that the other characters in the book don't and while it thrills Dorothea, it scares her too. Throughout the book her confidence and self-worth grows as she grows as a person. She finally breaks out of the shell she's been living in and makes an effort to live in the real world, even when it's hard and scary. 
 
The characters are fleshed out well. Most of the focus is on Dorothea and Daniel but you do get a glimpse into the personalities of the other characters and what makes them tick. It's a really good set up for the rest of the series. You learn just enough about them to keep you interested. 

I highly recommend this book. I couldn't put it down until I was finished! Gena Showalter has been added to my favorite authors list and I cannot wait to read the rest of this series! (Especially Brock, he was one of my favorite characters!)

Can’t Hardly Breathe is an uproariously funny, insightful and sexy romance with a lot of heart. Dorothea Mathis was bullied as a teenager in Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, and her heart was unintentionally shattered by her longtime crush, Daniel Porter. After moving away to attend college, she’s back in Strawberry Valley, divorced and managing her family’s inn. Daniel is also back in town after spending years in the Army, but he’s struggling to adapt to civilian life and plagued with troubling memories of war. 

Daniel and Dorothea see each other again and sparks fly. She’s hesitant to get involved with him, but neither can deny their palpable sexual chemistry. He seeks to tempt her by throwing her off kilter at every opportunity, and he is utterly charming in his pursuit. They share flirty banter and have a dynamic repartee, and their delightful push and pull slowly draws them together. But both are dealing with personal demons that threaten their growing feelings. I fell in love with Dorothea’s sass and resilience and Daniel’s charisma and complexity, and I found myself rooting for their happily-ever-after. Gena Showalter’s Can’t Hardly Breathe is an outstanding small town romance with memorable characters and an engaging story that should not be missed.  
USA Today's Happy Ever After

For all the survivors of spiteful bullies and heartbreakingly cruel jokes.  To every person with a beautiful heart, but a tortured soul. For every hero in disguise looking for salvation.  Ms. Showalter wrote Can't Hardly Breathe for you.  Dorothea is the girl that longed to fit in, but never quite managed to do so.  Daniel is the boy that is beautiful both inside and out, yet has never felt good enough.  Gena Showalter is good at stirring up emotion.  It's inspirational tales of courage like this one that keep her name on people's lips and her stories in their hearts. Ugliness is a state of mind, not a physical trait.