Title: Just Breathe
Author: Tamara Mataya
Pages: 207
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Source: AToMR
Goodreads: HERE
Summary: Twenty-one-year-old Elle Granger’s boyfriend broke up with her like a coward. He moved to another city without so much as a kiss goodbye. Devastated and embarrassed, Elle told her friends the break-up was mutual and hid her heartache working long hours at the library. By night, she self medicated with pot. Weeks later, with her heart and lungs screaming for a break, Elle quits smoking and turns to her friends. But before she can let them in on Jason’s betrayal, her best friend moves to Spain, and her roommates start acting strangely.
Enter sexy library patron Dominic, who sweeps Elle off her feet and into his Maserati. He makes her feel oh so good, and puts effort into coming up with dates that don’t set off her Synaesthesia. Just when Elle starts feeling whole again, Jason returns, determined to reunite. Elle rejects his effusive apologies and reasons for leaving – until she catches Dominic in a devastating lie.
Will his betrayal push her back into her suddenly attentive ex’s arms? Can she trust Jason not to break her heart again? The wrong choice and Elle’s happy ending could go up in smoke. But when your only choices are the devils you know, all you can do is JUST BREATHE.
Author: Tamara Mataya
Pages: 207
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Source: AToMR
Goodreads: HERE
Summary: Twenty-one-year-old Elle Granger’s boyfriend broke up with her like a coward. He moved to another city without so much as a kiss goodbye. Devastated and embarrassed, Elle told her friends the break-up was mutual and hid her heartache working long hours at the library. By night, she self medicated with pot. Weeks later, with her heart and lungs screaming for a break, Elle quits smoking and turns to her friends. But before she can let them in on Jason’s betrayal, her best friend moves to Spain, and her roommates start acting strangely.
Enter sexy library patron Dominic, who sweeps Elle off her feet and into his Maserati. He makes her feel oh so good, and puts effort into coming up with dates that don’t set off her Synaesthesia. Just when Elle starts feeling whole again, Jason returns, determined to reunite. Elle rejects his effusive apologies and reasons for leaving – until she catches Dominic in a devastating lie.
Will his betrayal push her back into her suddenly attentive ex’s arms? Can she trust Jason not to break her heart again? The wrong choice and Elle’s happy ending could go up in smoke. But when your only choices are the devils you know, all you can do is JUST BREATHE.
Flirty Review: THREE LIP BITES
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There are books that come along and just don't gel with me. Just Breathe was one of them. It wasn't a bad book but I couldn't connect with any of the characters like I wanted too. I found myself not loving what I was reading and skimming sections of nonsensical writing. The one thing I don't really love about summaries is that authors sometimes tend to tell the whole story and you have a pretty safe assumption how the book will end. Just Breathe was one of those books with that kind of summary. I didn't go into the book thinking that I was really going to read anything different.
I don't really have to go into what the book is about since all you have to do is read the summary.
Some things off the bat made me scratch my head. For instance why would just assume that Jason not coming back from his business trip was because he dumped her. She didn't try too hard to reach him. He could have been dead in a ditch for all she knew. But cleverly a while later his old roommate told her he actually moved and not, you know, died. Still Elle did nothing about it. I would be calling this jerk looking for an explanation because he made her look like an idiot.
I'm also for writing what you know, but not so much so that the character seems to be the author. Elle's character is picturesque, tall, and funnily resembled the author of the book. Including having a disorder called Synaesthesia. Her character turned into a very Mary Sue type of character that I just couldn't relate to at all.
Another problem I had was that the setting of the book was very vague. The author used British/Canadian spelling of certain words and I learned that the author was indeed Canadian but the book wasn't clear on where it was set at the beginning. It wasn't a big problem but one that still left me scratching my head again.
Finally, the author made a very clear dig at Fifty Shades of Grey. *eye roll* Come on, really? We know already by all the authors and books named dropped in Just Breathe that Elle is a book snob but why is it necessary to steep to the level to bash another book? *shakes head*
Some bright points Dominic was yummy and Marie was a hoot to read. The writing style was great and editing was good.
This book doesn't break the mold, but it's a nice read. With the things I found I couldn't relate to, there were other things that I really did like. Mataya can write sexual tension very well and I think that Dominic and Elle's relationship well done.
I don't really have to go into what the book is about since all you have to do is read the summary.
Some things off the bat made me scratch my head. For instance why would just assume that Jason not coming back from his business trip was because he dumped her. She didn't try too hard to reach him. He could have been dead in a ditch for all she knew. But cleverly a while later his old roommate told her he actually moved and not, you know, died. Still Elle did nothing about it. I would be calling this jerk looking for an explanation because he made her look like an idiot.
I'm also for writing what you know, but not so much so that the character seems to be the author. Elle's character is picturesque, tall, and funnily resembled the author of the book. Including having a disorder called Synaesthesia. Her character turned into a very Mary Sue type of character that I just couldn't relate to at all.
Another problem I had was that the setting of the book was very vague. The author used British/Canadian spelling of certain words and I learned that the author was indeed Canadian but the book wasn't clear on where it was set at the beginning. It wasn't a big problem but one that still left me scratching my head again.
Finally, the author made a very clear dig at Fifty Shades of Grey. *eye roll* Come on, really? We know already by all the authors and books named dropped in Just Breathe that Elle is a book snob but why is it necessary to steep to the level to bash another book? *shakes head*
Some bright points Dominic was yummy and Marie was a hoot to read. The writing style was great and editing was good.
This book doesn't break the mold, but it's a nice read. With the things I found I couldn't relate to, there were other things that I really did like. Mataya can write sexual tension very well and I think that Dominic and Elle's relationship well done.
Buy Just Breathe
About The Author
Tamara Mataya is currently a librarian; she lurked there for so long recommending books to patrons and shushing people, that she suspects they only hired her so it would be less creepy. Now she’s armed with a name tag, and a thin veneer of credibility. She’s also a musician with synaesthesia – which isn't an issue until someone plays a wrong note, which makes her want to squirm inside out. It makes for a good live show.
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