From New York Times Bestselling author Gena Showalter, comes the next standalone romance in the Original Heartbreakers Series—CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE!
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CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE Synopsis:
New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with an irresistible Original Heartbreakers story about a woman who’s never felt desired and the man who wants her more than air to breathe…
Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis’s past is full of memories she’d rather forget. But there’s one she can’t seem to shake—her longstanding crush on former Army Ranger Daniel Porter. Now that the sexy bad boy has started using her inn as his personal playground, she should kick him out…but his every heated glance makes her want to join him instead.
Daniel returned to Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma to care for his ailing father and burn off a little steam with no strings attached. Though he craves the curvy Dorothea night and day, he’s as marred by his past as she is by hers. The more he desires her, the more he fears losing her.
But every sizzling encounter leaves him desperate for more, and soon Daniel must make a choice: take a chance on love or walk away forever.
Preorder CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE here!
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My Review:
Can’t Hardly Breathe was a lovely endearing story of two vastly different people falling for one another. Though it certainly had its cheesy moments, the overall story was utterly sweet and enjoyable.
Can’t Hardly Breathe follows the two perspectives of Dorothea and Daniel, two people who knew each other in high school briefly but rarely crossed paths, only enough for Dorothea to fantasize about him. Now years later, Daniel happens to be a regular guest at her family inn. Dorothea of course is still infatuated with him, but is hesitant to mix with the big time playboy. Daniel seems to be unexpectedly taken with her however, and they soon find themselves playing a game of cat and mouse as they each try to deny their growing feelings for one another.
This book was steamy to say the least, it was full of great banter and beautiful romantic moments. There was definitely a tug of war going on between the main characters that got super frustrating at times. I could see each perspective of the argument, but I also disagreed with multiple points as well. I think that if anything, this book proved that love is worth fighting for no matter the cost. Sappy I know.
All of the characters in this book were varied and I appreciated seeing the aspects of the impact that being in the military can have. I liked seeing how Daniel’s personality meshed with Dorothea’s, they both were exactly what the other needed. They instilled confidence and trust in one another, making the other a better person overall. The story showed the ups and downs of any relationship and proved that real outshines any disagreement.
If you’re looking for a good romance to get your heart pounding, then I would definitely recommend Can’t Hardly Breathe!
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Excerpt:
Hands trembling, she hooked the vacuum to the cart and rolled the cargo to the supply room…where her
younger sister Holly was smoking a cigarette.
Coughing, Dorothea claimed the cigarette and stubbed the tip into an ashtray.
“Hey!” Eighteen-year- old Holly glared at her. “I wasn’t done.”
“You mean you weren’t done giving our guests lung cancer and stinking up the inn?”
“Exactly.” Ever the smart aleck, Holly tossed a piece of gum in her mouth and popped a bubble in
Dorothea’s face. “Besides, we don’t really have guests, now, do we? Since you took over, only four people
have stayed here. Mayor Trueman and his side slice, and Daniel Porter and whatever bimbo he happens to be
banging.”
Not true! A few months ago, Dorothea had hired Harlow Glass, and everyone in town had rented a room to
witness the former bully’s downfall.
Good times.
Dorothea hadn’t wanted to like Harlow, but dang it, something bad had happened to the girl in the years since
high school, and she’d changed. More than that, Harlow had done everything in her power to make amends,
and eventually Dorothea had warmed up to her.
Now the beautiful brunette was married to reformed playboy Beck Ockley. The happy couple were
expecting their first child in a few months.
A razor-sharp pang cut through Dorothea. Won’t think about my own—
Nope. Slam the breaks.
To ward off the oncoming pity party, she drew in a deep breath…slowly released it… Good, that was good.
She focused on her sister. Holly had pinned back the sides of her jet-black hair, the remaining locks
tumbling all the way to the metal links anchored around her biceps. She’d paired a crimson corset top—her
first pop of color in months—with a ruffled black skirt, ripped fishnet stockings and combat boots caked with
mud Dorothea would have to clean from the floors.
In a town as small as Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, Holly was a legend. Unique.
“My inn, my rules,” Dorothea said. “No smoking. Ever.” Besides, she suspected the teenager only ever lit
up to aggravate her. Not once had Dorothea witnessed an actual puff.
“You’re worse than a Mogwai that’s been fed after midnight.”
A Gremlins reference? Seriously?
“No wonder Jazz left you,” her sister added.
Air hissed between her teeth. Holly might hate her guts, but the teenager loved to insult her, and this barb
hit harder than most.
Rather than waiting for love, as Dorothea had dreamed, she’d settled for companionship, marrying the first guy
to pay attention to her. Worse, she’d believed his words rather than his actions. I adore you and only want
what’s best for you…for us.
Gena Showalter’s CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE – Review & Excerpt Tour Schedule:
August 21st
Fictional Rendezvous Book Blog – Excerpt
Obsessed by books – Review
once upon a romance blog – Review
Scandalous Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
The Book Maven – Review & Excerpt
August 22nd
Alpha Book Club – Review
Beware Of The Reader – Review & Excerpt
Evermore Books – Review & Excerpt
Melena`s Reviews – Review & Excerpt
The Romance Rebels – Review & Excerpt
August 23rd
Booknerd1107 – Review
East Coast Book Chicks – Review & Excerpt
Reads & Reviews – Review
Sweet Red Reads – Review & Excerpt
Under The Covers Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
August 24th
Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm – Review & Excerpt
Rainy Days and Pajamas – Excerpt
Read. Eat. Love. – Review & Excerpt
Reese’s Reviews – Review & Excerpt
Shannonbookishlife – Review & Excerpt
August 25th
A geordielass honest blog on reviews – Review
Never without a book in hand – Review & Excerpt
Reading Between the Wines Book Club – Excerpt
Reads All the Books – Review & Excerpt
August 26th
Brittany’s Book Blog – Excerpt
Kayns Book – Review
Ramblings From This Chick – Excerpt
The Lovely Books – Review & Excerpt
With Love for Books – Review & Excerpt
August 27th
From the TBR Pile – Review & Excerpt
Kdrbck – Review & Excerpt
Living in Our Own Story – Review
Nessa’s Book Reviews – Excerpt
August 28th
Book Angel Booktopia – Review & Excerpt
My Nook, Books & More – Excerpt
Read-Love-Blog – Review
The Book Reading Gals – Review & Excerpt
August 30th
As The Book Ends – Review & Excerpt
Nerdy Dirty and Flirty – Review & Excerpt
Red Cheeks Reads – Review & Excerpt
Smut Book Junkie Reviews – Review & Excerpt
August 31st
Embrace the Romance – Review & Excerpt
Milky Way of Books – Review & Excerpt
Once Upon a Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Straight Shootin’ Book Reviews – Review
Two Girls with Books – Review
September 1st
BJ’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Books and Things Blog – Review & Excerpt
Foxylutely Books – Review & Excerpt
Somewhere Lost in Books – Review & Excerpt
September 2nd
A Fortress of Books – Excerpt
Nicole’s Book Musings – Excerpt
The bookworms obsession – Review
What Is That Book About – Excerpt
September 3rd
a crazy vermonters book reviews – Review
Bad boys and bedtime stories book blog – Review & Excerpt
Bloggin’ With M. Brennan – Review
Francoise’s Reading Corner – Review & Excerpt
Susan’s Books I Like – Excerpt
September 4th
All Things Dark & Dirty – Review & Excerpt
Lover of Big Books Cannot Lie – Review & Excerpt
Rantings of a Reading Addict – Review & Excerpt
September 5th
Escape Inside the Pages – Review & Excerpt
Reading Escape Reviews – Review
Taylor Fenner’s Bookish World – Review & Excerpt
The Sassy Bookster – Excerpt
September 6th
Romancing the Readers – Review
Travels N Reads – Review & Excerpt
Sassy Book Lovers – Review & Excerpt
September 7th
JOJO THE BOOKAHOLIC – Review & Excerpt
Lina’s Reviews: A Book Blog – Review
Sofia Loves Books – Review
Wrapped Up In Reading – Review & Excerpt
September 8th
Book Lovers Hangout – Review & Excerpt
Crazii Bitches Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
Dirty Girl Romance – Review
Stuck In Books – Excerpt
Shannon’s Book Blog – Review & Excerpt
September 9th
ContemporaryCween – Review & Excerpt
G & T’s Indie Café – Excerpt
Jax’s Book Magic – Excerpt
Ms. Me28 – Review & Excerpt
Relentless Romance – Review & Excerpt
About Gena Showalter:
Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the spellbinding Lords of the Underworld and Angels of the Dark series, two young adult series–Everlife and the White Rabbit Chronicles–and the highly addictive Original Heartbreakers series. In addition to being a National Reader’s Choice and two time RITA nominee, her romance novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan (Red Hot Read) and Seventeen magazine, she’s appeared on Nightline and been mentioned in Orange is the New Black–if you ask her about it, she’ll talk for hours…hours! Her books have been translated in multiple languages.
She’s hard at work on her next novel, a tale featuring an alpha male with a dark side and the strong woman who brings him to his knees. You can learn more about Gena, her menagerie of rescue dogs, and all her upcoming books at genashowalter.com or Facebook.com/genashowalterfans