Monday, July 8, 2013

Just Breathe by Rachel Brooks Review and Interview!

A few weeks ago when I was on vacation I got a lovely email from Rachel asking if I would be interested in reading and reviewing her debut novel Just Breathe. I was already excited for this book just from adding it on Goodreads and reading the little teasers that she would post here and there so of course I said yes!! Oh, wow, was I in for a ride :)

Synopsis
Title: Just Breathe
Author: Rachel Brookes
Release Date: 5th July 2013
Genre: New Adult

For Savannah Rae, living life without her parents was unimaginable. But being blamed for her first love’s suicide? That destroyed every part of who she was. 

Gone were the days of innocence, happiness, and dreams. Now her days simply meant attempting to survive. In her mind, her only means for that was replacing her grief with men, booze and the fast life. And for five years, it worked.

When an opportunity to leave the nightmares of her past in Australia opens up, she takes it. Los Angeles beckons - with hopes of late nights, new beginnings, and the promise of a string of endless men to distract her, she can’t wait to dive in.

One thing she didn’t count on was meeting her match.

In the eyes of outsiders, Tate Connors has it all; the ultimate LA bachelor who is content with his lifestyle of wild nights, women and one night stands. He's Mr. Unpredictable with looks that could destroy any woman with one glance.

The craziness of Los Angeles throws them into the chaotic path of each other. Savannah becomes the perfect game, and Tate becomes the ultimate prey. Lines are crossed, emotions are smashed, and the idea of who they truly are begins to be tangled.

However, one thing will become clear.
They are more alike than either one could ever have imagined.

My Review

Okay, let me start by saying that this book sucked me right in. I loved Sav. So often the female characters annoy me. I hate their reactions to their alpha man, but Rachel did a great job at staying true to character with Sav, and I am a sucker for a strong female lead.

I loved the relationships in this book because they were so true to life and believable. They interacted as I would interact with my friends and I loved that. 

And Tate. What can one say about Tate? Hmmmm. Yummy yummy. I loved LOVED Tate. He was just so, man. 

My favorite part was that their pasts played a huge role in the story and I thought that Rachel did an excellent job at using that to its full potential. 

You really need to read it to understand and let me tell you, you wont regret it. So go 1-click and get started immediately. This is one you don't want to miss!

A little about Rachel:


Rachel Brookes is from a coastal town on the east coast of Australia where beaches, kangaroos and surfers roam free. She writes angst ridden love stories with a pinch of craziness, a dash of drama, a cup of romance, a spoonful of sexiness and the main ingredient hot guys. Rachel sometimes forgets to eat, sometimes forgets to sleep and sometimes can’t remember the last time she cleaned her apartment but that’s because she is in a long term relationship with her laptop and they are constantly writing together.  When she does step away from her laptop she can be found taking too many photos, making scrumptious cocktails, laughing at Adam Sandler movies and spending her time with her amazing family and friends. With her first novel, Just Breathe, due to be released in July 2013, her dream of releasing a book will become reality. With another three books already taking up her mind, she cannot wait to start this crazy ride. 


Amazon Links:

Here is the mini interview that I got the opportunity to do with her:

The characters pasts plays a huge role in this story. How did you come up with the storyline? 

The story just hit me one day. It is influenced by some real life events but majority is a creation of my imagination. I wanted a story that showed that life is an emotional rollercoaster and sometimes things happen to the best people that make you question everything. Life is about sink or swim moments. The meaning of the story is to show people that even when life isn’t going to plan, you’ve still got to have hope that things will get better if you give it a chance and that’s how Just Breathe came about. I hope that’s what readers get out of it.
What was your favorite scene to write?

I loved writing the Santa Monica pier scene. I think that was the moment in the story where we really got to see a part of Tate that had been kept hidden, an emotion and vulnerability of a guy so desperate to impress a girl. Another scene that I loved writing was the scene at the bar with the argument over cocktails Tate was going to serve to Savannah. I loved that is showed Savannah’s quick wit and sass, they are my favourite characteristics of Sav.

What was the hardest for you to write?

I think the hardest to write were the scenes where Tate and Sav spoke of their pasts. It was so pivotal for the story so I concentrated super hard on them to make sure they came across realistic. It was the moment where their pasts met their present and would ultimate affect their futures. I hope I did it justice.

Was it tough writing the novel being based in America?

Google literally became my new best friend and I have a great critique partner in the states who helped me along the way. It was tough because there are so many similarities between Australia and the US but so so so many differences. I always knew it had to be set in America though as it added an extra layer to the story; the thought of a broken girl being thrown into the unknown of a new country would make her either sink or swim and would show her true character. It was fun being Australian and American at the same time though.  

What is your favorite thing about Tate?

He is cocky and egotistical but then he shows softness towards Tanzi and protectiveness towards Sav. Its roll a dice with Tate, you just never know what you are going to get.  

Thank you so much Rachel for allowing me to read and review your book. You are truly talented and I cant wait to read whatever is next!








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