Review: Sweet YA romance with some chills!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 05 18, 2013
*****3.5 stars*****Most days I can almost forget someone murdered my sister. I try to go through every day like a normal sixteen-year-old. I can eat breakfast, go to school, do homework, but then something will remind me that my family will never be the same. ~ Jasmine, Loc 40This was a sweet YA romance with the added bonus of the creepy suspense shrouding Jasmine's life. After her sister's gruesome murder and the failure by the police to catch the man who did it, she and her family were more than happy to move on and try to get beyond the fear and pain. I really liked Jasmine's family, from the twins who drove her batty to her understandably protective mother who loved her children dearly. They were a close-knit family that had endured a lot of suffering, and it was heartwarming to see. Jasmine was trying desperately to get away from the stares and pity she constantly dealt with in her hometown, but it was easier said than done.Easton was the southern gentleman in every sense, from the very start! From the moment he caught a fainting Jasmine, he had me sold with his perfect southern charm and tender-hearted thoughtfulness, and he was exactly what Jasmine needed in her life. The professions of "I love you" were a bit early on for my tastes, but I was just as smitten as Jasmine was when it came down to it! As they adjusted to life in the south, she and her family seemed to finally find happiness surrounded by good people and new opportunities. Jas was moving on and getting back to the life of a teenager, so when it seemed like her ghosts had followed her to the new town, she was shaken but optimistic. Of course, I kept thinking she'd have to be crazy to not think more of what was happening, but Jas always wrote it off as pranksters just like she had dealt with back in CA. Thankfully Easton was always there to be her support, and always more than willing to protect her at all costs, because Jas had vastly underestimated the level of danger she was in!Breathe was a charming story with characters that were easy to enjoy getting to know. There were some moments that were a bit far-fetched and unrealistic for the purposes of dramatic flair, but overall I think this was a great YA read. With a fairly tame plot, I think it best suits younger readers of the genre, but it has enough going on to keep the rest of us reading, too!