Review: I loved Every Breath
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 08 11, 2013
"Sometimes, it takes someone just as broken as you are to heal you.Sometimes, it takes someone else to show you that you won't heal until every breath you take is for you, not anyone else. The scars may not ever fade, but the heart can be put back together piece by piece, if you have the right person for the job."5 stars. I loved this book and I loved these characters.Two years after losing her fiancé Shane in a tragic accident, second grade teacher, Makenna Madison, is coasting through life by putting on a happy facade. In reality she is broken. She still harbors pain and guilt from the death of her fiancé. Her best friend Callie, encourages her to explore a relationship with Drew, the new coach and ex-nfl player. Drew is handsome, attentive, sweet, and truly patient with her. Even after months of dating the two haven't so much as kissed. Makenna wants to try to move on but her heart is not fully into it."I like being with Drew, but I'm not sure that he'll ever fully have my heart. Simply because I don't have the pieces."Every year Makenna's class adopts a solider and this is when she begins to interact with Sawyer Harris, a soldier stationed in Afghanistan. When Sawyer first writes to the class and her, you could tell how sad and lonely he was. Sawyer is a truly sweet guy but he's just as lonely and broken as Makenna. Through emails and video chats the two begin to develop a friendship. You can see easily see the connection between the two, all of the honesty and vulnerability that she can't fully give Drew; Makenna is able to give to Sawyer. As friendship with Sawyer develops, her relationship with Drew begins to get more serious. She really tries to move forward partly because she thinks its time and her best friend convinces her this might be best for her but Drew isn't exactly who he appears to be.After Sawyer and Mak officially meet the story takes on an interesting new twist. There were definitely some angsty moments and heartbreaking ones; hearing Makenna speak of the accident truly made me cry but there were also some amazingly sweet and happy moments like when Mak and Sawyer meet face to face. Makenna was a great character and I think Tasha wrote her well. She was broken and hurt but she was also a strong willed, sweet person. She always knew what was right for her but at times she did try a protect other people's feelings. Sawyer, sigh, what can I say about Sawyer, he was sweet, sexy, caring and he can sing. He does have a secret but all in all his a great guy.I loved this story and I loved the writing. Mak and Sawyer were loveable characters as well as William, Dalton, and even Shane. Tasha did such a great job creating this story.My favorites quotes were:"He doesn't have to be completely gone from my heart in order to go forward with my life. He'll always be part of me, and he'll forever be my first love.""My treasure. My heart. My soul. My love. That's what I said to you, and I mean every single word. And now I'm going to prove it.""I guess that's what real love is all about. It's unconditional, and it changes every single thing you ever thought you knew about yourself and life, in general.""You gave me hope that I would find that feeling of being complete - the feeling I've been searching for my entire life. I didn't realize it for a long time, but you are the final piece of that puzzle. You make me complete."