Photo credits: aatlas (pixabay)
Edited by Vaishali
Title: Barely Breathing (Colorado High County #1)
Author: Pamela Clare Genre/Themes: Contemporary Romance, Adult Fiction, Sports, Family Publisher: Self Published. Year of Publication: 2016. Format: E-book - kindle app. R E V I E W ...
‘Vic smiled. “So far Scarlet Springs is not at all what I imagined it would be.” Lexi had to know. “What did you expect?” “Going off what you’ve told me, I figured it was a tiny town where there’s nothing to do but wish you were someplace else.” Lexi couldn’t blame her for having that impression. “That’s pretty much how I felt about it for most of my life.” ‘She had two worlds, and they were worlds apart.’
Barely Breathing indeed. This exciting CR romance swiped multiple notes, scuffed many a syllable until I was barely breathing. A fantastic, refreshing reading experience! I caved and tumbled into grateful love when I flipped the first page on my tablet. Lexi was lucky enough to plant some roots in picturesque Scarlet Springs. Unfortunately, little me wasn’t fictional enough to warrant a stay so I had to take my inevitable leave when the story edged into its finale.
I felt a kinship to this story. To this backdrop. For these characters. To Clare’s writing. A spark. A connection. It’s something I’ve been missing from my reads in this madness that we brand 2020. It looks like Pamela Clare brought it back to life. Well, it looks like this year, though edging into the fringes of its own end, still has some glorious morsels of marvel to impart amid all the divisive distress and pandemonium. I want to fashion a ladder, inch my way up to the clouds, grab a handful of stars in the sky and sprinkle them all over this story.
The universe bestowed a hell of a lot of mercy on me by gifting me with this book during a time when I adamantly desired it, so I’m voluntarily going doing the same for this story because it deserves any praise I have to give! Harness on, gear in place, strapped and ready. Time to ascend this mountain…
Lexi Jewell, from small town to city, from city back to small town, she spent the best part of her childhood and teenage years hoping to take a one-way leave from her hometown. She did, but not without leaving heartache in her wake, in the heart of her high-school sweetheart Austin Taylor, and tucked deeply within herself as she fled to an adoptive city. 12 years later, when scandal hits her career through no fault of her own, she’s jobless and back in the beauty and bane of Scarlet Springs, Colorado - home of breathtaking scenic mountainscape, gossip through the sound wave-speed grapevine, good-willed locale, a community of climbers, rescuers and commitment-heavy residents…and memories she’d rather forget. Where has Pamela Clare been all my life? I know. Writing amazing stories for me to read. Stories I’m set on stockpiling if this read is anything to go by. Where to start! What to say. What to write! I’m both voiceless and bursting with inarticulate chatter. So many great places to start this complimentary appraisal because there are so many wonderful things to say about ‘Barely Breathing’. Truly, this is an imaginative, authentic, feel-good adventure of overhauling second chance love, rehabilitating bonds and domestic strife, while the art of rock climbing energetically claims the rock-hot limelight. T H E L A N D S C A P E / S E T T I N G
The fascinating universe of rock climbing affirms the magnum opus of this story; it’s bred into the culture and history of Scarlet Springs, and hence, we’re given a window into the vigorous, high-powered sport that is rock climbing - the teamwork, the dynamic discipline itself, the lingo. If I didn’t know it before, I do now. Clare excellently and meticulously lays out the fundamental scale of the climbing culture and the life saving incentive of the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue team - it’s mountainside recovery and rescue dangers and humanitarian spirit. I quickly amassed a real sense of appreciation for not the just the sport of rock climbing but for SAS service rescue.
You’re not only getting a warm romance to root for, but a well-researched backdrop that tours the scenic space of Scarlet Springs and its rescue service. Fascinating! Every subject that twists into this story is succinctly researched, attesting to an authentic, believable story. I take my hat of to you Ms. Clare! This story is a big nod to the brave dedication of non-profit SAS and their humane working mission.
I’m not the athletic type. Not at all. In fact, I failed miserably in any form of athletic dexterity, panting to my knees in any stamina-heavy sport, but I was truly fascinated just by reading about the sport itself. Dare I say, when i was done with the book, I might have possessed a desire to try my hand at it :D…(Um…yeah…we’ll see how well that thought manifests - athleticism and poor coordination is not an effective mix so I may have to sit this particular excursion out despite my best intention).
The scenic scape is an idyllic setting with refreshing landscape descriptions. I felt like I’d been living under a rock after reading this. Truth: I am, though not literally. I wanted to nestle myself amid the god-sized, white-capped mountains, devote an evening atop one of those elevations and vigilantly watch the breathtaking panorama before me, feeding my eyes with the gentle pigments of nature, then trek down come morning and soak in the tribe-like unity of the townsfolk who all care about this gorgeous town, it’s history and its good-willed people. Books should come with a mini transportation device. It’s only fair. C H A R A C T E R S
I embraced these characters. They were A M A Z I N G! This story is populated with a diverse set of them - starring and supporting. Every one had personality and belonged this story. Loved the committed ambiance of the townsfolk. The locale care about Scarlet Springs, but more than that they’ve got a sincere community spirit. There’s a real philanthropic commitment to each other that adopts the heart and soul of a small town. I loved the Rocky Mountain adventure squad :D…
Lexi and Austin are crowning leads for this story - They’re mature (yes, it’s a rare brand of character in romance so you better stab those plucky fingers and get your fill). They have real lives with real problems. They’re both protagonists with great qualities and even better character temperaments. Lexi is a superstar - she’s a true grafter in life. She works hard, always has, it’s just a shame she had to accept the inheritance of hard work in the place of love. Without proper role models, love and functional family, I’ve decided she’s pretty amazing. She’s a remarkable lady. AUSTIN. Oh, Austin. It was a blessing. A real B L E S S I N G to read about a passionate guy, a “rock jock”, a sexy, law-abiding park ranger with tender heart, confidence, who pacified my hero complex thanks to that conclusion. But most importantly, a male lead character opposed to one-night stands, who can maintain healthy, stable, monogamous relationships with women. We need to pop a cork readers because I think we’ve breached foreign land here. Kudos to you Pamela Clare - you already have my respect. He’s the whole package readers, a wonderful man. He cares about the mountain landscape - it’s habitation, organism culture, his professional responsibilities as a ranger. Austin, you rock. Pun intended. F I N A L T H O U G H T S
After Lexi’s mother died, grief split the Jewell family down the middle. Losing one parent to death and one to grief, Lexi scarpered from an absentee father and a town that no longer inhabited her mother, only to return to the carpet of egg-shells she has to walk on around her alcoholic father as she tries to rehabilitate him and mend his failing marriage.
12 years ago she was itching to ditch, now she can’t bring herself to leave. From humdrum to unexpectedly exciting, it takes a trip home to re-awaken love and worthwhile pursuit as she finds moving work in the landscape of a town that has never forgotten her. Good thing too, because the warm attraction of Scarlet Springs is seeping into Lexi’s skin, and she’s temped to obey the will of its sun-baked temptation.
She didn’t think a town that sparked her flight instinct would offer her the safe space to enjoy new experiences; new friends and memories, surrounded by tonnes of jagged rock, heady “rock jocks” and badass female climbers. Heartening down to the marrow of the town’s historical bone. Lexi is taken hostage by its hot rays, placid in its charitable miner’s siren song. One of the reasons I cared about this story was because the author did too. It’s evident in its written appeal. Second chance romance is a not-so-guilty pleasure of mine because there’s just something hopefully destined in the idea of two people brought back together after years spent apart. ‘Barely Breathing’ had me sighing a soothing breath and bursting with a melody of relief. If I haven’t done it justice enough, then here is another reason: Pamela Clare was born to write books. A brilliant voice and a dazzling writer who has clearly written a dazzling story. Pick this up! You won’t be disheartened. Tack this on top of your romance reads. It’s worth the immersion with a community I wanted in on, characters I wanted to fight for, a town I wanted to plant myself in and an atmosphere that’s affectionately small-town Bohemian.
When puppy love fades and real love peaks....
“Yeah. I guess so.” She lifted her gaze to his. “Dance with me?” “You want to dance with a sweaty, scraped-up climber?” “You bet.” She smiled, got to her feet, held out her hand. If she had asked him to go with her straight into hellfire, he’d have done it.’ I gave this book 4.5 stars -
Trigger Warning: sexual harassment (Retrospective - happens before the book begins), swearing, mentions of suicide, alcohol addiction, sex scenes (with some BDSM and a bit of kink). T H O U G H T S / T H I N G S I L I K E D / C O N C E R N S
1) I find 3rd person POV tricky to get into when reading romance - but with this book, I didn’t feel that way at all, nor did I feel the traditional detachment I typically feel with this narrative viewpoint. It worked!
2) I have never once read a romance with any kind of glossary. I love the addition as it explained terms I would have otherwise had to look up. It also reminded me of the good old days of reading fantasy. In fact, I really would have loved a map to showcase the landscape. 3) I think Lexi is right. These climbers should definitely bring out a calender… ;) 4) Austin you naughty ranger! I love a male protagonist with some kink. Love a female protagonist who is just as receptive to it. The sex scenes were both delicious and funny. 5) I really thought Lexi was invested in a lost cause trying to help her father and spiteful, bitter, piece-of-work stem-mom divert the path of destruction. A foolish labour of love. Shame it took a near-death experience for Daddy Jewell to see what he’d be losing with Lexi. I am glad that he seemed to be making an effort at the end, but I still think he has a long way to go, because he did, after all, neglect his daughters. 6) For some reason, and as much as I love him, I just got the feeling that Austin didn’t really understand Lexi’s heartache or the problems she had with her family. He’s supportive enough for sure. He’s dreamy, loving and gentle but I felt that he was detached from Lexi’s emotional plight with her dad. Some more conversations/scenarios where he really puts forth his support might have helped. 7) I can really appreciate the lack of superfluous angst as this very much felt like a mature read, without the over-dramatisation that often comes with the CR/NA romance genres. With no artificial drama to egg on the ego, this felt like the shock of the new. If there’s anything you should know before starting, you shouldn’t expect the traditional romance angst. It’s deeply enjoyable without the need for faux drama and all the other time-worn, vapid hokum that can shrivel up a well-spirited story. I love romance, but sometimes, it's nice to just read a story without too much dramatic angst :) 6) Reading from both Lexi and Austin was a tranquilizing balm, a cool cloth to my fevered temperament, a soothing hand to dull the fire created by many an author who write weak, loose-limbed, overly dramatic, child-like, philandering, unreliable examples of both male and female protagonists. Well, I’ll be damned. Who knew there were romance heroes who aren’t nauseatingly promiscuous? I think celebrations are in order. It was a blessing and a balm to my reader spirit to not have to read about really unpleasant alphas and limp-spined women. 7) But I have to admit, though i cheered both Austin and Lexi on, though I wanted the very best for them, there was something missing from the romance. 8) The ending was a tad humdrum for me. I think the story needed an epilogue. S O M E F A V O U R I T E Q U O T E S !!
“I’ve spent my entire adult life working and climbing side-by-side with men, so trust me when I say that most male stupidity is a result of one of two things. It’s either their egos, or it’s that junk in their pants.”
“Most of the people who live in Scarlet Springs are descended from Cornish miners. They brought the legend of the tommyknockers with them. Some people say knockers are the spirits of dead miners. Others think they’re like fairies or leprechauns. In the old days, miners used to toss them their crusts, believing that the knockers would warn them if there was going to be a cave-in.” ‘A heavy feeling settled in Lexi’s chest as she realized where this conversation was leading her. “I feel like a failure. I spent my whole childhood wanting to get away from this place and now...” “No, dear, I think you spent all your life wanting to get away from your father.” ‘Rose nodded in understanding. “What you’re experiencing, Lexi, my dear, is spiritual dissonance.” “What?” There was a name for feeling torn apart like this? “Spiritual dissonance.” Rose gave her a gentle smile. “It’s when your ego wants one thing, but your heart wants another.” ‘But climbing, with its complicated movement problems, was a lot like dancing—figuring out which moves went next so she could climb smoothly up the rock. She couldn’t say why, exactly, but something about climbing made her feel more confident. When she’d finished that 5.9 route two days ago, she’d stood there at the top of the wall with her fist in the air, feeling like a hero.’ Warm lips kissed her temple. “Don’t be. There’s not a woman in the world who matters to me the way you do.” “Really?” Maybe Cheyenne was right. Maybe he was in love with her. “Really.” He kissed her again. “Watch out, or you’ll get high from kissing me.” "That happens all the time anyway.” His words hit her right in the heart, unleashed a strange ache behind her breastbone.’ “The people we care most about are the ones with the power to hurt us.” As they drifted off to sleep, Austin found himself wondering whether Lexi’s dislike for Scarlet Springs had anything to do with the town itself or whether she’d been running from her father this entire time.’ ‘Lexi saw a side of Austin she’d never seen before. He knew the fancy Latin name of every flower, every tree, every little creature. He was even able to identify many of the birds by their songs. She could see on his face that this was his place. This was where he felt most at home. No wonder he’d never thought about leaving.’ 'She felt a tug in her chest, touched by his gentleness with a creature many people would find repugnant. “You know, for a tough guy with a uniform and a gun, you’re basically a bunny-loving tree-hugger.” He looked over at her, his lips curving in a smile. “You’ve discovered my secret.” ‘But watching him climb was different. She couldn’t not notice his skill, his motions strong and confident, even graceful, like an artist who worked with air and stone. Lexi couldn’t take her gaze off him.’ “Fuck me, damn it!” “You give head with that dirty mouth?” ‘But then she was in his arms, his mouth coming down hard on hers, her arms going around his neck, drawing him closer. Some part of him knew kissing her was stupid—really stupid, catastrophically stupid. But then she pressed her body hard against his, and he decided stupid could go fuck itself.’ “What I’m trying to say is that even if you couldn’t save this guy, you still did what you could to help his family. You brought him back.” She turned those big green eyes on him. “I think you’re all incredibly brave.” ‘Despite that cool exterior, he was still the Austin she remembered, the Austin she’d kissed under those aspens long ago—except that he was now a man. And every part of her appreciated that difference.’ “She says that when their mother was killed, their father lost it. He and his wife had been crazy about each other, apparently, and losing her crushed him. He never really recovered. After the funeral, he disappeared inside himself, got more and more distant from everyone—his friends, his family, even his two little girls. She thinks it was hard for him even to look at them because they looked so much like their mother.” “He married Kendra a year later and dumped his daughters in her lap. Kendra had no idea what she was doing and had never planned to be a mother, so the girls were left to deal with the loss of their mom by themselves. As soon as they were old enough to use a dust rag, their father had them helping at the inn. My mother says Lexi didn’t grow up with love, so she doesn’t know how to love, but she does know how to work hard.” “I will. And, Lexi, thank you.” He disconnected and turned to find Eric leaning against the brick wall behind him. “That didn’t hurt, did it?” Austin walked past him. “Eat shit, Hawke.” “No thanks, buddy. I’ve already had breakfast.” “Most of this gear we make ourselves, including this shelving unit. Several of our members are engineers with their own machine shops. They get off on the high-stakes engineering challenge that rescues give them.” “Engineering challenge?” Lexi had always thought it was an issue of climbing skill and strength. Megs grinned. “Bringing someone down the side of a cliff or the side of a mountain is kind of a big engineering problem in motion. You’ve got to know how much weight your anchor needs to hold and how best to rig cables and ropes. You can’t screw up, or people die. That kind of pressure is exciting for some people. You can see them working out the equation in their heads when they arrive on the scene.” I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers and hearing about reader opinion, so get in touch and comment below! --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read ---------------------------------------
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