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Just Breathe
Opposites attract in this funny, touching and deliciously romantic novel as hippie Dee meets millionaire businessman Ethan - and her calm world is turned upside down...
Dee Nichols is a free-spirited yoga teacher, albeit a broke one. But she’s not interested in money or possessions or thinking too far into the future. After surviving a terrible car accident, she’s just happy to be breathing.
Then Dee meets Ethan Roxburgh at a Christmas party. As the head of Roxburgh Holdings, and a regular in the social pages, he’s the opposite of what Dee wants in her life. Until a job modelling yoga in a TV commercial turns Dee into an overnight celebrity…
Thrust into a whole new world of business and PR (as well as high-heels and plunging necklines) Dee is out of her comfort zone and suddenly Ethan is perfect – as a mentor. Or would be, if she wasn’t so damn attracted to him. After all, he’d never look twice at a short, accident-prone yoga instructor with market-stall couture …
Then Ethan does look twice - and life gets sweet and sexy as hell.
FULL-LENGTH NOVEL
Dee Nichols is a free-spirited yoga teacher, albeit a broke one. But she’s not interested in money or possessions or thinking too far into the future. After surviving a terrible car accident, she’s just happy to be breathing.
Then Dee meets Ethan Roxburgh at a Christmas party. As the head of Roxburgh Holdings, and a regular in the social pages, he’s the opposite of what Dee wants in her life. Until a job modelling yoga in a TV commercial turns Dee into an overnight celebrity…
Thrust into a whole new world of business and PR (as well as high-heels and plunging necklines) Dee is out of her comfort zone and suddenly Ethan is perfect – as a mentor. Or would be, if she wasn’t so damn attracted to him. After all, he’d never look twice at a short, accident-prone yoga instructor with market-stall couture …
Then Ethan does look twice - and life gets sweet and sexy as hell.
FULL-LENGTH NOVEL
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 1, 2013
9 people are currently reading
449 people want to read
About the author
Janette Paul
6 books27 followersJanette Paul is a pen-name of bestselling crime writer Jaye Ford, author of Beyond Fear and Scared Yet?, among others. She is also the author of Just Breathe, another sparkling rom-com, which is available as a Random Romance ebook. She lives at Lake Macquarie in the NSW Hunter Valley.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
July 10, 2017
My first book by the author under this pen name although I already enjoy her crime books written as Jaye Ford. This book demonstrates that she can write romance as well as she writes crime!
The main characters are delightful although Dee occasionally made me cringe with her over the top behaviour. Ethan is perfect - every woman should have one:) Together they provided lots of entertainment with both humorous and sad moments and heaps of romance.
It is one of those books that you don't want to put down and I could imagine it being made into a really good rom com movie! An excellent read!
The main characters are delightful although Dee occasionally made me cringe with her over the top behaviour. Ethan is perfect - every woman should have one:) Together they provided lots of entertainment with both humorous and sad moments and heaps of romance.
It is one of those books that you don't want to put down and I could imagine it being made into a really good rom com movie! An excellent read!
January 17, 2013
This was... Different. When I requested this book it was because I usually love the rich arrogant guy storyline who falls for someone beneath him in a way and yet throughout all their differences they come out strong.
But there was a little more to this than I first thought.
Dee is just your average woman, she's a little low on cash but absolutely loves her job. She's a yoga teacher. After a bad accident which nearly leaves her paralysed and her fiancée walks out on her she finds comfort in yoga. One of her clients- Lucy is very wealthy and comes for an even wealthier family, when she proposes a job for Dee to become an organisations yoga model for their new add and essentially become the face of the new campaign. She's a little weary. But after her mother who constantly moans about her lifestyle and how she has no proper job, ambition or life she considers it. Her mother does not understand her in the slightest and continually tries to take over and control her life. But for Dee who is over 30 years old she's had enough. She does the add and find surprising new-found fame. Life's looking up especially when eligible bachelor Ethan- Lucy's brother offers her business advice. But she ain't thinking about business, oh no.
This book was charming. I loved the slow building chemistry between Dee and Ethan. And how her mother slowly begins to accept that Dee's her own person and finally tries to understand her better and love her for who she is. Dee was herself, she never changed even when she became famous, she didn't forget herself or show-off to get Ethan's attention. She never lied about her financial issues or complain when she didn't even have enough money for shampoo. She was real and I loved her. In the end she deserved everything she got. Even when she got scared she never missed an opportunity.
Ethan was sweet and caring. He never made Dee feel out of place or lowly. He never rubbed his money in anyone's faces.
I love the title it's so fitting. Just breathe is a yoga term but also can be applied for the whole book. Dee sometimes forgot to breathe and had panic attacks, and I remember more than once thinking everyone should stop, just breathe and think. Everyone in this book for stressed out at some point.
This book was really sweet and enjoyable. It's sometimes quite sad, but I wouldn't change anything. A lovely read- 4 Stars.
But there was a little more to this than I first thought.
Dee is just your average woman, she's a little low on cash but absolutely loves her job. She's a yoga teacher. After a bad accident which nearly leaves her paralysed and her fiancée walks out on her she finds comfort in yoga. One of her clients- Lucy is very wealthy and comes for an even wealthier family, when she proposes a job for Dee to become an organisations yoga model for their new add and essentially become the face of the new campaign. She's a little weary. But after her mother who constantly moans about her lifestyle and how she has no proper job, ambition or life she considers it. Her mother does not understand her in the slightest and continually tries to take over and control her life. But for Dee who is over 30 years old she's had enough. She does the add and find surprising new-found fame. Life's looking up especially when eligible bachelor Ethan- Lucy's brother offers her business advice. But she ain't thinking about business, oh no.
This book was charming. I loved the slow building chemistry between Dee and Ethan. And how her mother slowly begins to accept that Dee's her own person and finally tries to understand her better and love her for who she is. Dee was herself, she never changed even when she became famous, she didn't forget herself or show-off to get Ethan's attention. She never lied about her financial issues or complain when she didn't even have enough money for shampoo. She was real and I loved her. In the end she deserved everything she got. Even when she got scared she never missed an opportunity.
Ethan was sweet and caring. He never made Dee feel out of place or lowly. He never rubbed his money in anyone's faces.
I love the title it's so fitting. Just breathe is a yoga term but also can be applied for the whole book. Dee sometimes forgot to breathe and had panic attacks, and I remember more than once thinking everyone should stop, just breathe and think. Everyone in this book for stressed out at some point.
This book was really sweet and enjoyable. It's sometimes quite sad, but I wouldn't change anything. A lovely read- 4 Stars.
January 26, 2013
★★★☆ 3.5 Stars
Dee leads a simple life. She doesn't have any plans that are more than two weeks into the future, her idea of a bank account is tucking money into the pages of a book, and she teaches yoga. Feeling the pressure to get her life together she takes a job modelling for a health insurance company and meets millionaire businessman Ethan.
With his help she navigates the business world but she is terrified of long-term. Just thinking about the future causes a panic attack, and as Ethan tries to get closer she pushes him away.
Just Breathe felt a little like two books. For two-thirds the book was measured and felt a lot like chick-lit. The last third was very much contemporary romance. I really enjoyed this book but I think it was a little longer than it needed to be. The author went to a lot of effort to tie off every loose end and personally speaking, I think she really could have just left a few of them dangling.
Many thanks to Random House Australia and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
Dee leads a simple life. She doesn't have any plans that are more than two weeks into the future, her idea of a bank account is tucking money into the pages of a book, and she teaches yoga. Feeling the pressure to get her life together she takes a job modelling for a health insurance company and meets millionaire businessman Ethan.
With his help she navigates the business world but she is terrified of long-term. Just thinking about the future causes a panic attack, and as Ethan tries to get closer she pushes him away.
Just Breathe felt a little like two books. For two-thirds the book was measured and felt a lot like chick-lit. The last third was very much contemporary romance. I really enjoyed this book but I think it was a little longer than it needed to be. The author went to a lot of effort to tie off every loose end and personally speaking, I think she really could have just left a few of them dangling.
Many thanks to Random House Australia and Netgalley for providing me with this ARC
March 29, 2013
3.5 STARS
"Happiness isn't a pre-requisite for getting hurt. You can get hit by a truck when you're miserable. But if you're happy, at least you can say you had something good and worthwhile in your life at some time. Who wants to be on their deathbed thinking, well, gee, I had a safe life? In seventy-odd years, when you're being put in the ground I want to order a headstone that tells the world you had a full life. That you had lots of love and pain and happiness and loss"
I've been raised a sloth and will most probably die out of atherosclerosis with the lifestyle I've been keeping up. So this book's blurb doesn't exactly agree with who I am and at first glance since the thought of yoga gives me hives (I did try it once and the heat DID give me hives).
Imagine my surprise when I found myself connecting with Dee as a character.
Our heroine, Dee is a yoga instructor who denounces making plans beyond two weeks after having confronted by a the fact that all her plans for the future can go pfft at the slightest kink in the road. She lives her life passively letting the ashes of her accident fall where they may and builds her present state from there. She meets Ethan Roxburgh a millionaire who seems to have life and his shit all figured out.
Okay so far, that's two things that gives me hives: yoga AND millionaire hero.
But Ethan, thank God, isn't cut from the same cloth as THAT millionaire stereotype. Their story actually started out with Dee being flat broke and accepting a job as an ad model for an insurance company which Ethan is also involved with. He eventually takes Dee under his business-savant wings and mentors her on the ins and outs of business. That detail, I think is what I liked the most out of this book: when Ethan found Dee's financial mess, he didn't buy her a house, or a car or throw her money because you know, he's rich.
He taught her how to make it on her own.
If that doesn't make you swoon, then you're probably too young to realize how important that is in the real world. See if I was dating a hot millionaire businessman right now (my mind is drawing a blank on who. There's a serious lack of hot millionaires and billionaires in the world, I think) I don't want him to buy me things. I'd want him to teach me how to become a millionaire myself so I can buy all the things I want on my own.
Take that, Christian Grey. Practicality FTW.
The book had been pleasant enough of a read. A bit too polite for my tastes maybe, but the lack of high octane drama wasn't to its detriment to be sure. The secondary characters did the job in fleshing out Dee's character. I particularly liked how her relationship with her mother was handled. The funny bits were a bit too slapsticky and the dialogue only managed to get a smile out of me, no guffaws of any sort. Despite being a professional yoga instructor, Dee had one too many klutzy encounters that it was a serious feat that she didn't end up dead, in a cast or killed someone by chapter 10.
"He must think she was a complete idiot. He was so sensible and professional and she was a walking disaster whenever he was around. The tally was growing longer - cheesecakes in the face, escaping breasts, falling down, throwing coffee at herself."
It felt like it was striving a little too hard on the cute. Maybe the goal was for this to end up as a rom-com film, but across the pages it didn't really do much for me. The pacing was also a bit slow in the beginning and the build up towards Dee and Ethan lacked a certain charm that I didn't feel a gripping need for them to end up together.
But these were personal preference issues and on any level I think this book was well-written and light-hearted enough to allow me to recuperate after some migraine reads.
This was an ARC provided by the publishers thru NetGalley which I neglected to review on-time. See? Sloth.
"Happiness isn't a pre-requisite for getting hurt. You can get hit by a truck when you're miserable. But if you're happy, at least you can say you had something good and worthwhile in your life at some time. Who wants to be on their deathbed thinking, well, gee, I had a safe life? In seventy-odd years, when you're being put in the ground I want to order a headstone that tells the world you had a full life. That you had lots of love and pain and happiness and loss"
I've been raised a sloth and will most probably die out of atherosclerosis with the lifestyle I've been keeping up. So this book's blurb doesn't exactly agree with who I am and at first glance since the thought of yoga gives me hives (I did try it once and the heat DID give me hives).
Imagine my surprise when I found myself connecting with Dee as a character.
Our heroine, Dee is a yoga instructor who denounces making plans beyond two weeks after having confronted by a the fact that all her plans for the future can go pfft at the slightest kink in the road. She lives her life passively letting the ashes of her accident fall where they may and builds her present state from there. She meets Ethan Roxburgh a millionaire who seems to have life and his shit all figured out.
Okay so far, that's two things that gives me hives: yoga AND millionaire hero.
But Ethan, thank God, isn't cut from the same cloth as THAT millionaire stereotype. Their story actually started out with Dee being flat broke and accepting a job as an ad model for an insurance company which Ethan is also involved with. He eventually takes Dee under his business-savant wings and mentors her on the ins and outs of business. That detail, I think is what I liked the most out of this book: when Ethan found Dee's financial mess, he didn't buy her a house, or a car or throw her money because you know, he's rich.
He taught her how to make it on her own.
If that doesn't make you swoon, then you're probably too young to realize how important that is in the real world. See if I was dating a hot millionaire businessman right now (my mind is drawing a blank on who. There's a serious lack of hot millionaires and billionaires in the world, I think) I don't want him to buy me things. I'd want him to teach me how to become a millionaire myself so I can buy all the things I want on my own.
Take that, Christian Grey. Practicality FTW.
The book had been pleasant enough of a read. A bit too polite for my tastes maybe, but the lack of high octane drama wasn't to its detriment to be sure. The secondary characters did the job in fleshing out Dee's character. I particularly liked how her relationship with her mother was handled. The funny bits were a bit too slapsticky and the dialogue only managed to get a smile out of me, no guffaws of any sort. Despite being a professional yoga instructor, Dee had one too many klutzy encounters that it was a serious feat that she didn't end up dead, in a cast or killed someone by chapter 10.
"He must think she was a complete idiot. He was so sensible and professional and she was a walking disaster whenever he was around. The tally was growing longer - cheesecakes in the face, escaping breasts, falling down, throwing coffee at herself."
It felt like it was striving a little too hard on the cute. Maybe the goal was for this to end up as a rom-com film, but across the pages it didn't really do much for me. The pacing was also a bit slow in the beginning and the build up towards Dee and Ethan lacked a certain charm that I didn't feel a gripping need for them to end up together.
But these were personal preference issues and on any level I think this book was well-written and light-hearted enough to allow me to recuperate after some migraine reads.
This was an ARC provided by the publishers thru NetGalley which I neglected to review on-time. See? Sloth.
October 5, 2023
I’ve read many books by this author, but under her other name Jaye Ford and these books are crime thriller novels. So when I discovered she had a romance novel out I was curious and perhaps a little apprehensive as I didn’t think it would be as good as her other books. Well as it turns out I was wrong and I enjoyed this book.
Yes, this is a romance novel, but it is not just any old romance this book engaging, has strong characters a storyline that has real emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed this and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys a great read.
Yes, this is a romance novel, but it is not just any old romance this book engaging, has strong characters a storyline that has real emotion. I thoroughly enjoyed this and have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys a great read.
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January 24, 2013
01/24/2013 - 3 Stars
This was a buddy read with my good friend Ian.
I read the blurb on this one and two things appealed to me; 1) the setting; Sydney, Australia, 2) a yoga teacher and a high powered business man. A bit of a twist on the normal FSoG theme – or so thought and I wanted to check it out.
A more detailed review to come, but top of head, a few things. First, this book is way overpriced. I was very fortunate to receive an ARC copy. To purchase, you’d be shelling out $10. Second, the story was cute, could have very easily been one of those serial romance formats. Nothing much to it really. To my disappointment, Sydney wasn't really involved much outside of a mention or two of the opera house. Oh, and a nearby beach.
I liked the characters quite a bit, but in the end, got pretty tired of all the yoga. It was EVERYWHERE in the book. Initially, added to the story, you could imagine the graceful poses and the peace Dee talks about, but in the end, just over the top. One warrior position too many. Ethan, I liked him really the best. This book didn’t do him justice. There was still so much we don’t know about him. Not much depth after we’d been led on. Don't you just hate when you have a really good character trapped in mediocrity?
The smexy factor is non-existent. Not normally an issue, but needed something to look forward to. When it happened - about 60% through, it was like Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr on the beach ... cut to the rolling surf. Okay ... well now that's done. Let's just say, this easily fit within the YA genre, but it would bore them to tears.
Just okay.
Happy Reading!
ARC awarded by author and from Random House Australia Pty Ltd in exchange for an honest review.
This was a buddy read with my good friend Ian.
I read the blurb on this one and two things appealed to me; 1) the setting; Sydney, Australia, 2) a yoga teacher and a high powered business man. A bit of a twist on the normal FSoG theme – or so thought and I wanted to check it out.
A more detailed review to come, but top of head, a few things. First, this book is way overpriced. I was very fortunate to receive an ARC copy. To purchase, you’d be shelling out $10. Second, the story was cute, could have very easily been one of those serial romance formats. Nothing much to it really. To my disappointment, Sydney wasn't really involved much outside of a mention or two of the opera house. Oh, and a nearby beach.
I liked the characters quite a bit, but in the end, got pretty tired of all the yoga. It was EVERYWHERE in the book. Initially, added to the story, you could imagine the graceful poses and the peace Dee talks about, but in the end, just over the top. One warrior position too many. Ethan, I liked him really the best. This book didn’t do him justice. There was still so much we don’t know about him. Not much depth after we’d been led on. Don't you just hate when you have a really good character trapped in mediocrity?
The smexy factor is non-existent. Not normally an issue, but needed something to look forward to. When it happened - about 60% through, it was like Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr on the beach ... cut to the rolling surf. Okay ... well now that's done. Let's just say, this easily fit within the YA genre, but it would bore them to tears.
Just okay.
Happy Reading!
ARC awarded by author and from Random House Australia Pty Ltd in exchange for an honest review.
March 30, 2013
Dee Nicholas is a yoga instructor. She wasn't always one, but after a horrible accident which cost her a lot, she's happy with her life and taking things day to day. Ethan Roxburgh is an extremely wealthy business man who is a media darling. Their paths cross at a Christmas party and Dee is attracted to Ethan but knows nothing can come of it because she's not his type. They keep running into each other and as Dee's attraction to Ethan grows, she knows nothing can come of it, and keeps fighting the attraction. Until Ethan does a double take and decides he wants to take a chance with Dee. With a relationship that has the potential to go somewhere and the pressure of planning her future from recent business developments, Dee is at her wits end.
Wow. I adored this book. Talk about opposites attract, Dee and Ethan had combustible chemistry. It was fun to watch them fight it for so long and even better to see them give into it.
They say life teaches us lessons, and it was interesting to see what Dee took from her accident and how Ethan responded to it and handled it. It was interesting to see a dynamic that's not the usual in romance stories. I really liked the change.
Before this book, I'd never heard of Janette Paul or Jaye Ford. After I read the book, I went online to see what I could learn about an author whose book I couldn't put down. Now I know I'll have to get my hands on everything else she's written and see if the magic I experienced in this book continues.
Wow. I adored this book. Talk about opposites attract, Dee and Ethan had combustible chemistry. It was fun to watch them fight it for so long and even better to see them give into it.
They say life teaches us lessons, and it was interesting to see what Dee took from her accident and how Ethan responded to it and handled it. It was interesting to see a dynamic that's not the usual in romance stories. I really liked the change.
Before this book, I'd never heard of Janette Paul or Jaye Ford. After I read the book, I went online to see what I could learn about an author whose book I couldn't put down. Now I know I'll have to get my hands on everything else she's written and see if the magic I experienced in this book continues.
January 22, 2013
You had me at the cover!
Just Breathe
I added this book before I was approved through Netgalley for an early read just based on the cover. I love it. The color, the model all of it screamed "this book is for you Dawn" and it did not disappoint. I love the coming from 2 different worlds story. The rich, good looking male lead and the hippie dippie, yoga teacher coming together for better or worse. This story had more to it though. I have been immersed in these types of stories and find that the characters usually get together so quickly. In Just Breathe there was a sort of honeymoon phase, so to speak. The characters meet and attract quickly but the story moves at a pace where you get to know them first and fall for them individually. I really enjoyed that part. Then when the sparks flew it was exciting and you were in the moment with them. Waiting with bated breath. I would definitely recommend this book to others and would read another story from this author. Thank you for letting me read this early!
Just Breathe
I added this book before I was approved through Netgalley for an early read just based on the cover. I love it. The color, the model all of it screamed "this book is for you Dawn" and it did not disappoint. I love the coming from 2 different worlds story. The rich, good looking male lead and the hippie dippie, yoga teacher coming together for better or worse. This story had more to it though. I have been immersed in these types of stories and find that the characters usually get together so quickly. In Just Breathe there was a sort of honeymoon phase, so to speak. The characters meet and attract quickly but the story moves at a pace where you get to know them first and fall for them individually. I really enjoyed that part. Then when the sparks flew it was exciting and you were in the moment with them. Waiting with bated breath. I would definitely recommend this book to others and would read another story from this author. Thank you for letting me read this early!
May 1, 2025
Absolutely Delightful
This book hooked me from the first page when Dee threw her high heels off the balcony (we’ve all wanted to!). The way the romance between Dee and Ethan evolves is simply delightful. Ethan is such a great hero, seeing Dee for who she really is and being so supportive, without taking over. Dee has me firmly in her corner and the story kept me reading late into the night. I couldn’t put it down! Loved this book. Highly recommend.
This book hooked me from the first page when Dee threw her high heels off the balcony (we’ve all wanted to!). The way the romance between Dee and Ethan evolves is simply delightful. Ethan is such a great hero, seeing Dee for who she really is and being so supportive, without taking over. Dee has me firmly in her corner and the story kept me reading late into the night. I couldn’t put it down! Loved this book. Highly recommend.
February 24, 2013
Jaye Ford is a well known Australian crime/thriller writer. What isn’t very well know about her however, is that when she first decided to write a novel, she thought she would try her hand at writing a romance. How hard could it be right? Well as Ford will tell you in personal (I’ve attended a number of author events where she has spoken at length about it) it’s a lot harder than it appears. Just Breathe is Ford’s first novel, written under the penname of Janette Paul in order to distance herself (I assume) from her more criminal and thriller based novels.
Having read the authors previous work, and having heard her speak about this novel a few times now, I was curious to see what it would be like. Paul herself was bit reserved in her dealings with this book prior to publication – as all authors are – and possibly a bit hesitant. After all a straight romance novel is rather different from her previously published works of fiction. All that said though, Just Breathe is a brilliant novel that is sure to make the inner romantic in you sigh and jump around in joy. I know a smile never left my face whilst reading this novel.
Dee Nichols is a bit of new age hippy, she’s reserved and she doesn’t like to think of life more than two weeks ahead of where she is. Pathologically she can’t without breaking down. For while smiling, beautiful, yoga-teaching Dee is confident on the outside, she has some pretty big inner demons lurking just below the surface filling her life with anxiety. With money problems shaking her foundations Dee is forced to make some tough decisions, and led to take what life throws at her. Luckily for her, Dee’s high profile client, Lucy Roxburgh, has a short-term solution; she wants Dee to star in a health insurance Ad. Initially Dee is wary. The shameless self-promotion and glamorisation goes against just about every principal she holds near and dear in life and in yoga. But when fate forces her hand, Dee finds herself facing a whole new set of issues and dramas, the biggest being financial dramas and those newly created by multi-millionaire businessman Ethan Roxburgh.
As I have come to expect from this author, her characterisation is strong. Dee is such a strong character for example with her anxieties and complexities that its really not that hard of a jump to see her step right of the page into our world of the living and breathing. She is unique character in many ways because of the ideals she holds near and dear and the way in which she lives her life in the here and now. While this is largely seen in the book as a character flaw, I think as a society it is something we could all benefit from learning from Dee in certain respects. Of course, that is without the constant threat of a breakdown hanging over our heads. Although Dee spends a lot of the novel worried about one thing or another, she is a very relatable and three-dimensional character whose interactions with other characters and persona’s is not hard to imagine. Although emotional wounded, she is a likeable and strong independent character who has trouble letting people in and seeing a positive future. Although not a pessimist at heart, she is unable to view and live life to its fullest because of her fears and the black cloud of the past that’s constant hovering over her head.
Ethan Roxburgh is an interesting character in himself, and is not happy to let Dee steal ALL the spotlight in this novel. Described as a dreamy heartthrob of a businessman, Ethan is sure to appeal to fans of the romance genre on many levels for he ticks all the right boxes: handsome, friendly, sensitive, successful and devoted. What I particular loved about his character and the way in which he was dealt with, was the way in which Paul explored his character’s two dimensions: his tough and strict businessman front, and his inner sensitive and gentle personal side. If that’s not enough to make you swoon over a fictional character, I don’t know what is.
The story line is compelling and well paced, letting the characters and readers get to know each other gradually, all of which helps to create a natural feel to the romance. Unlike many other romance novels that are about, there is none of those giggling, over the top girls who ooze their own brand of fake. Instead we have honest every day people whose emotions are tangible and real, who allow the reader to witness first hand the start of their relationship, and its consequent many ups and downs in an honest and believable light. The sugar coating and plastic settings of many stereotypical type romance novels is absent here and because of that I think this novel really works.
Simple put, Just Breathe is a feel good romance novel that will not disappoint. Ideal for fans of contemporary romance novels and a good old chick lit novel.
Thanks goes to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book I recieved to review.
This review also appears on my blog - The Never Ending Bookshelf- and can be found here: http://theneverendingbookshelf.blog.c...
Having read the authors previous work, and having heard her speak about this novel a few times now, I was curious to see what it would be like. Paul herself was bit reserved in her dealings with this book prior to publication – as all authors are – and possibly a bit hesitant. After all a straight romance novel is rather different from her previously published works of fiction. All that said though, Just Breathe is a brilliant novel that is sure to make the inner romantic in you sigh and jump around in joy. I know a smile never left my face whilst reading this novel.
Dee Nichols is a bit of new age hippy, she’s reserved and she doesn’t like to think of life more than two weeks ahead of where she is. Pathologically she can’t without breaking down. For while smiling, beautiful, yoga-teaching Dee is confident on the outside, she has some pretty big inner demons lurking just below the surface filling her life with anxiety. With money problems shaking her foundations Dee is forced to make some tough decisions, and led to take what life throws at her. Luckily for her, Dee’s high profile client, Lucy Roxburgh, has a short-term solution; she wants Dee to star in a health insurance Ad. Initially Dee is wary. The shameless self-promotion and glamorisation goes against just about every principal she holds near and dear in life and in yoga. But when fate forces her hand, Dee finds herself facing a whole new set of issues and dramas, the biggest being financial dramas and those newly created by multi-millionaire businessman Ethan Roxburgh.
As I have come to expect from this author, her characterisation is strong. Dee is such a strong character for example with her anxieties and complexities that its really not that hard of a jump to see her step right of the page into our world of the living and breathing. She is unique character in many ways because of the ideals she holds near and dear and the way in which she lives her life in the here and now. While this is largely seen in the book as a character flaw, I think as a society it is something we could all benefit from learning from Dee in certain respects. Of course, that is without the constant threat of a breakdown hanging over our heads. Although Dee spends a lot of the novel worried about one thing or another, she is a very relatable and three-dimensional character whose interactions with other characters and persona’s is not hard to imagine. Although emotional wounded, she is a likeable and strong independent character who has trouble letting people in and seeing a positive future. Although not a pessimist at heart, she is unable to view and live life to its fullest because of her fears and the black cloud of the past that’s constant hovering over her head.
Ethan Roxburgh is an interesting character in himself, and is not happy to let Dee steal ALL the spotlight in this novel. Described as a dreamy heartthrob of a businessman, Ethan is sure to appeal to fans of the romance genre on many levels for he ticks all the right boxes: handsome, friendly, sensitive, successful and devoted. What I particular loved about his character and the way in which he was dealt with, was the way in which Paul explored his character’s two dimensions: his tough and strict businessman front, and his inner sensitive and gentle personal side. If that’s not enough to make you swoon over a fictional character, I don’t know what is.
The story line is compelling and well paced, letting the characters and readers get to know each other gradually, all of which helps to create a natural feel to the romance. Unlike many other romance novels that are about, there is none of those giggling, over the top girls who ooze their own brand of fake. Instead we have honest every day people whose emotions are tangible and real, who allow the reader to witness first hand the start of their relationship, and its consequent many ups and downs in an honest and believable light. The sugar coating and plastic settings of many stereotypical type romance novels is absent here and because of that I think this novel really works.
Simple put, Just Breathe is a feel good romance novel that will not disappoint. Ideal for fans of contemporary romance novels and a good old chick lit novel.
Thanks goes to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book I recieved to review.
This review also appears on my blog - The Never Ending Bookshelf- and can be found here: http://theneverendingbookshelf.blog.c...
February 21, 2013
Dee Nichols is a free-spirited yoga teacher, who has decided to live her life in the moment, not interested in money or posessions. A terrible car accident some years before has turned her life upside down and changed everything. With yoga as her relief, Dee has worked hard to build herself and her life back together in the best way she knew how. Yoga calms her down, when panic threatens to take over, it helps to relieve the back pain caused by the accident and it provides her a little income.
When Dee’s long time roommate and best friend Leon moves away, she is faced with the reality of how little she actualy owns and how broke she really is. She doesn’t even have a sofa, let alone a coffee table. Then Lucy, one of Dee’s students and daughter of a wealthy Roxburgh family, gets her a job, modelling yoga in a commercial. Dee is thrust head first into the unfamiliar world of celebrity, business, fancy parties and dangerously high heels. She is out of her comfort zone and welcomes the sudden offer of business help from Lucy’s brother Ethan, who also happens to be millionaire businessman of the dark and handsome variety.
Ethan and Dee couldn’t be more different, but Dee can’t help being attracted to him, even though he wears a suit and tie. He seems so sweet, unlike his business persona and proves to be her knight in shining armor in more than one occation. Dee knows a man like him couldn’t possibly care for a dishevelled, accident-prone yoga teacher with an eclectic taste in clothes, but when Ethan shows he does care for her, Dee doesn’t know what to do. She wants nothing more than let herself enjoy the moment, but she fears she will have too far to fall when Ethan decides he has had enough of her.
At the same time life seems to be offering all kinds of business opportunities for her, but they all require long term commitment and Dee doesn’t do long term. Is she willing to risk being hurt to go after her dreams?
I am a yoga enthusiast myself and a bit of a hippie too, so I immediately identified with Dee. I could easily understand her desire to simply enjoy life and not get caught in the viscious circle of business. I often dream of being able to live life without having to weigh myself down with a house or a long-term job. The desire for freedom to just leave everything behind and move on, is within me, like it is inside of Dee. For some people this might be a foreign concept, but I found Dee very familiar in that sense. With this free spirit kind of living in the moment often comes the difficulty to put monetary value on your skills. How can I charge people of what I enjoy doing? I just want to bring people joy, not be rich. I do this all the time and wonder how money matters come so easily to others.
Enter Ethan Roxburgh, the classic rich and handsome knight in shining armor, The problems that spun from the different worlds Dee and Ethan lived in, felt real and believable, as did Dee’s personal issues that the accident had brought on. Dee with all her quirks and funny accidents was endearing but had enough attitude to not be one of those silly and little dumb romantic heroines there are plenty of in the romance genre. Ethan proved to be more than it seemed at first glance and even though he was kind of a practical opposite of the all heart and passion Dee, they had enough things in common to make the attraction possible.
My expectations for this book were easily met. It was romantic, funny with some tough and touching subjects thrown in the mix. The writing was good, light and fun and I especially loved Dee’s smart comebacks to Ethan and other people on many occations. I liked that the characters all had to work for the things they wanted, like in real life we have to. Luck may give us opportunities, but nothing comes out of them, if we don’t put in the work. The characters were believable and all had distinct personalities and their own quirks. I especially enjoyed Dee’s best friend Leon and the loud and somewhat inconsiderate new roommate Pam.
I recommend this book for all romance fans. It is especially enjoyable for all those free spirited hippie girls and yoga lovers out there. It’s unapologetically sweet and sexy romance, but it has a bit more depth than your average chick-lit book.
Just Breathe is written by Janette Paul, who is actually the bestselling crime writer Jaye Ford. I haven’t read any crime novels by her, but am definitely intrigued to read one after this book. It is kind of fun to see how very different genres one author can explore.
I received this book for review through Netgalley.
When Dee’s long time roommate and best friend Leon moves away, she is faced with the reality of how little she actualy owns and how broke she really is. She doesn’t even have a sofa, let alone a coffee table. Then Lucy, one of Dee’s students and daughter of a wealthy Roxburgh family, gets her a job, modelling yoga in a commercial. Dee is thrust head first into the unfamiliar world of celebrity, business, fancy parties and dangerously high heels. She is out of her comfort zone and welcomes the sudden offer of business help from Lucy’s brother Ethan, who also happens to be millionaire businessman of the dark and handsome variety.
Ethan and Dee couldn’t be more different, but Dee can’t help being attracted to him, even though he wears a suit and tie. He seems so sweet, unlike his business persona and proves to be her knight in shining armor in more than one occation. Dee knows a man like him couldn’t possibly care for a dishevelled, accident-prone yoga teacher with an eclectic taste in clothes, but when Ethan shows he does care for her, Dee doesn’t know what to do. She wants nothing more than let herself enjoy the moment, but she fears she will have too far to fall when Ethan decides he has had enough of her.
At the same time life seems to be offering all kinds of business opportunities for her, but they all require long term commitment and Dee doesn’t do long term. Is she willing to risk being hurt to go after her dreams?
I am a yoga enthusiast myself and a bit of a hippie too, so I immediately identified with Dee. I could easily understand her desire to simply enjoy life and not get caught in the viscious circle of business. I often dream of being able to live life without having to weigh myself down with a house or a long-term job. The desire for freedom to just leave everything behind and move on, is within me, like it is inside of Dee. For some people this might be a foreign concept, but I found Dee very familiar in that sense. With this free spirit kind of living in the moment often comes the difficulty to put monetary value on your skills. How can I charge people of what I enjoy doing? I just want to bring people joy, not be rich. I do this all the time and wonder how money matters come so easily to others.
Enter Ethan Roxburgh, the classic rich and handsome knight in shining armor, The problems that spun from the different worlds Dee and Ethan lived in, felt real and believable, as did Dee’s personal issues that the accident had brought on. Dee with all her quirks and funny accidents was endearing but had enough attitude to not be one of those silly and little dumb romantic heroines there are plenty of in the romance genre. Ethan proved to be more than it seemed at first glance and even though he was kind of a practical opposite of the all heart and passion Dee, they had enough things in common to make the attraction possible.
My expectations for this book were easily met. It was romantic, funny with some tough and touching subjects thrown in the mix. The writing was good, light and fun and I especially loved Dee’s smart comebacks to Ethan and other people on many occations. I liked that the characters all had to work for the things they wanted, like in real life we have to. Luck may give us opportunities, but nothing comes out of them, if we don’t put in the work. The characters were believable and all had distinct personalities and their own quirks. I especially enjoyed Dee’s best friend Leon and the loud and somewhat inconsiderate new roommate Pam.
I recommend this book for all romance fans. It is especially enjoyable for all those free spirited hippie girls and yoga lovers out there. It’s unapologetically sweet and sexy romance, but it has a bit more depth than your average chick-lit book.
Just Breathe is written by Janette Paul, who is actually the bestselling crime writer Jaye Ford. I haven’t read any crime novels by her, but am definitely intrigued to read one after this book. It is kind of fun to see how very different genres one author can explore.
I received this book for review through Netgalley.
February 27, 2013
Dee Nichols was in a serious car accident ten years previously, and with it, her life changed irrevocably. Now her future is two weeks in advance…she can’t look any further than that, as anything could happen afterwards. She is very fragile, paranoid and OCD but managing with her life the way it is. She is a yoga teacher, and loves it. She connects with her students, and has some very dear friends she has met through yoga. She is broke, but she still has her friends…
But in the ten years since her life crashed down around her, and after many long months recuperating in hospital after the accident, she left her secure but shattered world and travelled around Europe for five years. Her mother was devastated that Dee had chosen that way of life, and didn’t seem to understand her motives. So when Dee returned and settled into a basically hippie lifestyle, she was crushed…she couldn’t understand Dee and was disappointed in her ‘failure at life’. She needed to get a ‘real’ job…yoga wouldn’t pay the bills, according to her mother.
So on the night Dee went to Lucy Roxburgh’s Christmas party, dressed in her sister Amanda’s beautiful dress and stilettos, and feeling very uncomfortable and alienated, she didn’t expect her life to change once again. For on that night, she met Ethan Roxburgh, Lucy’s brother, and the head of Roxburgh Holdings and a much photographed good looking male, seldom without a beautiful woman by his side.
As Ethan became more involved in Dee’s life, by becoming her mentor and helping her with her yoga business, plus the opportunities that seemed to come along for Dee, she felt that she was getting in too deep, she was out of her comfort zone, and everything was racing out of control. Added into the mix was her attraction to Ethan, something he didn’t appear to reciprocate, and something she couldn’t have happen anyway, as she would be hurt again….They were as alike as chalk and cheese, she was NOT a Roxburgh Girl!
I loved this book! It is not your normal run of the mill romance, and I loved Dee’s character. I laughed out loud through most of this book, mostly at and with Dee. With Janette Paul being Jaye Ford’s alter ego, I was always going to read this book, but again, the two styles are poles apart. Jaye writes thrillers, which I devour, and as Janette, she has written a brilliant novel with this one. I highly recommend Aussie author Janette Paul/Jaye Ford to everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book to read and review.
But in the ten years since her life crashed down around her, and after many long months recuperating in hospital after the accident, she left her secure but shattered world and travelled around Europe for five years. Her mother was devastated that Dee had chosen that way of life, and didn’t seem to understand her motives. So when Dee returned and settled into a basically hippie lifestyle, she was crushed…she couldn’t understand Dee and was disappointed in her ‘failure at life’. She needed to get a ‘real’ job…yoga wouldn’t pay the bills, according to her mother.
So on the night Dee went to Lucy Roxburgh’s Christmas party, dressed in her sister Amanda’s beautiful dress and stilettos, and feeling very uncomfortable and alienated, she didn’t expect her life to change once again. For on that night, she met Ethan Roxburgh, Lucy’s brother, and the head of Roxburgh Holdings and a much photographed good looking male, seldom without a beautiful woman by his side.
As Ethan became more involved in Dee’s life, by becoming her mentor and helping her with her yoga business, plus the opportunities that seemed to come along for Dee, she felt that she was getting in too deep, she was out of her comfort zone, and everything was racing out of control. Added into the mix was her attraction to Ethan, something he didn’t appear to reciprocate, and something she couldn’t have happen anyway, as she would be hurt again….They were as alike as chalk and cheese, she was NOT a Roxburgh Girl!
I loved this book! It is not your normal run of the mill romance, and I loved Dee’s character. I laughed out loud through most of this book, mostly at and with Dee. With Janette Paul being Jaye Ford’s alter ego, I was always going to read this book, but again, the two styles are poles apart. Jaye writes thrillers, which I devour, and as Janette, she has written a brilliant novel with this one. I highly recommend Aussie author Janette Paul/Jaye Ford to everyone.
Thanks to NetGalley for my copy of this book to read and review.
January 29, 2013
3.5 stars
"I've been scared of being happy. I built a shield around myself so happiness couldn't get in"
Dee Nichols is a yoga instructor. Not the profession her mother wished for her, not the profession that gives her a decent standard of life, but the one that brings her peace. A few years ago Dee was in a serious accident which not only changed her physically but mentally. Yoga helps to relieve some of the pain which still lingers and she has chosen to make teaching yoga classes her profession. Her close friend Lucy, is the sister of Ethan Roxburgh, head of a mega-successful corporation and a man constantly photographed with eye candy on his arm.
Fate throws her a curve ball and she becomes the spokesperson for Health Life Insurance, a subsidiary of one of Ethan's companies. These two find themselves attracted to one another, and at times adversaries. Modeling is new to Dee, and provides the plotline for several humorous scenes. Dee finds herself the object of desire for several males (most of whom she has no interest in) and Ethan, who has since become her mentor. Sparks ignite and they continue to dance a complicated series of moves, he pursues, she retreats. Dee is 31, still single and has issues. Lots of commitment issues. Throw a controlling mother in the mix and that all adds up to relationship drama. Janette Paul has written a sweet, easy read to while away a few hours of reading entertainment. Some of it is predictable, but both Ethan and Dee are likeable characters and readers will enjoy this novel.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
"I've been scared of being happy. I built a shield around myself so happiness couldn't get in"
Dee Nichols is a yoga instructor. Not the profession her mother wished for her, not the profession that gives her a decent standard of life, but the one that brings her peace. A few years ago Dee was in a serious accident which not only changed her physically but mentally. Yoga helps to relieve some of the pain which still lingers and she has chosen to make teaching yoga classes her profession. Her close friend Lucy, is the sister of Ethan Roxburgh, head of a mega-successful corporation and a man constantly photographed with eye candy on his arm.
Fate throws her a curve ball and she becomes the spokesperson for Health Life Insurance, a subsidiary of one of Ethan's companies. These two find themselves attracted to one another, and at times adversaries. Modeling is new to Dee, and provides the plotline for several humorous scenes. Dee finds herself the object of desire for several males (most of whom she has no interest in) and Ethan, who has since become her mentor. Sparks ignite and they continue to dance a complicated series of moves, he pursues, she retreats. Dee is 31, still single and has issues. Lots of commitment issues. Throw a controlling mother in the mix and that all adds up to relationship drama. Janette Paul has written a sweet, easy read to while away a few hours of reading entertainment. Some of it is predictable, but both Ethan and Dee are likeable characters and readers will enjoy this novel.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 25, 2013
More of a 2.5 I think.
Just Breathe is a nice contemporary romance that I am glad I stumbled upon. It was far from perfect and I did have some issues with it but for the most part I enjoyed it.
I thought this was well written and I enjoyed many factors about it. I thought the idea was good I liked that this was about a millionaire business man falling for a struggling yoga teacher. I expected that he would be quite uptight about struggle under the weight of his business and that she would be a free spirit that would blow his mind but it was actually the other way around.
Ethan was really nice and I really liked him, he was totally comfortable in his skin and although he had some issues he was willing to get over them and move on with his life. Dee was a completely different story, she was so uptight and had so many issues which directly contradicts he life as a hippy yoga teacher it just didn’t match. Her issues were a problem for me, sure she had been through a lot but her reaction to it all was over the top and she ended up hurting a lot of people around her and acting quite selfishly in my opinion. I did like her but it just couldn’t connect the two sides of her. The romance was nice and wasn’t overdone which I liked.
Just Breathe is not going to blow your mind, but it is a nice way to spend a few hours.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for and honest review
Just Breathe is a nice contemporary romance that I am glad I stumbled upon. It was far from perfect and I did have some issues with it but for the most part I enjoyed it.
I thought this was well written and I enjoyed many factors about it. I thought the idea was good I liked that this was about a millionaire business man falling for a struggling yoga teacher. I expected that he would be quite uptight about struggle under the weight of his business and that she would be a free spirit that would blow his mind but it was actually the other way around.
Ethan was really nice and I really liked him, he was totally comfortable in his skin and although he had some issues he was willing to get over them and move on with his life. Dee was a completely different story, she was so uptight and had so many issues which directly contradicts he life as a hippy yoga teacher it just didn’t match. Her issues were a problem for me, sure she had been through a lot but her reaction to it all was over the top and she ended up hurting a lot of people around her and acting quite selfishly in my opinion. I did like her but it just couldn’t connect the two sides of her. The romance was nice and wasn’t overdone which I liked.
Just Breathe is not going to blow your mind, but it is a nice way to spend a few hours.
The publisher provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for and honest review
February 17, 2013
This book took my breath away. Dee has had a rough ten years coming back from a tragic accident and an idiot ex-fiancee. In steps Ethan a well knowm millionaire business man who's always seen out with constant different model type women. Worlds collide. Ethan opens up Dee's eyes to more but she gaurds her heart like a lion guarding her cubs. As Ethan sneeks in around the wall thar shes built around herself Dee has to face her fears or risk losing her chance of true happiness. I loved everything about this book...the characters...the storyline ..and the fantastic conclusion. I highly recommend this book it make us see where our true priorities should lie.
April 16, 2019
I really enjoyed that! Best $.09 I've spent.
Added later: I really enjoyed this refreshingly different book. I wish Ms. Paul would write more.
Added later: I really enjoyed this refreshingly different book. I wish Ms. Paul would write more.
March 15, 2019
4 stars
April 13, 2018
3 years, 5 months
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars
So. I enjoyed Just Breathe quite a bit but I found little to nothing funny about it. i>Just Breathe is touching and romantic but this -to me- is just another example of how humor can be so individual.
I would NOT call this one a RomCom, I feel this book is a lot closer to chick lit territory than comedy. The few moments where I *think* I was supposed to laugh were all slapstick humiliation. A thing which makes me cringe instead of laugh. I do not watch/read/enjoy watching someone get humiliated. It makes me uncomfortable.
Outside of the humiliation, this book is a slow burn romance. It’s not as good as a Mariana Zapata and it has (to my surprise) fade to black sex scenes! Whhaat??! Haven’t really run into those in forever. It worked for me, though.
Dee is a hippy yoga teacher who became a yoga teacher due to a terrible accident in her life. This accident changed her life permanently – making her into a hippy – and her family hated it and her lifestyle. I found it more than strange that her family – and others – had a problem with the heroine “just” being a yoga teacher. I mean, I know they have fitness professionals there so… It felt a little overdone just for characterization: to show that the heroine didn’t have her life together.
I liked the hero a lot, but he was sorta basic. Ethan was pretty close to a cardboard cutout for me but he was kind.
By the time I got to the end of the book, I had had more than enough of the heroine. She took things overboard for years and years – waaaay too overboard for me. I get that the accident, the related pain from the accident plus the heartbreak caused issues but the heroine had no interest in fixing issues.
But what was worse is that the book didn’t show her growth from that standpoint to fixing herself. It was “I can’t do futures ever!” all book long till we get to the Big Mis. Then suddenly she finds herself and its all good. Ummm, no. Life just doesn’t work that way. But I appreciated that she did get her shit together because her I can’t even think about having a real future or about the future period got super old super fast.
Either way, I still found this story touching and poignant and romantic. Just not funny at all.
3.5 stars rounded down to 3 stars
So. I enjoyed Just Breathe quite a bit but I found little to nothing funny about it. i>Just Breathe is touching and romantic but this -to me- is just another example of how humor can be so individual.
I would NOT call this one a RomCom, I feel this book is a lot closer to chick lit territory than comedy. The few moments where I *think* I was supposed to laugh were all slapstick humiliation. A thing which makes me cringe instead of laugh. I do not watch/read/enjoy watching someone get humiliated. It makes me uncomfortable.
Outside of the humiliation, this book is a slow burn romance. It’s not as good as a Mariana Zapata and it has (to my surprise) fade to black sex scenes! Whhaat??! Haven’t really run into those in forever. It worked for me, though.
Dee is a hippy yoga teacher who became a yoga teacher due to a terrible accident in her life. This accident changed her life permanently – making her into a hippy – and her family hated it and her lifestyle. I found it more than strange that her family – and others – had a problem with the heroine “just” being a yoga teacher. I mean, I know they have fitness professionals there so… It felt a little overdone just for characterization: to show that the heroine didn’t have her life together.
I liked the hero a lot, but he was sorta basic. Ethan was pretty close to a cardboard cutout for me but he was kind.
By the time I got to the end of the book, I had had more than enough of the heroine. She took things overboard for years and years – waaaay too overboard for me. I get that the accident, the related pain from the accident plus the heartbreak caused issues but the heroine had no interest in fixing issues.
But what was worse is that the book didn’t show her growth from that standpoint to fixing herself. It was “I can’t do futures ever!” all book long till we get to the Big Mis. Then suddenly she finds herself and its all good. Ummm, no. Life just doesn’t work that way. But I appreciated that she did get her shit together because her I can’t even think about having a real future or about the future period got super old super fast.
Either way, I still found this story touching and poignant and romantic. Just not funny at all.
September 11, 2020
Another contemporary romance, this time featuring Ethan Roxburgh, a cynical and "fabulous" male millionaire and Dee Nichols, a free-spirited, insecure yoga instructor. Both are beautiful and both have emotional baggage so can their two very different worlds work together?
It's a fast-paced, funny and sexy ride to see these two head-strong personalities manage their attraction while keeping their integrity.
Thank you to Ms. Paul, Random House Australia, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
It's a fast-paced, funny and sexy ride to see these two head-strong personalities manage their attraction while keeping their integrity.
Thank you to Ms. Paul, Random House Australia, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to review this book.
February 5, 2025
I loved it. First Janette Paul I've read, it won't be the last. I could physically feel Dee's pain and totally understand how a devastating accident had defined her. I loved the yoga references and the way the meditation came through gently. I found it wonderful, believable and thoughtful. Definitely the kind of book that I wanted so much to finish but didn't want it to end. A beautiful, beautiful book.
March 17, 2019
3.5 stars
I had been impressed with this author upon meeting her, so I was bewildered after reading a few pages in that the book wasn't good. Whilst genre books do miss out a lot of setup for immediate action, this book needed something to link us with the heroine before she met the hero. Nevertheless I persevered and I'm glad I did as there were moments of brilliance and I did enjoy it.
I had been impressed with this author upon meeting her, so I was bewildered after reading a few pages in that the book wasn't good. Whilst genre books do miss out a lot of setup for immediate action, this book needed something to link us with the heroine before she met the hero. Nevertheless I persevered and I'm glad I did as there were moments of brilliance and I did enjoy it.
January 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this light-hearted romance. It felt real and full of normal life drama.
It was full of wonderful characters and humour in between the glamorous world and the people on the other side of town.
Loved it 💕
It was full of wonderful characters and humour in between the glamorous world and the people on the other side of town.
Loved it 💕
December 12, 2013
I absolutely loved this book. I did not expect to enjoy it as much as I did, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this!
Dee Nichols is a yoga teacher. She took up yoga after a terrible car accident left her paralysed, but she was determined her injury was not going to define her and so took up yoga. She gained so much from the yoga that she became a yoga teacher.
Before the accident she had the kind of man in her life that many a woman dreams about - handsome, successful, wealthy....but after the accident Dee's ex just could not accept her and so he dumped her.
This made Dee determined never to get involved with a suit again. That was before she met Ethan Roxborough, a wealthy, handsome, successful businessman.
Dee was invited to the Christmas party of Lucy Roxborough, Ethan's sister whom she teaches yoga to, and the moment they met they became intrigued with one another.
Lucy offers Dee a job for a health insurance company that the Roxborough company owns, and given that Dee is short of cash she accepts.
We follow Dee on her journey to success. Prior to her accident she was a radiographer and had the kind of lifestyle her socialite mother approved of. After the accident Dee became so scared of committing to anything, or anyone, that she found she was thoroughly content with her "hippie" lifestyle, much to her mother's disdain.
After the success of the yoga commercial Dee becomes involved with Ethan, as a protege of sorts. Ethan offers Dee free business advice and promises to help her network. Inevitably they grow close and a secret romance starts up.
Ethan has a reputation of being a ladies man - he is always photographed in the media with a different woman on his arm, these women are dubbed Roxborough girls - and Dee is not so keen to fall into this category.
Inevitably their secret gets out and Dee overhears Ethan and Lucy discussing the matter, but misunderstands what they are saying. she storms out of Ethan's appartment, hurt, confused, humiliated, not giving either Ethan or Lucy the chance to explain themselves.
It is also at this time that Lucy goes away and her assistant cancels her yoga lessons with Dee, leaving Dee to feel that Lucy does not think she is good enough for her brother.
After a couple of weeks of moping and thoroughly feeling miserable, plus having quite a few business options to decide upon, Dee decides she may as well just follow her best friend abroad to help him with his yoga tours. But her mother suffers a heart attack and this tragedy helps Dee make her peace with her mum and also face the demons that have been haunting her since her accident.
It is at this time Lucy returns to the country and gets in touch with Dee, explaining her absence - which had nothing at all to do with Dee and Ethan and everything to do with her father-in-law taking ill. After realising she had been wrong about the day she overheard Ethan and Lucy talking about the affair. After a long chat, Lucy assures Dee that her brother is interested in her and also explains about the Roxborough girls - which is everything to do with publicity shots for social functions and nothing to do with Ethan's personal life.
She finally makes her peace with Ethan, and as is the way with this genre, they get their happy ending.
Highly recommending this book and giving it ***** 5 stars. Well worth a read!!!
Dee Nichols is a yoga teacher. She took up yoga after a terrible car accident left her paralysed, but she was determined her injury was not going to define her and so took up yoga. She gained so much from the yoga that she became a yoga teacher.
Before the accident she had the kind of man in her life that many a woman dreams about - handsome, successful, wealthy....but after the accident Dee's ex just could not accept her and so he dumped her.
This made Dee determined never to get involved with a suit again. That was before she met Ethan Roxborough, a wealthy, handsome, successful businessman.
Dee was invited to the Christmas party of Lucy Roxborough, Ethan's sister whom she teaches yoga to, and the moment they met they became intrigued with one another.
Lucy offers Dee a job for a health insurance company that the Roxborough company owns, and given that Dee is short of cash she accepts.
We follow Dee on her journey to success. Prior to her accident she was a radiographer and had the kind of lifestyle her socialite mother approved of. After the accident Dee became so scared of committing to anything, or anyone, that she found she was thoroughly content with her "hippie" lifestyle, much to her mother's disdain.
After the success of the yoga commercial Dee becomes involved with Ethan, as a protege of sorts. Ethan offers Dee free business advice and promises to help her network. Inevitably they grow close and a secret romance starts up.
Ethan has a reputation of being a ladies man - he is always photographed in the media with a different woman on his arm, these women are dubbed Roxborough girls - and Dee is not so keen to fall into this category.
Inevitably their secret gets out and Dee overhears Ethan and Lucy discussing the matter, but misunderstands what they are saying. she storms out of Ethan's appartment, hurt, confused, humiliated, not giving either Ethan or Lucy the chance to explain themselves.
It is also at this time that Lucy goes away and her assistant cancels her yoga lessons with Dee, leaving Dee to feel that Lucy does not think she is good enough for her brother.
After a couple of weeks of moping and thoroughly feeling miserable, plus having quite a few business options to decide upon, Dee decides she may as well just follow her best friend abroad to help him with his yoga tours. But her mother suffers a heart attack and this tragedy helps Dee make her peace with her mum and also face the demons that have been haunting her since her accident.
It is at this time Lucy returns to the country and gets in touch with Dee, explaining her absence - which had nothing at all to do with Dee and Ethan and everything to do with her father-in-law taking ill. After realising she had been wrong about the day she overheard Ethan and Lucy talking about the affair. After a long chat, Lucy assures Dee that her brother is interested in her and also explains about the Roxborough girls - which is everything to do with publicity shots for social functions and nothing to do with Ethan's personal life.
She finally makes her peace with Ethan, and as is the way with this genre, they get their happy ending.
Highly recommending this book and giving it ***** 5 stars. Well worth a read!!!
March 13, 2013
NetGalley free read
This isn't the typical romance novel, but I liked it. The things that I felt that where wrong was only that it seem to delve too long into the boring aspects of Dee's life. The boxes she bought while traveling, counting the money for the couch, shopping for the couch, etc. It would be different if it led somewhere but it didn't. I kept waiting for the roommate Pam to steal the money she kept in the books. I gave Ethan credit, because if someone who was thirty-one years old told me they kept their savings in a coffee table book, I would think they had lost their mind. I got confused a little by the many characters that were thrown at us in this book. I don't think anyone other than Dee and Ethan had fully formed characters. Even his sister Lucy, who was the catalyst to them meeting wasn't complete.
But saying all that, I didn't like it and found the two main characters charming. I loved how quirky Dee was. I had several crack-up moments. When she got caught on the door while working as a waitress at the event where Ethan was trying to introduce her to the Insurance client for the job and she smashes the tray of deserts onto her own face. I am still laughing when I think of when Ethan was trying to show what the worst that could happen if they capsized when he was trying to get her to go sailing with him.
Something slid past her leg - something slimy and slow. There it was again - slimy and slow and very fish-like. She snapped her legs back, keeping them high, hoping whatever was prowling about was dumb enough not to look up.
'This is nice.' Ethan's voice was so close she could feel his breath on her ear. 'But it might be easier if we both try to pull the boat up.'
'Huh?' De turned, saw his face just inches from her, which was a lot further away than the rest of her body. In recoiling from the slimy thing, she wrapped herself around him like a koala baby - legs around his wait, arms around his neck, everything else pressed hard up against him. A wave of heat washed over her - embarrassment with a touch of lust - and as the thought formed that she really made a very nice fit, she shoved away, surprised the water wasn't boiling from the blush in her face. 'Something was swimming around my legs and I, um, got nervous, and, ah....
I cried when her friend Emily died and Ethan took her to the funeral and stuck by her through her dispare.
I also understood how hard it was for her to take a risk after the things she'd had to endure in her past. But what she didn't realize was that her life living from moment was a risk in itself. It's hard not to prepare for what may or could happen next. And I understand the fear in failing to the point that she was afraid to take a risk on new things and new business.
I loved how once Ethan knew she was interested in him, he stuck with her and tried to make it work and get her to understand that he wasn't her past. He was sweet and ready for a real relationship after many years of staged or superficial relationships.
Reading this book made me wonder why I stopped doing yoga. I loved it and loved the restorative aspects of it. I put my yoga mat next to my bed this morning just like Dee. Nothing like rolling out of bed and right into a pose.
This isn't the typical romance novel, but I liked it. The things that I felt that where wrong was only that it seem to delve too long into the boring aspects of Dee's life. The boxes she bought while traveling, counting the money for the couch, shopping for the couch, etc. It would be different if it led somewhere but it didn't. I kept waiting for the roommate Pam to steal the money she kept in the books. I gave Ethan credit, because if someone who was thirty-one years old told me they kept their savings in a coffee table book, I would think they had lost their mind. I got confused a little by the many characters that were thrown at us in this book. I don't think anyone other than Dee and Ethan had fully formed characters. Even his sister Lucy, who was the catalyst to them meeting wasn't complete.
But saying all that, I didn't like it and found the two main characters charming. I loved how quirky Dee was. I had several crack-up moments. When she got caught on the door while working as a waitress at the event where Ethan was trying to introduce her to the Insurance client for the job and she smashes the tray of deserts onto her own face. I am still laughing when I think of when Ethan was trying to show what the worst that could happen if they capsized when he was trying to get her to go sailing with him.
Something slid past her leg - something slimy and slow. There it was again - slimy and slow and very fish-like. She snapped her legs back, keeping them high, hoping whatever was prowling about was dumb enough not to look up.
'This is nice.' Ethan's voice was so close she could feel his breath on her ear. 'But it might be easier if we both try to pull the boat up.'
'Huh?' De turned, saw his face just inches from her, which was a lot further away than the rest of her body. In recoiling from the slimy thing, she wrapped herself around him like a koala baby - legs around his wait, arms around his neck, everything else pressed hard up against him. A wave of heat washed over her - embarrassment with a touch of lust - and as the thought formed that she really made a very nice fit, she shoved away, surprised the water wasn't boiling from the blush in her face. 'Something was swimming around my legs and I, um, got nervous, and, ah....
I cried when her friend Emily died and Ethan took her to the funeral and stuck by her through her dispare.
I also understood how hard it was for her to take a risk after the things she'd had to endure in her past. But what she didn't realize was that her life living from moment was a risk in itself. It's hard not to prepare for what may or could happen next. And I understand the fear in failing to the point that she was afraid to take a risk on new things and new business.
I loved how once Ethan knew she was interested in him, he stuck with her and tried to make it work and get her to understand that he wasn't her past. He was sweet and ready for a real relationship after many years of staged or superficial relationships.
Reading this book made me wonder why I stopped doing yoga. I loved it and loved the restorative aspects of it. I put my yoga mat next to my bed this morning just like Dee. Nothing like rolling out of bed and right into a pose.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 22, 2013
This is the story of Dee; Dee the radiographer who becomes Dee the yoga teacher and then, to her surprise, Dee the tv star and finally Dee the businesswoman. In between she does a gig as Dee the waitress. She is also daughter, sister, aunt, best friend, colleague and, eventually, lover. But the path to finding her identity and her place within the world is complicated by fear.
We are brought into her life at a moment of unease. What happens when money is scarse, everyday expense are high, her roommate moves out with all the furnishings, debt to repair damage to said departing beloved roommate's car is added to the mix and work as a yoga instructor is oft times interrupted by the holidays and the schedules of the rich or illness of one particular private client. Supplementing income as a waitress for a friend's catering business threatens to upend potential nerve-wrecking, nail-biting foray into the world of modeling as a real to life yoga aficionado, when she upends a tray of pastries on herself in front of the client and perhaps, more embarrassing, the heartthrob board member, brother of her friend/client. Yes, there is a train running rampant here and it is randomly making stops at some choice locations as well as some on less solid ground.
We are reminded that life is not always fair. We learn to empathize with Dee. That can be difficult when we also want to scream at her to grab opportunities and muttur to ourselves that if we were in a similar position we would take immediate advantage of every opportunity being presented. After-all, how often do we have the chance of capturing the attention of a bachelor millionaire?
Repetition of movements is key to teaching ones muscles the flexibility necessary to master yoga moves and principals. That is taken one step further in this novel. We are often given insight into how Dee is feeling through descriptions of her gastro tract. I lost track at 19 references such as "anger brewing in her belly", "vaguely nauseous" and "huge glob of anxiety in her belly". This sits well with the concept of needing yoga as a way to rebuild her life after a future altering car accident. Deep breathing and movements that require serious concentration are part of the foundations that make yoga.
The author does not reserve her better descriptives for intestinal reactions. One of my favorite images was "she oozed herself into the chair next to him".
Dee's belly may give "a funny little jingle jangle" when she is near Ethan, but he becomes more than a rich, confident playboy as the story moves on. Like his appearance changes whether he is wearing a suite and tie compared to casual clothing, so does Dee when she is seen in her yoga attire or more infrequently in a cocktail dress and ill fitting heels. Each of them changes throughout the story and not just out of their clothing.
Smart descriptions, a strong understanding of anxiety and comprehension of the frightening pathway from the end of one presumed life track to repaving another makes this a read with many realistic moments and feelings for the reader to connect to.
We are brought into her life at a moment of unease. What happens when money is scarse, everyday expense are high, her roommate moves out with all the furnishings, debt to repair damage to said departing beloved roommate's car is added to the mix and work as a yoga instructor is oft times interrupted by the holidays and the schedules of the rich or illness of one particular private client. Supplementing income as a waitress for a friend's catering business threatens to upend potential nerve-wrecking, nail-biting foray into the world of modeling as a real to life yoga aficionado, when she upends a tray of pastries on herself in front of the client and perhaps, more embarrassing, the heartthrob board member, brother of her friend/client. Yes, there is a train running rampant here and it is randomly making stops at some choice locations as well as some on less solid ground.
We are reminded that life is not always fair. We learn to empathize with Dee. That can be difficult when we also want to scream at her to grab opportunities and muttur to ourselves that if we were in a similar position we would take immediate advantage of every opportunity being presented. After-all, how often do we have the chance of capturing the attention of a bachelor millionaire?
Repetition of movements is key to teaching ones muscles the flexibility necessary to master yoga moves and principals. That is taken one step further in this novel. We are often given insight into how Dee is feeling through descriptions of her gastro tract. I lost track at 19 references such as "anger brewing in her belly", "vaguely nauseous" and "huge glob of anxiety in her belly". This sits well with the concept of needing yoga as a way to rebuild her life after a future altering car accident. Deep breathing and movements that require serious concentration are part of the foundations that make yoga.
The author does not reserve her better descriptives for intestinal reactions. One of my favorite images was "she oozed herself into the chair next to him".
Dee's belly may give "a funny little jingle jangle" when she is near Ethan, but he becomes more than a rich, confident playboy as the story moves on. Like his appearance changes whether he is wearing a suite and tie compared to casual clothing, so does Dee when she is seen in her yoga attire or more infrequently in a cocktail dress and ill fitting heels. Each of them changes throughout the story and not just out of their clothing.
Smart descriptions, a strong understanding of anxiety and comprehension of the frightening pathway from the end of one presumed life track to repaving another makes this a read with many realistic moments and feelings for the reader to connect to.
February 26, 2016
Ein Yoga-Buch also. Ich muss zugeben, auch mich hat das ein bisschen nervös gemacht und ich wusste erst nicht, ob das Buch was für mich sein wird oder nicht.
Warum? Weil es zwei Sorten von Yogis gibt. Solche die Yoga praktizieren, als Sport oder zur Entspannung, danach von ihrer Matte aufstehen und ihr Leben "normal" weiterleben. Und solche die Yoga leben. Die letztere Fraktion hat dann immer so ein bisschen was von Esotherik, Aryuveda und Spiritualismus. Alles Dinge, mit denen ich nicht so richtig was anfangen kann.
Die Hauptfigur im Buch, Dee, ist so ein kleiner Misch-Masch aus beiden Fraktionen und genau das macht "Mann oder Mantra" für mich so interessant.
Dee hat einen schweren Autounfall hinter sich, und dabei fast alles verloren was ihr wichtig war, inklusive ihrem damaligen Verlobten. Sie hat den Weg zum Yoga gefunden, um die chronischen Rückenschmerzen los zu werden die sie seit dem Unfall plagen. Sie hat zwar in Indien bei einem "echten" Guru gelernt, den Lebensstil aber nicht mitgebracht. Sie isst was sie in die Finger bekommt, trinkt Wein, und zwingt niemandem Yoga auf. Ein Yogi nach meinem Geschmack. Ich würde mich direkt für ihren nächsten Kurs anmelden.
Von der Handlung her, ist "Mann oder Mantra" sehr einfach gestrickt. Armes Mädchen verliebt sich in reichen Prinz, sie verlieben sich und beider Welten werden auf den Kopf gestellt. Klingt wie etwas, das man schon tausend Mal gelesen hat. Dadurch kann man viele Wendungen und Handlungsstränge schon sehr früh erahnen. Aber es geht bei so einer Geschichte auch nicht wirklich darum, was passiert, oder?
Mir hat gefallen, wie die Geschichte erzählt wurde. Janette Pauls Schreibstil ist leicht und locker; es lässt sich gut weg lesen auch wenn schlimme Dinge passieren. Es gab keinen Moment wo die Handlung zäh voran ging, oder ich mich gelangweilt hätte.
Dafür war ich einfach viel zu begeistert von den Yoga Elementen, die sehr schön und manchmal ganz beiläufig in die Handlung eingestreut wurden. Manchmal brauchte es nur einmal Ein- und Ausatmen um mich zum Lächeln zu bringen. Ich habe mich in dem Buch so zu Hause gefühlt, wie in einem guten Yoga Studio. (wenn das Sinn macht ;) ) Dee hat im Alltag viel mit Stress zu Kämpfen, sie bekommt Druck ab von allen Seiten. Dazu kommen noch ihre chronischen Schmerzen und Angstattacken, Überbleibsel von dem Autounfall. Zu sehen, bzw. zu lesen, wie man solchen Situationen mit Yoga entgegen kommen kann. Atmen, Vorbeugen, Kriegerin sein… hat mir ein Lächeln ins Gesicht gezaubert.
Ich bin ab jetzt ein Fan von Yoga Romanen. Schade, dass es davon nicht so viele gibt. Also, liebe Verlage, Autoren und Yoga Lehrer, mehr davon bitte!
"Hatte Sie Angst vor einer Zukunft oder einfach nur Angst vor dem Leben?"
Warum? Weil es zwei Sorten von Yogis gibt. Solche die Yoga praktizieren, als Sport oder zur Entspannung, danach von ihrer Matte aufstehen und ihr Leben "normal" weiterleben. Und solche die Yoga leben. Die letztere Fraktion hat dann immer so ein bisschen was von Esotherik, Aryuveda und Spiritualismus. Alles Dinge, mit denen ich nicht so richtig was anfangen kann.
Die Hauptfigur im Buch, Dee, ist so ein kleiner Misch-Masch aus beiden Fraktionen und genau das macht "Mann oder Mantra" für mich so interessant.
"Es ist halt so, Sie müssten ein bisschen ätherischer rüberkommen. Meinen Sie, Sie können ätherisch?" (S.74)
Dee hat einen schweren Autounfall hinter sich, und dabei fast alles verloren was ihr wichtig war, inklusive ihrem damaligen Verlobten. Sie hat den Weg zum Yoga gefunden, um die chronischen Rückenschmerzen los zu werden die sie seit dem Unfall plagen. Sie hat zwar in Indien bei einem "echten" Guru gelernt, den Lebensstil aber nicht mitgebracht. Sie isst was sie in die Finger bekommt, trinkt Wein, und zwingt niemandem Yoga auf. Ein Yogi nach meinem Geschmack. Ich würde mich direkt für ihren nächsten Kurs anmelden.
Von der Handlung her, ist "Mann oder Mantra" sehr einfach gestrickt. Armes Mädchen verliebt sich in reichen Prinz, sie verlieben sich und beider Welten werden auf den Kopf gestellt. Klingt wie etwas, das man schon tausend Mal gelesen hat. Dadurch kann man viele Wendungen und Handlungsstränge schon sehr früh erahnen. Aber es geht bei so einer Geschichte auch nicht wirklich darum, was passiert, oder?
"Die Kriegerstellung fördert Mut und Selbstbewusstsein." Weil eine Kriegerin Mut und Selbstbewusstsein brauchte, um in den Kampf zu ziehen. Um sich ihren Ängsten zu stellen. (S.415)
Mir hat gefallen, wie die Geschichte erzählt wurde. Janette Pauls Schreibstil ist leicht und locker; es lässt sich gut weg lesen auch wenn schlimme Dinge passieren. Es gab keinen Moment wo die Handlung zäh voran ging, oder ich mich gelangweilt hätte.
Dafür war ich einfach viel zu begeistert von den Yoga Elementen, die sehr schön und manchmal ganz beiläufig in die Handlung eingestreut wurden. Manchmal brauchte es nur einmal Ein- und Ausatmen um mich zum Lächeln zu bringen. Ich habe mich in dem Buch so zu Hause gefühlt, wie in einem guten Yoga Studio. (wenn das Sinn macht ;) ) Dee hat im Alltag viel mit Stress zu Kämpfen, sie bekommt Druck ab von allen Seiten. Dazu kommen noch ihre chronischen Schmerzen und Angstattacken, Überbleibsel von dem Autounfall. Zu sehen, bzw. zu lesen, wie man solchen Situationen mit Yoga entgegen kommen kann. Atmen, Vorbeugen, Kriegerin sein… hat mir ein Lächeln ins Gesicht gezaubert.
Ich bin ab jetzt ein Fan von Yoga Romanen. Schade, dass es davon nicht so viele gibt. Also, liebe Verlage, Autoren und Yoga Lehrer, mehr davon bitte!
February 3, 2013
Just Breathe is the second of the Random Romance books I have read (the first being One Little White Lie) and if the quality so far is anything to go by, I’ll be reading this series in its entirety! This is another light, fun book you can completely lose yourself in (whether you’re on a busy train or ignoring household chores)!
Janette Paul is better known as Jaye Ford, who writes crime and thriller books such as Scared Yet? and Beyond Fear. I haven’t read any of those books yet, but I’m hoping she writes some more romance books as Janette Paul! Although the overall theme of this book is romance, there are several other plots such as loss, finances (don’t worry, it’s not boring) and growing up.
The protagonist of this book is Dee (short for Trudy – but only called that by her disapproving mother), a yoga teacher who lives in the moment after a life changing accident. Dee doesn’t like to plan for the future – she’s done that once and it collapsed spectacularly. So her rule is never more than a few weeks at a time – she doesn’t have a bank account, a stable income or a mortgage. These things just tie you down.
One of Dee’s yoga students, Lucy, nominates her to be the face of a health insurance company’s ads. Reluctantly, Dee does the commercials and the print media (if only to get her finances off life support) and she’s an instant star. She attracts the notice of Lucy’s brother, Ethan Roxburgh, a rich businessman. Ethan, a notorious womaniser, works with Dee to ‘market her product’ with sometimes hilarious results – from the throwing of shoes to the falling down dress. Will Dee and Ethan be able to get it together when they have such different philosophies?
You probably already know the answer to that question, but the book is a lot of fun in addition to being quite relaxing because of all the yoga. (I’ve been springing a few Warrior Poses since trying to make myself stronger like Dee). It’s okay if you don’t know yoga as Dee explains the poses and the rationale to her students. It’s also not a big deal if you don’t like yoga because it doesn’t take up large chunks of the book.
The other thing on Dee’s mind – to put down roots, find a ‘real’ job and get a mortgage like her mother continually suggests will be familiar to readers of a certain age. Dee’s constant refusal is a nice rebuttal to what society continually expects everyone to do.
Just one thing – this book is about the romance. If you’re looking for sex scenes, you’ll be disappointed. I didn’t mind it because I got wrapped up in the story – how much were Dee and Ethan willing to change for each other? Both of them were sweet characters with enough individuality to not fit the mould and there’s quite a few humourous moments.
I really enjoyed this book – it turned some stereotypes on their heads and was incredibly well written in terms of plot, speech and description. Well worth it!
Thank you to Random House Australia for providing me with an ARC of this book.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Janette Paul is better known as Jaye Ford, who writes crime and thriller books such as Scared Yet? and Beyond Fear. I haven’t read any of those books yet, but I’m hoping she writes some more romance books as Janette Paul! Although the overall theme of this book is romance, there are several other plots such as loss, finances (don’t worry, it’s not boring) and growing up.
The protagonist of this book is Dee (short for Trudy – but only called that by her disapproving mother), a yoga teacher who lives in the moment after a life changing accident. Dee doesn’t like to plan for the future – she’s done that once and it collapsed spectacularly. So her rule is never more than a few weeks at a time – she doesn’t have a bank account, a stable income or a mortgage. These things just tie you down.
One of Dee’s yoga students, Lucy, nominates her to be the face of a health insurance company’s ads. Reluctantly, Dee does the commercials and the print media (if only to get her finances off life support) and she’s an instant star. She attracts the notice of Lucy’s brother, Ethan Roxburgh, a rich businessman. Ethan, a notorious womaniser, works with Dee to ‘market her product’ with sometimes hilarious results – from the throwing of shoes to the falling down dress. Will Dee and Ethan be able to get it together when they have such different philosophies?
You probably already know the answer to that question, but the book is a lot of fun in addition to being quite relaxing because of all the yoga. (I’ve been springing a few Warrior Poses since trying to make myself stronger like Dee). It’s okay if you don’t know yoga as Dee explains the poses and the rationale to her students. It’s also not a big deal if you don’t like yoga because it doesn’t take up large chunks of the book.
The other thing on Dee’s mind – to put down roots, find a ‘real’ job and get a mortgage like her mother continually suggests will be familiar to readers of a certain age. Dee’s constant refusal is a nice rebuttal to what society continually expects everyone to do.
Just one thing – this book is about the romance. If you’re looking for sex scenes, you’ll be disappointed. I didn’t mind it because I got wrapped up in the story – how much were Dee and Ethan willing to change for each other? Both of them were sweet characters with enough individuality to not fit the mould and there’s quite a few humourous moments.
I really enjoyed this book – it turned some stereotypes on their heads and was incredibly well written in terms of plot, speech and description. Well worth it!
Thank you to Random House Australia for providing me with an ARC of this book.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
February 12, 2013
Just Breathe is a gorgeous, clever, romantic comedy by writer, Janette Paul (aka Jaye Ford).Dee Nichols is a 31 year-old yoga teacher whose life was shattered when she was involved in a car accident ten years ago. After the accident, her fiancée left her as he couldn’t cope with her severe injuries which included a broken back, broken ribs – not to mention a broken heart. With her life in a million pieces, Dee finds yoga is the only thing that helps – both with the pain and the panic attacks. Because of the accident, she finds it impossible to believe in a future more than two weeks away, preferring to subscribe to the yogic mantra of living in the moment. She finds she is good at it and decides to teach so she can help others in need.
Then along comes Ethan Roxburgh. Gorgeous, tall, and a very successful millionaire businessman, Ethan is the head of Roxburgh Holdings. Dee meets him when Ethan’s sister Lucy, one of Dee’s yoga students, introduces them, and Dee is enlisted to be the face of the new Health Life Insurance TV ad campaign. Ethan, of course, sits on the board of Health Life Insurance, and offers to be a business mentor to Dee.
Dee very quickly develops a huge crush on Ethan, but believes he will never feel the same way. Ethan is well known for always having a string of “Roxburgh Girls” on his arm, but unbeknownst to Dee, he may just be looking for something more real! Gradually, Ethan begins to invite Dee to his business meetings – to help her with business contacts. One of these meetings reminded me so much of Pretty Woman (albeit without the prostitution!). Roxburgh Holdings is about to buy a small manufacturing business and at the last minute the deal looks set to fail. Just like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman, Dee saves the situation by talking to the owners about their business and referring to it as their ‘family’, making the business deal seem much more human.
Dee’s character also provides a comical element to the story. She often comes across as being quite ditzy and is often having little ‘accidents’. There are various incidents involving her car, a few involving shoes, and one hilarious moment which sees Dee wrestling a tray of mini citrus tarts.
I loved the characters of Dee and Ethan and I think, for me, the novel is summed up at the end when Ethan says to Dee:
“By the way, your packaging is far superior to any Roxburgh Girl’s. Theirs is all shiny paper and pretty bows but it tears when you unwrap it….But you’re wrapped in something organic and exotic, like hand-painted raw silk. It’s beautiful, strong, durable, incredibly sexy to touch.” Dee replies, “And what’s inside?”
Ethan answers, “Something unique, something you can’t buy, something I’ve been looking for all my life…It’s you, Dee. You’re what’s inside.”
Like Dee, that had me melting right down to my sandals!
I loved this book, and hope that Janette continues her for a into romance writing.
9/10
Then along comes Ethan Roxburgh. Gorgeous, tall, and a very successful millionaire businessman, Ethan is the head of Roxburgh Holdings. Dee meets him when Ethan’s sister Lucy, one of Dee’s yoga students, introduces them, and Dee is enlisted to be the face of the new Health Life Insurance TV ad campaign. Ethan, of course, sits on the board of Health Life Insurance, and offers to be a business mentor to Dee.
Dee very quickly develops a huge crush on Ethan, but believes he will never feel the same way. Ethan is well known for always having a string of “Roxburgh Girls” on his arm, but unbeknownst to Dee, he may just be looking for something more real! Gradually, Ethan begins to invite Dee to his business meetings – to help her with business contacts. One of these meetings reminded me so much of Pretty Woman (albeit without the prostitution!). Roxburgh Holdings is about to buy a small manufacturing business and at the last minute the deal looks set to fail. Just like Julia Roberts’ character in Pretty Woman, Dee saves the situation by talking to the owners about their business and referring to it as their ‘family’, making the business deal seem much more human.
Dee’s character also provides a comical element to the story. She often comes across as being quite ditzy and is often having little ‘accidents’. There are various incidents involving her car, a few involving shoes, and one hilarious moment which sees Dee wrestling a tray of mini citrus tarts.
I loved the characters of Dee and Ethan and I think, for me, the novel is summed up at the end when Ethan says to Dee:
“By the way, your packaging is far superior to any Roxburgh Girl’s. Theirs is all shiny paper and pretty bows but it tears when you unwrap it….But you’re wrapped in something organic and exotic, like hand-painted raw silk. It’s beautiful, strong, durable, incredibly sexy to touch.” Dee replies, “And what’s inside?”
Ethan answers, “Something unique, something you can’t buy, something I’ve been looking for all my life…It’s you, Dee. You’re what’s inside.”
Like Dee, that had me melting right down to my sandals!
I loved this book, and hope that Janette continues her for a into romance writing.
9/10
January 23, 2013
Just Breathe Janette Paul
I received this via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I don't gush and give false praise – I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.
I have a weakness for good contemporary romance. When I say “good” I mean the sort that has a decent back story carrying the romance – in Just Breathe I wasn't disappointed. From the start I was pulled into the story meeting Ethan (yum!) and Dee immediately at a party. Dee is out of sight of the main party in a borrowed dress and impossible heels (always on the edge of financial penury she keeps raiding her sisters wardrobe), she throws the shoes over a balcony “instruments or torture “ she cries, not knowing that Ethan is hiding out also avoiding meeting his sisters yoga teacher he tells her. What he doesn't know and Dee doesn't tell him is that she's that person. He takes it in good part when he discovers this and the attraction between them begins. Its a gentle and touching romance where he's taking her out “not on a date” but as a companion, and she's 2not on a date” with him but meeting people he thinks will help her business. She's a funny but protective family, with a mum who's a steamroller in her life but only trying to help Dee get past the serious accident and its consequences and he's trying to get past the Playboy label the media have given him. They're total opposites, dee convinced living only in the presnet and not planning more than two weeks ahead is essential and Ethan being business focussed always on long term issues. Yet there is a spark that draws them to each other and turns their ordered lives around.
Its a well structured novel, characters that seem real and that the reader can like, plots that pull the main characters together slowly but without giving too much of the background of each away. What’s in the past is important for both of them because it shapes much of their present behaviours and slowly little hints trick;le out and we get to understand them and their motives better. There's laughter aplenty here along with a smattering of tears and it all gels to make a superb novel. It looks to me to be a début one for Janette as I can't find more of her work and if so she's certainly talented and one to follow if you like a solid, diverting romance.
The book itself is very well put together, properly edited and a good length at 304 pages on kindle. My only criticism is the price - £8.05 on amazon...and sadly although this book is excellent so are many many others in the £4-6 price range and I think that the price will affect sales, and readers will miss out on what is a great and compelling romance. For this reason I'm giving it 4 stars and not 5.
I received this via Netgalley in return for an honest review. I don't gush and give false praise – I don't believe that helps readers or authors so what you read is what I truly feel about a book.
I have a weakness for good contemporary romance. When I say “good” I mean the sort that has a decent back story carrying the romance – in Just Breathe I wasn't disappointed. From the start I was pulled into the story meeting Ethan (yum!) and Dee immediately at a party. Dee is out of sight of the main party in a borrowed dress and impossible heels (always on the edge of financial penury she keeps raiding her sisters wardrobe), she throws the shoes over a balcony “instruments or torture “ she cries, not knowing that Ethan is hiding out also avoiding meeting his sisters yoga teacher he tells her. What he doesn't know and Dee doesn't tell him is that she's that person. He takes it in good part when he discovers this and the attraction between them begins. Its a gentle and touching romance where he's taking her out “not on a date” but as a companion, and she's 2not on a date” with him but meeting people he thinks will help her business. She's a funny but protective family, with a mum who's a steamroller in her life but only trying to help Dee get past the serious accident and its consequences and he's trying to get past the Playboy label the media have given him. They're total opposites, dee convinced living only in the presnet and not planning more than two weeks ahead is essential and Ethan being business focussed always on long term issues. Yet there is a spark that draws them to each other and turns their ordered lives around.
Its a well structured novel, characters that seem real and that the reader can like, plots that pull the main characters together slowly but without giving too much of the background of each away. What’s in the past is important for both of them because it shapes much of their present behaviours and slowly little hints trick;le out and we get to understand them and their motives better. There's laughter aplenty here along with a smattering of tears and it all gels to make a superb novel. It looks to me to be a début one for Janette as I can't find more of her work and if so she's certainly talented and one to follow if you like a solid, diverting romance.
The book itself is very well put together, properly edited and a good length at 304 pages on kindle. My only criticism is the price - £8.05 on amazon...and sadly although this book is excellent so are many many others in the £4-6 price range and I think that the price will affect sales, and readers will miss out on what is a great and compelling romance. For this reason I'm giving it 4 stars and not 5.
January 23, 2013
Reviewed for Confessions From Romaholics
To see review at Confessions
Just Breathe is the author’s first book under the penname Jeanette Paul. Aussie readers may be more familiar with her other name, crime writer Jaye Ford. I haven’t had an opportunity to read any of her books under Ford, but when I have some free time (namely, low review pile!) I am going to try and find her books.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to find with this book about a modern day hippie named Dee and a rich guy, Ethan Roxburgh, who happen to meet one another at a party. Ethan is intrigued by her; Dee is not the typical kind of girl attending these parties and she’s not a Roxburgh girl, the name given to every girl that’s seen with him. Instead, she’s a woman who is struggling with her life and the only one constant in it is her yoga which she teaches. The only reason she is at the party is because she was invited by a client who happens to be Ethan’s sister, Lucy. Ethan and Dee talk and Dee makes her escape, thinking that will be the end of him but it isn’t as Lucy has an idea and she’s dragging Dee in on it.
Lucy runs a marketing agency and her brother Ethan is in charge of the family holdings. They want a model for an ad for their health insurance company and Lucy thinks Dee is perfect since she got an earthly look and is good at yoga. However, Dee is against it; she never plans ahead and she’s happy living as she does … until two things happen.
Her best friend moves and he pretty much owned all the furniture.
Her mother is at it again, as usual, but this time she’s resorted to blackmail because of her Aunty May money. She wants her to stop living her current lifestyle.
With all this pressure building on her, Dee agrees and is thrust into a new world of the rich and famous when Lucy decides to take it further, creating a series of videos, all featuring Dee. Ethan seems to be ever present at these events, be it promos or shootings, and Dee discovers that the Ethan the public knows is not who he really is and she starts to fall in love with him.
I love this story, on one side it’s cheesy and cliché, like something from of an category romance. You can’t help falling in love with Dee, she’s in her thirties and doing what she likes and her mother is still trying to control her. The other side is deep: Dee is not some flighty girl, she cares for her friends, clients and family and she is there for them. There are some wonderful tearjerker moments in this book too.
To see review at Confessions
Just Breathe is the author’s first book under the penname Jeanette Paul. Aussie readers may be more familiar with her other name, crime writer Jaye Ford. I haven’t had an opportunity to read any of her books under Ford, but when I have some free time (namely, low review pile!) I am going to try and find her books.
I wasn’t sure what I was going to find with this book about a modern day hippie named Dee and a rich guy, Ethan Roxburgh, who happen to meet one another at a party. Ethan is intrigued by her; Dee is not the typical kind of girl attending these parties and she’s not a Roxburgh girl, the name given to every girl that’s seen with him. Instead, she’s a woman who is struggling with her life and the only one constant in it is her yoga which she teaches. The only reason she is at the party is because she was invited by a client who happens to be Ethan’s sister, Lucy. Ethan and Dee talk and Dee makes her escape, thinking that will be the end of him but it isn’t as Lucy has an idea and she’s dragging Dee in on it.
Lucy runs a marketing agency and her brother Ethan is in charge of the family holdings. They want a model for an ad for their health insurance company and Lucy thinks Dee is perfect since she got an earthly look and is good at yoga. However, Dee is against it; she never plans ahead and she’s happy living as she does … until two things happen.
Her best friend moves and he pretty much owned all the furniture.
Her mother is at it again, as usual, but this time she’s resorted to blackmail because of her Aunty May money. She wants her to stop living her current lifestyle.
With all this pressure building on her, Dee agrees and is thrust into a new world of the rich and famous when Lucy decides to take it further, creating a series of videos, all featuring Dee. Ethan seems to be ever present at these events, be it promos or shootings, and Dee discovers that the Ethan the public knows is not who he really is and she starts to fall in love with him.
I love this story, on one side it’s cheesy and cliché, like something from of an category romance. You can’t help falling in love with Dee, she’s in her thirties and doing what she likes and her mother is still trying to control her. The other side is deep: Dee is not some flighty girl, she cares for her friends, clients and family and she is there for them. There are some wonderful tearjerker moments in this book too.
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