First Breath

by Maureen Turner

When James first fell to the floor of her bedroom, morphing from a drawing created by Jo during her teens, she was understandably terrified. Things like this just didn't happen in small English market towns like Marlham. Only when she realised that he was equally panic-stricken did she decide to go against all her instincts of seeking help. Instead, she tried to make some sort of sense from his inconceivable appearance. In trying to help him come to terms with his inception she set in motion a chain of events that would bind them together in a relationship of trust, love, and betrayal in equal measure. Their need to lie about his sudden appearance threatened to overwhelm them, but once embarked upon it was impossible to break free of this course of action. Their friendship inevitably grew into an all-consuming love affair leading to Jo taking the law into her own hands in revenge against their nemesis Carter. Could this ever have a happy ending?

532 pages, Paperback

First published August 7, 2012

About the author

Although born in Birmingham in the Midlands I have lived in Gloucestershire for the past thirty years. I applied for redundancy following 25 years as a teaching assistant in a rural Gloucestershire school. I had already started writing my debut novel First Breath before finishing work and completed the writing in 2012. The book was published in August 2012. Since then I have penned a further three novels and a collection of short stories. All have been published as e books and most as traditional books as well. Two of the e books were later re-published as one traditional novel. All my novels are in the fantasy romance genre. My collection of short stories are multiple genre. My writing has been influenced by many authors from H.G. Wells to Laini Taylor. As well as fantasy romance I enjoy reading Historical, sci fi and contemporary books.
My books are: First Breath...
Malchediel-Warrior Angel...
Amy-Nephilim Freedom Fighter...
Do Androids Dream?...
Purgatory...
Wings Unfurled.
I am 45,000 words into my latest book as yet untitled.

Reviews

[Millie Thom · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Breath is a unique and totally captivating fantasy romance and is the third book I’ve read by this author. It held me engaged throughout and I found I wanted to keep reading in order to find out what happened next!

There is a great cast of characters, some to love and some to despise, and even some to feel sorry for. All are well defined and realistic in their pursuit of everyday life, and even the fantasy element seems very real and believable. The novel is well-paced, with a variety of settings which all add to the interest and spectacle. The story of Jo and her unusual, extremely handsome, and talented boyfriend plays out between the very ordinary way of life in a small English town, and that of the heaving city of London (and even a trip out to steamy-hot Malaysia) where we are plunged into the madcap, competitive and dedicated world of upmarket photography and high fashion.

I found it a fascinating look at the world of photography and the technical ‘know how’ involved in creating prints for publication in glossy magazines, prestigious publications and exhibitions. Similarly, I enjoyed the glimpse into the world of high fashion and the many pressures it imposes on both models and photographers. The story of Jo and James is an emotional roller coaster and had me reaching for the tissue box in parts.

Overall, a very enjoyable, highly descriptive and well-structured novel, and I couldn’t help thinking what a great film it would make.

[James Paddock · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Breath... a story that will leave you breathless.

Jo, a young woman barely beyond a girl, following a night of depression, awakens to discover the pencil drawing of a handsome man she'd created as a teenager, gone, leaving behind a blank sheet of paper still attached to her bathroom door, the image itself having morphed into a three-dimensional pile on the floor of her bedroom. The man, no longer a drawing, was very much alive, trying to pick himself up off the floor, confused and disoriented and, like she, panic-stricken.

After getting beyond the terrifying discovery of this man in her bedroom, Jo begins to realize he is everything she ever imagined: her creation; a real-life figment of her dreams. And because she'd created him, all his history, his memories that is, are her memories. He could recall things about her childhood that she had long forgotten.

Could she have really wished this hunk into existence?

Head librarian at the local library in the town of Marlham, England, Jo finds it a challenge to explain this handsome man's sudden appearance in her life, but between the two of them they concoct a name, James Smith, and an amnesia story that gradually becomes accepted among her friends and colleagues, and eventually, the community, even to the point of securing a driver's license and passport.

And of course, he becomes her lover and all is well and beautiful in Jo's life... until...

Jo has come to believe that James entered her life as a result of her unhappiness which gradually faded away until all that was left was total and unmitigated bliss. Then one day she notices the drawing paper from which James took his first breath, until then completely blank, still attached to the back of her bedroom door. The image is returning, starting with the feet, and she becomes convinced that because she is happy it'll continue to return until one day the real life James will cease to exist, that he came into her life only long enough to pull her from her depressed state. She is so certain of this that she convinces him to move away, to London, to continue on with his life, his education and career, without her, to break all contact with her. It'll devastate her but he will be alive, a sacrifice she has no choice but to make.
And that is where First Breath really finds ground and where I kept wanting to pick it up to find out what was going to happen next. Were they ever going to get back together, would he ever find out that when he left her behind she was with child, that he was to become a father, this figment of Jo's wish for the perfect man? Months go by and then years and I hold my breath from chapter to chapter.

Could this ever have a happy ending? I dare not reveal anymore.

[Sherrie Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantasy romance with a difference, the leading man materialises from a drawing! An unusual concept but a captivating story as his relationship with his creator develops. As James becomes accustomed to life as a real person we see him fall in love, become involved with a very driven and somewhat selfish model in London, and know hurt from different aspects. I won't go into more of the story for the risk of giving away spoilers but it is well worth a read and deserving of five stars. I must say I loved London Fashion Week though!

This is a revised edition of Maureen Turner's first novel and just as good to read second time round. Her writing is superb, her stories always unique, I've read all of them since discovering her and will read whatever she writes in the future. She is one of my favourite authors.

[Sherrie Lowe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantasy romance takes on many forms and none more delightful than Maureen Turner's books.

How many millions of posters of handsome young men adorn the walls of teenage girls? How many times have those girls wished they were real? Ms Turner takes us on an intriguing trip into this fantasy with a wonderfully woven tale beginning with a drawing of Jo's when she was sixteen.

If that isn't enough, wait until you meet Elfin....

I have now read all of this author's books after discovering them on twitter and I have to say that the quality of the writing and the content is far superior to many that I've read by traditionally published authors. Her imagination is amazing and her research thorough. I'd like to see her make the right contacts and enjoy the success she truly deserves.