Breathe Me In

by J.L. Drake

In this heart-pounding suspense, a private investigator is drawn back to her small town to investigate a series of strange deaths and confront the haunting past she can no longer outrun.

As teenagers, Bree Jaminson and Brad Stone shared everything: dreams, secrets…and one terrifying brush with death they’ll never forget. After witnessing a murderer disposing of two bodies, Bree fled from her hometown, the boy who knew her best, and the terror of a killer still at large, and never looked back.

Thirteen years later, a new string of mysterious deaths brings Bree back to town to assist with the investigation and face the man she never thought she’d see again. Now a local detective, Brad is wary of working alongside Bree, and her return cracks open everything he’s tried to bury: The memories. The spark. The pull that never really faded.

As new bodies begin to surface and the web of suspects grows, Bree and Brad must navigate the thin line between justice and obsession. But despite the looming danger, this could be the push they needed back to each other—if they live long enough to claim their second chance.

303 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 30, 2026

About the author

International best selling author J. L. Drake was born and raised in Nova Scotia, Canada, later moving to Southern California where she lives with her husband and two children.

Be sure to check out her bestselling trilogy, Broken!

All of her books link in someway, here is her
"Suggested Reading Order."


BROKEN
SHATTERED
MENDED

HONOR
ESCAPE

TRIGGER
DEMONS
UNLEASHED

FREEDOM
OMERTA - Short story (Mafia)
COURAGE

DARKNESS LURKS
DARKNESS FOLLOWS
DARKNESS FALLS

BEHIND MY WORDS
CHRISTMAS AT THE CABIN - Short Story

ALL IN

QUIET WEALTH
QUIET SECRETS
QUIET POWER
QUIET EMPIRE

SHADOWS
WHISKEY
ALPHA
TANGO

GRIM
HAVOC
SINS

EXTRACTION
EMBEDDED
BREACHED

Other places to find her:,

Facebook ⭐️ https://bit.ly/3bRG7Vp
Instagram ⭐️ https://bit.ly/341eEh8
TikTok⭐️ https://bit.ly/3wZGSck
Reader Group ⭐️https://bit.ly/3TOBIJ0
Email ⭐️ JLDrake@AuthorJLDrake.com
Newsletter ⭐️ http://bit.ly/2QZZEut
Website ⭐️ https://bit.ly/34b4OcN

Reviews

[Bookishness]

~pre-read, received an ARC, looks like a fun A thriller mystery romance about a series of strange deaths.. Looked interesting, will give a try when I need a palate cleanser..

[Amanda Mohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book completely pulled me in from the very first word. The story is layered with so many different twists and turns, a big web of suspense. What I loved most about it is you get ideas but not enough to actually figure it out, you're trying to untangle something but it's just right there out of your reach. Way to go JL Drake you absolutely slayed it with this book, I can't wait for the next one.

[Deborah Peach · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathe Me In is an intense, heart-pounding, spine-tingling, psychological thriller, steal your breath mystery whodunit. Hooking me from the start and filled with romantic angst, the story follows two friends who bond after witnessing a tragedy that traumatizes them for life, each taking a different path to cope with the fallout. Bree and Brad's chemistry is off the charts as they work together to solve a rash of crimes in their small town, using police procedures and some not-so-on-board solutions to restore safety for the population. As they face off against the antagonist and dangerous situations, Breathe Me In will keep you on the edge of your seat with its many twists and turns. There is a secondary story woven in behind that remains unsolved, teasing and tantalizing you further. Even though there is a conclusion to Breathe Me In, there is still more to Brad and Bree's overall story, and I am beyond ready for more.

[Rachel Womack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathe Me In grabbed me and held me in captive suspense from the very beginning. The trauma bond shared by Bree and Brad pulled them together while also acting like a magnet and pushed them away from each other for a long period of time. Their reintroduction was brilliantly set up to continue their story, building suspense and strengthening their work relationship. The plot is tense with twists and an enthralling storyline, making it difficult to put this one down. The high stakes of their investigation's success allow their history to shine with their prior familiarity. You can feel their pull through the pages, and I want to follow Bree and Brad to the ends of the earth. The perfect balance of ongoing suspense, mystery, and reconnection in this gripping novel….. I desperately want another!

[Mary Drake · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very different from JL Drake’s usual style. Lots of mystery and twists and turns keeps you on the edge of your seat. Guessing what will happen next. I love that the story has romance but fades to black as I like to make those my own. I highly recommend this small town mystery and I’m already invested in the family and that crazy pig. And don’t get me started on that gorgeous golden, Ginger.
I like the fact that the story begins and ends in the one book, but I can’t wait to find out who the barbed wire killer mastermind is, and I love that he has his own perspective at the end of it.

[Kc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathe Me In, Wow! J.L. Drake absolutely delivers the suspense in this twisted romance story between Bree Jaminson, a private investigator, and Brad Stone, a detective. Our two main characters shared a traumatic encounter in their past, each dealt with the trauma differently causing them to go their separate directions and now years later they are working together. Will they solve the cases from current day? Will they decide to act on their attraction for one another? Will their past haunt them forever? Who is he? So many questions and just when you think you’ve got it figured out…

This story grabs you and doesn’t let go!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story starts out a little slow and at times feels bumpy but I was intrigued right from the start. Bree is such a strong FMC with an amazing family dynamic a lot of us wish we had. Brad is just delicious, masculine but soft where it’s needed. The twists and turns kept me on my toes the entire time. My head is still reeling and I cannot wait to read the sequel to wrap up all the loose threads and overall story arc.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m torn on this one, but I think ultimately I will give it 3 stars. It’s absolutely addictive and made my heart pound but it also has a weird kinda misogynistic tone? I can’t really explain it, but I was surprised it was written by a woman. The world “females” was used so many times and there were endless comments about women’s bodies/what they were wearing.

That said, even though the ending was pretty abrupt I do look forward to reading the second book in this series.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A romantic thriller where a PI is called back to her hometown to assist the police solve a murder case. The detective working the case? The same guy who she experienced a traumatic event with thirteen years prior. The beginning is a little slow, after that the pacing picks up though. Unfortunately, the plot and characters never fully clicked for me. 2.5 ⭐️

I got to read this one as an ARC, thank you to Montlake and NetGalley!

[Romance Reader Obsession · Rating 5 out of 5]

Its a Mind Bender!!!
Holy Cow, I feel like I was on an adrenaline rush the entire time working my way through a CSI episode. This was Absolute Perfection and Addicting. The chemistry between Bree and Brad is off the Charts HOT.
J.L. Drake wins again with putting my mind to work, keeping me on the edge of my seat trying to figure it all out. Like I said PERFECTION!!!!

[Emma F · Rating 4 out of 5]

13 years ago teen friends Bree and Brad were seen by a killer dumping his victims. It was one of the events that led to Bree leaving her hometown. Now she’s being called back to help investigate some new murders. She’ll have to work with Brad, now a detective. But those unsolved murders and the killer still play on her mind.

I was hooked from the first chapter. I liked both main characters. Bree is a strong woman struggling with ghosts from her past. Her dynamic with her family and Brad were well written. The murder mystery was good, but with the slow drip of information keeping me reading.
It is left with some threads hanging, and I will be definitely be reading the sequel.

[Mandy jones freeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very start I was hooked, I love a good mystery and this didn’t disappoint! I’m still trying to guess who it is. This book is action packed with so much that you think you might know who it is but then you second guess yourself
I can’t wait to see where JL Drake takes this
Fyi I also love Bree and Bradley you will definitely laugh through there banter and then there Kevin!!!