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Don't Hold Your Breath
502 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 28, 2026
About the author
K.L. Hill
10 books64 followersKL Hill is a dark and paranormal romance author.
She resides in Indiana with her husband, precious pets, and a coop full of pigeons.
Coded in Control, the first book in the Masquerave series, is now available!
She resides in Indiana with her husband, precious pets, and a coop full of pigeons.
Coded in Control, the first book in the Masquerave series, is now available!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 53 reviews
July 20, 2026
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review.
This is the first book I’ve read of this author, and I can definitely say I will be looking to read more.
If you’re ready for a twisted sports dark romance, and you throw trigger warnings caution to the wind, put your life vest on because you definitely need to read this book. It will twist your perspectives, it will push boundaries, it will grab you by sharp teeth and pull you under.
The moment I started reading this book, I could not put it down. It’s an exhilarating fast pace book that never stops. The struggle of the MFC is real you can feel it in your bones. The dominance of the MMC is exhilarating and addictive. The twists and power struggles between the two are addictive and delicious.
The supporting characters are great and would love to see if there are going to be more books about them.
All in all I give this book 4.5 stars and I’d say at a minimum 3.5 chili peppers.
This is the first book I’ve read of this author, and I can definitely say I will be looking to read more.
If you’re ready for a twisted sports dark romance, and you throw trigger warnings caution to the wind, put your life vest on because you definitely need to read this book. It will twist your perspectives, it will push boundaries, it will grab you by sharp teeth and pull you under.
The moment I started reading this book, I could not put it down. It’s an exhilarating fast pace book that never stops. The struggle of the MFC is real you can feel it in your bones. The dominance of the MMC is exhilarating and addictive. The twists and power struggles between the two are addictive and delicious.
The supporting characters are great and would love to see if there are going to be more books about them.
All in all I give this book 4.5 stars and I’d say at a minimum 3.5 chili peppers.
July 14, 2026
*arc review*
Never read anything by this author before but I 100% will be reading them from now on. I gave it 4 because while I did love the story and I feel like certain parts were just a little too rushed and over too quickly. While the Mc definitely wasnt a prince or anything he was definitely my favorite of the main characters. Thanks so much for arc I really enjoyed it!
Never read anything by this author before but I 100% will be reading them from now on. I gave it 4 because while I did love the story and I feel like certain parts were just a little too rushed and over too quickly. While the Mc definitely wasnt a prince or anything he was definitely my favorite of the main characters. Thanks so much for arc I really enjoyed it!
July 28, 2026
Thank you to K.L. Hill for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for "Don't Hold Your Breath"
Spicy, Forbidden, Thrilling, and Hot--all words that easily describe the first book in the Galeo Cove series. This is 100% a summer vibe dark romance pick for all of you who want something a bit different for your beach read. I will admit, at first the step sibling thing was weird, however if you can get over that, the mystery in the background will keep you on the edge of your seat and the interactions between all the characters are what make this story shine. Oh and for my lovers of spice-there is spice and lots of it just for you!
Laney is the daughter of a Gold Medal Olympic swimmer who just wants to be noticed and appreciated by her dad. Hal is the step-brother who was always the favorite of said dad. The two from early on have this burring hatred between them that follows them for almost all of the story. Laney is accepted into her dream school to swim on one of the best teams ever. All is going well until Hal shows up to make her life a living hell. Basically some shenanigans happen leading to Laney signing her life away to Hal to keep her big bad secret hidden. You will have to find all that out for yourself though
My favorite parts of the book were those parts that included Laney's friend circle of Emerson and Hudson hanging out and being the dream team. I hope books 2 and 3 focus on them! If this is the case I will snap them up the second I can! Also what is going on with Lance and his crew, I hope we learn more about them too. The side characters were fun and felt real! At times I enjoyed them more than our Laney and Hal.
After reading there are two main low points of this book for me. The first is the step-sibling thing. For some reason him referring to her as "baby sister" got to be yucky after a while. I knew it was this going into it but something just rubbed me the wrong way after 550 pages. The second is the ending went by fast and I wanted some more suffering or something! The villain was interesting and I wanted more!!
Overall I enjoyed my time in Galeo Cove and being part of the world K.L. Hill has created. This is my first book I've read from this author and I will be coming back for more! Thank you again for this opportunity and I can't wait for book 2!
Spicy, Forbidden, Thrilling, and Hot--all words that easily describe the first book in the Galeo Cove series. This is 100% a summer vibe dark romance pick for all of you who want something a bit different for your beach read. I will admit, at first the step sibling thing was weird, however if you can get over that, the mystery in the background will keep you on the edge of your seat and the interactions between all the characters are what make this story shine. Oh and for my lovers of spice-there is spice and lots of it just for you!
Laney is the daughter of a Gold Medal Olympic swimmer who just wants to be noticed and appreciated by her dad. Hal is the step-brother who was always the favorite of said dad. The two from early on have this burring hatred between them that follows them for almost all of the story. Laney is accepted into her dream school to swim on one of the best teams ever. All is going well until Hal shows up to make her life a living hell. Basically some shenanigans happen leading to Laney signing her life away to Hal to keep her big bad secret hidden. You will have to find all that out for yourself though
My favorite parts of the book were those parts that included Laney's friend circle of Emerson and Hudson hanging out and being the dream team. I hope books 2 and 3 focus on them! If this is the case I will snap them up the second I can! Also what is going on with Lance and his crew, I hope we learn more about them too. The side characters were fun and felt real! At times I enjoyed them more than our Laney and Hal.
After reading there are two main low points of this book for me. The first is the step-sibling thing. For some reason him referring to her as "baby sister" got to be yucky after a while. I knew it was this going into it but something just rubbed me the wrong way after 550 pages. The second is the ending went by fast and I wanted some more suffering or something! The villain was interesting and I wanted more!!
Overall I enjoyed my time in Galeo Cove and being part of the world K.L. Hill has created. This is my first book I've read from this author and I will be coming back for more! Thank you again for this opportunity and I can't wait for book 2!
July 30, 2026
Apparently, all I needed was a dark swimming romance with enough forbidden tension to turn an Olympic-sized pool into a pressure cooker.
Don’t Hold Your Breath grabbed me by the ankle, dragged me into the deep end, and then had the audacity to ask whether I could swim.
Laney and Hal’s chemistry is absolutely UNHINGED. Every interaction between them feels like a threat, a dare, and foreplay entered a group project—and somehow they all received full credit. The tension is suffocating in the best way, the banter has teeth, and the line between “I hate you” and “I would burn down this entire campus over you” is basically nonexistent.
Hal is morally dark gray in the specific way that makes common sense quietly gather its belongings and leave the premises. He’s controlling, obsessive, infuriating, and so completely gone for Laney that I fear I had no choice but to support his wrongs.
And Laney? I adored her. She isn’t just there to react to the chaos circling her. She has her own fears, secrets, anger, and fight, and watching her begin to reclaim control of her life made me incredibly attached to her. She and Hal are both complicated, messy characters, which makes their connection feel even more intense.
I also loved the people surrounding them. The found-family energy brought some much-needed warmth to all the obsession, blackmail, buried secrets, and general emotional terrorism happening around Galeo Cove. I am already overly invested in this world and prepared to become everyone’s business in the future books.
Was this relationship healthy? Please be serious.
Was I kicking my feet while two deeply questionable people made increasingly questionable decisions? Unfortunately, yes.
The tension. The characters. The chemistry. The secrets lurking beneath the surface. I devoured every chaotic, taboo, shark-infested second of it.
Thank you to K.L. Hill for gifting this ARC. These are my 100% own honest thoughts.
Don’t Hold Your Breath grabbed me by the ankle, dragged me into the deep end, and then had the audacity to ask whether I could swim.
Laney and Hal’s chemistry is absolutely UNHINGED. Every interaction between them feels like a threat, a dare, and foreplay entered a group project—and somehow they all received full credit. The tension is suffocating in the best way, the banter has teeth, and the line between “I hate you” and “I would burn down this entire campus over you” is basically nonexistent.
Hal is morally dark gray in the specific way that makes common sense quietly gather its belongings and leave the premises. He’s controlling, obsessive, infuriating, and so completely gone for Laney that I fear I had no choice but to support his wrongs.
And Laney? I adored her. She isn’t just there to react to the chaos circling her. She has her own fears, secrets, anger, and fight, and watching her begin to reclaim control of her life made me incredibly attached to her. She and Hal are both complicated, messy characters, which makes their connection feel even more intense.
I also loved the people surrounding them. The found-family energy brought some much-needed warmth to all the obsession, blackmail, buried secrets, and general emotional terrorism happening around Galeo Cove. I am already overly invested in this world and prepared to become everyone’s business in the future books.
Was this relationship healthy? Please be serious.
Was I kicking my feet while two deeply questionable people made increasingly questionable decisions? Unfortunately, yes.
The tension. The characters. The chemistry. The secrets lurking beneath the surface. I devoured every chaotic, taboo, shark-infested second of it.
Thank you to K.L. Hill for gifting this ARC. These are my 100% own honest thoughts.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐ Don't Hold Your Breath is the first book in the Galeo Cove series by K.L. Hill. It's a dark college romance with dual swimming athletes who used to be step siblings. Hope you like spice because this book is jammed packed with it, bullying, suspense, a secret love triangle, a found family and a HEA. IMHO this book was to long and repetitive at times but we do get a college sport that isn't covered enough...
TW: sexually explicit scenes, dark themes, and intense emotional and physical elements, including non-consensual/dubcon situations, violence, murder, J/P and explicit sexual content. It is not suitable for all audiences and is recommended for readers 18+.
I would like to Thank K.L. Hill for my ARC and in return I voluntarily promised an honest review.
Delaney Prince has moved to Florida to be a part of The Tiger Sharks swim team. Her fathers alumni and he's a legend and she has lived her life trying to make him proud. This move is for her, it's time to leave her past and move on with her life, but she never expected to see the one person she hates more than anything to be at Galeo Cove and on her swim team.
Hallon Cahill has been in California for the past two years but Daddy Dearest has moved him to Galeo Cove to keep an eye on his baby sis. He takes this opportunity to pay her back for ruining his life. He blackmail her into a life long contract to be at his beck and call or he will ruin her life and expose what happened two years ago.
Laney hates Hal but she loves what he can do to her body. She has made friends and is excelling in swimming and school but she has met Leo and she can just be herself with him. But if Hal ever finds out he will kill him.
Hal knows that Laney is hiding something and when he finally figures it out he has to rush to save her life...again.
TW: sexually explicit scenes, dark themes, and intense emotional and physical elements, including non-consensual/dubcon situations, violence, murder, J/P and explicit sexual content. It is not suitable for all audiences and is recommended for readers 18+.
I would like to Thank K.L. Hill for my ARC and in return I voluntarily promised an honest review.
Delaney Prince has moved to Florida to be a part of The Tiger Sharks swim team. Her fathers alumni and he's a legend and she has lived her life trying to make him proud. This move is for her, it's time to leave her past and move on with her life, but she never expected to see the one person she hates more than anything to be at Galeo Cove and on her swim team.
Hallon Cahill has been in California for the past two years but Daddy Dearest has moved him to Galeo Cove to keep an eye on his baby sis. He takes this opportunity to pay her back for ruining his life. He blackmail her into a life long contract to be at his beck and call or he will ruin her life and expose what happened two years ago.
Laney hates Hal but she loves what he can do to her body. She has made friends and is excelling in swimming and school but she has met Leo and she can just be herself with him. But if Hal ever finds out he will kill him.
Hal knows that Laney is hiding something and when he finally figures it out he has to rush to save her life...again.
Review of advance copy received from Author
4.5
That was absolutely delicious. It hit just the right balance of dark, spicy romance and real plot. And I assure you, it was *spicy*.
I have to admit it was almost too dark for me. It veered very closely into noncon, especially at the beginning. By the end, I was glad I continued reading, though.
Hal is a mean and possessive man. The lengths he goes to in an effort to be with Laney would undoubtedly land him in prison if this was real life. As a fictional character, I find him fascinating. His POV chapters always gave a great insight into the why of his character - from his rocky relationship with his mother, his inappropriate infatuation with Laney, and his relationship with Owen, to the way he proves he will go to any lengths to protect Laney.
Laney is a large part of why I wanted to keep reading. I was hoping to see her step out of her shell and grow into the confident and capable young woman I could tell she was meant to be. And she did so beautifully. Her arc from timid girl with no friends and a strained relationship with her dad to a competent woman thriving as her best self was incredibly fulfilling.
The mystery behind the anonymous texts Laney was getting, the secret Hal was holding over her, and what had happened two years earlier was gripping and tense. I had semi-guessed the twist, but it was so satisfying to watch it all unfold.
Overall, despite being somewhat darker than I typically enjoy, I ended up really liking this one. I think if you enjoy dark romance with themes of noncon and dubcon, murder, possessiveness, and ex-step-siblings being romantically involved, you should definitely check this one out.
Thank you so much to K. L. Hill for providing me this free early copy.
That was absolutely delicious. It hit just the right balance of dark, spicy romance and real plot. And I assure you, it was *spicy*.
I have to admit it was almost too dark for me. It veered very closely into noncon, especially at the beginning. By the end, I was glad I continued reading, though.
Hal is a mean and possessive man. The lengths he goes to in an effort to be with Laney would undoubtedly land him in prison if this was real life. As a fictional character, I find him fascinating. His POV chapters always gave a great insight into the why of his character - from his rocky relationship with his mother, his inappropriate infatuation with Laney, and his relationship with Owen, to the way he proves he will go to any lengths to protect Laney.
Laney is a large part of why I wanted to keep reading. I was hoping to see her step out of her shell and grow into the confident and capable young woman I could tell she was meant to be. And she did so beautifully. Her arc from timid girl with no friends and a strained relationship with her dad to a competent woman thriving as her best self was incredibly fulfilling.
The mystery behind the anonymous texts Laney was getting, the secret Hal was holding over her, and what had happened two years earlier was gripping and tense. I had semi-guessed the twist, but it was so satisfying to watch it all unfold.
Overall, despite being somewhat darker than I typically enjoy, I ended up really liking this one. I think if you enjoy dark romance with themes of noncon and dubcon, murder, possessiveness, and ex-step-siblings being romantically involved, you should definitely check this one out.
Thank you so much to K. L. Hill for providing me this free early copy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️
K.L. Hill officially earned a spot on my radar because, even though this was my first book by this author, it definitely won’t be my last. Don’t Hold Your Breath throws you straight into a toxic, tension-filled world where dark romance, sports, bullying, and taboo collide in the most addictive way. Give me hate-fueled chemistry, morally gray obsession, and enough sexual frustration to set the pages on fire, and I’m hooked every single time.
The pacing was relentless from the very first chapter. There wasn’t a moment where my attention wandered, and every chapter left me needing “just one more.” I especially loved experiencing the story through three completely different perspectives—the FMC, the MMC, and even the shark. It added such a unique layer to the story and kept me constantly questioning what was coming next.
The tension between these characters was absolutely delicious. The banter was sharp, the animosity was electric, and underneath all that anger was an obsession that neither of them could escape. Throw in blackmail, bullying, a possessive “touch her and 💀” MMC, and the taboo step-sibling dynamic, and this book delivered exactly the kind of twisted chaos I love to read.
And that ending… I genuinely didn’t see it coming. K.L. Hill completely pulled the rug out from under me, and I was left staring at the final pages wondering how I’d been so thoroughly fooled. That’s the kind of twist I live for.
Tropes & Vibes:
🏊 Swimming Sports Romance
💀 Morally Gray MMC
❤️ Love to Hate
🖤 Touch Her and 💀
🔥 Obsession & Possessiveness
😈 Taboo (Step-Siblings)
🎭 Bullying & Blackmail
🎓 Academia
👥 Multi-POV
🌶️🌶️🌶️
K.L. Hill officially earned a spot on my radar because, even though this was my first book by this author, it definitely won’t be my last. Don’t Hold Your Breath throws you straight into a toxic, tension-filled world where dark romance, sports, bullying, and taboo collide in the most addictive way. Give me hate-fueled chemistry, morally gray obsession, and enough sexual frustration to set the pages on fire, and I’m hooked every single time.
The pacing was relentless from the very first chapter. There wasn’t a moment where my attention wandered, and every chapter left me needing “just one more.” I especially loved experiencing the story through three completely different perspectives—the FMC, the MMC, and even the shark. It added such a unique layer to the story and kept me constantly questioning what was coming next.
The tension between these characters was absolutely delicious. The banter was sharp, the animosity was electric, and underneath all that anger was an obsession that neither of them could escape. Throw in blackmail, bullying, a possessive “touch her and 💀” MMC, and the taboo step-sibling dynamic, and this book delivered exactly the kind of twisted chaos I love to read.
And that ending… I genuinely didn’t see it coming. K.L. Hill completely pulled the rug out from under me, and I was left staring at the final pages wondering how I’d been so thoroughly fooled. That’s the kind of twist I live for.
Tropes & Vibes:
🏊 Swimming Sports Romance
💀 Morally Gray MMC
❤️ Love to Hate
🖤 Touch Her and 💀
🔥 Obsession & Possessiveness
😈 Taboo (Step-Siblings)
🎭 Bullying & Blackmail
🎓 Academia
👥 Multi-POV
Review of advance copy received from Author
Laney and Hallon are so delightfully twisted in this stepsiblings, aquatic, game of cat and mouse.
She is just trying to make her father proud, even if just for a moment, and still somehow have a moment of individual pride.
Hallon is pretty much a chip off Laneys dads block except, he's not his biological son. Oops. He is, however, a total jerk and still somehow a simp for Laney. What a total delight.
The way these two push and pull at one another is SO MUCH FUN. He may be a black mailing pain the butt but, like, nobody's perfect? The obsession is REAL.
The set-up for the actual bad guy of the book is also a delightful surprise. The way it builds is amazing and the payoff is incredible. I love a good heel turn, and this reveal had such a delicious pay-off.
Where this book really shines for me though is in the growth for Laney. Her friend group, her found family, at Galeo Cove is amazing and watching her come out of her shell and gain confidence is so fun and I love that all the women in her circle are so supportive and real. It would be so easy for the women on her team to be snippy or mean to her given who her father is and her connections to her coach and the legacy she is building upon but instead she finds women who are really all about straightening each other's crowns and I love that for her.
I cannot wait to see what her friends were up to in the background there are more secrets in Galeo Cove and I saw what was going on in the shadows. Give me more!
She is just trying to make her father proud, even if just for a moment, and still somehow have a moment of individual pride.
Hallon is pretty much a chip off Laneys dads block except, he's not his biological son. Oops. He is, however, a total jerk and still somehow a simp for Laney. What a total delight.
The way these two push and pull at one another is SO MUCH FUN. He may be a black mailing pain the butt but, like, nobody's perfect? The obsession is REAL.
The set-up for the actual bad guy of the book is also a delightful surprise. The way it builds is amazing and the payoff is incredible. I love a good heel turn, and this reveal had such a delicious pay-off.
Where this book really shines for me though is in the growth for Laney. Her friend group, her found family, at Galeo Cove is amazing and watching her come out of her shell and gain confidence is so fun and I love that all the women in her circle are so supportive and real. It would be so easy for the women on her team to be snippy or mean to her given who her father is and her connections to her coach and the legacy she is building upon but instead she finds women who are really all about straightening each other's crowns and I love that for her.
I cannot wait to see what her friends were up to in the background there are more secrets in Galeo Cove and I saw what was going on in the shadows. Give me more!
July 29, 2026
Wow! I received an ARC of this and I am beyond grateful that I was able to experience this book. That being said I would highly advise any interested reader to heed the list of trigger warnings. This is a dark romance that has explicit content. I found that this enhanced the story as we were able to see these events through the eyes of Hal, Laney and The Shark.
I enjoyed the length of this book, supporting characters and the fact that the author was able to jump around through POVs and timeline. The ability to keep certain aspects of the story a mystery and led to a big reveal. Despite being able to put some pieces together ahead of time, you will not have all of the information needed to anticipate the ending. I appreciate Hill's ability to keep us engaged in the present of the book while sprinkling in aspects from the past to enhance the story.
The only reason I was unable to give this work five stars was because I felt that the ending was rushed. I would have appreciated a little more time and closure from the climax of the book. I was on an emotional rollercoaster ride and felt that the ride came to an abrupt halt. I also did not love the nickname that Hal gave Laney, I felt it was overused. I felt that this work had the perfect amount of supporting characters. The found family gave this work depth and I am hoping that there is second book in the works! I cannot wait to read it! I have a feeling and a hope that Hudson and Lance have a major role in the next book!
I enjoyed the length of this book, supporting characters and the fact that the author was able to jump around through POVs and timeline. The ability to keep certain aspects of the story a mystery and led to a big reveal. Despite being able to put some pieces together ahead of time, you will not have all of the information needed to anticipate the ending. I appreciate Hill's ability to keep us engaged in the present of the book while sprinkling in aspects from the past to enhance the story.
The only reason I was unable to give this work five stars was because I felt that the ending was rushed. I would have appreciated a little more time and closure from the climax of the book. I was on an emotional rollercoaster ride and felt that the ride came to an abrupt halt. I also did not love the nickname that Hal gave Laney, I felt it was overused. I felt that this work had the perfect amount of supporting characters. The found family gave this work depth and I am hoping that there is second book in the works! I cannot wait to read it! I have a feeling and a hope that Hudson and Lance have a major role in the next book!
July 15, 2026
✨✨ARC REVIEW✨✨
Are you looking for a dark taboo sports romance? Because this might be just up your alley if you are! Not only is this a sports romance but it’s SWIMMERS?! I haven’t read a romance book involving competitive swimming before so this was very interesting to read!!!
What makes this taboo you’re probably wondering. Well, they’re ex step siblings but they still sometimes refer to each other as step siblings at times.
This is more of a bully romance that is more heavy on the bullying but I’m really into that so I loved every single moment! Especially during the spicy scenes because there’s nothing I love more than a good hate fuck! I loved how Hal is a man obsessed and knows exactly what he wants and make a contract between him and Laney to get what he wants from her. He’s fully in control and I loved that!
There is a side character in this book I really liked and was completely blindsided by which I applaud KL Hill for because I did not see that twist coming. I assumed the bad guy in the book was Hal and he had an alter ego thing happening but i was delightfully wrong.
This is my first time reading a KL Hill book but it won’t be my last as I have to add her backlog and future books to my tbr! Don’t Hold Your Breath is releasing July 28th, thank you to the author for sending me this book!
Are you looking for a dark taboo sports romance? Because this might be just up your alley if you are! Not only is this a sports romance but it’s SWIMMERS?! I haven’t read a romance book involving competitive swimming before so this was very interesting to read!!!
What makes this taboo you’re probably wondering. Well, they’re ex step siblings but they still sometimes refer to each other as step siblings at times.
This is more of a bully romance that is more heavy on the bullying but I’m really into that so I loved every single moment! Especially during the spicy scenes because there’s nothing I love more than a good hate fuck! I loved how Hal is a man obsessed and knows exactly what he wants and make a contract between him and Laney to get what he wants from her. He’s fully in control and I loved that!
There is a side character in this book I really liked and was completely blindsided by which I applaud KL Hill for because I did not see that twist coming. I assumed the bad guy in the book was Hal and he had an alter ego thing happening but i was delightfully wrong.
This is my first time reading a KL Hill book but it won’t be my last as I have to add her backlog and future books to my tbr! Don’t Hold Your Breath is releasing July 28th, thank you to the author for sending me this book!
July 20, 2026
We meet former step siblings Hal and Laney. These two hate each other. They are both swimmers. Laney is just trying to her dreams come true and make her dad proud. Hal is trying to make his dreams come true and stick it to Laney. These two hate two of them have good banter and boy do they bicker. Along this journey of meeting these two we meet their teammates; Emerson, Hudson, Lance and a few others. I adore Em and Hudson, however I’m keeping my eye on Hudson and Lance something about them two is very suspicious. Laney and Hudson go back and forth and she always seems to find herself tied up and sticky if you what I mean. The spice in this book was delicious. The whole book has a bunch of secrets that I just need to know. I will say when I found out the secrets one I kind of figured out and another I didn’t see it playing out like that. I wish we got a bit more of the background of the one the mysteries in the book. I do feel like it was a tad bit longer than it needed to be. It was a really good story. I loved watching Laney grow throughout the book. Hal is a swim daddy that I love and he didn’t change up at all lol, well he did soften a bit for Laney. This was my first book by this author and it didn’t disappoint. I loved the writing style, it kept me engaged for the book. I’m excited for the rest of the books on the series.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Looking for another book to add to your never ending TBR? It’s okay, I won’t judge for that. But if you miss out on Don’t Hold Your Breath… well, I’ll probably judge you because while Hal might enjoy taunting and fucking with Laney, you shouldn’t do it to yourself 😉
This is a sports romance featuring our girl Laney and her ✨ex✨ step brother Hallon. The Tiger Sharks are a fierce swimming team who welcome Laney with open arms and give her love that she absolutely deserves.
Hal… well, he might be the monster lurking in the shadows waiting to sink his teeth in like the shark he is, but - like any good book boyfriend - he does it ✨so well ✨
And as KL is so good at doing, the twists and turns in this book will have you hooked on the line like the pathetic fish you are. Everytime I thought I figured it out, something would happen to make me doubt myself and I could not put this down. I don’t think I’ve ever been so mad at having a job before 😂
I highlyyyyy recommend you read this one. Especially if you’re looking for a dark romance, some blackmail, secrets, found family and of course all of the spice.
Thank you so much KL for entrusting me with an ARC copy! I cannot waittttt to see where we go next in Galeo Cove. 💜💜
This is a sports romance featuring our girl Laney and her ✨ex✨ step brother Hallon. The Tiger Sharks are a fierce swimming team who welcome Laney with open arms and give her love that she absolutely deserves.
Hal… well, he might be the monster lurking in the shadows waiting to sink his teeth in like the shark he is, but - like any good book boyfriend - he does it ✨so well ✨
And as KL is so good at doing, the twists and turns in this book will have you hooked on the line like the pathetic fish you are. Everytime I thought I figured it out, something would happen to make me doubt myself and I could not put this down. I don’t think I’ve ever been so mad at having a job before 😂
I highlyyyyy recommend you read this one. Especially if you’re looking for a dark romance, some blackmail, secrets, found family and of course all of the spice.
Thank you so much KL for entrusting me with an ARC copy! I cannot waittttt to see where we go next in Galeo Cove. 💜💜
July 22, 2026
Review of Advanced Copy Received from the Author
This is the first book I've read by this author, and it definitely won't be my last!
If you love dark romance with a morally gray MMC, set in an academic setting, this is one you'll want to add to your TBR.
Laney, the FMC, is a competitive swimmer determined to make her father proud. Once a star swimmer himself, her father controls nearly every aspect of her life when it comes to the sport. No matter how hard she works, she never feels like she's enough in his eyes and he makes sure she knows that. He’s constantly putting her down.
Hal, the MMC, is a talented swimmer who has recently transferred to Laney's school. Laney's father puts Hal on a pedestal and has him transferred to keep an eye on her. What he doesn't know is that Laney and Hal share a complicated past.
Hal and Laney are ex step siblings, and Laney has a secret she's desperate to keep buried. Hal knows exactly what she's hiding and isn't afraid to use it against her by blackmailing her.
This book is dark from the very beginning and packed with twists and turns. The tension and banter between Hal and Laney kept me turning those pages and wanting more.
I can’t wait for book 2!
This is the first book I've read by this author, and it definitely won't be my last!
If you love dark romance with a morally gray MMC, set in an academic setting, this is one you'll want to add to your TBR.
Laney, the FMC, is a competitive swimmer determined to make her father proud. Once a star swimmer himself, her father controls nearly every aspect of her life when it comes to the sport. No matter how hard she works, she never feels like she's enough in his eyes and he makes sure she knows that. He’s constantly putting her down.
Hal, the MMC, is a talented swimmer who has recently transferred to Laney's school. Laney's father puts Hal on a pedestal and has him transferred to keep an eye on her. What he doesn't know is that Laney and Hal share a complicated past.
Hal and Laney are ex step siblings, and Laney has a secret she's desperate to keep buried. Hal knows exactly what she's hiding and isn't afraid to use it against her by blackmailing her.
This book is dark from the very beginning and packed with twists and turns. The tension and banter between Hal and Laney kept me turning those pages and wanting more.
I can’t wait for book 2!
July 28, 2026
I want to start off by saying thank you to KL Hill for allowing me another opportunity to read an early copy of one of their books!! This is my third book by KL Hill and I have not been disappointed by any of them. Once I learned what this book was about I knew I needed to read it!! Swimming holds a special place in my heart so to read a book based on just that why would I not what to read it. This is a stand-alone dark swimming romance and is the first book in the Galeo Cove Series. Please make sure to check the triggers.
Don’t Hold Your Breath follows Laney Prince who is a swimmer at Northwick University, but her goal is to follow on her father’s footsteps and go to Galeo University in Florida. She wants to become and shark and live up to the legacy that is her father Own Prince. She will do anything to not let him down and make him proud of her. That is until her ex-stepbrother Hal who she has not seen in over 2 years shows up at her meeting with head Coach Lowe. Hal is now a shark and is coming to ruin his baby sis. Little do they both know there is another shark in the water that is coming for Laney. This shark is here to make things right from the past.
Don’t Hold Your Breath follows Laney Prince who is a swimmer at Northwick University, but her goal is to follow on her father’s footsteps and go to Galeo University in Florida. She wants to become and shark and live up to the legacy that is her father Own Prince. She will do anything to not let him down and make him proud of her. That is until her ex-stepbrother Hal who she has not seen in over 2 years shows up at her meeting with head Coach Lowe. Hal is now a shark and is coming to ruin his baby sis. Little do they both know there is another shark in the water that is coming for Laney. This shark is here to make things right from the past.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2026
I received an ARC of this book, and the opinions are my own.
Highlights
🖤 Possessive MMC
🖤 Protective MMC
🖤 Strong FMC
🖤 Found family
🖤 Step siblings {former}
🖤 CNC
♥️ GREAT Happy Ending!
This book was a fun brain candy read. It was over the top in a lot of ways, but it worked. We had a dark, stalkery MMC with some legal knowledge under his belt, and a strong FMC with some classic daddy issues. The side characters were fun and believable.
I loved the swimming aspect. I haven't read any sports romances with swimming, and this was fun. The author did a great job putting her personal knowledge of the swimming world into this. The personal pressure, the family pressure, the amount of training, the team connection. It was good!!
This book was very simile heavy. That was a bit much for me after awhile. This book is very heavy CNC/NC, so go into it knowing that. I found all the content warnings to be accurate.
I would have liked the backstory catalyst to be fleshed out a little more, and some of the pacing of the story felt kind of off, but overall I really a good time with this read. Hoping the find out what's up with Lance and Hudson in the Galeo universe.
Highlights
🖤 Possessive MMC
🖤 Protective MMC
🖤 Strong FMC
🖤 Found family
🖤 Step siblings {former}
🖤 CNC
♥️ GREAT Happy Ending!
This book was a fun brain candy read. It was over the top in a lot of ways, but it worked. We had a dark, stalkery MMC with some legal knowledge under his belt, and a strong FMC with some classic daddy issues. The side characters were fun and believable.
I loved the swimming aspect. I haven't read any sports romances with swimming, and this was fun. The author did a great job putting her personal knowledge of the swimming world into this. The personal pressure, the family pressure, the amount of training, the team connection. It was good!!
This book was very simile heavy. That was a bit much for me after awhile. This book is very heavy CNC/NC, so go into it knowing that. I found all the content warnings to be accurate.
I would have liked the backstory catalyst to be fleshed out a little more, and some of the pacing of the story felt kind of off, but overall I really a good time with this read. Hoping the find out what's up with Lance and Hudson in the Galeo universe.
Review of advance copy received from Author
Advanced Reader Copy Review
4/5 ⭐️
4/5 🌶️
This was my first time reading a book by K.L. Hill, and it definitely won't be my last! If you're looking for a dark sports (swimming) romance centered around a morally gray MMC, found family, and stalker elements, I highly recommend picking this one up. From the very beginning I was hooked. If work and life hadn't gotten in the way, I easily could have finished it in a single day. It was hard to put down. The story is told from multiple POVs, which isn't usually my favorite, but the author handled it well and made it easy to follow. The book is fast paced and constantly keeps you wanting to know what is next. I really enjoyed both the main characters and the side characters. I did have the ending figured out about halfway through the book. The epilogue was adorable, and I was so happy to get a HEA. If you get triggered I would read the trigger warnings before reading
Thank you so much to K.L Hill for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
4/5 ⭐️
4/5 🌶️
This was my first time reading a book by K.L. Hill, and it definitely won't be my last! If you're looking for a dark sports (swimming) romance centered around a morally gray MMC, found family, and stalker elements, I highly recommend picking this one up. From the very beginning I was hooked. If work and life hadn't gotten in the way, I easily could have finished it in a single day. It was hard to put down. The story is told from multiple POVs, which isn't usually my favorite, but the author handled it well and made it easy to follow. The book is fast paced and constantly keeps you wanting to know what is next. I really enjoyed both the main characters and the side characters. I did have the ending figured out about halfway through the book. The epilogue was adorable, and I was so happy to get a HEA. If you get triggered I would read the trigger warnings before reading
Thank you so much to K.L Hill for providing me with the ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Author
I've just finished reading this and I don't even know where to start with how much I loved this book! 😍
The academic setting (but characters in their 20's), the dark themes, anxiety rep, forbidden romances and strong friendships all wrapped up with a spicy little bow 🎀
Laney is the girl who loves being in water, riddled with anxiety and a dark past that she keeps hidden from everyone. Hal is the ex-step-brother who's been keeping Laney's secrets for the past few years as well as some of his own. You can tell the chemistry between these 2 is off the charts right from the start and it was thrilling to see how they come together throughout the story!
Certain other characters felt really sketchy from the start and it wasn't until much later in the book that one finally clicks but I'm going to eagerly await the next book to hopefully get some answers about the others!
As always with dark romance books, please check the trigger warnings to make sure if this is suitable for you but if it sounds like your vibe then I highly recommend reading this! 😍
The academic setting (but characters in their 20's), the dark themes, anxiety rep, forbidden romances and strong friendships all wrapped up with a spicy little bow 🎀
Laney is the girl who loves being in water, riddled with anxiety and a dark past that she keeps hidden from everyone. Hal is the ex-step-brother who's been keeping Laney's secrets for the past few years as well as some of his own. You can tell the chemistry between these 2 is off the charts right from the start and it was thrilling to see how they come together throughout the story!
Certain other characters felt really sketchy from the start and it wasn't until much later in the book that one finally clicks but I'm going to eagerly await the next book to hopefully get some answers about the others!
As always with dark romance books, please check the trigger warnings to make sure if this is suitable for you but if it sounds like your vibe then I highly recommend reading this! 😍
July 30, 2026
Somehow I have a lot of thoughts but also so very few?
Let me start by saying I really enjoy KL Hill’s work and Coded in Control was one of my top reads last year. This just didn’t hit for me though.
Laney and Hal were exactly as I expected them to be. Bratty sub & controlling obsessive dom-nothing wrong no complaints.
Where I struggled was the repetitiveness of the story. There were phrases that were used again and again (little slut, little pussy, baby sis, etc.) and all of the spicy scenes felt very copy and paste. Even the scenes between Laney and Leo-yes this is a love triangle-felt the exact same as her and Hal. Maybe it was intentional but it left me feeling like I was going through the same chapter again and again.
While I saw the plot twist coming from the time Leo introduced, it was still good watching it play out. I felt like I would have enjoyed the whole story much more if this was shorter. Even the interactions between the whole team felt repetitive!!!
Will I continue the series? Yeah probably so. I need to see how Hudson and Lance play out.
Let me start by saying I really enjoy KL Hill’s work and Coded in Control was one of my top reads last year. This just didn’t hit for me though.
Laney and Hal were exactly as I expected them to be. Bratty sub & controlling obsessive dom-nothing wrong no complaints.
Where I struggled was the repetitiveness of the story. There were phrases that were used again and again (little slut, little pussy, baby sis, etc.) and all of the spicy scenes felt very copy and paste. Even the scenes between Laney and Leo-yes this is a love triangle-felt the exact same as her and Hal. Maybe it was intentional but it left me feeling like I was going through the same chapter again and again.
While I saw the plot twist coming from the time Leo introduced, it was still good watching it play out. I felt like I would have enjoyed the whole story much more if this was shorter. Even the interactions between the whole team felt repetitive!!!
Will I continue the series? Yeah probably so. I need to see how Hudson and Lance play out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 31, 2026
Don't Hold Your Breath is book 1 in the Galeo Cove series. This is a taboo, step sibling, blackmailed into a contract, college bully story.
Laney is a competitive swimmer who finds herself in a new school along with her step brother. All she wants to do is make her father proud, but it seems like she can never be enough for him. Her step brother Hal though, seems like all he has to do is whatever Laney's father wants and he will be forever in his good graces. What no one knows though, is that Hal is blackmailing Laney into a contract allowing him access to her during their time at school. This doesn't stop Laney from getting someone though and then enters the love triangle.
This story is dark and Hal is quite irritating, but he is a man obsessed and possessed. He is determined Laney is his and only his and he won't allow anyone to touch what belongs to him. The banter and spice between these two will keep you glued to the pages. I can't wait for the rest of the series. This one sucked me right in!
Laney is a competitive swimmer who finds herself in a new school along with her step brother. All she wants to do is make her father proud, but it seems like she can never be enough for him. Her step brother Hal though, seems like all he has to do is whatever Laney's father wants and he will be forever in his good graces. What no one knows though, is that Hal is blackmailing Laney into a contract allowing him access to her during their time at school. This doesn't stop Laney from getting someone though and then enters the love triangle.
This story is dark and Hal is quite irritating, but he is a man obsessed and possessed. He is determined Laney is his and only his and he won't allow anyone to touch what belongs to him. The banter and spice between these two will keep you glued to the pages. I can't wait for the rest of the series. This one sucked me right in!
Review of advance copy received from Author
4,5⭐
I might be a vicious monster, with sharp teeth and trashing jaws, but I'm a monster for her.
What a journey! I did not see that end twist coming!!
This is by no means a sweet romance so please check the trigger warnings before reading this.
Loved the characters, loved the setting, loved the love triangle and hated Laney's dad 😂 But the epilogue was so sweet I cried a little for the dad 🙈😅
I haven't read a sports romance with a swimming theme before and LOVED it. I'm ex-swimmer myself so I could relate to the things they go through 😊
Laney's past secrets kept me hooked from the beginning till the end and I kept guessing what happened in the past?? And that 🦈 we see time to time... Woah..!
"I've always loved you, even when I didn't want to, and I want nothing more than for the world to know exactly how much you mean to me."
I received this book as an ARC and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
I might be a vicious monster, with sharp teeth and trashing jaws, but I'm a monster for her.
What a journey! I did not see that end twist coming!!
This is by no means a sweet romance so please check the trigger warnings before reading this.
Loved the characters, loved the setting, loved the love triangle and hated Laney's dad 😂 But the epilogue was so sweet I cried a little for the dad 🙈😅
I haven't read a sports romance with a swimming theme before and LOVED it. I'm ex-swimmer myself so I could relate to the things they go through 😊
Laney's past secrets kept me hooked from the beginning till the end and I kept guessing what happened in the past?? And that 🦈 we see time to time... Woah..!
"I've always loved you, even when I didn't want to, and I want nothing more than for the world to know exactly how much you mean to me."
I received this book as an ARC and I'm leaving this review voluntarily.
July 24, 2026
I love these twisted dark romances, especially if there’s a forbidden and bully aspect to it, it makes it even more intriguing. And turns out, it was very intriguing where I could not put down this freaking book! I don’t read too many swimming romances so that was a nice little switch up for me, and so was the bullying, I’ve read some and just like the others, even though it’s a little hard for me to read the outcome is what gets me through it. So much happens between Laney and Hal and like that little contract between them, or some twists that not even I saw coming. I’m usually good as guessing what comes next but every time I thought I figured it out it does a complete 180 and I’m left guessing and starting from square one. But my absolute favorite part of this book is definitely Hal’s obsession with Laney. I love me a good overly obsessed MMC, and Hal definitely checked off that box for me. Can’t wait for the next book!
Review of advance copy received from Author
Mind blown over here... what an exhilarating read. Dark sports romance, so check the trigger warnings. I'm sticking with my tag line here, swimming is the sports romance I didn’t know I needed!
Laney is a FMC who I just wanted to see shine. I wanted her to win. I wanted her to sort her shit out. I wanted to know what made her the way she is...
Hal is the kind of MMC I love to hate....but he absolutely made me ride a rollercoaster of emotions through this.
The clever writing has you questioning everything and I definitely saw multiple possibilities for what was going on before we reached the conclusion.
Oh, and it's spicy too in the lines of "I hate you, I hate you too". Throw in some blackmail, mystery threats, and overbearing tool of a father and relative dynamics beyond belief and you have a cracking read.
Thanks for the ARC, all thoughts are my own!
Laney is a FMC who I just wanted to see shine. I wanted her to win. I wanted her to sort her shit out. I wanted to know what made her the way she is...
Hal is the kind of MMC I love to hate....but he absolutely made me ride a rollercoaster of emotions through this.
The clever writing has you questioning everything and I definitely saw multiple possibilities for what was going on before we reached the conclusion.
Oh, and it's spicy too in the lines of "I hate you, I hate you too". Throw in some blackmail, mystery threats, and overbearing tool of a father and relative dynamics beyond belief and you have a cracking read.
Thanks for the ARC, all thoughts are my own!
Review of advance copy received from Author
First off definitely read the trigger warnings this isn't for the faint hearted, second do not mix up this MMC for the MMC in a previous book series.
Hal is an evil SOB and you will loathe his ass haha.
I really enjoyed this book so much despite my hatred for people.
Hal and Laney's dynamic is toxic and he is eager to please her daddy like the son he's always wanted.
Hal is a bully and preys on her insecurities.
Laney is smart and determined to finally get daddy to notice but Hal is the golden boy.
The twists and turns had me eager to learn more, I really didn't expect what happened to happen.
The friend group were so lovable and made me suspicious of some members but loved everyones fire for the sport.
And the coach haha what a hard arse pushing the team haha.
Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Hal is an evil SOB and you will loathe his ass haha.
I really enjoyed this book so much despite my hatred for people.
Hal and Laney's dynamic is toxic and he is eager to please her daddy like the son he's always wanted.
Hal is a bully and preys on her insecurities.
Laney is smart and determined to finally get daddy to notice but Hal is the golden boy.
The twists and turns had me eager to learn more, I really didn't expect what happened to happen.
The friend group were so lovable and made me suspicious of some members but loved everyones fire for the sport.
And the coach haha what a hard arse pushing the team haha.
Looking forward to the next book in this series.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I give this 4.5 ⭐. I loved the premise, swimming being the sport of choice, the slightly taboo aspect of step-siblings, the underlying suspense of the stalker. It absolutely ticked every one of my boxes! This isn't one to go into blindly, if you have triggers check them because while far from the darkest thing I've read, this has its moments of wth did I just read. It is at its core a bully romance, heavy with suspenseful undertones and Hal will test how far he can push both your boundaries and Laney's tolerance. Honestly the further I read the more I got sucked into the backstory. I will absolutely be picking up whatever follows this in the series because it certainly seems like every one in Galeo Cove has a secret just lurking below the surface
Review of advance copy received from Author
I received this as an ARC.
When I started reading this, I honestly did not know what to do think but i have to say it got really good. This is a dark romance taboo. The ex-step siblings end up at the same school because of her dad. He ends up fully controlling everything she does. While he is her bully, she is absolutely loving every bit of the sex he is giving her to where she craves it. In this book there is a little mystery, someone is out to get her for something that happen in her past. While Hal is holding it over her head someone wants her dead. I love the push and pull in her relationship with Cal. I love how he just gets her and would do anything for her. I can't wait to read more for this author!
When I started reading this, I honestly did not know what to do think but i have to say it got really good. This is a dark romance taboo. The ex-step siblings end up at the same school because of her dad. He ends up fully controlling everything she does. While he is her bully, she is absolutely loving every bit of the sex he is giving her to where she craves it. In this book there is a little mystery, someone is out to get her for something that happen in her past. While Hal is holding it over her head someone wants her dead. I love the push and pull in her relationship with Cal. I love how he just gets her and would do anything for her. I can't wait to read more for this author!
Review of advance copy
I was hooked from the prologue to the epilogue!
Laney's story had me captivated!
There was bullying, blackmailing, secrets, and mystery. There were also many feels, drama, and lots of spice.
I felt so much for Lacey's character. She was so relatable. Mostly, I was impressed with her growth. Seeing her find strength and courage within herself.
Hallon he definitely has that jealous and possessiveness. He wants Laney and will do whatever he can to have her. At first he angered me, but in the end I loved him just as much as Laney.
The constant suspense and not knowing what was coming. The twists, I didn't expect! What a fantastic read!
This was my first book by this and it will definitely not be my last!
Laney's story had me captivated!
There was bullying, blackmailing, secrets, and mystery. There were also many feels, drama, and lots of spice.
I felt so much for Lacey's character. She was so relatable. Mostly, I was impressed with her growth. Seeing her find strength and courage within herself.
Hallon he definitely has that jealous and possessiveness. He wants Laney and will do whatever he can to have her. At first he angered me, but in the end I loved him just as much as Laney.
The constant suspense and not knowing what was coming. The twists, I didn't expect! What a fantastic read!
This was my first book by this and it will definitely not be my last!
Review of advance copy received from Author
🦈 ARC REVIEW 🦈
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Don’t Hold Your Breath had me hooked from the very first chapter. The dark, underwater atmosphere made the story feel incredibly immersive, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. The chemistry between the main characters is absolutely electric. If you love possessive, morally gray heroes, plenty of tension, and romance that keeps the pages flying, this one delivers.
If you’re into:
🦈 Dark romance
🦈 College bully romance
🦈 Morally gray MMCs
🦈 Obsessive/stalker vibes
🦈 High spice
🦈 Twisty tension
...then this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ | 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
Don’t Hold Your Breath had me hooked from the very first chapter. The dark, underwater atmosphere made the story feel incredibly immersive, and I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. The chemistry between the main characters is absolutely electric. If you love possessive, morally gray heroes, plenty of tension, and romance that keeps the pages flying, this one delivers.
If you’re into:
🦈 Dark romance
🦈 College bully romance
🦈 Morally gray MMCs
🦈 Obsessive/stalker vibes
🦈 High spice
🦈 Twisty tension
...then this one deserves a spot on your TBR.
Review of advance copy received from Author
3.5⭐4🌶️ ARC Dual Pov First Person 551pgs
Galeo Cove series, book #1
Laney and Hal
The darkness starts right away, with minimal detail, then stops and eases into it again. There is spice throughout the book, but the romance is a slow burn. The secret and stalker will have you guessing until the end. (No spoilers, so I won't share my thoughts on those here).
The overall story is more a marathon than a sprint (sorry, don't know an equal swimming metaphor), that seemed like it was dragged out a little more then necessary.
I did love the found family that Laney managed to find, Em and Hudson were great.
Galeo Cove series, book #1
Laney and Hal
The darkness starts right away, with minimal detail, then stops and eases into it again. There is spice throughout the book, but the romance is a slow burn. The secret and stalker will have you guessing until the end. (No spoilers, so I won't share my thoughts on those here).
The overall story is more a marathon than a sprint (sorry, don't know an equal swimming metaphor), that seemed like it was dragged out a little more then necessary.
I did love the found family that Laney managed to find, Em and Hudson were great.
August 1, 2026
don’t hold your breath
DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH
Ahhh!! I absolutely LOVED this book. Don’t Hold Your Breath is the first swimming romance I’ve ever read and I cannot wait for more in the Galeo Cove universe.
Lainey and Hal have such a twisted story, all the secrets, AND they’re ex-step siblings (ooo, we love a taboo relationship over here)🤪
The hate and tension between them is so strong I could feeeeel it in between the pages 🥵 I forgot to mention the other love interest Lainey has. She has to keep him a secret 🤫
The spice in this one is very much spicy and it is a dark romance, so please be sure to check triggers!
🦈Dark Swimming Romance
🏊Step Siblings
🦈College Bully
🏊Morally Dark Gray MMC
🦈She Has A Secret… And He Knows It.
🏊Blackmail Contract
🦈Secret Love Triangle
🏊“I hate you. I hate you, too.”
Available on KU! Be sure to give @klhill_author a follow for more of Galeo Cove and Don’t Hold Your Breath 💛💛
#azalapress #darkromance #kindleunlimited
DONT HOLD YOUR BREATH
Ahhh!! I absolutely LOVED this book. Don’t Hold Your Breath is the first swimming romance I’ve ever read and I cannot wait for more in the Galeo Cove universe.
Lainey and Hal have such a twisted story, all the secrets, AND they’re ex-step siblings (ooo, we love a taboo relationship over here)🤪
The hate and tension between them is so strong I could feeeeel it in between the pages 🥵 I forgot to mention the other love interest Lainey has. She has to keep him a secret 🤫
The spice in this one is very much spicy and it is a dark romance, so please be sure to check triggers!
🦈Dark Swimming Romance
🏊Step Siblings
🦈College Bully
🏊Morally Dark Gray MMC
🦈She Has A Secret… And He Knows It.
🏊Blackmail Contract
🦈Secret Love Triangle
🏊“I hate you. I hate you, too.”
Available on KU! Be sure to give @klhill_author a follow for more of Galeo Cove and Don’t Hold Your Breath 💛💛
#azalapress #darkromance #kindleunlimited
July 30, 2026
Boy, there are sharks in the water for sure. I was all on track for how this book was going, throw in that plot twist and I was unbelievably hooked. Our FMC is strong but also so vulnerable and soft hearted. Our MMC, I raised my eyebrow at him for a bit and shook my head but by the end, I loved him. I love her found family. They have each other's backs every step of the way. This book has some hard topics, so check those out. I ignored several of my other books to keep reading this one because I needed to know what happened next. Im thrilled I found this book and did not want to say goodbye to these characters. I cant wait to see how this series shapes up.
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