One Breath

by Crea Reitan

Blurb coming soon

Genres: Friends To Lovers, M M Romance

363 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication August 13, 2026

About the author

Crea lives in upstate New York with her dog and husband. She has been writing since grade school, when her second grade teacher had her class keep writing journals. She has a habit of creating secondary, and often time tertiary, characters that take over her stories. When she can't fall asleep at night, she thinks up new scenes for her characters to act out. This, of course, is how most of her meant-to-be-thrown-away characters tend to end up front and center - and utterly swoon-worthy! Don't ask her how many book boyfriends she has...

When not writing, Crea is an avid reader. Her TBR pile is several hundred books high (don't even look at her kindle wish list or the unread books on her tablet). Sometimes, she enjoys crafting; sometimes, exploring nature; sometimes, traveling. Mostly, she enjoys putting her characters on paper and breathing life into them. Oh, and sleeping. Crea loves to sleep!

Reviews

[BooksBooksandmoreBooks69 · Rating 5 out of 5]

One Breath pulls me in from the very first line of the description, that quiet confession that every note of longing tastes like Cash.

There is something immediately intimate and painful about the way Onyx frames the story, as if the music itself has become both sanctuary and confession.

Falling for a best friend’s little brother is one of those classic forbidden setups that can feel overdone, yet here it lands with a particular ache because the history between them stretches all the way back to childhood.

Cash has always been the one who hypnotized Onyx, the constant undercurrent in every song written, every lyric shaped into a love letter that can never be delivered. That long, slow burn of unspoken feeling gives the story weight before it even properly begins.

What makes it so tense is the slow erosion of the friendship that once felt unbreakable. As the best friend grows angrier and more unrecognizable with each passing day, Onyx turns toward Cash almost instinctively, seeking the steadiness and understanding that used to come from elsewhere.

I love this author’s work, they have always been skilled at writing characters who are messy and human rather than perfectly heroic, and this setup seems tailor made.

The island setting of the Isle of Kala series adds another layer. I love this island and its inhabitants, is a sense of closed community and watchful eyes that heightens the stakes.

But secrets do not stay hidden long in places like that, and the knowledge that the truth will eventually surface creates a constant low level dread that sits beneath the romance.

The music element was a lovely addition. Songs as love letters, as pleas, as the only safe way to say the unsayable, give Onyx a voice that is both artistic and deeply personal. It turns the internal conflict into something external and lasting, something that will exist even if the relationship itself cannot.

I find myself most drawn to the quiet moments of it all. Onyx knows this will prove an undoing, knows the cost, and still cannot step away. That kind of helpless honesty is what stays with me after reading the description, I couldn’t put it down, I wanted to know more, even though I knew I would probably need a tissue 😢

It promised a story that does not shy away from the messiness of wanting someone you are not supposed to want, of finding comfort in the one place that will eventually cost you everything else. And it delivered that and more.

One Breath was a book that left me sitting with the characters long after the last page, still hearing the songs that were written for someone who was never supposed to know they existed. I loved it. And can’t wait to return to Isle of Kala.

🦋

*copy sent for review

4.5 ⭐️

[Sabrina · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is finally Cash and Onyx’s turn! We’ve seen hints of them plenty in this world, but we have yet to see how they got together. I was very excited for this one and it didn’t let me down. Onyx has had feelings for Cash for a long time. Cash is his muse when it comes to his song writing and he just has always cared for him. Probably even loved. But falling in love with his best friend’s brother? Not a good idea. Not when said best friend has changed a lot. Benson is no longer the guy he became friends with. He is toxic and angry and is always taking it out on those around him. Especially Cash. So Onyx has done what he can to protect Cash, even if that means not being with him the way he wants. He also just has a tiny bit of hope that his best friend is still in there. But things are about to change. Onyx finally gives in to his feelings for Cash and turns out, Cash has had some for a while as well. Cash has always liked Onyx but knows that nothing can happen. Not with Benson being the way he is now. Doesn’t stop them from shifting their friendship into more though. But it’s only a matter of time until things change again. But will they be together when it does? Crazy story! We got hints in the last book, but it was nice to get Onyx and Cash’s points of view. To see exactly how they’ve been feeling and going through. They come out of this story so much stronger once they realize just how much they love one another. So glad to see them get the happy ending they deserve! A great story all around!

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Richelle Zirkle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed finally getting Cash and Onyx’s story and getting to see more of Laiken and Lie. Cash has long been Onyx’s musical muse, and Cash has always had a crush on his brother’s best friend. Unfortunately Benson is filled with so much hatred toward his brother at this point, Cash has become his main target, but everyone else is a casualty of his nasty attitude as well. It’s affecting the band’s music and his friendship with Onyx. It’s hard for Onyx to untangle the protective feelings he has toward Cash and wanting to keep him safe and stand between the brothers and maintain his friendship. Taking steps forward in their relationship means everything will change, but Benson was always on the verge of self-destruction. Seeing Onyx in protection mode restores some faith, but there are hard moments where you want to hug Cash for feeling like his protests and feelings go unacknowledged. The found family vibes are a standout, and I enjoyed the cameos a ton on the way to HEA for these two.

[VicReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝙾𝚗𝚎 𝙱𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝𝚑

𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠

4.5/5 ⭐️

↓↓
We finally get Cash and Onyx. We got little snips of them from the first book in the series and we get to see their relationship unfold and from their perspective.

Oh god, the pining! Onyx has had a thing for Cash for yearrrrrrrrs, I mean that man was his muse. Ugh swoon 😍 the add the mutual pining they had for each other for yearrrrrrrs, ugggggh so good.

It broke my heart the way Cash was treated. He was just the sweetest and did not deserve any of the treatment he got. So many people failed him over the years. I was so happy when those people, Onyx included, got their head out of their ass and started to do better.

Benson. Ben. Prick of a person. 🖕🏼

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, isle of Kala needs to be a real thing. I can’t wait to see what is next for this series.

𝚆𝙷𝙰𝚃 𝚃𝙾 𝙴𝚇𝙿𝙴𝙲𝚃
- Brother's Best Friend
- Best Friend's Brother
- Secret Relationship
- Small Town
- Punk Rock Band

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cash and Onyx are so cute together. I loved how sweet Cash is and how innocent in so many ways. Especially when you compare him to his bestie Lie. I will say I hated Ben. I know you are supposed to be but my heart broke for Cash and his family because that is awful to deal with someone with that much hate. I hate that Onyx stayed his friend for so long as well. He was awful. But thankfully Onyx was not like that. I love the island culture. It's so cool to see this side of Kala after having read so many from guests of Kala.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Onyx and Cash's story. Onyx was so protective of Cash and I'm glad he loved him so much, he deserved love after having a brother so hurtful like Benson and everyone not tsking it as serious as it should have been. Cash was a cutie, i loved his innocence sometimes. I loved seeing more of Lie and Laiken. Isle of Kala seems like a great place to live.

[June McKibben · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onyx and Cash's story touches my heart in more ways than one. With bestfriend to Onyx and brother to Cash changing it makes a relationship between the two difficult but when you feel love eventually it will win out. I loved the story and getting to know these characters on an emotional level and seei g how strong they grow.

[Annissa Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cash & Onyx.. I’ve been waiting for them since book 1. This is a brothers best friend romance. Ben, Cash & Onyx all grew up together. Ben was a great big brother until he wasn’t and no one knows why things changed and he takes his hatred and anger out on his little brother. Onyx has loved Cash forever but refused to go there because of loyalty to Ben, but with Ben’s volatile attitude and attacks on Cash, Onyx stays close to keep a protective eye on Cash. What starts as a late night check in with his best friends little brother who he’s been in love with forever turns into so much more. I was definitely not let down with their story, it was everything I wanted. I’m so glad they got their HEA.

[Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the love that Crea describes in her books. I almost wish Benson would have figured his issues out, but I realize, not every character gets a happy story. He has to live with his choices.

[Emmi (bookish_redpanda)]

Format: 📱 eBook 📱 (ARC)
Check CWs before reading

Rating and review to come

[Seraphina Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

One Breath
Isle of Kala
Crea Reitan

Cash & Onyx

I just have to say this, Crea Reitan is such an incredible and unique author. CreaVerse is just so so good.

I love how, every so often, we get glimpses of previous characters; I love the overlap we sometimes get.

I love the angst and action in this.

SO glad we got their story, and they finally got their hea.

The love these two found for each other was everything.

So thankful for this arc