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Waterborn #0
Summer's Last Breath
She’s only human and completely off-limits. He inhabits a world she can never be a part of.I've been crushing on Jamie for going on a year now. Last school year, as a freshman, my eyes lit up like moon pies every time I was lucky enough to get a glimpse of him in the hall or in the cafeteria. My heart would beat wildly when I’d see him pulling in or out of the parking lot in his aqua-blue Bronco. Jamie is and always will be forbidden fruit. All my friends gush and fan-girl over Harry Styles and Ian Somerhalder while my every fantasy is right here under my nose, so close I can smell him. And boy does he smell good. Like the sun and the ocean and a warm salty breeze. My friends are welcome to the latest CW bad-boy cast member, or the hottest boy band member. I want Jamie. Too bad I will never get him.This story is a prequel novel to The Waterborn SeriesExcerpt“How old are you?” The hard edge in his voice prompted me to look up at his face. Water spiked his dark hair, dripping over his cheeks and jaw. I lifted my chin. It would be so easy to let him intimidate me, knowing what I did about him. “Seventeen.” The lie slipped out too easily. Eighteen wouldn’t have worked because I was still a sophomore, and the truth—that I was sixteen—sounded too young, especially with Jamie towering over me even though he wasn’t even standing up. He blotted out the sun, the whole entire world, and I was content to let him. He lifted his hand to my face, his fingers lightly tracing my cheek where Donovan had elbowed me the previous day. His expression softened, his full lips turning slightly down. “Does it hurt?” “A little,” I confessed, drowning in the pools of his green eyes, so pale they were almost no color at all. He stared at me for a long time, as if he were mulling something over in his mind, and all the while his eyes searched my face. My skin shivered. My lips parted as my mind churned for some reasonable excuse as to why in the world I would be hiding here. What could I say that wouldn’t make me sound like a Navy groupie or worse, a stalker? The half-formed words stalled in my throat as his head descended toward me, and before I knew his intention his lips lightly touched my cheek, stunning me into utter stillness. Then his lips found mine and the reasonable voice in my head told me I should push him away, that he’d stepped way out of bounds, and I was about to do it—I was—when his tongue darted out and teased my lips. They opened all by themselves, my body way ahead of my brain, eager in its response. I kept my eyes open, not wanting to miss a single second. The weird thing was he didn’t close his eyes either, which made his kiss all the more potent. I’d been kissed before, but never like this, sweet and gentle with an undercurrent of the not so gentle, a complete possession of my mouth and my heart along with it. He lifted his head a fraction and we shared a breath before he drew away completely. He pushed to his feet, then stood over me again as I met his forceful gaze. “You know what I am.” It wasn’t spoken as a question, but a declaration. “Yes,” I said. Like I would care after that kiss.
- GenresContemporary Romance
262 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 2, 2015
19 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly James
10 books68 followersKimberly lives in Florida and spends her time riding her bike, walking on the beach, and writing. Wine and french fries are her favorites with a side of Cheez-Its. Extra Toasty only.
She sits at her computer a lot while her two labs stare at her.
She sits at her computer a lot while her two labs stare at her.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 23, 2015
This book was soo freaking sad!
This book comes before the previous three books in the series coming from Erin shaw's point of view before Charis came into the picture. Now from the previous three books it was very easy to come to a conclusion about everything that had happened between Erin and Jamie so as long as you've read the other books, nothing in this book is unexpected so nothing I say in this review can be a spoiler. Also this book wasn't technically necessary since we the readers already know everything that happened prior to Charis' arrival, but I was still a very good read, hence the 5 star. It definitely helped me fully understand everything Erin had gone through and understand her pain seeing all she went through at such a young age and makes me respect her a lot more. Her love story is just so devastating it's just so amazing to see where she is now after going through all that.
I was iffy about it before, but I'm actually glad that even though Kimberly James started off by telling Charis and Noah's story, that she's branching out and letting us get to know the other characters a lot better because they have a story worthy of telling. I do kinda miss Charis and Noah sometimes but now I'm super interested in Erin and Jamie and can't wait to get my hands on Book 4, Sun and Saltwater, to see Jamie's point of view after the breakup from Book 3, Watermark. As a matter of fact I think I'm going to get it right now on my kindle.
This book comes before the previous three books in the series coming from Erin shaw's point of view before Charis came into the picture. Now from the previous three books it was very easy to come to a conclusion about everything that had happened between Erin and Jamie so as long as you've read the other books, nothing in this book is unexpected so nothing I say in this review can be a spoiler. Also this book wasn't technically necessary since we the readers already know everything that happened prior to Charis' arrival, but I was still a very good read, hence the 5 star. It definitely helped me fully understand everything Erin had gone through and understand her pain seeing all she went through at such a young age and makes me respect her a lot more. Her love story is just so devastating it's just so amazing to see where she is now after going through all that.
I was iffy about it before, but I'm actually glad that even though Kimberly James started off by telling Charis and Noah's story, that she's branching out and letting us get to know the other characters a lot better because they have a story worthy of telling. I do kinda miss Charis and Noah sometimes but now I'm super interested in Erin and Jamie and can't wait to get my hands on Book 4, Sun and Saltwater, to see Jamie's point of view after the breakup from Book 3, Watermark. As a matter of fact I think I'm going to get it right now on my kindle.
April 9, 2016
This book was amazing it was well written and had a great plot but it was very sad the begging is happy and fun and awesome but as you get closer to the end it becomes really sad the main character loses so much and the story really made me want to cry because of how sad it was(kind of like the fault in our stars) I'm not a big fan of unhappy endings but this book was still good anyways.
October 22, 2018
I loved this book! Like. I mean loved it so much I've read it at least 15 times! Sweet Erin. And Jamie! Wow! So sweet yet strong and stubborn and HOT!! No one deserves the kind of pain Erin has to go through but It is better to love than to not have loved at all. This was a great back story of Jamie and Erin.
July 9, 2018
Beautiful story
Well I am officially a blubbering mess. Such a beautiful story. I can’t wait to read more about Erin and Jamie.
Well I am officially a blubbering mess. Such a beautiful story. I can’t wait to read more about Erin and Jamie.
July 3, 2020
I absolutely loved this book. I felt all the emotion with Erin. Such a powerful book.
June 6, 2016
Good but Sad. If you don't want spoilers stop reading...
4.7 Stars. Free book. Wow. I really enjoyed the book but it is sad and there is no happy ending. I read a few reviews and I read the description but it still didn't prepare me.
Erin is sixteen and in love. Jamie is her best friend's older brother and isn't entirely human. He is also a member of her farther's military team. Their relationship moves from forbidden to grudgingly approved but then she turns up pregnant. They start to make a life together when he goes missing when a mission he's on goes bad. She continues to hold out hope for his return and when that hope runs out she still struggles through for the baby. Just when I don't think things can get worse she loses the baby. I kept hoping he'd come back until the book ends. It doesn't end in a cliffhanger but it doesn't have a HEA either.
Now if you're like me and cheated (I read the descriptions of the other books in the series) you know that Jamie did in fact survive. By the time he comes back Erin has moved on and doesn't pick Jamie. Now since I haven't read the other book I don't know the details of her new love or why she picked him over Jamie. Part of me still wants them to get together but I don't know if that will happen (the author hasn't gotten that far). Too bad their relationship couldn't all be in one book.
I enjoyed the writing and the world she created (it wasn't perfect but worked). I'd like to know more about the world so hopefully she'll do more world building in the next book. She does a really good job of portraying sweetness and affection. When I read this book I didn't realize it was a prequel. My problem is that the book is sad and I don't want to read more of the series of everyone doesn't get a HEA. I know that if I'd just read the first book first I'd be gobbling down the series as fast as I could but as it stands I'm not sure I'll read more. I'm not a fan of sad books. It's a testament to how much I enjoyed the book that I'm still giving it 4 stars. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 is I don't think it's something I'd want to re-read.
4.7 Stars. Free book. Wow. I really enjoyed the book but it is sad and there is no happy ending. I read a few reviews and I read the description but it still didn't prepare me.
Erin is sixteen and in love. Jamie is her best friend's older brother and isn't entirely human. He is also a member of her farther's military team. Their relationship moves from forbidden to grudgingly approved but then she turns up pregnant. They start to make a life together when he goes missing when a mission he's on goes bad. She continues to hold out hope for his return and when that hope runs out she still struggles through for the baby. Just when I don't think things can get worse she loses the baby. I kept hoping he'd come back until the book ends. It doesn't end in a cliffhanger but it doesn't have a HEA either.
Now if you're like me and cheated (I read the descriptions of the other books in the series) you know that Jamie did in fact survive. By the time he comes back Erin has moved on and doesn't pick Jamie. Now since I haven't read the other book I don't know the details of her new love or why she picked him over Jamie. Part of me still wants them to get together but I don't know if that will happen (the author hasn't gotten that far). Too bad their relationship couldn't all be in one book.
I enjoyed the writing and the world she created (it wasn't perfect but worked). I'd like to know more about the world so hopefully she'll do more world building in the next book. She does a really good job of portraying sweetness and affection. When I read this book I didn't realize it was a prequel. My problem is that the book is sad and I don't want to read more of the series of everyone doesn't get a HEA. I know that if I'd just read the first book first I'd be gobbling down the series as fast as I could but as it stands I'm not sure I'll read more. I'm not a fan of sad books. It's a testament to how much I enjoyed the book that I'm still giving it 4 stars. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 is I don't think it's something I'd want to re-read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 20, 2016
*Spoilers*
For creativity, I give his story a 5. The idea of a species of water creatures living with humans fascinated me. The author did an excellent job of depicting how they assimilated into everyday society and yet had their own existence. Presenting it as a racial issue was also well done.
Plot, however, didn't completely work for me. I never did understand what exactly Marshall's group of boys were supposed to do and knew from the start something would happen to Jaime. It was way too predictable. In Part 2, I didn't like the reference to a "witch".
I also didn't like the idea of a 19-yr-old being involved with a 16-yr-old. Individually, I liked Jaime. I loved Noah. But Erin was ... well ... 16 and immature and annoying. Jaime tries to do the right thing and hold off in their relationship, but she has to push him too far. At age 16, I don't buy she "loved him", that they were "destined to be together" or that their relationship was exactly what they'd been waiting for, even if this was a fantasy-type novel. All of that was childish over-dramatizing.
Which brings me to sex. Sure, teens have sex. But the desire depicted in this book was too graphic for teens, pictured as too acceptable in society, and on the cheesy side. Their first time was laughable, nor was Jaime's mother's reaction to finding her toilet stopped up and bloody ever properly explained. Erin's attitude about it afterward was mostly arrogant. And bravo that the author had them marry and keep the baby, but I'll say it again ... Erin's 16.
Overall, I bought the book until Part 1, where the story should have ended. It didn't and so seriously dived in Part 2. Story has lots of cursing, as mentioned, several reasonably graphic sex scenes. I'm glad it ended on a happy note (although after chapters of extreme sadness) and having not read the blurb for the other books am curious if they'll involve Noah or maybe Donovan. But if they involve Erin, I'm not interested.
Because of sex, language, and plot issues, this story is a solid 3.
For creativity, I give his story a 5. The idea of a species of water creatures living with humans fascinated me. The author did an excellent job of depicting how they assimilated into everyday society and yet had their own existence. Presenting it as a racial issue was also well done.
Plot, however, didn't completely work for me. I never did understand what exactly Marshall's group of boys were supposed to do and knew from the start something would happen to Jaime. It was way too predictable. In Part 2, I didn't like the reference to a "witch".
I also didn't like the idea of a 19-yr-old being involved with a 16-yr-old. Individually, I liked Jaime. I loved Noah. But Erin was ... well ... 16 and immature and annoying. Jaime tries to do the right thing and hold off in their relationship, but she has to push him too far. At age 16, I don't buy she "loved him", that they were "destined to be together" or that their relationship was exactly what they'd been waiting for, even if this was a fantasy-type novel. All of that was childish over-dramatizing.
Which brings me to sex. Sure, teens have sex. But the desire depicted in this book was too graphic for teens, pictured as too acceptable in society, and on the cheesy side. Their first time was laughable, nor was Jaime's mother's reaction to finding her toilet stopped up and bloody ever properly explained. Erin's attitude about it afterward was mostly arrogant. And bravo that the author had them marry and keep the baby, but I'll say it again ... Erin's 16.
Overall, I bought the book until Part 1, where the story should have ended. It didn't and so seriously dived in Part 2. Story has lots of cursing, as mentioned, several reasonably graphic sex scenes. I'm glad it ended on a happy note (although after chapters of extreme sadness) and having not read the blurb for the other books am curious if they'll involve Noah or maybe Donovan. But if they involve Erin, I'm not interested.
Because of sex, language, and plot issues, this story is a solid 3.
March 23, 2016
This is the first book in the series that I have read, and it was released in fourth order, I believe. So, coming in at the VERY beginning (this one is a prequel), I was DEVASTATED. I will most likely read the others in this series; however, I will have to give it some time, as I was rooting for Erin and Jamie all the way.
It was such a shame to see two young people in love, struggling and overcoming obstacles together, to end up broken. No HEA. And you'll come out feeling that way, too, if you enter this series, as I did, starting with the prequel.
March 25, 2016
This book was amazing!!!!
This book is amazing . It has a lot of vivid detail it told a great story and it showed that no matter who you love you will always have their back and they'll always have yours
This book is amazing . It has a lot of vivid detail it told a great story and it showed that no matter who you love you will always have their back and they'll always have yours
May 31, 2016
A+++
I am not really into these kinds of books and by the time I realized it I was to into it to stop reading :) It keep me interested the whole time that I didn't want to put it down!
I am not really into these kinds of books and by the time I realized it I was to into it to stop reading :) It keep me interested the whole time that I didn't want to put it down!
April 30, 2016
This must be the saddest story I have read in a long time. It made me cry!! which I don't usually do in a story. Amazingly written - full of real emotions.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews