3 Breaths by L.K. Collins is a moving story of love developed out of terrible circumstances but more powerful because of the way it started.
Krane is a young man, who fell in love with Zoe and they were on their way home one night after their engagement dinner and at the subway station Zoe has a horrible seizure that takes her life! Krane was devastated by this and he went off on his own and just would not accept help from anyone. On top of that, Zoe's mother blamed Krane saying if they had not been out drinking, it would have never happened. It simply was not true.
The only person that understood how he was feeling was Zoe's little sister, Ivy. Ivy was just as torn up as Krane was, and they comforted each other, giving each other strength, when no one else could. Krane did not have a regular job he was in underground fighting and he always won, and that is what kept him paying his rent and Zoe's as well, until he was able to close up the apartment.
Krane and Ivy started spending time together and she always tried to be positive for him as he was for her when she needed someone and they became friends. The author did a great job, through her writing making us feel the grief and loss as if we are there with the characters, and can feel the depth of their sorrow.
One night Ivy asks Krane what is going on between them and while he wants to move on he is afraid to move on with Ivy as she is his only friend. He tries to explain it to her but her feelings have started to run deep and his hesitance to commit to anything upset her tremendously and she leaves. Krane tries to call and text her but she does not answer. Krane winds up going to his sister's wedding, and it is horrible being without Ivy. He sees how many times he has tried to call her in the week they have been apart and that does not include all the texts! In a moment of self doubt he deletes her number so he can't call her anymore.
After a week of not hearing or seeing Ivy, Krane goes to her house, after going to her job and finding out she quit! Her front door is open, and her house is torn apart, her cat is hungry and there is no food or water down. He can't find her and he goes to her room and there she is. He finally realizes in that moment that he needs this woman in his life. The question is, will Ivy forgive him? It is interesting to note that the author while writing this story made us realize that both of these characters did not want to forget Zoe, they just miss her so much in their own ways and it does not affect how they feel for each other.
I loved the way this book finished, and how out of all the sadness, guilt, unhappiness, and self doubt things turn out for both Ivy and Krane. I was really surprised by what happens in the last quarter of the book. If you want to read a book that is really well written and makes you feel so much, you need to read this book! It is my first book by this author and I can't wait to read more by her!
I gave this book 4**** emotional stars!