Can't Hardly Breathe

The Original Heartbreakers #4

by Gena Showalter

New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter returns with an irresistible Original Heartbreakers story about a woman who's never felt desired and the man who wants her more than air to breathe…

Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis's past is full of memories she'd rather forget. But there's one she can't seem to shake—her long-standing crush on former army ranger Daniel Porter. Now that the sexy bad boy has started using her inn as his personal playground, she should kick him out…but his every heated glance makes her want to join him instead.

Daniel returned to Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, to care for his ailing father and burn off a little steam with no strings attached. Though he craves curvy Dorothea night and day, he's as marred by his past as she is by hers. The more he desires her, the more he fears losing her.

But every sizzling encounter leaves him desperate for more, and soon Daniel must make a choice: take a chance on love or walk away forever.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Military Fiction, Adult, Second Chance, Ebooks

400 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 21, 2017

About the author

Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t Hardly Breathe is book four in The Original Heartbreakers series by Gena Showalter. Sometimes I can’t believe how lucky I am to be able to read these wonderful books. Books that make me smile, swoon, laugh, and maybe shed a tear or two. This is one of those times. I have loved this series from the start and was so excited to see this new addition and it was amazing.

“I think you’re perfect just the way you are.
It was funny how one sentence - one moment - could impact a life forever.”



Dorothea Mathis was bullied when she was a teenager. Her only two friends were being home schooled so she was by herself. She had a huge crush on Daniel Porter and fell in love with him the day he came to her rescue in the hallway, only to have her heart broken by him that same day unbeknownst by him.

Now Dorothea is an adult and her mother has turned over ownership of Strawberry Valley Inn to her. The Inn is struggling but Dorothea has ideas to update it, if only she had the funds to do so. Dorothea has been abandoned by every person that meant something to her in her past, namely her father, and her ex-husband. whom she gave up her dream of being a meteorologist for. Her eighteen year old sister hates her and her mother is absent most of the time. Dorothea is tired of feeling this way, tired of waiting for her life to change. She wants a fresh start, to have more fun, be more spontaneous. She vows to be the old Dorothea no more. She is now the new Dorothea.



Daniel is back is Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma to take care of his ailing father after serving several terms in the military with his two best friends. He saw things no man should ever see. He did things no man should ever do. He suffers from PTSD and his mind is plagued with nightmares. The smallest thing can ignite memories. Daniel’s father wants to see his son get married and have the kind of love he shared with Daniel’s mother but Daniel knows he can never be a husband. He is broken. But one of the ways he can forget is by having one night stands with random women from the city who he brings to the Inn that Dorothea owns. One night and that’s it.

Dorothea is forced to watch the object of her teenage crush bring in one woman after another. But she can’t seem to help that she still feels drawn to him. She can’t help to notice the pain in his eyes.

“Somehow affection overshadowed his memories of war every time he neared her. She intoxicated him. I’m already an addict. She made him want to give more than he took.”



Dorothea’s presence in Daniel’s life makes him feel a peace he hasn’t experienced in a long time. He can’t deny he wants her. She’s not only beautiful on the outside but her inner beauty shines bright. She makes him laugh which is something he hasn’t done in a very long time. And making her laugh has become one of his favorite past times. But he can’t offer her anything more than a secret romance. He won’t risk getting his Dad’s hopes up for something he knows has no future. He is not the forever kind of man. He’s got too much darkness in his head.

“Just once, Dorothea wanted to be the girl the guy desired deeply, madly…and long-term. She longed to be first choice, the prize and not the consolation. She yearned to matter.”

This book was the perfect mix of laugh out loud moments, sweet, sexy moments and sorrowful moments. Both Dorothea and Daniel have suffered. They both have so much love to give but have so many hurdles to get over before they can fully accept each other. I don’t want to make this sound too angsty, because it’s not. It’s actually really funny. The humor between these two made me laugh so many times. And the chemistry was just WOW! I loved watching Daniel’s transformation as he fell more and more for Dorothea. And Dorothea was maybe one of the strongest women I have ever read about. This beautiful woman had so much that could have beaten her down. But did it, No Way! She continued to press on, continued to try to find the good in life, to achieve her goals.



Can this be read as a stand alone? Yes, most definitely. But I urge you to take a look at the previous books in the series. Because they are all amazing. Thank you, Gena Showalter, for this amazing book. I dearly loved it. I can’t wait for the next book in the series, Can’t Let Go.

[Lana ❇✾DG Romance❇✾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 STARS

Nightmares didn’t really come to life. Nor did pornos. Not that she watched those…very often. But dang it, this had to be one or the other. The sexiest man on the planet had just strode into the room. He was shirtless, sweat glistening on his eight pack—and his name was Daniel Porter. The Daniel.

I love an underdog heroine with a backbone and who's full of sass and witty banter. I love a broody hero that goes after what he wants with single minded intent. I love Gena Showalter's humorous writing. I love a delicious slow burn. And I LOVED this book! SO HARD.

Dorothea Mathis was a heroine that was impossible not to love. I remember being intrigued by her in The Harder You Fall and she completely stole the show here. Bullied in high school, she still feels the remnants of it with her self esteem. But the one memory that truly bruised her heart was of the boy that she fell for in high school that proved to her that while nice guys exist, she's never going to be the one of the pretty girls that gets his attention.

Now she's older, wiser, and no longer the naive girl she once was. A failed marriage only served to drive home the point that a passionate love is something that will always allude her. She tried chasing her dreams but her choices led her back to her small hometown, licking her wounds, running her family's failing inn, and trying to regain the trust and love of her snarky and grumpy teenage sister. The last man she expects to darken the doorstep of her inn is the one boy that she never forgot, that now grew into a man that makes her heart beat even faster in her presence.

He was the human equivalent of a brownie. Yummy, but oh, so bad for her.

Former army ranger Daniel uses women to escape memories. A sweaty nights between the sheets with no strings attached is his version of therapy. He's always had a thing for the beautiful Dorothea, but she refuses to be just another notch on his bedpost and that only serves to intrigue him more.

Say yes, and I’ll spend the first hour in bed making you come over and over again, doing anything you want. Everything you need. The second hour, I’ll make the first one look like amateur night. By the third, there’s no place on your body I won’t have explored—no place you won’t ache for me.”

This book had some of the most delicious banter I've read in a while. It was humorous and sexy and ridiculously fun. I loved how hard Daniel chased and I loved the way that Dorothea really made him work for it. She may be the underdog, but she's no pushover. She's got sass for days but her vulnerability served to make her so incredibly endearing. I couldn't get enough of these two.

There's also a slew of secondary characters that are introduced that I'm already hooked on, line and sinker. Especially the womanizing bad boy, Brock.

To Ryanne, Brock said, “Baby, kissing your go-tohell is what I’ll be doing for twelve of your fifteen minutes in heaven.” “Lucky me.” She pretended to gag. “By the way, your dates are wearing pants so tight I can see their religion.”
“I saw you bend over earlier. Yours are tighter, doll.” His gaze swept over her, his eyes twinkling. “Tsk-tsk. Haven’t been to church in a while, have we.”

I absolutely adored this slow burn romance. I loved watching Daniel fall harder and harder even if he refused to acknowledge the fact. I loved watching Dorothea really come into her own and grow into a sassy, confident woman that finally goes after what she wants.

He was hot, his lips soft, his jaw prickly. The taste of him…mint and…sin? Crack? He kissed her deeply, dreamily, slow and easy, sweeping her up in the gentlest of storms. A soft summer rain. An exploration.

I'm absolutely giddy for more in this series. GIDDY. Yes, it's slightly campy, but in the best possible way. It was steamy rom com perfection. If a feel-good romance with plenty of laughs, amazing banter, and swoon for days is what you're craving, Can't Hardly Breathe will deliver in spades. I loved every page of it.

ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review

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[Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

*****FOUR STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}



Fierce and gorgeous and battle ready, he jumped to his feet. He was a thousand dreams come true…a million fantasies in the making. An illusion. He was nothing but a heartbreak waiting to happen.






I’ve always wanted to try a Gena Walters book and finally found the opportunity with CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE. This is the fourth installment in the ”Original Heartbreakers” series but can be read as a standalone. Each book focuses on a different Heroine in the small town of Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma, and the Alpha Male Hero who changes her life forever. I don’t normally read Harlequin romances because they tend to be a little bit cheesy but every once in a while, I will admit, that I can appreciate them for their entertainment value. While more often than not, I did feel that the Heroine was an oddball and ridiculously corny, it didn’t in any way hinder my enjoyment of this story.




Thea Mathis has lived in Strawberry Valley almost her entire life. She has one of the biggest hearts and is known for her sweet nature. These are admirable traits but she’s also very insecure which stems from her childhood days when her father abandoned her family and also from being bullied over her weight issues and her physical appearance. Thea had dreams of becoming a meteorologist but she soon gave up on her dreams for a man she thought she loved. Thea left Strawberry Valley to attend college and while at school she met her soon to be husband. Since no one had ever shown that they cared for her, she ate up the attention she received from this man but soon enough he would prove to be like all the other people in her life who had disappointed her, and she ends up going back home to Strawberry Valley and taking over the family business, which is the Strawberry Inn. Her mother decides that it’s her time to live her life so she leaves the Inn and Thea’s younger sister, Holly, in her care. Almost everyone in her life either takes advantage of her or makes her doubt her self-worth. Except for her two best friends and the one man who has owned her heart since they met in kindergarten.






Daniel Porter is an ex-army ranger, who served two tours in Afghanistan. He co-owns a security company with two of his friends who were also in his platoon. Daniel has PTSD which stems from his stint as an Army Ranger. He has night terrors that plague him on the regular and he manages to escape the torture for a little while through his many sexual conquests. He’s never been interested in seeking a relationship with any of the women he’s been intimate with and he claims it’s because he doesn’t want to get his father’s hopes up, only to inevitably break his heart when his relationship falls apart. But truthfully, Daniel was deeply affected by his mother’s death. The loss that he and his father went through nearly killed them both and Daniel can’t ever put himself in the position to go through that kind of pain again.





Daniel has been bringing different women to Thea’s Inn at least a couple nights a week, and she decides that she’s gone without sex long enough. Thea somehow manages to get the courage to show up at Daniel’s room and propositions him. Her plan was to seduce him and to have just one incredible night with him, no strings attached, but things didn’t go as she planned and Daniel ends up stopping things before they even get started. Thea takes the entire situation the wrong way and thinks that Daniel is rejecting her because he isn't attracted to her. She doesn’t know that Daniel has always had a thing for her and that he couldn’t believe how lucky he was to have such a beautiful woman offering herself to him. The only reason he turned her down was he knew one night would never be enough for either of them and it freaked him out.




Once Daniel realizes the huge mistake he made by turning Thea away, he becomes a man on a mission and he is relentless in his pursuit of Thea. He has quite the uphill battle to face as Thea has had a change of heart. She could never be someone’s one-night stand. Thea wants more. She wants to be in a relationship with a man who is going to sweep her off her feet and who will treat her as his first priority in his life. Thea knows that Daniel is not able to give her those things and when he tries to get her back in his bed but then tells her that they need to keep their relationship a secret from his Dad, her defenses build up. She’s determined to find love with someone other than Daniel...someone who would be proud to show her off as their girlfriend.








No matter how hard she tries there’s no denying the chemistry she has with Daniel, and eventually he is able to prove himself enough that she gives him a chance. Their passion is hotter than anything they’ve ever experienced in their entire lives but is it enough to get them past the many obstacles that lay ahead of them?




CAN’T HARDLY BREATHE releases on September 1st. I found it to be a very entertaining and sexy read. I haven’t read the other books in the series but after having read this one, the other characters intrigued me so much that I hope to get the chance to read them all. If you’re looking for a fun and steamy summer read, make sure you one-click!!




Amazon: http://amzn.to/2wku1Dm
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Google Play: http://bit.ly/2wcV7vF

[Sophie "Beware Of The Reader" · Rating 5 out of 5]

An ARC has been provided by Harlequin (US & Canada)HQN Books via NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest opinion

 

4 to 4,5 “building self-esteem” stars

 

This book has been a whole journey! One that looked a lot like a roller coaster rather than a stroll alongside the beach.

 

In the beginning Dorothea was really annoying.

OK the teenage girl was bullied, slightly or more overweight, had no Dad etc. So she had reasons to complain BUT she really did look like a kicked puppy with huge wet eyes always hoping for some love. She wore her heart on her sleeve so it should have been easy to love her but her lack of self-esteem grated on my nerves.
Now her inner pep talks were something to admire but when I thought she would “grow a pair” and win she got just shot down by Daniel...and he had even no idea her hurt her bad.
In one word: she was a mess

 

Fast forward years later and life hasn’t been kind on Dorothea. She’s been betrayed by her husband, went through Hell and back. She even abandoned her dream of being a meteorologist just to help this pr@ck build his career. Given he knifed her in the back her sacrifice had a bitter taste.

Now she has inherited her mother’s Inn and every day is spent in cleaning the rooms (piece of advice: when you leave your hotel room don’t forget to throw the used condoms in the trash. Eeeeek!), manning the desk, trying to rebuild a relationship with her teenage gothic rebel of a sister Holly, being good to everyone all that with a self-esteem still in shambles.

 

But it will change! Dorothea has decided to be a new her! A better, more confident, more audacious her.
And I freaking LOVED it!
It was certainly inspiring but also hilarious to witness Dorothea evolve from a shy and bullied teenager into a kickass gorgeous woman with sass and spunk!

 

Daniel Porter will help rebuild her confidence. He’s been her forever crush and is now a retired soldier suffering from PTSD. Co-owner of a security firm with two other ex-army buddies he forgets his nightmares sleeping (energetically based on the discarded bras in the Inn’s room) with lots of women. Of course you have to portray our hero as hot, handsome, muscled, …. Everything you want in your book boyfriend.

 

When he’ll really see Dorothea and her generous curves, long lashes, green eyes, luscious hair etc. he’ll been smitten. I kept seeing one of the Tex Avery’s scene where the wolf is losing his mind, eyes bulging at the sight of the pin up. Well that’s what happened to Daniel.



 

 

HE WANTS HER. But on the side. He does not want to commit to anyone and his father can’t have false hope so it has to stay secret. No dating outside the Inn, no holding hands no…

What do you think this did for Dorothea? It was a slap in her face!

 

As much as Dorothea wanted Daniel she would not accept to be a dirty little secret! No new Dorothea deserved the undivided and proud attention of a man, plain and simple.
So each time she turned gorgeous Daniel down I wanted to shout “Good job sista! Way to go! You’re worth everything.”
Believe me the chemistry was off the charts, the room was suddenly steamy hot when these two met so Dorothea had to be VERY resolute.

 

I took enormous pleasure reading this story and witnessing a shy girl turn into a strong and determined woman. Wonder Woman has nothing on Dorothea! Especially when she is dodging tornadoes like Gal Gadot dodges bullets.



 

 

So to my utter disbelief I fell in love with Dorothea. I never would have expected this turn of event based on my initial reactions.

 

What I also loved was the humor and Dorothea’s come back. When she said “Pedal to the metal,” “To the car! We drive like the wind!” I was laughing like mad.

Gena Showalters also wrote very accurately about the difficulties of raising moody and hormonal teenagers. I have one home so when Gena writes “Sweet Lord in heaven. Knife fighting with a serial killer would have been easier than arguing with a teenage girl.” I feel some kinship.

 

Last but not least: Daniel was your hot Alpha with a twist as he was trapped at his own game of keeping a relationship with Dorothea under wrap and I loved how she gave him a run for his money. He had to chase her, put his head out of his “behind” and do some serious groveling if he wanted to win the Lady.

 

So it has begun with the heroine grating on my nerves and ended with a reader completely smitten with this extraordinary heroine. This story is an ode to self-esteem, growing your confidence accepting your curves and realizing you’re a pearl to be treasured whatever your weight, diploma, background. It’s as good to begin your day as listening to “I Will Survive”. A blender of optimism and energy!

 

[♥ℳelody · Rating 1 out of 5]

“Let me assuage my curiosity and find out if you’re this sweet all over. Let me see the exquisite body that haunts my dreams.”

This happens in Chapter 3. Chapter. freaking. 3.

Nothing about this book was realistic or believable. Not the insta-lust, not the random earthquakes, not the farfetched reason for why the hero won't date anyone in Strawberry Valley and not the attraction between the leads. Everything is overly exaggerated. There's a flashback scene that was ridiculous and kinda skeevy for me. You never blinked in this girl's direction in High School but as an adult you suddenly remember your 18 year old self driving by seeing little 15 year old Dorothea at the bus stop and getting a hard on because she blushed when she saw you?

Eat ya heart out, Brad Powell!

Don't get me wrong. I liked that the heroine was curvy. I liked that the "popular jock" turned out to be a sweetheart and attracted to someone who isn't a rail thin beauty. But I had trouble buying any of it. Big part of it was Thea's missing backbone. Her nonexistent self-esteem and thinking the absolute worst of herself and carrying on like a frumpy 80 year-old doormat is hard to admire or even like.

I kept picturing Dorothea as a dowdy elderly woman who feels sorry for herself all the time and acts like an indentured servant who hands out apologies to everyone. It was rather miserable to sit through.

I've noticed Gena really loves to write her heroines as victims. The self-imposed kind. The “victim” mentality is played up so strongly in all her books to such an exaggerated degree that it’s nearly laughable. All sense of sympathy and depth is completely taken out because of this over the top approach. Where everyone and their mother, dog, cat, high school principal, sister, grandpa, ex treats the heroine like garbage and she needs to brace herself and take it. *sniff sniff* You can't take any of it seriously. It strangely reads almost like a comic book with how it's delivered.

If Rose had survived, she might be walking by now. Pang. If she’d gone to term, she might be crawling. PANG.

Dorothea's teenage sister walks all over her and hurls insults at her and she takes it. Ouch! 💥
Her mother uses her as an emotional crutch and has her raise her younger sister and she takes it. Whimper. 💥
The hero has the NERVE to hesitate when a rando woman (Dorothea) walks into his hotel room asking for sex and dropping robe in front of him. Omergawd. He doesn’t want me. 😱😱😱 Be strong!💥
Her ex-husband used and abused her even though she cooked for him, quit school and gave up her career for him and he still cheated on her AND she lost her baby the same day she found out about his infidelity. Double Pang!💥

Whimper.

Whimper.

Whimper.



Overall I just found this so immature. A Showalter staple.

The whole "you're my girlfriend" "you're my boyfriend" thing, the nail polish thing, the OTT sexual innuendos made by very *observant* friends that are so hamfisted that you may as well fly a freaking banner in the sky that reads ⇨YOU TWO ARE HOT FOR EACH OTHER. READERS PAY ATTENTION!🚨 And the hair fluffing thing that makes my fucking eye twitch like nothing else. It's pretty much a Showalter trademark at this point. Apparently all her female characters in all her books need to fluff their hair when they are feeling sassy. Even shy, frumpy, low-self esteem, insecure Dorothea. 😒 Right. Cause that makes so much sense. lol I honestly find this quirk so dated.

I mean who fluffs their hair anymore?

Maybe I should try this around a hot dude next time. Fluff, fluff.

And this:

His dark hair stuck out in sexy spikes, and the thick stubble on his jaw suggested he hadn’t shaved since their last interaction. A leather band covered each of his wrists, and his black tee hugged his muscular biceps, the cotton stretched to the max. Ripped jeans and steel-toed boots only added to his appeal.

Sexy spikes, leather band bracelets and steel-toed boots? Hmm....now why does that sound so familiar? Oh right. Because the heroes in the last 3 books are described exactly the same way. They are all dressing the same? Down to steel toed boots and wristbands? Really? I just find this so lazy. And unimaginative. Her LOTU guys also are described the same way, the leather bands in particular. This author clearly has a thing for that, which is fine. But change it up, because at this point the copy, paste, repeat approach is absurd and unoriginal. It just lacks imagination of any kind. All Gena Showalter's characters have become interchangeable and that's a no-go for me at this point.

We also get more sizzling veins, decadent curves, smoldering looks, cascade of tremors, and shivers dancing put on full display. I'm all a shiver just typing this out.


And why someone would let their younger sister go on thinking the best of their abusive ex-husband just because she has no father figure in her life didn't make a lick of sense to me. Especially when the man in question cheated on you and abused you. Uh...yello! Dorothea kept letting Holly walk all over, be abusive and nasty all because Holly blames her for Jazz leaving, not knowing he cheated on her. And the fact that this girl's biggest hang up when the truth comes out is not the fact that Jazz was awful to her sister, oh noooooo, it's that Thea named her baby after Holly, just made me loathe this twit even more. 😑 This character was fucking awful and served no purpose except further emphasizing Thea's victimhood. This was by far the worst, most sloppiest attempt at creating sympathy for a lead I've ever seen. And FYI this teenager had sociopathic tendencies that were easily brushed away just because she has the teenage hurtsies. Cause that's a totally normal way to act. PS Gena Sholwater: It's so not. Going around attempting to punch adults in the face, including your sister and trashing an entire room where you rip furniture to shreds with a knife just to punish someone is asking for a shrink, not a hug. This girl was seriously begging for a throat punch and the number of times Dorothea passively let it continue was annoying in the extreme. This heroine is a doormat of the worst kind.

Will I continue? Maybe, if my library has it. I'm honestly conflicted. If you asked me this a few days ago I would have said yes but given the fucked up stunt Gena just pulled with her LOTU series and screwing over readers, I'm on the fence about this. I probably have no business continuing since I have so many issues with her writing in general. But Jude and Brock interested me, or I should say their potential with Rayenne and Lyndie caught my interest. And the fact that Gena described Jude as a human version of Lucien from LOTU piqued my interest more. Dammit. But as of now, Gena Showalter is no longer a go-to author for me nor will I ever purchase another book of hers again. I'm not giving this author another dime of my money, that's for sure. I will not support an author who pulls these kind of games and shows a complete lack of regard for her readers. #RespectYourReaders

[Angela (Angel's Book Nook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t Hardly Breathe is book four in The Original Heartbreakers series. This book made me smile, swoon, laugh, and cry. It’s a story of getting that chance with your high school crush later on in life. I adore this series and was so happy to get Dorothea and Daniel’s story.

I really enjoyed the prologue. We are taken back to high school where we see bullying, dreams, and crushes. Both Dorothea and Daniel captured my heart. I was totally enthralled with Can’t Hardly Breathe. I was amazed at how well Showalter brought the characters insecurities to the for front and how they learned to trust and deal with their issues. I liked how she shined light on bullying and how much it affects people throughout their lives. Then their’s the PTSD storyline with Daniel and how that can affect people too. I was enchanted by this couple and how they came together and ended up relaying on each other. The dogs where a delight, an added bonus and it was great how they helped Daniel realize he needed support. The friendships in this series have been phenomenal. I just cherish how Daniel and his friends plus Dorothea and her friends come together to help make things right.

Showalter brought out the best and worst in her characters. She surrounded them with friends who are loyal. She wrote sensual and tasteful sex scenes that sizzle of the pages. Can’t Hardly Breathe is a lovely story of romance, love, forgiveness, and trust.

Audio: Narrator Savannah Richards has such a soothing and alluring voice. I’m captured from the moment I listen until the very end. Her rendition of the story brings everything out and makes it all that much more real. I highly recommend the audio version for The Original Heartbreakers series.

Rated: 4 Stars

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dorothea Mathis was bullied for your uniqueness while in high school and fell in love with Daniel Porter the day he came to her rescue in the hall. That same day her heart was crushed when she stumbles into his romantic rendezvous with another girl.

Years later, Dorothea is happily running the family inn. Her mother has turned the inn over to Dorothea’s control and she has plans to update, but finds herself short on cash.

Daniel, Dorothea’s high school crush, has returned to Strawberry Valley to care for his father and has been using the inn for his one-night stands. This pushes Dorothea to face night after night of her high school crush bring woman after another woman into her inn. But Dorothea notices that he’s not happy and sees a lingering pain in his eyes.

The chemistry sizzles between Daniel and Dorothea but Daniel has demons from his military past haunting him. While Dorothea’s past hurts and insecurities make a pretty big wall around her heart.

Sweet, sexy, sorrowful, topped with a good dose of humor makes Can’t Hardly Breathe a heartfelt romance that should not be missed.

Easily read as a standalone, Can't Hardly Breathe is 5th in the Original Heartbreakers series.

I received this ARC copy of Can't Hardly Breathe from HQN. This is my honest and voluntary review. Can't Hardly Breathe is set for publication August 29, 2017.

[Geri Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this one!

It's a bit campy and cheesy at times but oh man, what an enjoyable ride!

Full review to follow...

ARC provided by the publisher

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.4 I rolled my eyes all the time stars

I had a really hard time enjoying this book. I thought I was going to like it –since I adored the first three books of this series and our MCs but, sadly, that was not the case whatsoever.

I found Thea annoyingly immature despise all the things she’s gone through while simultaneously acting she’s wiser than her years. I didn’t find her quirky and I’m getting real tired of this new trend –making your characters quirky and “relatable” but really coming off childish and exasperating.

Daniel wasn’t my cup of tea either, which is sad because I liked him in the past books. Here he’s just your typical carving for something real ex-soldier kind of guy; I wanted to learn more about his PTSD, about his father and how Thea would help him recover while he helps her doing the same thing but what I got was a water downed version of that.

But I think my main problem with the book was how outdated it felt. When I was reading, I couldn’t help but thinking I was reading once of those steamy romance books with the long haired shirtless dude on the cover, and I didn’t like it at all.

The three previous books had this contemporary feeling about them. I could totally see this happening –or at least it was believable but Dorothea and Daniel?



I hope the next book is better, to be perfectly honest with you.

[Simply Love Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful story! I was totally enthralled with Can’t Hardly Breathe and was amazed that Gena Showalter was able to bring these characters from insecure and afraid to confident and trusting in such and beautiful way. I also loved the way she shined the light on bullying, how much it affects people throughout their lives and how forgiving they can be. Then there was the PTSD storyline and just what it can do to people. But, what really hit me right in the heart was how both Dorothea and Daniel came to rely on each other, how a little dog got Daniel to realize he needed support, how, when you think all is lost, friends pull together to make it right.

Dorothea had me right from the beginning of this story. Even though she was shy and bullied, she held her head up high and went forward. She was dealt a raw deal in life and learned to make the most of it. Watching her turn into the butterfly that she was, was truly remarkable. It was gradual but, when she finally accepted things, there was not stopping her.

Daniel was confident, cocky and knew that he could never fall in love. He would never open himself up to losing someone again. Losing his mother gutted him … watching his friends die in battle ruined him. He would never subject a woman to his nightmares, his jumpiness, especially his Thea. He can’t help himself when it comes to her. He sees her inner beauty. He sees her outer beauty. He sees the woman that she was destined to be but was never given the chance.

With Daniel by her side, Dorothea blooms, starts seeing the future in a different light. She knows that there is an end date but wants to take whatever time he will give her. With Thea by his side, Daniel grows, starts seeing his future in a different light. She calms him, chases his demons away. Then it happens and Daniel can’t handle it. The ultimatum … The choice.

Gena Showalter brought out the best and worst in both characters. She surrounded them with friends that were true and loyal, to the bitter end. She gave us people that we loved to hate but then brought them to the point where we could finally tolerate them. She wrote sensual and tasteful sex scenes that sizzled right off the pages. She dazzled us with her skills of balancing the angst with the humor, the love with the hate, the past with the present. But, most of all, Gena Showalter gave us a stunning story of romance, love, forgiveness and trust.

Review copy provided for a voluntary review.

[Amy J RAREtte4Life · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can't Hardly Breath by Gena Showalter

The Original Heartbreakers series is new to me and I've only read Gena's Paranormal book . Can't Hardly Breathe was such a great surprise read, I adored this story. Sometimes when a PNR author writes Contemporary there may be a bit of insta love and or the story gets rushed. This is NOT the case here. The author takes her time fully developing each and every character where you feel as though they are real. Perfect timing and pacing enhances the reading experience allowing readers to fully experience all the feels.

I love that Dorothea isn't a "perfect" character or is she? From the beginning of the story we perceive her to be not so attractive but is she or did she just feel this way? Is she just a product of her environment? The build up of confidence in Dorothea starts when she gets a change in her life. The author makes sure to show that not all gained is purely due to a man. The Hero in the story may have started things off for her, maybe gave her a push then Dorothea started to blossom. The more she opened herself up the more accessible to happiness she became.

The hero Daniel has some issues which are not as visible as Dorothea's, well other than his man whore ways. Most don't see this as a mask just another man doing his thing. His demons are hidden and only he, his father, and best friends know of them though they are never spoken about. That is until he and Dorothea get together. He needed her just as much as she needed him.

I love the fact that Daniel has always wanted Dorothea and he doesn't take advantage when he so obviously could.

A little love can make anyone blossom.
Definitely worth the read and even bumpworthy!!

[Julia's Book Haven · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one surprised me, the first three in the series were good but this one is by far my favourite so far. Very much looking forward to the next 2 books.

[Tpagirl Loves Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can’t Hardly Breathe was the fourth book in the Original Heartbreakers series by Gena Showalter.

Daniel Porter was the gorgeous former military hunk that Dorothea Mathis crushed on since childhood. He was back in town taking care of his father, running a security firm, playing the field with a different female every night and running from demons that plague his nightmares.

Dorothea was the local innkeeper. She grew up in Strawberry Valley and returned recently after a bad divorce. She was bullied as a child and never really gained a strong sense of self worth. Life continued to kick her while she was down, but she had strength and determination. Daniel was drawn not only to her beauty, but also this strength.

Daniel and Dorothea’s journey was filled with challenges, pain and heartache. They both had to address their past hurts in order to find a future together. The story was well written and well developed with humor. It also had a sweet vibe once you got passed the pain.

Showalter also introduced additional characters that will shine in the future books of the series. They are flawed, alpha, snarky and full of personality, so there is hope and promise for more. First up is Can’t Let Go focusing on Jude and Ryanne.

[Lacey (laceybooklovers) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loooove this hilarious series!! I really need to go back an catch up on the books I haven't read yet. I can't get enough of the Original Heartbreakers!

Review to come!

Thanks to the publisher for generously providing me an ARC to review.

[Tori · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at SmexyBooks-http://smexybooks.com/2017/08/review-...

RATING: B-

Favorite Quote: “Have fun and stay safe, and make sure you get home by midnight. Excuse my French, but by then there ain’t nothing open but legs and hospitals.”

Daniel Porter, Strawberry Valley’s own hometown hero, has come home with his two best friends to take care of his dad and start their security business. A lone wolf whose time in the Army changed him dramatically, Daniel spends his days working and his nights at the local bed and breakfast trying to outrun his nightmares with multiple women.

Dorothea (Thea) Mathis left Strawberry Valley after a lifetime of bullying to follow her dreams of becoming a meteorologist. Years later she returns divorced and disillusioned. Older and wiser, Thea has vowed to never let anyone treat her poorly again. She is back and has big plans for her family’s inn and the gorgeous and complicated Daniel Porter isn’t part of them.

Daniel can’t believe how sexy Thea has become and wants a chance to catch up on some old times with her…preferably in bed…but his past has him fearing the future with anyone. As Daniel and Thea grow closer, Daniel finds himself unable to breathe when she is around, desperate to keep her in his life forever. But he can’t get past his fear of the future, he will lose his present with her.

Even though the three Original Heartbreakers have found their happily ever afters, Showalter continues the series with another trio of sexy and wounded bad boys whose friendship was forged by war, horned in battle. Showalter’s trademark humor, passion, and outrageousness are in evidence as she builds a charming but predictable romance that deals with love, loss, family, redemption, and forgiveness.

“Tell Dorothea I said hi. Maybe give her a kiss from me. Use tongue. I would.”

Beginning in the past, the story opens up in high school where we see the then town bully, Harlow Glass from The Hotter You Burn, attack Thea. Daniel steps in to defend her and Thea is over the moon. She imagines Daniel’s attention being more romantic in nature until she catches him with one of Harlow’s minions. Thea’s hearts breaks a little as she realizes that she will never be the type to catch and hold the attention of someone like Daniel Porter. We then jump forward to the present and Thea is cleaning up after yet another one of Daniel’s sexathons. Angry she has to clean up after him and that he’s having sex and she’s not leads to a humorous confrontation that introduces the explosive chemistry that has always simmered between this couple.

“Bad weather will hit in an hour or two. Go home, Daniel. I’m tripling the room rates tonight.”

“Does triple rate come with cuddle time?”

“No cuddles, but I can make sure your stay comes with a knee-to-crutch introduction.”

“Yeah, baby. Talk dirty to me.”

This couple clicks and all you can only hold on for what looks to be an emotional and amusing ride as they both struggle to come to deal with their personal issues in order to move forward. The romance is definitely slow to develop and move through the sexual tension and angst keeps you firmly engaged.

‘It had been one tragedy after another for this precious woman, one rejection after another, and yet she’d never waved the white flag. That was courage. She possessed a soul-deep strength and a purity of character few others did, both of which mattered far more than outward beauty ever would. Even an outward beauty as magnificent as hers.’

Multiple plotlines flow through the book as Showalter expertly manipulates and explores them as she peels back the layers of Thea and Daniel and guides them gently in the direction she wants to go without making it to obvious. I enjoyed the strong communication skills employed by Thea and Daniel. No game playing here, they know want from one another and they communicate it well, though their ability to get it is another story. Both have terrible trust issues that color their perception of things to create confusion and melodrama.

“ I’m worth everything because that’s what I’m willing to give.”

Plenty of laughs can be laid at the feet of the rambunctious and well-known residents who pop in and out with advice, admonishments, and general craziness. We meet Daniel’s best friends-Jude and Brock-who tries to help Daniel despite trying to handle some pretty serious issues of their own. Their possible loves interests look to be some interesting match ups.

“Your hospitality sucked.”

“I’ll be sure to mention my raging guilt in my diary.”

I enjoyed meeting Thea’s younger sister whose own insecurities creates even more drama and Jessie Kay continues to reign supreme as the town smart-arse. Virgil, Daniel’s dad, is an utter delight and offers some dad-isms when needed.

“Don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining, boy.”

While the Original Heartbreakers series continues to entertain (Showalter is definitely a talented writer) I was disappointed to see the recycling of storylines and lack of imagination with character names (Jase/Jude-Beck/Brock). At times I felt like I was reading a mash up of books one and two with just the names changed. Regardless, I am interested in seeing how she handles the couple in book five-Can’t Let Go-set to release Oct 31, 2017. A bartender and a wounded warrior whose family was killed by a drunk driver? D.R.A.M.A.

[Under the Covers Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma is such a sweet small town to visit.  In this installment we have Dorothea, who owns the town's inn we saw in the previous book and Daniel who is ex military.  Dorothea used to have a huge crush on Daniel back in high school and he was one of the few people that treated her nicely, even if he never saw her as anything more than that.  When given the opportunity to have a wild fling with him, Dorothea leaves all her inhibitions at the door and grabs hold of that knowing full well it can't go any farther with him.

Fun and sexy banter is to be expected from Gena Showalter and I think you'll find in this book is so endearing, as are the main characters.   But it's also about character growth.  Dorothea is trying to make something of herself in town after a divorce that hit on her self esteem again.  She's focusing on her business and her sister and a man is not a priority in her life right now.  Daniel is basically at the same place in his life.  Worried about his father's health and knowing full well his own past issues are not a good basis for a lasting relationship or love.  Even after he's seen his friends pairing up and finding that special someone.

While this book is on the light and fun side, it also deals with very real issues.  Dorothea was bullied in high school and that's affected her confidence in a major way all throughout her life.  Something she's had to struggle to overcome and sometimes she's better at it than others.  I liked the way Ms. Showalter approached this because it gave us that real glimpse of the issue without making it a heavy point in the story but also showed us Dorothea working through it until she came out a stronger person in the end.

Daniel has his own demons to battle as well.  After coming back from deployment he's struggled with PTSD and guilt.  This is not obviously something that can just go away but it does show that it can't be deal with alone.  These two had their own hang ups keeping them apart until they realized they could work through it all together.  And in the meantime, they have so much chemistry you can't look away.

But let's not forget that Daniel is just simply hot.  He's very much that sexy alpha I've come to expect from Ms. Showalter, but he's also incredibly sweet and pushy at times to get what he wants.  I adored him!  I can't wait to meet the next Showalter hero.

*ARC provided by author
Reviewed by Francesca❤ ♡ Don't want to miss any of our posts? Subscribe to our blog by email! ♡ ❤

[Candace · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dorothea Mathis is the owner of the Strawberry Valley Inn. Daniel Porter is one of the owners of LPH Protection, a security firm. Dorothea and Daniel have known each other since high school. Dorothea runs the Inn with the malicious help of her sister and her absent mother. Daniel moved back to town to take care of his father. Daniel suffers with PTSD, and he uses sex to deal with it. He wants Dorothea, but does she want him?

I wanted to rate this book higher. It must be me, because the novel has gotten some decent reviews. It is the story of second and third chances. The characters are fully developed. Both are flawed but have positive characteristics too. The plot is sound. The description is good. There is plenty of emotion and tension. After listing all the positives, I just wish the story had had that extra something to push it over the top for me. Would I read other books by Gena Showalter? Yes, I would.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Can't Hardly Breathe is a another fabulous addition to a heartwarming series that this talented author has given us. Now I will admit I don't think I have read book three so I was hoping that I wouldn't get too lost, and I was more than fine. From the get go, was I hooked on this story. What I have always admired about Gena Showalter is the way she spins a web of depth of personality into her characters. It doesn't matter what genre she writes, she has this remarkable talent to pull me right into a story and all the while I am these characters most vivid cheerleader. I get so hooked and I come out feeling happy, free, with a tear or two at the same time. In Can't Hardly Breathe we have a story that brings all the feels and boy I was so wrapped up in this story even if the characters become a bit stubborn in the end....they still work out all the kinks and find their HEA.

This story begins with our two characters when they are in high school. Dorothea was bullied constantly all through high school. But there was one boy that didn't bully in her, he believed in her and this is where Thea first started to fall in love with our hero Daniel Porter. But then he broke her heart, and now in present day they are back in the same town. Both Thea and Daniel are dealing with their own past demons. Thea has come home to recover from a relationship gone south and suffering a miscarriage, and Daniel is suffering the after effects of serving in the military. Both have scars, both inside and out. Thea knows better than to encourage Daniel's advances, because she knows what he wants. A never ending supply of women, countless meaningless affairs and Thea could never be like that. But Daniel is relentless in his pursuit of her, and through this dangerous game they play with each other, love gets in the way.

In Can't Hardly Breathe we have a story where we have two people that fight what they feel for each other but for different reasons. Our heroine knows that Daniel is a bad boy and she shouldn't encourage him. But she also can't deny the way he makes her feel. Daniel sees nothing with having casual relationships with women, it keeps him from having nightmares of his time serving in the military and keeps his father at bay with the "marriage" questions. What I found most interesting about this book was how the romance played out. I got a kick out of Daniel and Thea together. And what a team they make together, and boy did they make me laugh constantly. I adored their bantering, the way they tease and play with each other. We are also introduced to some new characters (Daniel's buddies from the military), and boy are they delicious and I can hardly wait for their books in the near future. And also some old favorites that made me smile and got me thinking I should re read the series.
He loved her, loved her madly, passionately, and completely. She had become his everything. His reason for waking up every morning. His reason for smiling. His reason for breathing.
His reason for being.
Overall this is a story that you will be head over heels in love with....a style of romance that is engaging and witty, a romance that brings a smile to your face, a tear jerker that forces emotion from the reader and gives you tingles and makes you sigh in satisfaction when you reach the last page. A TASTY TREAT OF A ROMANCE!


What do you think of Gena Showalter's Heartbreaker Series?
Do you love small town romances?


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[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how Gena Showalter does it but she’s really spun her magic wand with this series.

Dorothea Mathis has had a crush on Daniel Porter since school but although he was always nice to her and thought she was sweet and cute he spent school having fun with many other girls. Now he’s back from the Army suffering from PTSD and chasing ice queens to distract him. So he uses Dorothea's inn as his hook-up place. Normally this kind of beginning spells disaster to me but the author made it work.

She longed to be first choice, the prize and not the consolation. She yearned to matter.

I loved Dorothea. Her self-esteem issues made her such a relatable character and her painful past had me hoping that she would finally find someone who would place her first in his life, who would see how special she was.

Desire like this...he’d never before experienced it. This was all-consuming. A fire in his bones. A drug in his veins. He was quickly becoming obsessed.

I really loved Daniel, the way he saw Dorothea, how beautiful he thought she was. And despite his playboy reputation he was so great with her so caring, protective, possessive and playfully wicked. And he was so adorable with the little dog, Princess. I loved how Dorothea’s opinion mattered to him, where before only his parents’ opinions mattered. And I really loved the fact that he realised now, even if he didn’t before, how desperately he wanted her, how happy she made him, where no-one had ever been able to do that. I liked that for a man who likes the chase the fact that he had to work so hard to get Dorothea to give him a chance irritated him.

“You will always and forever be my prize. My life isn’t right without you.”

When Dorothea decides to take a risk, too live a little and proposition Daniel it becomes impossible for him to ignore the way she makes him feel even though he turns her away at first. In a way their romance was a slow burn because she makes him work for another chance knowing she deserves more than he's willing to offer and I loved seeing him react to her in a way he's never reacted to any other woman. I really enjoyed their romance, especially the fact that there were two other men who wanted to date her and how crazy it made Daniel. And the intense passion that burned between them was wonderful. Loved seeing them face their fears and fight for what they wanted and deserved.

Brock spread his arms wide. “Dude. Your cynicism is showing and it’s ugly as hell.”
“We can’t all be beauties,” Jude replied, tapping his cheeks.

I also loved their friends all with painful pasts and I can’t wait to read their books.

This series just continues in strength and is a must read for all romance fans who likes it full of emotion, very sexy times and some angst thrown in.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars.
I can't believe that this is the first book that I have read by Gena Showalter. I have really been missing out on a talented and amazing contemporary romance writer. Now I badly want to read the rest of this series.
This book had such a unique style. It was funny and depicted real life situations but also so very sweet and sexy. A really interesting and feel-good type of romance. I liked that Dorothea and Daniel had history together and though I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a second chance romance the flashbacks to the past definitely explained who they are today. They are both somewhat scarred and struggle in different ways with their individual pasts but it is not hard for the reader to see why that makes them so perfect for each other.
The author does such a great job with the secondary characters in this story making them very real and interesting that I wanted to know more about them and ultimately I want to read their books also.
This is a favorite read for me.

ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

[Ann Lorz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for Romancing the Readers Blog: https://romancingthereaders.blogspot....

I have been loving this series. There is so much emotions, both good and bad in it. You learn that life isn't always fair but that people can change if they want to.

You met Daniel in the prior book but for the most part he was very one-dimensional and very cold. I wasn't sure how I would like him as a hero. When you first meet Dorothea she's also not what I call a warm person. She's very mean to Harlow, getting her back for how she acted as a kid. Because it was Harlow's story, I really didn't like her.

Of course before the end of the book she becomes the person you know now. Sweet, shy and very caring.

So when Daniel and Dorothea were matched I was...thrown! How were these two every going to become a couple? I will be honest, I had many doubts. But since I love Showalter's books I couldn't pass up the chance to read it.
I'm so glad I did. You will really come to understand Daniel and why he is the way he is. You'll find him to not be one-dimensional at all. In fact, there are layers to his personality that I would have missed if I hadn't given this book a chance.

So often throughout the story I wanted Dorothea (Thea to Daniel) to be strong and fight for what she wanted. I was so happy when she stood up to her bratty sister and wouldn't let her walk all over her. Daniel and Thea's relationship might have started off rocky but they were able to work out all the little things keeping them from having a loving relationship.

You will also meet new characters, both Thea and Daniel's friends. I have to tell you that showalter does a wonderful job and writing friendships. I truly believe these people are friends.

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ARC received for a honest review

[Nerdy Dirty & Flirty · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆☆☆☆
~Cassie
Can’t Hardly Breath is the fourth book in The Original Heartbreak series. It can be read as a standalone. If you love books that have unrequited high school crush genres this is the book for you.
Can’t Hardly Breath is Dorothea and Daniel’s book. I think Dorothea might be one of my favorite characters. She had so many things happen to her, but she kept her head up and had a positive attitude. She could have let life beat her up, but she decided she was going to keep going after what she wanted. Even if that wasn’t the life she originally planned it was what she was given. I admired her spunk and independence. One thing she decided she wanted was a one-night stand with Daniel. She has had a crush Daniel since high school. She finally got the nerve to go for it! Well that did not go quite as planned. Daniel has demons of his own and even though he very much wanted Dorothea he turns her down. He immediately regretted his decision and spent the rest of the book trying to convince her that he did in fact want her. Daniel had issues that he needed to work through and I think that is why he held back because he did not want to hurt Dorothea. That is what I loved about him he was caring and super sweet to Dorothea. He would do literally anything for her.
Those two had chemistry that was sizzling hot. I really liked how Dorothea made Daniel work for it and refused to except anything less than she deserved. He had to decide if he was willing to give them a real shot and if it was not too late. These two both had secrets and demons they need to work out. If they can do that they just might find their happily ever after.
I really enjoyed this book. It had heart, romance and all the feels. I cannot wait to read the rest of this series.

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an ARC Paperback copy of Can't Hardly Breathe from Gena Showalter. I've read each book in The Original Heartbreakers Series and loved them all so far. I was hoping that I would love this one but I always get a little worried when series move past three books.

I absolutely had no reason to be worried. Gena Showalter continued with this series in the best way possible. Her amazingly crafted characters were solid, emotional, relatable, broken but healing, and unforgettable. The lead female character, Dorothea (Thea), is learning to love herself after being bullied most of her life, cheated on by her ex-husband, and losing the baby she had just found out was growing inside of her. Our absolutely drool-worthy hunk of a broken war hero, Daniel Porter, is the perfect blend of masculine prowess, heart of gold, good intentioned, and natural born protector.

Dorothea knocks his socks off with her raincoat sans nothing else attempt at seduction which sets our plot in a heady, lust-filled, twisting and turning tornado which kept me glued to the pages. I didn't want the story to end. I was sad there wasn't an epilogue but absolutely thrilled with the tiny glimpse at the next couple to be featured in the Original Heartbreakers Series. I can't wait for their story!

Overall, epic story of two seeming broken souls who have to overcome their own fears and insecurities to finally be able to look towards the future and stop looking back. Huge 5 stars for me.

[Gretchen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness. I felt like my emotions were on high the entire time I was reading this. Daniel and Dorothea were such rich, deep characters, I loved them. These two together had an awesome story with an exceptional slow burn. I thought it was a fantastic read!

Dorothea and Daniel seemed to be such tortured soles, trying to work though past issues. I could really relate to Dorothea and I loved her strength and perseverance to pick herself up and keep fighting to stay strong. She was such an amazing heroine, a real fighter. And Daniel, this guy was so sweet but in so much pain. He was so freaking stubborn too as he battled his demons. I loved him and wanted to hug him but wanted to shake him to wake him the heck up all at the same time.

Dorothea and Daniel coming together was emotional, sweet, loving, and sometimes heartbreaking. I thought there was great character development for each of them as we learned about their past connection. It was just this beautiful, yet heart wrenching story as they come together, truly growing, and working out their issues, fighting their feelings and falling in love.

I really liked all the descriptions and thought there was a great build. I was filled with so much anticipation for them to come together. There's a nice amount of drama and tension mixed in too keeping me turning the page. There were some good moments of humor mixed in as well which I was thankful for. It was really emotional so those small moments of lightness were appreciated. Nice heat too but a defined slow burn, it was totally worth the wait. I loved the other characters in the story as well. I’m excited for what has been set up for future books and where it all could go. I'm enjoying this series immensely.

This was such a great read. I loved the complex characters, the personal battles they were fighting, and this loving relationship that grew and grew. Heck of an ending too. From start to finish I was all in. Awesome read!

Complimentary copy received for honest review.

[Isha Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't Hardly Breathe (The Original Heartbreakers) by Gena Showalter  
For all the survivors of spiteful bullies and heartbreakingly cruel jokes.  To every person with a beautiful heart, but a tortured soul. For every hero in disguise looking for salvation.  Ms. Showalter wrote Can't Hardly Breathe for you.  Dorothea is the girl that longed to fit in, but never quite managed to do so.  Daniel is the boy that is beautiful both inside and out, yet has never felt good enough.  Gena Showalter is good at stirring up emotion.  It's inspirational tales of courage like this one that keep her name on people's lips and her stories in their hearts. Ugliness is a state of mind, not a physical trait.  

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

review to come

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gena Showalter is an author I have been reading for a very long time.  I started with her Lords of the Underworld, fell in love with her extremely underrated Tales of Extraordinary Girl series, and I've even dabbled a bit in her Alien Huntress series.  But I was never really into her contemporary romance.  Yep, you guessed it.... until now!!

On a whim, I purchased the first book in her brand new The Original Heartbreakers series.  And then I totally forgot about reading it.  Oops...

Fast forward to a couple of months ago when I saw book number four available for review and me in need of a good romance to soothe my soul.  Desperate times call for your favorite authors, right?

And boy did I get a fantastic story that took me on the ride of my life.  I wasn't quite prepared for all the goodness this book had for me:

- A heroine like Dorothea, who was been bullied back in high school and has gone through tragedy later in life but manages to get back on her feet and face the day with a smile and a positive attitude.  I immediately wanted her for my BFF.  I know a lot of reviewers say that about characters but hand to God, I really felt connected to Dorothea.  That's how well Ms. Showalter wrote the character.

- Daniel is war veteran recovering from PTSD back in his hometown because he wants to keep an eye on his dad and his dad's failing health ∗swoon∗.  His method of dealing with PTSD when we first meet him might be a little "hinky" but he soon becomes a man worthy of Dorothea.  If only he'd get it through his thick skull...

- I LOVE a heroine who is NOT skin and bones, who has curves, and who is appreciated above all others for those curves.  'Nuff said.

- WEATHER!!!  Ever see the movie "Twister"?  Best movie ever!  Flying cows, Bill Paxton, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Cary Elwes!  What more could you want??  Oh, right... book review...  Dorothea is just as enamored with weather as I am.  Weather and storms play a pretty big part in the story ;)

- Wall-to-wall story!  There is a lot of "meat" to this story.  This isn't the typical romance and I really wasn't sure how some of the typical tropes/romantic clues were going to play out.  Ex-husband cheats on Dorothea but I didn't see how that story line was going to play out.  So fun...  in a twisted sort of way if you like torture (insert evil cackle here).


And despite the fact that I read this book, number four, BEFORE going back and reading books number one and two, I didn't mind getting information on the previous couples.  If anything, it made me want to go back and immediately start reading the first book, The Closer You Come, that I had already purchased...  AND immediately purchase after that book two, The Hotter You Burn.  But it's interesting to note that this book, book four, seems to start on another group of three best guy friends who get together with three best girl friends.  It's almost like another story arc has begun.  So, IMHO, you CAN start here and be perfectly fine.

This story really was pure happiness for me and reminded me how much I adore Ms. Showalter's romances!


 Review appears on

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t Hardly Breathe is exactly the reason why I love books by Gena Showalter. Let’s be real for a minute here… romances are fairly formulaic. The thing that makes one romance stand out over another is are the characters. Gena Showalter has a way of writing such amazing characters that you can’t help but be drawn into the story. Yes, the story is still formulaic but it’s not even an issue when you are enjoying the journey so much.

What a journey! Our couple is Thea and Daniel. I think they’re an amazing match. Thea has struggled with her self-esteem her entire life. Daniel is still adjusting to civilian life and dealing with PTSD after a very violent military career. I think that when together, those respective empty places inside are filled. They just fit together. The driving theme of their relationship is courage. Thea has had some tough breaks but she pulls her courage together to get back up time and time again. Daniel needs to pull his courage together to get over his irrational fears of intimacy and to deal with his PTSD. In their hearts, neither of them is willing to let the world destroy them and I think that’s what makes them so perfect together!

As for smut…

Can’t Hardly Breathe accomplishes something that is quite singular in the romance genre: it made the sex scenes fun! So often the trope for the sex scenes is that they’re filled with deep emotions and life changing events. While sometimes sex can be dramatic, it gets boring to only read about the same kinds of passion. Why can’t passion also be fun? Thea and Daniel do have sex scenes with all the feels in them but they also use the time to find some joy. They even make jokes! It was completely refreshing to read something new and underexplored in romances.

Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of Can’t Hardly Breathe! There’s just something about Gena Showalter’s writing style that’s super compelling no matter what the story is. I was fully invested in the characters from page one until the end. It also managed to balance out the heavy emotional turmoil with humor. I think it was that balance of light and dark (with a healthy side helping of STEAM!) that really elevated this story for me. I can’t wait to continue on with the series!

[Nadwa · Rating 5 out of 5]

[I received a free advance review copy in exchange for an honest review]
Can I just say, I haven't read any of the previous books in this series, but I somehow fell head over heels for every single character in this book. Small town romances are my favorite. They don't only portray gorgeous familial love, but also express how beautiful it is to live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and people consider each other as family; again, I can relate a lot to that. But this one was heartbreaking and hopeful and hilarious all at the same time. I'd find myself laughing every five minutes and my sister would look at me like I've grown two heads. And that's because books rarely succeed in making me laugh. It takes a lot to do that. But I'd literally give this book a 5-stars-rating for the hilarious scenes and the witty writing-style alone.
There were a lot of tropes in this one, and I'm glad to say that the author absolutely nailed it!
I loved new Dorothea. Okay, well obviously, she didn't turn into 'new Dorothea' in a blink of an eye. But that's what I loved; her character transformation. It only requires a decision, once you take it, you're halfway there. Then there's her asshat of an ex-husband who made me feel all sorts of erratic. What I didn't understand was how Holly just suddenly turned into this moral person once she realized that Dorothea's baby's middle name was 'Holly'. And why was Holly close to that idiot, anyway?
Then there's Daniel, who I cannot stop thinking about. His constant fear of losing the people he loves, although appeared to be the main problem in his relationship with Dorothea, was the sweetest thing ever. And his relationship with his father was a sight to behold. Mr Porter (Sr) was the most hilarious person in town. Like, seriously, you cannot underestimate that guy's powers.
Friendship was represented beautifully, too. Whether it's with Daniel and his gang or Dorothea and her squad.

[Stacey (sassysreadingnook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just can't get enough of Gena Showalter's stories, each one captures me completely and this book was no exception. From start to finish I was hooked!

Gah!! I hate bullies!!
I got all emotional watching (reading) Dorothea go through all that emotional pain from a bunch of nasty girls in her high school.
 Dorothea's high school crush, Daniel, came to her defence and the things he said stuck with her. 

I was mentally hugging her through the whole ordeal lol.  Dorothea is an amazing character and even when things got tough, she did everything she could to make things right. It was wonderful watching her grow through this book from a shy disheartened girl into a strong confident woman. 

A fun, sexy and emotional story worth 'one-clicking'  ^_^