What do you think?
Rate this book
Breathe
A good man, falling apart
Small town police officer Simon Labelle repressed his attraction to shopgirl Leona Chaisty for years. He's good at controlling his feelings—or he used to be, before the bombing that he can't solve, that he should have prevented. Now, after a chance encounter with Leona at the lake, Simon can't get her out of his head. All those high school fantasies roar to life.
A bad girl, wishing for more
Leona is drawn to the intensity in Simon's pretty-boy blue eyes. But he's a good man, and she’ll never know how to love. Still, unlike everyone else, Simon acts like she might actually have a heart. The more time they spend together, the more she wishes he were right.
A challenge neither can resist
After a second unsolved case pulls them together, their chemistry rattles them both, and hints at an unsettling desire that Simon struggles to suppress. Leona pushes Simon to decide what he wants, while Simon, already falling for his dream girl, finally gets her to admit that she's lonely.
Each challenges the other to reveal more, to cede control, to be vulnerable. But they're both more fragile than they appear. It's only a matter of time before one pushes too hard, and the other breaks.
Small town police officer Simon Labelle repressed his attraction to shopgirl Leona Chaisty for years. He's good at controlling his feelings—or he used to be, before the bombing that he can't solve, that he should have prevented. Now, after a chance encounter with Leona at the lake, Simon can't get her out of his head. All those high school fantasies roar to life.
A bad girl, wishing for more
Leona is drawn to the intensity in Simon's pretty-boy blue eyes. But he's a good man, and she’ll never know how to love. Still, unlike everyone else, Simon acts like she might actually have a heart. The more time they spend together, the more she wishes he were right.
A challenge neither can resist
After a second unsolved case pulls them together, their chemistry rattles them both, and hints at an unsettling desire that Simon struggles to suppress. Leona pushes Simon to decide what he wants, while Simon, already falling for his dream girl, finally gets her to admit that she's lonely.
Each challenges the other to reveal more, to cede control, to be vulnerable. But they're both more fragile than they appear. It's only a matter of time before one pushes too hard, and the other breaks.
292 pages, Paperback
First published April 11, 2017
4 people are currently reading
49 people want to read
About the author
L. Setterby
3 books11 followersL. Setterby writes gritty, suspenseful contemporary romance. As London Setterby, she also writes modern-day Gothics and fantasy romances. Under both names, she writes across the LGBTQ+ spectrum. London lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and toddler. She is usually covered in cracker crumbs.
Sign up for L. Setterby's newsletter: http://bit.ly/lsetterbynewsletter
Sign up for L. Setterby's newsletter: http://bit.ly/lsetterbynewsletter
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 12, 2018
I've been reading erotic romance a long time (I'm so old I remember the pearl-clutching over Kensington Brava and Harlequin Blaze...) but I've grown disenchanted with the sub genre in recent years. Too much kink for kink's sake coupled with a lack of passion = no thanks, moving on. So when I find a writer whose voice hooks me from the word go, I'm all in. One chapter in and I was ready to follow L. Setterby off a cliff.
I loved the sexually confident heroine - and yet, that's the only area of her personal life where she has it together. She's been conditioned to be a loner, is dreadful at "relationships," and talks a big game as a coping mechanism. By contrast the hero is everyone's idea of Mr. Nice Guy - the kind of guy you take home to meet Mom and Dad. But that's the only area of his personal life where he has it together. He works too much, is totally insecure when it comes to sex, and has pined for the heroine from afar for years. Why? Because she terrifies him. She's so cool, so independent, so "with it," and he's....not. What would she see in a dweeb like him?
I loved that the heroine was kinky, would occasionally switch, but was firmly dominant. I liked the way these two characters fit together. The hero's a cop and he's got an unsolved case eating at him that adds some additional conflict. The only knock I have against the story is I felt like the author short-changes the hero's issues with depression. It comes off a bit like an afterthought and really could have been fleshed out more.
But I inhaled this story. After a string of reads that ranged from forgettable to dreadful, dare I say it? This book may have saved my life. I must have ALL the L. Setterby books now.
I loved the sexually confident heroine - and yet, that's the only area of her personal life where she has it together. She's been conditioned to be a loner, is dreadful at "relationships," and talks a big game as a coping mechanism. By contrast the hero is everyone's idea of Mr. Nice Guy - the kind of guy you take home to meet Mom and Dad. But that's the only area of his personal life where he has it together. He works too much, is totally insecure when it comes to sex, and has pined for the heroine from afar for years. Why? Because she terrifies him. She's so cool, so independent, so "with it," and he's....not. What would she see in a dweeb like him?
I loved that the heroine was kinky, would occasionally switch, but was firmly dominant. I liked the way these two characters fit together. The hero's a cop and he's got an unsolved case eating at him that adds some additional conflict. The only knock I have against the story is I felt like the author short-changes the hero's issues with depression. It comes off a bit like an afterthought and really could have been fleshed out more.
But I inhaled this story. After a string of reads that ranged from forgettable to dreadful, dare I say it? This book may have saved my life. I must have ALL the L. Setterby books now.
November 4, 2024
This book was 25% plot and 75% smut, but I'm still giving it 4 stars because I have a soft spot for men on their knees, begging.
Read
April 29, 2024This started well but the way he instantly started telling her all the details of his open cases is stressing me out…… DNF at 14%. Would try something else by this author tho.
January 4, 2026
This was fab, and I can’t wait to read the next one. Everand users in Aust - this is available free with that membership!
June 6, 2017
I was fortunate to beta a couple chapters for L. before final publication, and I couldn't wait to get my hands on on the finished product which I finally started as of this morning, and I LOVED IT!
L. has created such richly drawn and realistic characters, from the first page you're sucked in by both Simon and Leona. They are incredibly dynamic individually, but together -- their chemistry and tension crackles with such visceral energy, it was hard not to keep turning the pages even when I knew I had to step away and put the book down.
AND LETS TALK ABOUT THE AWESOME SEX!!! Though this is an erotica and I was expecting copious amounts which the author certainly delivers, it's handled with such...elegance. A feat I truly applaud as both characters are given to some pretty steamy predilections that might have been off putting if executed by someone with less skill and narrative prowess.
I think it's safe to say that L. has made me a fan and I certainly look forward to seeing what else she comes up with.
L. has created such richly drawn and realistic characters, from the first page you're sucked in by both Simon and Leona. They are incredibly dynamic individually, but together -- their chemistry and tension crackles with such visceral energy, it was hard not to keep turning the pages even when I knew I had to step away and put the book down.
AND LETS TALK ABOUT THE AWESOME SEX!!! Though this is an erotica and I was expecting copious amounts which the author certainly delivers, it's handled with such...elegance. A feat I truly applaud as both characters are given to some pretty steamy predilections that might have been off putting if executed by someone with less skill and narrative prowess.
I think it's safe to say that L. has made me a fan and I certainly look forward to seeing what else she comes up with.
February 25, 2021
A Joyfully Jay review.
4 stars
I was not familiar with author L. Setterby and Breathe quietly snuck up on me. This book, featuring Leona and Simon, is the first book in the Grenton PD series, with the second book featuring two of the local male cops and I always prefer to start at the beginning of a series if possible.
Simon is a dedicated cop, but an unsolved case from six years ago still has him unsettled. While he has a relationship with his parents and sister, he’s been alone for a while, he drinks a little too much, and he’s depressed. Leona always fascinated him in high school and, as they spend time together, Simon thinks he can never be what Leona needs. Leona is experienced with being a dominant and Simon is afraid of his own desires and thinks that he can’t possibly want what he knows he wants.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4 stars
I was not familiar with author L. Setterby and Breathe quietly snuck up on me. This book, featuring Leona and Simon, is the first book in the Grenton PD series, with the second book featuring two of the local male cops and I always prefer to start at the beginning of a series if possible.
Simon is a dedicated cop, but an unsolved case from six years ago still has him unsettled. While he has a relationship with his parents and sister, he’s been alone for a while, he drinks a little too much, and he’s depressed. Leona always fascinated him in high school and, as they spend time together, Simon thinks he can never be what Leona needs. Leona is experienced with being a dominant and Simon is afraid of his own desires and thinks that he can’t possibly want what he knows he wants.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
January 7, 2019
SO good. Small town romance with a bad girl heroine. And now I'm reading book 2 chapter by chapter on Wattpad and it's torture.
August 9, 2023
Leona and Simon have known each other their whole lives but they’ve rarely interacted since graduating high school until one evening when Leona comes across Simon in the park. It’s clear from this first interaction she enjoys toying with him—and he enjoys it just as much. But she has no idea that he had a crush on her in high school, just as he believes he’d never have a real chance.
Leona and Simon’s dynamic was pure catnip to me, from their initial interactions and first date to Simon testing out submission. The scenes between them were super hot. Leona doesn’t believe anyone can really love her and struggles to let anyone in, even the found family she’s assembled over the years. (Paul and his husband were right there!!!) Simon, on the other hand, is trying to hide how much he’s struggling and that includes alcoholism. Neither are great communicators but they keep being drawn into each other’s orbit.
The story explores the way the holidays can hurt and the cost of isolation, even when it initially seems justified, whether due to upbringing or a certain belief you’re the only one who can get things done. Leona’s plight really got to me and made me cry. Her emotional arc was a shining star that did my heart good.
There’s a light romantic suspense element with Simon’s cases. Some of the developments didn’t make complete sense but the strength of the romance outweighed those aspects. However, there’s no denying this is still copaganda. I read the author’s note before deciding to buy this and she admits she was depicting a more idealized version of cops. Even that aside, Simon still abuses his power; it’s just positioned as a way he’s looking out for Leona. That doesn’t make it any better for me though. I’m glad the author committed to not writing any more cop protagonists beyond the two books in this series and donates a portion of the proceeds to organizations that support the BLM movement. As much as I enjoyed being in this town and getting to know the characters, I’ll probably skip the second book and wait for her to write something else.
Note: It's possible I missed it but I don't recall any POC characters in this small Vermont town and I wondered how that informed the way Simon polices and views crime. Leona’s boss and his husband are the only queer characters.
Characters: Leona is a 29 year old white fine crafts shop assistant and Domme. Simon is a 29 year old white cop and either a submissive or Switch. This is set in Grenton, VT.
Content notes: past and present suicidal ideation, depression, alcoholism (MMC does not acknowledge he has an issue until toward the end), armed robbery, officer-involved shooting (injured robbers), attempted murder (vest stopped bullet), cracked ribs, hit and run case, past bombing investigation (vet clinic receptionist was injured; theory that it was her stalker ex-boyfriend; ), past child neglect (including FMC being left at the mall for two days and left at home for two weeks each Christmas), past police corruption (chief was gambling buddy with FMC’s parents and didn’t report them for neglect), parental estrangement (one on page interaction with FMC’s mom), abuse of power (MMC flashes badge and threatens FMC’s mom not to ever contact her), internalized kink-shaming, weight loss and self-harming behaviors (MMC skips meals and doesn’t sleep well due to workaholism), blackmail (secondary character), past gambling (FMC’s parents), past shoplifting, unplanned pregnancy announcement (secondary character), unhoused and alcoholic minor character, on page sex, D/s, power exchange, impact play, bondage, gag, exhibitionism/voyeurism, collaring (no actual choking but much discussion), masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, hangover, past recreational drug use, marijuana references, pain medication, suicide stigma, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mentions of past child abuse (FMC’s best friend’s mom), reference to past domestic violence case
*Love it or Leighve it* (aka cleaning out my Kindle)
Purchased: 2021
Why did I buy it? This was a Twitter rec. I was told there was a possible Domme and male sub. Sold! But then I read the synopsis and saw the MMC was a cop. The author’s statement about the series helped me decide to try it anyway.
Leona and Simon’s dynamic was pure catnip to me, from their initial interactions and first date to Simon testing out submission. The scenes between them were super hot. Leona doesn’t believe anyone can really love her and struggles to let anyone in, even the found family she’s assembled over the years. (Paul and his husband were right there!!!) Simon, on the other hand, is trying to hide how much he’s struggling and that includes alcoholism. Neither are great communicators but they keep being drawn into each other’s orbit.
The story explores the way the holidays can hurt and the cost of isolation, even when it initially seems justified, whether due to upbringing or a certain belief you’re the only one who can get things done. Leona’s plight really got to me and made me cry. Her emotional arc was a shining star that did my heart good.
There’s a light romantic suspense element with Simon’s cases. Some of the developments didn’t make complete sense but the strength of the romance outweighed those aspects. However, there’s no denying this is still copaganda. I read the author’s note before deciding to buy this and she admits she was depicting a more idealized version of cops. Even that aside, Simon still abuses his power; it’s just positioned as a way he’s looking out for Leona. That doesn’t make it any better for me though. I’m glad the author committed to not writing any more cop protagonists beyond the two books in this series and donates a portion of the proceeds to organizations that support the BLM movement. As much as I enjoyed being in this town and getting to know the characters, I’ll probably skip the second book and wait for her to write something else.
Note: It's possible I missed it but I don't recall any POC characters in this small Vermont town and I wondered how that informed the way Simon polices and views crime. Leona’s boss and his husband are the only queer characters.
Characters: Leona is a 29 year old white fine crafts shop assistant and Domme. Simon is a 29 year old white cop and either a submissive or Switch. This is set in Grenton, VT.
Content notes: past and present suicidal ideation, depression, alcoholism (MMC does not acknowledge he has an issue until toward the end), armed robbery, officer-involved shooting (injured robbers), attempted murder (vest stopped bullet), cracked ribs, hit and run case, past bombing investigation (vet clinic receptionist was injured; theory that it was her stalker ex-boyfriend; ), past child neglect (including FMC being left at the mall for two days and left at home for two weeks each Christmas), past police corruption (chief was gambling buddy with FMC’s parents and didn’t report them for neglect), parental estrangement (one on page interaction with FMC’s mom), abuse of power (MMC flashes badge and threatens FMC’s mom not to ever contact her), internalized kink-shaming, weight loss and self-harming behaviors (MMC skips meals and doesn’t sleep well due to workaholism), blackmail (secondary character), past gambling (FMC’s parents), past shoplifting, unplanned pregnancy announcement (secondary character), unhoused and alcoholic minor character, on page sex, D/s, power exchange, impact play, bondage, gag, exhibitionism/voyeurism, collaring (no actual choking but much discussion), masturbation, alcohol, inebriation, hangover, past recreational drug use, marijuana references, pain medication, suicide stigma, gendered pejoratives, gender essentialist language, ableist language, mentions of past child abuse (FMC’s best friend’s mom), reference to past domestic violence case
*Love it or Leighve it* (aka cleaning out my Kindle)
Purchased: 2021
Why did I buy it? This was a Twitter rec. I was told there was a possible Domme and male sub. Sold! But then I read the synopsis and saw the MMC was a cop. The author’s statement about the series helped me decide to try it anyway.
January 10, 2022
Note - The first 25% was nearly a DNF but I am glad that I finished it.
4 Stars for me!
My rating range of this story... 1 - 4 Stars
If significant, why? It started out as an instructional documentary and the angst was off the chart.
Main Character Ratings...
H = 5/10
h = 6/10
Narrator Rating(s)
M = 6/10
F = n/a
If below 5/10,why?
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? No
Angst Level? Please Stop!!!
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop
Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 10%
How much of the story? 25%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained
Heat Rating... 8/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? Yes
The back story... The blurb says it all!
The Romance... Mostly sex but there was a whisper of emotions once you get past the emotional wall.
The drama explosion... The H freaks out
Did it feel Real, OK or contrived? Contrived
Was it OTT? A bit
Separation involved? Yes
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Ok
Final Notes...
HEA or HFN? HFN
4 Stars for me!
My rating range of this story... 1 - 4 Stars
If significant, why? It started out as an instructional documentary and the angst was off the chart.
Main Character Ratings...
H = 5/10
h = 6/10
Narrator Rating(s)
M = 6/10
F = n/a
If below 5/10,why?
Was cheating involved? No
Any major triggers to be aware of? No
Angst Level? Please Stop!!!
Light, Moderate, Heavy or Please Stop
Scenes with heat... Yes
What point does it start? 10%
How much of the story? 25%
Anything beyond M/F? No
If yes, explained
Heat Rating... 8/10
Clean or Fade to Black - 1 or 2
Normal to Descriptive 3-5
Detailed Descriptive Sex - 6-7
Um, Wow, Beyond Descriptive Sex - 8 or above
Was there so much sex or unrealistic sex that you rolled your eyes and/or skipped forward? Yes
The back story... The blurb says it all!
The Romance... Mostly sex but there was a whisper of emotions once you get past the emotional wall.
The drama explosion... The H freaks out
Did it feel Real, OK or contrived? Contrived
Was it OTT? A bit
Separation involved? Yes
Was it resolved properly or rushed? Ok
Final Notes...
HEA or HFN? HFN
March 28, 2018
This erotic romance completely blew me away. The setting is beautifully-evoked, the plot hums along without ever letting up, and the characters... Oh my God, those characters. They're poignant, heartfelt, realistic people that you will fall head over heels for. You're going to want these two to win their HEA like you've never wanted it before! Add in to all that this book is HAWT, and you've got a winner on your hands.
June 17, 2021
Great book
This book kept me wanting more. I had a hard time putting it down. I never knew what to expect.
This book kept me wanting more. I had a hard time putting it down. I never knew what to expect.
October 27, 2021
Very steam! BDSM with a female dom. It was different and I loved it.
December 14, 2021
Suspenseful, interesting and tastefully kinky.
January 28, 2022
4.5 stars
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews