What do you think?
Rate this book
Breathless
What if the fairy tale kiss that always awakens the damsel in distress takes a sinister turn? What if prince charming’s kiss no longer produces a happily ever after?
Silena’s infatuation with William hits a speed bump when he rejects her. After all, she is just a maid, and he is a young, rich aristocrat in the 1920s. Why would he have any desire to waste his time with the help?
On one particularly lonely day, Silena calls upon her magic to transform into a sexy flapper for the night. Her dream to enjoy one night with William is finally in her grasp, but her magic comes with consequences that neither William nor Silena could ever imagine.
BONUS! This short story is followed by a preview of a book written by the author.
Silena’s infatuation with William hits a speed bump when he rejects her. After all, she is just a maid, and he is a young, rich aristocrat in the 1920s. Why would he have any desire to waste his time with the help?
On one particularly lonely day, Silena calls upon her magic to transform into a sexy flapper for the night. Her dream to enjoy one night with William is finally in her grasp, but her magic comes with consequences that neither William nor Silena could ever imagine.
BONUS! This short story is followed by a preview of a book written by the author.
36 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 1, 2020
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Yvette M. Calleiro
13 books64 followersYvette M. Calleiro is a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels. She spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends). When she’s living among real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.
Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.
Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 24, 2021
This is my first time reading this author and I was in the mood for a short and impactful read, and it was delivered. Set in the 1920s, Silena is a maid serving at Walter’s parties, where she can only dream of being with the charming playboy William as she pines for his attention and is continuously overlooked. She sees how he treats women, including herself, when he shamed her for being a maid. Walter is all about the young and beautiful women so she thought she’d use her magic one day to get herself all decked out as a flapper girl and join one of his many parties. But Silena overlooked what could go wrong when she decided to put an irrevocable spell on him to teach Walter a lesson for being such a womanizer and paying no mind to women’s feelings.
Silena inherited her mother’s magical skills and she thought she’d try and see what it felt like for one night to become glamorous and desired. Silena knows better about messing with magic, but took the plunge anyway. She wanted to know how it would feel to be desired for one night.. Her plans go accordingly, but she discovers he’s just as piggish to her as he is to all the woman he collects. And after his verbal abuse, once he discovered who she was, Silena decided to put a dangerous curse on him. – dangerous because she was warned by her mother to never use her power as revenge. But she did and she didn’t take much time to think about the backfiring consequences of putting an irrevokable curse on him that wouldn’t end until it was fulfilled.
I cannot share the curse Silena put on Walter, for no spoilers here. But suffice it to say, the ‘kiss of death’ is final. Be careful what you wish for. Karma is always listening. This was a short read but lots of action to keep me glued.
Silena inherited her mother’s magical skills and she thought she’d try and see what it felt like for one night to become glamorous and desired. Silena knows better about messing with magic, but took the plunge anyway. She wanted to know how it would feel to be desired for one night.. Her plans go accordingly, but she discovers he’s just as piggish to her as he is to all the woman he collects. And after his verbal abuse, once he discovered who she was, Silena decided to put a dangerous curse on him. – dangerous because she was warned by her mother to never use her power as revenge. But she did and she didn’t take much time to think about the backfiring consequences of putting an irrevokable curse on him that wouldn’t end until it was fulfilled.
I cannot share the curse Silena put on Walter, for no spoilers here. But suffice it to say, the ‘kiss of death’ is final. Be careful what you wish for. Karma is always listening. This was a short read but lots of action to keep me glued.
June 29, 2021
Girl finds boy out of reach, a common plot line in romantic films or novels. Whether it’s a chauffeur’s daughter in the movie Sabrina or a hotel assistant like in Maid in Manhattan, social class is often a barrier hard to breach. Such is the case with Yvette Calleiro’s protagonist in “Breathless,” yet the plot in her story comes with a twist. Selina, the main character, yearns for the attention of the handsome but narcissistic William, which sets the plot in motion. Using the license of the paranormal, the author puts a spell on the self-indulgent William, who appears able to offer only tainted love. The spell in this story is designed to teach the arrogant cad a lesson: Genuine love alone will release you from the kiss of death.
In a carefully-constructed short story, Calleiro cleverly reverses the conclusion of most tales in which kisses usually revive the damsel in distress. A cross between a typical fairy tale and Oscar Wilde’s The Portrait of Dorian Gray, “Breathless” is a cautionary tale about acting before counting the consequences.
I can imagine this 35-page story as part of a collection of other suspenseful stories or a thread in a longer work of fiction. Those who like stories which dip into fantasy and the paranormal will be intrigued with this romantic tale.
In a carefully-constructed short story, Calleiro cleverly reverses the conclusion of most tales in which kisses usually revive the damsel in distress. A cross between a typical fairy tale and Oscar Wilde’s The Portrait of Dorian Gray, “Breathless” is a cautionary tale about acting before counting the consequences.
I can imagine this 35-page story as part of a collection of other suspenseful stories or a thread in a longer work of fiction. Those who like stories which dip into fantasy and the paranormal will be intrigued with this romantic tale.
January 1, 2023
I had a couple of hours spare and wanted to snuggle down with a book that I could read in its entirety in that time.
Breathless by Yvette M Calleiro seemed to fit the bill and so I wrapped myself in a throw and lost myself in the book.
It was a delightful read and, whilst brief, had all the components necessary for me to enjoy it. The characters were well-defined, the writing flowed and the plot was neat and had a twist that worked wonderfully well.
The main character, Silena, is attracted by the wealthy and arrogant William who uses women and then casts them away. His sneering at her because she’s a lowly servant and isn’t as beautiful as his other conquests, spurs her into using her magic to change his mind.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say that it put a truly sinister twist on that expression “Be careful what you wish for”.
Five well-deserved stars.
Breathless by Yvette M Calleiro seemed to fit the bill and so I wrapped myself in a throw and lost myself in the book.
It was a delightful read and, whilst brief, had all the components necessary for me to enjoy it. The characters were well-defined, the writing flowed and the plot was neat and had a twist that worked wonderfully well.
The main character, Silena, is attracted by the wealthy and arrogant William who uses women and then casts them away. His sneering at her because she’s a lowly servant and isn’t as beautiful as his other conquests, spurs her into using her magic to change his mind.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but suffice it to say that it put a truly sinister twist on that expression “Be careful what you wish for”.
Five well-deserved stars.
January 8, 2022
As a lover of fairy tales from childhood, I appreciate that there is often a sinister element to the stories, even if they do eventually end with everyone living ‘happily ever after’.
This story by Yvette Calleiro takes that disquieting element to a new level by focusing on the cursing abilities bestowed on certain beings living amongst us. The trouble with special powers is that they are not so easily controlled, especially when emotions are high and expectations are not met.
It would take a saintly kind of person not to occasionally wish to visit misfortune upon certain people we come across, however, as is often the case revenge takes its toll on both parties.
The author has created an interesting storyline with great characters who come together for one brief moment, impacting the rest of their lives and those around them.
An intriguing short story and an excellent introduction to the author’s full length books which Iook forward to reading soon.
This story by Yvette Calleiro takes that disquieting element to a new level by focusing on the cursing abilities bestowed on certain beings living amongst us. The trouble with special powers is that they are not so easily controlled, especially when emotions are high and expectations are not met.
It would take a saintly kind of person not to occasionally wish to visit misfortune upon certain people we come across, however, as is often the case revenge takes its toll on both parties.
The author has created an interesting storyline with great characters who come together for one brief moment, impacting the rest of their lives and those around them.
An intriguing short story and an excellent introduction to the author’s full length books which Iook forward to reading soon.
June 29, 2021
Breathless by Yvette M. Calleiro is a modern-day fairy tale that teaches universal truths about unrequited love and the consequences of vengeance. The short story is about Silena, a widow who is a service worker. While working, she becomes enchanted with a charismatic young man half of her age. Unfortunately, he insults her, leaving her devasted. However, she has secret magic meant to help others. But, if she uses it for selfish purposes, it could have dire consequences. Nonetheless, she uses her hidden magic to make herself look younger and gorgeous to attract the young man. Her scheme works but with unexpected results of the magic turning on her.
Author Yvette M. Calleiro has written a thought-provoking short story that centers on the greater truth that happiness derives from helping others. The tale is told primarily from the perspective of Silena. She misses her husband but tries to find a moment of joy with an arrogant young man who can have any woman at the snap of his fingers. However, when Silena wants to teach him a lesson by using her magic, the tables turn on her. The tale centers on the universal truth about the consequences of selfishness, arrogance, and vengeance.
Breathless is a short story with unexpected twists and a thought-provoking lesson that readers who want a quick read will enjoy.
Author Yvette M. Calleiro has written a thought-provoking short story that centers on the greater truth that happiness derives from helping others. The tale is told primarily from the perspective of Silena. She misses her husband but tries to find a moment of joy with an arrogant young man who can have any woman at the snap of his fingers. However, when Silena wants to teach him a lesson by using her magic, the tables turn on her. The tale centers on the universal truth about the consequences of selfishness, arrogance, and vengeance.
Breathless is a short story with unexpected twists and a thought-provoking lesson that readers who want a quick read will enjoy.
December 9, 2020
A Twisted Tale
I’ve read two of Yvette M Calleiro’s THE CHRONICLES OF THE DIASODZ Series, and this short story set during the 1920’s did not disappoint either. BREATHLESS has in my opinion many of the necessary elements which make a short story successful and memorable. For example, the two main characters are well-described and their personalities make me pity the one and completely dislike the other. The one is a rich, arrogant and attractive aristocrat and the other, a maid - Selena - loves him desperately, but he looks down on her even though she tries to be good at her job - mostly waiting on him, William - and his many girlfriends. Yet things change when Selina decides to turn on her magic - literally - changing her appearance so much that William completely falls in love with her. How far would she go to have him, and what could happen if he finds out that she tricked him? Selina makes a last-minute desperate decision, but is it too late or will either of them find peace, love and/or redemption? This is a short story with a strange and unexpected twist. I could not put it down. Highly recommended.
I’ve read two of Yvette M Calleiro’s THE CHRONICLES OF THE DIASODZ Series, and this short story set during the 1920’s did not disappoint either. BREATHLESS has in my opinion many of the necessary elements which make a short story successful and memorable. For example, the two main characters are well-described and their personalities make me pity the one and completely dislike the other. The one is a rich, arrogant and attractive aristocrat and the other, a maid - Selena - loves him desperately, but he looks down on her even though she tries to be good at her job - mostly waiting on him, William - and his many girlfriends. Yet things change when Selina decides to turn on her magic - literally - changing her appearance so much that William completely falls in love with her. How far would she go to have him, and what could happen if he finds out that she tricked him? Selina makes a last-minute desperate decision, but is it too late or will either of them find peace, love and/or redemption? This is a short story with a strange and unexpected twist. I could not put it down. Highly recommended.
February 15, 2021
I loved this short story! From the setup to the conclusion, it gripped me. When Silena, a widow and mother of a young daughter is tempted to use magic for selfish reasons, the results are heartstopping - literally. William is an arrogant, egotistical, charismatic man. As the author wrote, every man wants to be him and every woman wants him. That includes Silena. But she is only the hired help. He insults and berates her, and yet she wants him. So what will it hurt to use a tiny bit of the magic just this once? Well, you will have to read the story to find out. This story takes the reader into Silena's footsteps and makes them feel her pain. A quick read, I highly recommend it.
August 20, 2020
‘Breathless’ is a tale of arrogance and selfishness. If William could attract beautiful girls with his charming smile and deep brown eyes, Silena is no less proud of her powers. She craves for his attention, feels drawn to him and longs for his company, even if for just a few hours. She follows her heart but dithers at the crucial moment. Intoxicated by her power and guided by three deadly sins – anger, hatred and hubris, she forgets the promise she had made to her mother and curses William.
The story underlines a beautiful message despite the shocking consequences of Silena’s selfishness. True to her style, Yvette holds your attention till the last page. Highly recommended.
The story underlines a beautiful message despite the shocking consequences of Silena’s selfishness. True to her style, Yvette holds your attention till the last page. Highly recommended.
July 5, 2020
Author Yvette Calleiro takes the readers on a fairy tale adventure. Silena is a widowed mother who sets her sights on the wealthy, debonair William. She is also the hired help and server to many of the functions where she first noticed him.
The setting for this romance fantasy is the Roaring 20s. Here parties happened often, with drinking and dancing always on the menu. The research that Ms. Calleiro did on this period in history, is rich with the vernacular of the day. It allows the readers to be immersed into the story. I found the example below from this short story charming and descriptive.
“…She moved a strand of his hair away from his face, memorizing the way he gazed upon her. “You have seen me for over a year at many parties such as the one tonight, but you never cared to take notice.”
He grinned and smoothly said, “Well, I am taking notice now, especially of these fine stilts of yours.” He ran his hand up her leg."
Silena’s daughter, Lena, is dating John, who may be the love of her life. Happy for her daughter, Silena misses companionship. Loneliness is often sadder when you think of your children ready to go out on their own.
Recommended for those who like fairy tales told in a non-traditional setting. You’ll gladly stay to the unexpected end.
The setting for this romance fantasy is the Roaring 20s. Here parties happened often, with drinking and dancing always on the menu. The research that Ms. Calleiro did on this period in history, is rich with the vernacular of the day. It allows the readers to be immersed into the story. I found the example below from this short story charming and descriptive.
“…She moved a strand of his hair away from his face, memorizing the way he gazed upon her. “You have seen me for over a year at many parties such as the one tonight, but you never cared to take notice.”
He grinned and smoothly said, “Well, I am taking notice now, especially of these fine stilts of yours.” He ran his hand up her leg."
Silena’s daughter, Lena, is dating John, who may be the love of her life. Happy for her daughter, Silena misses companionship. Loneliness is often sadder when you think of your children ready to go out on their own.
Recommended for those who like fairy tales told in a non-traditional setting. You’ll gladly stay to the unexpected end.
August 25, 2020
Set during the Roaring Twenties, William is rich, the man that every man wants to be and every woman wants to be with - he always gets what he wants. Selina is the hired help who is continuously tossed aside by William, yet she continues to dream and yearn to be with the man. Using magic, she becomes an irresistible flapper whom William sets his eyes upon, and is compelled to have her. The pair end up in bed and it seems like Selina will finally get her wish. So close, but at the last moment, she changes her mind and wants revenge for the way he'd treated her all along. After revealing her true self, she conjures a curse on him, one that can't be reversed or ended until it is fulfilled. Unbeknownst to Selina, the curse has consequences that she didn't realize and both are losers. Or are they?
Great story, from a great writer. Thank you, Yvette. I thoroughly enjoyed your story.
Great story, from a great writer. Thank you, Yvette. I thoroughly enjoyed your story.
March 18, 2021
I must admit that the romance genre is not typically my thing, but after a glimpse of this blurb, I thought, why not?
Needless to say, I was glad I did. This quick read story was entertaining. The main protagonist was likeable, and easy to sympathize, while the antagonist was self-indulgent.
However, by the end of the story, I felt an ounce of sympathy for the antagonist, as well. I’ll not say any more about the matter, to avoid a spoiler.
What I enjoyed most about this story, was the fact that it didn’t follow the typical “Happily ever after,” of all those Disney cartoons I grew up watching. This was raw, with bitter consequences of wise advice not heeded, and a few of the seven deadly sins committed.
I wouldn’t hesitate to read other material written by this author. Well done, Yvette! I throw you, FIVE STARS!
Needless to say, I was glad I did. This quick read story was entertaining. The main protagonist was likeable, and easy to sympathize, while the antagonist was self-indulgent.
However, by the end of the story, I felt an ounce of sympathy for the antagonist, as well. I’ll not say any more about the matter, to avoid a spoiler.
What I enjoyed most about this story, was the fact that it didn’t follow the typical “Happily ever after,” of all those Disney cartoons I grew up watching. This was raw, with bitter consequences of wise advice not heeded, and a few of the seven deadly sins committed.
I wouldn’t hesitate to read other material written by this author. Well done, Yvette! I throw you, FIVE STARS!
July 15, 2020
This is a beautiful read, of the nature of the fatal attraction! Silena’s attraction to William, the Casanova, and his repulsion of her, caused her to damn the consequences of the rules of her powers to lay a curse on William. Her power prohibited her from using it for herself or for selfish purposes. In her anger, she ignored everything and used the power to put a curse on William
The curse cost them both. For William, any time he kissed a woman, that woman died. And for Silena, every time William kissed a woman and the woman died, she aged with life leaving her body gradually. In the end, William seemed to have got his revenge, but did he? I believe that this story will continue. A fine read indeed.
The curse cost them both. For William, any time he kissed a woman, that woman died. And for Silena, every time William kissed a woman and the woman died, she aged with life leaving her body gradually. In the end, William seemed to have got his revenge, but did he? I believe that this story will continue. A fine read indeed.
October 28, 2021
Silena is a maid with a crush on her employer, the wealthy playboy William. When he ridicules her, she uses magic to make herself young and beautiful. William falls for her, but at the last moment, Silena changes her mind. Instead of having sex with him, she curses him. It's a curse with an unexpected twist that neither of them will escape. This short story is a quick 1/2 hour read and a great way to fill some free time. Recommended to adult readers who enjoy a touch of magic and a whole lot of karma.
July 6, 2020
“Breathless” takes the reader in a new direction showing what happens when the handsome, rich man, William, meets up with the peasant-like female, Selina. Ms. Calleiro provides a refreshing change to the usual storyline. I loved the setting in the 1920s, with the slang weaved in so seamlessly. When Selina decides a bit of magic couldn’t hurt, there is a twist I didn’t see coming. A well-written story that I couldn’t put down.
August 6, 2020
I found the characters of this book interesting and loved the twist on the usual fairytale. Silena's weakness in using her magic selfishly makes her human and relatable. Her curse harms not only herself and William, but innocent and unsuspecting women. This tempers your sympathy for her character. A good balance between sympathy and dislike. The author mentions a full-length novel coming to complete Williams tale, and I look forward to finding out if and how he breaks the curse. Well done!
August 3, 2021
Fascinating Fairy Tale
A short story that left this adult reader “Breathless.” Set in the 1920s, a rich and handsome young man meets a maid with magical powers who is bent on revenge. A surprising turn when these two collide in fairy tale fashion. Well written and highly recommended! ~ Bette A. Stevens, author of award-winning children’s picture book AMAZING MATILDA and other books for children and adults.
A short story that left this adult reader “Breathless.” Set in the 1920s, a rich and handsome young man meets a maid with magical powers who is bent on revenge. A surprising turn when these two collide in fairy tale fashion. Well written and highly recommended! ~ Bette A. Stevens, author of award-winning children’s picture book AMAZING MATILDA and other books for children and adults.
August 11, 2020
A cross between be-careful-what-you-wish-for and karma-is-a-beast, “Breathless” is an adult fairy tale. Love and hate, good and evil, happy and sad are all woven together, with a touch of magic, to create an entertaining short story with exactly the right ending.
August 9, 2020
Breathless is a short story by Yvette M Calleiro and brings a wonder-filled tale that kept me guessing with each paragraph. The detail of the characters and scenes are amazing and mesmerizing.
May 23, 2024
Breathless by author Yvette Calleiro is an enthralling short story set in the vibrant 1920s, weaving magic, romance, and moral lessons into a captivating narrative. The protagonist, Silena, a middle-aged maid with hidden magical abilities, becomes obsessed with the dashing yet callous William. Despite her mother's warnings, Silena uses her powers to win his attention, leading to unexpected and tragic consequences. Ms. Calleiro masterfully portrays the pitfalls of unrequited love and the repercussions of vengeance. The story's rich historical backdrop and unpredictable twists keep readers hooked until the last page. "Breathless" is a beautifully written cautionary tale that combines fantasy and reality, making it a must-read for those seeking a quick, gripping escape.
May 15, 2022
This was a lovely escape, a fairytale of sorts. Calleiro weaves a great story with brevity that begs for more. Like many romances, there’s mystery, teasing, and choices. It is the latter that gets to the heart of the story. Well written and perfectly timed, BREATHLESS is a short story not to be missed.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews