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Bridgewater #2
Breathe Again
Teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown, 45-year-old Mara Donovan, a human pinball bounced between her desires, her family, and her deteriorating mental health, confronts a beastly diagnosis that threatens her already fragile sense of self; but when her usual tactics to cage the beast fail, Mara must accept the beast for what it really is before it destroys all that she holds dear.
Married to the man of her dreams, with a child she adores, a younger sister who idolizes her, and the best friend anyone could ever wish for, Mara can see no reason why she's so angry. She reaches out to her doctor in hopes of getting a prescription for anxiety but ends up getting much more than she initially expected. The diagnosis turns her life upside down and leads Mara on a rollercoaster of a journey as she stumbles towards wellness.
Married to the man of her dreams, with a child she adores, a younger sister who idolizes her, and the best friend anyone could ever wish for, Mara can see no reason why she's so angry. She reaches out to her doctor in hopes of getting a prescription for anxiety but ends up getting much more than she initially expected. The diagnosis turns her life upside down and leads Mara on a rollercoaster of a journey as she stumbles towards wellness.
- GenresRomance
ebook
Published May 15, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 13, 2021
You couldn't ask for a better book to be released during Mental Health Awareness month.
This whole Bridgewater series delves deep into various mental health issues. It shows not only the struggles of the person suffering with their mental health but also how it affects their family and friends. You'll definitely need boxes of tissues but in the end you'll be rooting and cheering them on!!
In Breathe Again, we have Mara and Zale as the the two main characters. A mid 40's couple married around 15 years (give or take...unsure exactly) and both are madly in love with each other.
This story is very emotional, raw, real and relatable (whether you have mental illness in your family or not). From the everyday struggles to the not so everyday struggles, you'll be pulled into their lives. You'll laugh and cry with them and your heart will break for them when their world comes tumbling down.
Luckily they not only have a strong love and respect for each other (that they will definitely need) but they also have an AMAZING group of friends (chosen family) and family that are there to support them, lift them up, and help in any way possible so that Mara and Zale can regain their footing to start mending and rebuilding their life together. (Seriously, this group of characters is who you want at your back and by your side always!!)
Oh yeah, and for those of you (like me) who may be wondering... yes there are definitely some "very" descriptive hot and steamy scenes that are not only needed in building the story but to show the love and chemistry this couple has for each other.
Qoute from Zale to Mara (Zale trying to make Mara believe in his love of her body, mind, heart and soul...in Zale fashion of course.) :
"...all that is you is all that I want. You got that?"
Qoute of Mara's thoughts on Zale:
"...a soft grunt. I loved his noises. They hit me in my belly, in my heart, and gave me a braingasm."
(Loved that word braingasm so had to qoute it!!)
This whole Bridgewater series delves deep into various mental health issues. It shows not only the struggles of the person suffering with their mental health but also how it affects their family and friends. You'll definitely need boxes of tissues but in the end you'll be rooting and cheering them on!!
In Breathe Again, we have Mara and Zale as the the two main characters. A mid 40's couple married around 15 years (give or take...unsure exactly) and both are madly in love with each other.
This story is very emotional, raw, real and relatable (whether you have mental illness in your family or not). From the everyday struggles to the not so everyday struggles, you'll be pulled into their lives. You'll laugh and cry with them and your heart will break for them when their world comes tumbling down.
Luckily they not only have a strong love and respect for each other (that they will definitely need) but they also have an AMAZING group of friends (chosen family) and family that are there to support them, lift them up, and help in any way possible so that Mara and Zale can regain their footing to start mending and rebuilding their life together. (Seriously, this group of characters is who you want at your back and by your side always!!)
Oh yeah, and for those of you (like me) who may be wondering... yes there are definitely some "very" descriptive hot and steamy scenes that are not only needed in building the story but to show the love and chemistry this couple has for each other.
Qoute from Zale to Mara (Zale trying to make Mara believe in his love of her body, mind, heart and soul...in Zale fashion of course.) :
"...all that is you is all that I want. You got that?"
Qoute of Mara's thoughts on Zale:
"...a soft grunt. I loved his noises. They hit me in my belly, in my heart, and gave me a braingasm."
(Loved that word braingasm so had to qoute it!!)
May 15, 2021
What did I think about this book?
A lot. This book had a lot to take in. It was mentally dark at times, gritty, and sweet. Mara's struggles are painfully real at some points, and you want her to just snap out of it. I know mental illness and know snapping out of it just isn't possible, so this book really hit home. Read with caution.
That being said, it is so damn worth it. As I always say, I live to read a book that takes me to a fantasy world, but the ones that really get me, the ones that hit home, are the books that are so damn real, they're painful in the most beautiful way. That was this book.
Zale and Mara stole my heart. Their love for one another is indescribable and true. The way they interact and the way they face their journey while accepting their own flaws is incredibly authentic. Well done, Devin. I can't wait to read more of your work.
A lot. This book had a lot to take in. It was mentally dark at times, gritty, and sweet. Mara's struggles are painfully real at some points, and you want her to just snap out of it. I know mental illness and know snapping out of it just isn't possible, so this book really hit home. Read with caution.
That being said, it is so damn worth it. As I always say, I live to read a book that takes me to a fantasy world, but the ones that really get me, the ones that hit home, are the books that are so damn real, they're painful in the most beautiful way. That was this book.
Zale and Mara stole my heart. Their love for one another is indescribable and true. The way they interact and the way they face their journey while accepting their own flaws is incredibly authentic. Well done, Devin. I can't wait to read more of your work.
May 22, 2022
5+ STARS!! SO. FREAKING. GOOD.
But what happens when the heroine is the toxic one?
If you're into . . .
From myself there is no escape.I wish I hadn't put off reading this book for SO long! Breathe Again was a heart-wrenching odyssey through the mind of a woman struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder. It quite literally knocked my socks off.
The illness, when woken was such that the lines of clarity were candle wicks briefly lit and soon snuffed out by the darkness of fear and self-hatred.Parts of this story were so hard to read-in the best possible way! Usually authors write this kind of story from the other side of the coin, with the main characters trying to extricate themselves from toxic relationships.
But what happens when the heroine is the toxic one?
In their earlier years, that insecurity led to tantrums and ultimatums that were shocking in their intensity and acceleration, like a female version of Jekyll and Hyde.And what happens when the hero loves her desperately?
"I love you. I've always loved you. I will always love you."Let me tell you, once I started I couldn't put this book down. Mara and Zale got me pretty twisted up. They've been married for a long time and have a twelve year old autistic daughter, Olivia, who absorbs much of their time and energy. With Zale seeming to pull away from her lately, Mara's emotional well-being - which she's always struggled with - starts to suffer.
Why should I even be sad? I had everything.Mara recognizes her spiraling state of mind . . .
I wondered if a broken heart would be worse than the pain of not being good enough.. . . and realizes something needs to change.
Creating space for myself to figure out who I was, independently of everyone else and what they wanted or needed me to be, was becoming a goal in and of itself.But the journey was an incredibly bumpy one. Author Devin Sloane sure knows how to look DEEP into a relationship. She truly blew me away with her insight and compassion.
"Instead of believing each other, we re-interpreted to make it fit with what we thought was true."My favorite book of not just the year so far, but of the last few years! I so highly recommend.
If you're into . . .
✔ contemporary romance with mature characters. . . you've found your next read!
✔ reads that deal with mental wellness
✔ marriages in trouble
✔ special needs kids
✔ incredible chemistry
July 15, 2021
This is not your typical sexy love story; this is an intense journey with Mara/Merry into her unraveling mental state.
Mara has been struggling for years with low self-esteem, jealousy and self-harm issues. She has the classic narcissistic mother that likes to play mind games, plus a special needs child that takes a lot of her mental energy. Now the cherry on top of that burden is being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Issues/Disorder or BPD which has rocked her already fragile mental state.
Mara loves fiercely and if you are a part of her tribe, she will tear anyone apart that threatens you, unfortunately she does not fight for herself the same way. She is the caretaker of her group of loving women which her sister Willa and Rebecca/Bex her best friend are a part of. With these loving and supporting ladies along with her loving sexy husband Zale and qualified medical personnel all do their best to give Mara the tools to stitch herself back together.
This is a very deep and dark walk into an unraveling mind, the emotions are raw and gut wrenching. The pain, shame, vulnerability and self-destructive tendencies are not for the faint of heart. Your gut will churn, your heart will break and the tears will flow as you embark on this soul eviscerating journey with Mara.
The author does a tortured soul very well and she gives you all of the nuances that make you feel that you are taking the journey also. That said there needed to be some breaks at least in the beginning of the story for us to get Zale’s perspective a bit more, instead of Mara all the time. Just when I was about to start flipping pages, we started getting that and the other members of her tribe and their perspectives. Beautiful sweet Olivia, Mara’s daughter is a delight with her antics. Zale, Mara’s knight in shining armor of a husband thinks he knows Mara, but is blindsided and humbled when he realizes his interpretation of events is not even close to the truth. It was great getting to know the supporting cast more and Rebecca and Rhys have come so far. My only gripe is still Rhys kids, I would like to get to know them a little better, we got some snippets but not much else.
For many women that read this story we may see bits and pieces of ourselves in Mara’s journey; the pain, the withdrawing into ourselves to hide the hurt, the silent screams in our heads for our loved ones to really see us, the days when the hurt is too big and we are so lost we don’t know if we can find our way back. The self-destructive behaviors that we lose ourselves in to just quiet the inner discontent. Mostly the sense of self lost that make us shells of what we can truly be. The shame that we are not good enough and that we will never be good enough. All of this and more is in these pages laid wide open, vulnerable and raw.
The biggest take away from this story as we reflect on our own lives is communication. For any relationship to survive there needs to be good communication, because sometimes you think you know what’s happening but there is usually more beneath the surface than first thought.
I received and ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
Mara has been struggling for years with low self-esteem, jealousy and self-harm issues. She has the classic narcissistic mother that likes to play mind games, plus a special needs child that takes a lot of her mental energy. Now the cherry on top of that burden is being diagnosed with Borderline Personality Issues/Disorder or BPD which has rocked her already fragile mental state.
Mara loves fiercely and if you are a part of her tribe, she will tear anyone apart that threatens you, unfortunately she does not fight for herself the same way. She is the caretaker of her group of loving women which her sister Willa and Rebecca/Bex her best friend are a part of. With these loving and supporting ladies along with her loving sexy husband Zale and qualified medical personnel all do their best to give Mara the tools to stitch herself back together.
This is a very deep and dark walk into an unraveling mind, the emotions are raw and gut wrenching. The pain, shame, vulnerability and self-destructive tendencies are not for the faint of heart. Your gut will churn, your heart will break and the tears will flow as you embark on this soul eviscerating journey with Mara.
The author does a tortured soul very well and she gives you all of the nuances that make you feel that you are taking the journey also. That said there needed to be some breaks at least in the beginning of the story for us to get Zale’s perspective a bit more, instead of Mara all the time. Just when I was about to start flipping pages, we started getting that and the other members of her tribe and their perspectives. Beautiful sweet Olivia, Mara’s daughter is a delight with her antics. Zale, Mara’s knight in shining armor of a husband thinks he knows Mara, but is blindsided and humbled when he realizes his interpretation of events is not even close to the truth. It was great getting to know the supporting cast more and Rebecca and Rhys have come so far. My only gripe is still Rhys kids, I would like to get to know them a little better, we got some snippets but not much else.
For many women that read this story we may see bits and pieces of ourselves in Mara’s journey; the pain, the withdrawing into ourselves to hide the hurt, the silent screams in our heads for our loved ones to really see us, the days when the hurt is too big and we are so lost we don’t know if we can find our way back. The self-destructive behaviors that we lose ourselves in to just quiet the inner discontent. Mostly the sense of self lost that make us shells of what we can truly be. The shame that we are not good enough and that we will never be good enough. All of this and more is in these pages laid wide open, vulnerable and raw.
The biggest take away from this story as we reflect on our own lives is communication. For any relationship to survive there needs to be good communication, because sometimes you think you know what’s happening but there is usually more beneath the surface than first thought.
I received and ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.
July 20, 2021
Wow! This book is a powerful, dark and a sometimes excruciating look into the mind of a woman with a mental illness as she fights the demons and tries to reclaim her life--no, claim a life that will be better than what she has ever experienced. The self-harm in the book is hard to read, but very impactful.
Breathe Again is the story of Mara, a woman raised by a narcissistic mother. Her self-esteem is non-existent and being married to a very handsome man who attracts the attention of women everywhere he goes feeds into her own mental issues. Her jealousy leads to extreme reactions on her part and has Zale afraid to even glance at another woman. The story is told from their dual points of view and is very effective in portraying the damage done by mental illness. Mara's diagnosis when it comes is one that makes it even harder for her to deal with her emotions.
If this book doesn't win some sort of illness, it certainly should!
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. All thoughts are my own.
Breathe Again is the story of Mara, a woman raised by a narcissistic mother. Her self-esteem is non-existent and being married to a very handsome man who attracts the attention of women everywhere he goes feeds into her own mental issues. Her jealousy leads to extreme reactions on her part and has Zale afraid to even glance at another woman. The story is told from their dual points of view and is very effective in portraying the damage done by mental illness. Mara's diagnosis when it comes is one that makes it even harder for her to deal with her emotions.
If this book doesn't win some sort of illness, it certainly should!
I was gifted a copy of this book by the author. All thoughts are my own.
May 16, 2021
Some of the toughest battles we face are those within ourselves. As women, at one point or another, we've all struggled with our sense of self and our own value. This is something Mara Donovan lives with on a daily basis. No amount of encouragement from her family and friends changes the way Mara views herself or the self-loathing she feels.
This series needs its own subgenre, because it can’t be tucked neatly into any of the contemporary romance subgenres. This talented wordsmith takes us deep into the psyche of a person struggling with not only an upbringing by a narcissistic personality, but a woman who battles daily with her own mental illness.
This is not a breezy, light-hearted read, and the subject matter may be a challenge for some readers. However, Mara's story is Intuitive, insightful, and informative and has the potential to open readers' eyes to some of their own challenging relationships.
This is one of those books I could read a hundred times and still find something new each time I read it. Profound in its authenticity, and equal parts devastating, illuminating and inspiring, this beautifully told story is as vital as its message: each of us is worthy and deserving of love.
This series needs its own subgenre, because it can’t be tucked neatly into any of the contemporary romance subgenres. This talented wordsmith takes us deep into the psyche of a person struggling with not only an upbringing by a narcissistic personality, but a woman who battles daily with her own mental illness.
This is not a breezy, light-hearted read, and the subject matter may be a challenge for some readers. However, Mara's story is Intuitive, insightful, and informative and has the potential to open readers' eyes to some of their own challenging relationships.
This is one of those books I could read a hundred times and still find something new each time I read it. Profound in its authenticity, and equal parts devastating, illuminating and inspiring, this beautifully told story is as vital as its message: each of us is worthy and deserving of love.
May 23, 2021
Devin did it again. Breathe Again DESTROYED ME. I didn’t think book one (Live Again) could be topped. I was wrong. Click the link in Devin’s bio to start this series.
Here are my favorite things:
🔥 Mara. Forever Mara. She was amazing in Live Again, the friend we all hope to have and the friend we should strive to be. In Breathe Again, her journey is a difficult one. I wanted to reach through the book and hug her. I cried with and for her. But she is strong, even when she thinks she’s weak. Her soul shines through every page. Mara will stay with you long after you finish the book.
🔥 the other characters (except Mara and Willa’s mom 😡). Zale makes mistakes, there’s no doubt about it, but he loves Mara to the depths of his soul and redeems himself. I understood why he did what he did, even when it hurt. Bex and Rhys, the MCs of Live Again, are incredible as secondary characters in Breathe Again. They’re not just friends to Mara, they’re family. Rhys will always have a special place in my heart because of this book. Willa is a wonderful sister. Mara was her rock growing up, and she returns the favor in adulthood. I can’t wait for her and Barrett’s story! And sweet Olivia. Devin is a master of characterization, and she blew me away with Olivia.
🔥 the portrayal of mental health, recovery and self-care. Devin treated these topics sensitively but didn’t shy away from the challenges, failures and pain. As an anxiety sufferer, I related to the importance of self-care, the need for support and the difficult task of treating yourself gently. The roller coaster of emotions and struggles made the end so much sweeter.
Read this book today. Just do it.
Here are my favorite things:
🔥 Mara. Forever Mara. She was amazing in Live Again, the friend we all hope to have and the friend we should strive to be. In Breathe Again, her journey is a difficult one. I wanted to reach through the book and hug her. I cried with and for her. But she is strong, even when she thinks she’s weak. Her soul shines through every page. Mara will stay with you long after you finish the book.
🔥 the other characters (except Mara and Willa’s mom 😡). Zale makes mistakes, there’s no doubt about it, but he loves Mara to the depths of his soul and redeems himself. I understood why he did what he did, even when it hurt. Bex and Rhys, the MCs of Live Again, are incredible as secondary characters in Breathe Again. They’re not just friends to Mara, they’re family. Rhys will always have a special place in my heart because of this book. Willa is a wonderful sister. Mara was her rock growing up, and she returns the favor in adulthood. I can’t wait for her and Barrett’s story! And sweet Olivia. Devin is a master of characterization, and she blew me away with Olivia.
🔥 the portrayal of mental health, recovery and self-care. Devin treated these topics sensitively but didn’t shy away from the challenges, failures and pain. As an anxiety sufferer, I related to the importance of self-care, the need for support and the difficult task of treating yourself gently. The roller coaster of emotions and struggles made the end so much sweeter.
Read this book today. Just do it.
September 3, 2021
I’ll read anything, but a book has to grab my attention from the very first chapter (or two), otherwise I don’t have a problem shelving a book. This is not the case with Breathe Again. Not only did it grab my attention from the very first sentence “Everyone has a story.” this book held it the entire time.
Breathe Again is the second installment of A Bridgewater Novel Series. After reading Live Again (which was amazing), I had an expectation from Devin Sloane and she did not disappoint.
Breathe Again was a poignant story with mature characters that were so relatable they felt real. This book is a breath of fresh air even if it made me cry (ugly cry).
I highly recommend this well written and very impactful story about mental health and well being. The love Mara and Zale have for each other is something that I wish everyone could experience in their lifetime. Because if they had an ounce of it, maybe everything would be alright… so all we have to do is just BREATHE.
On a personal note- I want to commend Devin for writing story most romance authors (me included) shy away from, for that you’ll always have my respect. Thank you.
Breathe Again is the second installment of A Bridgewater Novel Series. After reading Live Again (which was amazing), I had an expectation from Devin Sloane and she did not disappoint.
Breathe Again was a poignant story with mature characters that were so relatable they felt real. This book is a breath of fresh air even if it made me cry (ugly cry).
I highly recommend this well written and very impactful story about mental health and well being. The love Mara and Zale have for each other is something that I wish everyone could experience in their lifetime. Because if they had an ounce of it, maybe everything would be alright… so all we have to do is just BREATHE.
On a personal note- I want to commend Devin for writing story most romance authors (me included) shy away from, for that you’ll always have my respect. Thank you.
May 11, 2021
Breathe Again is the second book in a series and can be read as a standalone. To understand the whole picture of the story, I think it is important to read the first book before reading this one.
The main character in the story is Mara, who struggles with her self-esteem, and mental health. She is not living but surviving while raising a daughter who requires extensive care, marriage problems, and a mentally abusive mother.
During the story, we are inside Mara's head what can hard at times. The author went really deep but was able to describe perfectly how certain things feel.
My hard broke for Mara so many times, I wanted to jump in the book and help her. Tell her she isn't alone, and I knew the feelings she experienced.
I admired Mara, she was such a strong woman. She fought so hard for her family, for her friends, and in the end, even for herself.
The people around her knew something was off, but nobody did anything to help Mara. Sometimes I felt so angry at them, but again, the author described perfectly how it would be in real life.
I wouldn't categorize Breathe Again in the romance genre. It's more woman's fiction because the story focuses on Mara's whole journey and not only on the romantic aspect of her life.
While the story is emotionally heavy, I think it is important that many people read it in this day and age. Mainly because what Mara goes through is familiar, lots of people will be able to relate to her, and it will show them it isn't something to be embarrassed or ashamed about. It's okay not to be okay! It's okay to need help!
I received an ARC from the author and am leaving my review voluntarily.
The main character in the story is Mara, who struggles with her self-esteem, and mental health. She is not living but surviving while raising a daughter who requires extensive care, marriage problems, and a mentally abusive mother.
During the story, we are inside Mara's head what can hard at times. The author went really deep but was able to describe perfectly how certain things feel.
My hard broke for Mara so many times, I wanted to jump in the book and help her. Tell her she isn't alone, and I knew the feelings she experienced.
I admired Mara, she was such a strong woman. She fought so hard for her family, for her friends, and in the end, even for herself.
The people around her knew something was off, but nobody did anything to help Mara. Sometimes I felt so angry at them, but again, the author described perfectly how it would be in real life.
I wouldn't categorize Breathe Again in the romance genre. It's more woman's fiction because the story focuses on Mara's whole journey and not only on the romantic aspect of her life.
While the story is emotionally heavy, I think it is important that many people read it in this day and age. Mainly because what Mara goes through is familiar, lots of people will be able to relate to her, and it will show them it isn't something to be embarrassed or ashamed about. It's okay not to be okay! It's okay to need help!
I received an ARC from the author and am leaving my review voluntarily.
May 7, 2021
OK.. first, RYHSSS😍😍😍🤯 he is added to my book boyfriends!!!
Now let's get into the review. So I should have read the first book before I read this one as I would of understand it more at first. but anyhow I loved the book.
The insecurities and anxiety that Mara faces are relatable, that feeling of not being enough for someone is something we all have felt in our lives.
I love the way the author battles the mental health topic and how she brings it out in the book, really there were parts where it got really emotional for me to read and I just wanted to crawl into the ebook myself and hug Mara and help her, I wanted to shout at Zale for not helping her enough.. like why can't he see the emotional pain his own wife is going through...
The author really brings the feelings out of the book.. the helplessness, the frustration, the emotional lost depressing feeling that Mara feels, we can feel it all.
Would recommend this book for anyone who can handle the topic of mental health issues as it does get a little deep.
Plus a few steamy reads so 18+
Now let's get into the review. So I should have read the first book before I read this one as I would of understand it more at first. but anyhow I loved the book.
The insecurities and anxiety that Mara faces are relatable, that feeling of not being enough for someone is something we all have felt in our lives.
I love the way the author battles the mental health topic and how she brings it out in the book, really there were parts where it got really emotional for me to read and I just wanted to crawl into the ebook myself and hug Mara and help her, I wanted to shout at Zale for not helping her enough.. like why can't he see the emotional pain his own wife is going through...
The author really brings the feelings out of the book.. the helplessness, the frustration, the emotional lost depressing feeling that Mara feels, we can feel it all.
Would recommend this book for anyone who can handle the topic of mental health issues as it does get a little deep.
Plus a few steamy reads so 18+
May 26, 2021
"I think its okay if you feel horny and f*cked-up at the same time," -Marie De Salle, "High Fidelity." This feels like an apt quote for this book. "Breathe Again" is profound and beautifully written. It taught me so much about mental health, myself, and relationships, while also being SUPER hot, fun, charming, and often funny. The characters are complex and relatable, the problems they face true to life. I will definitely go back and read the first book in the series, and look forward to the next. Ms. Sloane has gained a loyal reader here. I highly recommend this book to anyone, especially those with a complicated inner voice/self-esteem or with history of relationships with people with personality disorders. I loved the big feelings this book evoked, and am grateful for the ride.
July 23, 2021
Thoughtful, heartbreaking, and beautiful
Devin Sloane, I have discovered, does not write cliché romance. She write real, gritty, raw stories full of emotion and hard hitting issues wrapped in love. This book, much like Live Again, touched my spirit and soul. The desperation a person feels when they struggle with their emotions can be debilitating. Add in mental illness or personality disorders and things can become chaotic. I experience many of these crippling worries and fears myself along with the emotional mood swings and frustrations of not being able to control them. Devin portrayed all of that fantastically. From start to finish, this was as much about awareness, discovery, understanding, and healing as it was love.
Devin Sloane, I have discovered, does not write cliché romance. She write real, gritty, raw stories full of emotion and hard hitting issues wrapped in love. This book, much like Live Again, touched my spirit and soul. The desperation a person feels when they struggle with their emotions can be debilitating. Add in mental illness or personality disorders and things can become chaotic. I experience many of these crippling worries and fears myself along with the emotional mood swings and frustrations of not being able to control them. Devin portrayed all of that fantastically. From start to finish, this was as much about awareness, discovery, understanding, and healing as it was love.
January 12, 2025
3,5 stars
After this book I will definitely need therapy because it drained me emotionally. The story is about a woman who has too much burden on her back and she tries to cope with it in the best way she can. She is suffering, she is tired and this is the trigger for her to feel insecure and jealous.
While reading this book I also went through various emotional states and I can say that this is everyone's everyday life and that ( probably )we all have some diagnosis, we all have some burden and we try to move on because life is not a fairy tale.
After this book I will definitely need therapy because it drained me emotionally. The story is about a woman who has too much burden on her back and she tries to cope with it in the best way she can. She is suffering, she is tired and this is the trigger for her to feel insecure and jealous.
While reading this book I also went through various emotional states and I can say that this is everyone's everyday life and that ( probably )we all have some diagnosis, we all have some burden and we try to move on because life is not a fairy tale.
June 22, 2021
All the feels
I've never cried while reading a book. Teared up, yes but never full blown sobs. But this book had me crying my heart out. The reason is because this book really hit home for me. I mean it really hit home for me. I feel for Mara having experienced that myself.
This book is extremely expressive and amazingly written, giving a voice to a mental health issue that most people sweep under the rug.
I've never cried while reading a book. Teared up, yes but never full blown sobs. But this book had me crying my heart out. The reason is because this book really hit home for me. I mean it really hit home for me. I feel for Mara having experienced that myself.
This book is extremely expressive and amazingly written, giving a voice to a mental health issue that most people sweep under the rug.
May 29, 2021
An emotional read full of love and compassion, with a beautiful heroine you'll fall in love with and a hero you'll swoon over! A powerful message that its OK not to be OK and its OK to ask for help. The author did a great job of writing in detail on a difficult subject. Its one of my favourite reads this year, can't wait for the next one!
June 25, 2021
The second book to the Bridgewater series followed Mara and Zale. Their relationship starts to deteriorate within the last year, causing issues for Mara to spiral towards a nervous breakdown.
This book took you on a journey of mental health and the feelings one who that has the disease goes through. The demons they battle everyday. The lies they tell themselves daily on how their loved ones must put up with them. Growing up with a mother who also had mental illness played a huge role for her with having her diagnosis.
This story went on the journey with Mara and Zale as they found the resources to tackle her demons. How once Zale realized all the implications that Mara went through he was better suited to be another resource for her.
This was a great story of understanding mental health and how it impacts the daily life of the individual struggling and how you can be a support system to them.
This book took you on a journey of mental health and the feelings one who that has the disease goes through. The demons they battle everyday. The lies they tell themselves daily on how their loved ones must put up with them. Growing up with a mother who also had mental illness played a huge role for her with having her diagnosis.
This story went on the journey with Mara and Zale as they found the resources to tackle her demons. How once Zale realized all the implications that Mara went through he was better suited to be another resource for her.
This was a great story of understanding mental health and how it impacts the daily life of the individual struggling and how you can be a support system to them.
July 15, 2021
Mara always knew her mother was poisonous, her sister Willa had cut ties long ago but the guilt at abandoning Bea ate Mara up so she continued to spend time with her. Growing up with a narcissistic mother had gradually worn her down to a point where her mental health was at an all time low. When she finally snapped it was because of her but it affected the rest of her family in a way she would’ve never thought it would.
This book is very hard hitting and it tackles mental health head on. It is honest and takes you on a journey of breaking down and getting back up. Being a parent to a child with additional needs is also covered in more depth than the authors previous book and many of the traits of autism are discussed in detail which I find is a great way to educate people. As the parent of a child with autism it’s good to see these things highlighted.
This author is not afraid to tackle big issues and it is refreshing to see. I look forward to seeing where she goes next with this group of characters and if she covers any other issues that need more attention. Check out this great book and book one, Live again!
This book is very hard hitting and it tackles mental health head on. It is honest and takes you on a journey of breaking down and getting back up. Being a parent to a child with additional needs is also covered in more depth than the authors previous book and many of the traits of autism are discussed in detail which I find is a great way to educate people. As the parent of a child with autism it’s good to see these things highlighted.
This author is not afraid to tackle big issues and it is refreshing to see. I look forward to seeing where she goes next with this group of characters and if she covers any other issues that need more attention. Check out this great book and book one, Live again!
June 11, 2021
Mental health is a subject that takes great care, love, and respect to write about. This book shook me to the core. Devin Sloane has done an amazing justice to mental health with Breathe Again. She told the story from the eyes of all participants and made sure to address their stories so no questions were left unanswered.
If you need a book to get you out of a reading rut, or to make you feel seen and heard- the Bridgewater series is for you. It features the most romance steam 🥵 I’ve ever read and is a beautiful middle to this incredible series.
I cannot wait for the final installment of Bridgewater.
Thank you Mrs. Sloane for showing the love, destruction? beauty, and sexy side of mental instability the world needs more writers like you.
If you need a book to get you out of a reading rut, or to make you feel seen and heard- the Bridgewater series is for you. It features the most romance steam 🥵 I’ve ever read and is a beautiful middle to this incredible series.
I cannot wait for the final installment of Bridgewater.
Thank you Mrs. Sloane for showing the love, destruction? beauty, and sexy side of mental instability the world needs more writers like you.
August 11, 2021
I just don't know what to say about Mara and Zale's Story. I feel Slightly speechless.
Like I just took an emotional roller-coaster ride into relatable-town!
Mental Health is REAL. It's often not spoken about. For a variety of reasons. Embarrassment, Shame etc.
I live with someone who suffers from a mental health condition and the effects it has on that person and the people around them is challenging everyday.
But...Mara she is one relatable woman. The way she has self-esteem and jealousy Most stems from childhood trauma as well, she has been through alot.
She has so much love for her daughter Olivia and her husband Zale. Zale loves Mara with everything he has.
I love how the story develops.
I love seeing Mara develop as well.
Fantastic story.
Thank you Devin for you invite to Read Breathe Again. I absolutely loved this beautiful Story.
Like I just took an emotional roller-coaster ride into relatable-town!
Mental Health is REAL. It's often not spoken about. For a variety of reasons. Embarrassment, Shame etc.
I live with someone who suffers from a mental health condition and the effects it has on that person and the people around them is challenging everyday.
But...Mara she is one relatable woman. The way she has self-esteem and jealousy Most stems from childhood trauma as well, she has been through alot.
She has so much love for her daughter Olivia and her husband Zale. Zale loves Mara with everything he has.
I love how the story develops.
I love seeing Mara develop as well.
Fantastic story.
Thank you Devin for you invite to Read Breathe Again. I absolutely loved this beautiful Story.
December 11, 2022
Jealousy is a big PROBLEM, especially seething ones like Mara had. I don't care what kind of issues any one has, jealousy is one and of it's own. If Mara did hit that women she would have deserved to be laid out, who does she think she? She also recognized in a much later chapter that she owned her jealousy and it wasn't her husband fault, I'm really glad that they put that in the book because Mara was really getting on my nerves.
Zale was strong for dealing with her, he was doing it for years and he had to be quiet because he did not know what was wrong with her, but he put up with that seething jealousy like a champ, I don't think many people could or would. It's 2 1/2 *** for me.
And their mom was was a freaking nut case!
Zale was strong for dealing with her, he was doing it for years and he had to be quiet because he did not know what was wrong with her, but he put up with that seething jealousy like a champ, I don't think many people could or would. It's 2 1/2 *** for me.
And their mom was was a freaking nut case!
August 7, 2021
Was very much looking forward to this book and reading Mara and Zale's story.
I have to say though, I did find this really hard going for a two thirds of this book. A couple of times I had to put it down and have a breather because it was just too sad to read. It was nice to have the chapters broken up to other characters as the continual story from Mara's POV was down right really hard to read.
My heart went out to Mara and what she has had to deal with a very large part of her life. To be in that mindset must be extremely difficult and to slap a smile on your face and pretend that everything is great and happy and fun and bubbly must be tiring. Man it was draining but also heartfelt all at the same time.
The roller coaster ride of emotions constantly changing and doubting, how can you not feel so sorry for people who have to deal with this type of mental health each and every day.
My heart also went out to Zale as well and I did enjoy reading is chapters, there just didn't seem to be enough of them for me. He loved Mara so so much and I did struggle with this side of it as well as he continually told her and for me, showed her how he felt but she just didn't or more couldn't believe this from him.
For me, in a book like this it was great to read from Zales POV when the tough times really got going and to understand things from his side and especially when he finally started talking to Rhys about it all and hearing from Rhys on what he had experienced was also amazing to read.
The love this couple had from their friends and family was just amazing and when everything came to a climax in such a drastic and dramatic way, oh my gosh.... my heart bled. I used a few tissue's at this time. To see Rhys step up and do what he did just seriously blew me away.
Barrett was a lovely character and really look forward to his and Willa's story.
Willa and Bex, wow these two lovely ladies. Every women should have friends in their lives like these two. It would be hilarious to say the least but to know you had friends for you would be amazing.
Overall, this was a great second book to an amazing series. Devin took a very difficult subject and portrayed it in a way that made me feel things and made me look at things so differently which shows how talented this author is.
It was the same with book one for Bex and Rhys's story. This author blows me away with her delivery of this story, she made me hold onto my kindle with a death grip while reading this story. For any author to invoke emotions from the reader tells me these have created an amazing story.
Devin seems to be going from strength to strength and I can't wait to see where she takes us next.
I received an advance review copy for free from the Author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I have to say though, I did find this really hard going for a two thirds of this book. A couple of times I had to put it down and have a breather because it was just too sad to read. It was nice to have the chapters broken up to other characters as the continual story from Mara's POV was down right really hard to read.
My heart went out to Mara and what she has had to deal with a very large part of her life. To be in that mindset must be extremely difficult and to slap a smile on your face and pretend that everything is great and happy and fun and bubbly must be tiring. Man it was draining but also heartfelt all at the same time.
The roller coaster ride of emotions constantly changing and doubting, how can you not feel so sorry for people who have to deal with this type of mental health each and every day.
My heart also went out to Zale as well and I did enjoy reading is chapters, there just didn't seem to be enough of them for me. He loved Mara so so much and I did struggle with this side of it as well as he continually told her and for me, showed her how he felt but she just didn't or more couldn't believe this from him.
For me, in a book like this it was great to read from Zales POV when the tough times really got going and to understand things from his side and especially when he finally started talking to Rhys about it all and hearing from Rhys on what he had experienced was also amazing to read.
The love this couple had from their friends and family was just amazing and when everything came to a climax in such a drastic and dramatic way, oh my gosh.... my heart bled. I used a few tissue's at this time. To see Rhys step up and do what he did just seriously blew me away.
Barrett was a lovely character and really look forward to his and Willa's story.
Willa and Bex, wow these two lovely ladies. Every women should have friends in their lives like these two. It would be hilarious to say the least but to know you had friends for you would be amazing.
Overall, this was a great second book to an amazing series. Devin took a very difficult subject and portrayed it in a way that made me feel things and made me look at things so differently which shows how talented this author is.
It was the same with book one for Bex and Rhys's story. This author blows me away with her delivery of this story, she made me hold onto my kindle with a death grip while reading this story. For any author to invoke emotions from the reader tells me these have created an amazing story.
Devin seems to be going from strength to strength and I can't wait to see where she takes us next.
I received an advance review copy for free from the Author, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 9, 2021
Breathe Again (Bridgewater #2) - Devin Sloane
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
::: SPOILER-FREE REVIEW :::
Rating: 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I am utterly DEVASTATED.
What a powerful read! Devin Sloane continues to amaze me with her writing. Her writing is poignant, sensual, and emotional; which make her books completely unputdownable. With each book I read by her, the woman proves just how talented she is as an author because none of her characters sound the same. She gives you her signature writing style without giving you that feeling of "I've read this before with a different character name."
Her characters and their stories are so full of depth and I have to say that Mara and Zale's story was more emotional than the first book. And trust me Live Again was EMOTIONAL!
Mara was lost. Not physically but mentally. She has lost herself because of low self-esteem, jealousy and self-harm issues. She has a narcissistic mother that likes to play mind games and a special needs child. She gets diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) which rocked her fragile mental state.
Now here is why I love this book so much.
It's real.
It. Is. So. Real.
Just because you are married doesn't mean you are 100% happy. In reality, happily ever afters don't come by the kilogram.
The focus of this book was mental health. However, in my opinion - I think it was more so hope. Hope is a horrible thing that we all feel. Even more so, when there's nothing we can do to help get what we are hoping for.
I thought this story was incredibly emotional, it broke my heart in the best way and as much as I hurt - I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to leave Mara and Zee. I read this over the course of one day and I had to force myself to put it down. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about these characters and how their marriage was going to play out.
Well.
That’s it folks.
I don't want to spoil anything for you.
I’m going to go crawl into my bed and spend approximately 2 years sobbing over this book (knowing I finished reading it 5 days ago) and the pain it brought upon me.
Before I leave.
You should already know what to do 😉 GO GET THIS BOOK!
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
::: SPOILER-FREE REVIEW :::
Rating: 5 STARS ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I am utterly DEVASTATED.
What a powerful read! Devin Sloane continues to amaze me with her writing. Her writing is poignant, sensual, and emotional; which make her books completely unputdownable. With each book I read by her, the woman proves just how talented she is as an author because none of her characters sound the same. She gives you her signature writing style without giving you that feeling of "I've read this before with a different character name."
Her characters and their stories are so full of depth and I have to say that Mara and Zale's story was more emotional than the first book. And trust me Live Again was EMOTIONAL!
Mara was lost. Not physically but mentally. She has lost herself because of low self-esteem, jealousy and self-harm issues. She has a narcissistic mother that likes to play mind games and a special needs child. She gets diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) which rocked her fragile mental state.
Now here is why I love this book so much.
It's real.
It. Is. So. Real.
Just because you are married doesn't mean you are 100% happy. In reality, happily ever afters don't come by the kilogram.
The focus of this book was mental health. However, in my opinion - I think it was more so hope. Hope is a horrible thing that we all feel. Even more so, when there's nothing we can do to help get what we are hoping for.
I thought this story was incredibly emotional, it broke my heart in the best way and as much as I hurt - I didn't want it to end. I didn't want to leave Mara and Zee. I read this over the course of one day and I had to force myself to put it down. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about these characters and how their marriage was going to play out.
Well.
That’s it folks.
I don't want to spoil anything for you.
I’m going to go crawl into my bed and spend approximately 2 years sobbing over this book (knowing I finished reading it 5 days ago) and the pain it brought upon me.
Before I leave.
You should already know what to do 😉 GO GET THIS BOOK!
July 7, 2021
This is the sequel to Live Again. We have the same group of characters we fell in love with in book 1 but focus our attention this time on Mara and Zale.
Another brave novel, Devin does not shy away from tough subjects just because she is writing a romance novel. This time mental health issues, including Borderline Personality Issues, and parental abuse are heavily explored. These are described and felt from all aspects, not just the affected character but how their life affects those around them as well and I don't think this is given enough credit in other novels with similar themes. In book one the heavier subject doesn't feel as overpowering as it does in this one. Everything else took a backseat to the mental health storyline.
I'm not going to lie, I really struggled to like Mara for the majority of the story this time. I think when you have mental health issues that you have worked on it can be hard to see someone in that stage before they fully accept the help because it makes you think back to the negative thoughts you had. Maybe not, but it certainly did for me and so I think it made me grudge Mara her wallowing if that makes sense?!
There were a lot more steamy scenes in book 2 and these are written really well. A lot of romance novels will shy away from the intimate moments but it was 100% right, given Mara's issues, that these should be explored and shared with the readers.
The supporting group are still brilliant, everyone needs a group of friends like these ones have.
Something I noticed in this one, not a big deal but certainly 2 or 3 things were repeated, for example near the start Mara said she didn't tend to wear lipstick because Zare didn't like the taste of it. Then near the end she says I didn't often wear lipstick, Zare doesn't like the taste of it. There was no benefit to telling us again. It just felt a bit strange to me.
I loved the hints of what will come in book 3. Willa still seems quite a closed book so I'm excited to see where her story goes when Feel Again is released!
Another brave novel, Devin does not shy away from tough subjects just because she is writing a romance novel. This time mental health issues, including Borderline Personality Issues, and parental abuse are heavily explored. These are described and felt from all aspects, not just the affected character but how their life affects those around them as well and I don't think this is given enough credit in other novels with similar themes. In book one the heavier subject doesn't feel as overpowering as it does in this one. Everything else took a backseat to the mental health storyline.
I'm not going to lie, I really struggled to like Mara for the majority of the story this time. I think when you have mental health issues that you have worked on it can be hard to see someone in that stage before they fully accept the help because it makes you think back to the negative thoughts you had. Maybe not, but it certainly did for me and so I think it made me grudge Mara her wallowing if that makes sense?!
There were a lot more steamy scenes in book 2 and these are written really well. A lot of romance novels will shy away from the intimate moments but it was 100% right, given Mara's issues, that these should be explored and shared with the readers.
The supporting group are still brilliant, everyone needs a group of friends like these ones have.
Something I noticed in this one, not a big deal but certainly 2 or 3 things were repeated, for example near the start Mara said she didn't tend to wear lipstick because Zare didn't like the taste of it. Then near the end she says I didn't often wear lipstick, Zare doesn't like the taste of it. There was no benefit to telling us again. It just felt a bit strange to me.
I loved the hints of what will come in book 3. Willa still seems quite a closed book so I'm excited to see where her story goes when Feel Again is released!
May 22, 2024
✔ Special needs kids
✔ Small Town
✔ Romance with real-life issues
✔ Marriage in trouble
✔ Real-life, Real Love
✔ Mental Health Rep
✔ incredible chemistry with spice (18+ read)
Devin Sloane, does not do just normal romance books with all the cliches we've come to love. No, Devin writes romances full of real-life issues with real-life characters. It is raw, gritty, an emotional rollercoaster I get on every time. Eager for the story between the pages.
Reading her books feels like coming home, even the gritty parts most people do not want to talk about.
Let's talk Olivia first, this wonderful and beautiful child. Olivia is a 12-year-old who has autism and getting to see her, and what she needs was really eye-opening. Seeing the way she interacts with the world and the people around her really was something else, and seeing how much she is loved, warmed my heart so much.
Mara's struggles throughout hit home as I know someone close to me who deals with the same issues. There are moments where you just want to shake her and snap her out of it but you know you cannot. Mental Illness cannot just be snapped out of and that is what truly makes this book hit so hard.
Zale at first makes you want to smack not only your own head in frustration but him to. There are things he says and does that you just like duuude c'mon. But he loves Mara. Loves her for all she is and more. The flaws he carries make him a real book boyfriend and keep him near the top of my rooster of book boyfriends.
Mara and Zale's love for each other is something we all dream of. Their love is so deep and unending. Stealing my heart along the way as they learned to accept their own flaws, which made them feel so much more authentic. You get to live through their pain and see as they fight for themselves and for each other.
That being said, this book is so damn worth it. Every moment, every tear. All of it is worth it for this story.
✔ Small Town
✔ Romance with real-life issues
✔ Marriage in trouble
✔ Real-life, Real Love
✔ Mental Health Rep
✔ incredible chemistry with spice (18+ read)
Devin Sloane, does not do just normal romance books with all the cliches we've come to love. No, Devin writes romances full of real-life issues with real-life characters. It is raw, gritty, an emotional rollercoaster I get on every time. Eager for the story between the pages.
Reading her books feels like coming home, even the gritty parts most people do not want to talk about.
Let's talk Olivia first, this wonderful and beautiful child. Olivia is a 12-year-old who has autism and getting to see her, and what she needs was really eye-opening. Seeing the way she interacts with the world and the people around her really was something else, and seeing how much she is loved, warmed my heart so much.
Mara's struggles throughout hit home as I know someone close to me who deals with the same issues. There are moments where you just want to shake her and snap her out of it but you know you cannot. Mental Illness cannot just be snapped out of and that is what truly makes this book hit so hard.
Zale at first makes you want to smack not only your own head in frustration but him to. There are things he says and does that you just like duuude c'mon. But he loves Mara. Loves her for all she is and more. The flaws he carries make him a real book boyfriend and keep him near the top of my rooster of book boyfriends.
Mara and Zale's love for each other is something we all dream of. Their love is so deep and unending. Stealing my heart along the way as they learned to accept their own flaws, which made them feel so much more authentic. You get to live through their pain and see as they fight for themselves and for each other.
That being said, this book is so damn worth it. Every moment, every tear. All of it is worth it for this story.
May 11, 2021
I was given the opportunity to read the ARC for this title thanks to the author.
The main character struggles with her body image, her mental health, her marriage, taking care of more than normal dependent daughter and a strained relationship with her mother. All the cards seem to be stacked against her. This read digs into some deep dark places that a lot of people struggle with but makes you very sympathetic to Mara. Sometimes, you just want to shake her and bring her back into the real world and remind her, 'you are loved' and'ignore all those bad thoughts'. But to her, and everyone else battling these inner demons, it isn't all that easy.
This book can bring you to feelings you might not want to feel. It is sad and quite depressing at times but that is what Devin Sloane is able to pull out of her characters. You start putting yourself in the mindset of Mara and start to relate to her. You start thinking, 'How would I handle this situation if the same cards were dealt to me?'
It has some steamy parts to it but with everything Mara was battling, it didn't seem like they were happy moments for her so it didn't give me the warm and fuzzy feelings those parts of books normally do. I felt like I needed to focus on her getting help and I wanted to shake some of the characters for not stepping in to help. But much like real life, we were in Mara's head and they weren't so they didn't get the hints. This was a bit heavy taking into account how much mental health came into play.
Overall, it was a well written book and you start to latch on to these characters. Devin Sloane did a great job of pulling those feelings out of me throughout the entire book. I rated this 3/5 stars.
The main character struggles with her body image, her mental health, her marriage, taking care of more than normal dependent daughter and a strained relationship with her mother. All the cards seem to be stacked against her. This read digs into some deep dark places that a lot of people struggle with but makes you very sympathetic to Mara. Sometimes, you just want to shake her and bring her back into the real world and remind her, 'you are loved' and'ignore all those bad thoughts'. But to her, and everyone else battling these inner demons, it isn't all that easy.
This book can bring you to feelings you might not want to feel. It is sad and quite depressing at times but that is what Devin Sloane is able to pull out of her characters. You start putting yourself in the mindset of Mara and start to relate to her. You start thinking, 'How would I handle this situation if the same cards were dealt to me?'
It has some steamy parts to it but with everything Mara was battling, it didn't seem like they were happy moments for her so it didn't give me the warm and fuzzy feelings those parts of books normally do. I felt like I needed to focus on her getting help and I wanted to shake some of the characters for not stepping in to help. But much like real life, we were in Mara's head and they weren't so they didn't get the hints. This was a bit heavy taking into account how much mental health came into play.
Overall, it was a well written book and you start to latch on to these characters. Devin Sloane did a great job of pulling those feelings out of me throughout the entire book. I rated this 3/5 stars.
September 15, 2021
This book was heavy for me. I think it even took me out.
I felt the heaviness of Mara’s thoughts, the constant worry over her daughter Olivia.
“It wasn’t her fault I was in a pissy mood. It wasn’t her fault I was fat. It wasn’t her fault my mother was a bitch. It wasn’t her fault she hated the slimy feel of the soap.”
Each day Mara survives but yet, somehow she digs deep enough to push her daughter into the light. She pushes her husband Zale, her friend Bex, her sister Willa. But at night Mara crashes but yet sleep doesn’t really find her. I felt how hard it was for her to breathe. To make herself a priority. My son is autistic, it can be very isolating, and sometimes a Mom, like Mara, we take on too much and it’s hard to let others in, I liked seeing her let go, I liked seeing Zale step up because I felt that he had to.
Mara is fighting for her own mental health, a diagnosis that truly rocked her world. Devin Sloane wrote a book that was a journey that taught, that made me listen, made me appreciate, and made me take notice.
Zale is handsome and overworked, he loves his wife, he loves her body and soul. He has to dig deeper, he has to see past her actions and he does. Love like theirs is raw and real. It is loving the person the way they need love.
“Now start talking, baby, we’ve got fucking to get to.”
We meet Rhys in the first book and with him, he is a truth teller,
“Mara feels the same way. She’s sick with it, yet she locks it down. It’s not gone, she fuckin eats it so you don’t.”
And with that with more information, they pursue, they breathe. No shame just beauty. It’s ok to need help.
“It’s dark in here.” “Then, let me in,” he stressed, “I don’t want you to sit in the dark by yourself.”
I felt the heaviness of Mara’s thoughts, the constant worry over her daughter Olivia.
“It wasn’t her fault I was in a pissy mood. It wasn’t her fault I was fat. It wasn’t her fault my mother was a bitch. It wasn’t her fault she hated the slimy feel of the soap.”
Each day Mara survives but yet, somehow she digs deep enough to push her daughter into the light. She pushes her husband Zale, her friend Bex, her sister Willa. But at night Mara crashes but yet sleep doesn’t really find her. I felt how hard it was for her to breathe. To make herself a priority. My son is autistic, it can be very isolating, and sometimes a Mom, like Mara, we take on too much and it’s hard to let others in, I liked seeing her let go, I liked seeing Zale step up because I felt that he had to.
Mara is fighting for her own mental health, a diagnosis that truly rocked her world. Devin Sloane wrote a book that was a journey that taught, that made me listen, made me appreciate, and made me take notice.
Zale is handsome and overworked, he loves his wife, he loves her body and soul. He has to dig deeper, he has to see past her actions and he does. Love like theirs is raw and real. It is loving the person the way they need love.
“Now start talking, baby, we’ve got fucking to get to.”
We meet Rhys in the first book and with him, he is a truth teller,
“Mara feels the same way. She’s sick with it, yet she locks it down. It’s not gone, she fuckin eats it so you don’t.”
And with that with more information, they pursue, they breathe. No shame just beauty. It’s ok to need help.
“It’s dark in here.” “Then, let me in,” he stressed, “I don’t want you to sit in the dark by yourself.”
September 9, 2021
I loved book one and was so excited to read Mara and Zale's story. Devin did not disappoint! I didn't think it was possible, but this book is even better than the first.
This is a beautifully emotional read. The writing is flawless and drew me in from the start. As painful as Mara's struggles were, I loved being in her head and witnessing her strength and love. Even when she was suffering, even when she didn't believe she was strong, her strength was clear as day. That's a testament to the author's talent.
Zale is perfectly imperfect. You might be angry with him in parts, but honestly, I never was. I understood why he responded the way he did. His concerns, his flaws, made sense. And at the end of the day, he loves Mara more than anything, and he proved that.
In Live Again (book one), Bex and Rhys' story grabbed my heart and didn't let go. These two were amazing lead characters, and they were FANTASTIC secondary characters in Breathe Again. Rhys, once again, showed why he's such a perfect book boyfriend, but I won't say more so as not to spoil anything.
Mara's relationship with Willa, her younger sister, made me cry happy tears. Mara is maternal to everyone she loves, but it started with Willa. Even though Mara was a child practically raising another child, she gave Willa so much love and confidence and strength. I highlighted so many passages in this book, but this one by Willa says it all imo: "Mara, you are love. You have been love, to me, my entire life. You've taught me what love is by who you are, and how you are with those you love."
I'm ecstatic for the next book! Bring on Willa and Barrett!
This is a beautifully emotional read. The writing is flawless and drew me in from the start. As painful as Mara's struggles were, I loved being in her head and witnessing her strength and love. Even when she was suffering, even when she didn't believe she was strong, her strength was clear as day. That's a testament to the author's talent.
Zale is perfectly imperfect. You might be angry with him in parts, but honestly, I never was. I understood why he responded the way he did. His concerns, his flaws, made sense. And at the end of the day, he loves Mara more than anything, and he proved that.
In Live Again (book one), Bex and Rhys' story grabbed my heart and didn't let go. These two were amazing lead characters, and they were FANTASTIC secondary characters in Breathe Again. Rhys, once again, showed why he's such a perfect book boyfriend, but I won't say more so as not to spoil anything.
Mara's relationship with Willa, her younger sister, made me cry happy tears. Mara is maternal to everyone she loves, but it started with Willa. Even though Mara was a child practically raising another child, she gave Willa so much love and confidence and strength. I highlighted so many passages in this book, but this one by Willa says it all imo: "Mara, you are love. You have been love, to me, my entire life. You've taught me what love is by who you are, and how you are with those you love."
I'm ecstatic for the next book! Bring on Willa and Barrett!
May 10, 2021
🖤 REVIEW 🖤
Book: Breath Again
Author: Devin Sloane @devinsloane.author
My rating: 5/5 ⭐
From book:
🖤 First paragraph shared with permission from Author 🖤
Everyone has a story.
We tell our stories in words, spoken and written, in film, in photographs, in scrapbooks, even through visual art. If we choose to tell them at all, we tell the story of who we are and how we came to be that way. Through our stories, we beg for understanding, forgiveness, and acceptance. We tell them because we long for belonging, and belonging requires understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.
My thoughts 💭
What can I say that this paragraph doesn't. I have never before felt such a connection to a character from the first words in a book. This one paragraph feels as if my entire brain has been summed up. It echoes of Longing, need, pain. A history and future that's uncertain.
The first book Live Again I gave a 4/5 ⭐ I loved every second of reading it. The season took my breath away. (Ironic considering the title right!)
This book was so much more than I expected. I loved the characters. Even the ones we were supposed to hate, simply because they were so well written.
I'm trying not to say too much, I dont want to give it away and ruin a beautiful reading experience for you.
What I can do though is beg. Beg, plead and scream at you. If you felt what I felt when you read that first paragraph. YOU. NEED. TO. READ. THIS. BOOK!
There is steamy hot passion, pain, heartbreak and so much love.
Devin Sloane is a woman unafraid to write real raw emotion.
You won't be disappointed.
Book: Breath Again
Author: Devin Sloane @devinsloane.author
My rating: 5/5 ⭐
From book:
🖤 First paragraph shared with permission from Author 🖤
Everyone has a story.
We tell our stories in words, spoken and written, in film, in photographs, in scrapbooks, even through visual art. If we choose to tell them at all, we tell the story of who we are and how we came to be that way. Through our stories, we beg for understanding, forgiveness, and acceptance. We tell them because we long for belonging, and belonging requires understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness.
My thoughts 💭
What can I say that this paragraph doesn't. I have never before felt such a connection to a character from the first words in a book. This one paragraph feels as if my entire brain has been summed up. It echoes of Longing, need, pain. A history and future that's uncertain.
The first book Live Again I gave a 4/5 ⭐ I loved every second of reading it. The season took my breath away. (Ironic considering the title right!)
This book was so much more than I expected. I loved the characters. Even the ones we were supposed to hate, simply because they were so well written.
I'm trying not to say too much, I dont want to give it away and ruin a beautiful reading experience for you.
What I can do though is beg. Beg, plead and scream at you. If you felt what I felt when you read that first paragraph. YOU. NEED. TO. READ. THIS. BOOK!
There is steamy hot passion, pain, heartbreak and so much love.
Devin Sloane is a woman unafraid to write real raw emotion.
You won't be disappointed.
May 23, 2021
If the first book in the Bridgewater series was about love coming to light, Breathe Again is comparably dimmer but with good reason. It is not easy, nor is it pure escapism. It's a challenging, uphill climb of a read into the real, and raw reaches of mental health - which makes the journey gut-wrenching, but the payoff quite rewarding.
Main character Mara is a wife, mother and daughter with the weight of the world on her shoulders. She has a child with special needs, obligations to meet with dear friends getting married, and a critical, emotionally-devoid mother, yet no burden is heavier than Mara's own insecurities, low self-esteem and anxiety. "I'm too much, Zale, too much and never enough," she tells her husband. "Too much and never enough, baby. I'm so sorry for you. I'm so sorry."
I actually felt sorry for both Mara as she struggles with her mental health, and Zale, her poor, good-hearted partner pained by his wife's emotional turmoil and helpless in the face of her despair. Her illness permeates their marriage; even their tender lovemaking scenes are tainted by Mara's self-loathing. Some passages in this book are quite heavy at times and as a result, I was quite emotionally drained myself near the end. I could have used more levity and a moment to breathe as well.
But Devin Sloane is a superb author, and I was right to put my trust in her hands. She ably brings the reader back to hope and to light by the final chapter. In the end, she ensures that love prevails, and ultimately, that's all that really matters.
Main character Mara is a wife, mother and daughter with the weight of the world on her shoulders. She has a child with special needs, obligations to meet with dear friends getting married, and a critical, emotionally-devoid mother, yet no burden is heavier than Mara's own insecurities, low self-esteem and anxiety. "I'm too much, Zale, too much and never enough," she tells her husband. "Too much and never enough, baby. I'm so sorry for you. I'm so sorry."
I actually felt sorry for both Mara as she struggles with her mental health, and Zale, her poor, good-hearted partner pained by his wife's emotional turmoil and helpless in the face of her despair. Her illness permeates their marriage; even their tender lovemaking scenes are tainted by Mara's self-loathing. Some passages in this book are quite heavy at times and as a result, I was quite emotionally drained myself near the end. I could have used more levity and a moment to breathe as well.
But Devin Sloane is a superb author, and I was right to put my trust in her hands. She ably brings the reader back to hope and to light by the final chapter. In the end, she ensures that love prevails, and ultimately, that's all that really matters.
June 21, 2022
Raw. Emotional. Heartfelt.
Devin Sloane dives into the deep emotions of her characters. Ones that speak from the heart, that are real, honest, raw, loving, and rare. Ones that are emotional in happiness and sadness. The character growth is phenomenal in this book.
The story is a compilation, not just of words, but of deep pure love. Its expresses heartbreak, but at the same time, gives hope. I was pulled in on this roller coaster full of conflicting emotions. Frustrating. Exciting. Heartwarming. Heart wrenching.
Mara has it all. The man of her dreams–Zale. A daughter she adores. True, unconditional loving friends and family. With the exception of a narcissistic mother. She has Zale’s love, his devotion. She knows this, yet she can’t make herself believe it. Her already fragile state is threatened with the diagnosis but with everything Zale has given and is willing to give, can it be enough? Can their love bring her back or will he lose her? Lose them. The air between these two just about crackles with chemistry, sheer raw emotion, and unbelievable love.
A tissue box is required. And be prepared to be fully gutted emotionally…in a good way!
So beautifully written…with such emotionally raw moments…I’ve never been so completely overwhelmed by one book! Thank you Ms. Sloane for writing this incredible love story.
Devin Sloane dives into the deep emotions of her characters. Ones that speak from the heart, that are real, honest, raw, loving, and rare. Ones that are emotional in happiness and sadness. The character growth is phenomenal in this book.
The story is a compilation, not just of words, but of deep pure love. Its expresses heartbreak, but at the same time, gives hope. I was pulled in on this roller coaster full of conflicting emotions. Frustrating. Exciting. Heartwarming. Heart wrenching.
Mara has it all. The man of her dreams–Zale. A daughter she adores. True, unconditional loving friends and family. With the exception of a narcissistic mother. She has Zale’s love, his devotion. She knows this, yet she can’t make herself believe it. Her already fragile state is threatened with the diagnosis but with everything Zale has given and is willing to give, can it be enough? Can their love bring her back or will he lose her? Lose them. The air between these two just about crackles with chemistry, sheer raw emotion, and unbelievable love.
A tissue box is required. And be prepared to be fully gutted emotionally…in a good way!
So beautifully written…with such emotionally raw moments…I’ve never been so completely overwhelmed by one book! Thank you Ms. Sloane for writing this incredible love story.
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