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Atsisveikinimas
Humanitarinės pagalbos darbuotojos Džijos Endrius darbas – po visą pasaulį vaikytis nelaimes. Tai tobulas gyvenimo būdas, leidžiantis kuo toliau pabėgti nuo savos tamsios praeities.
Prieš šešiolika metų Džijos tėvas buvo įkalintas už tai, kad žiauriai nužudė jos pamotę. Kūną graužiant vėžiui, tėvas grįžta namo numirti – Džija privalo juo rūpintis ir nenoriai prisiimti garsaus miestelio žudiko dukters vaidmenį. Protestuotojams pasirodžius ties namų slenksčiu ir pasipylus mirties bausmės reikalavimams, Džijos žaizdos atsiveria iš naujo, jos asmeninė tragedija vėl pasirodo pirmuosiuose laikraščių puslapiuose.
Prieš akis skleidžiantis praeičiai, Džija, draskoma įsitikinimų, kuriuos visus šešiolika metų puoselėjo jos šeima ir draugai, atsiduria kryžkelėje. Galų gale paaiškėjusi tiesa – ir iki tol regztas melas – gali pasirodyti turį kur kas pragaištingesnių pasekmių, nei ji tikėjosi...
Prieš šešiolika metų Džijos tėvas buvo įkalintas už tai, kad žiauriai nužudė jos pamotę. Kūną graužiant vėžiui, tėvas grįžta namo numirti – Džija privalo juo rūpintis ir nenoriai prisiimti garsaus miestelio žudiko dukters vaidmenį. Protestuotojams pasirodžius ties namų slenksčiu ir pasipylus mirties bausmės reikalavimams, Džijos žaizdos atsiveria iš naujo, jos asmeninė tragedija vėl pasirodo pirmuosiuose laikraščių puslapiuose.
Prieš akis skleidžiantis praeičiai, Džija, draskoma įsitikinimų, kuriuos visus šešiolika metų puoselėjo jos šeima ir draugai, atsiduria kryžkelėje. Galų gale paaiškėjusi tiesa – ir iki tol regztas melas – gali pasirodyti turį kur kas pragaištingesnių pasekmių, nei ji tikėjosi...
384 pages, Hardcover
First published September 30, 2014
669 people are currently reading
8325 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Belle
19 books5,196 followersKimberly Belle is the USA Today and internationally bestselling author with over one million copies sold worldwide, with titles including The Paris Widow, The Marriage Lie, a Goodreads Choice Awards semifinalist for Best Mystery & Thriller, and the co-authored #1 Audible Original, Young Rich Widows. Kimberly’s novels have been optioned for film and television and selected by LibraryReads and Amazon & Apple Books Editors as Best Books of the Month, and the International Thriller Writers as nominee for best book of the year. She divides her time between Atlanta and Amsterdam.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 559 reviews
April 21, 2024
3.75 stars
My second KB read of 2019 and she is quickly becoming a go-to favorite. Published in 2014, The Last Breath was impossible to put down.
It takes more than one person to make a lie-one to say it, and another to believe it. But when the person who says it is well-known and respected, more than one person listens. When that same person lays his hand on the Bible and swears before judge and jury that his lie is nothing but the truth so help him God, more than one person believes
Sixteen years after her stepmother was murdered and her father charged and found guilty of the crime, Gia Andrews is called home. Her father is dying of cancer and it's up to Gia to try and patch up her estranged family. But Gia is soon confronted with questions that need answering and people who might be trying to keep their secrets buried.
Characters are the heart of KB's novels and she creates some compelling backstories that had me instantly hooked. I thought around the middle the action slowed down as Jake and Gia explored each other's bodies*cough* feelings for one another. Although not surprised by the outcome or some of the reveals, I cannot deny that this was one heck of a good read.
Goodreads review published 30/03/19
My second KB read of 2019 and she is quickly becoming a go-to favorite. Published in 2014, The Last Breath was impossible to put down.
It takes more than one person to make a lie-one to say it, and another to believe it. But when the person who says it is well-known and respected, more than one person listens. When that same person lays his hand on the Bible and swears before judge and jury that his lie is nothing but the truth so help him God, more than one person believes
Sixteen years after her stepmother was murdered and her father charged and found guilty of the crime, Gia Andrews is called home. Her father is dying of cancer and it's up to Gia to try and patch up her estranged family. But Gia is soon confronted with questions that need answering and people who might be trying to keep their secrets buried.
Characters are the heart of KB's novels and she creates some compelling backstories that had me instantly hooked. I thought around the middle the action slowed down as Jake and Gia explored each other's bodies*cough* feelings for one another. Although not surprised by the outcome or some of the reveals, I cannot deny that this was one heck of a good read.
Goodreads review published 30/03/19
September 23, 2014
Was it her husband, her lover, or an intruder that took Ella Mae's last breath?
Regardless of who the guilty party was, her husband, Ray Andrews, was convicted and sent to prison for sixteen years. Ray was now on his way home but not because he had served his sentence but because he was dying of cancer. Will his children be there to greet him or have they forgotten him as they did when he was in prison?
THE LAST BREATH moves from past to present telling the story of Ella Mae's life before she was suffocated with Saran Wrap and her daughter's life as her father comes home.
While Gia Andrews struggles with coming home and having to face the shame of what happened sixteen years ago and finding out if her father really did kill her mother, you also follow her through her sexual romps. Her mother's romps with her lover were also part of storyline and definitely were a part of solving the mystery. These descriptions aren't graphic, but I had to give a warning. :)
As Gia investigates, she questions her uncle who was her father's attorney about his defense and if everything was truly done to prove Ray's innocence. Could the evidence all have been false or contrived and the real killer still be free?
Gia had to know. Would the professor writing a book about her father have the real facts or would it all be water under the bridge for now?
The book was tense and made me anxious to find out the truth and oh so good because you can't figure out who the guilty party really was. You think you have it and then you change your mind.
The ending has a surprise, and it is an ending that I really liked. :) 4/5
If you read the book, please let me know what you thought.
This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the publisher in return for an honest review.
November 2, 2022
The Last Breath, the scandalous and edgy debut novel by southern writer, Kimberly Belle will blow your socks off, for a mix of tantalizing romance, an intriguing murder mystery, and an intensely suspenseful thriller. It will leave you pondering, Wow! A southern powerhouse - If this is a debut novel, cannot wait for what is to come!
Gia Andrews, a wanderlust, a global world traveler, and humanitarian in Kenya, is back in small town of southern Rogersville, Eastern Tennessee, in the middle of the hills of Appalachia, a place she never wanted to visit again—to a house filled with ghosts and memories, she cannot outrun. A life she has spent the past sixteen years trying to escape. A murderer’s daughter.
The family is called home by her uncle, Cal (her dad’s brother and lawyer). Gia's father was imprisoned, years ago after brutally killing her stepmother. Now he is dying of cancer and the three siblings (Gia, Lexi and Bo), are here to say their goodbyes. Her old home, once a place that instilled a sense of refuge and comfort, is now the opposite, full of grief, fear, and dread.
However, there is much stigma still attached to the murder in the small town, and Gia begins to dig deeper, as if possibly there was someone else involved the night of the murder—could her dad be innocent? Someone wrapped Ella Mae in plastic and watched her take her life breath—a crime of passion?
Was her dad capable of premeditated murder, to carry out a plan to suffocate his wife and Gia’s stepmother? She is unsure if she could ever forgive him or his behavior; however, she travels this long way, and she is not even certain she would be here, unless—what if he was innocent, as the evidence is unclear and the testimony conflicted. She feels there is a race against time, as if he is innocent, there could be a real killer still out there, and she needs to set the record straight before her dad dies.
Belle switches back and forth, seamlessly between past (1993) and present for a drama-filled, fast-paced saga of a time in a southern suburban neighborhood, a well-liked stepmother, Ella Mae, and father, Ray, a local pharmacist and a household full of secrets. When years ago, one empty nester, and beautiful housewife, gets involved in a romantic affair with the good-looking seductive, married principal, Dean, who lives next door soon after moving to the neighborhood.
Dean is addictive and they plan their rendezvous at hotels and sneak away between the houses for their naughty erotic behavior. She no longer loves her husband; however, when the affair heats up, the sexual exploits get kinky, dangerous, and out of hand, Ella Mae gets scared and wants out, or does she?
Now, Gina’s father, Ray has pancreatic cancer and has from three weeks to three months to live. This disaster is too close, and its aftermath still too painful. She cannot detach from its reality. Even though digging through old memories sounds like torture, she tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together as she begins to unravel the dark secrets she has kept buried.
Amid the crisis, Gina meets Jack, owner of a local pub who is there to offer his assistance (and a little more in other ways), and may be a key to the past. There is also an eager young journalist, Jeffrey, ready to help with the investigation and a witty home-care nurse Fannie to make things more interesting. To further complicate matters, evil Dean still lives next door with his only friend, Jack Daniels (not so smooth or hot, now) , and her uncle Cal seems to know more than he is saying.
An emotionally charged and searing drama, of one woman who risks her life to discover the devastating truth about her family. Belle did an outstanding job of keeping you guessing as to the identity of the real murderer, keeping you turning into the wee hours of the morning!
Nice character development and set up, well-written with descriptive scenes and raw emotions, dynamic plot planning, with compelling twists and turns, delicious secrets, lies, and deceit . . . for an emotional roller coaster ride of betrayal, lust, tragedy, and ultimately finding forgiveness, love, and home.
I enjoyed Dean and Ella Mae’s story, as always intrigued by parents and their secret lives and how the two stories connected for a powerful climatic ending.
The Last Breath reminded a little of Virtue Falls, by Christina Dodd, which readers may also enjoy, with a murder's daughter returning home to her dying father, with a totally different twist.
An ideal novel, for book clubs, groups, and discussions with a thought-provoking reader’s guide included, as well as Q & A with the author, and the inspiration behind the novel, and upcoming works.
Kimberly Belle has made it to my favorite author list, and is an author you will want to follow!
JDCMustReadBooks
The Ones We Trust (2015)
The Marriage Lie (2016)
A special thank you to Harlequin MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Top 30 Books of 2014!
Gia Andrews, a wanderlust, a global world traveler, and humanitarian in Kenya, is back in small town of southern Rogersville, Eastern Tennessee, in the middle of the hills of Appalachia, a place she never wanted to visit again—to a house filled with ghosts and memories, she cannot outrun. A life she has spent the past sixteen years trying to escape. A murderer’s daughter.
The family is called home by her uncle, Cal (her dad’s brother and lawyer). Gia's father was imprisoned, years ago after brutally killing her stepmother. Now he is dying of cancer and the three siblings (Gia, Lexi and Bo), are here to say their goodbyes. Her old home, once a place that instilled a sense of refuge and comfort, is now the opposite, full of grief, fear, and dread.
However, there is much stigma still attached to the murder in the small town, and Gia begins to dig deeper, as if possibly there was someone else involved the night of the murder—could her dad be innocent? Someone wrapped Ella Mae in plastic and watched her take her life breath—a crime of passion?
Was her dad capable of premeditated murder, to carry out a plan to suffocate his wife and Gia’s stepmother? She is unsure if she could ever forgive him or his behavior; however, she travels this long way, and she is not even certain she would be here, unless—what if he was innocent, as the evidence is unclear and the testimony conflicted. She feels there is a race against time, as if he is innocent, there could be a real killer still out there, and she needs to set the record straight before her dad dies.
Belle switches back and forth, seamlessly between past (1993) and present for a drama-filled, fast-paced saga of a time in a southern suburban neighborhood, a well-liked stepmother, Ella Mae, and father, Ray, a local pharmacist and a household full of secrets. When years ago, one empty nester, and beautiful housewife, gets involved in a romantic affair with the good-looking seductive, married principal, Dean, who lives next door soon after moving to the neighborhood.
Dean is addictive and they plan their rendezvous at hotels and sneak away between the houses for their naughty erotic behavior. She no longer loves her husband; however, when the affair heats up, the sexual exploits get kinky, dangerous, and out of hand, Ella Mae gets scared and wants out, or does she?
Now, Gina’s father, Ray has pancreatic cancer and has from three weeks to three months to live. This disaster is too close, and its aftermath still too painful. She cannot detach from its reality. Even though digging through old memories sounds like torture, she tries to put the pieces of the puzzle together as she begins to unravel the dark secrets she has kept buried.
Amid the crisis, Gina meets Jack, owner of a local pub who is there to offer his assistance (and a little more in other ways), and may be a key to the past. There is also an eager young journalist, Jeffrey, ready to help with the investigation and a witty home-care nurse Fannie to make things more interesting. To further complicate matters, evil Dean still lives next door with his only friend, Jack Daniels (not so smooth or hot, now) , and her uncle Cal seems to know more than he is saying.
An emotionally charged and searing drama, of one woman who risks her life to discover the devastating truth about her family. Belle did an outstanding job of keeping you guessing as to the identity of the real murderer, keeping you turning into the wee hours of the morning!
Nice character development and set up, well-written with descriptive scenes and raw emotions, dynamic plot planning, with compelling twists and turns, delicious secrets, lies, and deceit . . . for an emotional roller coaster ride of betrayal, lust, tragedy, and ultimately finding forgiveness, love, and home.
I enjoyed Dean and Ella Mae’s story, as always intrigued by parents and their secret lives and how the two stories connected for a powerful climatic ending.
The Last Breath reminded a little of Virtue Falls, by Christina Dodd, which readers may also enjoy, with a murder's daughter returning home to her dying father, with a totally different twist.
An ideal novel, for book clubs, groups, and discussions with a thought-provoking reader’s guide included, as well as Q & A with the author, and the inspiration behind the novel, and upcoming works.
Kimberly Belle has made it to my favorite author list, and is an author you will want to follow!
JDCMustReadBooks
The Ones We Trust (2015)
The Marriage Lie (2016)
A special thank you to Harlequin MIRA and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Top 30 Books of 2014!
May 23, 2014
What a suspenseful tale of love, heartache, forgiveness, hope, secrets, and pain. The chemistry between Gia and Jake will have you turning the pages late into the night! The twists and turns in THE LAST BREATH will make it a very fast read as you will be flipping the pages like crazy because you have to know how it ends!! Many of them, I never saw coming! I can't wait to read more by Kimberly!
March 26, 2025
3.5
Man labai patinka Belle rašymo stilius - lengvas, įtraukiantis, intriguojantis. Net pati nežinau tiksliai kodėl, bet jaučiu jai (jos knygoms) labai didelę simpatiją ir dėl to prieš daug ką užmerkiu akis, ko su kitais autoriais (dažniausiai) nedarau. Tai istorija apie Džiją ir jos šeimą, apie melą, apgavystes, išdavystę, tiesos paieškas, bet kartu ir apie stiprybę, tikėjimą bei viltį. Prisipažinsiu, visą laiką spėliojau, kaip gi iš tikrųjų viskas įvyko, bet tokios pabaigos galiausiai nesitikėjau. Labai patiko Džeikas (na kaip gi kitaip!!!🤩) taip pat patiko Elos Mei skyreliai, kaip ji žingsnis po žingsnio leido ją geriau pažinti ir suprasti, ką ji išgyveno, patyrė ir jautė. Na o užmerkiau akis prieš Leksės ir Bo personažus, nors jie ir buvo svarbūs istorijai, bet nebuvo knygos stiprioji pusė. Taip pat Džijos dėdė Kelas. Na kas, būdamas jau garbaus amžiaus, taip kalba? Jo nuolatinis kreipinys į Džiją "mergyt", varė mane iš proto. Na ir galiausiai, pats nusikaltimas. Galiu suprasti, kodėl tas žmogus nužudė Elą Mei, na bet to, kaip jis tai padarė ir įvykių po to - ne. Na bet šie dalykai man tikrai nesutrukdė puikiai praleisti laiko su knyga 🙂
Man labai patinka Belle rašymo stilius - lengvas, įtraukiantis, intriguojantis. Net pati nežinau tiksliai kodėl, bet jaučiu jai (jos knygoms) labai didelę simpatiją ir dėl to prieš daug ką užmerkiu akis, ko su kitais autoriais (dažniausiai) nedarau. Tai istorija apie Džiją ir jos šeimą, apie melą, apgavystes, išdavystę, tiesos paieškas, bet kartu ir apie stiprybę, tikėjimą bei viltį. Prisipažinsiu, visą laiką spėliojau, kaip gi iš tikrųjų viskas įvyko, bet tokios pabaigos galiausiai nesitikėjau. Labai patiko Džeikas (na kaip gi kitaip!!!🤩) taip pat patiko Elos Mei skyreliai, kaip ji žingsnis po žingsnio leido ją geriau pažinti ir suprasti, ką ji išgyveno, patyrė ir jautė. Na o užmerkiau akis prieš Leksės ir Bo personažus, nors jie ir buvo svarbūs istorijai, bet nebuvo knygos stiprioji pusė. Taip pat Džijos dėdė Kelas. Na kas, būdamas jau garbaus amžiaus, taip kalba? Jo nuolatinis kreipinys į Džiją "mergyt", varė mane iš proto. Na ir galiausiai, pats nusikaltimas. Galiu suprasti, kodėl tas žmogus nužudė Elą Mei, na bet to, kaip jis tai padarė ir įvykių po to - ne. Na bet šie dalykai man tikrai nesutrukdė puikiai praleisti laiko su knyga 🙂
September 25, 2014
This is a really good read that kept me intrigued all the way through. Gia left town 16 years ago, straight after her father was sent to jail, found guilty of killing her stepmother Ella Mae. Now she is back. Dying from cancer, her father has been released from prison on house arrest to spend his last few weeks and Gia returns home to help care for him. Only now she must confront the past that she has spent the last few years running from. Should she go along with the popular belief that her father was guilty, or is there some merit in his claims to be innocent?
The story is told from Gia’s point of view, and also in flashbacks we find out about Ella Mae and what happened in the months leading up to her murder. And, what a tale that turns out to be! This book is stuffed full of drama, passion and intrigue and really does keep you glued to the page as you try and figure out what happened. It is also a story of forgiveness, as Gia and her siblings learn how to forgive past mistakes and also to ask for forgiveness,
It is a cracking read that really flows well, you just keep wanting to turn the pages to the end. Full of twists and turns on the way, it really is a book that will keep you guessing. Well worth a read. Many thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
The story is told from Gia’s point of view, and also in flashbacks we find out about Ella Mae and what happened in the months leading up to her murder. And, what a tale that turns out to be! This book is stuffed full of drama, passion and intrigue and really does keep you glued to the page as you try and figure out what happened. It is also a story of forgiveness, as Gia and her siblings learn how to forgive past mistakes and also to ask for forgiveness,
It is a cracking read that really flows well, you just keep wanting to turn the pages to the end. Full of twists and turns on the way, it really is a book that will keep you guessing. Well worth a read. Many thanks to the publishers for the review copy.
March 19, 2018
Kimberly Belle, author of "The Last Breath" delivers a riveting story with dynamic characters and a twisting plot. Her writing style is fluid and sprinkled at times with humor making it a delight to read. This story captivated me as I kept turning pages instead of eating or sleeping. This story is way more than a romance! Belle's mystery writing is better than many I've read.
The intriguing premise is who killed the beloved stepmother, Ella Mae? Gia isn't satisfied with the answers she had been given and is determined that she will find the truth no matter what. In the meantime, she tries to mend fences with her dying father after sixteen years of silence and he holds a grudge. Can she reunite this broken family? Will she find out the truth concerning Ella Mae's? This whodunit will keep you in its grasp until the very end.
I could easily see this being made into a movie. In a remote way the family dynamic, reminded me of "A Thousand Acres" although they are totally different stories lines and characters. The sibling relationships as well as each individual fluctuated and evolved throughout the unraveling of the plot. I highly recommend that you add this in your summer beach bag!
Warning:
A note to reader's - there are both sexually explicit and graphic rape scenes in the story; for those who find this frightening or prefer to avoid such scenes this isn't likely a story for you. I considered these gratuitous in these details and had I known this prior to ordering, I would not have. I consider this book Rated R, I think some readers would consider this porn. For me this is a 3 or 4 star book, however, I know my tastes are more conservative than most.
The intriguing premise is who killed the beloved stepmother, Ella Mae? Gia isn't satisfied with the answers she had been given and is determined that she will find the truth no matter what. In the meantime, she tries to mend fences with her dying father after sixteen years of silence and he holds a grudge. Can she reunite this broken family? Will she find out the truth concerning Ella Mae's? This whodunit will keep you in its grasp until the very end.
I could easily see this being made into a movie. In a remote way the family dynamic, reminded me of "A Thousand Acres" although they are totally different stories lines and characters. The sibling relationships as well as each individual fluctuated and evolved throughout the unraveling of the plot. I highly recommend that you add this in your summer beach bag!
Warning:
A note to reader's - there are both sexually explicit and graphic rape scenes in the story; for those who find this frightening or prefer to avoid such scenes this isn't likely a story for you. I considered these gratuitous in these details and had I known this prior to ordering, I would not have. I consider this book Rated R, I think some readers would consider this porn. For me this is a 3 or 4 star book, however, I know my tastes are more conservative than most.
August 20, 2015
This book has an excellent story line and is very well written. You may be wondering why I gave it a two star. Well, the two reasons are the filthy language used throughout the book and the detailed descriptions of the sex scenes. Both of these could have been left out of the book and it would have been a five star for me. The story is about a daughter that returns home as her father is release from prison to serve is final sentence dying of cancer at home. The story has many twists and turns. The daughter, Gia, has a brother and sister who both do their best to not be involved with their dying father. The father was convicted of killing his wife, the children's step-mother. He maintains his innocence. As many facts come to life his children start to believe that he really might be innocent. This is where the story gets very interesting! "The Last Breath" is a very good story, I just wished the author would clean up the language.
January 15, 2022
Kimberly Belle yra viena iš mėgstamiausių mano autorių. Labai patiko jos knygos "Mano brangioji žmona", "Sumeluotas gyvenimas". Su nekantrumu pradėjau skaityti "Atsisveikinimas" labai patiko! Mėgstu tokias knygas, kurios įtraukia nuo pirmų puslapių ir nepaleidžia iki paskutinio. Tokia ir buvo ši knyga. Rekomenduoju 😊👌
January 25, 2020
Because I'm listening to the audiobook, "Dear Wife" and enjoying it I thought I would try one of Kimberly Belle's other books. After reading about a third of "The Last Breath" I had to lay it down because it was boring me to death. I couldn't relate to any of the characters.
I won't give up, I'll try some of the author's other books later.
I won't give up, I'll try some of the author's other books later.
January 16, 2022
Įtemptas trileris ar šeimos tragedija?⠀
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Džijos situacija nepavydėtina. Moteris grįžta į savo gimtąjį miestelį tam, kad galėtų paskutines tėvo gyvenimo dienas praleisti su juo. Vyras kaltinamas prieš šešioliką metų nužudęs savo žmoną. Bausmės jis dar neatliko - kūną sparčiai ėda vėžys, todėl, išimties tvarka, gauna teisę paskutiniosios laukti namuose. ⠀
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Nenuostabu, kad Džija vos laikosi - tėvas prie mirties slenksčio, miestelio gyventojai įsiutę dėl neteisybės, o brolis ir sesuo, vietoj to, kad būtų su Džija ir tėvu, neria į krūmus.⠀
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Nors teoriškai, knyga turėtų suktis apie klausimą "kaltas jis, ar ne", daugiausiai dėmesio autorė skyrė kaltinamojo artimiesiems. Kaip patikėti, kad tavo mylimas ir visų gerbiamas tėtis, galėjo nužudyti žmogų? Kaip gyventi su klijuojama žmogžudžio vaiko etikete? ⠀
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Neįkyriai įsipynė ir meilės linija, kuri, mano nuomone, čia labai tiko. Nes ne ta "myliu, noriu, negaliu", o ta, kuri palaiko, suprantanta, išklauso ir atkiša petį išsiverkti, kai būna siaubingai sunku.⠀
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Savo nuomonę, apie tai, kaip istorija pasibaigs, keičiau šimtą kartų. Kaltas - nekaltas, nužudė tas - nužudė anas...⠀
Neatspėjau.⠀
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Savo nuomonę keitė ir miestelio gyventojai. Vieną minutę vyras didžiausiais pasaulio niekšas, prie kurio durų galima rengti protestus, sienas aprašinėti bjauriais žodžiais, kitą - auka, kurią reikia palaikyti, suprasti ir garbinti. Tam užtenka vos kelių žodžių ir paskalų.⠀
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Bent man, "Atsisveikinimas" pasirodė ne ką prastesnis už ankščiau skaitytą "Sumeluotą gyvenimą". Dabar liks tik "Mano brangioji žmona". Jei po "Sumeluoto gyvenimo" dar dvejojau ar skaityt pastarąją, dabar žinau, kad imsiu būtinai 🙂👌⠀
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Džijos situacija nepavydėtina. Moteris grįžta į savo gimtąjį miestelį tam, kad galėtų paskutines tėvo gyvenimo dienas praleisti su juo. Vyras kaltinamas prieš šešioliką metų nužudęs savo žmoną. Bausmės jis dar neatliko - kūną sparčiai ėda vėžys, todėl, išimties tvarka, gauna teisę paskutiniosios laukti namuose. ⠀
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Nenuostabu, kad Džija vos laikosi - tėvas prie mirties slenksčio, miestelio gyventojai įsiutę dėl neteisybės, o brolis ir sesuo, vietoj to, kad būtų su Džija ir tėvu, neria į krūmus.⠀
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Nors teoriškai, knyga turėtų suktis apie klausimą "kaltas jis, ar ne", daugiausiai dėmesio autorė skyrė kaltinamojo artimiesiems. Kaip patikėti, kad tavo mylimas ir visų gerbiamas tėtis, galėjo nužudyti žmogų? Kaip gyventi su klijuojama žmogžudžio vaiko etikete? ⠀
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Neįkyriai įsipynė ir meilės linija, kuri, mano nuomone, čia labai tiko. Nes ne ta "myliu, noriu, negaliu", o ta, kuri palaiko, suprantanta, išklauso ir atkiša petį išsiverkti, kai būna siaubingai sunku.⠀
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Savo nuomonę, apie tai, kaip istorija pasibaigs, keičiau šimtą kartų. Kaltas - nekaltas, nužudė tas - nužudė anas...⠀
Neatspėjau.⠀
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Savo nuomonę keitė ir miestelio gyventojai. Vieną minutę vyras didžiausiais pasaulio niekšas, prie kurio durų galima rengti protestus, sienas aprašinėti bjauriais žodžiais, kitą - auka, kurią reikia palaikyti, suprasti ir garbinti. Tam užtenka vos kelių žodžių ir paskalų.⠀
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Bent man, "Atsisveikinimas" pasirodė ne ką prastesnis už ankščiau skaitytą "Sumeluotą gyvenimą". Dabar liks tik "Mano brangioji žmona". Jei po "Sumeluoto gyvenimo" dar dvejojau ar skaityt pastarąją, dabar žinau, kad imsiu būtinai 🙂👌⠀
July 2, 2019
4.5 stars I found this novel by turns enthralling and unsettling. Though a strong thread of romance runs through the story, this is ultimately the tale of a heroine's journey. Following the conviction of her father for murdering her stepmother, Gia Andrews fled rural Tennessee, eventually settling into work as an international relief worker. She has only returned home because her father is dying and has been permitted to come home under certain parameters.
The story pulled me in at once as we see Gia facing her past as well as trying to maneuver her way through the many emotional pitfalls that come her way. Gia's father is dying, her relationships with her siblings in Tennessee are strained, and since the town residents aren't exactly thrilled to see a convicted murderer coming home, things are difficult there as well.
Amid all this turmoil, Gia starts learning that secrets have been kept from her and her father's case may not be as cut and dry as one would think. Faced with the distinct possibility that her father did not do what he was accused of doing sets Gia's world on its head, and the author does a good job not only of letting the reader follow Gia on her investigation but also of showing the emotional side of all Gia learns and does. This book goes to some difficult places and I sometimes found Gia frustrating, but it's compelling stuff. A few too many weird coincidences, but compelling nevertheless.
And then there's the romance. Early on in the book, Gia meets the secretive owner of a local bar and grill, and the two embark on a passionate romance. It starts off almost entirely physical, but the bond between these two grows rapidly throughout the book. The romance isn't the primary focal point of the story, but it's very important and I cannot imagine this book being quite as strong without it. Since this isn't a genre romance, I'll throw in the spoiler that a lot of readers will be looking for:
If you like a story with a lot of twists and turns, this one is a winner.
The story pulled me in at once as we see Gia facing her past as well as trying to maneuver her way through the many emotional pitfalls that come her way. Gia's father is dying, her relationships with her siblings in Tennessee are strained, and since the town residents aren't exactly thrilled to see a convicted murderer coming home, things are difficult there as well.
Amid all this turmoil, Gia starts learning that secrets have been kept from her and her father's case may not be as cut and dry as one would think. Faced with the distinct possibility that her father did not do what he was accused of doing sets Gia's world on its head, and the author does a good job not only of letting the reader follow Gia on her investigation but also of showing the emotional side of all Gia learns and does. This book goes to some difficult places and I sometimes found Gia frustrating, but it's compelling stuff. A few too many weird coincidences, but compelling nevertheless.
And then there's the romance. Early on in the book, Gia meets the secretive owner of a local bar and grill, and the two embark on a passionate romance. It starts off almost entirely physical, but the bond between these two grows rapidly throughout the book. The romance isn't the primary focal point of the story, but it's very important and I cannot imagine this book being quite as strong without it. Since this isn't a genre romance, I'll throw in the spoiler that a lot of readers will be looking for:
If you like a story with a lot of twists and turns, this one is a winner.
August 18, 2014
My review of this book will be posted closer to the release date. Also, look for it in "Suspense Magazine" in the near future.
March 20, 2022
Suintrigavo knygos tema. Bet pasirodė, kad ji išplėtota paviršutiniškai. Tiksliau, mano lūkesčiai buvo kitokie – norėjosi gilesnio pabraidymo po tėvo ir dukters, seserų ir brolio santykius. Norėjosi niūriau, aštriau, skaudžiau, mažiau dėmesio skiriant meilės istorijai.
June 18, 2020
Not sure why I haven’t read this 2014 book by Kimberly Belle until now but I was going through my older books on NetGalley and saw my library had this one so I picked it up and read it in a day! Kept me glued till the end! That ending had a wonderful twist thrown in too that I did not see coming!!! I really must read every book Kimberly Belle has ever written!!! She’s so great!
December 13, 2023
Džija Endrius nors ir prabėgus daugybei metų, tačiau vis dar bando pabėgti nuo skaudžios bei tamsios praeities. Jos tėvas prieš šešioliką metų nužudė pamotę ir už tai praleido ilgus metus kalėjime. Dabar jis serga vėžiu ir jam gyventi liko visai nebedaug, tad jis grįžta namo užbaigti savo paskutinę kelionę..
Džija kaip rūpestinga dukra pasiima atostogų ir iš kito pasaulio krašto grįžta slaugyti sergančio tėvo.
Gimtame miestelyje ją ir vėl pasiveja praeitis. Nesvarbu kaip smarkiai ji nuo jos slėpėsi, tačiau šį kartą akistata - neišvengiama.
Kimberly Belle kūryba man jau nėra naujiena ir jos trileriai man tikrai patiko. Ši knyga taip pat yra pristatoma kaip trileris, tačiau mano akimis ši istorija labiau šeimyninė drama. Truputį teko nusivilti, nes tikėjausi to, ką dažniausiai gaudavau iš Belle knygų, o čia radau kiek kitokio tipo istoriją. Labai nuobodžiauti neteko, tačiau man ši knyga tikrai netaps tokia, kuri ilgam išliks atmintyje.
Džija kaip rūpestinga dukra pasiima atostogų ir iš kito pasaulio krašto grįžta slaugyti sergančio tėvo.
Gimtame miestelyje ją ir vėl pasiveja praeitis. Nesvarbu kaip smarkiai ji nuo jos slėpėsi, tačiau šį kartą akistata - neišvengiama.
Kimberly Belle kūryba man jau nėra naujiena ir jos trileriai man tikrai patiko. Ši knyga taip pat yra pristatoma kaip trileris, tačiau mano akimis ši istorija labiau šeimyninė drama. Truputį teko nusivilti, nes tikėjausi to, ką dažniausiai gaudavau iš Belle knygų, o čia radau kiek kitokio tipo istoriją. Labai nuobodžiauti neteko, tačiau man ši knyga tikrai netaps tokia, kuri ilgam išliks atmintyje.
January 13, 2024
Trileriaus čia vos menkas iškvėptas dūmelis. :)
September 13, 2018
Special thanks to the author, who provided me with a signed copy. No review was necessary, but out of appreciation, I will provide one anyway.
“The Last Breath” by Kimberly Belle is, to me, one of Belle’s lesser-known titles. It was written before “Three Days Missing” and “The Marriage Lie” (which I have, embarrassingly, not read yet) however, it is definitely worth checking out!
Humanitarian Aid worker Gia Andrews fled her small town sixteen years ago, when her father was sent to jail for murdering her beloved stepmother. When she receives word that her father is deathly ill, she has to deal with her biggest struggle of all- returning home to care for him. While Gia tries to reunite her ailing father with her unforgiving siblings, all the while trying to ignore the vicious stares and rumours from the rural Tennessee community she once called home, she also must deal with the thoughts she has had for sixteen years- did her father really kill Ella Mae?
Belle writes a novel about familial bonds, suspicion and making amends. In “Breath”, the strong lead character, Gia, is brave but also flawed, running away from her problems instead of facing them. Her siblings, having held the belief that their father was guilty, struggle to come to terms with any other reality, and her uncle, Cal, her father’s brother and lawyer, has some mighty big secrets of his own.
Well told and creative, “Breath” is a unique reading experience. Right from page one, Belle delivers in both suspense and entertainment value. This novel is a page turner, both in its easiness to read and its ability to draw a reader in from the get-go.
Surprisingly, this ending was not at all predictable. I had an idea in my head throughout the whole novel, and was delightfully surprised when I was proven wrong. Satisfying and complete, the ending will bring peace to a reader while still catching them unawares. There is more than one twist in this novel, and each one is delightfully unexpected. (Without too much detail, I can say that I would’ve loved to have heard more about Ella’s life before Jake and more details about Jake’s parentage, but a book can only be so long!)
After adding Belle’s novels to my TBR-list (but never actually getting to them!) I am now a life-long fan. I cannot wait to add her other novels to my “read” list, and I don’t doubt they will present the same delights that this novel did.
“The Last Breath” by Kimberly Belle is, to me, one of Belle’s lesser-known titles. It was written before “Three Days Missing” and “The Marriage Lie” (which I have, embarrassingly, not read yet) however, it is definitely worth checking out!
Humanitarian Aid worker Gia Andrews fled her small town sixteen years ago, when her father was sent to jail for murdering her beloved stepmother. When she receives word that her father is deathly ill, she has to deal with her biggest struggle of all- returning home to care for him. While Gia tries to reunite her ailing father with her unforgiving siblings, all the while trying to ignore the vicious stares and rumours from the rural Tennessee community she once called home, she also must deal with the thoughts she has had for sixteen years- did her father really kill Ella Mae?
Belle writes a novel about familial bonds, suspicion and making amends. In “Breath”, the strong lead character, Gia, is brave but also flawed, running away from her problems instead of facing them. Her siblings, having held the belief that their father was guilty, struggle to come to terms with any other reality, and her uncle, Cal, her father’s brother and lawyer, has some mighty big secrets of his own.
Well told and creative, “Breath” is a unique reading experience. Right from page one, Belle delivers in both suspense and entertainment value. This novel is a page turner, both in its easiness to read and its ability to draw a reader in from the get-go.
Surprisingly, this ending was not at all predictable. I had an idea in my head throughout the whole novel, and was delightfully surprised when I was proven wrong. Satisfying and complete, the ending will bring peace to a reader while still catching them unawares. There is more than one twist in this novel, and each one is delightfully unexpected. (Without too much detail, I can say that I would’ve loved to have heard more about Ella’s life before Jake and more details about Jake’s parentage, but a book can only be so long!)
After adding Belle’s novels to my TBR-list (but never actually getting to them!) I am now a life-long fan. I cannot wait to add her other novels to my “read” list, and I don’t doubt they will present the same delights that this novel did.
October 16, 2014
Based on the synopsis, The Last Breath met my expectations, no more and no less. This recent release offers a fast-paced plot with plenty of twists and turns and a couple of remarkable characters. I turned the pages quickly, plenty entertained. The problem is, there’s no wow factor, nothing extraordinary that sets this novel apart from the rest.
Let’s talk about the good. Gia Andrews is a well-drawn sympathetic character, a modern young woman who knows her own mind, full of flaws but not too proud to admit them. As a humanitarian aid worker, she travels the world helping people who are coping with natural disasters, suffering from disease, and dying from starvation. When she returns home after sixteen years to face her father, a convicted murderer who is dying from cancer, she faces the biggest challenge of her life, bringing her family together again.
While I admired the protagonist quite a bit, I found the supporting cast lacking. Gia’s father’s character doesn’t make sense to me. His guilt, or innocence, in the murder of Gia’s stepmother is at the heart of the novel. He’s presumptuous in expecting Gia and her siblings to believe him innocent when the evidence so clearly points to him. Belle is on target with Gia’s siblings. Her sister Lexi, who is angry with Gia, and rightly so, for staying away for sixteen years. And her brother, Bo, who is emotionally incapable of handling the crisis at home. But her overbearing Uncle Cal is nothing but a distraction with his preachy, awkward dialogue.
The Last Breath isn’t a “Who done it?” rather a “Did he do it?” Belle goes back and forth, on and on, almost to the point I gave up caring who really murdered Gia’s stepmother sixteen years ago. Don’t get me wrong. The Last Breath has plenty to offer if you are looking for a novel about familial relationships with a lot of suspense and a fair amount of sex.
For more of my reviews, visit my website at www.chroniclesofavidreader.com
Let’s talk about the good. Gia Andrews is a well-drawn sympathetic character, a modern young woman who knows her own mind, full of flaws but not too proud to admit them. As a humanitarian aid worker, she travels the world helping people who are coping with natural disasters, suffering from disease, and dying from starvation. When she returns home after sixteen years to face her father, a convicted murderer who is dying from cancer, she faces the biggest challenge of her life, bringing her family together again.
While I admired the protagonist quite a bit, I found the supporting cast lacking. Gia’s father’s character doesn’t make sense to me. His guilt, or innocence, in the murder of Gia’s stepmother is at the heart of the novel. He’s presumptuous in expecting Gia and her siblings to believe him innocent when the evidence so clearly points to him. Belle is on target with Gia’s siblings. Her sister Lexi, who is angry with Gia, and rightly so, for staying away for sixteen years. And her brother, Bo, who is emotionally incapable of handling the crisis at home. But her overbearing Uncle Cal is nothing but a distraction with his preachy, awkward dialogue.
The Last Breath isn’t a “Who done it?” rather a “Did he do it?” Belle goes back and forth, on and on, almost to the point I gave up caring who really murdered Gia’s stepmother sixteen years ago. Don’t get me wrong. The Last Breath has plenty to offer if you are looking for a novel about familial relationships with a lot of suspense and a fair amount of sex.
For more of my reviews, visit my website at www.chroniclesofavidreader.com
September 28, 2016
Ugh. So bad. When it wasn't devolving into harlequin sex scenes it was just borrrring. I'm no prude, I don't mind sex scenes in books or swear words ... Curse like a trucker ... I don't give a shit. But make it make sense to the storyline at least.
You want me to buy that this girl (Gia) comes home to take care of her dying father and on his first night home / out of prison she takes off and has the best / steamiest sex of her life with the bartender who also happens to be the son of the woman her dad murdered??? Fuck off.
Sooo if you're still with me ... she's fucking her step brother ... But it's ok because the sex is good and it's Tennessee. Just no.
You want to know what's even more annoying about this book? The 9000 references to people breathing ... Air flowing in and out of lungs / air being sucked over teeth and through straws / deep breaths / shallow breaths / lungs contracting and heaving ... Aggggghhhh. Ridiculous.
You want me to buy that this girl (Gia) comes home to take care of her dying father and on his first night home / out of prison she takes off and has the best / steamiest sex of her life with the bartender who also happens to be the son of the woman her dad murdered??? Fuck off.
Sooo if you're still with me ... she's fucking her step brother ... But it's ok because the sex is good and it's Tennessee. Just no.
You want to know what's even more annoying about this book? The 9000 references to people breathing ... Air flowing in and out of lungs / air being sucked over teeth and through straws / deep breaths / shallow breaths / lungs contracting and heaving ... Aggggghhhh. Ridiculous.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 18, 2019
A woman is killed sixteen years ago and the law found her husband guilty. Now that the said husband is dying because of cancer, his children are finding new evidence that might show their father was innocent all these years.
It is a captivating story but more than anything I love how it's written; so easy and smooth and real.
It is a captivating story but more than anything I love how it's written; so easy and smooth and real.
July 14, 2014
The Last Breath
By
Kimberly Belle
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Ray has been in prison for the last sixteen years...convicted of murdering his wife...Ella Mae. His three grown children have abandoned him...Lexi and Bo stayed in their town...but Gia...the youngest...has traveled the world to escape visiting or thinking about her father. Gia comes home to face her siblings and meets Jake the Bartender.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Gia reluctantly comes home to watch/help her father die. He has been released to die at home. She faces her Uncle Cal...who has been her father's attorney and has arranged all of this and she faces her sister and brother...who refuse to forgive or see their father. There is also an unforgiving town, a delightful hospice nurse and Jake. Yes...Jake...her one night hook up that just may possibly be the love of her life. So...while reading THE LAST BREATH...my thoughts were swirling. There are so many lies, half truths and secrets to sift through. Plus...the next door neighbor...Dean...the one Ella Mae was having an affair with...is still living next door. Just wait until you read about him!
What I loved about this book...
My favorite things about this book were the unique characters in this small Tennessee town. Secrets and dysfunctions were running wild. Ella Mae had secrets...Dean had secrets...and the secret that Cal kept for sixteen years was a huge one. Gia was a strong character...a truth seeker and I admired her for that. I had suspicions about other characters from the beginning but none of mine were accurate.
What I did not love about this book...
This is tricky...I truly loved this book but I thought it was sometimes too "hook uppy." What do I mean by that? There were too many wild times with Jake...it was hot and sexy but I didn't want it to be that way. I think what I mean is that she hasn't been in town for years...and then comes home and amidst all of the truth finding she is trying to do...she hooks up with Jake? Frequently?Granted...Jake is awesome but I wanted a little less hooking up...and with her sister in the room? For me? Just a little too over the top...lol.
My final thoughts...and...should you read this?
Yes! It was a really good family drama and mystery. I was really into it and am now starving for any dinner made by Jake. The ending totally surprised me...and...actually the beginning was intense...the opening when Ella Mae meets her fate? Almost unbelievable as well as dramatic! I loved it!
By
Kimberly Belle
My " in a nutshell" summary...
Ray has been in prison for the last sixteen years...convicted of murdering his wife...Ella Mae. His three grown children have abandoned him...Lexi and Bo stayed in their town...but Gia...the youngest...has traveled the world to escape visiting or thinking about her father. Gia comes home to face her siblings and meets Jake the Bartender.
My thoughts after reading this book...
Gia reluctantly comes home to watch/help her father die. He has been released to die at home. She faces her Uncle Cal...who has been her father's attorney and has arranged all of this and she faces her sister and brother...who refuse to forgive or see their father. There is also an unforgiving town, a delightful hospice nurse and Jake. Yes...Jake...her one night hook up that just may possibly be the love of her life. So...while reading THE LAST BREATH...my thoughts were swirling. There are so many lies, half truths and secrets to sift through. Plus...the next door neighbor...Dean...the one Ella Mae was having an affair with...is still living next door. Just wait until you read about him!
What I loved about this book...
My favorite things about this book were the unique characters in this small Tennessee town. Secrets and dysfunctions were running wild. Ella Mae had secrets...Dean had secrets...and the secret that Cal kept for sixteen years was a huge one. Gia was a strong character...a truth seeker and I admired her for that. I had suspicions about other characters from the beginning but none of mine were accurate.
What I did not love about this book...
This is tricky...I truly loved this book but I thought it was sometimes too "hook uppy." What do I mean by that? There were too many wild times with Jake...it was hot and sexy but I didn't want it to be that way. I think what I mean is that she hasn't been in town for years...and then comes home and amidst all of the truth finding she is trying to do...she hooks up with Jake? Frequently?Granted...Jake is awesome but I wanted a little less hooking up...and with her sister in the room? For me? Just a little too over the top...lol.
My final thoughts...and...should you read this?
Yes! It was a really good family drama and mystery. I was really into it and am now starving for any dinner made by Jake. The ending totally surprised me...and...actually the beginning was intense...the opening when Ella Mae meets her fate? Almost unbelievable as well as dramatic! I loved it!
March 17, 2016
This book has an excellent plot, relatable characters, realistic dialog and an amazing plot twist. I really had no idea the murder would be resolved this way. My biggest complaint about this book is the sex and that is why I gave it 3, not 4 stars. Good thing I read it close to Easter as the characters are screwing like rabbits. Weary of reading about the burning passion and how one character even had an orgasm while being raped and beaten because she was so turned on by this man. I understand that the author was trying to drive up the intensity of emotions. Just way too much sex....everywhere, every position. Not necessary and a big turn off for this reader. Belle did a great job capturing the conflicted emotions of an affair and the horrifying outcomes which almost made it a 4 star book, almost. Again, kudos for a shocking double whammy ending. A few other gripes....Constant reminder of the importance of Gia's job. Yes, people are starving in Africa, point made multiple times. Lexi is the sexy sister. Fannie is not Frannie. We got those things the first time.
May 28, 2014
A few nits aside (like the constant reminders of how important and highly regarded Gia Andrews' job as an International Aid is), I really enjoyed this book. The first quarter of the book is a little slow but the pacing and the mystery picks up rather quickly. I really like reading a book where I can't tell whodunit and in The Last Breath, you literally don't find out until the end.
This story is told in dual time periods which works really well, with the events of the past uncovering clues in the future. I do feel like we missed one last journal entry from Gia's stepmother. There's a tiny thread hanging out that's not been tied off but it doesn't detract from the story.
The Last Breath was a great Sunday afternoon read... read it front to back in one sitting and that's hard to come by for me these days!
This story is told in dual time periods which works really well, with the events of the past uncovering clues in the future. I do feel like we missed one last journal entry from Gia's stepmother. There's a tiny thread hanging out that's not been tied off but it doesn't detract from the story.
The Last Breath was a great Sunday afternoon read... read it front to back in one sitting and that's hard to come by for me these days!
May 17, 2016
What a page-turner! I was on the edge of my seat until the very end of this book trying to figure out what happened to Ella Mae. I highly recommend this book along with Kimberly Belle's second novel, The Ones We Trust.
September 22, 2014
It takes more than one person to make a lie - one to say it, and another to believe it.
The cover is what drew me to this book, are you noticing a trend here? Nothing like a gorgeous cover to grab ones attention. I love the back view, looking out at the world, there is something mystical about it. She is pondering life, her future and a past that she isn't sure she wants to revisit but resigns herself to the fact that she must. This is Gia, she is heading back home to face her father, a convicted murderer.
Kimberly Belle's debut shows a new talent on the horizon. Beginning with that very first chapter I was hooked. I was drawn into Gia's world in a way that had me connecting with each of the characters here, Not just Gia but her sister and brother also, how they coped (or didn't cope) with the horrific act that happened 16 years ago.
I really liked the layout of this book. Told in present day but then jumping back to the past to get glimpses of what actually took place before that fateful night. There is much going on in this book, it's suspenseful, mysterious and emotional. How that one act of violence can affect the lives in this small town was played out nicely. The ending was brilliant, lots of twists and turns that had me guessing right till the final page.
A solid debut, looking forward to what Kimberly Belle has to offer in the future.
August 13, 2014
I received this book as a Galley from the publisher without really knowing what it was about. I started reading it because I had nothing else to do, without knowing that I was gonna get hooked on it so fast.
Ms. Belle has a way with words that made me fall in love with this book. I rarely read Adult Fiction, or Suspense/Mystery types of books, but this novel just peaked my curiosity to a whole new level. Now I can't wait to read a new mystery novel.
The story itself is fascinating, the characters feel so real and very well written. The chemistry between Gia and Jake is just too good and I was swooning every time they were together.
As for Ella Mae and Dean, I just wanted to beat Dean up and then run to Ella Mae and hug her and kiss her because GOD, that poor woman.
Overall I consider this to be a fantastic book, I would recommend it to anyone who is fairly new to Suspense/Mystery novels.
Ms. Belle has a way with words that made me fall in love with this book. I rarely read Adult Fiction, or Suspense/Mystery types of books, but this novel just peaked my curiosity to a whole new level. Now I can't wait to read a new mystery novel.
The story itself is fascinating, the characters feel so real and very well written. The chemistry between Gia and Jake is just too good and I was swooning every time they were together.
As for Ella Mae and Dean, I just wanted to beat Dean up and then run to Ella Mae and hug her and kiss her because GOD, that poor woman.
Overall I consider this to be a fantastic book, I would recommend it to anyone who is fairly new to Suspense/Mystery novels.
February 3, 2017
From the first page I was hooked. This is an emotional read about family secrets that have devastating consequences. Gia is returning home after sixteen years away to care for her dying father who has just been released from prison. It won't be a happy reunion since her father was convicted of murdering her stepmother. Gia just wants the truth. Did he kill her or was he wrongfully convicted. Immediately the family and the entire small town is all abuzz over the scandal that rocked the town. Determined to vindicate her father, Gia embarks on a rollercoaster of emotions when love presents itself to her and long buried secrets start to emerge. Who really killed Ella Mae and why? A long ago affair with a neighbor may point to the real killer.
This is a true page-turner. Will the answers be found and will love prevail? is a happy future for this family possible?
Truly memorable characters, plot twists and well-developed story define this book.
This is a true page-turner. Will the answers be found and will love prevail? is a happy future for this family possible?
Truly memorable characters, plot twists and well-developed story define this book.
August 29, 2014
I received an advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. Some characters were better developed than others. But I kind of felt like I was on a roller coaster of "he did it", "he didn't do it", etc... And maybe that is how the author wanted the reader to feel, but it was a little annoying by the end. Adult books can be written without foul language and promiscuity, but this one wasn't. Though the "adult" scenes are not overly graphic, there are lots of implications of such. This is understandable as it is at its heart a novel about an unfaithful spouse, but I just wanted to warn some of my more sensitive friends about that. I think many fans of Mary Higgins Clark and the like would enjoy this book. It was a fast read too.
I liked this book, but I didn't love it. Some characters were better developed than others. But I kind of felt like I was on a roller coaster of "he did it", "he didn't do it", etc... And maybe that is how the author wanted the reader to feel, but it was a little annoying by the end. Adult books can be written without foul language and promiscuity, but this one wasn't. Though the "adult" scenes are not overly graphic, there are lots of implications of such. This is understandable as it is at its heart a novel about an unfaithful spouse, but I just wanted to warn some of my more sensitive friends about that. I think many fans of Mary Higgins Clark and the like would enjoy this book. It was a fast read too.
February 24, 2015
A story about one family’s plight with grief and passion, love and loss, forgiveness and redemption, The Last Breath kept me intrigued until the very last word, my first 5-star book of 2015! For my full review and giveaway (ending 3/3/15 11:00pm EST), head over to Mom's Small Victories
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