Can't Hardly Breathe

Quickie review...
OMG. LOVED IT! The characters, the story line, the flirtiness, the comradery, the effort nine yards were amazing, awesome fun! True, Daniel could be a total arse, but underneath it all he was a TKO, and we're not just talking looks. Dorothea was an amazing leading lady, who broke the mold on what some consider the cookie cutter type, but it was done without turning the whole story into a book about THAT (way to go author!). Their friends, family, and exes were just as stimulating, memorable, and noteworthy... when not getting into fights, carrying grudges, or passing judgment, they left their own marks on our heart that won't be easy to erase.

Definite must read for adult Contemporary Romance fans... and for every girl show more that was looked over in HS, kicking butt and taking numbers today. 😊 show less

Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over

This book had a tone I wasn’t expecting, and was so much more than I thought it would be. As a small town romance, it hits the right marks. The cost of gossip, the way everyone looks out for Dorothea even when she doesn’t want them to, and the darkness behind the light in the sense of secrets where people think everything is known are all there.

It doesn’t hold back in the slightest, not just with Dorothea, but also with her friends. These are real people facing real things that are far more immediate than the bullying mentioned in the book description, though the impact of that lingers both in the story and in real life.

Dorothea isn’t alone in her shadows, either. Daniel might have been show more the handsome hero of an army ranger, but he battles demons every bit as dark as those that haunt Dorothea. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress syndrome, is something heroes aren’t supposed to suffer, but of course, they do. Daniel chooses not to care about anything as his way of protecting himself, and those he is willing to love, from future pain.

They are each strong in their own way, but Dorothea takes the prize. She’s determined to rebuild herself while those around her tear her down in the name of helping her. She had goals and dreams she’s finding a way to pursue, and even though her love is rarely returned in any tangible way, she does whatever she can to protect those she loves from harm.

This book is about good people who have suffered horrible things and have to fight not just for themselves, but for each other. It’s powerful, and when it could have had an easy ending, instead, it rips apart in favor of the ending that’s worth the struggle.

This isn’t a story about perfect people. It isn’t even a story about oddball outsider kids who grew up into perfect people. It’s about people often dismissed or misunderstood by those around them finding the one person who can heal their hurts and let them embrace the world they’ve been sheltering from. It’s not easy, it’s not without heartbreak (and tears on the part of this reader), but it shows that the right person is worth fighting for, even when the right person is yourself.

If you prefer your encounters safely behind closed doors, this isn’t the book for you. The sex is described right there in front of everything, but it is both so much more than those scenes and makes those scenes a tangible part of the story. This is especially true for Daniel who had buried his fears in random encounters (all prior to the book starting) without understanding just what a real connection is. Dorothea is not exempt either, though, because her self-esteem issues are such that she doesn’t think anyone will want her.

P.S. I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review, and honestly, I loved it. show less

Who ever forgets their first crush? Except with they break your heart without even knowing what they did...can you still feel for them years later?

Dorothea "Dottie" Mathis has returned to Strawberry Valley to run the family inn. She's back in the very place that holds so many mean and self-esteem stealing memories. She was the chubby freckled girl the mean girls picked on. Her father leaves their family (her, her mother and little sister) to remarry and start over with a ready made family. SOB even has the nerve to tell the girls to forget about him and start over, that's what he's doing. Her husband cheated on her. She discovers this and has an accident while trying to get away from their apartment causing her to lose her baby. show more Doctors then give her the news she may never be able to have children.

Daniel Porter was Dorothea's crush. He came to her rescue the first day of her sophomore year and told her she was perfect just the way she is. In searching for him later that day she finds him in the clutches of one of the mean girls he saved her from....broken is her heart. Now he's back home tired and broken. PTSD has him in it's grips but he seeks no help for it. He originally came back (with two of his friends) to take care of his dad who's health had been slipping. His fear of losing people... we go back to what he saw in combat and watching his father's grief when his mother died, has meant he doesn't let anyone close. And girls from Strawberry Valley are definitely off limits as that would raise dads hopes that he might marry and settle down.

These two dance around each other they would make professional dancers proud with some of the moves they have. He discovers that he was right all those years ago, Thea...his nickname for her, is perfect. She is intelligent, giving, passionate, loving and compassionate. Her outer beauty matches her inner and he would be a sucker for her....if she wasn't a local girl. For her part Thea has been burned too many times by the male species and isn't sure that even hot as he is Daniel is worth the risk. She wants to be priority in his life not some dirty little secret.

Being this is a romance you know how things end up....but the road there is bumpy. Oh and we do have some classic zingers thrown by all parties. Virgil, Daniels's dad, has that small town wisdom that he doesn't mind sharing. "If my sister had been born with a pecker, she would have been my brother. Ain't no use wishin' for what ain't." Holly and Carol, her sister and mother, are two pieces of work. Holly is a spoiled brat who blames everything she can on Thea and uses her as her personal punching bag. Carol has just decided her needs come first. She's quick to gossip about Thea's troubles but doesn't like her dirty laundry out in the air.

Now there are two couples that are hinted at: Ryanne & Jude and Lyndie & Brock. Ryanne and Lyndie are Thea's best friends. They each have there own dramas and issues. One was abused and a child and later by her ex-husband. The other I believe suffered through a husband's cheating. Now Jude and Brock were in the military with Daniel. They've come with him to SV to start a security company and to, well stay close to one another as they all suffer from PTSD and there are not many whom they trust. Jude is a widower having lost his wife and kids to a drunk driver. Brock....I'm not sure we know why he is the way he is, distrustful of everyone, but he's got his eye on the closet bottle of booze and female company....or does he?

Looking forward to seeing how the other couple's stories play out. Glad there will still be the secondary characters around...Virgil and his wisdom would be worth it. Oh and let's not forget Daniel shelter dogs, he adopted a pair of 90 lb. pit bull mixes- Adonis and Echo--- who have one little problem, killer farts! I'm a sucker for dogs and one's the remind me of my own farting dog, even more. show less

Can't hardly breathe is the fourth book in a series that was supposed to be a trilogy I believe by Gena Showalter. This book and the next two that follow could be a spin-off of The Original Heartbreakers and the readers would still read it. While I was reading the book I realized one thing. I will always strongly dislike Jessie Kay. I might have not remembered her name at first. but when there was a mention of a bully in Thea's past she was the first person who popped into my mind. I liked Harlow (the actual bully) a lot more than her which is sad. And I am not touching her book with a ten-foot pole anytime soon. That book will stay in my TBR forever.

The weird and bipolar thing about me and this book is this, I liked the story, but I show more disliked the characters. If someone could magically remove the two main characters and keep the secondary I would serve him for life. Daniel and I didn't get along from the beginning. I decided I was ok with the opening chapter where Dorothea was cleaning the room after one of Daniel's one nighters. Which he was always having at the inn she owned. He couldn't find another place. A couple of chapters later Dorothea propositioned him and one of his thoughts was that when they did they deed he couldn't go back to the inn for a one nighter with another woman. This smelled like forever and HEA from the very first moment. Like back in high school when he was sweet talking Dorothea and shortly after he was doing non-platonic things with another girl he had been chasing her for a while. To be fair though once he started courting Dorothea he did everything in his power to win her over and I felt like he was the only one standing up for her.

Which is why I got so mad in the end. Dorothea forgave Holly way to easily and effortlessly for my liking. What Holly did was inexcusable and yet she got off easy. Daniel, on the other hand, ended up groveling and even if I didn't like him at first he was growing up on me. His relationship with princess and the way he was trying to do nice things for Dorothea made him a better person. I would have loved to see her realizing that Daniel was partially right too and she needed to apologize.

I don't understand why the men in the series have to be man whores. I honestly don't. Thankfully the hero of the next novel, Jude, is the exception. Brock on the other hand is the opposite. He was making sweet eyes to his heroine but ended up with another woman in the bathroom. I can tell is love at first sight. And what's up with his lady saying he needs sex and was so ok with that? Woman, a man needs water and food to survive. Next thing I know he will be saying that his and Lyndies relationship was love at first sight.

No matter what though, I will continue reading the series and I can hardly wait for the next book to be released. show less

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

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

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

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

Rated: 4 Stars

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Dorothea has crushed on Daniel since he told her she was perfect just the way she was in high school. But she's has years of people undermining her self esteem and personal tragedy that has kept her single. Daniel suffers from PTSD and goes through women to help keep the nightmares at bay, using her inn. After he turns down her offer of a one night stand, he turns an about face spending most of the story trying to get her back. Ok read, but her instant nail polish changes kept pulling me out story immersion.

Can’t Hardly Breathe
The Original Heartbreakers, Book 4

I Picked Up This Book Because: Continue the series

The Characters:

Dorothea Mathis:
Daniel Porter:
Holly, Ryan, Brock, Jude:

The Story:

I had a hard time sticking to the book but I couldn’t turn off the audio. I think my contacts may be partially to blame. Haven’t been able to get into reading since I got the new script. Anyway after initial reading delays I found myself quite addicted to the story. I liked Dorothea’s determination to change her life. I like Daniel’s devotion to Thea, once he pulled his head out of his butt. I also like his devotion to his father… and the pups. I love the way they tease each other and “negotiate”. I also love his friendship with Jesse Kay show more and her readiness to kick his butt.

The Random Thoughts:

3.5 Stars show less