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Review

I believe some people are inherently evil.
I believe guilt is a powerful motivator.
I believe redemption is something you can strive for but never fully achieve.
I believe second chances exist only in dreams, never in reality
I believe you don’t have years, or months, or weeks to impact a person’s life.
You have seconds.
Seconds to with them over,
And seconds to lose them.
–Cain

I LOVE THIS BOOK!

We first met Cain in the previous books of this series. He is a bit of a badass, but is gorgeous, kind-hearted, and also happens to run a strip club. We find out early on in this book that he comes from a nasty background, and his reason for running the club is to provide a safe place for women to do what they do, and to help them get their lives on track and out of the industry. He treats his girls with respect, has a strict ‘no sleeping with employees’ rule, and he’s an absolute sweetheart. I fell in love him straight away.

And then along comes Charlie. Trapped in an almost hopeless situation, she is living life with an identity that is not her own, and is desperately searching for a way to start a new life. As a friend of sassy bartender, Ginger, she comes to Cain looking for a way to make fast money. She is beautiful, brave, and knows how to work a pole, so Cain gives her the chance she’s been looking for.

There is some pretty intense chemistry between Cain and Charlie from the very beginning, and Cain makes an early mark on Charlie’s life, stepping in to be all protective and help her out where he can. This UST continues to build at work when Cain finds himself drawn to watch Charlie perform while he usually stays away from the main floor during work hours, confining himself to office work. And when Charlie takes the stage, terrified and broken hearted about what she is doing, she draws strength from her enigmatic boss while she dances, and the intense eye fuckery further flames the steaming sexual tension between them.

“The tension between the two of us is already palpable and growing at an alarming rate into a heady, and highly risky, intimate connection. I’m addicted.”

But Cain has rules, a past he is not proud of, and a personal stake in protecting his girls, while Charlie is keeping massive secrets of her own which could bring down everybody around her. The journey of these two from loneliness and despair to finding peace in each other provides a beautiful, heart-pounding story. I fell in love with both of these characters, could empathise with them both with all that they were going through and feeling.

Charlie’s story is definitely heartbreaking, and I really like the way that it was woven into the book, and the way that implications and consequences were explored. The resolution was perhaps a little quick and easy, but it was probably the only possible way for it to play out, so I was ok with it.

Both Charlie’s life, as well as the realities of Cain’s life, and what he is trying to do for the girls under his protection give this book a darker tone than the other books in the series, but I like the edge that it gave and thought that the subject matter was handled really well. Both Charlie and Cain have a lot of soul searching to do, and this book is as much about their personal journeys as it is their romance, and I loved watching them both face their past and find the strength to move forward and fight for what they want.

“For all that I hate about what I’ve done, there’s one thing I can’t regret.
It led me to him.”

Their relationship is gorgeous. From strong lusty vibes to so much more, there is sexy time, sweet and gentle touches, and a deep connection between them. There’s not a lot of time spent with the two of them together as a couple, but with so much else going on in the story, it fits well, and it all flows really nicely. It builds naturally, with no stupid, and some really sweet moments.

“She’s the woman who stole my heart right out from me before I even realized she had her hands on it. “

Chronologically, this book takes place at the same time as One Tiny Lie, and there is a bit of time spent with characters that we have previously met – particularly Storm and Dan, although Kasey and Trent and Livie all make an appearance as well. I loved getting to see a bit more of Ben, who is absolutely hilarious – his outbursts had me laughing out loud. And I loved meeting Cain’s best friend, Nate. The banter and teasing between the guys is classic.

“Seriously, dude, don’t go out there with that. It’s embarrassing. I’ve got a picture of Charlie onstage that I can send to your phone, if you need it while you deal with your issue in the can.”

This is a well-paced, beautifully written story with a great mix of romance, drama, action, suspense and humour. I was completely hooked from the first page all the way through to the satisfyingly happy ending.

This series is very quickly turning into a favourite for me. I’m really excited for Ben’s story next.

4.5 stars

 

The Ten Tiny Breaths series