Review: Breathe for Me by Rhonda Helms

Summary:

Isabel’s been cursed since the Middle Ages.

Desperate to escape an arranged marriage, she made a hasty bargain with a demon, asking for liberation from an oppressive husband-to-be and the excitement of travel. But the demon’s “gift” came at a steep cost. Each time he moves her to a new city, her memory’s wiped. No one can touch her bare skin without injury or even death. And she sees the lifespan of every living being (and is, in fact, immortal herself).

All a constant reminder that she’s different than other teen girls.

But New Orleans seems to accept her as she is. She has friends and a real life in this quirky, hot city. Then Isabel meets Dominic, whose deep soul and strong character draw her to him. Her growing love gives her the courage to confront the demon, insisting the curse be broken. But the demon’s price for freedom is much, much higher than she could possibly give.

Publication Date: August 5, 2014

I was looking for a new paranormal romance read and I was intrigued by Breathe for Me’s summary. It reminded me of Shatter Me, which is one of my favorite YA books ever. Breathe for Me was good, but lacked some of the edginess I expected.

Isabel was a good main character and I liked her unique perspective on the world. The paranormal aspects were well done and I felt for Isabel as she tried again and again to escape her curse.

The romance was pretty sappy. Normally, the sap can work for me, but I wasn’t feeling it as much as I hoped. Dominic wasn’t a bad hero per-se, but he didn’t come off as memorable to me. Especially since he’s the guy who Isabel is supposed to risk everything for to break her curse.

The climax was good and really elevated the story for me. I was happy with the way the author chose to end the book. I definitely appreciated that Breathe for Me is a standalone. I’d recommend the book to fans of YA paranormal romances.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: One Broke Girl by Rhonda Helms

Goodreads Summary:

Anna Parker’s life disintegrates with one phone call. Her dad’s selling their ritzy New York City condo because her Wall Street banker mom emptied their bank account and ran off with another man. Which means Anna has to drop out of her elite college and move with Dad back to their small Ohio hometown. Anna’s determined to reclaim her life ASAP, so she’ll use the next few months to save money, help Dad get back on his feet, and find and confront her mom.

But Anna doesn’t anticipate things going so wrong. The only job she can get is working as a lunch lady in an elementary school. Their money-pit duplex is falling apart around their feet. And her dad is depressed without her mom, who's proving hard to find.

One bright spot in the chaos is Gavin Metcalf, a kindergarten teacher she dated when they were young teens. With his easy wit and sexy smiles, he makes her forget her stresses—and the fact that her boyfriend Steven back in New York doesn’t know the truth yet about her dire circumstances. When past and present collide, Anna has to decide where her future lies...


Publication Date: April 2014

This was a short read with an interesting premise. I loved the idea of the main character going from riches to rags and discovering her self along the way. Although there were some cute moments, I think the length of the story didn’t allow me to form enough of a connection to the main characters.

Anna had a lot of growth during the novel. I liked how she changed for the better. It would’ve been interesting to read more about what she was like before her mom left. I think it could’ve helped to better understand what she was going through. If the book started at an earlier point, it would have made me understand her relationship with Steven and why she was torn up about potentially ending things with him.

Gavin was a cutie and I definitely loved him as a potential love interest (he’s a kindergarten teacher, such a swoony job). My favorite parts of the book were Anna’s run ins with Gavin and how much he flustered her. Anna’s budding friendships with Bianca and Natalie was also a strong plot point.

Overall, I liked One Broke Girl, but would’ve preferred more conflict and development. I think this book is the start of the series, so hopefully future books will let readers get to know the characters better.

Rating: 3/5 Stars

I received a complimentary copy of One Broke Girl for review.