Breathe the Sky

Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen is a marvelous contemporary romance with a breathtaking setting. Following years of abuse, biologist Mari Tucker has escaped her ex-husband, Brad and started a new life for herself. She works in the Mojave Desert with a handful of other biologists who are monitoring a crew installing electrical lines. Mari is quiet, keeps to herself, and dreads the day Brad finds her. Due to her past, she is sensitive about loud and aggressive men, so the last person she wants to monitor is foreman Jack Wyatt. But as she gets to know him, Mari realizes they share more in common that she originally believes. And when she begins spending time with him outside of work, will Mari act on her growing attraction for brash, yet gentle, Jack? Jack might have left Alabama but he still carries the scars from his abusive childhood and dysfunctional relationship with his brother Leroy. Jack does not suffer fools lightly and although he is foul-mouthed and shouty, he genuinely cares about the men working for him. He is under a lot of pressure to keep the project moving so he impatiently and emphatically refuses to listen to the biologists’ explanations about why they are protecting certain species. But when Mari is assigned to watch him and his crew, Jack appreciates her quiet way of getting her point across. Jack is protective of Mari but will he let down the walls he uses to keep everyone at arms’ length? Mari and Jack’s relationship gradually shifts from professional to friendship to romance. Mari takes the first hesitant step to friendship but Jack is hard to read. She does not push hard but she is persistent as she sets aside her fears of rejection. Jack is certainly enamored by Mari, but due to his past and the negative voices in his head, he is initially a little uneasy about their budding friendship. Mari opens up to him about her past and while Jack tells her some details about his, he tends to be tighter lipped. Just as their romance is beginning to gain traction, Mari’s knee-jerk reaction and unrealistic expectations put a future together in jeopardy. For his part, Jack is willing to give her the space she requests but a family emergency is an additional threat to their relationship. Breathe the Sky is a slow-growing, heartfelt romance. The characters are beautifully developed with back stories that tug on the heartstrings. The Mojave Desert springs vividly to life and provides the perfect backdrop for Jack and Mari’s heartwarming romance. With a few obstacles for Mari and Jack to overcome, Michelle Hazen brings this charming love story to an uplifting, sigh-worthy conclusion. A must read for fans of contemporary romances. I received a complimentary copy for review.

This is one of the most tragic, beautiful, enchanting books. Mari comes from a violent background but is a very strong woman in spite of it. Jack is also a damaged soul who seems to be angry and aggressive but is actually a very kind man. Their love story is like a beautifully woven tapestry with many layers. I felt completely immersed in the beauty and sadness of their story while reading it. I couldn't put this book down and truly wished it would never end. I didn't think Michelle Hazen could live up to the amazing book Unbreak Me, but she did. I loved Breathe the Sky just as much.