Monday, May 19, 2014

Review: Whisper to Me by Christina Lee

Whisper to Me (Between Breaths, #3)

Whisper to Me (Between Breaths #3) by Christina Lee
A hot and consuming New Adult romance about a wayward musician and the one girl who keeps him grounded…
At college, Rachel has a reputation for being a sarcastic flirt with a thing for star athletes. No one at school knows that she’d had her heart ripped to shreds by her high school sweetheart, who’d driven them both off the side of the road on a borrowed motorcycle, and then abandoned her. No one knows the real Rachel Mattson—except one person…
Ever since he helped nurse his sister’s feisty best friend back to health, pierced bass player Kai Nakos has been head over heels in love. But the supposed bad boy can’t risk letting Rachel know the truth—especially now that the two of them are back in their hometown for the summer, together for the first time since the months following that fateful night. Never mind that Rachel’s ex is back, groveling for her forgiveness.
Shaken by her ex’s return, Rachel finds herself turning to the one guy she knows she can trust. Kai is willing to hide his feelings for her, just to have Rachel touch him again. After all, this is only a temporary fling. Until it becomes something more. But maybe it had been more all along.
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Publishes in US: May 20th 2014
Genre: NA contemp
Source: Netgalley
Series? Between Breaths #3

1 All of You by Christina Lee
2 Before You Break by Christina Lee
Promise Me This (Between Breaths, #4) Expected publication: October 7th 2014 by Penguin/InterMix
Hold You Close (Between Breaths, #5) Expected publication: 2015

Buy it: Amazon***Barnes&Noble***iBooks***Google Books

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    I wanted to read this one because I have enjoyed the characters and romance in the other companion novels, and I liked the sound of this and figured why not. 
    I like the characters of Kai and Rachel. I find out a lot more about Rachel and discover (not surprisingly) that she has gone through a lot more than I would ever have imagined, and is put in a weird situation coming back home. She feels like the other people from her high school just view her as "that" kid, the one who was in the wreck and in the hospital. Weak, sick, not around a lot. But Rachel has grown up a lot and she is stronger than they'd ever imagine. Kai and Rachel were childhood friends because Rachel's best friend Dakota is Kai's sister. They have that history together, getting in trouble, him by her side through physical therapy and recovery, knowing her broken heart when Miles, the kid who was her boyfriend and in the wreck with her, broke up with her while she was recovering. So, he knows her inside and out, and we find out, he's been attracted to her for some time. 
   So when Rachel is home helping her mom for the summer, and crashes at Dakota's, guess who else is back from abroad (we find out he's been in some trouble, hello bad boy with the soft spot, I love you), and staying in the same apartment. Yep, Kai. I loved getting his perspective and see how he is trying to get his life together, and figure out how he can do what he loves, music, and still make a living instead of getting in trouble and puttering around like he has for a while. He knows that a lot is at stake and all eyes are on him and watching and he fears hoping that he'll fail and fall again. 
    I loved their chemistry. Kai knows how Rachel has dealt with stress--random hook ups, but he can't stand to see that. So, after coming home with her after a confrontation with Miles, they end up getting a little physical and he makes the offer to help her out instead of her finding random guys. Wow, turn up the heat and watch me swoon. 
    But, I love that the issue is brought up that they don't want to ruin the years invested in their strong friendship and bond, but both were too eager, not thinking enough and so attracted to each other, that they just acted and saw how everything would settle. The friends to lovers is something that I love to read about and I think that she did it well here. 
    There was so much tension, and really so much at stake, or so they thought when their feelings were deeper than what they thought the others' was. But it all came together beautifully, even if they had some hard things to face before it got there for them. They had some roadblocks and personal issues to deal with on both sides before they could really give things a shot. 
     I did like the aspect of friendship in these books outside of the smoking romance. How Avery, and Rachel are with one another, and Rachel and Dakota's friendship has been there forever. I like that they aren't perfect, and that although the lies caught up with her, that she was finally open with her two sets of friends from two different parts of herself. The forgiveness and acceptance was wonderful there, and the secondary characters, previously or maybe one day main characters that keep these stories going and you know there is more going on adds a whole other layer to the plot. 
     The family relationships in this one are great to read about as well. Rachel is home to help her mom with her business and we get a glimpse of how supportive, loving and concerned her mom is for her and how Rachel loves her back and respects her. As far as Kai, we get the whole big brother protector even though he's messed up, and the shaky dynamics between him and his father. I know that Kai didn't want to be a disappointment, and as a parent I know that had to be hard to watch your kid make bad decisions and life choices that you wouldn't have made for them. But I do like how they are there for him at the end of the day and help him the best they can. 
     The ending is amazing, and I love how everything falls into place. The culmination of their hot make out sessions leading to more, the tension, and the love that built for years between them all managed to work itself out and give them a HEA as well as hints at what their bright futures will look like together. 
   

Bottom Line: Steamy book about friends turned into lovers.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Have you ever been in a wreck?
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34 comments:

  1. Added! I always love a good friends-to-lovers book, but make the guy a musician, and I have to have it ;) Never been in a Bad Wreck, but I've been in plenty of small bang-ups. Not for years though, thankfully.

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  2. Maja (The Nocturnal Library)May 19, 2014 at 6:11 AM

    Friends to lovers is actually my favorite kind of romance so even though I don't often read something like this, I might just go for it.

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  3. If you're tired of NA, its really not much different, except with that theme

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  4. Oh yes, he is a bad boy musician, my heart melts

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  5. I need to check out the first few books, this sounds like a good series for me. I like the relationships that start off as friends. Great review.

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  6. kirstymariejonesstudioreadsMay 19, 2014 at 11:01 AM

    I've seen the series around but haven't read them (will have to) because hello bad boy with the soft spot, I love you) Yes. I can't help it, and friends-to-lovers are always my favourite, it's the best kind, and I never get tired of reading those types. And yay for some good friendship and family dynamics! Definitely going to try these! :) And nope, I've never been in a wreck (and hope never to be).

    Kirsty @ StudioReads

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  7. Andrea @The Bookish BabeMay 19, 2014 at 11:05 AM

    I do like this series, and am happy to see that you enjoyed Whisper to Me. Kai and Rachel's story seems very powerful.
    Thanks for the review!

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  8. I loved this one too! I think Kai is my favorite of the three guys... this series is awesome. Great review!


    Teresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives

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  9. I love a friends to lovers romance, and this one sounds like it has terrific buildup!

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  10. I do like friends turned to lovers stories. Sounds like a good series!

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  11. I've been curious about these book and I have an interest in this one in particular. Can you read them as a standalone or should I start from the beginning? Great review! It makes me want to read the book even more :)

    Janina @ Synchronized Reading

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  12. I think that you could read as a stand alone. The first two characters are in it but I dont think that you'd be lost

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  13. I know, parents get short end of stick usually, but the mom/Rachel was great

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  14. Some are burnt out but I still love it

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  15. Yes, build up and tension was delicious

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  16. Kai is mine too, love the dirty talk and then his nurturing and compassionate side all wrapped in long hair and rock star quality

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  17. I am def with you and not over NA or this type of story

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  18. I like that there is friendship and other developments outside of the steamy romance in this series Brandi :)

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  19. Oh, I like the sound of the friendship that turns to romance. Kai sounds swoon-worthy and HEA are my favorites, Brandi! :)

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  20. It's always so sad to see those stories where that boyfriend dumps the girl after a wreck just because it actually happens so much in real life. I love that bad boy with a soft spot too ;) Great review! Jaclyn @ JC's Book Haven.

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  21. Yes, those side events take away from my swoon, lol. Nah, just kidding, yes I love the story building and layers

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  22. Oh I read a great review about this one as well and yours made me really curious as well.

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  23. Love finding new NA romances. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. Oooh.... this sounds like one I know I'd enjoy! I love how Rachel and Kai had an early connection through Dakota.... I am curious about their secrets! Great review Brandi!

    Naomi @ Nomi’s Paranormal Palace

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  25. I love it when friendship is an important element in a story. Rachel and Kai sound like a great pair and you have me swooning over Kai. I'm going to have to check out this series. Thanks for a great review!

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  26. Kai is def swoon worthy, he made me happy

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  27. Yes, the friends to lovers, be still my heart

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  28. I have never been in a wreck, which is a good thing. And this sounds like an intriguing book. I wonder how friends can go to lovers... not something you often see in a book. Usually they just pull up the love triangle and the best friend gest friendzoned in the end xD This will definitely be something new!

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  29. I enjoy books that feature strong family relationships; I find that way too often parents are thrown under the bus, especially in YA/NA. Thanks for sharing!

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