Kelley Harvey's BREATHE is a new adult science fiction romance and I'd like to tag it for you!
While my tastes veer mostly toward older adult characters, I'll probably read
an NA SFR every so often for comparison's sake. Mainly I’m curious to see what
authors will do with science fictional elements in NA stories (i.e., which
elements/settings will they choose and how said elements will affect the newly
adult characters).
Before I begin, here's the blurb:
The summer after graduation, Lexa
falls for Gabe, but can she trust her new love with the secret of a lifetime?
Secrets rule Lexa's life. After her
move to Texas for college, she develops feelings for her life-long friend. But
Gabe’s gone emotionally bi-polar, ice cold one minute, volcanic the next, and
Lexa’s not even sure he is her friend
any more. As she struggles to regain control over her shaken world, Lexa wakes
one morning with wings. Panic sets in and she keeps her discovery to herself.
Everyone has secrets, but revealing hers could land her on a lab table, and
that’s not where she wants to spend freshman year.
When Gabe learns he’s an
alien-hybrid, it changes everything. Now, he's rethinking his entire existence.
After he lays a mind-melting kiss on her, Lexa wants to ditch their platonic
status, but Gabe’s certain a move like that will ruin their relationship.
However, resisting her is almost impossible. Can he figure out how to keep his
secret and his best friend?
They think it can't get worse.
They're wrong.
***
Here's how I'd describe the SF-romance integration in BREATHE: The
science fictional elements are fantastical in nature, but play a very low-key
role in this first installment. They're development is also of a slow-burn
nature. Yet they're clearly responsible for driving the plot because without
them the story would fall apart. If you're an SFR reader who prefers the
romance development front and center, then BREATHE delivers.
Below are a few non-spoiler tags and personal
impressions to help you decide if BREATHE is up your alley!
* Given the serially published nature of this series,
I feel it's important to mention first that BREATHE ends in a major and
potentially upsetting cliffhanger. It's more intense than other ones I've encountered. For some readers, the saving grace will be
that the author includes a reassuring note as well as a brief excerpt of the next
book so they can find out what happens immediately after (yes, I
read the excerpt!). Book two, BREAK, releases on January 29, 2015.
* If you enjoy paranormal romances featuring angels,
BREATHE might interest you as well.
* The setting is contemporary, specifically in the Southern
area of the U.S. (Texas). Not surprisingly given the setting, the heroine and
hero are familiar with guns and knives and use them to arm themselves at one
point. There's no graphic violence involving them, though.
* Friends-to-lovers romance
* Gabe is a highly protective type of hero
* Heroine Lexa has a secret
* Alternating first person POV
* It's a New Adult romance since the hero and heroine
are college-age. They're also dealing with developmental milestones and major
family changes
* Ensemble cast of characters
* Angst factor: high
* BREATHE is mostly focused on the romance; the
external plot is a subplot at this point. One plot thread involving one of the
heroine's family members in particular doesn't get as much attention as I
thought it would given its serious nature. A few intense events occur and I
couldn't decide if the developing romance was being treated as a needed distraction for the hero and
heroine or if they were more oblivious than one would expect in such a situation. Your mileage may
vary.
* Action-adventure quotient: low. There's a mildly suspenseful subplot involving a mysterious presence.
* Heat level: sensual. BREATHE focuses on the
emotional aspects of the romance and the physical aspects involve mostly mental
lusting. This may be a refreshing aspect if you prefer an NA with a tamer heat
level. The mental lusting factor, though, is in plentiful supply. :)
Related post (via Heroes and Heartbreakers): Can Sci-Fi Romance Give Readers a Fresh Twist on New Adult Stories?
Joyfully yours,
Heather