reading_with_2_book_lovers's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second book in this series and the first must be read before this one.
this is the conclusion to Sebastian and Sheas story.
I loved these books so much I devoured them with in a few days.
this book gripped me so much it left me emotionally spent and taxed. Such a great read.
this is the conclusion to Sebastian and Sheas story.
I loved these books so much I devoured them with in a few days.
this book gripped me so much it left me emotionally spent and taxed. Such a great read.
mandy_pandy's review
5.0
This was so good! The conclusion to Sebastian and Shae's story was beautiful! There was so much in both of their pasts that they needed to overcome to get to their HEA. I felt so many emotions when reading this - anger, frustration, sadness but most importantly, love and happiness. Shae and Sebastian may be one of my favorite book couples ever. The writing was captivating and I didn't want this book to end. I can't wait to read more books in this series - especially Austin's story. This was a fantastic book and I highly recommend it!
mard3ytv's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
I only read it cause the last book ended on a cliffy *shakes fist* not as many spicy scenes but the drama is ramped up from the first book for sure. Enjoyable if you like to read, just be ready for some CRAZY plot twists in the 3rd act. 😮💨
Was anyone else mad at Sebastien for not talking to Shea about trying to get her pregnant without taking to her first, or was that just me?? Their whole relationship went super fast and what they are in their mid 20s? Definitely seems super reckless…
I do really love the relationship between Sebastien and his found family of band members and the way the open their hearts to two new members! Shea & Calli. 🥹
My heart broke when Sebastien was putting the pieces together while he was in Mark’s room! My heart dropped when he broke the restraining order after Shea made him promise not to go confront motherfucker 😩😫 he still went… he should have called Shea.
Spoiler
Was anyone else mad at Sebastien for not talking to Shea about trying to get her pregnant without taking to her first, or was that just me?? Their whole relationship went super fast and what they are in their mid 20s? Definitely seems super reckless…
I do really love the relationship between Sebastien and his found family of band members and the way the open their hearts to two new members! Shea & Calli. 🥹
My heart broke when Sebastien was putting the pieces together while he was in Mark’s room! My heart dropped when he broke the restraining order after Shea made him promise not to go confront motherfucker 😩😫 he still went… he should have called Shea.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Rape
Moderate: Drug abuse, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Addiction
gabbysreading's review
5.0
WOW!! Drowning to Breathe gave me all the feels. My emotions were all over the place! A.L. Jackson words are brilliant. This book picks up where A Stone in the Sea left off and it totally slayed me. More angst. More heat. More heart. More of everything and I loved every second of it. The love and bond between Shea and Sebastian is stronger than ever before. I almost can’t deal with their amazing connection. I could not put it down. It was the perfect ending for an absolutely wonderful and lovely couple. And side note, the way Baz lovingly interacts with Shea’s daughter, Kallie is so heart melting and ovaries exploding. He made me a swoony mess. I am completely obsessed with this series!!
kara_hildebrand's review
5.0
A.L. Jackson is hands down one of the best writers I've ever read. The way she uses words is unique, poetic and soul crushing. I just can't get enough of her books. Shea and Sebastian are two of the most complex, heartbroken, hopeful characters out there. After losing Kallie at the end of A Stone in the Sea, Baz is heartbroken that he was lied to. Could Shea have lied on purpose? Drowning to Breathe picks up exactly where A Stone in the Sea left off. Sebastian needs answers and Shea is devastated. Baz has to walk out and regroup, but his heart is screaming for him to go back to his other half. Together, Sebastian and Shea are stronger. They are a forced to be reckoned with and they aren't going to stop fighting. The connection and heat between them is electric. The passion and love, amazing. I can't get enough of them! Add in the band, Baz's brother and a suspenseful ride of secrets, loss, pain, forgiveness and love, and Drowning to Breathe is an epic story! I can't wait for Lyrics book! :)
"I see someone who's so fucking sweet and kind that every time I look at her it just about knocks me from my feet, because I've had so much bad in my life I don't know how to stand in her presence. I see someone who I know I don’t deserve, so every time I turn around, I'm runnin' scared because I'm terrified of ruining everything she is."
"I see someone who's so fucking sweet and kind that every time I look at her it just about knocks me from my feet, because I've had so much bad in my life I don't know how to stand in her presence. I see someone who I know I don’t deserve, so every time I turn around, I'm runnin' scared because I'm terrified of ruining everything she is."
jlkaad19's review
5.0
This is book two of six.
This book is the wrap up of Sebastian and Shae’s primary story.
I have to say that it was wrapped up quite beautifully. It’s not 100 percent happily ever after as she leaves it open for more of LIFE to occur but the majority of their life is content and happy. Loved it and will be reading about the rest of the band now!! Yay!
This book is the wrap up of Sebastian and Shae’s primary story.
I have to say that it was wrapped up quite beautifully. It’s not 100 percent happily ever after as she leaves it open for more of LIFE to occur but the majority of their life is content and happy. Loved it and will be reading about the rest of the band now!! Yay!
whatcha_listening_to's review against another edition
4.0
Ok so here is my take, this one I got from my library in audio on yeah baby Sebastian York!!!
That man’s voice I swear to the gods he was blessed.
Ok on to the book lol. Whereas the first book I thought was slow this one was not. It picked right up where the last one ended. Not extra back ground from the first thank god. Since we already knew what to expect.
There were some pretty interesting twists I was really happy with the amount of drama and so forth.
A.L. Sure wrote the heck out of this book. I am so glad I choose to pick it up and read/listen.
You fall in love with the say Baz falls in love with Shea and his bug :)
It’s heart breaking and sad and happy and joyful. This book really makes up for the slowness in the first one in my opinion.
I can't wait for the next book in this series :)
That man’s voice I swear to the gods he was blessed.
Ok on to the book lol. Whereas the first book I thought was slow this one was not. It picked right up where the last one ended. Not extra back ground from the first thank god. Since we already knew what to expect.
There were some pretty interesting twists I was really happy with the amount of drama and so forth.
A.L. Sure wrote the heck out of this book. I am so glad I choose to pick it up and read/listen.
You fall in love with the say Baz falls in love with Shea and his bug :)
It’s heart breaking and sad and happy and joyful. This book really makes up for the slowness in the first one in my opinion.
I can't wait for the next book in this series :)
bookaddict1975's review
5.0
🎧 Audio Review 🎧
It felt like forever for this book to come out on audio after the ending of book 1 LOL. I loved that this book picks right up where book 1 left off and we didn't have to go through all the backstory details like you usually do with series books. Baz & Shae's story wraps up perfectly. Loved everything about this book!
The narration was perfect as always with these two!
It felt like forever for this book to come out on audio after the ending of book 1 LOL. I loved that this book picks right up where book 1 left off and we didn't have to go through all the backstory details like you usually do with series books. Baz & Shae's story wraps up perfectly. Loved everything about this book!
The narration was perfect as always with these two!
emcbee's review
2.0
I wanted to like this book. The first book was a little irritating with the triple repetitions of words like "Dark. Dark. Dark," but I liked the distinct voices of the two point-of-view characters and, since it had a cliffhanger ending, I wanted to know how the story turned out.
Again I was okay with the literary style, though the repetitions of particular phrases became annoying. Sebastian has a "pretty, pretty mouth." Shay has "simple, simple dreams." I liked Sebastian's voice better and better as the story went on and got more and more irritated with Shay.
And then... (spoiler alert)
In the first book I was alarmed at how quickly Shay not only introduced her 4-year-old daughter to Sebastian, but allowed him to become part of this child's life when Shay believed that Sebastian wasn't going to be a long-term addition. In this book, this problem got worse: Shay's daughter starts calling him "daddy." Neither adult discussed it with her. Then, in a moment of serious stupidity, Shay and Sebastian elope--again without taking the daughter into consideration. It got even worse when she asked him to wear a condom because she had forgotten her pills...
and he said no.
And then, tra la, she decides to just go ahead and have unprotected sex with him and risk another pregnancy when's she's already a struggling single mother.
I mean.
After that I couldn't finish the book fast enough. I was enjoying the story of two young people who weren't innocent and unaware of the world. They'd both had losses and bad things happen to them; they were both well aware of consequences that can follow their behavior. But that whole sequence just made me dislike both of them. And Shay would go on and on about the importance of protecting Callie, but would just wander off and leave her with friends at the drop of a hat. Not to mention getting so involved with Sebastian that she barely knew the kid existed.
HEA ending. Strange escalation of situation with Callie's father turns into a #metoo moment, and seemed rushed. But as I was in a hurry to get done with "Dark. Dark. Dark." and similar it didn't bother me.
Again I was okay with the literary style, though the repetitions of particular phrases became annoying. Sebastian has a "pretty, pretty mouth." Shay has "simple, simple dreams." I liked Sebastian's voice better and better as the story went on and got more and more irritated with Shay.
And then... (spoiler alert)
In the first book I was alarmed at how quickly Shay not only introduced her 4-year-old daughter to Sebastian, but allowed him to become part of this child's life when Shay believed that Sebastian wasn't going to be a long-term addition. In this book, this problem got worse: Shay's daughter starts calling him "daddy." Neither adult discussed it with her. Then, in a moment of serious stupidity, Shay and Sebastian elope--again without taking the daughter into consideration. It got even worse when she asked him to wear a condom because she had forgotten her pills...
and he said no.
And then, tra la, she decides to just go ahead and have unprotected sex with him and risk another pregnancy when's she's already a struggling single mother.
I mean.
After that I couldn't finish the book fast enough. I was enjoying the story of two young people who weren't innocent and unaware of the world. They'd both had losses and bad things happen to them; they were both well aware of consequences that can follow their behavior. But that whole sequence just made me dislike both of them. And Shay would go on and on about the importance of protecting Callie, but would just wander off and leave her with friends at the drop of a hat. Not to mention getting so involved with Sebastian that she barely knew the kid existed.
HEA ending. Strange escalation of situation with Callie's father turns into a #metoo moment, and seemed rushed. But as I was in a hurry to get done with "Dark. Dark. Dark." and similar it didn't bother me.
paolahenonin's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75