Title: Breathless
Author: Vanessa Marie
Release Date: Nov 11, 2014
Find on Goodreads
Author: Vanessa Marie
Release Date: Nov 11, 2014
Find on Goodreads
For once in Charlie’s life, she has something she'd never allowed herself to have before.
Hope.
All because of Sam’s love.
He fought for her. No matter the cost.
He loved her even when she couldn't allow herself to feel loved.
Now, when things feel like they might go smoothly for once in her life...
The unexpected happens. Her fate. Her constant date with Death.
A reality that completely blindsides her when life once again rears it’s ugly head.
Shattering any sense of a future she ever felt she could grasp, even if only for a second.
Will she give in and surrender to her fate?
Will she retreat, pushing away everyone she loves to hold onto her secrets?
Or will she fight? Fight for Sam, fight for their love, the way he's always fought for her?
"You suck, old man. This is blackmail." She grit her teeth like she always did when he baited her.
"If the only way to get you to talk is to withhold food, well, then so be it." Joe slowly lifted another heaping spoonful toward his mouth. The craving for marshmallows, chocolate, and nuts was suddenly so overwhelming that it was too much to take.
"Fine! I'll talk, but don't you dare eat that bite."
An evil smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he shoved it in his mouth.
"You asshole. That's a party foul."
"Did you just call your father an asshole?"
"Hey, if the shoe fits…."
"Just for that...." Joe cocked an eyebrow at her and brought the bowl to his chin, shoveling the rest into his mouth.
Charlie narrowed her eyes at him and gave him a menacing shake of her head. "I hope you get brain freeze."
"You can't freeze what's not there," he mumbled with a laugh as ice cream dribbled down his chin to his shirt.
She covered her mouth and looked away with her face scrunched up in disgust. "That's freaking gross. You're not even senile yet and you're already drooling 'n shit."
Joe let out a laugh. "Well it's good to see you have some semblance of your sense of humor left."
"Oh, look at you and your big words."
"Oh, bite me."
"I should since you ate all my ice cream."
Giving her his best stern look, she knew the jig was up. Their verbal dance was over and there was no more avoiding the dreaded conversation.
"So, when are you going to talk to him about it?" He moved from the table to the chair next to her.
"I'm not."
"Come on, kid. I've raised you better than that. Don't do this to him."
Was he really going there and pulling that bullshit? "What the hell is that supposed to mean? The only thing I'm doing is protecting him from inevitable pain."
"Seriously? Don't pull that bullshit with me."
Her heart pounded rapidly in her chest as her cheeks flushed with heat. "It's not bullshit," she said with a growl.
"Charles, I think you forget I've been in your shoes-"
Is he out of his fucking mind?
She didn't even let him finish before she cut him off. "The hell you have. You think you have an idea because you were with mom, but you have absolutely no idea what it's like to actually go through any of this." Tears welled in her eyes as she sucked in a ragged breath and forced herself to look away.
"That's what I wish you'd pull your head out of your ass about. Just because we aren't the ones being cut open doesn't mean this doesn't affect us. We have been on this ride with you from day one, every step of the way. So, no, you don't get to tell me how I feel—or anyone else, for that matter."
Deep down, she knew he was right to some degree, but it still wasn't fair for him to compare what he was feeling to what she was dealing with. Not that it was a competition to her, but he always tried to make it seem like everything was so simple and in black and white.
But it wasn't, and she was slowly sinking to the murky grey in the middle of it all.
Breathless was the the second book in the Chasing Hearts Series. The first book is Heartless and I gave it a 5 star, andBreathless is no different it earned a huge 5 stars as well! This series seriously stole my heart right out of my chest. This is a teacher student romance like no other, I absolutely devoured this book in 1 setting. Vanessa Marie sure knows how to intrigue your senses with this book. I absolutely loved the steam and electricity that was portrayed with the main characters Sam and Charlie. Even though it was a student teacher romance it had so much depth that honestly in this book I more focused on the relationship that was building with Sam and Charlie.
In Heartless you meet Charlie and Sam because they built a relationship way before they new Sam was Charlie's new teacher. They have to suppress any feelings they had for one another... until one day when a tragedy strikes Sam realizes his feelings for Charlie run deeper than just a young crush. Heartless will end with Charlie finally revealing her secrets to Sam and them trying to prove they can make things work.
In Breathless Charlie and Sam's relationship will blossom and become much more than either expected. Charlie is graduated and now they can finally be together. When Charlie learns her condition is worsening and that she has to let Sam go because she can't let him watch her wilt away. Sam has no intention of ever leaving Charlie and when an unexpected twist happens it will throw everyone into a tailspin. Can they stay together through it all or will it all end in tragedy?
You have to go and pick up this series it will seriously change your life. I loved every minute and can't wait for Fearless to be released! Oh and I just have to say we all need a best friend like Jules in our lives because the banter between them to had me cracking up! You will laugh, you will sob, you will swoon, but most of all you this book will leave you breathless at the end. Thanks again Vanessa for a wonderful story so far!
Breathless by Vanessa Marie is book two in the Chasing Hearts Series. Vanessa Marie has a way of writing the story that has you grabbing for a tissue while making you smile at the exact same time. This story picked up right where the first book left and I devoured it in one sitting. This book was a 4 star read for me and I would recommend that everyone read the amazing love story of Sam and Charlie; a teacher/student romance that is like none other that you have read.
Charlie continues to struggle with her heart disease in Breathless and she is told by her doctor that she needs to go on the transplant list. A transplant is no longer a possible method of treatment but it is the only method of treatment at this point. Unable to grasp this news, Charlie shares it with no-one, not even Sam who has stood by her side through all of the ups and down of her illness; loving her even more because of it.
Spending time with her friends and Sam, Charlie tries to wrap her head around needing a transplant in order to live when she discovers a truth that she never expected; making her life come full circle to the mother that she never knew. Keeping the news from Sam, Charlie tries to come to terms with the idea that once she tells Sam that she is carrying his child, he will want to ensure her life and not the life of their unborn child.
Breathless continues with Charlie doing everything that she can; both physically and mentally to carry the baby to term in order to ensure that both her and the baby survive the delivery. Sam presents a strong front of support for Charlie, but inside he is just as scared as she is about the baby. The love that Charlie and Sam have for each other, even if it began with a lie of omission is one that will tear at your heartstrings more than once while reading. It gives hope where it seems all hope is lost for a future that Charlie never expected to have; accepting the idea that she would live a short life because of her failing heart. Little did she know that her heart was big enough to help her through any challenge she would face; especially with Sam by her side.
Always the cause of shenanigans, Vanessa is a heavily tattooed, sarcastic motorcycle enthusiast who started her career as a Jeep tech at the age of sixteen. The happily married mother of three little monsters—oops, children—lives in Kentucky by way of Las Vegas, Nevada. Once her life took a different direction—sidelined by Heart Disease at 26 and becoming a pacemaker recipient—she decided to write as a creative outlet, and Heartless was born. She realizes life can be dark clouds and acid rain at times, but her outlook on life puts a positive and sarcastic spin on it all.
