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Breathe: A Standalone Angsty Contemporary Romance by [C.L. Matthews]

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C L Matthews

Breathe: A Standalone Angsty Contemporary Romance Kindle Edition

by C.L. Matthews (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.0 277 ratings

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Full of depth and emotion, Breathe is beautifully written. The pain and angst drip from each page, spreading through your chest in the best of ways. - Author SM SotoWhat happens when history repeats itself? Do you fall into the same pattern of your brother, or do you overcome and keep your promises?You’d think five years would be enough time to cope and move on. It’s not.If anything, it’s given me more unrealistic ways to deal with my loss.More pain. And even worse, a woman I don’t love.A woman that isn’t her.I hate her.She hates me, too.My life’s a mess.My heart’s nonexistent.My soul was lost long ago.Worst of all, I no longer have any fucks to give.They say you find your true love after you lose your first one.I call bullshit.Each book in the Hollow Ridge series is a complete standalone.

Print length

391 pages
Language

English
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On Kindle Scribe
Publication date

April 14, 2020
File size

601 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Full of depth and emotion, Breathe is beautifully written. The pain and angst drip from each page, spreading through your chest in the best of ways. - S.M. Soto_If I had to describe Breathe using three words, Id say Emotional. Angsty. Sexy. - Rumi_Raw, real, and beautifully written from the beginning till the very end.Breathe is officially my first favorite of 2020. - International Bestselling Author, Natalie Bennett_I'm proud of CL Matthews and her storytelling abilities. I'm proud that she takes the situations she does and her characters overcome their struggles they do. I can't wait for the next in this series. - International Bestselling Author, Michelle Brown_Breathe is a masterpiece of absolute emotion and pure perfection. It's everything I expected and more. - International Bestselling Author, Jo-Anne Joseph_C.L. Matthews, with her stunning prose dripping with words of ache and passion, obliterated me time and time again with Toby and Joey's stormy love story! - Book Maniac Forever_Romance stories should be a reflection of the loves we have felt ourselves. And if you have ever gone through heartbreak in love, Breathe by C.L.Matthews is something you will instantly and helplessly fall in love with. Intriguing characters. Heartaching emotions. Mind-blowing and gritty writing. - PP's Bookshelf_
This is not an easy love story to read it's not hearts and flowers but it's a love story none the less it thoroughly enjoyed reading their story and I'll make sure to read more from this author in the future. - Shonna_This book has left an imprint on my very marrow and a part of it will live with me forever. - Aundi-Musings of The Modern Belle_Five Angsty Stars! Matthews has once again rendered me speechless! This is my second Matthews book and it was another heartwrenching masterpiece. - Cierra McCauley (Cierra's Corner) _If Inhale, Exhale (the first book) broke you, Breathe will destroy you. - Lina's Reviews ❥Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ❥ღೋBook Blogღೋ ❥Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ❥_What an amazing, emotional story of growth. C.L. Matthews takes socially forbidden topics of suicide, depression and alcoholism and gives them a heart and soul, allowing us to take this journey with her characters as they fight for their loves and their lives. - Anita _booktoread_5 Tragically Beautiful Stars!! My heart still hurts, but in all the right ways! - Melissa Mendoza _Breathe by CL Matthews has completely consumed me. My heart was shredded, tears stained my cheeks as Matthews' words stained my soul. - Author Kate Bailey_5 TRUE LOVE STARS ⭐Another book to be add to my list of the best 2020. - ari_romancebooks

From the Author

Like INHALE, EXHALE, Breathe has dark themes, topics, and so much pain.It's not light.It's not easy.It's not bearable for all.It IS toxic.It IS dark.It IS damaging.PLEASE KEEP THAT IN MIND. ��

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B084NXVJ9H
Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 14, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 601 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 391 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #555,438 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #11,855 in Contemporary Women's Fiction
- #13,788 in Women's Romance Fiction
- #17,502 in Contemporary Women Fiction

Customer Reviews:
4.0 277 ratings

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C L Matthews

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C.L. Matthews is a USA TODAY Bestselling Author who lives in lala-landia with their husband and invisible friends. They're queer and Mexican-American, and love to write as many diverse characters as they can. They want to riot the lack of authentic Mexican food in their state but will settle for cooking their own dishes in the meantime. They enjoys tacos, Red Bull, and warm water, because they're crazy. They're an oddball and realize it’s been mentioned before, just go with it. Their joys in life consist of writing unconventional romances, making book covers, causing havoc to her reader’s hearts, and genre-hopping when they need a change of scenery. They're a special kind of weird and enjoy every moment of it.

Customer reviews

4 out of 5

277 global ratings

5 star		43%
4 star		29%
3 star		18%
2 star		5%
1 star		5%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Christina ( The MasqueReader )

LOVED this heartbreaking yet real love story.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 18, 2020

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My soul has been craving this book since the moment I finished Inhale, Exhale last year! If you’ve read Inhale, Exhale then you understand the pain and heartbreak that surrounded Toby’s life; well Breathe gives you even more insight to who he is and why he is that way. I feel like there are two type of people when it came to Toby in IE, the ones who LOVED him and the ones who HATED him! I LOVED TOBY from day ONE of meeting him in IE, but Inhale, Exhale was NOT Toby’s book. THIS IS TOBY’S BOOK and OMG...it is everything you need whether you loved or hated Toby!

CL Matthews’ Hollow Ridge series is one of the most emotionally raw series that I have ever read. Breathe was filled with the type of torment and grief that most souls could never survive experiencing. When you love someone, truly love someone you take the bad along with the good. Unfortunately with great loves can come great heartbreak, with the laughs we have the tears and with life comes death. Matthews’ doesn’t hesitate to write heartbreaking and authentic love stories and in the process we are granted the ability to experience all angles of love including the pain that life can unfortunately bring. I am in love with the way that Matthews’ writes, almost as if she ingrains each word with emotions that grasp your soul as you read along.

Toby...TOBY....MY TOBES!!! I couldn’t wait for his book! I’ve loved him since the first book and although it hurt to see him get his heart broken then; I didn’t want him to ever settle for being anyone’s second choice. But then Matthews created the most perfect heroine for him! Joey’s sassy & strong attitude is the first thing that grasps my attention; these two things are essential when dealing with Toby. I could never imagine him with the kind of girl that he could push around and even though he has his alpha ways...he definitely met his match in her. Joey challenges him in ways that no one ever has and he loved her in a way that no one else ever has. It made my heart soar to see my boy so in love that he smiled so brightly.

Unfortunately, life always have a way of sucking the life out of even the greatest of people. It’s the things done and said afterwards that can either save or break a person. My heart broke to see the life drain from Joey, but it hurt me even worse to see her lose the one person that gave her life purpose and meaning after not having someone like that for such a long time. Seeing how truly damaged and broken Toby was made me cry for him, it made me cry for Joey. Every now and then...with heartbreak comes healing and a restoration to the human soul that you once thought was damaged beyond repair.

All the appearances from everyone in Hollow Ridge and the different POV’s in this series helps give the reader an idea of how it would feel to live among these characters...in their world. I LOVE this part about her writing. I absolutely CAN’T WAIT for the next Hollow Ridge book.

6 people found this helpful

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Sannia

Cheater & Doormat

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 18, 2020

Verified Purchase

Maybe spoilers....

This book was a wallbanger and absolute trainwreck. There’s nothing enjoyable here. It actually made me want to hurl. Especially Toby. What a whiny, selfish, disgusting prick. I wanted to throat-punch him. HARD. He got off easy IMO. I would never have forgiven this cheating, scumbag man-baby in a million years.

Toby was so hung up on the past. The woman he loved and lost. That it turned him into a jaded and distrustful person. Instead of healing and moving on, he let that pain consume him. Made him angry at the world. Ready to explode. So when Toby misinterpreted an innocent kiss between Joey and another man, he lost it. Instead of having faith, and hearing her out, he’s already decided that she was guilty. A cheater. So he sets out to destroy and break her heart. Being downright repulsive and callous.

He punish Joey by sleeping with hordes of women. Making damn sure she is aware of it too. Degrades and enjoys treating her like his rutting toy at his command. Joey doesn't protest. She may have been offended and hurt but hey, she still roll over and took it. Cause the man knows how to sexed her up good. And he is her other soul, yada yada. And how lovely of Toby to send a picture of the woman he recently effed (and was right underneath him) to Joey. What a horrid, vindictive POS! I would have smacked him, give him the finger, and walked the hell out then. Unfortunately, Joey’s brain didn’t get the memo. God, did I want to shake some self-respect into her. She is like the EPITOME of spineless, celibate (of course) doormat that I abhor. No backbone, no grit, and so damn weak.

It really blows my mind how much of Toby’s vile actions Joey accepts in this lengthy book. No matter how much pain, emotional torture he inflicts on her. She just won’t leave. No way would I tolerate being someone’s punching bag like this. Not only that. Knowing he was screwing others. Even to the rooms, names of these women, card charges and receipts. And she still stuck around? And continues to sleep with him?! Can’t wrap my head around it. Hard to sympathize with or respect a woman that does not value herself. Sad thing is she knows and acknowledges this.

"The fact that I'm still here says how weak I've become. I love him so damn much, even as he finds his pleasures in others, I still want to be the one he comes home to. I want to be the only one. Why won't I walk away? "

Don't know why she didn't just move on. It was just pathetic. Have some pride and dignity. This douche was NOT worth it. As evidenced in how he lashes out

"I effed other people," he hisses. I effed other women, and while you stayed home and cried. I cheated when you were suffering. I picked everyone but you."

Honestly, this book was just awful. Folks need to stop making excuses and coddling such a character. So he experienced heartbreak and devastation. Who here hasn't? It's inevitable. It's all part of life. It does not give you license to treat another horribly. Does NOT justify his despicable behavior. Like toughen TF up. Because his betrayal and stupidity was too much. This jackass can grovel to the end of time and I wouldn't take him back. EVER. And that happy quick fix ending was unacceptable to me. Way to make a guy work for it for treating you like absolute sh!t throughout the book. I would have like to see karma hit him early. An STD perhaps? For all those women he banged as an FU to Joey. I mean, keeping it real and raw right? It can definitely happen in real life. Toby shouldn't get a pass just cause he's an poor tormented Hero. Reap what you sow. He was a vengeful, nasty, piece of work. Would have been poetic justice to me.

FYI- Just a warning for those with triggers. Besides the cheating. There were also other sensitive subject matters in here. Rape, loss of a child, attempted suicide. So yea, Joey didn't have it easy. Too bad she had to suffered even more at the hand of Toby. How infuriating. He should of supported her not add to her pain. This douche was lucky he ended up with someone as forgiving as her. I’m too bloodthirsty, would have raked the coals with him.

55 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

Sometimes you've gotta dig deeper.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 14, 2020

Verified Purchase

Breathe was so unexpected. I've had to take time away from it to try and come with them a review because I'm at a total loss for words.

I spent a majority of this book feeling my heart crumble. Piece by piece by these two characters. I wanted them to find happiness. Together or apart I didnt care.

I actually liked Toby in Inhale,Exhale. I dont know if I like him now. My gut reaction is no. But my head is telling me its just not that simple. Life is complicated and people make mistakes. Well Toby is excellent at making mistakes. I didnt even recognize who he was sometimes. But I guess thats what happens when you're broken.

Breathe takes place a few years after Lo asked Toby to leave and breaks him. Honestly, I'm so mad at Lo for this book. Toby is back and has met someone a younger chef, Joey. Idk I guess Toby and Joey are good together mainly they are a disaster area.

I feel like this isn't exactly a glowing review but hear me out. I loved it. I FELT so much. I STILL FEEL so much. Am I happy about stupid things that happened absolutely not. But no ones perfect, life isn't perfect. Even in the books we are flawed. Breathe is a beautiful disaster of a love story that I couldn't put down.

2 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

suzyb

Toxic & twisted

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 19, 2020

Verified Purchase

Toxic & twisted is the only way to describe this book. So this is Toby’s story and to fully understand it you really need to read book 1 first, Inhale Exhale, Loren & Jace’s story, because this book follows on straight from that. As with the first book I found this intense and not a happy read at all. It is an emotional roller coaster, from beginning to end.

However, there are a lot of similarities between this book and the first book, not least with the emotional angst. As with the first book, Joey (the heroine) loses a baby, shuts down and seeks comfort in someone else. This causes Toby to go into a tailspin, which then starts the demise of their relationship. He finds solace with other women but does it out of hate and so begins their toxic love hate relationship.

Because the storyline was very similar to the first book, I found there was too much emotional padding in some chapters and padding of the sex scenes., which took away from the depth and quality of the overall storytelling. There was also some parts of the story that were left hanging. For example there was a good part of the story that touched on Joey’s missing mom and the effect it had on Joey. This was a contributing factor to her behaviour and self harming. This storyline was picked up again later in the book when her mom was found, but it was odd that it wasn’t followed through and I wonder why the author would put this storyline in only to leave it hanging. Also, Joey did not have a very good relationship with her father, I would have liked to see how that developed. There was a part in the book where he threatened Toby with something and Toby was going to “take him down” but that never happened.

Instead I found the book too drawn out with too much toxicity and emotional baggage going on at the same time. I also found that switching from past to present difficult to follow, it got a little confusing at times to keep with the flow of the timeline. You also get input from Ace and Gray (Lo & Jace’s children from the first book) towards the end of the book and you can already see how Ace’s story is going to go! He’s going to be just as twisted as his dad and uncle! I’m in two minds now about whether or not I’ll read the next book it if it’s anything like this one. A 3.5 star read for me.

One person found this helpful

Kindle Customer

2 stars as I thought the story lacked proper closure with all the characters

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 17, 2021

Verified Purchase

The end felt very rushed in this book wheres the closure with joeys mum and what about her dad and the evil wife? They played a big part in the book throughout then nothing! What happend to her mum regarding her detox? What about the threats of her dad? Don't understand why they all played a part of the story then nothing at all. That said it was still a good enough book but reminded me too much of book 1 and felt quite repetitive

One person found this helpful

Loz83

Relationship Turmoil, Second Chance Romance.

Reviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on May 21, 2020

Verified Purchase

Not going to lie. I found this book to be tough to read. While I enjoyed Inhale, Exhale (Hollow Ridge Book #1) I found this follow up:Toby’s story. To be a little inward looking.
The endless internal monologues and self analysis to be exhausting. (That’s when Joey & Toby weren’t having sex).

After the twists and turns and emotional roller coaster of the first book revolving around Jade, Lo, and Toby, this book read just like any other romance with Toby searching for his purpose and meaning in life.
I guess by the end, it was obvious Toby and Joey were always going to find their redemptive epiphany moment, but 3/4 through this book, I found myself skimming over a lot of their inner turmoil past chapters just to get to the end because, all I was really looking forward to was the drama that was going to play out regarding Lev,. And wasn’t THAT just all peachy with forgiveness, hearts and unicorns.
I seriously thought Toby was going to pull the bastard card and go for custody, (I mean, FIVE YEARS! And they never told him the kid was his. Don’t you think something like THAT would of made him sober up if he knew???)

Don’t get me wrong, as usual the writing was exceptional and on point as always. I guess I just wanted the characters to be not so predictable in their actions. I just wish the author had thrown I few more curve balls towards the end

2 people found this helpful

Ange C

Well written story but...

Reviewed in Australia 🇦🇺 on May 5, 2020

Verified Purchase

The H was an utter pig and his actions irredeemable. I wouldn't consider the h weak - just damaged and lacking in self-worth.

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