Review: Drowning to Breathe (Bleeding Stars, #2) by A.L. Jackson

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Review

4 stars!

The follow up to A Stone in the Sea, this is a beautifully romantic finish to Shea and Sebastian’s story. Dramatic, emotional, hot and so, so swoony, this book gives us all of the answers to the secrets of Shea and Baz’s past, and shows just how car these characters have come as they fight for their happy ending.

This book picks up immediately after the last one finished, throwing us back into that heart-wrenching moment when Shea’s world is ripped away from her. It’s absolutely heartbreaking, and rocks the both of them, but their strength in getting through the situation – and the test to their relationship – is beautifully written, and is the beginning of their fight for the life that they want together.

The secrets Shea has been keeping are now ripped wide open, and the impact is surprising and terrifying. There’s an edge of mystery to the book as everything that happened in the past is slowly revealed – the full extent of which is deeper and more horrific than anyone could have anticipated – but the joy of this book is in watching Shea and Baz deal with it all, standing strong together and not letting anything come between them.

I loved Shea Bentley and she loved me. It’s where it started and where it ended. Nothing before or after or in between mattered.

The love story in this book is absolutely gorgeous! The strength of the connection between Shea and Baz is beautifully explored and the openness, the passion and the swoon are beautifully written.

“I never knew there was happiness like this. And then there was you.”

There are lots of moments with them together revelling in the love they have for each other (including SO much hotness!), and gorgeous scenes just showing them happy and together and living their life, and I really loved that we got to see that. It shows just how far Sebastian, in particular, has come, and allows us to see a stability between them that I really appreciated. There are still ups and downs that they need to deal with, and more soul-searching for both of them as they are forced to confront the demons of their pasts once and for all, but this time they have each other to lean on and it only brings them closer together.

“Do know want to know what I see when I look at you, Sebastian? I see someone who takes the burden of the entire world and places it on his shoulders because he somehow thinks he deserves that weight. The one who’d bear it all if it meant those he loves would suffer a little less. I see someone who’s made mistakes just like the rest of us. Just like me….I see a man who’s loyal. Devoted…I see the one I love.”

Like the first, the story is written in dual POV and all of the different elements are combined perfectly to make this an intriguing, dramatic and romantic read. I loved seeing Shea and Baz get the happy ending they deserved, and that epilogue had me grinning like a love-struck fool!

Again, there is a lot of involvement from the boys in Baz’s band, and I love them all! The love and support they show each other is fantastic, and they are a lot of fun. I’m excited to read their stories – Ash in particular. And Baz’s younger brother, Austin’s book is shaping up to be a real feel-fest! I’m really looking forward to that one!

I loved this book. It’s a great finish for Shea and Baz’s story, and I was easily swept up in their epic romance.

“Do you see me, Shea?”
Never had I seen anyone so clearly. “I will never look away.”

4 stars.

 

The Bleeding Stars series

          

A Stone in the Sea (#1) (Sebastian & Shea)
Review
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Drowning to Breathe (#2) (Sebastian & Shea)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback

Where Lightning Strikes (#3) (Lyrik & Tamar)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  Paperback

Wait (#4) (Austin & Edie)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback

Stay (#5) (Ash & Willow)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook  |  Paperback

Stand (#6) (Zee & Alexis)
Review
Buy:  Kindle Ebook Paperback

 

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