Before You Break by Christina Lee Pages: 249
Published by Intermix, Penguin on February 18, 2014
Genres: contemporary, Love & Romance, New Adult, Romance
Source: Finished Copy from Publisher
A sexy, emotional New Adult romance about a bad boy on the edge and a good girl about to lose control…
The star catcher of the college baseball team isn't supposed to have skeletons in his closet. But Daniel Quinn is hiding a guilty past so dark he refuses to let anyone get close. Except there’s something about gorgeous, studious Ella Abrams that goes beyond the electric attraction between them—something that makes him want to open up.
Ella has suffered enough heartache and guilt to fill one of her psychology textbooks, but she keeps that part of herself hidden behind a bubbly exterior. Until she receives an anonymous call while working the suicide helpline and the voice on the other end touches something inside of her that she can’t ignore.
Soon Ella and Quinn’s physical connection heats up, even as their deep and revealing hotline talks intensify. But by the time Ella realizes that her seductive jock and her sensitive caller are the same guy, it might be too late to save him—or to stop herself from falling too far.
Before You Break is the second book in the Between Breaths series. It is a new adult series from Christina Lee, and each book works as a standalone. I am on the blog tour for the 4th book in the series coming up, and I wanted to try out one of the earlier books to see if I could catch a glimpse of Nate or Jessie before their story in Promise me This. (P.S. I did catch a glimpse of Nate, but not Jessie) I have read a lot of new adult contemporary romances and it is no secret that it is currently my favorite genre of books. After a reading your 100th or so contemporary college romance sometimes they can blend together, but not Before You Break. This book spoke to me on different levels. It is a short novel, at around 250 pages but there is so much goodness packed into its’ pages. Christina Lee impressed me with the emotion she wove into her writing and the connection she forged between the main characters, Quinn and Ella.
There are some dark issues and themes involved in Before You Break. A suicide hotline plays a big role in the story, and these are not issues to be taken lightly. I loved the way that the author dealt with them. It was so tasteful and heartfelt. Ella and Quinn both of demons in their past haunting them, and they each deal with them in very different ways. You can’t help but to root for them through it all though because there are no two people with bigger hearts. This is not a story of opposites attracting. Ella and Quinn are so similar and I loved seeing two sweet and caring people find their happiness. Watching Quinn with Ella and Gabby, on the suicide hotline broke my heart so many times. Not for any of the reasons you are probably thinking. I just hated how much guilt and blame he carried around, but I really commended him for continuing to call in.
Quinn and Ella connected on so many levels. And while there was a very real and very strong physical attraction, I really admired that they didn’t sleep together until they each had their own stuff figured out. Don’t get me wrong, there is tons of unresolved sexual tension between the two of them and the romance is sexy and hot, but they didn’t take it there until they were ready. It was really well done in my opinion. If you like new adult romance, Before You Break and the Between Breaths series is one you will not want to miss. I can’t believe that this series is the debut series from Christina Lee. That blows me away.
Other Books in the Between Breaths Series:
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kindlemom1
I love when you find a genre you love and the great authors in that genre that fuel that love!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
I really enjoyed this book too. Now I just have to read the second and third books!
Nicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
Oops! I meant I need to read the third and fourth books! 🙂
Clarisa Ramirez
Yes, need real life things with love going on and if it deals with suicide line sound really interesting since have not read many books with that theme.