Barely Breathing

I want to say at the beginning of this review that Barely Breathing (A Colorado High Country Novel) is the best, best book I have ever read by Pamela Clare. It is also the hottest that I remember written by her too. That is not what makes it the best though. It is the attention to detail especially the rock climbing and rescues. It was so interesting without being too technical. In addition, I loved tying in the local folklore into the main story.

The story caught me from the first with the dog stuck on the side of the mountain being rescued by the flip flop, shorts wearing savior. I definitely want Eric Hawke to get his own story, but this was not to be his which is okay because I was delighted for Austin and Lexi. They deserved their second chance at love. Older, wiser and still attracted to each other. What sometimes with a warning label, they made to look fun and loving.

There are lots of quirky characters rounding out the cast, some I liked way more than others. Lexi’s Dad and Kendra behaved poorly for most of the book, but hey, every family has those, don’t they? I loved how the community took care of those who needed help, even with the prevailing gossip mill.

Having discovered Pamela Clare several years ago with her historical novels then the I-Team series, I was expecting suspense in this story but was surprised by how the focus of the danger changed so quickly. It did neatly tie up all of the subplots and other events together. The cover does not do this story justice. It is a romance but it is also so much more.

Lexi returns to Scarlet Springs 12 years after leaving to help her eccentric father work things out with his wife and keep the family B&B. She is out of a job after her friends and co-workers turned against her for filing a harassment claim against her boss. Lexi knows she is eventually going to run into Austin, her first everything, since Scarlet is a small town but hopes she can put it off for a few days. After seeing a puppy stuck on a cliff by the road she stops and calls the fire department to rescue the puppy, a friend from high school is the fire chief, Eric Hawke, and then Austin pulls up in his Mountain Ranger truck. Lexi is shocked to see Austin, and immediately the past comes rushing back to her.

Austin hasn't forgiven Lexi for breaking his heart the summer before she left for college. He knows she is going to go back to Chicago the first chance she gets leaving him behind, but he can't help himself when it comes to her. Austin is a Mountain Ranger and on the Search and Rescue Team. He tries to avoid Lexi until the SAR team needs her CPA skills after they discover one of their own has been stealing from them. After a tough day Lexi and Austin end up together and begin reconnecting, but try to remain emotionally distant because Lexi's plan remains to go back to Chicago. Danger lurks in the small down and everything comes crashing down, its up to Austin and the SAR team to make sure that he doesn't lose her in the end.

This was such a good book, I couldn't put it down. Austin and Lexi's relationship grows at a realistic pace throughout the book. They're a fun, dynamic, and steamy couple. These two are one of my favorite couples that I've read lately. I really enjoyed Austin sending Eric to pick up Lexi's friend from Chicago at the airport letting him think that Vic (Victoria) was a guy. I really hope the next book is about them, that'll be a fun story. This is a great read and I highly recommend it. I want to learn how to rock climb now.

I felt like I received such a gift when I got this book to read. I'd been in such a reading slump. I just knew this book would be a good one. I loved the setting: Colorado-in the summer- so NO snow storms & everyone gets around just fine. Loved the H, Austin. Loved the h, Lexi.
At the start of the book- after 12 long years, Lexi is coming back to her hometown of Scarlet, Colorado. It's a small mountain town where everyone knows your name. Austin, her first love definitely knows her name. And a lot more. They were first loves that had a bad break up at the end of high school. Lexi went off to college and a CPA career in Chicago.

The first scene in the book is their "meet cute" after all these years. There's some bitterness and some sparks. In my opinion, 12 years ago- they were BOTH wrong and BOTH right too. The animosity in present day doesn't last long-fortunately. There's no big flash back scenes-fortunately. There's the here and now. Lexi and Auston back in the same town. Even if it's temporary. Lexi and Austin agree to be friends. They both see how much they've grown up and are still attracted to each other. Lexi is a CPA and had left her job in a firm where she was sexually harassed. She's back in Scarlet to help her Dad get back together with her step mother.

Lexi has an uphill battle since her dad is a cold & distant bitter drunk. Lexi's step mom, Kendra is a major bitch. IMO Lexi had the patience of a saint in dealing with these two. Step mothers are a major trigger for me. Kendra seemed very real to me. Not OTT, but a cold fish to her step daughter.

Austin works in the forestry dept and volunteered in the Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue team.
There were so many minor characters that I had a little difficulty keeping up. There are so many sweet moments that it's hard to just name a few. There's the town homeless guy, "Bear" who preaches and then asks for money. Austin's dog, "Mack". Erick Hawke-Lexi and Austin's friend from high school. Eric is now the town's Fire Chief. He's always had a crush on Lexi and is Austin's long time best friend. Lexi and Austin know that Lexi is there only temporarily but they still start a romantic relationship. Austin tries to guard himself for Lexi leaving again. Lexi also feels bad how that they left it when they were young lovers. I think that I liked Austin more in most of the story. He's very loving to Lexi while she's still planning to go back to Chicago. Lexi does some sweet things throughout the story- ie the animals and volunteering. I love when a character grows on me. Austin was easy to love since he stayed in their hometown. There's a lot of technical terms in the search and rescue aspect of the story. The big suspense part at the end had me holding my breath! I could really picture it. There's an HEA, but no real epilogue. 4.5 stars!
Copy of book provided by Netgalley.

4.5 Sexy Lexi Stars What a cute, sexy read. Man I loved this book! From start to finish this book was entertaining , funny, and easy. I couldn't put down. I loved Austin. What a hero, he was sexy, sweet, the total package. When he showed he had a bit of kink in him I was melting. Damn but that man was sexy! Everything about him perfect. Lexi was amazing too. She was cute, endearing, and she could be a sexy little dirty girl too! I loved these two as a couple. I felt they had great chemistry. My God some of the sex scenes were smokin' hot. There was this scene with handcuffs that had me laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I loved that both Lexi and Austin were respectful and mature and didn't play games that caused over the top drama. I really didn't like Lexi's dad and step mom but in the end I felt they did a good job of starting to redeem themselves. This book has some great secondary characters that really made it stand out. I can already tell you who I am wanting to get their own book. I want Chaska, and Sasha to get a book. But OMG I am dying for Eric and Vic to get a book...... Please let their book be next I need it bad! The only reason this book didn't get 5 stars is It's missing an epilogue. I wanted an epilogue badly. I felt this book really needed that peek into their future. Overall I loved this book. I would recommend it to everyone and I can't wait til the next one comes out!

ARC provided by the Author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love The I-Team books by Pamela Clare. This is certainly a change. This book is billed as a "Contemporary Romance". I don't read that genre and when I do, the books are usually "Contemporary Crap", full of angst, TSTL moments and self pity. Not my idea of a fun read at all. Pamela Clare manages to skirt most of the issues that plague this genre and product a wonderful second chance love story. She just can't help it, I'm sure, but there is also a touch of suspense and a mystery too. When you throw in appearances by two of my favorite I-Team hotties, well.....

Lexi Jewell is coming home to Scarlet Springs, CO after 12 years away. Her father is in self destruct mode, he's drinking and his wife has left him. Lexi is going to try and repair the damage he has done and get things back to normal. Then she will return to her life in Chicago. Or rather, what is left if it after what happened at her former CPA firm. She is also going to face Austin Taylor, the high school love that broke her heart. Yes, it should be a fun time.

Austin Taylor is blindsided by Lexi's return to town. Feelings he thought he had buried are not so dead after all. As a Ranger for the county and a Search and Rescue volunteer, he thought his life surrounded by family and friends was full and happy, until Lexi returns and rocks his world.

The world of climbing is a world unto itself. It is a sport that I know little about and Pamela Clare give us an window into the life and the people who live for it. As the basis for this new series, I can see the series only getting better as the lives of these gravity defying people are explored.

Lexi and Austin are high school sweethearts who were - thanks to Lexi's desperate desire to get out of dodge - doomed from the start. It's been 12 years, and Lexi has come home, to both help out her dad with his business, and to figure out the mess that is her life. They first run into each other on the side of the road, when Lexi calls in backup to help rescue an animal. Their relationship is pretty much exactly what we've come to expect from Pamela Clare: steamy, intense, and fraught with ups and downs. There's a taste of suspense, here, but the main focus is on their tempestuous relationship. Four stars.

*I received a review copy from the publisher/author via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

I am a Pamela Clare fan and was super excited about this new series, it did not disappoint. Both Austin and Lexi are very likeable characters, in fact most of the characters in the book are all good people, except for one but don't want to give that away. The story moves along at a very good clip and their relationship feels very organic and this may seem odd but it was peaceful....the authors does such a good job describing the town, that I could see it through the pages, it was vivid. As was the role playing! Those scenes were a lot of fun. There were subjects that were heavy at times but they were well written and did not bog down the story at all and they were necessary to move the story forward. Loved everything about this book and can't wait to read more about this town and its residents.

5 - "We care about our own in this town." Stars!

Barely Breathing was a book of firsts for me in that it’s the start of a new series, and it was also the first book I have read by Pamela Clare. Hugely impressed are the first words that come to mind. I have seen a lot of positive feedback for this author over the years, so it was nice to read what all the fuss has been about, and I was not disappointed.

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Lexi Jewell and Austin Taylor are your perfect couple for a second-chance romance. As teens, they were inseparable, but college came a-calling and one left town with a view of permanence to pursue a future in the city, while the other came home and lived the life they had envisaged them both sharing. Harsh words were spoken, and young hearts were broken. But it’s pretty clear from their first meeting that that old burn of attraction is still glowing strong between them. But Lexi is only planning on being in town for a couple of months, and although Austin wants her to stay, he will take whatever he can get while she’s in town, and work on trying to keep her around for as long as possible.

"Let’s just enjoy each others company-no expectations, no strings."

There is a lot going on in this book, new town, new characters and a lot of back stories and past to be interspersed within the relationship rebuilding between the main pair and I think the author did really well, nothing was confusing and everyone was bought in at a pace that you remembered who they were and what their place in the story was as it progressed.

"You give head with that dirty mouth?"

The banter between the Search & Rescue guys was absolutely spot on, and I just loved the locale and descriptions that the author gave, it was easy to picture and I really did travel to Scarlet Springs, Colorado in my head for the time I was reading. The sexy-times between Autin and Lexi were imaginative, plentiful and at times funny and the suspense aspect played out really well too, it was just really good all-round reading for me.

As I said this book was a first for me, it definitely won’t be my last. I will be waiting (im) patiently for Pamela to deliver up more books from the Colorado High Country Series, and looking to familiarize myself with some of her already published work as well.

ARC generously provided via Netgalley, and it was a pleasure to provide the above honest review.

Barely Breathing by Pamela Clare was stunning to read. The story captured my attention from the first chapter through to the end. Lexi and Austin, former high school sweethearts meet again after 12 years apart. Their prickly re-introduction held some funny moments and the story itself was filled with swirling emotions, funny words/exchanges and heartfelt moments.
Austin and Lexi's reunion had some simmering chemistry from the start and lots of steamy interludes throughout the read, some even bringing out the laughs. :D Both characters faced their own challenges and shared history within the story. Twists and some action/suspense in the story was an added bonus to the read. Hawke was a complete hoot and his attitude of not worrying about his two friends obvious prickliness brought out the funny moments :P If Hawke's character gets his own story, it's one this reader cannot wait to read. :) A cast of characters added to the greatness of the novel. Barely Breathing was a sensational read and tremendous opener to the Colorado High Country series by Pamela Clare. Review copy received from the Author via Netgalley for an honest rating

Let me just say that I love Pamela Clare! I've devoured every I-Team book and will read anything she writes. So, that explains why I chose Barely Breathing but now your wondering my thoughts... Well, that's easy! I loved it! It's sexy, romantic and has a touch of humor that only proves that Claire is a queen in the CR genre!

A much beloved romantic suspense author has decided to try her hand at a new direction, taking readers into the small town of Scarlet Springs where the men are beyond gorgeous, the women are spunky and the weirdos have just the right amount of oddness to make life interesting. I admit to being skeptical when I first heard about this because Pamela is just so good at writing her characters into overly intense and terrifying situations and I wondered if she could bring out the emotions in just everyday life, even as she made her men exciting, adventurous and still kind of dangerous. But I was definitely proven incorrect in my fears! Pamela manages to keep the badass lifestyle of her hero, who while admittedly isn’t in the most deadly branch, is in fact a law enforcement official that finds himself in danger more than once. And that doesn’t even take into account what the crazy man does for fun! If you aren’t the type of person that enjoys climbing deadly rock faces and hanging from ropes 300 feet off the ground, a lot of the appeal and even some of the lingo will be lost on you, as it was me, but luckily Pamela included a glossary for those of us that have never even seen a rock gym in person. :) All that being said, the important parts of Pamela’s past stories are still very much in evidence here. Alpha heroes with just enough flaws to keep them human, heroines with an inner strength they never expected they had, and the love between two people that will transcend all issues that come up in their lives. My only complaint was that the story was too short and I’m dying for the next already. Austin and Lexi have a past, one that has haunted them both for most of their adult lives, and when Lexi returns to their small hometown in Colorado to help her father neither of them expected their lives would collide once again. Lexi has hit a serious speed bump in her professional life, and honestly doesn’t have much of a personal life anymore, so when her father and stepmother split up, she decides it’s time for a trip back home to help in the best way she can. Austin was her first in every way, including her first heartbreak, and seeing him again is traumatic, especially when he is so cold and unwilling to even treat her with civility. Austin can’t believe his eyes when he arrives to a dispatch call to find the girl who broke his heart a decade earlier standing on the side of the road. His life has been much simpler without her, working as a Ranger, volunteering for the Search and Rescue team, and avid rock climbing in his free time, not to mention the women in his life are never allowed close enough to break him like she once did. Now that she’s back the chemistry between them is still undeniable and as fate and friends throw them together again and again they both decide to throw caution to the wind. But can two people that once meant so much to one another have a simple fling and then go their separate ways, or are they both just setting themselves up for an even bigger heartbreak? And when Lexi finds herself in a truly dangerous situation will Austin be able to hold it together long enough to save her life to give them a chance to love one another?
I can honestly say that I loved both of these characters from the very beginning and just learned to like them more and more as the story evolved. Lexi is obviously not the type of woman to let many people beat her up. The only two men that have ever been able to truly hurt her are Austin and her father. Seeing her take her stand against allowing her father to hurt her, getting herself away from that situation and deciding to let him fix his own mistakes in my opinion made her a better woman and daughter. She has grown so much since she made the awful choice that separated her from her lover, but that change in her will allow a truly deep and adult love to grow. I also loved seeing how brave she was and willing to face fears to learn to embrace something so important to Austin and show she is willing to do what it takes to spend more time with him, and let’s be honest who doesn’t love a woman that wants to volunteer at a wildlife rescue? Certainly not someone I would snub my nose at. Austin, at first was a bit of an ass, but once he was able to get over his youthful hurts he shows readers just how good of a man he has become, making him a true match for Lexi. His real sexiness is in how he cares for those around him, be they two or four legged (though we’d have to have a talk about his friendship with things that slither), and when he allows himself to care for Lexi again he becomes an even better man. His friendships with his team members show a true ease of self and confidence that is very rare. I enjoyed seeing him fall in love with Lexi again, even as his adventurous and playful side took them into some extremely sensual and fascinating experiences. Gotta love a man that knows what he’s doing with ropes!
Barely Breathing is the type of contemporary romance that readers crave and will draw fans that might never have tried some of Pamela’s work that was marketed as romantic suspense. While it lacks the constant life and death draw that some required, the excitement and action isn’t lacking in my opinion at all. Lexi is a woman that has had to come home to find out that her place in the world was right where she began and with the man that always held her heart. She has grown and changed and finding her place again in her hometown and even in her family was a journey that readers will enjoy taking with her. Austin has to learn to let go of grudges in order to embrace the second chances that many of us never get and when he does he sees that life without Lexi might be worth living, but it’s certainly not as fulfilling or vital without her by his side. The passion and sensuality between Lexi and Austin jumps off the page from the very first moment they clap eyes on each other again, undeniable to those around them and certainly to the readers. The drama, both physical and emotional, keeps the story from being too sappy or bland and there is no way that reader will be able to put this story down once they start it. Pamela has blown me away again, with an all new world, and I cannot wait to learn more about the characters in this small Colorado town. Her obvious love for her state and rock climbing shines through and you can feels true connection to her through her words and her characters. Thanks for proving me wrong Pamela and giving me another fabulous series to look forward to. Now get your butt back in front of that computer and give us book 2! :D

Lexie Jewel returns home to Scarlet, Colorado when her father's marriage falls apart and her own career unravels. She left twelve years ago with no intention of ever going back, especially after the heartbreaking end of her relationship with Austin Taylor, now a park ranger and member of the Rocky Mountain Search & Rescue Team. Both blame the other but neither really wanted it to end.

At first I didn't think this story was going to be all that interesting given the set up (communication misunderstandings that take forever to resolve). Well, shame on me for not remembering this author's stellar writing chops. She wastes no time moving the story along and having Lexie and Austin behave like adults. And, these two turn the heat up beyond any temperature reading you can register. Loved how their relationship developed and these were two very likable, admirable characters.

I also enjoyed learning about the intricacies of mountain climbing, both in the contexts of search & rescue and professional climbing. I've a whole new respect for the engineering and athleticism.

There's just a smidgen of a suspense element that occurs at the right time in the story and bolsters the other aspects. The sense of community within the town and the team resonates strongly, which I found highly appealing. Everything about this story worked for me and I'm excited about the prospects of future books in the series.

Hot Alpha and cute girl and a bit of romance add up to another best seller for this author!

This is a really great start to a new contemporary romance series. I loved the characters, the premise, and the setting. It all came together for a fantastic book!

BARELY BREATHING is the first book in the new Contemporary Romance series by Pamela Clare. First off, let me start by saying that the cover of this book is just gorgeous. I’m in love with Lexi’s red hair and the purple background.

Okay, onto the book! This is the first straight Contemporary book Clare has written but let’s be honest here, she hasn’t stripped the suspense from her writing completely. There’s a subtle thread that underlines this book and I think it’s a nice touch. Paired with the family drama that the heroine, Lexi is experiencing, I think it’s nice to have something that Austin and his friends can talk about.

But as far as the Contemporary aspect of this book…well, it’s VERY Contemporary. What I mean by that is Clare takes the typical template of almost every small-town romance novel and utilizes it here. Lexi has just resigned from her job due to sexual harassment and now that she is back in Scarlet Springs, she is trying to corral her alcoholic father. Just as her family drives her nuts, there is also the fact that she’s come face to face with Austin Taylor, her high school sweetheart and lover. Seeing him again throws Lexi into an emotional tailspin as things ended badly for Austin and Lexi years ago, and although both still remember their young days vividly, they are also both extremely bitter about the entire situation. Their first encounter doesn’t exactly inspire love songs, and now Lexi must deal with that as well.

I liked both Lexi and Austin. Their second chance romance blooms in a way that is fun yet believable. I realize that I really like Clare’s brand of heroes. They’re a bit macho, very sporty and well, REALLY hot. I also like the fact that they don’t really take themselves too seriously.

However, I did have some issues with this book. In terms of this book being a Contemporary Romance, it does have a lot of detail in it. You’ll see a lot of readers who appreciate these sorts of highly detailed descriptions, but there are also times when it becomes too much.

I definitely think the author packed too much detail about the climbing stuff. I was a little worried when I first opened the book and saw a glossary for all the terms used. That’s concerning for me because it’s meant to be a Contemporary Romance; that means living in the real world. It’s not like with PNRs, for example, where readers need a list of made up terms by the author or a list of characters. If you can’t appropriately include those details in the main bulk of the book, then it most likely is unnecessary details to the reader. To be honest, I skimmed all those parts, because while it can enrich the reading experience to a point, it can also act as a double-edged sword and affect the pacing of the book as well. I took half a star off because of that.

And secondly, since this is the first book of the series, Clare is building her world and setting up her characters and their backgrounds. There ended up being quite a large cast of characters. Some are more spotlighted than others, but I didn’t think it was necessary to show everyone in the first book.

Fans of Jill Shalvis’ Wilder series would absolutely love this book. If you’re in the mood for a small town love story featuring hunks, then I bet you’ll really enjoy this book.