Name: Ariel Hackett's review of Breathless by Beverly Jenkins
Item: Breathless
Rating: 3
Author: Ariel Hackett

Beverly Jenkins

A strong-willed beauty finds herself in the arms of the handsome drifter from her past, in this second book in the sizzling series set in the Old West, from USA Today Bestselling Author Beverly Jenkins As manager of one of the finest hotels in Arizona Territory, Portia Carmichael has respect and stability—qualities sorely missing from her harsh childhood. She refuses to jeopardize that by hitching herself to the wrong man. Suitors are plentiful, but none of them has ever looked quite as tempting as the family friend who just rode into town…and none has looked at her with such intensity and heat. Duchess. That’s the nickname Kent Randolph gave Portia when she was a young girl. Now she’s a stunning, intelligent woman—and Kent has learned his share of hard lessons. After drifting through the West, he’s learned the value of a place to settle down, and in Portia’s arms he’s found that and more. But convincing her to trust him with her heart, not just her passion, will be the greatest challenge he’s known—and one he intends to win…

Breathless

Ariel Hackett

Lover of Romance 

This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance

Breathless is the second book in the trilogy and I have been looking forward to this one ever since I picked up book one. I finally got my hands on it, and I will admit I had some pretty high expectations for this book, and I was left feeling a bit disappointed. It wasn't what I was expecting, especially when I loved Forbidden, the first book.

Breathless  is a story that features two people who knew each other when they were younger but life got in the way and they each had their own journey to take until they met each other again as full-fledged adults, much more mature and ready for what was to come for them. Portia Carmichael was abandoned by her mother who prositituted herself for money. She and her sister found a good life with their aunt and uncle. Kent Randolph has spent his life searching, and being a bit of a rake of the wild west. Now he has returned to the one place he felt like was his home and to his "duchess". Portia is very serious about building her own business and working for her aunt and uncle. She has no interest in love or dating. She is content working with her numbers. But then Kent comes back, and she is having to face with her old feelings for this handsome man that she wants to feel nothing for but does.

I did enjoy the beginning of the story, seeing these two banter like two old hens, their interactions were pretty funny and I just couldn't get enough. We see the good life that Portia and Regan (her sister) have found with their uncle and aunt Eddy and Rhine (couple from first book). We see the closeness that Portia has with her sister. But wow these two couldn't be more different from each other. Portia is consumed by the seriousness of life, and Regan just wants to live life to its fullest. She wants to experience everything, most especially passion and love. So it was interesting to see Portia figure out what she really wants in life, and that there is more to life than just building a career. Seeing some true depths of self discovery, and learning to experience desire and the building of a intimate relationship was the highligh of the story for me. However I did have some issues. Quite honestly, I think I might have had too high expectations for this book. I don't think I have been so let down by a book by Jenkins. I have always enjoyed her work. ALWAYS.  I know I am not in the "popular" opinion here however the middle of the plot felt flat for me. I had a hard time connecting with the actual romance. It took almost a whole week for me to read this. Now for some that may not seem like a long time, but I read a book a day. So I really struggled with this story. The first and latter portions of the story were really great, but the middle I took forever getting through.

I am however super excited to read book three though, Regan's story which features her being a mail order bride (yep yep super super stoked for this one, since that is one of my all time favorite tropes in romance).



 



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Lacey

Didn’t love this one as much as the other 2 in the series but it was still thoroughly enjoyable! Kent and Portia’s romance is slow and sweet. I LOVED his nickname Duchess for her. This series is a must read if you love western historical romances.

Ariel Hackett &
Breathless by Beverly Jenkins

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