Losing My Breath by J Rose Black
What's It About?
Battle lines are drawn when sheltered debutante Meridian Daly moves across the hall from grumpy veteran Marine Callan Brand. Can Callan he let go of his pride, and tell her the whole truth of who he is and what he’s done—in the name of honor and country?A closed-off Marine veteran meets his blonde, too-trusting neighbor and it isn’t love at first sight. In fact, Callan Brand can’t stand his “Prissy Neighbor”, also known as Meridian Daly. But after a deadly intruder forces Callan to protect Meridian, he realizes that seeing the same woman every day, in such close proximity, might not be the worst thing … Losing My Breath by J Rose Black is a one-of-a-kind contemporary romance that asks, Can someone still love us, even after they know all our faults?
A Love Story With a Darker Twist
Callan Brand has been floating through life, alone, waiting for reality to feel real. He’s wrestling with a dark secret, something terrible that has left him with PTSD, constantly fighting off panic attacks and flashbacks. In order to protect himself, and everyone else, he keeps his cards close to his chest and doesn’t let anyone in, not even his old military buddies. But the darkness tries to drown him constantly, and he needs something to keep him from sinking.
Meridian Daly is a mystery to Callan at first, seemingly helpless but proving herself to be tough-as-nails and self-assured. She is outspoken, vulnerable and eager to connect with the brooding guy next door — and not just because she saw the way he looks while working out in the gym.
Author J Rose Black “has always been drawn to broody protectors and plucky, no-nonsense women ready to fight for what they believe in”, and boy, do Callan and Meridian fit the bill perfectly.
Their loneliness and mutual attraction force them together, and what is at first a friendship of convenience — someone to cook with, someone to protect/be protected by, someone to work out with at the gym — quickly becomes much more. When Meridian finds herself in dangerous situations with overpowering men, Callan is always there as backup to get her out of them. Their proximity, and Meridian’s gratitude for Callan’s watchful eye, pull this unlikely pair into one another’s orbit, even when they bicker and overstep.
Can Callan let himself trust Meridian, when his whole life he’s been trained to be suspicious of anyone trying to get close to him? Is he capable of intimacy with someone who wants him to be vulnerable, open up about his past, and tell Meridian how he feels?
The more time Callan spends with Meridian the more his cold, detached thoughts become tinged with warmth and affection for this woman who is coaxing him out of his shell. Still, the darkness threatens to spill over into every moment of his life, as he resists treatment and refuses to ask for help. He insists he can handle it all on his own.
It only takes one small miracle, and the knowledge that maybe his secret isn’t so secret after all, for Callan to realize how much of love and life he is missing out on. Will he take the leap and change for the better — for Meridian — or is he too stuck in his own head to escape?
Romance with Complexities and Depth
This entertaining and fast-paced read is for anyone looking for a romance with a bit of depth and darkness. Losing My Breath is the emotional story of a man choosing to live, letting himself be loved and finally breaking free from a weighty past. With layered, complex characters grappling with their own histories, conflicting needs and insecurities, J Rose Black has crafted a fascinating romance. The novel shows the tumultuous and multi-layered journey of healing, finding yourself, and realizing that everyone deserves happiness, no matter what they’ve been through — or what they’ve done.
About J Rose Black:
J. Rose Black weaves stories about obsession, redemption, and the transcendental power of love. From her early days writing fanfiction for a passionate following of international readers, to crafting novels with her own characters, Rose has always been drawn to broody protectors and plucky, no-nonsense women ready to fight for what they believe in.
When Rose isn’t deeply immersed in her latest manuscript, she’s working in cyber security and thwarting the next generation of internet bad guys. Out of the office, she’s #Shipping with friends over her favorite, swoon-worthy couples, heading to the gym to battle the great evil that is Unmovable Baby Weight, or complaining about her husband’s addiction to 3D printing. Also: nagging her children to eat something other than cheese.
