The Breathless Duet Series: "Take a Deep Breath" & "Don't Hold Your Breath"

I have not dabbled a ton into the dark romance genre, however, when I came across a post from L. Taylor talking about her books and looking for ARC readers for book two I was intrigued and wanted to find out more. I applied to ARC read book two and was responded to by the author pretty quickly. We decided it was a good idea to read the first book prior to two as they had recurring characters. A few days later I eagerly dove into Take a Deep Breath, and just a few days later I had already finished reading and reviewing it. I reached out to the author again, thanking her for allowing me the opportunity to read her work and to let her know how I was now anticipating reading book two.

It only took a couple chapters from book one to hook me with the heart shattering but also sweet and spicy vibes that this series gave off. I just knew that the author wouldn't disappoint in Don't Hold Your Breath and I wasn't wrong. I think going into it I had high standards as well because I knew which characters the story would be focusing on, and they were actually my favorite characters from the first installment. Overall I really enjoyed these books and I was happy with the amount of care that L. Taylor has for her readers with an overview of trigger warnings in the very beginning of both books and the amount of soul that she poured into the narratives and characters alike. I look forward to whatever she decides to write next and I just know that it's going to be a wild ride.

The Reviews

“Take a Deep Breath” focuses on the life of newly single mom Annie, as she grapples with the aftermath of her recent tumultuous relationship with her ex husband, and attempts to move forward in life with her young child. One day Annie meets (again), metaphorical knight in shinning armor Casey Easton, when he comes to one of her jobs as a hired hand. This story was absolutely heart shattering for what Annie endured throughout her past and present. However, when MMC Casey is introduced, he shows Annie how he sees her through his eyes. The love portion of this tale was very sweet and also QUITE spicy. I can’t see how any enthusiast of dark romance novels couldn’t love this story. As with any “dark” story, thank you to the author for providing trigger warnings in the beginning. Also, I found the information provided at the end was thoughtful as well. Great story!

Finished Reading On:  February 19, 2025

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“Don’t Hold Your Breath” is the second book in the Breathless Duet series, a dark romance novel, which this time follows Cat and Tommy. This story focuses on their two broken souls, each fighting their own demons from the past and present. When they begin to lean on each other only time will tell what will happen. I loved book two, “Don’t Hold Your Breath” because it really gets down to the nitty gritty of why taking care of your mental health is so important. Also, I really felt a kindred connection with the characters, especially Cat, who won my heart in the first book. This was not just a very spicy read, but it exemplified situations that do take place in the real world with real people who have real problems. This was an ace for me, love it and would recommend to anyone who loves dark romance.

Finished Reading On:  March 16, 2025

Book Information

Author Name: L. Taylor

Publisher Name: Independently Published

Published Date: October 31, 2024 (Book One) & March 28, 2025 (Book Two)

Final Thoughts

   Have you read either book from The Breathless Duet Series? Drop a comment, a rating, and let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading! If you're interested in purchasing this book for yourself, feel free to check out the link below.

To purchase Take a Deep Breath on Amazon: https://a.co/d/3sUulZR

To Purchase Don't Hold Your Breath on Amazon: https://a.co/d/cbrDABO