Breathe the Sky

By: Michelle Hazen

Narrated by: Brittany Pressley

Two strangers start out saving animals and end up rescuing each other in this heartwarming romance from the author of Unbreak Me.

Mari Tucker is a wildlife biologist who scoops bunnies and endangered tortoises out of harm’s way on construction sites. Still haunted by her past, she takes the most remote jobs in the Mojave Desert to avoid people and hide from her ex. It’s a simple, quiet life filled with sweet animals and solar-powered baking until she ends up assigned to Jack Wyatt’s crew.

Construction foreman Jack Wyatt’s loud, foul-mouthed temper keeps even the most rugged of men on his crew in line. No mistake is overlooked, because out in the desert it could mean life or death. In his opinion, the job site is no place for sensitive biologists, especially one as shy as Mari. But instead of wilting from the heat and hard work, Mari wins over Jack and his crew one homemade brownie at a time.

Jack and Mari find a comfortable rhythm, building a friendship that’s rare for both of them. After Jack’s rocky childhood, they have more in common than they’d imagined. But even the Mojave sun can’t chase away the shadows when the past is determined to track them down…

Critic reviews

"A romance that proves it’s never too late to find love. As always, Hazen’s characters are gorgeously developed and heartbreakingly tragic. The heat of the sun-baked desert is tangible as sweet Mari and gruff Jack find themselves and each other. Beautifully written from beginning to end!"--Kelly Siskind, author of New Orleans Rush

"An achingly beautiful romance that rumbles like a quiet thunder across the desert with the promise that love can reach even the weariest of souls."--Mary Ann Marlowe, author of Some Kind of Magic

"Hazen’s latest (following Unbreak Me, 2019) heart-melting and intensely passionate contemporary romance is a balm for the soul for anyone who has suffered abuse and survived to love again."--Booklist (starred review)

"The slow-burning romance and Hazen’s vivid descriptions of the desert keep the pages turning. This sweet, sensual contemporary is sure to tug at readers’ heartstrings."--Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"Hazen’s (Unbreak Me) heartwarming romance will hook readers from the start with her colorful and well-developed characters. Suggested for readers seeking a new take on contemporary American Western romance."--Library Journal

Slow burner

The book starts out a bit slow. It builds thought, it's like kindling is the only way to describe the story. It starts slow with some sparks that interest you, but then it gets bigger and bigger. It was just overall a really great listen. Brittany Pressley once again does a great job. This is my first read by Michelle Hazen and I can't wait to dig deeper into her library.

Drive the long way so you can listen longer

I love the characters because of their weaknesses, strengths and growth. The story feels intelligent, well researched and engaging. The narrator was fantastic. All around a great listen.

Wonderfully Done

Wonderful from start to finish! From Michelle Hazen's raw, realistic, beautiful prose to Brittany Pressley's spot on narration, BREATHE THE SKY is a story not easily forgotten. Long after your headphones are tucked away, Jack and Mari will linger; their second chance at life and having the strength to grab ahold of happiness and hope will fill readers' hearts.

From the Mojave Desert setting to Hazen's sensitive handling of domestic abuse, BREATHE THE SKY draws readers in, the arid desert, gruff linemen, and dedicated biologists a surprisingly perfect backdrop for two people to see past their expectations and fall in love despite their traumatic pasts.

I soaked up the unlikely friendship between Jack and Mari as it moves towards something more intimate. The dynamics between the gruff Jack and sweet, brownie-making Mari are fantastic. Watching them overcome the their pasts and open their hearts to both friendship and love was inspiring.

5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Revisiting my review...

So I posted an early review of this book, early in that I posted after listening to a section that contained a brief description of animal abuse. It turned me off and I wanted to throw this book back. But I didn't; I didn't because I had high hopes for this book. I'm exhausted by authors who turn out a book every few weeks, to be narrated by the same narrators. Those books lack storylines but have an abundance of erotica. It's old. It's boring. It's not good literature and it's overrated. But this book...once I got past my initial scorn over that one description regarding the animal abuse by an absent character...I got to know the main characters and I fell in love with both.

This book has an actual storyline. I had no idea where I was going in the story, but I was up for the journey. It was refreshing. The characters were well-developed, as was the storyline. I imagine it took time to turn out this book, unlike the books I referenced above (where quantity is more important than quality). This book made me think, it didn't do the thinking for me. This book took me on an adventure and provided me the luxury of using my own imagination instead of having everything spoon-fed to me like other books. I liked the flawed characters. I liked how great care was taken to not use derogatory terms for both male and female parts of the body. The characters in this book were real. The story is relatable.

As someone who writes and edits material every.single.day, I wish other authors would invest as much time and energy into developing storylines and characters such as this author did. I've never heard of this author before, but I'm a fan.