Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen Published by Berkley Books: Penguin Random House Publication Date: August 18, 2020
Pages: 336
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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…
Cocktails and Books received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect our opinion of the book or the content of our review.
Breathe the Sky is an emotional and original story line with characters that are interesting and multi dimensional. Jack and Mari both come from tortured pasts that are still with them, even though they are trying to move forward and forget.
Mari and Jack are two totally different people who are brought together working on the same job site. Jack puts up power lines in the hot desert, which is not an easy job. Mari is an on site biologist working to keep the endangered species safe. The job is tough and hot and there are not too many women doing what Mari does.
Jack is tactless and impatient with everyone. He only has one goal: get the job done quickly and efficiently. At first Jack scares Mari as he yells and shouts at her and everyone else. Since Jack has a hard time communicating, he finds yelling easier. He doesn’t understand why everyone isn’t as smart as he is and he is impatient when they make a mistake.
Even though Jack and Mari are different from each other, they share a kinship because they have both known trauma and abuse. Underneath Jack’s gruff demeanor, is a kind man and Mari seems to bring out the best in him. This is a beautiful story about two people who find one another and help each other move forward, heal and find love.
