"Exhale" by Kendall Grey

EXHALE

by KENDALL GREY

COVER DESCRIPTION

The man of Zoe Morgan’s dreams isn’t only real, he’s interested. In her. But her boss wants her too, and is leveraging his unsolicited advances with the threat of blocking the huge promotion she's after. When he places a spy on her research team, the intense stranger discovers more than he should, and Zoe fears hiding a relationship with Gavin Cassidy from her boss is the least of her worries. The whale she must protect has been marked for death, and Zoe's old enemy Scarlet is eager to deliver the killing blow. To both of them.

Australia’s Sentinels must find and lock the door into the Dreaming before Fyre Elementals launch another attack on innocent dreamers. But corruption and distrust abound, and Gavin believes someone on the Sentinel council is in league with the Fyres. As he reluctantly embraces his new role as council leader, Gavin must not only keep Zoe safe from Scarlet's vengeful clutches, but organize a Sentinel defense strong enough to prevent a full-blown Elemental war—with a traitor fighting by his side.

*This book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

**The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.

MY REVIEW 

"Exhale" continues the story begun in Kendall Grey's book "Inhale".  It is the second in a series of three and I enjoyed it more than I did "Inhale".  

by Chinese artist An He

I understood the Elements theme a bit better in this book, which made it easier to follow.  That part of the story hasn't hooked me so far though.  And, like in "Inhale", I wasn't crazy about some of the metaphors in this book. There are other pieces in this book that do have me completely pulled in and eager to read about in "Just Breathe", the last in the series.  In fact, as soon as I finished "Exhale" I downloaded "Just Breathe" to my Kindle and started reading right away.

Zoe and Gavin are so completely, passionately, truly in love.  I may have to have a word with Ms Grey if they don't end up together at the end of "Just Breathe"!  Their desire for each other, the sexual attraction, is smoking hot.  The descriptions of their sexual experiences on a physical, emotional, and mental level pull you in.  I found myself reading faster when things started to heat up and smiling or raising my eyebrows when one said something especially seductive to the other.  

Zoe and Gavin's love story is more than sexual attraction though - part of what makes it so appealing.  They each have obligations outside of their relationship that they have to fulfill.  The theme of the Elements in the story creates its own challenges for their relationship.  They know that although they want each other immensely, there are other considerations and they love each other enough to respect those other considerations.

There is one other character that I must mention - Scarlet.  God help me if I knew the woman it would take everything in me to not smack her upside the head!  She is sexy and gorgeous and conniving and evil to the core.  She has a ravenous appetite and doesn't care what she has to do to satisfy her appetite.  She has many agendas in the story and is one of those characters that you love to hate.

We learn more about both Gavin's and Zoe's families in this story and are introduced to a couple of new characters.  I literally gasped in one scene when there was a revelation about one of these new characters.  A revelation I didn't see coming at all.  

Ms Grey also gives us another very well done ending.  In fact, this one is way better than the one in "Inhale", and I liked the one in "Inhale" very much.  Get out the hanky people!  You're gonna need it!

I admit that I am hooked at this point.  I can't wait to find out what happens with Zoe and Gavin and I hope that Scarlet gets everything she deserves.  And, I can't forget to mention the beautiful story about the whales. It's sweet and touching and I hope they are treated with the grace and respect that such gorgeous creatures deserve as the series winds down.

If you read "Inhale" but haven't read "Exhale", do something about that.  Hold on to your heart.  Be prepared to smile and cry and find yourself giving advice to characters.  "Exhale" is a ride you don't want to miss.   

About the Author

Kendall Grey, word wrangler, whale warrior, wicked wench, and lover of tongue-tripping alliteration, was born without an off-switch between her brain and mouth. She's been called the "Flux Capacitor of Twitter" (@kendallgrey1) and "A little package of love all wrapped up in F-word paper," but she's really just a maniacal writer relaying eyewitness accounts of the rave inside her head. She writes urban fantasy with strong romantic elements and also dabbles in erotica and horror on occasion.

Kendall lives off a dirt road near Atlanta, Georgia, but don't hold that against her.

You can connect with her here:

justbreathenovels.com
kendallgrey.com

Sunday Relaxation

Don't you love Sundays?  They are made for resting.  They're all about sleeping in, sipping coffee while reading the paper (or your favorite blog :)), and afternoon naps. 

What is a Sunday without a good comic strip?  Calvin and Hobbes? (Thank you to the folks at gocomics.com btw!)

Ha! I think kids really do learn this lesson! I think some spouses are guilty of it from time to time as well!

I keep my eyes open through the week for simple beauty that I can share with you on a Sunday.  I just loved this video. The music is Awakening (Cosmic Sea) by Liquid Mind.  The incredible images are courtesy of ESA, NASA and the Hubble Telescope. It's even better if you can watch it on full screen.

  
One more before we part.  Ms Kendall Grey's book piqued my interest in whales.  They look gorgeous, move with grace and create beautiful songs.  This video is from the Oceania Project - an independent, non-profit research organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and the oceans.

  

Hope I brought a little humor and beauty to your day.  Enjoy the rest of your Sunday! 

Awe-Inspiring Humpbacks

Established in 1988, The Oceania Project is an independent, non-profit research organization dedicated to the conservation and protection of whales, dolphins and the oceans. The first phase of a long-term study of the East Australian Humpback Whales has been the major work of The Oceania Project.  They produced the video above.

As I look for beauty in the world one place I find it regularly is in nature.  

The magnificent creature in the videos and pictures in this post is a male humpback whale. Both male and female humpback whales vocalize but it's the  males that produce the beautiful, long songs that are among the most awe-inspiring sounds on earth.  Males can sing continuously for up to 24 hours. They don't have vocal cords, but rather force air through their nasal cavities to produce their songs.

Scientists hypothesize that they may sing to attract females or challenge other males.  They sing a different song during feeding season - one that lures fish into their bubble nets.  

Humpbacks are wondrous creatures.  They move with grace and have an almost human look in their eyes.  They seem to have personalities and behave in a manner that exhibits teaching, learning, cooperating, scheming, and grieving. Not to mention their songs that go straight to my heart.  

Here's one more video for your enjoyment. It demonstrates their beauty, intelligence and ability to cooperate.  So fascinating.

If you would like to view more videos of whales The Oceania Project has a YouTube channel with a very nice selection. You can get there by clicking here.

INHALE

BY KENDALL GREY

*This book contains language as well as violent and sexual content that may not be suitable for those under the age of 18"

"Inhale" is the story of two people, each dealing with the guilt of literally not saving someone dear to them.  Zoe is passionate about whales and pure of heart.  Gavin is hot and edgy and empty inside.  When they meet it's head-spinning, can't-see-straight, rock-my-world love.  There are a couple of catches, however. Zoe thinks Gavin is just part of her dreams, and Gavin is afraid to tell her the dangerous truth that it’s all real.

"Inhale" is about human nature.  It's about acknowledging all facets of ourselves as people and learning to balance it all. It's a story about the danger of imbalance.

There are many things I enjoyed about this book. I fell in love with both main characters.  Zoe is beautiful inside and out.  Her love for whales is touching.  She is strong and determined and absolutely crazy about Mr Perfect (her nickname for Gavin) in her dreams.

Gavin is a gorgeous rock star with a good heart.  He has more power than he wants to admit and he falls truly, madly, deeply in love with Zoe.  He realizes though that she has an important role to play in impending disaster in the Dreaming, a role he doesn't want her to play because doing so puts her very life at risk.  

This is a beautiful story in many ways, but there were a couple of things that bothered me.

One was the Dreaming World.  I eventually caught on to it somewhat, but there were portions of the story that took place in the Dreaming that confused me.  I get the overall concept, but some of the action just didn't click in my  head for some reason.  I read another book recently in which the main character alternated between worlds.  I never got confused in that one.  I could picture the other worlds and the events that took place in them, but I couldn't always do that with "Inhale".

The other thing that bothered me was some of the metaphors.  There were many that were clever or made me laugh, but there were also many that I felt were weak or over-the-top.

One complaint I have about a few books I've read recently - weak endings. I don't want a few short, unimaginative paragraphs that neatly wrap everything up.  I don't want a cliche ending with dialogue and action that my 12 year old could write.  Give me some emotion.  Make me smile and nod my head with heartfelt satisfaction.  Or make me scream at the book "that can't be the end!" Make me cry!  Please don't give me a quick, simple happily-ever-after ending that requires no creativity on your part.  

To Ms Grey - Thank you, thank you, thank you for a wonderful ending.  We get into Gavin's head and heart.  His relationship with Zoe takes a significant step.  The last chapter has many sweet spots.  There is a beautiful story line throughout the book that is related to a wooden bird that Gavin received as a child.  That story line has a very pleasant turn at the end of the book.  Well done Ms Grey.  Very well done.  Thank you.

Book Cover Descripton

After years of suffocating under her boss’s scrutiny, whale biologist Zoe Morgan finally lands a job as director of a tagging project in Hervey Bay, Australia. Success Down Under all but guarantees her the promotion of a lifetime, and Zoe won’t let anything—or anyone—stand in her way. Not the whale voices she suddenly hears in her head, not the ex who won’t take no for an answer, and especially not the gorgeous figment of her imagination who keeps saving her from the fiery hell of her dreams.

Gavin Cassidy hasn’t been called to help a human Wyldling in over a year, which is fine by him. Still blaming himself for the death of his partner, he keeps the guilt at bay by indulging in every excess his rock star persona affords. That is, until he’s summoned to protect Zoe from hungry Fyre Elementals and learns his new charge is the key to restoring order in the dying Dreaming. He never expects to fall for the feisty Dr. Morgan…nor does he realize he may have to sacrifice the woman he loves to save an entire country.

*This book contains graphic language, sex, and violence. Not suitable for readers under the age of 18.

**The author will donate all profits from the sale of the JUST BREATHE trilogy to programs that educate people about whales and the challenges they face.

About the Author

Kendall Grey, word wrangler, whale warrior, wicked wench, and lover of tongue-tripping alliteration, was born without an off-switch between her brain and mouth. She's been called the "Flux Capacitor of Twitter" (@kendallgrey1) and "A little package of love all wrapped up in F-word paper," but she's really just a maniacal writer relaying eyewitness accounts of the rave inside her head. She writes urban fantasy with strong romantic elements and also dabbles in erotica and horror on occasion.

Kendall lives off a dirt road near Atlanta, Georgia, but don't hold that against her.

justbreathenovels.com
kendallgrey.com