Synopsis:
Breathe in. Breathe out. This mantra gets Tessa Benson through the day.
The man she loves walks all over her, and she just wants to get by without her heart shattering to pieces. If she could find her voice, she'd scream.
Everything changes in one night, when she's snatched from the streets and tied to a bed, a camera setup to capture her dying moment. And the person who paid to watch her die...is still out there somewhere.
Tessa prowls dark neighborhoods in a quest for justice, but she doesn't find the killer. Not until they strike again...in the place Tessa is least expecting, and where it hurts worst.
Review:
Breathe In is the story of Tessa, a young woman that has low self-esteem, a weakness toward letting men walk all over her, and basically a perplexing life. After the guy that she really likes dismisses her, she goes out with a friend to unwind and attempt to find some solitude within herself. But what starts out as a night of fun, quickly turns into a terrifying and deadly situation.
She soon becomes the victim of a kidnapping, torture, and sexual assault. After she manages to escape, filled with anguish and rage, she goes on a mission to find her assailants and exact revenge on them.
This is a fast paced intense thriller that touches on the horrifying sadistic minds of some of the inhumane psychopaths that really do exist in our society today. This fact is one of the reasons why this story is so engrossing, because it could and does happen. Therefore, I found it to be very realistic. With realistic characters and situations.
For those who love this type of thriller, Breathe In, is the perfect book for them.
Personally, I loved it.
However, it may cause some triggers with the theme having to do with so much violence, sexual assault, abuse, torture, humiliation and the PTSD that results from such aggressive attacks on a person.
But, when Tessa finally comes to terms with her painful experience she rises up from the ashes with renewed strength and has a clear advantage.
She finds an inner strength that changes her personality from timid and vulnerable to having a strong voice and the ability to be more resilient and strong.
This story, although it is filled with violence, revenge and mania, is also inspiring in it's own way.
It shows how resilient the human condition is and can be.
Without giving away the whole plot, I will just say that this story is filled with twists and turns. The author, Michelle Bellon, keeps the reader engaged and on the brink of continual anticipation.
The ending is satisfying with a sense of triumph. The readers have now come to understand and accept Tessa, her anger and, basically, the unacceptable actions she takes to survive, find her attackers and impose retribution.
Michelle Bellon has a way with words, defining situations, and pulling this whole together. It has been penned with excellent writing skills and research.
It is an exceptional read. One of the best thrillers I've read to date.
An outstanding work of fiction by Michelle Bellon.
We Highly recommends Breathe In by Michelle Bellon.
