A secret baby and a second chance.From troubled teen to successful contractor, Jake Nichols is used to starting over. From childhood to his recent divorce, he’s a pro at making the best of things.Phoebe Ward thought she’d never see her first love again. Until a client meeting brings her face to face with the sexy man … who is the father of her child.After all these years, they finally have the … these years, they finally have the opportunity to finish their story—if they can find their faith in a happy ending.
* This book was formerly called Breathe. No changes from original.
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Phoebe and Jake
This book is the perfect summer read, be it on a beach, on a vacation or in your backyard/deck. So nice for a great couple to find each other again.
4.5*
I could not put this book down once I started it. Well written and very entertaining.
I was really excited and couldn’t wait to read about the next sister Phoebe and what was happening in her life. Phoebe is at a foster home and meets Jake. They get closer and spend a night together which gets Jake thrown out of the home and back into group. Now 11 years later she is a real estate agent and has a child called Jamie. Off to a house to check on the work she is shocked to meet Jake and all those fears and feelings come flooding back.
Jake is shocked to see phoebe and although divorced with a daughter some feelings are still there. Phoebe is holding a secret and doesn’t seem to have the courage to tell Jake until a chance meeting at a pizza restaurant. With the news he has a son, his anger at Phoebe’s boss and with his ex wife acting up, Jake and Phoebe get their second chance at love and everything to go with it? A fantastic read from start to finish. I can’t wait for Juliette book now. I received this book as an advanced reader copy.
Breathe is a steamy romance filled with heart-ache and where love gets a second chance.
Jake and Phoebe meet as teenagers in foster home. She is a sweet girl, abandoned by her mother and separated from her younger sister. He is a rebellious teenager, troublemaker and explosive personality. They engage in something stronger than a simple friendship and this results in their separation.
Years later they meet again and this strong passion that has stood the test of time can have a second chance. But there is a lot of baggage between them. Phoebe created Jamie, a smart eleven-year-old boy, the fruit of that love. Jake is a mature man of moderate personality who has an ex-wife, Lindsay, and is the father of a six-year-old girl, Callie.
Despite her insecurities Phoebe is a strong and determined woman. She can be sweet, sensitive and understanding while putting herself firmly to protect her child and her heart. And her dignity in the face of sexual harassment.
The chemistry and love between Jake and Phoebe obviously did not die. It is more alive than ever. But the baggage they carry can disrupt this happy ending. While Jake is totally sure that she wants Phoebe back in her life and forever, the protagonist has many caveats about this involvement and fear of suffering in the future. And Lindsay’s behavior does not help much.
Although all of Phoebe’s fears and reservations, which theoretically would make the plot slow and actionless, the narrative occurs naturally. With some pleasant surprises and warm-hearted scenes. The ending is cliché, but it is nevertheless full of tenderness. Suitable for those who enjoy a cute book, without many surprises and twists.
Actual Rating 3.70
I can say that I definitely liked Phoebe’s book. It could be that I’m a huge sucker for a second chance romance, because I definitely wanted Phoebe to get back with her childhood love and father of her son Jamie. It was clear to see that Jake and Phoebe never got over each other and were still very much in love. This scared Phoebe a bit and brought to light a fear of people she loved leaving her. Not to mention Phoebe was very protective of her son. It was great seeing Jake get to know Jamie. I liked how persistent Jake was when trying to spend time with Phoebe and see if there could be something more with her. Jake also has some baggage since he’s divorced and has a little girl of his own. His ex-wife hasn’t gotten the hint that they are never getting back together.
This was a cute book. I definitely liked Phoebe and Jake. You see Phoebe confiding in her sister for guidance which was great. It showed how close the sisters really are. Even though its not a long book, I still really enjoyed it.
A warm, gentle and well written second-chance romance
I first met Phoebe in the first Rosewood Bay book, Fearless , and was intrigued enough to want to read her story. This can very much be read as a stand alone, any information needed to enjoy the story is included in this book. I’ve read a few books now by Carly Phillips so I know that, even if it isn’t a 5 star read, it will still be a book that I will enjoy and want to finish.
This is a wonderful second-chance romance about Phoebe and Jake, who fell in love as teenagers in care, only to be ripped apart. Soon after Phoebe was rescued by and offered a home with her aunt. She left care with more than battered emotions, she left it pregnant with her son. Many years later Jack and Phoebe meet again and discover their emotions are just as strong as they ever were. Can they overcome their time spent apart, the hurdles life throws at them and their own fears and hang-ups, and find their HEA?
Jake and Phoebe are both very pleasant and likeable characters, with a strong connection and intense chemistry. Since this is second-chance I didn’t mind how rapidly they connected and fell in love. The plot moves with good pace and had some nice little twists in it. The story is fairly low on angst and drama, resulting in a pleasant and relaxing read.
If you’re a fan of Ms Phillips, or looking for a well written, stress-free contemporary romance then I’m sure you would enjoy this. It does have a some quite steamy scenes, though not to many to distract from the plot.
I was honored to read the ARC of this book. I have to tell you, I had mixed emotions going into it. Although I enjoyed Fearless, I didn’t love it. But I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved Breathe! I was completely sucked into Phoebe Ward’s story. Now I have to continue the series to see what happens with Freed, Juliette Collins’ story! (She’s the third sister…)
The first thing written in the blurb for Breathe is “Fall in love with the Wards…” I have to tell you, I did! I totally did! Breathe was a story that was kind of predictable, but the journey was such a joy to go on.
In Breathe, we read Phoebe Ward’s love story with the father of her son, Jake Nichols. I loved these two together. I really feel like Jake complete Phoebe. Although Phoebe is one strong woman, Jake loves her completely. He allows her to let her guard down and be her. And he was so good with their son!
My one complaint, the ending seemed rushed to me. I would have liked to have a bit more of their story. There wasn’t a nice, neat bow to wrap this story in. But if that was the only thing wrong with it, then I would have to say that Carly Phillips gave us a winner with this one!
If you haven’t started this series, I would urge you to start. Although Breathe can totally be read as a standalone. I am weird when it comes to series. I have to read every book! But Carly has done a great job allowing Breathe and Fearless as standalones.
Thank you, Carly, for these characters. It was an afternoon well spent reading their story!
I love a good second chance romance and this book fit that bill and even threw in a secret baby! There is a little drama thrown but no so much as to pull away from the romance that Jake and Phoebe are rediscovering. I love being able to sit down to read and forget life for a while, Ms. Phillips gave me that with this book!
4 Stars
This is book #2 of the Rosewood Bay series and it follows “Fearless.” This is Phoebe Ward’s (Hally’s sister’s) story. We learn a little about Phoebe’s experience growing up in Foster Care, where she was in a home with another Foster Child, Jake. Jake was hot-tempered as a teen, but found peace when he was around Phoebe. Jake gets kicked out of the home, when the Foster Parents find out about his relationship with Phoebe. Jake & Phoebe get separated, then her Aunt Joy finds her, adopts her, and then Phoebe tells her Aunt she’s pregnant. She’s 16, but with Aunt Joy’s help, she has the baby.
12 years later as she’s overseeing the renovations of a house for a friend, she runs into Jake, who’s doing the construction. The book then begins their second chance story, Phoebe letting Jake know she had his child (a son named Jamie), and what Jake’s been up to since he last saw her.
I loved Fearless & couldn’t wait to read this. It was a nice story but there are pieces to it that just seem rushed or not necessary. After finding out he has a son, he goes to his mother’s house (?) to tell her. There’s no more mention of his mother meeting Jamie or Phoebe in the story after this revelation. Phoebe has a few confrontations with 2 different people but they’re handled surprisingly quick & easy, even though they were leading you to believe something with a little more drama could happen.
I’m a big Carly Phillips fan, but I loved Fearless more than Breathe. I am looking forward to the next book in this series!
“Breathe” was a delightfully sweet second chance romance.
It was such an easy read that was so easy to connect and get lost in.
As a rule, I’m not a big fan of second chance love stories but with this one; I just couldn’t help but get pulled right into the excellent narrative and easy emotion that was portrayed between these pages.
Both Phoebe and Jake were so easy to warm to and I really loved the way these two were such excellent role models for there children.
Both have been dealt crappy cards in life and have made choices that have impacted them greatly, but in doing so have also learned lessons from this and have moved forward with both maturity and a fresh outlook; despite leftover understandable baggage.
a Truly commendable characteristic.
In fact, the only negative observation I found myself observing about “Breathe” was that I wasn’t a great fan of the ex-wife’s inclusion here.
And I really did think that Jake should have stepped up to the mark more and maybe stopped treating his ex Lindsay with such Kid gloves.
I know she was the mother of his child and all but it had been four years.
long enough, in my opinion, to call someone out on there totally unreasonable behaviour.
Got to say also that I really loved the cover on this one; truly eye-catching.
So, in conclusion, this was a fantastic romantic read and if you have sweet tooth well this one’s for you.
Thank You to the Author for providing me with an ARC of ” Breathe (Rosewood Bay, #2)” of which I have reviewed voluntary.
All opinions expressed are entirely my own.
4 Finding Your Lost Love Stars!!!
This is the second book in the Rosewood Bay series and I really loved everything about this book. It’s second chances, single parents and when it’s all said and done, a forever love neither Jake or Phoebe thought they’d find…again!
Both Jake and Phoebe grew up in the foster system and both are determined to prove that they’re so much more than their troubled backgrounds. They fell in love as children with consequences that last a lifetime. Jake is strong and intelligent and while his marriage may have failed, he’s a spectacular dad! And Phoebe, she’s a strong and independent woman that will do anything she can for her little boy. She never thought she’d see his father again…until that fateful day they’re working on the same project.
Ms. Phillips did such a great job of writing a story that is heartwarming, sexy, sweet and touching. It’s an easy read that will touch your heart in all the right ways!!
The second book in the Rosewood Bay series, I haven’t read the first and although you can tell in the story there are references to what happened in the previous book in here it was quite easy to read as a standalone without having read book 1.
The was a delightfully sweet second chance romance, a real easy read that had me engrossed from the word go.
Phoebe and Jake were in the foster system together at 16, she ended up pregnant and he got kicked out and she was unable to find him. Fast forward 11 yrs and she ends up meeting him through business, never dreaming she would ever see her son’s father again, unaware he is a dad!
Jake has had a rough few years since getting kicked out of his foster home – but he’s getting there, now in business, divorced but with a 6 yr old daughter with an ex wife who just won’t let him go. Never did he expect to meet Phoebe again, the girl he never got over, his heart still belongs to her, and he will do anything to not let her go again.
Thoroughly recommended, I loved this story and how it played out – sweet, romantic, a little bit of angst and a bit steamy in places, a lovely read!
Breathe is the 2nd book in Carly Phillips’ Rosewood Bay series. I actually never read book 1 so I can say with full confidence that this book IS a standalone. With that said, I’m intrigued enough to read Fearless (book 1) now.
Phoebe Ward met and fell in love with Jake Nichols when they were both placed in the same foster home as young teenagers. Jake was pulled from their foster home just before Phoebe realized she was pregnant with his son. Now Jake is divorced with a daughter of his own and fate throws he and Phoebe together years later. Will they be able to overcome all the obstacles in their way and become a family after all?
NICUnurse’s Rating: I’ve read several of Carly Phillips’ books in the past and while I liked this book, it just seemed to lack a lot of the angst and big drama that I have come to expect from her books. I realize that’s not always a bad thing, but Breathe left me feeling kind of like… “That was it?!” So I’m giving it 4 stars. The story was good, the writing was good, the characters were good… it all was good. But for me, it just was… good and not the 4.5-5 stars that I’ve felt in the past with this author’s other books. With that said, remember I’m just one person. And this is just MY opinion. So why not give it a shot and see what YOU think? Maybe Breathe will be your next 5 star read.
I enjoyed Breathe, the second book in the Rosewood Bay series by Carly Phillips
We had been introduced to Phoebe in Fearless, book one of the series, but I enjoyed getting to know her and Jamie more in her own book.
Phoebe had a pretty tough upbringing, only brightened by her relationship with Jake until that ended and then she was rescued from foster care by her aunt. She’s a really strong character, a teen mom who has raised a really great, well adjusted little boy, she was accepting of her life and where it was going until she ran into Jake again.
I liked that he was determined to be a part of her life again and was patient enough to give her time and a little space to get used to him being back and together they made a great couple.
Jake was a great guy, he’d screwed up as a teen but had gotten his head and life straightened out and was doing well for himself. He has a little girl from with his ex and she is his life, until he runs into Phoebe again….. little realising that she’s gonna change his life in more ways than one! Regardless of how he found out that he was the father of her son, he adapted well and I thought the relationship between him and Jamie was so relaxed and right!
I loved that the connection between her and Jake was still there and that they were as connected now as they had been as teens but the drama with his ex-wife bugged me and for that reason, I didn’t love this instalment of the series!!!
I’m looking forward to the third book in the series, asides from finding out more about their little sister, I can’t wait to see what’s happening with Phoebe, Jake & Jamie as well as Halley & Kane
I’m giving Breathe 4*..
Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team
Mary Jo –
Another book that I stayed up until 2 a.m. just to finish.
Phoebe’s life has been one of loss and heartbreak, and of love. She lost her parents when she was young, one to death and one to addiction. She lost her first love to the system – foster care. She found love in her son, the one she made with Jake, her lost love.
Jake has never forgotten Phoebe. He’s tried to move on. He married, had a daughter, and got divorced. He knew that he didn’t love his wife as deeply as he once loved Phoebe and so did his ex-wife. But he’s determined to do his best by his daughter and be the best father he can be.
Finding Phoebe again is a second chance he never thought he’d get. Finding out he has a son is as devastating as it is a blessing. He’s missed so many years with Jamie and feels as he’s let the child down even though he didn’t know about him.
The book has it all and I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
Ruthie –
This is the second book in the series and follows the fortunes of Halley’s sister, Phoebe. I would recommend that you read Fearless first as it sets the scene for how Phoebe comes to be living by her aunt and bringing up her son, Jamie, alone.
I liked that Phoebe is in a place that she has the strength of character to have made a good life for herself and her son. She never forgot her first love, so meeting him again as the contractor on a building site is a major shock. It is fascinating seeing how these two people find their way back together, tackling the decisions that kept them apart, and the life choices which will affect their future. Jake, all grown up, is a man who finally may get his heart’s desire, but he has quite a few hurdles to overcome to be trusted – and I think that his attitude and approach is well written.
We also get to catch up with Halley and Kane, and any fan of this couple will enjoy their inclusion. There is also a hint that their lost baby sister may finally return to the fold too – which is great news.
Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Breath (Rosewood Bay #2) by Carly Phillips to read and review.
This was a great, quick read! I enjoyed the reunited love aspect of the story, and there was the perfect amount of drama (even though I wanted to shake Jake a few times and give him a little guidance on handling a certain secondary character, but it all worked out perfectly in the end). Phoebe was a great heroine, who had her insecurities but didn’t let them bother her too much. A great read I would definitely recommend!!!
4.5 Stars!
Who doesn’t love a Second Chance Romance? The thought of losing, for whatever reason, the person you were meant to be with and much later having another opportunity to reconnect, touches my soft spot. And a secret child thrown into the mix is just a huge bonus, to an already great premise. Breathe, the second book in the Rosewood Bay series, makes for a sweet and emotionally charged HEA story that ends in a perfect epilogue.
Phoebe and Jake met while they were both in foster care and fell in love. Unfortunately, Jake was sent away after they were discovered in a compromising situation, just before Phoebe’s wealthy Aunt Joy found her and became her legal guardian. Phoebe begged her aunt to find Jake, after discovering she was pregnant at sixteen, but was told the private investigator was unable to find him.
Now, eleven years later, what are the chances of running into each other, on a job they’ll be spending time together on? Phoebe is hesitant to let Jake know he has a son, unsure of how the news will go over. It seems like Fate had a hand in bringing them together, something Jake is certain of.
“It’s always been you,” he said, looking into her eyes. “It always will be.”
Phoebe was always plagued with insecurities; having grown up believing she wasn’t wanted or loved, thrown away, and these feeling have a way of sneaking up on her and doubting Jake could truly love her, still. It’s a good thing her sister is on hand to give her advice, and a good shaking, when she’s feeling fearful.
“But I can tell you being alone, by choice because you’re afraid, hurts just as much if not more than taking a risk and actually getting hurt.”
I loved this story! I’m looking forward to reading about Juliette, their youngest sister, who was lost to the Ward siblings when they were so young.
Breathe is the second book in the Rosewood Bay Series. A second chance meeting of your first love, and the father of your son. Phoebe Ward is shocked to see Jake Nichols is the foreman for the renovations on a house she is selling. Phoebe never stopped loving Jake – will she finally get a chance at getting her HEA. If Jake has anything to say he will get his HEA with the love of his life – Phoebe. There are obstacles they must overcome, but together as a unit they can do anything!
I truly enjoyed getting to know more about Phoebe and Jake, and watching how they handle being together again after their separation, and the work that goes into getting their HEA. I volunteered to review an Advance Reader Copy of this book.