When investigator Gabriel Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell–a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case … solve the case that haunts her–the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.
When Anissa’s fractured past collides with Gabe’s investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they’ll have to put their complicated history with each other aside in order to uncover the identity of a killer. What they’ll discover is that revenge has no statute of limitations.
Award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn closes out her nail-biting Dive Team Investigations series with a story that will have you wondering how long you can hold your breath.
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Lynn Blackburn does it again. One Final Breath is full of heart-stopping suspense with a clear, inspirational message. What a satisfying grand finale to the series.
Past and present may destroy their future…
I have to start of with a tiny confession. As much as I loved the first two books in the Dive Team Investigations series, it was Gabe and Anissa’s story that I was really waiting for. And, wow, One Final Breath is exactly what romantic suspense is made of. It has all of the best elements in the genre, murder, kidnapping, secrets from the past, sabotage, betrayal, revenge, and plenty of romantic sparks between our hero and heroine, blended together by the expert pen of Lynn H. Blackburn into into a single cohesive story.
There is so much I’d like to say about One Final Breath but I don’t want to spoil the story for you. How about I just mention a few reasons why I liked this book and am sorry it’s the last book in the Dive Team Investigations series. I loved the return to some of the more traditional elements of suspense. It was so much fun to get to dive into the thoughts and emotions of two characters who are tough and strong but surprisingly vulnerable. Lynn H. Blackburn’s writing was solid, her characters compelling, and the mystery elements just right.
Dive Team Investigations has been a great series, one that you should probably read in order for them to make the most sense, and I’m sorry to be saying goodbye to them in One Final Breath. If you love romantic suspense you should definitely check out any of Lynn H. Blackburn’s books, and especially this series.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
This series put Blackburn on my auto-buy authors list, and One Final Breath did not disappoint! Loved, LOVED Gabe and Anissa’s story! Work kept me from reading this in one sitting like I would have preferred, but I definitely lost sleep over it! Fantastic book and a great conclusion to a great series!
Well, the final book delivered much like books one and two! AMAZINGLY!! This author always has me pulled into the story right away. Yep – this was a one day read for me again. I. Could. Not. Put. It. Down!! I knew I had it figured out early in the book.
And then I didn’t! The tale was so intricately woven in and out, that it kept me guessing the “who dun it?” all the way through.
The book is fine as a stand alone book – but do yourself a favor and read the series. This book just put that cherry on top of a perfectly-suspenseful sundae!
Disclaimer: I did receive an ARC from Revell Books, a Division of Baker Publishing Group with no expectation in return. However, the comments and opinions above are my own and I chose to share.
This is the third and final book in the Dive Team Investigations series by Ms. Blackburn. Although this was my first book in the series to read, it was still a captivating read. This is a standalone book; however, I would recommend starting at the beginning of the series. The characters were well developed and intriguing for me, the storyline kept me turning the pages to find out what was next for Anissa and Gabe.
I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.
A breathtaking finale
The Dive Team Investigations series has come to a breathtaking conclusion with the release of One Final Breath. Wow! What an adventure! I have loved the couples in each of these stories. That they all played a significant role throughout the series made it all the more enjoyable.
This exciting finale starts with a bang as the six friends were relaxing on Leigh’s deck. When they hear an unnatural explosion mixed in with lightning from the storm, followed by a cry for help, Gabe, Anissa, and Ryan grab the boat to make a rescue. And discover that a murder has taken place.
I don’t recall reading about the process the dive teams used as they scour the bed of the lake in the previous books, at least not as a pair. Watching Gabe and Anissa work the grid together in an attempt to discover the murder weapon in a body of water so murky they could barely see each other was fascinating.
Having worked together for years, their growing attraction was no surprise to anyone, except perhaps to Anissa. When both Gabe’s and Anissa’s lives are found to be in danger, the way they determined to help the other was touching and sweet!
Despite having close relationships with God, neither Gabe nor Anissa felt like they deserved a relationship or that they knew how to make one work. As they worked together and delved deeper into the mystery surrounding the murder, they learned a great deal about the depth of God’s redemptive power in their lives.
Mr. Cook, a friend of Anissa’s family, introduced in Beneath the Surface as a man of prayer, continued to mentor the dive team and show them the love of the Lord and to help them see things more clearly. I think I’ve grown to love him more through each book! One of the great things about his prayers shown in this story is the way it was such a natural conversation with the Lord that would spring out of a conversation with others or end in a conversation, as if He were standing right there. Oh! Wait! He is, isn’t He?!
As with this author’s other stories in the Dive Team Investigations series, events that might have been made gory and macabre were kept clean, with only the most necessary of details mentioned. The mood, despite the heart issues being worked on, remained suspenseful yet hopeful and not depressing.
While each book does stand alone, now that all the stories are available, lovers of Christian romantic suspense can greatly enrich their reading experience by reading them as a series!
Read my review of One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
This book was so good! It was the perfect amount of romance and suspense! I loved getting to know more about Gabe and Anissa. I didn’t want to put it down! I was so hooked into this story! This book made me laugh and shed a few tears. I highly recommend this book and this series!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
“For his part, Gabe was looking at her the way an astronaut looks at Earth. Like he could see his home but couldn’t quite reach it.”
Another intense, thrilling romantic suspense from Lynn H Blackburn! And this third book in the Dive Team Investigations series was so worth the wait to finally get the scoop on Anissa and Gabe. Though it can be read as a stand-alone, reading the books in order will make the most sense since the six main characters of the series are closely tied together and each story blends into the next.
The author really knows how to weave a great plot with twists and turns, interjecting the villain’s thoughts and actions every so often as the story unfolds. The action is fast-paced and the suspense is top notch, as is her writing. The characters are layered, complex, and captivating. We’ve met Anissa and Gabe previously through the first two books but their past and what propelled them to become who they are get illuminated in this book. Anissa, the daughter of a missionary who is tough and efficient, regrets mistakes of her past and is still trying to find resolution to the kidnapping of a toddler that happened when she was a college student. Gabe, a man with a broken home and past, is usually a light-hearted jokester but strives to help those who are suffering as he had in his youth. When supposedly unrelated homicides converge, Anissa and Gabe are left to work together professionally but also to work through their long-held attraction. Their banter and slow-building romance are quite delightful as are the supporting characters who provide godly wisdom.
If you enjoy romantic suspense, this book (and the entire series) is a must-read!
I received a copy of the book from Revell and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
One Final Breath is the third book in the Dive Team Investigation series by Lynn H. Blackburn.
We get to see what Gabe Chavez and Anissa Bell encounter to mend their relationship. This couple has had a very rocky start. Anissa is the Dive team captain and was not pleased when Gabe could not keep up with the training exercises because he was undercover. But the situation is about to change as their joint history is explained and Anissa’s background is revealed.
While at their team member’s and friend’s house on Lake Porter, the team hears a shot and a shout for help. In the darkness, they rescue a teen and keep a body from being lost in the lake. Quite an opening! The whole team and their friends work together to find out who killed a young man. The clues seem to go in different directions until they find a common thread in Anissa. Can they figure it out before she takes her One Final Breath?
The plot has you savoring every page for the twisty plot, the great romance and the way the author weaves spiritual threads throughout the story. The crossover bit with Brady St. John from Lynette Eason ‘s Blue Justice series was great! ( I finished reading them a few weeks ago).
This series makes Lynn Blackburn an author to watch. She conveys the story with believable and exciting situations. Her characters are not perfect but find their strength in God.
*A copy of this book was provided by Revel Publishers through Interviews and Reviews. I was under no obligation to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
This book is fantastic! The suspense is spot on, the romance is delightful, the playfulness is fun! I loved everything about it. Oh and I absolutely adored the friendships throughout this series. I cannot wait to see what Lynn Blackburn comes up with next!
This is the first book in this series I read, I am sure I missed a ton and after reading this book will definitely be going and reading the other books in this series. This book literally keeps you guessing from the beginning to the end. I really enjoyed this book and could not put it down. The suspense and the story between Anissa and Gabe was so good. I liked how the author didn’t rush the relationship but just let it grow. I loved Liz she and Brooke where a different element for the story but equally amazing. This book was a good clean read and is so worth the read. I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion.
Where has Lynn Blackburn been all of my life? She is easily one of my new favorite authors. She has a pizazz in her writing that I haven’t nailed down yet, but it is definitely my style. She is on the immediate pre-order list.
The Dive Team Investigators series has just been more outstanding with every book. I was so excited to “dive in” to Gabe and Anissa’s story, and I was not disappointed. Murder, kidnapping, mistaken identity, and mysterious pasts, each new revelation will keep you turning the pages until the wee hours. The romance was tender, well-paced, and true to what we know about the characters. The suspense hit you from tons of different angles and constantly kept you guessing on what would happen next. There were a few moments when I was craving more information about both Anissa and Gabe. I felt some was withheld too long and some was never shared at all. Gabe is a character that really intrigued me, and I wish we’d spent a little more time with him. Maybe we’ll see more Gabe in future Blackburn books! I’m really sad to say farewell to this group, but look forward to what Lynn is plotting out next!
I was given an early copy of this manuscript through NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. (I also purchased this book on audible.)
This is book three in the Dive Team Investigations but you can enjoy it even if you’ve not read the first two. There are three cases being investigated at the same time. One in which Anissa’s best friend was murdered and a three year old was abducted. A young teenage boy was shot and killed while swimming in a lake and Anissa is being pursued and followed by an unknown source. Anissa is head of the dive team and Gabe, once an undercover investigator, is now trying to help her find resolution to these crimes. Anissa’s supervisor is pushing really hard for these to be solved but there is so much to be uncovered. And of course there is no way they could possibly be tied together. Really?
This novel kept me holding my breath at times but not because I was underwater. So much mystery, so much heart pounding suspense. I didn’t want to use a cliche but it truly is a story that will keep you up late into the night turning pages as you try and read faster and faster. And there is a reason for the title but not what you might think…umm.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise. All opinions are my own.
One Final Breath is the third book in the Dive Team Investigations Series by Lynn Blackburn. When investigator Gabe had his cover blown by a reporter, the silver lining was that he wanted rejoin the dive team, however dive team captain Anissa, a woman who frustrates him.
Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and planned on returning to after college. She decided to stay stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her- the murder of her best friend and. However when Anissa and Gabe’s past collides when the are at a party and hear a shot on the lake. They must put aside their love, hate relationship while they search for the person who killed a boy in Lake Porter. They slowly discover that their feelings are starting to change towards each other. Will they be able to put aside their differences and work as a team?
Anissa and Gabe have a love hate relationship, while they try and search for the person who killed a boy in Lake Porter. They must put aside their differences to work as a team while they search for clues. They slowly discover that their feelings are starting to change towards each other. Will they be able to work together and not let their past get in the way?
We are all flawed and love how the author showed that the characters struggled, but they stood firm in their faith.
I received a copy of the book from Revell in exchange for an honest opinion.
Lynn Blackburn has returned for the last hurrah for her Dive Team series, #3, One Final Breath. Gabe Chavez and Anissa Bell rise to the foreground on this novel, falling for each other while trying to escape painful pasts.
The rest of the team is back, fleshing out the character list and bringing love, amusement, and memories from former books. Which leads me to relate that this novel is quite capable of being a standalone; it’s just sweeter when the reader can identify with the backstory presented.
The friendship and camaraderie of the dive team and their significant others really impressed me. Between the locale, the season, and the warm atmosphere the friends create, life was almost idyllic…
Until it wasn’t. Then life was frantic, uncertain, vomiting past terrifying experiences up in front of those who most needed to remain calm and collected.
Paisley Wilson is an interesting character to watch. The reader won’t know what to make of Gabe’s arch-nemesis who is suddenly very much a part of this case.
If the romance, intrigue, and suspense aren’t enough motivation, Mr. Cook returns and is a great reason to read this book. Everyone needs a Mr. Cook in their lives! He prays his way through adversity and sees much more than is actually visible.
Get this book and dive deep into some great suspense.
I received this book from the author through Revell and NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are solely my own.
Gabe and Anissa have the best banter! Their relationship is packed with complexities from the workplace to being friends of dating friends to their individually reluctant stance on romance. Gabe’s tender heart wrapped in a workaholic get-it-done mentality is completely endearing. He’s an underdog hero who infuses life with humor. Anissa has pit-bull tenacity, compassion, and mad dive skills to boot! Her loyalty, strength, and faith make her a top-notch investigator and friend.
Blackburn has created a perfect balance of suspense, romance, and authentic faith elements in this story! I’ve completely fallen in love with these characters and look forward to revisiting them in future rereads! I highly recommend the Dive Team Investigations series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Wow! I’m not sure how else to word my thoughts once I reached the end of this book. The suspense, the romance, Gabe….. need I say more? Blackburn certainly knows how to write a good story that makes readers unable to put the book down. That was me – I read this in one sitting. Yep, it was that good!
Gabe and Anissa’s story is one that I’ve been waiting for. I just love their relationship. They drive each other crazy at times, but also can’t stay away from each other. Yes, they have a backstory, but you’ll have to read to find out what it is. And Gabe is just there for Anissa. I think that’s what draws me to him. His quiet, hunky way of just being there for support, sometimes without saying anything. Swoon.
Both of these characters have something they need to get through in this story, both from their past and their present. Blackburn did not shy away from having THE message woven through the pages of this book, and that is something I appreciate about her writing. Her characters had real issues and looked for solid solutions – as in they prayed and/or went to other Christians for counsel. Such a great message for readers to have.
The bottom line is that this book, well this series actually, is a must read for romantic suspense fans. I do recommend starting with book one, not only because the series is amazing, but I think the back story behind the characters adds to the depth of this book. Besides, I know you’ll like them anyways!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
The exciting conclusion to Lynn H. Blackburn’s Dive Team series, One Final Breath begins and ends with a bang. In the pages between Gabe, Anissa, and the rest of the team are in over their heads as they work together to solve not one, not two, but three seemingly unrelated separate crimes at the same time, one over thirteen years old.
It was fun watching Gabe and Anissa work together so well and even more fun watching romance blossom between them. Meanwhile the escalating danger to Anissa’s life and the team’s effort to protect her kept me turning the pages as fast as I could when I had a moment to spare due to family health problems that demanded my attention. Blackburn’s plot was developed perfectly and the circumstances made it quite difficult for me to even begin to guess the identity of the villain.
One Final Breath is not only a great suspense novel but also emphasizes the importance of relying on God, forgiveness toward those who have wronged you, and learning how to identify God’s plan for your life. I enjoyed this book as well as the entire series and would recommend it to all who enjoy a good suspense or crime novel.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
Absolutely loved this story full of suspense, drama and romance. Although this is book 3 of the Dive Team Investigation series, it can be read as a stand alone book. I have read the other books and enjoyed them, so I definitely recommend reading them in order for character development.
This story mostly focuses on Anissa and Gabe, along with the other Dive Team characters as they work together to figure out the murder of a teenage boy in their area. Lots of twists and turns and mini stories weaved into this intense Christian fiction story. I loved the main characters and their determination to solve the crimes and work together as a team, also using prayer and God to help direct them. I loved reading more about the other dive team members from the other books.
Excellent story line and characters-kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. LOVED IT! HIGHLY RECOMMEND but beware-you won’t want to stop reading once you start!
I received a copy of this book complimentary for blog and social media review. All opinions are my own.
This was a great series conclusion! I have really enjoyed all three couples throughout the entire series. I believe someone could enjoy this book even if they haven’t read the other stories, however, it will mean a lot more to get to know all of the characters of this friend group and see all of the battles they have fought to survive and thrive in all three books.
This story, once again, had great investigation details and wonderful interactions between the main and side characters. The romance between Gabe and Anissa was just perfect and it was fun to see them come together.
(4.5 stars)