Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen – a Review

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Description:
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…

Review:

Breathe the Sky by Michelle Hazen is a standalone romance novel.   We meet our heroine, Mari Tucker, at the start, as she is assigned to her next remote job.  Mari is a wildlife biologist, who enforces the rules on desert construction sites, to protect animals, such as tortoises, bunnies, etc.  Since other members of the bio team can’t stand the foreman of one of the sites, it is her turn to stay the week at Jack Wyatt’s construction site.  Mari feels she can handle it, as she knows about foul-mouthed men, especially her abusive ex.

Jack has a short and nasty temper when dealing with his crew, since he needs perfection, as his boss is always complaining and threatening his job.  He is equally temperamental to Mari, as she is always finding things he needs to avoid, especially the endangered animals.  This does cause delays which makes him even angrier.  Mari is good at her job, and manages to handle Jack and his crew.  In a short time, Jack and Mari will develop a friendship, which show they have more in common than either of them thought.  In the same motel, they meet to watch shows like HGTV, and at times Mari loves to cook for Jack.  Though they are an unlikely pair, each begins to see each other in another light and a slow build romance will start; and even on the site, Jack begins to understand what Mari sees with the animals and accepts the necessary changes.

They both have their own issues, and it was wonderful to watch them rise above them.  Mari was a wonderful heroine, who was also strong; especially trying get past her fears of her ex finding her, as well as learning to stand up for herself.  She was so instrumental on getting past Jack’s grumpy attitude, and bringing out a great guy, who finds love. Very well done.  

Breathe the Sky was a sweet slow built compassionate romance, that was sensual, and also covered other issues, such as threats from a terrible boss or abusive ex-husband; family childhood, etc.  It is a thought-provoking story, and a couple we found ourselves rooting hard for.  Breathe the Sky was very well written by Michelle Hazen.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher