Review: Before You Break by Christina Lee

Reviewer: Holly
Before You Break by Christina Lee
Series: Between Breaths #2
Also in this series: All of You, Whisper to Me, Whisper to Me, Promise Me This, Promise Me This, There You Stand, Two of Hearts
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: February 18th 2014
Genres: Fiction, New Adult, Young Adult
Pages: 304
Add It: Goodreads
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Series Rating:

A sexy, emotional New Adult romance about a bad boy on the edge and a good girl about to lose control…
A college baseball star isn’t supposed to have skeletons in his closet. But Daniel Quinn is hiding a guilty past so dark he refuses to let anyone get close. Except there’s something about gorgeous, studious Ella Abrams that goes beyond the electric attraction between them—something that makes him want to open up.
Ella has suffered enough heartache and guilt to fill one of her psychology textbooks, but she keeps that part of herself hidden behind a bubbly exterior. Until she receives an anonymous call while working a suicide helpline and the voice on the other end touches something inside of her that she can’t ignore.
Soon Ella and Quinn’s physical connection heats up, even as their deep and revealing hotline talks intensify. But by the time Ella realizes that her seductive jock and her sensitive caller are the same guy, it might be too late to save him—or to stop herself from falling too far…
Raves for Christina Lee’s All of You:
"Hot, sweet, emotional, page-turner, awesome." —New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Monica Murphy
“This is one New Adult you don’t want to miss.” —New York Times and USA Today bestselling author A. L. Jackson
"Steamy, honest, and full of heart.” —Roni Loren, national bestselling author

I really enjoyed Lee’s debut novel, All of You. The heroine of Before You Break, Ella, is best friend to the heroine of AoY. We saw her relationship with her boyfriend deteriorating in that book. I was curious about her and am glad to see her story carried over here. Though she’s featured in All of You, I don’t think it’s necessary to read that book first. Lee does a credible job of making this story a stand-alone.

This book is written in alternating first-person points of view and follows the story of Ella and Quinn. Ella is dating Joel. Lately she’s become really conflicted about staying with him. He’s a connection to her past, but he’s been partying more and treating her poorly. She isn’t sure if she’s holding on to him because she cares for him or if she wants that link to her past.

When she drinks too much at a party at Joel’s place one night and Quinn, one of Joel’s roommates, comes to check on her in the bathroom, she can’t deny she feels a connection to him. He’s strong and steady and everything Joel isn’t. But Quinn holds himself back and Ella isn’t sure if he feels the same way she does.

Quinn is carrying around a lot of guilt and sorrow. So much, in fact, he’s considered taking his own life. In a moment of desperation, he calls a suicide prevention hotline and connects with Gabby. She steadies him in a way no one else has been able to. Strangely enough, Ella, his roommate’s girlfriend, has the same effect. He wants Ella in the worst possible way, but he knows he isn’t worthy of her. His past is too seedy, his deeds too dark, to ever touch someone like Ella.  When Ella breaks up with Joel, Quinn can’t seem to stay away from her. Between Ella and Gabby, Quinn begins to heal. Slowly and painfully, sure, but he’s on the right track. Then Ella starts holding back, conflicted about his secrets and her poor judgement over Joel.

These two have a deep connection, but a deep fear of letting go of their past traumas. The emotional connection they share comes across strong. I wanted them to work things out, because it was obvious they cared for each other.

Lee’s second release was well done. I was drawn in from page one.

4.25 out of 5

This book is available from Intermix. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

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