The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry

Elements, Book 1

Synopsis: I was warned about Tristan Cole. “Stay away from him,” people said. “He’s cruel.” “He’s cold.” “He’s damaged.”

It’s easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster. But I couldn’t do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him, because it also lived inside of me.

We were both empty. We were both looking for something else. Something more. We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays. Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe.

Review: I did not really know about this series but given the praise, it’s true that I was really curious to embark on this first novel!

Brittainy C. Cherry does not present a classic romance story, hers is from the deepest pain of two characters. It’s a story of mourning, a story of rebuilding regarding emerging obstacles, a story of two people who have lost a part of themselves.

Tristan and Elizabeth are both broken. Elizabeth has lost her husband, her love, and her life has been turned upside down, but she has to stay strong for their daughter Emma. Tristan was not so lucky, his wife and son were taken from him and nothing managed to make his pain pass. That’s at least the case until he meets with Liz. How sad to see the state in which they both are, to see that they are bogged down in their past and that they can not get their heads out of the water. Their meeting will allow them to revive memories, to believe for a moment that all is well, but especially to advance.

I had a good time with this novel. The story is far from simple and I admit that some reversals really surprised me. The author presents us with a taking and tortured narrative and I am curious to discover what she will present us afterwards.