Can't Hardly Breathe (Original Heartbreakers)

I received an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Review and blog tour can be found on *Milky Way of Books*

I was excited to hear that this series was getting three more books! Needless to say that Dorothea's story was one of my favorites, even more than the three previous books.
It's a story about bullying, family problems and how a woman's resolve to help her family makes her stronger. I liked Daniel as the male protagonist. He and his friends have lots to deal with (PTSD mostly) and around Dorothea, he softens and becomes the boy Dorothea had fallen in love with.

The cameos of previous characters were a nice touch too! And obviously, I am excited to read about Jude and Ryanne on the next book too!

Book 4 in the original heartbreakers series sees the introduction to two new loveable damaged hunks and focuses mainly on a character we already know.

Dorothea is a girl who has suffered so much pain in her life I couldn't help but cheer her on as she finally figured out just what's she is worth,

Daniel I was so so so happy when I found out he was getting his own book I really liked him in the previous one. Daniel is an ex soldier dealing with some very real problems faced by many soldiers today and it was great to see him find his safe haven.

This is your typical romance book with lovable characters, pain, loss mistakes and meddling parents (man I loved Mr Porter) I wanted to smack the characters in the back of the head while at the same time hug them.

If you were a fan of the first four books then your going to love this and if your new while you could start with this book I strongly suggest starting from book one

The story is sweet the characters are funny and relatable. My only disappointment with this book was lack of action. Gena has spoiled me with her action packed Lord's series that I missed having it in this book. Having said that this book is an emotional roller coaster it will make you laugh, cry and get angry all on the same page. My heart broke for Thea knowing all to well how being teased about freckles can hurt and how you'll do anything to cover them. I love Daniel and how perfectly imperfect he is. I love how the story shows how in his mind he's doing everything right but most of the time it's so wrong. Gena has again wrote a story so vividly you'd swear you were in Strawberry Valley and you wish to actually live there. If you like contemporary romance novels this is one you don't want to miss. The sex scenes are HOT but also funny and heartbreaking (how Thea won't let the lights on). It's not my favorite book she's ever wrote but in my mind nothing is as good as The Darkest Promise lol but it's still very high up on my favorite list and that's hard to do for a contemporary romance.

For all the survivors of spiteful bullies and heartbreakingly cruel jokes. To every person with a beautiful heart, but a tortured soul. For every hero in disguise looking for salvation. Ms. Showalter wrote Can't Hardly Breathe for you. Dorothea is the girl that longed to fit in, but never quite managed to do so. Daniel is the boy that is beautiful both inside and out, yet has never felt good enough. Gena Showalter is good at stirring up emotion. It's inspirational tales of courage like this one that keep her name on people's lips and her stories in their hearts. Ugliness is a state of mind, not a physical trait.

"I'm not that girl," a sentiment sung by a certain raven haired beauty that believed that she did not deserve to be loved because society made her feel that she was not good enough, not beautiful enough. That sentiment has been echoed by many, including the main character in this installment of Gena Showalter's Original Heartbreakers "Can't Hardly Breath." This has to be my favorite book in the series so far due to my immediate kinship with Dorothea. When we were first introduced to her character in a previous book, we learn that she was awkward and didn't quite fit the society's standard of beauty. I could already see that she had a beautiful heart and I couldn't wait to see what the future had in store for her. I was excited to finally be witness to her journey as she tries to understand her feelings and attraction for the unattainable Daniel, the man who couldn't possibly find anything special in her. Or could he?

Like many of the other books from this author this one made me laugh out loud, it made me cry, and at a few points in the story I wanted to reach into the book and smack the crap out of certain characters. The flaws and hang ups that each of the characters have make them real and likable. This small town in Oklahoma snatches you up and makes you want to move there just so you have the privilege of knowing these people. Whether writing about the town sweetheart, get around girl ,former town bully or shy unassuming girl Gena does a wonderful job of showing the world from each of their personal perspectives. I also love the way former characters are included so that we can still get glimpses of what has become of their lives since we last read about them.

I would absolutely recommend this book and this series to anyone who is the mood for a good story. I have been a fan of Gena Showalter from the first time I read "The Darkest Night" and can't wait to get my hands on "Can't Let Go," the next installment of this series.

I have to say I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a curvy girl myself I understand the insecurities that Thea has. I love how every chance he gets Daniel reiterates how beautiful she is. He’s the type of man you want. The kind that rises you up instead of puts you down.

The story pulled me in with a slow sweet burn. It was fun and flirty with a little mix of angst. You’ll laugh and might even cry but in the end your heart will be full of happiness.

This can definitely be read as a stand-alone as this was my first book in the series. But I know I won’t want to miss anymore.

Can't Hardly Breathe is the fourth in Gena Showalter's The Original Heartbreakers. CHB has us in Strawberry Valley, Oklahoma with a sweet and sexy small town romance. Showalter packs in more than enough to keep the pages turning in Dorothea and Daniel's story.

I appreciated that we see growth with both Dorothea and Daniel. With issues of trust, commitment, and self-esteem, I was intrigued to see the development of their relationship.

I'm looking forward to catching up on Showalter's The Original Heartbreakers and can't wait to see what else is in store for us.

LOVED this second chance romance. This is not my first Gena Showalter book so, I knew I would love her writing.

I lived Dotortheay, our heroine. I could relate to her and I simply loved her character. She has too push back her dreams and support her family. Her life changes when her school crush comes back to her hometown.

Daniel is back but he has his own demons to fight. Still, he cannot deny the attraction blooming between him and Dorothea.

Loved the romance, the spice and built-up. I would recommend this to every romance junkie.

4 STARS

I've never been a fan of contemporary romance books. With that said I absolutely adored Can't Hardly Breathe. Gena Showalter it seems can write any kind of book and it will suck you in!
Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis (aka Dottie) a nickname she hates, is slightly overweight, has low self-esteem, and no confidence. After dropping out if college and a failed marriage Thea has moved back to Strawberry Valley to run the family Inn.
Enter Daniel Porter Thea's high school crush. Daniel moved back to town after leaving the military and starting a security business with two of his old military buddies. He's trying to take care of his ailing father while dealing with his own personal hell. PTSD.
On more than one occasion Daniel has stayed a night at the Inn with his flavor of the night. Note: if you stay at an inn clean up after yourself and don't leave your used condoms laying around! Daniel has eyes and he can't seem to keep them in his head or off Thea. He only does one night per woman other wise they get attached and he can't afford to have a woman attached to him other wise it might break his dad's heart. But with everyday that passes the more he wants her and the greater his risk of her discovering his past and secrets and Daniel just doesn't want to risk it. But as they say the harder you fall for someone more you cant imagine a life without them in it!
With every page I fell a little bit in love with Thea and Daniel. With all their ups and downs and wanting to throttle each of them for their stubbornness I couldn't get enough. Thea stuck a deep cord in me. I was bullied all though school just like her and I also suffer from low self-esteem and no confindence. I have since built my confidence up for the most part. I'm still working on my self-esteem (I just started going back to the gym) and I just got to say she gave me the boost i need to try and get in shape! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good pick me up confidence booster or anyone looking for a good book to read!

Another amazing addition to a great series, I absolutely adore this book. Thea is such a real, relatable character. She has been been through so much that brought her self esteem to an almost nonexistent place. After coming back home to Strawberry Valley she decides to push herself out of her comfort zone and start taking chances. Her teenage crush Daniel has also returned home to take care of his ailing father and when they reconnect she realizes her feelings for him haven't changed but she is unwilling to settle for one night with him. Daniel is the semi typical bad boy who doesn't want any strings attached. Being too scarred from his time in the military he doesn't think anyone would be able to handle his demons for long. He normally goes for women he has to pursue, has one night with them and moves on to the next. He realizes Thea is one women he should stay away from but can't and he isn't liking the chase as much with her. Both are scarred and weary of love but realize it's worth taking the chance for something special. If you enjoy books that have real, imperfect people, that make you laugh, make you sigh give this book (this series) a go. I don't think you'll regret it

*Disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for an honest review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ FIVE GIGANTIC SHOOTING STARS! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! EMOTIONS OVERLOAD!????

"Can't Hardly Breathe" is right on the ball! Author Gena Showalter hooks you from the very beginning of page one and holds you captive until it's very end of four hundred and eight pages. I adore her writing, she delivers her characters on a platinum platter for you to enjoy. Her stories flow with intense attention to details and also delivers the right amount of humour needed to keep your heart happy.

This book is one of those special, meaningful books you can relate to. Gena had me going through the motions, so much, I was literally tearing up on some pages. While reading, I visited some of my past experiences in life, especially high school. The dreaded high school period of my life.

The main character Dorothea is your everyday ordinary girl, a tad bit curvy, but extremely unique in her own way. She never felt as if she belonged anywhere. Just didn't fit. She was the odd one out. But one man manages to give her hope, and inspire change in her life. But boy was she going to get a surprise! The smexy Daniel makes her feel appreciated and loved, all scars opened. The man will romance the pages off the book!

On a very serious note, I rarely read non-paranormal books. But I dropped all the chores, all work and delved into this book. From this moment on I couldn't put it down. It is "THAT" good. I highly recommend it, if you're a romance reader and love fairy tale like scenarios. You'll enjoy it!

Thank you for writing another winner Gena Showalter!

Honestly, I've never been a fan of contemporary novels. I've always preferred paranormal, but I thought I'd give the Original Heartbreakers series because they were by Gena Showalter. Within the first chapters I fell in love with Strawberry Valley.

Can't Hardly Breathe did not disappoint. I feel that the story touched on several hard everyday problems. Bullying that leads to low self esteem. A soldier from war with PTSD. The effects some actions have on other people. I believe that with this, Gena Showalter, has provided believable and relatable characters, as well as a great story.

Daniel and Dorothea are a very adorable couple. I love the way you see how Dorothea sees herself very the way Daniel sees her. Again it gives us very relatable characters. Characters that you can feel close to, and fall in love.

It was very well written and exciting at every turn. There wasn't a dull moment at all. I laughed and cried and if I'm being honest, I wanted to shake some sense into Daniel a few times.

I'm very thankful for the chance to review this book. Definitely add it to your reading list!

Dorothea and Daniel!! We get to meet these two in this amazing story of overcoming fear, of forgiveness, of finally finding your worth. My heart nearly broke for these two with all trials and tribulations they had to navigate to get to their happy. There were many moments of laughing out loud, of wanting to bawl and just plain ole wanting to smack some sense into someone. Really enjoyed the ride that I went thru to get to the end.

Awww.. What an a amazing and emotional read. The start was ok but as the story goes it keeps getting better and better. I was a bit sad for Dorothea because of the things she went thru when she was young until she grew up. Daniel, he was ok but I started to love him more as the story goes. The story and the characters are good and I loved every second of it. There my be times that I want to kick the living sh*t out of some characters. Lol.

Sweet, heartbreaking at times and heartwarming in others. I loved these characters. From the insecurities of each to the strength you see progress in each one. I thought they were amazing together and loved the sexy moments and the fun moments as well between them. They definitely have an amazing chemistry and their banter is great. I always love Gena's work no matter the genre and I can't wait to see what she brings us next.

I was lucky enough to receive this in advance as an ARC.. oh boy was it good.

Ok. Dorothea is the lead female and I just grew to love her. Bullied in high school, brutally. Married and divorced to a rotten man. And a loss no woman could bare. That's just the tip of the iceberg for her. She had a dream of becoming a meteorologist and that dream got shoved aside to support that rotten now ex-husband. You start rooting for her right from the start.

Daniel is the male lead and he is delicious. While he didn't exactly bully Dorothea he did brake her heart in high school. He grew up and went on to serve his country. Now back home with his service buddies and running a business he is suffering from severe PTSD. And rapidly falling for our Dorothea. Although he doesn't realize it.

Can these two get it together enough to last?? Will their love win?? Guess you got to get you a copy to find out. This is the fourth novel in the series but can absolutely be read alone.

This book is positively soul-rendering and heart wrenching. I'm happy to see a plus sized heroin that I can relate to. Daniel is a star all on his own but Dorothea is a force to be reckoned with. We see them both slowly evolve even if they are too stubborn to admit it. I love, love, love this book and would give it 10 starts if I could. Positively amazing! Praise to Gena Showalter!

It had been awhile since the last Original Heartbreakers book but this book made up for all that time that the readers waited for another one. I absolutely loved it. I love all the characters and the storyline was so hot & sexy !!! Gena Showalter never disappoints with her books. Can hardly wait for the next one in this series !!!! A definite five star read..... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You won't want to miss the crazy adventure of Dorothea Mathias and Daniel Porter.

Would you take a chance on love or walk away forever? Find out in Gena Showalter's new book, Can't Hardly Breathe. Available now!

This is a first time writing a review for any book. First let me say I follow Gena Showalter religiously. I don't even read a discription before I vpurchase her books knowing I'm going to get a great story. Whether you're a first-time reader of her work or long time admirer you will not be disappointed. Ms. Showalter has a way to pull you into a story. While I will say this is not my favorite book of the Heartbreaker Series, it is very entertaining. I like that I can laugh and tear up while reading. This story will make you believe in yourself without realizing that's what you're doing. This book is an easy read. Mainly because you don't need to read the series in order, it's a great stand alone. That's not to say you're not going to want to go out and get the rest. You will definitely want to do that! However I would recommend reading them in order.

I've never been a fan of contemporary romance books. With that said I absolutely adored Can't Hardly Breathe. Gena Showalter it seems can write any kind of book and it will suck you in!
Bullied in high school, Dorothea Mathis (aka Dottie) a nickname she hates, is slightly overweight, has low self-esteem, and no confidence. After dropping out if college and a failed marriage Thea has moved back to Strawberry Valley to run the family Inn.
Enter Daniel Porter Thea's high school crush. Daniel moved back to town after leaving the military and starting a security business with two of his old military buddies. He's trying to take care of his ailing father while dealing with his own personal hell. PTSD.
On more than one occasion Daniel has stayed a night at the Inn with his flavor of the night. Note: if you stay at an inn clean up after yourself and don't leave your used condoms laying around! Daniel has eyes and he can't seem to keep them in his head or off Thea. He only does one night per woman other wise they get attached and he can't afford to have a woman attached to him other wise it might break his dad's heart. But with everyday that passes the more he wants her and the greater his risk of her discovering his past and secrets and Daniel just doesn't want to risk it. But as they say the harder you fall for someone more you cant imagine a life without them in it!
With every page I fell a little bit in love with Thea and Daniel. With all their ups and downs and wanting to throttle each of them for their stubbornness I couldn't get enough. Thea stuck a deep cord in me. I was bullied all though school just like her and I also suffer from low self-esteem and no confindence. I have since built my confidence up for the most part. I'm still working on my self-esteem (I just started going back to the gym) and I just got to say she gave me the boost i need to try and get in shape! I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a good pick me up confidence booster or anyone looking for a good book to read!

When Dottie was im h.s. she had the biggest crush on Daniel cause he simple said your perfect just the way you are but then that turned sour when she saw him with one of her tormentors. DANIEL came back from being a ranger and started a new business with protection. When he first saw dottie again he was instantly done. But he had nightmares and the fear she would die if he got too close. Do they help each other or hurt. This book is a great read

Another amazing addition to a great series, I absolutely adore this book. Thea is such a real, relatable character. She has been been through so much that brought her self esteem to an almost nonexistent place. After coming back home to Strawberry Valley she decides to push herself out of her comfort zone and start taking chances. Her teenage crush Daniel has also returned home to take care of his ailing father and when they reconnect she realizes her feelings for him haven't changed but she is unwilling to settle for one night with him. Daniel is the semi typical bad boy who doesn't want any strings attached. Being too scarred from his time in the military he doesn't think anyone would be able to handle his demons for long. He normally goes for women he has to pursue, has one night with them and moves on to the next. He realizes Thea is one women he should stay away from but can't and he isn't liking the chase as much with her. Both are scarred and weary of love but realize it's worth taking the chance for something special. If you enjoy books that have real, imperfect people, that make you laugh, make you sigh give this book (this series) a go. I don't think you'll regret it

*Disclaimer: I received this product in exchange for an honest review*

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ FIVE GIGANTIC SHOOTING STARS! I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH! EMOTIONS OVERLOAD!????

"Can't Hardly Breathe" is right on the ball! Author Gena Showalter hooks you from the very beginning of page one and holds you captive until it's very end of four hundred and eight pages. I adore her writing, she delivers her characters on a platinum platter for you to enjoy. Her stories flow with intense attention to details and also delivers the right amount of humour needed to keep your heart happy.

This book is one of those special, meaningful books you can relate to. Gena had me going through the motions, so much, I was literally tearing up on some pages. While reading, I visited some of my past experiences in life, especially high school. The dreaded high school period of my life.

The main character Dorothea is your everyday ordinary girl, a tad bit curvy, but extremely unique in her own way. She never felt as if she belonged anywhere. Just didn't fit. She was the odd one out. But one man manages to give her hope, and inspire change in her life. But boy was she going to get a surprise! The smexy Daniel makes her feel appreciated and loved, all scars opened. The man will romance the pages off the book!

On a very serious note, I rarely read non-paranormal books. But I dropped all the chores, all work and delved into this book. From this moment on I couldn't put it down. It is "THAT" good. I highly recommend it, if you're a romance reader and love fairy tale like scenarios. You'll enjoy it!

Thank you for writing another winner Gena Showalter!

Honestly, I've never been a fan of contemporary novels. I've always preferred paranormal, but I thought I'd give the Original Heartbreakers series because they were by Gena Showalter. Within the first chapters I fell in love with Strawberry Valley.

Can't Hardly Breathe did not disappoint. I feel that the story touched on several hard everyday problems. Bullying that leads to low self esteem. A soldier from war with PTSD. The effects some actions have on other people. I believe that with this, Gena Showalter, has provided believable and relatable characters, as well as a great story.

Daniel and Dorothea are a very adorable couple. I love the way you see how Dorothea sees herself very the way Daniel sees her. Again it gives us very relatable characters. Characters that you can feel close to, and fall in love.

It was very well written and exciting at every turn. There wasn't a dull moment at all. I laughed and cried and if I'm being honest, I wanted to shake some sense into Daniel a few times.

I'm very thankful for the chance to review this book. Definitely add it to your reading list!

Dorothea and Daniel!! We get to meet these two in this amazing story of overcoming fear, of forgiveness, of finally finding your worth. My heart nearly broke for these two with all trials and tribulations they had to navigate to get to their happy. There were many moments of laughing out loud, of wanting to bawl and just plain ole wanting to smack some sense into someone. Really enjoyed the ride that I went thru to get to the end.

Awww.. What an a amazing and emotional read. The start was ok but as the story goes it keeps getting better and better. I was a bit sad for Dorothea because of the things she went thru when she was young until she grew up. Daniel, he was ok but I started to love him more as the story goes. The story and the characters are good and I loved every second of it. There my be times that I want to kick the living sh*t out of some characters. Lol.

Sweet, heartbreaking at times and heartwarming in others. I loved these characters. From the insecurities of each to the strength you see progress in each one. I thought they were amazing together and loved the sexy moments and the fun moments as well between them. They definitely have an amazing chemistry and their banter is great. I always love Gena's work no matter the genre and I can't wait to see what she brings us next.

I was lucky enough to receive this in advance as an ARC.. oh boy was it good.

Ok. Dorothea is the lead female and I just grew to love her. Bullied in high school, brutally. Married and divorced to a rotten man. And a loss no woman could bare. That's just the tip of the iceberg for her. She had a dream of becoming a meteorologist and that dream got shoved aside to support that rotten now ex-husband. You start rooting for her right from the start.

Daniel is the male lead and he is delicious. While he didn't exactly bully Dorothea he did brake her heart in high school. He grew up and went on to serve his country. Now back home with his service buddies and running a business he is suffering from severe PTSD. And rapidly falling for our Dorothea. Although he doesn't realize it.

Can these two get it together enough to last?? Will their love win?? Guess you got to get you a copy to find out. This is the fourth novel in the series but can absolutely be read alone.

This book is positively soul-rendering and heart wrenching. I'm happy to see a plus sized heroin that I can relate to. Daniel is a star all on his own but Dorothea is a force to be reckoned with. We see them both slowly evolve even if they are too stubborn to admit it. I love, love, love this book and would give it 10 starts if I could. Positively amazing! Praise to Gena Showalter!

It had been awhile since the last Original Heartbreakers book but this book made up for all that time that the readers waited for another one. I absolutely loved it. I love all the characters and the storyline was so hot & sexy !!! Gena Showalter never disappoints with her books. Can hardly wait for the next one in this series !!!! A definite five star read..... ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

You won't want to miss the crazy adventure of Dorothea Mathias and Daniel Porter.

Would you take a chance on love or walk away forever? Find out in Gena Showalter's new book, Can't Hardly Breathe. Available now!

This is a first time writing a review for any book. First let me say I follow Gena Showalter religiously. I don't even read a discription before I vpurchase her books knowing I'm going to get a great story. Whether you're a first-time reader of her work or long time admirer you will not be disappointed. Ms. Showalter has a way to pull you into a story. While I will say this is not my favorite book of the Heartbreaker Series, it is very entertaining. I like that I can laugh and tear up while reading. This story will make you believe in yourself without realizing that's what you're doing. This book is an easy read. Mainly because you don't need to read the series in order, it's a great stand alone. That's not to say you're not going to want to go out and get the rest. You will definitely want to do that! However I would recommend reading them in order.

No vacation is complete without a trip to Book World. The cover caught my eye and the plot summary reeled me. Who can't relate to Dorothea when reading this?? I actually laughhed out loud at some of the banter! This is the first book I've read by this author, and I'm going back for the rest of the series! I hope they're all as good!

Gena Showalter has had me hooked since I discovered her Alien Huntress Series! When I saw she had a new series I bought the first book on its release day and I've been eagerly awaiting each one since.

Can't Hardle Breathe is another fantastically addicting book by Gena Showalter. You won't be able to put it down (I couldn't)! Dorothea pulls at your heart from page one when we learn of her troubling school years and how they have shaped her life and choices until she sees Daniel again. Daniel, a sexy war vet! Who can resist? Not Dorothea, and Daniel certainly can't resist her.

This book keeps you on your toes and takes you on an emotional rollercoaster!

Gena is an amazing author, and no matter the audience, she always captivates. It was nice to read a book about the bullied, curvy girl getting the guy. I also loved that she put the issues of PTSD of military time in it. I love reading a book that I can relate to (I'm curvy and shy, and my husband is retired Army with PTSD). Aside from having everyday necessary activities to complete, I couldn't put this book down. Calling Daniel 'Captain Creampants' was my favorite line in the book.

An amazing second chance romance that brings out all the feels! It made me literally laugh out loud as well as hot and bothered (in a good way) so don't read it in a public place if you don't like being the center of attention. You'll probably wish you had qualities the main characters have, too, and you won't want to put it down!

I really enjoyed this book. It is the first book out of the series that I have read. This book made me laugh, cry and sigh and really touched me. Dorothea's and Daniels journey is so beautiful, a must read for you romance fans!!!

Whew- is it me or are Thea and Daniel hot together?? Daniel breaks through Thea's self esteem issues and Thea convinces Daniel to turn a temporary arrangement into a permanent one.. I love this series and can't wait for more!!

This book struck a cord with me..It drew me in at the first page..It took me back to a painful time just like Dorothea...My heart went out to her from the beginning. I too was bullied and pushed around in school just as she was..She held on to words that Daniel told her in highschool " I Think you're perfect just the way you are". She is running the Strawberry Inn for her mom..trying to repair her relationship with her sister. She is trying to make herself better.Boosting her own self esteem up. She is cleaning a room when she finds the love of her life standing there...This book will make you laugh, cry, sigh, laugh some more and cry a bit more...It is a roller coaster of an emotional ride that keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. I recommend this book. You will be reunited with your favorite characters from the first three books in the series! You will fall in love with Thea and Daniel. You will root for them both to overcome their pasts to have a future together. Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did..It is a must read for the summer!

When I saw that Gena had a new book out I couldn't wait I HAD TO READ IT NOW.

If there’s one thing I knew going into Can’t Hardly Breathe, it was that I’d love the characters. And I was right, I don’t know how she does it (and quite frankly I’m in awe) but Gena’s characters have a way of burrowing into the readers hearts and leaving you feeling warm-hearted and happy. Daniel and Dorothea - no scratch that, ALL the characters, were no exception. Each character was unique and some were downright adorable but they all had heart. And I think that was one of the best things about the book, there was no character that I truly disliked, well, okay maybe Jazz and Charity but once you read the book and I ask that you do, you’ll understand why.

Speaking of reading the book, here’s another reason you should read it, the body positive attitude that was there for the duration of the book. It was such a breath of fresh air to see a heroine who wasn’t stick thin, drop dead gorgeous and have every guy who laid eyes on her go gaga (I mean, I love you romance but that’s one of the things you gots to work on), it was realistic and as much as I love escapism I like my books to be believable and Can’t Hardly Breathe was that but still with a good heap of romance thrown in, what more could a girl want in a book?

I’m so glad I overlooked my usual “don’t request” anxiety and decided to give Can’t Hardly Breathe a go, it’s definitely made my list of favourite books this year. I can’t wait for Jude and Brock’s stories (there was a little foreshadowing of things to expect in the upcoming books, and I AM SO THERE).

Welcome back to Strawberry Valley where the girls are luckier than dirt because the hottest men seem to come to town! As a Showalter fan, I feel honor bound to inform you that this book rocks. As an avid reader I will tell you that I read it within one night less than 8 hours, I cried, I laughed, I got mad, and I cried some more. Enough about how much I loved it!
In the previous Heartbreakers you get a glimpse of both Daniel and Dorothea, side characters. In Can't Hardly Breathe you get to finally meet them.
Dorothea has taken over running her family's inn, the only inn in town, besides running the inn she is also the full staff. Her younger sister Holly refuses to actually do anything and her mother runs from all confrontation. But amiss it all Dorothea has a plan a dream to make the inn special and her own. What she doesn't count on is the one boy whom she's loved since high school to walk back into her life.
Daniel and his unit have been honorably discharged from the army after suffering major injuries. Now trying to convert to civilian life they forge a business in Daniel's hometown. Daniel's father suffered a heart attack and Daniel rushed to set up base babysitting him back to health his team mates and business partners dont hesitate to join him. Daniel struggles with his PTSD, usually he chases cold ice queens whom he knows won't amount to anything and in between girlfriends he just does one night stands to wear himself down to sleep. But Daniel wasn't ready for Dorothea but once the quest to get her started he couldn't stop.
Can't Hardly Breathe will have you craving more demanding you to learn more about its newest citizens. It also reminds you that every person has worth and no one should be made to feel less for things they can't control.

When Dottie was im h.s. she had the biggest crush on Daniel cause he simple said your perfect just the way you are but then that turned sour when she saw him with one of her tormentors. DANIEL came back from being a ranger and started a new business with protection. When he first saw dottie again he was instantly done. But he had nightmares and the fear she would die if he got too close. Do they help each other or hurt. This book is a great read

I feel in love with this book. It was so absolutely amazing and totally relateable especially for anyone dealing with self esteem issues. Great read and I totally couldn't put it down! Can't wait to read the next book. If you're looking for a good book, you should definitely check it out you won't be disappointed!!! Love Gena Showalter!!!!