The Last Breath: A Novel

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting from the start, with this woman who's having an affair being murdered, and then flashing forward 16 years to the aftermath on her step family.I like the characters, and it was good with a little misdirection, leading you to think it was going to end one way when it ended another. So kudos for keeping it creative at the end.I deducted one star for one reason, one scene. One character says to another character "I need to tell you something. I wasn't completely honest with you before when I told you how I ended up here in Rogersville... Jeez, this is so much harder than I thought. Okay, so the thing is...I didn't come here by accident. I came because... well, what I haven't told you is that I was--" and then the character he's talking to responds, "I gotta go." Seriously? After that build up, nobody interrupts that sentence and says, "I gotta go." Everybody stays to hear the rest of that sentence. Obviously, the plot needs this information to come to light later, but nah. I was sitting there seething, going, "Why would she just leave?" And even if she left, why wouldn't that be the first thing they talked about next time?Really compelling story and really well executed (except for the item mentioned above). If you like a compelling emotional, family piece with a bit of romance thrown in, this is a good book for you. Lots of unexpected stuff happens in the end, and it all makes sense. Nothing contrived.

This is the third book by this writer and while promising I found most of the characters annoying and quite unlike able. That says a lot when reading the book. I found the backstory Of the parents to be my main interest and would have loved the story to be entirely their own. Those are the parts of the book I really perked up reading while the main character left me feeling like I really didn’t care.This writer certainly has a gift, and I continue to follow her and read her novels.

I love Kimberly Belle's books and this one was the first to get me hooked. I enjoyed the characters and the journey they all took in this book about a dad who was charged and sent to prison for killing his wife, his three children's stepmother. He's sick and has been granted to die at home. The kids all believe he did it, but new evidence pops up that makes them rethink exactly what happened all of those years ago. I thought the family dynamics were great and Gia and Jake's romance was super sizzly.

This book is so appropriately titled, because it did, in fact, take my breath away! Gia returns to her hometown 16 years after her father was convicted of killing her stepmother. Her father, Ray, has been released from prison because he is dying, and Gia reluctantly returns home to be with him. Gia is determined to uncover the truth of her stepmother's murder, uncovering family secrets that sicken and horrify her. This book takes the reader on a crazy ride, twisting and turning as the truth of Ella Mae's murder is finally revealed. A real page-turner, great characters, and secrets---ingredients for a great book, and this book has them all!!

Kimberly Belle has done an excellent job if writing a true page turner, in my opinion. This story has it all; murder, mystery, romance and family dynamics that keep the reader interested.I paid close attention to the details shared in the unfolding of the plot. I kept thinking the I could outsmart the storyteller, but it never happened. Even to t he last chapter I was still caught up in the suspense.A well-written novel that I would recommend.

The first paragraph really caught my eye, "For aid workers, home can mean a lot of things. A two bedroom ranch with a picket fence. A fourth story walk up in the city. A mud hut under a banana tree. A country listed on a passport. It can be big or small or anything in between. One thing all these homes share, though, is that aid workers miss them. They long to go there. They are homesick. Not me. I've spent the past sixteen years running from my home, and what happened there." Loved the rest of this book.

I’m a fan of this author but this work isn’t her best. The pace was choppy, the cast of characters too large, and the mystery too slow to unfold. If you’re new to her work, try The Marriage Lie.

The only reason I gave this book four stars and not five is because I feel like the killer was the wrong person. It would have felt more natural, in my opinion, if someone else had been the villian (and yes, I do have an opinion of who it should have been, but I dont want to sway anyone else's opinion). Other than this, the book was fantastic. Normally I can guess what is going to happen in the story, but this book threw more than a few zingers my way! I can't wait to read more from this author.

I loved this book from the first page to the last. I got the happy ending I was really hoping for, loved it :-)

Really enjoyable thought provoking read. Interesting twists. Brought many emotions. Would recommend it. Made me re evaluate my life! Not something I had expected

I did enjoy this book however I did find it a little predictable. It was an easy read and I did like the story but I thought more could have been explored with it.

Absolutely breath taking. Love it. Kimberley Belle is a lively writer with some unforgetable phrases.Danielle

Good book. Enjoyed reading it.