Waiting to Breathe

Waiting Duet #1

by Alyson Reynolds

She's broken.
He's lost.
Olivia Crawford had been through the ringer. All she wants is to start over without any complications or anyone figuring out her secrets. When her twin brother Finn convinces her to move back home and finish her degree at his school, it's just the push she needs to start over.
Nathaniel Ford is the golden boy of SCU. He seems like he has it all, perfect family, awesome friends and fraternity brothers, and a few buildings on campus with his last name on them. But things aren't always what they seem.
From the first time Nate and Olivia bump into each other, literally, he wants more of her feisty attitude, but Olivia throws more walls up with each step he takes closer, and he isn't sure he can break them down fast enough.

Genres: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary Romance, College, Contemporary, Friends To Lovers, Amazon

203 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 21, 2017

About the author

Romance writer. Wife. Mother of two. Avid reader. Queen of multitasking.

Originally from the south, Alyson likes to incorporate what she knows into her books. She's lived not only on the east coast, but the west coast and a few places in between. Alyson loves sharing stories about her crazy family to anyone who will listen. Her guilty pleasures consist of coffee, country music, brunch, breaking the rules, and pedicures. And she will always be a daddy's girl.

When Alyson isn't chasing around her two kiddos, she's normally writing. Or reading. Her Kindle library is out of control. Alyson writes mainly contemporary novels and novellas with a bit of new adult mixed in.

Reviews

[Anne OK · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty much what I expected from 20 year old college students. There's always drama, non-communication skills, and instant attraction. And don't forget the fraternity house where all those sinful encounters take place.

All in all, it was a fun story -- and maybe my age had something to do with my criticisms, but it was a bit hit and miss for me. Hero Nate was adorable and certainly was the plus in the relationship. Even though Olivia, our heroine had understandable reasoning for some of her behavior, she still was a bit OTT sometimes. There are a couple of surprises that made for some interesting situations. I most likely will read the next book which is Finn's story to find out if he and Cora can make a HEA work.

[Richelle Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia has finally come back home after a horrible year. She been through alot and considers herself “broken”. When you find out why she considered herself “broken” you can't really blame her. Will Olivia ever be able to heal? Will she be able to love and trust again? Only one way to find out.

Nate isn't your typical hot guy. He's sweet, smart, loyal and is also carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders. There's a lot more to Nate than you think and his character really impressed me in this story. He was strong, loving and the glue that kept his family together. Playing this role doesn't come without sacrifice and will he give up everything that makes him happy to keep his family together?

This is the first time I read anything by this author and I was impressed. I enjoyed the story and plot held my interests. I had two slight issues with the story. The first one was that the couple moved just a little too quickly for my taste. The second thing was while reading it was hard to tell whose point of view it was even though it was labeled. They had similar thoughts and feelings which could be hard to distinguish. Those two issues aside I found this story to be cute and an enjoyable read. It also touched on some tough real life situations. I love when you can relate to a book and everything isn't sunshine and rainbows. I'm excited to read about Finn and Cora next!

*an arc was given for an honest review*

For more reviews check me out at: http://www.shellysbookcorner.com

[Hanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Olivia went through a difficult time a few years ago and decided to travel to be gone from everything. She’s in a better place now and is ready to go to college. She goes to the same college as her brother and meets his best friend Nate. Nate doesn’t have the best home situation and goes to college to do his dream job when he’s graduated. Nate likes Olivia from the moment he meets her, but Olivia pushes him away. Nate becomes a good friend of Olivia and hopes that Olivia will give him a chance one day.

I adored Nate and Olivia. Nate is a gentleman and a sweetheart! He’s caring, smart, nice and loving. He gives Olivia time and waits for her to be ready. He’s an amazing friend for her and he is always there for her. Olivia is a little damaged and hurt, but she’s moving on. She’s so strong. She likes Nate and goes to him when she needs someone to talk to. She slowly falls for him.

I loved this book, the writing and the flow. It’s sweet and emotional. Waiting to Breathe is the first book in the Waiting Duet, but it’s a standalone. The next book is about secondary characters who I adored! Finn is Olivia’s amazing brother. Olivia and Finn are very close. I loved how supportive Finn is. There is already an attraction between Finn and Cora and I loved the banter between them, so I can’t wait for their story.

-- My honest review is based on an advanced reader copy of this book. --

[Emmbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really sweet college romance.

I did find Liv to be frustrating at times but given her past, others may be more sympathetic.

Nate is everything you want from a Hero. Sweet, borderline Alpha with plenty of skills in the bedroom.

Definitely looking forward to the second book in this Duet.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waiting to Breathe was a sweet new adult romance between college students Olivia and Nate. Olivia has demons she was wrestling with from her past and Nate was having issues with his family.
For the most part I enjoyed reading this book but at times I felt the story was just off somehow. The characters were relatable but the drama seemed forced. I felt that even though Olivia was a college student she acted immature when they had disagreements. I know I'm "old"....at least my teenagers tell me I am...but when you're a junior in college and you have a pretty big disagreement with the man that you love you don't just run. Well, maybe you do but after a while you kick yourself in the butt for running then you talk...Like adults. You don't wait months to do it. Nate's family drama wasn't really necessary to the story. I feel that book would have been better without it. His issues with his mom really didn't contribute to the storyline. I actually would have preferred that he didn't have a mom that tried to control him so hard in the beginning then POOF she's all better after a weekend retreat. It was just so random. Why make her character like that? It puzzled me through the book.
All in all this wasn't a bad book I just felt that the storyline needed a little more cohesiveness.

[Coco.V]

💝FREE on iBooks today (5/24/2018)!💝

Blurb:
She's broken.
He's lost.
Olivia Crawford had been through the ringer. All she wants is to start over without any complications or anyone figuring out her secrets. When her twin brother Finn convinces her to move back home and finish her degree at his school, it's just the push she needs to start over.
Nathaniel Ford is the golden boy of SCU. He seems like he has it all, perfect family, awesome friends and fraternity brothers, and a few buildings on campus with his last name on them. But things aren't always what they seem.
From the first time Nate and Olivia bump into each other, literally, he wants more of her feisty attitude, but Olivia throws more walls up with each step he takes closer, and he isn't sure he can break them down fast enough.

[Carola · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[book bruin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audiobook Review
Story 2 stars
Performance 5 stars
Overall 3 stars

I love NA romance, but this one was a miss for me. I just never really got invested in it or the characters. Even for an NA romance, it felt really immature and was filled with too much cliche drama that made everything over the top.

I liked Nate overall, but just like all the characters in this book, he seemed to bend over backwards to make sure his cupcake was happy. Nate and Olivia definitely have instalove, but I could have overlooked that if I actually felt any chemistry between them. I was glad when he actually put his foot down for a bit, but then once that is resolved, he was so desperate to not lose Olivia again that it just felt pathetic. Speaking of Olivia, she really grated on me. I did understand some of her actions to a degree, but she just came across as whiny and not at all like the "strong" young woman she was supposed to be.

This was my first time listening to Melissa Moran and I enjoyed her performance overall, but I think Olivia kept me from loving it. Aaron Shedlock's narration though as Nate really stole the show. He continues to impress me with his versatility and depth. He portrayed Nate perfectly and gave an emotional performance, switching seamlessly from playful and sexy to vulnerable and frustrated. I definitely enjoyed his/Nate's chapters the most.

[Kendall {Book Crazy} · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was one of the blogs that helped reveal the cover for this book! I then decided to review it for the Release Day Blitz because the synopsis really intrigued me and made me want to read the story! I received an ARC of this book and I started reading it very last minute because I was away on holiday! I did zoom through this book, but it was mainly because I was on a deadline to review it lol! I really enjoyed this book though! The plot developed at a really good pace and it did keep me interested! There were also plenty of seriously hot scenes that made me love the plot too! I will admit though that I took this book down a star because sometimes I couldn't feel the romantic connection between the two main characters! I sometimes lost that connection with them and this made it difficult for me to read some scenes! I loved that there was some action and a bit of suspense in the plot and the ending was left at the perfect place too! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Olivia was the main female character, and in this book it was easy to tell that Olivia had a secret! I had some sort of idea as to what her secret could have been, but I was wrong lol! I wasn't far off, but I didn't expect the secret to be what it was lol! I really liked Olivia in this book! There were times in this book where I really liked her and then there were times where I kinda wanted to shake some sense into her! She did overreact at a major scene, and this made me kinda mad lol, but everything worked out lol! I also felt sorry for Olivia in this book because she had been through a lot and she just wanted a fresh start! She definitely got that lol! Nate was the main male character and love interest of Olivia! Nate was a character that went through a lot in this book and didn't want to tell Olivia because she was already dealing with a lot! I respected Nate a lot for this, but Olivia was stronger than he thought lol! Nate was also very protective of Olivia and he proved this again and again in this book! He had some insane amount of love for her too and I loved the way that he supported her when she told him her secret! This told me a lot about the kind of guy that Nate was! He was also seriously hot, but I liked that he wasn't a douche and thought that he could get what he wanted just because of his looks! I loved that this book was written from both Olivia and Nate's point of views! I was kinda expecting it to be after I read the synopsis, but I'm really happy that it was! It really helped me connect more with both characters and it allowed for more things to happen in the plot too! I also can't wait to read the next book in this series! I wasn't sure what was going to happen in the next book as Olivia and Nate's story ended perfectly and very beautifully, so I didn't think that the author would give them a second book! The next book is actually going to focus on two secondary characters from this book though, which makes me really excited! I can't wait to read it once it releases! The cover for this book suits it perfectly! I wasn't really sure how it was going to fit in with the book after I read the synopsis, but then I read the book and it represents the characters story perfectly! I love it a lot! Big thank you to Alyson and Give Me Books for an ARC of Waiting to Breathe!

[Bobbi Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting to Breathe: Book One of the Waiting Duet by Alyson Reynolds is the first story in the One of the Waiting Duet series. One thing that I enjoyed about this story is that the author has created characters that you can relate to and also true to life. These characters will pull at your heart strings and make you feel what they do. This story will remind us that sometimes the ghosts from our pasts can come clashing to our present lives. Find out if these characters have ghosts that clash with their lives and if they are there to hurt or help them.

Olivia Crawford is a woman who has secrets but just wants to start her life over without revealing those secrets. When her twin brother gives her the option to come back home and finish school there, this is the chance she has been waiting for. She struggles a little bit to get into the school grove again but that is where he comes into play. Will a hot sexy Greek god save her day? Her past and secrets keep her isolated from everyone and living in constant fear. She has guarded her heart and is determined not to love anyone. Will he change her mind? Will he break down her guards?

Nathaniel Ford is the golden boy, Greek god of the school. He has everything he could ever want, friends, fraternity friends, family but is there more to this then meets the eye? Sometimes things are not always what they look like on the outside. From the first time he runs into her, he knows that he has to have her. He needs to have more of her feisty attitude but the only problem is that, the closer he gets to her the more walls she builds up. Will he find a way to break those walls?

Olivia and Nathaniel's relationship is one that grows throughout the story. They both have secrets that they don't want anyone to know. They both have a past that could come and haunt and hurt them. The more he tries to break down her walks the more she puts up. Is is possible to find love after so much pain has been suffered? You will find yourself loving these two characters and feeling for them. She says that she is broken but I think she is a little stronger then she realized. Things are not easy for him but he seems to keep it together despite what he has been through. These characters will pull you into their world of secrets, trust and romance. Find out what will happen with these two, will he finally break down her walls she has worked so hard to build?

This is my first story by Alyson Reynolds and I know it certainly won't be the last and I can't wait to see what she has for us next. Alyson is a wife, mother of two and is an avid reader. She loves to incorporate what she knows into her stories. She loves sharing her stories with anyone who will listen and of course she has her guilty pleasures. You will normally find her writing when she is not chasing her children around. This author has created a fast paced story that will hold your attention until the end. You will find yourself being pulled into your world. You will not be able to put this story down until the last page. I highly suggest this story as I know you will want to see what happened with this couple as much as I did.

[Ana Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alyson Reynolds each time I get a book from you I feel like a kid on a Christmas morning. And you know why? Because I know that I will find another beautiful and fantastic story that will blew my mind away.
"Waiting to Breathe" was another story that moved me and took my breath away.
Alyson has a simple but very striking writing. The way she tells her stories allows us to dream and think about what matters most in life.
This book tells the stories of Olivia (Liv) and Nathaniel (Nate) and the entire book is toggled between their views.
Olivia is a freshman at the University to which the transition left her very unease because she was not well prepared for this big change and since she was away from school for 2 years the adaptation was a little more complicated. And what better way to start the school than being saved by a Greek god? Lol. Her past and the secret she keeps have corroded her on the inside and make her live in constant fear and because of that she wants to isolate from everything and everyone. And unfortunately when our parents disappoint us we tend to feel alone and abandoned.
Is it wise to hide something important and that torments us from those we love? Does our family have to be aware of everything that happens us? And with that help and support us?
As much as the idea is appealing and that Nate is gorgeous, Liv is not intended to give herself again to love, body and soul.
Nathaniel is the ultimate playboy, the one all girls want and all men want to be, except for those jealous ones that hate him. His life was not always easy and right now he just wants to focus on his education and follow his dream, but unfortunately when you're constantly worried about our family, things don't always go well. The death of his father, the pain of loss made him committed to be a doctor in order to avoid that more people cry and suffer the loss of a loved one. Something in Liv leaves him intrigued and somewhat attracted to her.
Can the ghosts of the past come back to haunt and hurt us? Can we find true happiness after so much pain?
I loved this book, the level of feelings that it shows is something wonderful, I love the ups and downs and the love that is present in each chapter. I hated the bad guys but that's to be expected. There were parts where I wanted to cry because the situation that was reported was so sad that I couldn't help myself.
Alyson, every book I read I notice a big change in your writing. I love the way you tell your stories and I love the fact that you can put yourself under my skin and evoke feelings and emotions I didn't even know I had. "Waiting to Breathe" is without any doubt the ultimate book that I love and I can't wait for the next one. Thanks for letting me be a part of your life.

[Smashlybookalicousreviewingchicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you have two people who meet literally falling down and one is broken and the other is lost (though Olivia gets lost in a different way all the time even with GPS) can they help each other breathe normal again? Can Nate break through to Olivia with all the walls she built up? You will see that those walls were for a good reason though. Her twin, Finn convinces her to come to SCU to finish her degree and to be close to him and their BF, Cora again too.
Olivia has a broken past and is trying to find ways to move on the best way she knows how. Bravo to her is all I can say, but that was one tough decision to make. It was the best move though in the situation she was placed in. Will Olivia's problem stay away or will it find itself resurfacing again? If it resurfaces how does she handle it, like she did before or as a more stronger willed, feisty person she became is what you will be wanting to find out.
Nate knew of her only as Finn's sister and heard stories, but when he finally meets her by peer luck you can say, he knows that he has to have her. He knows that he has to work hard to show her that he is serious and this includes being friends first and knowing that he has to show her and Finn that he is serious and will not hurt her. Love how Finn had a little hand in this as well you can say. The mystery sister did not do justice to seeing her for the first time. She is beautiful and completely opposite of the typical college girl.
As you will see in this story there is much heartache, laughter, forgiveness, a little suspense in the beginning, OK towards the end too you can say and passion between these characters. We see just how strong, Nate was the glue to his family and how he handles family issues with being a pre-med student. There is a miscommunication that occurs and will have you antsy trying to figure out where this is going and if we can breathe again too. Loved the ending! You might even crave "cupcakes" after reading this story.
This is book one in the duet; however, it can be read as a standalone as the next book will be about Finn and Cora. Which I am patiently waiting for cause if you enjoyed this story and meeting these secondary characters, you know that there story is going to be a bomb dropping one. We may need to design a dessert for this next read. In the meantime, I will settle for "cupcakes" until book two is ready. This was the first book I have read by this author and it certainly will not be the last (besides the duet of course) cause the others look pretty good too.

[Michelle Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Title Waiting to Breathe
Author:Alyson Reynolds
Series: Waiting Duet - Book 1

Waiting to Breathe was a great 5 star read.
This is Olivia and Nathaniel’s story the first book in the Waiting Duet series.

Olivia has moved back home to finish school.with her twin brother Finn. When she meets Nathaniel her brothers best friend, there is something about him that draws her in, however due to her past she is heavily guarded. She is keeping a secret that not even her brother knows about, a secret that gives her panic attacks.

Nathaniel comes from a family of money and has grown tired of his reputation as a playboy. Due to a loss of a loved one, he makes the decision to focus on his education to become a doctor. That is until he meets Olivia. Will she be included in his future?

Meeting Olivia has changed him, he catches on very quickly that Olivia has been hurt and tries to be supportive and understanding. As Olivia and Nate get to know each other he starts to get Olivia to open up to him. That is until someone from her past shows up.
Can these two help each other heal?

Nathaniel is very sweet, humorous and was a great support for not only Olivia but for others as well. I also had some LOL moments with this man. The secondary characters were great, I have to say Cora may have been my favorite. I really enjoyed reading this story, Alyson Reynolds does a great job of pulling you in with her writing. I couldn’t put it down until I was done. It was great reading about two people that were lost until they found each other. This is my first read from Alyson and I am looking forward to reading more from this series.

[Sara Oxton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Waiting to Breathe by Alyson Reynolds a breath-taking five-Star read. This is the first book in the Waiting Duet and I can’t wait for book two, I have fallen in love with all of the characters and can’t wait to find out what happens to them all next.
Olivia Crawford had pretty much had her life planned out for her, she fell in love with her twin brother Finn’s best friend Christian and when he broken her heart she felt like she couldn’t go on and went travelling for a year. When she eventually comes back to reality, she decides to go to college with Finn and her best friend Cora Donovan. They both agree to keep her safe and both encourage her to get herself out there, something she doesn’t think she will ever do again, until she nearly falls down the stairs on the way to a lecture and a large meaty hand saves her.
The large meaty hand belongs to Nathaniel Sterling Ford, or Nate as most everyone calls him, he’s big and he’s hot, he’s also her brothers new best friend. He understands that she doesn’t want to get into a relationship, but he doesn’t know why, he just wants to be friends if that’s all he can have. He has his own problems so understands that sometimes you just need a friend and when Olivia is ready he will be there to take the next step.
Can golden boy Nate help Olivia put herself back together? Or is she broken beyond repair? Only time will tell if she is able to breathe again. Olivia may be broken but she is feisty and will make sure Nate has a tough ride trying to put the pieces back together. Secrets revealed will shake the bonds that have grown, but will they be enough to break?
This is such a sweet but hard hitting story, Olivia’s story is one many will face, but not many will have the dignity and grace she shows. Alyson Reynolds has shown a true talent at revealing some details of the story but not laying it all out there, making you work hard to unpick the clues and read between the lines to understand the heartache the characters have felt. It makes it a better read, as you feel invested in the story, rather than just a by-stander.

[Shelly's Book Corner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Crawford has been away for over a year, spending time alone to deal with the consequences of her decisions, but when her twin brother Finn convinces her to join him at the college he’s attending she’ll find herself back with her closest friends, attempting to rescue the girl she once was and, above all, trying to jump start her life.
Nathaniel Ford is a popular guy in campus, one who seems to have it all and Finn’s friend and frat brother. When he meets Olivia, he finds himself instantly attracted to her and will bid his time until she’s ready to start dating again.
Both Olivia and Nate are somewhat lost in their lives, dealing with things bigger than them and it will take their becoming friends and getting closer to each other to find their way to overcome their problems.
I liked the story and the characters. Olivia is stronger than she seems at the beginning of the book, having maturely overcome on her own things not really fit for the life of a teenager and she finds in Nate the support she needs to keep moving forward and letting go of any regrets from her past decisions. At the same time, she balances him out giving him the peace and focus he needs to function while staying physically away from his family. I also found some special love for Finn and Cora and can’t wait to read about them in the next book.
As for the story, it’s my first read by the author and I found it to be nicely written, engaging and kept a good pace never turning dull or boring. I think it’s a nice story about two people finding completion in each other.


3.5 stars
*An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review*

[Romance Readers Retreat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I've read by the author and I enjoyed it for the most part. It was emotional, angsty, and drama packed, but I found the very first half of this book to be quite slow and drab at times. It didn't quite keep my attention like I want a book to but the second half definitely redeemed the book for me, hence the 4 star rating.

Olivia Crawford has been through more than any 20 year old should ever have to go through. All she wants is a fresh start and her twin brother, Finn, gives her one when he convinces her to finish her degree at his college where she literally falls into Nathaniel Ford. Nathaniel is the golden boy of SCU who is best friends with Finn. He seems to have it all together but things aren't always as they seem. From the moment these two meet, they have an instant chemistry and connection to one another but due to Olivia's past insecurities, she throws up wall after wall over her heart and Nate isn't sure how to break them down.

I loved Nate and how patient but persistent he was with Olivia although his use of the nickname "cupcake" for her was a little redundant at times. The chemistry between these two was off the charts sexy and hot. And I felt for everything that Olivia was going through and I may have even shed a few tears for her. Both of these amazing, realistic characters deserved to be happy and they were just perfect for one another even though they couldn't see that at times. I was rooting for them to end up together and to just have happiness in their lives. I loved the side characters as well, Finn and Cora, who was Olivia's best friend. This was an emotional, angsty read and I cannot wait for book 2 to see where Finn and Cora's story will go.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waiting to Breathe was the first book I've read by Alyson Reynolds. I was very intrigued when I read the description and was very anxious to dive in. I wanted to love this book so, so much and had such high hopes. Sadly, I was let down some. Olivia drove me crazy. She seemed very dramatic. Her big secret was blown out of proportion. I was expecting something much, much worse than what actually had happened.

Another problem I had with Olivia was how she handled her trust issue with her boyfriend, Nate. She acted extremely immature, and again dramatic. It just really bugged me how childish and melodramatic her character was throughout the entire book.

I'm thankful that I get to be someone who helps put the pieces back together every day.

The saving grace was Nate. He was a phenominal character for me. I loved how he loved Olivia and the patience he showed her. I loved his friendship with Olivia's twin, Finn. The bromance was epic! I also thoroughly enjoyed how wonderful Nate was with his family. You could tell he truly cared for his mom and brothers.

All in all, I did enjoy the story and I will read Finn and Cora's story. If you can get past Olivia's dramatic character and behavior, it is a nice story.

[Nina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia has been through a lot of heartbreak. Deciding on a fresh start, she attends college where her twin brother and best friend also attend. On her first day, she meets Nathaniel Ford after he saves her from nearly falling down the stairs.

There is a strong attraction on both sides, but Olivia is reluctant to let all of her carefully constructed walls down. She has been hurt badly before and doesn't let people in easily. So she decides friendship is the best idea.

Nate wasn't your typical hot guy; he had heartbreak of his own and he was the glue that kept his family going. Despite that though, he was sweet, caring, and someone that Olivia could depend on.

Overall, this was a good read. The characters were likable and I also liked that we were given both POV's. My only complaint is that I felt the couple could have communicated a bit more. Around 72%, I felt like the situation that was happening could of been resolved a bit quicker if both of the main characters had simply sat down and spoken to each other.

This is my first book by Alyson Reynolds and I'm looking forward to reading more of her work. Especially Finn and Cora's story.

[Suzi (Obsessive Reading Disorder) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

This is the first book in a duo by Alyson Reynolds. I had not read this author before. She brings us a New Adult romance that has some very poignant moments in it. Nate and Olivia seemed destined for each other--at least if her twin Finn has his way. They both know of each other before they finally meet.

Olivia has some pretty big walls that need to be broken through before she is ready for a relationship again. Nate is almost just too perfect for the job. He allows her her own pace and encourages her to be just her. There is a bit of tension in the story but overall it is a typical budding college romance. I enjoyed Finn and Olivia's relationship. The group of friends have each other's back no matter what. I was also interested in Nate's brothers. They each had some interesting history.

Overall, the story was as expected for romance between 20 year olds. Some of the drama with Olivia seemed over the top, especially her response to jealousy. I would be interested in reading book two, just to get Finn's story.

*Complimentary copy provided for an honest review.

[Julianna K · Rating 3 out of 5]

Waiting to Breathe is the first installment of the Waiting Duet by Alyson Reynolds

Olivia Crawford is trying to start her life back up after going through the ringer a couple years ago, but for that to happy she doesn’t need anyone figuring out her secrets…especially Nathaniel Ford. The golden boy at SCU who’s taken by Olivia when she fell, literally in his arms. 

Though Nathaniel will have to use more than his charm to break down the walls Olivia keeps putting up. 


Will Olivia be able to put her walls down enough for Nathaniel to get a hold of her heart?

Alyson Reynolds is a new author to me. As a reader, my relationship with Waiting to Breathe was a hate and love relationship. In the beginning, Ms. Reynolds captivates you because Olivia has this mysterious aura of why she left college and is now just coming back. Nathaniel majoring into PRE-Med, but this charmer is just a down-to-earth guy and a gentleman. I love that they became friends first, even if that wasn’t what Nathaniel wanted. These two have great chemistry and I loved that even in a short amount of time, he’s managed to put Olivia at ease with jokes, a harmless flirtation and a smile here and there. Now, this is where it got tricky for me. When Ms Reynolds switches point of views, she does labels the chapters on who’s talking, however as I read these chapters I can’t seem tell the difference between the characters. It’s like they have the same personalities even though its two separate people. This unfortunately really got to me as a reader because I need a firm distinction of who exactly was talking.


Overall, I found Waiting to Breathe a good story that has you rooting for both, Olivia and Nathaniel to find themselves in each other.

Tempting Sexy Thoughts
**ARC for Honest Review**

[Tania's Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received advance reader copy voluntarily**

I would have to say that this was one of the most refreshing college setting book I've ever read. Nate, the hero, wasn't a player and was extremely focused on his studies; which was a beautiful change from the usual player college guy. Olivia had a situation from the past that made her think she was broken until she ran into Nate on her first day of class.

When Nate met Olivia for the first time it was love at first sight. Olivia thought he was drop dead gorgeous. Nate knew this girl had to be his and her being the twin sister of his best friend he worked even harder. Olivia wasn't ready for a relationship because of her past and Nate patiently waited until she was ready. By the way by chapter 3 I already knew more or less what happened to her in the past but continued reading.

There was minimal drama, emotional situations and beautiful situations. Nate loved Olivia unconditionally and she did too. They were beautiful together and their biggest fan, Olivia's twin brother Finn, ❤️

Loved Nate's family, Olivia's twin brother and her best friend Cora. Enjoyed the ending.

[Bette Stanek · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty much what you'd expect from twenty-somethings. Lots of drama, miscommunication, and immaturity galore. It was OK for a quick filler type read. I doubt I'll be continuing the series.

[Marisela M. Chavez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia & Nate story was definitely about second chances in more ways than one. It was such a great, easy fast paced read.

[Ginette · Rating 2 out of 5]

2-2.5 stars

[Tracy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting to Breathe is part one of a duet, but can be read as a standalone. This is a 3.5 star, spoiler free review.

The questions and intrigue start from the very beginning, and we are fed morsels of Olivia and Nate's past which has brought them to where they are now.

Olivia is a very complex heroine. She's an old soul, and has had a rough few years. She's very cautious, but it just adds to her strength. She has experienced the ultimate heartbreak, and she's very closed off. Nate, while having secrets of his own, is the perfect counter personality for Olivia. He's protective, but also nurtures Olivia to spread her wings and leave her shell.

The story is quick moving, and there is a lot packed into one book. The cast is engaging and I'm very much looking forward to the next one.


*Review Copy requested and reviewed on behalf of OMG Reads*

[Shannie's ⭐️Lookin' 4 My Next BBF⭐️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Free today on Amazon, 5/25/18!!!

[Chantelle Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Crawford has been through the ringer the past year, she is broken and just wants to start over with no complications, or anyone finding out her secrets or the reason she was away for a year. When her twin brother Finn convinces her to come back home and finish her degree at his school, she realises this is exactly what she needs to start afresh.

Nathaniel Ford, seems like he has it all. He has brilliant friends and Fraternity brothers and of course there are a couple of buildings on campus with his last name on them, but things are not as perfect as they seem.
From the moment, Nate and Olivia bump into each other, they forge an undeniable connection that has Nate wanting more of her feisty attitude, yet the fear that Olivia has is holding her back from Nate, causing her to put more walls up each time he tries to get close, but Nate isn’t sure he can break them down quick enough before she shuts him out completely.

Waiting to Breathe is book 1 in the Waiting Duet Series by Alyson Reynolds, and my first book by this author, and I can’t wait to get my sucked into book 2 of this series and any other books from this author.

I was totally sucked into this read from the beginning and didn’t put it down. I loved everything about this book from the story line, to the characters. But another great thing with this book is the emotions you get throughout this book; from love, romance, heartache, angst, fear, second chances. This book kind of has a suspenseful yet mystery feel to it, regarding the secrets that Olivia keeps and whether she will be able to start afresh with her life without the past catching up to her.
The characters whether they were main or secondary all held their own through the book and made themselves stand out in some way.

I loved the way these two main characters met, and how their relationship develops. They have a brilliant dynamic together, they can have fun, flirt and be serious all at the same time. It takes a while for these two to finally get together but that is due to the walls Olivia has around herself, but there was something so real about these two characters that made the way they connected even better. I loved how quickly these characters became comfortable and trusted each other, but not at any point did you feel that their relationship forced.

From the start, you could tell Olivia held a lot of things back whether from her twin, best friend or even Nate, but slowly she learned that she really could trust them. But you knew Olivia would always have the self-doubt there but you never would have expected it cause the issues it did at one point in the story.

The secondary characters in this story most defiantly played a big part in this book, and with that it makes you want to find out more about them and explore them more, especially Olivia’s twin brother Finn and Best Friend Cora. They both brought different things to this book that made them stand out through this book, such as humour, or just plain hotness from Finn.


Another good thing about this book along with the characters are that we get to read each chapter from the other person’s POV. It really helps me connect with the characters themselves, but even better is that we get to find out what they really think or feel rather than hearing it from someone else.

From the first introduction of Olivia, you can tell that she is holding something buried deep. She is a natural beauty that has been through some really tough times the past year. Now given the chance to start living her life again she meets Nate, Nate causes her to put up her defences. Defences that come from the past with her ex. But the soon Olivia can’t stop the feelings that continue to grow for Nate, in which she learns she can trust him enough to know the secrets she keeps buried. For everything Olivia has gone through and continues to Olivia is one strong, Selfless women. I may have got infuriated with some of her decisions with Nate, but you also understand the reasons she acted the way she did.

Nate, makes an impact from the first introduction of himself. Nate is sweet, caring, loyal, smart, but behind the gorgeous boy next door he has the weight of the world on his shoulders. Yet with everything he is going through, he continues to surprise me with the brilliant things he does for either his family or Olivia. I loved reading about the developing connection with him and Olivia, he never forced her to reveal her secrets and didn’t force her to get into a relationship with him, which is why I think Nate is perfect or her he takes things slow, and doesn’t judge her for things that happened in her past. He can be a bit of an alpha male, he can protect, knows how to fight back and doesn’t take abuse for the people he loves and cares about.

These two are a perfect match, that both help heal each other and support each other through it all. They have their fair share of issues that break them, but could they be strong enough to fight back and fight for each other!

This book has been brilliant read from start to finish, that is a great story of second chances, love, family and great friends. I can’t wait to read Book 2 in the Waiting Duet Series, Waiting to Fall

[Angelina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting to Breathe by Alyson Reynolds is book one of the Waiting Duet series. It could be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading Waiting to Fall (book 2), which is also available to purchase.

Olivia Crawford has spent the last year trying to heal after the breakdown of her relationship and a decision that changed her life forever. She's still broken but agrees to finish her degree at SCU where her twin brother, Finn, is and she hopes it's the start of rebuilding her life. Olivia only trusts two people; Finn and her best friend, Cora, who is also studying at SCU and becomes Olivia’s roommate. Olivia is about to meet someone who turns her life upside down despite her attempts to keep him at arm’s length and not knowing if she can ever trust someone else enough to let them get close.

“We were talking after class, there might have been a small amount of flirting, but when his hand brushed mine I freaked the hell out. Cora, I practically ran from the guy.” - Olivia

Nathaniel ‘Nate' Ford appears to have the perfect life but sometimes the truth is just well hidden. Nate is struggling with the responsibility placed on his shoulders and still grieves for the loss of a key person from his life. Nate is friends with Finn who is the only person at SCU that he feels close to but he still feels lost and alone. When Olivia literally bumps into him, he wants to get to know her better but there's some pretty big walls he's got to climb over first and she's not going to make it easy for him.

“I've been warned already that it's going to be an uphill battle to get Liv to trust me, but I want to try. Something tells me she's worth it.” - Nate

This is the first book I’ve read by Alyson Reynolds and I wasn’t left disappointed. I loved having the different POVs as this enabled me to understand Olivia and Nate better. Olivia made a decision that took a lot of self sacrifice and also immense strength but I don’t think she fully realised that and needed the help of Nate to see it. Yes, Finn and Cora had already repeatedly told her but sometimes you need to hear it from someone else; someone who doesn’t have any reason to be so supportive, especially when you’re certain they’re going to run when they know your past anyway. Alyson Reynolds handled such a difficult subject with care and Olivia’s feelings and thoughts felt realistic throughout. I also think Nate needed Olivia to help him share the burden and guilt he felt due to his mother’s expectations. Olivia and Nate clearly needed each other to be able to live their lives the way they wanted without feeling guilty.

With any good book, you need villains and this was fulfilled by Christian and Lila. Whilst I hated Lila, there were times when I actually felt for Christian who was also clearly struggling with the decision Olivia made. However, based on Olivia’s description of how he was before he moved to SCU, I expected him to be worse than he was and thought he’d cause a lot more problems. Christian moving to SCU was such a big deal for Olivia but then he hardly comes into the story and suddenly has a change of heart towards the end. I also feel that Olivia was too willing to open doors for him after threats he had made before arriving at SCU. I can understand someone opening their eyes and seeing sense but there’s no real defining event/reason for this to happen with Christian. It felt like there was this build up for Christian’s arrival and then the reality wasn’t as expected.

I really enjoyed Waiting to Breathe and would recommend it for young adults who want a little something more in a college romance. I can’t wait to read book 2, which tells us Finn’s and Cora’s stories. Waiting to Breathe gives hints of what’s in-store for Finn and Cora, which is why I recommend reading both books.

[Anita Glover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Waiting To Breathe is Book 1 of the Waiting Duet Series. It tells the love story of Olivia Crawford and Nathaniel Ford. It deals with adult themes so it is most suitable for adults over eighteen years.
Nathaniel and Olivia both have emotional baggage: Olivia’s from a recent turbulent/violent relationship and Nate’s from responsibilities heaped upon him from an early age. Both of them aren’t actively looking for love or relationships as they both need their own space to be able to deal with things that have happened to them previously.
Olivia has been on the run (literally) for just over a year before deciding to join her twin brother (Finn) at college. When the going gets tough, Olivia runs away, but now she’s decided enough is enough and she has to take control of her life. She knows Finn and her best friend Cora will help her to do this.
Finn’s best friend is Nathaniel (Nate) who is determined to graduate college and become a doctor. He is patient, kind, understanding and accepts responsibility for himself and others readily and willingly. When he catches hold of Olivia to prevent her falling down a flight of steps their fate is sealed – or is it? Both feel an instant attraction that goes very deep; both fight this attraction. Will they succeed or give in to it and fall in love? Will their relationship be able to survive when the truth comes out?
An added complication is that Olivia’s previous boyfriend (Christian) also enrols at the same college having found out that is where she is. Christian is a liar, a cheat and thinks nothing of imposing his will on people, especially Olivia and he thinks he can begin where he left off. He is also angry with Olivia and blames a decision she made for him losing everything, namely money and family. Can he control Olivia again or will she break free of him forever? What did she do to make him so angry and cause his moneyed family to disown him?
Meanwhile in the background to their love story is a growing relationship between Finn and Cora. They are struggling to put their feelings aside as they help and protect Olivia so that she can mend and take up her life again.
Having never read anything by Alyson Reynolds before I was impressed with how complex and multi-dimensional the characters were. They were written honestly and realistically. A lot of thought was given to the ‘broken’ part of Olivia and how she might feel or act in certain situations. The plot line too was complex.
The reason I couldn’t give five stars was because of two reasons. I found the plot a little predictable in part. For instance I anticipated something that Christian would do but it was ages before he actually did it or it was found out that he was behind an event that caused a rip in Olivia and Nate’s relationship. I felt this could have happened sooner. The other one was to do with Christian. Christian is a nasty piece of work and Finn as well as Nate had physical and verbal arguments with him. Given that why did everything seem to stop with him towards the end? Or will that come out in the next book that tells the story of Finn and Cora? I expected Christian to do something else far worse than the things he had done to validate his arrogance and aggression.
It was good to read the chapters from different points of view – my favourite style – as it gives a good honest all round view of things and gives character depth. It was for the most part fast paced and realistic as a story about love and loss. Alyson Reynolds deals with real-life issues sympathetically and empathetically, there was so many different emotions portrayed well including the good ones like humour. I shall definitely be looking for more of her stories.

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You broke me. I loved you more than anything and you broke me.”
This follows Olivia Crawford and her journey to finding herself again while recovering from a loss so great that she feels as if she will never be able to conquer the everlasting damage it has done to her very being. The book picks up during the first week of her being at SCU with her twin brother Finn and best friend Cora. She wants so much for the fresh start that she hides at first the past that is wreaking havoc on her internally. I love Oliva, or Liv as she is so often called by her closest friends. She is quirky and has that spunk that just makes you fall in love with her from the very beginning of the book. She has spent a year traveling and working on college courses while her brother and friend have had the first year of their college experiences at the actual campus. It leaves her in the new girl role and she struggles to find her place. That is until she meets Nathaniel Ford, Nate. Finn wants her to socialize and meet his friends, secretly hoping that she will find solace in his best friend who also turns out to be Nate. “Although he had good intentions, his attempt to socialize me always stung a little. My idea of a good time was to be curled up with a good book, but Finn kept be from becoming a hermit by dragging me to his awful parties. Even in high school he made me run around with him when I just wanted to stay home.” Fate intervenes before Finn can even introduce Nate and Liv. Both have secrets and pasts they would rather hide but the attraction is so obvious. They just need to overcome the past to get through to a better future. Liv starts to slowly let down the guard she has built. “All I want is to finally be myself again. I know that will never happen, but maybe I can become some new improved version of my old self. Every time I think I’m starting to get there ‘he’ shows up in some way.” He is, Christian, her ex-boyfriend that devastated her in the worst of ways and made her unable to not only trust but also make a decision that will take a lifetime to adjust to, no matter how much it was the right decision. Christian cannot seem to get that she is over his games and follows her to SCU. So not only does she have Christian that brings her past right back to the forefront of her mind, but Nate is dealing with his demons, or his crumbling family. “Keeping my family sorted out was taking most of my time and energy now. My little brother Jon was on a fast track to jail, and my other brother Riley had called me last week to tell me my mom had quit taking her depression medication again. It was time for me to have a serious talk with her that I had been putting off for too long.” Will Liv be able to let her guard down and trust, ultimately finding out how to love again? Will Nate be able to fill the holes that his families troubled lives have corroded in his soul? The answers are so worth reading this book for. I was consistently hooked wanting to see where the two would end up. Another bonus is there is something there with Finn and Cora, my hope being that a book will be all about them next!