Last Breath

The Rayne Tour #2

by Brandilyn Collins, Amberly Collins

The suspenseful and emotion-filled second book in the Rayne series begins where the first book ended…with a dying man whispering four stunning words into Shaley O’Connor’s ear. Should she believe him? After two murders on the Rayne concert tour, Shaley is reeling. But she has no time to rest. If the dying man’s claim is right, the danger is far from over. Shaley’s quest for the truth leads to the mysterious and wrenching past of her mother and father. Could what happened to them so many years ago threaten Shaley’s life now?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Christian, Teen, Suspense, Fiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2009

About the author

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®--fast-paced, character-driven suspense with myriad twists and an interwoven thread of faith.

Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). She is a sought-after teacher and speaker at writers' conferences.

Reviews

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this sequel, though I have to say I enjoyed the first one more (because I enjoy murder mysteries and thrillers).

This one did have some thrills, especially with the flashbacks of Rayne as a teenager. I enjoyed those sections of the book the best.

The back and forward shifts in time were handled well and it wasn’t hard to follow at all.

I can’t wait to see how all the loose ends are tied up in the third and final book!

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“With his last breath, a dying man whispered four stunning words into Shaley O’Connor’s ear. Shaley is reeling after two murders on the Rayne concert tour. But she has no time to rest. If the dying man’s claim is right, the danger is far from over. Shaley’s quest for the truth leads to the mysterious and wrenching past of her mother and father. Could what happened to them so many years ago threaten Shaley’s life now?”


Series: Book #2 (of three) in “The Rayne Tour”. Review of Book #1 Here!


Spiritual Content- Prayers; Thinking about God; A few talks about God & forgiveness; ‘H’s are not capital when referring to God; Shaley starts praying; Mentions of prayers & witnessing.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: an ‘idiot’, a ‘shut up’, four ‘dumb’s, fifteen forms of ‘stupid’; Mentions of curses (said, not written); Many mentions of Book #1’s murders & hostage situation (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of a gang, gunfire, drugs, threats, & killing innocent people (semi-detailed); Many mentions of blood & being shot (semi-detailed); Many mentions of a car accident, being hit by a car, & pain (semi-detailed); Many mentions of criminals & prison; Mentions of fighting, blood, bullies, & beatings (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of stalkers; Mentions of parties (the alcoholic kind); Mentions of hatred & evil; A few mentions of divorce; A couple mentions of tattoos.


Sexual Content- a not-detailed kiss and a semi-detailed kiss; Noticing; Shaley doesn’t know her father (Her mother was 17 and the father didn’t know. Shaley wants to know about him & mentions of him); Mentions of creeps staring lustfully at a young Ranye & lewd comments and catcalls (said, not written); Mentions of kisses; Mentions of dating, being in love, & remembering falling in love; Mentions of flirting; A few mentions of purity & touching; A mention of motherly advice that sleeping with boyfriends isn’t a good thing to do; Remembering falling in love.

-Shaley O’Conner, age 16
1st person P.O.V. of Shaley and Rain; 3rd person of a man
{Set mostly in 2009, but retells things that happened in 1991 & 1992}
228 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Two Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
Counting right on from where the first book left off, “Last Breath” had me on the edge of my seat. I did enjoy this book more than #1 due to no killings, but there was still some intense moments in this one. I’m not quite sure how I feel about the ending, I do wish there was more Spiritual Content, but for a smaller book, there was a decent amount.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.

[Shae Petersen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book more than the first one as I enjoyed hearing about Rayne and Gary's story when they met. I like that Shaleigh got to meet her dad and how she is taking him back home. I feel like there will be a twist with this though with the third book. Again I didn't like the forced Christian elements, with mentions of god. I felt they were unnecessary.

[Ellen White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Continues from the first book, they are finishing a concert in Denver going back to hotel. A reporter Cat,stalking Staley now violating court order to get pictures. Her Mom has had enough of him, and Cat shoves her into path of a car. From a hospital bed she shares the past of a father Shaley wanted to know. Was there any truth to the last words that Jerry whispered to Shaley before he died. The tour is cancelled and going home.

[Lucille Bransfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot wait for Reesee to get this book published. It was an absolutely beautiful book. I will definitely recommend it and buy a copy for my mom. I wish my Grandmother was alive, I know she would love it too. Well written and really made you think about your own life. What will happen when you are brought in from of the Lord? Will you be going to Heaven? Have you done enough?!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a continuation of the Rayne story. I loved it! It seemed like it came to an end, but there is another one in the series. Such a good read. I couldn’t put it down. Grabs you from the beginning.

[Lacey · Rating 1 out of 5]

Second book was mind-numbingly terrible, didn't kill any brain cells though.

[Susan Forsgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of interesting characters, mysteries and suspenseful events.

[Kathy Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this little series!

[Payton Parks · Rating 3 out of 5]

again a short simple beach read. although as the series continued the books got worse.

[Eryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

10 out of 10 would recommend.

[Dede loves books · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this.

[Eleni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads. I had been attracted to the book because it presented a mystery; "with his last breath, a dying man whispered four stunning words into Shaley O'Connor's ear:" "your father sent me." Shaley, a teenager on tour with her rock star mother, Rayne, and her band, has been shocked by the murder of two of her friends on the tour, apparently killed by the dying man who had tried to kidnap her and who not only knows, but has been sent, by her father - a man Shaley knows nothing about....

I was not familiar with the writers nor knew that this was the second book of "The Rayne Tour" series, and I did not know that this was considered to be a "Christian teen" novel (but if I had not read this online, I would not have considered Christianity to be a major influence in the book as it is incorporated into the story in a very organic manner - when the story - and not dogma - dictates).

Despite not having read the first book, it was easy to get into the continuing story line as the early chapters of the book catch the reader up on the events of the first. However, it was these "catch up" chapters, where the main character, Shaley, recalls a lot of events and keeps telling the reader how she feels, that were the most unsatisfactory. I felt that the writers were really telling the readers too much rather than showing us with action and dialogue, etc, not really furthering the current story at all and, at times, were quite repetitive.

However, after those first fourteen pages or so, the story really gained steam and the structure of the story emerged - alternating chapters between the history of how Shaley's parents met with the current events that have ended the tour. Each chapter ends with a cliff hanger - and I found myself wanting to know more and more about what happens to Shaley and about what happened to Rayne after meeting Gary....the story is strongly plot driven, and I enjoyed having the opportunity to read it as I wouldn't have heard about it if not for Goodreads....

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in The Rayne Tour but I was blown away by the second book, Last Breath.

I enjoyed the past/present switching that the authors used in this book. It worked really well to explain Rayne's story to Shaley. I also liked how the book mainly focused on the two main characters so I really got to know them. It's very fast-paced and enjoyable.

Since it's the second in a series, I believe the first book, Always Watching needs to be read first. That's not always true in series, but this series builds on each book and even though things that happened in the first book are alluded to in this book, I think the reader benefits more from reading Always Watching first.

The wonderful characterization started in Always Watching continues in Last Breath and the suspense kept me turning the pages. This was less a mystery like the first one, but it still has mystery involved in the story of Shaley's Dad that Rayne tells.

Since it's Christian Young Adult it is definitely clean, though the characters are not perfect. Rayne is a single-mother. Shaley continues to try and figure out how God fits in her life. She's getting closer in this book and I enjoyed watching her learning about God's love. The book is not preachy - the Christian focus is there, but not in every word - it's just there as a background to the story. No one is perfect in these books and everyone is struggling. Some are believers and some are not. It's just a wonderful story.

So come get lost in a great series for a few hours - I can't recommend The Rayne Tour series, which includes Always Watching and Last Breath, enough. I can't wait until the next installment either.

[Kris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book picks up exactly where book 1 - Always Watching ended. Caution - spoilers if you have not read the first book!

Shaley and her mother's band are headed back to the hotel after their bus driver, Jerry, is killed. He had been the one who had murdered Shaley's friend Tom and he was also the one stalking her. The last thing he said to her was "Your father sent me".

There were many paparazzi at the hotel and Rayne, Shaley's mom was hit by a car. She cracked her ribs and broke her left wrist. She was taken to the hospital in Denver and this is where the rest of the story plays out.

Shaley's mom overhears Shaley talking to her best friend on the phone as she is telling her what Jerry's last words were. As Shaley has never met her father, nor does she know anything about him, this really threw her for a loop. With her mom overhearing her, she knows that she now has to share it with the police detectives.

Rayne figures it is finally time to tell Shaley about her father, so in between sleeping and pain medication, she begins the story of how her and Gary, her father, met. Is the man who sent Jerry really her father? If Rayne's remembrances are true - why would he want to hurt Shaley? How far will Shaley go to find the dad she has always wanted?

This was another fun read in this series. It was very quick - read it in a couple of hours during the Readathon. I am hoping there is going to be a book 3.

[Brittney · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading and enjoying Always Watching, I had high hopes for Last Breath, despite initially enjoying the story, I had some issues with staying interested.

Last Breath picks up right where Always Watching left off, and like the first book, it is a fast paced. Even though I didn't enjoy the story line quite as much as with the first book, I did like that Last Breath moves away from just the Shaley and the "unknown" POVs. In this book, the story includes flashbacks to Rayne's younger days, including when she met Shaley's father and tells the story of what happened to him.

I wanted to enjoy the story more than I did, but I have to admit that I did quite a bit of skimming. I may come back to this book in the future and try again because the fault my lie with my mood, rather than an issue with the book itself.

Review update 1/22/24

It's me, hi, I'm the problem, it's me.

I'm not sure what my problem was last time I read this, but this time around, I found Last Breath to be much more enjoyable. I look forward to finishing up this series.

[Christy Trever · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last Breath by Brandilyn & Amberly Collins is the second book in the Rayne Tour series. This volume picks up immediately after the events of the previous title, Always Watching. Shaley is safe after the police killed the man holding her hostage, but he whispered a few last words before he died: Your father sent me. Shaken and frightened, she at first withholds the information from her mother, rock star Rayne, until Rayne is attacked and injured. Then both of them come clean, as Shaley tells her mom about the cryptic message and Rayne finally tells her daughter the sad story of the father she's never seen. The authors perfectly capture the voice of a teenage girl; Shaley speaks and thinks like a real teen; her thoughts aren't always sophisticated and grammatically correct, but it makes her character come to life. Much of the story is a flashback to Rayne's teenage years, and I wish that the book was a bit longer. Most readers will figure out the twist early on, but the execution is well done. I'm curious to see where the next book will take Shaley and her mother.

[Cathy Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow! (No, that's not my lousy dog impersonation.) That's my response to the second book in The Rayne Tour Series, Last Breath, by Brandilyn & Amberly Collins.

The story continues the saga of Shaley O'Connor, the teen-aged daughter of rock star Rayne O'Connor, and opens at a concert where the whole team is reeling from the recent deaths of their team members and the killer. As they say in show biz terms: "The show must go on."

But it's not over.

Shaley is still puzzling over the message the killer whispered in her ear right before he died. And once they reach their hotel, the paparazzi are particularly violent and Rayne is pushed in front of a moving vehicle.

As her mother recovers from her injuries in the hospital, Shaley learns more and more about the father she never knew. Is he the one behind all the killing, or is he the good person her mother remembers? Only time will tell...

Visit http://WordVessel.blogspot.com for more reviews and Christian fiction giveaways!

[Cathie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second YA book in The Rayne Tour series and I won it from First Reads on Goodreads. From the back cover:

With his last breath, a dying man whispered four stunning words into Shaley O'Connor's ear. Shaley is reeling after two murders on the Rayne concert tour. But she has no time to rest. If the dying man's claim is right, the danger is far from over.

Shaley's quest for the truth leads to the mysterious and wrenching past of her mother and father. Could what happened to them so many years ago threaten Shaley's life now?

My Opinion:

I won this book on First Reads Giveway on Goodreads. This is the second of The Rayne Tour series and was a very good suspenseful read. Although I had not read the first book, Always Watching, it did not reduce my enjoyment of this story. Also, the books are geared for teenagers of which I am long past and yet I was able to get much from the story. It is very inspirational, showing that no matter how far down the latter one goes there is still recovery, that forgiveness and love are the beginnings of a better life.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Second book in the young adult christian mystery The Rayne Tour. Sixteen year old Shaley O'Connor is on tour with her mother, Rayne's, popular band. She is struggling to make sense of 2 murders and her recent kidknapping. The man responsible shares his last words with Shaley, last words that if they are true means that the danger is far from over. With Shaley's mom in the hospital, after being attacked by a papparazzo, she is more determined than ever to discover the truth. In her quest she learns of the long buried secrets from her mother and father's past. A father that she has never known. Has that past finally caught up to them? The possiblity that Shaley's father maybe coming for her, she turns to God for help. Is her father the bad man that he now seems to be or the good self sacrificing man that feel in love with her mother in the past. Shaley must dicover the truth. Can she forgive him?

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't sure I was going to like this. I don't find the cover very appealing. But I finally read it and I really enjoyed it. I was a little confused in the beginning because I did not read the first in the series. When Shaley was saying Jerry and Tom and the bodyguard got killed, I wanted to know how it happened. The story line in Last Breath had very little to do with the first book, so after getting further into the book I really didn't mind that I didn't know what happened. I really enjoyed reading about Rayne's backstory with Gary. I found myself trying to get through the chapters in the current time just to hear more about Gary and Rayne. I will be picking up the first in the series just to get caught up and will eagerly be awaiting the next in the series.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book that I won on Goodreads! Normally this isn't the kind of book I pick up, but I'm always on the look out for thrilling YA literature that my teen daughter and her friends can read. What a refreshing story that was full of page turning suspense without the sex and foul language.

Collins has a way of ending every chapter with a cliffhanger. Super fast read that keeps you up at night turning to the next page. LAST BREATH is two beautiful stories that eventually weave into each other. I hope Collins will write more YA books.

Happy to add this book to our family shelves!

[Mybucklingbookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rayne O'Connor isn't the only rock star in this series, I think Brandilyn and Amberly Collins' can claim that status as well. With Brandilyn's signature "Seatbelt Suspense" and Amberly's great eye for an authentic teen point of view, this dynamic duo do an outstanding job giving readers fast-paced suspense that will leave you begging for more. I read the first two books back to back and each has an engaging story that includes characters from both my generation and my daughters', and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves YA fiction. I am really looking forward to seeing how Rayne and Shaley handle their next crisis in the recently released third book in the series, Final Touch.

[Tamara Tilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

LAST BREATH picks up where ALWAYS WATCHING left off. The second in the Rayne Tour series, Brandilyn and Amberly Collins kept me reading on as I too wanted to get to the bottom of who was after Shaley and how was her father involved. When readers find out the details of Shaley's mother and father's past, it goes beyond what anyone could've imagined.

The Rayne Tour series is geared to young adult readers, but it is written with such style and suspense, all ages will enjoy it. I can only hope there are more books in the Rayne Tour series.

[Heav · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has to be one of the most page-turning overwhelming books in the series. I had to finish the book so bad that I read it all in one day almost non-stop.

Shaley has already lost 3 people and now she has to figure out why and who. Her father is connected somehow, but Shaley doesn't quite know, so she sets out to figure it out.

The emotional pull within this book is like real life. You feel Shaley's pain, anger, happiness, sadness all throughout the book. I am dying to read the next book and when I do I have no idea how I am going to feel about being done with the series.

[Jessi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this from the Goodreads Giveaway. I didn't realize that it was the second book in the series when I entered the contest. However, I was still able to get into the story despite not reading the first book.

The story switches between the past and present, which was an original way to go about it. The characters and plot are very well written. I think my favorite part is that it's a clean read. I can't stand reading books with a lot of profanity.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVED IT! Loved the development of characters in this book and the look back at Rayne's early life. This is a book 2 of a series and you really should read the first one before reading this one.
The first to leave me a message on Goodreads or Facebook with your mailing address I'll send you my copy.

[Meadow Frisbie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know if I just didn't read the first book right. But they really made her dad to be some mean psychotic guy. Then in the second he isn't and they are all fine being a family again.
And why in the world would the people hired to go get information start killing people on the tour?

Was a good story idea with a little to much unexplained drama.

[Leigh Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book #2 in a trilogy. Though it is listed as teen fiction, this is an enjoyable read for
the whole family. My daughter had to read the 1st one in class, she told me to read it and now we're
hooked. This series has it all...murder, mystery, love, drama...excellent!!

[Nichole]

Good read

I almost didn't read book two after my disappointment with book one, but book two was much better. Still not at the level of Collins' other books, but better than book one.