Reviewer Candace Lybarger: Candace is a young wife, mother, and lover of all books. She received her Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education from The Ohio State University. Candace taught 3rd grade until an opportunity presented itself where she could work from home and be with her toddler. In addition to spending time with her family, Candace enjoys reading, music, history, traveling, and spending time outdoors. Her perfect day in a nutshell would be sitting in the sun with a book...or two!
Author: Lucy Clarke
Publisher: Touchstone
ISBN: 1476750157
A Single
Breath, by Lucy Clarke, is a fantastic novel that takes readers on a
mysterious adventure with many shocking twists. It is not often that
a book shocks me, but A Single Breath surprised me multiple times.
What would you do if the man you fell madly in love with and married
died tragically? For two years you live what seems to be the perfect
life, however suddenly your whole world shifts upside down. Eva faces
this stark reality after her husband, Jackson, is killed in an early
morning fishing accident. In the midst of mourning Jackson's death,
Eva decides that she wants to learn more about Jackson's life prior
to their relationship.
Eva and Jackson were still very much in the newlywed stage at the time of his death. With no closure in sight, Eva travels to Jackson's hometown in Australia to meet his family- the family Jackson kept her away from. However, if she was expecting a welcoming party she was sorely mistaken. Jackson's father, Dirk, wants nothing to do with her and his brother Saul did not even know of her existence. This doesn't deter Eva though, she is determined to find out who the man she married really was.
Eva begins to realize in her search that certain things about her life with Jackson seems off. Is it possible that Jackson was not the man she thought he was? Was she so blinded by love that she couldn't see the truth? By doing some investigating, Eva comes to find that the majority of her life with Jackson was a big lie. How would you feel? Would you still be devastated by his passing? Would you feel angry at him? Would you want answers? Or would you want to leave it all behind and start fresh? These are all questions Eva has to face with the loss of Jackson.
I absolutely loved the characters of Eva, Saul, Jackson, and Dirk. Lucy Clarke did a wonderful job of creating flawed yet three-dimensional characters that the reader became attached to. I very much cared for every character and throughout the novel couldn't wait to see what would happen next.
Lucy Clarke did a wonderful job of unraveling the mystery of Jackson. The revelations were not rushed and were timed perfectly. A Single Breath really is a wonderfully thought out and thought provoking novel. I enjoyed it from start to finish. If you are looking for a novel that has mystery, romance, suspense, and healing, A Single Breath is definitely for you. It is also a quick read because once you start it you will not want to put it down!