Blog Tour : Breathe, Annie, Breathe (Hundred Oaks, #5) by Miranda Kenneally

Breathe, Annie, Breathe 
By: Miranda Kenneally (Hundred Oaks #5)  Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire 
Published: July 15, 2014
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
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Synopsis: 

Annie hates running. No matter how far she jogs, she can’t escape the guilt that if she hadn’t broken up with Kyle, he might still be alive. So to honor his memory, she starts preparing for the marathon he intended to race.

But the training is even more grueling than Annie could have imagined. Despite her coaching, she’s at war with her body, her mind—and her heart. With every mile that athletic Jeremiah cheers her on, she grows more conflicted. She wants to run into his arms…and sprint in the opposite direction. For Annie, opening up to love again may be even more of a challenge than crossing the finish line. 

“Breathe, Annie, Breathe is an emotional, heartfelt, and beautiful story about finding yourself after loss and learning to love. It gave me so many feels. Her best book yet.” — Jennifer Armentrout, New York Times bestselling author of Wait for You.

Hundred Oaks Series:

My Thoughts:

In my opinion, Ms. Kenneally is one of the most powerful Y.A. Contemporary authors currently out on the market.  I cannot possibly recommend her stories enough.  While the previous stories in this series were definite Y.A., I would categorize, Breathe, Annie, Breathe as a story that is on the cusp between the young adult and new adult genre.

When the story begins, Annie is in her senior year of high school.  She is training for a marathon, on behalf of her now deceased high school boyfriend, Kyle.  Throughout the story, she reflects on how she met Kyle, their relationship, and then finally, how Kyle came to pass.  Annie is struggling, and in a place of tremendous sadness and heartbreak.  She met Kyle when they were just fourteen years old.  He wasn't her type, but he won her over, because he was such an extraordinary person.  Kyle set his sights on Annie, and won her over with the way he treated her.  He was such a gentleman, and Annie really was the love of his life.  When Kyle dies from a tragic accident, Annie has a huge hole in her heart, and has to learn to go through the motions of everyday life, as she finds it difficult just to get out of bed everyday and function.

Again, Ms. Kenneally faces realistic and tough life circumstances head on.  If you have ever lost a loved one then you will be able to relate to this story, and if you have been lucky to not have, you will be immersed in a vast and intense well of emotion as you read this story.  Ms. Keneally makes us feel the pain right alongside Annie, as she mourns, deals with survivor's guilt, and eventually learns how to heal, and move on with her life.

Training for the marathon proves to be therapeutic for Annie.  It gives her a regimented schedule of something to do to distract her, and help pass the time.  She meets amazing friends from her marathon running coach, Matthew, "Matt," and co-runners Liza, and Andrew.  However, the person that she meets, that makes the largest positive impact on her is Matthew's younger brother, 20 year old Jeremiah "Jere" Brown.  Jere is a fun loving, spirited, easy going, adrenaline junky.  He is assisting his brother Matt with marathon training.  When he sets eyes on Annie, he thinks she's beautiful, and wants to get to know her.  Annie is attracted to Jere, and he gives her butterflies.  However, she feels guilty for being attracted to him, and enjoying his company, which creates a bit of a push-pull to their relationship.  Jere is very patient with Annie, and offers her his friendship.  These two grow very close, and he is a catalyst for healing and moving forward in her life.  As I read, Breathe, Annie Breathe, it was an excellent reminder to me that life is not about the destination, but the journey we embark in on this adventure we call life.

My Rating:

I give, Breathe, Annie, Breathe, by Miranda Kenneally, 5 Profound, Heartfelt, Emotional, an Exciting New Beginning Filled Stars!  This story can be read as a standalone.  However, if you've read the Hundred Oaks Series, you will be overjoyed, as I was, to be reunited with some of my past favorite characters.  I loved seeing Jordan, Sam Henry, Savannah, and Jack again.  It's always wonderful to see characters that I have missed from previous books in the series.  I highly recommend this series, and Breathe, Annie, Breathe shines brightly all on its own, as part of an already amazing series.

My Favorite Quotes:

"If you don't put yourself out there, if you don't take risks, you can't truly feel."  (eARC, Loc. 2625)

~Jeremiah

"I never knew what an adrenaline rush really was until we met.  When I first saw you?  That was the day all my running really paid off-because you were on the trails.  You make me feel three times the rush of skydiving or bungee jumping...I felt the biggest rush of my life when you said you love me."  (eARC, Loc. 2667)

~Jeremiah

Purchase At:

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About Miranda Kenneally:

Growing up in Tennessee, Miranda Kenneally dreamed of becoming an Atlanta Brave, a country singer (cliché!), or a UN interpreter. Instead she writes, and works for the State Department in Washington, D.C., where George W. Bush once used her shoulder as an armrest. Miranda loves Twitter, Star Trek and her husband.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

Tour Wide Giveaway:

*2 X $50 B & N Gift Cards
*3 X Signed Copies of Breathe, Annie, Breathe

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