Identity Discovery: Breathless by Tawdra Kandle

Monday, June 11, 2012

Breathless by Tawdra Kandle

Title: Breathless
Series: The King Series, Book Two
Author: Tawdra Kandle
Publisher: CreateSpace
Desription: Tasmyn Vaughn is not having the senior year she expected. Her boyfriend Michael leaves for college, she's being stalked by a suspicious preacher, pursued by the hot new boy at school and blackmailed by her chemistry teacher--who just might be a witch. Tas needs all of her many talents--and a little help from unexpected sources--just to keep her head above water. . .literally.

Review: I read Fearless (book one in the King Series) as one of my first book reviews. I had not read many stories about people with psychological supernatural abilities or about witches in general. I found the first book to be wonderfully written and pleasantly surprised by Tawdra's ability to maintain a PG 13 (approximately) novel that also included supernatural elements. I have to say that Breathless is written just as well. The story is one that shows what happens at the start of senior year for Tasmyn when her boyfriend (and assumed future husband) Michael goes off to college four hours away. Michael is Tasmyn's first boyfriend and Michael's family has this wonderful trait of the men falling instantly in love with one and only one woman in their entire life. This makes it appear that having a long distance relationship will be easier because Tasmyn and Michael both feel this deep trust that the other will be waiting for them to either come home or graduate and go to college as well. Unfortunately, Tasmyn takes Michael's departure so hard she practically turns comatose.

Once the initial disaster of being alone passes, Tasmyn moves on to starting her senior year. She meets a new guy who is desperately interested in her and has a unique ability much like Tasmyn's mind-hearing ability. No they don't end up together. I will spare you thinking that Tasmyn walks off with another man. However, Rafe (the new guy) does create some interesting situations and even saves Tasmyn's life towards the end. Tasmyn loses a lot of friends in this book because of them going off to college and because of her latest enemy. What is surprising is that Nell, the murderous witch from book one, turns up again and again to help Tasmyn. You will be surprised at how that turns out. I know I was. I was also a little disappointed with how unwilling Tasmyn was to accept Nell's help. My biggest disappointment was her ignoring Nell's final warning and instead walks right into the arms (or classroom) of the enemy while not telling Michael of her choice. That is definitely going to cause problems in book three.

Overall I found the book easy to read and pretty enjoyable as well. I still found myself wondering if the Tasmyn and Michael would make it past second base, but even though I knew they wouldn't, I was still happy to see that they kept to their moral beliefs. Another great book by Tawdra Kandle.

Interview with the author, Tawdra Kandle:

If Tasmyn could actually tune into a single person, could she actually hear Michael at college?
No. . at least, we don't think so. She and Michael do muse that they don't know exactly how far her ability extends, but hearing all the people between King and Perriman College would be overwhelming. It would take a great deal of concentration to tune into just one person, especially one that far away!
Because I can't remember, is Tasmyn adopted? Is she actually related to Marica in some way?
No, Tasmyn is not adopted, and she is not related to Marica by blood. The link that Marica discusses is spiritual in nature.
Explain the significance of the title? Is it more for Tasmyn's emotional attachment to Michael or does it have to do with her most recent life/death situation?
I think it covers both! Michael definitely leaves Tas breathless. Although this book covers a difficult time in their relationship as they have to adjust to a long-distance component, it's also a period where their love deepens, as they learn to trust each other. And remember, this is Tasmyn's first relationship. She is struggling to believe that Michael will still love her after he's been away and met other girls. I don't think it's that different from other girls who go through something similar. And yes, Reverend Pryce and his plans for her also leave Tas. . .breathless.
What happened to Nell after the last dream? Is she still alive?
Well, that is a very good question, isn't it? I will just say that we haven't seen the last of Nell.
Will Rafe become a major character in the future?
Yes, he will. I didn't necessarily plan that, but he is actually quite compelling. . .and then he sweet-talked me into giving him his own book. That will be down the road, but I've already got the basics of the story down.
Care to give us a heads up about the next book?
RESTLESS will be out this month. It is a darker book, as is hinted at in the end of BREATHLESS. . .although I don't usually play favorites, RESTLESS is probably my favorite book of the series. We see a different side of Tasmyn, and we'll get to know some other characters a little better, too. Wait and see!