Finished in one day!! It had me hooked from the beginning. The only thing that through me was the quickness of the “marry me” but other than that I really enjoyed it!

I received an ePUB version of "With Bated Breath" by Joanna Nisbet from NetGalley (and a huge thank you to you all for this opportunity!), sent it over to my kindle & immediately started reading. I first want to point out that regrettably, the formatting must have gotten a little messed up upon sending the file over to my kindle, but whenever I'd come across something confusing due to this mix-up (at no fault of the author, publishers, and/or NetGalley), I'd just refer to the original file on my phone to help clarify. Now back to business; I will admit that I definitely judged the book by its cover and was left utterly surprised by what it turned out to be! I thoroughly thought that it was going to be this suspenseful thriller novel, even after skimming (ok fine, it was more like glancing at) the description, but I happily kept reading because I was very intrigued with how everything would round up!

Lisa Clayton, a wife so in love and content with the life she's built with her husband, Stephen, along with their toddler, Jesse, and another one on the way! Though Lisa and Stephen struggled to find financial soundness, they found a way to balance their work lives to best provide for their kids. With Lisa working morning shifts at Val's Diner, she waits for her husband to return home from his night shift at the oil factory, but when he doesn't show up, Lisa's world is flipped upside down. Forced to face such harrowing tragedies, Lisa must learn to carry on and navigate through some of life's toughest heartaches in order to heal. With the help and support of her friends and family, Lisa rediscovers herself and is able to reconnect with life and all its unexpected surprises, even when said surprises require an open mind and heart.

OK yes, I did think that I was reading a thriller, up until about 20% of the book, so I was coming up with all these predictions, highlighting details that I thought I'd need to refer back to so that I could solve the mystery, but alas, life. Life was the mystery HAHA! "With Bated Breath" was such a surprising joy for me to stumble upon. I thought that the author, Joanna Nisbet, wrote this novel in such a way that showcases the profound determination of a woman faced with such heartbreaking tragedies. It was especially inspiring to read how the main protagonist, Lisa, was able to find her light again, even through so much darkness. While I enjoyed the story as a whole, I did feel like certain chapters and subplots were a little rushed. I wished that we got a little more insight on what was discovered with Stephen; I felt like we just kind of brushed over it once it was announced and then we fast forwarded years after. And then the conclusion was reduced to the book's last two, measly chapters! I understand that that wasn't the main plot for this novel, I just wished that some of the subplots (such as Mr. McGregor and the Marshalls involvement for the overall story) were a bit more fleshed out. There were also moments where the author would tell us versus show us, like when describing the diner or the hospital's basement and even when portraying certain moments of Lisa's frustration and/or dispair; I wanted to feel all the "feelz"!! All in all, I thought that Joanna Nisbet's prose conveyed the overall themes and meaning behind her book sincerely; My experience reading "With Bated Breath" was uplifting and heartfelt. I look forward to discovering more books from this author!

Rating: 3.75 stars, rounded up to 4!

Thank you again for this opportunity to read and review "With Bated Breath".

#WithBatedBreath #NetGalley

A story that really had me feeling every emotion. This was a total roller coaster ride of suspense and family drama. Lisa had so much to deal with. Watching her grow and learn that it's okay to accept help was satisfying. The suspense was great. Loved this book.

With Bated Breath is a poignant and uplored tale of love, loss, and resilience. Lisa Clayton's life is turned upside down when her husband Stephen disappears, leaving her to navigate the devastating aftermath with their infant son and a new baby on the way. Author [insert author name] masterfully crafts a story of profound grief, as Lisa grapples with the void left by Stephen's absence.

As Lisa struggles to make ends meet and find a new sense of purpose, she begins to experience inexplicable signs and sensations that make her wonder if Stephen is still with her. The novel beautifully explores the idea that love doesn't disappear with death, but rather evolves into a different form.

The writing is lyrical and evocative, capturing the raw emotions of Lisa's journey. The story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, a testament to the human spirit's capacity to heal and love again. With Bated Breath is a moving exploration of the complexities of love, loss, and the power of human connection. It's a story that will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss and found a way to keep loving. 💔

Lovely family drama book. Perfect reading. Not to be missed.
Thanks to author, publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book. While I got the book for free it had no bearing on the rating I gave it.