Leave Me Breathless (book #3 in the “Ross Siblings” series)
<—Loved this! Though I had a few “reservations” before starting it. As much as I desperately wanted (and still want) more in this series, I thought Rock Me would be a really hard act to follow. I adore Brian (from Rock Me) and he’s still, to this day, one of my #1 heroes. I wholeheartedly connected to him and his bad boy persona, and absolutely felt everything that story had to throw at me. And when I found out the next book (this one) would be about Ghost (his best friend & tattoo artist employee), I was happy, but didn’t doubt for a second that he had nothing on Brian.
I mean, sure, both were hot tattooed rockers, but where Brian was sweet, Ghost seemed brash. Where Brian was subdued, Ghost was obnoxious. Where Brian had a more “polite” way about him (despite his bad-boy look), Ghost had no qualms letting his foul-mouth and frequent innuendoes embarrass (or entertain depending on who was in the spotlight) everyone around. Especially the socialites that have suddenly become a part of their entourage.
“Are you all right, Macy? You look a little flushed.”
Just as Macy began to nod quickly, Ghost swigged his beer and jerked his head in her direction. “She looks that way because I have my hand up her skirt.”
He did not just say that.
ACK!!! Classic “Ghost” right there. I laughed (and cringed and blushed).
Okay where was I? Oh right. Brian vs. Ghost. OH!! Here’s another “Brian plus”. Brian has those dimples. Nothing can beat dimples. Except maybe… a shaved head. And muscles. Yep. That might do it. 
And ummm… Ghost has those.
Soooooo it’s official. I heart Ghost! Well, actually “Seth” because while he’s more of a cocky “Ghost” to his friends, I have a whole new perspective on Seth. I’m not saying that Seth and Ghost are so different that they are two different people. Both are him, and both fit him. Perfectly. But “Seth” is the depth, warmth, vulnerability and true heart of “Ghost”. And his story rocked my world. How could I ever doubt it? Well I didn’t doubt it, so much as I didn’t think Ghost could live up to Brian.
But he did. And it’s really not a stretch considering how much I love the author’s writing style, the detail into her character’s personality, and the extra attention to little things that take her characters off the page and make them REAL. A perfectly timed growl, chuckle, raised eyebrow, even a fleeting dirty thought.
Maryse’s Book Blog: Okay one part that made me laugh out loud in “Leave Me Breathless” was at 52% … Er…umm. Hehe. *blush* Something about wanting to buy him a beer and punching his lights out.
Amy: Just finished it – great book! Love Seth!
Sara: At 20%…looking forward to 52%!!
Melissa: I just started. Only at 8%. Lord is ghost hot!
Jessica: *swoon*
Milagros: I love Ghost too!! ( so far)
Priscilla: Yeah that part made me laugh
Shanda: Oh My gosh, I LOVE That line. I read it last night and I was still giggling about it this morning. I heart Ghost also!!!
Tracie: Just finished Breathless!! Love Ghost, and Macy was tough. Really liked her. This series is awesome.
Lea: I loved that part. He’s so funny!
J.d.: I saw that this book was part of a series ( I’ve never read) but didn’t notice any of the same characters mentioned in the descriptions. Do you have to read this series in order or are the more stand alone?
Tasha: Not sure if you have to read the series I read Rock Me and it’s was AMAZING !!!
Maryse’s Book Blog: Must at least read Rock Me first. You won’t regret it. It is one of my all time favorite reads.
Maria: Me too Maryse!!! Love Brian from Rock Me!!! In love with Ghost now!!!!! Love your blog, you rock!!!
Emily: Loving this book!
Maryse’s Book Blog: Oh and… O.M.G! I LOVE the twist!
Lisa: The funniest part for me is when he and Brian were telling Macy how he got his nickname!!
Sharon: Absolutely LOVED rock me and LOVED this one almost as much!!! Hoping a fourth book is coming in this series…..
Her character’s reactions are so in tune to what I would expect in real life (from the silly to the sad), you forget that you are reading, and can actually see them. This is another movie-like read (but better ’cause it’s a book!) that plays out right in your head.
So what’s it about? Ghost and Macy have been attracted to each other ever since Candace (Macy’s best friend) and Brian (Ghost’s best friend) have been dating. But like me, Macy find’s Ghost’s personality a bit scary.
“He’s not my type. A more not-my-type guy never existed.”
“Oh, throw the types out the window,” Sam said. “He’s hilarious—”
“He’s wrong.“
Her affluent lifestyle and social life doesn’t mix well with the likes of a guy like Ghost (or even Brian for that matter, and he’s from an affluent family, too)! In fact, she’s the one who tried to dissuade Candace from becoming involved with these bad boys.
And while Macy indulged in a bit of the “Ghost” fantasy, she hightailed it outta there as soon as she could, leaving Ghost (or “Seth”) high and dry. But after some time, they run into each other again and can’t deny that they haven’t gotten over each other yet. Maybe another go, will get each other out of their systems?
“Babe, nothing with you is obvious. Tomorrow, are you gonna just pretend tonight never happened, like you did before?”
“What does it… I didn’t really think you…”
“Didn’t think I cared? Thought I was only after the score?”
Like Brian and Candace, much of the angst and drama (realistic!!) stems from the social circles that don’t seem to mix. But there’s so much more to it than that. As she get’s to know “Ghost”, she gets to know “Seth” and can’t help absolutely falling for him. I fell. Hard!
No doubt about it, he’d been a doll then and he still was now, just… a scarier-looking doll.
I often totally related to Macy (even if in Candace’s book, I didn’t think I would). But here’s the thing. Seth has a LOAD of baggage that he so carefully hides from everyone (even his best friends), that really kicks the angst into high gear. And there were a few twists that I didn’t see coming.
Tiffany: Leave me Breathless has been added to my Favorite Reads List!!! Loved Everything about Ghost/Seth! Hot and Sweet!!
Maryse’s Book Blog: Agreed. I really liked it all the way to 50% and then I LOVED IT!!!
Chrissy: Loved, loved, loved this book. Just finished. I almost stayed up all night to finish it. My favorite of the series. Loved both characters.
Tiffany: My favorite Too!
Katie: I love him too! He is competing with Brian in my list of favorites. Not sure who I like more?!
Maryse’s Book Blog: I still love Brian more but I can’t help but wonder if it’s ’cause Brian was on of my “first bad boys” or …? Either way, I DO heart Seth!
A FANTASTIC read. Enough angst and drama to keep you on your toes and feeling the pain (after all, no pain no gain), but perfectly realistic! No “over the top” here. Fictional “crazy-ish” circumstances, sure, but perfectly paced and totally believable.
4.5 stars!!
Why not 5 stars? Well, for one, while I enjoyed the ending, I could really use more. In fact, because of this book, I think BOTH Brian and Ghost’s lives could be TOTALLY re-visited in detail. Expanded upon. There is so much more to experience, and more realistic drama potential. Not saying that I don’t love HEA’s (’cause I MUST have ‘em… for the most part), but didn’t you guys wonder… if there could possibly be more coming? And not necessarily in terms of other characters (I’d love that, too), but definitely for Ghost and Brian? I dunno, maybe it’s just ’cause I’m so partial to these as “favorite books” that I’m just being greedy and “thinking” there should be more. But I can’t help it. I like love these guys. I want more. *shrug*
*crosses fingers* and sends happy “hint hint” thoughts to the author…
Interested in the series? If you love contemporary romance and bad boys, you’re gonna love this!! –> Cherrie Lynn – Rock Me (The Ross Siblings) Series Reading Order
P.S. Cherrie Lynn sent me this book for review. Knowing how much I went crazy for Brian way back when, it was a GIVEN I would be reading this one. So, thank you Cherrie!!!
I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. 
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
i loved this book too!!!!! so much
I loved it too! It’s hard to believe, but I think I liked it even MORE than Rock Me. I wasn’t expecting that!
Yes, Macy was easier on me than Candace was.
I completely agree! I can’t decide if I like this one or Rock Me more, but both were wonderful reads. I would love a book #4 in this series… maybe Starla from the parlor?
I really loved this book….Seth is definitely one of my favorites now. Definitely gave Brian a run for his money:) And I was also surprised to like Macy so much!
I kinda wish the author would write another, too, for more definitive closure…I feel like their relationships and lives are still kind of open-ended.
But if not, I guess this shall suffice..sigh;)
Exactly. There are things brewing on the Brian/Candace front, and of course, you know… how this one ended. Definitely room for more.
I LOVED this book! Thank you so much for all these fantastic recommendations! I loved this equally with rock me I think.
There HAS to be another book! It didn’t really end on a HEA, more of a to be continued…!
Can I admit that I don’t care for the book cover? The female model looks too butch for Macy. She almost looks like a female body builder. The book itself, is HOT, however.
I LOVE!!! Your website! Congrats!
I haven’t read this one yet.. It’s on my list. I LOVED Rock Me. Congrats on 10,000 likes!! I love your blog and read it daily
Alex, I agree about not liking the cover. But I think I’m embarrassed about the covers of romance books generally. Thank god for e-readers
OMG!!! 70% through and I officially like Ghost more than Brian. Didn’t think it would happen. Still love Brian…. but Ghost is the ultimate bad boy sweetheart
Just as good as Rock Me, can’t help but love the guys from Dermamania! Now to have a breather before I start on Double Time
Great review Maryse! It got me curious. I read rock me last year, but I don’t know… I didn’t like the girl very much… I didn’t read the others, mayve I should try this one. It seems good.
Wow this cover is smoking hot!
I just finished last night and i loved this one…the ending was cute but i felt like i was left hanging, like there is much more to give us from both Brian and Ghost relationships with the girls but this was a good one and i think i may like Ghost a lil bit more than Bri *covers eyes*
I’m at 46% and i can’t believe how much I like Ghost. I never expected to like him this much. There is so much more to Macy than I expected out of her character. YAY!!!!
Omg it’s 8.56am and I’ve just finished it….. And loved it. I finally put it down at 1am and tried to get some sleep but the minute I woke up and I had to finish it…. And now if I don’t get my ass into gear I’m going to be late for work. Thank you for the recommendation. I also heart ghost!!!!!
I stayed up way too late to finish, but it was worth it. I heart Seth. I connected more to their story than I did to Brian and Candace. But I loved getting caught up on them too. But Ghost….he’s a keeper.
I didn’t believe Cherrie Lynn could top Rock Me, but she did. I haven’t had a “book high” this good in long time. I didn’t want it to be over. I just finished it, turned back to page one, and started over. It was this good!!
Loved this book! Really hope she continues the series. I emailed Cherrie and suggested Ghost start a new band and she write about the new band members. You know how I am about rock stars.
I found Rock Me by accident and read it within a couple days…it quickly became one of my favorites so I was so excited to run across your review of Leave Me breathless because I didn’t realize there was another book. OMG…LOVED It!! Bought, started, and finished it yesterday…or the wee hours of the this morning as the case was. And even now I find myself going back and rereading some of my favorite parts. Oh Ghost…
After loving Brian and Ghost, I thought I was in for a long wait to find another like them. Then I read Rule by Jay Crownover! Love hot men with ink!