Learning to Breathe

by Karen White

Book Overview

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Tradd Street novels comes a richly emotional story about a woman who discovers that taking a leap of faith is better than always wondering what might have been... Brenna O'Brien doesn't believe in happy endings. Not since the love of her life, Pierce McGovern, left her years ago without a word. Now, she leads a quiet life surrounded by her four matchmaking sisters, running a historic movie theater...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 045122034X
• ISBN13: 9780451220349
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Berkley / Nal
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.63 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.5" x 8.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Old Letters

Loved the idea of collecting old wartime letters. Brenna never opens them because she doesn't want to be disappointed.She's been hurt by the love of her life. Her sister's are always trying to set her up with dates. Brenna owns the old movie theater which she loves and wants to restore. Her old love comes back to town to help his elderly father. A box of old letters are found and addressed to the elderly father who wants Brenna to read them to him, as she does she finds so much more she stars to think about her life,about the returned of her long lost love, and about stopping her sisters from all those mystery dates. What about all those unopened letters? Can she give up her fear of opening her heart again? I enjoyed this book and will read more from this author

What a story!!

I loved every second of this book; from the sisterly love to the scrapbooking to Aunt Dottie to the love letters to the theatre. The book reminded me of The Notebook, and I love LOVE LOVE these kinds of stories!!!!!!!!

Karen White does it again!

I am a big fan of Karen White. I enjoyed this book even more than her others, if that's possible. Keep these wonderful books coming, Karen.

terrific second chance at love romance

In Indianola, Louisiana, Brenna O'Brien owns and operates the Royal Majestic Theatre when her former teenage lover Pierce McGovern returns home from San Francisco. The son of a local doctor, Pierce just left Brenna behind when he deserted the town. Now he is back to place his ailing father in the assisted living complex the Village and to open a multiplex theatre that will shut down Brenna's operation. Pierce blames his abrupt departure and his sarcastic outlook on Brenna. However, he admits to himself he still wants her; Brenna feels the same way but has decided to marry someone else. His ailing dad shows Brenna love letters that make her realize one should never settle, but risking her heart seems foolish as he rejected her once and will break her heart into a zillion pieces this time. This is terrific second chance at love romance starring two likable protagonists who blame the other for the end of the first time together. The support cast is strong as his forgetful father and her relatives especially her introspective young nephew bring wisdom to the pair of hurting soulmates. Karen White writes a deep Bayou contemporary love story as her lead pair begins LEARNING TO BREATH in the love they share. Harriet Klausner

Good, good story

White's placid story of five sisters that live in Indianola, Louisiana centers around the youngest sister, Brenna O'Brien, whose sisters hover around her like mayflies, trying to get her married off at thirty-three. O'Brien's story is compelling and right away you feel like you know her, understand her situation and respect and care about her sisters just as much as she does. But setting up dates for her comes to an end when Pierce McGovern comes to town. He's her old sweetheart from high school and both had their hearts torn asunder by O'Brien's controlling father. O'Brien, a Catholic, believes in the Saints and wears them on her neck for protection, guidance and security. She goes from St. Jude, to St. Eustace, to St. Genevieve. She tells McGovern, "Don't you think that things always happen the way they're supposed to? That we're merely pawns in God's plan and that we always end up where we're supposed to? Maybe we didn't love each other enough and that's why we aren't together now. Maybe what happened then was easier for us to handle than if we'd gotten married and discovered too late that what we felt for each other wasn't enough?" But McGovern and O'Brien soon learn that man's hand is sometimes involved in God's destiny. Nathan Conley is also a new man in town, and there is a certain quality to him that McGovern and O'Brien recognize. O'Brien's love of old unopened letters from the Wars is put to the test when a box for McGovern's retired physician father is found in the old post office. Dr. McGovern asks O'Brien to read them to him. She finds herself caught in a web of love, deceit, and tragedy--a poignant love story where the future holds promise even though the past is sometimes still bigger than life filled by O'Brien's dead father, the old postmaster. Highly recommended, especially for the descriptions of old architecture and the high drama of a mystery tale. Armchair Interviews says: A wonderful tale of romance, sisterly love and community.