The Air He Breathes

Cherry (The Fire Between Hi and Lo) kicks off her Element Series with an angsty love story. Life for Liz and her five-year-old daughter, Emma, has been a nightmare that causes her to “choke on the air” ever since her husband, Steven, died in a car accident a year ago. Determined to make a fresh start, Liz moves them to her hometown of Meadows Creek, Wisc. Unfortunately, there the pain of Steven’s loss is only compounded by memories of her father’s death. Meanwhile, Tristan Cole has earned a reputation for being cruel, damaged, and cold ever since moving to Meadows Creek. The locals all warn Liz to stay away from him, but she sees past the rumors and recognizes the pain that haunts his “icy and private” eyes. In truth, Tristan is struggling with survivor’s guilt after the death of his wife and their eight-year-old son, also in a car accident. As he and Liz bond over their pain, Liz finds she’s able to breathe a bit easier when Tristan’s around. When they discover a link between the deaths of their loved ones, however, will the truth tear them apart? Cherry brings the drama in this soapy tale of grief, forgiveness, and love after loss. Readers who like their romances to grapple with big emotions would do well to check this out. Agent: Flavia Viotti, Bookcase. (Mar.)