About the Book

Book: The Air I Breathe

Author: Karen Baney

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: August 15, 2023

Single mom, starting over Christian Contemporary Romance.

One moment of weakness changed everything.

When life throws Kelly Sutton a curve ball, she packs up everything she owns to move to Arizona to be closer to her daughter’s dad. Starting over in a new town stresses Kelly and triggers panic attacks—something she thought she was over. When a panic attack comes on and the only person she knows in town can’t help her, his roommate comes to her rescue. Will Kelly find her footing again in this new town?

Matt Dixon has too much on his plate. He works as a financial analyst during the day while he goes to seminary at night. He also juggles an internship with his church to fulfill his dream of becoming a youth pastor. When he comes to the aid of his roommate’s ex, he never expects his life to go off the rails. Will he choose love for a woman over his dream?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Karen Baney is passionate about writing stories full of flawed characters. She enjoys weaving together stories of second chances, redemption, and overcoming personal trials. As a transplant to Arizona in the late 1990s, she loves researching the state’s history and finding ways to seamlessly incorporate real history and real settings into her novels. In addition to writing and speaking, Karen works as a Software Development Manager for a Christian ministry.

Her faith plays an important role both in her life and in her writing. Karen and her husband, Jim, make their home in Gilbert, Arizona, with their two dogs, Bella and Daisy. Both Jim and Karen are active at Rock Point Church in Queen Creek, Arizona.

 

 

More from Karen

Inspiration Behind the Novel

The female main character in The Air I Breathe, Kelly Sutton, suffers from panic attacks. The inspiration behind this came from a real-life encounter. Around twelve years ago, my coworker and I took a break to walk around the office building we worked in. We saw a young woman leave the building. To our shock, we watched as she kneeled on the concrete sidewalk and bent over.

Concerned about her well-being, we rushed over to her and asked if she was alright. She said she was having a panic attack. I’ll never forget the sound of her wheezing.

I asked what we could do to help her and if we should call 911. She begged us not to call, so I knelt beside her, rubbed her back, and silently prayed over her. After ten minutes or so, she recovered enough to go back inside the office building. She told us that when people call 911, it embarrassed her. She knew how to cope with the panic attacks, but others didn’t understand and overreacted, making things worse for her. She thanked us for stopping and for listening to her.

Though we never crossed paths again, that encounter stuck with me. When I sat down to write Kelly’s story about starting over in a new city, I knew two things:

1. I wanted to represent this experience through her character.
2. I wanted to tie her experience with the idea that God is the air we breathe (like the popular worship song’s lyrics).

Many times, real-life provides inspiration for my characters or their trials and that was certainly true for many of the topics, besides the panic attacks, included in this novel.

MY REVIEW

Wow. I was not expecting such an emotional roller coaster as this story is. The author delivers characters that are realistic with problems some readers can relate to. It is important to grasp the concept of this message with a pure heart. We all sin and in those dark moments we feel alone, but there is always hope. 

Kelly thinks she has finally started to get her life back on track  as she decides to move to where the father of her child lives.  With renewed hope she starts a job and begins to adjust to seeing her ex as he connects with his daughter. I did like how the author shows us how temptation can happen and how it can affect our lives. Kelly was so sure she would not make the same mistake twice but when you are insecure and wanting to feel needed, it is hard not to give in. I appreciate the author also illustrating how panic attacks happen and how important it is for Kelly to deal with what is causing her attacks to start happening again. 

Matt is one of those people who you can count on. He is a hard worker, goes to seminary school and works with the  youth at church. When he encounters  Kelly she is in crisis. Matt’s compassion and patience shines  as he befriends her. I did enjoy watching them share about their past and how they each had to forgive someone that  has hurt them. Matt’s life takes a sharp turn that leaves him having to make hard decisions. 

The story does deal with sensitive issues such as panic attacks, drug abuse premarital sex and affairs  which could be a trigger for some readers. They  are hard topics but the author uses them to show how God forgives us and learn to trust Him. Forgiveness plays a big part in the story and I liked how the characters dealt with their hardened hearts. 

Throughout the book we see how the different characters think that they can never be used by God again. They are ashamed and feel like they don’t deserve to be forgiven . Isn’t it comforting to know that we can be redeemed, forgiven and begin again? 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

lakesidelivingsite, October 2

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 3 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 3

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 6

Texas Book-aholic, October 7

For the Love of Literature, October 8 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, October 8

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 10

Back Porch Reads, October 11 (Author Interview)

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 12

For Him and My Family, October 13

A Reader’s Brain, October 14 (Author Interview)

Splashes of Joy, October 15

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Karen is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 gift card with signed paperback copy of The Air I Breathe!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2842e/the-air-i-breathe-celebration-tour-giveaway