Brenna O'Brien, the youngest of five sisters, has lived a
seemingly safe life in Indianola, Louisiana. She buzzes
around town in her bright yellow VW, owns a run-down
theater called the Royal Majestic, collects old letters and
goes out on very interesting dates just to please her
married sisters. But everything changes when Pierce
McGovern shows up.
Pierce is back to help his father move to a nursing home,
and also because the company he works for is planning on
opening a new multiplex theater in town. Wait until Brenna
finds out. She's having enough trouble keeping her theater
going without competition. She's hired Nathan Conley, a
mysterious yet familiar-looking man, to help make needed
repairs. But it's going to take a lot more than hammer and
nails to compete with a multiplex. And the Majestic is more
than just a business to Brenna -- it's where her
relationship with Pierce secretly began back in high school.
When Pierce left for college, they exchanged letters, but
then everything stopped. Pierce has a tough time being
around Brenna. The closeness stirs so many memories and
emotions. Maybe they can find out what happened, since
Brenna has agreed to help Pierce organize his father's
things. Can their passion and love be rekindled? Did it
ever end?
As they delve into Dr. McGovern's things, there's a box of
letters found in the floor of the recently demolished post
office where Brenna's father worked many years ago. They're
all addressed to Dr. McGovern from a woman who signs with
initials only. Why were the letters hidden in the floor?
Pierce's dad asks Brenna to read them aloud. As each letter
is read, Pierce learns something new about his father and
his own life.
Karen White's LEARNING TO BREATHE is a family drama
with romance and mystery. It's a very emotional and
disturbing story about the effects of family secrets -- and
everyone seems to have one. Once I picked up this book, it
was hard to put down. Ms. White has also written THE COLOR
OF LIGHT and PIECES OF THE HEART. I look forward to reading
her next book, A YEAR OF RAIN, in 2008.
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 and collecting old wartime letters. But she leaves
the letters unopened, preferring to imagine their
possibilities rather than risk being disappointed.
Then Pierce comes back to town, shattering Brenna's
hard-earned peace-and forcing her to re-examine everything,
and realize that if she doesn't come to terms with the life
she let slip away, she may never have the courage to go
after the life she wants.
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