Juno Rushdan’s ‘Every Last Breath’ is a Fresh and Tautly Plotted Thriller [REVIEW]

Sometimes you only have one chance to get things right. (Photo courtesy Canva)

A lethal weapon on the loose. A covert operative who must find it. And the one person who can help her complete her mission. But will they finish the job before tragedy erupts? Find out in Juno Rushdan’s debut Final Hour novel, Every Last Breath. 

Sourcebooks Casablanca

Maddox Kinkade has 48 hours to neutralize a hazardous bioweapon. To do so, she must enlist the help of the one person who used to be closest to her, Cole Matthews. But her former fiancé isn’t interested. Besides, he’s been burned before, and he isn’t eager to rekindle their relationship on any level.

A missing bioweapon isn’t exactly the kind of thing a guy can ignore, however, and soon Cole finds himself working side by side with Maddox, despite his hesitations. And now they’re on a race to find a killer harboring a secret and the need to end life as we know it.

Before reading Every Last Breath, I had never heard of author Juno Rushdan. But she won me over with her easy writing, including the complex banter between Maddox and Cole. As readers, we know that once their mission is over, they will need to talk things out if they’re ever going to move on with their lives. Thankfully, she gives them the opportunity, but refrains from writing saccharine sweet drivel. Instead, they are honest and candid, and it keeps the story fresh.

I also love how Rushdan maintains the novel’s taut pacing. At no time did the suspense lag or become bogged down in the characters’ emotional baggage. When this happens, I undoubtedly find myself skipping pages, and never had to do that while reading this book. Instead, I voraciously consumed every page, eager to find out what happened next.

My one beef with this story is its salty language. Of course, I know many military professionals are known to have a rather colorful vocabulary, but be that as it may, I found this detracted from the characters instead of adding to their personalities or the plot. For some, this may not be a deal breaker, but I found it annoying. Still, in the grand scheme of things, this is a minor detail and didn’t ruin the novel for me in its entirety.

If you enjoy reading stories that take place in real time, have high stakes and surprises aplenty, and is filled with complex and irresistible characters, you will  love Every Last Breath. It’s the perfect book to take to a remote cabin and settle in with for the weekend. Enjoy!

Juno Rushdan

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Juno Rushdan draws from real-life inspiration as a former U.S. Air Force Intelligence Officer to craft sizzling romantic thrillers. However, you won’t find any classified leaks here. Her stories are pure fiction about kick-ass heroes and strong heroines fighting for their lives as well as their happily-ever-after.

Although Juno is a native New Yorker, wanderlust has taken her across the globe. Fortunately, she is blessed with a husband who shares her passion for travel, movies, and fantastic food. She’s visited more than twenty different countries and has lived in England and Germany. Her favorite destination for relaxation is the Amalfi Coast, Italy for its stunning seascape, cliffside lemon groves, terraced vineyards, amazing pasta, and to-die-for vino.

When she’s not writing, Juno loves spending time with her family. Exercise is not her favorite thing to do, but she squeezes some in since chocolate and red wine aren’t calorie-free.

She currently resides in Virginia with her supportive hubby, two dynamic children, and spoiled rescue dogs. To find out more, visit her home on the Web at JunoRushdan.com, like her on Facebook, and follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and BookBub. You may also join Juno’s Adrenaline Rush Club for exclusive content, giveaways, and sneak peeks. She loves to connect with readers!

EVERY LAST BREATH
By Juno Rushdan
448 pp. Sourcebooks Casablanca. $7.99

Purchase Every Last Breath at one of these fine online retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, and Powell’s.

Every Last Breath is brought to you in association with TLC Book Tours.