Still Breathing (Clear Water Creek #3) by Scarlet Blackwell

Still Breathing is the final book in Scarlet Blackwell's Clear Water Creek series.

From the blurb:

“This isn’t anything to do with Dominic, is it?” The name sounded odd on his tongue, as though Finn had difficulty working his mouth around it.

An adult movie company has moved operations to an abandoned warehouse in Clear Water Creek and its stars are vanishing. The films, it seems, have a mystery backer, one who will stop at nothing for the perfect piece of celluloid.

Sheriff Brandon Schofield didn’t think lightning could strike twice. Finn Austen is still struggling to overcome the ghosts of the past and his torture at the hands of his abusive partner, but Brandon’s investigation leads him back to Iowa and the scene of the crime.

He wanted to burn this place to the ground.

In the house of horrors Dominic Bateman kept Finn a prisoner in, he sees things he can never unsee and realizes that everything, in the end, always comes back to Finn. 

Sheena's Review:

Still Breathing is the final in the Clear Water Creek series and it's a direct sequel to Book 2 and can't really be read as a standalone.

This continues Finn and Brandon's story with the addition of a murder mystery involving a porn studio setup on the outskirts of the town. I still liked both Finn and Brandon, but some of the other characters just weren't likable at all. The nightmare of Dominic might be over for Finn, but the recurring nightmare of what he was put through still lingers. Especially when he's recognized from one of the 'parties' he was coerced into. Honestly, finding out what he'd been through made me angry and a little sick honestly. The depths of depravity of people never cease to amaze me in the worst way.

I love how Brandon never gave up on Finn, through everything and also that Finn found the strength to save himself - he's no damsel in distress, he's a fighter and I loved that. (Also, I think he could do with therapy!).

It was ultimately a satisfying ending to what at times was a disturbing, dark trip through the depths of the absolute worst humanity can do to each other and finding the light at the end of that tunnel. While it's dark, it's a nice happy ending.

Rating: 4 Stars

Tatted_book_freak's Review:

I am at a complete loss for words with this ending, sitting here for hours trying to figure out how to start my review, and nothing seems to appropriately fit emotions swarming throughout my mind, body, and soul. The depths of abuse that Finn was subjected to at the hands of someone he should have trusted , someone we all should have trusted, was beyond sickening. There were numerous times when I wouldn’t have blamed him for giving up, but he continued to fight for himself, even though he had been so torn down and mind frame destroyed beyond recognition.

𝓐 𝓻𝓮𝓶𝓲𝓷𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓕𝓲𝓷𝓷 𝓱𝓪𝓭 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓿𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓰𝓪𝓲𝓷𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓸𝓭𝓭𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓬𝓪𝓻𝓻𝔂 𝓸𝓷 𝓼𝓾𝓻𝓿𝓲𝓿𝓲𝓷𝓰.

Brandon was fierce and persistent in his battle to uncover the secrets of Finn’s past. I absolutely loved his tenacity in his quest to catch the assailants associated with Dominic, unraveling a sleuth of prominent figures who find joy in the torture of the innocent lives, then their death as to eliminate any potential witnesses. The scariest aspect of this story is the realization of these events and the fact that they are happening daily under our noses. Scarlet did an incredible job of capturing the essence of the events and redeeming our beloved Finn. 

Rating: 5 Stars

KjnRose's Review:

This has been one heck of a dark and twisted ride, but it is so good and worth it. Another hit series by Scarlet Blackwell that is a must read.

Rating: 5 Stars

Still Breathing is available to buy as an ebook or to read with Kindle Unlimited subscription.