Bottom of the Breath

For fans of Liane Moriarty and Maria Semple, this contemporary debut novel weaves together romance, mystery, and adventure as a woman travels to the Grand Canyon seeking answers after uncovering an old family secret.

After crashing into a devastating revelation, Cyd's tranquil life on the Florida panhandle is further upended when she receives a letter announcing an inheritance from an estranged aunt. The inheritance contains mysterious "items of a personal nature" which Cyd must collect in person halfway across the country. In a last attempt to salvage her deteriorating marriage, Cyd agrees to travel with her husband on what he promises--and she questions--will be the trip of a lifetime.

As they set out, a hurricane threatens their hometown. Soon, fueled by the growing threat of the storm and the tension brewing between them, the couple's long-suppressed problems erupt. Cyd digs deep for the courage to continue the journey on her own, unsure if either her home or her marriage will survive.

Once in Phoenix, Cyd learns the strange details of the inheritance and a decades-old family secret. But what was the whole truth? Clues and instinct lead Cyd to Sedona and then to the Grand Canyon. She descends into the vast chasm alone searching for answers to newly raised questions and age-old mysteries. She steps off the beaten path, literally, knowing she must make peace with her pain-filled past and her uncertain future.

Author: Jayne Mills
Publisher: She Writes Press
Published: 07/08/2025
Pages: 304
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.40h x 5.50w x 1.10d
ISBN: 9781647429263


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 01/01/0001

About the Author
Jayne Mills has always been a storyteller at heart. While her career as a financial advisor kept her busy, she secretly nurtured a lifelong dream of writing fiction. She honed her voice through Financial Wellness Monthly, a newsletter blending finance, yoga, and meditation, and developed The Wealth-Wellness Connection, a program exploring the emotional side of money. Now, with her debut novel, she's stepping fully into the world of storytelling.

Jayne holds degrees in journalism and finance and is a registered yoga teacher. When she's not writing, she's hard at work on her quest to visit every national park. She lives and writes in the peaceful surroundings of St. Augustine, Florida.