
Available for Preorder. Releases November 7th, 2023.
Last Girl Breathing
Eight years ago, tragedy struck. Eight years ago, Lucy Michaels’s life changed forever. But under the surface of her small town lies a secret that could pull her under.
No one expected it to rain that much. But the rain kept coming, the dam broke, and lives were lost. Including five-year-old Clay Michaels, who was swept away in the floodwaters. Clay’s sister, Lucy, has never forgiven herself for her little brother’s death. She was supposed to hold on to him, to keep him from harm during that terrible night. She was supposed to protect him.
Now eight years later, seventeen-year-old Lucy is focused on two things: making the US Olympic air rifle team and protecting everyone in her life from any type of trauma. However, with graduation and the Olympics on the horizon, her world is once again shaken when tragedy strikes Grand Junction, and once more, Lucy is right in the middle of it.
Two of her closest friends have been hunted down in the nature preserve adjoining the town—the same plot of land where her younger brother died—and the fingers of suspicion are pointing everywhere in the community. The prime suspect? Lucy’s ex-boyfriend. The more Lucy uncovers about the secrets of those around her, the more she realizes that she, too, is a target—and that now is the time to face her past if she wants to have a future.
Last Girl Breathing is a page-turning hunt for the truth as Court Stevens once again creates nonstop suspense with characters who will break your heart.

Courtney “Court” Stevens grew up in the knockabout town of Bandana, Kentucky. She is a former adjunct professor, youth minister, Olympic torchbearer, and bookseller at Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN. These days she writes coming-of-truth fiction and is the Executive Director of Warren County Public Library in Bowling Green, KY. She has a pet whale named Herman, a bandsaw named Rex, and a tiny fleet of novels with her name on the spine. More importantly, she in search of the perfect biscuit recipe and a kind way to get the children who live in her house to pick up after themselves. Please submit suggestions for either quest to her email.
You can (sort of) find Court Online:

Upcoming Events:
2023-24
Sunday September 10th – 3:00pm CST – In conversation with Rea Frey – We’re celebrating her release The Other Year. Event info here
Friday September 22nd – Time TBA – KRA Conference in Louisville, KY. Conference info here
Thursday September 28th – 5:00-8:00 EST – Boozy BookFair at Plaid Elephant Books in Danville, KY. Store info here.
Wednesday October 11th – 8:00-2:30 CST – A Day Just For Women – Conference sponsored by MedCenter Health. Info here.
November 9-10th – Library Journal Director’s Summit
Sunday, November 12th – 3:00pm CST Last Girl Breathing Launch at Warren County Public Library in Bowling Green, KY (Bob Kirby Branch)
Monday November 20th – 6:30pm CST – Last Girl Breathing Launch at Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN