With Every Breath, by Elizabeth Camden

From the Publisher:

In the shadow of the nation's capital, Kate Livingston's respectable life as a government worker is disrupted by an encounter with the insufferable Trevor McDonough, the one man she'd hoped never to see again. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and business is the only reason he has sought her out now.

Despite her misgivings, Kate agrees to Trevor's risky proposal to join him in his work to find a cure for tuberculosis. As Kate begins to unlock the mysteries of Trevor's past, his hidden depths fascinate her. However, a shadowy enemy lies in wait and Trevor's closely guarded secrets are darker than she ever suspected.

As revelations from the past threaten to destroy their careers, their dreams, and even their lives, Trevor and Kate find themselves in a painfully impossible situation. With everything to lose, they must find the strength to trust that hope and love can prevail over all.

My review:

With Every Breath was a very enjoyable book. Elizabeth Camden did an excellent job of weaving history and facts in with her story without losing on or the other. The competitive relationship between Trevor and Kate provides endearing and amusing moments, but also emotionally charged moments.

Through the story, Trevor's character unfolds to reveal a man of many layers. I give this book highest praises for character development. Elizabeth created multi-layered characters that were still easy to follow. She built on small bits of information and you were always left wanting to know the next little bit without being overwhelmed. She wrote in such a way as to create real people with real personalities. Kate, too, has many layers and she doesn't begin to truly know herself until the end of the book... and her moment of figuring it all out is... wonderful.

Elizabeth wove mystery and romance and history all into one excellent book that I highly recommend.

I was provided with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Match of Wits, by Jen Turano

From the Publisher:

After his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiancée, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes, by hook or by crook, she'll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.

Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home... until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha's determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they'll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics.

Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth--until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?

My Review:

I really liked the characters in this book a lot. Agatha is interesting, feisty, independent... but also a lady. She is unconventional, but still wants love and romance. Zayne is completely clueless when it comes to women, but has a kind heart and is chivalrous. The supporting characters are equally as interesting. The book is worth reading for the characters alone.

The storyline was somewhat flat. Agatha got herself into a little trouble, but it was never very interesting and there was never really a climax to the plot... or it was a very small one. The plot could have been much more well-developed in this book.

This was the first book that I've read from Jen Turano, and I would read another one. I recommend this book, but if there is another that you'd really like to read... then read the other one first. Don't put this at the top of your reading list.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.