WITH EVERY BREATH - Maureen Smith
BET/Arabesque
November 2004
SYNOPSIS: When one of her students is kidnapped, an English literature professor fights her attraction to the handsome special agent who's sent to investigate. She soon finds her life--and her heart--in danger.
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE: (4+) Sophia Chase
REVIEW: In WITH EVERY BREATH, Imani and Garrison must rely on trust in order to develop a healthy and satisfying
relationship.
Imani and Garrison meet as they join forces in the quest to find kidnapped student Althea Pritchard. Immediately, they are attracted to each
other but are partially involved with other people. As the story develops, the two do become romantically involved, however they must
cast aside past demons in order to fulfill their pursuit of happiness and love. Unfortunately, Imani becomes a target of the kidnapper, but
this situation only serves to strengthen the bond which she and Garrison share as he is compelled to find the captor and protect the woman he
loves.
Maureen Smith presents well-rounded and interested characters; displaying both admirable qualities and personality flaws. The inclusion
of the family life of both protagonists is also commendable as it lends a sense of reality to the otherwise fictional novel.
The story is fast paced with the search for the missing student dominating the plot. The author captivates the reader by creating a highly
charged mystery whose outcome is not easily discerned. The setting also plays an important role as it used to divulge pertinent clues to
solving the mystery as well as emphasize the commitment which the hero and heroine have made to each other.
The dialogue is also vital as it to shares clues with the reader. The conversations between the characters reveal their true emotions and
discussions such as the ones between Garrison and his brother Damien once again give the story a realistic edge.
In the final analysis, With Every Breath is a fantastic story created by
Maureen Smith. It is fast-paced and captivating without the pretense of a fairytale. Indeed, the passion shared between Imani and Garrison
burns up the pages of the novel. Bravo, Ms. Smith!
sophia@romanceincolor.com (15th January 2005)