With Every Breath

Bitterness is a hard thing to get over. Kate Livingston knows from experience how true this is: she lost two brothers to illness, a college scholarship to a boy from school, and her husband to a tragic accident.

Then that boy from school offers her a job. But in a clever twist that speaks of Elizabeth Camden‘s talent, Kate is not forced to take the job. Instead, she chooses to, which both reveals that Kate is a strong woman capable of making her own choices–and she is just a little mystified by how the horrible Trevor McDonough has changed over the intervening years since he stole a scholarship from her (somewhat fairly, quite injustly).

I really liked the historical setting and medical drama-esque feel of this book. Trevor is determined to find a cure for tuberculosis, which at first seems to be the result of the disease taking the life of a dear friend of his. He sweeps Kate into the action, warning her from the outset of the danger and emotional toll. The fact that the antagonist in this novel was at times the disease was riveting.

I also thought the choice of location was interesting. Washington, D.C. is not where I would think to find a tuberculosis clinic and yet this is where Trevor is working–with Kate. Kate’s connections to the political side of the city proved a fascinating foray into how things were done in that city during the 20th century.

At times, the pace of this novel slowed for me and I just wanted to get back to the very action that first drew me in: the tense historical battle against tuberculosis, the medical drama of a doctor intent on beating a disease with the aid of a woman who once despised him, and the political machinations that thwart them. I never skim, but I was tempted to do so at times as paragraphs of description unrelieved by dialogue started to drag.

And that dialogue! Kate and Trevor certainly knew how to snap at each other, and I enjoyed how their competitive natures sent them sparring regularly–even after they started to fall in love.

The ending seemed a bit stretched, but I needed to hear the spiritual message of this novel, the one that Kate learns after Trevor’s secret is revealed, the one that I will leave you to discover for yourself…Though not my favorite Elizabeth Camden book (Into the Whirlwind beats all), With Every Breath is a lovely adventure unlike most found in historical romances.

Because this time the disease is the villian and secrets stack high.

Kate Norton and Trevor McDonough were school rivals, always completing for the best marks. Kate loses her one chance at a full ride college scholarship to Trevor, and then they go their separate ways.



Eight years later, and now widowed Kate is enlisted by Dr. Trevor Kendall, who is none other than her schoolhood nemesis, to work alongside him in his quest to eradicate Tuberculosis. Kate is surprised to find that working with Trevor is rewarding and meaningful, but will secrets from his past or her fears keep them from finally finding common ground.



Trevor considers it his calling to work to find a cure for Tuberculosis, I admired his passion for what he does, as well as his selflessness and strong principals. He has his secrets, and a wry, matter-o-fact sense of humor. I think in the end he was probably my favorite character, because the more that I understood about him the more everything made sense.



Kate is intelligent and hardworking, with a compassionate heart for others, with a heavy load of responsibility on her shoulders. I liked her spirit and how she isn't afraid to challenge Trevor to look at things differently, and to ask him uncomfortable questions.



I love how Ms. Camden brings tail end of the 19th Century to life, showing the brutal effects of Tuberculosis and the ways that it was treated in the past. Excellently researched, this fantastic book drew me in from the very start. Full of innovation, mystery, secrets, romance and fantastic heroes to cheer for. Highly enjoyable read!



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.