Books

What Reviewers Are Saying About With Every Breath

Top Pick!  4 + 1/2 stars
When a serial killer kidnaps associate professor Imani Maxwell’s prized student, she must work closely with FBI special agent Garrison Wade to solve the mystery. With a near-perfect track record, Garrison is known for his single-minded focus. For the first time, however, he’s finding it difficult to keep his thoughts on work.  Imani has cast a spell on him that, surprisingly, he doesn’t want to break. Few authors pen work that is so thoroughly engrossing the characters leave a lasting impression.  Smith manages this.  The subtle attraction between Imani and Garrison, mixed with riveting suspense, makes for addictive reading. Both strong-willed and powerful in nature, Imani and Garrison complement each other. Differences of opinion create tension and chemistry that add spice to the story.  With Every Breath is engaging reading that is sure to provide hours of pleasure.  
—T.L. Burton
Romantic Times Magazine

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College Park, Maryland – present day

Imani Maxwell is a college professor at the University of Maryland teaching African-American literature.  One of Imani’s favorite students, Althea Prichard, is abducted after leaving a meeting of the Minority Recruitment Program, which Imani heads.  As the search for Althea begins, Imani is forced to deal with the FBI and local law enforcement.  When Agent Garrison Wade and Imani, meet there is an instant mutual attraction that both try hard to overlook.  Although Imani is not a suspect, she is one of the last people to see Althea alive, and Garrison knows he shouldn’t get involved with her because of the case.  Imani’s father was an FBI Agent who was killed in the line of duty, and she had promised him that she would never love a man whose line of work had anything to do with guns.

When the obvious suspects all have alibis, and the case seems to be at a dead end, Imani and Garrison set up a command center to take telephone calls and distribute flyers.  As the amount of contact they have increases, so does the sexual tension.  In no time Garrison comes to realize that he wants Imani for keeps.  Imani has to deal with her father’s death and her ex-fiancé, David, who is insisting they get married.

Garrison is the ideal man; he is handsome, a perfect gentleman, good at his job, and well respected.  He is sure that Imani is the right woman for him but has no idea how to convince her to give him a chance.  Imani has never learned to deal with her father's death, she feels as if she should marry David because her father approved of him, even though she knows she isn’t in love with him.  She is unable to keep Garrison out of her thoughts and is pretty sure she has fallen for him, and fears if she admits her feelings she may loose him too.  The secondary characters are very entertaining; Garrison’s mother and Imani’s cousin add an element of realistic humor.

With Every Breath is a suspenseful tale that kept me reading all night.  While the actual story idea is run-of-the-mill, Maureen Smith manages to include enough twists to make this a must read for this holiday season.
—Julia Alameri
Romance Reviews Today

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Professor Imani Maxwell is considered to be one of the most dedicated people on staff at the University of Maryland.  She has always made herself available to her students, so when one of her students comes up missing after meeting with her she is devastated.  Imani feels partly responsible since she didn’t insist on taking her home after they met.  As everyone tries to decide what has happened to Althea Pritchard, Imani is taken off guard at the handsome stranger that has been enlisted to help with the search.  The electrical charge between the two of them makes her wonder what is happening with her, especially since she has always been so sensible in matters.

Special Agent Garrison Wade is taken by Imani’s beauty, but knows that the reason for him being in College Park means he needs to stay focused on his case.  After working with her for a short time, he realizes that he isn’t going to be able to avoid the feelings he has whenever he is around her.  Taking charge of his feeling and focusing on the person that has been kidnapped, he tries to only be in Imani’s presence when it affects the case.  But when someone leaves a note for her, he’s forced to spend just a little more time with Imani.

Since Imani has a comfortable relationship with a long time friend, she never gives thought to looking at another man.  But the dreams she’s been having lately suggest that maybe she needs to rethink her stand on her relationship.  As she and Garrison start working together more and more on the case, they find it hard to ignore what their hearts are telling them is right.  Then the case heats up and it appears that there is more than one suspect and it’s hard to tell which direction Garrison should take to find the kidnapper.

If you love suspense and romance, you won’t be able to put this book down.  I fell in love with Imani and Garrison’s personality.  They both had strong personalities, but neither overshadowed the other in taking charge of certain situations.  I must admit that I would get caught up in trying to solve the kidnapping case, that I would forget that the book was a romantic suspense.  As Ms. Smith’s second novel, it is definitely one that you should add to your collection.
—Lora McDonald
Romance Readers Connection

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4 + 1/2 stars

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 Chase
Romance in Color

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RAW Rating: (4 out of 5)

Breath of fresh air

Readers who enjoy romance novels relish in stories that exemplify the beauty of love with strong characters and a dynamic plot. With Every Breath is one novel that romance lovers will definitely enjoy. This story not only brings two destined characters together, but there is the added bonus of suspense to keep readers enthralled to the very end.

Imani Maxwell is a professor at the University of Maryland, College Park on her way to tenure at her alma mater. She is very compassionate about African-American literature, which is seen in her teachings and her interactions with her students. However, her love life is not fairing as well as her career endeavors. Her relationship with her brother’s best friend is going no where, and she doesn’t know exactly how to end it. When she meets FBI Agent Garrison Wade after one of her students is kidnapped, she begins to question her ability to follow the mandate of her deceased father, which was to not get involved with an FBI Agent. Will she follow her heart?

Garrison Wade is passionate about his job and the victims he tries to save on each of his missions. When he meets Imani, the passion he has for his job is conveyed to her. Even with this high profile kidnapping case, Garrison can't seem to take his mind off Imani. However, he must break down her barriers in order for them to become one. And when the person who kidnapped Imani’s student makes her the next target, Garrison will stop at nothing to protect and claim Imani as his.

Maureen Smith has written a novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seat with a suspenseful story that is enveloped in fiery romance. Her characters are complex, but strong, as well as unique and realistic. The storyline was well-developed and kept me guessing until the very end. Although this is a lengthy romance, not once did I find the 426 pages a deterrent. In fact, it just gave me more time to relish in the developing relationship of the main characters. With Every Breath is a wonderful example of a romance novel that can really incorporate the suspense without losing its romantic appeal. Ms. Smith is a welcome breath of fresh air in the romantic suspense genre.
—Cashana Seals
RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers