With Every Breath by Elizabeth Camden Book Review

// With Every Breath //

By Elizabeth Camden

{Book Review by Bethany}

Publisher: Bethany House
Source: Review copy provided by the publisher
Publication Date: August 5th, 2014
Number of Pages: 368
ISBN: 0764211749
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars 

// Book Synopsis //

Taken from GoodReads

"In the shadow of the nation's capital, Kate Livingston holds a respectable position as a government statistician when she encounters a rival from her past, the insufferable Trevor McDonough. A Harvard-trained physician, Trevor never showed the tiniest flicker of interest in Kate, and she's bewildered at the way he suddenly seeks her out. Surprising even herself, Kate agrees to Trevor's entirely unexpected and risky proposal to work side-by-side with him in his quest to rid the world of tuberculosis, a contagious and deadly disease.

As Kate begins to unlock the mysteries of Trevor's past, she realizes there is much more to him than she could have imagined. His hidden depths may fascinate her, but his most closely guarded secrets and a shadowy enemy lurking in the background carry a serious threat to their future.

When the truth of the past comes out, threatening to destroy everything they hold dear, how will Trevor and Kate ever overcome all that stands in their way?"

 // Bethany's Book Review //

I've been a fan on Camden's novels ever since reading The Rose of Winslow Street, and falling in love with it! Ever since then I've been eager to get my hands on her other novels, and this newest one was no exception, upon it's recent release! I absolutely adored this novel and the characters; however I do feel like The Rose of Winslow Street is still my favorite Elizabeth Camden novel. But, With Every Breath is a close second!

This story surprised me when it captivated me within it's pages, and kept me saying "just one more chapter"; which all book lovers can relate with. I couldn't put it down! The pages flew by for me, despite the fact that I usually pay close attention to the page numbers and how many pages are left in a book. For some reason I'm like that, but with this book I'd look up and think how strange it was that 50 pages just flew by! That is the sign of a good book: if it places you into the story, and makes you loose track of time.

Camden has penned a brilliant novel! While this story doesn't have a whole bunch of main characters, and heavily focuses on the two main characters, it's anything but a drab and bland storyline! I think the fact that Camden chose to focus the story on the two main characters made for a better reading experience, since you really got to know the main characters-which I really did. I definitely felt this way with these characters, and rarely feel such a close connection to book characters. I truly was able to say at the end of this book that I was sad to see the story come to a close!

This story was set in the 1800s, a time when doctors were researching how to cure tuberculosis which was a horrible illness that so many people lost their lives to. The time period in itself was extremely interesting to learn about, but alongside the meaningful characters, it made for an exquisite story, and one that was a favorite of all the books I've read this year!

I would highly recommend this book to all fans of historical fiction, as it's a heart-felt story that will make you sad to finish reading!

D I S C L A I M E R :: I received a complementary copy of With Every Breath through the publisher for the purpose of this review. I was not paid to promote this book, and all thoughts expressed are my own, completely honest and unbiased.

Into The Whirlwind By Elizabeth Camden Book Review

// Into The Whirlwind //

 

By Elizabeth Camden

 

{Review By Bethany}

 

 Title: Into The Whirlwind: A Novel
Author: Elizabeth Camden

Source: Review Book from Bethany House Publishers
Number of Pages: 384
ISBN: 0764210246

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Publication Date: August 1st, 2013

Bethany's Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

// Book Synopsis //

After her father's death, Mollie Knox takes over his watchmaking company and uses her head for business to solidify the good name of the 57th Illinois Watch Company. Her future looks bright until the night her beloved city is destroyed in the legendary Great Chicago Fire. With her world crumbling around her, Molly must do whatever it takes to save her company in the aftermath of the devastating fire.

Zack Kazmarek is an influential attorney with powerful ties to the political, mercantile, and ethnic roots of Chicago. His only weakness is Mollie Knox, a woman who has always been just beyond his reach. However, all bets are off after the fire destroys Chicago, and Mollie is in desperate need of assistance. Just as Zack finally begins to pursue the woman he loves, competition arises in the form of a hero from her past who can provide the help she needs to rise from the ashes.

While Mollie struggles to rebuild, the two men battle for her heart. One has always loved her, but the other has the power to save her. In the race to rebuild the city, can she survive with her business and her heart intact?

// Bethany's Book Review //

 

In the face of tragedy, can love survive? Does it makes the bond stronger, or weaken it to a breaking point? In this story of overcoming enormous difficulties, Elizabeth Camden delivers a heart-racing retelling of the Chicago fire of the 19th century that took out the whole town and forced it to completely rebuild from the ground up, and gives a insightful look into a fiction life which survived that harsh time.

 

Mollie Knox is the owner and main worker at 57th Watch Company, which her father started back in his younger days. She is doing well with her steady consistent life of making and selling watches - which just so happens to be her passion and pleasure in life. But when tragedy strikes in the form of a devastating fire that sweeps out the whole city, can she find the strength to start again-both in her business and in her personal life? Then there is Zach who has been selling her watches in his store for years. She is unaware of the fact that Zach has feelings for her, until the fire when he makes his feelings known for fear of his dying before he can ever tell Mollie so, and after the flames die and the smoke rises as she raises from the waters unharmed and alive, she is faced with the fear or starting again and ever wonders if her life will ever be normal again. Add in Zach who is a potential love interest and you get one whirlwind of a story!

 

Into The Whirlwind is the second book by Elizabeth Camden that I've read, and while I enjoyed The Rose of Winslow Street better, I still enjoyed this novel! While I found that this story seemed to be a bit slow for me towards the end, I really enjoyed the first half and found the way that Elizabeth described the story to be so powerful and helped greatly in not just reading the story of the Chicago fire, but being there alongside the flames fighting for your life. Elizabeth just has a way with words that makes such a rich story and I almost enjoyed her writing style more than I enjoyed the actual story she told through the pages. =)

 

As far as characters go, I feel like the lady on the front cover totally amounted to Mollie and I loved her character. I loved getting to see her personality as the story progressed. But I sort of had mixed feelings for Zach. In the beginning I didn't really like him that much, and felt like I didn't connect with his character. He seemed to be a bit unsteady. But after finishing the story I found that my interest in his character grew, and I ended up actually liking him by the end of the story. But as much as I liked these characters, I'd have to say my favorite character was Frank. Man, there was just something about him that just made him feel like an old friend, and he was my favorite character.

 

Overall, Into The Whirlwind was a delightful read that is full of history and interesting plots that weave themselves into a splendid novel. I'd recommend this book to any fans of Elizabeth Camden, or to ladies who enjoy historical fiction that leaves you with an interest in finding more out about the time period that the book was set in.

 

N o t e :: I'd like to sincerely thank Bethany House publishers for providing me with a complementary review copy of Into The Whirlwind to read and review. I was not paid to write this review, and all thoughts expressed in this review are completely honest and unbiased.

Into The Whirlwind By Elizabeth Camden Book Review

/ / I n t o   T h e   W h i r l w i n d / /

 

{R e v i e w   B y   M a d i}

Title: Into The Whirlwind

Author: Elizabeth Camden

Source: Review Book

Number Of Pages: 380

ISBN: 978-0-7642-1024-2

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: 2013

Madi's Rating: 5 Out Of 5 Stars

 

/ / B o o k   D e s c r i p t i o n / /

After her father's death, Mollie Knox takes over his watchmaking company and uses her head for business to solidify the good name of the 57th Illinois Watch Company. Her future looks bright until the night her beloved city is destroyed in the legendary Great Chicago Fire. With her world crumbling around her, Molly must do whatever it takes to save her company in the aftermath of the devastating fire.

Zack Kazmarek is an influential attorney with powerful ties to the political, mercantile, and ethnic roots of Chicago. His only weakness is Mollie Knox, a woman who has always been just beyond his reach. However, all bets are off after the fire destroys Chicago, and Mollie is in desperate need of assistance. Just as Zack finally begins to pursue the woman he loves, competition arises in the form of a hero from her past who can provide the help she needs to rise from the ashes.

While Mollie struggles to rebuild, the two men battle for her heart. One has always loved her, but the other has the power to save her. In the race to rebuild the city, can she survive with her business and her heart intact?

 

 

/ / M a d i ' s   B o o k   R e v i e w / /

 My reading list has been slowly growing, and I have gotten to the point where I try not to read things that I don't think that I will absolutely love simply because I don't have the time to waste on  2 or 3 star books when I have a 5 star book sitting on my shelf. Which is why I went for an Elizabeth Camden title. I simply adore her! This is third book of hers that I've read, and can't wait to read her other novels!  I can't think of a more accurate title for Into The Whirlwind. I started this book at about 1:15 p.m this afternoon, and here I am with a finished novel and a book review at 2:30 p.m the same day. It was THAT good. I just couldn't put it down!

 

Mollie Knox is a sensible business woman who always thinks before she acts. Everything in her life is well thought out and planned before she makes a decision.

 

Zack Kazmarek (what a mouthful!) is the exact opposite. Though a successful business man himself, he can often be reckless, and is known for acting on a whim.

 

Put the two together and you get swept into the whirlwind.

 

 When their town burns to the ground, and their homes and businesses were lost to them, the townspeople have no choice but to rebuild and give each other a fresh start. But no matter where you are, there will always be a rotten apple in the bunch. People get desperate, they steal, they kill and then they run. Not exactly the best way to deal with instant poverty, but hey, who's to say any of us would react differently? There may be bad people in this world, but there is always a remnant of faithful, hard workers, and the amount of kindness and compassion demonstrated in this story can be overwhelming. I love a story with a good moral, and Into The Whirlwind certainly is that. I can't recommend this book enough. If you can't get your hands on Into The Whirlwind,  then I encourage you to grab another novel by Camden. The Rose Of Winslow Street is one of my personal favorites.

 

 ~The Literary Maidens

The Rose Of Winslow Street By Elizabeth Camden Book Review

/ / T h e   R o s e   O f   W i n s l o w   S t r e e t / /

 

{R e v i e w   B y   M a d i}

Title: The Rose Of Winslow Street

Author: Elizabeth Camden

Source: Review Book From The Author

Number Of Pages: 342

ISBN: 978-0-7642-0895-9

Publisher: Bethany House

Publication Date: 2012

My Rating: 5 Out Of 5 Stars

 

 

/ / B o o k   D e s c r i p t i o n / /

 

The last thing Libby Sawyer and her father expected upon their return from their summer home was to find strangers inhabiting a house that had been in their family for decades. Widower Michael Dobrescu brought his family from Romania to the town of Colden, Massachusetts with a singular purpose: to claim the house willed to him long ago. Since neither party has any intention of giving up their claim, a fierce legal battle ensues between the two families.

When important documents go missing from the house, Libby suspects Michael is the culprit. Determined to discover the truth behind the stolen papers, Libby investigates, only to find more layers of mystery surrounding Michael and his family. Despite their rivalry, Libby finds herself developing feelings for this man with the mysterious past.

As a decision about the house looms in the courts, Libby must weigh the risks of choosing to remain loyal to her family or give her heart to a man whose intentions and affections are less than certain.

 

 

/ / M a d i ' s   B o o k   R e v i e w / /

 

Libby Sawyer lives in town with her cold hearted father, and she tries to hide herself in her paints. Why would she want to be a part of the society that mocks her and ridicules her for her lack of reading skills? Her one weak spot is her love of children. Children flock to her, and she adores their bright and awe-struck way of living life. So she is excited to spend the Summer with her family at her brothers out of town cottage, because she will get to spend some time with her precious little niece Tillie. But her Summer fun is expertly interrupted by some band of gypseys stealing her fathers house back in Colden, Massachusetts.

 

Michael Dobrescu  fought faithfully in the European wars, but now he is ready for a new beginning in America. He wants to give his family a good, safe place to live and heal from the hurts of their past, and taking the house his uncle left him several years ago seemed like just the ticket. Why would he make his family live in a dinky and dirty hotel when he had a perfectly good house? There was only one flaw in his plan. The house was occupied, and the lady of the house was quite a mystery to him.

 

Courts rule, sparks fly, arguments get heated, and people say and do things they don't really mean at all. Libby's kindness to Michael and his sons in the event of all this chaos is surprising to Michael, and he isn't sure how to react.

 

This story developed at the perfect pace. It wasn't too slow going so that you got bored with it, but it also didn't fling four or five things on the reader all at once. I loved it. The grace and compassion shown by Libby, the care and gentility shown by Michael, the way the community supported Libby and her father, these are all things that endeared this story to my heart. Libby and Michael, though an unlikely couple, are perfect for each other.

 

Also, I would like to take a minute to talk about the cover for The Rose Of Winslow Street. It's gorgeous! I love how everything on the cover (front and back) represents something of importance in the book. I couldn't find a picture of the back cover, so I will describe it for you. Above the book description, there are several beautifully placed objects. For example: A deed, a bottle of perfume, a key, a set of paintbrushes, a rose. All these things play large parts in this story's development. This is one book I'll be glad to have just because it looks pretty on my bookshelf ;) .

 

 ~The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I would like to thank author Elizabeth Camden for providing me with a print copy of her book The Rose Of Winslow Street. I was not paid to review The Rose Of Winslow Street, and all thoughts expressed in this review are completely unbiased and completely my own.