Review: Out of Breath by Blair Richmond

ISBN #: 978-0979647574

Page Count: 274

Released: October 11, 2011

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Nineteen-year-old Kat Jones has been a competitive runner since she was a young girl, but after her mother's death, the path her life was supposed to take begins to crumble around her - until one day, she finds herself on the run in the literal sense, this time in a race for her very life.

Kat's journey takes her to the Pacific Northwest town of Lithia, the place of her last good memories, of the days when her mother was still alive. But soon after her arrival, strange things begin to happen in Lithia - and when one of her new friends disappears under mysterious circumstances, Kat begins to realize that Lithia's inhabitants are not all of this world. Worst of all, she is falling in love with one of these otherworldly locals, and the friend who hopes to save her has secrets of his own.

As Kat tries to rebuild her life, she is also training for a race that will turn out to be her biggest challenge yet, as she must outrun not only the demons of her past but the demons of the here and now, who threaten her very existence and that of the entire town.

Mandy's Review:

Cover

I like the cover.  I've always found cement angels slightly spooky. It fits well with the book.

Plot

Kat is a runner. It's evident when we meet her because that's what she's doing at the start of the book: Running.  Running from life; Running from emotions; Running from everyone and everything she knows.

She winds up in the town where she was born, Lithia. Once there, she starts to notice that the people act differently from any other place she's been. People joke it's the water making everyone so friendly.

Fortunate to have found a new place to live and a new job in one day, Kat's life picks up some semblance of a normal routine. Then she begins investigating the recent murders and suddenly Lithia doesn't seem to be as friendly as she thought.

Main Characters

Kat - A runner; a vegan. Slightly skittish when it comes to men. She's an only child whose mother died eleven years before.

Alex - A runner; a vegan. He works at the local co-op and shows Kat some kindness on her first day in town.

Roman - A carnivore. He's a local theater actor who lives in the castle at the top of the hill. Dark and mysterious. Doesn't like to talk about his past much.

Overall

Minus the two or three proofread mistakes (please keep in mind I was reading an ARC and not a final proof), this book is extremely well-written. I became engaged in this story from the first page. When I had to put it down (one must sleep and work!), I was eager to pick it back up again as soon a I could.

The story has some familiar elements, but with a new twist that I wasn't expecting (and that I think vampire-story/book lovers would appreciate). I would definitely recommend this book to readers of YA and mystery books.

Although it wasn't indicated anywhere in the book, that I can recall, I just know there's going to be a second book and I am impatiently awaiting its debut so I can read it!

Virtual Party Invite:

Ashland Creek Press is hosting a Virtual Book Launch Party on Monday, October 31, 2011. 

On Halloween, you can click here to go to Ashland's blog to help celebrate the launch of Out of Breath as well as Halloween. So, stop by their blog to join in on the festivities, which will include giveaways and Q&As with Out of Breath author, Blair Richmond.

They'll also be posting all Out of Breath reviews throughout that day, so you'll get the chance to see what others are saying about this debut novel.