Out of Breath: Book One of The Lithia Trilogy

Written by Blair Richmond

Narrated by Midge Raymond

Deep in the hills of Lithia brews an epic battle between evil and nature. 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 a 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. At once a paranormal love story and an environmental allegory, Out of Breath offers an exciting new voice in young adult fiction.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ashland Creek Press
• Release date: Apr 11, 2020
• ISBN: 9781618220875

Reviews for Out of Breath

[Amelia Volkova · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I wish this book had found me years ago, but I'm still happy I got to enjoy it now. Vegan main character and vegan vampires alongside traditional vampires is the perfect combination for me. I love vampires, I love veganism and this book was perfect. It might not be for someone else, but for me, it was everything I wanted and needed. Fast-paced story with interesting plotline and a good narrator to make it all come alive.

[kybunnies · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

****THIS WAS A GOODREADS.COM FIRST READ CONTEST WIN!****

This was a wonderful interesting book to read. I felt this book would be better for Young Adult/Teenager but books really do not cater to a specific age. The author wrote a very good book. Thanks for an interesting read.

****THIS WAS A GOODREADS.COM FIRST READ CONTEST WIN!****

[melanie_mccullough_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Kat has been running her whole life. Not just competitively, but recently for her life. Her latest journey leads her to the small town of Lithia, a place she recalls from her childhood. But shortly after her arrival, strange things occur and Kat comes to realize that the inhabitants of this town are not what they seem. This book was much better than I expected it to be. When I received it as an ARC from LibraryThing I figured it would be a decent book, but I found that it was one that I was unable to put down. The characters are engaging and likeable and the story was filled with enough surprises to keep me guessing and on the edge of my seat. Would definitely recommend to fans of the paranormal. I personally can't wait to get my hands on the next installment in this series!

[humphreys3_1 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This book was different. Another twist to the many vampire tales. Why I found it interesting, I don't think I would really continue with the series. However I will recommend it as a light/quick read, or at least a book to borrow from the local library. While I may have not liked it, doesn't mean you won't. It just wasn't my cup of tea. Till I can write a proper review, which will hopefully be real soon.

[bookishdame · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

One of the very wonderful things about reading books is that they take us into worlds we might never be able to experience and into the heads and hearts of characters we wish we could be. That being the case, it was a fascinating place to find myself inside the head and physical surroundings of Kat Jones.I'm not and never have been a runner. It's something that has interested me over many years because I've come across friends and acquaintences who love to run. What makes "Out of Breath" so unique is the experiences shared about this lifestyle and its character building benefits. It was an educational and emotional experience to read.From the perspective of strictly a YA novel, you'll find this one a treat because it's much along the lines of a "Twilight" venue. There is the dark and handsome vampire, Roman; the somewhat innocent and caring nature-boy, Alex; and Kat, who is new to town, a loner and quietly beautiful. But from that point the novel takes a direction that is explosive in character pulling us into the world of running, vegan lifestyles versus blood-feeding, and murder in the woodlands above the town called "Lithia" for its calmning drinking water. Blair Richmond is a very strong author. Her style is not only agreeable, but engaging and it has a flow that makes one want to keep digging for answers that she poses in her story. I was hooked from the beginning, and I found the mysteries she posed in the novel grabbers! Her characters are also likeable; even the strangest of the vampires, and I'm anxious to know more about all of them.This is the first in a series around Kat, Roman and Alex. I'm very much looking forward to reading more about them and the town of Lithia. There are open-ended questions I have and I'm dying to know the answers to.Ease of reading and a great story will make this a sure-to-be loved novel and series. I recommend it for those who love vampires!4 stars a runningDeborah/TheBookishDame

[bevyann · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book is classified as a young adult but it seems like a hard written book for young adults unless they are avid readers. It has a smooth beginning but you are dropped into a story line with only a bare history. I prefer to know where the main character is coming from and why I am following her story. The characters did grab my attention but I kept wondering why I was following along with them. The main character comes across as an adult however she is only 19 and fully independent, but for living on her own it does not give a clear picture of how hard it is for a young girl to get along on her own cross country. I didn't get a feeling or a good description of what was around her at all. The author kept teasing with little phrases on the past but never fully clarified even in the end which leaves me with alot of questions. I understand this will be a series however it doesn't give me much anticipation for the next one because it is so blase about everything except the main character. There was enough interaction with other characters however they never really got a chance to become a connection through the book.On the flip side I did like the spin on vampires that was mentioned, as well as the focus on running. It made me want to go out and start running every morning. For as bland as most of the book was the descriptions and emotions really came alive when she described the main character and how she was connected to her surrounding while running. The other topic I really enjoyed was the mysterious beings in the woods and mountains. I hope she can go further into detail in the next book on them.

[howcaniexplain · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book was a bit of a let down. It started off interestingly enough, but seemed to take forever to get to the supernatural element. Once it got there, I was unable to suspend my disbelief to the point necessary to enjoy the rest of the book. Unfortunately, this reader was not intrigued by the prospect of a trilogy.

[stephanie_ward_89 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The first in a trilogy, Out of Breath follows Kat – who is has been on the run for a long time and finds herself in her hometown of Lithia. She is embraced by the townspeople and settles into a normal life, until her friend Stacey is brutally murdered while they are running in the forest. When Kat looks into her friend’s mysterious death, she finds out that Lithia isn’t the quaint small town she believed it to be. There are vampires hiding outside the town limits and they are killing people. How is Kat going to accept the fact that vampires are a part of Lithia, especially since she is falling for one?Richmond’s novel is another YA paranormal romance that seems to blend in with all the others in its genre. It has some different elements that set it apart – Richmond focuses on the beauty of nature and the healing effects of running. Also, there is a lot of emphasis on vegan lifestyle – almost to the point where it seems to be pushing vegan ideals on the reader. The characters were mainly flat and had no depth and the plot had some intriguing aspects that went unexplored. The novel might have held more interest if it had not introduced vegan vampires from the Pacific Northwest – it seems it is just trying to be an eco-friendly version of Twilight but with a few different details.Disclosure: I received my copy of this book free from Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program. However, this had no effect on my opinion of the book or my review.The first in a trilogy, Out of Breath follows Kat – who is has been on the run for a long time and finds herself in her hometown of Lithia. She is embraced by the townspeople and settles into a normal life, until her friend Stacey is brutally murdered while they are running in the forest. When Kat looks into her friend’s mysterious death, she finds out that Lithia isn’t the quaint small town she believed it to be. There are vampires hiding outside the town limits and they are killing people. How is Kat going to accept the fact that vampires are a part of Lithia, especially since she is falling for one?Richmond’s novel is another YA paranormal romance that seems to blend in with all the others in its genre. It has some different elements that set it apart – Richmond focuses on the beauty of nature and the healing effects of running. Also, there is a lot of emphasis on vegan lifestyle – almost to the point where it seems to be pushing vegan ideals on the reader. The characters were mainly flat and had no depth and the plot had some intriguing aspects that went unexplored. The novel might have held more interest if it had not introduced vegan vampires from the Pacific Northwest – it seems it is just trying to be an eco-friendly version of Twilight but with a few different details.Disclosure: I received my copy of this book free from Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program. However, this had no effect on my opinion of the book or my review.

[darkang3l_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Blair Richmond did an outstanding job with the novel "Out of Breath". This novel had be eagerly turning the pages- I couldn't put the book down and ended up finishing it within a day. Katherine Healy is a nineteen year old girl who is running away from her past and ends up in the town where she was born- Lithia. In this town she finds some comfort until tragedy strikes and she can't help but feel guilty. To complicate matters, she's attracted to attention of two guys who both have secrets that they rather keep hidden but Katherine is determined to find out.Out of Breath is just a glimpse into the promising of a great trilogy. I can not wait to see what will happen in the next novel.

[mayaarb · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Out of Breath was a refreshing read in the Young Adult genre. The tale of Kat, a young woman running away from BIG problems she doesn't know how to resolve, finds herself returning to her childhood hometown, Lithia, Oregon. She feels drawn to the place, and discovers the people of this quaint small town are friendly, welcoming, and generous. She begins to allow herself to feel safe again, rediscovers her passion and aptitude for marathon running, and even allows herself to become attached to some of the people, until the small town's dark side begins to show itself. Kat finds herself wanting to run away again, but guilt, fear, and the attentions of two of Lithia's most eligible young men keep her from leaving, and place her right in the middle of Lithia's darkness.As a parent, I appreciated that although the main character, Kat, is over the age of majority, she is not the heroine so common in so many Young Adult books these days. She doesn't drink underage, she isn't hormonally driven to jump her boyfriends, and although she has had a difficult life, she still feels and takes responibility for her actions and strives to improve herself. This is a heroine with potential, and I look forward to the next book in the series.