Monday, February 25, 2019

Book Review & Giveaway: A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden


On Tour with Prism Book Tours

A Desperate Hope
(Empire State #3)
By Elizabeth Camden
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 352 Pages
February 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

Eloise Drake's prim demeanor hides the turbulent past she believes is finally behind her. A mathematical genius, she's now a successful accountant for the largest engineering project in 1908 New York. But to her dismay, her new position puts her back in the path of the man responsible for her deepest heartbreak.

Alex Duval is the mayor of a town about to be wiped off the map. The state plans to flood the entire valley where his town sits in order to build a new reservoir, and Alex is stunned to discover the woman he once loved on the team charged with the demolition. With his world crumbling around him, Alex devises a risky plan to save his town--but he needs Eloise's help to succeed.

Alex is determined to win back the woman he thought he'd lost forever, but even their combined ingenuity may not be enough to overcome the odds against them.



Other Books in the Series:




My Thoughts:

A Desperate Hope is the third installment in Elizabeth Camden's Empire State series, but can be read as a stand-alone story. I savored this well-written novel and its combination of romance, adventure, enterprise, and mystery.

Of all the novel's good qualities, I think I enjoyed the characters the most. Eloise and Alex were so different. Their personalities juxtaposed each other, yet they balanced and complemented each other without one being inferior to the other. Their snappy conversation and delightful flirtation both amused me and deepened my interest in the novel.

As the story progressed, the characters developed as their weak areas grew stronger. Likewise, the relationship between Alex and Eloise deepened past flirtation to mature into a true partnership of mind and heart. The story's secondary characters were also well-crafted. I especially liked the author's treatment of Bruce Garrett and the fact that I didn't know the mysterious culprit until the big reveal near the end.

For me, the characters, their development, and the conflicted relationships shined brightest in this novel. I recommend A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden to readers looking for an engaging historical fiction story of faith, relationships, and community.



About the Author


Elizabeth Camden is the author of twelve historical novels and two historical novellas and has been honored with both the RITA Award and the Christy Award. With a master's in history and a master's in library science, she is a research librarian by day and scribbles away on her next novel by night. She lives with her husband in Florida.



Tour Schedule:


Bookstagram Tour:


Check out the Bookstagram Tour:
February 17th (launch): @prismbooktours
February 18th: @heidireadsblog
February 19th: @suziewaltner
February 20th: @girlandherbooks
February 21st: @singinglibrarianbooks
February 22nd: @betherin02
February 23rd: @all.the.lovely.pages
February 24th: @christenkrumm

Tour Giveaway:



One Grand Prize winner will receive print copies of all three books in the Empire State series: A Dangerous Legacy, A Daring Venture, and A Desperate Hope
Two additional winners will receive a print copy of A Desperate Hope
- US only
- Ends March 1, 2019

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Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

3 comments:

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    1. One of my Family lines go back to the Huns. One line goes back to Ireland. One in England goes way back to the 12 century.

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