Beyond All Dreams - A Review

Published - January 2015, Bethany House Publishers
Author - Elizabeth Camden
Title - Beyond All Dreams
Format - ebook, paper
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Anna O'Brien loves her job as a map librarian at the Library of Congress. She loves being surrounded by maps and helping patrons with their research requests. When she is asked to sit in on a Congressional committee meeting, she unintentionally captures the attention of Luke Callahan, one of Congress's rising stars. Luke has been "demoted" from the prestigious Budget Committee onto a committee involving Fisheries. But Luke is determined to show that the Speaker of the House is corrupt and asks that Anna be the one librarian who pulls all of his research requests. When Anna stumbles across a discrepancy between a map and the Navy's report regarding the shipwreck her father died in, she ends up enlisting Luke's help. Before long, both of them are involved in something far more than a simple error. Anna's afraid to trust her heart and Luke's in danger of loosing his. Will these two manage to figure out what the future holds for them?

One of the things that I've discovered I love about Elizabeth Camden's books is the rich historical detail. Last year's With Every Breath wowed me to no end. And then I spied the cover of this one. I love the spiral stair case and added it to my to read list. When this one came up for review, I snatched it up. I couldn't wait to delve back into a novel rich in history.

Yes it is rich in history. But what I found was that it was a little more slow moving than I was accustomed to. I wasn't sure how I initially felt about either of the main characters. My first impression was probably that Anna seemed a little stiff and schoolmarm-y while Luke was a conceited jerk. Yet what changed my impression of Anna was when she put Luke in his place at their first meeting. And I admire that. I also enjoyed the fact that Luke had to pursue her. He had to get to know her. He had to make it a point to figure her out because she didn't fall for his charms initially.

I've also enjoyed the fact that this story wasn't built entirely on their romance. Each of the main characters had busy lives and it showed. I mean, Luke was a Congressman and involved in several different bills while at the same time being a parent to his nephew. And for Luke to decide that Anna was important to him meant that he had to make time in his busy schedule for her.

Still, I enjoyed the book. I keep being told I need to read Camden's Against the Tide and maybe one day soon I'll be able to get to that one. I enjoyed the look into the Library of Congress in the late 1800's as well as what Congress was like then too.

I received this book for free from Bethany House Publishers for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, Elizabeth Camden, Jody Hedlund, Laura Frantz

Rating - 4 stars

With Every Breath - A Review

Published - July, 2014 Bethany House Publishers
Author - Elizabeth Camden
Title - With Every Breath
Format - ebook, paper
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Government worker Kate Livingston is good with numbers. Yet her current supervisor fires anyone who seeks a better position. She lost out on a college scholarship to Trevor McDonough and has had to work hard for everything ever since. When she is invited to interview for a data position at the hospital, Kate is shocked and startled to learn that the young doctor is none other than Trevor McDonough, her old rival. Even though it means working closely with Trevor on a daily basis, Kate accepts the position to analyze data in the hopes of finding a cure for tuberculosis. She soon is fascinated by not only the data, but by the secrets Trevor is hiding. Can she trust her heart to him? And when Trevor's secret is exposed, will they both learn to trust?

I've read several of Elizabeth Camden's books over the years and each one is beautifully written and researched. I think that this one may be my favorite one of hers to date.

First, I love the cover. It's so pretty. It's light and airy and I had no idea of the depths of the book just by looking at the cover.

I also loved Kate. It's not often that I read about a heroine who is smart and actually gets to use her intelligence! So that was very refreshing. I loved her struggle, especially once she knew that she loved Trevor, on whether or not she could let him go if need be. She'd already lost one person she loved, and I understood how she was afraid to allow herself to care for someone else she may loose.

Trevor was a character who was wounded by things in his life, but he was determined to help others, even at the risk of his own health. I loved how he was willing to step up and take action for what he believed in.

Overall, I'd have to say that this was a surprising book for me. I certainly didn't see the twist of Trevor's past being what it was. I also was surprised that I read this in about 4 hours one night, when I'd really not been meaning to at all.

I received this book for free from Bethany House for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Elizabeth Camden, Jody Hedlund, historical fiction

Rating - 5 stars

Rose of Winslow Street - A Review

Libby Sawyer and her father are called back home from their summer vacation with the news that a foreign man and his family have moved into their home. Michael Dobrescu moved from Romania to Colden to claim the property that was left to him by his uncle years ago. Since neither family wants to give up their claim, a battle in the courts ensues. As Libby searches the house and grounds for important documents for her father, she finds herself drawn to the gentle Romanian. When more secrets about Michael are uncovered, which family will gain control of the house? And will Libby allow herself to fall in love with the "enemy"?

This was my first book by Elizabeth Camden but it won't be my last! The story does move a little slowly, but as the secrets are uncovered, additional layers to the characters are revealed. Libby thinks she's unworthy because she can't read. Mirela, Michael's sister, feels unworthy because of an attack on her in Romania. Michael strives to prove to both women that they are perfect the way that God made them and that circumstances shouldn't stop them from being who God intended. Michael has a dream of using a rare night blooming jasmine to make a perfume. So he also pays attention to the various fragrances of lotions and things that Libby wears. The detail given to the types of fragrances and tones used in making perfume I found fascinating. I work in the cosmetic industry and it was very interesting to read about the thought behind and the different types of plants (roses, juniper, citrus, etc) that are considered when making the "perfect" fragrance.

I received this book for free from Bethany House publishers for the purpose of an honest review. I was not required to like the book. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 4 stars