Lady of Bolton Hall by Elizabeth Camden

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe Lady of Bolton Hill Bethany House (June 1, 2011) by Elizabeth Camden


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.

A word from Elizabeth: I am a college librarian in central Florida by day, but by night I can be found pounding out inspirational historical novels the moment the sun goes down. I love writing books about fiercely intelligent people who are confronted with profound challenges. As a rather introverted person, I have found that writing is the best way for me to share my faith and a sense of resilience with others.

As for who I am? I love old Hitchcock films, the hour before sunset, a long, sweaty run through the Florida countryside, and a glass of good wine. After spending my entire adult life on a college campus (either as a student or a librarian) I have finally been able to pursue my ultimate goal of writing professionally.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Female journalists are rare in 1879, but American-born Clara Endicott has finally made a name for herself with her provocative articles championing London's poor. When the backlash from her work forces a return home to Baltimore, Clara finds herself face-to-face with a childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished factory worker she once knew. In her absence, Daniel Tremain has become a powerful industry giant and Clara finds him as enigmatic as ever. However, Daniel's success is fueled by resentment from past wounds and Clara's deeply-held beliefs about God's grace force Daniel to confront his own motives. When Clara's very life is endangered by one of Daniel's adversaries, they must face a reckoning neither of them ever could have foreseen.

When Clara Endicott and Daniel Tremain's worlds collide after twelve years apart, the spark that was once between them immediately reignites into a romance neither of them thought possible.

But time has changed them both.

Daniel is an industrial titan with powerful enemies. Clara is an idealistic journalist determined to defend underprivileged workers.

Can they withstand the cost of their convictions while their hearts, and lives, hang in the balance?

If you would like to read the first chapter ofThe Lady of Bolton Hill, go HERE.
To purchase The Lady of Bolton Hall, please click here...http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764208942

I am definitely loving novels set in The Gilded Age. And this book, the Lady of Bolton Hall, is no exception. Setting alone, though, cannot carry a story. No worries here... this is such a well-written novel. I found the dialogue especially good and, unlike a lot of novels where dialogue is almost a "filler", Ms. Camden really took care to use it to move the story forward as well using it to define the characters.

I've been reading on some "romance" forums the debate of epilogues... do we love them or should the story end when it ends? Well. I'm definitely on the "love them" side of that debate. And the epilogue of The Lady of Bolton Hall is the cherry on a great ice cream sundae. Why that particular analogy? Because there's some Häagen-Dazs ice cream in my new freezer! Anyway, the epilogue just closes the book on such a great note. I love to how the characters have changed and are living their "happily ever after".

~~Thanks to Bonnie at CFBA and the publisher for sending me a copy of The Lady of Bolton Hall in exchange for my review.~~