Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

 I have been so excited to read more by Elizabeth Camden ever since I read my first book authored by her. She packs so much into her stories and pulls the reader in from the very first page of the book. I enjoy the history that fills the pages and even the suspense that is a bit unexpected. To be honest, I didn't think there could be much suspense to a missing ship. Don't worry....I was wrong. There was a lot that could happen.

Beyond All Dreams was a wonderful story of a Anna O'Brien. Anna has been alone her whole life due to many circumstances. She has had to learn to stand up to bullies, prove people wrong, and to face her fears. Luke Callahan has a family that doesn't know how to handle anger or alcohol. In order to get out of that situation, he turns to politics. He quickly learns that it's hard to run from something engraved inside of you and it takes God to overcome such things as anger.

I'll admit that I went back and forth with Luke. One minute I'd like the guy and the next, I couldn't stand him. However, I was pleasantly surprised by him in the end and impressed with what he was willing to do for those he so clearly loved.

I am looking forward to seeing what's next in Elizabeth Camden's next novel. They just keep getting better and better!

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{More about Beyond All Dreams}

Beyond All Dreams (Bethany House, January 2015)
Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?
Anna O’Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across the baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. Thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.
Luke Callahan was one of the nation’s most powerful congressmen before his promising career was shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship. Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglements with members of Congress.
From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation’s finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?
Learn more and purchase a copy at Elizabeth’s website.

{More About Elizabeth Camden}

Elizabeth Camden is the author of six books and a RITA and Christy Award winner. 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. Elizabeth lives with her husband in Florida.
Find out more about Elizabeth at http://elizabethcamden.com.

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I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

I have been so excited to read more by Elizabeth Camden ever since I read my first book authored by her. She packs so much into her stories and pulls the reader in from the very first page of the book. I enjoy the history that fills the pages and even the suspense that is a bit unexpected. To be honest, I didn't think there could be much suspense to a missing ship. Don't worry....I was wrong. There was a lot that could happen.

Beyond All Dreams was a wonderful story of a Anna O'Brien. Anna has been alone her whole life due to many circumstances. She has had to learn to stand up to bullies, prove people wrong, and to face her fears. Luke Callahan has a family that doesn't know how to handle anger or alcohol. In order to get out of that situation, he turns to politics. He quickly learns that it's hard to run from something engraved inside of you and it takes God to overcome such things as anger.

I'll admit that I went back and forth with Luke. One minute I'd like the guy and the next, I couldn't stand him. However, I was pleasantly surprised by him in the end and impressed with what he was willing to do for those he so clearly loved.

I am looking forward to seeing what's next in Elizabeth Camden's next novel. They just keep getting better and better!

___________________

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth Camden is an author that never fails to captivate her readers from the very beginning of her books.  This book didn't disappoint at all.  I liked everything about this book, from cover to cover and in between.

I have read several fiction books about the Chicago fire, but none that have been in so much detail as this book.  In other books, I feel like it's just the minor fact in the story.  This story thrives on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  In fact, the first almost 100 pages of the book is devoted to the fire itself....well, and a little back story of what happened in the 6 days leading up to the fire.  I loved the history thrown into this story and how I was able to imagine the fear those people had felt.  I simply can't imagine standing in freezing water and watching your city burn and to have to leave behind a framed picture--the only picture you have--of your father and what was close to his heart.

Zack Kazmarek is an intimidating lawyer who has apparently fallen head over heels in love for Mollie Knox, the owner of the 57th Illinois Watch Company that her father created and she inherited after her father's death.  However, for Zack to act on his feelings would mean a most certain death to his career with the infamous Hartman....the one who has a lot of money and keeps the watch company in business by buying so many of their watches for their stores.  Mollie has no idea of Zack's intentions and to her, he seems arrogant and rude and downright mean.  You could even add sneaky and a trickster to the list, although Zack would disagree with those last two.

Zack had to grow on me.  I didn't like his attitude and I definitely didn't like the way that he treated Mollie.  I liked Mollie from the beginning.  She seemed to be smart and caring and didn't care if she lost a deal.  She met problems head on and took care of those who needed help.  Who couldn't like her?!  

After having read several books by Elizabeth Camden, I have to say that I think this is her best book. She keeps getting better and better!  Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

_____________

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

Into the Whirlwind by Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth Camden is an author that never fails to captivate her readers from the very beginning of her books.  This book didn't disappoint at all.  I liked everything about this book, from cover to cover and in between.

I have read several fiction books about the Chicago fire, but none that have been in so much detail as this book.  In other books, I feel like it's just the minor fact in the story.  This story thrives on the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.  In fact, the first almost 100 pages of the book is devoted to the fire itself....well, and a little back story of what happened in the 6 days leading up to the fire.  I loved the history thrown into this story and how I was able to imagine the fear those people had felt.  I simply can't imagine standing in freezing water and watching your city burn and to have to leave behind a framed picture--the only picture you have--of your father and what was close to his heart.

Zack Kazmarek is an intimidating lawyer who has apparently fallen head over heels in love for Mollie Knox, the owner of the 57th Illinois Watch Company that her father created and she inherited after her father's death.  However, for Zack to act on his feelings would mean a most certain death to his career with the infamous Hartman....the one who has a lot of money and keeps the watch company in business by buying so many of their watches for their stores.  Mollie has no idea of Zack's intentions and to her, he seems arrogant and rude and downright mean.  You could even add sneaky and a trickster to the list, although Zack would disagree with those last two.

Zack had to grow on me.  I didn't like his attitude and I definitely didn't like the way that he treated Mollie.  I liked Mollie from the beginning.  She seemed to be smart and caring and didn't care if she lost a deal.  She met problems head on and took care of those who needed help.  Who couldn't like her?!  

After having read several books by Elizabeth Camden, I have to say that I think this is her best book. She keeps getting better and better!  Can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

_____________

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers and CFBA in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.