CFBA: Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden

 

Song Stuck on the Brain: In My Life/A Heart Full of Love from Les Mis

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing:   Against the Tide Bethany House Publishers (October 1, 2012) by   Elizabeth Camden


MY TAKE:

Elizabeth Camden has done it again, she swept me up in intrigue, romance, and a passion for justice that is uniquely hers. Against the Tide may follow the romance and struggle between Lydia and Bane, but it also takes a look at a grittier part of life - addiction. Bane's fight to stop the Professor, his evil former boss, is just the beginning. Bane is determined to spend his life bringing down the opium dealer and make up for his past in the Professor's service. But opium is a sinister drug not yet controlled by the government and it's being used in all kinds of remedies, including teething liquid for children, causing death and addiction without the user even being aware of the danger. Bane's fight draws Lydia to fight with him, but she soon finds that the fight may be more personal than she could ever have imagined.

Some might remember Bane from Elizabeth Camden's earlier book, The Lady of Bolton Hill. I love that she chose a "bad guy" and shared his redemption story with us - there is a good word for her novels, stories of redemption. If you haven't read The Lady of Bolton Hill, don't worry, it's not a matter of sequels, each book can be read independently. However, once you sail through Against the Tide, I dare you not to eagerly reach for her other books.

Read my review of The Lady of Bolton Hill HERE.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Love and Lives are Threatened in Camden's Latest Offering

As a child, Lydia Pallas became all too familiar with uncertainty when it came to the future. Now, she's finally carved out a perfect life for herself--a life of stability and order with no changes, surprises, or chaos of any kind. She adores her apartment overlooking the bustling Boston Harbor, and her skill with languages has landed her a secure position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.

However, it is her talent for translation that brings her into contact with Alexander Banebridge, or "Bane," a man who equally attracts and aggravates her. When Bane hires Lydia to translate a seemingly innocuous collection of European documents, she hesitantly agrees, only to discover she is in over her head.

Just as Bane's charm begins to win her over, Lydia learns he is driven by a secret campaign against some of the most dangerous criminals on the East Coast, compelled by his faith and his past. Bane forbids any involvement on Lydia's part, but when the criminals gain the upper hand, it is Lydia on whom he must depend.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Against the Tide, go HERE.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

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.

I married relatively late in life, which turned out to be an odd kind of blessing. I had gotten very good at leading a solo life, and although I was not particularly content being alone, I had become reconciled to it. Most importantly, it taught me never to take my husband for granted. I give daily thanks for the blessing of being able to share a life with my favorite person on the planet.

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.

BH: The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden

This week, I'm reviewing on behalf of Bethany House. They were kind enough to send me a free copy of this book.




The Lady of Bolton Hill

Bethany House (June 1, 2011)


by


Elizabeth Camden

MY TAKE:

Elizabeth Camden did a masterful job with this story of love and forgiveness. I was sucked into the story from page one and barely breathed through the rest of the tale. There was so many heartbreaking incidents woven through the lives Daniel, Clara and Alex. Things that made you cringe and wonder if you really could have handled things any differently. But Clara is a true light for God and her selfless love does change lives, even her own. And despite the heartbreak, the book never feels heavy or overwhelming. In fact it's lit with humor and hope and a lot of fantastic suspense. The overall message of love and forgiveness is strong, but it never felt preachy or too heavy handed. Well done.



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 of The Lady of Bolton Hill, go HERE.


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.