Another winner from Camden: "Beyond All Dreams"

about the book....

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?

my review...

Weaving together an interesting blend of history, romance, and some mystery too, "Beyond All Dreams" is another winner from Elizabeth Camden. The characters are interesting and multi-faceted, with Anna O'Brien winning my sympathies and admiration from the first few pages. Luke Callahan likewise intrigued me with his brash confidence hiding some deep seated hurts. The abuse both of these characters suffered in their childhoods made me cringe (Anna's situation especially!), and created a unique depth to each of them, who both rose beyond their circumstances to forge a different future for their lives. I greatly enjoyed the mystery of how Anna's father and his ship went missing, and Anna's tenacity in uncovering the truth makes for a captivating read. I was especially moved by the character's encounters with grace and the power of forgiveness, and the author brings to life the truth that forgiveness isn't just about forgiving the other person. Indeed, perhaps the greatest gift is for the one who needs to do the forgiving, as they get to release the hurt and bitterness and pain and refuse to let it rule over their hearts any longer. Camden continues to write with a sure hand, creating interesting plots that not only proceed at a quick pace, but explore some deep themes along the way.

"Beyond All Dreams" is a winner in every way, and fans of historical novels should plan on adding this one to their bookshelves. I am confident that Camden is going to garner some new fans with this latest release, and I award it a solid rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

about the author....

Elizabeth Camden is the award-winning author of four books, including Against the Tide (2012), winner of a RITA Award, Christy Award, and Daphne du Maurier 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. Elizabeth lives with her husband in Florida. Visit her website at www.elizabethcamden.com.

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Beyond All Dreams