I have thoroughly enjoyed every second of the Empire State series by Elizabeth Camden, and A Desperate Hope is no exception. In fact, A Desperate Hope may be my most favorite story in the series. The writing is stellar. The plot is highly engaging and fast-paced. The suspense and romance kept me turning pages well into the night. And the characters are relatable and charming each in their own right. I felt for each character, especially Eloise, as she traversed her highs and lows, her joys and disappointments. All in all, A Desperate Hope is an excellent read!
There is a moment in A Desperate Hope when someone Eloise loves is taken to jail for a truly heinous crime. Everyone but Eloise believes this character to be guilty and gives Eloise a hard time for her loyalty. But deep down she believes in her loved one and refuses to give up her search for the truth. At one point Eloise declares to Alex, “I can’t abandon someone, even if the worst is true. Especially if the worst is true.” Eloise’s proclamation to the hero of A Desperate Hope stopped me in my tracks. In all honesty, I’ve had to separate from loved ones because of bad choices, really bad behaviors, and activity that could be construed as criminal. I made the choice to separate from these people because the path I knew God had me on was an opposite path from the worldly one my loved ones chose. At the time, I 100% believed this was the correct choice to make, but after reading Eloise’s feelings on the matter I’m wondering if there weren’t better choices I could have made.
Let me clarify — it is NEVER the wrong choice to follow God’s path. I will never regret choosing God over my family members. And, the paths these loved ones followed were exceptionally dangerous and harmful. BUT I could have been more present than I was and I could have been more compassionate. I chose to separate myself almost completely, and then I erected an iron dome around myself that no one could really get through. I should have called and checked in more often. I should have prayed more consistently and with more heart for these loved ones. And I should have been more gracious and merciful. I should have been a better picture of Christ to them, but I was not. Eloise’s exclamation to Alex struck a chord because a metaphorical mirror was held up and I was found wanting. Today, I wish I could go back in time and make tweaks to my choices. I wouldn’t change everything, but I would change my heart towards these people I claimed to love. All I can do now is apologize where I need to, pray better, and show a little more love and grace and mercy.
I am so, so glad I read this series, and most especially A Desperate Hope. A Desperate Hope is an excellent historical romance, and I cannot recommend it enough. I implore you to purchase a copy today. You will not be disappointed that you did.
I purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on August 4, 2019, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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From the Publisher
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| To the Farthest Shores | A Dangerous Legacy | A Daring Venture | A Desperate Hope | The Spice King | A Gilded Lady | |
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| Price | $13.50 | $13.69 | $12.99 | $10.52 | $13.59 | $15.65 |
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A story to make my introverted heart sing!
Camden's characters are always so real, with flaws and struggles that make them relatable. Alex and Eloise were no different, bringing to the page a flare and charisma that is wonderfully trademark for this author. I related so much to Eloise and her need for security at the end of the day, but also her bone-deep desire to dare just a little and enjoy an unlikely adventure that would grow her and give her a taste of living beyond herself. I liked Alex and his zest for life that was contagious, pulling me into the community of Duval Springs and seeing us through another day's struggle to save the entire town. I felt a part of them, shared their hopes and concerns, and waited alongside them to see how it would end.Third in a series, this could actually read as a standalone. Having already read the first book but not the second, I started out a bit mystified over Eloise sharing a last name with the characters from 'A Dangerous Legacy'. But everything was explained without giving too much away. I would still enjoy going back to read book 2.I always thoroughly enjoy Camden's ability to take obscure job descriptions and combine them with forgotten moments in history to create an unforgettable reading experience. This one was truly "one for the ages."[I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.]
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