Summary: 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.
My review: I really love the way this kind of story is told. There was a very brief introduction and then you just jump into the story. It's more action and less narration and the story is pieced together through flashbacks and details revealed between characters.
Clara is believeable enough although she was probably more the exception to the rule of women in that time.
This book is very definitely set in the late 1800's and the author has skillfully woven in bits and pieces of the time period to give a very good picture of the setting. Her use of era-appropriate language was fun, too (rag for newspaper, etc.). I love thinking about what it would have been like to live back then, but of course, I wouldn't have wanted to be poor then. It also made me realize how very little control women had in their own lives. I'm pretty glad I live in the era I do now!
There is also this underlying 3rd story that I wasn't sure how it all fit together. But it really made the story quite a bit more suspenseful when it was introduced part way in.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will probably keep it in my library.
Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian and associate professor. She 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.
If you would like to read the first chapter of
The Lady of Bolton Hill, go
HERE.
I received this book to read and review for the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance.
