Book 3 of 3

Clean book not religious

Girl responsible for pay off everyone before the government floods the valley for a new reservoir ( )

A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden is the third An Empire State Novel. It can be read as a standalone. However, they are three delightful historical novels that tie together beautifully. Elizabeth Camden provides an engaging story with developed characters and a multifaceted story. Eloise is a mathematical genius who dresses in an understated manner to evoke a prim and proper appearance. Eloise is prickly but who can blame her after what happened when she was caught with Alex Duval. She likes to be needed and to help others. Returning to Duval Springs is the last thing Eloise wishes to do, but that is where her boss is sending her. Alex Duval fell in love with Eloise when she was a teen, but then her guardian yanked them apart. He has not forgotten her, and Alex still loves her. He has been fighting the state of New York to save the town. Duval Spring resides in a valley that is perfect for the state’s new reservoir which will provide water to New York City. Alex lost the lawsuit, but he is not done trying to find a way to save his town. Alex is a strong character with a good heart. You can tell how much he cares for the town and its residents. There are other subplots going on in the story. Elizabeth Camden beautifully weaves it all together into one compelling story. I like that Nick and Rosalind from A Daring Venture appear in the story. The point-of-view alternates between Alex and Eloise so we get to see both sides. I like that because men and women see things in different ways. I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up A Desperate Hope. I liked the messages in the story especially that a child can grow up to be whatever they want. Christian values are beautifully woven into the story. I can tell that the author did her research. There are discussion questions at the end which is helpful for book groups. I enjoyed all three novels in An Empire State Novel series, and I look forward to reading Elizabeth Camden’s next book. A Desperate Hope fascinating story that will hold your attention until you finish the very last word. ( )

What would life be like if the government decided our land was worth more to the general public than to the individual? (We actually saw this locally when many disgruntled people sold their homes cheaply to make room for a new highway to pass through.) In Elizabeth Camden’s novel, A Desperate Hope, a whole town is being dismantled so New York City can build a much-needed water reservoir. I had difficulty getting interested in these people’s lives at first until I could realize what was truly at stake for this community.
Ah, a first love that simmers and never quite gets extinguished. Sounds great for Alex Duval, now mayor of Duval Springs, and Eloise Drake, an accountant and numbers whiz, except they are on opposing sides of the town demolition/reservoir issue. Polar business aims and clashing personalities don’t make for a good love match... or do they?
This book has some real surprises and unlikely alliances that made it well worth the read. This is a novel that leaves me ruminating well after the fact, “could this be? Would this work out in real life?!” Discussion questions further stimulate this line of thought.
Great quotes:
“Your accounting ledgers don’t have a column for the size of a human heart.”- Alex

” You can be brave and scared at the same time.”-Alex

” We’ve got the most important element on our side. We’ve got hope, and hope can build bridges and tame storms and fuel our muscles until drag ourselves across the finish line. We aren’t quitters.”

” We don't have scarlet letters in this town. We have imperfect people who sometimes make mistakes.”

” It is in tackling the new and the scary that we become who we are meant to be.” (Enzo, Italian engineer)

I gratefully received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are solely my responsibility. ( )

Title: A Desperate Hope (An Empire State Novel #3)
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Pages: e-book
Date: 2/5/19
Publisher: Bethany House
My rating is 3 out of 5 stars.
Eloise Drake grew up with a rich family, but rarely saw them as she was sent to live with a guardian at the age of eight. She has longed for acceptance and a family her whole life. She is also a genius with numbers. She is one of only six female CPAs in the entire state of New York in the early 1900s. She faces obstacles from the many men in her field, but her current boss appreciates her logical thinking. He sends her back to the area where she grew up as a small town is to be destroyed to clear the land for a reservoir that is to flood the area. She is hoping to avoid Alex Duval, the man she fell in love with twelve years ago. He left the area suddenly without any explanation in the middle of their relationship. They had plans to marry, but Eloise never heard from him again. The people of the town don’t want to lose their homes and businesses but have exhausted their legal options. That is, until Eloise makes a suggestion that gives them new hope.
Alex Duval is the mayor of Duval Springs. His family has lived in this town since its founding 200 years ago. He has fought on every front he can think of to save his town but has come up short. Now, the state is sending a small team to evaluate the homes and businesses for their value with which the state will compensate the owners. Alex has no idea that the accountant who will be performing the evaluations is Eloise. Upon arrival, his old feelings come back in a rush. He was forced to leave the area by her guardian. Eventually, after a stint in the army, he returned and searched for Eloise but to no avail. He wants a second chance at a future with Eloise, but is he too late?
I usually enjoy this author’s novels as they contain such interesting historical information with a unique focus on the career/life of the lead female character. However, this story fell short for me. I couldn’t connect with Eloise or her romance with Alex. I didn’t like Alex with his chameleon-like character changes. The potential for an interesting story is definitely there. The moving of an entire town was also an interesting avenue to explore, and having Eloise be a female accountant was also interesting. Elizabeth Camden is one of my “have to read” authors when she has a new book released. I am still going to read her books, but this one for me just didn’t hit the mark. ( )

I loved this historical fiction romance. It was great to see how Eloise and Alex both became better as adults. They learned many things after they were pulled apart as teenagers. I also loved the history that showed how a town can be bought out to build a reservoir to help many. This book was hard to put down and I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see what happened. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )