Eloise Drake’s prim demeanor hides the turbulent past she’s finally put behind her–or so she thinks. A mathematical genius, she’s now a successful accountant for the largest engineering project in 1908 New York. But to her dismay, her new position puts her back in the path of the man responsible for her deepest heartbreak.Alex Duval is the mayor of a town about to be wiped off the map. The state … map. The state plans to flood the entire valley where his town sits in order to build a new reservoir, and Alex is stunned to discover the woman he once loved on the team charged with the demolition. With his world crumbling around him, Alex devises a risky plan to save his town–but he needs Eloise’s help to succeed.
Alex is determined to win back the woman he thought he’d lost forever, but even their combined ingenuity may not be enough to overcome the odds against them before it’s too late.
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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.
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.
Can their differences bring them back together…?
It’s been awhile since I’ve read one of Elizabeth Camden’s books. Too long, as A Desperate Hope is the third book in her Empire State series, which, is actually her first ever series.
Maybe it was kind of dumb to start with the third book in a series but that’s just how it turned out. Each book appears to be connected but can be read standalone.
While I found myself time and again annoyed by Alex, the hero, I did find myself genuinely liking the heroine, Eloise. The real draw for me was the storyline. I have personal connection as I, too, live near an area where several towns were inundated by water when the dam was built. And I even know people who lost land and homes when the decision was made to flood the landscape.
While probably not my favorite Elizabeth Camden novel I did find A Desperate Hope to be quite interesting. And the suspense angle was a good addition.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
Let’s cut to the chase, I loved this book. Author Elizabeth Camden always does a great job with her historical facts and I found this one so interesting. No spoilers here, but the “risky plan” was pretty incredible.
This is book three in a trilogy. It’s not necessary to read the other two as this one stands alone just fine but I encourage you to read them. They’re really good!
Camden’s characters are well developed and very likeable. They have flaws and suffer hardships just as we do. With a great plot twist through which we see perseverance and care for each other, and a romance that didn’t start out good at all, faith is a common thread throughout. Because this is Christian fiction I would have liked to see some repentance in a couple of high level characters, but life isn’t always that neatly wrapped up, is it? In all, this is a great story about overcoming insurmountable odds.
I highly recommend this book if you enjoy historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
What a fantastic introduction to new-to-me author, Elizabeth Camden. Camden’s voice is lovely. She paints scenes beautifully for the reader and her prose flow effortlessly through the novel carrying the reader on a delightful journey back in time.
Camden’s heroine, Eloise Drake, is smart, efficient and logical. Unfortunately for Eloise, the man who makes her heart pound, Alex Duval, is a romantic dreamer with a larger-than-life vision to save his beloved town of Duval Springs before its flooded to make a reservoir to provide water to New York City. Everything in Eloise’s play-it-safe, number crunching, CPA mind knows it’s an impossible task, but she longs to live an adventure like the ones she’s spent her whole life reading about. Of course this is exactly the kind of opposites-attract-chemistry that will leave the reader with great angst wondering when these two will finally mange to get together.
As a helpless romantic, I was drawn to Alex immediately. I loved his “nothing will keep me down” attitude. I thought Eloise was the perfect balance for Alex, providing just enough sense and responsibility to keep Alex on track to achieve his dream of saving the town—his perfect “ballast.” Just like any good couple, Alex’s risk-taking nature helped draw Eloise out of her protective shell and encouraged her to not only take a chance on his crazy scheme to relocate Duval Springs, but to risk her heart on Alex himself one more time.
I was mesmerized by the historical facts and technical details that Camden wove into the story. Everything from accounting details like evaluating the value of condemned properties and project costs to the mechanics of raising a building from its foundation. While Duval Springs is a fictional town, Camden was inspired by true life events that occurred in upstate New York at the turn of the twentieth century. Instead of allowing their towns to be flooded, residents painstakingly relocated their towns board by board, building by building to higher ground.
The author also wove many suspenseful elements into the story. I do not want to give any spoilers here but I must say that I was surprised as to the motives of those involved in sabotaging the town’s relocation efforts. Once the guilty culprits came to light, I realized the author had skillfully laid the trail of tiny bread crumbs leading me right where she wanted to me go, clues I hadn’t put together. I was delighted to not have figured out “the who and why” ahead of the story.
As for the setting, Duval Springs is the type of quintessential fictional town you’d like to be real. Like Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Walnut Grove or Jan Karon’s Mitford, Duval Springs leaps to life filled with secondary characters that become your friends and have you routing for them to overcome every obstacle that this seemingly impossible task presents. Of Duval Springs Camden writes, “…get to church on Sunday morning to thank God for the blessing of being born in a place like Duval Springs, where we laugh, work, and cry together.”
When I signed up to read A Desperate Hope as part of its tour with Prism Book Tours, I didn’t know it was third book in the Empire State series. In fact, I had read more than a hundred pages before I saw the advertisements in the back of the novel for the previous two books. The story flowed that well that I can highly recommend it as a stand alone.
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Spiritual Takeaway
Throughout the story, Camden’s characters trust in God and rely on His providence every time a new impediment to their progress occurs. Just as the title suggests, hope is the central spiritual theme of this book. Hope in God, His faithfulness, and also in the inspiration and the dreams He places in our hearts. Nothing is impossible with God.
My one criticism would be the handling of the premarital sexual encounter between Alex and Eloise that occurs off page and long before the story begins. My issues is not that the characters are flawed in this way. To the contrary, I think it makes them relatable to many modern readers. My issue is that Eloise seems more embarrassed by their past actions than sorry that she sinned. Although Alex does not come across as cavalier, he doesn’t seem to have any regrets either, except that he wished he’d married Eloise before her guardian whisked her away upon his discovery of their trysts. I recognize that the transgression mentioned occurred long ago, their reunion stirs up old memories and I can’t help but feel the author missed the opportunity to paint a beautiful picture of God’s grace and redemption for the reader.
4.5 stars!
I’ve always enjoyed Elizabeth Camden’s books and this is no exception. I had not read the first two books in the Empire State series but was able to fully enjoy the book. I had never given much thought to how NYC and the state of NY got their water supply in 1908 but this book made the history come alive with memorable characters, vivid descriptions of a small village struggling against change and loss, and a well-crafted plot. If you enjoy historical romance and also want to learn a bit of NY history, you will totally enjoy this book.
Eloise, our heroine, is an accountant – straight-laced and follow-the-rules kind of mathematician with a soft, tender heart and a secret hunger for adventure. She was once in love with Alex but they were torn apart by her guardian and her sense of shame. Alex is loyal, stubborn, impulsive, passionate, brimming with optimism and also the mayor of a small village that Eloise and her team from NYC are sent to demolish, in preparation for a reservoir to supply the water demand to NYC. They are complete opposites but make for a compelling team when they actually work side by side.
This is a lovely story about dreams, hard work to achieve them, and how God gives us dreams to pursue even when others think it’s folly. I was given a copy of the book by Bethany House Publishers and the author and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
We live near a man made reservoir and though I have driven by it many times I have seldom stopped to consider the personal sacrifices that were made by small communities for its inception. This story by Camden details the destruction of a small community –house by house, gravesite by gravesite and family to family– as the Ashokan Reservoir in upper New York is created in the early 1900s. The characters come alive as they struggle to move forward. The reader watches as the lives they’ve known are literally torn out from under them. Camden uses poignant details and underhanded treachery to capture the personal tragedies endured by each player. Wonderful story.
Meticulous research, a fascinating premise, and nuanced characters make this an enjoyable read.
I love Elizabeth Camden’s stories and this one was a great one. I wasn’t very fond of the H, Alex Duval, sometimes, but he came through in the end. Our h, Eloise Drake, grew up just outside of Duval Springs at her guardian’s mansion on the hill. She became fascinated with Duval Springs and it’s inhabitants when spying on them through her telescope. While wandering the woods near her summer home, she becomes lost. Alex finds her and helps her get back home. Thus begins a friendship that will blossom into a scandal that leaves Alex beaten to a pulp and Eloise sent of to a convent in Arizona.
Twelve years later the town of Duval Springs faces complete annihilation for the construction of a waterway to New York City. Having lost the court battle to stop the project from demolishing Duval Springs, Mayor Alex Duval comes face to face with Eloise Drake who is on the project assigned to assess the value of the homes in town so the state of New York can fairly compensate the town’s residents for the loss of their homes and livelihoods.
Alex and Eloise bump heads on this project that is ruining the towns people’s lives and uprooting families to unknown destinations. The tension is big and Ms. Camden writes the story well and the character’s development is slow, but steady.
How will the town ever survive after losing the fight to keep their town intact? Will Alex be able to convince Eloise to help him stop the destruction of the town? Will they rekindle their romance of twelve years ago?
The answers to these questions and the rest of the story can be found in the book at your local bookstore or library. Check it out. You won’t be disappointed. Enjoy!
Elizabeth Camden novels are simply not to be missed. Camden is an exquisite writer whose stories are always rich in characterization and complexity of storyline, and A Desperate Hope continues that legacy. Inspired by actual historic events, the story opens in 1908 as plans to flood an upper state New York valley and create a reservoir are coming to fruition. Understandably, resentment and bitterness from the townspeople are a major factor, with the determined mayor of Duval Springs and the planning team’s accountant at odds with each other. But the story of Alex and Eloise began one summer twelve years earlier, first as friends, then blossoming into a romance that went too far.
Camden has a gift for making the town of Duval Springs and its residents come alive. This character-driven story also has elements of suspense, intrigue, and betrayal. Events from the past have shaped the flawed and relatable Alex and Eloise into stronger people, with an inner strength and drive, even as Alex’s last official act as mayor would be the dismantling of the town he loved. Eloise, a mathematics genius, had a craving to be needed and loved the structure and safeness that being an accountant offered … “Rules were like a trellis that supported a fast-growing vine, letting her thrive and find success in the world.”
It would have been fascinating to watch how this technological feat came to be, were we not seeing events unfold from the perspective of the very people who were losing their homes. Just a reminder that meeting the needs of one group of people always comes at the expense of another. Spiritual themes are subtle, maybe a little understated for some readers, but Christian values definitely shine through.
A Desperate Hope is a page turner, filled with hope and grace, no matter the circumstances. Recommended to all who enjoy quality historical fiction.
I received a copy of this book through Prism Tours. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
A Desperate Hope is an excellent historical romance, and the writer did her research well. Sometimes making the right decision is very hard. The inhabitants of the small valley town of Duvall Springs had a choice to make. This huge change can either embitter or make them stronger. Most of the residents chose the latter. Eloise Drake and Alex Duvall, an old flame are brought together again by this difficult choice. Great story of overcoming insurmountable odds……I received a copy of A Desperate Hope by the publisher via NetGalley and I am pleased to leave a review.
There is one thing that I can say about Elizabeth Camden, and that is that she is a great writer. I have yet come upon a book that I didn’t enjoy, and hope not to anytime soon.
This story had me feeling that I was in the middle of a Catherine Marshall book, Julie to be precise. It may be because of the story atmosphere and how the town works together to try and help their town to survive. That said, to be compared with the book Julie is good, it’s one of my favorite books along with Christy.
The story is about a Eloise Drake who returns to her home town to work about making financial decisions on how much each house gets in return, for the state to be flooding their town. On the flip side, we have Alex Duvall who is equally determined to save his town. What no one knows, is the turbulent history between the two of them.
Again, a well written and read story about a town struggling to survive in the midst of the upcoming flooding of their valley. The atmosphere is dark and filled with survival, yet an excellent read. Just stick with it.
The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy.
Alex Duval has the dubious honour of being mayor of a town that’s about to disappear. New York needs water, which means New York needs a reservoir. That new reservoir will flood Alex’s town in the near future. Sure, the State Water Board is offering compensation, but that doesn’t change the fact that two hundred years of family and town history will soon be buried at the bottom of a lake.
So Alex is less than impressed when a team arrives to survey the land and assess the buildings for compensation. He’s even less impressed when he realises the accountant who will determine how much the government will pay for each house is his first love, Eloise, who he hasn’t heard from in ten years despite his efforts.
Eloise isn’t exactly happy to be in town either, especially when she realises Alex is still there. She has no desire to be party to the destruction of this town, but it’s her job. Yet as she gets to know the town—and the townspeople—she wants things to be different.
Elizabeth Camden’s novels never fail to impress me, and A Desperate Hope is no exception. As with her earlier novels, it combines complex characters with an intricate plot that incorporates an intriguing aspect of history, and a suspense element. This series has focussed on one of the major challenges of industrialisation: water.
The first book looked at some of the innovations in indoor plumbing. You might not think of plumbing as fascinating, but Elizabeth Camden turned it into a riveting read. Another looked at the importance of clean water, and the scientific battle between filtration and chemical treatment. Both were a combination of good fiction with intriguing historical detail, and a woman in a non-traditional occupation.
A Desperate Hope is the same. There is a problem, but solving that problem is going to take some innovative engineering thinking … and I don’t want to say more, because that would be a spoiler.
I recommend A Desperate Hope to all historical fiction fans, whether they’ve read the earlier books in the series (A Dangerous Legacy and A Daring Venture) or not.
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
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.
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.
(I have voluntarily read and reviewed this ARC with my personal opinion.)
A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden
As a child Eloise Drake felt unloved and unwanted by her parents. She found friendship in a young boy, named, Alex, after being shipped off to her biological father’s house and left, again feeing unloved and unwanted. Only 16 and 18, but they’d both ended up falling in love. After being discovered together, Eloise is shipped off to a convent and Alex forced to join the military.
As an adult Elizabeth is really smart in math and is an accountant for the state. Alex is mayor of Duval Springs. His town is on the brink of being demolished and destroyed. Elizabeth helps them with the plan to move their town.
But along the way, their feelings for one another resurface and they find their way back together after many ups and down and frightening situations! And crime.
This was a great read!!
“I want to believe that dreams really can come true,” she said simply. “I would like to believe that hope and heart is all it takes to make anything happen, but it isn’t.”
–Eloise Drake
Another captivating historical novel from Elizabeth Camden centers on the small town of Duval Springs, New York in the year 1896. The tiny town took on the state of New York Water Board only to lose their battle against the coming of the Ashokan Reservoir. The battle becomes very personal for two people from opposing sides; Eloise Drake, the accountant for the Water Board assigned to assess the property values of the townspeople and Alex Duval, mayor of Duval Springs.
Eloise Drake lives her life by her own personal three R’s: rules, regulations, and respectability. Being an accountant suits her perfectly. There are rules for everything and a precise order to the job. She tries hard to lead her life in the same staunch manner. Alex Duval is a dreamer who challenges the people of Duval Springs to the seemingly impossible task of moving the entire town. In spite of their differences, the two once shared a love of adventure novels, dreams, and each other. Can they put aside their differences and do the right thing for the people of Duval Springs?
Read this engaging novel filled with vibrant characters that add depth and personality to the story along with an intriguing mystery that must be solved along the way. Rich in historical detail based on the actual Ashokan Reservoir, Camden weaves fact and fiction together to come up with another great read. I would definitely recommend this book to readers of historical fiction and romance.
This ARC copy was received from Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own.
Where can I begin?
I loved this conclusion to this series, but I would say that they could be read as stand alone books. You understand some more of the main character’s story when you have read the previous two books, but you don’t have to have read them.
First of all, the history. She knocks it out of the park with the history of an event that we don’t know that much about. Water is the theme in all three books, and it continues here. The characters are flawed. In fact, there is not much to like about either of them in the beginning, but as you read, they grow on you.
Pain. Rejection. Love. Anger. Mystery. This book has all the elements intertwined and giving us a picture of what it would have been like for a woman in a position of power, but also for a man in power, but having to work with someone he cared for that no longer cares for him.
Romance? Yes, there is romance. But the focus of the book is the story with the romantic threads. I found that I wanted to follow the story, regardless of the romance.
I would recommend this series for older teens and adults that love unique historical books and want to have their fancy tickled to search for more details.
I obtained this book from the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.
After reading this book it has once again proven why I love this author’s books. It kept me engrossed the whole way through. A very tough,straight-laced,prickly heroine who despite being a carefree wild child has matured into a mathematical genius and is now a successful accountant for the largest engineering project in 1908 New York. She’d rather be tallying spreadsheets than dating.
When she is assigned to her coming of age town for work the memories coming rushing back no matter how much she may try to hold them at bay. I could feel her angst as she is assigned to displace these people in the town that she has come to care about and love. Such an incredibly hard choice to make. What was absolutely fascinating to me is this was based off of historical happenings of several towns very similar to this. I live in a small village myself and could empathize with the towns people and the shock and disappointment they went through all having to move. It would be like having cold water thrown at your face and not know it was coming. What’s next for this author? I don’t know but I know I can’t wait to read it as her books are automatic reads for me.
Published February 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.