A DESPERATE HOPE by Elizabeth Camden, Reviewed by Winnie Thomas and Paula Shreckhise

Winnie's Review
Elizabeth Camden takes an interesting slice of history and builds a colorful and compelling story around it. Set in New York in the early 1900s, A Desperate Hope is about a town’s spunk and ingenuity in solving a seemingly insurmountable problem, about dreaming big, and working hard to make those dreams come true. Camden’s cast of characters come alive on the page. Alex Duval is an optimistic, courageous, go-getter whose vision of a way to save his town is inspiring. The heroine, Eloise Drake, is also endearing and fascinating as she tries to find her place in the world. Together, they are a magnificent team that can accomplish amazing things.

This riveting tale of courage, faith, optimism, and hope pulled me right in and kept me turning pages. With history, intrigue, suspense, inspiration, and more than a bit of romance thrown in, this story has something for everyone. I would recommend it to those who enjoy inspirational historical fiction.

*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher/NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Paula's Review:
A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden is book set in 1906 Upstate, New York.

The New York City Water Board is clearing the town of Duval Springs in order to build a reservoir.

Lots of interesting facts are woven into this story about the logistics and emotional upheaval of those involved, from the residents to the engineers. A seemingly impossible task is at hand. Can Eloise Drake and Alex Duval stop clashing enough to get the job done?

Eloise, an accountant with the Water Board and Alex, the mayor of the town being displaced, have a less than pleasant history. Can they overcome their past in order to make the future brighter for the inhabitants of a small town displaced by big government?

As an accountant, Eloise has ahead for numbers and relishes an ordered life. When circumstances throw her world off kilter, can she learn to adapt or use her strict expectations as an excuse to continue on her lonely path. Alex has a heart for his town and tries to help the people adapt to their fate.
 
Ms Camden gets to the heart if the issues, showing the attitudes and emotions of people in upheaval. I had heard about towns being flooded for dams and reservoirs but this puts a personal slant on exactly what such a project would entail. Such interesting detail shows the author did rigorous research.

The story did not just recount the logistical issues but brought some intriguing relationship dynamics and a mystery to be solved.

I recommend this to readers who like the unusual in their historical Christian fiction. I loved learning from an excellent storyteller.

*I received this complimentary book from the publisher on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own. * 

Also see Rebecca Maney's Review!

BackCover Blurb:
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 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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