Jenny Bennett thinks Ryan Gallagher is the best thing that’s ever happened to her, until he leaves suddenly and shatters her heart. Six years later, Jenny is stunned to find Ryan once again at the Presidio military base, this time with many secrets and an inability to give Jenny a good explanation for his absence. Jenny is determined not to fall for Ryan’s charms again, but when he asks her for a favor for a friend, she has a hard time saying no. As Jenny and Ryan are forced to endure a project together, they are required to face their pasts and determine if they are able to forgive.

I love Elizabeth Camden’s books because she is not afraid to delve into difficult topics. I greatly appreciate her detail in describing the effects of opium withdrawal and the consequences it has on others. I also really liked how the theme of forgiveness came up time and time again, all from different perspectives – those who can forgive easily, those who struggle to move past bitterness, and those who do not feel worthy to accept it. No matter your walk in life, you will find significant spiritual meaning in this story with which to connect. I also loved the characters in this book and felt drawn to each one in such a unique way. The author crafts such deep personalities among the pages. Not every aspect of the characters’ pasts is etched out in the first pages and I was excited to discover more to each character as the story progressed. Another wonderful aspect of this novel was the detail that the author put into the parts of crafting pearls from clams and the history surrounding this interesting time period. I greatly enjoyed this novel and most highly recommend it to all readers!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

"I thoroughly enjoy Elizabeth Camden’s novels. I always find that they are historically rich and filled with complex characters. Her latest novel, To The Farthest Shores is no exception.

These characters quickly endeared themselves to me. Jenny who is trying to be the complete opposite of who she was while growing up and Ryan who’s dreams are within reach will both be memorable characters for me. I found Jenny relatable in the mask she tried to wear and Ryan who felt that disappointment was consistently around the corner. The secondary characters also left their own footprints on these pages and are just as much a part of this story as Jenny and Ryan.

But beyond the characters, the plot was also wonderful. Camden takes us to the very early days of the CIA (before it was the CIA even) as well as oyster farming. She adds in a dash of mystery as someone seems to be after Ryan’s life for unknown reasons. And then there is a tense relationship between Jenny and Ryan that often, I was just unsure if it could even work out.

To the Farthest Shores is everything that I expected from a novel by Camden. If you are looking for historical fiction with a unique setting and complex characters, I’d highly recommend it.


**I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.**"

This book is fantastic - I just loved the story but there are some innuendoes and talk of unwed mothers, prostitutes, sex outside of wedlock, pregnancy outside of wedlock, underage prostitutes, and other adult things but not sexually explicit things that is about as bad as it got - it talked about killings etc - then on the other side it talked about GOD, forgiveness, prayer, church, Blessings, missionaries, preaching, witnessing, and so on - and so it should - this was a very good storyline but I don't think it would be good for teenagers or others who are bothered by the things mentioned above - but that is just my opinion. This is about Jenny and army nurse was left six years ago by Ryan who just happen to come back into her life with a little girl in tow - he wants her back but doesn't trust him and his lies - but he has reasons for them but she doesn't know why. You have to find out for yourself what his reasons are. Will she forgive him? Will she let GOD soften her heart? Will he trust her?

I like books that meld spirituality, history, and romance. To the Farthest Shores is a nice mix, with vivid imagery and unique characters.

Speaking of characters, I wasn’t sure if I liked Jenny in the beginning, but her faults were believable and I grew closer to her as the story progressed. There were also times that I didn’t like Ryan very much. I wanted to kick him in the pants at times, but I still managed to sympathize with him and was happy with his progression.

I enjoyed Ms. Camden’s writing style and the believability she instills in her characters. Her descriptions are solid, and effectively transported me to the early 1900s.

4 Stars!

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Pages: 337
Publisher: Bethany House
First Line (Prologue): Jenny Bennett woke as pebbles clattered against her window.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley.

A forever love tossed aside. Jenny Malone can't find it in her heart to forgive Ryan Gallagher upon his reappearance following his time in Japan. Ryan can't find within himself the words to reassure Jenny of his loyalty. Finn can't stay out of the opium dens, so maybe the first two can'ts don't matter.

I loved the look at pearl seeding and harvesting in To the Farthest Shores. So unfamiliar,yet interesting. Camden also does a great job describing the withdrawal horrors of an opium addict. There were many secondary characters and relationships that were realistic and well-developed,as well as secondary plots.

I appreciated the conflict that kept the lovers apart. However, I eventually became disenchanted with Jenny and her neediness that went unrecognized for so long. By the end of the book, I felt skeptical of the permanence of Jenny's decision.

I gratefully received a complimentary copy of this book through the publisher and NetGalley. My opinions were not influenced by this fact, and I am solely responsible for them.

Elizabeth Camden’s books are exceptional (or at least the ones I have read) and this book does not disappoint. Camden’s lead characters are always written well. One of the main reasons her books are so interesting is that she includes historical aspects, which I enjoy very much!
I have to admit that this is one of the saddest books that Camden has written. Throughout the book, I got the feeling that Jenny was far too good for Ryan but then I understood that this whole story is on forgiveness.
This book did not outrank my all-time favorite Elizabeth Camden book Against the Tide, but I still enjoyed it.
This book is an excellent story about what true forgiveness is. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good novel, with plenty of historical facts! If you have read Elizabeth Camden’s books, it is a must read. If you have not read any of her book, she is a really good Christian/inspirational/historical fiction author. So, in other words, I would recommend Elizabeth Camden as a great author to read!

To the Farthest Shores is an historical novel that covers a portion of history I've not paid too much attention to. Starting just after the Spanish-American War and moving up to the early years of the 1900s. Elizabeth Camden has pulled together several people, places, and events to make an incredible novel surrounding the Presidio military base and soldiers returning from war with all kinds of injuries and needing rehabilitation. Jenny is the nurse all the soldiers love because of her sweet attitude and care for all of their needs. It's in this capacity that Jenny met Ryan and fell in love. Then suddenly he was gone. After four years, she gets a letter telling her to forget him.

Elizabeth has depicted the establishment of the now CIA, and the advent of covert spying by the US. Through her descriptions, she has formulated a character whose very being is protected by his need to keep secrets. Those secrets spill over into his outside life, and become an obstacle to what he really wants.

To the Farthest Shores is a well-crafted novel full of surprises at every turn. Elizabeth has not left out a single detail or a single thought within the pages of this book. The characters are so well developed, they feel like friends to the readers. The settings are so well described that they are almost tangible. Hospitals, pawn shops, and pearl farms make the world of this novel, but that world is so full and so meaningful, it was incredibly hard to finish the book and walk away.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a productive Pearl Farm.

My thanks to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this book.

I really loved this book. But truly that was no surprise since I have yet to read a Camden book I haven't loved!

I knew from the beginning this story was going to have far more to it than meets the eye. I was amazed at how much she managed to put in this book for Ryan to deal with in life. His poor character experienced a lot of pain and hurt and yet he was still quite an amazing man. Yes, he made some poor decisions and made some mistakes but in the end I still loved him.

And Jenny. She was quite amazing too. I have utmost respect for nurses. Especially a civilian nurse working for the military with little to no respect. I especially admired her ability to stand up for herself. Her life was anything but easy but she really made a name for herself as a well respected nurse and a wonderful daughter.

I really liked how Camden was able to include a love story, attempted murder, espionage, language learning, and even a side job for Ryan into this book. And it all flowed together so perfectly. It takes a marvelous author to have such a well developed story with so many topics that reads so easily. Her ability to make her character's lives so difficult but still make me fall in love with them is amazing. She also writes amazingly complicated love stories and this one's complexity made it all that much better too.

I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I was excited to see a new book out by this author and loved every page of it. I love the way she incorporates historic events into her stories and gives me a perspective as to how it was for the people involved in the events.
Jenny thought that Ryan had betrayed her many years ago, but he had to do it in service to his country. When they meet up again many years later, he still cannot open up to her, but soon a solution presents itself. Jenny finds herself not knowing exactly what she should do, but having to trust in making the right decision.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher, but the review is entirely my own.

Whenever Elizabeth Camden releases a new book, I'm all over it. This one sounded intriguing and, honestly, I found it hard to put down. As always, the historical aspects were fascinating and unusual---references to life in turn-of-the-20th-century Japan and the early days in the production of cultured pearls. The characters are deep, flawed, and created sympathy in me. Yet...

Individually, I liked the main characters. Together ... not so much.

Ms. Camden is generally a whiz at creating strong heroines and lovable bad boys, but I had a hard time getting into the romantic thread in this one. In the scenes in which they were together, I felt more connection between Jenny and secondary character, Finn Breckenridge. As for Ryan, I kept seeing an Alan Ladd character in my mind---blonde, soft-spoken, reticent. He's good at hiding the truth. Okay, he downright and purposely lies. Some of it I understood. I also understood they provided the conflict between the hero and heroine. However, there were times when I thought the lies went too far, even for his character, and wanted to urge Jenny to run in the other direction.

I can recommend To the Farthest Shores as a historically-rich novel built on intrigue and interesting characters. Who knows? You may not agree with my assessment of the romance and can decide for yourself. I only know I sure hope she brings back that lovable bad boy and scoundrel, Finn, for a future story.

I was given this novel to read through NetGalley and the publisher, Bethany House. My opinion is my own.

Army nurse Jenny Bennet is determined to focus on her work and never risk letting someone break her heart like Ryan Gallagher did. Six years after the intriguing naval officer told her in a letter not to ever expect him to come back for her, Jenny is shocked to find him once again at the Presidio army base, and with a young half-Japanese daughter in tow.

Ryan desperately wants to rebuild his life in the US with his daughter after years of a dangerous, clandestine assignment in Japan. All his hopes depend on training a young playboy to replace him... and on Jenny's forgiveness. When Ryan decides to include Jenny in his new mission and bring her into his life once more, can she learn to trust him again? Or will Ryan's attempts to protect Jenny just drive her further away?

In To the Farthest Shores, Elizabeth Camden takes readers on a truly gut-wrenching adventure. As usual, Camden masterfully combines intriguing historical detail with expertly-crafted characters to bring an epic story to life. Camden paints her two main characters so clearly, that the reader perfectly understands why they make the decisions they do. Just as I lamented in From this Moment, however, I just couldn't accept Ryan Gallagher as a swoon-worthy romantic lead. Perhaps I identified a bit too much with Jenny's plight, but I just couldn't quite bring myself to forgive Ryan as thoroughly as she did. I'm not sure he could really have loved Jenny as much as he claimed, while still making the decisions he did throughout most of the novel. I'm not convinced he suffered quite enough. In Camden's defense, though, not many fictional characters can get me quite so riled up, or instigate the level of soul-searching that Ryan and Jenny did. While I'm still not sure if Ryan ultimately understands or deserves Jenny, I can't deny that To the Farthest Shores is an excellent piece of romantic fiction.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30259049-to-the-farthest-shores" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="To the Farthest Shores" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1466727446m/30259049.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30259049-to-the-farthest-shores">To the Farthest Shores</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4373995.Elizabeth_Camden">Elizabeth Camden</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1915361419">4 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4373995.Elizabeth_Camden" title="Elizabeth Camden" rel="nofollow">Elizabeth Camden</a> is a writer who is fairly new to me (I've read one other book that she's penned) but she never disappoints! I love how she weaves elements of intrigue, romance, and delight into an elegant story. This story was a fast read for me as I had a very hard time putting it down. <br /><br />I feel in love with Jenny right off the bat. Jenny is a civilian nurse who is working in a military hospital. She works the dreaded night shift, because that's what they do to civilian nurses. Jenny loves her job and loves her patients. She is very dedicated and committed to her calling. Six years ago, Jenny met and fell in love with Ryan Gallagher. <br /><br />I had a hard time liking Ryan at all through this story. I'm sure deep down he's a really great guy but I really don't like what he did to Jenny. I guess maybe I took this story a little personal because of an experience I once had with a military person. I do struggle with whether or not what he did was considered being unfaithful, however. In today's terms, I don't think it would have been at all. My heart breaks for what Jenny endured, and what she continued to endure. I am happy for the way things turned out in the end and feel that Jenny could finally begin her healing process. <br /><br />My favorite part of this story was learning more about the pearl industry. During the time of this story, the pearl industry was really just beginning in terms of technology. Reading about the process of a forming pearl and ways that biotechnology were being used even back then were truly fascinating to me. <br /><br />I would recommend this book to lovers of christian-fiction and those who enjoy historical stories! <br /><br />My thanks and appreciation to the publisher and the author for providing a complimentary copy for me to review in exchange for my remarks. I was not compensated financially in any way for my review and these thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/736648-julie">View all my reviews</a>

I always look forward to reading Ms. Camden’s books and this one is no exception! Her characters are always so unique and I love how her stories manage to both entertain and teach me. Prior to stumbling across her books, I doubt I would’ve read about opium addiction, or watchmakers in Chicago, or magazine illustrators, or librarians for the Library of Congress, or tuberculosis studies, or pearl farming, or the other curious things she writes about. And I love that! I love the adventures I find between the covers. It’s almost always something unexpected, but that completely works. This story drew me in from chapter one and rarely slowed! I just had to know how everything would work out!
As always, Ms. Camden’s writing was excellent! Her details and descriptions, and the amount of research I’m sure went into this story make it so authentic. I loved the bit of mystique surround Ryan and his past, and fell in love with sweet Lily. There aren’t many heroes whose main trait is kindness, but that seemed to be Ryan’s. He is so kind, but there’s an inner strength and moral compass that guides everything he does. I confess that I struggled a bit with Jenny’s character at first. She isn’t exactly the most lovable lady, especially in her interactions with Ryan, though I couldn’t really blame her, either. One of my favorite things was seeing the relationship between them change and slowly grow, as Jenny learned how to truly forgive.
My only negative comment is that I felt the suspense moments were thrown in rather haphazardly and the story would’ve been fine without them. They didn’t really drive the story much and seemed more afterthoughts. And I do love a good suspense novel, but this one was great as just a romance. So ignoring those, I really enjoyed this book and getting to spend time with some unique characters and their equally quirky friends.

Jenny and Ryan were hopelessly in love, six years ago... Then he left with promises to always love her. Now he's back. With his 4-year-old daughter in tow. Ryan desperately wants Jenny to love him the way he has always loved her, but his past manages to keep getting in the way. Can the two overcome these obstacles to find true love and forgiveness with each other, or is Jenny destined to work in the amputee ward for the rest of her life?


This book, in my opinion, gets 5 stars.

1: It's been a while since I've read anything by this author, but as far as I can remember, I like this one the best. I'll probably have to get out From This Moment again just to refresh myself. Either way if you love historical romance, then this should definitely be on your TBR list.

2: I loved all the characters, but I feel like Ryan is a sort of kindred spirit. It's nice to find a character who blushes at the least provocation (something that happens to me at least daily) and doesn't realize half the time what is plainly before his face.

3: SO MANY PEARLS!!!! I knew some of this stuff beforehand but this book takes a long look at the beginnings of cultured pearls. It was fascinating and I loved it.

4: I'd like to take a second and say, Oh my word that's one of the prettiest covers I've seen in a very long time.

5: You all know that I'm a sell-out for a good ending, and this book had an almost perfect epilogue.

This book was hard to put down. I found that when I did actually put it down, I couldn't stop thinking about the story, and wondering what was going to happen next. To the Farthest Shores is unique in so many ways. The two main characters know and love each other before we even enter the scene. This book touches on a story many loved ones have had to live through. It's not rare that our brave men and women get called out on missions with no notice, and they don't know if they will ever see their loved ones again. Jenny and Ryan knew they wanted to be together, but war is never predictable.

Ryan reappearing after breaking Jenny's heart isn't fun for either of them. Ryan still refusing to answer her questions isn't offering the closure Jenny hoped for. Little does she know, he isn't allowed to tell her. When he comes up with a plan, he has to figure out how to get Jenny on board. With her reputation as one of the toughest nurses it isn't going to be easy. Spending more time together is hard on Jenny, and the past still jumps up to haunt her. Can they forgive and forget before it's too late?

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Historical Romance. I enjoyed learning more about the pearl industry, and what all goes into creating a pearl. It was also interesting to see the nurse side of things. Working with amputees would be a very unique job, and it was fun to see how Jenny did it. I loved the characters and wasn't ready to say goodbye to them yet. I received a copy of this book from Bethany House publishers in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

I can sum up Elizabeth Camden’s books in one word: magical. I know when I pick up one of her books I will be transported to another place and time. I will be completely absorbed by the story and experience all sorts of emotions. To the Farthest Shores is my latest favorite by Elizabeth Camden.

I love the characters that Elizabeth Camden creates. She always has a strong female lead character and this continues in this book. Jenny is tough yet has a soft side. She is a strong, capable nurse yet still has a vulnerability about her. Ryan is the perfect balance to Jenny’s character as he seems a bit more laid back yet has a toughness about him. I have to admit I had a love/hate relationship with Ryan. I wanted to love him as much as Jenny did but at the same time hated what he had done to her and at times the way he treated her now. Even though I could understand why he kept secrets from her I didn’t like it. I thought Finn’s character brought some humor to the story and kept it entertaining.

This book has a good storyline and is well-written. I really enjoyed all of the descriptions and the pearl making process was interesting to read about. I liked all of the historical detail, too. It really added to the story. I thought the pace of this book was perfect and made it a quick read.

Fans of Elizabeth Camden are sure to love this book. It is everything you would expect from her. Great characters, great storyline, twists and turns to keep you interested from beginning to end.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

In To The Farthest Shores, Elizabeth Camden has once again captured a moment in history in a unique and interesting way. She is so gifted at merging American culture with the culture of another place and time. In this novel, Ryan Gallagher has grown up in Japan and has been immersed in its culture, social customs, and is intrigued by the pearl industry, which is prominent in Japan. His whole persona actually seems half American, half Japanese, and this is represented in several ways throughout the novel. As he returns to America, deeply affected by his recent mission, his inner struggle of doing his duty or following his heart is constantly at odds with one another.

Jenny Bennett has a history as well. While she has been in the United States her whole life, she grew up abandoned, having to learn to survive and fight for everything she has. Her feelings of rejection early on in life are affected even more as she feels abandoned and betrayed by Ryan. Her inner struggle is to leave behind the scrappy girl of her past and become a well-respected nurse with an impeccable record. As she begins to spend time with Ryan again, their personal battles create the romantic and emotional tension that build throughout the novel.

I've read every novel Elizabeth Camden has published, and even though I usually feel like the setting and cultural aspect that is featured in each book takes center stage and the romantic aspect is in the background (I'm a hopeless romantic), I still eagerly anticipate each novel. Character development is also a prominent feature, but it is often a hard road...not always filled with heart-fluttery moments (but there are some of those). I appreciate the journey I go on and all of the research that is obviously put in to each of her books. If you like historical fiction, you'll enjoy this book. There are some adult themes in To the Farthest Shores, but they are not told graphically. It is clean and has a redemptive, spiritual aspect as well.

**I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley and enjoyed giving an honest review.**

Jenny Bennett has made a reasonably good life for herself at the army hospital at the Presidio army base. This is no thanks to Lieutenant Ryan Gallagher, who promised her the moon six years ago and then suddenly disappeared with no good explanation. Jenny is respected, hard-working, and able to support Simon, the man who took her in and supported her as a child.

When Ryan abruptly reappears in her life, Jenny is stunned. Not only does he have no explanation for his actions, but he now has a daughter. The other soldiers on the base suspect him of being a deserter, but there is more to the story. When Ryan involves Jenny in his work, she finds out just how much more.

Lieutenant Ryan Gallagher has struggled with his guilt ever since his top secret mission for the army took him away from Jenny. Now he has the opportunity to maybe make a new life for himself- but he will need Jenny's help to do it. And Jenny is not at all willing...

To The Farthest Shores both intrigued and irritated me. I found the book intriguing because there was so much mystery intertwined throughout the story. It was interesting to see where the plot would lead. However, I found Lieutenant Gallagher's behaviour to be intensely frustrating. I found the idea of a mission this "top secret" to be somewhat unbelievable, and his treatment of Jenny both before and after he left was abominable. His turn about seems somewhat unconvincing, and the resolution felt too quick.

Overall I would rate this book a three and a half out of five stars. I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House in order to write an unbiased review.

This is a rich story of loss, fear, hope, love, and forgiveness. Jenny is a nurse who loves helping the soldiers wounded for their country. It helps take her mind off her own loss and regrets. But when her lost love, Ryan, returns to her life and needs her help, Jenny needs to decide just what she will do for her country and for her former love.

The characters are what made this story for me. Finn was so real to me. I had an exact picture in my mind of what he would look like and how he would behave and why. I would love to read a book about Finn’s adventures in the next chapter of his life. I felt for Ryan. He was in such a hard spot. He couldn’t tell Jenny why he hadn’t returned to her. His heart for his daughter and his desire for her to be raised in a country where “quirks and individualism were celebrated” and where she’d be safe was admirable. Simon reminded me of the parable of the “pearl of great price.” He was willing to sacrifice everything when he met up with real treasure. Jenny, it was said, had a “streetwise toughness” because of her youth. It didn’t seem like that toughness was shown much in her current life. It would have been fun to see that toughness come out in her nursing in some quirky way. Her compassion and understanding of Finn was touching.

There is some danger and intrigue in this book. I learned a lot about pearls and how they are made and that was fascinating. It was an enjoyable read. I’d recommend it.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Elizabeth Camden is one of the most erudite historical fiction writers living. She has a penchant for intriguing and lesser-known tenets of history and brings them to the forefront with panache. To the Farthest Shores is no exception.
As in previous romantic threads penned by Camden, the central characters are at the crux of misunderstanding that rifts their relationship. The heroine, Jenny, is perplexed when her hero, Ryan Gallagher ( there's a cute Galahad spiel that goes with this ) returns to the Presido having broken many a promise to be true--- with a daughter born out of wedlock in tow.

But the romance is just one facet ( and a well-developed one) of a fast-paced mystery where nothing is as it seems and everything is at stake.
Camden doles out clues and snippets like little breadcrumbs eagerly inviting you along for a tangled web of a ride. I loved the well-drawn canvas of the piece--from the back alleys of San Francisco to the pearl manufacturing on Californian shores to the military fort and its barracks and regulations. Each historical thread is weaved deftly and with evidence of research sewn up to make it look easy. Yes, Camden is a true professional because she makes the highest skill look easy! The book reads like a breeze and is hard to put down--especially as the mystery becomes more potent.

Both character perspectives have moments of unreliability as the secrets they keep from each other grow before being flashed with a surprising light. I cannot commend Camden's endless imagination enough nor her ability to sew her novels with the most interesting explorations of lesser known tenets of history. To add, her characters---both central and peripheral-- are always well drawn and a study in compassion, redemption and humanity.

with thanks to Netgalley for the review copy.

( will be posted on my blog and amazon as well)