I always look forward to Elizabeth Camden's new release. She has a wonderful way of weaving history and romance together. She makes the history interesting and keeps the romance from getting too gushy. To The Farthest Shores is a fascinating look at the start of American espionage in the Navy and the start of pearl farming. I found all of this very interesting, and I also enjoyed the love story between Jenny and Ryan.

Forgiveness was a strong theme through out the story as both characters wrestled with past wrongs and hurts. Jenny was a hard character to like in the beginning. She was bitter about how she had been treated by Ryan, and it effected her actions through out the story. I thought Ryan was genuinely sorry for his action, but struggled in communicating this to Jenny. I would like to have had more information about Ryan's time spying on the Japanese and his life with his first wife, but overall the characters were well developed.

I would recommend this book to readers who enjoy a little more romance with their history. It was a great read with a sweet romance.

I received a free copy of this book for the purpose of review.

Growing up, I read a lot of historical novels; among my favorites were the stories of Rosemary Sutcliff, Margaret Leighton and M.M. Kaye. I loved the rich detail in all of these ladies’ books and I adored how they could transport me to another time and place. Among present day writers few do that better than Elizabeth Camden. Her latest tale, To The Farthest Shores, conveys the reader to America in the early twentieth century and introduces us to the dangerous world of fledgling spies.

Jenny Bennett meets Lt. Ryan Gallagher at the start of the Spanish-American war. The two fall head over heels in love and all is bliss until he is sent overseas. Jenny anxiously awaits any communication from her beloved but for months, the only sound is silence. Then she gets the letter, more of a note really, containing just a few short sentences saying that they have no future and Ryan will not be returning to California. He wishes her the best. Naturally, she mourns, weeps and then does the practical thing of moving on with her life.

Don’t be silly, of course she doesn’t do that – this is a romance novel.

She remains at the Presidio where she works as a nurse and checks the death lists constantly, convinced something sinister has happened to her darling. When she sees him striding across the lawn of the naval yard one sunny afternoon six years later with a young child in tow, she is stunned.

Ryan had been passionately in love with Jenny but as an officer assigned to the Military Information Division (MID, the first official Intelligence division of the United States) he was at the beck and call of the government. He leaves Jenny because he is being sent to Japan. The son of missionaries, he had grown up there, surrounded by the culture and language of the area. He speaks and reads Japanese with the same fluency as English and his interest in pearls and knowledge of marine biology gives him the perfect cover for being ‘in country’. He ingratiates himself into the company of Japanese scientists attempting to cultivate pearls, somehow using his position to garner information to send back to his superiors in Washington. Ryan excels at the job and the assignment is made permanent. He immediately sends for Jenny.

Yeah, right. Romancelandia, remember?

He writes her a letter breaking all ties, marries a young Japanese woman and starts a family. But his wife’s death and a subsequent problem with his daughter creates a situation which forces him back to American shores. The re-posting is only temporary, though, and unless Ryan can train someone to replace him he will be heading back to Japan.

When he encounters Jenny at the Presidio, he is surprised. He was certain that the lovely young woman would have been married by now but realizes that this is his chance to win back the only lady he ever really loved. Of course, feisty Jenny is having none of it and the two exchange nothing but barbed comments until circumstances make them join forces. Together they will need to prepare Ryan’s replacement to go to Japan. Will seeing each other daily help them to find their way back to each other? Well, it’s a romance novel so I bet you can guess the answer to that.

The strong point of this tale is the historical background. From life on the Presidio to the art of culturing pearls, a clear picture is painted of America in the early twentieth century. It was fascinating to hear about nations we would easily dismiss now discussed as real threats to national security and even more interesting to hear about the art of early intelligence gathering. I was also captivated by the history of pearls and the struggle to, if not mass produce them, create an environment where mankind took some control over their conception.

Camden is a very experienced writer and that shows in her excellent prose and the overall construction of the story. The pacing is perfect and while the puzzles in this tale are the sort to be easily answered, the author handles them with such skill that they still add to the overall effectiveness of the story.

These positives make the book an easy, entertaining read but the characters keep it from shining. Ryan comes across as rather bumbling and clueless and we are told that he can be oblivious to the obvious. Given his career, I couldn’t imagine how he managed to stay alive in Japan for six months much less six years. He also has poor decision making skills and an inclination to act as though he’s powerless in his own life. In contrast, Jenny is strong and knows how to work situations to her advantage. She is also unable to let go of anything regarding her past – from the traumas of her childhood to her breakup with Ryan, this gal clings to her baggage like it’s designer brand and full of gold. She’s competent and can be caring but I had the feeling that her tendency toward angst would put a real cloud on her future. I liked them even less together – he brings out her shrewish, jealous side and she brings out his secretive nature. This is one of those rare novels where I found myself wishing the hero and heroine would fall in love with anyone but each other.

Typically, romances tend to be character driven and rely strongly on the reader falling for and rooting for the HEA of the hero and heroine. However, most Inspirational romances tend to rely as much on plotting as on characterization. That fact is the saving grace of this particular tale. The book is interesting enough and well written enough to be eminently readable even without a luscious love story. And speaking of the Inspirational aspect of this story, the faith issue here is so slight that you can blink and miss it. Issues such as forgiveness and mercy are discussed but mentions of God are few and far between. I struggled with that a little since Ryan is the son of missionaries and I would have expected a bit more of an outward expression of his faith. Each person reflects their religious beliefs differently and Ryan being more quiet about his made sense given his inclination to keep secrets.

To The Farthest Shore is an interesting, enjoyable novel revolving around a fascinating piece of American history. Weak romance notwithstanding it is a good story, if not a great one. I think fans of the author will be pleased with, but not overwhelmed by the book. I would strongly encourage those who haven’t read her previous works, however, to start elsewhere. Rose of Winslow Street, With Every Breath and Beyond All Dreams are all brilliantly written, provocative historical romances which do a bit of a better job showcasing the author’s talent.

written by AAR's Maggie

To the Farthest Shore
Elizabeth Camden


Buy This Book
Growing up, I read a lot of historical novels; among my favorites were the stories of Rosemary Sutcliff, Margaret Leighton and M.M. Kaye. I loved the rich detail in all of these ladies’ books and I adored how they could transport me to another time and place. Among present day writers few do that better than Elizabeth Camden. Her latest tale, To The Farthest Shores, conveys the reader to America in the early twentieth century and introduces us to the dangerous world of fledgling spies.

Jenny Bennett meets Lt. Ryan Gallagher at the start of the Spanish-American war. The two fall head over heels in love and all is bliss until he is sent overseas. Jenny anxiously awaits any communication from her beloved but for months, the only sound is silence. Then she gets the letter, more of a note really, containing just a few short sentences saying that they have no future and Ryan will not be returning to California. He wishes her the best. Naturally, she mourns, weeps and then does the practical thing of moving on with her life.

Don’t be silly, of course she doesn’t do that – this is a romance novel.

She remains at the Presidio where she works as a nurse and checks the death lists constantly, convinced something sinister has happened to her darling. When she sees him striding across the lawn of the naval yard one sunny afternoon six years later with a young child in tow, she is stunned.

Ryan had been passionately in love with Jenny but as an officer assigned to the Military Information Division (MID, the first official Intelligence division of the United States) he was at the beck and call of the government. He leaves Jenny because he is being sent to Japan. The son of missionaries, he had grown up there, surrounded by the culture and language of the area. He speaks and reads Japanese with the same fluency as English and his interest in pearls and knowledge of marine biology gives him the perfect cover for being ‘in country’. He ingratiates himself into the company of Japanese scientists attempting to cultivate pearls, somehow using his position to garner information to send back to his superiors in Washington. Ryan excels at the job and the assignment is made permanent. He immediately sends for Jenny.

Yeah, right. Romancelandia, remember?

He writes her a letter breaking all ties, marries a young Japanese woman and starts a family. But his wife’s death and a subsequent problem with his daughter creates a situation which forces him back to American shores. The re-posting is only temporary, though, and unless Ryan can train someone to replace him he will be heading back to Japan.

When he encounters Jenny at the Presidio, he is surprised. He was certain that the lovely young woman would have been married by now but realizes that this is his chance to win back the only lady he ever really loved. Of course, feisty Jenny is having none of it and the two exchange nothing but barbed comments until circumstances make them join forces. Together they will need to prepare Ryan’s replacement to go to Japan. Will seeing each other daily help them to find their way back to each other? Well, it’s a romance novel so I bet you can guess the answer to that.

The strong point of this tale is the historical background. From life on the Presidio to the art of culturing pearls, a clear picture is painted of America in the early twentieth century. It was fascinating to hear about nations we would easily dismiss now discussed as real threats to national security and even more interesting to hear about the art of early intelligence gathering. I was also captivated by the history of pearls and the struggle to, if not mass produce them, create an environment where mankind took some control over their conception.

Camden is a very experienced writer and that shows in her excellent prose and the overall construction of the story. The pacing is perfect and while the puzzles in this tale are the sort to be easily answered, the author handles them with such skill that they still add to the overall effectiveness of the story.

These positives make the book an easy, entertaining read but the characters keep it from shining. Ryan comes across as rather bumbling and clueless and we are told that he can be oblivious to the obvious. Given his career, I couldn’t imagine how he managed to stay alive in Japan for six months much less six years. He also has poor decision making skills and an inclination to act as though he’s powerless in his own life. In contrast, Jenny is strong and knows how to work situations to her advantage. She is also unable to let go of anything regarding her past – from the traumas of her childhood to her breakup with Ryan, this gal clings to her baggage like it’s designer brand and full of gold. She’s competent and can be caring but I had the feeling that her tendency toward angst would put a real cloud on her future. I liked them even less together – he brings out her shrewish, jealous side and she brings out his secretive nature. This is one of those rare novels where I found myself wishing the hero and heroine would fall in love with anyone but each other.

Typically, romances tend to be character driven and rely strongly on the reader falling for and rooting for the HEA of the hero and heroine. However, most Inspirational romances tend to rely as much on plotting as on characterization. That fact is the saving grace of this particular tale. The book is interesting enough and well written enough to be eminently readable even without a luscious love story. And speaking of the Inspirational aspect of this story, the faith issue here is so slight that you can blink and miss it. Issues such as forgiveness and mercy are discussed but mentions of God are few and far between. I struggled with that a little since Ryan is the son of missionaries and I would have expected a bit more of an outward expression of his faith. Each person reflects their religious beliefs differently and Ryan being more quiet about his made sense given his inclination to keep secrets.

To The Farthest Shore is an interesting, enjoyable novel revolving around a fascinating piece of American history. Weak romance notwithstanding it is a good story, if not a great one. I think fans of the author will be pleased with, but not overwhelmed by the book. I would strongly encourage those who haven’t read her previous works, however, to start elsewhere. Rose of Winslow Street, With Every Breath and Beyond All Dreams are all brilliantly written, provocative historical romances which do a bit of a better job showcasing the author’s talent.

This is a book about choices and accountability. What if who you are, isn't what other pelope see? Eizabeth Camden has a way with words and knows how to tell an intriguing story. Jenny was such a great character, I loved her story.

Elizabeth Camden writes such beautiful complex stories. All of them feature some element of the problems with opiates in the late 1800s to early 1900s in America. The characters are well developed, as is expected and consistent in her novels. We are taken to San Francisco to the Presido, a military hospital in which Nurse Jenny Bennett works caring for injured soldiers. She has met Ryan Gallagher, and with a whirlwind romance they have fallen for each other. Suddenly he is leaving and she believes he is headed to the War in the Philippine's. With a promise that he will be back for her within the year, she worries for his safety as the weeks go by and she doesn't hear from him. Suddenly she gets a odd short note that severs all connection. Six years go by, despite the occasional thought she believes she has well and truly moved on. Until one day, out with her friend she finds herself confronted by a small Asian child. As she searches for her parents the little girl runs up to a man, calls him Daddy - he turns around and its Ryan.

After fighting her way out of a hard homeless life as a child, to make a secure future for herself, she just wants to believe in something that she can rely on. Along with her 'father' Simon, who saved her from the streets at the age of 9, they go along scratching away at survival as he pursues his dream of selling pearls in his jewelry store. Her life as a nurse is fulfilling, she has security living in the barracks. She has income, and a career that cares for others in need. She is stuck working the night shift, which is undesirable and struggles with getting the sleep she craves.

With Ryan's mysterious reappearance, and a complete lack of answers on Jenny's part, frustration abounds. Ryan is up to something, and despite all the rumor's that he deserted in the war, she just cant stoop to believing them. There's the mysterious Finn who is seen with Ryan on a daily basis, and his shocking dependency on Opium.

Ryan just wants to leave the memories of Japan behind him. He was raised there by his missionary parents. It was not a happy experience for him, and though he has spent the previous six years secretly working for the MID (the predecessor to the CIA), he is ready to be out. He is an American patriot, and would do anything for his country, he will always put his country first. However, he wants to move forward, keep his daughter Lily away from her homeland, and find Jenny again and make amends, though he knows he may have lost all hope. Finn is his last chance. His hope to be able to walk away from a country and a life that he desperately wants to leave in the past. Someone is after Ryan though, and the attempts on his life, prove frustrating to Jenny as he doesn't take it seriously. In fact she feels like he doesn't take enough seriously. Too nice, too kind, too patient. Will Finn be able to shed his dependence on drugs? Will Ryan be able to find the life he always wanted? Will Jenny be able to move past the secrets and lies that have plagued her life?

I enjoyed so much about this story. I love the richness of the dialogue, the depth of the characters. The thought process, the beauty of the descriptions of the scenes set. The contrast of both Ryan and Jenny, yet the similarities that bring them together.

In particular, my favourite part is always the true historical element that Camden usually brings to the reader. It was interesting to learn about the development of cultured pearls and the affect they had on the market and the affordability to the average consumer. Also the way in which Opium dependence was handled in the early 1900s.

I received this complimentary copy from Bethany House & Netgalley. This is my honest review.

I don't read books with unfaithful heroes or heroines. What the hero did was despicable and I can't read any further. There is no coming back when a man cheats on his fiance (because that is what she was - he promised to return to marry her). And THEN he has the audacity to ask for his father's watch back? I'm glad she sold it. He doesn't deserve any sympathy. At. All.

I liked this book. It was interesting to see Camden’s take on military espionage. I enjoyed the glimpse into the military and into historic Japanese culture. Jenny and Ryan deal with some very relatable relationship issues. Jenny doesn’t know how to trust Ryan, and he struggles with honesty and guilt. I appreciated how Camden didn’t magically sweep it all under the proverbial rug. She made her characters deal with those issues. However, Ryan and Jenny seem to go back and forth with fighting and forgiveness. That did get a little repetitive, but it wasn’t too bad.

All in all, a great story full of historic detail and dynamic characters! You’ll find yourself rooting for this couple and hoping they reconnect on the shores of California.

Let’s be frank. Respectfully, I did not enjoy this book. Some of this may sound harsh; I don’t say it to be cruel. There were too many details that were not believable, absurd, dull, or preposterous.

As for the not believable, there were many instances. The time period was 1898 and 1904. ‘Ryan’ is not a first name used then; a sandwich in the U.S. in 1904 would be made of some kind of bread or bun, but not likely a croissant; the story of Jenny’s childhood was forced. Also there were not enough details to make me believe that this was really early 1900s.

Regarding the absurd, the biggest example is this love story. There were so many bizarre situations in this on again, off again tale. They were supposed to have been so much in love and yet Jenny did not know when Ryan’s birthday was and was resentful because someone else did. Or how Ryan recognized and acknowledged Jenny but then said he had never been in Washington DC and the apartment she visited him in. Or how Ryan became ill and Jenny quickly jumped to the conclusion that he was poisoned. Or how she resented and was insolent to his four-year-old daughter and he just stood by and did nothing.

About the dull, there were many examples, but the story of the pearls ranks as the dullest. It was like a science textbook with far too many well researched facts without an interesting story.

There were feeble, preposterous attempts at drama, including the mystery of Ryan’s father’s watch, the mystery of the sailor with the scar, Ryan’s poisoning, Finn’s recovery from opiate addiction, all dragged out far too long without real drama. I realize problems and strife with solutions are all part of a good story, but these scattered situations just didn’t work.

Jenny came across as bitter, hurtful, petty, meddlesome, surly, complaining, moody, and I do not know what Ryan saw in her. I never really surmised what her personality should be, but she is not someone I would like to know. Ryan seemed spineless and weak and totally unbelievable as a spy.

I’m so sorry, Ms. Camden, for this dismal review. This book just wasn’t for me.

To the Farthest Shores

by Elizabeth Camden

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers
Christian

Pub Date 28 Feb 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of To The Farthest Shores through the Publisher and Netgalley:

In this book we are introduced Jenny Bennet its 1898 in San Francisco when the book opens up.

Six years later in the Summer of 1904, Jenny is a Civillian nurse, when Ryan Gallangher comes back into Jenny’s life.

Jenny was recently assigned to the Convalescent ward for amputees. Will Jenny be able to forgive Ryan Gallagher?

When Ryan faints, Jenny tries to catch him. With no doctor in town, soon Jenny discovers that it was accidental cyanamide poison that nearly killed Ryan, from a bad batch of Brandy, but Ryan does not seem to concerned. But Jenny believes someone tampered with the Brandy and poisoned it.

Will Jenny realize that Ryan is only withholding information from her to protect her feelings? Will she be able to forgive him?

Did someone try to poison Ryan, or was it truly accidental?

Find out in To the Distant Shore

Five out of five stars.

Happy Reading

Having read seven out of nine Elizabeth Camden's stories, I'm pretty sure I knew what I was getting into when I picked up To The Farthest Shores. Camden usually brings some part of American history through science into fiction format, so I can learn something new. I usually look forward to her characters and her ability to educate me without sounding like a textbook. With To The Farthest Shores, I have mixed feelings about the story.

To begin, Camden is a master at research. Every single book I have read of hers includes a lot of research, but she allows her characters to show the information without information dumps. I really enjoy learning the information alongside the characters. This time, Camden takes me into the underworld of creating synthetic pearls. While the research creates the backdrop for the story, Camden captures the setting for me and really draws me into the story. I could smell the sea breeze and catch a whiff of the Japanese food. As for the spiritual element, there really wasn't that much. Yes, Jenny and Ryan claim to follow Jesus, but they really didn't quote scripture or preach at the readers.

While the ability to tell a story captures my imagination, the characters didn't work that well for me. As for the hero, Ryan, he lied all the time to poor Jenny, even after he told her the truth of where he has been for the past six years. What is going to make him stop lying after they settle down together? I wanted to smack him a whole bunch of times. Once a liar, always a liar. Then Camden gave us Jenny, the heroine, who is a force to be reckon with. She knows what she wants and want is important to her, but she allows Ryan to walk all over her. It undermines her character. The only character to change in the entire story is Finn. Finn is a drug addict who becomes what he has been training to become. I liked Finn and was excited for him when he succeeded.

As for the plot and pace of the story, it was a completely original, yet predictable novel. There were moments that I flipped through to see how many more pages I had to read. Another element that bad me grit my teeth was who the bad person that kept shooting at Ryan. I found it unbelievable. Not that he was trying to kill Ryan off, but his reasons behind doing it. I shook my head. I had a hard time swallowing the reasonings.

In true Camden fashion, To The Farthest Shores, is a great look into the pearl industry around the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. As the characters go, I found them not as endearing as her previous characters as they muddled through a plot that didn't capture my attention this time. Even though To the Farthest Shore didn't capture my fancy this time, I will still read the next book Elizabeth Camden releases.

I received a complimentary copy of To The Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden from Bethany House Publishers, and the opinions stated are all my own.