Intriguing plot and characters who were realistic made this a quick, entertaining read. The pace of the story was excellent and kept me interested chapter after chapter.

Anything that Elizabeth Camden writes will always end up being my favorite! Lucy and Colin were such beautiful and unique characters! The setting was also incredible and I could see all the scenes coming to life as the author described them! Can't wait to read the other books in the series!

Elizabeth Camden expertly weaves history into her books. I loved how she puts the story of the news agencies into this one. I also enjoyed the bits about using pigeons as messengers.

The romance is quite sweet too. The main male character is quite different and interesting in that he was originally a gold digger! Ha!

After reading the author's latest book The Gilded Lady which I enjoyed, I had to come back to this title that I gave up on earlier. Though I think the Gilded Lady was better, I did read this one to the end and enjoyed most of it.

Thank you Netgalley and Bethany House for the chance to read A Dangerous Legacy. This is my honest review.

In A Dangerous Legacy, hardworking Lucy Drake works as a telegraph operator at the AP news agency. When the charming Sir Colin Beckwith arrives to work at the British news agency in New York City, sparks fly as Lucy and Colin compete for business. Despite their initial attraction, each knows that nothing more can happen, for Colin must marry for money to fix his family estate back in England. That is his legacy.

Meanwhile, Lucy and her brother Nick are embroiled in a forty-year-old legal battle with their uncle, trying to recover a fortune their uncle cheated their father out of. Lucy and Nick spend their hard-earned money on the lawsuit, even as their uncle deals with them underhandedly. That is their legacy. Will they ever see their justice for their inheritance?

Camden writes with vivid historical detail as she tells the story of two rival new agencies competing in this turn of the century world. The historical details were interesting but didn’t slow down the book’s development.

While the faith element is extremely light, the values of the main characters are admirable and their relationship is wholesome and clean. The story moves along with its mysterious elements and intrigue weaving its way throughout the story. The intrigue will keep the reader’s attention until the final page, and have them eagerly awaiting the next installment.

A thrilling tale filled with suspense, mystery and action. Lucy and her brother Nick have been embroiled in a bitter battle with their family for years, a legacy passed down from generations before. This exhausting, completely consuming battle has left Lucy and Nick seeming to be the only one the other can trust and truly understand. Colin a rival journalist unwittingly gets dragged into the fray He finds himself invested in the long legal battle and in the well being of Lucy Drake and despite his own personal problems finds himself putting all on the line to help uncover the secrets their family have been hiding.
I enjoyed this book and all the characters. I loved how brave Lucy was and Colin’s charm. I especially loved the relationship between Lucy and her brother Nick. How supportive, encouraging and protective they were towards each other. I enjoyed the banter between Lucy and Colin and appreciated the sacrifices they made for each other.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange of my honest review.

As you all know if you’ve followed my blog for a while, Elizabeth Camden is one of my all time favorite writers!
For the most part, her books are heartfelt,funny,and unforgettable.

I’m always waiting to read her books as soon as I can get my hands on a copy.

As always, this book had a very interesting beginning. I loved learning about the character Lucy. The mystery in the book
was very intriguing to read about. I think this might have been one of the first book by this author that really embraced mystery and suspense
into the story. I must say that were a little slow-moving moments in the story from time to time. I also felt that there could have been a little bit more chemistry between the two main characters.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel. As always, I’m looking forward to reading more from Elizabeth Camden. Her next book comes out in June! I can’t wait!


I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.

A Dangerous Legacy is the latest novel from Elizabeth Camden. As of now it is a stand-alone, but a sequel is on its way.

One thing I love about Camden’s novels is the unique perspective on historical details that she centers on in each novel. For instance, in A Dangerous Legacy Camden weaves in details about the race to string a telegraph wire across the Pacific, a Panama Canal versus a Nicaraguan canal, and getting running water in the upper floors of buildings. These are the kinds of technological advancements that I don’t often think of or take time to appreciate, but that I enjoy when Camden brings to light in her novels.

As for characters and plot, this book includes the angsty romance typical of Camden’s works, where the characters don’t like each other but end up having to work together, then end up falling in love, the male character deciding that it just won’t work out, and then the heroine saving the day and the man falling head over heels for her all over again.

So, all in all, I’m a little disappointed that it’s just the same ol’, same ol’ with a new historical focus. I do like the cover, however, and it was cool that it released on my birthday. 🙂

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own and were not required to be positive.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion – which I’ve done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden is a wonderful Christian historical romance that interweaves fact and fiction. It is the first book in the Empire State series and I cannot wait for the rest.
There is an air of suspense hanging over the novel as a forty year old feud comes to a head. Grasping greed, dodgy dealings and corrupt goings on are the order of the day. They contrast with open handed, big hearted generosity and a concern for others. "I can build things to make life better for the people around me." Life was hard for the poor in 1903 in New York City. As their lives grew tougher so unscrupulous businessmen took what little they had.
The world was changing. This is reflected in the telegraph offices of the big news agencies in New York. Innovation was the word of the day. Some preferred the age old method of carrier pigeon for security.
Money and the pursuit of power are major themes. These wreck lives as characters contribute to their own downfall. Money can bring freedom and choice but brings corruption if placed on a pedestal and worshipped.
Mental illnesses were little understood in 1903. Terrible institutions sprang up and an abuse of power by those who were in charge ensued. There are some hard to read scenes. PTSD was unheard of but men were suffering from it, following the Boer War.
The English aristocracy and New York tonne meet in the novel. For a society built on its people and not status, the rich New Yorkers seem mighty interested in the British titles.
There were light hearted moments in the story. The verbal exchange between two of the leading characters was wonderful. I loved the inclusion of nicknames to show their comfort with each other.
The leading lady was a wonderful modern miss of her time. In a decade when thoughts were turning to the suffragette movement in England, it was a breath of fresh air to see a woman taking an interest in a man's world.
A Dangerous Legacy is a marvellous and compelling read. I love all Elizabeth Camden's novels and can recommend buying this one. More please Elizabeth Camden.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

A beautifully written story of love and mystery. The characters were well developed and the title of the book definitely fits what the story is all about. I was cheering for Lucy and her brother and hoping that Colin would see that Lucy was the right woman for him, rather than chasing after rich heiresses. I was disappointed that it had no Christian message even though it was supposed to be a Christian book. If God was mentioned at all, it was almost as an afterthought.

Lucy and her brother, Nicholas Drake, have followed in their family’s footsteps and taken up the fight in a lawsuit that has lasted forty long years and torn their family apart. While Lucy and Nicholas labor in New York City to scrape together enough money to keep fighting, the Saratoga Drakes live in lavish luxury holding the patent to wondrous valve that could change tenement living forever.
Lucy works for the Associated Press as a telegraph operator, while her brother works as a plumber in the hog house underground of the city. But Lucy and Nick have a secret that could send them both to prison, but it could also give them the edge that they need to win the lawsuit once and for all.
But when Sir Colin Beckwith the head of the Associated Press’s rival Reuters comes into their lives, Lucy finds the infuriating heiress seeker tipping her world upside down, but could it be that Colin is the secret weapon they need to bring down their uncle who is willing to do anything to stop Lucy and Nick from threatening his fortune?
Lucy is determined and hardworking, she and her brother have sacrificed everything to continue the legal battle. Lucy is intelligent and quick witted, she doesn’t give up, and is skilled in morse code. She fights with the hope of someday being able to improve the lives of the working poor, and has already sacrificed so much to make her grandfather’s dream a reality.
Sir Colin Beckwith has the title and a grand sounding estate, but he has worked for what he has and to support his family. His estate is crumbling around his sister’s ears, and he does not have the funds to make the much needed repairs to his estate. The answer seems so clear, marry a rich American heiress. But behind his cultured charm of a polished member of the aristocracy, he is an honorable and hardworking man, who struggles to overcome his past and the trauma of war.
Masterfully written, and effortlessly seeming to teem with so many well researched details about the city that didn’t detract at all from the gravity of the plot. I couldn’t help but be drawn into the rich drama of a decades long dispute, and the exciting underworld of New York’s plumbing system, as well as the thrilling new world of news stories able to fly thousands of miles over a telegram wire halfway around the world. Lush with detail and brimming in suspense, I didn’t want to put this book down. From the high society of Saratoga to the dark underground of New York, this book had me hooked. I really liked how Lucy was forced to look at her faith in light of the lawsuit and everything that had happened already, and how she wanted to take control of her future but giving it to God. Ms. Camden outdoes herself with every new book, and this is no exception. I was thrilled to find out that the Drakes’ saga will be continued with Nick’s story. Suspenseful drama, romance, and rich history await in A Dangerous Legacy. Highly recommend!!!

Nick and Lucy have spent the last 10 years of their lives joining in a 40-year legal battle that started with their grandfather and his brother. Their Uncle Thomas, will stop at nothing to crush Nick and Lucy, from scaring away Lucy’s fiancé to threatening those that Nick has tried to aid. But Lucy and Nick have a secret weapon—an illegal secret weapon. It is this secret that leads them on a dangerous journey that threatens their very lives.
Sir Colin Beckwith has inherited an English estate in disrepair and ruin. His only hope is to marry a wealthy American and invest her fortune into returning the beloved home to its former glory. Unfortunately, Colin suffers from PTSD from the war and a moment of distress lands him on the society pages, labeled a drunk.
Will their priorities lead to greater disaster? Will they discover what is most important in life before they lose everything?
This is the third or fourth book I’ve read by Elizabeth Camden and I’m so impressed each time by her ability to incorporate historical details into her stories, winding them in seamlessly until you are back in time with the characters. Let me just say, I love her books: filled with enough tension and suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat and frantically turning pages and enough romance that to make the heart pound with a fervent “Aww!” I love how Elizabeth brings out aspects of historical detail than one would not normally think about: Morse Code in the telegraph offices and a water valve needed to pump water against gravity. I enjoyed this story and I highly recommend this book and as well as any others by this author.

A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Story Notes

Elizabeth Camden begins a new series in the Empire State with a story that brings intrigue, danger, legal fights and a sweet love story that will have to wage war if it is to survive against all its foes.

This story was a welcome change from the past books I had been reading. With its history-packed pages centered around the offices of the Associated Press and Reuters News agencies, Ms. Camden presented a story that had me feeling closely connected to the characters involved. Lucy Drake and her brother Nick are a hardworking pair who are caught up in their family’s legal feud that began with their grandfather Eustace and his brother Jacob. The battle started right before the Civil War: Eustace was a brilliant engineer who had created a pipe valve that would help pump water up pipes in multi-story buildings. He and Jacob had begun selling them before the war engulfed the country but Eustace felt he needed to defend his country and set off for the front lines. Before he left, he signed an agreement with Jacob that allowed Jacob to make all necessary decisions and expansions pertaining to the valve’s manufacture and distribution. When he returned after the war, Eustace approached Jacob, wanting to get back to work and split the profits equally as before. But Jacob had no interest in allowing his brother back into the business. So began a long, grueling court battle that would filter down through two succeeding generations to Lucy and Nick. Still feeling they need to make things right, not just for themselves but for others, they continue to attend court dates, hopeful for a prompt ending. Nick works as a plumber for the city of New York and quietly helps the poor tenement owners provide clean water for their tenants. Lucy works as telegraph operator/translator for the Associated Press and further ensures the pneumatic tube system stays in working order. When her boss notices, not for the first time, that their new stories are being “scooped” by the Reuters newspapers, Lucy is sent to the man in charge: Sir Colin Beckwith. Having some unpleasant history with Colin, Lucy is loath to spend any time with him but knows her job is worth a few minutes of discomfort. What follows is the start of an unexpected friendship that will grow into something more as they get to know each other. Colin has determined to marry an American heiress to save his family home which is in great disrepair but it is Lucy he really wants to spend time with each day. And as he learns her family history, he becomes personally involved, knowing his title and reputation could help her gain the leverage her family needs to win the lawsuit. But Lucy isn’t sure that Colin is all portrays. For one thing, he makes a business deal with her uncle which allows Colin 4% of the proceeds from Drake valves installed in Europe – a move she sees as quite a betrayal, given one of the focuses of the lawsuit is ensuring Eustace’s descendants receive back-payments for valves sold. And for another, in spite of his sweet words towards her, he seems incredibly focused on marrying a woman with money for his English estate. As they walk the dangerous line of truth and lies, both Colin and Lucy will have to decide what means the most to them: money or freedom. And no matter which they choose, either path requires sacrifice. Ms. Camden gave her characters such life and personalities that I often felt as if I were sitting in the same room. The suspense as Colin returned again to Oakmonte was palpable and the events of that visit caused me anger, fear and a deep desire for everyone to get what they deserved. Have no fear, Ms. Camden carries the plot extremely well and brings everything to a most satisfactory end. She requires her characters to grow, stretch and feel real pain so that they can come off the page and into a readers imagination. She is not satisfied with leaving them as they are in the spiritual sense either – her story takes them to the very bottom of their faith so they can break free of their chains of greed, selfishness and revenge. By portraying the fire-cleansing of God in a very vivid way in Lucy’s life, Ms. Camden inspired me to look within myself to see if there is anything I hold more dear than the Will of God. I smiled as I read the final pages of this book and was happy to realize that this was the first of a series that will involve the Drake family. I am most excited to see how Ms. Camden will tell Nick’s story in the following book. If this current book is any indication, it will have much snappy dialogue and good character challenges. I will most certainly recommend this book to others and look forward to adding it to my book shelves soon.

I received this E-book free of charge from Bethany House Publishers via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation from either company for this review.

Elizabeth Camden has written a great book, A Dangerous Legacy is one book you will not want to put down until your finished. Highly recommend.

I always enjoy a novel written by Elizabeth Camden and once again she did not disappoint.

The characters were well developed and the title of the book definitely fits what the story is all about. It was very hard to put down. I was rooting for Lucy and her brother and hoping that Colin would see that Lucy was the right woman for him, rather than chasing after rich heiresses. The story is absolutely riveting with lots of intrigue, suspense and danger. But what disappointed me about this novel was that it had no message of the saving power of Jesus Christ. This was supposed to be a Christian book, but if God was mentioned at all, it was almost as an afterthought.

While Lucy and Colin both grew and proved that there is more to life than money, God seemed to have played no part in their growth. There was mention of talent being a gift from God and that using it to better the lives of others was like God smiling at you. But it was not something that was at the core of this book.

If you want a good, clean read that will keep you captive this is a great book. If you are looking for a Christian book that has a message of faith or redemption, however, this is not it.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

I was not expecting the character of Lucy to be what she was in this book- I think the pearls on the cover threw me off. (While there are pearls in the story, I don't believe she ever wears them). Lucy is one determined woman, holding tightly to her values but willing to get a little down and dirty when battling unscrupulous people. Her strength is admirable, and I loved how the author also portrayed her flaws, exhaustion, and yearnings for a different life. She is complex in that way since she loves her work for the Associated Press and the glimpse it gives her of the world that she will never explore, as long as she is fighting the lawsuit with her uncle.

Colin is quite charming and also has a realistic balance of traits which made him come to life. He brings joy and love into Lucy's life, however temporary, and supports her in the war she is waging even when they struggle through their own rough patches. The insights into the events and politics of the time was fascinating, especially the workings of the telegraph office and the underground plumbing of Manhattan. I would have enjoyed more emotion in the romance between Colin and Lucy, but the plot and historical details made this a standout book.

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

This story will keep you on your toes. There is so much happening between the family dynamics of Lucy and Nick and also with Colin and his family as well. Camden packed a lot into one novel.

I found it quite intriguing as I continued reading this book how much legacy she actually included. When I first started I assumed it would all be about Nick and Lucy's family legacy but I soon realized Colin was concerned with his family legacy as well.

I was quite surprised to learn that Reuters and AP had used the same building and telegraph line! That was a unique bit of history that I'd never heard and am amazed that it worked. Obviously they had a deeper respect for each other than most companies do these days. I was also quite interested in the concept of news stories being wired in. I've read about that before in books but this book showed the other side. I cannot imagine writing a story overseas and then having to wire it to my paper in the US. That requires a lot faith in the wires!

I loved how things wrapped up in this book but found myself a little annoyed with the constant issues both Lucy and Colin had with their own problems. I know that is how it was supposed to be but I got tired of reading about it.

Overall it was a good story and like always Camden seamlessly wove accurate historical value into her book.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher. This is my honest review.

Lucy is a whiz at reading and translating morse code. Her brother, Nick, is a gifted plumber who wants to help out in the tenements to make the lives of the poor better. The only fly in the ointment is their Uncle Thomas who has embroiled the family in a law suit for forty years over the use of a specialized pump that will get water to the upper floors of tenement buildings so that the residents don't have to haul water up multiple flights of stairs.

Elizabeth Camden has written an intriguing turn-of-the-century novel with mystery, skull-duggery, and underhanded dealings. Lucy's abilities with morse code landed her a job with the Associated Press, transcribing stories as they came in for the newspaper in New York. She meets Sir Colin Beckworth, who has an office in the building and works for Reuters. Together they work on defeating Uncle Thomas' in the lawsuit about the pump. When Uncle Thomas' father, Jacob, comes to town, he finds Nick and offers to teach him all that there is to know in taking care of the family business. Jacob wants to leave his entire estate to Nick.

This is a five star book, just based on the excellence of the writing. It holds all the hallmarks of a good read: intriguing plot twists, engaging characters, and interesting settings. The only thing this book lacks is that I am not an afficionado of mysteries. I'm still giving the book five stars, even though it is not my favorite genre. Two Thumbs Up, and a transcribed morse code message.

My appreciation goes to Bethany House Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book.

Do you like pertinent information in a novel being given to you gradually, or do you want to know it immediately? While I find it can be intriguing to put the pieces together, especially in a mystery novel, there are also times when I want to know NOW! I was in one of the latter moods during the opening pages of A Dangerous Legacy. I wanted to know what the legal issue was and I wanted it yesterday! Thankfully, I didn’t have to wait long to discover why Lucy and her brother didn’t have much of a life outside of their jobs and the courtroom. I was also charmed by the cricket reference in those early pages and the accuracy of the detail in it. Yes, Britain, my home country, known for tea (which I can’t stand) and cricket (which I adore).

Fans of shows such as Downton Abbey will enjoy this tale of those who have, those who don’t, and those who fall somewhere in between. Colin is one of those members of the British aristocracy who is land rich and cash poor. He’s looking to marry a wealthy American heiress so he can repair his ancestral home and provide not only for his family but also for those who live and work on the estate. The pretensions of the Gilded Age are fully displayed, with the newly wealthy flocking to him because of his title. Lucy and Nick show concern for the have-nots, while they themselves are in the in between crowd. Readers will also get an insight into the news wire rivalries, sewers, and insane asylums of the early twentieth century although, personally, I could’ve done without the sewer knowledge!

A Dangerous Legacy was a book I really enjoyed. I liked Colin and Lucy: they were down to earth, practical people who were honest with each other, although they did show their emotions. There were no contrived misunderstandings between them either. There were plenty of dramatic moments and some equally beautiful ones too. And, the nice things is, I didn’t have to say a complete goodbye to these characters as this is the first in a new series! The second book, featuring Lucy’s brother, is coming out in early 2018. Sounds like you’ll want to have read this one first though.

Thank you to Bethany House for my complimentary electronic copy of A Dangerous Legacy, which I downloaded from NetGalley. No review was required.

Lucy Drake and her brother are fighting a forty-year legal battle with a relative over a successful plumbing invention. Their purpose is altruistic. The relative's? Not so much. But the battle is taking a toll and getting dangerous.

Colin Beckwith is an English aristocrat with a moldering estate and the need for a wealthy wife. The problem arises when he meets Lucy. While Colin is steadfast in his plan to marry into money, the author gives him a good reason, along with that proper English "stiff upper lip." She also gives him a fear that brings him off the lofty heights he might otherwise occupy in his mind and in the minds of others. 

I won't go into detail about the physical peril that lurks for the two of them, but it's a desperate situation. My only issue was with an instance in which they escape a potentially dangerous episode and immediately seem to feel all is well. "Phew! We escaped that and we can go on about our lives." (My quote. It's not in the book.) Had it been me, I would have continued to look over my shoulder, knowing the threat remained. It seemed a bit unrealistic, and I kept wondering why Colin wasn't worried about Lucy.

The romance is there, of course, but somewhat muted (for a romance novel). However, I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, their issues, and the theme of not sacrificing our lives---our "souls"---to bitterness and circumstances that won't bring happiness. A must read just for the evil conspiracy.