In A Daring Venture, biochemist Dr. Rosalind Werner works tirelessly in her waterborne diseases research with Dr. Leal. Being a woman prevents others from taking her seriously, specifically the Water Commissioner Nicholas Drake. He is wary of her techniques, especially when she goes to court to win approval for introducing chlorine – a dangerous chemical – into the city’s drinking water. Rosalind is unaware that Leal is planning to release the chlorine secretly until she overhears a conversation. She is forced to keep Leal’s plan from Nick. What else can she do?

Both are unaware of the reasons behind the other person’s passion in the water treatment issue. While they are fighting one another, they are also fighting an attraction to one another. But when an unseen enemy targets Rosalind, they find themselves on the same side. Will they find the perpetrator before anyone gets seriously hurt?

Camden writes historical novels filled with excellent storytelling, strong but flawed characters, and descriptive narratives. Unlike her other books, the faith element is minimal in this book. The romance is clean and wholesome, and the reader is drawn into the lives of the characters. Despite the significant amount of historical detail, the reader is not overwhelmed – it is carefully woven into the text.

It was nice to catch back up again with Nick Drake and his sister Lucy. They come from a (not always so nice) family who invents a valve used to pump water up multiple floors in buildings. (Something that we take so much for granted.) Nick is widowed with a little daughter. He is the main heir and has become a millionaire.

If you read the last book, you know that Nick is as nice as a guy can be, good as gold. He and Lucy are very caring and just want their invention to help the common man. Now Nick has become involved with city planning and a filtration plan for bringing in more potable water to meet demand, a project that was going to be second only to the Panama Canal in terms of size and scope.

Then we meet Rosalind, who was raised in Germany. She is a rare woman who has a doctorate in biochemistry and has been working with another doctor on chlorinating the water system to kill things like cholera. She and Nick are both motivated by their past. Not impressed with the available females in his circle, he is amazed that a woman can be interesting, let alone understand plumbing. But when Rosalind’s coworker makes a decision that goes against Nick’s belief and she’s drawn into it, it’s a shock to him and the community as well. A well woven story with dark secrets, mystery, danger, interesting historical facts, faith, trust and forgiveness. This is a series well worth having in your library.

Another great read from Elizabeth Camden! Can't wait read to read the conclusion of the Empire State Trilogy. Definitely recommend!

A Daring Venture is the second book in the Empire State series. I haven't read the first one yet and I'm wondering if that is part of the reason I didn't love this as much as I was hoping. I enjoyed the history and how the story line was so unique...I've never read a book like this.

I did think the romance was a little to "insta-love" and I wasn't a fan of it. The writing style was great, though, and made it so easy to read.

All in all, I enjoyed A Daring Venture but it isn't my favorite of Camden's. I'm not sure if I will be continuing the series or not.

*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 Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden was a great historical fiction about the importance of water purification and what happens without it. This book started off with quite a bang and I was holding onto my seat through the first bit wondering about making it through the ride. It was intense to watch the main character’s hard times with water-borne illnesses. She then is on a quest to find the solution so no one has to endure her pain and suffering. This leads her to some deception of sorts that I found frustrating but realistic. If you enjoy historical fiction, you’ll want to check this one out.
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.


***Also posted on B&N and CBD

Great novel! I thoroughly enjoyed it. If you like historical drama especially set in the early 1900s, this novel for you.

This is book two in the Empire State series. It is a stand alone book, you will miss some history of some of the characters but nothing that would keep you from understanding what is going on in this one. (Book one is a good read as well though).

Dr. Rosalind Werner is a beautiful, smart, loving, scientist. Nicolas Drake is a handsome, wealthy, hardworking man. I love the instant chemistry and sparks that fly between Rosalind and Nick. Both truly are trying to do what is best for the city, just in their own way. Both have a lot to learn and will be put to the test throughout the novel.

I look forward to reading book three in this series.

Rosaline Werner lost both her parents to cholera when she was just ten years old. The loss changed her life, but eighteen years later she's back in America, working as a biochemist fighting to eradicate waterborne diseases including typhoid. She's convinced the answer is to chemically treat the city's supply of drinking water with chlorine, but not everyone agrees.

Nicholas Drake is a plumber, and a commissioner of the State Water Board of New York, responsible for ensuring the citizens have access to clean water. But he can't see that adding poison to water is the solution—he prefers the tried-and-true method of filtering the water.
It's a great set-up: two people who want the same thing.
Two people with noble reasons. But two people who fundamentally disagree on the best process, to the point where their factions are fighting it out in court. It's a plot that isn't going to allow for compromise. Rosaline will win, or Nicholas will win. Unless Rosaline can convince Nicholas to change his mind ...

It's also a unique concept for a novel. Plumbing. Water. Dams. Chlorination. Filtration. Most of us in developed countries take safe drinking water for granted, and it's hard to believe that it's only been a little over a century since the idea was mooted, accepted, and popularised. Elizabeth Camden is known for taking little-known and intriguing historical factoids and turning them into compelling historical novels with plenty of romance and more than a little suspense.

The one possible fault with A Daring Venture is that while Elizabeth Camden's earlier novels were definitely Christian, this (and the previous novel in this Empire State series, A Dangerous Legacy) do not have any overtly Christian content. But nor are they general market titles, with all that implies. Perhaps it's that the faith element is woven in so subtly that it's not noticeable.

And in some ways, it shouldn't be. A Daring Venture isn't a faith-based story. It's the story of clean, disease-free water, and some of the people who helped change our world for the better by fighting for what was right. Which, if you think about it, is the outworking of the Christian faith. A Daring Venture is an excellent novel with a unique premise.

Recommended for fans of historical fiction, especially romances and novels with a basis in historical fact. I hope there will be a sequel, because I want to see more of Nicholas and his growing family.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

Each time I read one Elizabeth’s books I’m blown away 

There such a perfect mix of adventure and romance I want to read all her books, more than once!!!

This one was no different and it was possibly better than A Dangerous Legacy!!

I LOVED getting to know Rosalind and seeing more of Nick!

make sure you have tissues

I received this book from Netgalleyfor an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

https://booksnbaubles.com/a-daring-venture-by-elizabeth-camden/

I received Elizabeth Camden's latest book, A Daring Venture, to review. Mrs. Camden is one of my favorite historical fiction authors. Her books contain good themes, strong women, and bits of history that aren't always common knowledge.



This book is no different, yet is an enjoyable story in its own way. The main character is Dr. Rosalind Werner, a scientist whose goal is to purify water and eliminate waterborne diseases. She and her brother were orphaned as children when their parents succumbed to cholera. As a female scientist, she faces people not trusting her work and rumors about her character. Yet she is determined and honest... until her colleague decides to take a giant step ahead with their research and she must decide if she will support him and continue their work. Hiding a secret could hurt her new relationship with Nicholas Drake.



Nicholas Drake was a prominent character in Camden's previous book, A Dangerous Legacy. We met him then, a determined plumber who worked with his sister to find a way to deliver water to every apartment building in New York. In A Daring Venture, Nick is hoping to become the newest commissioner on the State Water Board. He finds himself on the opposite side of a court case with Dr. Rosalind Werner. What a difficult situation to be in, Nick and Rosalind get along so well and neither want to back away from the energy and relationship quickly building between them. Yet how can they move forward when they are opponents in this water filtration controversy?

This book showed a different side of Nicholas Drake than I remembered from the previous story. Perhaps it's just that we get to know him better in this one. It was nice to see that Lucy and Colin were included here and there. There is no need to read the previous book, this one stands alone.



From the publisher:
"As a biochemist in early 1900s New York, Doctor Rosalind Werner has dedicated her life to the crusade against waterborne diseases. She is at the forefront of a groundbreaking technology that will change the way water is delivered to every household in the city-- but only if she can get people to believe in her work.

"Newly appointed Commissioner of Water for New York Nicholas Drake is highly skeptical of Rosalind and her team's techniques. When a brewing court case throws him into direct confrontation with her, he is surprised by his reaction to the lovely scientist.

"While Rosalind and Nick wage a private war against their own attraction, they stand firmly on opposite sides of a battle that will impact far more than just their own lives. As the controversy grows more public and inflammatory and Rosalind becomes the target of an unknown enemy, these two rivals will face higher stakes than they ever could have known."

Find A Daring Venture at Bethany House and Amazon.

I wanted to love this book, I did. Elizabeth Camden is one of my favorite Inspy fiction authors and one reason being, she writes about such unique pieces of history. An early 1900s female Doctor and biochemist? Count me in!

But y’all, there were just bits I couldn’t get past. One, is that I’m not a fan of the instant attraction/in love. You might be a fan, but it sometimes felt a little over the top for me.

One of my biggest hang ups was a decision Rosalind made I struggled with. Vague? Yes, but to say any more would be too much of a spoiler. Not only that, but there weren’t any real consequences to her choices. Instead, things ended up nicely tied up with a bow. For what they each dealt with, I felt the resolution needed more depth.

While not my favorite from Camden, I look forward to future reads.

*My Review*

This was an awesome read about the sacrifices that we take for granted in our everyday lives.

In this novel, we get to know more about Nickolas which we was one of the characters in her first book in this
series, A Dangerous Legacy. Nickolas was a wonderful character and he was funny.
The heroine,Rosalind was a very interesting character to read about as well and I love how the author
writes about very smart and accomplished women and how they had to overcome obstacles back in the day.

I can say as with most of her books this novel really drew me in from the start.

I read this novel in about 2 days! That is how good it was!

The story was overall well written, romantic and funny to read. I highly recommend this author and
I can’t wait to read whatever else this author comes out with!
*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.*

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden is the second book in the Empire State series, following A Dangerous Legacy, which you can find my review of here.

This book follows the story of Nicholas Drake, brother of the heroine of book one. It picks up five years after the events of book one, as Nicholas Drake is aspiring to hold a prominent position in New York dealing with water filtration. Meanwhile, Dr. Rosalind Warner is working to use chlorine in water to kill bacteria, and is petitioning that chlorine is more effective than filtration in reducing waterborne diseases. These two butt heads but ultimately want what’s best for the water of the state.

One thing I really love and value about Elizabeth Camden’s novels is that in each one of them, she highlights a historical yet monumental thing that affects our society and how it works today. Honestly, I never even think about chlorine versus filtration, but every time I read one of her books, I feel like I learn so much! It makes me laugh because all the topics her books focus on are so varied that I haven’t been able to discern any kind of a pattern, except that I know she is also a librarian, so perhaps it’s just something she comes across in her reading and learning that spills over into her books. However it works, I’m also delighted because it’s so unique. Camden is a long-standing favorite author of mine; I’ve been following her since book one. This book made me smile and learn all while being wrapped up in the story. There was one part where one character acted out of anger and really damaged another’s reputation, and that character basically decided “oh that wasn’t so bad, I could live with that,” etc and that rubbed me the wrong way because the character basically thought that they could cope with it rather than there being any kind of anger management thing. Other than that, this was a great book of twists and turns that was based off of an actual historical court case, and I loved it.

Thank you to the Bethany House and Net Galley for providing me with a copy of this book. I received a copy of this book for free. I was not required to post a positive review and the views and opinions expressed are my own.

*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.*

As with the first book in the series (A Dangerous Legacy) I learned a lot by reading A Daring Venture. The first book provided interesting information on how the AP and Reuters transmitted information to news agencies and about the first trans-pacific cable. This book taught me about the history of 1890s water filtration and chlorination. I love it when history melds with fiction and teaches me something new.

Another thing in common with the first book (unfortunately) is that I found it difficult to connect with the female lead (Rosalind.) The male lead (Nick) had his own issues, hot-tempered and arrogant, but I connected more with him due to his underlying strength, depth, and vulnerability.

This story feels more plot-driven than character-driven (my preference) but is an overall enjoyable and educational story. Great cover art, significant research done by the author, and a stunning first line.

Cover: Love
Title: Love
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 352
First Line (prologue): You and your brother are to go to the music room, close the door, and don’t come out until I say you can.

I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House and NetGalley.

My Thoughts: I adored this novel!! From start to finish, it had so many elements that I want to find in an enthralling book. We brushed against characters from the last book. Revisited ongoing issues with their family. The characters are well developed and have such a realness about them. It’s easy to see them as real people and sympathize with the difficult situations they find themselves in. And, oh, the difficulties don’t stop for these characters! I was impressed with the variety of twists and turns. Camden keeps a steady pace throughout the entire novel.
The romance and was sweet and clean. And the historical elements are a treat. I never would have considered what a battle it was to get the clean water we take for granted today.
The spiritual content was really light in this one. It felt more like the characters had an underlying Christian principle but without directly connecting to the source. I would have liked to have seen them purposely turning to Christ as they navigated through their problems, so it felt more like a clean read than a Christian read. But it’s still one I can highly recommend.
While you can understand this story as a standalone, some of the issues found in this book were built upon things that happened in the first so I would recommend reading the series in order if you can.

*I picked up the audio copy and adored it!! The narrator did a great job, and I particularly enjoyed her version of Nick’s accent.

Rating and Recommendations: I give it 5 stars and recommend it to those who enjoy Christian Historical Fiction.

~ I received a copy from Bethany House through Net Galley. All thoughts are my own. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one.

I don't know how she does it, but Elizabeth Camden brings to life some of the oddest and little know facts/stories from the 2nd Industrial Revolution. I like historical romance to a certain degree. I enjoy learning as a whole, but rarely do I enjoy learning anything historical.

In "A Daring Venture" Dr. Rosalind Werner is one of few women to hold a Ph.D. and this makes her a bit of an outcast, from her native Germany and now America. She is a biochemist with a mission to make public drinking water safe from water-borne diseases like Cholera. She meets Nick, a recent heir to a fortune after having worked his entire life underground as a plumber for the city, and it becomes her mission to change his mind about public chlorination. Something sparks between them, but there are several conflicts of interest in their careers, and controversy over her past, which threatens to keep them apart. This is a continuation of Nick's story from Book 1, but I think Camden does a great job of making this a book you could read on its own. It's just that you have more history and depth of character for where Nick is truly coming from if you've read the first book in the series.

With each book, I read of Camden's I am further amazed at her writing skills and story-weaving abilities. She brings you into a time and place I've never been, and I can see the sights and smell the smells and even better, feel the emotions of the main characters! My only hesitation is that I'm not personally a fan of chlorinating water, so I struggled slightly with the topic, but it did help me see what the potential would be if it wasn't being done and helped soften my stance a bit.

After I read the first novel, A Dangerous Legacy, I was looking forward to the second book in Elizabeth Camden's Empire State series, A Daring Venture. However, I had no idea I'd enjoy this one even more.

One thing you can usually depend on in this author's stories is an enticing hero. Nick Drake does not disappoint. He's a blue collar guy with a rich man's bank account, a widower with a three-year-old he spoils, and a man determined to provide better plumbling facilities for the poor.

There's a lot going on in this novel that has little to do with the romance, but affects it in various ways. There are layers from each character's past that intrude on the present, teaching them to become better persons as they face intrigue and betrayal on multiple levels. In fact, there were a couple of plot points I felt were serious enough to be drawn out and given greater space.

I would have liked to have seen a little more resolution between Rosalind and Nick with regard to his child, especially since the two adults had such differing views on how to raise her. In fact, the child seemed less a character than a prop. That thread could have been better satisfied for me.

However, the book was an engaging read that flashed by as I was absorbed in the depth of the characters and their plights, along with the unique historical story. I'm giving A Daring Venture 4.8 stars. 

And we meet the main characters from Book Three of the series! Bring it on!

A Daring Venture is an interesting and enjoyable novel that is the second in Elizabeth Camden's Empire State series (after A Dangerous Legacy) but can technically read as a standalone book as well, just with a little less depth of story. This novel follows a few years after A Dangerous Legacy and focuses on Nick Drake, the brother of Lucy. The plot line is well written and shows the quandary that scientists faced in New York/New Jersey with wanting to purify the city's water supply to reduce disease risk while facing opposition from the government. The plot follows a true lawsuit that occurred and the scientists that still worked to save hundreds and thousands of lives. The fictional characters of Dr. Werner and Nick Drake were both well developed and entertaining as they learned from their mistakes and learned to trust one another. The one thing I did think was rushed was the initial spark of romance between the two; aside from that their story played out slower with moments of romance, danger, suspense, and also a culmination of a storyline that started in Lucy's novel. Overall, I really enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received this novel from Netgalley and Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden is book 2 in the Empire State series. This book is fascinating as a novel of historical fiction. It is well researched and really interesting. Doctor Rosalind Werner finds herself if a battle to defend her scientific work at the turn of the twentieth century. Others are suspicious of her techniques and she has to fight to protect the water system. I think this book is an interesting read, although it can be a little hard to get into. I received a digital copy of this book. These opinions are entirely my own.

Wow! Amazement is what I felt as I read A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden. Miss Camden takes real historical situations and people that I know nothing about and inserts them into a fictional story with fictional characters. Once I was done reading this book, I wanted to go research the water problems in New York City in the early 1900s. Not only did this story have rich historical details, but it also had several twists that I was not expecting. These surprises in the story kept me wondering what would happen next and made it hard to get anything else on my to do list done. The surprises and the history made this book stunning!

I would recommend this book to someone who wants a rich historical lesson in a story form or for someone who enjoys books full of surprising occurrences.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.