When you combine historical facts, romance, family drama and great writing, you get this entertaining novel by Elizabeth Camden. Who would ever imagine that a storyline about creating a safe water system through the use of chlorine could be interesting enough to keep your full attention throughout the book? I loved the characters of Nick and Rosalind. They certainly were not perfect, but this is part of the charm they added to the story. They go through quite a few difficulties before their story has been told, and you don’t want to miss any of them.
I enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading the next one in this series.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Der Prolog spielt im Jahr 1890 in Connecticut. Die Eltern der 10-jährigen Rosalind und des 8-jährigen Gus sind schwer erkrankt. Dr. Morris, der sie mit seiner Welt der Medizin und Wissenschaft fasziniert, muss ins Haus kommen. Rosalind erfährt, dass ihr Vater Opfer der Choleraepidemie wurde. Wenige Tage später entdeckt sie auch ihre Mutter und die Haushälterin tot. Sie macht sich mit ihrem kleinen Bruder auf einen verzweifelten Weg zu den Großeltern.

Die eigentliche Geschichte beginnt dann in New Jersey im Juni 1908. Dr. Rosalind Werner und Dr. John Leal forschen und kämpfen für die Bereitstellung von sauberem Trinkwasser für alle Menschen. Sie kämpfen auch vor Gericht, für die Chlorung des Trinkwassers der Stadt, aber die Menschen sind skeptisch. New Jersey wäre die erste Stadt. Da sie den Richter zunächst nicht überzeugen und nur einen Aufschub erhalten, wollen sie versuchen, ihren härtesten Kritiker, Nicolas Drake zu überzeugen. Nick ist reich und mächtig und hat Einfluss in der Stadt. Doch dieser ist recht eigensinnig und wenig kompromissbereit. Nachdem seine Frau kurze Zeit nach der Geburt seiner 3-jährigen Tochter Sadie verstorben ist, lebt er alleine in Manhattan. Er soll der nächste Commissioner des State Water Board von New York werden. Nick hat sich vom einfachen Klempner hochgearbeitet, hat keinen wissenschaftlichen Hintergrund oder ein Studium. Er will ja eigentlich auch gutes Wasser für alle, auch die Armen und Immigranten, aber er ist gegen den Einsatz von Chlor und für den teuren Bau einer zusätzlichen Filteranlage.

Bei ihrem Treffen wollen sie Nick überzeugen, dass die chemische Behandlung ungefährlich und effektiver als Filteranlagen ist. Plötzlich kann Rosalindes Chef nicht teilnehmen und sie muss Nick alleine konfrontieren. Er wiederum erkennt sie zunächst nicht und beide sind überraschenderweise spontan voneinander angezogen. Dann kann er nicht glauben, dass sie DER Dr. Werner ist. Sie erfährt, dass er sein Vermögen aus einer Erfindung seines Großvaters geerbt hat. Die Stimmung ist humorvoll, bis sie zum eigentlichen Thema kommen. Er hält Chlor weiterhin für eine ungeprüftes chemisches Gift und das Gespräch endet schnell im Streit.

Dann muss Rosalind entdecken, dass Ihr Chef in der ausweglosen Situation das Wasser der Stadt ohne Genehmigung einfach chloren will, um die Menschen von der Harmlosigkeit zu überzeugen. So steht sie plötzlich zwischen den Fronten.

Das Buch hat einen sehr interessanten historischen Hintergrund. Wie man im Nachwort erfährt, steht ein tatsächliches historisches Ereignis im Zentrum der Erzählung. Man kommt sehr schnell in die Geschichte rein und fiebert mit.

Eigentlich haben Rosalind und Nick ein gemeinsames Ziel, in der Verbesserung der Lebensumstände aller Menschen, aber zur Mitte des Buches scheinen beide weiter voreinander entfernt denn je. Es kommen weitere Dimensionen von Komplikationen auf Nick zu und es taucht unerwartet auch noch ein Bösewicht auf, der Nicks komplette Welt bedroht. Es folgt ein sehr spannend letztes Drittel mit unerwarteten Entwicklungen.

Mit Rosalind und Nick hat die Autorin ein Paar in einer sehr spannenden Konstellation geschaffen. Rational stehen die beiden an zwei verschiedenen Enden der Skala, aber emotional fühlen sie sich spontan total zueinander hingezogen. Sie sind sehr sympathische, interessante Figuren, wobei Nick öfter das Temperament durchgeht und er sehr hitzig reagieren kann, was aber auch oft schnell wieder verfliegt. Aber er sieht sich da selbst auch sehr kritisch und ist bereit alles zu tun, um solche Ausfälle wieder gut zu machen. Sie ist eine für diese Zeit außergewöhnliche Protagonistin, da sie zu ihrer Schönheit auch noch intelligent, willensstark und liebenswert ist. Zum Ende zeigt sich, dass sie sich nicht nur lieben, sondern auch ein gutes Team sind, das miteinander durch dick und dünn geht.

Das Buch konnte mich sehr gut unterhalten, wurde noch richtig spannend und hat mich in eine sehr interessante geschichtliche Zeit versetzt.

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

____________________________________________________________________________________________

Story Notes

Elizabeth Camden’s second installment of her Empire State series is one that explores the incredibly difficult work of those who endeavored to bring truly clean water to the citizens of New York while also telling of a challenging romance right in the middle of the fight for improvement.

I’m going to tell everyone right up front that although I enjoyed this story for the most part, these might be my least favorite fictional characters of whom I’ve ever read. It wasn’t that they were one-dimensional or uninteresting, rather it was that they both seemed certain that they were right and were willing to do whatever it took to prove their point. And while one might expect this from non-Christians, it was very disappointing to see so much deceit used by both main characters who claimed to be Christians. I understand that this offered Ms. Camden a chance to show how wrong this thinking is, but I don’t feel she was able to completely deal with all the problems that come from the multitudinous lies and secrets presented in the story. Ms. Camden begins her story with a court case in progress that is to decide whether Chlorine can safely be added to the water filtration system for the state of New York. On one side are those advocating the long used water filtering houses remain in place without help and on the other are biochemists and those of newer thinking who are advocating a new safe chemical system to ensure clean water – even when the filtration systems are overloaded during heavy rains. Dr. Rosalind Werner is one such biochemist who has made water-borne illnesses her life’s study. Having seen the devastating damage diseases such as typhoid wreak on a population as well as her own family, Rosalind is determined to find a way to eliminate their growth and transmission in the New York water supply. The problem is, no one is willing to let her and her colleagues introduce safe levels of chlorination into the water supply to prove its ability to destroy germs. When the judge in the case rules against Rosalind and her team but allows three months for deferment if they can gather enough evidence, Rosalind determines to prove her research in whatever way necessary. Her quest for chlorination will take her down the road of deceit that she will find nearly impossible to return from and will make her possible romance a fight like she has never before faced. Nicholas Drake, new Water Commissioner, is on the opposing side, who spent many years working in the water/sewer systems of New York. He is fully in support of new ways of making life easier and safer for everyone but is not convinced that adding chlorine to water is safe. Nick has spent years trying to climb the societal ladders that will let him give his daughter everything she will ever need. She is his whole world since the death of his wife and he would do anything to ensure she is cared for and loved. Fearing what the introduction of Chlorine to the water system will do to his daughter, Nick determines to fight whatever and whomever necessary to keep it from happening. But he is so focused on being right that he will find it almost impossible to let the idea of “safe chlorination” be proved helpful and safe, which leads to his hope of a relationship with Rosalind to fall totally apart. As both of them fight for what they believe is right, they will come face to face with the hardest challenges to both their faith and person they have ever endured. And it will be how they handle the challenges presented that will decide whether they will come through together or apart. As I said before, these characters are pretty awful “Christians”. They have some okay principles behind their actions but their willingness to engage in deceit and secrecy discredited those principles fast. And even when they were shown they were wrong, there was little said and done that said they were sorry for what happened. I was disappointed to find so little spiritual accountability in this book as Ms. Camden’s other works are usually much more direct and honest about wrongs. And I was also sad to see that there was no punishment for Nick’s Aunt Margaret given her incredibly evil actions. She was almost Satan incarnate and yet Ms. Camden allowed her to end her own life with no consequences for the damage she caused to several people’s lives. However, I did enjoy the history that was behind the story and how those who sought change worked daily to ensure the health and safety of those they served. I also like that Colin and Lucy were given voice in this story; theirs was a story I loved reading so it was good to read how their family had grown. The passages that included them had some of the best funny/snarky lines which is always a good addition in my opinion. So while there were some things to like about this story I don’t believe it will be one I will add to my shelves. I will recommend the story to those interested in reading the complete series but I will have to tell them I greatly disliked the main characters themselves. Hopefully Eloise Drake’s story (third book in the series)will be much better in content and she will be a likable character.

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 and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

*I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from Bethany House at Baker Publishing Group via NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts below are my own.

After reading the synopsis of this newly released book about a month ago, I was excited to begin reading it. From the very first chapter, I was hooked! Dr. Rosalind Werner is a woman ahead of her time, making her mark in a world of scientific research that was primarily dominated by men. Readers will love her fierce determination and bright mind.

Nicholas Drake immediately identifies himself as a force to be reckoned with, yet readers catch a glimpse of his soft side where he adores his family and cares tenderly for his young daughter. When these two dynamic characters cross paths, the chemistry between them is quickly kindled. As their magnetic relationship grows, so does the suspense. The characters begin making decisions that impact their relationship while colossal history is being made. In the background, an evil force is at work, seeking to destroy this new love and the progress being made.

This exciting story kept me interested and entertained from beginning to end. Quite frankly, I was sad to have the book wrap up. Author Elizabeth Camden does an excellent job of mingling history, romance and suspense all into one thrilling story! This is the first book I've read by her and I am looking forward to reading her other titles now. While this book is a second book in the Empire State series, it is designed to be a stand alone story and I did not feel like I'd missed anything by not reading the first book in this series.

I enjoyed the flow of the story, the compelling way it was written, the historical significance and the empowering position Dr. Werner held as a forefront leader in her time. The story was laden with accurate facts and included two real life characters who indeed made an incredible impact on our country at that time. I learned things I hadn't known before and truly loved that part of this book. I appreciated the suspense and mystery that worked it's way into the story without overpowering the romance, making this a very entertaining read.

I chose four stars for this wonderful book because it is a great addition to any historical fiction lover's bookshelf. It is one I believe readers will enjoy and highly recommend to their friends!

This book is a lovely companion piece to A Dangerous Legacy and takes us back to gilded age New York.
As per always, Camden's ongoing fictional intention is the promotion of women in interesting occupations usually dominated by the men of their period.

Rosalind Warner is a doctor and biochemist in New York is at the forefront of sanitary research that will work to provide safe water to New Yorkers. Nicholas Drake ( familiar to readers of A Dangerous Legacy) is newly appointed as Commissioner of Water for New York. Nicholas is no stranger to hardwork or conditions, having spent several years familiar with helping tenement inhabiting families.

This is a romance that will easily appeal to those who love a little (un)friendly competition to add to the flint and sparks.

But what sets Camden apart is the sheer intelligence and vibrant research that ripples through each of her expertly plotted tales. The research! I mean, you read a Camden book and you feel like you're getting an honourary degree in a subject you never knew was so fascinating.

I love her intelligence, her articulate prose, her penchant for mature characters meeting over their mindful strengths and her advocacy for women choosing professions alongside their passions for eventual hearths and homes.


Excellent!

A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden is the second novel in An Empire State Novel series. It is June 1908 in Jersey City, New Jersey when Dr. John Lael and Dr. Rosalind Werner, a biochemist, get the verdict on a two-year court case for which they were consultants. They have ninety days to prove their case that chlorine can prevent waterborne diseases in the water supply. It is a controversial idea and people are against a toxic chemical being added to their drinking water. How can they prove chlorine will not harm people? Nicholas Drake spoke for the opposition in court and is up for the position of Commissioner of State Water Board of New York. Dr. Lael suggests they meet with Nicholas Drake and try to bring him over to their side. Nicholas is instantly attracted to Rosalind, but she cannot change his mind about the chlorine argument. Nicholas is hoping that after the legal case is closed, he can court Rosalind and make her his wife. Rosalind enjoys spending time with Nicholas, but she is afraid of what will happen when her secrets come to light. But when Nicholas uncovers the duplicity, he sets out to wage a war in the court of public opinion. In the midst of this turmoil, an unknown enemy has set their sights on Rosalind and intends to destroy her. Who is behind this maliciousness?

A Daring Venture may be the second novel in An Empire State Novel series, but it can be read alone. The author provides the necessary background on Nicholas Drake (his sister, Lucy was featured in A Dangerous Legacy). I thought A Daring Venture was well-written and had charming main characters. Nicholas Drake is a handsome, down to earth man who can be exasperating. Rosalind is an intelligent woman who wants to help prevent disease. She is naïve, though, in the ways of the world (men) and cannot explain science in a way that normal people can understand. The characters are realistic with good traits and flaws (like Nicholas’ impulsiveness and quick temper). I found the premise fascinating. We take for granted that we have safe drinking water, but rarely think about how it came about. It was obvious the author did her research for the book and she managed to explain the process in a way that lay people can understand. The story is based on real life events which the author explains at the end of the book. I thought that the era was captured with the descriptions of the clothing, buildings, and attitudes. I laughed at Rosalind’s fear of using the new fangled subway. The romance was not over-the-top, nor did it dominate the story. The battle over the water and the mystery of the unknown enemy are intertwined with the romance between Nicholas and Rosalind. I especially enjoyed the humorous moments and lines (added levity). I liked that the author included Lucy and Colin in the story. We get to find out what is happening in their lives. I was not thrilled with Rosalind’s sister-in-law, Ingrid. I did not like her poor attitude or how she treated Rosalind. The faith element was very light in A Daring Venture which is unusual for this author. Elizabeth Camden sets the stage for A Desperate Hope (2019) which will provide us with Eloise Drake’s story. A Daring Venture is an engaging, multi-faceted story.

A Daring Venture is a story of diseases, testing individuals without consent, falling in love (when is love too quick/hard?), historical, passion (0f ones job), scandal, opponents and Faith. There is research done extremely done by Ms. Camden. She really knows how to make this story come to life for you. It is something our Nation did have to go through. Can you imagine? What a hardship the scientists had to go through you cannot believe. The characters are extraneous, exciting, genuine, honorable and judicious. It is a wonderful book.

I really enjoyed this latest book from Camden. My favorite part of her books is how well researched they are and how she uses actual historical events and happenings to create her stories. It is so intriguing to see how things came about even set in a fictional world of one of her novels because I know that it is all based on real life.

I always enjoy strong females in my books so I was thrilled with a female biochemist! I'm not a science person, but I can still appreciate that she was breaking into a field dominated by men. It was also fun to see some characters from the first book again.

In today's day and age, we take so much for granted. It was good to read this book and be reminded of the battles that used to be fought in the US to get clean drinking water and avoid common contaminants that killed many people. Of course, this book also reminded me that there are people all over the world that still don't have clean drinking water and that saddened me more than I can say. But I digress!

I liked Nick in the first book but I really fell in love with him in this one. I love how down to earth he is and I also love how fiercely protective he can be. Rosalind impressed me with her intelligence, but at times I found her quite annoying. Of course, this didn't surprise me because I know that was how she was supposed to come across.

I'm really looking forward to book three in this series. In the past, I've read a lot of standalones from Camden and I'm enjoying having a series with repeating characters!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

A Daring Venture
by Elizabeth Camden
Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers
Christian
Pub Date 05 Jun 2018


I am reviewing a copy of A Daring Venture through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:


Dr. Rosalind Werner is a biochemist in early 1900's New York. She's dedicated her life to crusading against waterborne diseases.


Nicholas Drake is newly appointed Commissioner of Water for New York. He is skeptical of Rosalind and her teams techniques. When a brewing court case throws the two in direct contact, he's surprised at his reaction to Rosalind.


Rosalind and Nicolas wage a private war against their own attraction at the same time they stand on opposite sides of a battle that will impact many lives. The controversy grows more public and inflammatory leaving Rosalind the target of an unknown enemy, the odds stacked against the two rivals grow more insurmountable everyday.


I give A Daring Venture five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This was a surprisingly good book. I had never read this author and I wanted to check her out. I was more than impressed with the writing and the story.

Chlorination in our water supply is something we all expect and we think nothing about it. This story reminded me that it wasn’t always that way. I learned a great deal about the struggles scientist went through in an effort to provide safe drinking water for all.

As the relationship started between Rosalind and Nick I assumed it was going to be the “typical” boy meets girl love story. The author gave me a very pleasant surprise by adding some unexpected trials for both Rosalind and Nick. Those secondary story lines added a great deal to the overall story.

If you enjoy historical fiction that weaves actual events in a multifaceted love story this is a great choice. This is a book two and I did not read book one but I felt this story stood on its own.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was a great historical fiction read that featured Doctor Rosalind Werner, a strong, independent woman who was unafraid of pursuing her zest for science fueled by the haunting death of her parents. Author Elizabeth Camden opens a window to the early 1900's and the controversial topics surrounding the times to complete an utterly engaging narrative.

3.5 Water. We drink it every day, but how did we go from drinking water from a natural outdoor water source to the water that runs into every household? This historical novel, while having some fictional aspects, tells the story of the evolution of water treatment as we know it today. This is typical Elizabeth Camden style: creating a fictional story around momentous occasions in history. This story is the second book in a series, but can be read stand alone.

I found the subject matter interesting, as there was a gap in my own knowledge about how disease was connected to water sources and how we have basically eliminated some of the diseases that were a major problem in the past. There was a good amount of tension between Rosalind and Nick, as they both believed strongly in their own personal opinions about treating water for disease. There was also a side story related to Nick's family that was part of the first novel in the series, but you get enough information in this novel to be able to follow along. While there were a few nice moments of romantic tension, I did feel that it stalled out in the middle of the story. There was a very heated moment in the beginning of the novel then it kind of got lost in midst of the controversy of water. I personally would've liked to see a few more sparks fly, even in the midst of the main characters' conflict. I also had a personal dilemma while reading the novel. Is is a good thing that we ingest chemicals in our water? Is it worth saving us from terrible waterborne diseases or are we causing unknown health issues in the process? Maybe this is what the author intended, but I'm not exactly sure.

Personal takeaway: Look at all points of view before you draw conclusions. Weigh the facts and trust God with His direction.

**I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via Netgalley in order to share my honest thoughts, which I did.**

My thoughts are somewhat torn on this book. There were parts of it that I enjoyed, and parts that I didn’t care for. What I did like was the heroine and hero. I like Rosalind because she’s a strong heroine, and also because she didn’t pretend to be perfect. She knew that she had made mistakes and didn’t try to pretend that she hadn’t, but for the most part she tried to correct them. And I liked seeing a woman doctor in the early 1900s, simply because you don’t see it done much in Christian fiction. I thought Nick was a good hero because he doesn’t put on airs and act pompous. He protects Rosalind and his sister, but he doesn’t act like some puffed up hero. And, of course, I love the setting of the book. It’s one of my favorite eras.

The things that I didn’t care for are the subtle faith theme and the fact that at times it felt just a bit too modern. I hate to be nitpicky, but I do wish the faith theme was more overt. And while I loved the setting and the research is well done, at times the writing seemed more modern than I care for.

All in all, I thought A Daring Venture was a good book. There were things here and there that I didn’t care for, but I liked the book for the most part.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

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

I loved feeling like I was part of the setting in this story. The author does a good job of bringing the Civil War-era south to life! She also makes the characters very real, doing a good job of pointing out the beliefs and feelings of both sides. The main character may be white, but she has struggles and prejudices against her for things she cannot control...giving her something of a connection with the slaves around her. She works with the other main character on the Underground Railroad, and together they help as many people as possible. Along the way, they have their share of struggles and begin a romance that holds a few secrets of its own. This is a quick read that you'll not want to put down, so bring a glass of tea and settle in for a few hours of reading!

I really enjoyed this novel by Elizabeth Camden. I thought the characters of Nicholas Drake and Rosalind Werner were realistic and wonderful to read about. I also really enjoyed the plot and conflict in this novel. I haven’t ever thought about how drinking water was made safe or about how it was made clean.

Along with the new information, I like the relationship building between the different characters in this novel. Nicholas Drake is a wonderful picture of someone that is overly optimistic. I enjoyed reading about how he struggled with accepting family, while being warned it wasn’t a great idea.

I really like Rosalind. I love how this character was working in a male dominated field. I think it’s wonderful to show that there were women working in the background of major scientific prospects that may be unknown because they were women.

4.5 Stars

The thing I love about Elizabeth Camden is how she can take a piece of history that we take for granted today and bring it to life. In A Daring Venture, it’s plumbing and water purification. Who knew those two things could make such an engaging and enjoyable read!

Nick Drake was introduced in A Dangerous Legacy as he secretly installed plumbing in buildings. Now, his time spent helping others is something reporters clamor to capture.

When Nick meets Rosalind Werner, the attraction is immediate, and he’s not shy about voicing his interest. Rosalind is a scientist, on the opposite side of a court case as Nick, yet neither of them can deny the attraction.

I love and hate Nick’s straightforward nature. This is a man who tells it like it is. He loves his daughter and his sister, tells Rosalind exactly how he feels (one word: spectacles), and his desire to bridge the gap between his family and his aunt. But he’s also opinionated and unbending to the point of rigidity when anyone breaks his trust (and he’s not always the best judge of who to place his trust in). The combination makes him a flawed hero, which I find refreshing.

The story takes some unexpected twists and turns which makes it that much more enjoyable! This is why Camden is at the top of my must-read-authors list.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

This is the second book in a series, but could be read as a stand alone. A book with a little suspense, a chemical scientist, family relationships, broken trust, forgiveness, and letting nothing stand in your way.

Always love Elizabeth’s book. She hits every read as a winner. Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

Dr. Rosalind Werner is a biochemist, with a passion for improving the welfare of communities so that they will not have to fear the diseases brought on by unclean drinking water. Rosalind fled scandal in Germany, and is fighting to prove herself in the experimental chlorination of public water. One of their fiercest opponents is Nick Drake, the plumber turned wealthy businessman.



Nick is just as passionate about the welfare of the community, but is skeptical of putting chemicals into public drinking water, with unknown long-term effects. He has fought to earn his place among the wealthy, but his knowledge of the inner workings of the water systems prove valuable assets as he fights to improve the lives of the poor.



Nick and Rosalind fight their attraction to each other, while fighting for clean water on opposing sides, does their love have a chance?



Who would have guessed that a novel about water purification would be this riveting? Elizabeth Camden has done it again, written a completely engrossing novel that I couldn't put down, well researched and full of historical details that enriched this romantic and suspenseful read. Probably one of my favorites by Ms. Camden so far, I picked this book up on my day off and couldn't put it down. I read it through in one day!



Rosalind is brilliant, a strong woman, clever, and well educated, she has a passion for preventing water-borne illnesses that took her parents and nearly took her brother, Gus. She fled from a scandal in Germany, does her best to avoid all appearances of impropriety while working in a field dominated by men.



Nick is back in the long awaited sequel to A Dangerous Legacy, where we are first introduced to the feud between the Drake families. Time has passed, and he has grown into his position of privilege, and is determined to use his wealth to improve the lives of others. He is widowed, and the father of a daughter, Sadie. As a newly monied man he finds it hard to be accepted in the higher reaches of society where much of the moving and shaking is done. He is an intelligent man who learned by experience, as he didn't have the opportunities for a higher education like the men that are now his peers. He is a man who burns hot, because he deeply cares, and wants to make a difference, though far too often it land him in trouble.



This is a fantastic read from beginning to end it was engaging, well-paced, with strong passionate protagonists that gripped my heart, and their flaws only made me love them more. There is conspiracy and intrigue, with high stakes legal cases, alongside romance, family drama, and hints of healing rifts. I liked how Rosalind and Nick, though often dealt a raw hand, still chose to be optimists and think well of others. A thrilling climax, and well done characters. An absolutely thrilling read, that I highly recommend!



P.S. I'm hoping that Eloise's story is in the making, as she is an intriguing young woman who definitely has a story to tell!



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 it on my blog. Regardless, 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."

So – contaminated water. Yeah, not exactly the thrill a minute subject. At least not until I read that prologue which brought the issue to vivid intensity and explained Rosalind and her colleagues’ steadfast determination to continue their work. And that whiff of chlorine you sometimes get from drinking water? Thank your lucky stars for it.

The conflict between Nick and Rosalind isn’t an easy-peasy one and when things go badly between them, things go downhill quickly. Neither is perfect but Nick, bless his heart, is honest enough to admit that he did Rosalind a disservice in expecting her to be so. Nick’s a hothead and his verbal fireworks make things difficult but he does admit his fault and after Rosalind demands that he do something to fix things, he tries.

Brava for Rosalind that she takes her time in trusting Nick again – but then he had to do the same thing for her. No one is perfect. Well I certainly learned a lot about municipal water treatment and got a romance in the bargain! B