I loved the history woven into this story! I found it fascinating to discover more about the Secret Service and some of the history surrounding it's beginning. The main character was a bit annoying and snobbish, but it was overall a good read.

A sweet romance that’s rich in history and full of smiles is exactly what A Gilded Lady is. Readers will be engaged from start to finish, and will be chomping at the bit to get the next story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was so well written, I couldn’t put it down! I loved the behind the scenes glimpse into what life in the White House was like in the early 1900s. The romance pulled at your heartstrings and really slowly built through the book. Exactly how I like to read it. There were some unexpected twists and turns that I was definitely surprised by and I like when that happens in a book as well. This series is my first to read by this author and I am HOOKED!

Another great book! I really loved my time in the White House while spending my evenings curled up on the couch with these characters. I loved the first book so much and thought it couldn't be beaten but along comes A Guilded Lady to wow me again.

There are times I get caught up in the review books that I need to read immediately and lose sight of the books that I want to read and are waiting patiently for me. A Gilded Lady falls in the second category.

The story is set in the early 20th century during President McKinley's time in office. Caroline Delacroix works for Mrs. McKinley, a very demanding woman. I had the thought bugging me that McKinley was one of the assassinated Presidents of the United States. This story piqued my interest to do a little research of my own.

Caroline and Nathaniel are opposites in most ways. He is stuffy, she is carefree. He works with single-mindedness while Caroline captures all that is around her. I loved the chemistry between them.

This is a story of love finding a way in spite of opposition.

Source: I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to Bethany House for the free book. Why have I waited so long to finish this series? This is book 2, and I will be devouring book 3 next. I loved Caroline and Nathaniel’s story. Camden put so many details into Caroline’s job. I could feel the exhaustion, tension, and fun she had while being First Lady McKinley’s secretary. I also enjoyed the sweet relationship between her and her twin, Luke. His story starts in the first and continues here. Nathaniel and his role following ways were very familiar for me. I really liked how he wanted to do everything but the book. It was a great juxtaposition for this potential romance. This book is full of history, family, and finding a way. Also, the way that faith was handled left me filled with reminders of Gods goodness.

Another excellent link in the chain of Camden's exploration of women in high profile roles in 19th century america. Here, Caroline Delacroix sparkles in high society Washington life though a family secret and her growing attraction to the stalwart head of the secret service flint and spark against rising threats of anarchy.


Camden's research, her panache in bringing period detail to life and her focus on strong women who choose romance rather than fall into its expected trajectory is once again forefront. And, since the trilogy is book-ended by Caroline's brothers, it is welcome to have her story here. An unputdownable read by a favourite author.

I am so in awe of Elizabeth Camden's ability to keep readers completely immersed in historical fiction and A Gilded Lady is the perfect example of her talent. It's very apparent that the author extensively researched these facts and I assure you...fans of historical fiction will absolutely relish this book! This story, however, offers so much more than just history. Family secrets, divided loyalties, treason, and conspiracy are all featured in this fictional story, and then, there are the very human feelings of Caroline Delacroix and Secret Service agent Nathaniel Trask. Will Nathaniel overcome his feelings of guilt and failure in his protection of President McKinley? Can two people as different as Caroline and Nathaniel find a common meeting ground and perhaps, discover love? Does Nathaniel's evident faith encourage Caroline to seek her own walk with God?

This is the second book in the Hope and Glory series and I am eagerly looking forward to the series conclusion that is scheduled to release in 2021. I highly recommend A Gilded Lady for all who enjoy historical Christian fiction.

I received a copy of this book from the author. I was in no way influenced to write a favorable review. These are my honest thoughts.

Will circumstances drive them apart?

OK, can I just start off with a confession? Good. I almost was not looking forward to reading A Gilded Lady. There, it's out! As much as I enjoy Elizabeth Camden's books and as much as I loved the first book in the Hope And Glory series, I just did NOT like Caroline Delacroix in The Spice King. My opinion now that I've finished A Gilded Lady? Well, I still think that Caroline is spoiled and demanding but she really grew on me in a way I never expected.

One of the things I love most about an Elizabeth Camden book is just how much I learn about history. She blends entertaining fiction with historical fact so skillfully that you can't help but be excited by the tiny details and what you might learn on the next page. When I started this book I did have vague knowledge of President McKinley's trip across the US and I knew that he was assassinated while in office, but that's about it. But there was so much more to know, about the president and his wife, about the Secret Service, about Washington D.C., and all sorts of fascinating things!

I am really getting into the Hope And Glory series, each story has been fascinating and thought-provoking, and I absolutely can't wait for the next book so I can finally find out the answers to the overarching storyline of the mysterious third Delacroix sibling. If you like historical romance haven't read A Gilded Lady yet I would definitely recommend adding it, and the rest of Elizabeth Camden's wonderful Hope And Glory series, to your TBR list...

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Ms. Camden is a master at finding real life historical events and making them come to life in the pages of her books. A GILDED LADY is book two and even though it stands alone, fans will want to read Gray's story in The Spice King.

I fell in love with Nathaniel, Caroline, and all the secondary characters, real and fictional. I laughed, I cried, it moved me. Ms. Camden is one of the few historical authors on my must read list.

If you like historical fiction grab a copy of this book.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

Another amazing book in the Hope and Glory Series! This book takes us into Caroline’s time at the White House which is really interesting! I actually found it really fascinating! I love the interaction between Nathaniel and Caroline. Lots of historical goodies to uncover and it leads perfectly into the 3rd book in the series which is about Luke, Caroline’s twin brother. The storyline will keep you reading. I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

This book was an intriguing look into the secret service during the McKinley administration. It also gave a peek i to the lives of servants in the White House then too.

I really liked Caroline and Nathaniel. Her job as aide the Ida McKinley sounded very trying but Nathaniel's previous understanding of counterfeit bills before being recruited to secret service was quite interesting too.

Overall the important think to know is that this book is full of small adventures, some espionage, and some really romantic kisses!

There were times when this book moved a little slow and I found myself wanting a little more romance or action, but it was still an enjoyable book.

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

We were first introduced to Caroline Delacroix in the first book of this series, The Spice King. The impression I got from her in the Spice King was a woman that has known nothing but finery in life and is intelligent, but not too concerned about using her abilities to the max. Her twin brother, Luke, was a bit of a cad... and not a character to be taken seriously. He was a frivolous thorn in their big brother, Gray's, side.


A Gilded Lady splits the lives of this family wide open as we get to understand the motivations and inner workings of the Delacroix twins. Known to be hard partiers and the toast of the town, neither of the twins is taken too seriously by anyone... or so they'd like everyone to believe. Beneath the glitter, flittering, and charm lies another layer.... or perhaps a hundred more layers.



Neither twin is anything like they appear and, without spoiling it, A Gilded Lady takes you on a wild ride of adventure as the twin run circles around everyone they know - including the highest level of government. I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical romance or simply wants an excellent read.

I loved this book! It's a fantastic continuation of the series with a good love story of its own. My favorite aspects were the real-life historical events that played out during Caroline's time at the White House and the sibling-centric relationships with themes of sacrifice and loyalty. I'm really excited for book 3 now!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.

An excellent addition to the series! I love Elizabeth Camden's attention to historical detail. It doesn't even feel like I'm reading historical fiction. Instead, it feels like I'm living among her characters in that time. What an awesome gift.

The development between Nathaniel and Caroline felt nice and slow, like a good simmer rather than an explosive firework. I loved their dynamic, how they played off of each other. And I loved learning more about Caroline's mysterious brother, Luke! I'm looking forward to his story.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All expressed opinions belong to me.

A Gilded Lady was written by Elizabeth Camden and is book two in the Hope and Glory series. It is not necessary to have read book one in order to enjoy this one.

Summary: Caroline Delacroix enjoys her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. She lives a life that few have ever dreamed. Yes, it’s difficult work, and the first lady is contentious at best, but Caroline has an ulterior motive for her work.

She’s desperate to get her brother pardoned for his crime of treason. And if that means sticking close to the seat of power, she is willing to do it.

Nathaniel Trask is the reluctant new leader of the president’s Secret Service detail. It isn’t what he wants, but he is determined to do the best job possible amidst growing threats against the president’s life.

When the president announces a country-wide train tour, the details are overwhelming. Will Nathaniel be able to protect the president? And will he discover the secret Caroline is desperate to hide?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. It is based off of historical events (which were quite fascinating), and it is very well-written. The plot is interesting, the characters are likable and well-rounded, and overall this is a very enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this book, as well as the first in this series.

I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Elizabeth Camden's A Guilded Lady continues the tale that began in The Spice King. In his book Caroline Delacroix, Gray Delacroix's younger sister gets a job as the First Lady's social secretary. Caroline has always been thought of as an empty-headed heiress, but she proves there is more to her than meets the eye. Nathaniel Trask is tasked as one of the first secret service agents. He suspects that Caroline has a secret. I really enjoyed the dialogue and interaction between Caroline and Nathaniel. So grab a pitcher of ice tea and settle in for a fun read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a good book! I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 in this series, The Spice King, and I so enjoyed reading this one as well. The Hope and Glory series follows the story of the Delacroix siblings: Grey, Caroline, and Luke, which I really like. In book 1, the story follows Grey and his love story, and in this one, Caroline's story is told. They were so different, but the way the story was written made it feel cohesive and I really liked it!

Caroline is a smart and capable woman working for Mrs. Ida McKinley during the McKinley presidency, and she is in charge of all the duties of "managing a household" that women typically have, except she is managing it all for the White House, which was super interesting to read about. The ins-and-outs of life in the White House definitely isn't something I've thought a lot about in the past, so it was really interesting to read about it! In addition, she is also worried about her brother Luke who is in a dangerous situation, and her job at the White House is the best way to help him. That story line carried over from book 1, which I really liked because it ties the books together so well!

Nate is a secret service agent, who wants to do anything but be a secret service agent: what he really likes is counterfeit detection and taking down counterfeit rings. However, he is the best person that can neutralize threats against President McKinley as he runs for reelection and as he takes a cross country trip across the United States. His character was really well rounded and emotionally mature, which was really good to read.

The chemistry between Caroline and Nate was super strong: they fit SO WELL together and made such a good couple! Their romance was very fast, but it all felt realistic, which doesn't happen often in Christian fiction in my opinion. (Though more sensitive readers might want to note that they kissed several times before they declared their intent for each other: nothing too graphic, but it did happen). Both characters talked openly about their faith and their emotions, and their relationship was a joy to read.

The storyline was well paced, though the book is more character focused than anything. There was so much history packed into this book, most of which I was aware of but didn't know, and it was really interesting to learn about. I really liked seeing Grey and Anabelle from the previous book reappear in this one, and like I mentioned earlier, I really liked the overarching storyline about Luke stretching throughout the trilogy. His story is next and I'm really excited to read it!

Overall, I really liked this book, and I'm really loving this series so far: not only are the stories interesting, but also the historical aspect is so well done and it really adds to the story. I think I still like her Empire State series more, but that's simply because I really love her Empire State series, haha!

Elizabeth is my favorite historical romance author! The historical details of the President's assassination along with the suspense she brings in the plot twist revolving the brother Luke, kept me on edge! The romance is just icing on the cake! One of my favorite reads this year for sure.

Okay so I had high hopes for this because I truly loved The Spice King IMMENSELY. Even though I didn't care for Caroline in book one, I was hopeful with her job I would like her, but no I was wrong.

I grew to dislike her even more. She was whiney, obnoxious and just bored me. She a pampered princess. I don't feel like she grew as a character, especially with her feelings towards Anabelle. I liked reading about Luke more than her. I LOVED when Gray made an appearance in the book. Even the love interest, Nathaniel, bored me.

I am hopefully for the the final book, The Prince of Spies because I love Luke and the truth of his time in prison was epic.

If you weren't a fan of Caroline in the first book, you may not care for this book. I'd say still give it a go.