A Gilded Lady
By Elizabeth Camden
5 stars

The 2nd book in the Hope and Glory series, A Gilded Lady was a fascinating look into the White house during the McKinley era.
Caroline is secretary to the president's wife when she meets Nathaniel, now head of security of the White House. Their romance was carefully played out and I felt by the end of the book they had truly gone through things together and knew each other. In some other people's novels the main characters meet, fall in love just because they are there.
The plot was in my opinion her best and fleshed out yet. We follow along as the McKinleys are trying for a second term and as Nathaniel doggedly try to protect people who dont want to be protected. There is espionage, intrigue, and politics. I would suggest reading the first book in the series before reading this one to get a fuller story.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden is a delightful glance into the world of President McKinley's life. While Caroline is a secretary to his wife, Ida McKinley, it was nice to see their relationship even among the numerous struggles being a president would bring to a relationship. The plot was intriguing and fascinating. I love the Luke storyline, which took place in Cuba and Washington D.C. Camden's research shines on the pages of her stories but comes alive through the characters and settings. I enjoyed these characters, and I can't wait to see what the third book will entail. In conclusion, fans of Elizabeth Camden's writing or historical romance based loosely on true events or characters should pick up this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden through Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

I love Elizabeth Camden's writing style and the way she fluidly weaves true historical events into her stories! I especially loved the inside look at the White House (I'm a huge fan of West Wing, Madam Secretary, and other political dramas, etc.). I found the heroine slightly off-putting because she and I are very different, and the fact that the hero struggles as he does made me nervous about their fictional future, but I think this is a great novel showing growth and grit in a time of political upheaval! I can't wait to read the next novel in the series!

This book is pure delight!

Elizabeth Camden is truly an exceptional author. I believe part of the reason is that she weaves the mundane into her story -- in the case of "A Gilded Lady", it was the intricacies of working in the White House and within the Secret Service. And, sure, this seems like signing up for an adventure but Caroline actually gets bored to death as soon as the new head of security Nathaniel Trask starts listing all the ways an assassin or anarchist can sneak into government premises.

Nathaniel loves nothing more than breaking the latest criminal scheme. But charming and pompous Caroline Delacroix. might be an unsolvable mystery. He is sure she is hiding something and doesn't trust her. Nevertheless, her grit and courage to face off the president, his wife, and an army general when needed also prove a heart more beautiful than any of the jewelry she loves to adorn herself with.

Now to impatiently wait for Luke's story and hope Philip will also get a book ;-)

The right-hand lady to First Lady McKinley, Caroline has learned to manage Mrs. McKinley’s wildly swinging moods and how to function in high society. After Caroline’s brother Luke was jailed on charges of treason at the end of book one, Caroline has been trying to cement her importance to the First Family, in hopes of getting her brother a pardon.

Nathaniel Trask has recently been promoted to head of the president’s security team after some European assassinations make the country want to tighten their own security. As he begins taking stock of the current state of affairs, he researches the present staff and discovers there’s something shady about Caroline’s family.

As I’ve come to expect with Camden’s novels, I learned new vocabulary words, was introduced to a specific historical setting that I didn’t have much previous knowledge of but is relevant to how we live modern-day, and enjoyed a fun romance. The characters’ romance seemed a little rushed towards the end, to tie it all up to a happy ending, but I loved the peek into that historical time period and much of my focus went to that anyway.

Thank you to Bethany House and Net Galley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book to read and review. All opinions expressed 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.*

Having read and enjoyed the first book in the Hope and Glory series, The Spice King, I looked forward to reading this book about Caroline Delacroix, the sister of that book's main character. Caroline worked for the first lady, Ida McKinley, and needed her powerful connections to help her other brother escape imprisonment in Cuba. Among the people she met while working in the White House was Nathaniel Trask, who was in charge of keeping President McKinley safe. Caroline and Nathaniel felt an immediate attraction, but there were so many other things demanding their attention and their personalities were so different. I love the way the author reveals details about her character's backgrounds a little at a time. Things that I had questions about were answered in later chapters, yet they led to more questions constantly pushed me forward. I love the way her characters think. I love the way I always learn so much about different times and situations in history. Other than being an Ohio girl, why would I pick up a book about William McKinley and savor all the information? I am definitely looking forward to the next book in the trilogy!

I received a complimentary advance copy of this book from the publisher through #netgalley, but my opinions are my own.

Another stunning novel by Elizabeth Camden! I just adore this series. Not only do I love Washington, D.C. and all it’s amazing history, but this is my favorite time period in American history, as well. I always learn so much! This story gets us up close and personal in the William McKinley White House and takes us on cross-country tour of America in 1901. I love Camden’s strong, intelligent heroines, and brave, strong heroes. Each character is so unique and the plots are like none others. I highly recommend this book and cannot wait for the third in this series.

A GILDED LADY by ELIZABETH CAMDEN is an intriguing historical romance novel that takes place mostly in Washington and describes the political climate of the time. It is the second book in the Hope and Glory series, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. However both novels are excellent and I strongly suggest that you read them in sequence.
With the assassination of King Umberto of Italy, Nathaniel Trask is sent by the Secret Service to redesign a new security plan at the White House and protect the president and first lady. He is strict and serious about his job, especially as he is riddled with guilt about what happened to his little sister when he should have been looking after her. He feels like a failure, in spite of the fact that he has uncovered quite a few counterfeiting rings, being an expert engraver.
He meets the beautiful Caroline Delacroix at the White House, where she looks after the very difficult and ailing Ida McKinley, and is frustrated at first with her free spirited approach to life. No one would ever guess that she is desperately trying to help free her twin brother, Luke, from a Cuban jail, where he is being held for treason.
I love the way the author describes these two hardworking and hurting people, and their interaction with one another and the other characters in the book. It is a thrilling story, with a really good Christian message. I cannot wait for the next book in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

A delightful read! i really enjoyed the setting of this book with Caroline working in the White House for Ida McKinley. I loved getting a "behind the scenes" look into the White House and the assassination of President McKinley.

The love story was just so so for me at the beginning, but by the end it was giving me the feels!

I have had trouble enjoying the last couple of books by Elizabeth Camden who is a favorite author of mine, but this book lives up to the previous books that I have enjoyed from this author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden is the perfect blend of history, romance and intrigue. It's going on my list of favorite books of the year!

Caroline Delacroix is a fun-loving socialite who comes to life in her role as secretary to demanding First Lady Ida McKinley. She's a hard worker, but complete opposite of strait-laced rule-follower Nathaniel Trask. He's on temporary assignment to the Secret Service to improve White House and presidential security. Let the sparks start flying! Their amusing banter had me laughing, "I only have eighteen inches of wardrobe space in the ladies dorm," she defended. "I can hear the angels weep."

Camden gives readers a glimpse into life in the White House at the turn of the century and a behind the scenes view of the inner workings of the Secret Service. In typical Camden style, both insider views were so fascinating I found myself looking up facts surrounding each historical event.

One of my favorite lines was Caroline's affirming declaration, "You are unconditionally loved. Unconditionally forgiven. You are a child of God, deserving of more credit than you're giving yourself."

The overall theme of the story is found in two quotes, "Forever is now only today." and "Any day could be our last, but God never promised more. Only a time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance...". These thought provoking quotes are an encouragement to not spend life always planning to live and putting things off, but to truly live each and every day to its fullest.

An added bonus to the already wonderful story was the suspense and intrigue surrounding Caroline's brother Luke. He is the epitome of the mischievous bad boy character turned good and I can't wait for his story to unfold in The Prince of Spies next year.

I appreciate an ecopy of The Gilded Lady being made available by Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.

Book #2 in the Hope and Glory series is another wonderful walk through history. I always feel as if I am transported back in time experiencing part of the history the story portrays. Ms. Camden’s writing grabs you at the start and keeps you glued to the book until the end. The story is quite believable, characters are well developed and with enough suspense and romance to keep the story moving. This is another winner.

The Gilded Lady is the second book in the Hope and Glory series. I have not read the first book yet (insert gasp, as I hardly ever read books out of order) but I was super excited to receive a copy of this book. I actually did not feel like I was missing important information because I did not read the first one. So if you happen to pick this one up you should be okay. That being said I will be reading the first in the series before the third one comes out because that's just how I roll!

The Hope and Glory series follows siblings Gray, Luke and Caroline Delacroix. The Gilded Lady is mainly about Caroline but it does have her siblings as well and it definitely ends perfectly to introduce Luke's story which will be the last in the series.

This book is set in the time of President McKinley and the beginnings of the Secret Service revamping itself to provide more protection not only to the president but for his family. In this story Caroline Delacroix has matured into a no-nonsense, go-getter. She is the First Lady, Ida McKinley's secretary, right hand woman, confidant and friend. And this is very evident in all the responsibilities she holds in her job. You can tell that she is definitely more than just a secretary.
We meet straight laced, rule follower Nathaniel Trask who is the new head of the Secret Service. He has a tragic past that he carries with him and it is the main reason why he's so determined not to fail at anything he does. Being in close quarters at the White House he can't help but notice Caroline and fights his attraction to her to no avail. I loved the "slow burning" relationship they have going. Camden definitely lets you go through the ups and downs of it and it was lovely. It definitely gets you to be invested in their relationship and you feel as if you know them personally.

One of my favorite lines from their conversations (and there were a few) " ...I've learned a few things over the past month. Life is short. We can't know what it holds in store for us, but I won't ever take you for granted again." Gah!! Insert heart eyes!! This is so romantic and so true!!

While the whole romantic plot is going we also encounter Luke, Caroline's beloved twin brother who is in jail in Cuba for treason! What an awesome twist in the story. Loved how this brought some intrigue, mystery and suspense to the story. The way it develops and unfolds is great and I will not delve into it because you need to enjoy it like I did! But it was great! It also gives the perfect continuation for Luke's own story which will be in the next book! I for one cannot wait to learn more about him and see what happens!

I have found very few authors that write historical fiction that I absolutely love and Elizabeth Camden is always at the top of my list when it comes to this genre. You can tell that she does her research well and I appreciate that about her. If you enjoy historical fiction then this is definitely the book to pick up! I for one cannot wait until her next book!

In A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden we follow Caroline Delacroix as she navigates the White House as secretary to the First Lady, Ida McKinley. We’ve met Caroline in The Spice King and I really admired her! She’s very feminine with a vibrant personality and knows all about fashion, but she also is fierce, stubborn and very protective of her loved ones. She isn’t afraid to tell everyone what she thinks and can navigate all social contact and events with grace - and with admirable organisation skills to put together said events. She’s the only one who can calm Ida when she has a spell, as Ida has a very difficult personality, and Caroline is revered by the White House staff because of that.

Enter Nathaniel, a handsome, honorable, silent and very rule abiding secret service agent with a hidden artist soul and we definitely have an opposites attract situation. And oh, what a situation it is! We’re talking fireworks! I laughed so hard at the lobster scene... I loved how they talked a lot and were a comfort to each other snd that they both became a better person because of the other.

Mild spoiler for book 1 alert!

What I love about Elizabeth Camden, it’s not just about romance. There are so many important other plots going on! We have Luke, Caroline’s twin brother, who’s still in prison and somehow refuses all legal help they can get... The complicated relationship between Caroline and Ida, and meanwhile Caroline also tries to help set up an immigrant school. And there’s the White House politics, which I loved! It was so much fun getting insight into this world, and I love how inventive the Secret Service was with limited resources. And Nathaniel has a really interesting background in spotting forgeries. It was also a pleasant change that Caroline disliked Annabelle, the main character in the previous novel. I absolutely get why, and this somehow makes her such a more layered person.

All in all, this was a worthy sequel to my favorite book of 2019: The Spice King. The only downside is that we didn’t get much of Gray, aka my book crush. But it’s a sequel so it’s not about him however much I would want it to, lol! This book can be read as a standalone, but I don’t recommend it, because you’ll miss a lot of background information. I can’t wait for the third and last book about the Delacroix siblings!

I received a free e-copy through Netgalley, thank you Bethany House, but all my opinions are my own!

Elizabeth Camden is the queen of Gilded Age-era novels. She’s written some fantastic stories, and A Gilded Lady is no exception.

Set against the backdrop of the McKinley administration, Camden entwines real-life events in the White House with the fictional storylines of Caroline and Nathaniel.

Camden packs the story with romance, intrigue, and plenty of emotion. After reading the first book in the series, The Spice King, I was interested to find out what would happen to Caroline’s twin Luke. His imprisonment has a large impact on Caroline throughout the story. I won’t spoil anything, but you do find out what happened and why he’s in jail. He provides the largest motivation for Caroline in the story, and I liked seeing their bond and learning more about Luke.

Nathaniel’s tragic backstory also provides his motivation, and what a humdinger it is. His stoic personality rubbed me the wrong way at times, but I appreciated his loyalty and sense of duty. His adherence to the rules balances out Caroline’s rebellious and impulsive nature.

Their relationship is well-developed, even with the bumps in the road. Spanning the novel over a year helped develop their relationship and make it realistic. I liked seeing their personalities clash at times then finally work together.

The intrigue of the story, though, held my attention the most. Between Luke’s dilemma and the constant pressure to keep President McKinley safe, this book was hard to put down.

Once again, Elizabeth Camden has crafted a novel brimming with strong characters and rich historical detail that won’t disappoint. If you love historical romance, you’ll love A Gilded Lady.

Note: I received a complimentary copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

(Review will go live on the blog on May 29 at 5:00 PM)

Another thoroughly delightful book by Elizabeth Camden! I'm loving this Hope and Glory series beginning with The Spice King, and now A Guilded Lady. Right off the bat, I am drawn into the whirlwind life of Caroline Delacroix living in the White House as secretary to First Lady Ida McKinley and Nathanial Trask, head of President McKinley's secret service team. The story is so intriguing, and all the characters in the main story, as well as those in the several side stories, are well developed and entertaining. Her characters and story stay with me long after I finish the book. Elizabeth Camden has a beautiful way of writing that puts you right in the story, making it easy to imagine life in the guided age. I found it so interesting to think about how things were done in our country in that time period compared to now. I could not put the book down! Stay tuned at the end of the book for the Historical Note, for a great place to learn more about the history in the story. I am really looking forward to The Prince of Spies, Book Three of the Hope And Glory series releasing next year. I highly recommend A Guilded Lady if you'd like to escape into a completely engrossing historical fiction story by the incomparable author Elizabeth Camden.

I didn't realise till the end of the book that there was really such a person as President McKinley. There was also a person by the name of Ida McKinley, his wife! (I am not American and am only vaguely aware of American history)

These facts sent me to look up on these two characters that are portrayed in The Gilded Lady to see how much of the stories about them were true. My goodness, I must say to me the most touching romance in the book was the one between the President and his wife because it really happened. It seems that the President's devotion to his wife was very real.

Elizabeth Camden has once again captured history and made the historical characters come alive in her books.

I enjoyed The Gilded Lady, much more so than The Spice King. It was nice for a change to read about a female protoganist who's charming, confident and sometimes cheeky.

Looking forward to the third book!

Thank you Netgalley and Bethany House for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Caroline Delacroix is the personal assistant to First Lady Ida McKinley in 1900, and has her hands full with the demands placed upon her by her job. In addition to juggling the first lady's social events and schedule, she now has to deal with new White House security measures put in place by the new chief of security, Nathaniel Trask. As their views about safety precautions clash, a spark of something more begins to grow into undeniable attraction. When Nathaniel learns that Caroline's brother is imprisoned in Cuba, charged with treason against the U.S. government, tensions increase even further. As 1900 spins into 1901 and President McKinley's fateful cross country train trip is initiated, will Caroline and Nathaniel be able to withstand the coming tragic events which unfold? Will their faith in God be shaken?

This fascinating novel, set in a volatile time in United States history, provides a behind-the-scenes glimpse of life at the White House during the McKinley administration. The historical notes from the author after the conclusion of the book provide insights into which portions of the story were based on fact and which details were fictionalized. This work would be an excellent addition to any library's historical fiction collection.

After falling in love with the Delacroix sibling dynamic in The Spice King, I could hardly wait to continue their story in A Gilded Lady. (Note: read this series in order) The Spice King ends with Luke still in prison and his twin sister Caroline holding animosity towards their older brother Gray's love interest (now wife in A Gilded Lady).

Those two themes continue through this book, and were subplots that I found almost more interesting than Caroline's developing love story. Elizabeth Camden's strength has always been finding unique places in history and bringing them alive; in this case, the McKinley administration. I love history, and I found it fascinating to imagine along with Camden what daily life in the White House would have been like in 1899. We even get a cameo glimpse into the Roosevelts as their place in history begins, which was super fun.

Caroline is a woman who's overcome most of the habits of her wild youth and is now a force to be reckoned with as Ida McKinley's personal assistant. She's a go-getter who gets things done with grace and poise, but her weakness is the two brothers she adores and who need her to use her position to save their family. She quickly attracts the rather stuffy new head of security, the rule-following Nathaniel Trask. Nathaniel is good at what he does, but in the moments that mattered most in his life, he failed on a large scale and daily lives with the consequences.

Things I loved about this book were the unique storyline and characters, the humor (intercom on the train, anyone?!), and the fact that you really didn't know what the characters were going to choose to do until the end. Nathaniel and Caroline are so different from each other, I had no idea how they would make a relationship work and the extent that each one of them would willing to give for the sake of the relationship. Because admit it, while a life partner should definitely be someone who helps fill in the gaps, it also requires a great deal of giving, and Caroline and Nathaniel are both characters who aren't likely to budge for anything. I liked that this was a relaxing read with no really hateful villain blackening the mood. And on a personal preference level, I liked that after Caroline's time at the White House ended, she admitted that she was tired and didn't rush into another career; she seemed to me like someone who would have been likely to do that, and I liked the humanity of a character as strong as she prioritizing self care over a career for a period.
My cons for this book again are personal preference: I felt like I was on the outside looking in on the romance and did not feel connected to it at any point in the book, and while faith did play a role, God didn't have as strong of an influence in these characters' daily lives as other, favorite Christian fiction.

I will be the first in line to get my hands on Luke's story when it comes out; I can't wait!

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

The Gilded Lady is book two in the Hope and Glory series, Elizabeth Camden's newest series. I absolutely adored book one, The Spice King, so I was thrilled to receive a copy of book two!

The Hope and Glory series follows three siblings--Gray, Luke, and Caroline Delacroix. Of course, the sibling aspect has major appeal to me. This book follows Caroline's story and picks up either directly after Gray's story, or even a little before. It continues Luke's story from book one, and the suspense of that storyline had me on the edge of my seat! I loved the sibling relationships and loyalty.

Caroline is a very intriguing character, much different from me, but I found her relatable nonetheless. Her job as the first lady's secretary was fascinating to read about and I loved the history aspect. Nathaniel Trask, Caroline's counterpart, was also a very well-rounded and interesting character. His strong moral compass and sense of duty was endearing, even if you did want to slap him on occasion. I love the pacing of Camden's romances, particularly in this series. The characters fall in love relatively early in the series, but it never feels rushed or unrealistic. The ups and downs the relationship goes through throughout the rest of the book is also very realistic and makes for some heartbreaking moments as well as some comedy.

Camden's sense of humor that shines through in both her descriptions and word choices as well as her characters is one of the things that makes her books so fantastic! Another thing is the rich history Camden includes. I always learn something from her novels, without ever feeling like I'm getting a dry history lesson. The up-close view of McKinley's presidency was fascinating, and knowing Camden's books, I can count on the historical information to be entirely accurate and completely researched.

Caroline and Nathaniel's story wraps up, leaving the opening for the continuation of Luke's story in book three, which I will be eagerly anticipating! If you love rich historical fiction with deep characters and sweet romance, you definitely need to check out the Hope and Glory series! I cannot recommend Camden's book enough.


FTC Dislocsure; I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.

“Memories crowded as she watched him walk away. They had been living in a gilded age but hadn’t realized it until it was over…Her heart was full to the breaking point, for echoes of that gilded age would live with her forever.”

In A Gilded Lady, the second installment of her Hope and Glory series, award-winning author Elizabeth Camden creates a fascinating historical fiction novel filled with faith, romance, and patriotism. Elizabeth Camden is a master at taking relatively unknown parts of history, such as the presidency of William McKinley and the revamping of the Secret Service, and weaving an intriguing tale of politics, treason, and sacrifice. Portions of this storyline run concurrently with events from The Spice King, the first book in the series, so it is helpful to have read it prior to reading A Gilded Lady to get the full backstory of the characters.

After the assassination of a foreign head of state, charming and strong-willed Caroline Delacroix, secretary to the First Lady, and rule-following Nathaniel Trask, the new head of the president’s Secret Service, find themselves working in close quarters together at the White House. Meanwhile, Caroline is also on a mission to save her beloved twin brother Luke from charges of treason.

Elizabeth Camden is one of my go-to authors for historical fiction, and her Hope and Glory series is my favorite of hers. The Spice King was on my Top 10 List of 2019, but I enjoyed A Gilded Lady even more! The intriguing characters and action-filled storyline will keep readers captivated until the very last page.

“Yes, Luke had always been the naughty one, but he was also charming and generous...He had demons inside, and it was anyone’s guess if he’d be strong enough to conquer them now that he had a new lease on life.”

Ever since reading the first book in the series, Caroline’s brother Luke Delacroix has captured my interest with his charming personality, his recklessness, and his powerful determination and strength. His portrayal in A Gilded Lady has solidified his place as a favorite character of mine. Now I am eagerly anticipating Luke’s story in the third book in the series, The Prince of Spies. A Gilded Lady is highly recommended for readers of historical fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

“While her corner of the world was shrouded in darkness, she needed to remember that somewhere the sun was shining.”