As always Elizabeth’s books are amazing!!! I’ve read this one multiple times! Love the is story! I think I’ll be rereading it again soon

This was a DNF for me at around 50% of the way through. This was my first try at reading Christian romance and I just don't think it's for me. The thing that made me DNF was the unexpected animal cruelty/death and child abuse. If I had known that one of the characters in this book was abusive to their family, I would not have picked it up.

This was my favorite and here's why - Luke. Of course mixed with Camden's amazing writing style, you cannot go wrong reading this book.

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

Absolutely OBSESSED with this book. I jumped into this series with this one and I could NOT put this book down. I was glued to the page learning about the founding of the FDA, the poison squad, and all the history that went into the story. Between Marianne's photography and Luke's mission...I was drawn in from the first page. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.

The Prince of Spies is a historical romance novel written by Elizabeth Camden. It is book three in the Hope and Glory series. It is not necessary to have read the previous books in order to enjoy this one, but I do recommend those books.

Summary: Luke Delacroix is still recovering from his stint in a Cuban prison, but that’s not going to stop him from forging ahead into his next big project-stopping Clyde Magruder at all costs.

Marianne Magruder is determined to protect her family, but when she discovers they may be hiding deadly secrets, will she help Luke with his mission?

My Thoughts: This is a wonderful book, and is my favorite of the series. It is well-written, the characters are so good, and I love that the plot is based on something that really happened. There is also a really nice romance, and lessons on honor and doing what’s right.

If you enjoy historical romance, this is a great series to read, and I highly recommend it!

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!

I really enjoy reading books by this author, and this one was no exception. Compelling plot, multi-layered characters, and good writing all come together here.

The anticipated book to finish this amazing Trilogy. I LOVED IT. LOVED IT. so so good. The drama, intrigue, love, Adventure, ahhhh! I love how Elizabeth Camden's writing gets better and better (something that seems impossible because she's SO good). Highly recommend it.

I can't believe I waited so long to read this book . . . Camden knocked it out of the ballpark with this one! I absolutely fell in love with Luke in the first two books of the series, and this one only reinforced that love. The story kept me hooked and I could hardly put it down. Also that cover . . . So pretty! Camden's writing is as wonderful and engaging as ever. I was skeptical about Marianne's character, but I loved her spunk and sass and enjoyed seeing her relationship with Luke unfold.

One of my favorite things about Elizabeth Camden's books is that she chooses settings that are lesser known historical events. Her books are well-researched and well-written.
This book has it all: well developed characters, family drama, political cover-ups, and a touch of US history.
I highly recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

This was a solid 4 star read. As much as I loved Luke throughout the trilogy I didn't care much in this book. I got to see the inside of his head and he was very quick to act and not think things through. Luke is the brother everyone needs to beat sense into at times. I did love seeing his growth from the beginning to end and seeing him truly mature as a man. I loved it.

Marianne was an interesting woman. I wish she spoke out more against her family and didn't allow them to treat her like an animal. She was wounded and hurt. From rejection to heartache she endured it all. Her strength is outstanding and for that alone I loved her character.

The romance was a pure miss for me. It was insta-love, Romeo & Juliette kind of vibe and just overall I saw Marianne and Luke better as friends. I mean right from page six the attraction is clear but instantaneous. I wish they had more time to develop the romance. There were a few cute scenes, but overall this romance just didn't do it for me. I think Caroline A Gilded Lady had a bit more of an interesting romance.

The Magruders are a despicable family. From the grandfather to son -- all three generations pissed me off. They are rude, egoistical men set in their patriarchal ways. Andrew needed a beating, Clyde was just arrogant and Jed was just dumb. The way they each treated Marianne was disgusting. They pissed me off from The Spice King to the end.

Overall, this was my second favorite book in the trilogy. I loved that gray and Annabelle made appearances as well. Would recommend for a great historical fiction romance with some faith aspects.

Luke Delacroix and Marianne Magruder have instant chemistry when they meet on ice of the frozen Potomac while saving a dog. They are already half in love with each other when they reveal their last names and realize that their families are archenemies. They try to stay away from each other but the connection is just too strong.

This is set in early 1900's Washington D.C. and since Marianne works for the government and Luke is a crusading journalist we got to see the city and the era through their eyes. The historical fiction part of the story was incredibly well done and makes me want to read more Elizabeth Camden novels. The characters and romance were both sweet and likeable. I got frustrated with the family members of Luke and Marianne but it seems like that was intentional and was meant to drive home the point of the Jesus-like patience that Luke and Marianne needed. While Luke is vocal about his faith and eventually Marianne discovers her faith I thought that could have been emphasized more and would have helped with the plot and with character development. Overall, this was a smart and fascinating novel that I would recommend.

For some reason, this book took me weeks to read, although that is nowhere near any indication of how this book is. I really really enjoyed this book once I got into it and finished it! To be completely honest, I didn’t really remember the first two books in the series, which did keep me from fully appreciating this book, but overall it felt like a really strong conclusion to the Hope and Glory series. I remembered the main settings from the first 2 books, but I forgot a lot of the romantic details of the books, which made it harder to me get back into the setting.

The book started off super fast paced, and kept being fast the whole time through, which was kind of what turned me off from it for a bit: I was not in the mood for a fast paced, high drama book, and it kept me from reading it for a while. With that being said, once I got into the book, the pace of it allowed me to continue being engrossed in it until I was done.

I really, really loved the chemistry between Luke and Marianne: they had one of the best relationships I’ve seen in Christian historical fiction in a while! The interactions they had all the way through were just so well done, and the way their relationship developed, both on the page and off the page, really made their relationship one to root for. (The way he dedicated his book to her??? SOBBING)

The plot was quite predictable: since it could reasonably assumed that Luke and Marianne ended up together, which meant that most of the other plot points would be resolved in that direction, and there weren’t very many unpredictable plot points outside off that. The overarching storyline that has been developing over the past few books got resolved in this book, which wasn’t to my satisfaction, but I appreciated that it was done.

Like other Camden books, I really liked the historical aspects that were tied into the storyline so strongly: in this case the regulation of food preservatives and the bill that was passed in response to it. It was a topic that I don’t know a lot about and it was presented in a way that made it personable and memorable.

Overall, this was a really strong end to the series! I didn’t love it quite as much as the first two books, and I think overall the first book was my favorite, but the pacing and the chemistry between the two love interests in this book made it really enjoyable to read!

The Prince of Spies is my favorite from Elizabeth Camden's series, Hope and Glory. I am giving it four and a half stars.

When I began reading The Prince of Spies I immediately thought of Romeo and Juliet. Instead of the Montagues vs the Capulets, we have the Delacroix family vs the Magruder family. Sparks fly from the moment that Luke and Marianne meet. Unfortunately, their families are fierce competitors in the food industry. Luke is on a mission to expose Marianne's father for putting harmful chemicals into preserving food.

Luke puts his life on the line to research and change the food industry while secretly courting Marianne. I loved both of their characters. I couldn't help but root for the "star-crossed" lovers. Their story is sweet despite the obstacles in their way.

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

I came into this series with book 2 not knowing it was part of a series. Luke seemed like a larger than life character, and I was excited to come around to his book. Yet I tried to start The Prince of Spies the week before Baby Boy was born. Honestly, that was a terrible time to try to start something new. I wasn't hooked immediately so I put it down. Of course, having a newborn doesn't lend itself to much reading time so I put off getting back to this book for a while. However when I finally returned to the story, I only needed a few more pages before I found myself invested in the story and characters.

Luke is still larger than life. He's one of those people that have varied interest. He's just gotten home from a 15 month stint in a Cuban jail while spying for the US. Plus he's a journalist. He's interested in politics. He's got a vendetta against a company that the family business had a deal with that led to the deaths of 3 people. He's translating a book. And he joins an experiment group. Luke is a risk taker if nothing else. I can admire him but also know I could never be in a relationship with someone similar.

Marianne is the daughter of the business owner Luke's family had the partnership with that resulted in 3 deaths. Marianne only knows what she's been told and has no reason to doubt those things. She's a photographer for the Department of Interiors and has been called to some dangerous places in the name of getting a good shot. Even still, Marianne doesn't considered herself a risk-taker. She actually calls herself a coward more than once.

I liked Luke and Marianne's story. These two didn't skirt around their attraction with each other which I appreciated. They have a Romeo and Juliet story being from families feuding with each other.

I usually don't love when a book spends too much time focusing on historical events. I don't mind a mention or a nod, but I don't want to feel like the book is setting out to teach me something (much like not wanting to be preached at). So The Prince of Spies teetered on the edge of the line for me. I actually found the food preservatives aspect interesting but it was almost too much history for me.

Favorite quotes:
-“Oh, for pity’s sake, they’re ghosts, Gray! The kind who wake you up at night and steal your joy and make you pray to God for forgiveness. That kind of ghost.”...“Then you’re going to have to defeat them. Or turn them into something that inspires you to be a better man.”

-"We seem like complete opposites, but we fly together in tandem.”

-"Having a best friend,” Luke said. “A port in a storm. A person to laugh and flirt with. To hold and kiss and comfort.”

-She was a jeweled memory that flashed and glinted in the darkness, keeping him awake at night and fueling his days. He would probably never see her again, but the fire she inspired drove him to keep dreaming, keep trying, keep enduring.

The Prince of Spies took me a little while to get into, but I think that had more to do with my life circumstances than the book. I loved Luke and Marianne's story. And even though I don't normally, I enjoyed the inclusion of the history of food preservatives as used in this story. The history was close to being too much of the focus for me though. Prince of Spies gets 3.5 Stars. Have you read Prince of Spies? What did you think? Let me know!

Excellent! And nothing short of what I have come to expect from Elizabeth Camden. I confess that when I read the first book in the series, I did not expect Luke to ever get his own book. But then came the second book and I was so excited to read and get to know intriguing Luke Delacroix. And even more excited when I saw that he would have a bit of a Romer-and-Juliet kind of romance, but with a hopeful and redemptive end, I assumed and will let figure that out :)

Romeo and Juliet in a more modern age. Marianne is a strong, female lead in that she has a job in an age when women were not expected to work but yet she enjoys her job of photography for the Department of the Interior. Luke is an heir in the food industry and is a man of principle and character who makes decisions that may begin from a desire for repentance; but are rooted in a foundation of faith. There families have been involved in a feud for several years but their mutual attraction draws them together to overcome the family barriers.

One of Elizabeth's best!!! It was funny, heartbreaking, and uplifting all at the same time. And as always, I love how it is based on real-life events! Highly recommend!!!

Prince Of Spies by Elizabeth Camden is my favorite book of The Hope and Glory trilogy. I love Luke's carefree exterior. He appears to be a playboy but he is so much deeper. And Marianne is a delight. I loved the theme of forgiveness and reconciliation. This was the perfect conclusion to a fabulous series. So grab your sweet tea and settle into your favorite reading spot for an enjoyable, satisfying read.

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

One of the things I love most about reading Christian historical fiction is learning something new from the author’s historical research. Elizabeth Camden’s books are wonderful for helping the reader understand more about the historical setting in the timeline of her books. However, the best part of her books are the characters. They always have depth to them, and by the time you finish a book, you feel as if you’d almost known the characters in person. The two main characters in this book, Luke Delacroix and Marianne Magruder, seem to have everything stacked against them as a couple. There’s a long-standing, bitter feud between their families. Yet both Luke and Marianne are people of faith and character. Even as they realize their deep love for each other, they still know that their future with each other seems out of the question due to their family loyalties. I admired both Luke and Marianne’s desire to do what is right, even if it kept them apart. I was especially surprised, but pleased, with a decision Luke makes towards the end of the story, and I gained a new insight into the Biblical command of honoring your parents.

The political intrigue in the book adds much to the tension in the story and drew me into the storyline. This is the last book in this series. You can read this one easily on it’s own, but I’d suggest reading the three books in order. You’ll understand more about the history and relationships among these characters.

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