This is book three in the Hope and Glory series, The Spice King is book one and The Gilded Lady is book two. I feel this is somewhat of a stand alone book, however, you miss a lot of history if you jump right into this one. By reading the first two you get to know the Delacroix family.
Luke Delacroix meets Marianne Magruder under some unusual circumstances. With so much history between the two families, you know there will be some major ups and downs. I loved the chemistry between Luke and Marianne. I also enjoyed getting to know the "Poison Squad'. Reconnecting with the Delacroix family is always a pleasure as well.
I love the writing style of Elizabeth Camden and always look forward to reading her books. If you like historical romance you will enjoy this one.
I was given a copy of this book for my honest review.

i enjoyed the story but there were errors in ebook copy from NetGalley. So often paragraphs were repeated and in some cases words were missing. Sorry to see this as I have enjoyed the other books in this series.

Elizabeth Camden truly has a way of creating absolutely delectable historical fiction, turning somewhat little remembered facts in our history into centerpieces of her incredible writing. Hope & Glory series takes the reader on a journey from the boom of spice importing and processed food industry and agricultural science (The Spice King) to the last year of President McKinley's administration and all its politics and glitter (A Glided Lady) to the long years and sacrifice poured into the Pure Food and Drug Act along with plenty of political intrigue (The Prince of Spies). The series should be read in order so that you can get the full flavor of the Delacroix siblings. I have been anxiously awaiting this last book in the series and Elizabeth Camden does not disappoint! It's the perfect ending to the series.

The year is 1902 and Luke has grown up after his stint in a Cuban jail. He's still delightfully impulsive, bold, passionate, loyal, and tender but has learned to rein in his thrill-seeking and emotional soul and has also found God. By the power of the written word, he seeks to make changes in the government but is also fueled by bitterness and desire for revenge. Marianne is a sweet, creative, loyal, oftentimes timid daughter of Luke's number one enemy whose path keeps getting tangled up with Luke's, even as he schemes to take down her father and his processed food empire. Their romance is splendidly magical, properly old-schooled and heart-stirring (with some of Romeo and Juliet vibes thrown in). There are twists and turns in the story that will make you gasp. The journey Luke makes to put his faith into action is a tough but admirable one; the faith journey Marianne makes is somewhat different but nonetheless powerful. I also loved learning about photography during that time, the beginnings of the FDA and how the National Mall in DC came about, one small piece at a time.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a must-read book! The Delacroix siblings, particularly the reformed and repentant Luke, will linger in your heart for a long time to come. I received the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.

Elizabeth Camden cast an exotic spell on me in The Prince of Spies. The spell gave me the power of time travel. It gave me the opportunity to see a relatively modern and very realistic reenactment of Romeo and Juliet's love story with a very different execution and outcome. It gave me the ability to turn into many persons at a time. A photographer. A spy. A politician. A scientist. And now that the spell is gone, I wish I never came out of it.

Set in 1900 United States, this story was a clever and honest combination of suspense, romance and political stories. Luke Delacroix has only one aim in his life. To take down the corrupt family who has been his family's enemy for years and finally has destroyed his family. He has spent years in prison. Worked as a spy and now a gritty journalist. He has been working tirelessly against Congressman Clyde Magruder to expose his shady business practices in food industry endangering common people. Even if it means taking part as volunteer in a dangerous scientific study. Then he meets Marianne. The sweet, talented and smart photographer. The biggest problem? She is the only daughter of his enemy.



I thoroughly enjoyed my time travel. This story blended historical events and scientific events so beautifully with a heartaching romance. The story was fast paced. Never a dull boring moment. Luke and Marianne both were incredibly strong characters. Luke is burning with guilt from inside and he is consumed by vendetta. He is brave and strong with a very strict moral compass but his bitterness was making his life miserable. Marianne showed him the other side. Beyond hurt and anger. She is a beautiful soul. Who loves unconditionally and wholeheartedly. I admire her spirit and fierce determination. She had a whole journey of finding peace regarding her complicated family and self discovery. They have an instant connection. An easy camaraderie that shines through the pages. A partnership in mischief and dreams. The love story made me swoon and sigh before the twists kept on turning my world upside down. It was not an easy path but they found their dream destination.

After finishing The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden, I am feeling elated and enriched. An enticing journey into the past. Full of dramatic moments and sweetest feelings.

I reviewed an early copy voluntarily by Netgalley and Bethany House.

I loved book 2 of the Hope and Glory series, “The Gilded Lady” so I began the book with enthusiasm. It waned at first when I discovered the opening scene to include a drowning dog, I was relieved at his safe rescue. I then realised our leading characters to be quintessential “star-crossed” lovers. Each doesn’t realise who the other is, a child of the “enemy”. Two feuding families are at the centre and sadly I didn’t realise this from the back cover. It is one of my least favourite tropes. Had I known, I would have skipped this one.

Usually, I look to the writing when the plot doesn’t suit me but I struggled with that too in this one, I found “The Gilded Lady” scintillating but this felt more forced and winding than before. As such, I looked at other reviews for perspective and they too pointed out the slowness I of the action. A content warning too, a dog is killed in the book. All in all, this one isn’t for me, it’s a two out of five on the enJOYment scale.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Prince of Spies is another meticulously researched book from Elizabeth Camden, full of intrigue and forbidden romance. While it is the third in her Hope and Glory series, it can be read as a stand-alone.

I was intrigued by the political bent to this one, and I enjoyed learning about the Department of the Interior and the Poison Squad.

Luke has really come into his own after the more reckless side seen in the prior book (and likely the first as well, which I still, lamentably, have not had time to catch up on), and I appreciated seeing his arc as a character as he was full of ambition to bring down his biggest enemy, only to have that challenged by falling for his charming daughter Marianne. In spite of him wanting some form of vengeance, I liked their relationship and how it bloomed in spite of the obstacles.

It is helped by the fact that Marianne’s relationship with her family is a bit troubled as well. She comes from privilege, but her family isn’t perfect, and she’s very aware of this fact, frequently making wishful statements about them, and she is treated rather poorly, which forms a stark contrast to the pronounced strong Delacroix family ties.

This is a great book, and one I’d recommend to historical romance and/or Christian fiction readers.

What a story! I devoured this riveting historical fiction and found it to be a very satisfying ending to this series. I especially enjoy the way in which Camden makes history come alive. She obviously does her research and finds the most interesting facts and weaves them into a vibrant story. Her main characters are wonderful and flawed at the same time. They both learn faith lessons along this journey. Even though their romantic relationship faces trouble from the start, they do have quite a bit of fun getting to know each other. In the end, each must decide what sacrifices to make for the relationship to continue. Actually, this story would make a great movie. The entire series would for that matter. But you don’t have to have read the previous books to enjoy this one! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Prince of Spies, another unputdownable read from consummate storyteller Elizabeth Camden, brings to an end her Hope and Glory series. It is a fitting conclusion to the chronicle of the Delacroix siblings Gray, Caroline, and Luke. This is Luke’s story, and I loved it! It captured and kept my interest from the first word to the last. A fast moving plot that twists, turns, and surprises; well-developed engaging characters who evoke a myriad of emotions; rich historical detail woven seamlessly into the fictional story; a touching forbidden romance that involves sacrifice and determination; and inspiring spiritual truths sprinkled throughout the narrative make for an exciting, satisfying read. Like the other book in the series, this one works well as a stand-alone, but I recommend reading the entire series to get the full effect of the story. This is one of my favorite books and series, and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in e-book form from the publisher through netgalley. All opinions are my own.

A thrilling ending to Elizabeth Camden’s Hope and Glory series! The Prince of Spies will captivate readers with Luke’s long-awaited journey to fulfillment, as well as Camden’s impeccable research and storytelling ability.

I have been eagerly looking forward to Luke’s story for quite some time, and from the moment I saw the cover I was enchanted. I am happy to report The Prince of Spies is perfectly, incandescently swoony and redemptive. I loved Luke and Marianne from the beginning, and it was wonderful to see familiar characters again, as well as new characters who captured my heart, attention, and occasionally my ire. I continue to be astounded by Camden’s ability to easily draw the reader into morally and ethically challenging situations that ultimately inspire and fulfill.

Although I am sad to see the Delacroix siblings’ stories come to an end, The Prince of Spies wraps up the series in a compelling and inspiring manner. I am eagerly awaiting Camden’s next series! 4.5/5 stars

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I've now read the entire Hope and Glory series and I have to say each book was better than the last. I would say Luke was my favorite character of all and was glad to have the final edition centered around him. The characters developed well over the course of the story and my interest was maintained from beginning to end. While you could follow this story if read as a standalone, these novels do build off one another and would be best enjoyed in sequence. I would say this is a light and quick historical fiction/romance. So if your reading mood is such, give this one a go!

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden is the third book of her Hope and Glory series. As it concludes the series, I expected happy endings for all involved—Nathaniel and Caroline, Gray and Anabelle, and Luke Delacroix, as well. In the last two books, Luke was the character always in the background. He is the one whose story at which Camden hinted but never fully explained. Even then, readers began to understand his commitment to others and selfless heart, even when he engaged in reckless, seemingly mindless behavior. His past failures, though, nag him and burden his heart.

He is still recovering from his time in a Cuban prison at the beginning of The Prince of Spies. Immediately, the courageous Marianne tugs at his heartstrings. When grown men refused to cross thin ice, she scooted across the precarious surface to rescue a boy’s dog named Bandit. Luke, the chivalrous man that he was, goes to help. We quickly learn of Marianne’s work as a photographer at the Department of the Interior. Meanwhile, Luke’s greatest aim is to rip certain lawmakers from their positions of power. Their support of food preservatives had cost three people their lives and endangered many more. If Luke could prevent them from being reelected, he would.

What neither of them know, at first: their last names. Luke is a Delacroix, while Marianne is a Magruder. Their families hated each other. Their love was forbidden from the start. When I read this “Romeo and Juliet” cliché, I rolled my eyes. I enjoyed the warmth between Luke and Marianne. They find love in amid drama and a political maelstrom, but…the “we can’t be together because of family vitriol” annoyed me. I should have expected it prior to reading The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden, but I didn’t.

If Camden’s job was to make me abhor Marianne’s family, she excelled. The only characters I even remotely liked was the outspoken old grandfather and her nephew, Sam. All of the others were, for the most part, despicable. Marianne’s father was of questionable character. Her mother was overly dramatic and constantly ill. Her sister-in-law was haughty and judgmental. And her brother…I don’t even have words to describe him. He is the scum of the earth, for a multitude of reasons. With a family like the Magruders, of course Marianne would seek love elsewhere. Camden gives no indication of whether Luke is her first love—though we know Luke is certainly a ladies’ man—but it would not surprise me if he was. I wasn’t certain whether Marianne’s love was true and real, or whether she only fawned over Luke because he offered an escape.

An Example of Historical Fiction
Camden intricately and perfectly weaves history into The Prince of Spies. I knew very little about what occurred in D.C. during the early 1900s. I lived in D.C. for a time, and her descriptions made me go searching for photos—both current and historical—of the area I once called home. She also informs her readers all about the fight to provide oversight over food preservatives. I don’t want to give anything away in this area, so I’ll refrain from saying more. But I will say had I not seen her historical note at conclusion of the novel, I never would have believed something portrayed in the book existed.

I enjoyed The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden. I liked the entire series, though I think the second book was my favorite. Camden’s mastery of historical fiction is unsurpassed. She succeeded in making me interested in a genre that I found disagreeable. A fun note: If you line the books up side by side, they make a complete picture!

Disclaimer/Trigger Warning
All my praise, though, must also come with a warning. I avoid posting any spoilers in my novel, but I feel it is necessary with The Prince of Spies. A father has his son’s dog shot as punishment for cheating on a test…when everyone in the class also cheated. As a dog lover, I found the inclusion of such a heinous act atrocious and heartbreaking. And shooting an innocent dog as punishment for something so unimportant as cheating? Unacceptable. Loathsome. I wanted to disclose the shooting so readers of my review would be remotely prepared for it…because I wasn’t. If this makes anyone avoid reading The Prince of Spies, I wouldn’t blame you in the least.

The conclusion I have been waiting for! The Delacroix family has held me captive since I was first introduced. Luke is the most charismatic of the siblings and finally gets to tell his own story! I love everything about Luke: his wit, charm, intelligence, commitment to family, country and truth. It seems to fit that his love story would have to be big and complicated as well, and yet, it is perfect. Marianne is exactly the type of woman Luke needs to anchor him and make him a better version of himself. Marianne is a complicated character as well who brings great balance to Luke’s many layers. Their love story is one for the ages and not easily forgotten. Romance, family, mystery and intrigue… I loved everything about this clean, inspirational, historical fiction book. You will want to read the previous two books in the series to fully appreciate this one. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

I’m a huge fan of Elizabeth Camden’s historical fiction and this book #3 in the Hope and Glory series does not disappoint. I totally enjoy how Ms. Camden can take an obscure historical fact and write such an impressive novel. I enjoy her writing, the development of characters and story line. I highly recommend this book along with her many others. If you enjoy historical fiction, this is the author for you.

I have been absolutely loving this series and I think as a whole it just might be my favorite work of Camden’s to date!
I love the way the stories are intricately connected telling a story as a whole while also being three individually complete works. And the way that this is reflected in the covers is definitely one of the coolest things ever!
I have loved Luke since the moment we first met him and I have been anxiously awaiting his story! He was as charming as ever but we also got to see his maturity and his drive for justice that had developed over the years. He was a bit reckless at times but it often served him well and the world needs people who aren’t afraid to jump in and get their hands dirty in the name of justice!
I had a love/hate relationship with Marianne. I appreciated the way she saw and captured the world through her camera lens and she had a genuinely kind heart that just wanted the best for everyone. But her naïveté and blind loyalty when it came to her family got a little bit frustrating at times, especially since her family was awful and did nothing to earn it. Also (and this is going to be super vague to avoid spoilers) when she had the chance to speak up and come clean about something and she didn’t even though she knew someone was suffering unjustly for what she’d done, I lost a lot of respect for her.
Overall though I did enjoy the romance between the two of them and they were really cute together!
One of Camden’s greatest strengths as an author is the way she weaves history into the very fabric of her stories, and this book was no different! The surprisingly captivating journey to see that there were regulations in place for what was put into food that was being sold was honestly something I’d never thought of before this series but now I know so much about it! And the parts about the changes they were making to the landscape of our nation’s capital that we see today were extremely interesting to me!
I enjoyed the way the story played out and watching them fight for justice while also learning that it doesn’t always come how you imagine it and that there is room for grace as well. There was a bit at the end that seemed a little off the rails, connected but I didn’t fully understand why the author went the direction she did-it kind of felt like that moment in old musicals where a random song and dance routine is thrown in that just makes you scratch your head. But in the end I thoroughly had a delightful time reading this book and I was definitely sucked into the plot! I’m looking forward to whatever the author has in store for us next!

Luke’s story has been long anticipated and doesn’t disappoint. Set in 1902, he’s back in the States, setting up a new office of the paper he writes for. He helps to rescue a dog from icy waters and meets Marianne. She is a photographer with the Department of Interior. When they learn who the other is, there is much to decide. He’s trying to redeem himself from guilt of past negotiations that went wrong, when food additives caused irreparable harm and sets himself up to be part of the Poison Squad. Fun group of people, who form a tight bond. We meet many of them, plus Dr. Wiley, Clyde, Vera, Andrew, Delia, Sam, Colonel Phelps, and of course Gray, Caroline, Annabelle and Nathaniel along with a few others. Page turning story that won’t be put down until the last page.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have read every single one of Elizabeth Camden's books and I do think there has been a shift since her early books. The early books definitely felt more historical romance. The romance was the main action of the story and things happened around that (the Great Chicago Fire, Library of Congress, etc). I still learned a lot, but I felt like most of the focus was on the romance.

Now I would say her books are more in the historical fiction category (with a large amount of romance). This isn't a bad thing--I have greatly appreciated what I've learned through these books. In this book specifically, I learned a lot more about the rules there were and weren't about food and preservatives at the turn of the century in the United States. But with that shift, I do feel like I'm left wanting more romantic details. I loved Luke and Marianne and their interactions, but I wanted a lot more and there just wasn't room enough in the book for that. Personal preference, but I'm rating books based on personal preference, so that's allowed and why this was 4 stars instead of 5.

In the Prince of Spies, we FINALLY get Luke's story after hearing so much about him in Grey and Caroline's books (which I now want to go back and read and also can't wait to get my print copy of The Prince of Spies so I can line all these covers up to make the fantastic picture). And leave it to Luke to fall in love with a Magruder!

A few things I liked about the book:

-A good forbidden love/Romeo and Juliet story (without the death). You could feel the chemistry between Luke and Marianne from the beginning and that was a delight. And I liked the way their identities unfolded and how they started navigating that. And then figured out they really couldn't ;)

-Strong female/great partnership. Marianne works as a photographer for the government because she wants to do something important, even though her family has tons of money and she doesn't "need" to work. While some of the men in her family (and women) don't understand that or just simply humor her, Luke gets it and partners with her in it. He's always encouraging and loyal to Marianne. Also, he's got his own struggles that she helps him with. This is no damsel in distress story.

-I also love sibling dynamics and it's so fun to see how far Gray, Caroline, and Luke have come in their relationships. I would have liked more haha. That seems to be a theme for me.

Overall, it was a fascinating book about a time in history and events I didn't previously know much about and I loved learning more. I just also love the main characters and apparently wanted a little more day to day of them (which I know would have made the book way too long, so it's not possible, but I like my characters, what can I say?).

I received an ARC of this book, but all thoughts are my own.

I have enjoyed Ms. Camden’s books for several years now. The historical detail interwoven with fictional elements is truly delightful to read. When I read her books, I feel as though I have stepped through a portal and entered another time, watching the character’s interactions and events play out right in front of me. The characters have depth, the history is told in detail, and there is a richness in her writing that very few authors have. Prince of Spies was exactly what I expected in reading one of Ms. Camden’s books. I thoroughly enjoyed this 3rd book in The Hope and Glory Series. The series follows the Delacroix family and their rise to wealth and power at the end of the Gilded Age to the beginning of the 20th century. Prince of Spies takes place in Washington D.C. in 1902. Luke Delacroix has recently been released from a Cuban prison where he spent 15 months. He becomes a journalist in Washington D.C. to stop the re-election of a certain Congressman.
Marianne Magruder is a photographer hired by the Department of the Interior to take photographs of the old buildings around D.C. that will be torn down in order to fulfill the McMillan plan (of which the National Mall was the core of the plan).
The Delacroix and Magruder families have hated each other for generations. Luke and Marianne do not. Instead, they begin to fall in love and dream of the life they could build together if it wasn’t for the fact the Marianne’s father is the Congressman Luke is trying to stop!
Luke desires sweeping reforms in the food industry that would eliminate the deadly chemicals used to preserve canned food- especially in Magruder canned foods. Marianne is convinced it is not that bad- her father would never adulterate the food to that degree and hide the scientific findings. Or would he? Marianne sets out to prove her father right and finds out more than she bargained for. Luke sets out to destroy her father but then starts to realize that perhaps revenge is not the path God would have him take.
The book’s themes of forgiveness, hope, romance, and courage were threaded throughout the plot. Luke is trying to right wrongs done to him and his family; to forgive is not something he does easily. They each hope that they can each make changes in the world. Luke through his journalism, and Marianne through her photography. In some respects, the romance angle of the book was almost like reading Romeo and Juliet without the tragic ending. They both have a desire to be with each other, but it will come at a cost. Marianne is courageous in that she is doing work in a man’s world and holding her own!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I even went so far as to look up some of the historical people and places that were mentioned, because it was just so interesting! I had several questions while reading the book and was disappointed that they were not answered by the time I had finished reading. I cannot say what my questions were because they will give away too much of the plot! I hope to see another book in this series- perhaps following one of the Magruders?
I thank NetGalley and Bethany House Publishers for providing me with an Advanced Reader Copy. All opinions in this review are my own.

This is the third book in this series, and yes I have read them all, you get to meet each of the siblings, but this can be read alone.

This is Luke's story, he is Charlotte's twin, whom we met as he was in a Cuban jail in a previous book. He is still on his mission for the betterment of mankind, with his experience in the food market, he wants the bad additives out!

What he doesn't expect is meeting the daughter of the families arch rival, now how can that possibly work out? Well, you need to read this awesome book to find out.

We meet some horrible happenings here, and some really made me cringe, but there is also joy and hope and love that we are blessed to enjoy as we turn the pages.

I wish there were more siblings, I enjoyed my time with the Delacroix family!

Make sure you read the authors notes at the end of this book, great information about the beginnings of the FDA in 1906.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.

First off, if you love to learn history and the science of development of society, pick up an Elizabeth Camden book. You will never simply just be entertained, you will also learn so much. I love history and read a lot of books, but I learned so many new facts and info that I had never known before when I picked up this novel.

Want to learn something new, but not really a fan of history books? I had not ever read about “The Poison Squad”, but in “Prince of Spies” by Elizabeth Camden, I was enthralled and horrified that this experiment was even needed, but so inspired by the brave souls that worked for food safety. Of course, the hero and heroine made it all the better. I wasn’t sure from the other books, if I could fall in love with them both as much as I did, but this author never disappoints. It is not so much a focus of a love story, but it is there for sure. I would say that the unhealthy family dynamics and mention of a parent’s infidelity may be something you would discuss before giving this book to a younger teenage reader, but otherwise, this series would be perfect for high school history studies.

I highly recommend the whole series.
I obtained this book from the publisher. The opinions contained herein are my own.

Elizabeth Camden does not disappointment or readers. I love the series of books that she has read so well on these two families. Thank you Net Galley and to the publishers for a fantastic book. Always look forward to her next book.