Luke Delacroix is still recovering from his time in Cuba when he helps a young woman rescue a dog off the ice. Luke is instantly smitten, as is she. And then they discover that Luke is a Delacroix, and the young woman is the daughter of Clyde Magruder who Luke has history with over deadly coffee and has sworn to get out of Congress. Marianne’s father forbids her from ever seeing Luke again, but their paths keep crossing. Luke, in his ongoing effort to make amends for being involved in food adulteration that got 3 people killed years ago, has signed up to be part of Dr. Wiley’s new Poison Squad that will be testing food additives for safety. Marianne has been assigned to take the Poison Squad’s photos as part of her job for the Department of the Interior. Forming a relationship seems ridiculous. Marianne’s family is prone to anger and as the story of her Aunt Stella demonstrates, there are limits to their love. Luke’s family has butted heads with the Magruder leaders for decades over food safety issues. And Luke has opened a branch of a newspaper in Washington, D.C. primarily for the purpose of getting Magruder and 4 others out of Congress. But why can’t they get each other out of their heads?

This very satisfyingly wraps up this series. It sees Dr. Wiley’s work fighting for food safety, which was introduced in the first book, to a monumental moment. Caroline gets married over the course of this book. And the feud with the Magruder’s has to be met head on and dealt with one way or another. And all the Delacroix siblings have had their moment to shine and deal with their personal issues now. I liked the inclusion of history bits about how the National Mall was designed and developed during this time period. I had never heard about that before. I felt like the faith elements all kind of got thrown in at the end. They were still good, but I would have liked things spread throughout the whole book rather than just left for the climax. The 2nd book in this series is still my favorite, but I do like how the author tackled themes of unconditional love, grace, and reconciliation in this book. The entire series is a great choice for those who like Christian historical romance filled with well-researched history bits that don’t come up in many other books.

Notes on content: No language issues. No sexual content beyond a couple kisses. (It is mentioned that Clyde Magruder has had affairs that resulted in children out of wedlock, but no details of those affairs.) The Magruder family is prone to bursts of anger that can result in thrown items, fists, and a dead dog. The hazards of consuming questionable food preservatives at the turn of the century are accurately related, including fatalities.

I received an ARC of this title from Harvest House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden is a wonderful ending to a thrilling series.

With Luke Delacroix now out of prison, you would think he would try to lay low and stay out of trouble for a while. Such is not the case. The first thing he does is brave icy water to save a dog. And when he returns the dog to the lovely Marianne, he is instantly smitten.

Unfortunately, she is a Magruder, and Luke realizes it would be impossible to see her again because of their families' long-time feud. Plus, he's trying to get her father kicked out of Congress - so there's that.

The Romeo/Juliette love story between Luke and Marianne sets the tone for this final book in the series, which brings back all our favourite characters from the previous books. But Luke is determined to obey God and protect those he loves no matter the cost, making the ending all the sweeter.

This is a standalone read, but I highly recommend you pick up the other three books. With excellent research into the era, you won't be disappointed.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this! The hero and heroine meet right off the bat...but its not smooth sailing, but when is true love? Enjoyable, especially for those who love gentle Christian fiction with romance

There has only been one book by Elizabeth Camden that I really didn’t care for. Normally I’m a big fan! Enjoyed this title, the third and last in the Hope and Glory series. All three were good; the second, A Gilded Lady, was my favorite.

The improbable love story in this book was coupled with real historical happenings, namely, the beginnings of regulation in the food industry to make sure all foods were safe for human consumption. There really was a “Poison Squad,” where young, healthy young men subjected themselves to living and taking meals together for months on end, some of which contained possibly dangerous additives or preservatives. The findings of this study resulted in the founding of what we now know as The Food and Drug Administration. I absolutely love it when I learn history because it’s couched in a great story! This author is quite good at doing that time and again.

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Another great Camden book with real life historical settings and plots to support fictional characters.

I love how she used the Pure Food and Drug Act to plan this book. I actually feel like much of what this was based on is becoming important to society again as more and more are reading food labels to be healthier.

I am not a huge fan of the Romeo and Juliet trope so the romance in this book wasn't my favorite but I was impressed with Luke and Marianne's loyalty to each other.

It was neat to read a fictional account of the planning for the National Mall in D.C. I always enjoy reading about places I've been and D.C. is one of my favorites.

I love how Camden always writes a mix of historical, romance, and just a hint of mystery. This was an enjoyable read.

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

I was allowed to read this advanced readers copy, but I wanted to read the first two books in the series first. So I bought one and borrowed one from the library and I am so glad that I did! I loved the build up and the background that those two books provided. I wanted to know more about Luke from the very first book when he lands in prison. You know there is more to the story! I loved The Gilded Lady more than I thought I would. And for me, learning the history of this time in America's history was fascinating! I had never read this author before and am not much a fan of historical fiction. But I recommend this series highly!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC. The opinions are entirely my own.

I opened the book and was grabbed by the first word--Marianne. I smiled. I have read several sibling trilogies over the last couple years and have enjoyed every single volume. This book was no exception, and in this series, it was my favorite. I will always believe that books in a series should be read in proper order, and that is again my opinion for the Hope and Glory series. This series is centered in Washington, DC, in the transitional years at the turn of the 20th century during the McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt administrations. It was during this time that the United States was becoming aware of food additives. Elizabeth Camden always crafts wonderful stories around real people and historical events. In this book, Luke decided to take part in some research involving adulterated foods. I love the way Luke has grown over the series and "become a better man." I enjoyed how he and Marianne met, how they instantly became a match, and how they each were willing to sacrifice everything for the other. It was great to meet Aunt Stella--what a surprise!

There is one misgiving I have in rating this 5 stars--a single unnecessary word near the end of the book that easily could have been left out. I want to be able to recommend books to friends and their daughters, and to know that there is nothing offensive. Unfortunately, that one word was a disappointment. I am thankful to Bethany House and NetGalley for the opportunity to receive the complimentary advance copy.

A satisfying ending to the Hope & Glory trilogy by Elizabeth Camden.
Once again, Camden brings us back to the food industry at the turn of the century. The Delacroix family is still fighting and petitioning government officials to bring policies in place that would prohibit putting additives into processed foods. It’s unbelievable the kinds of things that were added to canned foods prior to 1906, for the sake of the almighty dollar. In this novel readers are given a glimpse into the Poison Squad and the formation of the Food and Drug Administration.
The story that brings us all the interesting historical details focuses on the third Delacroix sibling, Luke. He’s back stateside after imprisonment in Cuba, determined to continue the Delacroix fight and prevent other unnecessary deaths due to eating doctored processed foods. What Luke didn’t count on was a complication called Marianne Magruder – daughter of his archenemy in the food industry, and the woman he falls in love with.
A modern, historical re-telling of Romeo and Juliet, Prince of Spies is a delightful read.
I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

"The Spice King"--book 1 in the Hope & Glory series--was my first exposure to Elizabeth Camden as an author, and I've closely followed the series ever since. This book absolutely lives up to my (very high) expectations!

We've been teased with bits and pieces of Luke's story from the beginning, and I was very excited to finally get a full-length book just for him. (Cue "Home Alone" reference: "A lovely cheese pizza, just for me.") It was particularly fascinating to read for a couple reasons beyond that, too:
a) I adore Washington, DC, having visited there many a time over the years and spent a lot of time at various points on the National Mall--and I never knew its history. So learning about that was fascinating, and lends a new depth and appreciation to my trip memories!
b) With 2020 being an election year, many an eye has been on DC anyway. Reading "The Prince of Spies" felt particularly timely and somewhat prescient.

I'm sad to say goodbye to characters I've gotten to know so well through the series, though each has certainly and happily gotten the attention and story they deserve. Wouldn't it be fun to see them pop up as sidebars in Camden's future books?

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Star-crossed lovers meets industrial revolution. I really enjoyed this book--it kept me up too late last night! Here is what I enjoyed:

--The plot & characters: While the feuding family bit seemed like an overdone story angle, I thought that the author handled it really well. The characters were complex--not all good and not all bad. And, both of the main characters were devoted to their families, which made the family feud even more complicated. There were few truly bad characters in the book--maybe Andrew and his wife? The additional plot of food safety was also quite interesting. As a fan of history, I enjoyed learning about that issue.

--The pacing in the book was good and kept me quite interested. I found it hard to put the book down.

Overall, I was quite pleased and would recommend the book to friends!

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden is the third and last book in the Hope and Glory series. I do recommend reading the earlier books in this series, as Luke, the main character, has been in them quite often. I suppose it gets covered in short in the book itself, but you’ll miss a lot by skipping the first two books, especially as all previous characters play a role in this one too, yay!

Also, this cover! It’s so stunning and I can’t get over the fact that when you lay all three books in a row they form a matching image! That’s reason 2 to read the entire series by the way.

Ok, about the book itself now. We have Luke, charming, intense, sensitive, kind and fun, who throws himself into situations without thinking. I was a bit reluctant as I love more introverted nerdy men and I definitely got that with the first two books, but I have to admit I loved him! Luke is a rounded, layered, very interesting character and I’m here for it. His funny remarks make me giggle and I can’t help but fall in love with his easy way, and feel for him when his traumatic past hits him. I would have liked to see more of his PTSD though, that was the only aspect that didn’t feel genuine to me, you mostly only see what’s on the outside, not the inner world to go with it. But that’s a minor detail and basically the only thing in this book I didn’t like. Because it is AMAZING. We get a dual POV between Luke and Marianne, which works perfect. Their forbidden romance is truly a work of art, and I loved every minute. It has a bit enemies to lovers in it, which was my favorite part. Marianne works at the photography department and her job is to photograph buildings mostly, or anything that can be used, and she does it splendidly. Her character is amazing too, how she stays upright in a difficult family situation, and how she copes with everything, trying to be honest at all times.

But of course this wouldn’t be an Elizabeth Camden novel if there weren’t many other plots going. We continue the plot set in book 1 about toxic food additives, though it’s taken to another level. I always marvel at how amazing Camden can make something that sounds really boring and makes it into the most exciting thing ever, with lots of details of niche history. Applause! And there was this ball thrown by Caroline I really really want to attent, it was so imaginative... basically I just loved the entire book. There were many unexpected plots and turns and I kept guessing how it would all end. And I loved to see how Luke, a fairly new Christian, is growing in faith, and helps Marianne to discover it, too. They fit so well together! And I love them!

All in all, I loved it. Obviously. This entire series has a place in my favorites and I wish there were like 8 siblings. But all good things must come to an end...

And with that, my review ends too, but not before one last thing, as I have to mention a trigger warning. Don’t read on if you don’t want to know, because it’s a mild spoiler.
—
There is one situation concerning animal cruelty that left me crying.

Another fantastic story From Elizabeth Camden! This series is by far my favourite from her! While I enjoyed this story I definitely prefer the two previous books in the series. I thought the story was a little too slow and didn't have as much happening in it as her other works. I really loved Luke and Marianne! Luke especially had such a different character to any other book I've read. All in all it was a great story!

In this conclusion to the Hope and Glory series, Luke Delacroix has returned from Cuba and while trying to regain his health and strength, he is determined to take down the congressman who has been his family's nemesis for years - Clyde Magruder. However, when he meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's daughter, his agenda becomes cloudy. Can he find a way to pursue his goals of food safety, without harming the woman he is falling in love with?

The Prince of Spies was a very satisfying conclusion to this series. I loved how different each sibling's story was, yet how they fit together as a family. Besides the intriguing background of the regulations regarding food safety, it was super interesting to read about the planning and development of the National Mall. I don't think I've read anything else set in DC during this time period, and I really enjoyed it.

I give this book 4 stars. Elizabeth Camden has a knack for unusual storylines, and this was another one done well.

I received a digital copy of this book, via Netgalley, from the publisher, in exchange for my honest review.

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Book #3/3 of the Hope and Glory Series
Publishing Date: February 16, 2021

I’m not going to lie, I read this book because of the cover. I had only briefly skimmed the synopsis before requesting a copy. I had no idea it was the third book in a series. That being said I think this book can be read without ever having read the previous books however you will probably spoil the outcome of the previous books for yourself. Each book in the series depicts the romance story of each of the Delacroix siblings.

This particular book featured Luke Delacroix’s story. Luke, recently returned to Washington after a stint in a Cuban Prison, is determined to take on Congress and particularly Congressman Magruder. The Delacroix’s and Magruder’s have a long history of feuding regarding competing food processing companies. In the opening pages of the book, Luke meets Marianne, unbeknownst to him she is Congress Magruder’s daughter.

And thus the Romeo and Juliet retelling begins. The romance story is rather unremarkable: man meets woman; man falls in love with woman; man cannot be with woman due to extenuating circumstances; love prevails over all. It was all a little PG for my liking.

What I did find to be rather remarkable about the story was the time and events in which this story was set. Luke is determined to prove to Congress that there were negative health effects for consuming certain preservatives in food. He even volunteered for an experiment in which he was fed food laced with vast amounts of preservatives. According to the Author’s Notes the study of preservatives, and the fight to have the government ban them, are based on actual historical events which eventually led to the formation of the FDA. I think we often take for granted that there were those who came before us who figured out what was safe for humans to consume and in what dosages.

I definitely recommend giving it a read if you’re looking for a wholesome non-WWII historical romance.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #BethanyHousePublishers for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For three generations, two prominent familiesinthe food industry have been at war with one antoher. In this Romeo and Juliet type story the feud comes to a head when a Delacroix and a Magruder dare to fall in love.

The Prince of Spies is the third book in Elizabeth Cambden's Hope and Glory series. You could read it as a stand alone, but I think reading the previous novels (The Spice King and A Guilded Lady) will add a sense of richness and dimension to this novel and the characters if you have read the ones previous. Set in the US capitol city, this book continues the fight to stop the Magruder family from using dangerous levels of chemical preservatives in their food production. The contrast between the respectable Delacroixs and the underhanded Magruders is staggering. Clyde Magruder is a hard character to love. I found myself hoping for his heart to soften throughout the story.

Elizabeth Camden's books are always well researched and she includes Dr. Wiley and "the poison squad"; real-life figures in history who helped determine appropriate levels and types of food preservatives that continue to keep our food safer. The comradery between the boys in the squad was fun and refreshing. It definitely lightened some of the darker parts of this book. She delicately tackles suffering from post traumatic stress in a way that is accepting and supportive and not shaming. Of the three novels in this series, I would have to say The Prince of Spies is my favorite. Luke is a swoon-worthy hero and he's been a favorite character of mine in all of the Hope and Glory novels.

Themes of revenge, forgiveness, honesty, honor and trusting God in the hard times are woven through the pages. The Prince of Spies is a satisfying conclusion to the series and I can see myself coming back and reading all three novels again.

If you enjoy political drama mixed with a bit of romance and learning a bit of American history than I think you will enjoy this book.

Thank you Bethany House and Net Galley for the free copy of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

The third (and sadly, final) book in the Hope & Glory series (extra hard because I think this is my favorite series from the author so far!)

Luke Delacroix, former spy and twin of Caroline (book 2) has recently returned from the Cuban prison he was in during books 1 and 2. He is still on the hunt to find accountability for the food poisons he is certain the Magruder family utilizes in their canned food recipes. Now living in the Washington DC area, he signs up to be a part of the Department of Agriculture's new scientific study that is testing the impact of certain chemicals in human subjects. Based on the real-life "Poison Squad" in 1902, the experiments (led by Dr. Wiley who was ultimately the first head of the FDA) begin to take a toll, but Luke is determined to find answers to support his crusade.

Photographer Marianne Magruder (father Clyde Magruder, a recently elected Congressman) and Luke have a chance meeting, and those proverbial sparks fly immediately...but are momentarily squelched when they realize each other's last names. Yet, they aren't squelched for long, and their commitment to each other and the truth is inspiring.

With witty banter, interesting dynamics, with a poignant peek into the state of affairs of this time period, it is quite easy for me to recommend this book. Please do start with book one to enjoy the entire series; you'll be glad you did!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! I was so excited to read this much awaited conclusion to the Hope and Glory series by Elizabeth Camden. And it was well worth the wait.

Luke Delacroix, charming, kind, intense, somewhat fearless. He meets Marianne Magruder in a most unusual circumstance. She is on the ice, trying to recuse her nephews little dog who has fallen through the ice. Luke glides over the ice to meet up with Marianne, and ends up falling into the frozen water. But the dog is rescued, and Luke is smitten. Until he finds out that she is Clyde Magruder's daughter, the man he is intent on getting out of Congress.

This story intrigued me. Elizabeth Camden has a way of weaving little known history facts in every novel she writes. The Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906 and "the Poison Squad" were at the heart of this story. Before the Food & Drug Administration, companies added toxic food additives to preserve food, which led to people dying. Marianne's family produces canned goods which added these poisons and Luke is bound to bring it to light. But as his affections grow for Marianne, things become entangled. As their relationship blooms, two people falling in love from feuding families, the Romeo and Juliet aspect explodes.

I thought it was beautifully written. I couldn't put it down. Deserving of a 5+.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Camden does a fantastic job of retelling history and it always keeps me engaged and leaves me wanting to learn more about the subject matter. She is excellent at historical fiction. This was a great conclusion to the series and I loved the premise of two people falling in love from feuding families, ala Romeo and Juliet. I loved Luke's playful sense of adventure and it made me want to follow him where ever he goes. Very delightful and enjoyable!

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

This book was so interesting to me! I absolutely have loved the focal point of this series and this book was a solid end to the story! Luke is such a charming and charismatic hero! I absolutely loved him and thought he brought such life and energy to this story! I enjoyed Maryanne’s quit wit and felt like she paired well with Luke! I wanted her to be more independent, and that was something I really struggled with in relation to her character. She was bold and daring, except when it came to her family.
The Delacroix family is simply the best! The siblings have such good comradery! The Magruders are the absolute worst. It was hard to read about their toxic family relationships and dishonest dealings. The history in the story was fascinating to me! I’m a foodie, so this subject matter of adulterated foods kept me turning the pages. I love how Elizabeth Camden is able to infuse her writing with so many historical facts without it seeming like a history lesson. I always walk away from her books feeling like I have uncovered a bit of little known history! I throughly enjoyed this story and would happily recommend it to historical romance readers!

I Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author kept my interest throughout and I kept wanting to read more. I do not usually enjoy the Historical Fiction, but this one really gripped me. The characters appear to be totally real and they showed me a reminder of concern for truth and honesty in families.