Thank you, NetGalley, Bethany House Publishing, and Elizabeth Camden for the opportunity to read this book. It will release on May 3rd, 2022!

I absolutely adore Elizabeth Camden’s books! Written on the Wind is the 2nd book in The Blackstone Legacy series. I loved the first book in the series called Carved in Stone. This book is about Gwen’s cousin, Natalia Blackstone. She works for her father’s bank and is in charge of the loan and funding of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Being a woman in the year 1900 –is no easy feat. She works with Count Dimitri Sokolov who oversees the construction in Russia. They have developed a close friendship through their telegrams. However, Dimitri is a witness to atrocities committed by the Russian Army, he refuses to be a part of it and is stripped of his titles and exiled. He manages to flee to America knowing the only person who can help him cripple Russia is Natalia Blackstone.

Once again, Elizabeth Camden does a fabulous job at mixing passion, politics, and standing up for one’s beliefs. This book dives into the very fragile political alliances involving Russia and America and how image and money run the world in 1900. It was interesting to see Natalia’s development because she does not condone what Russia has done, but she does not want to see all of her hard work fail and if her reputation gets ruined, there will be no room for her at the bank. Even though Natalia is a woman in a very patriarchal society, she is still very privileged and I was glad that the author is quick to point that out. However, I did wish to see more diverse parts of New York in 1900. I am hoping that we will see more of that in book three since it looks like it will be Liam’s story.

One of the best historical detail is the slow rise of revolution in Russia. At first, it is just mere whispers, but then becomes one of the main points towards the end of the book. There are historical characters that we are familiar with that will make an appearance and we know that their time is limited.

I did love the chemistry between Natalia and Dimitri. Before Tinder, Bumble, and EHarmony there were…telegrams? In this book, yes! Natalia and Dimitri communicate via telegrams and their relationship develops from these correspondences. I loved reading the telegram messages. Dimitri is so lighthearted and melodramatic and Natalia is witty and sarcastic. It is obvious that they are meant to be.

Even though I loved this book, I can’t put into words how excited I am for book three! Liam has been my favorite character throughout the past couple of books and I can’t wait to see him shine. Overall, this book gets 5 out of 5 stars!

Stretching from Gilded Age New York to the wilds of pre-revolutionary Russia, Written on the Wind is a sweeping saga of a historical romance, enhanced by complex characters and riveting period detail. A fascinating read.

What an interesting book! I love the political and historical setting for this book, with the details about Russia, the building of the Trans-Siberian Railway, the social and political machinations in both Russia and the U.S., and more. I really liked Natalia; she was a great leading lady, both strong and kind. I alternated between thinking Dimitri was charming and being irritated by him. There were times where he totally made me laugh, but others where he bugged me a little because it seemed that Natalia was always doing things for him, but he didn't seem to reciprocate much. And when she faced a major disappointment, despite having worked so hard to help him, his internal dialogue indicated he was upset, but his actions didn't so much. I felt like she did so much for him and his mission and didn't get much return from him throughout a lot of the book, and that bothered me-- but I know other readers have really loved him and am sure many more will as well. There were lots of interesting side characters to like or loathe (I so cannot wait for Liam's story!), and I look forward to reading the third book in the series.
As a fun point of interest, Dimitri makes a stop in my hometown--Springville, Utah--on his journey. I loved his observation that it was misnamed and wanted to be able to tell him it's actually named for the freshwater springs in the vicinity, not for spring-like weather!

I read an ARC provided by the author/publisher. All opinions are my own.

Natalia Blackstone has an unconventional job for a woman at the turn of the 20th century—she works as an analyst at her father’s bank. She has loved the bank since childhood and knows more about finance than many men in the bank. When her contact in Russia, Count Dimitri Sokolov stops telegraphing her, Natalia fears something has gone terribly wrong. As they’ve worked together on the Trans-Siberian Railway, they’ve gone from associates to friends. And Natalia doesn’t have a lot of friends.

Count Dimitri Sokolov’s courageous action results in his arrest, speedy trial, and banishment to a prison camp. Dimitri’s only hope for survival is escaping from the train that carries him to certain death and then crossing thousands of miles of sparsely populated land to reach a port. From there, he hopes to contact the one person who can help him tell the truth about what he witnessed. He places his trust in Natalia Blackstone—an American woman he’s never met in person.

What I Loved About This Book

Camden mixes history, mystery, and memorable characters to continue the Blackstone Legacy series. Readers don’t need to read the first book Carved in Stone, to enjoy the second book. Readers will relate to Natalia’s struggles to deal with a difficult stepmother. Dimitri struggles with his past (his beloved estate), and Natalia struggles with her future (marrying Dimitri means making a choice about children).

Fans of Roseanna M. White and Sarah E. Ladd will enjoy this book.

"Written on the Wind" is a romance set in 1900 in New York, Washington, and Siberia. The characters reacted realistically, were complex, and I cared about what happened to them. Historical details about banks, the Trans-Siberian Railway, and politics were woven into the story. The setting and historical details immersed me in the story, bringing it alive in my imagination. It's a well-written story.

However, I was annoyed with Dimitri. He respected Natalia as a businesswoman but still felt totally justified in demanding that she cater to his every desire. He never really believed her when she told him that her father would fire her from the bank if her actions (on his behalf) made the bank look bad. I was relieved that Natalia wasn't willing to do everything Dimitri demanded and tried so hard to find a solution that would work for both her and Dimitri. But he kept pressuring her to make his wants her priority (as a Russian aristocrat who felt his cause was important would do) and only conceded where Natalia's reputation and desires as a woman became important. He did change some as time went on and always supported her skills as a businesswoman, but I didn't really understand her intense attraction to him during this time when he was essentially threatening the life that she loved.

Anyway, this was quite suspenseful. The first part was Dimitri's arrest, escape off the very railway that he'd helped build, and his dangerous journey through Siberia in winter. He faced danger from animals, people, and the weather. Natalia struggled with people who resented her and the changes happening in her life. Then they had to work together to do the impossible: force the czar to acknowledge what Dimitri had witnessed and confirm that the killing wouldn't happen again. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical romance.

Book Blurb: *Natalia Blackstone is a rarity in Gilded Age America. As a trusted analyst for her father's bank, she is helping finance the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. From her office in New York City, Natalia relies on a charming Russian aristocrat to oversee the construction of the railroad on the other side of the world.
But while overseeing the work, Count Dimitri Sokolov witnesses the deadly result of the Russian Monarchy's will to see the railway built. To silence him, the state has stripped Dimitri of his title, his lands, and his freedom . . . but Dimitri has a key asset the czar knows nothing about: his deep and abiding friendship with Natalia Blackstone.*

I always enjoy an Elizabeth Camden book. She always highlights a woman in history who has an interesting job. While most women are mothers and wives in these time periods these women are striving towards a career that are only available to men. This is the 2nd book in the Blackstone Legacy series. While we got a small taste of Natalia and Dmitri in the first book. Their story flourishes in this one. They communicate at 1st through telegrams and ticker tape . So it is kind of like old fashioned texting before they first meet. As they worked together to right a wrong there are some bumps along the road. There's a lot of good discussion between them and a lot of good communication that are not always in some Christian fiction romance books. I like that they try to resolve their differences. If you like historical romance this is the book for you.
I received a complimentary copy from net galley. All opinions are my own.

What an enjoyable follow up to Carved in Stone, book 1 of The Blackstone Legacy series!

This story focuses on Natalia Blackstone and Count Dimitri Solokov. From book one; we learn that Natalia is in charge of a huge project in Russia for her father’s bank. Her contact is Dimitri. When Dimitri’s communication goes silent, Natalia is convinced something went wrong, but she has no way of finding out that information.
Dimitri witnessed an atrocity and refuses to take part in it, losing his title, lands and freedom in Russia. In a daring escape, Dimitri frees himself to get to the one person he knows will believe him. If only 4000 miles and an ocean didn’t separate them.

An excellent story of adventure, intrigue, politics, and relations between US/Russia at the turn of the century. There’s a lot of research that went into creating this story, and it definitely shows. From pieces of clothing to meals eaten on both sides of the ocean, Written on the Wind gives the reader a cultural experience one won’t soon forget.

This is a different kind of love story, though quite enjoyable at the same time. Our hero and heroine get some page time together, but for the majority of the story they’re on two different continents. I liked it.
Some favourite characters return, for a brief cameo, and others stick around to add some tension and colour to Natalia’s story.

This was a great story and I look forward to reading the third one in the series.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

Book 2 of the Blackstone Legacy series by Elizabeth Camden is set at the turn of the 20th century during the building of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Natalia Blackstone is a woman in a man's world, working for the Blackstone Bank as a financial analyst on the project, communicating across the world with the Russian manager, Count Dimitri Sokolov. While the two are complete opposites or "Fire and Ice", romance developed between them, and after extraordinary circumstances, they finally met. Aside from the political problems coming between them, neither one could envision living in the other's world. Each of them suffered tragedy and loss and it seemed there would be no future for them. As usual for this author, she crafted this with a wealth of little-known history that kept me searching for more details about what I had read. Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy for my review. I wholeheartedly recommend this clean historical romance.

Elizabeth Camden does not disappoint her readers. They read her stories because they know that they will get romance entwined with history. Dimitri and Natalie’s love is strengthened throughout the trials that they go through. Elizabeth, thank you for such beautiful stories. I can’t wait until the next one.

"Sometimes our best memories are born during our harshest trials. They become happy only in hindsight."

Elizabet Camden never fails to impress me with her ability to convey deep emotions and heartache on the pages of her novels yet leave the reader feeling hopeful and encouraged rather than mired in the darkness that life inevitably contains. She does not shy away from the realities of life and allows her characters to experience the hardships of life along with its joys.

I loved the dichotomy between Natalia, who believed the best stories have happy endings and that an unhappy ending ruins the story (an opinion I definitely share) versus Dimitri whose Russian sensibilities leads him to prefer unhappy endings because he believes that they more accurately reflect life.

I won't say which ending Written on the Wind had, but I will say that this story, like so many others by Camden, served to simultaneously entertain, educate and encourage - a trifecta that is not easily accomplished. I enjoyed reading the stories of the characters she vividly created, I learned a lot about the era the novel was set in as well as the Trans-Siberian Railroad, and I closed the book encouraged in my faith!

I had not read the first book in this series, but I did love this one. There are so many special things about this book. The hero, Dimitri's love of his home country Russia and his self sacrificing drive to do the right thing. .I loved how he was at times serious and other times hilarious. His self-depreciating and whining were not your typical hero attributes, but made him more likeable. I loved Natalia also and she was the perfect match for Dimitri. Their mostly long distance relationship made this story different than most.
The book was well paced and I learned many things about the history of Russia and the U.S during this time period.
I would recommend this book to anyone who loved historical fiction.
Thanks you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

This book had me in its grips from the minute I started reading. It’s a romance interwoven with history of Russia during the time of the czars and New York City aristocracy. A strong woman character and a Russian count, what more can you ask for!

Written on the Wind is the newest novel by one of my favorite Christian fiction authors: Elizabeth Camden. It is the second book in the Blackstone Legacy series, which centers around a rich American banking family. It can be read independently, though it is fun to see the characters we already know and love from totally different eyes.

In this story we follow Natalia Blackstone as she oversees the funding for the Trans-Siberian Railway. She is very good at banking and keeping everything under control, and has devoted her life to this. Her home situation is not ideal, with her stepmom who is always jealous. She very bravely decides to move and take control of her own life. I really love how she stood up for herself, without hurting anyone in the process, always thinking about how it will impact other people.

In book 1 we had this hilarious telegram conversation between her and a Russian count, where it takes hour for him to help Natalia because he wants to make lots and lots of small talk first. Honestly, this is the vibe of this book. Count Dimitri is too charming for his own good, and loves talking. He oversees the railroad, but when he suddenly is in the middle of a massacre of a village of indigenous people who are in the way of the rail road. He is forced to participate in this slaughter but refuses, which earns him the status of traitor and gets him on a train himself – off to Siberia. He valiantly escapes and encounters lots of horrors before he finally gets to Natalia himself. They corresponded by telegram for years, but now in real life, there might be even more electricity (get it? Telegrams are wired through electric pulses. Yeah ok it’s not a very good pun). I love this long distance relationship, where they have to rediscover themselves when they finally meet. It’s a very good slow burn romance, and I really loved it. Dimitri is the opposite of Natalia, he’s very extraverted, loves a good laugh, loves his luxury and seems a bit shallow, but there’s a whole deeper side to him too. Natalia seems very serious and deep, but with Dimitri she discovers a fun side of herself. While Dimitri is a fun character to read about, I have to say I got a little exasperated at him at times. He’s just not my type, thankfully he’s Natalia’s and I love them together. The story was so interesting, and Elizabeth Camden always makes boring history facts fun. Like how business transactions went in the early 1900s, seems boring, but is in fact really cool. The making of music records on wax is amazing! The inner workings of a bank had me hooked. I kinda wished we’d seen a little bit more about Russia (I have to admit the troubles in Russia are eerily familiar with current events).

For me the first half of the book was amazing! Dimitri’s escape, his romance with Natalia, I’m here for it. The second half lost a little steam (yup another pun),. The ending was really nice, but after such a riveting start, this book just had a lot to live up to and for me it didn’t entirely do that. That’s why I’m giving four stars, because the rest of this story is amazing, and I still flew right through the story, the pacing just felt a little off. I do recommend this story 100% and can’t wait for book 3!

WRITTEN ON THE WIND is the second novel in the Blackstone Legacy series by ELIZABETH CAMDEN, but it can easily be read as a stand alone. It is a book that will really stay with you as you read of the strong friendship between Natalia Blackstone, a leading analyst in her father’s New York bank, and Russian Count Dimitri Sokolov. In spite of them communicating with one another from opposite parts of the world they really understand one another. It is inspirational to see how far he is prepared to go in order to follow his conscience and how far she is prepared to go in order to help him.
I really love the characters, especially Dimitri, with his strength, heroism, sense of the dramatic, flirtatiousness, hypochondria, and poetic nature. I like to see how hie is prepared to stand up to the Czar in order to have the 1858 Treaty of Aigun reinstated and protected. I like to see how committed Natalia is to her family, especially her baby brother Alexander, and to her work. After her Russian ballerina mother died, her father married Poppy, a woman close to her own age, who never misses an opportunity to put Natalia down. It is interesting to see how similar the entitled upper classes are in America and Russia, and the growing unrest among the lower classes in both countries.
I do not want to tell you any more for fear of spoiling the read for you.
I found Written on the Wind inspirational, interesting and exciting and cannot recommend the book highly enough for the unforgettable characters, great story and underlying Christian message.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bathany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Elizabeth Camden at her finest! Written on the Wind is book two in the Blackstone Legacy series. I loved the fluency and poignancy of the writing. Dimitri’s deep love for his country and his family are genuinely moving. Experiencing Russia through his eyes was informative and evocative. The research into the culture, geography, and issues during the early 1900s was impeccable. Natalia is ahead of her time; intelligent, business-savvy, and determined to earn her place in her family’s bank. Dimitri wants to see justice prevail, regardless of the cost. Natalia is conflicted but moved by Dimitri’s passion. Their friendship grows deeper through the various trials. I love that their faith is front and center and they both have a lot to learn. One thing I really appreciate is the realness that these characters bring. They are real people, with real struggles and they don’t always get it right. A sweeping saga that both informs and captivates. A must read for all lovers of inspirational, historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.

Written on the Wind is an epic story of life in the early 1900s from the viewpoint of Natalia Blackstone—an independent woman working for her father’s bank as a liaison on construction of the Trans Siberian railroad—and Dimitri Sokolov—a Russian aristocratic assigned to oversea progress on the railroad in eastern Russia.
Through their correspondence and later meeting Dimitri shares the heart of Russia in the first few years of the twentieth century, first through the eyes of an aristocrat and then through the eyes of suffering.
The novel is clearly researched, touching on the tension between Russia and China during the building of the railroad, the massacre of the Amur River, and the political pulse of the times in both Russia and America.
When Dimitri is forced to flee Russia or end up somewhere in Siberia due to political disfavor he goes to his friend Natalia. His experiences on the run, and seeking justice for atrocities carried out because of the railroad, along with his observations in America fundamentally change who he is.
His eyes have been opened to the suffering of others, the inequality of class, and obliviousness of the elite.
Both Dimitri and Natalia lean into their faith as they seek to find their place in the world.
I love the style of writing and necessary detail brought to the story as well as the unique personalities of the side characters. The pace is perfect. I was totally invested in the book.
I was given a copy through NetGalley courtesy of Baker Publishing Group. This is my honest review.

Written on the Wind
by Elizabeth Camden
Pub Date: May 3, 2022
Bethany
* Historical Fiction * Christian Fiction *Romance
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a simply wonderful book! I always learn a lot when I read this author and this book was another example of this. I appreciated the historical depth on this one. Camden’s writing of strong heroines continues, and although the plot had some weak points, Natalia and Dmitri’s love story shone.
4 stars

I loved this story, as with the first book in this series, we are with the Blackstone banking family. I enjoyed being reunited with past characters, and and how they carried on in this read, but, yes this can be read alone!

This is Natalie and Count Dimitri Sokolov's story, and we are dealing with the Trans-Siberian railroad, full of historical facts, and how the relationship grows between these two.

Be ready for some chuckles, some sweet romance, and some horrors perpetrated by those that could, injustice, and those who want justice!

This quickly became a page turner, and keep reading the epilogue, heart warmer!

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

3.75 ⭐️

Written on the Wind is the second book in Elizabeth Camden’s series, The Blackstone Legacy. This book follows the story of two protagonists, Count Dimitri Sokolov and Natalia Blackstone. After witnessing a heinous crime, Dimitri flees to America to seek the help of the one person he can trust, Natalia Blackstone. After setbacks and complications, Natalia joins forces with Dimitri to fight for the people of Russia. The quest that brings them together begins to tear them apart, and the question they both wrestle with is this: Will their love survive even when the fight ends? You’ll have to read to find out!

There were a couple of things I appreciated about this book.

First was Dimitri’s character. I loved how the author had his character be both serious and lighthearted. The author balanced this very well, and some of my favorite scenes were of Dimitri complaining of his various scrapes and cuts to Natalia, and how something so silly helped strengthen their relationship. 

Second was the faith element in this book. I love reading books where faith isn’t the backdrop of the story, but the center of it. It plays an integral part in the story just as the storyline, historical details, and characters do. I appreciated that the author crafted faith into this story in a way that made it fit perfectly and not feel out of place.

A few things that kept me from giving this book a higher rating: 

First was the romance between Natalia and Dimitri. This is more on Natalia’s part than Dimitri’s, but if there’s romance in a book, I really appreciate it when it’s intentional on both parts. Natalia made it clear that she didn’t want to marry Dimitri because she wanted to have children and be a mother and that she didn’t feel called to move to Russia. However, she still pursued a romance with Dimitri because she loved him. I don’t know—that kind of romance doesn’t always sit right with me because it’s not an intentional commitment to move forward, but just a temporary fling, knowing that things won't work out. This is just a personal opinion of mine, so don’t let that keep you from reading the book if you don’t mind that style of romance! 

Second, I wished there were more historical details provided about that time in history. The story is centered at the turn of the twentieth century, 1900, and while some history is provided, I wish there had been more on Russia (Dimitri’s homeland) in particular. 

As always, please don’t let my review keep you from reading this book. There was no inappropriate content, so this book was a completely clean read! The only reason I gave this book a lower rating was because of my personal dislikes, and nothing against the content itself. What may have been an almost four-star read for me may be a five-star read for someone else! 

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC of Written on the Wind. All opinions are expressly my own, and I wasn’t required to write anything but an honest review of this book.

Elizabeth Camden definitely knows how to research a book and weave in historical details as if you are sitting right there. It is one of my favorite things about her books and this one is no different. I always feel like I am learning something new every time I pick up one of her books. The love story in this one was a bit meh for me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters and feeling the passion for each other. I also felt like Dimitri was a little bit to girly for me. Give me masculine men always!

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