#BookRevew: HEARTS OF STEEL by Elizabeth Camden

Have you read the first two books from The Blackstone Legacy series? I did and I was anticipating Liam’s story. I like the author’s writing style, but somehow Liam’s character didn’t have the grit and courage as I expected him to be. Maddie had her flaws as well but she was a driven lady. She also assisted Liam when needed. Liam had a big heart for the less fortunate. In the end, I think they were good for each other.

The details of the ice cream business were interesting. I can’t imagine relying on ice blocks from Maine to run a business in the early 1900s. The effects of the summer heat and ice shortage was so sad. I was also interested in Liam’s ulcer treatment. It was so different back then. He had money too so he had better options than others.

Charles Morse was an irritating character and he was actually real. His actions in the book were similar to his real life accounts as per the author’s note. I felt compassion for those hard working people in Gadsden who had to endure his wrath like Maddie. People like him still exist today and this concern should be on our prayer list all the time.

This was a good end to an interesting series with lots of compelling historical events.

Rating: 4 stars

Series: The Blackstone Legacy 3

Pub date: 17 Jan 2023

Thank you Bethany House Publishers and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

I was fascinated with this book right from the start.

I loved not having to wait several chapters to jump right into what was happening.

I loved that this novel had so much suspense and history laced into it. It was informative and entertaining all in one. The love story was sweet and touching. I loved the familial connections and the brotherhood/sisterhood some of these characters had with side characters.

I thought the plot was really well done. The side plots were entertaining and kept me turning the pages.

I haven't read many books from this time period and loved how immersive the author was with the historical aspects while still keeping the writing engaging for any reader to read about. I especially loved the author's note at the end - do not skip it!.

I have not read the first two books in this series and had zero problems starting with this one. I enjoyed this one so much I will definitely be going back to read the first two to get more of the Blackstone family adventures.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

What you'll find content-wise: very mild fighting/arguing. Sweet romance. Mention of a side character having her photo taken in the nude. A side character's bout with infidelity. Mild mentions of drugs and/or alcohol. Christian themes through a redemptive character arc and beliefs that God is watching out for us.

I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Maggie and her Uncle Dino. It was fascinating getting an insider's perspective to the pushcart business. That they sold ice cream made it all the sweeter.

It was fun getting to see Liam and the rest of the Blackstones again. Liam recognizes Maggie's strength and determination right away. He doesn't always know how to deal with that but he respects it. I enjoyed their bantering a lot. They had great chemistry.

It was somewhat shocking to read that some of the crippling antics of the villain really happened. How awful. I appreciate learning things I didn't know before in the midst of a great story. The people in Maggie's neighborhood were so interesting, it would be fun to see a series or book come out of the Gabelli's or someone else on that street.

Thank you to Bethany House for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

This book is rich with historical descriptions and facts weaving them into a story that shows the human spirit at its best, and it’s worst.
Liam Blackstone is struggling to make his way in the corporate world. As a board member for US Steel he must control his temper, stand up for the working man, and try to do what’s right. The trouble is his streetwise upbringing after being kidnapped as a child conflicts with the expectations of those around him.
By chance he meets Maggie Molinaro, a woman he can relate to. Maggie is a business woman with an iron will when it comes to running her ice cream business. She grew up in poverty and is determined never to go back, even if she has to take on a powerful man who stiffed her for a paltry amount of money.
When Liam finds out a fellow board member who he’s clashed with is dealing unfairly with local businesses and targeting Maggie he sets out to expose him. Liam and Maggie want to right wrongs and support neighborhood businesses, but Liam doesn’t always think before he acts. He must learn to rely on God to lead him in the right direction. He may sometimes fail, but in the end the reward is worth the struggle.
I loved the people and relationships depicted in the book as well as the glimpse into the lives of previous characters from this series. This is one I couldn’t put down, related to, and highly recommend.
I was given a copy courtesy of Bethany House and this is my honest opinion.

Liam Blackstone just might be my favorite Camden hero. Trying to live up to the legacy of a father he never got to meet, Liam melted my heart with his determination and generosity. Camden does a great job of making Liam realistic with plenty of flaws (such as his temper and impulsivity) but even more redeeming qualities.

Pairing this man with Maggie, a penny pincher whose biggest fear is returning to the poverty she crawled out of, provided plenty of romantic tension. But Maggie’s steadfast heart and determination matched Liam’s to create one of the most romantic pairings I’ve read in a while.

True to her usual style, Camden also packs her novel with plenty of historical tidbits to make her story come alive. You can tell she does her research to ensure her books are as historically accurate as possible.

While I don’t always agree with Camden’s theology, I’ve always loved the way she depicts the characters’ spiritual growth as they grapple with their faith and learn to lean on an everlasting God. It’s a great reminder that faith is timeless and humans have struggled since the dawn of time.

Overall, Hearts of Steel is a compelling and romantic tale of two determined hearts coming together. Historical romance fans will love this rich and descriptive tale.

I love how Camden takes real historical events and circumstances and turns them into novels. This one started a little slow for me, but before too long I was completely invested in Maggie's ice cream company and how her and Liam were going to figure out their future together. We are so spoiled today by modern convenience that it was hard to read about when ice was such a precious commodity but it was also eye opening about the plight of people back then.

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

Elizabeth Camden continues to write fascinating historical fiction. I always learn new things from reading her books. Hearts of Steel was definitely my favorite in the series, and I love how the author fully developed the character of Liam and showed his growth throughout the series. I can't wait to read more from this author!

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

I didn't realize this was part of a series until after I finished the story, so this book does work well as a stand-alone. I am looking forward to reading the first two books in this series though, because I enjoyed these characters and would love to get to know some of the other ones better.
I had never heard of Charles Morse before, and found the historical note at the end fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed the story that the author wove around this very real (and very devious) person. Maggie and Liam were great characters and there was enough description about their jobs and struggles to make it real, but not so much that it became tedious. Very well done.

I think this is a great book (the author obviously has done extensive research on the time period and daily experience of the workers we encounter!), but unfortunately, this just wasn’t the book for me. Maybe I tried it at the wrong time (the period between Christmas and New Years can leave anyone feeling a bit off), but I’m sorry, I just couldn’t get excited about it! To be fair, this is the third book in a series, and I have not read the previous books, so I think that would make a difference as well.

The story is set in New York City. I really wanted to love the setting, but my country girl heart just did not.

The story champions a girl/woman who is trying to make her ice cream business thrive. She is willing to make many sacrifices (and even take care of her own machines in her ice cream factory). Certainly not something I’ve ever read about! Her can do attitude was inspiring! But then we have a Mr. Potter character who felt larger than life who was willing to do all the illegal things to crush businesses and I guess the stress of it was just too much…. Add to that the man in the book (who would assume will be her romantic interest) is struggling with an ulcer because of stress from his job (which is also due to the Mr. Potter character). It was all just too much for my poor heart.

Thank you to NetGalley for a chance to read and review this book!

What I love about Elizabeth Camden's books in the Blackstone Legacy series is that she takes some obscure event in history that most of us have never heard about and brings it to light along with a captivating story of romance.

Liam and Maggie's characters are likeable and I just loved the strength they both showed in the midst of trouble and how they worked to overcome the difficulties in their lives. All three books are amazing and I do suggest you read them in order to get the full story of the Blackstone family.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Publishes 17 January 2023.

Beautiful and brilliant. Elizabeth Camden weaves a story like no other. I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but I didn’t feel like I was missing key points. Now, of course, I’m headed out to get them!

Such a satisfying conclusion to The Blackstone Legacy series!! From the moment I met Liam in previous books, I wanted more of his story and this book did not disappoint! I’m always amazed how Elizabeth Camden can take topics that seem mundane (ice cream factory!?) and turn them into such romantic books! I have yet to be disappointed by one of her stories and will eagerly await her next to be published.

My thoughts: HEARTS OF STEEL is the most recent book by my favorite historical author, Elizabeth Camden. She writes stories based on real events, and my heart broke for all these poor characters had to endure. I wanted justice for them! I had fallen in love with the characters in previous books and couldn't wait to read this story. If you or a friend like historical romance, you will want to read HEARTS OF STEEL as well as the other two books in the series. This will make a great last minute gift with this book arriving in time to battle the winter blahs. Recommended. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

I’ve read all three of the Blackstone Legacy books and I think this was my favorite. I love the way Elizabeth Camden makes historical fiction incredibly enjoyable! Liam and Maggie’s story was both believable and heartwarming, and Charles Morse, the villain in the story, was a real person, as I learned from the author’s notes. Bravo, Elizabeth!

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Five stars!

"Hearts of Steel" is a romance set in 1902 in America. I keep reading this author's novels because she brings the time period alive in my imagination. The historical details were woven into the story and events from that time impact and motivate those in the story. It's very suspenseful, too. However, I felt so frustrated with the main characters. While they were complex and realistic, they didn't really grow as people.

I loved Maggie's strength of character to keep on working to recover when facing setbacks and her willingness to stand against an evil, powerful man and to sacrifice for the betterment of others. However, Maggie was careful with money to the point of being very frugal. Money made her feel secure. Money and how it's spent became a source of conflict in Maggie and Liam's relationship. Liam assumed she was interested in him because of his money, so she's careful not to ask money from him even when he offered that help. But it's also a pride issue. Look at what SHE did through her own hard work! At the end, she finally accepted some money offered as a gift, but she just couldn't enjoy what that money bought so she demanded that the person allow her to pay it back as a loan. Frankly, I assume Maggie and Liam will be fighting over each other's spending habits for the rest of their lives.

You don't need to read the previous novels to understand this one, but they'd help you to understand Liam. I liked Liam better in the previous two books, where he made a real effort to do what it took to gain his goal of helping others even when it was hard for him to make changes. In this book, he's single-minded in his desire to get revenge on his rival. Helping others was done mainly so he could look better than his rival. He used other people (including Maggie). He demanded things be on his terms even to the point of pushing Maggie to eat expensive food when she had good reason to not want to. He never did learn to tame his quick temper and even admitted that he didn't want to (despite the potential consequences) because it felt good. In the end, he only stopped pursuing his vengeance because family members forced him to stop.

Maggie sometimes prayed the rosary. Liam didn't believe in God but started reading his father's Bible. Liam had a moment when he realized that he did good things for the wrong reasons and liked how he felt when bullying his enemies. Maggie immediately told him that "You need to stop thinking of yourself as a bad person....you've been trying to do the right thing....Sometimes you will stumble, but you always pick yourself up and try again, and that's all God asks of you." No mention of Jesus or of confessing sin to God or of asking God for help. There was no sex or bad language.

This is the final book in this great series, based on fact but brought to life with this fictional story.

We are back with Liam Blackstone, he is still adjusting to his life of privilege, after spending most of it as a kidnap victim. In this read the author has placed Maggie Molinaro in his path, a smart young woman whom with her Uncle has developed a crafted ice cream successful business.

Of course, life can't be smooth running, and greed does raise its ugly head here, in the form of a real person, and according to the author's notes some of the happenings were real.

We are offered a bit of sweet romance, a horrible bully with hired thugs, and those who want to help the less fortunate.

A page turner from gifted author Elizabeth Camden!

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

When I read an Elizabeth Camden book, I am immediately engaged in the story. Book 3 of The Blackstone Legacy series opens as Maggie is being bullied and having her family's source of income stolen from her. Years later, she has built her ice cream company and has found herself in a similar situation on a much larger scale as she struggled against the ice trust that was destroying small businesses in New York City. She has captured the attention of Liam Blackstone, who has his own battles against their common enemy, and they found strength fighting their battles together. I love the history that is always woven throughout Camden's novels, and I find myself fighting the urge to jump ahead to the author's endnotes. I am always surprised to learn which parts of the story are true. As always, the romance is clean, and there are positive character themes. I was struck by the willingness of both Liam and Maggie to sacrifice their own fates for the benefit of others. I loved that the characters from the previous books kept popping up, which is completely natural since the series is based on an extended family, so in my opinion, this trilogy should be read in the intended sequence..I am grateful to Bethany House for the opportunity to read an advance copy on NetGalley so that I could give my opinion..

This last book in the Blackstone Legacy is quite the wide ranging story. From Gadsden Street in Manhattan to the ship Black Rose to the Board room of U.S. Steel. Liam Blackstone and Maggie Molinaro form an alliance that will hopefully rid their lives of Charles Morse, a bully with far reaching influence. But it also creates an alliance between them of a totally different kind.
Maggie and Liam both know what its like to come from nothing. Liam through being reunited with his real family. Maggie through hard work. They are great characters with many faceted personalities.

I read these books out of order and must say that the second one was my favorite. I struggled with the books being long, and felt they could have been edited down some. Also, I felt the first and last books' covers were cold and not appealing, although I realize that they reflected their stories well.

I enjoyed getting to see the characters form the two previous books. And loved the song, Sweet Maggie Rose of Gadsden Street. I loved the history lessons I learned. I never knew much about this period in time and loved the author's historical note at the end.
It is a very interesting and enjoyable series.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book. The opinions are entirely my own.

Hearts of Steel
This novel was the third in Elizabeth Camden’s trilogy, though it could stand alone. I enjoyed it for the resilient characters, the history of both the production and business aspects of ice cream and the steel industry with all the corruption and union issues. I always look forward to the author’s notes at the end of a story and the author surprised me that the villain in this story was actually a very real part of history. I had no idea how the ice industry worked, and how the ice industry touched so very many small businesses, as well as hospitals and even morgues.
I enjoyed the sense of community the small businesses shared. As a nurse I also enjoyed the medical issues of living with anger and how that made an ulcer worse. The historical aspects of this story, more than the romance made this a novel a 5 star read. Thanks to Net Galley, and Bethany House Publishers, as well as Elizabeth Camden for an advance copy. A review is given with pleasure, not required. It will be available January 17th.
#NetGalley #BethanyHouse # Elizabeth Camden #HeartsOf Steel

Hearts of Steel
by Elizabeth Camden
Pub Date: Jan 17, 2023
Bethany House
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
Fantastic conclusion to the series!!
Classic Elizabeth Camden, fabulous historical fiction! I love how she takes an important need for change and puts a voice to the challenges at the time. In Hearts of Steel, Author Elizabeth Camden beautifully immerses us in New York in the 1890's.
If you love historical fiction you will not want to miss this book. I highly recommend Hearts of Steel and the whole Blackstone Legacy series! I love historical fiction by Elizabeth Camden. I always learn something as well as completely enjoy her stories. Don't forget to check out the fascinating Historical Note at the end of the book.
5 stars