Never in her wildest dreams did Anna O'Brien ever expect her life to be anything but ordinary. She achieved what she wanted for her career as a librarian working in the map department in the Library of Congress. It wasn't a job that was offered usually to women and as such her job as well as those of a handful of women working in the library were offered on a temporary basis to see how it might work out. For Anna, it was her dream job. As a lover of books, she adored simply being in the library, and working in the map department kept her close to her father, who died aboard a ship lost at sea, while working on mapping the ocean floor.
One of her many tasks was doing research for the congressmen who might need facts about the ocean currents, the location of various sea life found near the coastlines, as well as a handful of any other subjects dealing with the maps in which she took great pleasure in keeping in a meticulous manner. Her best friend was a boy she grew up with Neville, who was teased all through school for his nervous ticks and twitches. Anna could relate to him more than most when her father forced her to drink lye while he was drunk when he caught her swearing. It forever changed her voice and made her extraordinarily self conscience when anyone heard her voice.
She knew previous women had lost their position in the library when they were found flirting with the many attractive congressmen and members of the government that stopped into the library. Anna vowed that would never be an issue for her until she met Luke Callahan, a congressmen who needed her assistance in research to help win back the position he had lost when a rival childhood friend decided to make an example out of Luke's behavior and demoted him to working for the fisheries commission, but Luke wasn't prepared for the spitfire that Anna was either. Not used to the determination offered by Anna, she called Luke on his less than professional attitude whenever it seemed fitting and he found her a breath of fresh air in a world of politics and lies.
When Anna learns that her father's ship may not have sank where the Navy claims it did, she believes it is in her best interest to correct the facts. The more she digs, the more she ruffles a few feather in the U.S. Navy and they will stop at nothing to ensure that Anna gives up her research even if it means removing her from her position as librarian. Anna isn't willing to give up so easily just because a handful of Navy officials pressure her into giving up. She isn't about to let anyone bully her, and hopes to gain Luke's help in searching for the truth.
I received Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden compliments of Bethany House Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. The best part of this novel is the strong determination of Anna's character. She isn't willing to lay down her convictions that the truth may be discovered and believes her father may in fact still be alive. I love her convictions to follow the research wherever it leads and found myself relating to her quite a bit. She isn't willing to let a man rule her heart and tries to do all she can to assert herself despite all of Luke's attempts to win her heart. You are rooting for them both at so many times throughout the novel but it seems like something always gets in the way. I love that this one is based on the true story surrounding a ship that was apparently lost at sea in a way to keep the truth a secret during a time of difficult relations with Spain at the time that would have led to war. For me, once again Elizabeth Camden has capture my heart in this story and deserves 5 out of 5 stars! I can't wait for her to write another novel and she is one of my favorite historical romance authors!!!
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Travel back in time to the U.S. Capitol and the Library of Congress in Elizabeth Camden's newest release, Beyond All Dreams. From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for their futures?
Elizabeth is celebrating the release of Beyond All Dreams with a Kindle giveaway and Facebook party on February 17.
One grand prize winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- One copy of Beyond All Dreams
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