Elizabeth Camden: A Dangerous Legacy

By Kelly Bridgewater

Lucy Drake's mastery of Morse code has made her a valuable asset to the American news agencies as a telegrapher. But the sudden arrival of Sir Colin Beckwith at rival British news agency Reuters puts her hard-earned livelihood at risk. Newly arrived from London, Colin is talented, handsome, and insufferably charming.

Despite their rivalry, Lucy realizes Colin's connections could be just what her family needs to turn the tide of their long legal battle over the fortune they were swindled out of forty years ago. When she negotiates an unlikely alliance with him, neither of them realizes how far the web of treachery they're wading into will take them.

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My Thoughts:

A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden is a unique historical novel that takes place during the early twentieth century. One thing I really enjoy about Camden's novels is her ability to bring the technology we use every day to the forefront of my imagination in a fictionalized story. I'm always drawn into the trouble the characters find themselves in while learning something about the great inventions that have made life easier for modern day life.

Camden does a great job at writing the story. She is clear and concise in her descriptions and her writing. I have no problem picturing the scene and the setting. Camden does a really job at bringing New York City to life. She also does a great job at bringing the elaborate mansions to life when Camden travels out of New York to spy on Uncle Thomas.

I really enjoyed the plot in this story. I enjoyed seeing how the telegraphers worked and how the plumbing began in the early twentieth century. One of my favorite things for a historical writer to do is to tell me a little bit about history without overwhelming me. Sarah Sun din and Camden are my favorite two writers who do this. I enjoy the twists and turns that Camden has created in the mystery to keep Lucy and Nick on their toes as they struggle against their uncle and seek justice.

I really enjoyed spending time with Lucy, who is a smart woman who doesn't mind working for a living. Never once does she go out of her way to try to blackmail her uncle for her own selfish reasons. She wants him to allow the plumbing valve to be distributed for the masses at a reasonable cost. I admire her ability to negotiate and keep a level head throughout the novel. As for Camden, he wasn't one of my favorite hero's. He is a nice guy who appears to be just wanting a rich American heiress to keep his English home afloat, but by the end of the novel, he changes, and I respect him for that.

The romance doesn't dictate the story, but it does take up a good majority of the plot. Not too much. Not too little. Camden keeps it at an even keel. Just the way fans of historical romances like it.

I really LOVE the cover for this novel. The publishing company did a great job. The skyline of New York City in the background with the soft blush colors really captured my attention.

Overall, A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden is a refreshing tale on the importance of the telegraph machine and plumbing for American history. The characters were wonderful to spend time with, and the plot was a great way to spend a couple of days. I anxiously await what historical invention Camden will be crafting a story around next.

I received a complimentary copy of A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars