Meet Me in Virginia: A Heartfelt Contemporary Romance

Far & Away #1

by Elizabeth Camden

She believes in elegance and tradition. He’s all about grit and smashing through obstacles. Together, they’re a disaster waiting to happen—or the perfect match.

Alice Chadwick, a history professor devoted to the genteel values of Jane Austen’s world, has spent her career championing kindness and mannerly comportment in a cutthroat academic environment. But her dream of elevating Austen’s ideals is on the brink of collapse—her colleagues want her fired, and a scandal threatens to ruin her completely.

Enter Jack Latimer, a world-renowned golf course architect with zero patience for old-world charm. He’s brash, bold, and determined to build his masterpiece on a valuable stretch of Virginia property—even if it means demolishing the historic building Alice hopes could save her career.

When their clashing goals spark fiery confrontations, neither is prepared for the unexpected discovery hidden on the property—a find that could save them both if they can stop bickering long enough to work together. As their partnership deepens, so does the inconvenient attraction simmering between them. Will their undeniable chemistry lead to a happily-ever-after—or will their differences derail them both?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary Romance, Clean Romance, Christian Fiction

334 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2025

Reviews

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

So much fun, angst, quirky characters, and a HEA!

[Joleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was just informed I won this from a Goodreads Give-Away.
Yay!
Can’t wait to finish the book I’m currently reading to dig right in to this.

********************************************

Because of my busy schedule this week, it took me two days to finish this. But finish it I did and I’m so glad of it. This is the first book I’ve read with a person suffering hemophilia. But Jack Latimer didn’t really suffer. He decided early on he was not going to let this stop him. However, he had to be very careful that he didn’t cut himself or bruise himself because internal bleeding, even a little of it, can mean hospitalization. Hemophiliacs have to take injections regularly to help with blood clotting if something does happen. This was actually quite interesting and I love the way Miss Camden always does plenty of research on her main topic and side topics within her books.

There were two topics because the main characters had different goals and priorities.

Alice Chadwick was a history professor who loved 19th century English literature, such as the writings of Jane Austen. In order for her to reach tenure at the university she was to be published. She chose to write of a local historical site dating back to the 1600s called Saint Helga’s Spring and Reid's Roost, Helga’s first home in America having ties to the Puritan faith. But the land was scheduled to be bulldozed for a grand golf course, clubhouse and amphitheater for concerts.

Jack Latimer was a working man who designed golf course. He was brash, earthy and would never, never settle down in one spot. I’m sure Ms. Camden did a bit of research on golf course design and golf in general, let alone the hemophilia trope.

I won’t give away the plot as I’m prone to do when I get carried away writing reviews. Suffice it to say, this was very good.

Addendum: I believe this is the first contemporary fiction story I’ve read by Elizabeth Camden. Oh, there’s definitely history in it, but it’s set in today’s timeframe. I love her historical fiction, but this was also amazing.

[Jeanne Alfveby Crea · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

What a captivating story! I am already looking forward to book 2 called The Top of the World releasing next year. Elizabeth Camden is a master of historical fiction, and I am enjoying her latest contemporary offerings as well. In "Meet Me in Virginia" the reader is met with an opposites attract trope. Jack Latimer, a world famous golf course architect with hemophilia, and Alice Chadwick, a history professor involved in an unfortunate international scandal, find themselves completely at odds over a 300+ year old building, standing in the way of progress.

"She might look soft and genteel, but she'd fired the first shot in this war between them."
"He wasn't going to let his inconvenient attraction to her interfere with business."

Strong characters, themes of family dysfunction, forgiveness, becoming who they were meant to be, and a historical mystery kept me turning pages. Fans of contemporary romance, with a thread of historical mystery will love Meet Me in Virginia.

Thank you to the author for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.

[Paula Shreckhise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this author when she writes historical books and am captivated by her contemporary offerings.
This was an enemies to love trope with a love triangle and scandal thrown in for good measure.
The part I liked most was the historical angle about The Roost, a 300 year old building and the mystery surrounding its original owners from the 1600s.
The story was so much more than a romance. It was about complex family relationships which begged for healing and forgiveness. The setting was a favorite place of mine: Williamsburg, Virginia and told a bit about William and Mary College. The information about building a golf course and Jack, his health issues and background was very interesting.
If you enjoy Ms Camden’s historical stories, try one of her contemporaries. You will not be disappointed.
*A complimentary copy of the book was provided by the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

[Loraine Nunley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Sparks fly between Alice and Jack right from the start and their conflicting goals kept me turning the pages, hoping for compromises to be had. I loved that even though they were both quick to get riled up, they could still step back from their emotions to see the other’s viewpoint. They were such opposites that I wasn’t sure if they would work, but they did in such wonderful ways. I really loved that falling in love didn’t require either of them to fundamentally change. They accepted and loved their true selves. I learned a lot about history and a health condition I wasn’t familiar with in a very entertaining way.

I received this book complimentary as a member of the authors launch team. I was not required to give a positive review. All of the opinions I have expressed here are honest and my own.

[Stella Potts · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book even though it is not my usual genre. I Ed the characters and the plot and all the Historical elements in the story. Jack and Alice are a perfect example of opposites attracting. She is prim and proper with her roots firmly planted in Virginia and he is a happy go lucky nomad. So when they fell in love it was far from smooth sailing. I believe you would enjoy this book as much as I have and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway with no requirement for a positive review.

[Kami S · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do love a good Camden book, but this one took place in today's time .. with all the noise, the phones, etc... it was still enjoyable, with a bit of history thrown in, but just not a book I'd read again.

[Melissa’s Bookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Camden delivers a heartwarming, intricate, opposites attract romance in her amazing new contemporary, Meet Me in Virginia. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Alice, the Jane Austen history professor & Jack, the manly, self made golf course designer. Their lovely, complicated, enemies to lovers romance coupled with an intriguing historical mystery kept me eagerly turning the pages.

History professor Alice Chadwick grew up in the lap of luxury, enjoying world travel & studying Jane Austen. But, a recent scandal on a movie set in England threatens her reputation & hope for tenure at The College of William & Mary. Returning home from the disastrous experience, she’s determined to discover the history behind an old crumbling 1600’s homestead named The Roost. When a golf course designer threatens to tear it down, she vows to prove its historical value & save it from destruction, even if her opponent’s infuriatingly handsome & charming.

Jack Latimer grew up in foster care after his mother died & alcoholic father could no longer care for him & his medical condition. His tough childhood made him into who he is today, even if he has no family he claims, or roots. His expertise at designing golf courses leads to a nomadic existence, going from project to project & never settling down. The prim & proper college professor attracts him like no other & he enjoys matching wits with her. Her excitement in learning the truth of the Roost intrigues him & her cooking completely wows him. Though they’re total opposites, for the first time, he’s finding it hard to leave her behind.

I loved this story! Jack’s & Alice’s romance was filled with delicious tension & swoon worthy romance. It was fun seeing an everyman win out over a Mr. Darcy type. The mystery of St. Helga & the Roost was intriguing & I loved unraveling each clue.

Jack has hemophilia & I appreciated learning more about his condition & the precautions he must take. I also enjoyed seeing him confront the past & find forgiveness. Alice is a delight! Though her problems return, literally, I enjoyed how she stood up for herself. Her parents are a nightmare & it was fun seeing Jack meet them for the first time.

Highly recommend! Looking forward to Alice’s brother Quentin’s story. I received an advanced copy from the author, but also purchased it in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own & provided voluntarily.

[Winnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

“We have to accept the good with the bad. Sometimes I think the good things in life wouldn’t be so sweet unless we had the bitter to teach us the difference.”

I’ve been enjoying Elizabeth Camden’s historical fiction for years, but her recent forays into contemporary romance have completely captured my interest as well. Meet Me in Virginia features history professor Alice Chadwick and well-known golf course architect Jack Latimer in an opposites attract trope mixed with an enemies to love trope. Alice is trying to salvage her reputation after a public scandal by solving a mystery concerning a historic building and its early occupants. Jack is set on tearing down the building, The Roost, to build an amphitheater on the golf course grounds. As they get to know each other, their relationship changes, and they work together to solve the mystery.

The characters are well-drawn and engaging. I especially liked that Alice and Jack were opposites, but they meshed well together without having to make big changes to their basic characters. I enjoyed all the history that was ingrained in the tale. It was well-researched and fascinating.

“Don’t let a person’s bad actions stop you from being a good person.”

“There will always be times when we must walk through shadows, but it is in these dark moments that we find our strength. Keep moving forward, and soon the light will break through the clouds.”

Themes of forgiveness and overcoming adversity amid family dysfunction are showcased in this captivating story. I liked the life lessons learned and the growth shown in the characters. I’m looking forward to the next book in the series. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

[Life of Literature · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love opposite attract troupes, and this novel was full of spirit as Alice and Jack clash over this piece of Virginia property. It was easy to like them individually and then fall in love with them as their relationship naturally developed. The author does such a wonderful job with her research and attention to detail, which shines through in this novel as well. The themes of dysfunctional families and forgiveness are also expertly interwoven and add depth to the story. I loved the twist of mystery to the novel as well and it easily kept my attention as I read late into the night. This author is a master at historical novels and one of my favorites, but she is quickly becoming a favorite of the modern story as well. Much loved and highly recommended! I cannot wait for book two in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always have enjoyed Elizabeth Camden's books for the strong female leads, interesting professions, well-researched historic details, and good storytelling. I always enjoy reading them and feel like I learn something new. Her contemporary books have not disappointed and still contain all these elements. She is excellent with writing an opposites attract story where the characters are very different, and yet come together and mutual love and respect for each other. They don't just tolerate their differences, they embrace them, challenge each other, and grow stronger together. The historic mystery was quite fascinating, and the book had food for thought about preserving and adapting historic sites. This was another winner from Elizabeth Camden, and I look forward to the next one in the series.

[Nicole Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Why I read this: Because it’s Elizabeth Camden.

What I got: Another great Camden novel with a run down historical building that has a secret, an ambitious golf course architect, a classy history professor, some celebrity drama, and an opposites attract/enemies to lovers romance.

I LOVE that always learn something about history from Camden’s books, I just wish this one had had an author’s note. And maybe a more thorough copy editor. (There were multiple instances of the same word being used in two consecutive sentences). And I needed a little more in the middle of the romance to believe how she changed her mind about our rugged golf course architect.

But those nitpicks aside, I really enjoyed this one!

Audio: pretty good

Content: kisses only, side character has a drug addiction, loss of a parent

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way the author weaves history into the story! I didn't know much about Cromwell (other than that he's widely hated in Ireland), but it was fascinating to learn the bit the author included and how it ties in with American history (the author's note details the actual history that the story is inspired by). I enjoyed Alice and Jack (though that both are so outspoken in their opinions had me cringing in secondhand embarrassment a couple times), and it was really interesting to read about a modern person with hemophilia. I'm really looking forward to reading Quentin's story, and hopefully their other brother's as well!

[Jennifer K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this contemporary story with a huge historical thread. Amidst an opposites attract tale, an interesting mystery unfolds which had me turning pages. The book involves dealing with dysfunctional families, forgiveness, living with health issues and dating relationships. Camden wonderfully depicted the setting of historic Virginia. Fans of southern fiction will really enjoy this story and the good news is another book involving a few of these characters will be coming next in this series. I’m grateful to have received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one once I was a few chapters in. The MCs came across as a little hardheaded and abrasive in the beginning, but I quickly warmed up to them. The romance was more in the background and I liked that a lot, especially since the hero had dated, in his own words, "plenty of women", and that's not usually my favourite kind of hero However, there was no real OP drama so that's a plus in that category. All in all, I enjoyed the historical mystery and research the most and liked that the author had based it on the story of a real person. This was a fun read.

[Bobbie Norlander · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the challenges that Jack and Alice faced in this book. From Jack building the golf course to Alice’s reputation to so much more! Then add in the mystery concerning the original owners of The Roost. The book kept my attention throughout. My only criticism is the author uses the words “a lot” too much. There are so many other words to use besides, “a lot”.

[Kerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Elizabeth Camden's second book that she has written in the genre of contemporary romance. I loved this book because the characters were well well written and are relatable. I also enjoyed that this book was clean and has some historical issues in the story. Read this book. You will not be disappointed!

[Virginia Winfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this sweet romance with a bit of intrigue. I really enjoyed how opposite Alice and Jack were in almost every way. I could not put the book down and I laughed and cried a lot. I loved the descriptions of golf and of the areas in Virginia. I never knew how much went in to putting a golf course together. I received a copy of the book and gave an honest opinion.

[Diane Pitts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elizabeth Camden gives us another excellent read about two opposites who unearth historical mysteries and form a unique relationship in the process.

The storyline sweeps the reader along with humor, distinctive characters, and a refreshing plot. Elizabeth Camden’s research gives depth to each of her books.

This series is a treat.

[Jan Gustafson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting historical fiction!!!

What does a rundown historical house, centuries old, and a developing golf course have to do with each other? Unless the house sits in the way! How does one resolve the conflict? Read this book to find out?

I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway and this is my own opinion.

[Dianne Sidebottom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jack and Alice's story.
Unlikely romance/relationship but....
The characters were very different /original circumstances that I hadn't read before (but that would be my perspective).
Another book to come is Quentin's story.

[Merit Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Me in Virginia is a delightful romance full of charm, wit, and sparks between two very different characters. Elizabeth Camden weaves history, humor, and heartfelt emotion into a story that keeps you engaged from start to finish. A perfect blend of tension, chemistry, and sweet resolution!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing romance with strong characters

As always, Elizabeth Camden creates intriguing characters in a beautiful backdrop. Even though this is a contemporary romance she is able to still include a historical mystery. I always enjoy reading her books!

[Stephanie A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic

Elizabeth Camden did am amazing job in this book. I have read all of her works. She led me into contemporary books, as I usually don't read books in this genre. Her characters have good standards, high character, growth, depth of character... Love it all.

[Lori Chasko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story and always enjoy assisting this author! Extremely captivating story as always!

[Carri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story so much! And I love this author. Historical romance is fasts becoming a favorite of mine ❤️

[Karen Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book about Alice and Jack’s relationship. I’ve always liked Elizabeth Camden’s books, bit I do like her historical fiction better than her contemporary.

[Ranee · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were several repeated phrases, maybe a typo, and some somewhat annoying relationship drama but the story drew me in, as this author’s always do.

[Lexi Spence · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such an amazing book! Elizabeth Camden has always been one of my favorite authors and I will continue to read any books she releases. I can’t wait to read more.