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Hope and Glory #2
A Gilded Lady
Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the First Lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.
Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately attracted to Caroline's quick wit and undeniable charm, but his job leaves no room for distractions. Anarchist plots have led to mounting threats against the president, forcing him to put duty before his growing love for Caroline.
Amid the glamorous pageantry of Guilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel face danger and heartbreak that shakes them to their core and tests all they know about love and sacrifice.
Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately attracted to Caroline's quick wit and undeniable charm, but his job leaves no room for distractions. Anarchist plots have led to mounting threats against the president, forcing him to put duty before his growing love for Caroline.
Amid the glamorous pageantry of Guilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel face danger and heartbreak that shakes them to their core and tests all they know about love and sacrifice.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published June 2, 2020
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July 8, 2022
About this book:
“Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the First Lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.
Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately attracted to Caroline's quick wit and undeniable charm, but his job leaves no room for distractions. Anarchist plots have led to mounting threats against the president, forcing him to put duty before his growing love for Caroline.
Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel face danger and heartbreak that shakes them to their core and tests all they know about love and sacrifice.”
Series: Book #2 in the “Hope and Glory” trilogy. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, read, remembered, & thought over; Prayers; Church going & going to churches to pray for someone; Visiting a Jewish synagogue; Talks about God, being unconditionally loved, & being forgiven; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Nathaniel wonders why God allowed something bad to happen and struggles with finding the reason; Mentions of God, Him knowing best, & Jesus forgiving our sins; Mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & books of the Bible; Mentions of being a good Christian (& even when you don’t feel like it) and Christian duties; Mentions of churches, services, sermons/messages, & pastors/ministers/priests; Mentions of a Jewish synagogue, Torah scrolls, & rabbis; Mentions of those from the Bible; A few mentions of a man reading the Bible and swearing that he’s a changed man; A few mentions of an engraving of the prodigal son; A couple mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of godsends; A couple mentions of Puritans like Jonathan Edwards “threatening sinners in the hands of an angry God”; A couple mentions of a man wearing (no shirt and) angels wings while holding up a Bible and preaching doom to a crowd; A couple mentions of men living like a monk; A mention of a chaplain; A mention of a book of sermons; A mention of a rosary; A mention of someone being as guilty as sin;
*Note: A few mentions of two different men’s demons & one battling them; A mention of a devilish smile; A mention of a talisman.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘[didn’t] care a fig about [something]’, a ‘drat’, a ‘oh my word’, three ‘idiot’s, three ‘shut up’, and three forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Seeing someone shot & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); An assassination, assassination attempts, gunfire, & fighting the shooters (up to semi-detailed); Being shot, gunfire, fighting, pain, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Caroline is trying to quit smoking, but craves cigarettes when under stress to calm herself or when she sees someone else smoking (she smokes cigarettes twice); All about many mentions of assassinations, assassins, trying to keep an assassination from happening, shootings, shooters, gunfire, guns, bullets, knives, blood/bleeding, injuries, pain, & how they happened (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of treason, traitors, a possible hanging/execution, trials, jails/prisons, & arrests; Many mentions of alcohol, social drinking, drinking, & drunks (Nathaniel says he doesn’t drink; Luke drinks once); Many mentions of smoking, tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, & pipes (Caroline struggles with quitting smoking); Mentions of nightmares of a death of a loved one (drowning), their body, & a family member grieving them (including recalling it, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths, illnesses, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars, battles, fights, fighting, & deaths; Mentions of beatings & torture; Mentions of rebellions, violence, & threats; Mentions of bombings & bomb threats; Mentions of gangs, criminals, & crimes; Mentions of embezzlement; Mentions of con-artists, forgers, forgeries, & counterfeit items; Mention of fires & burns (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of break-ins & breaking in; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a family member dying from falling down the stairs (barely-above-not detailed); A couple mentions of possible kidnappings; A couple mentions of robberies; A couple mentions of members of someone’s family being arrested to pressure them to turn themselves in; A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of blackmail;
*Note: Mentions of Mrs. McKinley’s seizures & terrible headaches (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a family grieving the deaths of their young daughters; A couple mentions of a mother leaving her family to run off with a traveling salesman.
Sexual Content- A palm kiss, two cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed, and four semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss someone & wanting to steal a kiss; Touches, Embraces, Electricity, Hand Holding, Nearness, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); When Caroline’s shawl slips and show bare skin, Nathaniel is tempted and asks her to pull it back up; Caroline bumps Nathaniel’s ankle on purpose & he says he is “impervious to temptation” but notice the electricity; Mentions of kisses & kissing (including a few conversations about kissing someone and women wondering if a man is a good kisser); Mentions of a man swearing to God that he not taking liberties with a girl besides a peck on the cheek; Mentions of flirting (including Caroline & Nathaniel’s flirtatious conversations, and Caroline pleading, bargaining, and flirting to get something done for her job); Mentions of blushes & winks; A few mentions of sibling betting who will get kissed first (which Caroline won when she asked a minister to kiss her and he did); A few mentions of a man being told to keep his hands off of a woman & her teasingly saying that she will keep her hands to herself; A few mentions of crushes & being teased about having one; A couple mentions of affairs; A couple mentions of Caroline flinging herself to Nathaniel; A mention of a man looking up and down Caroline’s body (which she is used to and doesn’t mind if it snags this man’s attention because she needs something from him); A mention of getting an eyeful of married couple being affectionate; Love, attraction, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of someone saying about a tradition about taking off their clothes, drinking, & dancing around a bonfire (not really, said to annoy someone else).
-Caroline Delacroix, age 28-29
-Nathaniel Trask, age 38-39
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1900-1901
356 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
{ Add a ½ star for girls interested in American Political History. }
I truly enjoyed the different style of pacing for this historical romance novel. Based on an interaction we see of Caroline and Nathaniel from “The Spice King”, I was really expecting this to be have the enemies-to-lovers trope between the two of them. I was pleasantly surprised that it did not and that this book covered over a year of their lives. While, yes, they were attracted to each other very quickly, because of their work keeping them very busy, I would call it more of a slow-burn romance.
I really liked Caroline. She’s good at damage control; She goes after what she wants in a strong (almost in a polite but forceful?) way; She’s interested in fashion and high society but she’s not shallow or ditsy. To describe her in a word: vibrant. I felt kinship with Annabelle from the first book, but I admired Caroline. I honestly enjoyed that they didn’t really get along (mainly Caroline towards Annabelle for her past actions) because it was different from the typical new sisters-in-law fawning over each other and because their personalities are so vastly different. I’m so eager to read the third book and finally learn more about Luke.
Like normal with an Elizabeth Camden book, I kept pausing reading to look up different historical facts and events that were taking place and upcoming, waiting in suspense for different events to happen.
While this one didn’t enthrall me quite like “The Spice King” did, I still found this second book to be very interesting and I enjoyed learning more about an administration that I didn’t know much about. Definitely looking forward to reading the third and final book soon.
(Side note: It felt very fitting to read this novel on the 4th of July. :) )
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the First Lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.
Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately attracted to Caroline's quick wit and undeniable charm, but his job leaves no room for distractions. Anarchist plots have led to mounting threats against the president, forcing him to put duty before his growing love for Caroline.
Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel face danger and heartbreak that shakes them to their core and tests all they know about love and sacrifice.”
Series: Book #2 in the “Hope and Glory” trilogy. Review of Book #1 Here!
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, read, remembered, & thought over; Prayers; Church going & going to churches to pray for someone; Visiting a Jewish synagogue; Talks about God, being unconditionally loved, & being forgiven; ‘H’s are capitalized when referring to God; Nathaniel wonders why God allowed something bad to happen and struggles with finding the reason; Mentions of God, Him knowing best, & Jesus forgiving our sins; Mentions of prayers, praying, & thanking God; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & books of the Bible; Mentions of being a good Christian (& even when you don’t feel like it) and Christian duties; Mentions of churches, services, sermons/messages, & pastors/ministers/priests; Mentions of a Jewish synagogue, Torah scrolls, & rabbis; Mentions of those from the Bible; A few mentions of a man reading the Bible and swearing that he’s a changed man; A few mentions of an engraving of the prodigal son; A couple mentions of Heaven; A couple mentions of godsends; A couple mentions of Puritans like Jonathan Edwards “threatening sinners in the hands of an angry God”; A couple mentions of a man wearing (no shirt and) angels wings while holding up a Bible and preaching doom to a crowd; A couple mentions of men living like a monk; A mention of a chaplain; A mention of a book of sermons; A mention of a rosary; A mention of someone being as guilty as sin;
*Note: A few mentions of two different men’s demons & one battling them; A mention of a devilish smile; A mention of a talisman.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘[didn’t] care a fig about [something]’, a ‘drat’, a ‘oh my word’, three ‘idiot’s, three ‘shut up’, and three forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Sarcasm & Eye rolling; Seeing someone shot & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); An assassination, assassination attempts, gunfire, & fighting the shooters (up to semi-detailed); Being shot, gunfire, fighting, pain, injuries, & blood/bleeding (up to semi-detailed); Caroline is trying to quit smoking, but craves cigarettes when under stress to calm herself or when she sees someone else smoking (she smokes cigarettes twice); All about many mentions of assassinations, assassins, trying to keep an assassination from happening, shootings, shooters, gunfire, guns, bullets, knives, blood/bleeding, injuries, pain, & how they happened (up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of treason, traitors, a possible hanging/execution, trials, jails/prisons, & arrests; Many mentions of alcohol, social drinking, drinking, & drunks (Nathaniel says he doesn’t drink; Luke drinks once); Many mentions of smoking, tobacco, cigarettes, cigars, & pipes (Caroline struggles with quitting smoking); Mentions of nightmares of a death of a loved one (drowning), their body, & a family member grieving them (including recalling it, border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed); Mentions of deaths, illnesses, & injuries (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of wars, battles, fights, fighting, & deaths; Mentions of beatings & torture; Mentions of rebellions, violence, & threats; Mentions of bombings & bomb threats; Mentions of gangs, criminals, & crimes; Mentions of embezzlement; Mentions of con-artists, forgers, forgeries, & counterfeit items; Mention of fires & burns (up to semi-detailed); Mentions of break-ins & breaking in; Mentions of lies & lying; Mentions of eavesdropping; Mentions of gossip & rumors; A few mentions of a family member dying from falling down the stairs (barely-above-not detailed); A couple mentions of possible kidnappings; A couple mentions of robberies; A couple mentions of members of someone’s family being arrested to pressure them to turn themselves in; A couple mentions of hatred; A mention of blackmail;
*Note: Mentions of Mrs. McKinley’s seizures & terrible headaches (barely-above-not-detailed); A couple mentions of a family grieving the deaths of their young daughters; A couple mentions of a mother leaving her family to run off with a traveling salesman.
Sexual Content- A palm kiss, two cheek kisses, a forehead kiss, a barely-above-not-detailed, and four semi-detailed kisses; Remembering a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Wanting to kiss someone & wanting to steal a kiss; Touches, Embraces, Electricity, Hand Holding, Nearness, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Blushes; Noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); When Caroline’s shawl slips and show bare skin, Nathaniel is tempted and asks her to pull it back up; Caroline bumps Nathaniel’s ankle on purpose & he says he is “impervious to temptation” but notice the electricity; Mentions of kisses & kissing (including a few conversations about kissing someone and women wondering if a man is a good kisser); Mentions of a man swearing to God that he not taking liberties with a girl besides a peck on the cheek; Mentions of flirting (including Caroline & Nathaniel’s flirtatious conversations, and Caroline pleading, bargaining, and flirting to get something done for her job); Mentions of blushes & winks; A few mentions of sibling betting who will get kissed first (which Caroline won when she asked a minister to kiss her and he did); A few mentions of a man being told to keep his hands off of a woman & her teasingly saying that she will keep her hands to herself; A few mentions of crushes & being teased about having one; A couple mentions of affairs; A couple mentions of Caroline flinging herself to Nathaniel; A mention of a man looking up and down Caroline’s body (which she is used to and doesn’t mind if it snags this man’s attention because she needs something from him); A mention of getting an eyeful of married couple being affectionate; Love, attraction, falling in love, & the emotions;
*Note: A mention of someone saying about a tradition about taking off their clothes, drinking, & dancing around a bonfire (not really, said to annoy someone else).
-Caroline Delacroix, age 28-29
-Nathaniel Trask, age 38-39
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1900-1901
356 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
{ Add a ½ star for girls interested in American Political History. }
I truly enjoyed the different style of pacing for this historical romance novel. Based on an interaction we see of Caroline and Nathaniel from “The Spice King”, I was really expecting this to be have the enemies-to-lovers trope between the two of them. I was pleasantly surprised that it did not and that this book covered over a year of their lives. While, yes, they were attracted to each other very quickly, because of their work keeping them very busy, I would call it more of a slow-burn romance.
I really liked Caroline. She’s good at damage control; She goes after what she wants in a strong (almost in a polite but forceful?) way; She’s interested in fashion and high society but she’s not shallow or ditsy. To describe her in a word: vibrant. I felt kinship with Annabelle from the first book, but I admired Caroline. I honestly enjoyed that they didn’t really get along (mainly Caroline towards Annabelle for her past actions) because it was different from the typical new sisters-in-law fawning over each other and because their personalities are so vastly different. I’m so eager to read the third book and finally learn more about Luke.
Like normal with an Elizabeth Camden book, I kept pausing reading to look up different historical facts and events that were taking place and upcoming, waiting in suspense for different events to happen.
While this one didn’t enthrall me quite like “The Spice King” did, I still found this second book to be very interesting and I enjoyed learning more about an administration that I didn’t know much about. Definitely looking forward to reading the third and final book soon.
(Side note: It felt very fitting to read this novel on the 4th of July. :) )
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
May 28, 2020
The Gilded Lady is book two in the Hope and Glory series, Elizabeth Camden's newest series. I absolutely adored book one, The Spice King, so I was thrilled to receive a copy of book two!
The Hope and Glory series follows three siblings--Gray, Luke, and Caroline Delacroix. Of course, the sibling aspect has major appeal to me. This book follows Caroline's story and picks up either directly after Gray's story, or even a little before. It continues Luke's story from book one, and the suspense of that storyline had me on the edge of my seat! I loved the sibling relationships and loyalty.
Caroline is a very intriguing character, much different from me, but I found her relatable nonetheless. Her job as the first lady's secretary was fascinating to read about and I loved the history aspect. Nathaniel Trask, Caroline's counterpart, was also a very well-rounded and interesting character. His strong moral compass and sense of duty was endearing, even if you did want to slap him on occasion. I love the pacing of Camden's romances, particularly in this series. The characters fall in love relatively early in the series, but it never feels rushed or unrealistic. The ups and downs the relationship goes through throughout the rest of the book is also very realistic and makes for some heartbreaking moments as well as some comedy.
Camden's sense of humor that shines through in both her descriptions and word choices as well as her characters is one of the things that makes her books so fantastic! Another thing is the rich history Camden includes. I always learn something from her novels, without ever feeling like I'm getting a dry history lesson. The up-close view of McKinley's presidency was fascinating, and knowing Camden's books, I can count on the historical information to be entirely accurate and completely researched.
Caroline and Nathaniel's story wraps up, leaving the opening for the continuation of Luke's story in book three, which I will be eagerly anticipating! If you love rich historical fiction with deep characters and sweet romance, you definitely need to check out the Hope and Glory series! I cannot recommend Camden's book enough.
FTC Dislocsure; I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
The Hope and Glory series follows three siblings--Gray, Luke, and Caroline Delacroix. Of course, the sibling aspect has major appeal to me. This book follows Caroline's story and picks up either directly after Gray's story, or even a little before. It continues Luke's story from book one, and the suspense of that storyline had me on the edge of my seat! I loved the sibling relationships and loyalty.
Caroline is a very intriguing character, much different from me, but I found her relatable nonetheless. Her job as the first lady's secretary was fascinating to read about and I loved the history aspect. Nathaniel Trask, Caroline's counterpart, was also a very well-rounded and interesting character. His strong moral compass and sense of duty was endearing, even if you did want to slap him on occasion. I love the pacing of Camden's romances, particularly in this series. The characters fall in love relatively early in the series, but it never feels rushed or unrealistic. The ups and downs the relationship goes through throughout the rest of the book is also very realistic and makes for some heartbreaking moments as well as some comedy.
Camden's sense of humor that shines through in both her descriptions and word choices as well as her characters is one of the things that makes her books so fantastic! Another thing is the rich history Camden includes. I always learn something from her novels, without ever feeling like I'm getting a dry history lesson. The up-close view of McKinley's presidency was fascinating, and knowing Camden's books, I can count on the historical information to be entirely accurate and completely researched.
Caroline and Nathaniel's story wraps up, leaving the opening for the continuation of Luke's story in book three, which I will be eagerly anticipating! If you love rich historical fiction with deep characters and sweet romance, you definitely need to check out the Hope and Glory series! I cannot recommend Camden's book enough.
FTC Dislocsure; I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 17, 2020
Now while this is the second book in the Hope and Glory series and it can be read alone please do yourself a huge favor and read book number one and the upcoming book three as well. You'll love yourself for it and have a clearer understanding of the story as it progresses.
After discovering this author's books she has become an automatic must buy with each new publication .
No matter the historical subject she chooses to write about she goes about it fully armed with exquisitely done research which I absolutely love.
In my opinion the more detail historically given about a subject the better.
I love to learn from what I read and her historical fiction is chock full of unknown to me information which is always fascinating to learn. Historically accurate to the time period you will appreciate being thrown back to a time period without cell phones to distract us, where people actually talk face to face to come up with a solution.
The character development is genuine and you will definitely be in for some surprises you hadn't seen coming as you progress in your reading of the book. You may want to shout a warning to a few characters for the actions they are about to take, if only they could hear you though!
Faith,adventure,heartbreak,danger and intrigue await your reading within these pages, so what are you waiting for, start reading now!
Anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!
Published June 2nd 2020 by Bethany House Publishers.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
After discovering this author's books she has become an automatic must buy with each new publication .
No matter the historical subject she chooses to write about she goes about it fully armed with exquisitely done research which I absolutely love.
In my opinion the more detail historically given about a subject the better.
I love to learn from what I read and her historical fiction is chock full of unknown to me information which is always fascinating to learn. Historically accurate to the time period you will appreciate being thrown back to a time period without cell phones to distract us, where people actually talk face to face to come up with a solution.
The character development is genuine and you will definitely be in for some surprises you hadn't seen coming as you progress in your reading of the book. You may want to shout a warning to a few characters for the actions they are about to take, if only they could hear you though!
Faith,adventure,heartbreak,danger and intrigue await your reading within these pages, so what are you waiting for, start reading now!
Anxiously awaiting the next book in the series!
Published June 2nd 2020 by Bethany House Publishers.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
October 26, 2021
Once again, my favorite aspect of this book was the history. I'm not especially familiar with the McKinley administration, and I enjoyed experiencing it through Caroline's eyes. The relationship of the President and First Lady was sad and sweet at the same time. I loved the part when Nathaniel followed them into the woods to protect them and wound up regretting it! Camden did a masterful job of weaving historical events into the characters' personal arcs.
Once again, the sibling relationships were my favorites to read about, but once again, the theology seemed a bit off to me. There was so much emphasis on being a good person, and I really didn't understand why the characters acted as if praying in a church or cathedral and giving alms made their prayers more likely to count. I'm so glad I can pray whenever, wherever and know I'll be heard simply because of the blood of Christ.
The political intrigue was fascinating. I started to suspect some of what was up with Luke, but I was disappointed to find I was right. I'm looking forward to reading his story next!
Once again, the sibling relationships were my favorites to read about, but once again, the theology seemed a bit off to me. There was so much emphasis on being a good person, and I really didn't understand why the characters acted as if praying in a church or cathedral and giving alms made their prayers more likely to count. I'm so glad I can pray whenever, wherever and know I'll be heard simply because of the blood of Christ.
The political intrigue was fascinating. I started to suspect some of what was up with Luke, but I was disappointed to find I was right. I'm looking forward to reading his story next!
May 19, 2023
Ohmygoodness I just loved this book SO MUCH!!!!! It was great seeing casts from The Spice King returned and meeting new characters. I loved how this book continued the storyline of Luke that began in the first book! The setting and historical nuggets were so neat and fun to read! Nathanial was such a gem, and my fangirl heart isn't quite sure who she loves more Grey + Annabelle or Nathanial + Caroline!! Either way the sequel is a must-read if you enjoyed The Spice King! Now I'm off to devour book three!
March 3, 2023
4.25⭐️
May 31, 2020
*Que all the happiness* I just adore Elizabeth Camden’s books! And how did I miss the first book in her series Hope and Glory? I definitely intend to pick that book up soon! Thankfully, most of her books can be read as standalone novels. A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden introduces Miss Caroline Delacroix, the secretary and assistant of sorts to the First Lady of the United States in the year 1900. The first lady is quite a handful and Caroline is the only one who can handle her. But she has a secret in her family, a dangerous one that could cost her brother his life. Now enter Nathaniel Trask. He is not head of security and it is lacking, but his uptight behavior is tested as his love for Caroline grows. He can’t afford to be distracted in his line of work.
What can I say? I loved this book. Caroline is SAUCY and I love her. She is unapologetically herself and I want her to be my best friend. Why is she a fictional character? Nathaniel is the talk, serious, brooding type—and I love him too. Their chemistry is fantastic and their passion for standing up for what it right is also wonderful.
BUT. Do not get me started on the historical detail. It is perfect!!! It is my absolutely favorite part. I love how social issues pertaining to the time are brought up and real-life historical figures are brought up. I am a fan of Theodore Roosevelt. This book is just an utter delight from beginning to end. 5 lovely stars for this lovely book!
What can I say? I loved this book. Caroline is SAUCY and I love her. She is unapologetically herself and I want her to be my best friend. Why is she a fictional character? Nathaniel is the talk, serious, brooding type—and I love him too. Their chemistry is fantastic and their passion for standing up for what it right is also wonderful.
BUT. Do not get me started on the historical detail. It is perfect!!! It is my absolutely favorite part. I love how social issues pertaining to the time are brought up and real-life historical figures are brought up. I am a fan of Theodore Roosevelt. This book is just an utter delight from beginning to end. 5 lovely stars for this lovely book!
June 7, 2020
I loved all the history in A Gilded Lady. The novel begins in 1900. Caroline Delacroix is serving as secretary to the First Lady, Ida McKinley. It was interesting to see the events that occurred and the role of assisting the First Lady.
While the history was wonderful, I wasn't enamored with the romance or the main male character, Nathaniel Trask.
Overall, it was an engaging novel and I look forward to the third in the series and reading Luke's story.
While the history was wonderful, I wasn't enamored with the romance or the main male character, Nathaniel Trask.
Overall, it was an engaging novel and I look forward to the third in the series and reading Luke's story.
April 28, 2020
US First Lady’s secretary Caroline Delacroix is struggling with her twin brother Luke’s serious problems while working night and day. Secret Service agent Nathaniel Trask is suspicious of her, but has a hard time focusing because he is intensely attracted to her. As danger intensifies for the First Couple, Caroline and Nathaniel co-operates to deal with challenging and threatening situations.
A Gilded Lady is Book #2 in the Hope and Glory Series by Elizabeth Camden set in 1900s White House life. The series focuses on siblings Grey, Caroline and Luke Delacroix. While book #1 The Spice King focused on Grey, book #2 is about Caroline who serves as secretary to the US First Lady. Caroline and Nathaniel get to know each other better while on the adventure of a lifetime as well as a security nightmare.
The plots with elements of technical inventions mixed in very enjoyably stand out and have made Elizabeth Camden one of my go-to authors for years. Reading A Gilded Lady as a standalone would work perfectly, but picking up book #1 The Spice King would give you a great background and details of the story running through the series.
Main character Caroline Delacroix comes across as a stubborn, entitled and manipulating character. She irritated me all through book #1 The Spice King, but I was pleased to see she goes through an impressive personal development throughout A Gilded Lady. She becomes stronger both in faith and character as she develops from a girl into a woman. She is my favorite of this story.
Secondary character Nathaniel Trask, US Secret Service agent is honorable and rule-conscious but maybe slightly boring. He carries his very own secret that constantly weighs on his mind, and I kept wishing he could ease up a bit in between all the stress of his work. He has a good influence on Caroline as he encourages her to make good decisions.
There is a distinct faith element to the A Gilded Lady. The characters pray for support throughout. Caroline particularly expresses her faith in her dialogue with Nathaniel. Theirs is a slow burn romance totally in keeping with the intensity of the plot. I really enjoyed the balance of it all, where drama was allowed to take center stage while the romance part was made room for in the more quiet parts.
A Gilded Lady is the exiting and entertaining new work from Elizabeth Camden set in the 1900s life in and around the White House. The writing of A Gilded Lady I found vivid and captivating as it expertly drew me into the plot. My favorite part was the exiting separate storyline carried through from book #1 The Spice King, and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Luke.
The ending of A Gilded Lady I felt was well crafted in a way that solved a bit of the most immediate problems of the plot with a surprising twist, while still leaving enough loose ends to be dealt with in the next installment. Fans of Elizabeth Camden’s other work will love A Gilded Lady, as will readers of historical romance fiction. Similar authors to explore might be Rachel Hauck or Michelle Griep.
Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
My rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: Exciting plot, excellent research and vivid writing.
A Gilded Lady is Book #2 in the Hope and Glory Series by Elizabeth Camden set in 1900s White House life. The series focuses on siblings Grey, Caroline and Luke Delacroix. While book #1 The Spice King focused on Grey, book #2 is about Caroline who serves as secretary to the US First Lady. Caroline and Nathaniel get to know each other better while on the adventure of a lifetime as well as a security nightmare.
The plots with elements of technical inventions mixed in very enjoyably stand out and have made Elizabeth Camden one of my go-to authors for years. Reading A Gilded Lady as a standalone would work perfectly, but picking up book #1 The Spice King would give you a great background and details of the story running through the series.
Main character Caroline Delacroix comes across as a stubborn, entitled and manipulating character. She irritated me all through book #1 The Spice King, but I was pleased to see she goes through an impressive personal development throughout A Gilded Lady. She becomes stronger both in faith and character as she develops from a girl into a woman. She is my favorite of this story.
Secondary character Nathaniel Trask, US Secret Service agent is honorable and rule-conscious but maybe slightly boring. He carries his very own secret that constantly weighs on his mind, and I kept wishing he could ease up a bit in between all the stress of his work. He has a good influence on Caroline as he encourages her to make good decisions.
There is a distinct faith element to the A Gilded Lady. The characters pray for support throughout. Caroline particularly expresses her faith in her dialogue with Nathaniel. Theirs is a slow burn romance totally in keeping with the intensity of the plot. I really enjoyed the balance of it all, where drama was allowed to take center stage while the romance part was made room for in the more quiet parts.
A Gilded Lady is the exiting and entertaining new work from Elizabeth Camden set in the 1900s life in and around the White House. The writing of A Gilded Lady I found vivid and captivating as it expertly drew me into the plot. My favorite part was the exiting separate storyline carried through from book #1 The Spice King, and I can’t wait to see what happens next for Luke.
The ending of A Gilded Lady I felt was well crafted in a way that solved a bit of the most immediate problems of the plot with a surprising twist, while still leaving enough loose ends to be dealt with in the next installment. Fans of Elizabeth Camden’s other work will love A Gilded Lady, as will readers of historical romance fiction. Similar authors to explore might be Rachel Hauck or Michelle Griep.
Thank you to Bethany House Publishers and NetGalley for this eARC which gave me the opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
My rating: 4 stars / 5
Main reasons: Exciting plot, excellent research and vivid writing.
June 2, 2020
Originally posted on Inkwell Inspirations
“Memories crowded as she watched him walk away. They had been living in a gilded age but hadn’t realized it until it was over…Her heart was full to the breaking point, for echoes of that gilded age would live with her forever.”
In A Gilded Lady, the second installment of her Hope and Glory series, award-winning author Elizabeth Camden creates a fascinating historical fiction novel filled with faith, romance, and patriotism. Elizabeth Camden is a master at taking relatively unknown parts of history, such as the presidency of William McKinley and the revamping of the Secret Service, and weaving an intriguing tale of politics, treason, and sacrifice. Portions of this storyline run concurrently with events from The Spice King, the first book in the series, so it is helpful to have read it prior to reading A Gilded Lady to get the full backstory of the characters.
After the assassination of a foreign head of state, charming and strong-willed Caroline Delacroix, secretary to the First Lady, and rule-following Nathaniel Trask, the new head of the president’s Secret Service, find themselves working in close quarters together at the White House. Meanwhile, Caroline is also on a mission to save her beloved twin brother Luke from charges of treason.
Elizabeth Camden is one of my go-to authors for historical fiction, and her Hope and Glory series is my favorite of hers. The Spice King was on my Top 10 List of 2019, but I enjoyed A Gilded Lady even more! The intriguing characters and action-filled storyline will keep readers captivated until the very last page.
“Yes, Luke had always been the naughty one, but he was also charming and generous...He had demons inside, and it was anyone’s guess if he’d be strong enough to conquer them now that he had a new lease on life.”
Ever since reading the first book in the series, Caroline’s brother Luke Delacroix has captured my interest with his charming personality, his recklessness, and his powerful determination and strength. His portrayal in A Gilded Lady has solidified his place as a favorite character of mine. Now I am eagerly anticipating Luke’s story in the third book in the series, The Prince of Spies. A Gilded Lady is highly recommended for readers of historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
“While her corner of the world was shrouded in darkness, she needed to remember that somewhere the sun was shining.”
“Memories crowded as she watched him walk away. They had been living in a gilded age but hadn’t realized it until it was over…Her heart was full to the breaking point, for echoes of that gilded age would live with her forever.”
In A Gilded Lady, the second installment of her Hope and Glory series, award-winning author Elizabeth Camden creates a fascinating historical fiction novel filled with faith, romance, and patriotism. Elizabeth Camden is a master at taking relatively unknown parts of history, such as the presidency of William McKinley and the revamping of the Secret Service, and weaving an intriguing tale of politics, treason, and sacrifice. Portions of this storyline run concurrently with events from The Spice King, the first book in the series, so it is helpful to have read it prior to reading A Gilded Lady to get the full backstory of the characters.
After the assassination of a foreign head of state, charming and strong-willed Caroline Delacroix, secretary to the First Lady, and rule-following Nathaniel Trask, the new head of the president’s Secret Service, find themselves working in close quarters together at the White House. Meanwhile, Caroline is also on a mission to save her beloved twin brother Luke from charges of treason.
Elizabeth Camden is one of my go-to authors for historical fiction, and her Hope and Glory series is my favorite of hers. The Spice King was on my Top 10 List of 2019, but I enjoyed A Gilded Lady even more! The intriguing characters and action-filled storyline will keep readers captivated until the very last page.
“Yes, Luke had always been the naughty one, but he was also charming and generous...He had demons inside, and it was anyone’s guess if he’d be strong enough to conquer them now that he had a new lease on life.”
Ever since reading the first book in the series, Caroline’s brother Luke Delacroix has captured my interest with his charming personality, his recklessness, and his powerful determination and strength. His portrayal in A Gilded Lady has solidified his place as a favorite character of mine. Now I am eagerly anticipating Luke’s story in the third book in the series, The Prince of Spies. A Gilded Lady is highly recommended for readers of historical fiction.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
“While her corner of the world was shrouded in darkness, she needed to remember that somewhere the sun was shining.”
June 25, 2020
I loved the first book in the series, but this book was even better with more suspense and a closer look at the inner workings of President McKinley's presidency. Getting a glimpse into the first lady, Ida McKinley's, life was quite interesting. She definitely was a recluse due to seizures and could often lose her temper over trivial matters. McKinley seemed very understanding and loving with her in private.
This book focuses on Caroline Delacroix, Ida's social secretary, one of Gray Delacroix's twin siblings. The male lead is Nathaniel Trask who is a secret service member assigned to the White House. The connection between these two opposites causes sparks to shoot even though they often don't agree on things. The main minor character is Luke, Caroline's twin, who has been arrested in Cuba for insurgency with the Cuban rebels and may be hung for treason to the US as they try to rebuild Cuba after the Spanish American war. With lots of hints that there may be more to Luke's role than what is obvious, a nice suspense thread weaves throughout the storyline.
Camden does an excellent job of weaving the history of McKinley's presidency throughout the plot without taking away from the other plot lines. I knew little about McKinley's assassination and this story gave a clear picture of what actually happened.
Excellent book and I anxiously look forward to the last book in the series which will focus on Caroline's twin, Luke.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
This book focuses on Caroline Delacroix, Ida's social secretary, one of Gray Delacroix's twin siblings. The male lead is Nathaniel Trask who is a secret service member assigned to the White House. The connection between these two opposites causes sparks to shoot even though they often don't agree on things. The main minor character is Luke, Caroline's twin, who has been arrested in Cuba for insurgency with the Cuban rebels and may be hung for treason to the US as they try to rebuild Cuba after the Spanish American war. With lots of hints that there may be more to Luke's role than what is obvious, a nice suspense thread weaves throughout the storyline.
Camden does an excellent job of weaving the history of McKinley's presidency throughout the plot without taking away from the other plot lines. I knew little about McKinley's assassination and this story gave a clear picture of what actually happened.
Excellent book and I anxiously look forward to the last book in the series which will focus on Caroline's twin, Luke.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
December 30, 2021
3.5 Stars ✨
November 20, 2022
I was initially hesitant to read this after not really enjoying The Spice King, but my goodness I loved this one! Though my knowledge of presidential history is sorely lacking, I loved how this was set against the backdrop of the White House. Following Caroline and Nathaniel gives a behind the scenes look into the running of the White House, and it reminded me a bit of Downton Abbey with the upstairs/downstairs dynamic. Of course, that’s about where the similarities end. Intrigue and espionage are the drivers of this plot and the cause of occasional clashes between Caroline and Nathaniel.
Caroline is the fun and elegant secretary to the First Lady, and Nathaniel is the strait-laced and rule following head of Secret Service. I really loved Caroline’s character. She’s a wealthy young socialite whose hosting skills and fashionable eye have come in handy for her position at the WH, but she did not feel shallow. Rather she’s strong, kind, and fiercely devoted to getting her twin brother Luke out of prison in Cuba. Nathaniel is much more reserved and serious than Caroline is, but I liked his character a lot as well… I thought he was a perfect balance to Caroline. Though he’s suspicious of Caroline in the beginning, he’s taken in by her charm and they form a friendship that slowly evolves into a sweet romance. Even at points of tension there’s a steadiness to their relationship that I loved; there was none of that “will they/won’t they” mess.
I really liked Luke in this story, too. I thought his relationship with Caroline was sweet and witty so I’m excited to see how his own story unfolds!
Caroline is the fun and elegant secretary to the First Lady, and Nathaniel is the strait-laced and rule following head of Secret Service. I really loved Caroline’s character. She’s a wealthy young socialite whose hosting skills and fashionable eye have come in handy for her position at the WH, but she did not feel shallow. Rather she’s strong, kind, and fiercely devoted to getting her twin brother Luke out of prison in Cuba. Nathaniel is much more reserved and serious than Caroline is, but I liked his character a lot as well… I thought he was a perfect balance to Caroline. Though he’s suspicious of Caroline in the beginning, he’s taken in by her charm and they form a friendship that slowly evolves into a sweet romance. Even at points of tension there’s a steadiness to their relationship that I loved; there was none of that “will they/won’t they” mess.
I really liked Luke in this story, too. I thought his relationship with Caroline was sweet and witty so I’m excited to see how his own story unfolds!
June 11, 2020
This is a romance set in the 1900/1901 Gilded Age backdrop of the McKinley administration.
This second book in the Hope and Glory series by Elizabeth Camden follows Caroline Delacroix as she navigates the job of secretary to a somewhat difficult First Lady, Ida McKinley. Ms. Camden takes us behind the scenes of the White House and its workings. Not only does Caroline have to juggle her consuming responsibilities with some political intrigue involving one of her brothers, but she has to weigh her feelings for the head of security, Nathaniel Trask.
Nathaniel has a lot on his shoulders protecting the President of the United States and he must not let the distraction of Caroline jeopardize his mission. Yet they can’t deny that they rely on one another for support in their respective jobs. When things look bleak, Caroline counsels Nathaniel: “You are unconditionally loved. Unconditionally forgiven. You are a child of God, deserving of more credit than you have given yourself. None of us are perfect. We stumble and fall and make mistakes time and again, but we can’t wallow in failure. Someday we have to accept God’s grace to stand up and try again.”
Not only is this an interesting slice of history, this book informs and encourages us to see ourselves as God sees us.
The cover of this novel is sumptuous and intriguing, for you can glimpse the profile of brother Gray in the mirror. I have seen the cover for the third book Prince of Spies and that cover also fits perfectly. I cannot wait for the story of twin brother, Luke.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
This second book in the Hope and Glory series by Elizabeth Camden follows Caroline Delacroix as she navigates the job of secretary to a somewhat difficult First Lady, Ida McKinley. Ms. Camden takes us behind the scenes of the White House and its workings. Not only does Caroline have to juggle her consuming responsibilities with some political intrigue involving one of her brothers, but she has to weigh her feelings for the head of security, Nathaniel Trask.
Nathaniel has a lot on his shoulders protecting the President of the United States and he must not let the distraction of Caroline jeopardize his mission. Yet they can’t deny that they rely on one another for support in their respective jobs. When things look bleak, Caroline counsels Nathaniel: “You are unconditionally loved. Unconditionally forgiven. You are a child of God, deserving of more credit than you have given yourself. None of us are perfect. We stumble and fall and make mistakes time and again, but we can’t wallow in failure. Someday we have to accept God’s grace to stand up and try again.”
Not only is this an interesting slice of history, this book informs and encourages us to see ourselves as God sees us.
The cover of this novel is sumptuous and intriguing, for you can glimpse the profile of brother Gray in the mirror. I have seen the cover for the third book Prince of Spies and that cover also fits perfectly. I cannot wait for the story of twin brother, Luke.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
November 25, 2025
If it is even possible, A Gilded Lady was even better than the first book!! I. Just. Loved. It! Eeee! I loved the political intrigue, historical setting, and the characters!! Nathaniel was amazing, and I loved his rule-following personality. It was a cool trait and perfect for him. I also loved Caroline, which surprised me because I usually don’t love the female protagonist as much as the male protagonist, but Caroline was not the annoying female type. She had flaws as well as strengths. She was a very well-developed character and probably one of my favorite female characters I’ve ever read. I really enjoyed reading from her perspective.
A Gilded Lady was so enjoyable!! I loved the subplot with Luke, and I can't wait to read the third book, which is from his perspective!!
Language:
Clean. Mentions someone cursing. Uses of “idiot” and “nitwit.”
Romance:
Clean. Some kissing.
Other:
Mentions of a character smoking, serving and drinking wine, and mentions of tobacco.
A Gilded Lady was so enjoyable!! I loved the subplot with Luke, and I can't wait to read the third book, which is from his perspective!!
Language:
Clean. Mentions someone cursing. Uses of “idiot” and “nitwit.”
Romance:
Clean. Some kissing.
Other:
Mentions of a character smoking, serving and drinking wine, and mentions of tobacco.
April 30, 2021
Another excellent link in the chain of Camden's exploration of women in high profile roles in 19th century america. Here, Caroline Delacroix sparkles in high society Washington life though a family secret and her growing attraction to the stalwart head of the secret service flint and spark against rising threats of anarchy.
Camden's research, her panache in bringing period detail to life and her focus on strong women who choose romance rather than fall into its expected trajectory is once again forefront. And, since the trilogy is book-ended by Caroline's brothers, it is welcome to have her story here. An unputdownable read by a favourite author.
Camden's research, her panache in bringing period detail to life and her focus on strong women who choose romance rather than fall into its expected trajectory is once again forefront. And, since the trilogy is book-ended by Caroline's brothers, it is welcome to have her story here. An unputdownable read by a favourite author.
October 21, 2023
I didn't connect with the characters in this book as much as the first book. I did however enjoy the time period, and the author did a good job at immersing me in the story as well as the historical era.
December 2, 2024
"Forever is now only today."
Straight-laced and by-the-book, Detective Nathaniel Trask reluctantly accepts a three month appointment as the head of President William McKinley's security team. Almost immediately, the glamorous and not-always-by-the-book Caroline Delacroix grabs his attention; her position as secretary to the First Lady giving her plenty of opportunity to rub Nathaniel the wrong way with her intentionally casual adherence to most of his strict protocols.
Caroline Delacroix is equally intrigued and annoyed by the President's new Secret Service team leader at the White House. Nathaniel Trask's unwavering commitment to details reminds her of Gray; her older brother, whom she adores. But the detective is also a constant reminder of her twin brother's shortcomings, for Caroline suspects that if Nathaniel even heard a whisper about Luke's treasonous behaviour, her coveted employment would be in jeopardy.
Readers will love this fascinating blend of national history, imaginative circumstances, and magnificent characters. Ultimately, Caroline and Nathaniel, through no fault of their own, must find a way to courageously endure both the joys and the sorrows of the McKinley presidency; illustrating how often life forces us to navigate dark corners. The Bible calls it a time to tear down and a time to build up. Thankfully, there's always hope; a simple four letter word with deep, eternal significance. And in this story, love shows up as well.
"We can't control the seasons in our lives, only how we respond to them."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
Straight-laced and by-the-book, Detective Nathaniel Trask reluctantly accepts a three month appointment as the head of President William McKinley's security team. Almost immediately, the glamorous and not-always-by-the-book Caroline Delacroix grabs his attention; her position as secretary to the First Lady giving her plenty of opportunity to rub Nathaniel the wrong way with her intentionally casual adherence to most of his strict protocols.
Caroline Delacroix is equally intrigued and annoyed by the President's new Secret Service team leader at the White House. Nathaniel Trask's unwavering commitment to details reminds her of Gray; her older brother, whom she adores. But the detective is also a constant reminder of her twin brother's shortcomings, for Caroline suspects that if Nathaniel even heard a whisper about Luke's treasonous behaviour, her coveted employment would be in jeopardy.
Readers will love this fascinating blend of national history, imaginative circumstances, and magnificent characters. Ultimately, Caroline and Nathaniel, through no fault of their own, must find a way to courageously endure both the joys and the sorrows of the McKinley presidency; illustrating how often life forces us to navigate dark corners. The Bible calls it a time to tear down and a time to build up. Thankfully, there's always hope; a simple four letter word with deep, eternal significance. And in this story, love shows up as well.
"We can't control the seasons in our lives, only how we respond to them."
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
April 10, 2020
The Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden is the perfect blend of history, romance and intrigue. It's going on my list of favorite books of the year!
Caroline Delacroix is a fun-loving socialite who comes to life in her role as secretary to demanding First Lady Ida McKinley. She's a hard worker, but complete opposite of strait-laced rule-follower Nathaniel Trask. He's on temporary assignment to the Secret Service to improve White House and presidential security. Let the sparks start flying! Their amusing banter had me laughing, "I only have eighteen inches of wardrobe space in the ladies dorm," she defended. "I can hear the angels weep."
Camden gives readers a glimpse into life in the White House at the turn of the century and a behind the scenes view of the inner workings of the Secret Service. In typical Camden style, both insider views were so fascinating I found myself looking up facts surrounding each historical event.
One of my favorite lines was Caroline's affirming declaration, "You are unconditionally loved. Unconditionally forgiven. You are a child of God, deserving of more credit than you're giving yourself."
The overall theme of the story is found in two quotes, "Forever is now only today." and "Any day could be our last, but God never promised more. Only a time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance...". These thought provoking quotes are an encouragement to not spend life always planning to live and putting things off, but to truly live each and every day to its fullest.
An added bonus to the already wonderful story was the suspense and intrigue surrounding Caroline's brother Luke. He is the epitome of the mischievous bad boy character turned good and I can't wait for his story to unfold in The Prince of Spies next year.
I appreciate an ecopy of The Gilded Lady being made available by Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.
Caroline Delacroix is a fun-loving socialite who comes to life in her role as secretary to demanding First Lady Ida McKinley. She's a hard worker, but complete opposite of strait-laced rule-follower Nathaniel Trask. He's on temporary assignment to the Secret Service to improve White House and presidential security. Let the sparks start flying! Their amusing banter had me laughing, "I only have eighteen inches of wardrobe space in the ladies dorm," she defended. "I can hear the angels weep."
Camden gives readers a glimpse into life in the White House at the turn of the century and a behind the scenes view of the inner workings of the Secret Service. In typical Camden style, both insider views were so fascinating I found myself looking up facts surrounding each historical event.
One of my favorite lines was Caroline's affirming declaration, "You are unconditionally loved. Unconditionally forgiven. You are a child of God, deserving of more credit than you're giving yourself."
The overall theme of the story is found in two quotes, "Forever is now only today." and "Any day could be our last, but God never promised more. Only a time to weep and a time to laugh. A time to mourn and a time to dance...". These thought provoking quotes are an encouragement to not spend life always planning to live and putting things off, but to truly live each and every day to its fullest.
An added bonus to the already wonderful story was the suspense and intrigue surrounding Caroline's brother Luke. He is the epitome of the mischievous bad boy character turned good and I can't wait for his story to unfold in The Prince of Spies next year.
I appreciate an ecopy of The Gilded Lady being made available by Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my very own.
January 24, 2021
Another fabulous book from Elizabeth Camden!
To be perfectly honest, I was a little disappointed in the beginning. Things were just moving slower than what I expected coming from Miss Camden, and that was sad to me. But then things picked up pace and, wow, did it get interesting!
I realized I didn't know as much about the McKinley administration as I probably should, and that was really fun to learn about! Without giving anything away, let's just say I was more than satisfied with the ending!!! 😁😍 I can't wait to read The Prince of Spies, but at the same time, I will be sad to see this series end.
I absolutely love the Delacroix family! Each sibling has their own very unique personality and I have loved each of them equally, but differently. So far, Caroline and Nathaniel's story has been my favorite because there is just something about each of their loyal, devoted characters that is so refreshing to read about.They are both strong and loyal, yet have a level of vulnerability and weakness as well that keeps them human and relatable. 💜💜💜
To be perfectly honest, I was a little disappointed in the beginning. Things were just moving slower than what I expected coming from Miss Camden, and that was sad to me. But then things picked up pace and, wow, did it get interesting!
I realized I didn't know as much about the McKinley administration as I probably should, and that was really fun to learn about! Without giving anything away, let's just say I was more than satisfied with the ending!!! 😁😍 I can't wait to read The Prince of Spies, but at the same time, I will be sad to see this series end.
I absolutely love the Delacroix family! Each sibling has their own very unique personality and I have loved each of them equally, but differently. So far, Caroline and Nathaniel's story has been my favorite because there is just something about each of their loyal, devoted characters that is so refreshing to read about.They are both strong and loyal, yet have a level of vulnerability and weakness as well that keeps them human and relatable. 💜💜💜
June 2, 2020
"We can't control the seasons in our lives, only how we respond to them. God planted eternity in our hearts, a longing to find meaning in the world."
Elizabeth Camden has an uncanny ability to make history come alive through her writing as she perfectly melds historical events with beautifully crafted fiction. This second book in the Hope and Glory series takes the readers to a completely different world from agriculture, spice procurement, and world traveling found in the first book The Spice King to the glittering and dangerous world of domestic and international politics found at the White House during the McKinley administration. The series should really be read in order because the heroine's motivation for her actions stems from what happened at the end of the first book. Infused with fascinating historical details, deeply-layered and complex characters, surprising turns in the plot, and gentle reminders about God's forgiveness and His timing, A Gilded Lady will captivate your heart and mind. It's a must-read for any fans of historical fiction.
Caroline, our heroine, is a privileged society lady who becomes the First Lady's secretary and works tirelessly to help Mrs. McKinley, mostly out of love and duty but also to try to gain a presidential pardon for her twin brother sitting in a Cuban jail. She's fun, organized, utterly charming and delightful but is weighed down by her fractured family. Nathaniel is the top counterfeit detective in the Secret Service assigned to revamp the president's security detail. As a somber, diligent, dedicated rule-follower he clashes completely with Caroline but neither can help the attraction nor the friendship that blooms between them. Caroline and Nathaniel are quite engaging, as is their relationship. Through their eyes, I learned a lot about the McKinleys and felt like I was right there with them through the presidential campaign and their country-wide tour.
Now I'm holding my breath for book 3 The Prince of Spies to learn more about Caroline's elusive twin brother Luke!
I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and author; I was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
Elizabeth Camden has an uncanny ability to make history come alive through her writing as she perfectly melds historical events with beautifully crafted fiction. This second book in the Hope and Glory series takes the readers to a completely different world from agriculture, spice procurement, and world traveling found in the first book The Spice King to the glittering and dangerous world of domestic and international politics found at the White House during the McKinley administration. The series should really be read in order because the heroine's motivation for her actions stems from what happened at the end of the first book. Infused with fascinating historical details, deeply-layered and complex characters, surprising turns in the plot, and gentle reminders about God's forgiveness and His timing, A Gilded Lady will captivate your heart and mind. It's a must-read for any fans of historical fiction.
Caroline, our heroine, is a privileged society lady who becomes the First Lady's secretary and works tirelessly to help Mrs. McKinley, mostly out of love and duty but also to try to gain a presidential pardon for her twin brother sitting in a Cuban jail. She's fun, organized, utterly charming and delightful but is weighed down by her fractured family. Nathaniel is the top counterfeit detective in the Secret Service assigned to revamp the president's security detail. As a somber, diligent, dedicated rule-follower he clashes completely with Caroline but neither can help the attraction nor the friendship that blooms between them. Caroline and Nathaniel are quite engaging, as is their relationship. Through their eyes, I learned a lot about the McKinleys and felt like I was right there with them through the presidential campaign and their country-wide tour.
Now I'm holding my breath for book 3 The Prince of Spies to learn more about Caroline's elusive twin brother Luke!
I received a copy of the book from Bethany House Publishers and author; I was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
October 15, 2021
Part 2 and continued story of The Spice King following Gray's sister. I didn't enjoy this story as much simply because much of it felt like a "filler" storyline to connect the stories of the two brothers in the series. :( Although Caroline certainly has her own story to tell it was spent being miffed at one brother, and trying to desperately help the other, while managing her taxing job of keeping the First Lady from having a meltdown and hysterics - all while trying NOT to fall in love with a very handsome aggravating secret service man. ;) But I felt the lack of an overall plotline to follow - it was basically following a timeline more than a plot I think.
I liked how the author shared this period in history from a more first-hand experience view of the characters behind the scenes (some who were real people!). I appreciate Camden writing about a president and a time that isn't written about much. She took us on a journey in time and this was my favorite part, plus the few unexpected twists she threw in!
The ending wasn't like I expected and felt a bit messy in that everything just suddenly worked out and everyone changed their minds for the better. haha. But since we all do that in real life sometimes maybe that just made it feel more natural. ;) I'm just used to the typical fairytale ending lead-up. :D
I liked how the author shared this period in history from a more first-hand experience view of the characters behind the scenes (some who were real people!). I appreciate Camden writing about a president and a time that isn't written about much. She took us on a journey in time and this was my favorite part, plus the few unexpected twists she threw in!
The ending wasn't like I expected and felt a bit messy in that everything just suddenly worked out and everyone changed their minds for the better. haha. But since we all do that in real life sometimes maybe that just made it feel more natural. ;) I'm just used to the typical fairytale ending lead-up. :D
May 23, 2020
Now this is the second book in this series that I have read, and this is Caroline's story, and what an amazing one, and yes, it helps to have read the first book, but you could read this one alone It is historical in nature, so I knew part of the outcome, and unfortunately the past can't be changed!
Caroline is now working in the White House as a secretary to First Lady, Ida McKinley, and she is working constantly, she will make you breathless. They sure seemed to have a love hate relationship, but I could just picture some of the things that went on, like putting on make-up and getting ready for galas and meetings.
If you read the first book, you will remember her brother Luke, and maybe his book is coming, but he is in dire circumstances here.
There are some surprises that come to light, a bit of romance, and a theme of forgiveness!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
Caroline is now working in the White House as a secretary to First Lady, Ida McKinley, and she is working constantly, she will make you breathless. They sure seemed to have a love hate relationship, but I could just picture some of the things that went on, like putting on make-up and getting ready for galas and meetings.
If you read the first book, you will remember her brother Luke, and maybe his book is coming, but he is in dire circumstances here.
There are some surprises that come to light, a bit of romance, and a theme of forgiveness!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
May 5, 2020
Another wonderful book by Elizabeth Camden. I truly love her writing style and her ability to bring the characters from the Gilded Age to life so that we may come to know them in their element.
I know that this is going to sound crazy but I think that Ida McKinley is my favorite first lady. I think the reason is because she's so misunderstood. She can't help her medical condition. Some think she's selfish and self absorbed. I really don't think so. I found her quite interesting!
I liked this couple because their relationship reminds me of my in laws. Such opposites attract. I loved the President's personality. HIs love for life and people. I enjoyed in getting to know this special couple.
Two of my other favorites are of course Nathaniel and Caroline. I've never witnessed a better team than they were!
Life has a way of changing all of us does it not? Some for better or worse. I think it's how we approach it.
A verse from Ephesians is in here and it's a gentle reminder that life is always changing. It never stays the same.
Always tell someone you love them because tomorrow isn't promised. I like that reminder. I only wished I could have told my mom but I think in her own understanding she knew that I loved her. We just had a weird way of showing it to each other
Just so you know that counterfeit runs very rampant in even today's times. It's never a good thing.
I've ran into counterfeit money only a couple of times. It's a wonder I didn't lose my job or that I had to pay it back!
However; I did learn my lesson the hard way.
I do highly recommend a box of tissue by your side because there are some spots in this book that will make you cry. I'm not normally a crier but wow! This sure did!
Lots of espionage, secrecy, murder, mystery and romance included in this wonderful tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more, more! I love that in a book.
She also kept me guessing until the very end of the book and I definitely love those types of books!
I took my time to read this book because I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to savor this book but it still ended too quickly and now I have to wait for the third book waaaaaaaa!
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. It really does deserve it!
I highly recommend this book and be sure to keep a box of tissues beside you because you'll need them!
My thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
I know that this is going to sound crazy but I think that Ida McKinley is my favorite first lady. I think the reason is because she's so misunderstood. She can't help her medical condition. Some think she's selfish and self absorbed. I really don't think so. I found her quite interesting!
I liked this couple because their relationship reminds me of my in laws. Such opposites attract. I loved the President's personality. HIs love for life and people. I enjoyed in getting to know this special couple.
Two of my other favorites are of course Nathaniel and Caroline. I've never witnessed a better team than they were!
Life has a way of changing all of us does it not? Some for better or worse. I think it's how we approach it.
A verse from Ephesians is in here and it's a gentle reminder that life is always changing. It never stays the same.
Always tell someone you love them because tomorrow isn't promised. I like that reminder. I only wished I could have told my mom but I think in her own understanding she knew that I loved her. We just had a weird way of showing it to each other
Just so you know that counterfeit runs very rampant in even today's times. It's never a good thing.
I've ran into counterfeit money only a couple of times. It's a wonder I didn't lose my job or that I had to pay it back!
However; I did learn my lesson the hard way.
I do highly recommend a box of tissue by your side because there are some spots in this book that will make you cry. I'm not normally a crier but wow! This sure did!
Lots of espionage, secrecy, murder, mystery and romance included in this wonderful tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat wanting more, more! I love that in a book.
She also kept me guessing until the very end of the book and I definitely love those types of books!
I took my time to read this book because I enjoyed it so much that I wanted to savor this book but it still ended too quickly and now I have to wait for the third book waaaaaaaa!
I wish I could give this book more than 5 stars. It really does deserve it!
I highly recommend this book and be sure to keep a box of tissues beside you because you'll need them!
My thanks to Netgalley and Bethany House for a complimentary copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
November 15, 2020
Hmmmm...I need to think about this overnight...It will be a 3 or 3.5 star rating...debating...
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Full review 11/13
Okay so I had high hopes for this because I truly loved The Spice King IMMENSELY. Even though I didn't care for Caroline in book one, I was hopeful with her job I would like her, but no I was wrong.
I grew to dislike her even more. She was whiney, obnoxious and just bored me. She a pampered princess. I don't feel like she grew as a character, especially with her feelings towards Anabelle. I liked reading about Luke more than her. I LOVED when Gray made an appearance in the book. Even the love interest, Nathaniel, bored me.
I am hopefully for the the final book, The Prince of Spies because I love Luke and the truth of his time in prison was epic.
If you weren't a fan of Caroline in the first book, you may not care for this book. I'd say still give it a go.
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Full review 11/13
Okay so I had high hopes for this because I truly loved The Spice King IMMENSELY. Even though I didn't care for Caroline in book one, I was hopeful with her job I would like her, but no I was wrong.
I grew to dislike her even more. She was whiney, obnoxious and just bored me. She a pampered princess. I don't feel like she grew as a character, especially with her feelings towards Anabelle. I liked reading about Luke more than her. I LOVED when Gray made an appearance in the book. Even the love interest, Nathaniel, bored me.
I am hopefully for the the final book, The Prince of Spies because I love Luke and the truth of his time in prison was epic.
If you weren't a fan of Caroline in the first book, you may not care for this book. I'd say still give it a go.
March 16, 2022
A second reread of this book makes me wonder why I didn't like it as much the first time around. Nathaniel is highly irritating but he stays true to character, as does Caroline, who I love dearly. This story is a glamorous look into Washington high society and the ins-and-outs of behind the scenes in the White House. Elizabeth Camden excels at gilded age story-crafting, and I love how I always learn fascinating history when I read one of her books.
I strongly encourage anyone who hasn't read book one, to do so first, because you'll get so much more out of this book if you do.
I strongly encourage anyone who hasn't read book one, to do so first, because you'll get so much more out of this book if you do.
September 30, 2022
I really loved the historical aspect of this book. It was fascinating to learn about the Mckinleys and a little bit about the Roosevelts. If I considered the history, I would give this 5 stars.
However, this author seems to insert infatuation into every page. Interesting part of story- “oh she’s standing there”- tense moment- “ her dress is beautiful”- important moment- “I can’t focus with her here”. Although some of it might be realistic, it really detracted from the story.
However, this author seems to insert infatuation into every page. Interesting part of story- “oh she’s standing there”- tense moment- “ her dress is beautiful”- important moment- “I can’t focus with her here”. Although some of it might be realistic, it really detracted from the story.
July 21, 2023
I got very involved in this book to the point where my brain thought historical events were current at times. Really enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to finishing the series.
August 9, 2020
I almost didn’t read this novel, and that would have been my loss because it was excellent. I didn’t find the monochrome cover particularly appealing, and I’m somewhat tired of reading about the lifestyles of the privileged in the Gilded Age (the 1890’s aka the late Victorian era).
So what interested me about A Gilded Lady? Simple. Caroline Delacroix is the secretary to the First Lady of the United States, and the promise of a glimpse inside the White House of 1900 was enough to hook me. I have been consistently impressed with Elizabeth Camden’s ability to weave a compelling romance around a combination of a little-known historical fact and a heroine with an unusual occupation.
And I was not disappointed. Caroline works for Ida Garfield, a First Lady with a temper who suffered from epilepsy and probably depression, a result of losing both her daughters. Caroline basically runs her life, organising social events from a simple morning tea to an inaguration ball. She will do anything to maintain her role because her twin brother, Luke, has been jailed in Cuba for treason, and Caroline believes a presidential pardon is his only hope.
Life is not made easier by Nathaniel Trask, the new White House head of security, appointed after the assassination of the king of Italy. (Those familiar with US history will see the irony, as they will know what happens.) Caroline is attracted to him, but obviously can’t do anything about that without giving up on her brother.
So what did I like about A Guilded Lady? I liked the inside look at the historical White House (I was less impressed by the cost of Ida McKinley’s ball dress—$8,000 is astronomical now. How much was it in 1900?) I liked Caroline, who was a lot more intelligent and practical than the heroines in most Guilded Age novels I’ve read. I liked the compelling yet understated developing relationship between Caroline and Nathaniel, and the equally compelling yet understated faith aspect.
In fact, I enjoyed the novel so much I then bought and read The Spice King, the first novel in the Hope and Glory series (and one I had discounted because of the uninteresting monochrome cover). It was equally enjoyable, although there are probably advantages in reading The Spice King first …
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
So what interested me about A Gilded Lady? Simple. Caroline Delacroix is the secretary to the First Lady of the United States, and the promise of a glimpse inside the White House of 1900 was enough to hook me. I have been consistently impressed with Elizabeth Camden’s ability to weave a compelling romance around a combination of a little-known historical fact and a heroine with an unusual occupation.
And I was not disappointed. Caroline works for Ida Garfield, a First Lady with a temper who suffered from epilepsy and probably depression, a result of losing both her daughters. Caroline basically runs her life, organising social events from a simple morning tea to an inaguration ball. She will do anything to maintain her role because her twin brother, Luke, has been jailed in Cuba for treason, and Caroline believes a presidential pardon is his only hope.
Life is not made easier by Nathaniel Trask, the new White House head of security, appointed after the assassination of the king of Italy. (Those familiar with US history will see the irony, as they will know what happens.) Caroline is attracted to him, but obviously can’t do anything about that without giving up on her brother.
So what did I like about A Guilded Lady? I liked the inside look at the historical White House (I was less impressed by the cost of Ida McKinley’s ball dress—$8,000 is astronomical now. How much was it in 1900?) I liked Caroline, who was a lot more intelligent and practical than the heroines in most Guilded Age novels I’ve read. I liked the compelling yet understated developing relationship between Caroline and Nathaniel, and the equally compelling yet understated faith aspect.
In fact, I enjoyed the novel so much I then bought and read The Spice King, the first novel in the Hope and Glory series (and one I had discounted because of the uninteresting monochrome cover). It was equally enjoyable, although there are probably advantages in reading The Spice King first …
Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
May 18, 2020
A Gilded Lady
by Elizabeth Camden
Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.
Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.
Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.
Impressions: Much of the book was not so much about romance but of the early life of presidential security and an inside perspective of caring for the McKinley’s. It was interesting and fun to imagine. Much of the drama was also focused on Caroline’s brother Luke. Luke was in a pickle and made a big impact on the events of this story.
Liked: I enjoyed the historical adventure of this book.
Didn't like: I did not enjoy the romance storyline as much. Caroline and Nathaniel were in nature private and reserved leaving much to be desired for a romance reader. I did not and still don’t think the original spark of Caroline and Nathaniel was enough. I thought their first kiss to be a letdown and surprise for both of their character's demeanors.
Learned: People are people at the heart of things. No matter how high up or down low someone may seem to be we are all human. Mr. McKinley seemed to be quite tuned in to his wife which was sweet considering all that he was managing at the time.
Quotes: “I know it will be hard, but it’s the hard things in life that make us most proud.”
“When times get tough, you get tougher.”
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.
by Elizabeth Camden
Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she's hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.
Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.
Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.
Impressions: Much of the book was not so much about romance but of the early life of presidential security and an inside perspective of caring for the McKinley’s. It was interesting and fun to imagine. Much of the drama was also focused on Caroline’s brother Luke. Luke was in a pickle and made a big impact on the events of this story.
Liked: I enjoyed the historical adventure of this book.
Didn't like: I did not enjoy the romance storyline as much. Caroline and Nathaniel were in nature private and reserved leaving much to be desired for a romance reader. I did not and still don’t think the original spark of Caroline and Nathaniel was enough. I thought their first kiss to be a letdown and surprise for both of their character's demeanors.
Learned: People are people at the heart of things. No matter how high up or down low someone may seem to be we are all human. Mr. McKinley seemed to be quite tuned in to his wife which was sweet considering all that he was managing at the time.
Quotes: “I know it will be hard, but it’s the hard things in life that make us most proud.”
“When times get tough, you get tougher.”
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.
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