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    A Desperate Hope
    A Desperate Hope
    A Desperate Hope
    Audiobook10 hours

    A Desperate Hope

    Written by Elizabeth Camden

    Narrated by Rachel Botchan

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Eloise Drake's prim demeanor hides the turbulent past she's finally put behind her--or so she thinks. A mathematical genius, she's now a successful accountant for the largest engineering project in 1908 New York. But to her dismay, her new position puts her back in the path of the man responsible for her deepest heartbreak. Alex Duval is the mayor of a town about to be wiped off the map. The state plans to flood the entire valley where his town sits in order to build a new reservoir, and Alex is stunned to discover the woman he once loved on the team charged with the demolition. With his world crumbling around him, Alex devises a risky plan to save his town--but he needs Eloise's help to succeed. Alex is determined to win back the woman he thought he'd lost forever, but even their combined ingenuity may not be enough to overcome the odds against them before it's too late.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherRecorded Books, Inc.
    Release dateFeb 5, 2019
    ISBN9781980018551
    A Desperate Hope
    Author

    Elizabeth Camden

    Elizabeth Camden is a RITA and Christy Award winning author. A research librarian at a small college in central Florida, she has published several scholarly articles and four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and her love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. She lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida. For more information, visit elizabethcamden.com.

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    Reviews for A Desperate Hope

    4/5

    36 ratings8 reviews

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    • 4/5
      A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden is the third An Empire State Novel. It can be read as a standalone. However, they are three delightful historical novels that tie together beautifully. Elizabeth Camden provides an engaging story with developed characters and a multifaceted story. Eloise is a mathematical genius who dresses in an understated manner to evoke a prim and proper appearance. Eloise is prickly but who can blame her after what happened when she was caught with Alex Duval. She likes to be needed and to help others. Returning to Duval Springs is the last thing Eloise wishes to do, but that is where her boss is sending her. Alex Duval fell in love with Eloise when she was a teen, but then her guardian yanked them apart. He has not forgotten her, and Alex still loves her. He has been fighting the state of New York to save the town. Duval Spring resides in a valley that is perfect for the state’s new reservoir which will provide water to New York City. Alex lost the lawsuit, but he is not done trying to find a way to save his town. Alex is a strong character with a good heart. You can tell how much he cares for the town and its residents. There are other subplots going on in the story. Elizabeth Camden beautifully weaves it all together into one compelling story. I like that Nick and Rosalind from A Daring Venture appear in the story. The point-of-view alternates between Alex and Eloise so we get to see both sides. I like that because men and women see things in different ways. I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up A Desperate Hope. I liked the messages in the story especially that a child can grow up to be whatever they want. Christian values are beautifully woven into the story. I can tell that the author did her research. There are discussion questions at the end which is helpful for book groups. I enjoyed all three novels in An Empire State Novel series, and I look forward to reading Elizabeth Camden’s next book. A Desperate Hope fascinating story that will hold your attention until you finish the very last word.
    • 4/5
      What would life be like if the government decided our land was worth more to the general public than to the individual? (We actually saw this locally when many disgruntled people sold their homes cheaply to make room for a new highway to pass through.) In Elizabeth Camden’s novel, A Desperate Hope, a whole town is being dismantled so New York City can build a much-needed water reservoir. I had difficulty getting interested in these people’s lives at first until I could realize what was truly at stake for this community. Ah, a first love that simmers and never quite gets extinguished. Sounds great for Alex Duval, now mayor of Duval Springs, and Eloise Drake, an accountant and numbers whiz, except they are on opposing sides of the town demolition/reservoir issue. Polar business aims and clashing personalities don’t make for a good love match... or do they? This book has some real surprises and unlikely alliances that made it well worth the read. This is a novel that leaves me ruminating well after the fact, “could this be? Would this work out in real life?!” Discussion questions further stimulate this line of thought. Great quotes: “Your accounting ledgers don’t have a column for the size of a human heart.”- Alex ” You can be brave and scared at the same time.”-Alex ” We’ve got the most important element on our side. We’ve got hope, and hope can build bridges and tame storms and fuel our muscles until drag ourselves across the finish line. We aren’t quitters.” ” We don't have scarlet letters in this town. We have imperfect people who sometimes make mistakes.” ” It is in tackling the new and the scary that we become who we are meant to be.” (Enzo, Italian engineer) I gratefully received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and via NetGalley. No positive review was required, and all opinions are solely my responsibility.
    • 3/5
      Title: A Desperate Hope (An Empire State Novel #3)Author: Elizabeth CamdenPages: e-bookDate: 2/5/19Publisher: Bethany HouseMy rating is 3 out of 5 stars.Eloise Drake grew up with a rich family, but rarely saw them as she was sent to live with a guardian at the age of eight. She has longed for acceptance and a family her whole life. She is also a genius with numbers. She is one of only six female CPAs in the entire state of New York in the early 1900s. She faces obstacles from the many men in her field, but her current boss appreciates her logical thinking. He sends her back to the area where she grew up as a small town is to be destroyed to clear the land for a reservoir that is to flood the area. She is hoping to avoid Alex Duval, the man she fell in love with twelve years ago. He left the area suddenly without any explanation in the middle of their relationship. They had plans to marry, but Eloise never heard from him again. The people of the town don’t want to lose their homes and businesses but have exhausted their legal options. That is, until Eloise makes a suggestion that gives them new hope.Alex Duval is the mayor of Duval Springs. His family has lived in this town since its founding 200 years ago. He has fought on every front he can think of to save his town but has come up short. Now, the state is sending a small team to evaluate the homes and businesses for their value with which the state will compensate the owners. Alex has no idea that the accountant who will be performing the evaluations is Eloise. Upon arrival, his old feelings come back in a rush. He was forced to leave the area by her guardian. Eventually, after a stint in the army, he returned and searched for Eloise but to no avail. He wants a second chance at a future with Eloise, but is he too late?I usually enjoy this author’s novels as they contain such interesting historical information with a unique focus on the career/life of the lead female character. However, this story fell short for me. I couldn’t connect with Eloise or her romance with Alex. I didn’t like Alex with his chameleon-like character changes. The potential for an interesting story is definitely there. The moving of an entire town was also an interesting avenue to explore, and having Eloise be a female accountant was also interesting. Elizabeth Camden is one of my “have to read” authors when she has a new book released. I am still going to read her books, but this one for me just didn’t hit the mark.
    • 5/5
      I loved this historical fiction romance. It was great to see how Eloise and Alex both became better as adults. They learned many things after they were pulled apart as teenagers. I also loved the history that showed how a town can be bought out to build a reservoir to help many. This book was hard to put down and I couldn’t wait to get to the end to see what happened. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
    • 5/5
      As I read A Desperate Hope I was struck by the fact that in 1908 a young woman in New York City was enjoying a successful career as a CPA and auditor for the state of New York. Eloise Drake was also living a straight-laced life in an effort to atone for a mistake that she made as a teenager. What she doesn't count on is being sent to Duval Springs to help in the project that will eventually demolish that town so that a huge reservoir can be built to furnish water for New York City. Eloise once lived near Duval Springs and it was there, as a teenager, that she experienced her first love affair. Now, her first love is the mayor of Duval Springs and he is determined to protect the town that he loves. Eloise's mathemetical genius knows that this project is feasible but her heart allows her to understand why the people of Duval Springs want to save their town.There are so many facets to this story. Young love, the embarassment and shame of being judged, the loss of innocence. There is also murder, mystery and the question of parentage but what I loved most is the presence of hope. Alex Duval was hopeful that Eloise would join his fight to save Duval Springs and Eloise hoped that her efforts would help because she realized that he and the citizens deserved to keep their homes. As they began to work together Eloise began to understand that God had made her a planner and Alex a dreamer. Loving each other again might not be possible but this was okay because "It was simply the way God had made them, and the world needed both sorts to succeed".I truly enjoyed reading this book and the fact that it is actually based on true events made it even better. There truly were several small towns in New York that were forced to either dissolve or to relocate so that The Ashokan Reservoir could be built. As I read the town people's determined efforts I thought how I would feel knowing that the small rural town that I grew up in might soon be displaced and I could imagine their desperation. A Desperate Hope is wonderful historical fiction filled with hope and faith. Author Elizabeth Camden reminds us that no one is beyond redemption and that forgiveness is possible for everyone. She shows Eloise and Alex's growth from their past hurts and she allows other characters to change also. The way that she chooses to end A Desperate Hope is a wonderful testament to the power of love, both human and divine!I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review.
    • 4/5
      A Desperate Hope is the third installment in Elizabeth Camden's Empire State series, but can be read as a stand-alone story. I savored this well-written novel and its combination of romance, adventure, enterprise, and mystery.Of all the novel's good qualities, I think I enjoyed the characters the most. Eloise and Alex were so different. Their personalities juxtaposed each other, yet they balanced and complemented each other without one being inferior to the other. Their snappy conversation and delightful flirtation both amused me and deepened my interest in the novel.As the story progressed, the characters developed as their weak areas grew stronger. Likewise, the relationship between Alex and Eloise deepened past flirtation to mature into a true partnership of mind and heart. The story's secondary characters were also well-crafted. I especially liked the author's treatment of Bruce Garrett and the fact that I didn't know the mysterious culprit until the big reveal near the end. For me, the characters, their development, and the conflicted relationships shined brightest in this novel. I recommend A Desperate Hope by Elizabeth Camden to readers looking for an engaging historical fiction story of faith, relationships, and community.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
    • 4/5
      I found this book interesting in that it is filled with historical information, and is based on fact. The story line is good and it kept my attention, but my main problem is that there is a story line of sin, but not a true Christian read.We have a strong woman here and her whole life she had a desire to be accepted, in her field as a CPA and by the man who fathered her.Also offered is a man who has pulled himself up by becoming mayor of Devaul Springs, and now trying to fight the Government and save his town.This is the third book in this series, and we are briefly reunited past characters, but this can be read alone.This is a read that will keep you page turning and full of surprises right to the end.I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars!I've always enjoyed Elizabeth Camden's books and this is no exception. I had not read the first two books in the Empire State series but was able to fully enjoy the book. I had never given much thought to how NYC and the state of NY got their water supply in 1908 but this book made the history come alive with memorable characters, vivid descriptions of a small village struggling against change and loss, and a well-crafted plot. If you enjoy historical romance and also want to learn a bit of NY history, you will totally enjoy this book.Eloise, our heroine, is an accountant - straight-laced and follow-the-rules kind of mathematician with a soft, tender heart and a secret hunger for adventure. She was once in love with Alex but they were torn apart by her guardian and her sense of shame. Alex is loyal, stubborn, impulsive, passionate, brimming with optimism and also the mayor of a small village that Eloise and her team from NYC are sent to demolish, in preparation for a reservoir to supply the water demand to NYC. They are complete opposites but make for a compelling team when they actually work side by side. This is a lovely story about dreams, hard work to achieve them, and how God gives us dreams to pursue even when others think it's folly. I was given a copy of the book by Bethany House Publishers and the author and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.