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Hope and Glory #3
The Prince of Spies
Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington, D.C. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world.
But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.
Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?
But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.
Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?
352 pages, Paperback
First published February 16, 2021
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January 29, 2021
The Prince of Spies is book 3 in the Hope and Glory series by Elizabeth Camden, published by Bethany House Publishers. The story is set in 1902 Washington DC, and we follow ex-government spy, now magazine journalist, Luke Delacroix, as he works to improve food legislation. He meets governmental photographer Marianne Magruder and instantly falls for her, but when they learn each other’s family names they realize they have landed in the middle of their families’ long lasting feud, and it seems impossible to have a future together. Luke takes part in a test of canned foods, while Marianne’s photography skills prove important in the work for food safety.
Main character Luke Delacroix is a magazine journalist who worked secretly as a government spy. He seems the character who develops the most through the 3 books, from an entitled thrill-seeker in need of his brother’s rescuing in the first book to a more mature adult who still has a lot of self doubt. He spends more time contemplating the value of his work and his future, which makes him very relatable.
Supporting character, governmental photographer Marianne Magruder is very grateful to her powerful father for having given her a privileged life in want for nothing and acts like I would expect for a woman of her time. I love that she goes through a personal development. This makes her my favorite of this story.
The Prince of Spies reads well as a standalone. Hints to previous books are given, but it would make the experience even richer to have read the two previous installments. Apart from following Luke’s journey to find love, this fascinating plot focuses on his use of contacts to improve the food and drug industry. My favorite part of the story was the little mystery element about Marianne’s estranged aunt.
While in Cuban prison, Luke had plenty of time for Bible reading and he seems to have established a strong faith. Marianne seemed to have a spiritual awakening towards the end of the story.
Elizabeth Camden has been one of my go-to authors for years. I love her writing style and choose to read one of her books every year. Anyone who likes romance plots combined with technical inventions will enjoy this. Fans of Elizabeth Camden will love this story. Similar authors to explore might be Roseanna M. White or Jody Hedlund.
Thank you to Bethany House Publishers, Elizabeth Camden and NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: in this fascinating story ex-government spy, now magazine journalist, Luke Delacroix is working to improve food safety laws while struggling to be with the woman he loves. Her father owns the company which produces unsafe canned foods and is the one Luke is fighting against.
Main character Luke Delacroix is a magazine journalist who worked secretly as a government spy. He seems the character who develops the most through the 3 books, from an entitled thrill-seeker in need of his brother’s rescuing in the first book to a more mature adult who still has a lot of self doubt. He spends more time contemplating the value of his work and his future, which makes him very relatable.
Supporting character, governmental photographer Marianne Magruder is very grateful to her powerful father for having given her a privileged life in want for nothing and acts like I would expect for a woman of her time. I love that she goes through a personal development. This makes her my favorite of this story.
The Prince of Spies reads well as a standalone. Hints to previous books are given, but it would make the experience even richer to have read the two previous installments. Apart from following Luke’s journey to find love, this fascinating plot focuses on his use of contacts to improve the food and drug industry. My favorite part of the story was the little mystery element about Marianne’s estranged aunt.
While in Cuban prison, Luke had plenty of time for Bible reading and he seems to have established a strong faith. Marianne seemed to have a spiritual awakening towards the end of the story.
Elizabeth Camden has been one of my go-to authors for years. I love her writing style and choose to read one of her books every year. Anyone who likes romance plots combined with technical inventions will enjoy this. Fans of Elizabeth Camden will love this story. Similar authors to explore might be Roseanna M. White or Jody Hedlund.
Thank you to Bethany House Publishers, Elizabeth Camden and NetGalley for this opportunity to share my honest review. All opinions are completely my own.
Conclusion: in this fascinating story ex-government spy, now magazine journalist, Luke Delacroix is working to improve food safety laws while struggling to be with the woman he loves. Her father owns the company which produces unsafe canned foods and is the one Luke is fighting against.
August 8, 2022
2 stars, personally.
While I really enjoyed the first two books of the series, due to the unnecessary death of an animal 😭 and honestly the main girl annoying me a lot 🙃, this final book gets a 2 from me. Full content review below.
About this book:
"Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington, D.C. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world.
But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.
Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?"
Series: Book #3 in the “Hope and Glory” trilogy. Review of Book #1 Here! and Book #2 Here!
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are mentioned; Prayers, Thanking God, & Blessings over food; A talk about honoring your father and mother; Luke talks some about his faith & Marianne is surprised that he is a church-goer (as she thinks that the Bible seems like a “weighty, convoluted book”); In a tough situation, Luke prays all the “passages of comfort” but thinks that God isn’t answering him; Towards the end, Marianne says that her mission now was to learn to live in a world in a way that “extended forgiveness to other fallen people”; A pastor is blunt to Marianne about her looking for a stronger faith; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, Thanking God, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of churches, church going, sermons, a pastor, & a minister (mostly for a wedding); Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of monks & matrons in a convent/Mother Superior; A couple mentions of swearing or lying on a stack of Bibles; A mention of someone who was disowned from her family and her name being stricken from the family Bible;
*Note: Luke tells Gray he has three ghosts on his shoulders which Gray asks if they’re good ghosts or bad ghosts (Luke answers that they’re “The kind who wake you up at night and steal your joy and make you pray to God for forgiveness”); A couple mentions of Luke’s inner demons & another man not having any; A couple mentions of Marianne being compared to “forbidden fruit” for Luke; A mention of a husband worshipping the ground his wife walks on; A mention of a devilish smile; A mention of talisman.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast’, a ‘damning proof’, a ‘darn’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘witch’ (when referring to another woman), and three forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Some eye rolling; Being punched & bleeding (which Luke says he’s turning the other cheek, which upset the other man a lot, up to semi-detailed); Going to prison & running away from/fighting with an officer (both as a visitor and being arrested, barely-above-not-detailed); Headaches, Pain, & Being ill (up to semi-detailed); Marianne is shoved by her brother when he’s angry; Marianne’s father goes through her stuff and kicks some of it in anger & grabs her face forcefully; Throwing glass items are others in a fit of anger (common in Marianne’s family and she does it once); Luke struggles with claustrophobia & has “attacks of panic” (semi-detailed); To meet the weight requirement for something, Luke drinks a gallon of water to up his weight; Both Marianne & Luke have been raised to not like the other’s family & there are barbs against each other’s family; Trying to help a dog that fell in a frozen lake (& someone else falling in, the dog is okay, up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of jails/prisons, prisoners/criminals, treason, a spy ring, & a rebellion (Luke in Books #1 & #2); Many mentions of deaths (allergic reactions), poison, chemicals being in food, & human and animal test subjects; Many mentions of eavesdropping, gossip, & rumors; Mentions of wars, fighting, & losing everything; Mentions of a little boy’s dog being shot and killed because of his actions (the father was proud to get rid of the dog because his wife didn’t like it and was able to punish his son, barely-above-not-detailed but is very bluntly written; Marianne is very sad and disappointed that it happened; The young boy becomes very fearful of many things after & his father shows no remorse); Mentions of child labor; Mentions of a break-in & vandalism; Mentions of counterfeit items; Mentions of throwing glass items at others in fits of anger & Marianne’s parents argue; Mentions of a dog that fell in a frozen lake, his struggling, & a rescuer falling in as well (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of hatred; Mentions of smoking, cigars, & pipes; Mentions of alcohol/wine/champagne, social drinking, & a bar; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of children cheating on a test; A few mentions of prejudice towards an Indian (Native American) man; A few mentions of insurance fraud; A few mentions of bribery; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of backstabbing; A few mentions of using the bathroom; A couple mentions of an assassination of a president (Book #2); A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of hunting & skinning animals; A mention of the Ku Klux Klan; A mention of someone being accused of theft; A mention of being robbed;
*Note: Marianne shows her smallpox vaccination scar & says “People were once terrified of getting vaccinated, but they’ve been doing it for more than fifty years, and I thank God for it!”; Mentions of the book Don Quixote; Mentions of paintings & artists.
Sexual Content- Two fingers-to-lips touches, two hand/palm kisses, a neck kiss, jaw kisses (barely-above-not-detailed), a forehead kiss, an almost kiss, a not-detailed kiss, four barely-above-not-detailed kisses, a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss, and four semi-detailed kisses; Recalling a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Hand Holding, Nearness, Warmth, & Electricity (up to semi-detailed); Wanting & Longing for someone; Blushes & Winks; Noticing; Luke says Marianne is pretty enough to tempt and monk & that he’s no monk; Many mentions of Marianne’s fathers infidelities, affairs, mistresses (including his grandson’s nanny, which he tried to hide from his wife by kicking out the woman saying that she was a thief), his illegitimate children, & others in the family being mean/rude/hateful to those children (Marianne says that her father does love his wife *Spoiler* ); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of blushes & winks; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of a couple showing their physical appreciation of the other (mostly her: her sitting on his lap and tracing his neck, barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of men not laying a finger on a woman; A couple mentions of a wife wanting her husband’s secretary to have the face like a bulldog; A mention of a secret meeting between lovers; A mention of the slang about a child being “born on the wrong side of the blanket” (illegitimate); A mention of a tramp; Love, falling/being in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Luke compares Marianne to a beautiful Botticelli (painter) nymph, which she replies that they’re all naked (he says “not all of them”); Mentions of a man’s bare chest (no details); A couple mentions of Marianne’s mother’s figure and having her corset tight to “put other women in the shade”; A couple mentions of a painting of a woman with a low-cut dress (Nell Gwynn, the mistress of King Charles II); A mention of going as a half-naked strumpet to a themed ball; A mention of bosom buddies.
-Marianne Magruder, age 26
-Luke Delacroix, age 30
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1902 (Final Chapter set in 1906)
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{Not for those sensitive to animal (dog) deaths and/or affairs, cheating, and hatred towards illegitimate children.}
The final book in a trilogy I’ve been eager to finish.
Unfortunately, It was nowhere near the first two for me because…well, I’ll get into that in a moment, but I did like a few different aspects.
I find the topic of chemicals used in foods to be fascinating and that’s truly what pulled me into this series. I quickly fell for the sibling dynamics between the Delacroix trio. Seeing a certain couple’s wedding in this book was particularly sweet.
When the reveal of their last names happen, I did really like how it was handled—like adults. They still kept seeing each other, though, which added the Romeo and Juliet-ish trope. For the first, oh, 40% I was very interested and smiling like a fool at parts—even if it was insta-love. But my enjoyment started dwindling as it continued.
While it could be refreshing to have a main girl not be super strong-willed (like most in the Christian Fiction Historical genre) or very being a wallflower (like many others in the genre), Marianne was in-between those two in terms of her personality. And I really struggled with her.
Because Marianne and Luke are fictional (I would never say this to a real-life couple) and I viewed their relationship from a not-involved point-of-view: I don’t think Marianne was good enough for Luke. He was constantly showing his loyalty to her, but all she cared about was her family’s stats on things and their approval—even when certain members of her family are just absolutely hateful and evil. She had an opportunity to do something very important for Luke, but instead she doesn’t do anything until she receives something sweet from him that finally kicks her into gear.
Speaking of her family’s evil actions, a beloved dog is killed (technically off-the-pages, but is mentioned often) and it about tore my heart out to read it. As a sensitive dog lover, I truly think that every time I see this book I’ll be reminded of those parts. It was completely unnecessary and used just to make the reader hate a certain character even more (when he didn’t need help in that regard).
There’s also a lot of mentions of cheating, affairs, illegitimate children, and hatred towards those children.
The faith content was…interesting. I really enjoyed Luke’s parts with his faith, but I wish there would have been more on Marianne’s parts other than a quick skimming towards the end about giving forgiveness in a fallen world. (Particularly after her comment about the Bible always seeming like a “weighty, convoluted book” closer to the beginning. I wasn’t satisfied at all with her faith parts.)
The ending was odd for me. I knew that it wouldn’t follow the typical “normal” route, but it still felt like a strange and random way to end the book.
I’m a bit sad, because I was so looking forward to reading Luke’s story and seeing all the photography elements. Unfortunately, there were just too many other parts that took away from my enjoyment.
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.
While I really enjoyed the first two books of the series, due to the unnecessary death of an animal 😭 and honestly the main girl annoying me a lot 🙃, this final book gets a 2 from me. Full content review below.
About this book:
"Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington, D.C. In reality, he is secretly carrying out an ambitious agenda in Congress. His current mission is to thwart the reelection of Congressman Clyde Magruder, his only real enemy in the world.
But trouble begins when Luke meets Marianne Magruder, the congressman's only daughter, whose job as a government photographer gives her unprecedented access to sites throughout the city. Luke is captivated by Marianne's quick wit and alluring charm, leading them both into a dangerous gamble to reconcile their feelings for each other with Luke's driving passion for vital reforms in Congress.
Can their newfound love survive a political firestorm, or will three generations of family rivalry drive them apart forever?"
Series: Book #3 in the “Hope and Glory” trilogy. Review of Book #1 Here! and Book #2 Here!
Spiritual Content- A few Scriptures are mentioned; Prayers, Thanking God, & Blessings over food; A talk about honoring your father and mother; Luke talks some about his faith & Marianne is surprised that he is a church-goer (as she thinks that the Bible seems like a “weighty, convoluted book”); In a tough situation, Luke prays all the “passages of comfort” but thinks that God isn’t answering him; Towards the end, Marianne says that her mission now was to learn to live in a world in a way that “extended forgiveness to other fallen people”; A pastor is blunt to Marianne about her looking for a stronger faith; Mentions of God; Mentions of prayers, praying, Thanking God, & blessings over food; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of churches, church going, sermons, a pastor, & a minister (mostly for a wedding); Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A few mentions of monks & matrons in a convent/Mother Superior; A couple mentions of swearing or lying on a stack of Bibles; A mention of someone who was disowned from her family and her name being stricken from the family Bible;
*Note: Luke tells Gray he has three ghosts on his shoulders which Gray asks if they’re good ghosts or bad ghosts (Luke answers that they’re “The kind who wake you up at night and steal your joy and make you pray to God for forgiveness”); A couple mentions of Luke’s inner demons & another man not having any; A couple mentions of Marianne being compared to “forbidden fruit” for Luke; A mention of a husband worshipping the ground his wife walks on; A mention of a devilish smile; A mention of talisman.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a ‘blast’, a ‘damning proof’, a ‘darn’, an ‘idiot’, a ‘shut up’, a ‘witch’ (when referring to another woman), and three forms of ‘stupid’; A couple mentions of curses (said, not written); Some eye rolling; Being punched & bleeding (which Luke says he’s turning the other cheek, which upset the other man a lot, up to semi-detailed); Going to prison & running away from/fighting with an officer (both as a visitor and being arrested, barely-above-not-detailed); Headaches, Pain, & Being ill (up to semi-detailed); Marianne is shoved by her brother when he’s angry; Marianne’s father goes through her stuff and kicks some of it in anger & grabs her face forcefully; Throwing glass items are others in a fit of anger (common in Marianne’s family and she does it once); Luke struggles with claustrophobia & has “attacks of panic” (semi-detailed); To meet the weight requirement for something, Luke drinks a gallon of water to up his weight; Both Marianne & Luke have been raised to not like the other’s family & there are barbs against each other’s family; Trying to help a dog that fell in a frozen lake (& someone else falling in, the dog is okay, up to semi-detailed); Many mentions of jails/prisons, prisoners/criminals, treason, a spy ring, & a rebellion (Luke in Books #1 & #2); Many mentions of deaths (allergic reactions), poison, chemicals being in food, & human and animal test subjects; Many mentions of eavesdropping, gossip, & rumors; Mentions of wars, fighting, & losing everything; Mentions of a little boy’s dog being shot and killed because of his actions (the father was proud to get rid of the dog because his wife didn’t like it and was able to punish his son, barely-above-not-detailed but is very bluntly written; Marianne is very sad and disappointed that it happened; The young boy becomes very fearful of many things after & his father shows no remorse); Mentions of child labor; Mentions of a break-in & vandalism; Mentions of counterfeit items; Mentions of throwing glass items at others in fits of anger & Marianne’s parents argue; Mentions of a dog that fell in a frozen lake, his struggling, & a rescuer falling in as well (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of hatred; Mentions of smoking, cigars, & pipes; Mentions of alcohol/wine/champagne, social drinking, & a bar; Mentions of throwing up; Mentions of children cheating on a test; A few mentions of prejudice towards an Indian (Native American) man; A few mentions of insurance fraud; A few mentions of bribery; A few mentions of lies & lying; A few mentions of backstabbing; A few mentions of using the bathroom; A couple mentions of an assassination of a president (Book #2); A couple mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of hunting & skinning animals; A mention of the Ku Klux Klan; A mention of someone being accused of theft; A mention of being robbed;
*Note: Marianne shows her smallpox vaccination scar & says “People were once terrified of getting vaccinated, but they’ve been doing it for more than fifty years, and I thank God for it!”; Mentions of the book Don Quixote; Mentions of paintings & artists.
Sexual Content- Two fingers-to-lips touches, two hand/palm kisses, a neck kiss, jaw kisses (barely-above-not-detailed), a forehead kiss, an almost kiss, a not-detailed kiss, four barely-above-not-detailed kisses, a border-line barely-above-not-detailed // semi-detailed kiss, and four semi-detailed kisses; Recalling a kiss (barely-above-not-detailed); Touches, Embraces, Hand Holding, Nearness, Warmth, & Electricity (up to semi-detailed); Wanting & Longing for someone; Blushes & Winks; Noticing; Luke says Marianne is pretty enough to tempt and monk & that he’s no monk; Many mentions of Marianne’s fathers infidelities, affairs, mistresses (including his grandson’s nanny, which he tried to hide from his wife by kicking out the woman saying that she was a thief), his illegitimate children, & others in the family being mean/rude/hateful to those children (Marianne says that her father does love his wife *Spoiler* ); Mentions of kisses & kissing; Mentions of blushes & winks; Mentions of flirting; Mentions of jealousy; A few mentions of a couple showing their physical appreciation of the other (mostly her: her sitting on his lap and tracing his neck, barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of men not laying a finger on a woman; A couple mentions of a wife wanting her husband’s secretary to have the face like a bulldog; A mention of a secret meeting between lovers; A mention of the slang about a child being “born on the wrong side of the blanket” (illegitimate); A mention of a tramp; Love, falling/being in love, & the emotions;
*Note: Luke compares Marianne to a beautiful Botticelli (painter) nymph, which she replies that they’re all naked (he says “not all of them”); Mentions of a man’s bare chest (no details); A couple mentions of Marianne’s mother’s figure and having her corset tight to “put other women in the shade”; A couple mentions of a painting of a woman with a low-cut dress (Nell Gwynn, the mistress of King Charles II); A mention of going as a half-naked strumpet to a themed ball; A mention of bosom buddies.
-Marianne Magruder, age 26
-Luke Delacroix, age 30
P.O.V. switches between them
Set in 1902 (Final Chapter set in 1906)
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- One Star
Early High School Teens- One Star (and a half)
Older High School Teens- Two Stars
My personal Rating- Two Stars
{Not for those sensitive to animal (dog) deaths and/or affairs, cheating, and hatred towards illegitimate children.}
The final book in a trilogy I’ve been eager to finish.
Unfortunately, It was nowhere near the first two for me because…well, I’ll get into that in a moment, but I did like a few different aspects.
I find the topic of chemicals used in foods to be fascinating and that’s truly what pulled me into this series. I quickly fell for the sibling dynamics between the Delacroix trio. Seeing a certain couple’s wedding in this book was particularly sweet.
When the reveal of their last names happen, I did really like how it was handled—like adults. They still kept seeing each other, though, which added the Romeo and Juliet-ish trope. For the first, oh, 40% I was very interested and smiling like a fool at parts—even if it was insta-love. But my enjoyment started dwindling as it continued.
While it could be refreshing to have a main girl not be super strong-willed (like most in the Christian Fiction Historical genre) or very being a wallflower (like many others in the genre), Marianne was in-between those two in terms of her personality. And I really struggled with her.
Because Marianne and Luke are fictional (I would never say this to a real-life couple) and I viewed their relationship from a not-involved point-of-view: I don’t think Marianne was good enough for Luke. He was constantly showing his loyalty to her, but all she cared about was her family’s stats on things and their approval—even when certain members of her family are just absolutely hateful and evil. She had an opportunity to do something very important for Luke, but instead she doesn’t do anything until she receives something sweet from him that finally kicks her into gear.
Speaking of her family’s evil actions, a beloved dog is killed (technically off-the-pages, but is mentioned often) and it about tore my heart out to read it. As a sensitive dog lover, I truly think that every time I see this book I’ll be reminded of those parts. It was completely unnecessary and used just to make the reader hate a certain character even more (when he didn’t need help in that regard).
There’s also a lot of mentions of cheating, affairs, illegitimate children, and hatred towards those children.
The faith content was…interesting. I really enjoyed Luke’s parts with his faith, but I wish there would have been more on Marianne’s parts other than a quick skimming towards the end about giving forgiveness in a fallen world. (Particularly after her comment about the Bible always seeming like a “weighty, convoluted book” closer to the beginning. I wasn’t satisfied at all with her faith parts.)
The ending was odd for me. I knew that it wouldn’t follow the typical “normal” route, but it still felt like a strange and random way to end the book.
I’m a bit sad, because I was so looking forward to reading Luke’s story and seeing all the photography elements. Unfortunately, there were just too many other parts that took away from my enjoyment.
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 24, 2023
*incoherent fangirl squeals* Ah this was the PERFECT conclusion to one of my all-time favorite series!!! Every time I try to write a review for one of the books in the Hope and Glory series, I'm just sitting at my computer trying to find any word that can perfectly display how much I love and adore this series. It's been such a joy following Grey's, Caroline's, and Luke's stories, so much that please excuse me while I go cry because it's over far too soon. If you haven't read book one, The Spice King, GO READ IT.
I think I am already ready for a re-read of the series!!!
I think I am already ready for a re-read of the series!!!
February 18, 2021
Lady Camden has said that this was the most romantic of her stories and in a way she's right because LUKE DELACROIX holy cow
and so I am gonna tell you that if you like Le Bridgerton you might wanna check this out: not because it is of the regency ton but because the family dynamics are as sparkling to me as the romantic relationships
Each singular in each sibling's meticulously researched and emotionally mature love story, yes, but because the sibling friendships and dynamics provide such a lovely current through the trilogy ( and its innovative covers)
Anyhow, I always had a soft spot for gentleman spy Luke and how he slowly came into himself through Gray and Caroline's stories and here he is that dashing dapper spy of mine who meets his lady love (Marianne! <3 ) while saving a puppy even as she saves his heart
There's a lot of Romeo and Juliet and a ton about kindred spiritness being found in a first, momentous engagement and this meet cute to all meet cutes sizzles
anyways, Camden is the best and I love it!
and so I am gonna tell you that if you like Le Bridgerton you might wanna check this out: not because it is of the regency ton but because the family dynamics are as sparkling to me as the romantic relationships
Each singular in each sibling's meticulously researched and emotionally mature love story, yes, but because the sibling friendships and dynamics provide such a lovely current through the trilogy ( and its innovative covers)
Anyhow, I always had a soft spot for gentleman spy Luke and how he slowly came into himself through Gray and Caroline's stories and here he is that dashing dapper spy of mine who meets his lady love (Marianne! <3 ) while saving a puppy even as she saves his heart
There's a lot of Romeo and Juliet and a ton about kindred spiritness being found in a first, momentous engagement and this meet cute to all meet cutes sizzles
anyways, Camden is the best and I love it!
March 18, 2021
The Prince of Spies is the third and final book in the Hope and Glory series by Elizabeth Camden.
This may just be my favorite series by her yet, it's fabulous.
If you love historical books and want to learn something from them read this author's books because her research is immaculate. She brings to the forefront what other authors won't. It may not be pretty and delicately wrapped in a bow but it's the truth and sometimes the truth can be harsh when it's exposed.
Each of the siblings have a turn at telling their own story in this series and this is Luke's story.
Taking place in the Gilded Age Washington, D.C. 1902.
The book starts with Luke seeing a young woman attempting to rescue a dog who has fallen through the ice. Not knowing who she is he rescues the dog but can't get this woman out of his mind.
They make a connection on that ice but he still doesn't know who she is.
After he's able to track her down and realizes she's the daughter of Congressman Clyde Magruder that's when the trouble starts.
At one time the Magruders and Delacroixs family had a joint business partnership in the food industry. Luke and Clyde ran this business partnership.
The Delacroixs made sure the quality of their products where safe for consumers but the Magruder family added fillers and preservatives to the product to stretch the profits without permission from the Delacroixs family. When this turned fatal for some of the consumers Luke never forgave himself or the Magruder family.
When it turns out that Marianne is the daughter of this congressman will it even be possible for the two to be friends let alone any more?
It was fascinating reading about the "Poison Squad" . This was a group of volunteers before the Pure Food and Drug Act, the FDA. These men ate food with preservatives and fillers in a four month study to see how ingesting it affected them, sometimes it proved fatal.
This author's books are auto-reads for me. The research and quality of her books goes above and beyond others.
Make sure to read the fascinating historical note at the end of the book about the Pure Food and Drug Act.
I highly suggest this book and look forward to her next book.
Published February 16th 2021 by Bethany House Publishers
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
This may just be my favorite series by her yet, it's fabulous.
If you love historical books and want to learn something from them read this author's books because her research is immaculate. She brings to the forefront what other authors won't. It may not be pretty and delicately wrapped in a bow but it's the truth and sometimes the truth can be harsh when it's exposed.
Each of the siblings have a turn at telling their own story in this series and this is Luke's story.
Taking place in the Gilded Age Washington, D.C. 1902.
The book starts with Luke seeing a young woman attempting to rescue a dog who has fallen through the ice. Not knowing who she is he rescues the dog but can't get this woman out of his mind.
They make a connection on that ice but he still doesn't know who she is.
After he's able to track her down and realizes she's the daughter of Congressman Clyde Magruder that's when the trouble starts.
At one time the Magruders and Delacroixs family had a joint business partnership in the food industry. Luke and Clyde ran this business partnership.
The Delacroixs made sure the quality of their products where safe for consumers but the Magruder family added fillers and preservatives to the product to stretch the profits without permission from the Delacroixs family. When this turned fatal for some of the consumers Luke never forgave himself or the Magruder family.
When it turns out that Marianne is the daughter of this congressman will it even be possible for the two to be friends let alone any more?
It was fascinating reading about the "Poison Squad" . This was a group of volunteers before the Pure Food and Drug Act, the FDA. These men ate food with preservatives and fillers in a four month study to see how ingesting it affected them, sometimes it proved fatal.
This author's books are auto-reads for me. The research and quality of her books goes above and beyond others.
Make sure to read the fascinating historical note at the end of the book about the Pure Food and Drug Act.
I highly suggest this book and look forward to her next book.
Published February 16th 2021 by Bethany House Publishers
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.
February 17, 2021
A delightful Romeo and Juliet type of story that’s firmly placed in real events. A really good read! This book had it all. I loved the hero and his questions. The heroine was trying so hard to keep the peace. The book was masterful. I missed the book before this one, but can't wait to go back and fill it in.
April 17, 2021
1902 Washington DC
Favorite of the series! Luke's story was saved for last and what a delightful tale starting with a spectacular beginning in which he meets Marianne. Their attraction for each other was immediate. The downside..their families have been enemies for generations.
I love that Camden ties in so much history and has strong feminine leads in her novels. The Prince of Spies highlights a period of time that brought to light the dangers of some food preservatives.
Favorite of the series! Luke's story was saved for last and what a delightful tale starting with a spectacular beginning in which he meets Marianne. Their attraction for each other was immediate. The downside..their families have been enemies for generations.
I love that Camden ties in so much history and has strong feminine leads in her novels. The Prince of Spies highlights a period of time that brought to light the dangers of some food preservatives.
March 30, 2021
The Prince of Spies is Luke's story even though we've gotten snippets of it through the two previous books in Hope and Glory series. I have been anticipating Luke's story and it didn't disappoint. His character is so much fun to read, I loved his strong convictions, his adventurous spirit, and his loyalty to those he loves.
February 4, 2023
After reading A Gilded Lady, I was very eager to start Luke’s story and it did not disappoint! He’s just as charming and good-natured in this book, and his desire to do good and work for justice added a depth to his character that I really admired. I only wish his faith had been more present. One of the things I loved the most about his character in the previous book was the strength of his faith and allowing his time in Cuba to deepen his relationship with God. While his faith did play a role in his strong convictions and overall goodness of character, there were many opportunities where I felt the Christian-aspect could have been a little deeper. Many of these opportunities arise when talking with the heroine, Marianne. She was just as enjoyable to read about and suited Luke really well. She was spunky and also sweet, and I felt for her in her struggle with belonging in her family.
And the romance… y’all. I’m not usually a big fan of “love at first sight” stories because they can tend to sit on the lusty side, but I absolutely loved the romance in this. The chemistry between Marianne and Luke is strong right off the bat, and they just suit each other so well. I was nervous that with the forbidden romance trope there would also be too much angst in the form of immaturity or missed communication, but there wasn’t and I loved that.
Per usual, the historical background of this book was fascinating! I always learn something new from Camden’s stories, and in this book in particular it was interesting to learn more about the growing use of preservatives in food.
I really enjoyed this book... It definitely has 5-star potential, so we'll see how I feel later...
And the romance… y’all. I’m not usually a big fan of “love at first sight” stories because they can tend to sit on the lusty side, but I absolutely loved the romance in this. The chemistry between Marianne and Luke is strong right off the bat, and they just suit each other so well. I was nervous that with the forbidden romance trope there would also be too much angst in the form of immaturity or missed communication, but there wasn’t and I loved that.
Per usual, the historical background of this book was fascinating! I always learn something new from Camden’s stories, and in this book in particular it was interesting to learn more about the growing use of preservatives in food.
I really enjoyed this book... It definitely has 5-star potential, so we'll see how I feel later...
October 19, 2025
Luke Delacroix🫠🫠🫠
December 24, 2020
As this series ends, first of all, I'm a big fan of the Delacroix family and the covers of these books. I want to frame them and put them on my wall! I can't help but love Luke and I love him next to Gray, so I'm glad they got so much screen time together in this one. I've enjoyed watching Luke mature over this series and even more in this book and liked watching him fight for the woman he loved.
I was never bored in this book. Once again Camden highlights obscure, fascinating history, which is why I return to her again and again. In some ways, this was my favorite of the series.
With that said, Camden doesn't write the most refined prose. There's a lot of use of the passive voice and telling instead of showing. Although I truly appreciated the message of love and humility in relationships with difficult people and Luke's insistence in following the fifth commandment, as terrifying and painful as it was, Marianne's relationship with her parents really was concerning. They were abusive to her and yet she still felt like it was her fault and she should have "done better." I'm not sure that she ever really got over her unhealthy dependence on her father. It was interesting how Camden handled it, and I wonder how I would have if I'd written it. The other thing is that we briefly returned to the wrong ideas about worthiness that gave me major red flags in The Spice King. Luke prays in Prince of Spies, "I pray that this experiment will be successful and make the world a better place. I pray it will help make me worthy in Your eyes." 🚩🚩🚩
There is nothing we or Luke can do to make ourselves worthy to God. The gospel is that Jesus, the only One in heaven or earth found worthy, came down to earth and saved us in our utter unworthiness. All of our performance and making the world a better place can not make us one ounce worthier to God.
Aunt Stella was an interesting plot twist. In the end, good won and love won, and Luke Delacroix was a delightful hero.
I was never bored in this book. Once again Camden highlights obscure, fascinating history, which is why I return to her again and again. In some ways, this was my favorite of the series.
With that said, Camden doesn't write the most refined prose. There's a lot of use of the passive voice and telling instead of showing. Although I truly appreciated the message of love and humility in relationships with difficult people and Luke's insistence in following the fifth commandment, as terrifying and painful as it was, Marianne's relationship with her parents really was concerning. They were abusive to her and yet she still felt like it was her fault and she should have "done better." I'm not sure that she ever really got over her unhealthy dependence on her father. It was interesting how Camden handled it, and I wonder how I would have if I'd written it. The other thing is that we briefly returned to the wrong ideas about worthiness that gave me major red flags in The Spice King. Luke prays in Prince of Spies, "I pray that this experiment will be successful and make the world a better place. I pray it will help make me worthy in Your eyes." 🚩🚩🚩
There is nothing we or Luke can do to make ourselves worthy to God. The gospel is that Jesus, the only One in heaven or earth found worthy, came down to earth and saved us in our utter unworthiness. All of our performance and making the world a better place can not make us one ounce worthier to God.
Aunt Stella was an interesting plot twist. In the end, good won and love won, and Luke Delacroix was a delightful hero.
December 12, 2021
This series is nothing if not consistent. I say that because I feel exactly about this book as I felt about the first two: history fascinating, romance not so much. Forbidden romance is one of my least favorite tropes, but even aside from that aspect, there were a lot of things about the relationship that felt contrived. I read this while taking a class in substantive editing, and while I don't think that changed how I felt about the story, it helped me identify why I felt that way. Specifically, there was a lot of "telling" going on and not enough "showing" to really engage me in the story. It made me think of a movie where a narrator pops in with a voiceover to explain what's going on or what a character has learned. That was especially true of Marianne's spiritual epiphany near the end. The Poison Squad itself was interesting, though—loved the interplay between the guys—and I thought Luke's claustrophobia was well done. While I enjoyed seeing Luke get his own story, this one just didn't quite deliver what I was hoping for. I'd highly recommend the trilogy as a side note on the food additive battle in America, and I enjoyed it enough to finish all three books, but I'm not apt to seek out more by this author.
However. I love the coordinating covers, each a part of the whole. Very cool.
However. I love the coordinating covers, each a part of the whole. Very cool.
January 27, 2021
First off, if you love to learn history and the science of development of society, pick up an Elizabeth Camden book. You will never simply just be entertained, you will also learn so much. I love history and read a lot of books, but I learned so many new facts and info that I had never known before when I picked up this novel.
Want to learn something new, but not really a fan of history books? I had not ever read about "The Poison Squad", but in "Prince of Spies" by Elizabeth Camden, I was enthralled and horrified that this experiment was even needed, but so inspired by the brave souls that worked for food safety. Of course, the hero and heroine made it all the better. I wasn't sure from the other books, if I could fall in love with them both as much as I did, but this author never disappoints. It is not so much a focus of a love story, but it is there for sure. I would say that the unhealthy family dynamics and mention of a parent's infidelity may be something you would discuss before giving this book to a younger teenage reader, but otherwise, this series would be perfect for high school history studies.
I highly recommend the whole series.
Want to learn something new, but not really a fan of history books? I had not ever read about "The Poison Squad", but in "Prince of Spies" by Elizabeth Camden, I was enthralled and horrified that this experiment was even needed, but so inspired by the brave souls that worked for food safety. Of course, the hero and heroine made it all the better. I wasn't sure from the other books, if I could fall in love with them both as much as I did, but this author never disappoints. It is not so much a focus of a love story, but it is there for sure. I would say that the unhealthy family dynamics and mention of a parent's infidelity may be something you would discuss before giving this book to a younger teenage reader, but otherwise, this series would be perfect for high school history studies.
I highly recommend the whole series.
May 28, 2022
4 Stars ✨
“Don’t you know how rare that is? To have someone’s unquestioning loyalty no matter what? To feel like you can belong, even if you disappoint?”
1902 Washington DC
I’ve enjoyed this series and learning all the history behind food quality in the 1900s and to see how the FDA was created.
Luke finally gets his own story and it was fantastic we get answers to why he went through all the things he did in the other books.
Prince of Spies had a little Romeo and Juliet type feel with the feud between the Delacroix vs Magruder family. Marianne was such a gem, and I felt sorry for her and her family drama but I thought she was a perfect match for Luke. The poison squad was also so interesting!
It’s always so cool to learn while reading historical fiction, I think that’s the best part about these books - you’ll learn a ton while enjoying a great story. I’m definitely going to miss these characters.
“Don’t you know how rare that is? To have someone’s unquestioning loyalty no matter what? To feel like you can belong, even if you disappoint?”
1902 Washington DC
I’ve enjoyed this series and learning all the history behind food quality in the 1900s and to see how the FDA was created.
Luke finally gets his own story and it was fantastic we get answers to why he went through all the things he did in the other books.
Prince of Spies had a little Romeo and Juliet type feel with the feud between the Delacroix vs Magruder family. Marianne was such a gem, and I felt sorry for her and her family drama but I thought she was a perfect match for Luke. The poison squad was also so interesting!
It’s always so cool to learn while reading historical fiction, I think that’s the best part about these books - you’ll learn a ton while enjoying a great story. I’m definitely going to miss these characters.
November 23, 2023
4.5⭐
I really enjoyed this final installment in the series. I loved the characters and was really looking forward to reading Luke's story. His story did not disappoint, he was one of my favorite characters throughout and highly enjoyed it. The audiobook was also really good and I look forward to reading more of the Author's books.
I really enjoyed this final installment in the series. I loved the characters and was really looking forward to reading Luke's story. His story did not disappoint, he was one of my favorite characters throughout and highly enjoyed it. The audiobook was also really good and I look forward to reading more of the Author's books.
July 18, 2023
Story Enjoyment Rating: 10/10 Christian Faith Rating: 2/3
This was my favourite book in the series. You definitely need to read the books in order as this series is sequential, although each book follows a different main character and has its own story, which resolves within the individual book.
The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden is a Christian historical fiction novel set in Washington, DC, in 1902. It is the third book in the Hope and Glory series.
This story follows two main characters from two different families who are at war (so to speak) with each other. It has a kind of Romeo and Juliet romance. There is a conflict surrounding the family businesses, and this story follows that, as well as concluding the wider story that has taken place throughout the series.
My favourite thing about this book was the characters and the difficulties they faced in being together. I loved the character development of the main characters. I found both their inner and outer struggles compelling. I also enjoyed meeting characters from the previous books again.
The couple's Christian faith was evident throughout the book. It changed and grew as the characters grew but it was not the main focus of the story.
I definitely want to read more series by this author.
This was my favourite book in the series. You definitely need to read the books in order as this series is sequential, although each book follows a different main character and has its own story, which resolves within the individual book.
The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden is a Christian historical fiction novel set in Washington, DC, in 1902. It is the third book in the Hope and Glory series.
This story follows two main characters from two different families who are at war (so to speak) with each other. It has a kind of Romeo and Juliet romance. There is a conflict surrounding the family businesses, and this story follows that, as well as concluding the wider story that has taken place throughout the series.
My favourite thing about this book was the characters and the difficulties they faced in being together. I loved the character development of the main characters. I found both their inner and outer struggles compelling. I also enjoyed meeting characters from the previous books again.
The couple's Christian faith was evident throughout the book. It changed and grew as the characters grew but it was not the main focus of the story.
I definitely want to read more series by this author.
June 2, 2023
*4.25 stars
Awwwwww soooooo cuteeeeeee. (But I wish that ending was longerrrr!!!😢)
RTC
Awwwwww soooooo cuteeeeeee. (But I wish that ending was longerrrr!!!😢)
RTC
August 2, 2021
4.5 stars
"Amazing women have inspired men from the dawn of literary history. Cleopatra, Helen, Guinevere, Juliet, and Dulcinea. To these legendary heroines, I add my own, and her name is Marianne."
What kind of girl risks life and limb to rescue an innocent little canine struggling to crawl out of a frozen river? "Aunt Marianne" would, and since that is the only name that Luke Delacroix can ascribe to the beautiful creature lying beside him on the ice, he is going to have to rely on the fact that he is the prince of spies and should be able to find her again in a matter of hours. Besides, how many young women with the name Marianne work for the Department of the Interior as a photographer. . . . . in a cruel twist of fate, the name Luke discovers is enough to make his blood run cold . . . how could it be? She is a Magruder.
"What a handsome man. Black hair, dark eyes, and a face animated with both fear and admiration."
He literally captures her heart with his eyes, this man on the ice, . . . . . "even through their gloves, it felt like a spark of electricity hummed between them", so powerful was their oddest of first meetings. First . . . because there were going to be many, many more forbidden rendezvous between Luke and Marianne; beginning in a dark room and ending in a yarrow field. . . . . unfortunately, the road in between was going to deliver more detours and blind spots than most humans could endure. Buffeted by a long standing family feud between their two families, the path to happiness was going to require an insatiable, undeniable, uncontrollable, unconditional love. And what a love it turned out to be!
Author Elizabeth Camden has managed to capture the heart of her readers in the palm of her hand, penning a romance for the ages, for this outstanding conclusion to the Hope and Glory series will undoubtedly receive the highest honor that a reader can bestow upon a story; the desire to read it over and over and over again.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
"Amazing women have inspired men from the dawn of literary history. Cleopatra, Helen, Guinevere, Juliet, and Dulcinea. To these legendary heroines, I add my own, and her name is Marianne."
What kind of girl risks life and limb to rescue an innocent little canine struggling to crawl out of a frozen river? "Aunt Marianne" would, and since that is the only name that Luke Delacroix can ascribe to the beautiful creature lying beside him on the ice, he is going to have to rely on the fact that he is the prince of spies and should be able to find her again in a matter of hours. Besides, how many young women with the name Marianne work for the Department of the Interior as a photographer. . . . . in a cruel twist of fate, the name Luke discovers is enough to make his blood run cold . . . how could it be? She is a Magruder.
"What a handsome man. Black hair, dark eyes, and a face animated with both fear and admiration."
He literally captures her heart with his eyes, this man on the ice, . . . . . "even through their gloves, it felt like a spark of electricity hummed between them", so powerful was their oddest of first meetings. First . . . because there were going to be many, many more forbidden rendezvous between Luke and Marianne; beginning in a dark room and ending in a yarrow field. . . . . unfortunately, the road in between was going to deliver more detours and blind spots than most humans could endure. Buffeted by a long standing family feud between their two families, the path to happiness was going to require an insatiable, undeniable, uncontrollable, unconditional love. And what a love it turned out to be!
Author Elizabeth Camden has managed to capture the heart of her readers in the palm of her hand, penning a romance for the ages, for this outstanding conclusion to the Hope and Glory series will undoubtedly receive the highest honor that a reader can bestow upon a story; the desire to read it over and over and over again.
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.
March 2, 2021
WHAT a conclusion to this fascinating series! I appreciate the way Elizabeth Camden always includes interesting history in her stories. The history is close to the characters’ life and motives as familial struggles and rivalries separate an aspiring couple. Secrets, loyalty, charm, and forgiveness all twine beautifully in this story of history and romance!
Another very important reason to read this novel: LUKE. Luke and his language skills, sensitive, typewriter loving, soft and devastatingly charming HEART.
Camden has mentioned this is her most romantic book yet. I have to agree — and add that the romance is not found in typical form. Instead of a normal courtship or progressing relationship, the romance in The Prince of Spies is found in the way Luke and Marianne are drawn to each other in spite of their obstacles; then, in their unconditional acceptance of each other. How they show care in small ways: a note, a small gift, an encouragement, a glance that connects them in a crowded room when conversation is impossible. Romance in a classical meaning of the word is also found in Luke’s drive to improve industry, in Marianne’s eye for photography, in Luke’s mastery of language (translating! and writing!), in the passion the characters show for their purposes and commitments, and in themes of loyalty and sacrifice.
Readers of the previous two books in the series will LOVE seeing Caroline and Nathaniel settled! Also glimpses of Gray (and Annabelle!) in typical older brother fashion. Like the previous stories, a faith thread is present but subtle and feels organic to the characters, drawing in threads of forgiveness in unexpected ways.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
Another very important reason to read this novel: LUKE. Luke and his language skills, sensitive, typewriter loving, soft and devastatingly charming HEART.
Camden has mentioned this is her most romantic book yet. I have to agree — and add that the romance is not found in typical form. Instead of a normal courtship or progressing relationship, the romance in The Prince of Spies is found in the way Luke and Marianne are drawn to each other in spite of their obstacles; then, in their unconditional acceptance of each other. How they show care in small ways: a note, a small gift, an encouragement, a glance that connects them in a crowded room when conversation is impossible. Romance in a classical meaning of the word is also found in Luke’s drive to improve industry, in Marianne’s eye for photography, in Luke’s mastery of language (translating! and writing!), in the passion the characters show for their purposes and commitments, and in themes of loyalty and sacrifice.
Readers of the previous two books in the series will LOVE seeing Caroline and Nathaniel settled! Also glimpses of Gray (and Annabelle!) in typical older brother fashion. Like the previous stories, a faith thread is present but subtle and feels organic to the characters, drawing in threads of forgiveness in unexpected ways.
Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.
March 29, 2021
Sigh, I fell a little more in love with every turn of the page -- with Luke, with the Delacroix family, with Marianne's indomitable spirit. Even with the angst (which is plentiful!) This has been a sublime series but Prince of Spies will always hold a special place in my heart. Because of Luke (my toe curls have pleats!) of course, but also because of the deeply layered story that held me enthralled.
So, here's what I LOVED about this book:
Doomed romance that has tragedy written all over it.
Dashing, devil-may-care hero who has a compassionate heart but wrestles with justice versus vengeance for all the right reasons.(Honestly, there were a couple of characters that I felt very vengeful towards right to the very last page! Gah!)
A clever heroine with an interesting career -- a maverick in her class and among her peers.
A historical setting full of fascinating little-known-by-me details that makes me feel smarter for reading it.
Enough emotional sucker punches to make me feel woozy in that good, giddy bibliophile way.
A bittersweet send-off courtesy of the epilogue. It's sweet perfection but sad, too, because now it's all really and truly over. Sob!!!
So, here's what I LOVED about this book:
Doomed romance that has tragedy written all over it.
Dashing, devil-may-care hero who has a compassionate heart but wrestles with justice versus vengeance for all the right reasons.(Honestly, there were a couple of characters that I felt very vengeful towards right to the very last page! Gah!)
A clever heroine with an interesting career -- a maverick in her class and among her peers.
A historical setting full of fascinating little-known-by-me details that makes me feel smarter for reading it.
Enough emotional sucker punches to make me feel woozy in that good, giddy bibliophile way.
A bittersweet send-off courtesy of the epilogue. It's sweet perfection but sad, too, because now it's all really and truly over. Sob!!!
February 2, 2021
Impeccable. Camden’s are always auto-reads for me. This is my new favorite. Love, love, love Luke and his quest.
October 24, 2021
I can't believe I waited so long to read this book . . . Camden knocked it out of the ballpark with this one! I absolutely fell in love with Luke in the first two books of the series, and this one only reinforced that love. The story kept me hooked and I could hardly put it down. Also that cover . . . So pretty! Camden's writing is as wonderful and engaging as ever. I was skeptical about Marianne's character, but I loved her spunk and sass and enjoyed seeing her relationship with Luke unfold.
February 17, 2021
Thank you, Elizabeth Camden, NetGalley, and Bethany House Publishers for the opportunity to read this book!
The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden is book three in the Hope and Glory series. I had the opportunity to read A Gilded Lady last year and I absolutely adored it! Needless to say, my hopes were high for this book! Luke Delacroix is the younger brother of Gray Delacroix and Caroline’s twin brother. He is very close with his family but is often risking his life, driving his family crazy. After he was spying for America and ended up in a Cuban prison, Luke is finally home. He is charming, yet reckless. But not as reckless as the young woman he spots on a frozen lake trying to save a dog. He doesn’t hesitate to assist her in the rescue. After the successful rescue of Bandit, Luke gets a moment to meet his co-rescuer, Marianne. He has never been so instantly captivated by a woman before. Unfortunately, she is a Magruder. The Magruder’s and the Delacroix’s have been enemies for years. His current mission is to prevent Clyde Magruder from getting re-elected to Congress. However, Clyde is Marianne’s father. Their connection is too much to ignore but will their family strife keep them apart?
This is a timeless tale of rival families and how love can conquer all. I love the Delacroix siblings. Gray is stern, yet completely loyal. Caroline is a socialite, but not afraid to speak her mind. Then there is Luke. I can see how Marianne finds him irresistible. While he has a happy-go-lucky exterior, he is deeply affected by his time in prison and is very in tune with his emotions. Marianne is lovely but frustrating at times. She has the WORST family. Seriously, I would have killed Andrew myself. Yet, she defends them over and over again. They are completely toxic. I honestly would have left and never looked back. But she is strong and doesn’t hesitate to do the right thing.
As always, Elizabeth Camden weaves an intricate tale. This one takes place during the time period of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. While I really wanted to see Theodore Roosevelt… In the previous book, we got an intimate look at the McKinley Presidency. BUT I loved reading about The Poison Squad. The Poison Squad is a group of volunteers that ate certain foods to see the effects of food additives. I never heard about this part of history and I found it very fascinating and very relevant to issues in food and medicines we see today.
I read this book in a day! I highly recommend it and guess what?! It releases today! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden is book three in the Hope and Glory series. I had the opportunity to read A Gilded Lady last year and I absolutely adored it! Needless to say, my hopes were high for this book! Luke Delacroix is the younger brother of Gray Delacroix and Caroline’s twin brother. He is very close with his family but is often risking his life, driving his family crazy. After he was spying for America and ended up in a Cuban prison, Luke is finally home. He is charming, yet reckless. But not as reckless as the young woman he spots on a frozen lake trying to save a dog. He doesn’t hesitate to assist her in the rescue. After the successful rescue of Bandit, Luke gets a moment to meet his co-rescuer, Marianne. He has never been so instantly captivated by a woman before. Unfortunately, she is a Magruder. The Magruder’s and the Delacroix’s have been enemies for years. His current mission is to prevent Clyde Magruder from getting re-elected to Congress. However, Clyde is Marianne’s father. Their connection is too much to ignore but will their family strife keep them apart?
This is a timeless tale of rival families and how love can conquer all. I love the Delacroix siblings. Gray is stern, yet completely loyal. Caroline is a socialite, but not afraid to speak her mind. Then there is Luke. I can see how Marianne finds him irresistible. While he has a happy-go-lucky exterior, he is deeply affected by his time in prison and is very in tune with his emotions. Marianne is lovely but frustrating at times. She has the WORST family. Seriously, I would have killed Andrew myself. Yet, she defends them over and over again. They are completely toxic. I honestly would have left and never looked back. But she is strong and doesn’t hesitate to do the right thing.
As always, Elizabeth Camden weaves an intricate tale. This one takes place during the time period of Theodore Roosevelt’s presidency. While I really wanted to see Theodore Roosevelt… In the previous book, we got an intimate look at the McKinley Presidency. BUT I loved reading about The Poison Squad. The Poison Squad is a group of volunteers that ate certain foods to see the effects of food additives. I never heard about this part of history and I found it very fascinating and very relevant to issues in food and medicines we see today.
I read this book in a day! I highly recommend it and guess what?! It releases today! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars!
February 17, 2021
Elizabeth Camden truly has a way of creating absolutely delectable historical fiction, turning somewhat little remembered facts in our history into centerpieces of her incredible writing. Hope & Glory series takes the reader on a journey from the boom of spice importing and processed food industry and agricultural science (The Spice King) to the last year of President McKinley's administration and all its politics and glitter (A Glided Lady) to the long years and sacrifice poured into the Pure Food and Drug Act along with plenty of political intrigue (The Prince of Spies). The series should be read in order so that you can get the full flavor of the Delacroix siblings. I have been anxiously awaiting this last book in the series and Elizabeth Camden does not disappoint! It's the perfect ending to the series.
The year is 1902 and Luke has grown up after his stint in a Cuban jail. He's still delightfully impulsive, bold, passionate, loyal, and tender but has learned to rein in his thrill-seeking and emotional soul and has also found God. By the power of the written word, he seeks to make changes in the government but is also fueled by bitterness and desire for revenge. Marianne is a sweet, creative, loyal, oftentimes timid daughter of Luke's number one enemy whose path keeps getting tangled up with Luke's, even as he schemes to take down her father and his processed food empire. Their romance is splendidly magical, properly old-schooled and heart-stirring (with some of Romeo and Juliet vibes thrown in). There are twists and turns in the story that will make you gasp. The journey Luke makes to put his faith into action is a tough but admirable one; the faith journey Marianne makes is somewhat different but nonetheless powerful. I also loved learning about photography during that time, the beginnings of the FDA and how the National Mall in DC came about, one small piece at a time.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a must-read book! The Delacroix siblings, particularly the reformed and repentant Luke, will linger in your heart for a long time to come. I received the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.
The year is 1902 and Luke has grown up after his stint in a Cuban jail. He's still delightfully impulsive, bold, passionate, loyal, and tender but has learned to rein in his thrill-seeking and emotional soul and has also found God. By the power of the written word, he seeks to make changes in the government but is also fueled by bitterness and desire for revenge. Marianne is a sweet, creative, loyal, oftentimes timid daughter of Luke's number one enemy whose path keeps getting tangled up with Luke's, even as he schemes to take down her father and his processed food empire. Their romance is splendidly magical, properly old-schooled and heart-stirring (with some of Romeo and Juliet vibes thrown in). There are twists and turns in the story that will make you gasp. The journey Luke makes to put his faith into action is a tough but admirable one; the faith journey Marianne makes is somewhat different but nonetheless powerful. I also loved learning about photography during that time, the beginnings of the FDA and how the National Mall in DC came about, one small piece at a time.
If you are a fan of historical fiction, this is a must-read book! The Delacroix siblings, particularly the reformed and repentant Luke, will linger in your heart for a long time to come. I received the book from Bethany House Publishers and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are solely my own.
January 25, 2021
*3.75 stars
Got this as an arc, very well written and engaging. I didnt know it was the third and last book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. Cute romance, very PG (havent read a sweet innocent book in a while lol).
Got this as an arc, very well written and engaging. I didnt know it was the third and last book in the series but it can be read as a standalone. Cute romance, very PG (havent read a sweet innocent book in a while lol).
November 25, 2025
Aaah, this book. Was. So. Amazing!!!! Eeee! I thought A Gilded Lady would be my favorite in the series, but The Prince of Spies actually turned out to be my favorite!! Luke ended up being my favorite character of all, and his romance with Marianne was my favorite romantic pair in the series! I love forbidden romance troupes, but how it was pulled off in this book was my absolute favorite! The fact that Luke and Marianne came from families who hated each other but these two wanted to see past that and see the good in the other was so moving. And the theme and the ending were both so moving as well. I spent days after finishing this book soaking up the happy feels I had for reading it as well as letting the theme linger in my mind.
Other fun details I loved were Luke’s spy skills, the Poison Squad (which I didn’t realize was a real thing at first, but that’s so cool that it actually existed!), and Luke’s love for writing (he even had a typewriter!). All around, I enjoyed this book so much and would read it again in a heartbeat!! I also recommend this entire series 100%, especially to anyone who loves historical romance, political intrigue, and spyish aspects on the side.😉
Language:
Uses of “blast” and “idiot.” Mentions someone cursing. Calling someone a “witch” out of meanness.
Romance:
Clean. Some kissing and holding.
Other:
Mentions cigars, drinking wine, and a bar serving drinks. A mention of a man having an affair
Other fun details I loved were Luke’s spy skills, the Poison Squad (which I didn’t realize was a real thing at first, but that’s so cool that it actually existed!), and Luke’s love for writing (he even had a typewriter!). All around, I enjoyed this book so much and would read it again in a heartbeat!! I also recommend this entire series 100%, especially to anyone who loves historical romance, political intrigue, and spyish aspects on the side.😉
Language:
Uses of “blast” and “idiot.” Mentions someone cursing. Calling someone a “witch” out of meanness.
Romance:
Clean. Some kissing and holding.
Other:
Mentions cigars, drinking wine, and a bar serving drinks. A mention of a man having an affair
February 27, 2021
It's 1902 and the Hatfields and McCoys all over again, but this time it is The Delacroixs and the Magruders for another go round. Focusing on Luke Delacroix and Marianne Magruder, both their fathers are owners of canned food companies. The Delacroixs focus on making sure that all of their canned foods are of the best quality and healthy for their customers. While the Magruders are more interested in using preservatives and fillers that will keep their products low priced. But the question is are these preservatives and fillers safe to eat?
This story takes place prior to the Pure Food and Drug Act, and deaths sometimes occurred when people ingested foods with unsafe preservatives and fillers. A Dr. Wiley was very concerned about what people were eating and decided to test some of these preservatives on a study group. The study group remained together for 4 months eating all meals at a boarding house under controlled circumstances. They dubbed themselves the Poison Squad. Meanwhile Luke and Marianne are both concerned because of their families as well as the fact that Marianne is a photographer for the government. Can two people from enemy families help discover the truth?
Wonderful suspense with fantastic characters. I was so happy to see Luke featured as he has been an interesting character since book 1. He and Marianne made a super investigative team even though their parents were determined to keep them apart. The plot line was filled with plenty of action from start to finish which kept me glued to the pages.
This was a delightful conclusion to an excellent series, and the end notes regarding the movement to a Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the information that Dr. Wiley was appointed to be the first head of the US Food and Drug Administration were very interesting.
**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 story takes place prior to the Pure Food and Drug Act, and deaths sometimes occurred when people ingested foods with unsafe preservatives and fillers. A Dr. Wiley was very concerned about what people were eating and decided to test some of these preservatives on a study group. The study group remained together for 4 months eating all meals at a boarding house under controlled circumstances. They dubbed themselves the Poison Squad. Meanwhile Luke and Marianne are both concerned because of their families as well as the fact that Marianne is a photographer for the government. Can two people from enemy families help discover the truth?
Wonderful suspense with fantastic characters. I was so happy to see Luke featured as he has been an interesting character since book 1. He and Marianne made a super investigative team even though their parents were determined to keep them apart. The plot line was filled with plenty of action from start to finish which kept me glued to the pages.
This was a delightful conclusion to an excellent series, and the end notes regarding the movement to a Pure Food and Drug Act as well as the information that Dr. Wiley was appointed to be the first head of the US Food and Drug Administration were very interesting.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.
June 5, 2021
Finally, finally! Luke's story is amazing!
I've been putting off reading this story for what seems like awhile.
It's one of those that I knew I'd have to read. But if I went ahead and read it, then my time would be over with these characters. Bittersweet.
I just loved the story! I will admit, it is a bit cliche....two families that are at bitter odds with each other, what are the chances that two people fall in love...can we just say Romeo and Juliet?
In spite of that, this is such a fun story. I loved seeing how this might come about, and wondering what might need to happen to make their love story work.
Luke was always the bad boy of the Delacroix. But he's a changed man. And he is bent on changing a few things in the Washington area. Not the least of which is Clyde Magruder's underhanded food packaging practices. And how unfortunate that the lovely Marianne....is Clyde's daughter.
Even though these two were forbidden to see each other, somehow they just can't help themselves.
Elizabeth Camden has once again done such a fantastic job at bringing those early days in Washington to light. Lots of amazing details, beautiful setting, and much more.
The Prince of Spies is a truly delightful ending to a beautiful series.
I can't wait to see what Ms. Camden comes up with next!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
I've been putting off reading this story for what seems like awhile.
It's one of those that I knew I'd have to read. But if I went ahead and read it, then my time would be over with these characters. Bittersweet.
I just loved the story! I will admit, it is a bit cliche....two families that are at bitter odds with each other, what are the chances that two people fall in love...can we just say Romeo and Juliet?
In spite of that, this is such a fun story. I loved seeing how this might come about, and wondering what might need to happen to make their love story work.
Luke was always the bad boy of the Delacroix. But he's a changed man. And he is bent on changing a few things in the Washington area. Not the least of which is Clyde Magruder's underhanded food packaging practices. And how unfortunate that the lovely Marianne....is Clyde's daughter.
Even though these two were forbidden to see each other, somehow they just can't help themselves.
Elizabeth Camden has once again done such a fantastic job at bringing those early days in Washington to light. Lots of amazing details, beautiful setting, and much more.
The Prince of Spies is a truly delightful ending to a beautiful series.
I can't wait to see what Ms. Camden comes up with next!
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
May 8, 2021
3.5 stars round to 4.
I have been anticipating this book for months... Am I happy with it?
Not really, I liked it, but it was disappointing and did not hold up to expectations after the so very enjoyable "The Spice King" and the spellbinding "A Gilded Lady."
Since the first book in the Hope and Glory series by Elizabeth Camden, I have wondered what Luke's story would be like. Now my question is answered, yes, it is a book I find I like, but the most loved part of it for me was the cover. I don't know why but this is yet another series with a somewhat saddening conclusion due to the book not being as spectacular as the others.
I loved the story and didn't all at once, it is not what I have come to expect from Camden.
But the hidden love between Luke and Marianne was still one that pulled on my heartstrings, and oh my, the way that they met, again and again, was just wonderful!
The main reason I have been somewhat disliking "The Prince of Spies" is that I kept expecting something to happen and yet there was no action. I also disliked the cheating and sexual content mentioned below.
If I had read this book first in the series I would have tossed it, sadly.
Content: Cheating, two children born through two affairs, a dog is murdered as punishment to a boy, and just in general wrong things that annoyed me.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
I have been anticipating this book for months... Am I happy with it?
Not really, I liked it, but it was disappointing and did not hold up to expectations after the so very enjoyable "The Spice King" and the spellbinding "A Gilded Lady."
Since the first book in the Hope and Glory series by Elizabeth Camden, I have wondered what Luke's story would be like. Now my question is answered, yes, it is a book I find I like, but the most loved part of it for me was the cover. I don't know why but this is yet another series with a somewhat saddening conclusion due to the book not being as spectacular as the others.
I loved the story and didn't all at once, it is not what I have come to expect from Camden.
But the hidden love between Luke and Marianne was still one that pulled on my heartstrings, and oh my, the way that they met, again and again, was just wonderful!
The main reason I have been somewhat disliking "The Prince of Spies" is that I kept expecting something to happen and yet there was no action. I also disliked the cheating and sexual content mentioned below.
If I had read this book first in the series I would have tossed it, sadly.
Content: Cheating, two children born through two affairs, a dog is murdered as punishment to a boy, and just in general wrong things that annoyed me.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
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