Camden, Elizabeth. The Prince of Spies. Bloomington, MN: Bethany House, 2021.
ISBN-13: 978-0764232138 | $15.99 USD | 345 pages | Historical Romance/Christian Fiction
Blurb
Luke Delacroix has the reputation of a charming man-about-town in Gilded Age Washington, DC. 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?
In the series
#1 The Spice King
Review
4 stars
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The Prince of Spies is another meticulously researched book from Elizabeth Camden, full of intrigue and forbidden romance. While it is the third in her Hope and Glory series, it can be read as a stand-alone.
I was intrigued by the political bent to this one, and I enjoyed learning about the Department of the Interior and the Poison Squad.
Luke has really come into his own after the more reckless side seen in the prior book (and likely the first as well, which I still, lamentably, have not had time to catch up on), and I appreciated seeing his arc as a character as he was full of ambition to bring down his biggest enemy, only to have that challenged by falling for his charming daughter Marianne. In spite of him wanting some form of vengeance, I liked their relationship and how it bloomed in spite of the obstacles.
It is helped by the fact that Marianne’s relationship with her family is a bit troubled as well. She comes from privilege, but her family isn’t perfect, and she’s very aware of this fact, frequently making wishful statements about them, and she is treated rather poorly, which forms a stark contrast to the pronounced strong Delacroix family ties.
This is a great book, and one I’d recommend to historical romance and/or Christian fiction readers.
Author Bio
Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.
Buy links
Bookshop (affiliate link)
Courtney Reads Romance 