The Lady of Bolton Hill Review and Giveaway!

Elizabeth Camden's debut historical novel, The Lady of Bolton Hill, was all that I hoped for from a new Bethany House author. Here's a blurb from the author's website:

Clara Endicott is beginning to make a name for herself as a journalist who is intent on exposing the dark side of industry.

In the splendor of gilded age America, she soon finds herself face to face with the childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished steel worker she once knew.

Daniel Tremain has risen to become a powerful industry giant. He had always idolized Clara, but when she writes an exposé about his company, it will trigger a series of events that threatens to destroy the only woman Daniel has ever loved.

While I'm usually not a fan of prologues, Elizabeth's is necessary to ground the reader in the one pivotal experience Daniel has as a young man that shapes his future. Daniel's reaction to his loss is drastic...and the bitterness he feels toward those he perceives as responsible begins to eat away at him. Clara's attempts to save Daniel from himself fall on deaf ears---so deaf, in fact, that I wondered what was going to change Daniel's mind. (You'll have to read it to find out, but it was realistic.)

I loved the childhood friendship between Daniel and Clara. I think it was always my girlhood dream that my best guy friend would suddenly realize that I was more than a homework tutor or character reference to get other chicks and that he would fall hopelessly in love with me. *sigh* Daniel and Clara have the sparks, and their first kiss is totally worth their years-long wait.

Clara is an interesting sort. She's making her way in a male-dominated field, and she's got issues of her own to deal with about male domination. What a paradox! I was pleased to see how she came to a healthier place emotionally in this regard.

Now....the villain...he's where I want to camp out. I mean, totally messed up internal psyche. Elizabeth gave him one heck of a back story, and his attempts to survive the hand he had been dealt had changed him. And survive he did, with memories of his far more innocent days haunting him. I don't want to give anything away, so I'll have to stop here...but this guy is scary. Like, psychopath-scary. And I especially love the way his character arc comes to a conclusion.

One can only hope for a follow up sequel to this book, featuring Daniel's hard-to-marry sister, perhaps? And I'd love to see a return of the "villain."

Fantastic read, Elizabeth. I hope you put me down on your influencer list permanently.

And I'm sharing the reading enjoyment, folks! Enter your email address in the comment section and I'll put you in the drawing for a copy of this book. (I'd appreciate it if you'd click on the "Follow" button in the right hand column, as I especially like to treat my readers with these giveaways.)

Drawing will end Sunday....so what are you waiting on?

Blog Tour Buddies: Today I'm over at Angela Sasser's blog and Robyn Campbell's blog where I'm holding a giveaway for my Writer's Guide to Creating Rich Back Stories! Stop on by!