BOOK REVIEW - Beyond All Dreams

BOOK DESCRIPTION
Anna O’Brien has the perfect job at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship that disappeared at sea. When forces conspire to prevent her from learning the truth, she turns to a dashing congressman for help.
Luke Callahan is one of the most powerful men in congress until his career begins collapsing amidst scandal. When he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship, he is stunned to find himself falling in love with the down-to-earth librarian. Despite the attraction, strict rules forbid Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of congress, and each meeting puts her career in jeopardy.  From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation to the scholarly archives of the nation’s finest library, Anna and Luke will begin unraveling a mystery larger and more dangerous than ever imagined.

Author's website:  http://elizabethcamden.com/


MY REVIEW
Beyond All Dreams was the best book I have read in quite a while.  I was quickly drawn into the story by the seventh page when the heroine, Anna, was questioned by the Navy with her finding of a nautical map error.  I was barely into the first chapter and my attention was captured by a nautical mystery, the lure of the Library of Congress, and a heroine that I felt I could relate to personally.  Anna would be what we call today an Introvert and she felt comfortable in the walls of the Library.  She was inquisitive, funny, and had seen her fair share of hard times.  She had a past and dealt with a residual physical obstacle.  I could relate to this as I have dealt with speech difficulties after trauma.  Anna also displayed a strong, witty sense of humor and we are introduced to our hero, Luke, when she calls him out during a House Committee meeting.  It was at this point our romance begins and I have to say I thought this was a true Beauty and the Beast romance.  The characteristics with these characters are amazingly similar - a beauty who loves books and is kind and loving with a beast who has a heart of love yet struggles with anger issues.  Our hero has a past as well and we find that these two "beautifully broken" people are the salve the other needs - Anna's imagined flaw was the very thing Luke needed to calm his own.  He needed her "cool wit and steady logic"...love it!  Outside of the romance and mystery, I feel the leading theme of this book is forgiveness.  Both hero, heroine, and supporting characters dealt with needing to forgive somebody in their past.  Even an old school bully of Anna's needed to seek her forgiveness for treating her cruelly.  I particularly liked this scene as I had some bullies in my past.  I enjoyed the growth of Luke's nephew, the aspiring artist, throughout the book and would love a sequel about his future.  Beyond All Dreams was set in my favorite time period in probably the most fascinating setting, The Library of Congress.  It was full of romance, history, and mystery.. I think I have found myself a new favorite author.  Thank you, Elizabeth Camden, for taking me into this true love romance and intriguing plot.

BOOK REVIEW - STEADFAST HEART

BOOK DESCRIPTION
Lenore Fulcher isn't pretentious despite her spoiled upbringing. Her deepest desire at the age of twenty is to find true love. However, her father believes she's wasted enough time searching for a suitable husband, and he wants to marry her off to one of his business partners--thirty-seven-year-old James Rybus. But the idea of marriage to a man so much older is out of the question for Lenore.  Kolbein Booth, a lawyer from Chicago, arrives in Seattle looking for his headstrong sister who he believes may have answered an advertisement for mail-order brides. Sick with worry, he storms the Madison Bridal School, demanding to see his sister, only to learn she isn't there. But Lenore Fulcher is, and something about her captures his attention. Is this the man Lenore has been searching for? She may not have long to find out... 

Author Tracie Peterson's Website -  http://www.traciepetersonbooks.com/

MY REVIEW
I have read several of Tracie Peterson's historical fiction novels and have never been let down, so I chose her newest release as the February read for my Book Club.  It was enjoyed by all!  I do have to say that I had a small struggle getting into the story.. partially due to all the character introductions in the first few chapters of the book.  I prefer to get to know the heroine of the story and then be introduced to the supporting characters.  There were too many loose ends for me as well (even for a trilogy), but none the less I look forward to reading Refining Fire later this year.  I would have liked a little more of a brewing romance between Abrianna and Wade to get me more interested in a second book (although I noticed that it would be focused on Militine's budding romance). Several secondary plots were written in and I was excited there was a small mystery involving murders around the bridal school.  I think these murders were staged by Priam and would have liked to get further information about that issue instead of what all was going on with Lenore in San Francisco. That really did drag for me. Another secondary plot involved human trafficking and I later found out that January is Human Trafficking Awareness month (the month in which the book was released).  Priam is just pure evil!  I hope he is not a key character in the next book, but that was one of the many loose ends that needs to be concluded.  I had no idea this horrible, inhumane act was even taking place in the late 1800s.  Overall, I really liked the book and I am excited to read Refining Fire when it's released.

BOOK DISCUSSION QUESTIONS ( I created these for my Book Club)
 1. What are your thoughts on "true love"? Myth or reality?
2. How did you feel reading historical fiction? What genre do you normally enjoy reading?
3. It's Valentine season, so let's talk about the different relationships in the book (romance and friendship). Are they good or bad? What influences or obstacles did they/will they face?  Were they genuine friendships?
4. Abrianna began to grieve her friendship with Lenore before the wedding. This seems to be relevant to today..balancing friends with family life.  What challenges have you experienced? Any successes or advice? pg.101
5. The world of 1888 Seattle is definitely different from ours today; however, there is a similarity with the secondary plot of human trafficking.  How do you think God feels about this? pg.163
6.Class divisions were a theme in the book.  What did you think about these and you see them in our culture today? How does His Word reflect this?
7.What about the bridal culture in these times?  Do they seem the same as today or different?
8. Abrianna had a heart-felt calling from God to minister to those in need ans she believed that everyone had a calling.  Do you feel that you are called and to what type of service? pg.138
9.The book had a mystery revolving around three men who were murdered.  Did the sleuth in you find any evidence or patterns?  Who do you think was behind this and was there a motive?
10. Steadfast Heart is the beginning of the Brides of Seattle series.  Do you think you will read the next book?  What do you think the next subject will be? How will everything turn out?