Ms. Camden is a master at finding real life historical events and making them come to life in the pages of her books. A GILDED LADY is book two and even though it stands alone, fans will want to read Gray's story in The Spice King.

I  fell in love with Nathaniel, Caroline, and all the secondary characters, real and fictional. I laughed, I cried, it moved me. Ms. Camden is one of the few historical authors on my must read list.

If you like historical fiction  grab a copy of this  book.

I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

Another amazing book in the Hope and Glory Series! This book takes us into Caroline’s time at the White House which is really interesting! I actually found it really fascinating! I love the interaction between Nathaniel and Caroline. Lots of historical goodies to uncover and it leads perfectly into the 3rd book in the series which is about Luke, Caroline’s twin brother. The storyline will keep you reading. I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

This book was an intriguing look into the secret service during the McKinley administration. It also gave a peek i to the lives of servants in the White House then too.

I really liked Caroline and Nathaniel. Her job as aide the Ida McKinley sounded very trying but Nathaniel's previous understanding of counterfeit bills before being recruited to secret service was quite interesting too.

Overall the important think to know is that this book is full of small adventures, some espionage, and some really romantic kisses!

There were times when this book moved a little slow and I found myself wanting a little more romance or action, but it was still an enjoyable book.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

We were first introduced to Caroline Delacroix in the first book of this series, The Spice King. The impression I got from her in the Spice King was a woman that has known nothing but finery in life and is intelligent, but not too concerned about using her abilities to the max. Her twin brother, Luke, was a bit of a cad... and not a character to be taken seriously. He was a frivolous thorn in their big brother, Gray's, side. 


A Gilded Lady splits the lives of this family wide open as we get to understand the motivations and inner workings of the Delacroix twins. Known to be hard partiers and the toast of the town, neither of the twins is taken too seriously by anyone... or so they'd like everyone to believe. Beneath the glitter, flittering, and charm lies another layer.... or perhaps a hundred more layers. 



Neither twin is anything like they appear and, without spoiling it, A Gilded Lady takes you on a wild ride of adventure as the twin run circles around everyone they know - including the highest level of government. I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone who is a fan of historical romance or simply wants an excellent read.

I loved this book! It's a fantastic continuation of the series with a good love story of its own. My favorite aspects were the real-life historical events that played out during Caroline's time at the White House and the sibling-centric relationships with themes of sacrifice and loyalty. I'm really excited for book 3 now!

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.

An excellent addition to the series! I love Elizabeth Camden's attention to historical detail. It doesn't even feel like I'm reading historical fiction. Instead, it feels like I'm living among her characters in that time. What an awesome gift.

The development between Nathaniel and Caroline felt nice and slow, like a good simmer rather than an explosive firework. I loved their dynamic, how they played off of each other. And I loved learning more about Caroline's mysterious brother, Luke! I'm looking forward to his story.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All expressed opinions belong to me.

A Gilded Lady was written by Elizabeth Camden and is book two in the Hope and Glory series. It is not necessary to have read book one in order to enjoy this one.

Summary: Caroline Delacroix enjoys her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. She lives a life that few have ever dreamed. Yes, it’s difficult work, and the first lady is contentious at best, but Caroline has an ulterior motive for her work.

She’s desperate to get her brother pardoned for his crime of treason. And if that means sticking close to the seat of power, she is willing to do it.

Nathaniel Trask is the reluctant new leader of the president’s Secret Service detail. It isn’t what he wants, but he is determined to do the best job possible amidst growing threats against the president’s life.

When the president announces a country-wide train tour, the details are overwhelming. Will Nathaniel be able to protect the president? And will he discover the secret Caroline is desperate to hide?

My Thoughts: I really liked this book. It is based off of historical events (which were quite fascinating), and it is very well-written. The plot is interesting, the characters are likable and well-rounded, and overall this is a very enjoyable read. I would definitely recommend this book, as well as the first in this series.

I would like to thank Bethany House for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Elizabeth Camden's A Guilded Lady continues the tale that began in The Spice King. In his book Caroline Delacroix, Gray Delacroix's younger sister gets a job as the First Lady's social secretary. Caroline has always been thought of as an empty-headed heiress, but she proves there is more to her than meets the eye. Nathaniel Trask is tasked as one of the first secret service agents. He suspects that Caroline has a secret. I really enjoyed the dialogue and interaction between Caroline and Nathaniel. So grab a pitcher of ice tea and settle in for a fun read.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

This was such a good book! I thoroughly enjoyed book 1 in this series, The Spice King, and I so enjoyed reading this one as well. The Hope and Glory series follows the story of the Delacroix siblings: Grey, Caroline, and Luke, which I really like. In book 1, the story follows Grey and his love story, and in this one, Caroline's story is told. They were so different, but the way the story was written made it feel cohesive and I really liked it!

Caroline is a smart and capable woman working for Mrs. Ida McKinley during the McKinley presidency, and she is in charge of all the duties of "managing a household" that women typically have, except she is managing it all for the White House, which was super interesting to read about. The ins-and-outs of life in the White House definitely isn't something I've thought a lot about in the past, so it was really interesting to read about it! In addition, she is also worried about her brother Luke who is in a dangerous situation, and her job at the White House is the best way to help him. That story line carried over from book 1, which I really liked because it ties the books together so well!

Nate is a secret service agent, who wants to do anything but be a secret service agent: what he really likes is counterfeit detection and taking down counterfeit rings. However, he is the best person that can neutralize threats against President McKinley as he runs for reelection and as he takes a cross country trip across the United States. His character was really well rounded and emotionally mature, which was really good to read.

The chemistry between Caroline and Nate was super strong: they fit SO WELL together and made such a good couple! Their romance was very fast, but it all felt realistic, which doesn't happen often in Christian fiction in my opinion. (Though more sensitive readers might want to note that they kissed several times before they declared their intent for each other: nothing too graphic, but it did happen). Both characters talked openly about their faith and their emotions, and their relationship was a joy to read.

The storyline was well paced, though the book is more character focused than anything. There was so much history packed into this book, most of which I was aware of but didn't know, and it was really interesting to learn about. I really liked seeing Grey and Anabelle from the previous book reappear in this one, and like I mentioned earlier, I really liked the overarching storyline about Luke stretching throughout the trilogy. His story is next and I'm really excited to read it!

Overall, I really liked this book, and I'm really loving this series so far: not only are the stories interesting, but also the historical aspect is so well done and it really adds to the story. I think I still like her Empire State series more, but that's simply because I really love her Empire State series, haha!

Elizabeth is my favorite historical romance author! The historical details of the President's assassination along with the suspense she brings in the plot twist revolving the brother Luke, kept me on edge! The romance is just icing on the cake! One of my favorite reads this year for sure.

Okay so I had high hopes for this because I truly loved The Spice King IMMENSELY. Even though I didn't care for Caroline in book one, I was hopeful with her job I would like her, but no I was wrong.

I grew to dislike her even more. She was whiney, obnoxious and just bored me. She a pampered princess. I don't feel like she grew as a character, especially with her feelings towards Anabelle. I liked reading about Luke more than her. I LOVED when Gray made an appearance in the book. Even the love interest, Nathaniel, bored me.

I am hopefully for the the final book, The Prince of Spies because I love Luke and the truth of his time in prison was epic. 

If you weren't a fan of Caroline in the first book, you may not care for this book. I'd say still give it a go.

Great book!! Love the story line and I enjoy Elizabeth Camden’s books. Highly recommend to all. This book will not disappoint.

Mini Review: This was an excellent Historical Christian Romance! A unique perspective, set during a time period I didn't know much about, made this a book I would definitely recommend trying!

I really like these characters, and their stories are so interesting. Caroline and her twin brother are the renegades in this wealthy family, but always seem to land on their feet. Until Luke is wanted for treason and ends up in a Cuban jail. Caroline, with her penchant for giving big parties went to work for President McKinley's wife as her secretary, fitting right into that high profile life. And she met the head of the Presidents' security who is a stickler for rules. Caroline is an interesting mix of spoiled wealth and loyalty to the people she cares about, with a sense of duty and protection. She really challenges Nathaniel. But they find they have more in common than they think, and grow to admire each others traits. So interesting story of behind the scenes life at the early White House, mystery and intrigue.  I was easily hooked and ate this right up, finding it hard to put down. A highly interesting and complex family, this is a series to immerse in. 
I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
#AGildedLady #NetGalley

WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THIS BOOK
I read this book back in March and promptly forgot that I had received it for review. (I get a lot of ebooks from library apps like Overdrive and Hoopla, and thought this was one of those books.) I realized recently that A Gilded Lady was for review, so I get to treat y'all with my thoughts regarding this story which makes me happy because I enjoyed it immensely. 

History is something I've always found fascinating, but I have huge gaps in what periods of history I'm familiar with. Obviously, I studied President McKinley at some point during school, but it wasn't until I started reading this story that I realized how little I knew about his life. In fact, other than the fact that he was president, I couldn't have told you anything else. 

As usual, while reading a historical fiction book I didn't do any research regarding the period of history because I didn't want spoilers. Therefore, I was basically on the edge of my seat at times, trying to figure out what was going to happen next and how everything would end. I was caught off guard a lot with this book. If you're familiar with the president (like I should have been) then you know the basics of the story, but if you're not, then there are several plot twists that I didn't see coming. The book was fantastic, the plot moved along at the perfect pace, the characters were fleshed-out, and the writing was superb. 

Generally, I have a pretty good memory for what annoyed me in a book, even months after reading it. But, in this case, I don't recall anything negative. I know I didn't like the main character very much because I felt like she went about solving her problem in the wrong way, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the book because the character was still so complex and multi-layered and captivating. 

Learning about Ida McKinley was exceedingly interesting. I had no clue that one of our First Ladies had such a personality, and reading about all the ways the main character covered for her to help keep everything running smoothly was both funny and eye-opening. 

Having the main male character be the head of the Secret Service - right when the Secret Service was beginning - was so cool. I learned so much while reading from his perspective. I also enjoyed him as a character and could relate to him a lot more than I could to the main female character. 

This book was so engaging and interesting that as soon as I finished it I read the first book in the series (this is the second). The third book doesn't release until early in 2021, but I'm looking forward to reading it when it comes out.  
CONCLUSION
Since it's been a while since I read this book I don't remember if it had any questionable content, but as far as the story and writing goes I enjoyed it a lot. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if it's one of my next re-reads. 
RATING
I’m giving A Gilded Lady 4 out of 5 stars. NetGalley gave me an ebook copy so I could review it for y'all. I wasn't required to provide a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. Thanks, NetGalley!

A Gilded Lady
by Elizabeth Camden
Bethany House 
Bethany House Publishers
 Christian 
Pub Date 02 Jun 2020 



I am reviewing a copy of A Gilded Lady through Bethany House and Netgalley:



Caroline Delacroix, finds herself at the pinnacle of high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States.  But underneath the facade of beauty and glamour as well as a dazzling personality she is hiding a dark secret.  If she is unable to untangle web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason. 






Nathaniel Trask has become the newly appointed head of the president's Secret Service team.  He becomes suspicious of Caroline right away, despite being attracted to her quick wit and charm.  In order to keep the president safe Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises. 





Amidst the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington D.C Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.



I found A Gilded Lady to be a spellbinding novel, one worthy of five  out of five stars!



Happy Reading!

I received an ARC from Bethany House Publisher, via NetGalley this review is my opinion. 

Note to readers: Please read The King Spice first before reading this book, Sorry for any spoilers.  
A Gilded Lady. Book 2 of Series Glory and Hope

In this story is the time of Caroline Delacroix's story, although we meet her briefly on the first book of the series and here we have an inside to her life as a secretary of Ida McKinley and the challenges that came within. And we also have Nathaniel, who has been working for the Treasure Department and he is assigned to direct and created a team for the security of President William McKinley. In this story we have two very distinct characters, Caroline who has grown up with many possibilities, used to get her way and to not follow the rules and also has taken her job as an opportunity to help her brother Luke, and this situation is delicate she needs to keep hidden from everyone; in the other hand, we have Nathaniel, who is determined and focus on following the rules while performing his responsibilities and from the beginning we see has reservation about Caroline reasons to work on the White House.

In this book, we have many interesting historical details, of what life inside the White House and how was for those who work there. Through the book, we learn more Nathaniel has his own personal situation and his guilt for this has kept his focus on a specific and clear goal. We see in Caroline's case how she learns to trust God, even when connections and money seem fillable. I really like how Elizabeth Camden took time and season as an important element in the story. We can see how the characters change throughout the story.   In my opinion, each element in this story work together like a big puzzle, more than a typical love story, we have real-life important historical events, intrigue, faith, forgiveness, and family with real human relatable characters and a beautiful an unexpected end. Elizabeth Camden did a great job with this book. Looking forward to reading Luke’s story.

After reading the first book in the series, I could not wait read about Caroline’s story. It was definitely worth the wait! Such an interesting plot! It was neat to have a book set in the White House during this time period - getting a glance of what it was possibly like to work there. Caroline’s character was multi-faceted and her love story was sweet though complicated. There’s a lot of suspense in this book as well. I could not put it down!

A Gilded Lady, the second installment from the Hope and Glory series, is by far my favorite I have read by Elizabeth Camden to date. It was a fabulous read. 
Five plus stars.

Review not yet completed.  Will be submitted to Amazon and Kindle soon. All Elizabeth Camden books are amazing.  Her books are a win every time.  So it will be a positive review.