A Desperate Hope
(Empire State #3)
By Elizabeth Camden
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 352 Pages
February 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers
Eloise Drake's prim demeanor hides the turbulent past she believes is finally behind her. A mathematical genius, she's now a successful accountant for the largest engineering project in 1908 New York. But to her dismay, her new position puts her back in the path of the man responsible for her deepest heartbreak.
Alex Duval is the mayor of a town about to be wiped off the map. The state plans to flood the entire valley where his town sits in order to build a new reservoir, and Alex is stunned to discover the woman he once loved on the team charged with the demolition. With his world crumbling around him, Alex devises a risky plan to save his town--but he needs Eloise's help to succeed.
Alex is determined to win back the woman he thought he'd lost forever, but even their combined ingenuity may not be enough to overcome the odds against them.
Excerpt
A niggle
of dread cut through Alex’s exhilaration at seeing her again. “Are you with these people?” he asked.
“I’m here
as an accountant,” she said coolly. “I’ll be setting the values for the
condemned buildings in town.”
His
confusion vanished, replaced by a searing sense of betrayal. “You’re working
for the state?”
“Yes, I’m
working for the state,” she said. “I’m also working on behalf of Duval Springs
to ensure its citizens are fairly compensated for their inconvenience.”
“‘Inconvenience,’”
he snapped. “Is that the word the state is using for throwing thousands of
people off their own land?”
She lifted
her chin. “It is for the betterment of all citizens in New York. The fact that
a few people will be inconvenienced can’t be avoided.”
It was
only his army training that kept his standing erect after this appalling blow.
The old Eloise was gone. The woman before him looked like her but was a
stranger.
“I wanted
such wonderful things for you,” he said in an aching voice. “I thought you’d be
a great pianist or a poet or something grand. Not an accountant. Not working for the state.”
“Another
fine reason not to stay in this town,” Claude groused. “We gave it our best,
Miss Drake, but why should we stay in a place that doesn’t want us, lacks all
form of common courtesy, and doesn’t even have running water or electricity?
We’ll be better off in Kingston, regardless of the expense.”
“Did you
expect us to throw rose petals in your path?” Alex directed the question to the
surly leader, but Eloise answered.
“As the
mayor of this town, I expected you to be sensible and help us,” she said. “We
are working toward the same goal, even if you find that goal abhorrent.”
That
scolding tone of hers was starting to grate. She turned to leave the tavern,
the three men following, but Alex wasn’t going to let her get away. Not again.
He darted after the group as they made their way outside.
“I doubt
we’ll be able to find four rooms on short notice in Kingston,” Eloise was
telling the other men. “My guardian lives only a few miles from here and has
plenty of space.”
“You’re
staying with Garrett?” Alex asked incredulously as he pulled alongside the
group.
“Why
shouldn’t I?” she replied calmly. “He has always been loyal to me.”
“Maybe
because he had me pounded to a bloody pulp when he found out what we’d been up
to behind that old cider mill.” He pointed to the crook in his nose. “See that?
It’s what a broken nose looks like. It has Garrett’s signature on it.”
She sent a
fleeting glance to her coworkers before stepping closer to speak in a furious
whisper.
“Perhaps you could lower your voice so the entire valley doesn’t learn
our business.”
She was
right. The men she came with were already heading back toward their
carriage, but a handful of people loitered outside the tavern, listening to
every word. Maybe she could control herself and talk like the queen of England,
but he actually had a beating heart and a pulse. Eloise hadn’t come back to the
valley for him. She came because she was bitter and vindictive.
“Is this
fun for you? Showing up to help wipe us off the map?” Alex asked.
“Believe
it or not, I have a meaningful career entirely free of personal vendettas. Good
day, Mayor Duval.” She headed toward a carriage across the street, her back
stiff with anger, but he couldn’t let it go at that.
“Eloise,
wait.” He grasped her arm, and she looked down at it as though a bug was
crawling on her.
He let go, dumbfounded. “What’s happened to you?” he
whispered.
“I grew
up. I no longer run around behind people’s backs. I don’t break the rules. I’m
sorry that seems to be a disappointment to you.”
Other Books in the Series
Elizabeth Camden is the author of twelve historical novels and two historical novellas and has been honored with both the RITA Award and the Christy Award. With a master's in history and a master's in library science, she is a research librarian by day and scribbles away on her next novel by night. She lives with her husband in Florida.
Tour Schedule
Check out the Bookstagram Tour:
- One Grand Prize winner will receive print copies of all three books in the Empire State series: A Dangerous Legacy, A Daring Venture, and A Desperate Hope
- Two additional winners will receive a print copy of A Desperate Hope
Title: A Most Inconvenient Love
