Book 2 of 3

Clean not religious

Guy tries to mend fences with his extended family. In his business life he is tries to make clean water available for New York City residents. That means fighting the scientists who want to put chlorine in the water supply ( )

Rosalind was left an orphan and almost lost her brother because of contaminated water. She spends her life in pursuit of a better way to treat water and finds chlorination to work. Of course, the man she's attracted to still wants the old way of filtration and is afraid chlorine will poison people. Although I wished they had spent more time on the back story, there was plenty to read in this romance with a twist. Elizabeth Camden never disappoints in interesting plots taking place long ago. ( )

Title: A Daring Venture (An Empire State Novel #2)
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Pages: 347
Year: 2018
Publisher: Bethany House
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Rosalind Werner is a biochemist in the early 1900s. She was born in the U.S., but at the age of 10 a cholera epidemic killed her parents and grandfather. She and her brother were sent to Germany to live with relatives. Recently, Rosalind and her brother have returned to the U.S. due to Rosalind having a less than stellar reputation in the city where they were living in Germany, causing job losses and a forced move back to the U.S. The accusations were unfounded, and Rosalind was completely innocent, but the rumors wouldn’t stop. Now Rosalind, having dedicated her life’s work to stopping the spread of cholera, has been working diligently to study the use of chlorine added to water as a safe way to kill cholera while still allowing the water to be consumed. She faces an uphill battle with one of her major opponents, Nick Drake, thinking that chlorine is poisoning the water and not a safe option.
Nick Drake is one of three commissioners whose jobs are to ensure the water supply to New York is safe and abundant. He has agreed to a new filtration plant and a reservoir to supply the growing city but refuses to consider another cheaper but untested method…chlorine. He is captivated by Dr. Werner as a woman, and he admires her intelligence. He thinks they might have a future together. She seems to reciprocate his feelings. Rosalind finds herself the target of an enemy who brings her past troubles from Germany to the attention of the news media. Someone is out to ruin her, but who?
What an interesting story! That is one reason this is one of my “must read” authors as she draws from history such interesting and entertaining information and presents them in a delightful novel. I always learn something new from her books. The lead characters in this story are ones that I could connect to and care about. Betrayal, deception, and romance are just a few of the angles presented. The prose is easy to read and flows quickly from page to page to keep readers interested. Enjoy an afternoon or two reading about New York near the turn of the century! ( )

Poised on the brink of a watershed moment for delivering clean water to the masses, “A Daring Venture” adroitly combines science with the human element. Hindsight is usually 20/20, and it is easy to look back and forget that what we now take for granted was once contentious and groundbreaking. As such, it is informative to see both sides of the controversy and to get a glimpse into the techniques, sacrifices, and struggles of each. Elizabeth Camden achieves this without overwhelming the reader with scientific detail, composing a novel that keeps readers engaged and intrigued.

My grandmother was born in 1908, and I know little about her life or the early twentieth century in America, so it was a treat to read a story set during that time period. Another aspect of this novel that distinguished it from other historical fiction was the occupation and background of the main character, Rosalind Werner. Her childhood brush with cholera paves the way for her professional aspirations and also makes her more sympathetic to readers, and having achieved her doctorate in biochemistry from a German university makes her completely unique in this genre. Nicholas Drake is similarly distinctive, a suitable complement and adversary. The moral and ethical considerations woven into the narrative cause Rosalind and Nick’s professional and personal lives to intersect while infusing the story with a subtle faith element. Elizabeth Camden truly pens a tour de force with “A Daring Venture”, and I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for an intelligent, absorbing read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers and was not required to post a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. ( )

In the early twentieth century, water-borne diseases can wipe out a community of people in a short time. Doctor Rosalind Werner is dedicated to purifying water and believes that chlorine might be the answer to preventing the diseases that took her loved ones from her. When Rosalind and her associates end up on the losing side of a lawsuit, she hopes to convince New York's Commissioner of Water, Nicholas Drake, to support her research. An unexpected attraction blossoms between Rosalind and Nicholas nearly immediately. To her dismay, Nicholas refuses to support her research and plans to fight against her chemical purification method. As Rosalind continues her research, she and Nicholas must confront their growing affections and the differences separating them. Read more in A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden.

I enjoyed A Daring Venture by Elizabeth Camden. The first chapter completely captivated my attention and from then on I eagerly returned to the story when possible. The well-written prose, a dose of mystery, and plenty of secrets created a lovely setting for the development of Rosalind and Nicholas' relationship. Their obvious adoration of each other contrasted sharply with the later tension in their relationship. This enchanting dichotomy had me pulling for them to reconcile and savoring each step in the novel's plot.

I recommend this novel to fans of inspirational, historical romances. A Daring Venture is the second novel in Elizabeth Camden's Empire State Novel Series, but worked fine as a stand-alone novel, as I have not read the first novel, A Dangerous Legacy. Also, looking forward to the third book in this series!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising." ( )