3.5 stars round to 4.

I have been anticipating this book for months... Am I happy with it?

Not really, I liked it, but it was disappointing and did not hold up to expectations after the so very enjoyable "The Spice King" and the spellbinding "A Gilded Lady."

Since the first book in the Hope and Glory series by Elizabeth Camden, I have wondered what Luke's story would be like. Now my question is answered, yes, it is a book I find I like, but the most loved part of it for me was the cover. I don't know why but this is yet another series with a somewhat saddening conclusion due to the book not being as spectacular as the others.

I loved the story and didn't all at once, it is not what I have come to expect from Camden.

But the hidden love between Luke and Marianne was still one that pulled on my heartstrings, and oh my, the way that they met, again and again, was just wonderful!

The main reason I have been somewhat disliking "The Prince of Spies" is that I kept expecting something to happen and yet there was no action. I also disliked the cheating and sexual content mentioned below.

If I had read this book first in the series I would have tossed it, sadly.

Content: Cheating, two children born through two affairs, a dog is murdered as punishment to a boy, and just in general wrong things that annoyed me.

I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. ( )

The Prince of Spies by Elizabeth Camden entertained from beginning to end. Luke Delacroix is a bold, adventuresome sort with a penchant for conflict. Thanks to his choices and romantic attraction to Marianne Magruder, the daughter of a politician he is trying to bring down, the plot had plenty of tension and action. Between the secret romance, the feuding families, and personal struggles, I delighted in reading this historical romance.

While reading The Princes of Spies, I noted and appreciated the well-rounded characters. It is expected that main characters will have flaws requiring change and growth. Luke and Marianne both dealt with internal and external issues as they gravitated toward each other. However, the secondary characters, such as Clyde, Vera, and Jedidiah Magruder, held their own complexity. The author captured how people are not always all good or all bad, but a mixture of both. Appropriately, Gray and Caroline stayed true to their personalities from previous novels.

The Prince of Spies concludes Elizabeth Camden’s Hope and Glory trilogy. Although this novel would make a fine stand-alone read for anyone who enjoys Christian historical romance, I recommend reading all three books in order, if possible, as I thoroughly enjoyed them all.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I was provided a copy of this book by the author or publisher. All opinions in this review are my own. ( )

Title: Prince of Spies (Hope and Glory #3)
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Pages: 352
Year: 2021
Publisher: Bethany
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
Luke Delacroix is known around Washington, D.C. as a fun-loving, no responsibility, rich man. After spending 15 months in a Cuban prison accused of treason, Luke has returned to D.C. a changed man. He wants people to see he has changed and to take him more seriously. To that end, he has begun a branch of a nationwide magazine in D.C. where he will be the correspondent on the scene. He has also volunteered for a trial where different additives/preservatives are mixed into different types of food and given to the participants. Their physical reactions are closely monitored. Luke also finds a local woman who holds his attention far more than anyone. Unfortunately, her last name is Magruder and she is the daughter of his family’s arch enemy Magruder Foods.
Marianne Magruder has been hired by the Department of the Interior to take pictures of various buildings and their surroundings in anticipation of them being demolished for a new park that is being debated in Congress. Marianne has a keen eye for photography, but her parents would rather she get married and settle down. She meets Luke in an unexpected encounter and the romantic sparks fly, that is until she learns his last name. She and Luke continue to meet even after her father forbids it. As their romance grows, everything else in their lives comes apart. Marianne’s past is often thrown in her face by members of her own family. She just wants somewhere to belong, but maybe it’s time for a change.
I loved Luke’s optimism and sense of humor! He was lighthearted yet felt emotions deeply. He was dedicated to making a contribution to the world, and his faith led the way. Marianne learned about faith in action through observing Luke. He wasn’t perfect, but he gave his all in every thing he undertook. Marianne struggled with trying to earn love in a family who gave the appearance of loving her, but in reality sought their own interests before thinking about her. It was so interesting reading about a time in our history where there was no governing body to administer safety over the country’s food supply and production. I always learn something new in this author’s stories, which is why she is on my “must read” list. I’m looking forward to what interesting topic she writes about next!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )

In The Prince of Spies, Elizabeth Camden delivers another exciting and emotional historical romance. Marianne Magruder is a photographer for the Department of the Interior tasked with documenting historical buildings in Washington D.C. in order to make a case for their preservation. She is the daughter of Clyde Magruder, a senator and the owner of a leading American food manufacturing company. Luke Delacroix is a journalist and an outspoken opponent of the use of dangerous food preservatives, and his sites are set on taking Clyde Magruder down. But when circumstances throw Marianne and Luke together, neither knowing who the other is, will they be able to see eye to eye and fight for a common cause, or will the generations old feud between their families tear them apart?

I am always excited to get my hands on a new Elizabeth Camden book, and The Prince of Spies did not let me down. I love the little known historical facts that are woven into her stories. From start to finish, this book is exciting and full of emotion. It is well paced, and the characters are well developed and full of personality. I appreciate how Luke’s faith is tied into the story, as well as the themes of forgiveness and selflessness. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put this book down. I absolutely loved it!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. ( )

Prince of Spies, by Elizabeth Camden is book three in The Hope and Glory Series. This story takes place the early 1900’s in the Washington D.C. area. This story takes over where the second in the series ends, so this series should be read in order.

Marianne is out with her nephew when the nephew’s dog falls through the ice. She has gone out onto the unsafe ice to try to rescue the dog. When Luke becomes aware of the situation he also goes out on the ice to help and ends up falling through the ice. The onlookers step in and help with the rescue.

Luke Delacroix comes from a food industry family that has had a feud with the Magruder family, also in the food industry. While Luke’s family focus is high quality, safe, healthy foods, the Magruder family adds preservatives to cheapen their food. Luke feel guilty for taking part in selling coffee with additives that resulted in three a few people dying. He has served time in a Cuban prison and is now home and plans to do something about the food industry. When given the opportunity he takes part in a study of foods with additives to help prove the danger involved. As his and Marianne’s relationship grows, he finds out she is part of the Magruder family.

This is a great conclusion to the series. I enjoyed reading of the previous characters and what was happening in their lives. While this story has unexpected twists and turns, it is easy to see what the story was leading up to. The part in the story that I especially enjoyed was when Marianne and her grandfather would voice their feeling about what was going on in their family. The story is great at pointing out that what appearance someone might have to the public is not always what the true story is. I appreciate the strong faith Luke has especially when it came to dealing with her parents. I also enjoyed that Marianne had a life outside of being a congressman’s daughter and she followed her passion with having a job she enjoyed.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley. All views expressed are my honest opinion. ( )