"A Dangerous Legacy" by Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth Camden is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers of historical inspirational romance. Her latest novel, A Dangerous Legacy, kept me captivated from start to finish.

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Telegraph operator Lucy Drake is a master of Morse code and has made herself a valuable asset to the Associated Press news agency. But the sudden arrival of Sir Colin Beckwith at rival British news agency Reuters puts her hard-earned livelihood at risk. Colin is talented, handsome, insufferably charming--and keeping a secret that jeopardizes his reputation.

Despite their rivalry, Lucy can't deny that Colin has the connections she needs to give her family an edge in the long legal battle they've been waging over their rightful inheritance. But when she negotiates an unlikely alliance with him, the web of treachery they dive into proves to be far more dangerous than they ever could have known.

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Full of intrigue, danger, family drama, and romance, A Dangerous Legacy is a delight from beginning to end. Sir Colin Beckwith and Lucy Drake may work for rival news agencies, but when Lucy uncovers a possible assassination plot that may involve the relatives Lucy and her brother have been fighting in court for years, Colin and Lucy team up to try to defeat her relatives once and for all ... and possibly save the president's life.

From the book's description and cover, I was expecting A Dangerous Legacy to be heavy on romance and light on intrigue. It's just the opposite! While it does contain romance (and I especially enjoyed the flirtatious banter between Colin and Lucy), the novel is much more focused on intrigue: Who is behind the assassination plot? Why are Lucy and her brother being followed? What happened to their great uncle Jacob Drake?

To me, the best part of this novel is Lucy. She's strong and spunky, but also imperfect. In her quest to beat her uncle in court, she has resorted to some morally questionable—even illegal—methods. But she also has a conscience, and she begins to question if the ends truly do justify the means. She also yearns for a different life, and she ends up making some choices that surprised me, even while I cheered her on.

As the novel reaches its satisfying conclusion, it sets up the next in the series, which will focus on Lucy's brother Nicholas. I can't wait to read it! 4-1/2 stars.

Buy the book.
Read my reviews of Camden's From this Moment (5 stars), Beyond All Dreams (5 stars), Against the Tide (4-1/2 stars), and To the Farthest Shores (4 stars).

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Elizabeth Camden is the author of nine historical novels and has been honored with the RITA Award, the Christy Award, and the Carol 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. Learn more at www.elizabethcamden.com.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free for review from Bethany House Publishers through theirbook reviewer program. 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."