The Lady of Bolton Hill

The prologue, set in 1867, is dramatic and very well-written. It introduces Daniel Tremain, a sixteen-year-old working boy in the United States who suffers a terrible tragedy; it also introduces his best friend, Clara, who shares his passion for classical music although her background is much higher class than his.

The rest of the story takes place twelve years later. The historical settings felt real, and the dialogue came across as authentic. I liked Clara, and found Daniel believable if rather hard-headed and materialistic. I was less convinced by the other, more minor characters.

However my biggest problem with the book was the sudden development of a completely different sub-plot, part way through. It involves some opium dealers, show more and a particularly unpleasant and amoral teenage boy known as Bane. When the two storylines combine, the book descends into melodrama… oddly mixed with evangelism.

The resolution of the story’s climax feels bizarre, and that's writing from the perspective as a Christian who has no doubt that God can do anything. For those without faith, approaching this as a historical fiction book, the ending would seem unrealistic and contrived in a ‘deus ex machina’ style.

So I can’t give this any more than three stars, despite it being very well-written and with a great sense of the historical context. I'd say it's worth reading, and very interesting in places, but I’d have liked it better (and believed in it more) if the story involving Bane had not been there at all. show less

Clara Endicott lives a charmed life in Bolton Hill as the daughter of a doting, prestigious minister. Daniel Tremain, on the other hand, lives in poverty, working in the same steel mill as his father. Despite their differences, the two become the best of friends. Then, tragedy strikes. Daniel's father dies in an accident, and Clara's father ships her to England. Overseas, Clara becomes a respected journalist and a champion of the working class. Meanwhile, Daniel has patented new railroad technology that makes him a very wealthy man. When Clara is forced to leave England, she is reunited with her childhood friend. The early romantic feelings they felt for each other are stronger than ever, but there are many problems the two face. Daniel show more is a bitter man, blaming a rival businessman for his father's death, and he does not share Clara's faith. Suddenly, Daniel's troubles find Clara and put her very life in danger. There are enough twists and turns to keep you reading until the very end, which is a very satisfying conclusion, indeed.

This book kept me entertained from the very beginning. Clara is not a shrinking violet, and she's not a perfect character, either. She does something in the book that I just couldn't believe, and I completely understood Daniel's anger with her. Daniel is irresistably charming at times--a complete flirt--and shockingly harsh and almost cruel at others. They were unpredictable and very realistic.

This is, first and foremost, a romantic story. Daniel is a great love interest and balance for Clara. He is a revered and even feared man, but with Clara he is very gentle and practically worships her. I found myself rooting for his redemption all along. The action scenes are susepenseful and well-paced. The villainous character, Alexander Bane, is a wonderful addition and comes at just the right time to increase the pacing in the latter half of the book.

So, why 4.5 stars instead of the full 5? I deducted a 1/2 star because there were a few loose ends. In particular, we never find out what happens to a cruel professor who deals in the lucrative opium trade. With so many other ends tied up so neatly, I wonder how the author managed to forget about the most villainous of characters in the story. show less

Elizabeth Camden is one of my favorite authors of historical fiction. This is her first published novel. She had not quite hit the stride she has achieved with later novels (e.g. the "Hope and Glory" series and the "Blackstone Legacy" series) in this book, but it is still a very good story. Clara and Daniel were unlikely childhood friends, with him from a factory worker's family and she the daughter of a well-to-do and influential minister. They are brought together by a love of classical music and become fast friends. But Clara is sent away to England at 14 when her father senses that their connection is growing too fond, and their paths diverge.

Clara has become a journalist in England, and is deported back to the US after a series of show more articles exposing the mistreatment of child labor in the mining industry raises opposition and a libel suit. Daniel was devastated by the death of his father in boiler explosion, that also killed his chance at a college scholarship. However, he has great engineering skills, and comes under the wing of a far-sighted employer. Together, they have marketed Daniel's innovative inventions for the growing railroad industry, and he has become a wealthy man. But also one obsessed with a vendetta against the industrialist he blames for his father's death, since he deemed it to costly to replace defective equipment until it failed.

Clara and Daniel are again drawn together after she returns to Baltimore, but his need for revenge is a barrier between them. The theme of the story is definitely the need for forgiveness, since anger corrodes the soul, and vengeance should be left in the hands of a higher power. However, Ms. Camden is not as light-handed with the message as her later novels are, and as a reader, I occasionally felt the message was being broadcast in 6-foot green neon. And the crisis and rescue at the end of the story that brings everything to resolution is exciting and suspenseful and very entertaining to read, but nearly impossible to believe if you take time to actually THINK about it.

Still, it is well worth the time it takes to read it, and shows the promise of the great writer Ms. Camden has become show less

"The Lady of Bolton Hill" by Elizabeth Camden is exciting Christian Historical Fiction. It has more action than the usual for this genre. The story starts in Baltimore in 1867 when Daniel Tremain is taking a test for a scholarship in engineering. He is interrupted with a plea for help for his father. There has been a boiler explosion at work and his father has been trapped in some machinery. Daniel does his best but he was unable to save his father. The machinery had been unsafe. Daniel’s family is very poor and has to struggle with poverty with Daniel working to support them.

Clara Endicott, is very independent and strong willed and a daughter of a minister. She and Daniel are drawn together accidently by a strong love of Chopin’s show more music. She goes to London, England and gets involved in a social cause and her writing causes her to be put on trial.

Twelve years later, they meet again, both of them thinking that it will never work being from such different classes and background. I was surprised by the amount of anger that Daniel shows towards Clara. Clara has trouble dealing with it and yet only wants Daniel over everyone else. Daniel has become a “robber baron” and is in trouble with his workers. He has so many problems to work through and shies away from doing so.

Clara’s emotions for Daniel bounce back and forth that it started to wear me out some. There were a few times that the story got a little preachy so it would have been great if that was toned down some and a little more time spent on editing. There were plenty of twists and turns which I enjoyed. Over all it was a very enjoyable book, especially with historical details about child labor and unsafe equipment.

I highly recommend this book to people interested in this time in history. show less

Clara Endicott was born of privilege. She had a love of music but also a love for writing and wanted to write for her father's newspaper. Daniel Tremain was born in poverty but also harbored a love of music. Though these two were from opposite sides of the track they became best friends. But when it becomes a hint more than that her father sends her away to London to live with her aunt. It's there she writes an article concerning the poor working conditions of miners but especially the poor children sent down to work in the mines. It stirs such hostility that she is deported back to the US. There she meets up again with Daniel. All the feelings are still there and yet things are very different. He has become a very wealthy man but much show more of his drive comes from old grudges he can't let go of. As Clara speaks of God's forgiveness he turns into a man she hardly recognizes. But when Clara's life is endangered he is forced to deal with issues he has kept close to heart.

What a wonderful debut novel. Elizabeth Camden writes like a seasoned author. This story was full of likeable characters, zippy dialog and spiritual truths. Clara was the type of woman you could look up to. She wasn't perfect but she truly tried to live out her faith. I liked that Clara was willing to take a stand for her faith even though it would personally cost her. Daniel was such a charming fellow. I love the way he was with Clara and the relationship they had. Though there were spots where you could see his bitterness come shining through. How true that could be for us too. The cover of this novel is beautiful and gives you the idea of a somewhat sedate story, but not so. It kept me turning pages but especially the last third of the book. Wonderful suspense and unexpected twist! You also don't find out who the real culprit is until the end. I like that. I also really liked how this author brought everything together at the end. I look forward to future offerings by this author. If you haven't read The Lady of Bolton Hill I recommend you pick it up. A thank you goes to LibraryThing and Bethany House for this complimentary ARC for my review. show less

The book I read was about Kate, who lives in a boarding house with her family. She had been married, but her husband had a scaffolding accident. Leaving a dead-end clerical job, she goes to work for a doctor to help him record the findings in his search for a cure for tuberculosis. Trevor just happens to be a school rival who had beat her out for a scholarship, even if he didn't need it. Against all odds, they fall in love, but she is hesitant to love someone who might die.

Twelve years after leaving America, Clara Endicott returns with dreams of pursuing truth and justice as a female journalist. As soon as she and her childhood friend, Daniel Tremain, meet, their hearts begin to reconnect and the spark of romance from twelve years ago ignites into a full-blown flame. Unfortunately, Daniel's long-standing grudge against the owner of the factory his father was killed in has made him a target of criminal activity. Will Daniel and Clara survive the danger? Can Daniel ever put his hatred and bitterness behind him? And what if he doesn't? Will Clara marry someone who doesn't share her beliefs?

Historical romances, such as The Lady of Bolton Hill by Elizabeth Camden, are my favorite stories to read. The story show more flowed smoothly and I appreciated all the musical elements that Camden incorporated. I was hooked by the characters almost immediately, but I really started enjoying the story when there began to be some mystery involved. The author's portrayal of Daniel's struggle with bitterness was very good. I don't like it when authors gloss over the tragedy and move on. Camden did an excellent job displaying Daniel's heart and creating an authentic character. My only complaint (and it's not a biggie) is with Daniel's last name being Tremain. This is probably the third Christian fiction book I've read in the last year that had a wealthy main character from this time period with the last name of Tremain. It's a nice name, but overused. Lastly, I loved the epilogue and I will definitely be reading this book again!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers. 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." show less