Beyond All Dreams #bookreview

About the book: Beyond All Dreams
Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?

 

 

About the book:  Beyond All Dreams 

 

Anna O’Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across the baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. Thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

Luke Callahan was one of the nation’s most powerful congressmen before his promising career was shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship. Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglements with members of Congress.

From the gilded halls of the Capitol where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation’s finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they’ve ever dreamed for their futures?

 

 

About the author: Elizabeth Camden is the author of six books and a RITA and Christy Award winner. 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. Elizabeth lives with her husband in Florida.

Find Elizabeth online: website, Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My thoughts:  Beyond All Dreams was a dream to read.  It read fast and anyone who loves books and history will find it captivating.  I personally can agree with Anna.  I’d love love love to work in a library.  All those books at your fingertips!  And the old book smell.  Yes I find the smell of old books addicting.  Love them.  You’ve probably noticed my love of books through the number of reviews I do on the blog here!  I love to read.  Would read even more if I had the time to.  I’m blessed to have children who enjoy reading as well.  We can have quiet afternoons with everyone reading. . . . .well as long as someone reads to the one that can’t quite read on their own yet.

 

Okay so I went off on a bit of a tangent about books.  Well this book is excellent!  Anna O’Brien is a librarian at the Library of Congress where they are about to move to a new building.  But more than that, she’s an expert on maps.  Why you might ask is a young girl who is not married and definitely not ugly be working in a library with old maps?  Her father was a cartographer and she learned from him.  He died at sea.  She’s never quite come to terms with this loss as she was raised by family that weren’t exactly nice.  In fact, her Uncle poured lye down her throat resulting in horrid burns which is why she talks with a bit of a gravelly voice.  A voice that she is very self conscious about.  

 

Enter our male hero type into the story.  Luke Callahan is a handsome member of Congress.  An up and comer type with a specific protagonist who just got him demoted.  He has a bit of a temper but quite a bit of a family history.  He is the caretaker of his little family.  Not his children, but rather his brothers, sister, and his nephew.  His nephew living with him currently while his sister is a recovering alcoholic.  Alcoholism runs in his family.  

 

But what happens when Anna finds errors in a map?  Errors in a map that show her father did not die where she was told he did?  And will Luke ever learn to forgive his own father for the years of mistreatment.  Now things start moving though as it seems the US Navy does not want anyone to know of the map errors.  In fact, they deny the errors and threaten Anna’s very job due to her diggings.  She is told she MUST stop.  Then she feels her life is in danger.  And her best friend is hiding something.

 

Great book full of mystery and intrigue.  Wonderful book.  Make sure to check this one out.  I see big things coming from this author!  Beyond All Dreams  begs for a sequel so now we wait!