"A Desperate Hope" by Elizabeth Camden---Empire State, book 3

Eloise Drake, a brilliant accountant, is tasked with overseeing the appraisal of the buildings and land of a town that is about to be demolished for the construction of a reservoir that will be able to keep New York City in clean water. Unfortunately, it means spending two months with mayor Alex Duval--the man who broke her heart. Alex is stunned to finally see Eloise again, but even more shocked to discover that she's part of the hated team preparing to destroy his home. When Alex comes up with a wild idea that could mean saving his town, he need Eloise's help to succeed. But will their combined ingenuity be enough to overcome the hurdles stacked against them?

I think I say this for every Elizabeth Camden novel, but I love that her heroines have such unique, impressive jobs. And while they may suffer some sexism for being in positions that typically belong to men, the stories are never about that--they're about strong women making a difference (and that makes such a difference in my enjoyment as a reader, seeing them being their best and excelling at their jobs rather than constantly fighting against men). Eloise is no exception, being one of very few female CPAs in New York. While I have no great love for budgeting, I really connected with her practical outlook on life--her love of concrete plans, order, and security.

I also liked Alex and his wild dreams and grandiose ideas--he makes a great balance to Eloise's love of security and order. He's one of those men that is larger than life, and even though he has been beaten down again and again while trying to save his town, he jumps back up swinging. But frankly, there were times he could be an insensitive clod. When it comes to certain sins, men just aren't held to the same standards as women, and it's the women who are more likely to be hurt. I wish he would have been better about acknowledging that.

The history behind this story is also fascinating. Living in an place with a massive abundance of clean freshwater, I've never thought about reservoirs--why one would build them, what would happen to the land beneath them, what was there before the water. But to read about the towns that were moved or lost to build the reservoir to keep New York City in clean, healthy water, I can better appreciate my home!

Thank you Bethany House and NetGalley for the complimentary e-book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own.

Empire State
1. A Dangerous Legacy
2. A Daring Venture
3. A Desperate Hope
3.5 "Christmas at Whitefriars"