"Written on the Wind" by Elizabeth Camden - Blackstone Legacy, book 2

Natalia Blackstone is a rarity in Gilded Age America. As a trusted analyst for her father's bank, she is helping finance the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. From her office in New York City, Natalia relies on a charming Russian aristocrat to oversee the construction of the railroad on the other side of the world. But while overseeing the work, Count Dimitri Sokolov witnesses the deadly result of the Russian Monarchy's will to see the railway built. To silence him, the state has stripped Dimitri of his title, his lands, and his freedom . . . but Dimitri has a key asset the czar knows nothing about: his deep and abiding friendship with Natalia Blackstone. From the steppes of Russia to the corridors of power in Washington, Natalia and Dimitri will fight against all odds to save the railroad and share the truth of what happened, but how can their newfound love survive the ordeal?

I really liked both Natalia and Dimitri from the snapshot of their relationship in Carved in Stone, and Written on the Wind did not disappoint! Dimitri would have been merely an amusing fop if he hadn't had the tenacity to cross the Russian taiga on foot and the drive to fight against some of the highest powers in the world to see that the atrocities of the Russian-Chinese border were never repeated. Which is to say, he was wonderful. And Natalia is smart and practical with a dry wit--the perfect balance to Dimitri's flamboyant nature. 

Having taken numerous courses in Russian studies in college, I love it when I come across books with a focus on Russia. A lot of novels focus on the Russian Revolution and afterward, but this one takes place in the lead-up to the 1905 revolution (a precursor to the more significant 1917 revolution). One thing that always impresses me about Camden's books is her research, and it definitely concurred with what I learned, both the cultural and historical aspects. But I also loved having learned something new, and I hadn't known about the Blagoveshchensk Massacre, the atrocity that propels this story.

Highly enjoyable!

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.

The Blackstone Legacy

1. Carved in Stone

2. Written on the Wind
3. Hearts of Steel