Hearts of Steel by Elizabeth Camden

Maggie Molinaro survived a hardscrabble childhood in the downtrodden streets of Manhattan to become a successful businesswoman. After a decade of sacrifice, she now owns a celebrated ice cream company, but when she offends a corrupt banker, she unwittingly sets off a series of calamities that threaten to destroy her life's work. Liam Blackstone is a charismatic steel magnate committed to overhauling factory conditions for the steelworkers of America. Standing in his way is the same villain determined to ruin Maggie. What begins as a practical alliance to defeat a common enemy soon evolves into a romance between two wounded people determined to beat the odds. A spiraling circle of treachery grows increasingly dangerous as Liam and Maggie risk their lives and fortune for the good of the city. It will require all their wit and ingenuity to navigate the dangerous waters ahead, but their crusade could cost them everything.

I always enjoy Elizabeth Camden's books. She captures aspects of history and progress that are often overlooked, but I know I can count on a fascinating retelling of even what should be the most mundane subjects--who would ever think to center a plot around summer-time ice distribution? And yet it's a story full of political intrigue and corruption. Liam is his brash self from earlier books in the series, but I liked that though he often fails, he is trying to be a better man and slowly even increases in self control. Maggie is a great example of entrepreneurship and what a person can do when they work heard towards a goal. Not to say she couldn't learn to be a bit less tight-fisted, but she was a smart, relatable heroine.

Before reading the historical notes at the end, I never would have guessed that the villain is not fictional. He's a great scummy weasel of a bad guy who fits perfectly in a novel, but basically everything he did in the story*, both in business and his personal life, is historically accurate--the man was a real-life scoundrel with influence over much of New York City. I love how Camden crafted a story around this larger-than-life miscreant.

*other than directly to our fictional heroes, of course

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