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?
Anna and Luke are first-class characters. Opposites definitely attract, and these two spark like lightning – but the story isn’t just about their romance. Luke is walking a serious emotional and spiritual journey, while Anna fights against loneliness and struggles to unravel the mystery her father left to her. Their lighthearted romance balances the heavier emotional issues well.
The characters’ personalities aren’t even the strongest part of this story. Anna’s father’s mystery is suspenseful and moves the plot along quickly. I loved the angles and intrigue inherent in it, so while it’s not exactly a thriller, it’s definitely a cut above your normal historical romance.
The setting pushes this story up into yet another category. You couldn’t move this story into any other city or time period and have it work; the details of time, place, and world history put a unique shine onto Against All Odds. Since this book falls squarely between two of my favorite time periods, it is one of which I know less than I’d like, and I feel as if I learned quite a bit of history simply be enjoying the story. Quite frankly, I love history, but this is by far my very favorite way to learn it: by story. This would be a fantastic book for a student to read while studying this time period.
Come to think of it, there isn’t anything I didn’t like about Against All Odds. Camden is a fantastic writer, and it shines through this story brilliantly. If you like historical fiction, be sure to read it – this is one of the best.
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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.
I received a free book in exchange for an honest review.
