A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.
Learn more about Elizabeth and her books on her Website.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
After her father’s death, Mollie Knox takes over his watchmaking company and uses her head for business to solidify the good name of the 57th Illinois Watch Company. Her future looks bright until the night her beloved city is destroyed in the legendary Great Chicago Fire. With her world crumbling around her, Molly must do whatever it takes to save her company in the aftermath of the devastating fire.
Zack Kazmarek is an influential attorney with powerful ties to the political, mercantile, and ethnic roots of Chicago. His only weakness is Mollie Knox, a woman who has always been just beyond his reach. However, all bets are off after the fire destroys Chicago, and Mollie is in desperate need of assistance. Just as Zack finally begins to pursue the woman he loves, competition arises in the form of a hero from her past who can provide the help she needs to rise from the ashes. While Mollie struggles to rebuild, the two men battle for her heart. One has always loved her, but the other has the power to save her. In the race to rebuild the city, can she survive with her business and her heart intact?
If you would like to read the first chapter of Into the Whirlwind, go HERE.
MY REVIEW:
I seem to rediscover Elizabeth Camden’s talent with each of her novels that I read. Each one is a special experience and are always highly recommended to my friends. If they are lucky, I might just loan them my copy. I definitely have a place for each and every one of them on my bookshelf. Somehow each novel seems to get better but that might just be because it is the one I am currently reading – they have all been SO good.
Into the Whirlwind is a fascinating look into the lives of a few Chicago residents during the great Chicago fire and its aftermath. Camden made the actual fire come to life with all the danger and terror experienced by everyone as they ran for their lives and then the shock as they realized they had nothing left. A strong testimonial to the human spirit, the novel illustrated the determination, the compassion, and the hard work that brought the city back to its feet after such a tragic event.
I loved both Mollie and Zack’s characters although each of them were sometimes exasperating. Their loyalty and faith in the midst of such tragedy were truly inspirational. I enjoyed reading the details of Mollie’s watchmaking business as well as the specifics of Zack’s duties as lawyer for an exclusive department store. This is too good a book to risk spoilers so I will close by encouraging everyone to read not only Into the Whirlwind but also Elizabeth Camden’s previous novels. I personally cannot get enough of them.
