*I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House publishers to give an unbiased review.*
It's the late 19th century, and Chicago is booming. Mollie Knox is the owner of the 57th Illinois Watch Company and is determined to keep her father's dream alive by producing the most beautiful handmade watches. She's also determined that no matter what, she will provide jobs and security for the veterans of the 57th that fought with her father in the Civil War. When the Great Chicago Fire destroys the city, Mollie's life is turned upside down. As she fights for her life and livelihood, Zack Kazmarek is there by her side. But up to this point, Mollie has only seen Zack as the intimidating attorney that acts on behalf of one of Chicago's biggest department stores. When Zack reveals his heart to Mollie, she is swept into a whirlwind...and Zack is a powerful force. As events unfold and Mollie learns other aspects of her dealings with Zack and the veterans of the 57th swoop in to rescue Mollie's beloved watch company, will business or love guide her heart?
I'm a big Elizabeth Camden fan. First of all, her characters are so well developed, interesting, and even cultural. They are not flawless, though, which is another thing I like. Camden's female characters show a lot of strength and determination, often in the midst of adversity and danger. Her male characters usually have strength...often physical...but in most of her books they have overcome poverty or hardship and risen above it. In at least two of her books, the male character also has an interesting ethnic background that is infused into his story. This is definitely the case in Into the Whirlwind. Mollie is smart, determined, and she won't back down from a challenge. Zack is from a Polish background, so his parents and their culture are a big part of his story. He also came from humble beginnings, working his way up from nothing to being one of the most powerful attorneys in Chicago. These are all things I liked about the story. I enjoyed the backdrop of this story being the Chicago Fire, as I didn't know much about it beforehand. The only thing I didn't like about the story was in the first third of it, specifically in the romantic aspect. I felt like it was just too easy for Zack to be so head over heels for Mollie. I know his feelings for her had been brewing for a long time, but we come into the story after he'd known of her for quite a while. Even though I love a good romance, I got a little bored, to be honest. But then the story took a few unexpected turns, and I definitely wasn't bored anymore : ). I liked the change in pace. I liked Zack's persona...very masculine and yet made himself vulnerable to Mollie. Even though Mollie said things she regretted and struggled with a strong need for structure in her life, it wasn't irritating. I thought those aspects of her character were believable and dealt with well. Overall, I enjoyed the book . Even though the ending/epilogue didn't give me the closure I really wanted, I can still say that it was a good read. However, I don't think I can say that I enjoyed it more than Against the Tide, which is probably my favorite Elizabeth Camden novel.
Happy Reading!
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