"A Daring Venture" by Elizabeth Camden

[reviewsbyerin]

 


Dr. Rosalind Werner has worked very hard to become a respected biochemist in 1908. Not many people know she's female, however, as she prefers to go by her initials and keep out of the public eye. It's too easy for people to doubt her because of her gender, and also to cast aspersions on her character as a woman working in a male-dominated field. Rosalind lost her parents to typhoid when she was a child, which has driven her to specialize in finding a way to eradicate germs from drinking water.

Returning from his supporting role in A Dangerous Legacy, Nick Drake has a passion for getting clean and abundant water to every resident of New York City. He's seeking to further his political career with this in mind. Nick is skeptical that treating water with chlorine will make it safe, and although he is open to the idea, he feels there must be more research done before he makes any moves to implement this for the city's water supply. He agrees to meet with Dr. R.L. Werner to discuss the matter, and promptly falls in love at first sight with the lovely, opinionated, and brainy Rosalind.

For her part, Rosalind can't deny that there's an almost immediate attraction between them. She loves that Nick has a heart for the welfare of regular people and that he can work with his hands. She also feels that he is rash and sometimes loses control of his temper, though he's quick to apologize when he gets out of line. When Rosalind's coworker forces her hand on the chlorine issue, she isn't sure Nick will ever trust her again.

I love the obscure history that this series focuses on. I can't say that water filtration is something many people read about, but the toe-curling romance in this novel draws readers in and makes them pay attention. Camden's writing shines and also brilliantly sets up Book 3, which releases next February. Consider me already in line to read it!

I received my copy of the book from the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.