Written on the Wind by Elizabeth Camden

Written on the Wind
by Elizabeth Camden

ISBN-13: 9780764238444
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Bethany House
Released: May 3rd 2022

Source: ebook review copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Book Description, Modified from Goodreads:
Natalia Blackstone is a rarity in Gilded Age America. As a trusted analyst for her father's bank, she is helping finance the legendary Trans-Siberian Railway. From her office in New York City, Natalia relies on a charming Russian aristocrat to oversee the construction of the railroad on the other side of the world.

But while overseeing the work, Count Dimitri Sokolov witnesses the deadly result of the Russian Monarchy's will to see the railway built. To silence him, the state has stripped Dimitri of his title, his lands, and his freedom, but Dimitri has a key asset the czar knows nothing about: his deep friendship with Natalia Blackstone and his assets still invested at her father's bank.

From the steppes of Russia to the corridors of power in Washington, Natalia and Dimitri will fight against all odds to share the truth of what happened, but how can their newfound love survive the ordeal?


My Review:
Written on the Wind is a romance set in 1900 in New York, Washington, and Siberia. The characters reacted realistically, were complex, and I cared about what happened to them. Historical details about banks, the Trans-Siberian Railway, and politics were woven into the story. The setting and historical details immersed me in the story, bringing it alive in my imagination. It's a well-written story.

However, I was annoyed with Dimitri. He respected Natalia as a businesswoman but still felt totally justified in demanding that she cater to his every desire. He never really believed her when she told him that her father would fire her from the bank if her actions (on his behalf) made the bank look bad. I was relieved that Natalia wasn't willing to do everything Dimitri demanded and tried so hard to find a solution that would work for both her and Dimitri. But he kept pressuring her to make his wants her priority (as a Russian aristocrat who felt his cause was important would do) and only conceded where Natalia's reputation and desires as a woman became important. He did change some as time went on and always supported her skills as a businesswoman, but I didn't really understand her intense attraction to him during this time when he was essentially threatening the life that she loved.

Anyway, this was quite suspenseful. The first part was Dimitri's arrest, escape off the very railway that he'd helped build, and his dangerous journey through Siberia in winter. He faced danger from animals, people, and the weather. Natalia struggled with people who resented her and the changes happening in her life. Then they had to work together to do the impossible: force the czar to acknowledge what Dimitri had witnessed and confirm that the killing wouldn't happen again. There was no sex or bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this interesting historical romance.


If you've read this book, what do you think about it? I'd be honored if you wrote your own opinion of the book in the comments.


Excerpt: Read an excerpt using Google Preview.