Tag: A Gilded Lady

Which character would you choose for Book Week fancy dress?

Bookish Question #191 | Which character would you choose for Book Week fancy dress?

Book Week and dressing up wasn’t a thing when I was at school. Even now, it’s not common in New Zealand. I can only remember one instance of my children dressing up for Book Week.

When my son was about eight, her persuaded us to buy him a three-piece suit to wear to a family wedding. He later wore the suit to school for Book Week—he was James Bond. I have to admire his choice.

If I was going to pick a character to dress up for during Book Week—and if money was no object— I’d choose to dress as Caroline Delacroix, heroine of A Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden. Caroline is secretary to Ida McKinley, First Lady of the United States, a role that requires a lot of fancy, expensive gowns to attend fancy, expensive functions.

But Caroline’s beautiful dresses were nothing in comparison to the $8,000 gown Ida McKinley wore for the inauguration ball:

Cream satin, embroidered with silver thread, and lavishly embellished with crystals and pearls … the gown was fit for a queen and tailored to perfection.

I couldn’t spent $8,000 on a single gown now, let alone in 1901 or whenever McKinley was President. But I still enjoy looking at pretty things, and we’re talking imagination and fantasy … I wish I’d been able to see the gown or even find a picture.

What about you? Which character would you choose for Book Week fancy dress, and why?

We can't control the seasons in our lives, only how we respond to them.

Book Review | A Gilded Lady (Hope & Glory #2) by Elizabeth Camden

I almost didn’t read this novel, and that would have been my loss because it was excellent. I didn’t find the monochrome cover particularly appealing, and I’m somewhat tired of reading about the lifestyles of the privileged in the Gilded Age (the 1890’s aka the late Victorian era).

So what interested me about A Gilded Lady?

Simple. Caroline Delacroix is the secretary to the First Lady of the United States, and the promise of a glimpse inside the White House of 1900 was enough to hook me. I have been consistently impressed with Elizabeth Camden’s ability to weave a compelling romance around a combination of a little-known historical fact and a heroine with an unusual occupation.

And I was not disappointed.

Caroline works for Ida Garfield, a First Lady with a temper who suffered from epilepsy and probably depression, a result of losing both her daughters. Caroline basically runs her life, organising social events from a simple morning tea to an inaguration ball. She will do anything to maintain her role because her twin brother, Luke, has been jailed in Cuba for treason, and Caroline believes a presidential pardon is his only hope.

Life is not made easier by Nathaniel Trask, the new White House head of security, appointed after the assassination of the king of Italy. (Those familiar with US history will see the irony, as they will know what happens.) Caroline is attracted to him, but obviously can’t do anything about that without giving up on her brother.

So what did I like about A Guilded Lady?

I liked the inside look at the historical White House (I was less impressed by the cost of Ida McKinley’s ball dress—$8,000 is astronomical now. How much was it in 1900?) I liked Caroline, who was a lot more intelligent and practical than the heroines in most Guilded Age novels I’ve read. I liked the compelling yet understated developing relationship between Caroline and Nathaniel, and the equally compelling yet understated faith aspect.

In fact, I enjoyed the novel so much I then bought and read The Spice King, the first novel in the Hope and Glory series (and one I had discounted because of the uninteresting monochrome cover). It was equally enjoyable, although there are probably advantages in reading The Spice King first …

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Elizabeth Camden

Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. 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 near Orlando, Florida.

Find Elizabeth Camden online at:

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About A Gilded Lady


Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she’s hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.

Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president’s Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.

Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.

Find A Gilded Lady online at:

Amazon | ChristianBook | Goodreads | Koorong

Read the introduction to A Gilded Lady below: