Book Review: To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden

Acclaimed and Award-Winning Author’s Talent Continues to Win Fans

It has been six years since army nurse Jenny Bennett’s heart was broken by a dashing naval officer. Now Lieutenant Ryan Gallagher has abruptly reappeared in her life at the Presidio army base but refuses to discuss the inexplicable behavior that destroyed their happiness.

Ryan is in an impossible situation. One of the few men in the world qualified to carry out a daring assignment, he accepted a government mission overseas that caused his reputation to be destroyed and broke the heart of the only woman he ever loved. Honor bound never to reveal where he had been during those six years, he can’t tell Jenny the truth or it will endanger an ongoing mission and put thousands of lives at risk.

Although Ryan thinks he may have finally found a solution, he can’t pull it off on his own. Loyalty to her country compels Jenny to help, but she never could have imagined the intrigue she and Ryan will have to face or the lengths to which they will have to go to succeed.

My Thoughts: Camden has a way with words that I’ve always enjoyed. She is one of those authors I know I can count on to deliver a well-rounded story with fully developed characters and a plot that entertains. To the Farthest Shores was no exception.
I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I’ll speak vaguely of Ryan’s “inexplicable behavior that destroyed their happiness.” It’s nothing that sensitive readers should be cautious over so rest assured there. However, it’s the type of storyline that I personally don’t care for and try to avoid anytime I can. Because it’s something that I don’t like, I found myself struggling more with this particular novel. And yet…I also found myself relating to Jenny more and more as the story unfolded. The last 100 pages brought me to tears as I watched her struggle with unforgiveness in ways that were all too familiar to me. Our circumstances were different but our hearts were the same. It was a blessing to know and cheer on the heroine in such an intimate way as the novel reached its end.
In the midst of all of this, Camden brought to life a lovely message on forgiveness.

Rating and Recommendation: I’m giving it 4.5 stars and recommending it to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction.

~I received a copy from Bethany House. I was not compensated for this review or required to give a favorable one. All thoughts are my own.

*If you HAVE to know what about this storyline bothered me and don’t mind a small spoiler, feel free to email me. 🙂