This is a fantastic book! Elizabeth Camden knows how to write an excellent story with extraordinary characters!

I loved the setting of NYC! The imagery brought the city to life!

The characters are relatable and genuine! Maggie is my favorite! She's strong, determined, and loyal to her family. It took me a little while to like Liam, but he proved to be full of compassion, heroic, and a true friend.

The love story is sweet and romantic. I liked that sometimes they didn't get along all the time, which is true to all relationships!

This is a must read! I look forward to Elizabeth's next book! ( )

Liam Blackstone may be part of one of the wealthiest banking families in America, but that doesn't mean he feels like he belongs. After being kidnapped at age 3, he lived with an abusive father, was forced to quite school after the 8th grade, and lived in poverty. He was infused with a burning frustration against the wealthy and those of privilege. Then he discovered his true heritage, and became one of the privileged wealthy. He was reintroduced to the Blackstone family and was made a board member of U.S. Steel. However, he never has really belonged - he is still a welder passionate about helping his fellow workers & their families, that sometimes let his temper get the best of him. Getting along with the other board members of U.S. Steel has been very challenging due to his lack of education and experience, especially frustrating is the continuous barbs made against him by Charles Morse. It is while trying to make peace with Morse, that Liam meets local businesswoman and ice cream maker Maggie Molinaro. She is also trying to have a working relationship with Morse, but is also not having any luck. Maggie and Liam strike up a friendship as they strive to prevent Charles Morse from running other businesses into the ground in the name of greed and power. Will they succeed in beating such a powerful businessman that owns many of the businesses and has the power to corrupt & unfairly influence city leaders? Can their friendship survive as they are both driven to the breaking point personally and professionally?

This was a wonderful ending to the Blackstone Legacy series. I feel it rounded out all the characters from the three novels and gave them wonderful endings and new beginnings. I look forward to reading more books from Ms. Camden! She definitely brings her characters to life! Thank you LibraryThing for the Early Reviewers copy of Hearts of Steel! ( )

Hearts of Steel is the third book in the Blackstone Legacy series by Elizabeth Camden. It's full of action, romance, history and great characters. I found it to be engaging and a wonderful way spend a relaxing evening!
Each book can be read as a standalone novel though I do recommend reading the whole series if you have the chance. ( )

Elizabeth Camden's new book, Hearts of Steel, was an enjoyable read. I was nervous to start this series at Book 3, but this could be a stand alone novel. There are characters from the previous books, but the reader won't feel lost or left out.

A chance encounter with Maggie Molinaro leaves Liam Blackstone's life turned upside down. He hates bullies and sees Maggie stand up to one and even get the best of him. But when the bully sets out to ruin him and Maggie's ice cream business, Liam can't stand by and do nothing. Like David confronting Goliath, Liam and Maggie band together to fight against one of the most powerful and influential men in the city. Can they get the proof they need to succeed in stopping the villainous Charles Morse before Maggie loses everything she's built, and Liam loses his seat on the Steel committee?

I thought the book was great! The characters are likable, the plot line is exciting, and the descriptions are top notch! I love how Camden uses real points in history to write a full story. The antagonist, Charles Morse actually lived and did some of the terrible things described in the book. My only complaint is I felt the character of Maggie a little too obsessed with money. I understand that she came from nothing and feared poverty, but someone who loves the Lord would also trust that God has a plan and would take care of her. She seemed to trust more in herself.

Overall, a fantastic story that I would recommend anyone to read who is a fan of Elizabeth Camden, or Historical Christian fiction. ( )

Title: Hearts of Steel (The Blackstone Legacy #3)
Author: Elizabeth Camden
Pages: 336
Year: 2023
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
Liam Blackstone is a young man who was kidnapped as a young boy. Liam’s true identity was eventually discovered, and he has been reunited with what is left of his family, his father and mother having preceded him in death. His biological family are the wealthy Blackstones, and they control U.S. Steel. Liam has been given a seat on the board to represent the “working man” as that is what his life experience has been. He longs to be the man he thinks his father wanted him to be, to be a better man. He meets Maggie Molinaro and urges her to fight against the wealthy man trying to cheat her out of what is owed to her. He joins Maggie in an effort to protect her in an escalating battle with a wealthy businessman, who is out to cheat and deceive as many people as possible to make money for himself.
Maggie Molinaro is a young woman who knows what it is like to be poor, without a roof over her head and wondering where her next meal will come from. She lives with her aunt and uncle and quit school at the age of fifteen to help them run their ice cream business. She knows how to do every job in the business from manning a pushcart around town, to making ice cream, to repairing machinery. She saves every penny she can as she vows never to be poor again. When a wealthy man tries to get away without paying a bill for her ice cream, she confronts him in person to get her money. Little does she realize she has painted a target on her back and this man will stop at nothing to see her business fail. Her new friend Liam shows her his tough side, but also his compassion and generosity for his fellow man.
I would have liked to see more of a faith journey in the story. God is mentioned a little or not at all in the first half of the book. There is also a strange, almost religious, practice with Uncle Dino and a twig from an olive tree. However, I did enjoy learning about the beginnings of the ice cream industry. I advise reading the author’s note at the end of the book as it separates fact from fiction. This author does a wonderful job of taking historical fact and weaving it into an enjoyable fictional tale.
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility. ( )