Beyond All Dreams by Elizabeth Camden

Anna O'Brien leads a predictable and quiet life as a map librarian at the illustrious Library of Congress until she stumbles across a baffling mystery of a ship disappeared at sea. She is thwarted in her attempts to uncover information, but her determination outweighs her shyness and she turns to a dashing congressman for help.

Luke Callahan was one of the nation's most powerful congressmen until his promising career became shadowed in scandal. Eager to share in a new cause and intrigued by the winsome librarian, he joins forces with Anna to solve the mystery of the lost ship.

Opposites in every way, Anna and Luke are unexpectedly drawn to each other despite the strict rules forbidding Anna from any romantic entanglement with a member of Congress.
From the gilded halls of the Capitol, where powerful men shape the future of the nation, to the scholarly archives of the nation's finest library, Anna and Luke are soon embroiled in secrets much bigger and more perilous than they ever imagined. Is bringing the truth to light worth risking all they've ever dreamed for themselves?

As I was reading this book, I was drawn to Anna and Luke.  Anna lost her father on the Navy ship Culpepper and was raised by her aunt and uncle.  Her uncle in a drunken rage pours lye down her throat and her throat it burned terribly.  Luke was raised by a father who when drunk was a very mean and abusive man.  Luke has trouble controlling his temper, which gets him into trouble more than once.  Luke’s first contact with Anna is when he requests map information from the Library of Congress where Anna works in the map room.  From there Luke pursues Anna.  Anna finds proof that her father’s ship didn’t sink in a hurricane as reported and enlists Luke’s aid to prove it.  They are thwarted at every turn.  Anna might seem like a meek person, but she is determined to find her answers no matter what.

I found the historical aspects of this book to be very interesting.  I could tell that the author did a lot of research on the political atmosphere of the time leading up to the Spanish American War. 

I am having trouble on how to rate this book.  I think I can only give it a three.  I enjoyed the book and will read more from this author.  But it was not one that I just couldn’t put down. 

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any way.