Against the Tide

Written by John Ringo

Narrated by Tim Fannon

Problems, problems, problems …

The world had been a paradise until the Fall, when the holders of the control codes for the world-spanning program called "Mother" fell out in civil war.

The United Free States felt well defended behind its screen of elite Dragon carriers that held sway in the Atlantis Ocean. But when New Destiny proved to have dragon carriers of its own, and more of them, the linch-pin of the UFS
defense went out the window.

Now, with the UFS' back to the wall, everything seems to be going New Destiny's way.

But there are problems.

Edmund Talbot had never really studied naval warfare, but what he didn't know about war in general hadn't been written. So when he took over the UFS navy, at its moment of utter defeat, New Destiny's problems were just starting.

And little did the instigator of the civil war, Paul Boman, know that his closest confidante was the daughter of the UFS' head of intelligence. Megan Travante, for four years mired in a concubine's harem, has just been recruited to be an agent in
the enemy camp. Of course, she's also planning on murdering Paul, just as soon as she gets a chance.

Herzer Herrick, the UFS' premier ground fighter, has problems of his own. A man who's "good with his hands" he's also found he's good with a dragon. Which is why he's the XO of a dragon contingent instead of fighting in the front lines of
the ground battle. With a crew of brand new pilots, undertrained dragons, untrained support personnel, the bitchiest dragon CO on Earth and a ship's commander who's half cat, he has enough problems for any one man. And then
he gets an order that drops a whole passel more in his lap.

The battle of dragon carrier on dragon carrier is about to start, with the fleets pursuing each other over half the Atlantis Ocean in a game of cat-and-mouse.

But all the cats are on the side of the UFS.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 22, 2020
• ISBN: 9781980050995

John Ringo

John Ringo is author of the New York Times best-selling Legacy of Aldenata (Posleen War) series, which so far includes A Hymn Before Battle and nine sequels, the technothriller series starting with Ghost, a dark fantasy titled Princess of Wands, and many other novels for Baen. A veteran of the 82nd Airborne, Ringo brings first-hand knowledge of military operations to his fiction.

Reviews for Against the Tide

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

There were some parts that I found the female heroine annoying but overall I loved the story and the characters and will be reading more from this author.

[jean_sexton-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This romance falls into the categories of inspirational and historical. I enjoyed learning about the naval intelligence part of the story and also more about the effect of the opium trade in the US. The religious parts of this book were worked in well with the story, so it sounded natural for the characters. All in all, it was a good read and I can see why it won so many awards.

[douglasse2 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This author swung away and it was a brilliant move! I have a tendency to believe that viewers - even those seeking a female lead - are harsh judges when it comes to the female protagonist. Camden didn't even try to give her character "super" characteristics. She obviously investigated the time period and injected a very believable weakness - opium addiction, which was the source of her strength and determination throughout the book to help eradicate the drug .

[debs4jc · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Enjoyable, adventurous, and emotionally satisfying is how I would describe this historical romance. Lydia is proud of her life as an independent woman who has managed to create a comfortable life for herself after having been raised in an orphanage. This is even more remarkable considering that it is 1891 and Lydia works for a translator for the U.S. Navy--the only female at her Boston office. When the mysterious Alexander Banebridge visits the office, Lydia is curious as to his motives--yet cannot resist the chance to do some extra translating work since money is tight. When Banebridge draws her into his private war against opium Lydia learns that her translating work can have dangerous consequences. Lydia is willing to take some risks however, not just for financial gain, but also to get closer to the increasingly attractive Alexander Banebridge.I think I have a found a new author in the Christian fiction genre that I will have to follow. I liked her creation of Lydia--a strong, intellectual, stubborn yet vulnerable heroine who overcame great odds to obtain her goals. I also enjoyed seeing her open up gradually to the spiritual side of life as she learned to trust in an unseen God. Banebridge was an irritating foil for her at times, but it all turned out well in the end and the author led us on quite an adventure which was quite enjoyable. I also enjoyed learning a bit about the infuence of opium on our society--it was once included in "soothing syrups" for children-who knew?! Highly suggested for fans of historical romances with strong female heroines. I

[samantha100_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

By the time Lydia was nine years old she could speak Italian, Greek, Turkish and Croatian, but not English. She had never gone to school because she and her family had lived on various boats, surviving by fishing. By 1876 the family was living in Boston and Lydia's wish to attend school was finally granted. Against the Tide, by Elizabeth Camden, is the story of a remarkable child who matures into an extraordinary woman. A tragedy leads to Lydia's placement in an orphanage. Eventually, due to her skill with languages, she finds employment with the US Navy as a translator. She lives a tidy and orderly life. This changes once she meets her employer's associate, Alexander Banebridge (also known as Bane). Bane is a man on a mission to stop the opium trade. Because he is in need of a translator he hires Lydia to translate documents. He has convinced himself there is no room for romance in his life and Lydia finds him to be arrogant. He needs her services and she needs the money he pays her. Over time Lydia wants to become a part of seemingly unattainable Bane's life. When Bane's nemesis commits a vile act he turns to Lydia for help. She agrees to assist him and as a result she comes to face the challenges of a lifetime.Lydia and Bane each thought they knew what they wanted for themselves, but then they met each other. Reluctant at first, they each took emotional risks. While the story is about opium it is also about courage and determination. The author has skillfully developed interesting characters who often surprise the reader. Bad things happen and the suspense level is high which makes for a fast moving and highly readable novel. I found this to be a well crafted story.I received this book free of charge and I give this review of my own free will.

[mandat_2 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Elizabeth Camden is another new to me author. I was recently privileged to read her newest release, Against the Tide. This book was very intriguing combing mystery, murder, kidnapping and a daring rescue. Lydia Pallas has not had an easy life. She has been on her own since she was 9 years old. After surviving the orphanage, she landed a great job with the Navy Yard because of her grasp of other languages. She is an orderly girl who doesn't appreciate it when things are not kept in their place. It is here at the Navy Yard that Lydia meets a dashing, young man named Alexander Banebridge, a.k.a Bane. He loves messing with Lydia's order and getting under her skin. Bane is on a mission to help destroy the stronghold of opium that has gained access into American homes. When Lydia volunteers to help his cause, she gets more than she bargained for. I did enjoy reading this novel. It opened up a subject that I had no idea about in our nation's history--opium. I had no idea that they sold that stuff in medicine and used it to soothe teething infants or calm children. Elizabeth Camden put a page in the back of the book called historical note to fill in the historical details on the opium issue along with information about the Navy Yard. The book was well written and had good momentum throughout the whole story. You can actually read more about Bane in her earlier novel, The Lady of Bolton Hill. She has written 2 other books--The Lady of Bolton Hill and The Rose of Winslow Street with a new release--Into the Whirlwind coming in August this year.**I received this book free from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[beautyinthebinding · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

For the first time in a long time, Lydia Pallas likes where she is. Her job as a translator for the U.S. Navy is secure and her cozy apartment is her haven. She enjoys the companionship of her coworkers and treats the occasional headache with a dose of Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup. When Alexander Banebridge enters the picture, Lydia's orderly life is suddenly a lot messier. From his annoying habit of rearranging items on her desk to his revelation that Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup contains opium, Bane brings disorder, intrigue and danger to Lydia's ways. Lydia and Bane find themselves falling for each other, but their relationship is doomed by Bane's goal of ending the opium trade and his commitment to bachelorhood. When an innocent boy is kidnapped, helping Bane will test Lydia's courage and strength, but if she survives, their love just might have a chance to flourish.Against the Tide by Elizabeth Camden was an intriguing read. I enjoyed the bantering between Bane and Lydia and appreciated Camden's creativity in her characters. Bane had a few quirky habits that made him refreshingly unique. I wouldn't consider this a suspense novel, but it did have some suspense that kept drawing me back to the story. I found the historical aspects of the story interesting. How sad that Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup not only existed and contained opium, but was marketed for teething babies. On a side note, I absolutely love the cover of this book It definitely captures the essence of the story. I recommend this book to fans of Christian historical romances.I did not initially realize that Against the Tide revisits the Alexander Banebridge of Camden's previous novel, The Lady of Bolton Hill. I can't say if Banebridge appears in Camden's other novel, The Rose of Winslow Street, because I haven't read it. However, Against the Tide stands firmly as a single novel, complete with the necessary background information.Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

[holly_combs_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Against the Tide, by Elizabeth Camden, is a riveting tale of intrigue, romance and dedication to righting the wrongs of the world.Lydia Pallas is a young woman on her own in the world–making her way by her own determination and the unique mix of languages she knows thanks to spending her childhood aboard a ship. She works for the United States Navy, translating documents–at least, until she meets Alexander Banebridge.The intense young man is as irritating as he is attractive and Lydia soon finds herself swept up in a whirlwind of adventure as she aids “Bane” in his quest to take on the opium lords of the nation–a quest that comes with a price.The story gives the reader an inside look at a dangerous campaign against the opium trade in the late 1800′s–a fascinating adventure complete with interesting characters, a well-thought-out plot and depth of understanding.Lydia is likeable and easy to connect with, while Bane remains a bit of a mystery to the reader. Both characters are carefully developed over the course of the book, with more of their personal backgrounds revealed to the reader as the tale progresses.My biggest hesitation regarding this story was the fact that the hero, who was spurred on toward his goal after turning his life over to Christ, becomes romantically entwined with the heroine when she clearly claims a pantheistic belief, or no belief at all. Scripture advises us to guard ourselves against the influence and counsel of the ungodly–by allowing himself to fall in love with a woman who is not surrendered to Christ, our hero places himself in a potentially dangerous predicament. Worse, this is a situation that the author never addresses.Aside from that folly, this book is quite the adventure with plenty of intrigue, danger and drama. Every time I put it down, I couldn’t wait for a spare moment to pick it up and delve back into Bane and Lydia’s story once more. In short it is a rich narrative of riveting intrigue.I received a complimentary copy of Against the Tide from Bethany House Publishers, but I was not otherwise compensated for this review. All writing, thoughts, and opinions are solely mine.

[iampeachy · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received this Novel 11/5/2012 from Bethany house publicationsA wonderful novel by Elizabeth Camden. This story has it all, love and loss, fear and hope, and a search of purpose. The strength and resolve of Lydia's courageous journey is so well written, you can't help being swept away. One of the best historical romances I've read in a very long time. You will not be disappointed.I look forward to this authors next novel with great anticipation.