Hidden Treasures

by Pam Hanson, Barbara Andrews

During a big sale at the local jewelry store, Samuel Bentley picks out a vintage sapphire ring that he knows Miriam Maxwell will adore. But she is shocked to recognize it as an heirloom piece of her mother's. When the gem falls out -- and is found to be phony -- they find the Art Deco setting is etched with a name: Theo. While Samuel tries to track down the jeweler who has abruptly left town, they learn that other customers have purchased jewelry set with fake stones.

The mystery deepens when a man shows up, seeking to claim an inheritance of costume jewelry, which Miriam can't find. As she readies her late sister Ruthie's foursquare house for a Labor Day Tour of Homes, she and Samuel grow more curious. Why would Ruthie have sold such a precious family treasure? Who is Theo? Where is the missing costume jewelry? And did Miriam really know her sister at all? The investigation soon reveals that Ruthie WAS keeping a secret, but it is much bigger than Miriam could have imagined.

282 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2014

About the author

Pam grew up within earshot of her mother's manual typewriter. Her mother wanted a career she could combine with motherhood and four children, and she made her first sale to Highlights for Children, when her children were in kindergarten. Her mother is the author of 20 romance novels under her own name, Barbara Andrews. Pam majored in journalism in college and later worked as a reporter. Pam married with with Mr. Hanson, a college-professor, and they created a family. Pam teamed up with her mother after the birth of her first child, Erik. They published their books under the pseudonyms Jennifer Drew and Pam Rock. For several years their partnership was long-distance, fueled by high phone bills! They make writing a lot easier these days. So does the fact that mom and daughter share digs in West Virginia, along with Pam Hanson's husband and their two sons, Erik and Andrew. Pam is also the director of advising for West Virginia University’s School of Journalism.

Reviews

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sweet story. Loved the setting and the characters

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another hit

[Debbie Beeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable read. Main character was a little whiney in this one.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 of a book 2 series. When a ring SAmuel purchases turns out to be Miriams mothers. A search is on as to why was the ring sold and replaced with a paste stone. A discovery of lost family members unknown and a renewed love.

[April Suter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Samuel buys a ring as a possible engagement ring for Miriam but finds out two things. One, the ring originally was her mothers and two, the stone was replaced with a fake one. So they have a new mystery to solve at Ruthie's Antiques.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read from the Chesapeake Antiques Mysteries series. Miriam has inherited her sister's antiques store but with it has come some secrets her sister kept from her.