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Faith in the Valley #1
Hidden Treasures
HAND OVER THE JADE HEART OR ELSE!
Trouble is brewing in Cascade Valley, Tennessee, for single mom, Shayla Lornette. The Note left on her register, when her beloved shop is ransacked, demands she hand over the Jade Heart-or else. Knowing she and her twin siblings are in danger, but with no idea who left the note or even what the note is referring to, she turns to the man who broke her heart four years ago. Shayla welcomes Josiah's help, but with a guarded heart. She simply refuses to trust her heart with Josiah again.
After running from the love of his life four years ago, Josiah Sawyer never expected to see Shayla again-much less to find her unconscious in her dad's shop on the corner of Main Street. He knows Shayla will never forgive him for leaving her; but when she and the twins are threatened, he'll do everything he can to protect them. There's no way Josiah will let them face this unknown enemy alone. But keeping his heart guarded while protecting them proves difficult the more he reconnects with Shayla; and all the while, her stalker keeps growing the more and more desperate.
Josiah and Shayla must lay their past aside in order to solve the mystery of the Jade Heart. But will they solve it in time before her stalker ups the stakes? Can they work together while guarding their hearts? Or will God rekindle the love they thought they'd lost forever?
Trouble is brewing in Cascade Valley, Tennessee, for single mom, Shayla Lornette. The Note left on her register, when her beloved shop is ransacked, demands she hand over the Jade Heart-or else. Knowing she and her twin siblings are in danger, but with no idea who left the note or even what the note is referring to, she turns to the man who broke her heart four years ago. Shayla welcomes Josiah's help, but with a guarded heart. She simply refuses to trust her heart with Josiah again.
After running from the love of his life four years ago, Josiah Sawyer never expected to see Shayla again-much less to find her unconscious in her dad's shop on the corner of Main Street. He knows Shayla will never forgive him for leaving her; but when she and the twins are threatened, he'll do everything he can to protect them. There's no way Josiah will let them face this unknown enemy alone. But keeping his heart guarded while protecting them proves difficult the more he reconnects with Shayla; and all the while, her stalker keeps growing the more and more desperate.
Josiah and Shayla must lay their past aside in order to solve the mystery of the Jade Heart. But will they solve it in time before her stalker ups the stakes? Can they work together while guarding their hearts? Or will God rekindle the love they thought they'd lost forever?
356 pages, Paperback
Published January 29, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 19, 2018
Someone is threatening to harm Shayla Lornette’s twin siblings if she doesn’t hand over the Jade Heart…but Shalya has no idea what that item is or where to find it. Her only hope in uncovering the person behind the threats and keeping her siblings safe is Josiah Sawyer, the man who left her brokenhearted four years earlier. HIDDEN TREASURES was an enjoyable read with good romantic conflict, suspense, and an intriguing mystery, as well as a strong Christian element.
My thanks to the author for providing me a copy. The opinions in this review are all my own.
My thanks to the author for providing me a copy. The opinions in this review are all my own.
March 16, 2018
Awesome novel!!!
Full of Christian values, suspense, mystery, and romance! Recommended for all ages. A very Spirit-filled novel.
Full of Christian values, suspense, mystery, and romance! Recommended for all ages. A very Spirit-filled novel.
November 13, 2018
A lovely story! I especially loved the ending! The epilogue was my favorite part! Parts of the story felt a little stiff in the writing, but that's to be expected of new authors! I have full confidence Ruby's writing will get stronger the more she spends practicing and learning in the craft! Needless to say, this story is full of wholesomeness. Faith is in every moment of this book and God is on every page! I'm glad we got to meet more of the Sawyer siblings by the end, and I can't wait to read their stories!!!
Did Not Finish
March 8, 2020Well, I tried to read this on Kindle Unlimited. I don't know how the story was because the formatting was so bad, I just couldn't keep going.
Paragraphs ran together, spacing was all wrong, and other wonky stuff. It made it hard to tell who was talking
Paragraphs ran together, spacing was all wrong, and other wonky stuff. It made it hard to tell who was talking
October 30, 2017
This edition has been revised and is better than ever! I hope y'all will give it a chance and I pray God will bless all who read it.
Many Blessings!
Ruby Mae
Many Blessings!
Ruby Mae
November 3, 2019
When I first started this my expectations were at a meh level. I didn't know quite what to expect, but when I read the first three chapters I had decided this would be a 3.5 or lower. However, endings have a way of kicking my rating up no matter how hard I try to refuse.
The mystery was really well written. There was suspense, and danger. But most importantly there was a lot of great twists. I didn't know if I should think outside the box to solve this mystery or if the answers were right in front of my face. Each author has their own way of twisting the adventure, so I didn't know what to expect from O'Dell.
The romance was the one thing I couldn't connect with or support. *grimaces* It was really, really rough in the beginning, and I was so relieved to watch the relationship get better. My problem was that they were both "guarding their heart" from hurt again, but still the other person affected them and they still allowed feelings to grow. The thing is, I know what it's like to guard your heart from someone, and they were NOT guarding their hearts. SO, that was annoying watching them claim to try to guard their heart, but not succeed. However, it did get better near the end, and I loved the epilogue!
PROS ~
· The message! Oh I loved it so much!
· The fact that her father created an unknown bible treasure hunt!!! SUPER COOL. Loved all the verses and decoding that happened!
· Josiah's conversion was so realistic compared to most of the books I've read recently, and I really appreciated that.
· The Twins. Oh boy. 💕
· The characters weren't shallow.
· The mystery and suspense!
· The Epilogue was great! =)
· The tragedy was portrayed perfectly.
CONS ~
· The romance development.
· How many times did Shayla call Isaac--the Sheriff?!
· Sheriff said that there was no sign of a forced entry. Ummm, broken glass on the door??!
· The character's conversations seemed to be based off more tell them show. :P
· Some of the dialogue was rough.
· Welp. Apparently Shayla and her family made multiple missionary trips....(I Don't Have A Problem With Missionary Trips....THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING HERE XD 😂) seven to China, a bunch to Mexico, some to different countries as well. It just doesn't seem believable for that many missionary trips to take place in Shayla's 20 some years of life. DO YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THAT IS???!!
CONTENT ~
· People bleeding
· Gun wounds.
· Stitches.
· Kidnapped children.
· Basically violence. Haha. Lighter violence.
Overall ~ I had a rough time getting through the first half, but after that, the story really pulled together. That ending was so cute, so I had to add .5 stars on to my original rating (3.5 stars).
**FTC DISCLOSURE** I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for a review. I'm not affiliated with her. If my review offends you remember that it's just my opinion and is not to be taken personally. Thanks!
The mystery was really well written. There was suspense, and danger. But most importantly there was a lot of great twists. I didn't know if I should think outside the box to solve this mystery or if the answers were right in front of my face. Each author has their own way of twisting the adventure, so I didn't know what to expect from O'Dell.
The romance was the one thing I couldn't connect with or support. *grimaces* It was really, really rough in the beginning, and I was so relieved to watch the relationship get better. My problem was that they were both "guarding their heart" from hurt again, but still the other person affected them and they still allowed feelings to grow. The thing is, I know what it's like to guard your heart from someone, and they were NOT guarding their hearts. SO, that was annoying watching them claim to try to guard their heart, but not succeed. However, it did get better near the end, and I loved the epilogue!
PROS ~
· The message! Oh I loved it so much!
· The fact that her father created an unknown bible treasure hunt!!! SUPER COOL. Loved all the verses and decoding that happened!
· Josiah's conversion was so realistic compared to most of the books I've read recently, and I really appreciated that.
· The Twins. Oh boy. 💕
· The characters weren't shallow.
· The mystery and suspense!
· The Epilogue was great! =)
· The tragedy was portrayed perfectly.
CONS ~
· The romance development.
· How many times did Shayla call Isaac--the Sheriff?!
· Sheriff said that there was no sign of a forced entry. Ummm, broken glass on the door??!
· The character's conversations seemed to be based off more tell them show. :P
· Some of the dialogue was rough.
· Welp. Apparently Shayla and her family made multiple missionary trips....(I Don't Have A Problem With Missionary Trips....THAT'S NOT WHAT I'M SAYING HERE XD 😂) seven to China, a bunch to Mexico, some to different countries as well. It just doesn't seem believable for that many missionary trips to take place in Shayla's 20 some years of life. DO YOU KNOW HOW EXPENSIVE THAT IS???!!
CONTENT ~
· People bleeding
· Gun wounds.
· Stitches.
· Kidnapped children.
· Basically violence. Haha. Lighter violence.
Overall ~ I had a rough time getting through the first half, but after that, the story really pulled together. That ending was so cute, so I had to add .5 stars on to my original rating (3.5 stars).
**FTC DISCLOSURE** I received a complimentary copy from the author in exchange for a review. I'm not affiliated with her. If my review offends you remember that it's just my opinion and is not to be taken personally. Thanks!
November 27, 2017
Mystery, romance, a high school sweetheart.
Intriguing possibilities
This is the debut novel for O’Dell and a good start on her career. The story is entertaining and chock full of christian values.
I wish Ruby Mae well on her career as an author.
Intriguing possibilities
This is the debut novel for O’Dell and a good start on her career. The story is entertaining and chock full of christian values.
I wish Ruby Mae well on her career as an author.
November 8, 2017
I would like to thank the author for e-mailing her book to me in exchange for an honest review.
Hidden Treasures by Ruby Mae O'Dell is very good. And! It all started with a jade necklace. To be honest, I thought this book was going to be a romance, and it is a romance, however, it is also a mystery. Shayla discovers her shop has been turned upside down as if someone was searching for something, and a note was left on her register demanding the jade necklace! Bad becomes worse when lives are threatened unless she hands over the jade. While all this is happening, the man she loves, Josiah, who deserted her four years earlier has returned. Even though she doesn't believe she can trust him, he supports her and stays by her side during this stressful time in her life. She doesn't send him away.
I loved the book. It was written at a good pace and kept me in suspense the entire time. I kept trying to hurry up and read, so I could learn the identity of the nefarious person. And whilst I did try to hurry up and read, I kept slowing myself down so I wouldn't miss anything. There were a couple of surprises in the story that caused my eyes to open wide!!! I did have a little trouble at the beginning of the book. The first few pages were difficult to follow, but once I was past the first few pages everything was great. Really good story! 4.5 **** stars!
No profanity. No adult content. It's safe for everyone. Happy Reading!
Hidden Treasures by Ruby Mae O'Dell is very good. And! It all started with a jade necklace. To be honest, I thought this book was going to be a romance, and it is a romance, however, it is also a mystery. Shayla discovers her shop has been turned upside down as if someone was searching for something, and a note was left on her register demanding the jade necklace! Bad becomes worse when lives are threatened unless she hands over the jade. While all this is happening, the man she loves, Josiah, who deserted her four years earlier has returned. Even though she doesn't believe she can trust him, he supports her and stays by her side during this stressful time in her life. She doesn't send him away.
I loved the book. It was written at a good pace and kept me in suspense the entire time. I kept trying to hurry up and read, so I could learn the identity of the nefarious person. And whilst I did try to hurry up and read, I kept slowing myself down so I wouldn't miss anything. There were a couple of surprises in the story that caused my eyes to open wide!!! I did have a little trouble at the beginning of the book. The first few pages were difficult to follow, but once I was past the first few pages everything was great. Really good story! 4.5 **** stars!
No profanity. No adult content. It's safe for everyone. Happy Reading!
November 27, 2017
This is a good effort for a first novel, but that's all I can really say in praise of Hidden Treasures, where I found none. It was impossible for me to suspend my disbelief throughout. The town and the characters and the plot – nothing felt viscerally real to me. Part of the problem was how, in many of the scenes, the POV kept constantly switching from one character to the other. I was being told what the characters were thinking and feeling, but I was never even remotely immersed in their outer or inner experiences and struggles. Cliched language always kills the mysterious magic and tension of reality. “A thought fluttered through her mind” “A scream was ripped from her throat” etc.
In her Bio, the author writes, “... for the majority, I don’t have a plot to go by. I like to consider myself a Spirit-Pantser, I write what the Holy Spirit tells me to write and most of the time the story comes as a surprise to me and goes way off track of what I originally had it mind. But that’s what makes writing those God-given stories so much FUN!” As a novelist myself, I'm all for riding the wind of the Spirit when I create, but you need solid wings for that to work if your readers are going to have as much fun as you did – Plot and Outline, for example. The Holy Spirit doesn't actually tell us what to write – it's a mysterious and exciting collaboration that involves a great deal of work on our part if we're going to get it right so our readers are immersed and enjoying themselves while also hopefully being touched by our words in ways only God can know.
I hope the author will continue reading and expressing herself as she gains experiences in all areas of her life, for she definitely has the makings of a good story teller.
In her Bio, the author writes, “... for the majority, I don’t have a plot to go by. I like to consider myself a Spirit-Pantser, I write what the Holy Spirit tells me to write and most of the time the story comes as a surprise to me and goes way off track of what I originally had it mind. But that’s what makes writing those God-given stories so much FUN!” As a novelist myself, I'm all for riding the wind of the Spirit when I create, but you need solid wings for that to work if your readers are going to have as much fun as you did – Plot and Outline, for example. The Holy Spirit doesn't actually tell us what to write – it's a mysterious and exciting collaboration that involves a great deal of work on our part if we're going to get it right so our readers are immersed and enjoying themselves while also hopefully being touched by our words in ways only God can know.
I hope the author will continue reading and expressing herself as she gains experiences in all areas of her life, for she definitely has the makings of a good story teller.
October 7, 2019
Great read, story kept me captivated. The characters and overall themes were great. If you're on a journey in your walk with Christ, and you feel your faith wavering, just read this book. You won't regret it!
February 24, 2018
First and foremost I’d like to thank the author for e-mailing me this book!
This Romance-Mystery novel is about the characters Shayla and Josiah’s struggle to move on from their past, and at the same time solve a mystery which could get them killed if they don’t succeed!
The beginning of this book went quite slow for me to get through, but towards the end I found it more interesting, and rather thrilling! I must say that the mystery part outweighed the romance part, which I didn’t really fancy, but there were highlights there as well.
The message of the book is a good one - to treasure God (and God’s Word) above every other earthly treasure!
Three Stars!
This Romance-Mystery novel is about the characters Shayla and Josiah’s struggle to move on from their past, and at the same time solve a mystery which could get them killed if they don’t succeed!
The beginning of this book went quite slow for me to get through, but towards the end I found it more interesting, and rather thrilling! I must say that the mystery part outweighed the romance part, which I didn’t really fancy, but there were highlights there as well.
The message of the book is a good one - to treasure God (and God’s Word) above every other earthly treasure!
Three Stars!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews