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Treasures of the Heart #1
A Kiss of Adventure
Desperate and on the run, Tillie Thornton finds herself in an uneasy partnership with Graeme McLeod, a daring adventurer who comes out of nowhere to thwart the plot of Tillie’s would-be kidnappers. Now these two must join forces against their common enemies, as well as the challenges of nature, as they embark on a quest that could bring them the answers they seek—or cost them everything. Formerly published as "The Treasure of Timbuktu."
384 pages, Paperback
First published March 21, 1997
115 people are currently reading
1121 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Palmer
83 books286 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."
Catherine Palmer lives in Atlanta with her husband, Tim, where they serve as missionaries in a refugee community. They have two grown sons. Cathy is a graduate of Southwest Baptist University and holds a master's degree in English from Baylor University. Her first book was published in 1988. Since then she has published over 50 novels, many of them national best sellers. Catherine has won numerous awards for her writing, including the Christy Award, the highest honor in Christian fiction. In 2004, she was given the Career Achievement Award for Inspirational Romance by "Romantic Times" magazine. More than 2 million copies of Catherine's novels are currently in print. The Author's Work With her compelling characters and strong message of Christian faith, Catherine is known for writing fiction that "touches the hearts and souls of readers." Her many collections include A Town Called Hope, Treasures of the Heart, Finders Keepers, English Ivy, and the Miss Pickworth series. Catherine also recently coauthored the Four Seasons fiction series with Gary Chapman, the "New York Times" best-selling author of "The Five Love Languages."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews
February 6, 2012
Can I tell you how much I love, love, love the books in this series? My teenage daughter loves them too. So much romance and adventure wrapped up in each book. An adventure equal to Indiana Jones and National Treasure set in an exotic locale where love and all its inherent misadventures finally turns right in the the end.
Did I mention how much I love these books? :)
Did I mention how much I love these books? :)
September 5, 2014
What an epic adventure! It's been a long time since a book had me on the edge of my seat, frantic to know what will happen next and just as frustrated as the characters in their desperate search for the treasure of Timbuktu.
This book had a gripping plot, all sorts of characters- some that become like family as the story progresses, and make you miss them when it ends-, a moving and "tissues-required" redemption scene, and a profound message on the importance of discovering where our treasure is laid up. (Matthew 6:21)
I don't read many modern-era stories- especially in a desert or jungle setting- but this was highly recommended to me by a family member and so I gave it a try. I am sooooo glad I did!!! This book was truly riveting and had me from the first page! I found myself getting more and more interested in the setting and culture (which were very well-researched and vivid) and looking forward to the rest of the series.
I appreciated that the spiritual content was woven all through-out the book and that it was so real! The characters dealt with struggles just like we all do, and had doubts and fears like everyone else; the way they handled these challenges was encouraging to me and I grew just by "going through it with them" and applying the analogies and word-pictures to my own life.
I highly recommend this to any fans of historical, inspirational, romantic (and clean! :D) adventure fiction!
This book had a gripping plot, all sorts of characters- some that become like family as the story progresses, and make you miss them when it ends-, a moving and "tissues-required" redemption scene, and a profound message on the importance of discovering where our treasure is laid up. (Matthew 6:21)
I don't read many modern-era stories- especially in a desert or jungle setting- but this was highly recommended to me by a family member and so I gave it a try. I am sooooo glad I did!!! This book was truly riveting and had me from the first page! I found myself getting more and more interested in the setting and culture (which were very well-researched and vivid) and looking forward to the rest of the series.
I appreciated that the spiritual content was woven all through-out the book and that it was so real! The characters dealt with struggles just like we all do, and had doubts and fears like everyone else; the way they handled these challenges was encouraging to me and I grew just by "going through it with them" and applying the analogies and word-pictures to my own life.
I highly recommend this to any fans of historical, inspirational, romantic (and clean! :D) adventure fiction!
October 13, 2014
Be careful what you wish for. Frustrated with her dull life in Bamako, Mali, and eager to make a difference for Christ, Tillie learns the truth of that old adage when she finds herself kidnapped by a rogue adventurer and chased by the Tuareg, who believe that as a woman working in agro forestry, she alone can find the treasure of Timbuktu and lift a two-hundred-year-old curse going back to the days of Mungo Park.
I ate up this book like candy. Never a dull moment, just the way I like it. Sure, maybe adventure stories are a bit contrived, but I LOVE contrived adventure stories. They sweep me away into a romantic, exciting world, and provide the perfect escape when real life gets taxing. The writing style nettled a bit and wasn't my perfect cup of tea, but about half-way through I was able to turn off the internal editor and lose myself in the story. :-)
Clichés? Yeah—as in Christian good girl falls for rough-around-the-edges hero with a tragic past. But I still enjoyed them. I loved how playful they were! That is something I don't see enough of in Christian Fiction. And Graeme's unique way of greeting Tillie each morning was endearing. :-)
Contemporary novels are a new genre for me, but I hardly thought about it. The African setting and culture of the Tuareg charmed me as much as a historical. If you like Indiana Jones, you won't want to miss out on this great treasure-seeking quest.
I ate up this book like candy. Never a dull moment, just the way I like it. Sure, maybe adventure stories are a bit contrived, but I LOVE contrived adventure stories. They sweep me away into a romantic, exciting world, and provide the perfect escape when real life gets taxing. The writing style nettled a bit and wasn't my perfect cup of tea, but about half-way through I was able to turn off the internal editor and lose myself in the story. :-)
Clichés? Yeah—as in Christian good girl falls for rough-around-the-edges hero with a tragic past. But I still enjoyed them. I loved how playful they were! That is something I don't see enough of in Christian Fiction. And Graeme's unique way of greeting Tillie each morning was endearing. :-)
Contemporary novels are a new genre for me, but I hardly thought about it. The African setting and culture of the Tuareg charmed me as much as a historical. If you like Indiana Jones, you won't want to miss out on this great treasure-seeking quest.
November 21, 2019
Okay, this book was filled with adventure, fun true facts woven with fiction, and faith woven through the story. Unfortunately, I had some major issues with this story.
1. While I applauded Tillie's statements and struggle about not marrying or having a relationship with a non-believer, her actions (in my way of thinking) did not back up her words. She keeps kissing the guy and didn't push him away when he initiated kisses. If nothing else, this was a horrible way to treat the guy.
2. Tillie makes a big deal about the fact she has learned to trust God. I really saw more evidence that she had learned to trust Graeme. It was only at the end after did I see her truly seeming to trust God.
3. The romance is very typical.
Overall, it was an exciting read, but not one I would recommend to many people.
1. While I applauded Tillie's statements and struggle about not marrying or having a relationship with a non-believer, her actions (in my way of thinking) did not back up her words. She keeps kissing the guy and didn't push him away when he initiated kisses. If nothing else, this was a horrible way to treat the guy.
2. Tillie makes a big deal about the fact she has learned to trust God. I really saw more evidence that she had learned to trust Graeme. It was only at the end after did I see her truly seeming to trust God.
3. The romance is very typical.
Overall, it was an exciting read, but not one I would recommend to many people.
May 2, 2022
Although this is one of my favorite books, I wouldn’t want to take with me to the coffee shop purely because of the title.
If you ever saw me reading it, and you raised your brow I would be defensive and say:
“It’s not just romance!! It has adventure and fighting, with a treasure hunt and a captivating mystery!”
But the truth is that I find the romance grand and hilarious.
I read this book first with my sister and I loved to joke with her through the whole thing. We still have inside jokes and funny memories we look back to.
This was one of the staples of me starting to love reading.
Also—
I really just wanted “A Kiss of Adventure” on my good reads so that my friends would be shocked for a moment, and my sister would have a good laugh.
If you ever saw me reading it, and you raised your brow I would be defensive and say:
“It’s not just romance!! It has adventure and fighting, with a treasure hunt and a captivating mystery!”
But the truth is that I find the romance grand and hilarious.
I read this book first with my sister and I loved to joke with her through the whole thing. We still have inside jokes and funny memories we look back to.
This was one of the staples of me starting to love reading.
Also—
I really just wanted “A Kiss of Adventure” on my good reads so that my friends would be shocked for a moment, and my sister would have a good laugh.
February 19, 2019
2.5 stars
Christian romances are not my cup of tea, but this is one of the better ones I've read. I had to read one for school and this one at least had an interesting treasure hunting subplot and a great setting.
From a Christian perspective though...
Read for romance week for LS 549: Readers' Advisory and Genre Fiction.
Christian romances are not my cup of tea, but this is one of the better ones I've read. I had to read one for school and this one at least had an interesting treasure hunting subplot and a great setting.
From a Christian perspective though...
Read for romance week for LS 549: Readers' Advisory and Genre Fiction.
November 8, 2009
A great story with a sort of Indiana Jones twist where the main girl, Tillie gets thrown into an adventure with the Indiana Jones of the story, Graeme. She tests her faith and she questions her engagement. The plot has action and faith unfolding on every page.
July 2, 2018
Carol, Central patron, July 2018, 5 stars:
Second book in series by Catherine Palmer on 4 american siblings raised in Africa. Captivating, hard to put down, full of suspense. Ready to get into book 3.
Second book in series by Catherine Palmer on 4 american siblings raised in Africa. Captivating, hard to put down, full of suspense. Ready to get into book 3.
May 3, 2013
#1 in Treasures of the Heart series.
Get ready for a wild ride across Mali as Tillie & Graeme as they escape from the Tuareg caravan & try to stay ahead of them in the search for Mungo Park's journal & the Treasure of Timbuktu.
I loved how Mali came to life in this story! As they travelled down the Niger (complete with hippos, crocodiles & mosquitos!) and across the desert (complete with the sharp & unforgiving underbrush, unrelenting heat & a sandstorm!) and into the dark mine of Timbuktu (complete with underground rivers & a monitor lizard!) I felt I was travelling through Mali with them & could clearly see, smell & hear the sights & sounds of the country.
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Get ready for a wild ride across Mali as Tillie & Graeme as they escape from the Tuareg caravan & try to stay ahead of them in the search for Mungo Park's journal & the Treasure of Timbuktu.
I loved how Mali came to life in this story! As they travelled down the Niger (complete with hippos, crocodiles & mosquitos!) and across the desert (complete with the sharp & unforgiving underbrush, unrelenting heat & a sandstorm!) and into the dark mine of Timbuktu (complete with underground rivers & a monitor lizard!) I felt I was travelling through Mali with them & could clearly see, smell & hear the sights & sounds of the country.
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May 19, 2022
OG top shelf. Ruggedly handsome African desert adventurer & stubborn academic who loves Jesus. I mean it’s a tale as old as time. 1 of 2 books that made me believe in love. Read this while sitting in the back of an early church business meeting in the bush of Zambia, some books are more than just words.
December 1, 2007
So good! Ah! I loved it. It made make a terrific movie, so long as they kept it just like the book. Suspense, love, treasure, this book had it all.
April 29, 2008
such a delightful mix of romance, adventure and great family values!
July 24, 2023
If I had enough words I would share but this book was just so good I am speechless.
January 31, 2008
Fast-paced, I didn't want to put it down. Lots of twists and turns.
May 12, 2020
I bought a paperback version of this book in a used bookstore perhaps 15 years ago, and although I didn't remember the plot, I remembered loving it and wishing I could read the other two in the series. I'm not sure why it popped up in my mind on the weekend, but I searched for it and was thrilled that the series was available in Kindle Unlimited. I didn't necessarily want to read the book again, but I decided to do that in case it was a cliffhanger.
I remembered nothing about the plot and didn't even read the blurb. I rarely re-read a book, and re-reading this one was a special treat because even though I'd read it before, I couldn't remember what would happen next.
I think I loved this book more, this second time around, than I did the first time. Back then, I was a "new Christian" having a hard time finding "clean romance" novels with a Christian worldview. I was thrilled that I had found a Christian book that had romance and adventure. This time around, as a "more seasoned Christian," I was pleasantly surprised by how much scripture is included. I don't think I've ever read a novel with this much scripture. It was amazing because I realized that I need to spend more time memorizing scripture so I can apply it to my life the way Hannah and Tillie do in this book. My reviews are hardly ever this long, but this book is worth the re-read and the longer review. I eagerly anticipate moving on to the rest of the series.
I remembered nothing about the plot and didn't even read the blurb. I rarely re-read a book, and re-reading this one was a special treat because even though I'd read it before, I couldn't remember what would happen next.
I think I loved this book more, this second time around, than I did the first time. Back then, I was a "new Christian" having a hard time finding "clean romance" novels with a Christian worldview. I was thrilled that I had found a Christian book that had romance and adventure. This time around, as a "more seasoned Christian," I was pleasantly surprised by how much scripture is included. I don't think I've ever read a novel with this much scripture. It was amazing because I realized that I need to spend more time memorizing scripture so I can apply it to my life the way Hannah and Tillie do in this book. My reviews are hardly ever this long, but this book is worth the re-read and the longer review. I eagerly anticipate moving on to the rest of the series.
June 24, 2017
Tillie Thornton is living and working in Mali planting trees as part of a conservation project. She wants to move further north to experiment and the organization won’t let her. One day while in the market there is an attempt to abduct her. While she’s not taken by the Targui would-be captors, Graeme McLeod comes out of seemingly nowhere, pulls her in to his Land Rover and takes off. Tillie has no idea who Graeme is but finds herself in an unlikely partnership to stay ahead of the Targui pursuers who are convinced that Tillie holds the key to finding the treasure of Timbuktu and breaking the centuries old curse on their people.
Although this is the first of the quartet, it's the third that I've read. Each stands on its own so there's no problem with doing that and impacting other books. One thing that intrigues me is that Hannah, the Kikuyu woman who raised the four siblings, has been in each of them but nothing is ever said about her traveling around to the family members. Just something to accept. :) The struggles and terrors that Tillie battles through in this got a bit much in places yet I kept reading wondering how it would all come together in the end because of course, it must!
Although this is the first of the quartet, it's the third that I've read. Each stands on its own so there's no problem with doing that and impacting other books. One thing that intrigues me is that Hannah, the Kikuyu woman who raised the four siblings, has been in each of them but nothing is ever said about her traveling around to the family members. Just something to accept. :) The struggles and terrors that Tillie battles through in this got a bit much in places yet I kept reading wondering how it would all come together in the end because of course, it must!
March 8, 2022
It's one of those treasure hunting romancey sort of read that you really need to suspend all kinds of disbelief really. But, you know, it's going to be a fun ride when you do. I also don't know whether I'm influenced by knowing that this was published in 1997 but to me, it did feel very 90s! If you're wondering what do I know of the 90s, I grew up in the 90s. While I can't pinpoint exactly what it was, I think it was just the writing, the way things were phrased etc.
It was also fascinating in that this is a Christian fiction and I don't think I've ever read this kind of mashup (adventure-romance-Christian). I really liked the protagonist and her faith but I'm not keen on the converting-romantic-interest angle. Well, I guess, she wasn't really trying to convert him as such but I guess I just found the end a bit more unbelievable but it's a romance, it would've had to happen, I suppose... Otherwise, a very easy & fast read.
It was also fascinating in that this is a Christian fiction and I don't think I've ever read this kind of mashup (adventure-romance-Christian). I really liked the protagonist and her faith but I'm not keen on the converting-romantic-interest angle. Well, I guess, she wasn't really trying to convert him as such but I guess I just found the end a bit more unbelievable but it's a romance, it would've had to happen, I suppose... Otherwise, a very easy & fast read.
June 13, 2022
I am a new fan of Catherine palmers writing. This was my first book and I have already checked out two more from our church library. Sorry I did not discover her sooner because she combines scripture with a story that is fast paced and never predictable. Except the guy and girl get together in the end - after numerous adventures.
October 13, 2022
I saw this book in my Kindle library and figured I’d give it a read. There were parts of Tillie’s story that I enjoyed and some parts that were difficult to read. While I enjoyed some of the adventure, other parts didn’t keep my interest. It is an Christian Adventure Romance that might be enjoyed by others.
August 18, 2025
Intriguing, hilarious, exotic, full of adventure and mystery, what more could you ask for in a story?! Catherine Palmer may have just made my list of my favorite top ten authors!!!! She also weaves in the Gospel and Biblical truths in an honest, loving, and straight forward manner. I need to read more of Catherine Palmer!!!!!!!!!
July 20, 2017
Another great read by Catherine Palmer. This book is full of adventure and non stop action. I found myself envying the main characters as they were on the run and looking for treasure. I loved the book, and am looking forward to reading more in the series
October 26, 2017
I liked that this adventure took place I in Africa. Catherine put me there on an exciting journey with colorful and realistic people and events. I loved reading not only this book, but all three in this series.
July 18, 2019
From beginning to end this book kept my attention. My favorite character is Mama Hannah. Love the way God’s love and wisdom continually flows from her. Excited to read the rest of the books in this series.
December 23, 2019
A Goodreads recommendation! Seriously! Obviously because I read oh so much Romance, and Christian Romance at that! I managed to get through the first two chapters before I had to stop reading, at the risk of injuring myself by cracking a rib laughing.
January 20, 2025
Hate and love are two rivers that rise from the same spring. You hate your father so deeply because you wanted to love him deeply.
p. 80
Every action has a reaction.
p. 86
Strange to prefer a terror to an aching heart.
p. 158
I kind of like the towel.
p. 222
p. 80
Every action has a reaction.
p. 86
Strange to prefer a terror to an aching heart.
p. 158
I kind of like the towel.
p. 222
May 31, 2017
Not my genre, but If you're into Christian romance, this one had mystery, intrigue, a cool, African setting and historical truth to parts of it.
July 25, 2017
Fun read; lots of interesting historical and geographical things about Africa.
February 22, 2018
My favorite of the whole series and I found I could not put this one down. I read this one in one sitting.
June 25, 2018
Enjoyed
Great book, nice combination of action, suspense, and romance. Look forward to more of the series on the Thornton kids.
Great book, nice combination of action, suspense, and romance. Look forward to more of the series on the Thornton kids.
June 27, 2018
Reminiscent of Romancing the Stone or Jewel of the Nile, it was a fun read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 112 reviews