A Glitter of Gold by Liz Johnson
Rebecca's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Editor's Note: This review is a guest post by Rebecca Grzybowski.

Book Summary:

Anne Norris moved to Savannah, Georgia, for a fresh start. Now her pirate-tour business is flagging, and paying the rent requires more than wishful thinking. When she discovers evidence of a shipwreck off the coast of Tybee Island, she knows it could be just the boon she needs to stay afloat. She takes her findings to local museum director Carter Hale for confirmation, but she runs after a disastrous first meeting.
Carter has been searching for the location of the wreck detailed in the worn pages of an 18th-century diary, the discovery of which could open the door to his dream job at a prestigious museum. But convincing Anne to help him fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle is no easy task. And working with Carter means that Anne will have to do the one thing she swore she'd never do again: trust a man.
Finding a monetary backer and sticking with a search that's turning up nothing will take all their dedication--and every secret they've tried to hide. If they can find the lost ship, they may discover a treasure worth more than all the pirate gold in the world--love.

What a spellbinding book. I will be honest, the journal entries were my favorite part. I don’t know if that is just the lover of historical fiction side of me or just because I found it more intriguing. Suffice it to say, at one point I did jump ahead in the book just so I could read the rest of the journal entries! But I did go back once I was through with the journal entries. The modern day story was also very good and blended with the historical side to create a well-written novel.

Anne and Carter are well-developed, believable characters who had real struggles. Carter struggles with having an influential family and trying to make a name for himself without having to use those connections. Anne struggles with shame over a mistake she made and the consequences her actions brought about. Through the book Anne and Carter learn and grow, eventually coming to the point where they can accept and overcome.

"Treasure is trouble." This saying comes up when Anne and Carter begin searching for their sunken ship. Even though they aren’t looking for treasure in the traditional sense, just the wreck, this saying still applied to their search. As one of the minor characters explained, searching for treasure can bring out a person’s hidden or underlying traits, good or bad. The question Carter and Anne face is, what traits will surface when hunting for the treasure doesn’t go their way?

Recommend?
Yes! Who doesn’t love a story about discovering a lost ship and a girl disguised as a boy to find her brother? Throw in a little bit of romance and learning to overcome the shame of past mistakes, and you have the makings of an intriguing, well-written story.

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson
Rebecca's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Editor's Note: This review is a guest post by Rebecca Grzybowski.

What an interesting book. The mix of history with the modern was fun to read. I really enjoyed how the author incorporated letters from a journal into a modern story. I was pulled into those journal entries and almost, almost skipped ahead just so I could keep reading the entries! I loved how relatable the characters were. They were both down on their luck, poor, and struggling with their own financial issues.

I loved how the author was able to accurately capture Millie’s emotions in dealing with her grandmother, her financial state and how she coped with it all. I found Millie relatable and her coping methods familiar.

Ben, a security guard by trade, is a history-loving academic who wants to fix the problem his mother caused. He wants to make restitution and working three jobs seems the only way he can, until he catches Millie in an area she is not supposed to be. When she offers him a cut of a mysterious treasure, it almost seems too good to be true. His character is strong throughout the story and I love how the relationship between him and Millie progresses.

Grandma Joy is what a grandmother ought to be—full of timeless wisdom. While she isn’t a major character, I loved every time Millie interacted with her. Toward the end, she gives Millie some advice and I just have to share it:

“You’re sure quick to give up on love for someone who reads so many romance novels...Don’t you think that true love is patient and kind and it doesn’t hold a grudge? What kind of drivel is in those books you read if they’re not showing you that kind of love? Real love isn't love because it’s easy or always feels good. It’s love because you choose not to be self-serving.” (Johnson, p. 324).

How true is this?! My husband and I have been married for a little over a year, and while the first year was amazing (I can say that because I still consider myself a newlywed!), we still had our ups and downs. Love isn’t all butterflies and roses, it’s working at staying connected and invested and loving the other even when it is hard. It is picking up the dirty socks left all over the house and all those other little things that make up life.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this book, the history and the real-life relationship advice it gave. I would recommend this book to romance lovers ages 16+. If you like a little bit of mystery mixed with a sweet romance, this is for you.




Rebecca Grzybowski is a lover of good books, adorable owls and adventures. Whether contemporary romance, historical fiction, or a good fantasy novel, she can be found reading with a chai latte in hand during her free time. She lives in the gorgeous Mitten State with her handsome hubby and newborn baby boy.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. This post contains affiliate links.