In her search for a rare gem, will Everleigh end up uncovering the true treasure of her heart? Personal care nurse Everleigh Wheaton knows it only takes a few well-placed lies to ruin a reputation. She's experienced it time and time again. But there's a silver lining to repeatedly proving she's confident and self-reliant. When she loses yet another job and an enigmatic stranger offers her a potential way out, she's game. After all, she loves a good mystery, and an invitation to visit the legendary Halstead Manor is irresistible. But she's not about to let her guard down--especially with the other women who received the same invitation. A strange voice on the phone tells them he's gathered the three of them to work together as treasure hunters. The first assignment requires Everleigh to be a traveling nurse for retired FBI agent Gertrude Levine, who has one cold case she just can't let go the Florentine diamond that went missing when the Austrian Empire fell. With Everleigh's keen ability to solve puzzles, Natalie Daughtry's vast knowledge of history, and Brooke Sumner's connections to the antiques world, they're bound to track down the diamond. Except that Gertie's nephew, Niles Butler, doesn't trust Everleigh's innocent act . . . even if he finds himself falling for her. Worse, Everleigh's walls of self-preservation may doom the entire team. Hints of real-life historical events combined with contemporary characters make this first book in the Treasures of Halstead Manor series a masterful blend of romance, mystery, and strong female friendships. Readers of authors like Denise Hunter and Nicole Deese who enjoy unfolding relationships and the organic discovery of God's love will relish this new series.
Susan L. Tuttle is a best-selling, multi-published author of small town, midwestern romances featuring ordinary people discovering extraordinary love. Her critically acclaimed novel Love You, Truly was an ACFW Carol Award finalist. As a former homeschooling mom, current pastor’s wife and women’s ministry leader at a large church, Susan loves to help women discover how their worth and identity are found in Christ, not the many roles they fill. She often shares that encouragement in her quarterly newsletter and on her Instagram page. When she’s not writing or serving her church and community, you can find her cozied up in one of her many favorite cardigans, sipping coffee, and obsessively eating cookies. She also enjoys hiking with her husband—to burn those cookie calories. Susan lives in Michigan with her family and a very spoiled Borderdoodle named Finley Frank.
Susan L. Tuttle's The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton sparkles as a radiant gem in the realm of Christian fiction, skillfully intertwining mystery, romance, and faith to craft a narrative that resonates on a meaningful level. This five-star read is a captivating series opener that promises an enchanting journey.
Meet Everleigh Wheaton, a personal care nurse and a remarkable introvert with a passion for unraveling puzzles. Tuttle's meticulous character development brings Everleigh to life, endearing her to readers as a rare jewel with qualities that reflect both resilience and self-reliance. Her journey, marked by a history of undeserved tarnishing, is instantly relatable, making her a compelling figure for introverts and readers alike.
The narrative unfolds like a carefully curated treasure hunt, with Everleigh joined by fellow sleuths Natalie Daughtry and Brooke Sumner on a journey rooted in a century-long, international mystery. Tuttle seamlessly weaves real-life historical events with well-developed characters, creating a storyline rich in detail and emotional depth.
The chemistry between Everleigh and Gertie's nephew, Niles Butler, adds layers of depth to the narrative. Tuttle skillfully navigates their relationship, infusing the story with a blend of flirtation and heartfelt moments, keeping readers eagerly flipping through the pages.
A standout feature of Tuttle's writing is her ability to infuse faith into the narrative. The delicate and impactful way she incorporates spiritual elements lingers long after the book is closed.
One distinctive aspect that resonated profoundly with me was Tuttle's portrayal of introversion. The narrative's depiction of the introvert's experience prompted a serious reevaluation of my own "protective walls." Spending time with God in prayer and His Word continually leads me to surrender every anxious thought, insecurity, and aching wound. As I navigate my own journey, surrendering all to Jesus, I know He will instruct and direct me in the changes He desires. By consistently entrusting myself to Almighty God and maintaining unwavering trust, I am convinced that I will witness His transformative power. Acknowledging my flaws, imperfections, and quirks and anticipating inevitable course corrections, I am totally committed to pressing into the One who graciously forgives all my sins and covers all my flaws with His boundless grace.
This book isn’t merely a great read; if you allow it, it may extend to you a transformative experience that not only celebrates vulnerability but also glorifies God’s power and guidance.
I received a digital copy of The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton from Kregel Publications via JustRead Publicity Tour. I am not required to write a positive review nor paid to do so. This is my honest and unbiased review. My thoughts and opinions expressed in this book review are my own. My review focuses on this story’s remarkable content, ensuring transparency and reliability.
In The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton, Tuttle infuses a century-long, international mystery with her signature style of high-chemistry romance and witty banter. Thanks to the multigenerational and quite unusual cast, every scene is a character study that will have readers captivated long after the last page is turned.
Tuttle’s new book kicks off a series that will satisfy readers who love romance, mystery, and adventure! It’s fresh and unique with intriguing characters and an exciting plot! Highly recommend!
The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton pulled me in from chapter one and kept me flipping through the pages well into the night! Get ready to be awed with mesmeric prose coupled with an intriguing plot. Add in a fun cast of characters, and you have a story that shines!
“Wishing about the past is wasted emotion if it doesn’t lead to transformation in your present.”
What a stunning dual timeline novel! I’ve enjoyed Susan Tuttle’s books in the past but this one had me completely mesmerized and captivated. I am partial to dual timeline novels and the author has created a beautifully intricate plot with an Austrian dynasty in early 1900s woven into present day royal heirloom treasure hunt. I loved the Charlie’s Angels-like team of three women as the treasure-hunting trio and am looking forward to the next two books in the series as we get to know them better one by one.
Everleigh was a complex character - aloof, brilliant, and ready to step out of her shell yet so broken, hurt, and confused. Niles was a great character to balance out Everleigh and I adored his sarcasm and hard-won loyalty. Their banter was phenomenal. Aunt Gertie was my favorite; though weighed down by a medical condition, she was sharp, witty, wise, and not afraid to speak her mind. The faith lessons sprinkled throughout the book were spot on and relevant. I loved traveling through Europe and the US with the team as they followed the clues to the heirloom; it was definitely a memorable adventure.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Kregel Publications and via JustRead Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.
The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton is a fantastic, contemporary, page-turning story of friendship, history, mystery, romance, and faith that you do not want to miss!! Told with the author's signature wit, the reader will enjoy the search for answers, the banter, the travels, and the all the clues along the way. I think everyone needs an Aunt Gertrude in their lives, Aunt Gertie is a hoot. This multigenerational story with unique and interesting multi-aged characters and beautiful locations kept me turning pages and desperately wanting to know how all the puzzle pieces fit together.
I highly recommend this well written, and thoroughly captivating story! This series is off to a great start, and I can't wait for book 2 in the Treasures of Halstead Manor series.
Thank you to the author and Kregel Publications for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
Let me just start by saying I have a book hangover. Susan Tuttle gave us a cast of characters that were flawed and hurting and beautifully woven together. This one grabbed me right from page 1. There's sort of an Anastasia feel to it along with Charlie's Angels. It has a little mystery, a little romance, friendship, and history. Gosh, I just loved it. I highly recommend it.
Adventure is a favorite genre of mine, and THIS is the kind of gem I've been searching for. I LOVED the mystery of lost jewels! The search for clues is interesting and fun, with lots of travel throughout Europe and the United States. And the settings are beautiful (elite villas, palace hotels, mountain scenery, and more...)
The faith content connects really well to the treasure hunt, with prominent themes of trusting God and making new friendships. (Also, I'd like to note how EXCITED I am that this is a contemporary Christian adventure story, since this genre can be difficult to find in Christian fiction).
The characters are great too! Each person has a unique skill (puzzle solving, etc.). The team's boss, whom no one has seen, is an intriguing side mystery. The enemies-to-more romance has lots of banter to keep things interesting, and it's clean (although one kiss scene is a bit more detailed than I was expecting). And Aunt Gertrude - I just loved her. Such a witty, endearing character!
This is also a dual-time-period novel, following an Austrian princess in the early/mid-1900s. Her chapters intertwine with the mystery's pacing quite well, while remaining infrequent enough that the focus stays on the contemporary setup. Her plotline is just enough to bring the rich history aspect to life!
This is a book I'll be thinking about for a while, and I'd definitely recommend it to fellow adventure lovers!
*Content to note* .....May contain minor spoilers..... Discussions of parental loss/grief over passed loved ones. Parent formerly in prison. Mentions of cheating ex-fiance. Discussion of man getting a tattoo after drinking too much. Child born out of wedlock/mentions of child surrendered to adoptive parents. Discussions of struggling marriage.
Susan Tuttle has started such a great series! I was intrigued the entire time and wanted to know how it would end. Definitely a page turner.
This had Charlie's Angels/ National Treasure vibes and I loved it! There is plenty of adventure as the cast of characters are set into a hunt for a missing diamond. I absolutely enjoyed all the characters in the story but this story focuses on Everleigh. I really enjoyed the journey that we went with her. I really could relate to her introvert side and anxiety of letting others get too close to you. She truly goes through a change and her walls come crumbling thanks to the help of Gertrude and Niles.
I absolutely loved Gertrude! She was definitely my favorite character. She has this no nonsense wisdom and bits of truth bombs that were perfect additions to the story. It was great to see that even despite her disability she didn't let that stop her from being active and a big role in the treasure hunt. Her grandson Niles was overprotective but he also helps Everleigh break down those walls of letting people in. Of course it doesn't hurt that you can feel their attraction for each other jump off the page!!
The author did such a great job with the different settings and the historical aspect of the storyline. At first I thought it would turn into a dual timeline but it is not. She provides you with enough historical background to try solve the mystery of the missing diamond. I mean if you are like me, when I read these types of stories I want to solve the mystery myself. I must say I failed and I was surprised at the end.
I will not divulge too much of this story but know that this is a page turner. I cannot wait to read book 2 and learn more about these ladies that all have very different qualities and gifts they bring to the team. I also can't wait to find out more about the mystery man... Caspar! (you'll have to read the book to know what I am talking about!!)
Overall I really enjoyed this book. It had adventure, mystery, romance and a spiritual thread that focused on God's acceptance and friendships. God didn't intend for us to do life alone despite our intorverted selves. Definitely a must for your reading list!
I received a copy of this book for review. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
This was a slowly building story, not only in the following of the mysterious historical clues, but also in the romantic relationship between Everleigh and Niles. The romantic storyline that developed was not the main focus of this story, however, I thought that its addition rounded things out nicely.
The novel definitely has a bit of a dual timeline feel to it, however, most of the story takes place in the modern day timeline. I enjoyed that there were a few chapters interspersed throughout the story that were set in the past. It was nice to see what was occurring in these chapters, since in the modern day sections of the book, the characters were sorting through clues to discover their next steps.
I enjoyed meeting the three women who were charged with finding the jewel and am looking forward to reading more of these novels and getting to know each of the women more. This story captured the mystery feel very nicely. It is a good introduction to the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This is my first introduction to Susan L. Tuttle’s writings. I have researched and seen that she has written a number of contemporary romance novels. Not that is a bad thing, but for me, most contemporary romances are slow and do not pack a whole bunch of movement in the plot. The synopsis for The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton captured my attention. Who would not like to go on a treasure hunt to find a missing diamond? I was intrigued and decided to read the novel. The characters are different, but each of their individual skills will work together to find the diamond. While that is a good thing, Tuttle makes the characters not trust each other and argue for a long time for the first two-thirds of the novel. Yes, they are working on some clues, but too much time spent arguing and wondering if they should trust each other and how far to reveal their own personal secrets. A romance pops up between Everleigh and a supporting male character. I did not buy it at all. Too much untrust to develop anything. As for the plot, I wanted more history. More searching for the diamond. Most of the plot was dry and dragged on and on. Overall, The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton by Susan L. Tuttle might be good for readers who love her previous novels, but as someone who loves historical romances and suspense novels, this story did not do it for me. I needed more action and movement for the plot to really capture my attention.
I received a complimentary copy of The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton by Susan L. Tuttle through Kregel Publishing and JustRead Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton. It includes a lot of my favorites- a mystery, romance, and historical elements. I was on the edge of my seat for much of the story! The characters dealt with relatable problems. Everleigh suffered some hard situations that dismantled her family in high school, during her most formative years. As a result, she became an introvert who doesn’t trust people, or God. So when she’s given an opportunity she can’t refuse, to work with a team to find the Florentine Diamond while care for an ex-FBI agent who’s gone blind, she’s forced to break down her walls and leave their comfort. I felt her personal journey was quite realistic, and I enjoyed her growth and how it was fleshed out. She had to face tough realizations about herself, and have hard conversations. I liked the thread of faith throughout the novel, but felt it could have been a bit stronger. I loved Gertrude; she was a trip! I cackled over some of her one-liners, and enjoyed her wisdom. And Niles- excuse me while I swoon! I enjoyed his personality and growth as well, though I would have appreciated another chapter or two inside his head. I really loved the mystery and historical aspects, especially the twist at the end! I also enjoyed Natalie and Brooke, and can’t wait to read their stories. The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton is a story you do not want to miss! Thank you to the publisher for my review copy. All thoughts above are my own; I was not required to write a positive review.
This was the first book I have read written by author: Susan L. Tuttle and it was the perfect first book. The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton was well written. It captured my attention, twisting just enough history, mystery, suspense, romance and scripture keeping me intrigued throughout the whole book. It was a fairly easy read, but diverse in vocabulary.
The character development kept me on my toes. There was a lot of working relationships to keep going. Between present day and what happened in the past. Imagining the relationship between Everleigh and Niles transpire was great. Their romance was not too over the top. There was nothing more than a few kissing scenes. Which for us that appreciate a good clean romance, this was definitely clean. Though not heavy on the romance.
The story line was great. It was a little overwhelming at times trying to figure out what was going to happen. There was so many questions I had as I was reading the story.
I am always a sucker for historical fiction. I appreciated the sprinkling in of historical flash backs.
Susan L. Tuttle’s intertwining of scripture, and pointing to God was the perfect touch. It really drew the reader back to the whole point of our life and the need for Jesus to help us through life.
I do hope that there are more books in this series, as I would love to see what would happen to Everleigh, Niles, John, Brooke, Natalie, Gertie and Burt.
*I was given a copy of the book for personal review from the author. This is my person thoughts and reflections.
Is January too soon for a favorite book for the year? The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton is a wonderful combination of mystery, romance and faith that will make it one of my most recommended in 2024. Everleigh Wheaton is a personal nurse hired to help retired FBI agent Gertrude and assigned to help her solve the largest unsolved mystery in her life of finding a missing royal diamond necklace. A wonderful, diverse group of characters are assigned to help the ladies in their search of the necklace through when hired by a mystery boss. Through this new team, Everleigh learns the lessons friends are needed in life and love can be trusted. I loved the travel and that the book also did dual storyline with the original necklace owner. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and having the reunited. I am hoping that author Susan Tuttle is on it! I received a complimentary copy of The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton from Kregel Publishers through JustReads Publicity, but all opinions are my own
This Book Was Right Up My Alley! I Loved How Susan L. Tuttle Laid The Groundwork For The Mystery Of The Jewel To Be Solved. I Really Came To Know Each Character As I Read & I Felt That I Was Right There With Them Through Each Chapter Trying To Solve The Mystery. The Life Lessons Throughout With The Encouragement To Seek Father God Was Spot On. Oh! The Puns! Give Me All The Puns! I Loved Texting My Adult Children With Them! LOL! This Book, IMHO, Would Make An Awesome Movie. I Truly Can’t Wait For Book Two!
I Received A Surprise Copy From The Publisher & Boy Was I Surprised With The Rare Jewel Of Everleigh Wheaton! Thank You Kregel Publications & Well Done Susan L. Tuttle! My Review Is Totally My Own Opinion & No One Twisted My Arm To Give It! Thankful For The Opportunity To Encourage Others To Read A Well Written Work Of Art!
While it was different than I expected, this was still a fun romp!
I absolutely adore Gertie, the tough as nails retired FBI agent turned PI. And I’m a huge fan of her and Bert. Such cuteness. 🥰
When it came to Everleigh and Niles, our MCs, I vacillated between liking them and screaming at them to act like adults already. 🤣 The enemies-to-lovers dynamics are strong, but I didn’t feel like they were utterly ridiculous. Niles had valid concerns as did Everleigh. I just needed them to act more like 35 & 37 than they did at times. But I’m happy with the resolution, and the faith message was beautifully profound & very relatable (& convicting 🙈).
And I have so many questions about Caspar! Can’t wait to read Natalie’s story and follow this group of unlikely friends on their next adventure!
p.s. the audiobook was great, although the attempts at male voices did make me laugh a few times 🤭
Susan L. Tuttle has penned a sweeping story featuring an international treasure hunt and an in-depth look at what it means to truly love others and allow others to love you! Will Everleigh find the Florentine Diamond that has been missing for over a hundred years? And will she let down her walls and open her heart to love? You’ll have to read the book to find out!
Read this one if you like:
💜Contemporary treasure hunts 💜Historical mysteries 💜Soul-stirring faith journeys 💜Amazing character growth 💜Slow-burn romance 💜Women’s fiction 💜Being reminded that you are a precious treasure to God
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher! My review was not influenced in any way. All thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own
I’ve enjoyed all of Susan L. Tuttle’s books, and when I read about her upcoming release, I had to read it. In The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton, Tuttle expands on her contemporary romance roots and adds a bit of mystery in the way of treasure hunt of sorts.
Because of situations in her past, Everleigh is guarded. Maybe a little too much at times, but Tuttle does an excellent job of making her title character both lovable and frustrating. The woman is almost too smart for her own good sometimes.
The characters work well together. The two other women who are brought in on the mysterious search for a lost diamond also have their secrets (which we should get answers two as this series progresses), the woman who Everleigh cares for is insightful and becomes a mentor, and Niles is both aggravating and protective.
While the treasure hunt was interesting and entertaining, the real heart of this story is in the relationships of the characters and Everleigh’s growth as the story progressed. If you’re looking for a novel with realistic relationship dynamics, some travel to beautiful places, and some clues to pick up along the way, The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton checks everything on the list.
Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.
While the story may have the search for a long lost diamond as a big part of the story. I found much of this book was focused on the value of true friendships and how walls that we put up around ourselves can make us a very isolated person. The romance had a slow burn quality to it with sprinkles of banter to keep you invested. The message of trust and the courage to be vulnerable are well woven into the tapestry of this story. If you are looking for a relaxed paced story with plenty of historical sleuthing this may be the book for you. Recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are honest and completely my own.
This book felt like a gift to me! I will truly cherish this story! 🥹🫶
The tropes in this book are…
💌 Christian Romantic Suspense 💌 Friendship 💌 Enemies to Lovers 💌 Treasure Hunt
-This book is Holiday Approved! -( I’m Holiday lol)
-💬: My thoughts about the book-
Ok! When I tell you this book tugged on my heart strings!! Like honestly! 🥹This story is a mystery about finding the missing Florentine Diamond. But this isn’t your typical mystery! It is filled with faith, love, and friendship! All of the makings of an amazing story!
I loved the banter between Everleigh & Nile! You don’t usually see 2 strong-willed love interest BUT this romance was done perfectly! I connected so easily with all the characters-John, Brooke, Natalie, and Gertrude! Loved them all!
The overall message that I received from this book was- to stop running away from Jesus and run to Him! Seeing Everleigh put her guard and finally accepting God’s love was heart-warming! And her letting in new friendships was the best!
If you couldn’t tell- I LOVED this book! And this is actually book 1 in the trilogy and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!🥰🫶
Okay, let me start off by saying I love the cover. It's purple, it's gorgeous, the diamond actually shimmers. It's beautiful. ^.^ Which is fitting, because the inside is just as beautiful - actually, it is even more so. Everleigh Wheaton is a character that, while extremely guarded, is easy to like and cheer for. I liked how the topic of introversion versus walled-off was addressed, as well as handled. Being a bit of both myself, I was definitely hit with some food-for-thought, which I appreciate. I love when a novel is not only enjoyable but meaningful. The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton is such a fun treasure hunting novel, and I truly felt like I was right there with the characters as they followed the clues, and unraveled the puzzle of the Florentine Diamond. The conclusion of the story was beautifully done, and honestly, there was so much gold to be mined in the last quarter. I used a lot of sticky note highlighters XD There were parts that made me tear up, and definitely added to the beautiful depth of the book. I love how strong the faith message was incorporated throughout the story, not just as an add-on. I feel like it's getting harder and harder to find truly faith-inspiring fiction even in the Christian fiction genre, so it's always a gem to read one that encourages my walk in Christ. And I am eagerly anticipating the next book in the series!!
Thanks to Kregel Publishing and the author for a copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review, and all thoughts expressed are my own.
The Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton is one of those "odd" books I rate right in the middle. In some ways, I enjoyed it. In others, it fell significantly short of my expectations. Thus, it's not one I can recommend or shun. It's a book I'm glad I read, but a book that left me feeling ambivalent.
With that in mind, I'm going to craft this review backwards and address the negative parts first, so I can spend more time on what made me want to finish the book. I think the biggest problem was, The Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton feels like it's trying to be three-dimensional. Sometimes, it gets there. Most of the time, it doesn't. So what ends up happening is, you get a lot of that sense of, "First we went here, then we met this person, then we said that, X character thought Y, for the second or third time" cadence. You get characters who talk and move, but as if on a stage or in a puppet show. They don't grow as much as they should. Even when they're doing something, they don't seem to "do" anything, because their discoveries and dialogue don't grow or mesh with each other.
To go along with that, there is a "telling over showing" issue in The Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton. It's not as egregious as I've seen in some novels, but it does exist. Here, it's mostly through narrative summary. As in, characters will start to go somewhere or do something, and then the scene cuts, and we get a summary of what we should have seen in real time. Or, more annoyingly, Everleigh will reflect on how difficult friendships are for her because of her mom's illness or what her dad did. But until the tail end, she never moves beyond acknowledgment. It also feels like she tells the readers this information too early, too "up front," so there's nowhere for her character to go. As far as internal stakes, there's nothing for readers to root for.
The same is true for the external stakes of Jewel, although for a different reason. The external story could be intriguing or interesting at times. Yet, this part, the plot itself, was the part I invested in the least. Not only is the reader pushed and pulled from location to location, not only do minor characters pop in and out of the story too fast to keep up with, but I personally wasn't clear on the "why" of this story. That is, I understood Gertrude's desire and motive to find the diamond intellectually. I understood the appeal of Everleigh, Natalie, and Brooke's teamwork. I understood how Everleigh's role as a caregiver played in. But in terms of plot and storyline, none of these pieces ever worked together. None of them were developed enough to make sense or pull me into the book. The focus of the plot pieces changes too much and too often for that.
Okay, so, that's a lot of negatives. What did I like? Well, this is one of those books where, two-dimensional though they are, I honestly loved these characters and wish they had more story to work with. I identified strongly with Everleigh, both as an introvert and as someone who has struggled with socializing and friendships. When Everleigh mourned the fact that, throughout life, people have thought the worst of her, I *felt* that. I also enjoyed her penchant for puzzles, her understated brilliance, and her care for Gertrude--both the actual care, and the front she used to keep from letting people in. Everleigh Wheaton had all the makings of a multifaceted character and I hung on with the book mostly for her.
I also grew to enjoy Niles in similar, yet different ways. His banter with Everleigh throughout the novel had me smiling and chuckling every time it popped up. Like Everleigh, he had the makings of a multifaceted hero, from his detective experience to his Winnie the Pooh connections. Niles is sweet and not exactly an alpha male, but he's also completely masculine. He proves himself a great match for Everleigh over time, and I love how both he and Everleigh came together, not as friends first *or* adversaries first, but because they both loved Gertrude and wanted to see the treasure hunt through to the end. Thus, they came together because they had to be patient with each other, because they saw each other's best and worst first. I don't often see that in books like this and would like to offer Susan Tuttle some deserved kudos.
As mentioned, I did like the setup of Caspar working with our heroine trio. I may continue the series just to find out who he is, and I loved the clever, authoritative but sometimes fatherly way he interacted with the heroines. Again, I didn't quite get the "why" of Caspar or whether he's legitimate or not, but this did add a sense of depth and veritas to the story. The spiritual threads here are fairly subtle, but it's almost like God, through Caspar, is orchestrating the journey. This isn't a type of spiritual thread I see often, and I applaud Susan for taking it on.
Finally, even though I'd argue some of it didn't fit the rest of the story (Will and Vienna being the big part; I'd have liked the focus to stay on Adelheid and Luciana as friends), I did enjoy at least parts of the early twentieth century story. As I said, I'd have liked it much better had it been shorter and more cohesive. That said, I did love the intrigue associated with Adelheid's family and the diamond. I rooted for Adelheid and Luciana's friendship, and while I don't think uprooting Adelheid so many times to so many different places was *necessary,* it did make the treasure hunt interesting.
So, where does that leave me? Where does that leave The Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton? Well, I'd be lying if I said I'm eager to continue the series. I'm still not sure about that, based on the plotting style and writing style in general. But I'd also be lying if I said I wasn't (almost) inexplicably drawn to this story and those that follow. So, for me, it's a "we'll see." If the mechanics of this book don't bother you though, you'll probably love it. Weigh your options, know what you're getting into, but do try it if it draws you as it did me.
A FUN mystery! Something akin to reading The Westing Game (in my childhood), or playing a game of Clue. It's a flashy mystery with a cash reward waiting for you at the end of it, if you could just decifer the clues, fit the puzzle pieces together -- and with a hop, skip, and jump, you could find the lost treasure.
Experiencing this book is just PURE FUN! I hope the author has other similar mystery books available. Her writing style is so easy flowing, and yet intriguing. She uses unique turns of phrase, while describing everything perfectly to a T. I found myself even laughing on occasion when it hit me just right!
It's not all just fun and games though. In this story, Everleigh is learning very real lessons about life, and how to not be a loner. How she needs to let people in. And God is there for her too!
Clean fiction! Intended for adults, but some 12 year olds would eat this up. Contains solid Christian values.
The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton by Susan L. Tuttle is so good!! It definitely has a Charlie’s Angels flair, which made me smile so much because it’s clean and filled with faith!! It’s about 3 women coming together to be a team of friends, and the journey it takes them to get there. Everleigh is an introvert, and her reputation, through no fault of her own, is tarnished wherever she goes. She’s used to being judged and her walls are built solidly around her so NO ONE can get in. This story is also about a treasure hunt, and I LOVE a good treasure hunt and all the clues that lead to a resolution. It also has a swoony romance. If you haven’t read it yet (it’s a new release), I highly recommend it. I give it 5 stars and can’t wait to read the next two.
This modern Charlie’s Angels took me by surprise. First Susan Tuttle created an entertaining mystery then added layers to the story which provided depth that I truly appreciated. The smaller snippets of a historical story contributed to the intrigue. Readers who enjoy romance with a rocky start as possible enemies to friends are in for a treat with the romantic tension. Her characters will definitely keep this series interesting. The faith lessons are the true jewels weaved throughout this novel and the reason that I highly recommend it. I was given a copy of this book by the publisher. All opinions are my own.
The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton is a fun, adventurous story full of mystery and intrigue. It's characters are flawed and hurting, it's settings beautiful, it's treasure hunt exciting. I really enjoyed everything about this book from beginning to end and I'm very much looking forward to the next book the Treasures of Halstead Manor series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.
I had this on hold at the library forever and was so happy when it finally came in. The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton was my first read by Susan L. Tuttle, and I was not disappointed. Her writing is rich and deep, and the mysterious treasure hunt woven throughout the story is perfect! I love how the characters met each other and grew together as they searched for the ever-elusive jewel and uncovered history along the way. I can't wait for book two!