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Finding Opal
Finding Opal follows Pier, a young Navy man, as he searches for family and finds more than he bargained for in this breathtaking historical romance set in post-WWII Malta.
Recently discharged from the military after a life-altering injury, Pier Helder travels to Malta intending to find his father. Instead, he finds a complicated, beautiful islander, Opal, who is deeply entangled in a close-knit island community and emotionally bound by a tormenting and secret history of her own. Pier takes up residence in Opal's family inn, quickly becoming entrenched in Maltese life and embroiled in a dangerous competition for Opal's affection. But when a sudden event shifts Pier's priorities, he is unsure if he has what it takes to win Opal's heart or if he will even make it off the island alive. With immersive experiences of Mediterranean life that explore the intersection of culture and the bonds of family, Finding Opal is guaranteed to sweep you up into this riveting three-act saga.
Recently discharged from the military after a life-altering injury, Pier Helder travels to Malta intending to find his father. Instead, he finds a complicated, beautiful islander, Opal, who is deeply entangled in a close-knit island community and emotionally bound by a tormenting and secret history of her own. Pier takes up residence in Opal's family inn, quickly becoming entrenched in Maltese life and embroiled in a dangerous competition for Opal's affection. But when a sudden event shifts Pier's priorities, he is unsure if he has what it takes to win Opal's heart or if he will even make it off the island alive. With immersive experiences of Mediterranean life that explore the intersection of culture and the bonds of family, Finding Opal is guaranteed to sweep you up into this riveting three-act saga.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 17, 2025
10 people are currently reading
1552 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 21, 2025
‘Finding Opal’ is a richly layered historical romance that gently transports readers to post-war Malta through evocative prose and emotionally grounded storytelling. The novel follows Pier, a recently discharged American sailor, as he uncovers traces of his family’s past and becomes entwined in a world he doesn’t fully understand.
At its center is the unfolding relationship between Pier and Opal, the daughter of the family he stays with. Their connection develops gradually and authentically, marked by emotional honesty and subtle chemistry. The romance is understated yet heartfelt, set against a richly detailed cultural and historical backdrop.
It is quickly established that the story features a broad cast of characters and multiple plot threads, alongside richly descriptive passages. While these elements contribute to the novel’s atmospheric quality and often make sense within the context, they can and do affect the story’s overall momentum, occasionally causing the pacing to feel a bit diffuse. At times, certain sentence structures also soften the impact of key moments, which can further influence the flow of the narrative.
That said, readers who appreciate slow-building romance, immersive settings, and introspective character development will find much to enjoy in ‘Finding Opal’. Overall, it is a thoughtful and promising debut that offers a quietly compelling reading experience.
At its center is the unfolding relationship between Pier and Opal, the daughter of the family he stays with. Their connection develops gradually and authentically, marked by emotional honesty and subtle chemistry. The romance is understated yet heartfelt, set against a richly detailed cultural and historical backdrop.
It is quickly established that the story features a broad cast of characters and multiple plot threads, alongside richly descriptive passages. While these elements contribute to the novel’s atmospheric quality and often make sense within the context, they can and do affect the story’s overall momentum, occasionally causing the pacing to feel a bit diffuse. At times, certain sentence structures also soften the impact of key moments, which can further influence the flow of the narrative.
That said, readers who appreciate slow-building romance, immersive settings, and introspective character development will find much to enjoy in ‘Finding Opal’. Overall, it is a thoughtful and promising debut that offers a quietly compelling reading experience.
April 16, 2025
Thank you Goodreads, the publisher and the author for this book.
This book is a dramatic historical romance that surprisingly pulls you in and makes you fall in love with the main characters. It definitely took you to another place and was such a good story.
This book is a dramatic historical romance that surprisingly pulls you in and makes you fall in love with the main characters. It definitely took you to another place and was such a good story.
March 31, 2025
This book took me on a journey that was entirely unexpected, but pleasantly so. I was initially drawn to Finding Opal for the “forbidden love” aspect, and found so much more along the way. I had no idea where this story was going to go or how it would end, but it scratched an itch I’ve had for many years.
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher, and author for this giveaway!
Thank you to Goodreads, the publisher, and author for this giveaway!
January 31, 2025
A beautifully layered story with an indie stays with you
This book took me on a journey I wasn’t expecting. Set in post war Malta, the story followed Pier, a sailor searching for someone on the island. But from the moment he arrives, nothing simple. The village has a secrets, its tensions, and at the heart of it all is Opal— a woman who is as complicated and captivating as the place itself.
This is a slow burn romance, the kind that draws you in with rich detailed setting and characters that feel incredibly real. The writing has a reflective quality, almost as if someone outside the story is telling it, which made it feel even more intimate and haunting. Pier and Opal’s chemistry kept me hooked, and just when I thought I had the story figured out, the ending hit. I had to read it twice just to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. And yes, she really did that. If you love stories with depth, atmosphere, and a romance that unfolds in its own time, this book might be for you.
This book took me on a journey I wasn’t expecting. Set in post war Malta, the story followed Pier, a sailor searching for someone on the island. But from the moment he arrives, nothing simple. The village has a secrets, its tensions, and at the heart of it all is Opal— a woman who is as complicated and captivating as the place itself.
This is a slow burn romance, the kind that draws you in with rich detailed setting and characters that feel incredibly real. The writing has a reflective quality, almost as if someone outside the story is telling it, which made it feel even more intimate and haunting. Pier and Opal’s chemistry kept me hooked, and just when I thought I had the story figured out, the ending hit. I had to read it twice just to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. And yes, she really did that. If you love stories with depth, atmosphere, and a romance that unfolds in its own time, this book might be for you.
July 27, 2025
Finding Opal completely caught me off guard - in the best way. I went in thinking I was getting a straightforward historical romance, but it turned out to be so much more: a deeply layered, emotional story about love, loss, and the search for identity. Set in post-war Malta, the setting is vivid and immersive - bright and beautiful on the surface, but full of tension and unspoken histories underneath.
Pier arrives on the island looking for his father, but quickly becomes part of something much more tangled: a close-knit community with secrets of its own, and a woman named Opal who’s as mysterious and compelling as the island itself.
The romance between them builds slowly, shaped by pain, trust, and quiet moments that stay with you. The writing has a calm, reflective tone that sneaks up on you emotionally - and just when you think you know where it’s all heading, it throws a curve you don’t see coming.
If you like character-driven stories with atmosphere, emotion, and a slow, steady burn, Finding Opal is absolutely worth the read.
Pier arrives on the island looking for his father, but quickly becomes part of something much more tangled: a close-knit community with secrets of its own, and a woman named Opal who’s as mysterious and compelling as the island itself.
The romance between them builds slowly, shaped by pain, trust, and quiet moments that stay with you. The writing has a calm, reflective tone that sneaks up on you emotionally - and just when you think you know where it’s all heading, it throws a curve you don’t see coming.
If you like character-driven stories with atmosphere, emotion, and a slow, steady burn, Finding Opal is absolutely worth the read.
January 31, 2025
Finding Opal took me on a journey I wasn’t expecting. Set in post-war Malta, the story follows Pier, a sailor searching for someone on the island. But from the moment he arrives, nothing is simple. The village has its secrets, its tensions, and at the heart of it all is Opal—a woman as complicated and captivating as the place itself.
This is a slow-burn romance, the kind that lingers, drawing you in with its richly detailed setting and characters that feel incredibly real. The writing has a reflective quality, almost as if someone outside the story is telling it, which made it feel even more intimate and haunting. Pier and Opal’s chemistry kept me hooked, and just when I thought I had the story figured out, that ending hit. I had to read it twice just to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. And yes, she really did that.
If you love stories with depth, atmosphere, and a romance that unfolds in its own time, Finding Opal is absolutely worth reading.
This is a slow-burn romance, the kind that lingers, drawing you in with its richly detailed setting and characters that feel incredibly real. The writing has a reflective quality, almost as if someone outside the story is telling it, which made it feel even more intimate and haunting. Pier and Opal’s chemistry kept me hooked, and just when I thought I had the story figured out, that ending hit. I had to read it twice just to make sure I hadn’t missed anything. And yes, she really did that.
If you love stories with depth, atmosphere, and a romance that unfolds in its own time, Finding Opal is absolutely worth reading.
September 24, 2025
I want to thank Anji Van Aken, author and Goodreads First Reads Giveaway for the eBook Kindle copy of Finding Opal ~ The Pier & Opal Series ~ Book 1 that I won in the Giveaway.
A young Navy man, Pier comes to Malta and finds a fascanating and elusive woman that he falls in love with. Opal is a troubled young woman that is creative, attractive and runs hot and cold in her relationship with men, including Pier.
The island culture is rather closed and not overly friendly to outsiders. Opal is part of a strong family with deep roots in the island culture wearing old fashion clothes, staying in her room much of the time and very religious.
In the end of this part of a three part story, Pier leaves with his new adopted son and Opal watches him sail away, neigher knowing if they will see each other again. I do not enjoy cliffhangers even in a series.
A young Navy man, Pier comes to Malta and finds a fascanating and elusive woman that he falls in love with. Opal is a troubled young woman that is creative, attractive and runs hot and cold in her relationship with men, including Pier.
The island culture is rather closed and not overly friendly to outsiders. Opal is part of a strong family with deep roots in the island culture wearing old fashion clothes, staying in her room much of the time and very religious.
In the end of this part of a three part story, Pier leaves with his new adopted son and Opal watches him sail away, neigher knowing if they will see each other again. I do not enjoy cliffhangers even in a series.
March 13, 2025
Set in post WW2 Malta ,the story follows Pier who is a recently ( honorably) discharged American sailor. He goes on a journey to Malta wanting to learn more about his grandmother's homeland and to search for his long lost father.
He stays with a local family and meets the books namesake Opal the daughter. Not really a spoiler,since this is a whole series in the works,but Pier and Pearl eventually fall in love .It's a hard long interesting journey getting there but they do. The journey includes illegal underground boxing,olive making,a mysterious German and an orphaned baby found on a beach .
At first there is a lot of characters and storyline,but it ties together in the end .
He stays with a local family and meets the books namesake Opal the daughter. Not really a spoiler,since this is a whole series in the works,but Pier and Pearl eventually fall in love .It's a hard long interesting journey getting there but they do. The journey includes illegal underground boxing,olive making,a mysterious German and an orphaned baby found on a beach .
At first there is a lot of characters and storyline,but it ties together in the end .
July 28, 2025
Finding Opal is a beautifully written romance that hits all the right emotional notes. Anji Van Aken has crafted a story that feels both tender and real, with characters you quickly grow attached to. Opal’s personal growth and the quiet strength she finds along the way make her a character worth rooting for.
The setting adds a peaceful, almost healing backdrop to the emotional journey, and the slow-burn romance is handled with genuine care and depth. It’s the kind of story that sneaks up on you, gently pulling you in and staying with you after the final page.
If you enjoy character-driven romances with emotional depth and a strong sense of hope, this one is well worth the read.
The setting adds a peaceful, almost healing backdrop to the emotional journey, and the slow-burn romance is handled with genuine care and depth. It’s the kind of story that sneaks up on you, gently pulling you in and staying with you after the final page.
If you enjoy character-driven romances with emotional depth and a strong sense of hope, this one is well worth the read.
August 26, 2025
I'm into romance novels and the reason I picked this up is the blend of tenderness, danger, and rich historical detail. I enjoyed the slow unraveling of Opal’s character. She’s more than just a love interest and the tension between Pier felt authentic, especially with the push and pull of cultural expectations, family ties, and the shadow of her past. At times, I found myself holding my breath, wondering if love could really survive the obstacles in their way. And it gave the love story more weight and depth, grounding their connection in a world that felt both beautiful and difficult.
August 11, 2025
Such a beautifully written story that transports you into a community of dynamic characters postwar Malta. The island's curling cliffs, set against the Mediterranean Sea, set a rich landscape for a complicated and powerful love story to unfold. Predicaments and entanglements keep the pages turning through action-packed scenes, witty dialogue, and a dose of magic. A must read trilogy!
March 29, 2025
There are surprises, romance, heartbreak, characters in all shades of nuance, and beautiful descriptions of Mediterranean life. This is the beginning to a timeless and familiar story... like the sun, ancient olives, citrus, and the salt from the sea and one's tears.
November 15, 2025
Beautifully written
A beautifully written historical romance with rich atmosphere and heartfelt emotion. Finding Opal pulls you into post World War II Malta with vivid detail and unforgettable characters. A very captivating start to a series you won’t want to put down.
A beautifully written historical romance with rich atmosphere and heartfelt emotion. Finding Opal pulls you into post World War II Malta with vivid detail and unforgettable characters. A very captivating start to a series you won’t want to put down.
August 28, 2025
Both characters felt scarred but stubborn. Watching them circle each other was the hook for me.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews