A Love to Treasure

Sunriver Dreams #1

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

School teacher Nicole Davis is on summer break, but this vacation is unlike any other. Her beloved Grandmother’s final wish has landed Nicole smack in the middle of her favorite destination—Sunriver, Oregon, following Grams’s clues on a mysterious scavenger hunt. Unexpectedly, Nicole finds more than just a fellow sleuth in a handsome police officer, Mark Stone. But Mark must return to his job in Portland at summer’s end, and Nicole must guard her heart.

Mark is hoping for a quiet summer in Sunriver as he contemplates his future in law enforcement, but a string of burglaries draws him from his self-imposed break from detective work and thrusts him into the middle of the investigation. To complicate matters, Nicole is in jeopardy, and he knows his growing feelings for her could cloud his judgment. Will their differing career goals be the end of their summer romance—or just the beginning of forever after?

Genres: Romance, Christian, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Mystery, Ebooks, Contemporary

162 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 1, 2016

About the author

Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in Montana. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

You can sign up for Kimberly's newsletter via her website at: https://kimberlyrjohnson.com/

Reviews

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Love to Treasure #1 Sunriver Dreams***** series by Kimberly Rose Johnson

Nicole Davis is on summer break from teaching and is on an unusual vacation. Her beloved grandmother's final wish was for Nicole to spend her summer at their favorite place—Sunriver, Oregon resort community—on a scavenger hunt. She has left Nicole with very specific, mysterious clues and Nicole is determined to follow every one. What she did not plan on was crashing into—well, almost—a handsome police officer, Mark Stone. Mark has had his own struggles and is hopeful his time in Sunriver will be quiet and a healing time for him. However, it turns out anything but quiet.

I could “see” the details of the resort community from the detailed descriptions the author provides. It sounds like a place I would like to visit—without the events Nicole and Mark experienced, of course. Nicole has had struggles that have left her uncertain. I like that we are shown her struggles with God and how her new Christian friends—lovingly and humbly live their faith—re-awakening her faith without being preachy. It was fun trying to figure out what the next clue meant and where it would lead Nicole and what the final clue would reveal—loved the final clue!...not telling. The developing relationship between Nicole and Mark was fun and sometimes humorous. Mischievous 13-year-old Conner captured my heart as he did Nicole and Mark's. A Love to Treasure is filled with suspense, mystery, romance, healing and forgiveness, fun antics of a young teenaged boy, faith, some twists and turns in the storyline and a great unexpected ending.

~ I received a complimentary PDF copy of this book from the author, this is my honest review~

[Coco.V]

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Blurb:
School teacher Nicole Davis is on summer break, but this vacation is unlike any other. Her beloved Grandmother’s final wish has landed Nicole smack in the middle of her favorite destination—Sunriver, Oregon, following Grams’s clues on a mysterious scavenger hunt. Unexpectedly, Nicole finds more than just a fellow sleuth in a handsome police officer, Mark Stone. But Mark must return to his job in Portland at summer’s end, and Nicole must guard her heart.

Mark is hoping for a quiet summer in Sunriver as he contemplates his future in law enforcement, but a string of burglaries draws him from his self-imposed break from detective work and thrusts him into the middle of the investigation. To complicate matters, Nicole is in jeopardy, and he knows his growing feelings for her could cloud his judgment. Will their differing career goals be the end of their summer romance—or just the beginning of forever after?

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once again, Kimberly Rose Johnson has written a wonderful story. Mystery, intrigue, crime, love and faith in God all play important roles in the lives of the characters. Each page had me wanting to know what would happen next. The author writes with such detail and expression that I feel as if I know the characters and could be friends with them. The relationship between Nicole and Mark takes various twists and turns and keeps the reader alert. Every story that I have read by this author is great. I look forward to reading all her stories.

[Rebekah Morris · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a light and easy book to read. The treasure hunt aspect of it was fun, but I thought it a little hard to follow.
The relationship between Nicole and Mark was sweet not too focused on feels or looks. There were some mentions of feels, but it wasn’t bad.
The added mystery with someone robbing rental homes created some excitement to the story, but didn’t overpower it.
I liked Connor and wanted to be friends with him. I wished he had been in the story even more. The other characters were real and I liked the descriptions and setting. Made me want to visit the place.
A few places seemed a little rushed or confusing, but it was well written for the most part.

This is a Christian story though the main character, Nicole, hasn’t been walking with the Lord for some time.

[Beverly Lytle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet story filled with romance, remembrance, and renewal. Ms Johnson is an author you can depend on for clean and wholesome reading.
Fun scavenger hunts were a favorite pastime for Nicole and her grandmother. Following the death of her grandmother, Nicole is on an adventure using the final set of clues her grandmother left before her death. What will she find along the way? Follow the author and her characters on an adventure of your own to Sunriver, Oregon. You’ll enjoy a lovely wooded landscape, a handsome dark-haired policeman, mysterious crime happenings, precious memories of a young woman and her grandmother, and a renewed relationship with the Lord. This scavenger hunt may just turn out to be much more than a game.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

It is a cute story filled with a lot of unbelievable mishaps. The characters were ok. It had a small-town feel, a bit of mystery, scavenger hunt, to name a few. It was a simple and predictable read. Nicole's family history was tragic along with Mark's. It seemed a big thing to add to such a little book.

Rating: PG-13
Language: clean read
Recommend: not sure; probably not

[Edward Arrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

Next to God’s love for us, there is nothing in the world like the love between a grandmother and her grandchild. Nicole’s grandmother, who loved scavenger hunts, had recently passed away and left her the first clue for her final hunt. She had to go to Sunriver, Oregon, where her grandmother had lived, to start the search. She was excited to get started. Circumstances in her life had resulted in her turning from her faith in God and trying to handle everything on her own. I appreciated that the author shows Nicole’s struggles with God and her growing interest in returning to Him without being overbearing with it. Her new friends set an example of living their faith. Sunriver was a small resort community where it was easy to meet people and make friendships. I enjoyed the descriptions of the village. The story includes romance, action, suspense, and excitement. I recommend this book and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Love To Treasure ( Sunriver Dreams : Book 1 )
By: Kimberly Rose Johnson

Wow, Kimberly Johnson has herself a winner in A Love To Treasure. It is a wonderful clean romance, action, and suspense story that I loved. Ms Johnson did not disappoint me. She had me hooked righty from the start. I caught myself trying to read faster to see what was going to happen next. Have you ever been on a scavenger hunt? Nicole follows her Grams wishes and goes to Sunriver , Oregon . Grams leaves mysterious clues for Nicole to follow on her scavenger hunt. Where and what will Nicole find on her hunt, and what was Grams up to ? Mark is a police officer and getting over the loss of a partner. Can Mark help her on her hunt? Nicole has turned from God and trying to do things her way. She must guard her heart. Wow, I can’t wait to read book two in this series.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book by the author for my honest review.

[Debora Wilder · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet contemporary romance.

The main characters were well developed and easy to connect with. I really liked the fact that they took time to get to know each other before any hint of romance came into the picture. Both Nicole and Mark are dealing with issues from the past that they need to deal with that make them hesitate to get too close. To me this is very realistic since most people have past issues to work through at any particular time in their life.

The only down side for me in this story was that there wasn’t more of the scavenger hunt and effort put into figuring out the clues. It was only a minor disappointment for me so I didn’t take off from my star rating for it.

I received a free eBook copy of this story from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on the kindle

A nice 1st book in a series

[Toni Shiloh · Rating 4 out of 5]

A cute read

[Robbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole Davis is on summer break from her teaching position and vacationing at her favorite place, Sunriver Oregon. However, Nicole is there because of her Grandmother’s scavenger hunt, and not because she really wants to be. Her grandmother set up the hunt, before her death, hoping to curtail Nicole’s workaholic tendencies.

Mark Stone, a Portland police detective, is in Sunriver working as a street cop. Trying to forget what brought him there, he’s anticipating an undisturbed summer in a quiet little town. Instead, he finds himself in the middle of an investigation he wants no part of.

I enjoyed how Kimberly Rose Johnson presents a unique twist to her romantic suspense novel. A young, career-focused woman is forced out of her comfort zone by a scavenger hunt. She has few clues, and it seems as if everyone is in on the secrets except her. A career police detective wants to scale back from his duties in a big city and comes to a seemingly idyllic town. All is not as it seems, and when you throw in a troubled teen and his cousin, two self-proclaimed party lovers and a string of burglaries, you have a recipe for mystery, mayhem and magnetism.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Melissa (Semi Hiatus Until After the Holidays) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Johnson's first Sunriver Dreams book is a sweet, fast-paced romance. The treasure hunt designed by Nicole's grandmother adds a bit of touching mystery, while the robberies give the story an edge that provides balance. The setting is beautifully described and will definitely make readers want to visit this unique vacation destination. The relationship between Nicole and Mark is believable and develops naturally. Readers will look forward to the next installment of the series.

Nicole Davis is laid off from her teaching position and receives a message from her recently deceased, beloved grandmother. She travels to Sunriver, Ore., and embarks on a scavenger hunt to discover the messages and surprises planned just for her. She meets police officer Mark Stone, who is on leave from the Portland police department and working in Sunriver for the summer. He helps Nicole work on solving the clues, but also becomes concerned when some suspicious robberies happen, which threaten Nicole's safety. As she starts to fall for Mark, she guards her heart because she knows they will separate at summer's end.
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[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What could be more fun than a scavenger hunt? Maybe meeting a hunky police officer? Well Nicole Davis is able to do both this summer. Sent on a mysterious scavenger hunt by her late grandmother, brings Nicole to her favorite place, Sunriver. Her first day there, she literally and figuratively runs into Detective Mark Stone. Mark is hoping for a summer to relax and reevaluate his career choice. But as his feelings for Nicole grow and she is put in danger by a string of burglaries, he must face his choice sooner. Will they be able to have a future or just a summer romance?

I love how Kimberly Johnson develops her characters so that the reader is really pulled into the story. Nicole and Mark are both in Sunriver for a relaxing time after some difficult circumstances. The reader is able to learn about those and the effects they had on Nicole and Mark. Sunriver sounds like the perfect setting for them to find one another and heal. I cannot wait for the next story in this series. I received an advance copy in order to give an honest review.

[April Kidwell · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Love to Treasure is a sweet and simple story of taking chances. Nicole Davis may not be exactly looking for love, but her grandmother that has sent her on a treasure hunt knows her better than she knows herself. Grandma may not have planned for Nicole to meet a man, but she recognized that the first step was for Nicole to relax and let God back into her life for things to happen.

Kimberly R. Johnson weaves a bit of mystery and suspense into the tale and does a nice job conveying the beauty of Sunriver. The characters are sympathetic and the the plot is sensible, even if it is a bit predictable. She leaves the reader with enough tension to keep you reading. This is a fun and easy read with a nice story of blossoming romance.

I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Linda Rainey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nicole is on a scavenger hunt in Sunrivers ,Oregon, set up by her late grandmother.
She meets Mark, a police officer working there for the summer.
They form a friendship, and an attraction.
Together they work on the scavenger hunt and become involved solving home invasions in the community.
I loved the book, the suspense and the interaction between the two characters.
Another character that was endearing was Conner, a 13 year old that mark and Nicole befriended.
We see Nicole finding her way back to the Lord and taking heed of the verse Jeremiah 29:11 about him having plans for her.
This is the book for you, if you like a little suspense and lots of romance.
A copy of this book was given to me in exchange for an honest review

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was a sweet story and I "liked it," I had a few problems with it. The beginning was good and I had hopes it would continue. However, then the religious dialogue began. This is one of the issues I have with Christian fiction (and I am a Christian and consider myself to be very religious): people do not talk like that in real life (about "letting the Lord in" and prayer)! They just don't, especially to someone they met only recently. It just feels kind of thrown in and uncomfortable while reading. The other problem I had was the main character's history, which when revealed is horrific, and yet is stated so simply and completely glossed over. What? The ending was just wrapped up a little too quickly and nicely.

[Camilla Cruz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute story with a unique trail to follow. The two main characters felt pretty typical. I had trouble engaging with some of the secondary characters. But, have two favorites. Grams is lovely and quirky and such fun. And, my most favorite secondary character is Connor, an early teenage boy with a penchant for mischief, with a wounded heart, and so much potential.

About 3/4 of the way through, I felt as if something was lacking. I started to disengage, and the ending, while sufficient, still felt a little rushed.

[Barbara Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sunriver Love Story

This is a sweet story, simply written, completely predictable, about a young woman who follows her late grandmother’s clues to find a home where her heart is. I think I would have enjoyed it more as a 12-year-old.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a sweet romance. Nicole's grandmother sends her on a summer vacation/treasure hunt of sorts. But now her grandmother is dead, so finishing the game is a final tribute to her as well. Though these clue-based hunts are apparently something they've done in the past, Nicole missed obvious clues (as in, it was pretty obvious what book she was supposed to look in, but Nicole missed the reference). She spends time making new friends, including Mark, a detective taking a break from the big city. He's working to solve a series of break-in thefts of rental houses.

Nicole and Mark get along well and come to care for each other as they spend time together. Neither the clues nor the people behind the break-ins were very difficult to figure out (probably because I read mystery genre), but it gave the characters something to do that I found interesting. There was no sex and I don't recall any bad language. Overall, I'd recommend this enjoyable romance.

[Frode · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Christian romance and light reading, perfect for when I was sick but needed something to occupy my mind. I liked it. I liked the setting in Sun River, Oregon; I’ve stayed there, and the author captured its essence. I liked the scavenger hunt with Grams in the background; that was interesting. I liked the crime situation, a string of unsolved burglaries on unoccupied residences in Sun River. And I liked the characters: Mark Stone, a cop; Nicole, a teacher; Spencer, another cop; Sarah, a gal with a past, Connor, an early teen who is headed for trouble. It was a good mix. I liked some of the off-beat humor displayed in some of the conversations. The story moved along fairly well throughout the book. In the end the crime spree is halted; the scavenger hunt is completed, and some broken people are healed. It was a satisfying read.

[Jack Vasen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This first book of the Sunriver Dreams tells a complete story and has no obvious open threads.

The story is pretty simple and very predictable. The dialogue isn't great and without a lot of humor and wittiness. There are two small mysteries that don't really make it a page turner. One is the scavenger hunt and the other is the burglaries.

This is a Christian book but it isn't too preachy. Mostly any preaching refers to trusting God for the future.

Mature themes: not really. No sex. Mild violence.

2.5 stars. I didn't hate it, but didn't really like it.

[Deb Brammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole, a lonely girl missing her grandmother who has died, returns to Sunriver, Oregon to solve a scavenger hunt her grandma left for her. Mark, a cop running from the hectic life in the city, becomes a patrol cop on a bicycle in Sunriver. Both are afraid of commitment but are drawn to each other and can't help being together. Nicole is burglarized in a series of burglaries which adds some danger and suspense to the story. They also show concern and care for Connor, a teenager who have few adults who care about him. Lightly Christian. Nice but predictable story.

[Louis D.Gargarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

S Clean, Inspiring,and Mysterious Novel

This is a good clean Christian romance with a little bit of mystery thrown in. With th he loss of her grandmother, Nicole finds herself in Sunriver on the request of her grandmother. As she drives into town she meets the very handsome Mark. Mark is immediately smitten by Nicole. While Nicole tries to complete the scavenger hunt her grandmother set up for her, the feelings she has for Mark grows. You will need to read the novel to discover what the mystery is and how the scavenger hunt reveals.
MK

[Karen Loomis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story with a sweet ending. Nicole and Mark both had history that complicated their lives, but they overcome that with the help of their faith and their relationship with each other. The scavenger game Nicole grandmother set up was awesome and a great gift for her to leave her granddaughter. This book is an example of a good story without profanity or explicit sex and the story is wonderful!






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[Sheryl Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Grandma passed away and sent her on the treasure hunt. she went because she loved her grandma. ended up at a house and was robbed her first night there. She met a handsome cop/detective and they did not hit it off. Through the robbery and treasure hunt,she got lost in many good books and could not figure out the clues her grandmother had left. finally she picked up the Bible and called the number on the card. the rest is good news . I recommend this book and author

[Michelle Brenner · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Love to Treasure was a cute, clean, faith-based book. I 'bought' it when it was free (6 years ago) and really only read it to increase my book count this close to the end of the year 😏. I probably wouldn't have read it had it not been so short. The writing was decent and it had an interesting story line, with just a bit of a mystery. I enjoyed it more than I expected to, but I wouldn't be re-reading.

[deeann linford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery and romance mixed in a delightful way.

Nice light read with good character development. Keeps the interest well due to the different plot combinations. And especially appreciated was complete absence of smut and too involved sexual scenes. A few editing errors noted, but not enough to distract.

[Alethia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicole's grams set up a scavenger hunt after she passed away. I loved this thread that ran throughout the story and helped her meet different people in Sunriver. Mark is trying to reassess some things in his life. The two together make for a sweet couple. I loved reading those story and trying to solve the mystery along with Mark. Read it and see if you can figure it out!

[Nancy Holte · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was in need of a quick, fun, easy read and this book fit the bill. A young woman visits Sunriver, Oregon at the request of her now deceased grandmother. Her gram has turned it into a game of sorts leaving clues along the way for her to find. The fun part for me is that I went to Sunriver with my parents when I was a kid so it brought back some memories.