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The Gilbert Girls #4

Hidden Forever

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Dora Reynolds is just another Gilbert Girl at the Crest Stone Hotel, and she needs it to remain that way. If anyone found out who she truly is, she'd lose her friends and her position. But when money begins to disappear from the hotel's safe and a handsome new desk clerk arrives, she finds her security-and her heart-under threat.

Jacob Gilbert has finally found the opportunity he needs to prove to his father that he's more than the spoiled, carousing youngest son. Someone is stealing from his family's newest hotel, and, under a strict deadline from his father, Jacob promises to find the thief. Presenting himself as Jake James, he takes a job as a desk clerk at the hotel and begins his investigation. He quickly finds an ally in the beautiful but reticent Dora-even though spending time with her means he's breaking the rules at his own family's hotel.

But finding the thief turns out to be harder than Jacob thought it would be. As he and Dora begin to run out of time and the hotel grows dangerously close to shutting down, Jacob must choose between his feelings for Dora and his desire to win his father's acceptance. And Dora must decide whether trusting Jake with her heart-and her true identity-is worth risking his rejection and her family's only means of survival.

142 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 14, 2019

169 people are currently reading
136 people want to read

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Cat Cahill

83 books68 followers

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5 stars
158 (62%)
4 stars
61 (24%)
3 stars
24 (9%)
2 stars
6 (2%)
1 star
2 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for romancejunkie.
390 reviews87 followers
September 8, 2019
Dora Reynolds and Jacob Gilbert meets at the Crest Stone Hotel, where he goes to help his family and prove to his father that he is now a changed man by finding who is the thief that has been lurking in one of their hotels.
They start getting to know each other, and both are instantly enchanted and smitten. But first they have to work together to make all right with the hotel again and only later truly focus on their feelings for each other.
I enjoyed their story, it was so sweet and heartwarming.
I was given an arc copy of this book from the author, all opinions here are my own.
Profile Image for Amy S.
1,267 reviews1 follower
August 5, 2022
Clean historical romance/mystery.
Someone is stealing money from a hotel and the main characters try to figure out who’s the thief.
She’s a waitress/maid with mixed heritage pretending to be white.
He’s a rich white man pretending to be poor to catch the thief in a hotel his family owns.
The dialogue didn’t flow. The pace was slow. The characters were all dishonest and drama prone. I just couldn’t stay interested.
A bit of violence. No sex. Mild language.
1,005 reviews3 followers
August 20, 2021
Another Gilbert Girls G-Rated romance. This one concerns two employees of the hotel who are keeping their true identities hidden.
"Dora Reynolds is just another Gilbert Girl at the Crest Stone Hotel, and she needs it to remain that way. If anyone found out who she truly is, she’d lose her friends and her position. But when money begins to disappear from the hotel’s safe and a handsome new desk clerk arrives, she finds her security—and her heart—under threat.
Jacob Gilbert has finally found the opportunity he needs to prove to his father that he’s more than the spoiled, carousing youngest son. Someone is stealing from his family’s newest hotel, and, under a strict deadline from his father, Jacob promises to find the thief. Presenting himself as Jake James, he takes a job as a desk clerk at the hotel and begins his investigation. He quickly finds an ally in the beautiful but reticent Dora—even though spending time with her means he’s breaking the rules at his own family’s hotel.
But finding the thief turns out to be harder than Jacob thought it would be. As he and Dora begin to run out of time and the hotel grows dangerously close to shutting down, Jacob must choose between his feelings for Dora and his desire to win his father’s acceptance. And Dora must decide whether trusting Jake with her heart—and her true identity—is worth risking his rejection and her family’s only means of survival." synopsis copied
Profile Image for Lisa.
1,501 reviews5 followers
March 3, 2021
Dora Reynolds has a secret that may affect her position as a Gilbert Girl at the Crest Stone Hotel. She is half-Ute Indian and most people around her are prejudiced against her ethnicity. Her position as a dining room server is usually only offered to White women. She sends money back to her family on the reservation to provide desperately needed food and supplies. Jacob Gilbert also has a secret. His family owns the Gilbert chain of hotels. Money has been disappearing from the Crest Stone and his father has dispatched him, undercover, to investigate the thievery. This book contains a sweet romance story that shows that true love can transcend cultural and societal differences. The author, Cat Cahill, sensitively addresses the pride of the Native American culture and how removal from their historical lands into reservations profoundly impacted their ability to live and provide for themselves.
Profile Image for Marty Moore.
764 reviews2 followers
June 5, 2025
When money goes missing from the hotel, it's imperative that the thief be caught. When even more money goes missing, Mr. Gilbert is extremely angry and his son is sent to go undercover to find the culprit.
Miss Reynolds, finds Mr. James handsome and kind, if not a little flirtatious.
As the situation of the missing money becomes a common quest, Miss Reynolds and Mr. James join forces in their search for the thief. As their search continues, finding no one who is in fact the thief, doubts, fears and accusations cause distrust between them.
This story has a lot of interesting twists that will keep you turning the pages to find out how it ends. This is a great story.
1,048 reviews11 followers
January 23, 2021
Hidden secrets

Dora is hiding her Ute heritage in order to remain a Gilbert Girl so she can send survival money to her mother back at the reservation. Jake is the heretofore nonproductive son of the owner of the Gilbert Hotel chain. But he must go undercover to catch a thief. No one knows his identity as he tries to save the hotel from being closed. He hooks up with Dora, not knowing her link to the Ute. Pretty predictable, especially as it is the 4th in the series of 6. But I think possibly my favorite so far.
Profile Image for Robin.
Author 3 books29 followers
February 15, 2022
Such a Relaxing Read

I've enjoyed working my way through this series. This story was a little different than what I'd expected. I won't spoil that for future readers, though. The mystery was interesting, as was the way the story unfolded. I've grown to love the characters, but I must confess this hero has been my least favorite so far. He's still a great guy, just not my favorite in the series.
If you enjoy clean, historical romance which is easy to read and people with a loveable cast of characters, I recommend this book and the series.
286 reviews1 follower
January 30, 2021
Took a bit

It took me a bit to get into this story. Well Dora has been mentioned in the other books, her character just didn’t stand out that much. That in part is because she was quiet and shy and had a secret. So anyway it just took me a bit to get into her character in the story line.Still well written and an enjoyable Series.
Profile Image for Amy.
504 reviews7 followers
January 4, 2022
Nice fast read

I enjoyed the story of Jake and Nora. I liked that Jake finally stood up to his father. The hotel sounds very nice and a good place to work. It reminds me some of the Harvey Girls.
This was a very easy and fast book that kept my attention. I felt like the ending was very rushed but it was still good
725 reviews2 followers
August 25, 2020
A new hit for author Cat Cahill

A sweet romance with a dash of mystery will keep you reading until the end! It is also great when the book includes updates on the lives of women featured in previous books.
Profile Image for Pat  Comer.
520 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2021
Great Series.

Thank you, Cat Cahill, I enjoyed reading each of these books, Jake and Dora were great together. I enjoyed the different ways to help solve a mystery. Wonderful books.
978 reviews1 follower
May 20, 2020
Good book

This is a good book just like the others in the series. The characters don't spend half of the book trying to not love each other, just a little of it.
Profile Image for Debbie Keith.
66 reviews3 followers
June 14, 2020
A sweet clean Western romance ensues when two people who are pretending to be someone else in order to catch a thief at a Gibson Hotel. This one kept me guessing until the end.
5,412 reviews67 followers
July 20, 2020
Hidden Forever A Sweet Historical Western Romance (The Gilbert Girls Book 4)

This is the fourth book in this series and another gil bert girl finds love and a proposal of marriage
36 reviews
June 17, 2021
Fun and exciting

Great book with a good plot and storyline. I do recommend for light and easy reading. I adore the Gilbert Hotel stories.
Profile Image for Phyllis Palmer.
117 reviews2 followers
January 16, 2022
Jacob and Dora

I loved Dora and Jacob together and the MsFarlands were a nice couple that respected and cared for their employees.
330 reviews
March 11, 2024
so many lies

But Love conquered all and the truth came out. The villain was foiled. The hotel was saved. And Jake and Dora are getting married! Yes please!!
579 reviews6 followers
April 27, 2024
Just blah... not enough interest in the story or characters to keep reading even though I am half way through
Profile Image for Laurel .
1,364 reviews5 followers
January 3, 2026
Historical type cosy with little fact. This is not period accurate in any way. It is a clean read.
1,187 reviews4 followers
November 3, 2019
Dora Reynolds was a hard working waitress at the hotel. She has a secret which could cost her job. Then suddenly there is a new desk clerk, a Mr. James and she can not stop thinking about him. He has a secret too. He came to investigate the loss of money from the hotel. Someone was stealing from it. They have a mutual attraction and agree to work together to find the thief and maybe, just maybe, each other.


This is a wonderful heartwarming historical romance set in the newly developing Western USA. The characters are so alive and filled with distinct personalities that they pop off the page and into your heart. You can not help but hope they will find a way to each other and happiness. The romances is woven together with the mystery in a storyline filled with surprises, unexpected events, danger and suspense that keeps you invested in the story to the conclusion. The characters grow and develop as they come to terms with who they are and the circumstances of their past. It is an excellent example of a historical romance, pulling at your heart strings and leaving you feeling uplifted. Enjoy!
Profile Image for Kaye.
7,177 reviews71 followers
September 9, 2019
ONE INTENSE ADVENTURE!!!
Enthralling treat! Cat rocks this baby from the start. A tumultuous wild ride with a surplus of unexpected misfortune and surprising incidents that blasts all of your emotions into play perfectly. One compelling storyline and gripping plot jolts this bad boy together smoothly without a hitch. All the drama, intrigue and suspense make for one incredible experience. Twists and turns, ups and downs, along with a few bumps and bruises bring this baby together fluidly. One heart pounding, pulse racing, page flipping delight hooks you from the start and reels you in for the duration. The characters and scenes are written with such realism and undeniable passion it propels this bad boy bursting to life delightfully. Amazing job Cat, thanks for sharing this bad boy with us.
496 reviews10 followers
September 10, 2019
Rating 4.5 stars

What engaged me as a reader:

• Dora and Jacob were characters that you wanted to discover more about as you read this story.
• The minor players in this story added depth to the storyline.
• The descriptions of locations and emotions were well done, easy to visualize, and to feel. I felt a part of the scenes.
• There were no major editing problems and the story flowed smoothly.
• The pacing of this story was good. It was not too fast nor too slow.
• There was a lot of action and suspense in this story.
• There were twists and turns to the plot.
• I did not know who the thief was until the end.
• This was a clean read and I appreciate that.

I was given a free copy of this book. My review was voluntary and my opinions were my own.
3,652 reviews17 followers
September 23, 2019
Dora and Jake are both hiding who they really are, she to be able to keep her job and support her family and Jake to uncover who is stealing from the hotel and make his father proud. They work together to try to unmask the thief. Several people are potential suspects and who seems to be the culprit keeps changing. I didn’t see it until it was revealed. Dora and Jake become closer romantically, but he starts to suspect her because of her secrets and she wonders if he would ever want her if he knew who she truly was. There was plenty of mystery and romance in this book. I’m looking forward to other Gilbert Girls stories.
9,376 reviews140 followers
September 10, 2019
Book four in the Gilbert Girls series brings Dora and Jake's story. The author once again brings strong characters and weaves a sweet love story filled with mystery,suspense and secrets as well as the romance. She brings two people from different sides of life,throws in twists and turns and takes them on a journey toward their HEA. She takes you back in time with her descriptive writing and detailed scenes. I loved and highly recommend this book.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
1,931 reviews5 followers
September 11, 2019
This was a very informative book on the Gilbert Girls. I have heard of them several years ago but now I know more about the ways they had to live and the rules they had to follow. This book had a bit of love and intrigue in it which made it so very interesting and involved in the lives of all the workers as well as the employees. This was a hard book to put down especially when looking for a thief and not knowing who you are looking for. This is my review and in my words alone, on an Arc book I received free to review. Norma Gorrill
201 reviews5 followers
January 11, 2020
Dora Reynolds has a secret. She is one of the Gilbert Girls hired to serve in southern hotels. She stays to herself to be sure the secret doesn't get out. Then money begins to disappear from the Hotel safe. there are rumors that if this continues the hotel will be shut down. That can't happen! Dora needs the job to support her family who have no other support.

Read the book to find out what is Dora's secret. Who is stealing the money? It's an interesting, fun, fast moving story. I really enjoyed this book.
80 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2019
Hidden Forever continues the Gilbert Girls tradition of a fant6read. Car Cahill has written a riveting story full of mystery that keeps you guessing till the end with a sweet but not syrupy romance between Jake and Dora - two young lovers from total opposite walks of life. Each keeping their own secrets. Will they solve the theft as a team or not? Who is the thief? How did they do it? Once again Cat Cahill, a very good read!
1,027 reviews11 followers
September 9, 2019
Cat Cahill has done it again. This Jake and Dora's story and is Book #4 in the Gilbert Girls series. It has great character development and is a sweet story of a couple both working hard to help their families albeit each harboring secrets of their own. As the couple work together to solve the mystery of a thief, misunderstandings arise that they have to work thru to find their HEA. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it.
4,589 reviews31 followers
September 11, 2019
I love to read a story by Cat Cahill. She has such interesting characters and her story line keeps you involved. The Gilbert Hotel in Crest Stone has a thief, but catching them proves to be challenging. Dora and Jacob/Jake are both keeping secrets, unfortunately Dora’s secret could cause her to lose her position at the hotel. I totally enjoyed this book and resented the fact that I was interrupted while reading.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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