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Jewel

Chasing Pearl

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"A package lost in the mail since 1940 brings a modern couple together in a miraculous.
Bestselling author VIOLET PEARL lives a perfectly content life: she helps run The Texas Pearl, her family’s inn, lives with her sister and grandmother, and attends a great church just a block from home. She has never left her little corner of Texas and has no desire to do so now. In her spare time, Violet mentally travels to far off New York City, 1944, to solve crimes as the widow Mandalynn Clementine, the savvy slueth in her murder mystery novels.
US Army First Lieutenant CHASE ANDERSON feels like he needs a change. From his duty station in Hawaii, he receives a job offer in the civilian market at the same time he’s asked to coach a pee wee football camp hosted by his alma mater, Texas A&M. Chase decides to take leave and coach the summer camp, intending to also check out the job offer. He has no idea God has other plans for him.
When a time-worn postal package arrives at the inn addressed to Chase Anderson with a 1940 postmark, Violet and Chase discover that his great-grandfather had also visited the inn as a guest all those years before. The box brings them together in a miraculous way, and their feelings for each other begin to grow.
Will Chase resign his commission and live out his days in College Station? Or is Violet willing to break out of her perfectly contented shell and experience life beyond her little corner of Texas?
For VIOLET PEARL and CHASE ANDERSON to end up together, one of them will have to make a huge change. A message from God arrives in the form of a package from 1940. This humble box brings their hearts together even though they live and work thousands of miles apart. They each must listen closely to understand the message to close the distance."

229 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 16, 2022

15 people are currently reading
65 people want to read

About the author

Hallee Bridgeman

67 books1,013 followers
With nearly a million book sales, USA Today bestselling author Hallee Bridgeman writes action-packed romantic suspense focusing on realistic characters who face real-world problems. Her work has been described as everything from refreshing to heart-stopping exciting and edgy.

An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky so they could enjoy the beautiful changing of the seasons. Hallee’s oldest daughter is a graduate of the University of Kentucky, her middle son struggles as a hexagonal “autism spectrum” peg in this round world, and her youngest son fills the house with wooshes and bangs as he fights imaginary bad guys while wearing a Spiderman costume and wielding a Ninja sword.

When she’s not penning novels, you will find her in the kitchen, which she considers the ‘heart of the home’. Her passion for cooking spurred her to launch a whole food, real food “Parody” cookbook series. In addition to nutritious, Biblically grounded recipes, readers will find that each cookbook also confronts some controversial aspect of secular pop culture.

Hallee has served as the Director of the Kentucky Christian Writers Conference, President of the Faith-Hope-Love chapter of the Romance Writers of America, is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), and the American Christian Writers (ACW), and Novelists, Inc. (NINC). An accomplished speaker, Hallee has taught and inspired writers around the globe, from Sydney, Australia, to Dallas, Texas, to Portland, Oregon, to Washington, D.C., and all places in between.

Hallee loves coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. Above all else, she loves God with all of her heart, soul, mind, and strength; has been redeemed by the blood of Christ; and relies on the presence of the Holy Spirit to guide her. She prays her work here on earth is a blessing to you and would love to hear from you. You can reach Hallee at hallee@halleebridgeman.com

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5 stars
38 (61%)
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Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
Profile Image for Phyllis.
1,288 reviews35 followers
November 16, 2018
Can a lost package help give direction?

My rating is 4.5 stars

I totally cracked up when Chase suggested Violet come up with a great story to explain the stitches on her chin resulting from a tangle with a weed-eater! I've been suggesting that for years whenever a friend shows up with the kind of thing that guarantees they will be asked a hundred times a day "What happened?"

Chasing Pearl was exactly what I needed. My week at work was very difficult and draining and I was looking for something to read that would be lighthearted and yet not ridiculous and it had to be a great book. No 3-star books would do. I knew within the first page that I was all set.

One of the things I was impressed with was the language. I had read stories where the author appears to be trying too hard to force the slang and it is awkward. Not so here. Violet's 1940's detectives used the lingo of the day so naturally. And Violet and her Texas family used all kinds of unique Texas expressions that had me cracking up. There is a glossary at the back in case you can't figure out some of the phrases, but I'm guessing if you read the context and think about them for a minute, you'll get it. Things like:

“Brave enough to eat in a boomtown cafe."

"So honest if he says a hen dips snuff, you can look under her wing for the can."

"Big as Brewster County."

"Rich enough to eat fried chicken all week long."

"So strong he makes Samson look like a sissy.”

Violet was such a fun character. She is so shy and introverted she is almost afraid to talk to anyone outside her family. Because she just doesn't "do" small talk. If she could script everything she said, she would be so happy!! As a writer, she gets so immersed in her work and I love the way the author showed that - I'm guessing she has had the same kinds of things happen."


This review was originally posted on Among the Reads


I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Julie Jobe.
259 reviews
August 20, 2018
Chasing Pearl by Hallee Bridgeman was a wonderful read. I love the connection it provides to her Jewel series family. Their grief over the loss of one of their own is palpable and so very realistic. Chase’s struggle as he seeks out what God wants for his life is real, but also encouraging. The fingerprints of God are throughout the story and I love that the characters are quick to recognize that. It’s refreshing to read about characters that are far enough along in their walk with Christ to recognize Him at work in their lives and to know what His voice sounds like when He speaks to them. I just really loved that aspect of the book. Many Christian fiction books are often about a character coming to know Christ or about a character who is a Christian, but hasn’t yet learned how to hear the voice of God in his/her life, to know what it sounds like. I love those types of books as well, but books that are more like Chasing Pearl are a nice change of pace.

I will say that I experienced a little bit of tug of war in my mind about Violet. I loved her at first. Then I got a little frustrated with her. Then I realized that I was way more like her than I thought. :) And I thought about my own struggles with fear, with believing lies about myself and who I am, with reaching outside myself to people, with the weight I feel sometimes when I have to socialize, and I had a little more sympathy for her character and her struggle.

Ms. Bridgeman also does an excellent job of capturing the awe-inspiring essence of literally touching the history of your family, of holding it in your hands. I love the reverence and excitement with which she approaches looking at the contents in the mail package from a generation before.

I highly recommend reading Chasing Pearl!
Profile Image for Marylin.
1,311 reviews43 followers
February 3, 2022
This was a fun book to read not only because it was set in a quaint bed and breakfast, and there was a hunky guest, but because the main female character was a writer and we got to read her writings. So, it was like getting two books for the cost of one.
I loved all the connections that happened in Chase’s life. The WWII connections, the Texas town connections, and the mysterious box.
I also loved how Violet worked through her introvert struggles and came alive in her own way.
Hallee Bridgeman has written some fun stories with these “Jeweled” series. I think I want to go back and read all of the other books in this series because I know I’ll fall in love with the characters and the settings.
I really enjoy reading books written by Hallee Bridgeman. She brings such wonderful lessons to our hearts through her books.
In this book, I found it was a sweet story to read and I did it all in one day. I couldn’t put it down because I was so invested in the lives of these two characters. I loved their banter, and all the many ways God was speaking to Chase and also Violet. The author didn’t shy away from sharing how God can have a plan for these characters’ lives.
This truly was a sweet story to read and get lost in. I highly recommend you pick this book up to read.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for Sonya Wasden.
1,077 reviews12 followers
March 20, 2022
This was a sweet, Christian romance that told a wonderful story bringing parts from another era to light. It is appropriate for any age from young adult to grandma and who doesn't love a happy ending.

Violet Pearl helps her sister and grandmother run their B&B in College Station, Texas. Chase Anderson attended Texas A&M and then joined the Army. He was back in College Station for six weeks to help with a PeeWee Football Camp. He had needed a change and was searching for answers about next steps for him to take. When he received a delayed delivery from 1940 that arrived while he was staying at the B&B, he and Violet began to spend time together. She was shy and had a hard time being around people she didn't already know well. Chase was different, though. There was a comfortable silence between them that eased her mind and calmed her heart.

Did Chase find her attractive or just interesting? Was it possible for Violet to step outside of her comfort level and see more of the world and expand her horizons or would she always remain in College Station and never go anywhere outside of Texas? Would Chase be willing to wait on Violet to spread her wings?

I received an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
Profile Image for Rebekah Morris.
Author 119 books268 followers
March 28, 2019
3.5 stars
This story was sweet. It didn’t feel like a typical “romance” book but more like a real story where romance grew as part of the story. I have to admit that I was delighted by the lack of “miscommunication” that so many books seem to have!

Violet is an author (bonus points) and writes whenever she can while keeping up her end of the family business. Since she is an introvert, it was fun to see how she responded to things since she was so different from me.
Chase was a former football player turned Army officer on leave. I really liked him and how he handled different situations.

This story was not about feelings. It was about seeing to know where God was leading each character. I would call this story overtly Christian as the characters prayed, read their Bibles, and went to church.
When I reached the end, I sighed and smiled. For someone who really don’t enjoy many romance books, this was a delight.

There was one euphemism, and a few kisses.
Profile Image for April.
Author 12 books69 followers
September 14, 2018
Oh! What an enjoyable read! I love reading about an author, in this case, Violet Pearl! It gives an insight that I appreciate! I so very much enjoyed where Chase Anderson’s story starts, at the Arizona Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii … sigh! (my heart lives in Hawaii!) An incredible story of how Violet and Chase met, his reasoning for being in College Station, Texas, the cities that their minds and hearts take them to and where they meet up again! Violet and her sister Scarlet had me laughing out loud several times with their metaphors, their figures of speech, and their southern charm! I enjoyed the measure of faith, the church attendance, and the sermon topic that spoke directly to me and my present situation! An excellent amount of research had to be involved to pull off such a charming story! Well done Author Bridgeman!
Profile Image for Linda Klager.
1,032 reviews48 followers
June 5, 2022
I had not read a book by this author before. I thoroughly enjoyed the story.

Violet Pearl liked to remain in the background. She was very shy. One day when she hurt herself using the weedeater, she met a man who would help her "come out of her shell."

Pearl wrote detective/murder mysteries and used New York slang. At the end of the book, the author gives definitions for each phrase.

The man of her dreams was in the military, and Violet wasn't sure that she should get too attached to Chase Anderson because he was leaving to go back to his base in Hawaii.

Chase and Violet's sister talked Violet into living for a year in New York to really see the area that she was writing about. It was so hard for Violet, but she did it. I loved that she had the courage (a little at a time) to accomplish her goal.

There was a sweet and clean romance in this book.
1,174 reviews6 followers
January 22, 2022
Loved this telling of Chase and Violet!! Violet's never been out of the state of Texas, though she spends a lot of time in her head in 1944 in New York City, which she then puts in the books she writes. Chase has traveled all over, thanks to his career in the Army. Now stationed in Hawaii, but reeling with grief from his father's passing, Chase decides to take his six-weeks of accrued vacation to help coach pee wee football players in TX. When he and Violet meet, he knows he's attracted, and has to figure out a way to get to know her. When he receives a package that was really meant for his great grandfather, he finds the real Violet is unlocked. Now, will they be able to make things work, or will Violet always have to stay in Texas??
1,070 reviews23 followers
October 20, 2018
Chasing Pearl is a well-written contemporary Christian romance. I liked the characters: Chase and Violet, her sister Scarlett, and her grandmother. Having Violet be a writer made her own story much more interesting. I loved that Chase understood and accepted Violet just as she was. He was very thoughtful in the ways that he romanced her. It's a fun, sweet story that moves along at a good pace to arrive at a lovely HEA. I enjoyed how the characters walked out their faith in their daily lives. I received an ARC. I chose to write a review and share my opinion.
Profile Image for Allyson Anthony.
1,176 reviews50 followers
November 7, 2025
Chasing Pearl was such a fun read. Violet, in addition to being an author, helps run her family's inn. I enjoyed Violet and Chase's story, their chemistry between them, and because Violet was a writer, it was getting 2 books in 1 as we get glimpses of her story that she is writing. I enjoyed their conversation about how Violet can explain her run in with the weed eater. Such a great story.
Profile Image for Olya.
39 reviews1 follower
September 6, 2019
a wonderful story of a modern introvert girl who finds courage to step out of her comfort zone and find out what the world has to offer. The love she finds is the wind in her sails.
It takes courage to love, but it's worth it all.
1,836 reviews12 followers
January 23, 2022
Making changes that take you out of your comfort zone can be very scary. That is what Pearl faces when she becomes friends with Chase. I found this story very enjoyable & a good reflection of what we all face when God brings new people into our lives. A story worth the time to read & reflect.
90 reviews
January 24, 2022
I’ve read everything this author has written and many times, I’ve read a story several times. Chasing Pearl is no exception. While it’s not my favorite, I love that it ties up the series in a neat and entertaining bow. Read the entire series and enjoy them all. They are worth your time!
1,412 reviews16 followers
January 30, 2022
this is a wonderful story , a package arrives date was mailed back in 1940 and the grandson happens to be at the b and b when it arrives . chase at at loose end in the military career and what he should do next . a good story of how the people in the town and church help him
Profile Image for Michaela | Reading in the Heartland.
3,706 reviews79 followers
August 30, 2022
I liked his novel and how I felt pulled into different times and cultures. It was fun to be immersed in them. It definitely had a bit of a different feel than the others of this series, but I liked it.
Profile Image for Barbara.
850 reviews
May 21, 2023
This book is full of mystery, hope, and redemption. It was such a pleasure to read. As I finished the book, I got the news that Hallee's son had been killed in a freak accident. Her books are always uplifting and encouraging. I pray for her peace and continued success as a writer.
369 reviews6 followers
October 7, 2023
I received a free copy to review: Chase and Violet's story was a relaxed yet sweet, entertaining, and historically accurate read. I enjoyed how they "saw" each other and the banter between them. A light-hearted, faith-filled clean read 💟
Profile Image for Angel M. Lutcher.
2 reviews
June 12, 2024
my new favorite author

This series has kept me captivated, absolutely could not put it down. By far one of the best series I have read in a really long time. I can not wait to read more of Hallee’s books
2,393 reviews17 followers
April 28, 2022
Violet and Chase made for such a great story. They each have a strong work ethic. I loved their chemistry. This is a really sweet, clean romance.
Profile Image for Eve Fitzpatrick.
11 reviews
May 30, 2022
I enjoyed this book very much ,story and characters are so cute.Hope to read more about the lead characters in the future. Good work Hallee!
Profile Image for Stacy K.
1,245 reviews5 followers
June 29, 2022
Couldn’t really follow the story at times.
Profile Image for Brenda Bailey Townley.
153 reviews7 followers
July 22, 2025
Wonderful sweet love story. I’ve loved all the Jewel series book. I look forward to reading all of your books.
Profile Image for Julie Barrett.
9,227 reviews206 followers
Read
January 27, 2022
Chasing Pearl by Hallee Bridgeman
Book starts out with Scarlett and Violet and how they run the inn. They also tend to their grandmother who lives on the presises.
She has a customer, Chase who's in the military and is there to help train others in football camp.
Love hearing about how God plays a part in many of the events that occur. Liked hearing of his military service and shocked that my son also, out of Fort Benning was in the airborne department.
Although my son went further it was cool to just hear about it all and how it effected his life today. Liked hearing how they work together around town and helping others.
Loved hearing of the things they want to donate to Battleship Cove as it's within 15 minutes driving of our house. How prescious! Love hearing of the box that arrives, decades later then when sent, what a treasure for a lot of people.
Love the travel and the new things I learned. This is actually two books in one as she writes about her grandparents life and his service at Pearl Harbor. So much to look forward to. Glossary of words and phrases used is listed at the end. Discussion questions and Luncheon menu are included along with recipes.
Personal note from the author is attached as well. Other works by the author are highlighted at the end. Excerpt included for Courting Calla. About the author is included.
Received this review copy from the author via Bookfun.org and this is my honest opinion.
7,771 reviews50 followers
January 18, 2022
CHASING. PEARL. by Hallie Bridgeman. # 8.
Love the Jewel Anthology and again we have a great story
We meet Mandalynn, seeing black out curtains, four years of war and drills, when an alarm brings Violet back to reality. Working at the Texas Pearl, a family Inn, from six a.m., hoping to catch some sleep after writing her mystery thru the night. Chase comes to the inn as a coach for the pee wee kids, for the summer. While there a delayed package from 1940 comes. Bringing a mystery of his grandfather having been at the inn years before. Drawing the two of them together, with choices they need to make. A plot that draws you in, seeing God’s at the center of their lives. Characters once again we love in this series.
Profile Image for Michaela | Reading in the Heartland.
3,706 reviews79 followers
August 30, 2022
I liked his novel and how I felt pulled into different times and cultures. It was fun to be immersed in them. It definitely had a bit of a different feel than the others of this series, but I liked it.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews

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