A Treasure Concealed

A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson is the first in her Sapphire Brides Series.  This series is set in the late 1800's and this particular one focuses on a small mining town in Montana.  If you're a fan of historical fiction, or even if you've never read this genre, I hope you give it a try.

Emily Carver has known her share of struggles.  Being a girl growing up in mining camps isn't easy but now that she is grown she finds it even more difficult.  Choosing to hide her feminine form rather than fend off would be suitors makes a trip to town more cumbersome by the extra layers of clothing she puts on.  She still lives with her parents, but what Emily truly longs for is a life of her own.  She wants a house with a picket fence and rosebushes. A husband and kids to call her own. She fears because she is tied to the mining camp tending to her ailing mother, this is all her life will be.  She's not bitter, she loves her mother with all her heart, she is her best friend and confident.

That's not to say she doesn't love her father too. She does but she doesn't share his need to strike it rich.  They barely make enough money to scrape by, as do most miners, and they move often.  She's actually amazed that they managed to stay in Montana for as long as they have.  Her dad, Henry, isn't a bad guy. He fully believes the Lord has led him here and has unimagined riches in store.  He hates to see his wife suffering.  No doctor can tell him what's wrong, all they can agree on is it's bad.  He ekes out enough gold on his claim for them to get by and he's content with what God has given him.  He's beyond blessed to have a wife and daughter whom he loves and who love him back.

Caeden Thibault isn't as lucky.  He had a drunk for a father and he watched his mother suffer under his father's abuse.  He couldn't wait to turn 18 and get as far away from Albany and his father as he could.  He now works as a geologist for the government.  Traveling from town to town inspecting mining claims. He's not close to God and isn't sure how if God can be so wonderful, why he allowed his mother to suffer so.

I thoroughly enjoyed A treasure Concealed.  It reminded me of watching old westerns with my mom when I was little. I was sucked in from the  moment I started this book and wasn't able to put it down until I was finished.  I felt like I was a part of Yogo City. I sympathized with Emily and her need for independence.  She's fiercely loyal to her parents but she wants a life of her own. She often questioned God and why he allowed certain things or didn't allow certain things? She couldn't see what she had right in front of her.  Extended family who looked out for each other when the going got rough. They showed God's love to each other everyday.  Whether it was Jake bringing meat from a kill he made or Millie slipping an extra can of peaches in with her purchases when Emily came in the store. The people of Yogo city looked out for each other and took care of their own.

I hope if you're in the mood to read something new you will give A Treasure Concealed a try. It's a great book full of awesome characters who make their way into your heart and feel like family.

I was given a copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.



A Treasure Concealed-Sapphire Brides Book 1