Review: A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson

A Sparkle of Silver

by Liz Johnson

About the Book

Ninety years ago, Millie Sullivan’s great-grandmother was a guest at oil tycoon Howard Dawkins’ palatial estate on the shore of St. Simon’s Island, Georgia. Now, Millie plays a 1920s-era guest during tours of the same manor. But when her grandmother suggests that there is a lost diary containing the location of a hidden treasure on the estate, along with the true identity of Millie’s great-grandfather, Millie sets out to find the truth of her heritage–and the fortune that might be hers. When security guard Ben Thornton discovers her snooping in the estate’s private library, he threatens to have her fired. But her story seems too ludicrous to be fiction, and her offer to split the treasure is too tempting to pass up…

Get ready for a romantic escapade through dark halls and dusty corners that will have you holding your breath and sighing with delight as two charming characters get caught up in the adventure of uncovering the past and finding their way to an unexpected future.

My Thoughts

Where do I even begin with this book? It has so many elements that quickly endeared me to it, I just don’t even know where to start. A good place to start is with the plot. How could you not love a book that is all about two people searching for buried treasure and using a 90-year-old journal for clues? Then, you add a chateau in which actors dress in 1920s clothing and lead guests on tours of the mansion. It’s magical. The Chateau definitely reminded me of Gatsby’s mansion. And I liked getting snippets from Ruth’s journal. Any book that gives journal entries is one I want to read. The mystery unfolds gently throughout the pages and the storyline has its fair share of twists and turns that kept me guessing as to how everything would come together.

Then there are the characters. I really liked this cast of characters. Millie is such a sweetheart and I really want to be her friend. Her love of novels was endearing and her dedication to Grandma Joy was the best. Watching someone go through dementia is always heartbreaking, even more so when you’re as close as Millie and Grandma Joy are. Yet Millie did the best she could for her grandmother and I applaud her for that. And Ben was a great hero. His willingness to correct his mother’s mistakes was admirable and being a history professor, he was perfect for Millie. And I loved how sweet he was to Grandma Joy.

Overall, I loved A Sparkle of Silver. Fans of cozy mysteries intertwined with inspirational romance will most definitely want to read this book. Bravo, Ms. Johnson!

I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.