Farm Fresh Adventures: Fresh from the Bookshelf: A Treasure Concealed by Tracie Peterson {Book Review}

One of the most famous inspirational fiction authors is Tracie Peterson. Even with a legacy of over one hundred novels, she still brings forth new and fresh novels for her fans to enjoy. One of her newest series is the Sapphire Brides, beginning with A Treasure Concealed. Because I know Tracie Peterson always produces such excellent writing, I was eager to review this book.

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About the Book

A Treasure Concealed introduces the world of the Montana Territory post gold-rush 1895. When the book opens, the rush is over and only a few desperate miners remain panning gold still convinced the "mother lode" is still there. Emily Carver's father is one of these men. Emily and her mother have had a transient existence in gold mining camps all over Montana Territory, because of her father's endless search and hope for riches. She's sick of it and longs for a home of her own--where she can plant roots and plant a garden or flowers.
Enter Caeden Thibault, a young geologist who is working for the government to analyze the different minerals in the area. Because of his job, he's run into many starry-eyed gold seekers, and he's surprised that Emily isn't one of these.
They build up a fragile friendship, but will sudden threats of danger and an unexpected discovery come between them, or draw them together? And what about that cup of blue rocks that Emily keeps on her shelf...could the answer to all her dreams be in that cup?

My Thoughts

When I first read the summary on the book, I wasn't too super excited to read it, but I knew that Tracie Peterson never lets me down, so I was willing to give it a go. Besides, I loved the cover of the book, the series name, and the time period. I am happy to say that my faith in Tracie's books came through yet again. It was very interesting to explore the world of post-gold rush Montana. I didn't really know much about the Montana gold rush and knew even less about the sapphire boom that followed. It was interesting to see how the ugly rocks the miners were disgusted with finding all the time in their pans, ended up being their salvation.
I liked Emily and Caeden. I think they were a good match and their relationship blossomed well. Emily's father annoyed me with his blind obsession with striking it rich and missing the riches he already had in his wife and daughter. It reminded me of men and women today who spend so much time working to provide a life of ease for their family, that they don't spend any time enjoying that life they are trying to create, and end up alienating the family they were working so hard for.
I enjoyed reading about Caeden's profession. I would be curious to do some additional research in learning more about the role those geologists had on setting up the western frontier during that time period.

In summary, I enjoyed A Treasure Concealed, but I didn't "love" it. It was a very good read and I definitely would recommend it to any of my inspirational fiction loving friends. I would encourage you to see if your library has it. I think you will enjoy the history aspect of the book as well as the plot and characters themselves. I look forward to snagging the next books in the series A Beauty Refined which is scheduled for release July 5, 2016, and the final book A Love Transformed (September 2016).