The Curiosity Keeper by Sarah E. Ladd

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for a fair and honest review

Published: July 7, 2015

Number of pages: 352

Genre: Christian/Historical Fiction

Series: Treasures of Surrey #1

Synopsis:

“It is not just a ruby, as you say. It is large as a quail’s egg, still untouched and unpolished. And it is rumored to either bless or curse whoever possesses it.”

Camille Iverness can take care of herself. She’s done so since the day her mother abandoned the family and left Camille to run their shabby curiosity shop. But when a violent betrayal leaves her injured with no place to hide, Camille must allow a mysterious stranger to come to her aid.

Jonathan Gilchrist never wanted to inherit Kettering Hall. As a second son, he was content to work as the village apothecary. But when his brother’s death made him heir just as his father’s foolish decisions put the estate at risk, only the sale of a priceless possession—a ruby called the Bevoy—can save the family from ruin. But the gem has disappeared. And all trails lead to Iverness Curiosity Shop—and the beautiful shop girl who may be the answer to his many questions.

Caught at the intersection of blessings and curses, greed and deceit, these two determined souls must unite to protect what they hold dear. But when a passion that shines far brighter than any gem is ignited, they will have to decide how much they are willing to risk for their future, love, and happiness.

My review:

This was a nice book to read. I really liked the curiosity shop part of the book, I think it would be fun to visit one of these shops. The author's writing style just seem to flow for me and makes the book easy to read. In this story we have mystery and romance which makes the story even more fun to read. You are kept guessing right up until the end as to who the criminals are. The way the author writes this book can be read by both adults and young adults alike. The characters are so well developed that I wanted to really get to know them. Sarah also did a good job of describing scenes - I felt as if I was right there in the shop. I am looking forward to more books in this series as this was a great start and I can't wait to see what is in store in the next installment. 

About the author:

Sarah E. Ladd received the 2011 Genesis Award in historical romance for "The Heiress of Winterwood." She is a graduate of Ball State University and has more than ten years of marketing experience. Sarah lives in Indiana with her amazing husband, sweet daughter, and spunky Golden Retriever.