Reviewed by AnnMarie:

A Sparkle of Silver is the first book in the Georgia Coast Romance series by Liz Johnson. It's the first book that I have read by this author and I am happy to say that it certainly won't be the last.

Millie Sullivan is in desperate need of money in order to be able to have her grandmother looked after properly. Ben Thornton is also in desperate need of money. He needs to right wrongs that his mother committed against many people.

Millie works as a role player at a palatial estate, showing tourists what it was like to live in the 1920s. It turns out that it's the best job she could have taken because her grandmother tells her that there is a journal there belonging to Ruth (her great-grandmother) which includes a map to a treasure buried somewhere at the estate. The journal is supposed to be somewhere in the library, an off-limits area of the estate, even to staff. Millie has to find the journal so she sneaks into the library at the first opportunity.

Ben also works at the estate, he is a security guard and it isn't long before he catches Millie where she shouldn't be. He has to report her but if he does she will lose her job and the only chance to find the journal and hopefully the treasure. She tells Ben what she is doing and offers him half of whatever they find. His job, as well as hers, will be at risk, but with both of them desperately needing money, Ben agrees to help her and of course to keep quiet.

What follows is the wonderfully exciting solving of various mysteries, not least finding out if Millie's great-grandfather was somebody other than she was brought up knowing. The intrigue is captivating and add to that the fact that Ben and Millie could possibly be falling in love with each other and you have the perfect story. Theft, murder, affairs, jealousy and subterfuge all take place back in the 20s at the estate and it all unravels as Millie and Ben dig deeper into their search. Will they find any treasure, will Millie find out her heritage, and together will they have a happy ever after? I loved every minute of this story and its conclusion was perfect. Passion wise this was a sweet read with some wonderful moments of kissing and canoodling, but anything else is strictly behind closed doors. A little bit of religion was thrown in the mix too, nicely done and not too pushy. All in all, I was very happy to read this book and am more than happy to leave a glowing review.

I love romance and I love mysteries, but I had such a hard time getting into this story. I’m not a fan of the writing style, but I’m clearly in the minority, I’ve seen quite a few raves for her books! DNF at 30%

I have been eager for Liz Johnson to start writing a new series as I loved her Prince Edward Island Dreams series! "A Sparkle of Silver" is the first book in her new Georgia Coast Romance series and it starts the series off with mystery, romance, revisiting the past and family relationships. Millie plays the role of a 1920's era guest at the Chateau; however she has a motive for playing this role besides the fact of it being a job for her. Millie's Grandma Joy requires much care and she has shared about a journal and her mother being a guest at the Chateau along with a hidden treasure. Millie is determined to uncover the secrets and treasure to help answer the questions as to who really is a part of her lineage, but also that her family receives what is rightfully theirs. However, Millie's searching is discovered by Ben whom is a security guard on the grounds, which he does for his own reasons. As these two team up to search for the treasure and discover what really happened during this summer from so many decades ago, there is much they learn about themselves, their pasts and their future.




This is a great story! It is a nice mix of mystery and romance and I absolutely loved the characters. I love the whole dressing up and playing the roles to set the scene at this place as a part of recreating history. Liz's writing is so descriptive, it was easy to picture the various scenes and become a part of the story! I am looking forward to book #2!

This is a good introduction, first book in the Georgia Coast Romance series. Millie is struggling to keep her great grandmother in a nursing home but money is tight. St. Simon's island is the home to a palatial estate and during a lucid moment her great grandmother talks about a diary she hid there in the 1920's. She talks about a treasure map and who her great grandfather might be. Millie takes a job at the estate and is caught snooping by Ben Thorton, the manager and he decides to join forces to hunt for the map and diary. A light romantic story. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed Liz’s previous books so was looking forward to this new publication. I liked the mystery that was woven into the story, and felt a connection with both of the main characters.

First, I was so very surprised to see this book only got 53% five star ratings. For me, it was such a fun and delightful story! This is the first book I've read by Liz Johnson and look forward to reading more by this author in the future.
Millie, is a young adult who was raised by her grandmother, Joy. Joy is now in a nursing home with dementia, and Millie is struggling to take care of her financially, as the burden lays completely on her. Now, Miller has been given 90 days to find another facility for her grandmother, as her health and memory is declining and is more than this one is equipped to deal with. Whatever will Miller do? She can't just produce more money.
Millie believes there may be a hidden treasure that her family is entitled to, so she begins the search. During her search, she meets Ben, and in a bribe to convince him to not only keep her secret, but she also enlists his help, she promises to give him half the money, should they find the treasure. Ben has his own reasons for needing a large windfall, which he does not initially confide to Millie.
During their search, Millie begins to develop feelings for Ben. Millie, who hasn't even had her first kiss. Ever. From anyone.
I love the history in this story and the time it surely took the author to research all of it. Amazing!
I was able to picture the characters in my mind by the incredibly descriptions of their personalities the author provided.
To sum it all up, I highly recommend this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"The power of love, integrity, faith, and forgiveness shines through as the author breathes life into the what-ifs of yesterday and their implications for today."
My review is located on page 19 of the Winter 2018-2019 Launch Issue of Hope By The Book magazine.

Liz Johnson writes a whiz bang of a book. She includes mystery, comedy, drama, and daily life adventures. A Sparkle of Color is all of these and more and it will keep the reader involved from the very first page until the maps in the back of the book (I say that tongue in cheek, but maps are a pretty important part of the book.)

Millie is taking care of her Grandma Joy the best way she knows how under Millie's circumstances. Joy has dementia and Millie wants her safe and cared for, but the home where Joy is residing is taking all of Millie's money and now she has to move Grandma Joy to another, more expensive home.

Ben's mother spent Ben's childhood bilking gullible people out of their hard-earned money. Ben has made it his job to repay those she cheated.

Ben and Millie meet working at the Chateau on St Simon's Island. Ben works as a security guard, while Millie portrays a guest at the Chateau. Millie's great-grandmother was a guest at the Chateau in 1929 right before the stock market crashed. Joy had told Millie that Great-Grandma Ruth had kept a diary and it was still at the Chateau, and there is a treasure buried somewhere on the property.

When Millie is looking for the diary in the library, she gets caught by Ben for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Thus begins the partnership between Ben and Millie to find the treasure and the second diary that Ruth had written.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a map to find the treasure.

I want to thank Revell Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book, and for publishing such quality fiction.

From page one author Liz Johnson captures the attention and heart of readers in her thrilling romantic-suspense novel A Sparkle of Silver. Filled with suspense, mystery, history, and romance, this novel has everything a reader needs to keep them interested and on the edge of their seats and guessing what will happen next. With an overarching theme of friendship and forgiveness, Johnson’s characters and novel come to life through her excellent storytelling. Although the story takes place in the present, there is also lots of rich historical details from an old journal that play a big part of the story. Johnson does not disappoint, as this is a book that readers will love as soon as they pick it up. Readers that enjoy contemporary romance with a bit of suspense and mystery and a touch of history will thoroughly enjoy this novel.

Series: Georgia Coast Romance
Genre: contemporary, romance, suspense, mystery, Christian
Publisher: Revell
Publication date: October 16, 2018
Number of pages: 358

Other books in the series:
2-Glitter of gold (coming August 2019)

A Sparkle of Silver was a great start to Liz Johnson's new series. Treasure hunting and mystery made for a great backdrop for Millie's story. Very enjoyable read! I'm looking forward to the rest of the series.

A combination of a lovely and new setting, enjoyable characters with a sweet romance, and a mystery to be solved through letters and journal entries made this story one to savor! Millie and Ben both have elements of desperation and vulnerability with the issues they are dealing with, and I loved seeing their relationship progress as they worked together on a journey of discovery. 64 Millie's devotion to her aging grandmother hit close to home for me, and I thought the themes of forgiveness and faith in God's grace were powerful and inspiring. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

This is my first book to read by Liz Johnson and I am so excited! I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. It had mystery, two time periods, and romance. I loved the characters. I felt a kinship with Millie. She was an avid romance reader and had stacks of books by her bed. (that is so me) Ben, the hero was a man of integrity and character. And by the description, a very good kisser. Wow! I loved it and I will most definitely be reading more from Johnson.
*I was given a copy of this book by Revell Publishing via netgalley. This is my honest opinion.

I have been a fan of Liz Johnson ever since reading her first book. When given a chance to review this one, A Sparkle of Silver, I jumped on it. Within these pages I was enraptured by a treasure hunt, a sweet romance, and the power of forgiveness.
Johnson keeps the pace going as the main characters, Millie and Ben, find themselves strangely bound together in an effort to find a buried treasure. As they unearth clues, face interpersonal struggles that can't help but muddy their situation, and fight against the seemingly insurmountable odds that life throws their way, Millie and Ben find the freedom that only forgiveness can bring. Johnson presents her message clearly, with hope amid gut wrenching heartache.
I highly recommend this book. It is a clean read that will delight and touch your heart.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions in this review are my own.

Delightful! I imagine it might be difficult to change genres, but Liz Johnson did it exceptionally well.
Full of intrigue, a mystery surrounding a treasure hunt and lost journals, this book is sure to take away your sleep!
I'm very much looking forward to the next installment,

Title: A Sparkle of Silver

Author: Liz Johnson

Series: Georgia Coast Romance book 1

Chapters: 21 plus epilogue

Pages: 358

Genre: Christian Contemporary with a hint a mystery and Romance

Rating: 4 stars

Millie Sullivan is determined to find away to provide nursing care for her grandma joy the grandma who raised her. Even snoop around the estate of oil tycoon Howard Dawkins after getting a job as a 20s era guest and tour guide. She's then caught by one of the security guards Ben Thornton a man dealing with his own family troubles. She makes a deal with him in order to split the treasure. If he helps her and doesn't turn her end, because even though she only took the job to snoop she really does need the second job. Against his better judgement he accepts and agrees to help her. Sending them both on a journey that they didn't see coming.

This sweet novel set on St Simons Island Georgia is part contemporary novel, part mystery with just a hint of romance. Millie and Ben with next to nothing in common, even though he works three jobs he still has a college degree. Millie doesn't she works as a waitress trying to keep her grandmother in her assisted living d who loves reading. A 90 year old mystery both want to find the treasure neither was counting on finding something else instead.
Millie and Ben were great characters and grandma Joy was such a sweetheart. Even with everything she had been through in her life Joy never lost her faith she was still trusting God. Even when her granddaughter's faith was shaky. Millie I have to say was indeed my favorite character mainly because she was the one that was easiest one to relate too. I too know what it’s like to be the only one taking care of a grandparent not because you’re the only one, but because your younger sister in school and needs to finish college. So it was easy to feel every emotion that Millie was dealing with through the whole book. The fact that she's a bookworm didn't hurt nor the fact one of my favorite quotes from the book came from her "talking about if she had the money she'd choice books and bookshelves over steak." A girl after my own heart.
Ben as far as male main characters go was a little on the nerdy side but that was a refreshing change as you don't see many slightly nerdy characters in fiction even Christian fiction. Ben's main goal through much of the novel is to try to make amends for something that he feels responsible for, though technically not his fault. Though Ben and Millie come from different backgrounds they both have the same thing to work on; forgiveness.

A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson might be a contemporary novel mixed with mystery and a little romance, but at the heart it is a Christian fiction novel focusing on the theme of forgiveness this novel is so much more. The Christian message while subtle is still there, woven throughout the story. Of expecting God's forgiveness, forgiven yourself and finally forgiven others. The other theme in the novel besides faith is the love of family, and learning that sometimes blood might make you related it doesn't always make you family love makes you family.

I enjoyed A Sparkle of Silver by Liz Johnson which just happens to be my first book by her but it will not be my last. I look forward to the next book in this series as well as going back to read her other books.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

This is a wonderful romantic story that takes us between present day and slips back to 1929. I'm not sure sure which story make me swoon more, the present or the past. Millie is a delightful character who is barely making ends meet. She has a dear grandmother she is trying keep in a facility but the bills are piling up. It is not easy to watch a loved one slowly slip away in their mind. I wanted to go take Millie's hand and tell her everything would get better.

The details about the chateau that Millie works at is fascinating. I would love to explore every room there and perhaps stay in the library forever. Grandma Joy tells a story one day that surprises Millie. It is hard to tell if Grandma Joy is remembering something or just talking silly. If the story is true, there could be a big treasure waiting for Millie to find.

Ben enters the picture when he finds Millie sneaking around the chateau. What can she do to convince him to let her continue her search? I loved how the story bounces back and forth between time periods with seamless energy. The author has captured the true depiction of romance with a magical story. It flows with grace and I loved the added mystery of the diary. The words spoken in there are poetic, lovely and definitely a person deeply in love. The slow simmer of Millie and Ben's attraction to each other is movie worthy. They pretend they don't care, yet their eyes tell a different story. And what of the diary which holds secrets that could change lives? The race is on to discover what or if there is a treasure when others get wind of the rumor.

The story is one that slowly grabs at your emotions and takes you on a journey of discovering the inner workings of a lost love, the hope of a better future, secrets long thought to be buried and a love story that only a very gifted author can write. The kiss that I have been waiting to read about just about knocked me off my feet. It was soft, sweet, electrical between two people, and "suddenly our hearts were beating at the same tempo, racing faster than mine ever had before. " I won't say who the kiss was from, but for me I waited patiently for that moment in the story that would be worthy of "the kiss felt round the world." The book is everything you want in a story with romance, mystery and an ending that will satisfy all romantics. The author has surpassed my expectations and now has a huge fan. The ending is spectacular with intense drama and sadness that overwhelms me. The lesson in forgiveness and trust told by the characters will be one I will always remember.


" You have made me see a love I could not have imagined possible."

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

I thoroughly enjoyed this first book in the Georgia Coast Romance series. Though set in the present, it reminded me of the movie “Somewhere in Time.” They both have grand old hotels at the center along with a mystery and a long lost love. Although in this book, Millie is trying to figure out just who her great-grandmother might have had a relationship with so it can help her solve some issues in the present. Or will it just add more layers of heartache and mystery?
Millie and Ben begrudgingly team up to solve a mystery and search for a rumored treasure. I enjoyed their humor and banter as their relationship developed. They made me laugh as did Millie’s grandma, Joy. Joy may not remember much but she is still a wise, spunky woman who knows what’s important.
I loved going along for the treasure hunt, following clues along with Ben and Millie. There were unexpected twists that I didn’t see coming. It was a great read.
Thank you to Revell for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

A Sparkle of Silver a very good book. A quick romance and mystery intertwined. There is a treasure hunt, long lost journal, and some unexpected romance.

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

I’ve always been interested in the history of old homes or estates, wondering what would be told if walls could talk. In A Sparkle of Silver, journal entries from Millie’s great-grandmother do the talking. Millie learns about her families past by reading the journal entries and the mysteries that line the pages. While her grandmother is struggling with dementia, she still has glimpses of the past and offers Millie tidbits of information that fill in gaps from the journal. Millie begins searching for answers to questions that are unveiled of her ancestors by taking a job at the Dawkins’ Estate mentioned in the diary. Ben Thornton works at the estate as a security guard and through a twist of events begins helping Millie with her search for answers. He is hiding secrets of his own past that have landed his mother in prison. Even though he was only a child when his mother deceived others, he is haunted by her mistakes and is on a mission to bring restoration. Together, Millie and Ben, set out on a treasure hunt of sorts to find answers to many mysteries. What they uncover is painful and shocking, bringing a sudden halt to their blooming relationship. But with the wise words of Millie’s forgetful grandmother and Ben’s boss at his second job, they wade through the deep waters to find peace. A Sparkle of Silver is a fun, engaging and wisdom filled novel. It’s an easy and enjoyable read with a few twists and turns along the way!

*Thank you to NetGalley & Revell for my e-copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.*

I have read and enjoyed all of author Liz Johnson’s books, and quite frankly felt pre-disposed to like this one…but it did not completely hit a home run for me. However, I will still recommend that you read it and decide for yourself, please!

Loyal granddaughter Millie Sullivan was raised by her Grandma Joy. Now that Grandma Joy is suffering from Alzheimers, she can no longer care for her at home. After placing her in the memory care facility they can afford, Millie is shocked and devastated to realize that time has run out to meet her obligations there financially, and they are giving her a VERY short time to find somewhere new. As she can’t even afford the one Grandma Joy is in now, how will she ever make something else work?

Ben Thornton is still shamed by his mother’s con artist ways. Her latest scam/con job has landed her in prison, and he is determined to repay every last cent to the people she took advantage of who are listed in the lawsuit. Ben is working three jobs to make this happen, but when he meets Millie - (whose second job doing reenactments at a historical estate happens to be where Ben is working as a security job), they join forces to find a potential treasure on the property.

The author includes diary entries from Great Grandma Ruth (Joy’s mom), who was a summer guest at that very estate just before the Depression. Will Millie and Ben find all the treasures they are looking for?

Although I was not in love with the entire book as I was reading, I was pretty happy with the ending. And again, please read it for yourself and draw your own conclusions. J

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Baker Publishing Group in exchange for my honest review.