The Lost and Found Necklace by Louisa Leaman was a cute, lighthearted read. The idea of having to bring home a necklace for her grandmother was a great start to the story. I didn't love the conflict with her boyfriend, Tim, which decreased my enjoyment a bit. That being said, I really liked Jess as a character, and enjoyed her growth throughout the book. Overall, this was a cute summer read.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my digital copy in exchange for an honest review. Honestly, I am not 100% sure what made me request this one but I am very glad I did...The book's main character is on a quest to find a necklace for her dying grandmother. It has been in her family for many years and is believed to help the person that is wearing it find her soulmate. After many attempts, Jess finally finds it at an auction but loses out to another bidder...which leads her to go to said bidder and try to convince him to let her buy it from him so she can fulfill her grandmother's dying request. As she begins to learn about the history of the necklace,she is sent on another journey to try and uncover some family secrets and along the way, she learns a lot about herself. This was a really fun book to read but I will admit it took a tiny bit of time to really get into the storyline and learn who everyone was...

I just couldn’t seem to connect with this one. Definitely not the book’s fault. I’m a mood reader and sometimes that means things just don’t work out.

Story was a bit slow but kept me hooked. I liked the characters and the atmosphere. The plot was very intriguing, I fell in love with the descriptions surrounding the characters and the scenery.

As someone who recently lost a grandparent, I could understand how Jess felt about the moonstone necklace! Sometimes it takes everything you got to make one dream come true. Jess goes through all sorts of tribualations and adventures to gain the necklace back into the Taylor family's hands. It has a bit of mystery as well as romance and is a good chick-lit read.

⭐⭐⭐ -- Mixed bag

This one was okay. I enjoyed all the jewelry stuff and the history of her family's art nouveau butterfly necklace. However, none of the characters were particularly likable. The romance lacked any genuine excitement. In fact, I didn't like either Guy or Tim and would have loved to have seen Jess tell the whole lot of them to go (insert swear word) and get her own life back on track. 🤷🏻‍♀️ So yeah, a mixed bag indeed.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙇𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙 𝙉𝙚𝙘𝙠𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚 is a story about a necklace that was passed down through 5 generations and then tragically lost. Jess is hell-bent on finding this necklace and getting it back. I really enjoyed the determination Jess has throughout this book. I love her bright spirit and her connection to her family and the necklace!

I thought this was a lovely book that did a wonderful job of telling the history of the necklace. I enjoyed learning about each previous owner and the necklace's place in their life.

This is a great one for readers that enjoy some romance and a family's historic story!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

3.5 stars

Spoilers possible:

I have mixed feelings about this book. On the one hand, I like the idea of fate and the concept of not losing yourself in a relationship. On the other hand, some of the scenes were much too coincidental. As Jess seeks to unravel the mystery behind her family's butterfly necklace, she finds clues/letters and people who help her piece together its story. However, there are just too many coincidences, revelations, to be believable. I was also conflicted about how I wanted it to end - should Jess end up with stable Tim or the much more flighty Guy. I think I'm happy with her choice, but she made some shady choices along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this digital ARC in return for an honest review.

I was expecting good things from this book but it wasn't what I wanted it to be! The plot sounded so good but in the end it wasn't my favourite. That being said, I did like the romance even though I wish it had've been a bigger focus. I'll have to see if Leaman has any other books!

This book was an okay romance read. I wanted so much to like it more than i did but the characters made it rather difficult to sympathize with them and the mystery of the necklace wasn’t as compelling as it wanted to be.

The bones of the story are good and the premise is interesting. It just fell sort of flat for me and I found myself forcing my way through it. I really wanted it to be a slam dunk but it was more just a dunk.

The message in this book is to stay true to yourself. At least that is what I took away from this story.

The book follows Jess and her quest for a necklace that her dying grandmother has asked her to find. It was made by her grandmother and they believe it is the necklace of true love, that whoever wears it will find their soulmate. Jess is lucky and finds it at an auction but loses out to another bidder. The story takes an interesting twist and Jess does her best to convince the winner to sell it to her without much luck. However, as she delves deeper into the history of the necklace, it sends her on another journey to uncover her family's past and she learns much about her ancestors and herself in the process.

This was a fun book to read and watching Jess evolve from an injured woman to one that embraces life once again. It takes about 1/3 of the book to find out why she had to walk with a cane and once you do, there is another look into Jess' life and who she might really be and not who is portrayed initially. Is her relationship with Tim really the one she is meant to be in or is there someone better out there waiting for her? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Overall, we give it 4 paws up.

An art-deco necklace in the shape of a butterfly with a large moonstone is at the center of this story, and Jess will be the Taylor to unravel the mystery, find the necklace and learn about her own history all in one. Now a jewelry dealer herself, Jess has always been of the mind that a good piece (or more) of jewelry will enhance your outfit and your mood, and she often chooses her outfits of the day after picking the piece she will wear. Remembering the necklace in her late mother’s jewelry box when she was a child, she’s been obsessively hunting for it for years: knowing only that an ancestor designed it, that four generations before her had worn it, and now, in the last stage of her life, her grandmother Nancy wants it once again.

Enter Guy at the auction house, the one person who gave her a ‘zing’, only to find that replaced with anger as he bought the necklace right out from under her at an auction. Hampered by both her physical injuries suffered in a failed sky diving accident with an ex-boyfriend and being subject to her elder sister’s rather ‘narrowed’ view of her wandering, she’s now trying to be ‘more responsible and less spontaneous”, and that includes the man her sister and brother-in-law set her up with – a man who, quite frankly, is wonderfully kind but permanently dull.

Guy is different and more ‘outré’, even as Jess is fighting their connection: and without the necklace even if she has some vague promise to ‘borrow it’ to bring it to her grandmother: Jess sets off on a series of adventures / fact seeking missions to learn about the necklace and her own history. She discovers stories about Minnie who designed the piece, Anna her daughter who moved to Hollywood, Nancy her grandmother who always claimed to be born in Hollywood but would say no more, and her daughter and Jess’s mother, Carmen.

This twisty tale is full of self-awareness exercises and challenges mental, physical and emotional for Jess, and the necklace (and bits about different sparkles and styles) was interesting and engaging, even as we could see Jess was struggling with who she was and who she thought she needed to become – two very different people. A wonderful story full of emotion, heart and plenty of conflict (most of it from Jess herself) the story is easy to enjoy and escape into.

I received an eArc copy of the title from the publisher via NetGalley for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.

Review first appeared at <a href=” https://wp.me/p3OmRo-aWw /” > <a> I am, Indeed </a>

This was such a good story. I loved the plot and the stories that surround the lost necklace. My only gripe would be that I wanted to hear more about the different stories. It would have been cool to hear it from each of the individual Taylor women. I don’t want to spoil the story by talking about Jess and her choices but I really loved her character and how resilient she was.

Jess is determined to get back a family heirloom necklace for her grandmother. Her grandmother has been pining for this beautiful butterfly necklace since it disappeared. Jess has discovered it up for auction. Being outbid does not stop Jess! She hounds the owner, Guy, until there are fireworks!

The only issue I had with this book is Jess. Jess really never yearned to be adventurous after her accident. To me, you don’t change that part of you. I just felt like she didn’t fit the mold the author put her in. But that did not really affect my outlook on this tale. I adored the history and the mystery surrounding the necklace.

Then there is Guy! Oh boy Guy! He is magnetic from the get go! Basically because of his interactions with Jess. Their connection is irresistible!

Need a cute, romance with a side of old Hollywood…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I've been branching out a bit this summer, trying new authors and books that typically wouldn't have been at the top of my queue in the past, such as this British rom-com by Louisa Leaman. I have to say, I'm so glad I gave it a chance.

At the center of The Lost and Found Necklace is an art nouveau necklace, it's journey through the years, and the profound impact it has had on multiple generations of women (and a few men) in Jess's family. The story is a bit mystery, a bit family saga, a bit romance, and a journey of self-discovery which I thoroughly enjoyed. I liked how the author interwove the threads of the stories of Jess's ancestors with the current family relationships and how the lessons of the past impacted the decisions facing Jess in present day.

All of the characters are so well depicted; I felt as if I knew each of them, understanding their motivations, accepting their flaws. The story is well-paced, filled with humor, poignant emotion, forgiveness, understanding, self-acceptance, and an overall hopeful vibe. I enjoyed the evolution of the relationship between Jess and her sister (yes, I may have cheered at the end), was surprised by the revelations from their estranged father, and knew which man my heart wanted Jess to choose while still wanting love and happiness for the man left behind. There are no bad guys here, just right ones and wrong ones for the woman in question. Kudos to the author for keeping me guessing as to which was which right up until the end.

If you're looking for a sweet, charming, and realistic story that will take you from England to Wales to old Hollywood (not time travel - stories of past generations unveiled), introduce you to engaging characters, reinforce your belief in the "magic" of soulmates, and deliver a hopeful, happy ending, add The Lost and Found Necklace to your summer reading list. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

"The Lost and Found Necklace"
by Louise Leaman
July 13, 2021
Sourcebooks
336 pages
Contemporary Fiction

Jess Taylor, nearing age thirty, and always one to walk on the wild side, is recovering from a horrendous accident that laid her up for almost a year. Now able to maneuver easily with a cane, she's determined to start taking things easy and stop taking risks.

She settles into everyday life, living with her sister Aggie, Aggie’s husband, and their children. She is content with her boyfriend Tim, an upright guy and someone dependable. After the heartaches she's been through, she decides she doesn’t need fireworks and sparks in a relationship. What matters now is considering marriage to Tim, maybe having a baby, and becoming closer with her family. Aggie tries her patience at times, reminding her of the losers she once dated. Loving her older sister and the closeness she shares with her niece, Steph, she decides to follow a more conventional lifestyle.

Jess's beloved grandmother, Nancy, lives in a care facility as her health and mind are failing. She enjoys talking about her past and the family history, ruminating about the vintage necklace her great-grandmother Minnie designed but went missing years ago.

This necklace contains a moonstone pendant with a butterfly and is branded with the superstition that it will bring the wearer their soulmate. Thinking about the soulmate prophecy, Jess likes that theory, but she believes Tim is the one.

Through a catalog, Jess discovers the item is being auctioned at a London auction house. She grabs her sensible older sister, Abbie, and heads to the there, determined to buy it and return it to Nancy before she passes away.

Though Jess sets a top price she will pay, she keeps getting outbid by a handsome young man, so she keeps upping the amount. She is determined not to let the precious item slip from her reach, and Aggie storms off in a huff when Jess surpasses her spending limit. Unfortunately, she loses the bid to the young man, so she follows him out the door and jumps into the taxi he hails.

Begging him to sell the piece to her, she states it belongs to her family after being lost many years ago. He offers it to her only if she agrees to have dinner with him. She adamantly refuses. Though she finds him charming, she will not betray or hurt Tim, who his first wife deceived. She must attain this for Nancy, and she will not disappoint her grandmother’s dying wish.

Jess flirts with the man who introduces himself as Guy van der Meer, hoping to gain his favor. He informs her his family owns a jewelry business, and his position is to locate and purchase particular items they can sell for profit. In his mind, he believes this is the perfect solution for his client, Stella Weston, a beautiful supermodel. Though . . . .

"A thought strikes his soul. The woman who accosted him in his taxi—Jess—she’d laid claim to this butterfly with such fire. Maybe it would look different on her? All that stuff about it being her family's heirloom . . . At first, he's shrugged it off, fixated on how much profit he could make selling the necklace to Stella, but what if the necklace knew better? Like Cinderella's slipper, what if it's only meant for one person? What, then, would that make him . . . Prince Charming?"
Guy, besotted with Jess, brushes off her claims of having a boyfriend. Does she genuinely love this man, or is she only saying this?

As Jess digs deep into her family history, she tries to learn all she can about Nancy, Anna, Nancy's mother, and Minnie, her great-great-grandmother. Though Jess trained as a teacher, she now earns her income refashioning vintage jewelry, which Aggie considers her "hobby business." Jess customizes unique pieces on order, and her items are not typical costume jewels or something mass produced. She realizes designing jewelry and not teaching is her passion.

Jess visits Nancy often, asking about her past and that of her great- and great-great-grandmothers. The information she receives cements her mission to retrieve the necklace from Guy.

Meanwhile, Aggie keeps reminding Jess of Nancy's imminent demise:

"'It's the natural and orderly way of things. She's had a long life, Jess. Eighty-two. That's really something. I know how much she means to you, but . . . it has to happen.'

"Jess can barely hear her sister's platitudes. All she can think of is the sadness on Nancy's face when she told her she'd failed to reclaim the necklace. Through her tears, staring over her sister's shoulder, she catches her reflection in the mirror and thinks of Nancy's words: We called it the True Love Necklace."

Jess's determination strengthens her to accomplish her goal and bring the treasured heirloom (a Taylor talisman) to Nancy as her last loving act toward her grandmother. On a trip to Los Angeles, she discovers more mysteries about her ancestors and circumstances that once were considered folly are fact. Though this expedition sets up enmity between her and Tim, nothing will stand in her way.

What matters most is Nancy, and as a last-ditch effort, she rings Guy insisting her get her the necklace if only to borrow for a short time until Nancy passes.

But what will this do to the future she and Tim are planning? Will Jess be true to herself and her desires, or will she disappoint her sister and fall back on her old ways? A chance at self-discovery for Jess is brought forth by the magic of an heirloom necklace in which she makes hurtful decisions, but is true to herself.

I really enjoyed this book!
I did find it took me a little while to get into the story at first but I’m so glad I kept reading!
It was such a lovely, well told story with relatable characters with great relationships. It particularly spoke to me as the women in my family for generations have always been very close and are frighteningly similar to the characters in the book. I could see ourselves clear as day in the Taylor ladies.
I loved reading Jess’ journey, the effort she put into finding her family heirloom necklace, the power it had on everyone and also the realisation she had along the way that an injury doesn’t have to clip your wings and change who you really are.
I would love to read more about Jess and her life after the book.
After reading this book I will certainly check out more of this author’s work.
Thanks again Netgally for the opportunity to have a sneak peak at this new release!

Predictable, but extremely enjoyable. I liked the journey the dragonfly necklace took through the generations of Jess’s family.

Jess has had a tough year after an accident left her with serious injuries; she can't even live in her own flat. What she can do, she thinks, is return a family heirloom- a necklace- to her grandmother. Turns out that's not so easy as Guy, a jewelry dealer, wins it at auction. While she's been getting closer to Tim, Guy is somehow, well, you know. This is less about their romantic back and forth than it is about Jess's quest to know more about her family, a quest which takes her to Los Angeles and into the days of "old" Hollywood. This is best, I think, when it sticks to Jess's story. There are too many generations involved to fully understand or appreciate any of them except Jess and her sister, who is, btw, a hoot. That said, the writing is good. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

The Journey of a Necklace Through Generations
What a good story this is. In general, it is the story about generations of women in a family that is told around the history of a necklace. While this is a women's fiction novel, it carries quite a bit of history with it. The history of jewelry making, early Hollywood, and post-war Britain. All of the characters in the story came to life and played their roles well. Our heroine is faced with many difficult decisions and she handles them in a realistic manner. The time flew by as I read this novel. It is totaling engrossing. I will be looking to read more of this author's work. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.