I enjoyed this book. It was difficult at first to go back & forth between characters decades apart. However, I was glad I made the effort (it helps to put bookmarks so you can easily flip back & forth).

The book had an unexpected ending which pleased & surprised me. I would enjoy re-reading it & understanding parts a little better.

I received this book as an ARC in exchange for my review. All opinions are my own.

A split time line novel of love and loss, full of secrets and rich Norwegian heritage.

The story starts in the present day with Solveig Borja, and it took awhile to get into because of the way that it begins by plunging the reader right into the thick of things in a way that made me feel like I was missing some context for a while. The historical story was done in a similar fashion, but I really admired Harvey and how he held out hope for Gussie, being loyal and true throughout, he was probably my favorite part of the book.

There is a lot going on in both timelines, plenty of mystery, secrets, and turning points. I liked that it had a solid message of God's faithfulness and salvation. A novel that encapsulates a lot of ground, secrets and heartache as it follows two women separated by time.

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

What a story! This is the first book I've read from Brandy Heineman. I'm so glad I've been introduced to her work. I received an advanced reader's copy from Independant Book Publishers Association through NetGalley. This is my own personal and unsolicited opinion of the book.
Solvieg Borga has traveled from Norway to Virginia to take care of her grandfather's estate after his death. She intends to tie everything up in two weeks' time. Shadows from her past makes the trip uncomfortable and it appears someone isn't happy that she is back in the area.
Kyle Benton, an employee of her Bestpappa's business is an interesting, handsome fellow who also has secrets that darken his path. A new Christian, his character is believable as he struggles to shake off his 'old self' and his cursing mouth. Thank you, author! She knows how to write without using the actual foul language. Yes!
The dual timeline introduces Augusta "Gussie" who desires to have her life move forward with her beau when he returns home from France where he has served in WWI. Her best friend, Harvey, is in on secrets that she isn't privy to - yet. (She has one mean stinker of a sister.) I have had a hard time getting into dual time-line stories in the past, but the author smoothly moved back and forth between the two. I like these characters and this story so much I'm really hoping there is a second book to follow.

Solveig returns from Norway to settle her grandfather's affairs after he dies. She meets Kyle Benton, one of her grandfather's employees, who has a sketchy past like her and wants to start fresh. When they find a century-old skeleton, a can of Borja family worms is opened. Meanwhile, someone keeps vandalizing her family home and threatening Kyle. One of their dark pasts is about to resurface and try to claim lives. Solveig just wants to settle the affairs and return home to Norway. But as she rediscovers fond memories and grows close to Kyle, is Norway really home?
Loved the mysteries and their conclusions! Both Solveig and Kyle have deep, dark regrets and struggle to believe they are new creations in Christ. Kyle is definitely a flawed-but-loveable hero. There are some typos scattered throughout, but this is still an #ARC. Thank you, #NetGalley!

Solveig returns to her hometown in Virginia when her grandfather dies and she’s forced to tie up some loose ends. When she arrives in Virginia, she’s on a strict timeline in order to get home in time to start a new job. A lot happens in those short eleven days. The story begins with Solveig requesting a ride to BestePapas funeral from non other than the hearse driver, which quickly takes an odd turn. As she’s running away out of fear from the hearse driver, she bumps into a man named Kyle, they have a brief discussion and then she continues to run? She runs back to her grandfather’s home to discover it’s been vandalized, so naturally like anyone who is running for their life would do she begins to clean? There were so many very questionable moments like this throughout the entire book that just weren’t believable.

Solveig has some past secrets that keep her from getting in touch with the police and Kyle has his own secrets as well. Their relationship is filled with skating around the truth. Solveig eventually opens up to Kyle, but he isn’t ready to do the same. He waits until they’re in a cave searching for a dead body to bring it up. Solveig’s response is to runaway in a cave and when he’s chasing after her he falls and bumps his head.

There is a LOT going on in this book, eventually we also get blasted into the past and learn whose body is hidden in the cave.

Oh, I almost forgot the drug dealers who try to kill Kyle in the midst of it all.

This book was REALLY difficult to get into. There were a lot of story lines and the characters love story was a little unbelievable. I did feel like it got a bit better at the end, but I was mostly only finishing the book because I’d already made it half way through.

I read this book in advance with NetGalley in exchange for a review.

I struggled to get through this book. It didn't suck me in. It pulled me in at parts but it unfortunately just failed to keep my attention with the snail like slow moving plot. I am pleased at how it did wrap things up in the end though.
I read an advance reader copy of Like Honey for the Bones through NetGalley.

This book is a mashup of seven genres: suspense, murder mystery, cold case, romance, literary fiction, dual-timeline WWI/contemporary, and, of course, Christian fiction. Heineman makes good use of each genre.

Take, for example, the suspense element. Will those who are harassing Solveig turn violent? The reader wants to know. The reader also wants to know if Philip (a WWI soldier in the past timeline) will overcome the odds against him. And most of all, WHO DIES IN THE CAVE? The suspense element may have been my favorite.

Or was it the mystery element? I didn’t figure out who the killer was in either the past or the present until about the 95 percent mark. Mystery lovers will enjoy this book, just sayin’.

Upon further thought, I think the literary-fiction aspect, which is linked to the Christian element, was my favorite part of the book. Heineman’s similes are so fresh it’s like looking at an object through a lens from another dimension. Plus, Biblical allusions are threaded throughout the story to the point that several become symbolic. Slow down while reading this book (and I highly recommend you read this wonderful book) so you can pick up on the allusions. It’ll make the reading experience richer.

Time for a quote because Heineman’s prose is worth quoting. Here’s one highlighting the rather sophisticated romantic component of the story. It is night, and Solveig lights a candle in her late grandfather’s kitchen. Kyle observes:

The tiny light filled the room and reflected in the glass of the sliding door, the chrome of the appliances, and the depth of her eyes. -Brandy Heineman, Like Honey for the Bones

I’m blown away by Heineman’s writing skill and storytelling ability. Five fantastic stars!

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance reader copy. I am happy to share my heartfelt thoughts on this book.

When Solveig Borja returns to Virginia to finalize her grandfather's estate, the plan is to do it and return to Norway as quickly as possible. Kyle Benton's kindness and willingness to help as her thinking, what ifs.

Like Honey for the Bones is a split-time novel set between the 1920s and modern-day. As Solveig and Kyle strives to solve a couple of mysteries in the present, the reader gets to see the unraveling of at least one of the storylines in the past.

I struggled to get into the story because I didn't connect with any of the characters in either timeline. My interest picked up about 80 percent through the book when events in both timelines began to escalate.

Readers of Like Honey for the Bones will be reminded that though they may feel alone, their Heavenly Father is with them. Also, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we become a new creation and the old man is wiped away.

Both Solveig and Kyle had to learn that though their pasts were painful, they came out stronger and more resilient.

I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

A complex plot that can become confusing at times, but well worth perseverance. Such a reminder that life and family are complicated and secrets make it even more challenging.

I enjoyed this book. I really enjoyed Solveig and Kyles stories, but wasn’t quite as interested in the chapters in the past timeline. Overall it was a good mix of mystery and romance, and I enjoyed the Christianity included as well.

Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Solveig Borja was in Cross Keys, Virginia to attend her grandfather's funeral and to clean up and sell his house. She had no idea how hard that was going to be - it started out with a driver who looked grungy and wild who took her to a graveyard detour and not her grandfather's funeral!
Solveig meets a new friend, Kyle Benton, who worked for her Grandfather and offered to help her move her furniture out and get some minor repairs done. Someone does not want Solveig there, her house is egged, her claim to the house is in dispute by other townspeople, and a mysterious hundred year old death holds the key to her future.

I feel like I could re-read this book to put the pieces together for myself. The plot was very interesting and I liked the characters of Solveig and Kyle. The mystery throughout the story was intriguing as well.



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own