Member Reviews

This book was a DNF for me. I got to 30% and decided it was not for me. Hopefully it will be a good fit for someone else!

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Set in Stone is the second book in the Treasures of the Earth series by Kimberley Woodhouse. Join Martha, Jacob, and their team as they work together to be the first to uncover a set of dinosaur bones in a museum challenge. This historical fiction romance has something for all readers with elements of family drama, suspense, and action.
If you enjoy historical romances with mystery and Christian themes, add Set in Stone to your to be read pile. You won’t be disappointed, particularly if you enjoy stories with a Western setting. I eagerly anticipate the third book in the series the September and look forward to reading the first in the series soon. Thank you to NetGalley, the author, the publisher for my review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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I liked the subject matter of this book, dealing with women in science. The addition of women as paleontologists fed my interest in dinosaurs and fossils. The author does a fine job of weaving in the Christian message as well. There is a lot to like in this book for readers who are also mystery lovers. I thought this book started out a bit slowly, but gained momentum later. I didn’t read the first book in the series but this one could be read as a standalone. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Early Reviewers on LibraryThing, and these opinions are my own entirely.

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{Thank you to @netgalley and to Bethany House Publishers for my gifted e-copy of this title in exchange for an honest review.}

This book is an absolute treasure. I always say: I LOVE a book that teaches me new things about history through a beautiful story. This book did just that for me! I didn’t really know anything about the Bone Wars prior to reading this book, but I found researching it a bit and learning about it through this story to be so fascinating.

The characters in this book were so wonderful, and the faith elements were really on point. I loved how the author used this story to discuss the intersection of faith and science and how science and Christian faith go hand-in-hand. Watching Martha grow in her faith was so beautiful, and Jacob was such an incredible character all around.

This Christian historical fiction has it all: faith, a rich historical setting, romance (clean,) and mystery!

I thoroughly enjoyed this title and would highly recommend it!

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Following in her father's footsteps, Martha Jankowski dreams of making an impact in the paleontological world and her dig seems more than promising. Raised among high society, her mother has hopes for her in another direction.

Jacob Duncan came from humble beginnings, but shares Martha's dream of unearthing a whole dinosaur skeleton. Can they work together despite the seeds of distrust sown between them?

An engaging race between two competing teams for the first complete skeleton brings two young hearts from different backgrounds together. I liked how Jacob is an honest man of integrity, and how he is open about his faith, sharing it with Martha. A wonderful addition to the series, but also a stellar stand alone.

Well written and researched, it does a great job of bringing the bone war to life, with a touch of chilling suspense, and an opposites attract romance.

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

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Set in Stone is a great Christian historical fiction book! Martha and Jacob are on two ends of a palaeontology dig contest to have their dinosaur bones in a museum. When they come together will their pasts, families, and social standings get in their way? I did feel at times that the book was a bit slow in action. Especially with a lot of bone talk (which is the main plot). Also it featured a trope I personally did not like. Otherwise, I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more from this author. I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in trade for my honest opinion. My thoughts are my own.
YouTube Review: 05/15/24
YouTube Handle: KeenCat

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My thoughts: Ms. Woodhouse is one of my favorite historical writers. This one is a romantic suspense. I almost had the killer figured out, but couldn't decide between two people, A great read, though I'd never want to dig through rocks to dig up dinasour bones! And a great romance. Also a fantastic faith message. i thoroughly enjoyed this book. Grab your copy today. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own

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I don't think I've ever been shocked by an ending this good in a really long time! When I thought I had it figured out the entire way through, Kimberley Woodhouse surprised me again and again!

I loved this second installment in the series. If you wanted more faith, more romance and more digging for dinosaurs? You got it! The faith was great, and really felt like a part of the characters lives. It also touched on the struggles characters had in connecting science with God. I loved the characters and loved the mystery so much! It definitely deserves all of the stars!

*Thank you to Baker Publishing and NetGalley for a copy of this book to read and review, all thoughts are my own.

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This is book 2 in the Treasures of the Earth series, a historical romance with female lead paleontologists.

Martha Jankowski is following in her father's footsteps and keeping the family business of bones, alive. As Martha is on the brink of a major dinosaur find she meets Jacob Duncan. This encounter sets of a chain events that cause Martha to encounter her faith and the path that she is to follow.

Kimberly Woodhouse, thank you for another great book! Combining the ugly realities of life with the beautiful side of courage and hope.

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4 Stars

I was not sure how this book would turn out with how I heard the book before it was, but I'm pleased to see that this was much better and really easy to dive into with some great faith content, which is really great to see!

Negative Content and
Triggers for blood.

A mention of a bad guy having killed a man, and it mentions a pool of red (blood) growing around him. The bad guy thinks of the man as a fool, and that he did not deserve life.

A mention of a confounded rock.

Many mentions of people thinking of pastors as reverends.(we are not to call a man reverend, but rather pastor or preacher, for reverend is a title reserved for God.
"He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name." Psalms 111:9 KJV)

Someone thinks of somebody as a stupid fool.

Someone thinks that if they can keep the occasional fool from messing up their plans, everything would be perfect.

A mention of derogatory comments about women.

Someone thinks of somebody as a fool.

A mention of someone over hearing two men talking about a another man who had been discovered at a brothel, and the glint in their eyes told the person all that was needed to be known about their own indiscretions.

A mention of men who were working telling stories that were not the cleanest, and a man joining in with his thoughts and convictions, wondering if they thought he was judging them and condemning them for their lewd behavior, and thinks that he hadn't wanted to listen to the garbage the men spewed.

A man gives a woman a grin and then winks at her, and the woman blushed, thinking that a man didn't wink at a lady, that it was entirely too . . . intimate.

A mention of someone saying that a man had just come from a brothel.

A mention of brandy.

A mention of a bad guy having had killed the bad guys villain father.

Some mentions of someone having stabbed people.

If I had to say what lowered the rating for me, I'd have to say it was the mentions of someone thinking of different people as fools, and the mentions of men having been to brothels (but it was portrayed as being wrong to do so).

I received a complimentary e-book from the publisher to review through Netgalley. I was not required to give a positive review, and the thoughts above are my own.

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This was my first book by the author & I can’t wait to read more! The setting of this book was so unique- I honestly don’t know that I’d ever heard of the bone wars. There was a lot of interesting information about paleontology throughout the book.

I thought the writing was very detailed and descriptive. I enjoyed all of the characters, especially Jacob. Martha undergoes a lot of self-reflection. and I liked seeing her understanding of God grow and how she changed.

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Set in Stone is the second book in the Treasures of the Earth series though it can easily be read as a standalone. Reading so many books by this author over the years I have gone on so many adventures through the pages of her books and also learned so much.
Taking place in 1872 Colorado territory I really had a feel for the time period with the author's descriptions. As a youngster Martha wanted nothing more than to follow in her father's footsteps of being a paleontologist and when she came of age, she did just though with some limits put on her by her family. She is determined along with her team to find a whole dinosaur skeleton intact with all the bones unbroken and donate it to the museum for the recognition. Then she learns there is competition from another team determined to do just that. When sabotages turn dangerous Matha wonders should she stop or keep going? Falling in love with the competition was not supposed to happen but it does. Jacob's family is not from the upper-class family Matha's family is from and her mother will not accept her choice. The faith element is strong and such an encouragement to read especially as a character grows stronger in their faith journey. Full of intrigue, suspense and a pretty surprising reveal this light romance kept me reading. It was so fascinating learning the ins and outs of a dig, how long it takes, the dangers involved and how careful the have to be to keep the bones intact. I enjoyed seeing the character development and thought it was realistic. Looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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Set in Stone is the second book in the Treasures of the Earth series. The first book is The Secrets Beneath, which I loved. These books can be read as standalone books or as a series.

Once again Woodhouse introduces two remarkable characters who are seeking to make a name for themselves in the field of paleontology. I really love how the author conveys the message that faith and science aren’t polar opposites, but rather science reveals the intricate hand of our Creator God. Told in alternating perspectives, this book is adventurous, heartwarming, and has an intriguing bit of mystery and suspense. I highly recommend it for fans of historical fiction and suspense. Book three in the series comes out later this year.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Set in Stone has faith, romance, paleontology, science, history, mystery and a villain. I like how Woodhouse has someone with a strong faith befriend someone that has forgotten the faith once had. She was able to weave throughout the book how science and faith can go together. The mystery and the villain kept me reading.

My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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I thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance that had a bit of mystery and suspense. I love character-driven stories, and I appreciated the personal growth and romance of the main characters. What a unique setting! I wouldn't have guessed I would like a dinosaur dig set in the early 1900s in Colorado. The author laid out the mystery well, drawing us along to the reveal. She also gave some historical context at the beginning of the book. Set in Stone is a well-rounded story!

I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review.

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What a great second book in the Treasures of Earth series! I have to say that if this is the first book you pick up from the series you will be okay. I felt like this read as a stand alone except for the introduction to the "Bone Wars" in the first book. This book starts off with a bang and has you turning pages the entire time.

Martha is a paleontologist. She grew up admiring her father's work in paleontology and dreaming of one day pursuing the career. She accomplishes this with some obstacles still obstructing her way. She is definitely a strong female character who is trying to figure out the pull between religion and science. Jacob is our leading man and he is strong in his faith. Together they make a great team.

Listen, this story is full of all the perfect elements... there is history mixed with science, romance, faith, suspense and a mystery that I did not expect at all. Seriously I did not see it coming at all. Seriously I cannot delve into it more because I don't want to give anything away.

Overall I really enjoyed the story. I think the growth of the characters was realistic and the way that Martha realizes what is truly important in life will resonate as you are reading the story. The ending was good but I am wondering if we will see these characters again in the next book...

If you are looking for a new series to start I definitely recommend this one!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

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Thank you to @kimberleywoodhouse @netgalley and @bethanyhouse for this #gifted book!
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Synopsis: “Someday, Mr. Johnson, I will find a dinosaur…And when I find it, it will go in a beautiful museum. My name will be on the plaque right next to it. ‘Martha Jankowski, Paleontologist.’“ Martha Jankowski has dreamed of digging in the dirt for years. When she is finally given the opportunity to lead her own dinosaur dig, she is eager to win the spot for her family and her future. But another team also races to claim her spot. When one charming young man comes to her team, the two strike up an unlikely friendship and strange things begin to happen. As the deadline for the dig approaches, her work is compromised, her heart is hurt, and her idea of faith is deeply questioned. Can love and occupation work together? Can science and faith coexist? What will it truly take to find success and meaning in the Bone Wars?

Analysis: Kimberley Woodhouse brings us this beautiful Bone War era novel that I must say I was super excited to read (being a boy mom and dinosaurs just go hand in hand these days!). There were so many things that I loved about this novel: creepy villains, jaw-dropping mystery, unlikely romance, and a genuine, clear gospel message. While this book is technically the second in the series, this is written as stand-alone. If you’re looking for a book with little known history, beautiful writing, and strong threads of faith, you’ll want to add this to your TBR immediately!

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

*I was given an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Set in Stone
by Kimberley Woodhouse
Pub Date 12 Mar 2024
Bethany House,Bethany House Publishers
Christian| Historical Fiction| Romance


Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley provided me with a copy of Set in Stone for review:



Martha Jankowski has been digging in the dirt since she was a child, much to her mother's dismay. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a paleontologist, and now she is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery. When Martha finds what she hopes to be a fully intact dinosaur skeleton--one that could win her an acclaimed exhibit--she learns another team is competing against her and could steal her chance at being recognized for this momentous discovery.The moment Martha discovers what she hopes is a fully intact dinosaur skeleton, which might win her an acclaimed exhibit, she learns that another team is competing against her.

Jacob Duncan, a paleontology student, has achieved his dream of digging for dinosaur bones. In a race against time, he and his team are determined to unearth a complete skeleton to claim a museum exhibit. Love and danger grow hand in hand until a menacing ruse threatens to destroy it all when Jacob meets their charming competitor Martha.

I give Set in Stone five out of five years!


Happy Reading!

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I loved this fantastic historical fiction story that has some action and some romance. I loved Martha and Jacob. I loved learning about how a paleontologist works. I love learning about dinosaurs and where they can be found. I loved the underlying story about a killer and all the twists and turns to uncover the truth. I received a copy of this book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

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This enjoyable adventure takes place in the Colorado Territory in the late 1800's.
Martha wants to be known as a paleontologist and after facing many challenges during her life, her mother finally allows her to dig. There is a contest and Martha is determined to win, but not at any cost. The Bone Wars rage around the nation, but Martha refuses to stoop to that level. During this time Martha meets Jacob and through her time with him realizes some hard truths. Like the fact that her relationship with God is non-existent and she is more than a little spoiled. She determines to grow her faith and it will be tested. Long buried fossils are not the only things being revealed...

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are mine.

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