A great ending to this "Treasures of the Earth" historical mystery/romance trilogy by Kimberly Woodhouse. These three books are not connected with characters so for anyone looking to jump into this book without reading the others - you can totally do that without reservations. The books are connected by featuring fictional female paleontologists looking for dinosaur skeletons out in the American west.

This book is probably the best and most interesting of the trilogy. I read all of these one after the other and enjoyed this one the most. It has scenes in the Carnegie museum in Pennsylvania and in the beginning stages of Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. It also has real life characters Andrew Carnegie and Earl Douglass with historical facts mixed in with the fiction. I really liked being able to learn about these real people while reading this book.

The book also brings up the controversy of New Earth Creationism vs. evolution which was just as much of a hot topic at the time the book was sent as it is now. That definitely adds a layer of mystery and suspense in the storyline.

This is a murder and more mystery with villains and there's definitely a few twists and turns while reading to keep the reader engaged in the story. Murder, danger and intrigue definitely are featured in this book.

The friends to more romance is a very sweet part of the book and the great character growth arc adds a fun element to this story which is needed to balance out some of the more unsavory things that happen. Woodhouse created a likeable couple and some great supporting characters elsewhere in the story.

Thank you to Bethany House for a chance to read an ARC of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Hope Unburied
by Kimberley Woodhouse
Pub DateSep 24 2024
Bethany House |Bethany House Publishers
Christian| Historical Fiction| Romance



Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley provided me with a copy of A Hope Unburied to review:


I loved this one, the characters were real in their struggles and flaws...


There exists a love beyond the perilous landscape.



Eliza Mills defies social expectations in 1916 to pursue her passion for paleontology. Having published her early groundbreaking papers under a false name, she finally earns a place at the Carnegie Museum and is offered the chance to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. Jensen, Utah, isn't what it seems at first glance. An opportunity to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history sparks a chain of events that will rock Eliza's carefully constructed world to its core.





Eliza's closest friend since childhood, Devin Schmitt, harbors unspoken feelings for her, but knows he won't be able to win her heart. After vowing to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. After reluctantly agreeing, he and Eliza quickly find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they expected. To unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail, Devin and Eliza must cling to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal.


I give A Hope Unburied five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

The fields of Utah are a paleontologist’s dream come true, and Eliza Mills has been given a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a part of the dig to uncover dinosaur bones. The competition is fierce and Eliza must prove to both men and society that she is qualified to be there. I loved that she was focused on her career and was passionate about fossils. She needed a boost of confidence and letting go of fear, but she had help from Devin and other friends.

Devin Schmitt was an honorable man and had the patience of a saint! Even though he has cared deeply for Eliza for years, he has given his word to her grandfather and will keep it no matter the cost to his heart. He is fiercely protective of her and truly puts her above himself. I really loved his heart to heart conversation with Eliza about her motivation in regards to paleontology.

Things to love:
monstrous hats
friends to more
multiple plots
numerous villains
faith aspect

This is the third book in the Treasures of the Earth, but can be read as a standalone. The history and details the author weaves throughout the story make this an interesting book and one that I recommend to readers of historical fiction.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

What a wonderful conclusion to the Treasures of the Earth Series!
This Series has been so captivating! And this book makes it close with a flourish! I love how the author dives into the world of Paleontology, and the struggle of women to participate in professions that were considered for men only. At the beginning of the 20th Century, women battled to be recognized equally capable of men in many ambits, and paleontology was definitely one of them. A woman studying prehistoric era and dinosaurs! Fascinating! But in that era not everyone was thrilled for women to achieve what only men used to do. And such is the case of Eliza Mills. She has defied society by publishing her research by a false name, and consequently earned an opportunity to work at the Carnegie Museum in Jensen, Utah. But working in her passion ends up being more difficult than expected. When she digs up some bones at a ranch with a dark history, her world turns upside down with a series of mysterious events that puts her in danger. When her childhood friend, Devin Schmitt, answers her request to join her in Utah to visit her and help her out, he may not be prepared for the grand adventure he’s about begin. His unrequited love for Eliza since he was sixteen pains him, but he vowed her grandfather that he would never pursue her. He’s not the wealthy man her family wishes to join the family, although he’s a successful teacher. But he soon discovers someone evil is determined to sabotage her career and her position at the Museum, and he knows he won’t leave her until she’s safe and out of danger, even if his heart is about to break in pieces.
This book was truly engaging and captivating! I found myself wanting to read it every free time to know how things could be solved, who was trying to harm Eliza, and how Eliza would finally return Devin’s love. There were a couple of villains, and reading the book with their point of view made it more intriguing and suspenseful. I literally couldn’t put it down! The plot had a good pace, it never dragged, and the mystery kept me guessing. The writing style is full of historical details of the paleontology world -you can see how well researched it is-, and I’ve always been interested in such ancient history. Dinosaurs! So interesting! I also loved how she weaves through the book real life events or characters, like The Bone Wars, which I knew nothing of, or Earl Douglass and the Dinosaur National Monument. A woman digging up bones, a handsome protective hero, and a dark mystery that puts them in danger at every turn. What else else do you need to keep you entertained? The romance was so sweet. Devin’s way of winning her heart without really trying to was so endearing. He was a sweet hero with a deep devotion to her childhood friend who had turned into a very intelligent and determined young woman with a strong faith. Loved how their relationship grew, and how Eliza discovers her own feelings have changed as well. There’s also a faith inspired message of setting aside prejudices, and about trusting God more in directing their paths. And the discussions of faith and science were thought provoking as well. Finally, the way things get solved at the end, and the villains unmasked, was original and unexpected. Loved the ending! All in all, a wonderful book that will keep you glued from page one until the end!
I highly recommend it! It can be perfectly read as a standalone, but I truly recommend reading the whole series! A must read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

A Hope Unburied delivers danger, romance, mystery, suspense, and deep spiritual truths in an exciting story that throughly entertains and inspires! This captivating series covers the world of paleontology at the beginning of its popularity, and A Hope Unburied is the perfect conclusion. Kimberley Woodhouse upholds biblical creationism in her story as her characters maintain strong faith in creator God while the scientific world begins the shift to evolutionary thinking. Eliza receives animosity from both Christian and scientific communities as she digs for dinosaur fossils, and her faith journey to forgive others while staying true to her calling is inspiring! Fans of the “he falls first” and “friends to more” tropes will adore this love story with no spice but all the feelings! Spunky Eliza and smitten Devin work together as a perfect pair to face trials before finding their happy ending, and their love story is adorable. Be sure to cozy up with this mystery romance and be transported to the dinosaur digs of the early 1900s for some exciting perspective into the beginnings of paleontology!

I received a copy of this book for review purposes. My thoughts are my own—I really did love it!

Once again Woodhouse delivers a book that not only charms readers, but teaches as well. And if that's not enough, there's mystery, danger, intrigue, romance, and so much more. And dino bones! When I was a kid I was fascinated by dinosaurs (which I think most kids are lol). Let me tell you that Eliza makes me want to go dig up bones. I mean, hopefully there isn't as much danger as she went through lol, but I think it'd be fun!

I can't write a review without saying how much I just loved Devin. His love for Eliza, respect for her family, willingness to put his feelings aside to help her.......I mean talk about a great hero. He is/was amazing. He had his own hurdles to go through, mostly internally, but watching his journey, and his love for Eliza just grow with each and every page was so sweet. Yes I loved the danger and mystery. Yes I loved learning about paleontology and how women fit into that in this time period. But for me, Devin made the story.

Woodhouse fans will devour this stunning conclusion to an amazing series. Highly recommend! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a great conclusion to the series! I have loved every book in this series and I will say they are all stand alones so you can read them in any order. This story is about Devin and Eliza who have been friends since they were children. They are in different social classes and Eliza’s grandfather makes Devin promise never to pursue Eliza romantically which is challenging since he loves her but he promises. He also promises Eliza to always be her best friend. I really enjoyed watching Eliza be on her dinosaur expositions and Devin supporting her. In this story we have not one but two villains and that’s all I will say on that. I loved how much Christian content there was, very strong and supportive of science. Overall, I thought this was a great book and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

A gripping end to a captivating series! Woodhouse skillfully portrayed the struggles of female paleontologists as they navigated a male-dominated field and the emergence of Darwin's theories. The exploration of science and faith was thought-provoking and engaging.

The romance between the two main characters was so sweet! The historical aspects were so well done, and I loved learning more about this time and place. Overall this was a very satisfying and enjoyable read.

I highly recommend this one to inspirational historical romance fans.

I received a copy through the publisher via NetGalley, and Austenprose PR. All opinions expressed are completely my own.

Dinosaurs, mystery, & romance! A thrilling conclusion to a fantastic series! I’ve absolutely loved these books in the Treasures of the Earth series and the way Kimberley Woodhouse brilliantly portrayed the struggle of female paleontologists at the turn of the century. These courageous women faced nearly insurmountable odds as they compete in a man’s world. I enjoyed the thought provoking way the battle between science and faith was described as the discovery of dinosaurs & Darwin’s theories seemed to put a wedge between the two.

In A Hope Unburied, I was whisked back to 1916 right after Earl Douglass’ discovered dinosaur quarry was declared Dinosaur National Monument. I was thrilled to see the man himself whom we’ve been reading about in the past two books appear in the story along with a heart-achingly lovely childhood friends to more, he falls first romance, and two mysteries with two despicable villains.

Though Eliza Mills comes from wealth, she loves donning a comfortable pair of pants and digging in the dirt. As she quenches her irresistible thirst for discovery, she finds success as a paleontologist. When she’s given the opportunity by Mr. Andrew Carnegie to travel to Utah to participate in tours & digs at the newly declared Dinosaur National Monument, she’s thrilled for the chance to meet her hero Earl Douglass. Her only regret is leaving behind her best friend since childhood, Devin Schmitt. Though she begs him to come and spend time with her, he’s hesitant to leave. When she finally persuades him to visit, they find unexpected danger & a web of mystery.

Devin has been in love with Eliza since he was 16 years old. However, he hesitates to share his feelings since she only sees him as a friend and her grandfather disapproves of a romance between them. Though Devin’s a successful English professor, he feels obligated to obey her grandfather’s wishes & keep his feelings to himself. Missing Eliza when she travels to Utah, he’s unable to resist her pleas for him to come visit. But, what he finds makes him hesitant to leave her when it seems someone is out to sabotage her.

I adored this book! Devin was such a charming hero & my heart ached for him as he struggles to hide his unrequited love. He’s such a supportive, kind friend & I couldn’t wait to see if Eliza would finally see him as more. Eliza’s an intelligent, driven young woman with a strong faith. She struggles though with being away from the comforts of home & supportive family & friends. I enjoyed seeing her growth as she wrestles with science & faith & realizes her feelings for Devin.

There are two dastardly villains who both have strong motivations for getting rid of Eliza. Reading from their perspectives was chilling. Throw in a haunted ranch & several murders, and you have the makings of an intriguing mystery as well. The historical aspects were so well done & I loved learning more about this unique time & place in history.

Highly recommend to inspirational historical romance fans! I’m so sad to see this series come to an end & will definitely enjoy going back and rereading it. Each book in the series is a standalone covering the time during & after the famous Bone Wars. I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author & publisher. All opinions are my own & voluntarily provided.

A Hope Unburied is the third and final book in Kimberley Woodhouse's Treasures of the Earth series. This book, like the other books in this series, has a compelling mystery that stirs ones sense of justice, a sweet romance, and a deep theme centered around the historical debate between Creationism and paleontology. The books can be enjoyed in any order.

A Hope Unburied tells the story of Eliza Mills, a paleontologist with the Hall of Dinosaurs at the Carnegie Institute. Eliza, as a woman in a man's profession, had striven to be respected in her field. Now, opportunities are opening up for her, but danger may not be far behind.

I truly enjoyed this book and its series mates. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Hope Unburied from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

I loved both Eliza and Devin. They both wrestled with different important issues and trying to figure things out. The resolutions for both of them only came through prayer and trust in God. I loved seeing the characters grow in the Lord and respond to challenges appropriately.
A serious spiritual topic in this book was how some believers can negatively impact unbelievers. As someone who has been in Church for a lifetime, I know it still happens. It was a great reminder to me to behave and address issues in a way that does not scare others from Church. We are all imperfect and in need of a Savior.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher for review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I have come to a realization. And that realization is that it doesn't really matter which one of Kimberley Woodhouse's books I'm reading; I have to stop at the end of each chapter to 1: savor it, and 2: make the book last as long as I can. But then she gets me all tied up in knots and I need to get past that! But then I realize it's almost over and have to slow down again. Sigh. Such a conundrum. And then at the end, your brain is mush.

This book is no different. I mean, it's different, but the above paragraph fits this book, too. See? Mush-brain. But I have to have a coherent review. Here goes...

I loved it. You should read it. The end.

Need more? Dinosaurs, woman in paleontology, offing people-as Kimberley Woodhouse does so well, edge of your seat suspense, slander, and unabashedly Christian.

There. That should do it.

I am sorry to see this series end, but I enjoyed it so much and learned a lot from it. Being from the Pittsburgh, PA area I am familiar with Carnegie libraries and museum and the many other things that he had a hand in developing.
Our main female character had an unusual interest for the time period, as a paleontologist in 1916, she is used to being discriminated against. With what many think of as an unusual interest for women. This way of thinking only makes her work harder to prove herself. As with today, people also are under the mistaken assumption if you're a woman of science you cannot have a faith belief.
When she is sent on a dig at the Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, Uta she is thrilled to have a chance to work with a paleontologist she admires and hopes to learn even more. As dark secrets come to light at the very ranch where the dig is taking place will all her hard work crumble to dust and blow away in the wind? Feeling lonely she is thrilled to see her childhood best friend, Devin Schmitt has listened to her pleas and come for a visit. Together they are thrown into a dangerous living and working environment, someone doesn't want them there or things to change. Is this the time or place for Devin to act upon his feelings for Eliza Mills, though he wants to spend a lifetime of happiness with her. I enjoyed seeing the character development and learning of women of science and paleontology through this series.

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

I really do hate to say it, but this one was a DNF for me at 52%. It must be me, though, because after skimming through all the other reviews, it seems that I was reading an entirely different book than everyone else.

I DNF'd for three reasons: (1) Nothing had actually happened to move the story forward other than the MCs going to Utah to embark on their quests by the halfway point; (2) the author kept getting churchy for no reason; and (3) I can't stand a self-absorbed woman, and in this book that woman is the FMC, Eliza. #Devindeservesbetter

Last night when I gave up on this one, our MCs were hoping to find fossilized bones of a dinosaur. The book reads:

***
Devin rode back toward her from the quadrant she'd assigned him to search. He shook his head as he came near. "I double-checked the whole area and don't see anything."

"Same here," Eliza released a sigh. "Let's cross the creek and check in with Deborah."

"Sounds good."

Though the other woman had been within sight and probably earshot as well, they crossed the creek and dismounted.

Deborah was crouched over something. Using a small hand shovel, she was carefully displacing dirt. "What do you think, Eliza? Is this something?"

***

I realized in this moment that the first half of the book was essentially THIS. Lots and lots of words that aren't doing anything to tell the story, to create atmosphere or suspense, to build character. They exist for word count. Where is the editor? Because if it had been me, this is what I would have done:

***
Devin rode back from the quadrant he'd searched. He shook his head slowly. Eliza sighed.

"Eliza! Come quick!"

Eliza whirled around to see Deborah gesturing wildly with her hand shovel from across the creek.

"We'll be right there!"

***

Less than half the words, and there is ACTION for the characters.

Which brings me to the second reason I DNF'd. I understand that this is Christian fiction, and Christian discussion makes sense within the narrative in the context of how faith and science can both be true for believers. Unfortunately, there are also random tangents in this book where Eliza tries to find a church, and has bad and good experiences with preachers and congregations. None of that has anything to do with the plot, or Eliza's character development. We already know she is a woman of faith and integrity, and that she has already done the work of reconciling her beliefs with her understanding of science. She doesn't need to find a church for any reason other than word count.

Finally, I did not like the fact that Eliza is completely clueless about how much Devin cares about her, and has in fact loved her since they were children. She is completely oblivious, as she is single-minded in the pursuit of her career goals. She is consumed to the point that she doesn't notice or even bother to think about other people in any terms aside from their connections with her job and scientific interests. When she looked at Devin point blank and said "My future husband --whoever it is, if I even marry--will just have to deal with the fact that I won't be me without... you." I wanted to wave red flags in Devin's face and beg him to find a nice girl at university who will SEE HIM for who he is and how much love and devotion he has to give.

This one was just a miss for me. I think a large part of it is that the plot is too shallow to support a full length novel. This explains the wordiness, the tangents, and the pacing.

Thank you Netgalley, Bethany House, and Austenprose PR for the opportunity to read and review this novel.

“The battle between science and faith was real.” Eliza Mills was at a unique point in time: when women were venturing into occupations held by men and a time of the discovery of dinosaur fossils as well as the questioning of the correlation between science and the Bible. All Eliza wants to do is point people to the God who created these awesome creatures. She is also battling the conception of rich girl privilege and advantage. In addition she is pondering the possibility of more than friendship with Devin Scmidtt.
This was a well-researched and engaging look at what was happening in the scientific world in 1916. I appreciated the portrayal of faith in the main characters and the growth shown. Devin illustrated integrity and steadfastness. Eliza demonstrated determination and owned up to her mistakes and doubts.
The romance was slow, steady and principled. As danger stalked Eliza, the villainous actions and turmoil added to the dramatic aspect.
Since I have been intrigued by archeology for a very long time, this series fueled my interest and satisfied my thirst for knowledge of this topic.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*

What a great book series discovery! Kimberley Woodhouse grand finale, A Hope Unburied, was definitely worth the wait! You'll want to read The Secrets Beneath and Set in Stone before this one. All 3 are definitely worth the read! This book was provided by the author, publisher and NetGalley for me to read andoffer my honest opinion.

The last novel in the Treasures of the Earth series and it was just as good as the other two! Eliza Mills continues to pursue her passion in paleontology and has worked hard to achieve what she has. When she is offered the chance of a lifetime and to head out west to help at the Dinosaur National Monument, she can hardly believe it. She quickly learns that Utah is a very different place from the city and it seems there are some who are not happy she is there. Struggling to settle in, she often reaches out to her childhood friend Devin for guidance and asking him to come visit her. But not only has trouble brewed out west, someone back home is not happy about the position she has gotten and feels this is the perfect time to sabotage all she has done. Not only does she have to prove her self and her skills, she now is up against someone who won't stop until they have achieved ruining Eliza's career. As Devin gets wrapped up in all that is happening to Eliza, he knows he will do anything to help her keep her reputation. They must work together to figure out who to trust and prove the truth of everything that has happened. Another well written novel and I really loved learning how involved Carnegie was with paleontology. Thank you to the author for allowing me to be a part of the launch team and for the complementary novel. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

3 Stars

This is the third book in the series and a fairly good read, although there was some stuff that could definitely have been put better.
                       .........
Negative Content

Many mentions of a young woman wearing pants and wondering why others think that its not becoming for a lady to wear pants.

A person refers to older men as old geezers.

A woman who is visiting a new-to-her church is nervous about the fact that her dress and hat are much fancier then the other women's, but then thinks that she was in church where every one was equal before God, and thinks that it didn't matter what one wore, right?
She later thinks that she'd heard of these fire-and-brimstone preachers but hadn’t experienced one firsthand. Her ears ached from the tirade of not giving in to sin, keeping their homes in order, and not associating with those of no faith.

A grandmother thinks that her granddaughter would feel the need to scream at the heavens and vent her grief when she heard of a family member's death.

A few mentions of a bad guy poisoning her cruel husband and some others to death.

A woman says that she missed wearing pants, and a man thinks that he missed her wearing pants too, not that he'd say that out loud, but then tell himself to stop it.

It mentions a woman thinks that the morning sun wasn’t nearly as brutal as it had been the past few days. Of course, that might be because she had finally gotten her wish and had donned her favorite pair of men’s pants. The shirt was long, almost to her knees, but that seemed a bit more decent since there were sure to be other men around. Exposing her legs for everyone to see wouldn’t be good. Devin had seen her in trousers for years. He’d probably seen her in her undergarments when they were children, although she couldn’t remember for certain. They had spent lots of time in the swimming pond behind Mills Manor as kids.

A man says that perhaps he and a woman could read The Odyssey, and even Hamlet while he was there.

While riding in a horse buggy, a man is talking to a woman he likes, and he patted her knee, and later on at a different time patted her knee again, meaning it in a encouraging way, but he should not have touched her knee.
                   ................
Language:
The word tarnation is used once.

Fool is thought and spoken several times.

A mention of a bad man having marched around what he thought of as the "God-forsaken desert landscape" to work off his temper.

Trigger Warnings-
A mention of a bad man drinking whiskey.

A mention of someone holding up a glass of wine.

              ...........................

This book was pretty good and had some good parts to it, but it did have parts that knocked the rating down some.
One thing that I did like about it was that it had the lyrics to some church hymns that was something I haven't really seen much but was nice to see.
I received a complimentary e-book from Bethany House Publishers through Netgalley through LibraryThing and was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts above are my own.

"You’re clearly brilliant and successful. But you have put entirely too much pressure on yourself. We all do it. We put ourselves in a place where we think we have to orchestrate our own lives. As if we are the masters of our destiny and not in the hand of the living God who loves us and knows what is best for us.”

4 stars for this read!

I know I say this rather often, but I really love this book cover! Regardless of the adage "don't judge a book by it's cover" gorgeous covers are one of the first things that make me consider requesting or reading a book.

Is it tastefully done, is it modest, is it intriguing? All those aspects a role in picking my next read. Really, all the covers in this series have been quite lovely, kudos to the artists behind their design!

Content- not much here to report thankfully. :)

Language: the word fool is used a few times.

Trigger warnings: death, a villain drinks whiskey.

This read is a nice conclusion to a cool series that touched on paleontology, the study of dinosaurs. I loved the real historical characters that were effortlessly blended into the story, as well as the behind the scenes info in the back of the book that told more about the time period, the scientists and how this book came into being.

"A Hope Unburied" kept me intrigued and on the edge of my seat. While I kind of hate to see the series end, I eagerly look forward to the writer's next works.

Thank you to Bethany House Publishers for the complimentary e-book I received to review through Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and the thoughts above are my own.

Fantastic conclusion to the Treasures of the Earth series. Ms. Woodhouse has transported her readers to the days of the Bone Wars and then the early days of the Dinosaur National Monument. She has written about a time on our nation's history that I knew little about. Her research is skillfully woven throughout the story, highlighting quotes of real-life paleontologist, Earl Douglas at the beginning of each chapter.

A Hope Unburied's heroine Eliza Mills comes from a life of privilege, yet is happiest digging for fossils in the dirt. She travels west as a representative for Andrew Carnegie's museum, her role to educate the visitors to what would become the Dinosaur National Monument. She quickly finds criticism and danger on multiple fronts, as more than one 'villian' seeks to subvert her work. I love the fact that Ms. Woodhouse allows the reader to occasionally read part of the story from the villain's POV.

Eliza's struggle with how her love of science fit with her love with the Creator is woven seamlessly throughout the story. This is the time when the debate between faith and science took a national stage. Her journey of faith was heartwarming, as she sought God's direction for her path in life.

I adored the friends-to-more romance that left me smiling as I turned the last page.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.