Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep is an interesting look at Egyptian archeology and the lengths one woman would take to protect them.

In 1888, Ami Dalton strived to make a name for herself in Egyptology. She surpasses most of the men she interacts with in intelligence, despite being looked down upon because of her gender. In her quest to prove herself, she takes on the secret identity of The Shadow Broker, rescuing valuable artifacts from illegal trade.

When Edmund Price recruits her to appraise his Egyptian antiquities collection, he is astonished by her lack of knowledge regarding his reputation as Oxford’s most sought-after bachelor. While Ami continues to evaluate Edmund’s collection, odd incidents unfold, and unsurprisingly, they develop an attraction for each other.

Despite enjoying Ami’s banter with Edmund, I found the novel quite predictable. I knew from the outset that one character was not who he said he was and I figured out the end way before I should have.

That said, I enjoyed this book, the faith element in it, and the minor obstacles the characters had to endure. If you are a Michelle Griep fan, I know you will enjoy this book!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through NetGalley for my honest review.

A female Egyptologist in Victorian England is not something you see every day. Ignoring traditional roles and popular opinion, Ami steals the show in this clean romantic mystery with an ending you will not see coming.
I loved this adventure, with a unique set of characters. You never know what is going to happen next. I could picture Ami’s outlandish gowns and the looks on others’ faces when they saw her. Edmund is every girl’s dream no matter what century you live in, and together they are just perfect. Several antagonists provide just the right amount of conflict and it is so satisfying to see them finally put in their place.
While the cover is beautiful, something feels missing to me. It seems like it could be used for any Victorian Era historical fiction. I would have loved to see Ami’s peacock feather dress there. And while the story moved along well, it felt slow at times, until the last quarter which hugely picked up the pace. I can usually read a book in about 3 days, but this one took me 6 days. For some reason, I just could not get through more than a chapter or 2 in one sitting.
Even still, I love historical fiction, and I loved that this one had a strong female lead who was way ahead of her time. Overall I enjoyed this novel and look forward to whatever surprises await in book 2.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I ADORED this story! I absolutely love how quirky and different the heroine was. Ami is definitely a refreshing character--full of charm and independence that many in her time wouldn't have had. It's the whole (realistic) reason why she caught Edmund's eye.
And Edmund--he's the perfect cinnamon roll hero that was full of charm and charisma.
The plot was well-researched and extremely entertaining.
A great story, and lovely writing!

I expected this to be a book I read for an hour here and there. Instead, I found myself reading it in 2 sittings. This is more a romance than anything else but is well written. It is blessedly free of gratuitous sex scenes.
There are a few places where I questioned the story (how does a young woman become acquainted with the underworld character necessary to become a shadow broker) but my biggest difficulty was the values of money. The values were historically accurate but I lacked the reference to make the leap.

A delightful and intriguing story that captured my imagination and drew me with the development of the story. Thoroughly enjoyable and very easy reading.

Michelle Griep again marvels her readers with a new page-turner, Of Gold and Shadows, first in her new series, Time's Lost Treasures. Filled with adventure, mystery, danger, and romance, Griep, a master storyteller of Victorian historical Christian romance, will transport you into the world of Egyptology and the underbelly realm surrounding it in this captivating story set in 1888 Oxford, England.

Ami Dalton, struggling to be recognized as an Egyptologist in a field dominated by men, has an alter-ego by night, the Shadow Broker. She tangles with cut throats, trying to save black-market artifacts, but will this endeavor cause her demise in the end? Or will the most eligible bachelor in Oxford, Edmund Price, who recently acquired several crates of Egyptian artifacts, and hired Ami to appraise them rescue her?

Of Gold and Shadows, an action-packed adventure story, with mystery, curses, villains, sweet romance, a touch of humor, and faith undertones, is a marvelous beginning to this series. Michelle Griep’s spellbinding prose is sure to delight her readers as they become immersed into the new worlds of her Time’s Lost Treasures stories. Highly recommend and cannot wait to return to Victorian England with Michelle Griep for my next adventure with her astounding characters.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Bethany House via Net Galley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own.

What a fun read! This book has a little bit of everything! Mystery, suspense, romance and humor! And, a surprise ending! If you are looking for a nice clean read…this is your book! Don’t miss Michelle Griep’s latest “Of Gold and Shadows”! You won’t be disappointed!

Master storyteller Michelle Griep delivers another outstanding literary gift with Of Gold and Shadows. The captivating plot with unexpected, well-placed twists, mysterious happenings, and a surprising revelation kept me glued to the pages and “burning the midnight oil”! I was immersed in the “feels” of the story by the vividly sketched Victorian era settings. Whether cataloguing and pricing ancient Egyptian antiquities at Price Manor or shadow brokering in London’s menacing Angel Alley, danger and intrigue abound. The characters are well-crafted and believable. I love eccentric young heroine Ami and dashing hero Edmund. A bit of sweet romance and a gentle faith thread add interest and inspiration to the story. I totally enjoyed this well-researched, entertaining read and highly recommend it. The sneak peak of the next Time’s Lost Treasures offering is a pleasing bonus, and I look forward to reading Eva’s story.
I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publisher through Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep is a Egyptian historical mystery with a hint of romance. Readers will love how Gripe captures the world of a female Egyptian scholar and how she can't wait to shine and be able to value a bunch of artifacts. While the hero, Edmund Price, is shown as someone all the women fall for when readers are first introduced to him, Gripe does a wonderful job at allowing Ami, the heroine, to see past all that. She sees his flaws and slowly starts to look forward to this little quirks to make him more realistic in her eyes. The setting comes to live. Readers will enjoy how much time and detail Griep spends in her descriptions of the Price Manor. I loved visiting her and watching Ami and Edmund begin to develop something deeper. As for the plot, I loved the concept of cursed artifacts that had a response on the whole house. Griep also wrote a mystery into the plot that I actually enjoyed reading. Overall, Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep was a delightful Egyptian tale of valuing artifacts and oneself all set in a London Manor. I can't wait to own the physical copy.

I received a complimentary copy Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep from Bethany House Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

What a delightful historical read this was! It was the perfect blend of mystery and romance, all with a fantastic Victorian England setting. Ami's character absolutely drew me in. When it comes to women in historical fiction, I love those characters that break the mold of what was expected of women in those times--- particularly when it comes to their unique career choices. Having always thought ancient Egypt was rather fascinating anyway, I was definitely drawn into her being an Egyptologist. I thought she and Edmund were perfectly matched, and I enjoyed their sweet romance... but it was definitely the hint of mystery that kept me captivated by this story--- what with the threat of a curse and all! The story had lots of twists and turns... and just when I thought it was all sorted out, something else unexpected happened! It certainly kept me guessing right through to the end! It was a fun historical adventure that I enjoyed very much. It's certainly one that Christian historical fans are sure to want to check out.

**I received a complimentary copy via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.