Of Gold and Shadows - (Time's Lost Treasures) by Michelle Griep

Michelle Griep’s Of Gold and Shadows is a captivating historical fiction novel that seamlessly blends mystery, intrigue, and romance into a thrilling narrative. Set against the backdrop of Victorian England, the story follows our determined heroine, who aspires to be a respected Egyptologist. However, in 1888, that dream seems always out of her reach that is until Oxford’s most eligible bachelor hires her to appraise a shipment of ancient Egyptian treasures. What follows is an exhilarating journey filled with secrets, danger, and unexpected twists. Griep’s storytelling is masterfully crafted, keeping readers on the edge of their seats from the very first page. The themes of faith are beautifully woven into the narrative, adding depth to the plot. As a fan of romance, I found the growing relationship between Ami and Edmond to be particularly endearing. But what truly captured my attention was the fascinating world of Egyptian treasures, which enriched the story and heightened the suspense. The mystery surrounding the treasures enhanced the plot, making me eager to turn the pages. Of Gold and Shadows is an unforgettable blend of historical mystery and romance and is the perfect read for fans of adventure, ancient history, and sweet love stories with a touch of danger. Michelle Griep delivers a thrilling and satisfying read that will delight readers from start to finish. I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

“𝑰, 𝒔𝒊𝒓, 𝒂𝒎 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒖𝒆𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒐𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔, 𝒂 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒈𝒖𝒂𝒓𝒅𝒊𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒕, 𝒂 𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒃𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒇𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒔.” Loved the witty banter and the main characters’ shared interests of writing, drinking chocolate, and desire to find worth. Plus, I’m always up for a slow-burn, neither-is-looking-for-love trope A spunky, independent woman who longs to prove herself as an Egyptologist in Victorian England finds herself working for Oxford’s most eligible bachelor. Miss Ami Dalton is hired by Edmund Price to catalogue and value a shipment of Egyptian artifacts. It’s important to Ami that artifacts go to a museum instead of personal collections. In fact, she disguises herself as the Shadow Broker by night, risking harm in order to rescue stolen relics from unscrupulous brutes. The supposed curse of the golden griffin, Edmund’s annoying, secret-keeping business partner, and the growing connection between Edmund and Ami bring exciting intrigue, adventure, and romance to this Victorian mystery. Lovely faith thread and a twist that I didn’t see coming. Even though there are plenty of dangerous situations, Ami’s personality gave every encounter a lighthearted feel. Made it a fun read! Wish I could be more like this eccentric heroine. I received a complimentary paperback from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep is a fun and thrilling adventure. From the Egyptian curse to the sparking chemistry between Ami and Edumund, this story captured me from the beginning. I LOVED all the Ancient Egyptian factoids and artifacts and the spooky tales associated with the supposed curse. Yet despite the dark shadows that covered the artifacts and the evil at work on the sidelines, this story has a beautifully bright center in Ms. Ami Dalton. Her eccentricities made me ADORE her instantly. The mismatched clothes. Her focus on her work at the cost of her hairdo. Her passionate heart. Her gentle nature. And her bravado in the face of danger or ignorance made me wish I could hook my elbow through hers and take a turn about the garden. And let’s not forget the simmering chemistry between Ami and Edumund. Swoon! And as always the author does an excellent job weaving faith and inspiration through a story full of difficult and dark times. Even in the darkest corners, hope is always burning when faith is alive. Overall, I loved Of Gold and Shadows and would recommend it to any Christian historical romance fans. The characters are fantastic and the mysteries keep twisting, so hold on tight until the end!! I was given a copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I finished this book and wondered how was I going to put into words what I thought of this amazing story! I can’t deny I’m a very big fan of Michelle Griep’s books, but this one may be one of her best yet! The Victorian England era is one of my favorites, and Oxford made it particularly interesting as a setting. The plot was totally captivating, with the main female character, Ami Dalton, being a very genuine and quirky Egyptologist, who struggles with being valued in a time period where women were underestimated outside of their homes, where they were protected by their family as daughters to be married, or wives to manage a household and raising the children. Add to the plot a handsome, swoony hero, Edmund Price, who is the most eligible wealthy bachelor who has returned from India to pursue a seat in the Parliament. Edmund is searching for an Egyptologist to value his newly acquired Egyptian antiquities collection, and surprised himself by hiring the prestigious Professor’s daughter who claims to be an Egyptologist herself, and available to do the work in her father’s absence. As they work together, and get to know each other, they find out they both are much more than meets the eye, and that they may have more in common than what appearances and social status deem as opposite. I have to say I fell completely in love with the characters. Ami was outspoken, very determined and full of surprises, and had a penchant for landing herself in trouble. I loved her quirky personality and her bad taste in fashion. Edmund was a man with a huge and compassionate heart - you’ll see yourself why- and I loved how he’s immediately compelled and attracted to the first woman who doesn’t show an interest in him (or his wealth). Their relationship, as they grow from admiration to friendship to something more, was sweet and endearing. Their banter and Ami’s expressions continually made me smile. Ami’s quirkiness and selfless originality, while it may annoy others, only charmed Edmund to the core. Their romance is so tender and sweet, it made me swoon. I loved Ami’s dual character, as an Egyptologist by day, and the mysterious Shadow Broker who saved stolen antiquities to return them to their country of origin. This made the story a true adventure as she battles to strive in her double mission, which has the same passion, the love of history and culture and the desire to restore the antiquities to the place they truly belong. The villains were true and scary villains! The theme of the golden griffin who was rumored to bear the curse of Amentuk, and the strange happenings that made it more believable, made the story plot even more intriguing and engaging. The story was mysterious, adventurous, romantic, with light humor, yet deep and thought provoking. It also has a faith inspired message of trusting God and letting go of control, as well as helping the unfortunate. The writing style, that rivals classics as Jane Austen or Charles Dickens, is a masterpiece. And the description of the setting and places is so vivid that I felt transported to the era, and had no trouble letting my imagination fly. It felt realistic and well researched. This Gothic Romance is totally a gem and a must read! Believe me when I tell you that you’ll have a lot of trouble putting it down. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves Historical Romances with a dash of mystery, intrigue and adventure. I’m so happy to know this is the start of a series-Time’s Lost Treasures- and can’t wait for the next book to come out! I received an early copy of this book from the Publisher but wasn’t required to post a positive review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

A wonderfully curated collection of romance, danger, mystery, and history, Of Gold and Shadows is an absolute delight that readers simply cannot miss! This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2024, and I adored it! A spunky bluestocking Egyptologist heroine and a conscientious protective businessman hero collide when a collection of Egyptian artifacts arrives at an English countryside estate—along with a load of trouble! The romance was swoon worthy, the plot was utterly riveting, the faith arc totally inspiring, and the mystery completely surprising! You absolutely cannot miss this page-turning adventure from Michelle Griep! Thank you to Michelle Griep and Bethany House for my copy of this amazing book!

Our story begins on a damp night in July of 1888 among the gravestones at St. Sepulchre's in Oxford, England, perfectly setting the mood for this story, a story that involves someone known as the Shadow Broker who buys Egyptian antiquities in the shadows of the evening, someone no one would suspect of such stealth and secrecy, nor of being able to conduct business with disreputable dealers who came about their wares in less than scrupulous ways. In the brighter spots of Oxford, where men and women typically adhere to the rules of society, the author introduces us to two people who are not exactly typical, Ami Dalton who is a bit of an eccentric and Edmund Price who, while being Oxford's most eligible bachelor, avoids the feminine set who vie for his attention. While readers may think they know how historical romance books work, let me assure you finding out how these two get from point A to point B is a fun read with many unexpected turns of event, some hilarious, some angst-filled, and some quite dangerous. Michelle Griep always provides many hours of reading pleasure with her tales that skillfully combine intrigue, humor, and light out of darkness. Of Gold and Shadows is a delightful example of this. Fans and those new to Griep's writing will be thrilled with this first book in her Time Lost Treasures series. I am grateful to have a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Just like bees, people can accomplish so much more if they work together toward a common goal instead of insisting upon selfish ambitions. Oxford, England in 1888 was not an easy place for a woman, like Ami Dalton. After all, she had the ambition to become an Egyptologist. Women were expected to stay at home, have no opinion of their own and keep the household and the multiple children in order. Needless to say, this creates problems for Ami. Written by one of my favorite authors, this adventure is full of danger, with a touch of romance and a whole lot of learning to trust in God’s goodness. Hired to value a large shipment of artifacts, Ami starts working for Edmund Price, who hopes to become a member of the British Parliament. What follows is a fabulous story that will have you laughing out loud at times and wanting to shake someone at other times. An early copy of Time’s Lost Treasures 1 was received through Bethany House Publishers, Baker Publishing Group and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

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.