🏝️🏴‍☠️💗 “To Treasure an Heiress” (The Secrets of the Isles #2) (2022) 💗🏴‍☠️ 🏝️ – Book Review

 

MY REVIEW

 

 

Series: The Secrets of the Isles (Book #2)

Paperback: 384 Pages

Publisher: Revell (January 3, 2022)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0764237195

ISBN-13: 978-0764237195

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

“1906

 

Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. Now, after stumbling across an old collection of letters and a map buried on her family’s property, she’s found more adventure than she ever anticipated in the hunt for pirate treasure. But in order to discover where the clues lead, she must search alongside Lord Sheridan, a man she finds insufferable.

 

Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interests pique his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth’s search connects with one of his far-removed pirate ancestors, he can’t help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.

 

As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But which treasure will bring the greatest surprise–the one they find in each other or the one just out of their reach?”

 

Thank you in advance to the publisher, Bethany House (a division of Baker Books), for providing a complimentary review copy through the author’s launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.

A year ago, I participated in a Bookstagram tour featuring the author’s standalone title Dreams of Savannah. I hadn’t yet read it when the chance to join her launch team for THE SECRETS OF THE ISLES came around.

 

I was so happy to be accepted to the launch team for The Nature of a Lady. And, I will admit, having never read the author’s work, I was a bit intimidated when the book arrived. It was over 370 pages for just the story. Once I dove in, I was so happy!

 

What drew me into the first book was the allure of pirate treasure, mistaken identity, a missing person, interconnected characters, and romance. It definitely had an element reminding me of a cleaner Pirates of the Caribbean. This definitely keeps the theme going and gets the four main characters (Libby, Oliver, Beth, and Sheridan) a step closer to the Mucknell treasure.

 

I knew it was going to be the first of a three (3) book series. It’s always good to know going in that you will have to invest more time for future novels. The cover for this was revealed back in June 2021. I have to admit, it is gorgeous, but not as stunning as book #1. I do wonder what book #3 (the final book) will look like.

 

As a result, To Treasure an Heiress picks up a WEEK after The Nature of a Lady ends. I would definitely suggest that before opening the pages to this gem – read the first book. It helps set the stage for the characters and story because this is NOT a standalone read. It definitely need some introduction to it.

 

The returning characters from book #1 (To Treasure a Lady):

 

🏝️ Lady Elizabeth “Libby” Sinclair

🏝️ Oliver Tremayne

🏝️ Elizabeth “Beth” Tremayne

🏝️ Lord Sheridan (Theodore Howe)

🏝️ Lord Telford (Bram)

🏝️ Mabena Moon (recently engaged to Casek Wearne)

🏝️ Casek Wearne

🏝️ Lady Emily Scofield

🏝️ Mrs. Tremayne (Mamm-wynn, Cornish for grandmother)

🏝️ Nigel Scofield

🏝️ Lord Scofield (Nigel’s father)

 

A few new characters are added, or have more prominent feature in this book:

 

🏝️ Ainsley (Sheridan’s Valet)

🏝️ Collins (Telford’s valet)

🏝️ Mrs. Dawe (Senara’s mother)

🏝️ Tas-gwyn (Senara’s father)

🏝️ Senara Dawe (former Governess for the Tremayne children)

🏝️ Rory Smithfield (someone Senara is connected to, and Ainsley’s cousin)

🏝️ Millicent Howe (one of Theo’s sisters)

🏝️ Abigail Howe (one of Theo’s sisters)

🏝️ Tommie Briggs (Emily’s attendant)

 

There are also other minor characters as well. So, yes, this has a LARGE cast of characters. As I had read the first book, I was definitely familiar with them. I would suggest that a cast of characters be included or accessible somewhere.

 

Other than the prologue; this is told from Beth, Sheridan, and Senara’s POV.

 

Like the first book, the prologue refers back to the pirate era. This time it is a Prince Rupert (who is working with Mucknell) who is saying goodbye to his wife, Briallen. He leaves her a trinket box along with mention of a treasure.

 

After the prologue, this opens with Beth safely at home and Mamm-wynn feeling better a week after falling ill. As of note, her “illness” isn’t revealed. And, the older gal seems to be a bit more “with it” than she was in the first book. Readers of the first book will note Mamm-wynn was a bit “off”. She was either batty, senile, or had some psychic ability. I’m going with the psychic ability for now.

 

Sheridan and Beth are talking about the treasure and he wants to see her notes. He accuses him of being a thief because of having her trinket box in his possession. He bought it from the Scofields who stolen it from Beth during an “appraisal”. The trinket box becomes a running joke throughout the story, even up until the end.

 

Sheridan himself is an interesting man. He has decided that Libby wasn’t suited for him and wastes no time in getting over her. She’s clearly smitten and good for Oliver. And, the man’s obsession with Pride and Prejudice is almost amusing. I’ve never seen the movies or read the book, but I’ve heard a lot about it.

 

Senara Dawe is heading home after a scandal leaves her with no “position” (job). She’s waiting for Rory to come for her. Right off I had a bad feeling about him.

 

There is little time for the characters to reflect on their personal lives. They’re determined to find the treasure. They take to looking through papers they’ve found in the Tremayne attic.

 

The group notes the same key phrase between the Mucknell and Rupert letters – “the key to your future”. Senara wears a key passed down from her paternal grandfather.

 

The group is slightly divided on their goals:

 

🛑 Stopping Nigel – Oliver, Telford, Libby, and Emily

 💎🪙Finding the Treasure – Beth and Sheridan (naturally those two would agree)

 

Sheridan observes that Beth’s mother’s stories might be an “oral tradition” about the goings-on in the Scillies and thus might be more historical fact than fiction. And, it might provide clues in their search. Naturally they believe the treasure has to exist if both Mucknell and Rupert were leading their wives to it. Though it is a wonder it hasn’t been found in 256 years.

 

Beth and Sheridan decide to make an exploration to one of the islands. There, they encounter Nigel. Of course, chaos ensues. This leads to one of Telford’s FUNNIEST lines – “Sher! Crikey. You look like secondhand death”. I’m still laughing at that.

 

Rory shows up. At first Senara thinks it is to fulfill his promise to her after she has lost her position. Only, he needs money. He tries to get Senara to provide him with information about the treasure hunt. Turns out, he’s in with Nigel. Rory definitely shows his true colors. He doesn’t even try to hide who he is or what he wants, even from his own cousin.  

 

Knowing that Nigel is involved, the group tries to get Briggs to talk with the Scofield staff. Emily can’t be a source of information as her parents have cast her aside from the first book and the truth about Nigel.

 

I truly love how Sheridan stood up and offered protection and employment for those who might get into trouble. And, Ainsley finally tells Sheridan about Rory’s involvement. True to his word, Sheridan arranges protection for Ainsley’s family.

 

It becomes clear to the group that Nigel is indeed a debaucherous fellow with no care who gets hurt in his wake.

 

The group begins piecing together the story as well as the clues to lead them where the treasure should be. They also learn that there are more “family” connections than they first realized. And, the reader gets to meet the sisters that Sheridan is talking about.

 

I had to laugh about Sheridan and his marriage proposals to Beth, along with his thoughts of dragging their “relationship” out. Some of his private commentary was laugh-out-loud funny. I also love his candid response to Beth’s story where she refers to him as Sheri-Doom. He takes it in stride and provides some adjectives to accurately describe him. One of his proposed adjectives had me laughing – dastardly. Dastardly Sheri-Doom? Can we get a story about him? Perhaps as a swashbuckling pirate?

 

I went from despising him in the first book, to absolutely adoring him in this one. Telford, Libby’s brother, wasn’t too much of an issue either which was surprising given how he treated Libby in the first book.

 

Sheridan’s sisters definitely were a riot. I loved their connection to “George” which seemingly comes in handy. They also were smitten with Beth and referred to Sheridan as a dunce if he didn’t have feelings for her. Did I mention this had some humor to it?

 

Ainsley is definitely another character altogether. He definitely makes a mention of praying for his master. And, it is interesting to note that Sheridan isn’t exactly a heathen. Sheridan simply doesn’t like the sanitized Christianity that society embraces.

 

Ainsley truly comes through for Senara who has a slightly “open-end” here. Not a major cliffhanger, but I would like to know how her story is going to conclude as there is some “hint” of who she might end up with. I loved what Ainsley told her regarding her past – “mud does not make a pearl any less valuable” in reference to our sins and salvation. That was a “grab the tissues” moment for certain. And, I REALLY hope the author comes back to Senara and Ainsley in book #3.

 

And, we’re also going to have to wait for the conclusion to Nigel Scofield’s devious scheming.

 

To give you an idea of how fascinating this was – I ended up reading 133 pages in a three (3) hour period. Of course, I was in the middle of other things. But, I really didn’t want to race right through it either. I have to admit it had a lot more humor in it. Watching Beth and Sheridan’s “romance” and “courting” was a delicious delight that was as sweet as candy.

 

This is every bit as exciting as the first book. Adventure, romance, and treasure hunting – what more could a girl want? Her trinket box, obviously. The short chapters, engaging and often humorous dialogue (even Sheridan’s thoughts), and descriptive elements clearly keep this story going even right up to the end.

 

Despite it arriving when I was in the middle of another book, I still kept gravitating to this one and couldn’t stop prying it open to peek. I will admit that I have read more than one book at a time. But, I do better when I am in a monogamous relationship with a single book.

 

Bethany House Fiction, like others connected to Baker Books, is a primarily Christian/faith-themed publisher. This will have strong references to God and mentions of scripture. They are not a central theme, but definitely related to it.

 

I got a sneak peek at book #3 and I CANNOT wait for it to come out.  

 

Fans of the author, those who enjoy a clean pirate/treasure adventure, as well as those who read the first book – won’t want to miss this one. In the meantime, IF I have the time … I’ll probably read Dreams of Savannah.

 

RATING:

 

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

Other books in the series: 

Series: The Secrets of the Isles (Book #1)

Paperback: 384 pages

Publisher: Bethany House (May 4, 2021) 

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0764237187

ISBN-13: 978-0764237188

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“1906

Lady Elizabeth "Libby" Sinclair, with her love of microscopes and nature, isn't favored in society. She flees to the beautiful Isles of Scilly for the summer and stumbles into the dangerous secrets left behind by her holiday cottage's former occupant, also named Elizabeth, who mysteriously vanished.

Oliver Tremayne--gentleman and clergyman--is determined to discover what happened to his sister, and he's happy to accept the help of the girl now living in what should have been Beth's summer cottage . . . especially when he realizes it's the curious young lady he met briefly two years ago, who shares his love of botany and biology. But the hunt for his sister involves far more than nature walks, and he can't quite believe all the secrets Beth had been keeping from him.

As Libby and Oliver work together, they find ancient legends, pirate wrecks, betrayal, and the most mysterious phenomenon of all: love.”

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling her two children, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.roseannamwhite.com.

 

 

You can also find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwhite/ 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite

 

*This post contains affiliate links