Lady of a Thousand Treasures (2018) — A TLC Book and Instagram Tour

This review is posted as part of TLC‘s book tour for Lady of a Thousand Treasures.

About the Book

Title: Lady of a Thousand Treasures (The Victorian Ladies #1)

Hardcover: 464 Pages

Released Date: October 9, 2018

Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry–the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust–who in her life is false or true, brass or gold–and what is meant to be treasured.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About the Author

Sandra Byrd’s first series of historically sound Gothic romances launched with the best-selling Mist of Midnight, which earned a coveted Editor’s Choice Award from the Historical Novel Society. The second book, Bride of a Distant Isle, has been selected by Romantic Times as a Top Pick. The third in the series, A Lady in Disguise, was named by the American Library Association’s Booklist as one of the Top Ten Inspirational Fiction Books of the year.

Her contemporary adult fiction debut, Let Them Eat Cake, was a Christy Award finalist, as was her first historical novel, To Die For: A Novel of Anne Boleyn. To Die For was also named a Library Journal Best Books of the Year Pick, as was The Secret Keeper: A Novel of Kateryn Parr.

Victorian Ladies, a new series, offers its first title, Lady of a Thousand Treasures, in 2018.

Connect with Sandra

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

My Thoughts

Oh my goodness did I LOVE Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd. I had never heard of this author before I was asked to read and review her lovely book. I can tell you that I now may be one of Byrd’s biggest fans! I adored everything about this book: the plot is highly engaging, the pace is quick (I could not put this book down!), the mystery kept me guessing, the characters are rich, unique, and realistic, the attention to historical detail and accuracy is flawless, and the many themes are timely. I truly loved every moment in this story.

Eleanor has been surrounded by treasures her entire life, yet she feels as if she has never been a treasure to anyone. This aspect of the story absolutely broke my heart and endeared Eleanor to me in a very personal and relatable way. At one point, Eleanor reflects, “Treasures are to treasure … I am never kept. Prioritized. Valued above all. In the end, I am no one’s treasure.” Feeling as if you matter to no one is exceptionally painful. In my household growing up it was made abundantly clear that I would always play second fiddle to my younger brothers. I will not say that my parents loved my brothers more than me, but I can say, like Eleanor, I did not feel like I was a priority. Over time, this created in me a build up of resentment, anger, and envy. I did feel unnoticed and unloved. I was definitely no one’s treasure.

One day, in a discussion with my step-father, we talked about my low status on the family totem pole. He acknowledged that how I felt was accurate. When I asked why he and my mother prioritized me so low, he simply stated, “Because you are self-sufficient. We don’t need to worry about you.” He proceeded to explain that my brothers were prioritized above me because they needed so much handling, they needed so much hand-holding. I’ve always found this such an interesting thing to admit to a child, but I appreciated the honesty. This conversation helped push me closer to God and His Word. If I couldn’t be a priority to my parents here on earth because my brothers needed so much attention, I knew I could be a priority to my Heavenly Father. And this is one of my biggest takeaways from Lady of a Thousand Treasures — I may not be a treasure here on earth, but to the Creator of this earth, I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I am a treasure to the only Treasure Collector who truly matters.

Harry, the hero of Lady of a Thousand Treasures, hurt my heart too! It is very clear that Harry has never been the favored child in his household either. His deceased brother Arthur was the cherished son to their father, Lord Lydney. I felt really badly for Harry as he is belittled and ridiculed by his father even after his father has died. What I appreciate about Harry’s character is that he is kind, compassionate, loving, respectful, and loyal even while he is being mistreated by his father. I respect this characteristic so much. It is in my nature to want to scream at the mean people in my life. It is, unfortunately, not in my nature to want to serve and respect them. Harry’s character is a great reminder to me that I need to be more like Jesus towards those who hurt me even when I feel they deserve my scorn. As Roseanna M. White wrote in her blog recently, I need to #BeBetter!

Lady of a Thousand Treasures is a phenomenal read that I highly recommend. It was a blessing to me to get to read and review such a fine, deep, and exquisite novel. If you are looking for a well-written, excellently researched, highly engaging Christian Gothic Romance then I highly suggest purchasing a copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures today. You will not be disappointed by this story — it’s amazing!

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author via NetGalley through TLC Book Tours. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

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Review Tour Stops

Monday, October 8th: Broken Teepee

Tuesday, October 9th: Write Read Life

Wednesday, October 10th: Book by Book

Thursday, October 11th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Monday, October 15th: A Bookish Way of Life

Tuesday, October 16th: The Christian Fiction Girl

Tuesday, October 16th: Laura’s Reviews

Wednesday, October 17th: From the TBR Pile

Thursday, October 18th: Reflections from my Bookshelf

Monday, October 22nd: @ladyofthelibrary

Monday, October 22nd: Blooming with Books

Tuesday, October 23rd: Amy’s Book-et List

Wednesday, October 24th: @girlandherbooks

Thursday, October 25th: Splashes of Joy

Friday, October 26th: View from the Birdhouse

Monday, October 29th: What is that Book About

Tuesday, October 30th: Bookworm for Kids

Thursday, November 1st: Reader’s Cozy Corner

Friday, November 2nd: The Lit Bitch

Instagram Tour Stops

Monday, October 8th: @createexploreread

Tuesday, October 9th: @dropandgivemenerdy

Tuesday, October 9th: @theshybooks

Wednesday, October 10th: @theliterearybirds

Thursday, October 11th: @acozyreader

Friday, October 12th: @kim_reads

Friday, October 12th: @thecaffeinated_bibliophile

Saturday, October 13th: @mountain_reader_

Sunday, October 14th: @girlsinbooks