BURIED TREASURES

BURIED TREASURES                                     MARY MANNERS

When Caroline flees Chicago following the brutal murder of her husband, the last thing she expects-or wants-is to fall for Matt Carlson, a builder with strong roots in the small town of Mountainview, Tennessee. She needs to focus on raising her six-year-old daughter and protecting both their hearts from ever being shattered again. Matt is struggling with issues of his own...guilt over the death of his wife and the responsibility of raising a cynical teenaged nephew who is dropped on his doorstep, abandoned by Matt's alcoholic sister. He doesn't have time to fall in love, yet he can't help being drawn to the woman who is ready to defend her home-and her daughter-with nothing more than a feisty attitude and a broom handle. Can Matt's help and friendship convince Caroline to trust again...and when Caroline's daughter goes missing, will Matt be able to find the girl before it's too late and he loses everything he loves...again?

MY REVIEW:

This is a Christian based book but one that doesn’t beat you over the head with it, every other word.  This deals with real life situations and issues you are.  Most of all believable.

     Caroline La Fofollette a widow and a young mother of a five-year-old girl Callie.  They move from Chicago to Mountainview, Tenn.  When her aunt Nora passes away and leaves her the old home and pond on the property to she finally decides to move when the trial for her murdered husband is about to begin.  She’s glad to have it because she doesn’t think she can handle the trial.

     You see her husband was murdered in their home church.  Although, her faith in God had not failed but her faith in those that managed his house sure had because the lock for the door had been busted for a long time and the person that was to fix it did not have experience and because of that lock a thief was able to get in and killed her husband.

     This is a book about faith more so than religion. And about moving forward after tragic losses.  You see Matt Carlson lost his wife Mandy and their unborn child in a car accident.  It had been two years for him.  He was now caring for his soon to be sixteen-year-old nephew, Paul.  Who was filled with resentments toward his alcoholic mother who abandoned him.  She is Matt’s sister.  Making things touchy for Matt.

     The two, Matt and Caroline, had hurdles to face and emotions to overcome.  After their first unsteady meet and greet friendships grew.  A faith in God just not in his four walls at first.  Once that was overcome things started to gel.  Until, Matt could understand the puzzle pieces that solved why she was retreating emotionally.  They were estranged after getting to the dating phase of the relationship then she wanted nothing.  See if he can solve it.  Or if God had a way of putting the puzzle piece to use.

     I give this 5++++ stars.  Provided by netgalley.com  Follow us at: www.1rad-readerreviews.com.