A HOPE UNBURIED by Kimberley Woodhouse
SERIES: Treasures of the Earth #3
GENRE: Historical Romance/Suspense (Christian)
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: September 24, 2024
PAGES: 320

Beyond the perilous landscape lies a love that defies extinction. . . .

In the bustling world of paleontology in 1916, Eliza Mills defies societal expectations to pursue her passion. Having published her early groundbreaking papers under a false name, she has finally earned her place at the Carnegie Museum and seizes the opportunity to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. But things in Jensen, Utah, aren’t what they appear. When Eliza gets the chance to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history, it sparks a chain of events that will rock the very fabric of her carefully constructed world.

Devin Schmitt, Eliza’s closest friend since childhood, harbors unspoken feelings for her but knows he will never be able to win her heart. Just as he vows to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. He reluctantly agrees, and within a few days of his arrival, he and Eliza find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they ever anticipated. Together, Devin and Eliza must hold on to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal to unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail.

Other Books In This Series

Kimberley Woodhouse has given readers such a wonderful series in her Treasures of the Earth trilogy, and I am kinda sad to see it end and to say goodbye to Earl Douglass whose profound quotes have begun each chapter in each book. I had never heard of this man (who sacrificed much for his love of paleontology and his dream of bringing their history to life for generations to come) before reading The Secrets Beneath and now as I close the page on A Hope Unburied I feel as though Mr. Douglass and I have become friends of a sort. A brilliant story choice for Woodhouse as a way to not only unite all three standalone books but also to give readers a glimpse into this fascinating, real-life historic figure.

So far in this series, we’ve been in the late 1800s Wyoming and Colorado, but A Hope Unburied takes us ahead a few years to 1916 and from the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pennsylvania to the Dinosaur National Monument in Utah. The author’s research is meticulous, and the way she weaves it into the plot and the characters kept me entertained and deeply invested in both. The history that Woodhouse uses to frame this series has intrigued me in each book, but it really came alive for me in this one – not only the intriguing finds in paleontology but also the struggle of women to find respect and a place in the male-dominated sciences (as in many other fields), the growing unrest between science and religion, the technological/educational/scientific advances, etc.

Ohhhhh did someone say ‘friends to more’?!?! Yes, that’s right, A Hope Unburied involves my very favorite romantic trope and I couldn’t be happier about it. Eliza and Devin are instantly lovable characters, flaws and quirks (Eliza’s hats! lol) and all, and oh be still my heart… Devin is such a fantastic hero. Steady, patient, and a man of faith and integrity, he had me solidly in his corner from our very first encounter. And Eliza… her spiritual journey in this story so touched me, especially finding her worth in Jesus alone and embracing who He created her to be. I haven’t even touched on the mystery/suspense elements to this story yet, but suffice it to say that they kept me glued to the pages too. A ‘haunted’ ranch, legalistic protestors (Woodhouse does a fabulous job showing the contrast between people who love religion and people who love Jesus), sabotage, smear campaigns, murder… just when I thought I knew where it was going, something else happened to make me question everything.

Bottom Line: A Hope Unburied by Kimberley Woodhouse is everything I love about historical romance and suspense – wonderful characters, intriguing history, diabolical villain(s), and sweet romance, plus the added bonus of a story full of faith. Thanks to Eliza and her groundbreaking work for the museum, we also get to rub shoulders with Andrew Carnegie and hang out in Earl Douglass’s dig quarry. Woodhouse excels at seamlessly combining each of the above elements at a steady pace that moves the story along and keeps readers eagerly turning the pages (while at the same time wishing they could linger just a little longer with such delightful characters). I have loved each book in the Treasures of the Earth series, but this final novel is my hands-down fave of the three. I really enjoyed Eliza and Devin and would love to revisit them a few years down the road and see where their God-given purposes and love for each other have taken them.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)

My Rating: 4.5 stars / loved it!

KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion

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Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 40-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbabies, and research all the history around them. Connect with Kimberley at her website.

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