Review: Treasure Me - Christine Nolfi

Genre: Contemporary romance /mystery
Pages: 415 (ebook)
Published: April 2011
Source: For review
Review by Lis

Birdie Kaminsky has arrived in Liberty, Ohio to steal a treasure hidden since the Civil War. She’s in possession of a charming clue passed down in her family for generations: Liberty safeguards the cherished heart. The beautiful thief wants to go straight. She secretly admires the clue’s author, freedwoman Justice Postell, who rose above the horrors of slavery to build a new life in Ohio. According to family lore, Justice left South Carolina at the dawn of the Civil War. Heavy with child, she carried untold riches on her journey north. As Birdie searches for the treasure, she begins to believe a questionable part of the story: a tale of love between Justice and Lucas Postell, the French plantation owner who was Birdie’s ancestor.

If the stories are true, Justice bore a child with Lucas. Some of those black relatives might still live in town. Birdie can’t help but wonder if she’s found one—Liberty’s feisty matriarch, Theodora Hendricks, who packs a pistol and heartwarming stories about Justice. Birdie doesn’t know that an investigative reporter who has arrived in town will trip her up—as will her conscience when she begins to wonder if it’s possible to start a new life with stolen riches. Yet with each new clue she unearths, Birdie begins to discover a family history more precious than gems, a tradition of love richer than she could imagine.

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Alright, when I first got this book, I made two observations: 

1. This book has the worst cover I’ve seen in a while for a romance book

2. Damn, this story sure is long (fortunately that wasn’t a bad thing)

The title for this story has a double meaning. It’s not only about our main character seeking a long lost treasure, it’s also about seeking love and acceptance. But let’s start at the beginning. 

Treasure me is the story of Birdie Kaminsky – a petty, small time thief – who’s come to Liberty, Ohio to liberate a treasure dating back to the Civil War. Only this is not like her usual cases. For one, she’s linked to the treasure by way of ancestry and this is supposed to be her last case, ‘cause Birdie is quitting. Oh and she gets more than she’s bargained for when she meets reporter Hugh!

Overall Treasure Me is a sweet story with bits of far-fetched fiction in it. It settles around the theme of a hidden treasure that was given by a plantation owner to a slave he loved at the time of the Civil War While romantic and sweet, I found it a bit over the top. I liked Birdie and Hugh’s story a lot better. They are both interesting characters with a story to tell. 

Hugh is a reporter who sniffed out a story in Liberty and he’s a perfect match for Birdie in every way. Only where she’s a well-developed and round character, Hugh gets the raw end of the deal. His characterization left a lot to be desired for. It was almost as if the author assumed we already knew Hugh. 

Birdie is a nice character who had a troubled youth. At the beginning of the book it’s hard to sympathize with her because she’s picking pockets, plus it takes a while for the story to pick up. Though you get her story it’s nevertheless not easy to like her – it’s hard for me to understand that she thinks there’s no other way – but the author makes it work. Especially with the help of the support cast!

Boy did I ever like Theodora. She doesn’t let anything or anyone get the drop on her. She is one fierce woman. In a way she’s the opposite of Birdy. 

I liked how the family histories mingle throughout the story as well. 

All in all it’s not an easy read, as it is long, but in the end it’s worth it! It has mystery, romance, treasure hunts, what more do you want? 

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Note from Blodeuedd:

Flash fiction to come later,  I have not written it yet  EDIT HERE