Like Honey for Bones

Author: Brandy Heineman
Genre: Dual-time/Mystery
Pages: 336
Release Date: July 24, 2023
Publisher: Self-Published

TWO HEARTS BROKEN ALONG THE SAME JAGGED EDGE MAKE A GRISLY DISCOVERY DEEP IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY

Present Day. Solveig Borja fled Virginia to escape the guilt of one reckless night, and once she settles the family estate, she’s Norway-bound and never looking back. Meanwhile, Kyle Benton has come seeking asylum from past sins—which Solveig shatters even as their hopeless romance blooms. But when they discover a skeleton at Rice Caverns, its century-old mystery holds startling links to the here-and-now.

1919. The Great War is won. Gussie Rice longs for her beau's return from France, until she learns he’s confined at a stateside hospital and her closest confidant is part of the secret. Her bid for love sparks a confrontation that ricochets through time...

Bad blood and escalating threats swirl around Solveig, and Kyle’s new life proves no haven from the old with his brother's killer trolling the shadows. As the past rears up, the cavern’s hidden places beckon with power to light their hope or to swallow them in utter darkness.

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Reviewer: Paula Shreckhise

Suspenseful and intriguing, this is the kind of dual-time story that delivers in its uniqueness.

After her grandfather dies, Solveig travels from Norway to settle his estate. She finds it a daunting task, going through things that bring back memories of her childhood. But after meeting Kyle Burton, things take a different twist. Kyle is looking for a fresh start after committing his life to Christ.

This author skillfully meshes two timelines—the present and 1912 Virginia—in a tantalizing way. Mysterious things become clear once the digging for historical records commences and connections are made in a surprising way. It only adds to the suspense as Kyle plays a dangerous game in order to avenge his brother. The romance develops slowly in the present, while in the past it is tangled. The faith thread is authentic and inspirational.

A new-to-me author that I will definitely be reading again.

A complimentary copy of this ebook was provided by the author through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

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Reviewer: Lori Parrish

An excellent dual timeline that I really enjoyed seeing come together. My favorite, however, was the past story. There were too many interesting things going on that kept me turning the pages.

It took me a couple of days to finish this story because I wanted to savor it. It's a treat coming from this author because I rarely see her in print, so you know that you're getting something special. I've read her before, and I loved her other books. She's great!

Wonderful characters with an excellent plotline that I enjoyed. This story shows that secrets never stay hidden. Eventually, they do resurface, and when they do, sometimes it's not all good either! My favorite were the faith-filled themes scattered throughout this book. I liked how Solveig and Kyle worked towards forgiveness, which is the big theme of this story. Forgiveness brings peace to yourself, if nothing else.

My second favorite was the mystery part. I happily give this story five stars for keeping my interest all the way through. I highly recommend it!

My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Reviewer: Anna Bottoms

This dual timeline book has everything I love to see in a good Christian fiction book—romance, self-discovery, a mystery that spans generations—what more could I ask?

Solveig has come from Norway to the US to settle her grandfather’s estate. Memories take her on an emotional journey, stirring up old hurts escalated by vandals who can’t forget her biggest mistake, a clue leading to secrets, and a skeleton long buried in a cavern.

Kyle is a man living the consequences of old mistakes, seeking justice or perhaps revenge for his brother’s death, and walking a new life of faith, not perfectly but forgiven. He feels drawn to Solveig and finds a way to help her deal with her grandfather’s death. Along the way, his past battles with his new feelings for her. What choice will he make when he must choose the man he will become? As they seek answers to the mystery of who died in the cavern and why, we travel back in time, stepping into the lives of Gussie Rice and Harvey Englewood, two friends who could be more.

The book is well paced, but I found the beginning bogged down a bit with information I couldn’t connect. This made me hesitant to continue on, but I’m glad I did. The mystery drew me into the story as I tried to unravel the clues. The book was engaging, and I loved the overall story.

I was given a copy courtesy of the author through Interviews & Reviews. This is my honest opinion of the book.

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