 Author: Kimberley Woodhouse Genre: Historical Romance Series: Treasures of the Earth #2 Pages: 336 Release Date: March 12, 2024 Publisher: Bethany House A dangerous scheme could bury their long-held dreams forever. . . . From the time she was little, Martha Jankowski has been digging in the dirt, much to the dismay of her mother. Now she dreams of being a paleontologist and is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery. When Martha finds what she hopes to be a fully intact dinosaur skeleton--one that could win her an acclaimed exhibit--she learns another team is competing against her and could steal her chance at being recognized for this momentous discovery. Paleontology student Jacob Duncan has fulfilled his dream of digging for dinosaur bones at last. In a race against time, he and his team are bent on unearthing a complete skeleton to claim a museum exhibit with their names on it. But when Jacob meets their charming competitor Martha and uncovers foul play within his team, love and danger grow hand in hand until a menacing ruse threatens to destroy it all.
 Reviewer: Beverly Laude Kimberly Woodhouse has done a fantastic job of blending paleontology, the Bone Wars of the late 1800's, and plenty of mystery. Add in the spiritual element of the characters' faith and a bit of romance, and you have the perfect read! Martha Jankowski is determined to find a fully intact dinosaur skeleton and prove its scientific worth to her parents. She is offered a chance at a prize within the field, but she finds out that she has competition with another team digging their own set of dinosaur bones. Instead of a leisurely dig, she must hurry to beat the other team's discovery. Jacob Duncan is a paleontology student working on the competing dig, but he soon discovers that his employer is less than honest. After meeting Martha, he thinks that he has found the perfect place to continue his work. Martha is also dealing with her father's illness and her mother's insistence that she become a proper society lady while also searching for faith in God. With Jacob's friendship and his obvious faith, she might be able to accomplish many of her life's goals. The author has created a great cast of characters, and the story moves at a fast pace as the mystery unfolds and the bones start to be revealed. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well-written tale with dinosaurs, paleontology, and spiritual awakening, all with a backdrop of mystery. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.  Reviewer: Winnie Thomas With a setting in Colorado in the late 1800s, a female paleontologist who has her own dig and a sigh-worthy hero, Kimberley Woodhouse’s second book in her Treasures of the Earth series caught my attention and kept it captive. I enjoyed the history behind the story, including the Bone Wars and the finding of dinosaur bones in the Colorado/Utah area. Woodhouse has obviously researched the subject well and worked her characters and story around it carefully. I particularly enjoyed the epigraphs at the beginning of the chapters with quotes by Earl Douglass. They were inspiring and gave a little clue as to what the chapter would bring. Paleontologist Martha Jankowski is competent, passionate about dinosaur digs, and motivated to succeed in unearthing an intact dinosaur for display in a museum. Jacob Duncan is a student of paleontology and is hired by Martha to help on her dig. Jacob’s work ethic, honesty, and integrity were exemplary and contrasted greatly with some of the other characters in the tale. I enjoyed seeing their relationship change and grow as they worked together. Plenty of history, suspense, twists and turns, and inspiration combine to make this an intriguing and entertaining story. A dash of romance is added in for those who enjoy a bit of that along with their historical fiction. There are very strong inspirational elements woven throughout the story, with a focus on faith, forgiveness, and trust. The contrast between good and evil was very evident. I recommend this book to those who enjoy faith-filled historical romance. I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishing through Interviews and Reviews. All opinions are my own. Reviewer: Connie Porter Saunders The first book in the Treasures of the Earth series introduced me to the historical era known as The Bone Wars, and this second book offers another fascinating look at the science of paleontology as it was in the late 1880s. I was instantly immersed in the drama of two paleontology teams at two different dig sites competing to finish their dig first. It is a race plagued by dishonesty and shady actions, but who would believe that murder might also be possible? Set in Stone is a beautifully crafted story with amazing characters, rich historical detail, and an intriguing suspense element, but there's so much more! I loved the Colorada setting, an unlikely romance, and a deeply moving faith journey. Woodhouse shares a poignant picture of personal struggles that are overcome by forgiveness and redemption. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction! I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. Reviewer: Rick Norris Since I was a kid, I have had an interest in paleontology. I loved visiting the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles. This is why the Set in Stone setting and storyline intrigued me. Even if you don’t “dig” paleontology, I think you will like it too. Ms. Woodhouse does a wonderful job of weaving the theme of science into the relationships she develops. The story starts off by introducing Martha Jankowski, who has been digging in the dirt with her paleontologist father ever since she was very young, much to the dismay of her rich, socialite mother. Now, as a young adult, she dreams of becoming a paleontologist herself and is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery. When Martha discovers what she thinks to be a fully intact dinosaur skeleton—one that could win her an acclaimed exhibit—she learns that another team is competing against her, possibly stealing her chance of recognition for this momentous discovery. Martha meets up with paleontology student Jacob Duncan, who has risen out of poverty to fulfill his dream of digging for dinosaur bones. In a race against time, he and his team are bent on unearthing a complete skeleton to claim a museum exhibit with their names on it. But when Jacob meets their charming competitor Martha and uncovers foul play within his team, love and danger grow hand in hand until a menacing ruse threatens to destroy it all. This unique story centers around a woman of the 19th century, a period when women scientists were usually not respected. The author does a great job of showing the struggles of a woman in this field, balancing ambition with period social norms. Ms. Woodhouse also helps the reader to feel the moods of characters with great sentences like: Martha’s thoughts tumbled over each other; He walked away, but Lily Rose’s outrage followed him on the wind; and Martha drank the terms of endearment into her heart like they were water to a parched throat. If you are looking for a strong Christian-based novel, this story will entertain you. Biblical Scripture and teaching are sprinkled throughout the scenes, sometimes welcomed with interest and other times rejected with anger. The best attribute about this novel is that the author leads readers down paths, only to pull the rug out from under them with shocking turns. If you like science, romance, intrigue, and mystery, this book will not leave you disappointed. I received a review copy courtesy of Bethany House Publishers through Interviews & Reviews for an unbiased and objective review. Reviewer: Adriann Harris Kimberly Woodhouse takes her readers on an amazing adventure with her extraordinary prose to the Colorado Territory during the Bone Wars. Set in Stone is strong in faith with an oh-so-sweet love story that reaches across the social class divide in the late 1800s with a murder/mystery. I was in suspense, reading late into the night, this totally intriguing who-done-it! Woodhouse also educates her readers in paleontology, history, and science of the era in such a fun way, as we join Martha and Jacob digging for dinosaurs. I was rooting for Martha throughout this heartfelt story, as Jacob, with his steadfast faith and patience, guided her throughout her journey to reconnect with God. Kimberly Woodhouse is one of my favorite historical Christian fiction authors, and I always enjoy reading her stories. A definite must-read, Set in Stone is the second book in the Treasures of the Earth series, which can be enjoyed as a standalone. I received a complimentary copy from Bethany House via Interviews and Reviews through NetGalley for an honest review. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own. Reviewer: Rebecca Maney "To watch him dig and find bones in the ground was a treat far greater than hearing the stories when he came home." Paleontologist Martha Jankowski has followed in her father's footsteps, being granted the opportunity to earn a display in a Denver museum, a prestigious step forward in her career. However, there is one catch: it's a competition with very strict guidelines and an almost impossible deadline. When Martha happens to meet paleontology student Jacob Duncan at a science lecture, their invigorating conversation sparks an acquaintance, which coincidentally leads Martha to offer Jacob a job on her dig. Unfortunately, Jacob's desire to be honorable and honest eventually places them both in a nearly impossible situation. This is a very fine historical romance, but it's also a wonderful journal of faith. Jacob learns to dig deeper (pun intended) when he is forced to trust God wholly in the midst of perilous circumstances, and Martha discovers who she really is below the surface (another intended pun) without a genuine faith in the Lord, creating a genuine thirst for a relationship with the Creator whom she already admires. Both of their lives are going to get very, very dusty and dirty before this story is over, for clever malevolence is on the prowl. There's more going on than meets the eye when it comes to "the bones war." "We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us." I received a copy of this book from Baker Publishing through Interviews & Reviews. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. Reviewer: Laura J. Davis
Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse is the second book in the Treasures of the Earth series. This exciting look at the Bone Wars will keep you reading well into the night. This well-crafted book takes the reader deep into the beginnings of the Bone Wars and what serious paleontologists had to deal with as they pursued their dreams of digging up a dinosaur. In this fictional account, we meet Martha Jankowski, who has always dreamed of being a paleontologist like her father. When she finds a fully intact dinosaur, it becomes a race against time to dig it up before another team digs up their dinosaur first. This novel offers a bit of everything. Detailed research into paleontology and the early beginnings of The Bone Wars, romance, and a murder/mystery that had me guessing until the very end of the book. With romance and a strong faith element, this book was hard to put down. I loved that there was a clear message about how to know the Lord. It was interesting to see Martha grow in her faith and Jacob's patience with her while he waited for her to trust God and him. If you have not read the first book, The Secrets Beneath, don't worry, as this is a standalone book. Although I highly recommend you read the first one! If you love historical fiction with a wonderful "who-dunnit," you will enjoy Set in Stone. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Bethany House through NetGalley for my honest review. Leave a Reply. |
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