Kimberly Woodhouse does not disappoint! I loved this book and all the morals that are in it. It's one of those books that you finish and want to be a better person from it and grow stronger in your faith. Overall the story line was really good and it was a hard book to put down. I love all the books in this series and would love to read more books by this author! Definitely will recommend to friends and family!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own. ( )

Set at El Tovar in the Grand Canyon, this story looks into the life of one of the Harvey Girls in 1907. Julia has had a difficult life, she has no friends, no family, no one. "She craved hope. Craved love. Craved family and friends." Julia meets Chris, a jeweler and designer. Slowly her heart starts to open. "I ( Chris) understand what Gramps said about love. That it was the finest gem to be found."
Add in the legend of a treasure, outlaws and mountain lions. You'll find yourself eager to find out what happens next.
Wonderful characters and inspirational text makes this book one of a kind!
I received a free copy from Bethany House Publishers. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

Julia is an accomplished storyteller. Unfortunately, she presents her tales as truth, and it doesn’t take long before she is labeled a liar. She vows to quit her habit of storytelling, but it’s hard. She has fallen into that habit as a way to hide her unhappy and unsavory past. But her habit of telling lies soon catches up with her, and she will need all her fortitude along with the help of her friends and God to get her life straightened out. The writing is quite good, the characters are engaging, and the historical setting is very interesting. This is the second book of the trilogy, and while it focuses on Julia, it also contains some of the characters from the first book. ( )

Oh, how I've missed reading historical fiction! In a Gem of Truth, author Kimberley Woodhouse brings the Harvey Girls, the El Tovar Hotel, and the Grand Canyon to life. The story is filled with mystery, romance, and interesting historical tidbits with a redemption arc as a bonus.

I thought Julia's backstory and situation was especially unique. Her loneliness and insecurity was portrayed very realistically and is something that even fellow Christians can experience. The book shows us that we are more than our worries and our mistakes.

However, while Julia's struggles were realistic, I did feel like her redemption happened a little too quickly. Julia's been through a lot, and at least in my opinion, it should've taken her much more time to come fully to trust in God. Years of trauma from her parents' crimes and death and years of neglect and self-doubt and habitual lying and people pleasing stood between her and God, and though the book showed how Julia came to God after seeing His love through a friend's sacrifice, I still wish the author hadn't rushed the redemption. I strongly believe that the best characters redemptions happen over multiple books, but I do realize that the author didn't have that choice here since she only had this one book to dedicate to Julia.

A Gem of Truth is a story I would recommend to other people as I definitely enjoyed reading it. And if I had the chance, I would 100% read more of Kimberley Woodhouse's books.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through JustRead Publicity Tours LLC (thank you, Bethany House and JustRead!). All thoughts and opinions expressed are completely my own, and I was not required to leave a positive review. ( )

This book is deeply moving and exciting in many ways. The emotions of a young woman who is traumatized by the lack of love in her life and the effects that has on the way she thinks people view her are heart wrenching. The excitement of lost treasure in a beautiful setting such as the Grand Canyon keeps you wanting more of the adventure. The slow build up of romantic and platonic relationships throughout the novel are sweet to read about. This book checked off all of the character and relationship development from many different angles.

It is also moving when various characters sincerely pray and plead with the Lord for guidance. The themes of honesty, sacrificial love, and God's care for us are abundantly clear and well expanded. I found the struggles of all the main characters relatable to life in general. I appreciated the prayers and scripture laid out for these issues. There was also a gospel presentation and talk about adoption into God's family, as well as where we are going after we die. I was not disappointed in this title being considered Christian - it definitely is and pleasantly so!

Overall, this novel had everything I like in a story. Emotional topics, biblical themes, suspense, twists, and clean romances. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun Christian historical romance. ( )