When I discovered that the author of this book, Christine Nolfi, is from my home state of Ohio and the story is set there, I just had to read it. And neither she nor the book let me down!
Treasure Me
is a fun, exciting read about a petty thief who is set on that road as a child when her mother uses her to lure men in her many con games.
Beautiful Birdie Kaminsky has been on her own since the age of sixteen when she escapes from her mother who is fleeing to Mexico. Birdie is tired of being dragged from state to state, from place to place, tired of always running from the law... My heart goes out to this poor, lonely young woman.
The one constant in Birdie's life has been her grandmother who tells her stories about her ancestors and is the only one who truly loves her. When her grandmother dies she gives the girl some family keep-sakes and tells her about a portrait that supposedly holds a clue to riches hidden by a legendary ancestor. With nowhere else to go and the life of a thief ingrained in her, Birdie heads for Liberty, Ohio, intending to find the treasure and steal it.
But she doesn't count on meeting Hugh, a dashing young reporter who's in town to save his job. Hugh thwarts her plans at every move, but they are attracted to each other at first sight. She doesn't count on falling in love with Hugh, with the town and the women of the Last Chance Grill, either.
Birdie truly respects her ancestors and after she gets closer to Hugh and the townfolk, her conscience begins bothering her. Can she carry out her plot and ride off into the sunset, wiser and richer?
Who are Birdie's ancestors? Are any of the current residents related to her? She suspects that the town matriarch Theodora knows a lot more than she's telling and that she might be related in some way. Does she find the treasure? If so, will she be able to keep it and start a new life with Hugh...or will their differences keep her and Hugh apart to go their separate ways?
How does one of her mother's ex boyfriends fit into the plot? Why do I love the feisty, wise and witty Theodora so much? And who is thirteen-year-old Blossom?
These questions and many more are answered with aplomb by this talented author who keeps you guessing till the end. Nolfi leaves no loose ends as she sends her readers on unexpected twists and turns, weaving her way to the satisfying ending of
Treasure Me
.
Liberty turns out to be a quaint, charming town that Nolfi paints with deft strokes of her keyboard. She is excellent at dialogue and description, but what I enjoyed most about her writing is her excellent pacing. She dropped clues at just the right places to keep me turning the pages with lightning speed.
This is a stellar debut novel. I lost my heart to Birdie and rooted for her every step of the way. I look forward to reading more "gems" from this new author. I treasure this book and the fun I had reading it. Humor, mystery, intrigue, treasure hunts and love! Who could ask for more?
I could! I'd love to see this made into a movie. I can see it as a modern-day, Western comedy. (I know it's set in Ohio, but that could be changed to Texas or California. I can picture someone like Jennifer Aniston as the adorable Birdie and Colin Farrell as Hugh. Wouldn't that be a winner?)
Reviewed by Betty Dravis, July 11, 2011
Author of "Dream Reachers II" (with Chase Von) and more books
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Book Review: Treasure Me - Christine Nolfi
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2012