A Great Tragedy

 

Look in the mirror to see the truth God sees. 

We are his children and he loves us.

We are valued by Him.

Even the humble bee is treasured by his creator.

Fiction Review: A Dazzle of Diamonds (Georgia Coast Romance Book #3) by Liz Johnson

Book Description:

Penelope Hunter loves her job as the events manager at one of Savannah's premier historic venues--until her ex-fiancé walks into her office with his new bride-to-be. To make matters worse, a scheming social matriarch is intent on seeing Penelope fired, especially if she insists on being seen with Tucker Westbrook.

Since returning from serving two tours in the Middle East, Tucker has built a thriving security company. His work is nearly as stabilizing as his friendship with Penelope, who has been by his side since childhood. But when the lone candidate for county sheriff goads him, Tucker loses his cool and ends up on the ballot--and on the receiving end of a smear campaign claiming the Westbrooks were traitors to the South.

To clear his name, Tucker and Penelope must join forces to find the truth behind a 150-year-old lost treasure. But the more time they spend together, the closer she comes to losing her job--and falling helplessly in love.

My Review:
Liz Johnson's writing is a breath of fresh air when it comes to fiction. The books in the Georgia Coast series host a bit of intrigue with the history of the area mixed with sweet and (sometimes humorous) romance. All three in the series are entertaining, but I enjoyed this one, A Dazzle of Diamonds, the most. Tucker is a sweetheart and Penelope is a straightforward, hardworking, intelligent young lady who would do anything for her dear friend. The mystery of the treasure is fun to follow and adds an exciting thread to the story. The people Penelope and Tucker interact with are quirky in a lovable, but sometimes annoying, sort of way. With Savannah as the setting, you can't go wrong. If you enjoy southern romance with a bit of mystery, you'll love Liz's latest book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Treasures

Treasures of the Heart

Proverbs 24:3-4

By wisdom a house is built,
    and through understanding it is established;
through knowledge its rooms are filled
    with rare and beautiful treasures.

Tim and I hiked through one of Kelleys Island's nature preserves. We trekked along a grass and dirt path until we reached a boardwalk, made of recycled plastic, that rambled through the woods and over the wetland. On the other side, the trees opened up onto a lovely little beach. White sand, created from waves breaking up tiny white shells, sparkled in the sun. As we wandered along the water's edge, we searched for treasures. Not gold or silver, but pretty rocks, pebbles, and lake glass. Lake Erie did not disappoint. We found pink, red, and interesting green rocks along with white, green (two shades) and brown lake glass. As we wandered along, some children playing nearby showed us their finds, including a live turtle they were watching. What a fun trip!

Once we got back home, I cleaned the rocks and glass and added them to my growing collection. I love my treasures. They are memories of my life. Our home is filled with things that remind us of the people we love and the God we worship. So much of what we own reflects the gifts God has created and given. 

Proverbs 24 reminds me my home should be built with wisdom, established on understanding, and that treasures come from knowledge. I believe the wisdom refers to the guiding hand of the Holy Spirit. For my house to truly be a home, God must come first. Understanding reflects our relationship with Jesus and the personal interest he has in us. Knowledge represents God's word of truth, the Bible, which is chocked full of rare and beautiful treasures. Without these elements, my home would be empty. I want Jesus' love, joy and peace to fill our house. I love my rocks and lake glass, but I treasure the heart of our home so much more, which is Jesus.

The treasures that fill the home should also fill the heart.