Sunday, October 8, 2023

THE SECRETS BENEATH by Kimberley Woodhouse, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney


"He was like the ground. Dark. Lifeless. But the light could change that . . . Funny how death made beautiful things grow."

Anna Lakeman has spent years assisting her father, a highly skilled paleontologist whose explorations have taken them across many miles; her sketches bringing fossils to life on the page as well as preserving each piece of their scientific discoveries for future reference. When a rare flash flood near their Wyoming home exposes a cache of possibilities, Anna and her father gain permission from their eccentric neighbor to begin digging on his property.

As often happens, circumstances disrupt expectations and unfortunately for Anna her father's health takes a turn for the worse, her once-love (who is she kidding? her only love) returns for a visit, and the owner of the land where they are digging begins showing Anna a curious amount of unsolicited attention. Her stubborn spirit and tender heart collide as the two most important men in her life show wariness about the third.

"The only love that can truly change anything or anyone is God's love . . . Our love here on earth fails. It falters. It isn't enough. We shouldn't love someone based on the idea that they will change."

So many interesting elements pervade this story. Add in the fact that women were determinant to prove themselves among the scientific community by demonstrating their own skills and talents. I especially appreciated the author's perspective on the merging of biblical and scientific knowledge while celebrating the thrill of unearthing what God once buried so many years ago during the Flood. That wasn't the only thrill element in this story . . . however, to solve that mystery, you may have to dig around in the dirt for yourself! (code for: read the story!)

*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 3.5 stars
 

BackCover Blurb:
Some secrets can only stay buried for so long. . . .

Anna Lakeman has spent her life working alongside her paleontologist father, drawing intricate sketches at every dig. When they find dinosaur bones near their home in Wyoming Territory, they're given the opportunity of a lifetime and are swiftly caught up in the competitive era of the Bone Wars. But after her father becomes sick and Joshua Ziegler, an old beau, returns for the summer, Anna's world is upended, and the practical, orderly life she has made for herself shatters.

Medical student Joshua Ziegler left his hometown to forget Anna, the one woman he truly loved and deeply hurt. But when he returns, time hasn't erased the feelings they've always had for each other. After Joshua's nephew goes missing--just like his sister did years ago--and Anna's job is threatened, tensions mount and dangerous secrets are unearthed. 

Bethany House Publishing, September, 2023
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:
 
 
 
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