Glitter of Gold

A Glitter of Gold is two romance stories in one! This novel is a contemporary love story between Carter and Anne alongside a historic love story between Rebecca and Captain Samuel Thackery. Carter and Anne are searching for the ship that brought together Rebecca and Samuel 250 years ago. The romance between Carter and Anne is a great example of love finding you when you are not looking for it. Anne has trust issues after some previous missteps, and rightfully so. Carter is only looking for his ticket out of Savannah. “I’m serious. You can’t just decide that you’re not going to fall in love.” [Anne] “But you can’t find someone you’re not looking for.” [Carter] “Says who? Don’t you ever watch romantic comedies? Those people fall in love on accident all the time.” [Anne] “Those people are also fictional.” [Carter] The relationship between Carter and Anne builds slowly, through friendship and trust. I cherished the growth in these two characters over the course of the novel. And they bond over The Princess Bride, one of my personal favorites. Like Carter and Anne, I was fascinated by Rebecca and Samuel Thackery’s story. This part of the novel is told through Rebecca’s diary and letters. It’s a great technique of telling their story. The diary entries weave throughout the novel as Anne reads them. I was charmed by Rebecca immediately. The lengths she goes through to rescue her brother are very impressive. And then, there is Captain Thackery, the swash-buckling owner of the sword hilt that Anne recovered on the beach. Let’s just say he’s the romantic hero that Rebecca (and I!) needed. The historical portion of the novel, with Rebecca and Samuel, flows smoothly with the modern story of Carter and Anne. This portion of the book reminded me a bit of Susanna Kearsley, without the time travel. I relished how the love story between Rebecca and Samuel brings together, and inspires, the love story between Carter and Anne. Ms. Johnson’s writing style is casual and charming. I quickly empathized with the characters, wishing that I was there in Savannah to take Anne’s walking pirate tour and to visit the Savannah Maritime Museum. The primary and secondary characters are well-developed. I believed the excitement when Anne found the sword hilt and then again when Carter instantly recognized it as Captain Thackery’s sword. A Glitter of Gold is the second in a series but can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read the first novel in the series, but I’m intrigued by Ms. Johnson’s storytelling and will be checking it out. I thoroughly enjoyed A Glitter of Gold from the start. Check it out if you are interested in a sweet romance that builds as the characters grow.