Treasure Me [Kindle Edition]

Christine Nolfi (Author)

Book Description

Finalist, 2012 Next Generation Indie Awards
"Highly recommended" by The Midwest Book Review

Petty thief Birdie Kaminsky has arrived in Liberty, Ohio to steal a treasure hidden since the Civil War. She’s in possession of a charming clue passed down in her family for generations: Liberty safeguards the cherished heart.

The beautiful thief wants to go straight. She secretly admires the clue’s author, freedwoman Justice Postell, who rose above the horrors of slavery to build a new life in Ohio. According to family lore, Justice left South Carolina at the dawn of the Civil War. Heavy with child, she carried untold riches on her journey north. As Birdie searches for the treasure, she begins to believe a questionable part of the story: a tale of love between Justice and Lucas Postell, the French plantation owner who was Birdie’s ancestor.

If the stories are true, Justice bore a child with Lucas. Some of those black relatives might still live in town. Birdie can’t help but wonder if she’s found one—Liberty’s feisty matriarch, Theodora Hendricks, who packs a pistol and heartwarming stories about Justice. Birdie doesn’t know that an investigative reporter who has arrived in town will trip her up—as will her conscience when she begins to wonder if it’s possible to start a new life with stolen riches. Yet with each new clue she unearths, Birdie begins to discover a family history more precious than gems, a tradition of love richer than she could imagine.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Treasure Me is sure to delight and entertain. It's light and refreshing; your old fashioned feel-good novel." --USA Today

"Treasure Me is a riveting read for those who enjoy adventure fiction, highly recommended." --The Midwest Book Review

From the Author

If you're looking for a sweet and spicy read with mystery and romantic elements, I hope you'll enjoy Birdie, Hugh, Theodora and the rest of the characters in Treasure Me.

--Christine Nolfi

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• File Size: 528 KB
• Print Length: 352 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 146376524X
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Christine Nolfi; 1 edition (April 21, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004XMOP9I
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #59,063 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Treasure Me is fantastic! May 16, 2011

By Wendy L. Hines VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition

Birdie is a thief, even though she wants to go legit. But she's carried a scrap of paper her mom gave her for years, a clue to a treasure. Birdie wants that treasure so she can afford to not be a thief. She arrives in Liberty, a very small town, and immediately go to the Second Chance Grill, a place she saw in the newspaper that was the home of the painting she was seeking. The painting is of Justice Postell, a freedwoman who went north years ago, carrying the baby of the plantation owner. The owner being Birdie's great-grandfather. Birdie figures that if she can find the portrait, it will give her the next clue to the big treasure.

Hugh is an investigative reporter who has a problem keeping his pants up. Getting fired because he misses so many deadlines seems to be things a bit more in perspective for him. His boss offers him a proposition - go to Liberty to follow up on a possible scam without a paycheck and if he can deliver the goods, he saves his job.

Hugh and Birdie arrive at the restaurant at the same time and both want the only available apartment in town. The proprieter bades them to share it, with Birdie waitressing to work off her share. They don't like it and they don't like each other, but there is something sizzling between then.

Birdie meets Theodora, an elderly woman who is a spitfire. She takes to Birdie immediately and shares her stories about Justice. Birdie is enraptured. She's always wanted a family. Her mom was a thief and her father in prison. Birdie also finds some new clues to the rubies while she is making new friends in the small town. She's never stayed long in any place, but she'd like to stay here. Unfortunately, she knows if she finds the rubies she has to leave.

Hugh is on to Birdie; he starts investigating her and knows her for a thief. He's angry at himself for wanting her but he can't help himself. He wants a relationship with Birdie, but she doesn't do long-term anything. It's just easier that way.

But when another reporter gets wind of Birdie and the rubies, things fly apart. Birdie is terrified of the townsfolk she has been pickpocketing as well as the disappointed looks on her friends faces. She thought she had trusted Hugh, perhaps loved him, but instead he breaks that trust.

With romance, buried treasure, suspense and drama, Treasure Me is fantastic! I read this book in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. I was drawn into the characters lives, relishing their every move. Great character development, excellent dialogue and a solid plot set the tone for this lively and entertaining tale. I felt sorry for them and I got angry with them and that is the mark of a great writer. I highly recommend Treasure Me! Loved, loved, loved it!!

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A Real Gem April 30, 2011

By JP

Format:Kindle Edition

The plot of this book is great--it starts moving along early and it never slows! I became thoroughly immersed in the Trinity investigation storyline. The story about the hidden rubies, however, was a bit far-fetched (indeed, Birdie admits this several times throughout the novel). Nolfi handles this unbelievable storyline very well, if a bit saccharine.

I had some trouble with characters. First, there were so many I had a hard time keeping track. Often, I found myself stopping to remind myself of each character. Secondly, I never quite understood the characters' intentions and motives; the dialogue and inner thoughts seemed disingenuous, lacking in some way. The dialogue either didn't fit the character's age or purpose. There was a roller coaster of emotions and I never knew where they came from; one minute, the characters were perfectly happy and the next, they weren't speaking to one another (yet again).

Hugh was particularly problematic for me; I wanted to like him, and I came close sometimes, but then he flies off the handle again. He seems to almost warm up to Birdie, yet the reader is constantly reminded that he is angry at her. I couldn't tell if he was, in fact, angry or just pretending or fighting his feelings or what. Another character I didn't believe was Blossom, a thirteen-year-old, who acted much younger than her years--she was much too naive and childlike.

That being said, I loved the ladies of The Second Chance Grill! Such interesting characters they all are. Theodora was my favorite; she's quite a fiery little lady. I look forward to the next Second Chance novel to engage with the ladies again.

I very much enjoyed Nolfi's intricate weaving together of characters; each held connections that I didn't expect. The details and descriptions she writes are beautiful. Nolfi has a very clear direction for this novel, and she deftly reaches that end. It is nice to read such a clearly defined novel without dropped storylines and unkempt details.

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Treasure this book! It might be a movie one day! July 11, 2011

By Betty L. Dravis VINE™ VOICE

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

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

More About the Author

Some writers are gifted with an unusual life and I'm certainly one of those. I've lived in Ohio, Virginia, California, Utah and now South Carolina. In college I was featured on the front page of the Houston Post for a lark that erased all my debt. I met my four adopted children for the first time in the sweltering heat of the tropics. I helped build several companies and was lucky enough to earn a living doing what I love best--writing--in a PR firm I owned.

In 2004 I made the wisest and most irrational decision of my life--I began writing fiction full-time. All those years of hard work pay off daily in sweet notes and comments by readers. Please continue the mail, tweets and comments on FaceBook, GoodReads and other sites. I cherish your support and love chatting with readers.

www.christinenolfi.com

@christinenolfi on Twitter