A Glitter of Gold

Starred review from June 10, 2019
This entertaining tale from Johnson (A Sparkle of Silver) explores a woman’s slow process of forgiving herself. Anne Norris, disgraced and ashamed after serving time on “accessory to domestic terrorism” charges for unknowingly helping her boyfriend bomb an oil rig, has run from California to live a quiet life in Savannah, Ga. But her pirate-tour business, centered on the historic buccaneer haven of Tybee Island, is struggling. Days after a hurricane, Anne stumbles upon the golden hilt of a sword buried in the sand that she believes could lead to treasure that would change her life. She takes it to Dr. Carter Hale at a local museum, and he is delighted to see the sword hilt, which he thinks is described in an 18th-century family diary. Believing the sword hilt proves the existence of a nearby shipwreck, Carter convinces Anne to work with him to locate the ship—despite her reservations about letting anyone new into her life. Launching herself into the search, Anne learns that she doesn’t have to hide from her past and that God has forgiven her mistakes. Both an exciting treasure hunt and penetrating exploration of overcoming past mistakes, Johnson’s excellent novel will captivate readers.

August 1, 2019
Anne Norris has left California, her family, and her memories of a costly mistake to move to Savannah, Georgia, where she owns a struggling company that offers tours of pirate wrecks. When a hurricane stirs the waters, Anne discovers the gold hilt of a sword and hopes it might lead to a sunken ship and save her floundering business. But can she risk bringing attention to her past by contacting a local museum director, Dr. Carter Hale? Carter, it turns out, has worries of his own. His museum is almost out of money, his sources have dried up, and he refuses to ask his wealthy father for help. As the search for treasure brings Anne and Carter together, they are both guided by their Christian faith as they seek solutions to their troubles. Johnson weaves in excerpts from a diary written by one of Hale's ancestors, who disguised herself as a boy to board a sailing ship and search for her lost brother. This gentle romance, set in an intriguing locale, is greatly enriched by the historical dimension.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2019, American Library Association.)