Book Review and Giveaway-Treasure Atop the Mountain Author: Tonya L. Matthews on Tour with Celebrate Lit

 

About the Book

Book: Treasure Atop the Mountain

Author: Tonya L. Matthews

Genre: Faith-based Christian Fiction

Release date: August, 2019

Broken by the unfathomable. Frightened of the future. And unaware of God’s hand at work. Gracie grew up working in her grandfather’s ice cream shop in the small Kentucky town of Ridgewood. Ridgewood is a quiet town known for little but a 20-year-old rumor that treasures are hidden somewhere in its hills. But when misfortune strikes, Gracie is faced with challenges no 11-year-old should have to bear. She has to learn to continue to live now that nearly everything about her life has changed. The losses are so devastating that still years later she fights the nightmares. Yet folks in the town in their own unique way watch out for their little girl as she matures into a young woman. This is a story about Gracie Howard and how she finally found healing in a message that her grandfather shared with her as a little girl and from a town with hidden treasure.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Tonya grew up on a family farm in Riverside, Kentucky. Her father recognized early on that hoeing tobacco and running hogs weren’t in her skill set. He opted to send her to college. Graduating from Western Kentucky University with honors, Tonya went on to support the business community for two decades as an executive for the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce where she served a primary role in the organization’s multiple national honors.

Tonya has found writing to be a healthy escape and effective therapy in tough seasons throughout her life. Tonya began writing Treasure atop the Mountain 15 years ago when she and her husband were trying to start their family and encountered multiple disappointments. Ultimately, they signed up to be foster parents and adopted.

Tonya’s been married to Todd Matthews for 25 years. They have two grown daughters. In August 2019, she published Treasure atop the Mountain—a fiction novel based on real-life emotions that can be related to by many. Tonya’s second novel in the TREASURE series, Roxie Applesauce, released in August 2021. She’s currently writing the series’ third book, Get Will. Additionally, in 2022, she will debut the first two books in her children’s book series.

 

More from Tonya

HOW THE BOOK CAME ABOUT

Treasure atop the Mountain provided for me a glimpse of hope that I needed at the time I wrote it. In the book, Gracie experiences misfortune no young girl should have to bear. Yet, in the end, she witnesses all the broken pieces come together and is overwhelmed by God’s hand in it.

When Todd and I got married in 1996, we didn’t try starting our family right away, and when we decided that we were ready, it didn’t come easy. We struggled for several years through disappointment after disappointment. I’d get home from work at the end of a long day and lean against the kitchen door facing, drop to the floor and breathe for what felt like the first time that. I was hurting and doing my best to hide it.

My sister and my two sisters-in-law were pregnant, and I was covering three positions at work for people on maternity leaves. I really needed an escape because there was not a conversation I could have with family, friends at church, or at work that didn’t involve their lives moving forward when mine wasn’t in that area. I literally just sat down in the back room of our house with our computer on a card table and just started writing. I ran the emotions I was dealing with through the characters and wrote the book that I needed to read. Eventually, we adopted two girls from foster care and with our careers, life was busy, but I never let go of the book. Over the years friends and family read rough drafts and provided feedback.

Since publishing Treasure atop the Mountain in August 2019, I’ve met so many precious people. I love to hear when people are encouraged and relate to the message in the book. We all know fear, anger, and disappointment. And we all need reminded that we will feel joy again. Since I’ve written the second in the Treasure Series. Roxie Applesauce is on tour in March. The third in the series, Get Will, will launch in 2022. A series of children’s books will release in 2022.

My Thoughts 

Treasure Atop the Mountain is written by Tonya L. Matthews. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author. I love that she chose a small town setting. Those are some of my favorite settings. Especially ones with some hidden secrets.  

Main character Gracie hasn’t had the easiest life. She lost her hand on a fire. She has a special relationship with her grandfather who watches out for her. I love that she works with him at his ice cream shop. She also hasn’t let her disability get the best of her. She always wants to do whatever she sets her mind too. I love that about her. 

Ben arrives in town. He’s a drifter. He’s a little rough around the edges. He’s never put roots down anywhere and has had an issue trusting people. I really loved how the author built the relationship between Ben and Gracie. It was beautifully written. 

I enjoyed the mystery of the rumors and the romance with Ben and Gracie. The characters are well written. The storyline is engaging. The book moved along comfortably. 

I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit Blogging Program, all thoughts are my own. 

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 10

Texas Book-aholic, February 11

Mary Hake, February 11

Inklings and notions, February 12

For Him and My Family, February 13

deb’s Book Review, February 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 15

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 16

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 17

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 18 (Spotlight)

Pause for Tales, February 18

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, February 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 20

Where Crisis & Christ Collide, February 21

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tonya is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1a5c9/treasure-atop-the-mountain-celebration-tour-giveaway