I think that Ms Sandra Byrd writes the best "Anglo" Christian historical fiction. Her "Daughters of Hampshire" series it wonderful and it got raving reviews from me. Unfortunately, this novel is not that strong - but I will read more of the new series, of whose this book is a first one.

As for the novel - firstly, the historical setup feels very true and the rich knowledge and the eye foir detail Ms Byrd presents in her writing is astonishing. I have learned a lot about the world of antiquities, the informations and facts are truly fascinating. It might make for a prolonged read, yes, but I am not complaining!
Ms Byrd also can create a very believable world, full of vivid imagery and characters with more than one dimensions. Heroine Eleanor Sheffield is very relatable with all her troubles, doubts, fears and her wish and courage to do the right thing. I like that she is living her common life bravely and with dignity.
What unfortunately does not work for me, is Eleanor as a part of a couple - and, of course, the male hero, Harry, is not very appealing to me concerning his character. The authoress tries hard to sell him as a noble man under cover, but - these two are supposed to know each other for a long time, being formerly (and presently) on love and on their way to the altar. But there is basic trust missing among them and they can not communicate with each other. If they were a couple who met just recently, then maybe - but why would you think of marrying someone you can not really lean on?

So, the verdict - everything works well in the novel but the romance. As I came here exactly for the romance, 3 stars. But if you can rise above the romance department and can simply enjoy the fascinating live of a smart woman in the no less fascinating world of artiquities and Victorian era, your rating will be quite higher.

Among the books I've collected by authors I've yet to read but am certain I will enjoy, I have several by Sandra Byrd. Lady of a Thousand Treasures has been waiting on my kindle for some time, but the minute I opened it up to read "just a bit," I did not want to set it back down.

The lushness, the enchantment of this novel lies in the writing even more than the characters or plot line. Written in first person, the narration somehow has a gentleness, an almost tender feel that reflects the Victorian setting without fully falling into the style of that time. And like a true Victorian heroine, Eleanor Sheffield may not always understand what is going on about her and she is forever sneaking into places she should not be.

As much as a cameo appearance can enrich historical fiction - the poet and painter Gabriel Dante Rossetti in this instance - it is the small pieces of unknown history that truly peak my interest. And in a story of treasures, the Adore ring is the detail that enchanted me. Given to Eleanor before he left her behind without a proposal of marriage by her childhood friend and first love Harry - now Baron Lydney - the jewel missing from the band seems to hold some symbolism within the story. And as their lives become enmeshed by his father's attempts to control and punish from the grave, it is Harry's worth and suitability that Eleanor must determine while balancing her duties and meeting every challenge as the threat of debtor's prison looms should she fail.

It seems fitting that much of the tension in this story are more from falsehoods and curiosities than mysteries. When something triggers a memory for Eleanor, I can’t help picturing her standing as if in a daze while others watch and wait for her to come out of it. The pace is gentler than expected based on the book's description, but the slow burning romance and the unfolding of the various plots and entanglements make for a highly enjoyable, savorable story. And I find that I'm glad to have more Sandra Byrd books waiting.


This review refers to a temporary digital galley I voluntarily read via NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher. A positive review was not required and these are only my own, honest opinions.

I am so incredibly fussy about the fiction I read nowadays. The first few pages will usually tell me if I can get through the whole novel or not.

Unfortunately, this was not one of those I could enjoy. The bulk of the book seems to deal with the world of antiquities and while I can tell that the author did a lot of research on the history of that world, I did not have enough interest in it.

I also found the pace rather slow where the incidences of water supply being cut, electricity supply being cut and so on because the bills were not paid took up far too much time.

Still, I think people who don't mind reading about antiquities and historical fiction with a bit of romance will probably enjoy this novel.

With Lady of a Thousand Treasures, Sandra Byrd has successfully launched her new series, The Victorian Ladies. This first book delves into the male-dominated world of Victorian antiquities and one woman’s determination to succeed in it.

Named as trustee of the late Baron Lydney’s collection, Eleanor Sheffield is undecided whether he is acknowledging her expertise as an appraiser or playing a cruel joke from beyond the grave, as it brings the man who broke her heart back into her life. Despite her past relationship with Harry, Eleanor has vowed to deal fairly with the task she has accepted, even when she is pressured by her employee and various collectors to donate the entire collection to a museum.

With a business in danger of failing, a sick uncle in need of care, missing pieces and creditors knocking on her door, Eleanor has many obstacles to overcome, but the one she struggles with the most is the rekindling of her feelings for Harry and whether the rumours about him are true. When a death occurs and she also crosses paths with antiquity thieves, her life takes a sinister turn and she finds herself relying on the one who let her down in the past.

With Eleanor being a no nonsense heroine and Harry equally sensible, it was easy to like them both. Theirs is a sweet and engaging romance that slowly rekindles amid the trials and tribulations Eleanor encounters in her efforts to save the family business. Numerous plot twists keep the drama alive and reveal how Eleanor finally gains the respect and admiration of her peers.

The sacrifice that Harry makes on Eleanor's behalf reveals the depth of his feelings for her and leads, in turn, to a bargain Eleanor strikes with a collector. The outcome is a very emotional ending to the story, but a most satisfactory one.

I enjoyed this foray into the world of Victorian antiquities through my first ever Sandra Byrd novel and look forward to the next in the series.

finally got around to reading this, after only: 8 months. I'm sort of mad about Sandra Byrd's books, and can't believe we have to wait so long until the next one is out.

The heroine, Eleanor Sheffield, works in the family business of what would now be called antique dealers. Or antiquity. The difference is that to be counted as an 'antiquity' an item has to be more than 30o years old. Of course, its interesting that items made when this novel is set in the mid 1800s would now be considered antiques.

This novel was crammed full of the historical details I've grown to love in Sandra Byrd's novels: I especially liked Eleanor's knowledge of the finer points of ancient Roman and Medieval artifacts. I would be in heaven if I got to handle an actual Medieval prayer book. And she knows Latin: I like her all the more.

I did, however, find this a little hard to follow after the first few chapters. Maybe its because I listened to the audio when I could not read the physical book, but I lost track of some of the characters got rather lost. There was just so much going on. Not just the burgeoning relationship with Henry, but the matter of his father's estate, some stolen artifacts, a failing business and a shady Italian family who seem to be following Henry around.
As such, I'm not sure we ever saw Henry and Eleanor's relationship develop. Indeed at times, I thought he was engaged to someone else. I think this story was meant to be more complex than a lot of romances though, so maybe its my fault.

The only other problem was one this novel shares with others. Its over an unusual British word. The singular form of Pence, the smallest unit of currency in Britain, is Penny. Pence is the plural form. Unless it refers to an actual one penny coin.
Which is known as a 'one pence piece'. I've noticed many American authors getting the two confused and writing about 'saving a pence' which doesn't sound right to British ears because it should be 'a penny'.
Apart from a couple other Americanisms, that was the only thing I noticed that didn't seem right though.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures, was, overall, a very good book, and its recommended for fans of Victorian Fiction. I think its needs more attention though as a lot seems to get lost in translation if you try to speed through it too quickly. I might give it a re-read soon, and stick to the book, so I take more in.

First, let me say I love Sandra’s writing! She puts you into the story, almost as if you are a part of it. She subtly weaves what feels like separate story threads together so that, in the end, they form a wonderfully complete story. This book has so many unexpected twists and turns. I was questioning everyone and everything pretty much until the very end. I was actually wondering around page 350, just how Sandra was going to make everything work out! But, never fear, she pulls it all together beautifully! This book is one to savor and dare I say it’s a treasure? Okay, too much, I know!

I really like Eleanor. She is both strong and resourceful, yet vulnerable at the same time. And then there’s harry. Sandra draws you to him and then plants little seeds of doubt that make you wonder if he really is the man he portrays himself to be. This story had just a bit of everything - mystery, intrigue, suspense, history, and romance.

My two favorite quotes from the story are, “It is only by testing, or being tested, that we understand whether the substance or the person is as it appears to be or is merely masquerading.” And, “I had learned that every circumstance in life doesn’t have to end happily for the Lord to provide a happy ending.”

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts are my own.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd is the story of Eleanor Sheffield and her antiquities appraisal business. When one of her client dies and leaves her the decision on who to pass his valuable collection to, it is a choice between the client's son who she once loved and a museum.. Her decision and her life becomes more complicated as debtors demand their money immediately and her business partner wrongs her. Will Eleanor find happiness?

Do I bear the mark of my Maker? This is the gist of one of the study questions from this book. And since one of my new goals when reading a book is to think of a question that I can ponder later, this one caught my eye.

Eleanor Sheffield has been raised by her father and uncle to critique, value, and procure antiques and valuables for the rich. She has learned how to spot fakes and recognize the genuine. And she knows that there is a maker's mark that can help determine the authenticity of an item.

Now she has been tasked with a very difficult job and things are lining up to go wrong at every turn. And yet, she maintains a steadfast trust in God while she must test herself and others to see what they are really made of. Disappointments and surprises await her as she does this.

There is, of course, a young man in the story, Harry, Lord Lydney, and he too, is the subject of her scrutiny and her love and that is all I have to say about that.

There is one person in the story to whom she says that they bear the mark of their Maker (God) because of their kindness, charity, and compassion. I will not say who that was but leave you to read the book for yourself to discover what caused such high praise. Because to me, there is no higher praise, than to be told that I bear the mark of my Maker and that is why that question stood out to me and leaves me wondering how I would rank in Eleanor's eyes in that regard.

I enjoyed this book. I will admit it started out a bit slow and I was wondering if I was going to ever make it through the 400+ pages, it if was going to be worth my while, but soon the story turned captivating and I eagerly returned to it when I could.

I received this book from Tyndale through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.

This was a sweet and charming love story. I was surprised that there was a touch of mystery in this novel. The story was very well-written and the setting was dark, mysterious, and captivating. I recommend this for fans of those that love gothic stories with a dash of romance!

A lengthy novel, with more suspense & interest in the art world than a romance novel. It almost comes as secondary to the longer more drawn out plot.

At times I grew weary of Eleanor’s analyzing of Harry’s integrity which, she already seems to come to a solid conclusion on early on - yet it drags. The personal interactions lacked warmth and were more descriptive than felt.

There are many facets to this story, one which some may love it just wasn’t for me.

Thanks to Netgalley for the eARC. This is my honest review.

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone. The story goes on from there, but did not hold my interest. It was slow and at moments found myself skipping through it. Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd started out slow for me and I wasn't finding it enjoyable to read. Maybe because it was written in first person and first person is not my favorite. But as I slowly made my way through the story, I began to notice all the details. This book is full of thousands of details! Since Eleanor, the main character (the same one who tells the story in first person) deals with antiques in Victorian England, I learned all kinds of things about the treasures of that time period. There were many instances when I had to stop reading to look up what a ring might have looked like, or a statue. There were even many Victorian games mentioned. Of course I had to go do more research because the games were really interesting to me. There was also a mystery involved, and the mystery was probably made more interesting because it was written in first person. You are only told what Eleanor thinks about people so when wondering who she should trust, you only know the same information that she knows. 

Was this a book worth reading? Definitely! It had many treasures inside once I really started noticing the details.  I would recommend this book for history lovers. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Tyndale House Publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures
by Sandra Byrd
Tyndale House Publishers
Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Historical Fiction , Romance
Pub Date 09 Oct 2018


I am reviewing a copy of Lady of A Thousand Treasures through Tyndall House Publishers and Netgalley:


In Victorian England Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquitie, able to tell the real deal from the fake but her Father’s decline and her others descent into dementia leads to a problem because unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

After a long time client, Baron Lydney offers an unexpected complication after Eleanor is appointed the trustee of the legendary collection of the Baron’s. Eleanor finds herself having to donate these priceless treasures to a museum or let the Baron’s son take them. His son Harry was the one who broke Eleanor‘s heart.



Eleanor does not trust the Baron’s motives and her own ability to be biased when it comes to Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love Eleanor but she’s not sure she can trust that either. After Eleanor learns of an Italian beauty returning with him from a trip from England her hope for a future with Harry grows darker.


With the threat of debtors prison closing in on her? What will Eleanor choose?


I give Lady of A Thousand Treasures five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

This well written story is an absolute delight to read!

I loved the plot line and the characterisation was spot on, the characters worked so well with the story I was completely caught up in the story and I didn’t want to put it down, I couldn’t wait to see how it ended.

A brilliant historical fiction story and I can’t wait to read more from this author and very intrigued to see what she releases next, this one will be a hard act to follow!

4.5 stars from me, rounded up to 5 stars for Amazon and Goodreads – a thoroughly enjoyable story and very highly recommended!!

A captivating romance of Victorian England by the accomplished author of The Daughters of Hampshire series, Sandra Byrd. Eleanor Sheffield's life is invested in the family business of appraising antiquities and must continue through downturns of economy, her father's death, the failing of her uncle's health, stealth of an employee, and outstanding debts. And the one she had hoped to count on has failed to return from his European travels. Until Harry Lydney's father's death.

The funeral is revelatory. Eleanor has been chosen for the unusual task of determining what is to become of Lord Lydney's vast collection of reliquaries. Two options, and one doesn't favour his son, Harry, the now Lord Lydney..

The door has just swung open to the mysteries, gothic, and atmospheric of this unusual story. Told in first person, we travel the streets and alleys of London's working class with Eleanor to the houses of upper class London clients and clubs as she evaluates their riches to keep her own bills paid. A tightrope that is never balanced. As is her heart. In love, yet never sure if the focus of her love is committed to her.

Tension mounts as mysteries deepen and Eleanor's heart questions everything. No one proves trustworthy and revelations of the wealthy create confusion as she determines to choose well for the outcome of her assignment. I was totally immersed in the drama of Eleanor's day to day. Emotions connected and propelled my reading with an urgency for her to reach just conclusions.

Well researched, the historic details intrigued with Byrd's competent research. Readers were treated to the beauty and excesses of a bygone era. Then the opposite, as Eleanor unceasingly cared for others of lower means and circumstances, servants, and women imprisoned by debts owed. Eleanor's own efforts to keep the wolves from her door informed her concerns, care, and prayer for all those she connected with.

A book filled with discoveries, solutions, and resolutions. But in the end, the romantic carried the reward of most worth. Tangible. Expressive. Two hearts find their home in trust and in truth.

A superb read.
An outstanding novel.
Recommended. And certainly, perfect as a gift to delight any romantic.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures by Sandra Byrd. Tyndale House Publishers, 2018.

This is a wonderful story. As Eleanor takes over Sheffield Brothers, conservator to collectors, she finds very little that is simple or straightforward. Her father has passed away and her uncle appears to be experiencing symptoms of dementia. The reputation of her business is in jeopardy. She has been delegated the burden of deciding whether a collection of antiquities should go to a museum or stay in a family home. There are many around her who are not what they seem. She is not sure whether to trust the man she expected to spend the rest of her life with or his father; one of them has set out to deliberately deceive her. Eleanor is a strong, kind, engaging character that we come to care about. We are not sure who Eleanor can safely trust either, though the story keeps us hoping.
This well written Victorian era romance is supported with a great deal of historical detail and facts about antiquities, so readers less familiar with appraising antiquities and the Victorian era learn as they read.
I very much enjoyed Lady of a Thousand Treasures, and warmly recommend it.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of Lady of a Thousand Treasures free from Tyndale House Publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sandra Byrd’s Lady of a Thousand Treasures has everything a reader wants in a historical novel. Taking place in the Victorian time period this fabulous novel is filled with just the right amount of historical details and characters, as well as a fabulous combination of mystery and romance. From the first page Byrd hooks her readers with an exciting mystery, causing them to not want to put the book down until the very end. Along with the main historical mystery of the story, Byrd includes a bit of mystery mixed in with the romance, making readers wonder if people are who they say they are and if the love story will come together in the end. This is a splendid and thrilling story that readers will absolutely not be able to put down!

Series: The Victorian Ladies
Genre: historical, Victorian, mystery, romance Christian,
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Publication date: October 9, 2018
Number of pages: 480

This book is the first in the Victorian Ladies Series and is about Eleanor Sheffield and her family business. Her father has recently passed and she is trying to keep the business afloat. Her uncle, who was a twin to her father, has recently exhibited signs of dementia. Eleanor is an evaluator of antiquities and very talented. The death of a long time client of the business, Baron Lydney, left a provision in his will that Eleanor is supposed to evaluate the collection that he has. After evaluation, she is to determine whether the collection stays in the family in the care of his son Harry, or have it go into a museum.

Eleanor had had a relationship with Harry and when he never returned to her and propose she became disillusioned with him and does not trust him. Harry does come back but she does not think that there is a future for them, he has brought back an Italian beauty and she is not sure what their relationship is. Harry is nothing but persistent and the more time she spends with him the more her trust returns.

The problem is that her uncle has not paid any bills and the debt collectors are at her doorstep. In those days there was debtors prison if bills were not paid. Because she is a woman and her uncle is not well, the remaining clients of Sheffield Brothers have developed a distrust to her. She must do all she can to reclaim their trust. As time goes by and with her investigation, she does turn out to be a lady of a thousand treasures as she makes her determination about the Lydney collection.

As usual, Sandra Byrd has written another enjoyable first book to what I hope will be a great series. A gothic novel set during the mid to late 1800s in Victorian England, a time where women were not allowed to do much except stay in the home, Eleanor turns out to be a strong woman in a time dominated by men. I love reading about strong women and I love anything by Sandra as she does remarkable research. She always tells a great story and the characters are more than memorable! If you love a great historical fiction novel, then give this one a try!

This was truly an amazing book! I thoroughly enjoyed this story and especially all the old things that the characters collected and I felt like I was walking through a museum in Henry's house. I was really hoping that the house would get to keep all of its relics. For, what is a house without it's pieces? A cold, empty one.
This is a mystery that will keep you turning pages and thinking about the story long after it's finished!!
I spent most of the evening and all of Sunday finishing this delightful book.
This author has an amazing way of telling a story. It was through her Tudor books that I "met her." The Tudor era is my most favorite time period besides the Civil War. Her writing style is marvelous!!
The only thing I didn't really like was that even though Henry's father had passed on, I didn't care for the way he left things and Henry couldn't help things the way they were. After all, these were Victorian times and I"m pretty sure that they didn't know about asthma back then. ( That's what I suffer from.) It's no fun and it' makes you feel like a fish out of water so I knew what Arthur was going through.
I feel that Henry is his own person. A parent shouldn't favor one child over another . ( I seen first hand what that could do to the other child)
I strongly recommend this book if you love the Victorian style era. I received this copy from Netgalley. No compensations were received and all opinions are my own!!!

Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

I had trouble getting into this book. I have read other books by Ms Byrd that were better. It seemed to drag in a lot of sports. I found myself skimming in a lot of places. It did have a happy ending. But it seemed to take a long time to get there. I did have the bad guy figured out before we were told who it was.

I was given this book by Tyndale Publishing by way of NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.