Due to various reasons I am leaving Counterfeit Love as a did not finish read and not reviewing it other than here because I do not personally agree with some things, but I do not want to harm the book or author needlessly.

Counterfeiting is the very obvious theme in this historical romance. Fake money, undercover agents, denied love, and questionable faith.

In this story, a counterfeit ring entangles a secret service agent, Broderick Cosgrove and his former fiancé, Theresa Plane. Everyone is withholding facts (the truth). The problem is, the case is not likely to be cracked until all the cards are on the table.

It will be a long time before all the facts comes out. In the meantime, Theresa has been implicated in the counterfeiting ring, while her new fiancé, Edward Greystone is pressuring her to marry him. Broderick struggles to keep Theresa safe while investigating the conterfeiters.

The plot is complex, but not surprising. The bad guys were obvious and the good guys are just not working well together. This resulted in an action-packed story that includes danger, violence, and rising flood waters. Also, self-realization, family, friends and romance.

Counterfeit Love has strong Christian faith elements in it. Both the heroine and hero have very human doubts and talk to God often. In the end, their faith proves to be a vital a tool in overcoming the odds.

Through Netgalley, the publisher provided a copy of this book. My review is my honest opinion.

Counterfeit Love takes place in Cincinnati in 1884. Theresa Plane is about to marry Edward Greystone, a "practical love," but as the story progresses she encounters her former beau, Secret Service Agent, Broderick Cosgrove returns to her life. The historical details are fascinating and the romance is much more complex than heart vs. head.

What I especially enjoyed, and had never read or thought about was information about the history of the early years of the Secret Service. I erroneously believed it was founded to protect the President, but its initial purpose was the protect the U.S. Currency.

Definitely recommend Counterfeit Love for those who enjoy historical romantic fiction with an interesting glimpse of history.

I hate to say it, but I declared this book a Did Not Finish at 20% through. I really struggled to get through each chapter, thinking that I'll give it one more chapter to redeem itself. That didn't happen, so I finally had to give up. I just couldn't get into it. It felt like there were people being introduced that we should have known, so I was very confused. I may try to give it another chance later because it did get very high reviews overall, but for now, it's a no for me.

I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher and NetGalley.

This was such a interesting book. I had no idea the secret service started out looking for counterfeiters. Theresa finds herself in trouble. Her former childhood friend and fiancé Broderick shows back up, he happened to be an undercover secret service agent. The book is set in Cincinnati. I enjoyed this debut novel by the author. I’m looking forward to future books by this author. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own.

How is this Crystal Caudill's debut novel? My word, I have to say right off the bat that I felt like I was reading a seasoned author's novel. It was so well written, the storyline perfectly put together. The character arcs happened at just the right speed. There was mystery, romance, interesting facts, and so much more in the pages of this novel. And it's only the beginning!

Let's talk about Theresa Plane. She did not back down from anything, and while her stubbornness may have irked Broderick a time or two, I actually found it quite charming. She just wasn't afraid, and you don't see that too often in that time period. I will admit that sometimes it got her in trouble, but for me it just made the story much more fun to read.

And Broderick? What a guy. I mean, he's still so protective of the woman he loves, even though she is engaged to another. He was proper, decent, and a gentleman, but also had some moments where he made his point of protecting her quite clear (even to her betrothed!). I loved it. Every single moment.

But then you have this interesting storyline of the counterfeiters. I have been in banking for over 21 years, and so this really intrigued me. In fact, it spurred me to investigate and learn more on my own time once I was done reading. Even today with how technology is, it can still be difficult to track counterfeit money. I couldn't imagine back then! Caudill's research just fascinated me. Honestly, I wanted more, but there wouldn't have been enough pages to give it to me lol.

If this is Caudill's debut novel, I cannot even imagine what is coming down the road. Nothing but greatness. This story was amazing. Fantastic. A must read for all historical fiction fans. I cannot wait to see what's next in the series. I don't want to be pushy, but I need it in my hands now!

I purchased my own copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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Want a good, clean, historical suspense tale with non-stop action?

I recommend the debut novel by Crystal Caudill, Counterfeit Love, set in the late 1800s. This story starts with a fright for Theresa when one of her father’s creditors demands money at gunpoint. She’s able to act quickly enough to survive, but the event causes her to start asking questions about her grandfather’s activities. Is he really involved with something illegal? If he is, what can she do about it?

Counterfeit Love takes readers back to the origins of the Secret Service: not security detail, but to combat counterfeiting of American currency. Broderick and his fellow agents work at a variety of tasks, including going undercover in some of Cincinnati’s seedier locations. The book is long – over 300 pages – but never gets boring. I did have an idea of who was involved, which was proven correct, but I had no idea as to the extent.

This is the first in the Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age trilogy. A three-page preview of the next book, Counterfeit Hope, is at the end. I’d like to think there’ll be one or two familiar characters, but the brief glimpse doesn’t tell us much. Still, I’m looking to its release next year.

Disclaimer: Although I received a copy of this book from the publisher, the opinions above are my own

Wow, wow, WOW!! This book is one of the best Historical Fiction novels I've read all year! From the very first page, I was hooked. This book has everything - romance, faith, humor and just enough suspense to keep you intrigued until the very last page. I loved Theresa's determination to defend her livelihood and was both amazed and encouraged by her character throughout the story. I also enjoyed reading about Theresa and Broderick's relationship and LOVED seeing them grow closer to God and to each other. Another thing I really liked, was all the historical details and facts that the Author included, because this really made the story more realistic.

As an avid Fiction reader, I can tell you that there are some books that when you finish them, you immediately start thinking about the next book on your TBR pile; however, there are other books that when you finish, you just pause like, "WOW! That was AMAZING!!" (and you kind of regret finishing it so quick, because you didn't want it to end and now you have to wait for the next book!! ) and this was definitely one of those books! I would highly recommend this book to anyone and give it 5 out of 5 stars and cannot WAIT for the next book (do I really have to wait until next year!?!)

Special thanks to Crystal Caudill, Netgalley and Kregel Publications for allowing me to read and review this book – all views and opinions are my own.

First Initial Thoughts

We start the novel with Theresa being hunted down by a man named Mr. Drake, looking for her Grandfather’s debts to be repaid. Over the past few years, Theresa’s grandfather has been in hot water when it comes to their finances. His print shop is failing, and he owes a ton of money to debtors. Over the years, she has had to sell off valuable possessions and sell her own paintings to keep things afloat. However, she soon will be married to Edward. A wealthy man that ensures that she and her grandfather will be taken care of. She doesn’t love Edward but knows that this is the best decision she could make. Then everything changes. One evening, she comes home to hear gunshots. She sees her grandfather laying in his study, shot. She is absolutely devastated and traumatized by finding her grandfather there dead. Who shot her grandfather? And why?

Broderick is an officer of the secret service and undercover trying to determine who is operating a counterfeiting ring. He use to be engaged to Theresa but one day after a tragedy he left without saying a word. Theresa left with her heartbroken. I think she never fully recovered from that relationship and still held a deep love for Broderick. When Theresa’s grandfather is suspected to be a part of the counterfeit money ring, Theresa must face the facts of who her grandfather really was.

Setting

Set in Cincinnati, Ohio during the Gilded Age, you definitely got a feel for what it was like during that time. I would say Theresa’s family was old money, well at one time before all the debts, and Theresa was desperately trying to hold onto the family name. Edward on the other hand was new money. He was always flaunting his wealth with his ships and other endeavors. While the Gilded Age was all about glamour, I felt this book had the opposite feeling. It was definitely felt more dark and mysterious.

Final Thoughts

Broderick and Theresa both had to forgive one another for the choices they made in life. Especially Broderick had to forgive himself for losing Theresa and for what happened in the past. I do think they never stopped loving one another. They both needed to heal from the events of the past in their own way and time. Theresa grew up and matured. She was able to forgive him for what happened, and they were able to move on and learn to love each other again.

Edward in the beginning of the novel seemed like an ok man for Theresa. I had a feeling that he loved her and wanted to protect her. However, as the novel progressed I found it kind of odd that he kept pressuring Theresa to marry him even though she wasn’t quite ready. I don’t necessarily think she wasn’t ready, I think she was starting to see who he really was. As the novel progressed, we got glimpses of him being controlling and manipulative. I won’t say if he had any connection to the counterfeit ring, but I had my suspsions throughout the entire story.

With that being said, I kind have already figured the mystery out by the middle of the book. However, the action packed scenes kept me interested and wanting to read till the very end. I do have to say this book grabbed me right from the start and jumped right into the action. It was interesting to learn more about the beginnings of the secret service and what they actually did in the 19th century. I always thought they just protected the president, but I guess they did much more!

Overall, this was a fun novel and I throughly enjoyed this debut novel from Crystal Caudill!

Counterfeit Love is the first book in Crystal Caudill’s Hidden Hearts of the Gilded Age series.

My favorite type of novel is a historical romance with plenty of suspense. Counterfeit Love is exactly that type of story. An undercover Secret Service agent, a counterfeit ring, an unsuspecting, but certainly not naive, woman caught in between. It’s the perfect mix!

Counterfeit Love is an enjoyable story that keeps the pages turning and the questions multiplying. Who was the bad guy? Would they survive all the trouble? Would Teresa and Broderick get a happily ever after? I was so caught up in the story, I see a reread in my future so I can slow down and appreciate all the historical details included in the book.

If you’re looking for a book filled with action and sassy characters, this book is for you!

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

*** Dangerously Good Historical Romance,
is how she describes her writing and she knocked it out of the park on her debut novel! This book was an exciting diversion to escape into. With secret service agents, battling brothers, rich pasts to explore, counterfeit engraving plates, danger and lost love, plus a hefty dose of faith set in the late 1800s, I found this book to be rich and captivating.

“He’d learned to rely on God’s prompting Spirit over the years. More than once, it had saved his life.

“Father’s Bible filled the small space. When was the last time she’d nestled in her favorite chair and cherished quiet time with God?” I loved the special quote written by Theresa’s mother in father’s Bible. It was beautiful, but read that for yourself and be blessed.

Broderick and Theresa’s story is not to be missed.

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With obvious impeccable research and a very creative premise, author Crystal Caudill has penned an intriguing tale of suspense with her debut novel, Counterfeit Love. Carefully crafted and colorful characters are plopped down in a counterfeiting investigation in Cincinnati, Ohio in the 1880s. Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove has been working to identify the main members of a ring of counterfeiters when he finds his former fiancé, Theresa Plane, may be involved. Theresa is a strong, sometimes stubborn, heroine who is currently engaged to Edward Greystone. While trying to pay the debts her grandfather owes and save the family home, Theresa stumbles upon evidence he’s involved in the counterfeiting ring.

Action, adventure, suspense, lots of twists and turns, and a dash of romance all add to this absorbing story. A strong faith element is present and gives the tale added depth. I enjoyed the author’s historical notes in the back of the book which explained interesting facts about this particular slice of history.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Kregel Publications. All opinions are my own.

This novel was truly fascinating! I learned so much about counterfeiting and secret service agents in the nineteenth century. There was lots of mystery in the story that made the plot interesting as I tried to figure out the ending. The characters are likeable and easy to connect with early in the story. I really enjoyed reading about their ever-changing relationship. I love the second chances romance trope! Theresa is strong and determined and I really enjoyed her character. The integration of faith in this novel is also well done and clear without being preachy. This book is a fantastic debut novel and I cannot wait to read the next one! Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I am a huge fan of debut novels which makes writing this review difficult.
I didn't finish this book. I started it from the beginning at least twice and each time I got about fifty pages each time and just couldn't connect with the story or the characters.
I felt as though I was thrown into the middle of the story and I should've already had some backstory with both the characters and the story as a whole.
I fell in love with the cover and the Gilded Age is a favored historical time period for me so I wanted to give it a shot. I wish the author had given some sort of prequel to this story. It may have helped me not feel thrown into the middle of a story.

Please don't take my review as gospel. Read other reviews and get a library copy if your interest is peaked.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via the publisher. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this tale, which featured two people, once engaged, who had been separated for six years. I did struggle at times to understand the reasoning behind decisions that both of the main characters made, some in the past and some in the present. I still liked Theresa and Broderick, yet found myself shaking my head and wanting them to communicate with each other. Some problems could have been avoided with communication. However, both still had a lot to contend with and communication alone would not have solved the tangled web of intrigue these two found themselves in.

Theresa had a problem understanding the depth of depravity that her grandfather had looped her into with his associations. She was headstrong and charged forward without the full understanding of the situation. One of the characters described her perfectly by saying, “She’s independent with a false sense of invincibility.” Theresa also continued to remain engaged to a man she did not love, simply because she thought he would offer stability. I kept wondering why she thought he would be the person she should spend her life with.

Broderick was a good man and still loved Theresa with his whole heart. I really enjoyed the interactions between the two of them. Their chemistry was definitely strong and I felt badly for all the years they had lost while separated from each other. I thought the author did a good job of showing the ways that both of these characters had pulled back from faith in God and instead turned to faith in themselves to solve their problems.

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

Counterfeit Love combines intrigue and romance in a heart-pounding tale.

This book is incredible!

Caudill manages to combine compelling characters, an exciting plot, and a thoughtful spiritual arc into one story, and I am just in awe.

From the beginning, I was enraptured. Theresa immediately proves to be a relatable character with a fierce sense of loyalty. And every gutsy heroine needs a hero that is strong and sure. Enter Broderick, perhaps one of my favorite historical heroes ever. His protectiveness and strong sense of duty made me love him from the beginning.

Surrounding these two leads are fantastic secondary characters that I hope to see again. (Please, please, please tell me Isaacs will get a book!) I think what made me love these secondary characters so much is how they contribute to Theresa’s and Broderick’s spiritual arcs. They have a lot of great discussions about trusting God and what true love looks like.

Combined with a plot that tests these characters and an intriguing mystery that had me turning pages when I should have been working, Counterfeit Love proves itself a winner in my book. I think Crystal Caudill may be an auto-read author for me.

Overall, Counterfeit Love is an intriguing historical romance that historical and suspense fans alike will enjoy.

(Note: I received a complimentary copy for review. All opinions expressed are my own.)

Even if…
I couldn’t get over this line. What a powerful message! And Caudill made it come alive through these characters. Just when you thought all hope was lost—when a way out seemed impossible—God came through for them. He answered their prayers in unexpected ways. He challenged and tested them to see if they would love him, if they would serve him, even if things didn’t work out the way they wanted it to. And isn’t that just what we need in real life. The ability, the desire, to trust God, even if…
Caudill’s debut novel will not be one I easily forget. From the beautiful spiritual message to the flawed characters with so much to learn about God and each other, to the well-crated historical setting that creates a wonderful backdrop to this page-turning suspenseful story.
One of my favorite characters was Lydia (maybe because that’s my daughter’s name) but she was both friend and mentor to Theresa. It is her faith that causes Theresa to see a lack in her own life. And the things Theresa put that poor woman through!
You could tell the author did her research both about the city of Cincinnati and counterfeiting money. Another thing I appreciated is that the author didn’t detract from the deplorableness of sinful man but at the same time, she didn’t excuse it, and consequences were dealt out accordingly, all while keeping things tactful and PG.
I highly recommend this book for lovers of historical romance, and for those who want more than entertainment from their reading.

Trust is in short supply so faith will be key...

I'm usually up for a good debut novel. Sometimes they kinda miss the boat for me but many other times I find an author to add to my must read list. This book was one of the latter as I was quite impressed by Counterfeit Love from the very start. Crystal Caudill's storytelling skill is definitely not that of a beginner. She's good!

One of the best things about Counterfeit Love is its flawed characters. While that term is definitely overused it can still be very true. Crystal Caudill's characters can sometimes be naive, temperamental, slow to forgive, stick their feet in their mouths, and make decisions that in hindsight might have been a little on the stupid side. But, it's all of those things that made them seem a little more real and a lot more relatable. And because of those things I liked them all the more.

With elements of historical romance, mystery, and definite Gothic overtones Counterfeit Love may have been a 300+ page read but it went pretty fast – mainly because I didn't feel much like putting it down. I just kept being drawn back in all while telling myself just one more page or just another chapter, I'm sure you know how well that went... Crystal Caudill successfully kept me interested, engaged, and intrigued from beginning to end.

According to the cover Counterfeit Love is only the first book in the Hidden Hearts Of The Gilded Age series and based on this debut effort from Crystal Caudill it's a series that I will be following with anticipation.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

What a fabulous engaging debut novel by Crystal Caudill! It’s hard to believe this is her first book. The characters, story, and setting completely drew me in. I enjoyed the compelling, fast-paced mystery combined with romance and spiritual insight woven deftly throughout the story. Set in the late 1800’s in Cincinnati, Ohio, this is a story of betrayal, second chance love, and counterfeiting.

Broderick Cosgrove is an undercover secret service agent trying to foil a counterfeiting ring possibly involving his childhood friend and ex-fiancé, Theresa Plane. His investigation leads him to Theresa’s grandfather Colonel Plane whose significant debts force her into an impossible situation. When Broderick broke her heart and abandoned her six years ago, Theresa tried to move on with her life. She’s become engaged to Edward Greystone, a man who offers her security. Yet, she still can’t forget Broderick. When he returns, her life is thrown into chaos. Can she trust him and will she be able to save herself and her grandfather from imminent ruin?

Theresa is headstrong, artistically talented, and skeptical. She’s lost so much and wonders if God is really listening. I appreciated her struggle with faith and her learning to trust in God again. Her relationship with Broderick is full of those love/hate moments where you know she’s still attracted to him but doesn’t want to admit it.

Broderick is passionate, self-sacrificing, and enjoys his career. He can be unforgiving and has to learn to prioritize what’s important, but I loved the way he cared for Theresa. The rock he keeps in his pocket as a reminder lent a gentle touch to his strong lawman character.

Loved the supporting characters. Broderick’s brother Nathaniel really stole my heart and I hope to see more of him. Theresa’s friend Lydia and her husband, Mrs. Hawking, and Isaacs brought added enjoyment to the story.

The romance between Theresa and Broderick definitely had those swoony moments. I loved their first kiss and the palpable underlying attraction. I only wish their backstory was given at the beginning. The reader is instantly immersed into the story and a few pages of what happened six years earlier would have been helpful. However, this didn’t detract from the story and eventually the past is revealed.

The historical aspects were well researched and interesting. I enjoyed learning about ciphers, the Secret Service, and counterfeiting. The action, twists and turns, romance, and mystery definitely kept me engaged. The inspirational spiritual messages added to the story without being preachy.

I look forward to reading more by this author! Highly recommend to Christian fiction/romance readers. I received an advanced copy from the author through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and I was not required to provide a positive review.

Our heroine, Theresa Plane, is living a life she did not choose for herself. Engaged to a man who will provide her with a comfortable life, though maybe not passion, and she is working hard at painting plus selling her possessions to clear her grandfather's debt from some unsavory characters. This all brings her back into the path of her true love, Broderick Cosgrove, who is an agent of the Secret Service. He is trying to break into a counterfeiting ring, and unfortunately Theresa's grandfather seems to be involved.

This is an engaging romance and a historical suspense all wrapped into one tale that moves rather swiftly. I liked that the characters, even though taking their punches from life, get up and keep on living. Theresa especially was a unique character. One who was small in stature, but feisty, noble, steadfast, and loyal. She loved fiercely even to her own determent but that didn't seem to matter to her.

Broderick was her champion even if he felt she was better off without him. I am glad that he stepped up to the task he was given and stood by Theresa's side and fought alongside with her. I really look forward to what new to me author Caudill has in store with her future stories.

I was provided a copy of this novel through the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.