I appreciate having had an opportunity to read and review this book. The appeal of this particular book was not evident to me, and if I cannot file a generally positive review I prefer simply to advise the publisher to that effect and file no review at all.

Loved this one. It felt like a National Treasure movie. Clues and assassins. It was very entertaining.

I wanted so badly to love this. Scottish folklore, a treasure hunt!? Sounds right up my alley, but unfortunately it just fell flat. I couldn't get into it no matter how hard I tried. The dialogue felt unnatural, the storyline felt like every scene was a box that the author was checking off, and I didn't care about any of the characters. I knew I really didn't like it as soon as I started another book and flew through it. This just wasn't for me.

Treasures of the Lochs, A Novel, by Hunter White and narrated by Laura Darrell. I picked up this ARC because I was drawn in by Scotland, treasure and action. I did not get around to reading the physical copy but was able to listen to the audiobook.

I rate this a 2.75 (3 stars).

I am very particular about my audiobooks and while I did complete it and thought Laura did well, I did find it a little over theatrical sometimes. But I think that she also did a great job at portraying the imagery the author was trying to create.

The story follows two main characters Lieutenant Carter Porter from the US and teenager Hassie Douglass from Scotland. It is a mix of historical fiction, fantasy, and mystery. I would also categorize this more as a YA Fiction. I am interested to see if once I read the physical copy if that will change my rating.

Thank you, NetGalley and River Grove Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

This was such a great concept for a action-adventure, it had everything that I was hoping for. The characters were everything that I was hoping for. Hunter H. White does everything that I was hoping for in this book.

I enjoy historical fiction and fantasy, parts of some of my favorite genres. Folklore and mythology? Sign me up. This book promises a long-lost treasure, a deadly chase, and a magnificent beast of legends. Again, I'm in.

Told from the viewpoint of the two main characters. Carter is a United States Naval Academy, Lieutenant. Without giving spoilers I'll say that he is mourning the loss of his father, and is in a very dark place. He is drawn to Scottland by a mysterious item left by his father in a safety deposit box, Hattie is a 14-year-old girl who lives in Scottland. She is bright, and mature for her age. She finds some treasure that might be from the famed long-lost treasure of the Scottish Jacobites. She wants to use the money from selling the treasure to help her family. Before that can happen word gets out. Riches and wealth can bring out the best or the worst in people. It isn't long before Hattie and Carter are on the run and racing to solve the mystery of where the remaining treasure is and how to use it to stay alive.

Scottish history, adventure, a treasure hunt. Heartbreak, redemption, restoration. Those are some words, that I would use to describe this book. At first, I didn't know how the first chapter of the book would tie into the next chapter, then the next chapter. The story came together and it was fun. The characters are human, they make mistakes, and they have to take risks, and make hard choices.


Description
A long-lost treasure, a deadly chase, and a magnificent beast of legends

For almost three hundred years, people have searched for one of the greatest treasures in history—the lost gold of the Scottish Jacobites. Following his father’s death and a brazen late-night break-in at the United States Naval Academy, Lieutenant Carter Porter, his life and career in tatters, unwittingly joins the quest.

In Scotland, Hassie Douglass, a spirited young employee of a luxury inn situated on the picturesque shores of Loch Ness, thinks her prayers have been answered when she stumbles across four old gold coins that may be part of the Jacobite treasure. But she can’t tell anybody how she really found them; they would think she had lost her mind. Who would believe she followed a strange, ethereal voice emanating from the loch? Struggling to accept what she heard, she can’t deny that the gold in her hand is real.

The allure of such a valuable cache draws evil, like the moth to a flame. No sooner does Carter receive a strange bequest from his late father and Hassie’s find is publicized than a shadowy, well-armed group of mercenaries attacks each of them. Soon, Carter’s and Hassie’s fates are joined, and their survival depends on solving more than one ancient mystery while facing their worst nightmares.

Blending historical fact and Scottish legend within an action-packed adventure, Treasures of the Lochs is an exciting, powerful story of faith, friendship, and redemption.

This was a wonderful blending of genre’s. There’s a little bit for everyone here, fantasy, mystery and history, and suspense.
The descriptions of the Highlands was so vivid and well done that it felt like I could have reached out and grabbed a character by the hand.
This was a gripping page turner from the start. I liked this so much that I am buying a physical copy for my shelves.

This book is I believe a true story with certain events the author decided to change on his behalf. In this story we follow our main character Carter as he and a woman Hallie go on an adventure in the tunnels trying to not only protect themselves but also the men going after them for gold that Hallie stumbled upon.

I honestly had a hard time following the story but I didn’t give up on it because I found the storyline of Hallie finding gold to them being in the tunnels fascinating enough to want to continue. However due to what I felt was a confusing plot to the story I won’t be able give a decent review but wanted to at least do my best giving one.

I also could not find this book on Good reads so I will not be able to post this review on to Good Reads. I do have an Instagram account that I have already posted. I rated the book a 3 because it didn’t grab my attention enough to know what was happening but it grabbed my attention enough to finish. This book has potential for other readers that are into these stories, it just is not for me. It was well written just not my style of reading.

Told from alternating perspectives, “Treasures of the Lochs” by Hunter H. White is a thrilling treasure hunt reminiscent of Indiana Jones, with a touch of mythological/supernatural elements.

What stood out to me initially were the action sequences. White has a keen knack for creating suspenseful and riveting scenes. I found myself particularly immersed in the parts set in Scotland, which were very atmospheric.

However, the book wasn’t without its shortcomings. After a strong start, the narrative loses some momentum in the second half. There’s a lot of action, but the story doesn’t seem to advance proportionally. While the book is definitely well-researched, there were times when information felt more dumped than seamlessly woven into the story.

The writing style also posed some challenges for me. Repetitive actions, like characters constantly nodding or chuckling, and excessive use of filter words often took me out of the narrative. The dialogue sometimes sounded stilted, with characters rarely using contractions. Additionally, the portrayal of Russian characters speaking broken English felt grating and overdone.

The author introduces numerous side characters who recur throughout the narrative. Unfortunately, many felt transient and were utilized mainly for plot convenience, causing moments of confusion as I tried recalling who was who. Furthermore, certain character motivations felt puzzling. Despite knowing the perils they’re up against, decisions made by some characters, especially concerning safety, felt contradictory.

For fellow animal lovers, there is a scene with a dog that might raise concern, but rest assured, it doesn’t end tragically.

While I didn’t quite vibe with this book, I think it would be a great fit for readers looking for a treasure hunt filled with plenty of history and Scottish legend. Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.