The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry

In this second installment of the Treasures of Halstead Manor series—the first was The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton, and the third, The Hidden Key of Brooke Summer, is yet to be released—the strange adventures and budding friendships of Natalie, Everleigh, and Brooke continue to evolve, despite hurdles and misunderstandings.

The threesome has returned from their search in Europe for the Florentine Diamond on behalf of the mysterious Caspar, who seems to reside at Halstead Manor—a man whose voice they’ve listened to, but never met.

Since returning from their first adventure, Natalie is feeling at loose ends as her marriage of almost 22 years is deteriorating despite her best efforts to connect with her husband, Mason, a man who seems to have one focus—advancing his career. And, since their sons left for college, the schedule that used to securely cement Natalie’s routines is absent.

Now, Natalie hopes that Caspar will employ her and her friends again, but, in the meantime, she takes a job at a local bookstore and befriends the eccentric, yet loving owner.

After a three-month wait, Natalie and her friends are called to Halstead Manor to consider Caspar’s next assignment to search for a rumored copy of Lewis Carroll’s handwritten and illustrated copy of Alice’s Adventures Under Ground.

When Natalie embarks on this next adventure, she discards any hope that her marriage to Mason can be saved. Unexpectedly, Mason joins the group in Europe. Natalie reluctantly agrees that he may accompany her, but makes no promises that she wants a restored relationship.

The group travels from site to site, running into dead ends, pursuing new information about the book’s possible location, and trying to figure out Caspar’s identity and why the book is important to him. As events unfold, Natalie and Mason take steps to write a new chapter in their marriage, peeling away the myriad reasons for their misunderstandings and beginning to confront the inadequacies and failures that need to be addressed.

Author Susan Tuttle’s novel for female readers weaves together romance, suspense, adventure, biblical insights into marriage, reflections on maintaining a posture of trust in relationships, and a back story set in Spain beginning in 1922 and woven throughout the present-day narrative.

Readers who are anticipating that all the loose ends of the mystery will be tied up at the conclusion to The Novel Adventures of Natalie Daughtry will discover that they’ll have to wait till they’ve read the third and final installment of the Treasures of Halstead Manor series. (Kregel)