Meet Gertrude Levine from The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton

Everleigh Wheaton knows it only takes a few well-placed lies to ruin a reputation. She’s experienced it time and time again. But there’s a silver lining to repeatedly proving herself: she’s become confident and self-reliant.

When she loses yet another job and an enigmatic stranger offers a solution to her financial troubles, she’s game. After all, she loves a good mystery, and the invitation to visit the legendary Halstead Manor is irresistible. But she’s not about to let her guard down–especially not with the other women who received the same invitation. Life has taught her that trust is dangerous.

A strange voice on the phone explains that he’s gathered the three of them to work together as treasure hunters. Their first assignment requires Everleigh to be a traveling nurse for retired FBI agent Gertrude Levine, who has one cold case she just can’t let go of–the missing Florentine Diamond.

With Everleigh’s keen ability to solve puzzles, Natalie Daughtry’s vast knowledge of history, and Brooke Sumner’s connections to the antiques world, they’re confident they’ll track down the diamond. Except Gertie’s nephew, Niles Butler, doesn’t believe Everleigh is as innocent as she claims–even as he finds himself fascinated by her–and he’s determined to block every move she makes. If Everleigh can’t learn to drop her walls of self-protection, the diamond treasure won’t be the only thing she’ll lose.

Purchase Links: Amazon  |  Baker Book House

Now for our interview with Gertrude.

CC: I’m so excited to get to introduce you to my readers, Gertrude. Would you mind telling them a little bit about yourself?

GL: This is Gertrude Levine, but you can call me Gertie. I’m a retired FBI agent who loves puns and hates sitting around, so I opened my own PI Firm. I raised my nephew, Niles, after my sister died looking for a gem we once dreamed about finding together. I can’t let that mystery go or the regrets that I have when it comes to my little sister. I’ve been losing my sight to macular degeneration, which has Niles hovering and helping out at the PI firm. The boy seems to think it’s his job to take care of me now. His overprotective streak puts a snafu into this new adventure I plan to go on with a mysterious man named Caspar and three women he’s hired to finally find that gem. Nile has got it in his mind that he needs to watch out for me. All right, then. That means he’ll be tagging along, and I think one of the girls is the perfect match for his surly ways, so I’m all for it. I might find that gem. He might find his woman. Sounds like the makings of a fun time.

CC: Oh that sounds like a lot of fun mischief and some very punny situations. 😉

You talk about hindsight in the story. Drawing from your own, what’s one lesson you wish you could pass on to someone younger?

GL: Don’t allow what you don’t have to separate you from those who do have it. God’s got a plan for all of us. Spend your time and energy falling in love with the plan he has for you, even if it doesn’t look like you thought it would. Stop fixing your eyes on those around you, and fix them on Jesus.

CC: So it sounds like you are a woman of God. How would you describe your relationship with Him?

GL: I say God’s love is like a dictionary. It gives meaning to my life 😉 Sorry, I can’t resist a good pun. But truth-be-told, I wish I’d have allowed God fully into my life years ago. I kept certain rooms of my heart off limits to him, and that only caused me pain and regret. I can’t go back and change things, life only moves forward. Now I let him order those steps I take, and it’s made a world of difference in how I see the world–and in how I treat others. I have more patience. More wisdom (and I already thought myself pretty wise). More love. Less bitterness. Less fear. Less regret. I also have less years left, but one’s never too old to make the most of the days in front of them. Jesus helps a person do just that.

CC: I love that . . . especially the pun! Seriously, I’m a pun girl. I can’t get enough of them. So tell us about your nephew, Niles. 

GL: He’s a hard worker and a protector. He’s turned that protective streak toward me. Seems he’s forgotten that I raised him and taught him everything he knows, but ever since my eyesight started failing, he’s hovered. He carries too much on his shoulders, and he struggles to trust people. That boy carries hurt from his past that if he could simply let go, he might just find some love in his future. Because I happen to think he likes my new nurse and adventure partner, Everleigh. If he could get out of his own way and let himself get to know her.

CC: Isn’t it just like us to let ourselves get in the way of God’s best plan for us? Since you think Everliegh is such a great match for him, tell us about her. 

GL: She’s got grit and she doesn’t have a problem putting Niles in his place. His growl doesn’t scare her. She also has a sense of humor, I see it in the way she teases him and it brings out that lighter side of Niles that he seemed to have buried. But she has her own hurts that cause her to pull back from people. She’s a bit of a loner, yet I think–and she might disagree with me–that a part of her is hungry to be seen. To be known. To have friendships and maybe even fall in love. I happen to think my Niles would be the perfect fit for her. The two of them just need a little help in being pushed together, which is why I’m fine with Niles coming along with us to find the Florentine Diamond. Forced proximity has been known to bring more than one couple together.

CC: LOL Good ol’ forced proximity. So much can happen when you can’t get away from each other. So why are you searching for this gem?

GL: My little sister Amelia and I had a friend when we were children and all three of us loved adventuring together. We’d pretend we were treasure hunters, and one of the treasures we sought was that diamond. For some reason, that mystery stuck with us both even though through the years we drifted apart. That drift had more to do with me than her–one of those regrets I’ve talked about. So now if I can find it, it’ll be like getting a small piece of Amelia back too. Plus, losing my eyesight has taken so much from me. I’m ready to go see the world again–even though I can’t see it. Life isn’t meant to be lived on a couch. As long as I have get-up-and-go in me, I plan on doing just that.

CC: Good for you! But what happens if you don’t find the gem? How would you feel?

GL: Finding that gem would be pretty amazing, I’m not going to lie. But I’ve come to realize in life that sometimes you discover much more important things along the journey, and sometimes the destination God has for you is different than what you first imagined. So, find it or no, I’m going to enjoy the journey. Especially since I get front row seats to Niles and Everleigh falling in love–leastwise I’m hoping for them to. Even better? Seeing Jesus work on their hearts. He’s the most valuable treasure anyone can find.

I love all of this so much, and it just makes me hungry to watch their journey unfold too. Guess this Jewel of a book is going to get knocked to the top of my TBR pile. Thank you so much for talking with us, Gertie. I look forward to your puns and wisdom in the chapters to come. 

Readers, be sure to check out The Rare Jewel of Everliegh Wheaton as soon as possible. Who doesn’t enjoy a little romance, adventure, and puns?  

About Susan L. Tuttle:

Susan L. Tuttle is a pastor’s wife, mom, and the director of women’s ministry at her church near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her work includes the Along Came Love and The Treasures of Halstead Manor series, and the Carol Award finalist Love You, Truly. Learn more about Susan at susanltuttle.com.

Connect with Susan: Website  |  Amazon  |  Facebook  |  Instagram  |  BookBub  |  GoodReads