What You Said to Me (Tree of Life #4) by Olivia Newport

Title: What You Said to Me (Tree of Life #4)

Author: Olivia Newport

Pages: 256

Release Date: November 1, 2020

Genre: Duel-Time Novel

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Present to Past on Family Trees.

     When 15-year-old Tisha Crowder gets caught shoplifting, attorney Nolan Duffy tries to protect her from consequences that could rattle her already troubled life. His daughter, Jillian, feels like she’s the one being punished instead—by having Tisha assigned to work with her on a backlog of genealogy files. Tisha doesn’t seem interested in taking the job seriously, and Jillian’s patience wears thin. Besides, everyone in Canyon Mines knows the Crowder family has experienced generations of brokenness. Then a sliver of hope turns up in long-ago words in plain sight, challenging shrouded assumptions about Tisha’s family. Now Jillian is the one who can walk with Tisha back to 1893 and uncover where everything went wrong in the first place—and save her from the past.

My review:

     This is a fantastic duel-time novel.

     At the beginning of the book I was very frustrated with Tisha and her attitude. I completely related with Jillian on how she viewed her. As the story progressed I found that I was able to connect with Tisha also.

     I loved the historical sections of this book. I felt so bad for Clifford Brandt and his daughter Missouri. I never knew anything about the silver mining in Colorado and how it ended. Now I am very curious and want to look into the history of 1893.

     Throughout the book I was captivated by the thought that the two seemingly separate storylines would have to connect in some way. It was incredible when the connection was revealed.

     I really hope that the author writes more books in this series. I’m giving this wonderful story a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it. I do suggest that this series be read in order. There are things in Jillian’s life that progress and are discussed in later books that begin in the early ones.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

When I Meet You (Tree of Life #3) by Olivia Newport

Title: When I Meet You (Tree of Life #3)

Author: Olivia Newport

Pages: 256

Release Date: May 1, 2020

Genre: Duel-Time Novel

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     A father-daughter genealogy team link present to past on family trees.

     A trunk abandoned at Denver’s Union Station more than a century ago leads Jillian and Nolan to untangle the mystery of its contents—including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Denver office. While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed—twice—Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn’t want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.

     When I Meet You is the third book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.

My review:

     WOW! This is an incredible duel-time novel!

     I absolutely love the main characters in both time periods. They are all very well developed and have very different personalities.

     Both of the plot lines are fantastic. I was completely sucked into the entire story. I knew from the beginning that they would connect with each other some way. I enjoyed seeing the early tidbits that were hints as to the connection. The author did a marvelous job of holding out on the reader until the final reveal though.

     I have to get this great book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

In the Cradle Lies (Tree of Life #2) by Olivia Newport

Title: In the Cradle Lies (Tree of Life #2)

Author: Olivia Newport

Pages: 256

Year: 2019

Genre: Duel-Time Novel

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Present to Past on Family Trees.

     On a solo ski vacation in Canyon Mines, Colorado, Tucker has a love-hate relationship with his wealth, spending indiscriminately while skiing fearlessly and preparing to conquer the overgrown slope of Hidden Run, a dangerous run not attempted in decades. As genealogist Jillian tries to uncover enough of Tucker’s family tree to understand his charming nature but reckless resolve, Jillian’s equally charming father, Nolan, cajoles Tucker into giving him ski lessons to get him talking about the suspicious circumstances surrounding his grandfather’s life in St. Louis in the 1930s.

     On the surface, Tucker’s family’s history seems too perfect. The secret may lie in the sealed envelope Tucker carries with him at all times—even on the ski slope. When no one can find Tucker to tell him the fiancee he never mentioned turned up in Canyon Mines, they realize he must be off attempting to ski Hidden Run alone in a snowstorm. And they may be too late.

     In the Cradle Lies is the second book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.

My review:

     This is a fantastic duel-time novel!

     I absolutely love the way the stories in this series are told. The premise is of a genealogist researching a difficult family tree. This plot is interspersed with a decades old storyline. It is very compelling.

     All of the primary characters are extremely well developed. That made it very easy to either love them, or hate them.

     I thoroughly enjoy reading a book that is filled with an incredible plot that I’m captivated by and emotionally invested in. This is definitely one of those stories.

     One of the keys that I picked up on in this story is the need to face up to our past choices that hurt our family. Then to move on and reconcile with them.

     I just have to give this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I must recommend it. I certainly hope that there will be many more books in this fabulous series.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

The Inn at Hidden Run (Tree of Life #1) by Olivia Newport

Title: The Inn at Hidden Run (Tree of Life #1)

Author: Olivia Newport

Pages: 256

Year: 2019

Genre: Duel-Time Novel

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Present to Past on Family Trees

     Meri’s family has been producing doctors for so many generations that no one remembers why, so when she flunks out of medical school, she runs as far from her parents as she can get. In the small mountain town of Canyon Mines, Colorado, she takes a job at the Inn at Hidden Run B&B. And waits. It’s only a matter of time.

     What she doesn’t count on is genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, Nolan, having her back when it takes everything she has not to bolt again but to stay and face the truth that only unfolding her family’s history will reveal. While Nolan works on keeping Meri calm—and in town—Jillian pulls out of her gems of information she doesn’t know she has and arranges the puzzle pieces.

     But none of that changes the fact Meri’s family is closing in to haul her back to her “real” life. When their arrival inflames tensions and Meri finally does bolt, Nolan and Jillian may be out of time.

     The Inn at Hidden Run is the first book in the Tree of Life series. Readers will come back to backdrop of a lovely mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that inspire them to connect with their own family histories and unique faith journeys.

My review:

     This is an incredible duel-time novel!

     I was caught up in Meri’s story and wanted to find out what the bottom line problem was in her family relationships. She was very well developed and my heart went out to her from very early in the story.

     I was absolutely fascinated by the historical portion of this book. It was set in 1878 Memphis, Tennessee, during the Yellow Fever epidemic. The amount of details given about what life was like for those who lived through it is amazing. This was a historical event that I knew nothing about. I was horrified to think about the terror people lived with and the conditions surrounding them. 

     I love it when an author can teach me history in such an enjoyable way. I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.

     I am definitely giving this wonderful book a 5 star rating and highly recommending it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*