The only way to describe this book is ‘heart-breakingly beautiful’ and even that doesn’t do it justice. I was not prepared for the plot twist in the beginning that involved my then-favorite character.

This book is a story within a story and I love how beautifully Michèle Phoenix wove them together. This is one of heartbreak, loss, self-discovery, grief, happiness, and a little mystery. It was everything I love in a book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy!

This was a good story, but not quite what I was expecting and for me, falling a bit flat. The idea of a novel revolving around the Paris terrorist tragedy at the Bataclan was what drew me to this book. I knew little more about the story as I began reading. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book that focused on that contemporary event. I was intrigued by author's historical addition of the Huguenot family to the plot. I also liked all the characters. There was maybe just too much trying to happen in this book, and while I liked it, I didn't love it.
I expect there will be a large number of readers that will appreciate this book more than I. It is a touching story that, withholding the terrorist act, is lovely and heartwarming, much like a Hallmark movie. In fact, that might be a good deciding factor for if you would enjoy this book.
My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
This is a great historical novel combining a past horrific Christian event from the late 1600's when the Huguenots were punished by the Catholic Church for continuing their Protestant beliefs and not converting to Catholicism and the terrorists' shootings in Paris during a music concert in 2015. The Christian influence made the story very interesting to me. I enjoyed the book but thought the ending was rushed and would have liked to known more about what was going on with the 3 main characters. But maybe there's a sequel in the works?

The Space Between Words is a modern tale of tragedy and the inseparable links that can exist in truly great friendships. Following Jessica as she struggles to recover from a shocking terrorist attack that kills her best friend Patrick is an emotional ride.

The story steps back in time as Jessica begins healing and tries to find out more about the previous owners of a sewing box she purchases at an antiques store. Aided by her new friends Grant and Mona she discovers the box previously belonged to a Huguenot family who were persecuted by the French in the seventeenth century and follows the trail to England.

An enjoyable read that will tug at your heartstrings.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a digital review copy.

Michele Phoenix writes a riveting and moving story in The Space Between Words. The book tells the story of Jessica, who is in France with her friends Vonda and Patrick. Their time together is fun and light-hearted as good friendships can be until one day it is changed forever.
While at a concert event, Jessica and Vonda are victims of a terrorist attack at the concert venue. This attack forever changes Jessica’s world and sends her on a healing journey that is heartbreaking and healing. Jessica decides to stay in France after surviving the attack in order to take a trip she and Patrick had promised they had planned on. On this trip, Patrick leads her to a sewing box and through this sewing box, Jessica is introduced to the Baillard family who were persecuted in the Protestant movement in France. Jessica embarks on a journey to find out who the Baillard family were and what happened to them. Along this journey, Jessica meets Mona and Grant, a brother and sister who rent to Jessica the property she stays on while on the trip and Jessica also meets little Connor, Mona’s son.
This book was a difficult one to read. There were several times I found myself having to pause from the emotions it emitted from me. Michele Phoenix writes with depth and compassion. Jessica’s journey is heart-wrenching. Mona, Grant, and Connor are such wonderful characters; representing strength, compassion, and faith. Each member of the Baillard family were models of strength and love in the midst of adversity and their strong faith in God resonated throughout their own journey.
Overall, this book is one that I won’t soon forget. Michele Phoenix tells a story that impacts you to the core however resonates with hope, strength, and shows how God is faithful to us in most difficult times in our lives.

I remember where I was when I heard about the shooting at the Bataclan in Paris on Friday, November 13, 2015. I immediately said a prayer about the situation and read all I could about what happened and what could've caused such an incident to occur. It broke my heart that 130 people lost their lives and hundreds were injured and left to live with the nightmare of what happened inside that night club. It's always the why that gets me.

As time passes incidents like these are still in our minds but what you never really ponder is the victims and how they are handling life after such an incomprehensible horror. This is the reason why I was drawn to The Space Between Words by Michele Phoenix.

Jessica is living in Paris with her best friend Patrick and roommate Vonda. Patrick and Jessica are planning a road trip across Paris but before they go Vonda invites Jessica and Patrick to a concert at the Bataclan. Patrick can't make the concert but the girls do and they are there when the terrorists come in with guns blazing. Jessica wakes up in a Paris hospital having been shot. Patrick is by her side but Vonda can't take it and goes back to America.

Jessica allows Patrick to talk her into continuing with their plans for the road trip so once she's out of the hospital and taken a few days to adjust to a new normal they are on the road. They end up at a little bed and breakfast in the Paris countryside and this is where the story gets interesting. There are some interesting twists that occur and Jessica ends up with "pages of a Huguenot Bible in an antique sewing box in Southern France, along with the journal of its last owner."

The journal belonged to Adeline Baillard, a woman whose family was being persecuted for their faith, and had lived hundreds of years before Jessica reads her words. This find sparks a hunger for knowledge of what happened to the Baillard family. The journey to the truth takes Jessica to people and places she could've never imagined and brings her to a place she never thought she would get back to.

This book is not characterized as a suspense but you never quite know what is going to happen next which adds to the stories charm. Being one that loves history and suspense I really enjoyed this book, even if it was nowhere near what I was expecting. The characters are well developed and the story itself is beautifully written. The tale of faith and overcoming even the most horrific ordeals is so inspiring. Highly recommend!

This story was an utter surprise to me. I didn’t think it would be my thing, but I was hooked immediately. The narrator is a survivor of the Paris shooting, but the story doesn’t revolve about that tragedy. I never give spoilers and it is hard to discuss this layered tale without divulging some of the twists that made it unique. Suffice it to say, fans of historical fiction, inspirational stories, and overcoming tragedy will love this book.

Perfect book from And author that is new to me. I can’t wait to read others

I am one who judges books by their covers and I really liked the cover of this book. Something about the cover and the title made me want to read the book without even finding out what it was about. Once I got to reading and knowing what the story was about I loved the cover even more for this book is a story within a story. The present day story occurs in 2015 France and the historical part of the book takes place in 1695 France. Both stories involve terrorism (if you call religious persecution terrorism, that is) and survival. Both stories are interesting though I found myself liking the modern day story the best.
I’m not sure where the author was when the Bataclan terror attack took place in France or if she talked to victims of the attack but the way she wrote about it made me feel as if I were there and experiencing everything along with the victims. I felt like through reading this I have a better understanding of what it must be like to go through something like this and what it’s like to survive and deal with all of the emotions involved.
The pace of the story is pretty solid and a little ways in there is a plot twist that had me turning back pages to make sure I hadn’t misread or missed something. To say the twist is jaw dropping is putting it mildly. For me this plot twist made the story a bit unusual and unique but in a totally good way. It had me turning pages faster to see what would happen next.
If you’re looking for a different kind of read then grab this book. It’s a quick, emotional read that will keep you turning pages from beginning to end. This was my first book from this author and I liked her writing style and character development. I’ll definitely be looking for more from her.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

The Space Between Us by Michele Phoenix is a brilliantly written novel about hope shining through deep tragedy. Jessica survives the terror attack in a Paris concert. When she awakes, her sense of reality is blurred by the tragedy and she finds pages written by a young girl in the past as she professed her faith even during Huguenot persecution. Jessica goes on a journey to trace this young girl’s steps and in the process, she begins her own journey of healing. This book was well written and I highly recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

This story immediately drew me in with the details of the Paris attacks and the aftermath. I was really looking forward to how the main character would evolve from such a horrific experience. Unfortunately for me, the way the "twist" that comes partway through the book was revealed felt way too abrupt and left me wondering if I missed something in the reading. While there may have been little hints along the way, there were also counter parts that negated those hints. This aspect of the story could have been handled so much better in my opinion. The tie-in to the past Huguenot storyline was interesting, but I often found myself wondering why they cared so much to devote so much time and energy to it.

So, overall, while I was drawn in quickly, it ended up not being as engaging as I hoped.

Thanks to netgalley for the ARC.

I’d like to thank Michèle Phoenix, Thomas Nelson, and Netgalley for the free copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

Phoenix is a speaker and writer for an outreach program, so I have to keep that in mind while I write my review. That changes my perspective regarding her audience. If she is trying to speak to young adult readers then she’s right on target.

The protagonist of our story is directly involved in the Bataclan shooting, a victim. We follow her as she heals both physically and emotionally. Part of this healing process involves the mystery of a sewing kit from the 1600s and its owner. She makes friends with the proprietors of the bread and breakfast where she is staying and they encourage her to seek the ghost.

I enjoyed the historical elements of the story, but I would rather my historical fiction be more telling and accurate,not a fictionalized portrayal. The tale did have me researching on Google though, both the Bataclan and the Huegonots. (Someone correct my spelling) so that was positive. I like when a book lures me into learning more. Phoenix kept my interest throughout the narrative. It just seemed a bit elementary in composition. Again I hope this book reaches its intended audience.

The book was mesmerizing and chocked full of history about France that kept my attention. There were times I think I was lost in the book but the author does a great job of bringing it all together at the end. What happens to Jessica at a concert was eerily close to something that happened just recently in the States. It was hard to read and I cried as I know many lost their lives that day. If only Jessica hadn’t given in and gone to the concert, things would have been so different for her.

The time she spent recovering was gripping and the trauma was hard to overcome. The author does a great job of detailing her recovery that leads her on an adventure that completely had me intrigued. What would you do if you found a document from a long time ago? Like Jessica, I would want to track down it’s origin and find out everything I could about it. The details of the Huguenot persecution was so hard to read and I could feel the pain and suffering of the people.

I really enjoyed when Jessica tracks down what the meaning of a piece of paper long forgotten means. To think that people suffered because of what they believed in was so heartbreaking. The story is well written and I was surprised at some of the twists the plot took. It is sure to keep you guessing. I love the way the story was filled with compassion and characters that I was able to connect with. What I loved the most about this book is the theme of being courageous , moving on and finding closure.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.

I ended up really enjoying this book. I wasn't sure what to expect. The only other book I read by this author was a family drama which I reviewed here. This novel had a historical story line that I found fascinating. The contemporary story was also well done, and it was very light on the romance. I recommend this book to readers who like dual time line stories.

I received this book for free for the purpose of review.

If you love historical fiction, finding treasures at flea markets or in antique shops, and add in a bit of time travel, you will find this book very likeable. Even though I found the plot choppy at times, I liked the relationship between Jessica and Patrick. I found Adeline's storyline during the Huguenot persecution in 17th century France intriguing. The author did a great job with research. Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Its 2015 and Jessica is in Paris on a extended visit with her best friend Patrick. A mutual friend, Vonda, convinces Jessica to go to a concert at the Bataclan instead of attending an art gallery with Patrick. A terrorist attack leaves Jessica in the hospital with not just physical wounds but deep emotional wounds too. The steadfast and supportive Patrick convinces her to proceed with their plans to go antiquing in the French countryside in order to escape the stress of Paris and to recover. When she finds a sewing box with a hidden compartment containing documents from the 1690's belonging to Adeline, a young Huguenot girl., Patrick encourages her to investigate further. As she gets help translating Adeline's documents, Jennifer comes to realize that Adeline too experienced some horrific events, and she's obsessed with finding out Adeline's fate.

The author does an excellent job at describing Jessica's horror at the Bataclan and well as the despair, guilt and grief that follow surviving such a terrible tragedy. And she has researched the persecution of the Huguenots well and paints the reign of terror they lived with in vivid reality. I found both characters accounts very moving and emotional. I thought it interesting that the author chose 2 events in history so far apart from each other and yet both steeped in religious hatred, violence and intolerance. Adeline and her family, like many Huguenots were faced with the decision to stay in France and be subjected to persecution and quite likely death if they were caught worshiping or reading the bible or they could flee the country.

As Jessica follows in Adeline's footsteps and tries to discover her fate, she has to determine how she'll allow the horror of the Bataclan to shape her future. Will she live in fear or emerge stronger? I really enjoyed this historical plot. It was a fascinating look at a group I only knew a little about and it prompted me to do some added research, which is always a sign of a good book if I come away with more appreciation of history.

Fascinating take on the Paris nightclub attacks. The book had relatable characters, who drew me in from the beginning. Most of the narrative focused on the main character's feelings and process of grieving after being witness to this horrific attack.

The Space Between Words starts in Gatingy, France, with Adeline Baillard as the narrator.
It’s 1695, the time of the persecution of the Huguenots, those Protestants who refused the King’s orders to convert to Catholicism. The story then skips forward to 2015, to a first-person account from thirty-four year-old Jessica. Jessica is living in Paris with her friends Patrick and Vonda.

They are about to leave Paris to go touring around Southern France. First, they decide to celebrate with one last night of fun. Vonda suggests a concert at the Bataclan nightclub.

On 14 November 2015, the night of the real-life massacre.
I read The Space Between Words in June 2017, in the week after the London Bridge attack and the benefit concert for the victims of the Manchester attack. That brought home all the more the horror and confusion of the Bataclan bloodbath.

I don’t’ want to say any more about the plot because *spoilers*.
Instead I’ll say this is Jessica’s story. It’s about searching for what has been lost. About finding hope in the midst of loss. It’s also a story of struggle and courage and faith, especially Adeline’s faith and that of her fellow Huguenots. It’s inspiring.

The story has a strong spiritual thread. This is mostly in the past words of Adeline Baillard, but also in the present conversations between Jessica and her companions. It’s not a “traditional” Christian novel in that the main characters aren’t Christians

But there is a definite faith journey.
The Space Between Words 2

It reminds me of The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck, The Long Highway Home by Elizabeth Musser, and The Five Times I Met Myself by James L Rubart. The writing was strong, and the story unpredictable (in a good way).

I recommend The Space Between Words for those looking for a novel with depth.
Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This book sounded better than it was to me. It started out intriguing, with a personal account of a mass attack in France. It detailed the grief the protagonist Jessica went through in her recovery from the physical and emotional trauma. However, after that the book fell flat.

The premise was good but I felt the story lacked something... or maybe just not my cp of tea.