5 plus stars

Our book opens in 1695 with a woman named Adeline Baillard who is recounting the history of her family in the Protestant movement in France. The Edict of Nantes allowing for the tolerance of religion in France is overturned. This leads to the ongoing persecution, torture and killing of the Huguenots (Protestants.) The remainder of her family has escaped to make a life in another region of France.

We then meet Jessica in the present day as she narrates her story. She and her roommates are going to Paris at last! One their last night there, Jessica and Vonda go to a concert. What Jessica really wanted to do was to go to the art show with their other roommate Patrick. Jessica and Vonda’s world explodes as terrorists begin shooting into the crowd at the concert.

The description of what happened to Jessica the night of the terrorist shooting was very real and horrifying. The reader is there with Jessica as she both hides and crawls along the floor trying to escape the shooters. I almost cannot take in what the poor woman suffered.

Patrick tries to convince Jessica to stay in France with him while Vonda has gone home to the States. She agrees and off they go on a “treasure” hunting trip to Southern France. In an old barn/shop Jessica finds a small wooden box that appears to have been a 17th Century sewing box. It speaks to her and she wants to have it badly. After she buys it, she examines it more closely and finds a very old notebook and some documents.

Jessica learns through the translation of the document that it was written by Adeline Baillard who was introduced at the start of this novel. She goes on a quest to learn what happened to the Baillard family following the persecution of their relatives and friends in 17th Century France. Indeed, she is almost driven to learn what happened to them.

Accompanied by her new friends, Mona and Grant, brother and sister and Connor, Mona’s 5-year old son they journey around France and to England looking for clues and seeking what happened to Charles and his family after they fled France.

This is a remarkable novel. I absolutely loved it! It is both very well written and plotted. There is not one wasted word. The desire to find out what happens is such that the reader wants to ignore all else in the world. The suspense is built slowly and one almost doesn’t realize it. This is my first Michele Phoenix novel, but it won’t be my last. Upon finishing it, I immediately went to Amazon and checked out her other books. I am going to heartily recommend this to all my friends.

I want to thank Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for forwarding to me a copy of this most wonderful book to read.

I really couldn't wait to read The Space Between Words by Michele Phoenix. I enjoy a good treasure hunt to follow some aspect of history and making it come to reality for me. When I read the synopsis to the book, it caught my attention, so naturally, I wanted to read the complete novel to see what would happen. Unfortunately, this novel really didn't do it for me.
In the beginning, Phoenix has the main heroine, Jessica, roaming through the story after a huge terrorist attack at a local concert. Yes, the novel is relevant for the crazy world we live in with all the terrorist attacking people. This time I got an inside look for someone who had to survive and relive the attack after it happened. From the first chapter, I am introduced to the Ballard family who left France while being prosecuted for their faith. The past is the clue to the treasure hunt in the present.
There were moments that made me question the plot. First, Patrick is so important to Jessica, but I found out that he was not really there after the attack. He appeared to be there, but only in Jessica's imagination. The rest of the story focused on finding out if Adeline Ballard is still alive. Her letters, which were found in a sewing box at a flea shop, left a lot to be desired. While Jessica and Grant, who I suppose is the hero of the novel, run across France and England trying to solve the mystery, the ending left much to be desired. I wasn't happy with where the novel ended up.
As for the forced romance between Grant and Jessica, it didn't seem realistic enough for me. Even Jessica denied they were in a relationship for the most of the novel. Grant had feelings toward Jessica, but Grant's sister kept trying to make it more than it was. I think the romance shouldn't be in the story. It didn't fit the type of story that Phoenix was going for.
Overall, The Space Between Words by Michele Phoenix left a lot to be desired for the type of story she was trying to write. The characters were lackluster and really not defined enough for me. As for the plot, it had a wonderful premise, I believe Phoenix really didn't deliver what she promised to the reader. I don't recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of The Space Between Words by Michele Phoenix from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

This beautifully written book would be perfect for fans of "Sarah's Key" or "What She Left Behind." The narrative is split between a modern day survivor of the terrorist shootings at the concert in Paris, and a French Huguenot family escaping from religious persecution in 17th century France. There were several plot twists that happen fairly early in the book that were surprising, and I enjoyed the quest the MC took to solve the mystery of what happened to the family from centuries earlier. Like "Sarah's Key" and "What She Left Behind" this novel's narrator also finds an object in present day that leads to a discovery of someone who lived long ago. I find that I enjoy this type of story telling as it reveals parts of the story little by little.
Each of the characters in the story were well developed and likable. The author draws comparisons between modern day Syrian refugees in Europe with the Huguenot refugees as a natural part of the narrative without sounding preachy about it. Also, the struggles Jessica has with nightmares and facing reality portray PTSD that survivors of these sorts of massacres have to deal with.
I definitely recommend this book.