The Space Between Words is an interesting story of trying to find the origins of a sewing box found in a junk store. Jessica is injured and her friend is killed when terrorists attack at concert she is attending in France. Jessica's mind refuses to accept her friend's death. After she finds information hidden in the sewing box, her healing process begins. The book includes part of the story of a Huguenot family and how they suffered. The Space Between Words is well-written. I enjoyed the book but would have rated it higher if it had not included people believing they saw a deceased person. I received this e-book through NetGalley.

loved this book and the twists that were in the plot with two points of view. The historical point was interesting and a piece of history that I was interested in learning more about. The book hit a bit close to home since I started reading the book right before the Las Vegas shooting but appreciated the survivor's perspective and the guilt she felt, something I never considered. I look forward to more books by Michele Phoenix and highly recommend this book and suggest grab a box of tissue for the many emotions the reader will experience!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of The Space Between Words by Michele Phoenix. At the first few pages, I had a difficult time deciding whether or not I wanted to read this book as I don't enjoy historical pieces from 1600's France related to the Edict of Nantes and Huegenouts. However, I persisted and got into the story of Jessica, who survived the attack at the Bataclan nightclub in Paris, and how she eventually dealt with that traumatic event. I did end up finding the story of the Ballaird family's trials and endurance to be more interesting than I expected. Jessica and her new friend Grant's search for the family's descendants was healing for her. Refreshing to read that one can heal after experiencing a horrific trauma.

I was quite surprised to find that I really enjoyed this novel. It definitely went beyond my expectations and I loved that the author had a historical aspect for this story. I really knew nothing about the Huguenots until this novel, so that was a huge revelation for me. It is always a sad thing to hear about people being persecuted for their beliefs, and the fact that this still happens to this day is just terrible. I liked how Jessica goes on this journey to understand the Baillard's continual belief in their faith, while also figuring out what happened to them. Jessica became invested in finding out their truth, and so I as the reader became invested in it, too. I always love reading about documents that start a journey, and this one was no exception! In fact, I think the author did a great job of making the journey progress the way that it did. As expected from a novel in this genre, there is a focus on faith and religion, but it is really quite mild and it is presented in a way where people of all different religions can enjoy and appreciate the message. I will admit that I was more intrigued by the historical aspect than what Jessica was going through, but the author did a good job of showing how PTSD can traumatize a person and shake their identity. Overall, this was a really solid novel, with good writing and a good journey!

This is two stories set three centuries apart. It’s about a present time woman learning how to heal, live and love from a woman in the past.

The story is well written and well plotted. With that being said, some of the details seem a bit questionable. The historical backstory of the Huguenots (French Protestants) fleeing from France to avoid persecution was quite interesting, and has made me want to research that piece of history. There is a bit of a mystery, and I have to say that there is quite a twist that I never saw coming.

This book was easy to put down, and hard to pick up again. But… every time I read it, I enjoyed it. I really like this book, and I would recommend it to everyone. It is a great story of friendship, healing and hope. It is also considered a Christian Fiction novel, but it isn’t preachy by any means. There is a bit of romance thrown in, but that does take a backseat to the mystery.

Received ARC from Thomas Nelson publishing via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The premise of this was strong and the parts about the shooting were vivid. However, the historical aspect of the persecution of the French Huguenots was weakly executed. A fair read with some highs.

Copy provided by the Publisher and NetGalley

I have to be honest that I didn’t finish this book. It started out great but I got confused part way through. I am sure it will be appreciated by other readers.

Space between words is mostly set in France and switches between the present time and 1695. It is about grief, persecution of Huguenots, terrorists, friendships and faith.
Jessica and her friend Patrick are in Paris prior to travelling around France looking for items to stock Patrick's gallery. Picking in old attics, barns and flea markets.
Jessic is injured in a terrorist attack at a music concert. After she recovers they start their journey and stay for a while in Southern France. Jessica finds an old sewing box on her first day picking. Later she discovers the sewing box has a hidden compartment concealing a letter and other items.
With the help of new friends Jessica sets out to find out more about the person who wrote the letter.
I liked the unexpected twists and the way the small boy interacted with Jessica and revealed what he saw.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a heavy read. I am not sure if it was something I should have read at this time. It is well written and I couldn't help but feel for Jessica. She is shot during the Paris attacks and she wakes to find her life and outlook has changed. I enjoyed her journey. Grant and Mona were wonderful characters. Good story, but just a little too close to reality at this time.

I received this from netgalley.com in exchange for a review.

Jessica is suffering from PTSD after surviving a terrorist attack in Paris. She finds tantalising clues to the life of Adeline who lived centuries before—her faith condemned, her life endangered, her community decimated by the Huguenot persecution. Her mantra "Endure with courage, resist with wisdom, persist in faith" is a constant theme throughout the book, and Jessica soon adopts it as her own.

As with most stories told in dual timelines, I better liked the older story. But, Jessica had an important part because she unearthed Adeline's story while learning how to live with what happened to her.

3.25☆

The Space between Words by Michelle Phoenix is a story of where the past meets the presents and helps offer healing to a deeply wounded woman. The story opens in 1695, France as the Baillard family is being persecuted. Why? For being Protestant and not converting to the king’s religion. Fast forward to the morning of November 13, 2015 where Jessica Jackson wakes up in Paris with her friends, Patrick and Vonda. They are trying to decide what to do on their last night in Paris. The next thing she knows, Jessica wakes up in the hospital, wounded from the terrorist attack at the Bataclan theatre. As she recovers, her friend Patrick, convinces her to continue with their plan to travel through France. They arrive in Balazuc of the Ardeche region of southern France where Jessica finds an antique sewing box. Soon she is on the path to discover what happened to the original owner, Adeline Baillard. Will she discovered what happened to the Baillard family? Will she truly find peace and renewal from her terrifying experience? Can she find the good in the bad?
The Space between Words is a powerful story weaving one woman’s recovery from the Paris attacks and one family’s attempt to flee persecution and certain death in 17th century France. There were some great quotes in the story that many of us read to remember. One of my favorites is “Life goes on and people forget.” So true with the speed at which life goes. Many of those who do not experience the events soon forget. The story is also a reminder of what Christians in history and power have done to other Christians simply because they differed over doctrine. It is always what Christians have done to non-Christians, but a reminder of what they have done to each other. I highly recommend The Space between Words.

The Space between Words
is available in paperback and in eBook

I loved this story and the way it was told. Jessica is like so many of us, broken and wanting to be fixed, but not sure of where or how to start. I felt for her and I love the story she uncovered and the places it took her as she searched for the truth and the end of the story.

I was unable to finish this book due to PTSD and recent events. However, what I did read was well written.

Each person deals with death of a loved one differently. This book offers another method that the brain uses to continue to exist, if not perfectly, at least exist.

I think I don't like modern fiction?

The idea of this book was better than the execution for me. Framed by the tragic events at the Bataclan Concert Hall, this is the one woman's story, that led to a mystery that honestly....did nothing for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This is a dual-timeline novel, moving between the present, and the somewhat recent attacks in Paris, and the past, about the Huguenot persecution and their flight out of France. I really enjoy this type of story, but this one did not quite live up to my expectations. In part, there is far more of the contemporary angle then I anticipated.

At the core, there is a tale of grief, loss, and survival. Jessica is a well-drawn character, and her struggles are realistic and sometimes painful to read. Adeline’s story provides a lot of information about the Huguenot persecution, which may be unfamiliar to some readers. PTSD is addressed in a tactful manner. Some plot points felt a bit contrived. I did enjoy the mystery elements and the historical aspects which were woven in.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I was not required to provide a positive review.

As I finished this book, stories started coming out of Las Vegas about the concert shooting there. I highly recommend this book to those of you who can't imagine what the aftershock of being involved in one of these random shootings can be like. Jessica is in Paris and is enjoying a concert with her friend when a terrorist starts shooting. Wounded she wakes up in a hospital with another friend, Patrick, by her side. Physically, she will heal, but mentally? Emotionally? This is the story of her quest for healing...and finding herself taken to the past for that healing to begin.

I couldn't finish this book. I was starting to like the main characters but the relationship between the two main characters started to get on my nerves. It felt like it was taking over the story and I wasn't enjoying the book any longer. This book just wasn't for me.

A riveting story.
Learning to live again after a tragedy.
The underlying belief that good can be found in, or in spite of, very bad things.
Jessica survived a terrorist attack in Paris. She finds an ancient diary and learns the story of Adeline, who lived centuries earlier, in the midst of horrific persecution.
This quote "I want to believe that there's a force for good in this world, and that that force won't let the bad have the final word. It doesn't explain or undo the darkness, but...I think somehow it covers it with light."
This is a story that will stick with me for a long time.

The Space Between Words

by Michèle Phoenix

Thomas Nelson--FICTION

Thomas Nelson
Christian , General Fiction (Adult)

Pub Date 05 Sep 2017

I am reviewing a copy of The Space Between Words through Thomas Nelson and Netgalley:

The day after the attacks on Paris, Jessica regains consciousness in a French hospital, images of the carnage she saw playing in her head. She is relieved to find her friends Patrick and Vonda were okay, but every time she closes her eyes to sleep the images played over and over again.

Patrick Sticks by her side, and encourages her to go ahead with the trip they had planned, before going back home.

But was Patrick really there?

A find at a local flea market, a faded document hid in an antique leads Jessica to discover the story of Adeline Balliard whose faith was condemned her life endangered and her community deciminated by Huguenot persecution. With the help of some of her friends she will learn about this brave woman.

This is one of those novels, that pulls you in and doesn’t let go.

Five out of five stars.

Happy Reading.