I wasn't sure what to expect when I chose this book. The Space Between Words sounded intriguing and definitely different from what I would normally read. The background of the story concerns a girl who is involved in a terrorist nightclub shooting in Paris, France. She escapes but from there her life takes a strange turn. With so many of these tragedies happening in the world today I was really interested in how the survivors were coping. Not only do we get a look at the horrific events during the shooting but we follow the main character on her journey to recovery. Throw in an intriguing Huguenot historical mystery and a stay at a beautiful bed and breakfast in France and you get a story that is difficult to put down. Even though I'm not familiar with French Huguenot history or traveling through the French countryside I still found the story fascinating. The author has a gift of tying the past to the present and keeping the storylines clear and concise. I think this is a wonderful book for anyone who has gone through a life-changing event. But it is also a wonderful story with some interesting twists and turns. I highly recommend the space between words by Michele Phoenix. I was granted early access to this book through NetGalley for an unbiased review.

Engrossing and very well written book! The author writes with compassion and authenticity. The characters` plights and struggles are tangible and relatable. You grow alongside them, cry with them and cheer for them. I was thoroughly involved in this story and it will be on my mind for awhile.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

This book turned out to be a bit different from what I expected it would be, though not necessarily in a bad way. Originally, when I had read the synopsis of the book (which is what had prompted me to request it from NetGalley in the first place), I was expecting a dual timeline historical fiction novel with equal (or near equal) emphasis on both the historical and contemporary storyline, as this type of narrative structure seems to be the norm nowadays with this genre. Michele Phoenix’s The Space Between Words turned out to be a “different” type of book in that the story is actually a contemporary one, albeit with some historical elements woven in. The main narrative revolves around events that took place not too long ago (in 2015), with a small portion of the book jumping briefly back to a historical event that took place back in the 17th century.

The story takes place at the end of 2015, right after the horrific terrorist attacks on the Bataclan concert hall in Paris, France. The main character is thirty-four-year-old Jessica, who was in attendance at the concert along with one of her friends when gunfire erupted in the main chamber of the concert hall. Jessica endured injuries during the shooting and even though she survived and was physically on the path to recovery, the emotional wounds were far from healed. Wrestling with the emotional trauma from her ordeal and haunted by memories from that fateful day that she wanted desperately to forget, Jessica’s first instinct was to flee France as soon as possible. However, after some persuasive encouragement from her roommate and best friend Patrick, who had been steadfastly by her side the entire time, Jessica decides to take his advice and continue on with the treasure-hunting trip that the two of them had planned prior to the attack, in the hopes that it will help Jessica with her healing process. During the trip, Jessica discovers an antique sewing box with old documents inside, which she finds out upon having them translated that they date back to 1695 – pages written by a young French woman named Adeline during a time when the Huguenots in Catholic France were being persecuted for their religious beliefs. Seeking emotional healing from her own ordeal, Jessica is drawn to Adeline’s narrative and, along with the new friends she meets during her trip, she sets out on a journey to find out the rest of Adeline and her family’s story as they attempted to flee religious persecution in 17th century France.

I struggled a bit with how to rate this book, as I definitely enjoyed the story overall: the writing was excellent, the characters were likable, and the author did a good job weaving past and present events into the narrative. I especially liked how the history of the Huguenot persecution from the 17th century was presented in the form of Adeline’s story – this was a time period and event that I knew next to nothing about so I appreciated getting some exposure to that part of history in a way that was accessible but also heartfelt. The timeliness of the novel in taking on the Paris terrorist attacks and its aftermath also makes this a book that is necessary and should be read given the current situation not just in the U.S. but also around the world. With all that said however, there were definitely some issues with the plot – mainly the contemporary part about Jessica and her experience – that I found difficult to ignore and detracted from the story. Some parts of the plot felt a bit too “contrived” and at times, I found myself questioning the plausibility of some of the things that occurred. I also felt that some parts of the book came across a bit “preachy,” which I guess wasn’t too surprising given the religious context with the main events in the book (I found out later that this book is being marketed as Christian fiction, which, while it has no bearing on whether I would’ve read this book or not, since I read across genres and base my decision to read on the book’s synopsis as well as recommendations from friends, it did explain where the “preachiness” came from). Fortunately, the religious aspect wasn’t too overdone so I think those who aren’t interested in the religious part can still read and enjoy the story. On the positive side, there was a “twist” at some point in the narrative that was totally unexpected and I felt was done well. The “mystery” element with Jessica discovering bit by bit what eventually happened to Adeline’s family was also done well and for me, the history part was a huge redeeming factor for the flaws in the main narrative.

In the end, I decided on a rating of 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4, as I felt the positives outweighed the negatives for the most part and the writing was truly very good, plus the story was engaging. I would definitely recommend this one for those who like contemporary stories with a historical element as well as a little mystery and romance thrown in. I would also recommend reading the final published version of the book rather than an advance copy, as the ARC I received was missing the Author’s Notes section. I’m a huge fan of Author’s Notes and actually feel this section is necessary (perhaps should even be mandatory) when the book deals with real life historical events. I will admit to being a little disappointed with the lack of Author’s Notes in my version, though not really a deal-breaker since I can borrow a final version later on and read the notes at that time.

Received ARC from Thomas Nelson / Harper Collins publishing via NetGalley

I really enjoyed this story! Two remarkable things happened to me while reading--the author stunned me with a plot twist that I never saw coming and she was able to bring me near to tears on occasion. Yes, that's remarkable indeed for this cynical and jaded old reader. So I recommend you ignore a few flaws in the plot and suspend your disbelief and sit back to enjoy a good piece of historical fiction.

Two horrific historical events make up the backdrop for this story: the persecution of the Huguenots in France in the late sixteen hundreds and the coordinated terrorist attack on Paris on November 13, 2015.

The narrator of the story is Jessica, a thirty-four-year-old woman who lives with her two roommates, Patrick and Vonda, in a townhouse in Denver. Patrick is into 'picking' and has a vintage store called Tresor, stocked with Old World treasures he has found. In the fall of 2015, he is attending a semester of art classes at the American University of Paris and the two young woman join him there for a vacation. On their last night in the city, Vonda is given free tickets for a heavy metal concert at the Bataclan Theatre and talks Jessica into joining her. Patrick says he would prefer to go to an art gallery opening by himself so he waves them off.

That of course is the fateful night of the terrorist attack on the Bataclan which leaves nearly 100 people dead and many more wounded, and in this story, Jessica is one of the victims and needs emergency surgery. When she awakens in the hospital, Patrick is by her side and stays with her till she is able to leave the hospital. Vonda is uninjured but flies home as soon as she knows Jessica is safe, claiming she is just too traumatized to remain in Paris.

Jessica's parents urge her to return home as soon as she is able but Patrick talks her into going on the picking trip they had planned to the south of France--an idea he hopes will help her recover. Jessica rents a cottage at a B&B owned by an American named Mona, who tells Jessica about the best place in the area to begin the hunt for 'treasure.'

At the shop, Jessica finds an old sewing chest and inside, in a hidden compartment, she finds a few handwritten pages in archaic French. Grant, Mona's brother, is fluent in French and begins helping Jessica translate the pages which they find date back to 1695 and Louis XIV's persecution of the Huguenots. They learn the pages are written by Adeline Baillard, the elder daughter of the family, who writes, "Story is sacred, and I will tell mine." The two become fascinated with the Baillard family history and attempt to learn their fate by searches online and in person. I just love that kind of hunt!

Jessica learns many lessons as she recovers from her emotional and physical wounds--most especially about the kindness of strangers. The strong faith of the Huguenots is showcased in this account of their persecution, when they refuse to convert to the King's religion, even to save their lives. "Endure with courage, resist with wisdom, persist in faith."

Lovely, touching story! There is a light touch of magical realism in the story that I also appreciated. I will look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for granting access to an arc of this book for an honest review.

The Space Between Words is a work of historical fiction with dual story lines. Present day Jessica, an American girl travelling in France with friends, survives the horror of the terrorist attack at the Bataclan in November 2015. While struggling to recover mentally and emotionally as well as physically, she takes a trip to a flea market she and her friend had planned prior to that attack, and comes upon an antique sewing box. Hidden inside are pages written in 1695 by Adeline, who has recorded the persecution of her Huguenot family and others by the Catholic King of France. Thus begins Jessica's search for the descendants of Adeline and her brothers and sister - and her search for her own inner peace and strength and ability to really live. There are strong themes of loss, grief, endurance, and hope in this story. There are several threads to follow - some of the threads were really, really good, and some were just a little lean or farfetched for me. I did learn a lot about the persecution of the Huguenots, that's a subject I have not read about before. And there are several nice little twists. Overall, I did really enjoy this book. I particularly loved the section where they were explaining how God layers good over bad to help you endure. Many thanks to Netgalley, and Thomas Nelson for the arc! 3.75 stars.

Soul-touching and beautifully written, this is a story that will touch all who read it. I loved the intriguing mystery surrounding the found journal and this author tied together the stories seamlessly. I would definitely recommend this book.

This book was full of surprises - even when you thought you knew everything - you didn't. It's part romance novel (which is not a common genre for me), part mystery and part psychological exploration of human behavior with a touch of Christian theology. It was different and kept me reading even though it was a bit far fetched. As other reviewers are sharing, I didn't know what to expect with this book and I was pleasantly surprised. Very early on you learn the main character is part of the 2015 terrorist attack in Paris and you think you know what's coming. Keep reading! I guarantee you, you don't! This story is very different than any other book I have read. Give it a try.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release of this book.

A beautiful story of grief and trauma and the healing power of hope.

You guys, these books this month are hitting me hard. The Space Between Words is a book that gets you in all the deep places. What a read from Michele Phoenix.
There is so much depth and emotion to this book. Some surprises too. After the Paris attacks, Jessica deals with being a victim of the tragedy. Will she ever be able to face life with her once-bright outlook again?
Taking the trip she planned with her friend, she stumbles across a sewing case and the hidden pages within. Those pages lead her on a journey of discovery—not only about the woman who wrote them during Frances persecution of the Huguenots but also of herself.
When fear and PTSD strike, when her mind takes her back to the Bataclan where she hid from terrorists, when life becomes too overwhelming to face, Jessica’s friends surround her.
Read this one with a tissue box near but don’t miss out on this beautiful story of hope and living life after evil tries to steal it away.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

This is the first book I have read by Michele Phoenix. I very much liked her writing style. The book was a very good read. Essentially, there are two story lines. One is France/England in the sixteenth century. The other is current day. I had a bit of a struggle trying to determine how the two stories were related but it all works out in the end. The first half of the book really drug for me. Once past that it was a really good read.

Rating: 4.5/5

*I received this book from NetGally in exchange for an honest review.
Oh. My. Goodness. Phoenix weaves an amazing story full of heartache, mystery, potential, and hope. As I read the book, I felt like I was right there alongside Jessica as she works through one of the worst tragedies she will ever face, and the adventure that comes as she retraces history to discover where the Baillard family ended up centuries before her. If you’re looking for a solid read that will not only entertain you and draw you in as a light read, but also make you think about life and the purpose of some of the world’s craziest things, this book is for you! 10/10 would recommend to my friends!

My Review: 4 stars

The Space Between Words could be about anything, right? I had absolutely no clue what this book was about; I just knew that I loved the title. It’s poetic and vacant and vast all at the same time. Of course it came as a surprise that this book was about the Paris terror attacks from 2015 and a parallel story line about the horrific persecution of the protestant Huguenots.

Before I go any further, I admit that I had to Google the definition of a Huguenot. This part of history was new to me so of course I wished there was a bit more of in that part of the dual storyline. The author’s ability to connect the Paris attacks and the Huguenot’s plight was brilliant. Using PTSD and the powerful emotions that encompass survival such as guilt, sadness and anger was the perfect link.

Although the writing was a bit simplistic, it didn’t bother me as I was thoroughly invested in the characters. This book also spoke to the history of antiques and those who “pick” (as done on American Pickers TV show). Every piece left behind has a story and on rare occurrence does that story come to the surface. Certainly, being fiction, the background behind the sewing box (that spoke to our main character) came more quickly and easily than it would have in reality. The power of story is a major theme throughout the book and really speaks to what the title suggests.

This book has a lot of Christian religious undertones as well as an unearthly awareness/presence. It took me to the Parisian countryside and I adored that. With the Paris terror attacks being just 2 years ago, this book is written with sensitivity and respect to all the survived and all that were lost.

Quotes I liked:

Story is sacred, insurgent in its power to unravel tangled roots.”

-“Endure with courage, resist with wisdom, and persist in faith.”

-“Story is sacred.”

-“We can’t understand the present-much less make better decisions for the future-if we don’t acknowledge the good, bad, and ugly of the past.”

I didn't stick with this very long because the writing style didn't work for me.

It takes a lot for a book to set me back on my heels and go speechless. This book did exactly that in a way that I'm still finding it hard to put my thoughts into words.

Jessica has flown from Denver to France to visit her roommate Patrick. Their plan is to tour the countryside looking for antiques. A change in plans and a snap decision alter their lives forever. When Jessica finds an old wooden box with a secret compartment filled with a mysterious letter she finds herself exploring memories she would rather forget.

Knowing the story has true events told in a fictional manner makes the story resonate more with you as the reader. You find yourself cringing with fright and wiping away salty tears of anguish as Jessica navigates her way back to a sense of normalcy.

Take a moment and read The Space Between Words and see if you don't fall in love with Jessica like I did. You may just find your new heroine.

Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for an ARC to read in exchange for my honest opinion in my own words.

4.5 stars

I received a copy of "The Space Between Words" from NetGalley for an honest review. I wish to thank NetGalley, Thomas Nelson, and Michèle Phoenix for the opportunity to read this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! But, it was NOTHING like I expected as it had so many twists and turns. Amazingly well done and obviously well-researched. I knew nothing about the historical time period in the book (the other was very recent current-day)- it was heart-breaking to read and learn about. But, it was a good pay-off.

This book's genre is hard to pin-point - it was Christian Literature, Science Fiction, Historical Fiction, and just plain old Fiction also. But, it all bubbled into a wonderful stew of a book.

Definite recommend!! Great book!

I can't say enough good things about this book! I don't typically purchase a hard copy of a book once I have read it in e-version but I can't wait to buy this one to add to my library. This book is captivating and kept me wanting more. I highly recommend this book.

I was really happy to get approved for this eARC because I tend to enjoy historical fiction. I was a little on the fence in regards to enjoying this novel since it is marketed as Christian Historical Fiction and I don't read too much religious fiction. I did end up enjoying this novel more than I thought I would and the 'christian' aspect was not overdone in my opinion. However, overall this novel was not something I enjoyed. I did not really feel invested in any of the characters lives. They all experienced something horrible at one point or another and I didn't really feel anything for the characters or what they experienced. Around 50% of the way in I ended up completely losing interest because I was not invested in the characters. The writing in this novel was quite simple as well which meant that it was a fast read. I could have easily finished this book in a day or two but I found myself not wanting to read because I didn't care.

The novel has so much potential but it just didn't follow through. When you read a book where the characters experience the things these particular characters do you expect to be pulled in emotionally. I was not and it led me to not really care about the novel or how it ended.

Overall it was probably 2.75 stars.

This book is truly magnificent. I was hesitant to read it due to the difficult subject matter, but am ever so glad I plunged in. The book grabs you from the first page and fails to let you go. I'm feeling it still lingering with me. Julie, Adeline, Jess, Patrick, they are characters who you soon won't forget. I'm not going to say parts of this book aren't difficult to read, let alone imagine that they happened, but the stories are so worth reading.
Jess finds herself caught up in the terror of the Bataclan mass murders. Life for her will never be the same. She comes upon pages from an antique Bible and journal and sets off on a journey to discover the life of Adeline and Julie and the entire Baillard family. This story too can be difficult to read at times and again events like this really did happen.
All I can say is it will be so worth your time because as the author so eloquently says, you often find light layered over the darkness in the world. Wonderful!

I really enjoyed the story in this book. It was a very compelling tale of grief, loss, and survival. Jessica is a well-thought out and very sympathetic character whose experience of trauma and grief is realistic enough to be almost painful for the reader. I've read a good number of books that put a character through a traumatic experience to give the story gravity, only to heal the character unrealistically fast. The Space Between Words doesn't do that. Jessica experiences the full horror of her experience over time, and her PTSD reactions to events add to the story instead of taking away from it. The story of Adeline gives enough information for the reader who doesn't know anything about the Huguenot persecution while not reading like a history textbook.

The biggest downside of this book is that, while categorized as a Christian novel, it is not an explicitly Christian book. There is no mention of Jesus at all, and the parts of the book that talk about God aren't very different from how agnostics / many non-Christian theists talk about God. If you're looking for a book that has a character who walks through trauma and comes out the other side with a strong, Christian faith, this is not that book.