This was such a great read. While the main character had the struggle, it was so intriguing to see how the different characters attempted to help in their own way. It was not a predictable book like so many reads can be. I enjoyed the back and forth between current and historical and the way it formed the story.

Good book. Enjoyed the themes of family and coming together and facing things together. Thank you for the Advanced copy from NetGalley and the publisher.

The first book in the Tree of Life series written by Olivia Newport is “The Inn at Hidden Run”. Jillian Parisi-Duffy is a professional genealogist living in the family home with her father, Nolan Duffy, a family law attorney. They live in Canyon Mines, a small-town set in the Rockies thirty minutes outside of Denver. Meri Davies is a young woman running from her past. She arrives in Canyon Mines and finds a job at the Inn at Hidden Run. The owner of the Inn, a friend of the Duffy’s knows there is something Meri is hiding. She feels the urge to help her no matter what the situation is. She brings Nolan and Jillian into the mix to help Meri figure out what is troubling her. As a family law attorney, Nolan is a master mediator while Jillian loves to delve into the history and background of a family. Together, they make a formidable team out to help those who need help but are afraid to ask. The book jumps back and forth from present day Colorado to the yellow fever epidemic of 1878 in Memphis, TN. The more Jillian digs into Meri’s family history, the more interesting information she discovers. How will the past play into the present to bring answers to Meri and her family? The answers may surprise you, but it is well worth the read to find out!

This was a fun and interesting genealogy mystery, with a story within a story. It was very informative about the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis in 1878, as well as an entertaining story of Meri and the story of her ancestors. Jillian Parisi-Duffy, genealogist, and her attorney father are captivating characters - I look forward to reading more of their adventures.

Recently, I published a book review for Book 2 of the Tree of Life series. Here is Book 1. Yes, I realize it’s out of order. But guess what?! These books are great individually as well! In The Inn at Hidden Run, Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, Nolan Duffy, are curious about the newest help at their friends’ Inn at Hidden Run.

Leo and Nia, owners of bed-and-breakfast, the Inn at Hidden Run, are desperate for help when their long-time helper leaves to assist her ill sister and doesn’t plan on coming back. They suddenly hire Meri, who happens to stop in looking for work. Meri seems eager for employment.

In order to get to know Meri better, Nia asks Nolan and Jillian for help to learn more about their new hire as well as allow Meri to make a few new friends in small town, Canyon Mines, Colorado. Meri seems skittish and doesn’t share much at first. Jillian and Nia are curious as to why. They learn that Meri comes from a family of physicians and Meri has dropped out of med school. This causes anxiety because Meri basically ran away from home to the last time she remembers being happy, as a child on a trip to Canyon Mines.

This trilogy not only shares about the present events in Canyon Mines, but also takes the reader back to the past and what happened then to guide the reader towards the two stories meeting towards the end of the novel. The In. At Hidden Run takes us back to the 1870s when yellow fever has hit Memphis really hard and all the assistance and hardship that might have happened during this epidemic.

It is quite a coincidence that I’m reading about the yellow fever epidemic in the middle of this COVID-19 pandemic. There are some similarities to how people react to such events then and now. It also puts into perspective how this current pandemic could be affecting areas that are less fortunate than where I live. It certainly leaves me a bit more thankful having simply read what life was like in Memphis during the yellow fever epidemic in the 1870s.

I especially love how Nolan and Jillian naturally get people comfortable enough to share what’s on their mind. Nolan and Jillian use their respective occupations as a mediator and a genealogist to get Meri’s family to talk and understand their family past. And what a family past it is!

The Inn at Hidden Run was provided complimentary in exchange for an honest review. I give five out of five stars because I got so engrossed in the book that I literally found myself ignoring everything else in regular life to finish this book!

The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport is the first book I have read by this author. I saw the third book in The Tree of Life series first but I like to read books in order. This is the first in the series, introducing the characters in their small mountain town of Canyon Mines, Colorado. I must say that when I read of a father and daughter working together to solve mysteries I had someone entirely different pictured in my mind then Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, Nolan. I am not complaining mind you it is just that they were a surprise. They and their friends have some unique quirks and qualities.

The mystery itself is not very intriguing unless you were the person wanting to research your family history. Meri, the main character of the family history research, is not so much caring about the past as she wants to find her way in life now. However, it is her family’s past and legacy that is so intriguing. The story is told in past and present. Going back and forth in the split time frame is well done. At first there seems no real connection but the more I read the more it all fit together. I found the 1870’s Memphis scenes to be quite fascinating. Perhaps this had to do with the yellow fever epidemic and quarantine since the COVID-19 outbreak gives most of us firsthand experiences to compare.

By the end of the book, I wanted to go research my own family history along with what happened in my state during the 1870’s. Christianity is also a part of this story but it does so with a light touch; genealogy receives a much heavier hand. So fans of light drama or genealogy will want to check out The Inn at Hidden Run, a book I enjoyed reading. I will read more of the series; ready to start book two now.

The publisher through Net Galley provided an ARC. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts.

Will I Read the Rest of This Unique New Series?
There’s a lot to like about The Inn at Hidden Run. You take some quirky characters, put them into tense situations, and fun things emerge. Mix in interesting settings and a cool dual-timeline plot and really, what’s not to like?

Sigh. That’s my problem. I want to love it all. In fact, I was convinced, before ever cracking a cover, that it would make my top books of 2019 list.

It won’t.

Despite the strengths of the premise, the characters (seriously, I loved hating one of them), and the setting, there were other things that just… not so much.

I think it’s best just to list them and move along.

Confusion.
The synopsis opens talking about Meri and even when other characters are brought in, they’re written about as if they are secondary. So, I was lost at first, trying to figure out where these people came from. What happened to Meri?

She shows up later in the first chapter. There were other confusing times, but I suspect those could have been me.

No hook.
Seriously. Nothing about the opening chapter hooked me. In fact, a friend was there when I began reading and I remember saying, “I think we could easily cut out the first half of this chapter.”

In retrospect, I disagree with myself, but it was my first impression.

Difficult suspension of disbelief
Look, I get overbearing families and hard expectations. Seriously, a couple of the things Meri heard from her parents regarding school achievements I heard from mine. Parental expectations can be nightmarish sometimes. But the way Meri handled herself, and the way the other characters reacted to her—too much of it seemed unrealistically over the top in places where realism was needed.

As you can see, I had problems. BUT, there were excellent elements to The Inn at Hidden Run.
The historical story was beautifully and excellently done. I really enjoyed the characters, the description, and the pull of the tragedy unfolding before you.
The tie-in between the historical and the present. I loved how we got to see where Meri’s past had actually shaped her present.
The genealogical premise. Basically, what you have is a genealogist detective. I want to read that story. And I suspect we will in future books.
So, because of that, I’ll be pre-ordering the next book in the series, and I really hope I’ll get to say that I really liked it. As for this one, I still don’t know how to define my thoughts.

I’m not sorry I read it or requested the review copy I was provided, but I don’t know who to recommend it for—or if I can.

This is an interesting book about a couple current day families and their intersections with the past. The main character is a genealogist, and uses her skills to help a girl at odds with her family. At first I was confused by the flashback to 150 years ago, but it ties in beautifully at the end. I didn't want to stop reading to find out what was going to happen next, and I'm looking forward to book 2.

I love series books and this series, The Tree of Life by Olivia Newport, is mind-blowing. A father-daughter lawyer/genealogist team explores family mysteries and links the past and the present. I literally couldn't put it down and read well past my bedtime with every book.Read all three of the books, you won't be sorry. I can't wait for the 4th book of the series coming out in November 2020.

I love this book!

I love this series!! Read this book now - then continue with the series!

What can strangers and a family tree do??

A young woman at a crossroads in life needs direction.
This team helps her sort out her genealogy and some family issues.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

Meri Davies flunks out of medical school, coming from a family full of doctors, a flees to the mountains of Colorado to hide out. She takes a job at the Inn at Hidden Run in Canyon Mines and encounters genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, lawyer Nolan Duffy. The pair digs into Meri's family history and brings out information that intrigues Meri and speaks to her current life. Her family eventually shows up to bring Meri back to their reality and she bolts. The resolution is satisfying and brings out the connection between people's choices and their family history.

**Thank you to NetGalley for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review.**

I loved reading this book. Olivia Newport is a new author for me, I hadn't read any of her books before but I am certain to follow this series.

The Inn at Hidden Run seems like a delightful place that I would love to stumble upon. The father-daughter relationship described in this book is really fun to watch unravel and was by far one of my favorite things about this book. The way the author weaves together a historical story and a modern day story was really engaging.

I wanted to connect to the modern day story more than I did, but I was totally enthralled with the mystery of the historical story. If you love genealogy or mysteries, you will likely love this book!

The publisher provided an ARC through Netgalley. I have voluntarily decided to read and review, giving my personal opinions and thoughts

First, let me mention that I did not notice that this was Christian Fiction when I selected the book. Nothing wrong with that, but it's not my thing. It wasn't as in your face as some I've read in the past, but I still would have chosen something else had I known. My review, however, is based on the book's other merits.

I won't rehash too much of the story here - you've likely read the synopsis if you're reading this review. My first (and biggest) problem with the book is that Jillian, Nolan, and Nia didn't so much "have Meri's back" as they barged their way into her business, launched a full scale investigation into her past and family history, and were ultimately just as overbearing and pushy and the family she seemed to be trying to escape. I totally understand wanting to befriend the new girl, but she did not in any way ask for the intrusion into her personal business, nor give them any kind of reason/suspicion for them to feel that it was "necessary". On top of all of that, Jillian is probably the most boring lifeless main character I've encountered in years.

I did enjoy the Memphis in the 1800s portion of the story a lot more than the present day bits. It was more interesting and had better developed characters. Those portions of the book helped make slugging through the rest of it a little more doable.

There was nothing about this book that really pulled me in, and I absolutely would have opted not to finish it a few chapters in had it been something I just randomly grabbed from the library. If I am gifted a book (via netgalley, goodreads, or the publisher) though, I feel an obligation to see it to the end and give it a fair and honest review, so I did.

I have read many books by this author and enjoyed every one of them, however found this tale very difficult to "get into". Don't get me wrong, this novel is well written but just not one that grabbed my attention. It may very well appeal to others but just was not one of my favorites. Historical fiction is not one of the genres that I usually read and I was a bit surprised to find this book was one of dual timelines, one in the present day, the other in 1878 Memphis.

The characters were well described in a realistic manner, however, I found it hard to get involved in their lives. I had difficulty remembering who was who and which era they were living in. This made it difficult for me to make a connection with them.

The plot was one that had an excellent depth to it. The topics were very different from the usual. Getting deeply involved in the tale became a problem for me. I struggled to finish reading this book. It did end on a very positive tone.

Basically, this book is just not one that I would recommend for readers who are not enthralled with historical fiction. I believe that it is an excellent book for those who love that genre. I just found it very confusing and the dual timeline kept me struggling to remember who was who and what was currently going on. That being said, Olivia Newport remains an author that I do enjoy. This book was clearly just not one that appealed to me and me alone. I DO believe that it is a very creative work that would appeal to many.

This book was supplied by CelebrateLit. The opinions and thoughts expressed are honest and my own.

I enjoyed this book;
I would recommend this book.
Review given honestly and freely after receipt of a reader copy. This opinion is completely my own and was not influenced in any way. Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher.

I’m not sure what I was expecting when I decided to read this book, but I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It was part mystery, some historical fiction with the dual timeline and a good family story. Canyon Mines, Colorado is the home to genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, Nolan, a local lawyer. They often work together as Nolan works in estate law and Jillian often helps with genealogy searches for heirs. When they meet a young woman who has just taken a job at the Inn at Hidden Run B&B, they realize she has a secret. This is Meri’s story, told by Jillian and her father. The timeslip part of the story is about Meri’s ancestors, a nurse and a surviving child who lived through the Yellow Jack epidemic that killed thousands in Memphis in 1878. Using family names and some of her contacts, Jillian was able to trace Meri’s family and share information with them that helped to change their minds about trying to run Meri’s life.

I seem to disagree with several reviewers that were not able to connect with the story or the characters. I enjoyed the characters of Jillian and Nolan. As I am in the middle of the next book in this series, I can say that we get to know more about them and I am enjoying this duo. I found the writing to be well done with a nice flow to the story. Nolan’s calming personality and experience as a mediator come in handy while dealing with Meri and her family. Jillian is a smart, caring woman who does what needs to be done to help her friends and is also a calming influence. This is a Christian fiction series, however it is not preachy, it is just a good, clean story that I enjoyed. I also learned about the yellow jack fever and the setting where it took place which is always something I like about historical fiction. While this book may not be for everyone, what book ever is, I enjoyed the story, the characters and the writing. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good, clean story that teaches us about our past. If genealogy is your thing, you will enjoy this book as well.

I love the theme of finding your family roots with this story and the series. I love that this one goes back generations and weaves the story together, It's hard to put down!

DNF @ 27%...I couldn’t get into this book, the way it jumps between two different storylines is choppy and pulls me from the pages every time it transitions.

I will not be reading the second book, but thank you Netgalley, for the opportunity.

First sentence: Sad, but true. She would have to procure a new favorite coffee mug.

Jillian Parisi-Duffy, the star of The Inn at Hidden Run, is a professional genealogist. When a new stranger, Meri Davies, comes to town (Canyon Mines is the Colorado town), Jillian finds herself with a new side project. Could Meri's anxiety be calmed by knowing more about her family history? Meri is skeptic. Perhaps all readers are a little bit skeptic. How could knowing one's great-great-great-anything "cure" your anxiety and stress about what you want to do with your life, and solve the problem of how to handle "disappointing" your family by choosing what you want instead of what they want. But Jillian's family and friends seem to be confident that Jillian is just that good at her job. Will she prove Meri (and potential readers) wrong? Can Meri's family history reassure her of her place in this world?

My thoughts: I love, love, love "doing" genealogy. I love "doing" family history. I love storytelling. (Mom is a great family storyteller.) So I wanted to love, love, love this one. And I do really like it. I loved the blend of the present and the past. Half of the novel is set in contemporary times in a small town in Colorado. Half of the novel is set in the past--1878ish--in Memphis, Tennessee. Of course, readers know the stories will have to come together somehow....and it's lovely when they do.