A young woman arrives in a small town, clearly running from something. The town rallies together to earn her trust and help her resolve her problems. At the same time, the story of a woman during a yellow fever outbreak in Memphis is told.
A good read.

The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport is the first book in the Tree of Life series. I was super excited to read it as genealogy is a passion of mine, but unfortunately it did not hold my interest. I enjoyed the historical part of the story about the 1873 Yellow Fever epidemic in Memphis, Tennessee, that was something I had never heard of and it was fascinating. But, the current time period story simply did not seem plausible to me. I found the characters of Nolan, Nia, and Jillian to be the biggest annoying busybodies in trying to dig into Meri's life without her permission, making it so she could not leave town, etc. I do not think there are people that would really do what they did and someone like Meri that would tolerate it. Jillian's mug obsession was also a bit odd.

Received this through Net Galley a powerful story of a time when family really needs to come together to save relationships. Very powerful message sent very well written and so glad I did get around to reading!

The Inn at Hidden Run was written by Olivia Newport. This book is a modern fictional novel, and is book one in The Tree of Life series.
Summary: When Meri flunks out of med school, she knows her family will be disappointed. Not wanting to face the drama, she flees to Canyon Mines-a small town in Colorado that holds some of her few fond memories from childhood.
Will her newfound friends be able to convince her not to keep running? And is it possible that something in her family history might help Meri forge a tenuous bond with her family after all?
My Thoughts: This book was OK. It was definitely a fast read. I liked some of the themes in the book-learning to face your problems, learning it is OK to follow your own path, etc. I also liked the small town characters and their unique quirks. I felt I really got the full picture of the town, and enjoyed the bonds between the townspeople and their desires to help others. I also liked the flashbacks to the past, and the history that was shared.
It kind of felt like there just was not enough to the story somehow for me though. I think it was because I actually found the flashbacks and the history more interesting than the modern-day story they were supposed to be supporting. I would have probably enjoyed a novel that had just been written about the history more.
Overall though, the book was well-written, and had interesting characters, but I do not know that I am interested enough to continue reading the series.
I would like to thank Barbour Publishing, Inc. for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review. Thank you.

Have always felt like Olivia tells a story that is mixed with down to earth realism. This one was no exception. It has a small town background. An easy read.

The Inn at Hidden Run is the first book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. In it, we are introduced to the father-daughter duo of Nolan Duffy and Jillian Parisi-Duffy. They’re a lawyer and a genealogist.
This is a dual time line book, and sometime I found this a little difficult to read. The characters in both timelines however where realistic and relate able I wanted to know how things ended. From the way in which the story was written you could tell that the author had done their research so thank you!
In the end the two time lines come together, and sets the pace for the next book which will be released later in the year.

I really wanted to love this book since it had to do with genealogy. The chapters alternate between current day Colorado and Memphis during the yellow fever epidemic of 1878. Historical fiction is a favorite of mine and I did enjoy the Memphis section the most.

Unfortunately, I didn't really feel a connection to the characters. And the story at times seemed to drag. Yet, I did enjoy some parts quite a bit so three stars from me.

* I was provided an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher. It was my own decision to read and review this book.

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

When Meri shows up at the Inn in Hidden Run asking if they have a job opening, Lia feels drawn to hire her on the spot despite knowing nothing about her. Lia convinces her friend Jillian and Jillian's dad, Nolan, to help get Meri to open up about whatever is obviously bothering Meri. Jillian is a genealogist and plans to research Meri's family tree to help her understand her family history. Nolan, a lawyer, is hoping to use his experience as a lawyer to get her to open up to him. Meri doesn't want to open up to them, though, and keeps looking for chances to keep running.

I am excited to see that this is the first book of a series. I hope we keep getting to see Jillian using her genealogy skills to make people's lives better. <i>The Inn at Hidden Run</i> is a Christian book, and the characters' faith is nicely woven into the story. I liked that the portion of the book set in the 19th century was based on real events. Overall, this was an enjoyable book, and I'm looking forward the the second book in the series.

I enjoyed The Inn at Hidden Run. The timeslip story set in Memphis in the 1880s during the epidemic was heartbreaking and encouraging at the same time. And the effects of those events on the present day storyline were very intriguing. I could see how each domino efcected the next, and found it very believable.
I could definitely relate to Meri in the modern story. There's been more than once when I could have tried exactly what she did. But Nolan and Jillian did an excellent job.

I wasn't drawn in to the point of 'must finish immediately /can't put it down' but it called me back several times, and I'm glad I finished it. I'll be reading the sequel for sure.

📌 I received a copy of the book from @NetGalley and chose to review it here. All thoughts are my own.

This time slip novel covers two stories in one. One Historical the other Contemporary. Both are sweet, inspirational, with a few heartbreaking moments woven throughout and blended well together.

While I loved the historical story, I felt that the Contemporary one lack a little something. The characters were all interesting, I enjoyed the genealogy aspect in the story. Overall, an enjoyable read.

The past has a way of affecting the present...

When I started The Inn At Hidden Run I wasn't sure what to expect. I've read a few of Olivia Newport's other books, Amish and historical, but contemporary was a new one for me. I've been interested in my family history since I was a little girl reading my great grandma's copies of her family's history in the corner of her living room. Needless to say, I was intrigued both by the title of the series and the back cover blurb.

As I said, I wasn't sure what to expect and I was quite pleasantly surprised. The dual timeline worked very well and I was impressed by Olivia Newport's ease with both the historical and contemporary threads. I was also impressed by the fact that this is not a romance tale at all. No, The Inn At Hidden Run is more about family, both the good and the messy. It's about finding your place, meeting in the middle, and about dealing with the well-meaning but sometimes suffocating expectations of those we love.

I was quite the fan of the historical angle as well. I learned so much about the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis in 1878 and I was inspired by the sacrifice of the people who sacrificed themselves. I have to admit that many of the aspects brought up were things I hadn't thought about. What happens to the people left behind in a city brought to its knees by an epidemic no one really understood?

The Inn At Hidden Run was a great start to what I think will prove to be an interesting series. I'm definitely looking forward to Olivia Newport's next installment in The Tree Of Life. If you are looking for a story about family dynamics and not hinged on romance I would recommend giving this book a try.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

3.75 stars- This was the first book I’ve read by Olivia Newport. It was an enjoyable story with an intriguing premise. How could a genealogist and her father use genealogy to help a young woman convince her family of doctors that she wasn’t meant to be a doctor too? I liked that the story had a light hearted feel to it and the characters didn’t take themselves too seriously. The town of Canyon Mines had a very laid back feel to it. The lead character, Jillian, seemed much older than her 28 years, more of an old soul. I hope the author will introduce some romance for Jillian in a future story.
I liked the split story of the two time periods. It was interesting to learn about Memphis’ yellow fever epidemic in the 1800’s and how that story intertwined with Meri’s story in the modern day.
At times Jillian, Nolan and Nia seemed a bit overbearing in their attempts to help Meri and I was kind of surprised she didn’t run away. But in the end I kind of laughed at their antics and chalked it up to good intentions.
Genealogy is such a fascinating field and it’s so cool to learn about where you came from. I look forward to reading the next book in the series and seeing how Jillian and Nolan are able to help the next unsuspecting person in need of a little family history.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

After failing out of medical school, Meri runs away to Canyon Mines, Colorado. Here, she takes a job at the Inn at Hidden Run B&B. Meanwhile, local genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her lawyer/mediator father Nolan encourage Meri to stay true to her decision and pursue her dreams they seek to uncover her family history.
I enjoyed the details of genealogy research revealed in "The Inn at Hidden Run." And Jillian's coffee obsession and search for the perfect mug was entertaining and a predictable part of the plot.
I didn't appreciate that Jillian and Nolan ambushed Meri and basically forced her to remain in town and confront her past. They also forced her family to stay and work through their disagreement about Meri's decision. To me, that felt invasive and rude.
Author Olivia Newport did a good job of tying in the narrative from the Memphis Yellow Fever epidemic to modern day times. I appreciated that she based the incident on real-life circumstances and people.
While there is some mention of faith, the book isn't preachy. It focuses on the value of service, the importance of family ties and the necessity of loyal friends.
Based on this book, I probably wouldn't buy the next book in the Tree of Life series, but I would read it out of curiosity if I had the opportunity.

I received a complimentary e-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.

The Inn at Hidden Run is the first in a trilogy by Olivia Newport. This book would be an excellent choice for lovers of historical fiction, as it blends present and past together as a father-daughter genealogy team work together to piece together old family stories. The story flips between modern day Colorado and 19th century Memphis during the yellow fever outbreak, which is an interesting juxtaposition.

Personally, I found the story a little difficult to get in to. The characters struck me as a bit unbelievable, and the pacing felt off, with too many extraneous descriptions and embellishments. But--if you look around, there are a LOT of readers who loved it. I'm probably in the minority. If you like historical fiction with a dose of family drama, you may want to check this one out.

Olivia Newport has done a great job with tying together the present day with the past in her latest novel. Meri and Jillian are both great main characters and I loved how their lives intersect as does the Meri's life with her ancestors. The storyline was very well developed as the reader gets to know Meri and what she is dealing with currently as well as her family background and how family impacts us as far as who we become. Being a genealogist is fascinating and I enjoyed really getting to and understand what all is involved in this occupation. I am a fan of history and so I really liked how the past is tied in with this story as well as I felt like the author did a great job at describing and really bringing to life the characters and issues both in current day and in the past. This book is an excellent start to this new series and I am excited to read more to come!

Very whimsical and lyrical writing. I found it to be satisfying in every aspect, the writing, the setting, the characters. Really great combination.

I rarely start a book and not finish, but I just was not able to finish this book. I found the writing too simplistic to hold my attention. The way Nolan, Jilly, and Nia dig into Meri's personal life, going so far as getting her social security number and following her around, is ridiculous. I would be furious and certainly wouldn't want to stay in that town. Yes, she is new in town and obviously has a story, but it is really none of their business. How about just welcoming her, and if she decides to share with them, so be it? The historical second plotline was more interesting but not interesting enough to make me continue reading. I hate to leave bad reviews, and I won't share this on social media because I don't want to hurt the author, but this is my honest opinion.

"Work will always be there later, but the moment is only here now."

"May you always find nourishment for your body at this table. May sustenance for your spirit rise and fill you with each dawn. And my life always feed you with the light of joy along the way." (Lovely Irish table blessing.)

As a genealogy addict myself, I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes dual timelines do not work well, but Newport did a superb job of carrying each through without losing the train of thought of either. I enjoyed both the historic and current lines equally. Her research into the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis (which I knew nothing about) was impeccable.

I found the main characters in each timeline realistic and admirable. I can totally understand Jillian's obsession and losing track of time when working on genealogy. I have had that happen more times than I can count. I would like to see her find more life outside of her work, but the care she takes with her clients was sweet. The role Nolan played in mediating the estrangement between Meri and her family was wonderful. Although trained as a lawyer, his counseling skills were incredible. In this historic time line, Eliza was amazing. What a kind, caring, loving woman. So selfless, and so giving. The role that she and the nuns played in caring for the thousands stricken and dying from yellow fever was unbelievable. The ending tying the two timelines together was something I suspected, but still left enough hanging that I look forward to the next book in the series, In the Cradle Lies, which releases in November.

** I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

The Inn at Hidden Run by author Olivia Newport is a dual time period (contemporary and historical) Christian mystery romance. Author Newport is a grand storyteller. She weaves past and present together flawlessly into one poignant tale.

This is the contemporary tale of genealogist Jillian and her attorney father, Nolan, from Colorado who together trace family histories for people. It is also the tale of a family of doctors and the yellow fever outbreak in Memphis, Tennessee in late 1870’s. The family turned up in research when Jillian began helping Meri, a new girl in town.

This is a very interesting plot. The author did a wonderful job with research and providing an authentic story. I am a historical fiction lover over contemporary, so needless to say, I enjoyed reading that portion just a tad bit more.

Author Newport’s tale pulled at my heartstrings. Parts of it brought tears to my eyes. I was invested in both of the intertwined storied. Her style of writing is easy and unrushed. She allows you to soak in all of the details and transport yourself to a different locale or era, and sometimes both. The characters were well rounded. They had good points and flaws. Some of them felt like new friends and I wants to have coffee with them.

The historical section read very authentic. The characters were likable and genuinely cared for people. I learned a lot about Memphis and the Yellow Fever. Like I said earlier, this is a well researched, organized, planned, and written novel.

The inspirational and faith element is laced throughout this lovely book. Life lessons of forgiveness, grace, finding God’s Will for your life, family, love, caring for ill, and hope are just a few things I found inside the pages.

I definitely would recommend this book. Get a book group together so that you will be able to toss some questions around. Genealogy lovers will enjoy the book as will mystery buffs. Contemporary and Historical fiction will each have a section to like and one to test. It gets a 4 out of 5 stars from me.

This book is the beginning of a new series. It reads like a cozy mystery but without the murder. Jillian, a genealogist, and her father Nolan, a lawyer-mediator, work together to find the history of a young woman's past in order to help her and her family reunite. In the search, the story takes you back to Memphis during the time of the yellow fever outbreak. As Jillian searches further, the connection between the two stories becomes clear. A fun, light mystery with Christian undertones. Anyone interested in history and genealogy will really enjoy this mix.