I’m fascinated by genealogy discoveries and history, so this story appealed to me right away. I also liked the setting of the story, a small mountain town set in Colorado.

What I disliked about the story was the unbelievable way some of the characters just nosed their way into a young woman’s personal life. Yes, they meant well and they were nice people, but the way they treated this woman was a bit unbelievable to me.

I felt the story moved a bit slow and also seemed like an advertisement for coffee at times. Coffee and food were a prominent feature for the characters of the story. Everything seemed to be solved with a meal.

I did like the way the author wrapped up the story and the portions showing the history of the yellow fever epidemic were quite interesting. The work of the genealogist really made sense in helping the family with their issues and it was nice to see how the past can impact the future in such a nice way.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Shiloh Run Press for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review.

This is a dual timelines story set in present day and in 1878 Memphis that ties together in the end. I wasn't sure how it would be, but it was done well with a positive ending. When Meri shows up at Nia and Leo's bed and breakfast in Canyon Mines, Colorado, near Denver, looking for work, Nia gives her a job but feels that Meri is running from something. She gets her friend, Jillian involved in befriending Meri. Jillian is a genealogist and her father is an attorney. Jillian works from home and her father Nolan does when he can. Nia discovers a letter in Meri's room that she shouldn't have read but she did and found out that Meri flunked out of med school in Tennessee. Everyone tries to help Meri but she is insistent that they cannot help. It is expected to become a doctor in her family but her interests are elsewhere. How can Jillian, Nolan and the others help Meri? Especially using genealogy?
The other side of the dual timeline is a historical story of the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis in 1878. The wealthy left town leaving Memphis with poor people and African Americans, former slaves and now some are domestic help. This story centers around Eliza Davies and how she stayed behind while her parents went North for the hot summer months. She throws herself into helping victims and those nursing the victims in whatever way was needed through her church.
The yellow fever story is one that I have read before, especially how it affected New Orleans. This part of the story was interesting although very sad. Memphis took quite a hit during this time. It was interesting how the author was able to tie Meri's family back to the characters in the historical side of the story.
I received a complimentary ARC from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are mine only.

The genealogist working around clues to dig into the past seemed like a interesting topic. But the dual storyline did not work for me. I liked the small town setting and how everything is close and people help one another. But I found the characters too nosy and intrusive. The yellow fever epidemic was interesting and fact filled but I felt the present time story lacking credibility.

So much to say about this book. I read it in a day. This is my first read by this author but I am so excited it is the beginning of a series. This book has everything I love. The story captured me from the first chapter, the historical references were engaging, and the end was wrapped up right. The characters were completely relatable and lovable. I love this author’s writing style. I plan to read the rest of the series for sure.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this work netgalley.

The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport is a genealogical mystery, time split fiction of modern day and 1878 America. I found some parts of the story difficult to understand and like. I could not understand having just met someone that you would conspire to fix her life, whether she likes it or not. The characters in the modern period seem to want to interfere and push another character into what they think is right for her. Poor girl bombarded from all directions by very controlling and questionably well meaning friends and family. The historical period was an interesting story of an American plague and the fight to help the people affected. The history, people, medical and logistical aspects of the period were very enlightening. The genealogy aspects were informative with many helpful facts. I felt the Christian and Scriptural influence was minimal. There was a positive message of helping others which is universal in many faiths but not exclusively Christian.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book.

The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport is a great story with a background in history. Meri shows up in Canyon Mines Colorado looking for a job and is hired by Nia at the local Bed and Breakfast she and her husband Leo own. No one knows her background or exactly why she is there. She is very quiet and seems to be running from something or someone. In steps Jillian, a genealogist and her father Nolan an attorney and mediator. Will they solve the mystery of who Meri is and why she is running? Or will they upset her and send her on the run again?
I loved this story! It goes back and forth from the present day to the late 180’s and the Yellow Fever epidemic in Memphis TN as Jillian tries to uncover Meri’s family history and help her to deal with the present. Olivia Newport does this very well. The characters are so real and I felt I knew each of them and loved them even with their faults. I give this book 5 of 5 stars. I believe everyone who enjoys Christian fiction will want to read this one.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I’m going to be honest, I almost bailed here. The writing is OK. It’s the beginning of a series about a genealogist who lives with her lawyer/mediator father and helps people find the stories of their pasts. I found the daughter/father overly abrasive and almost aggressive in how they “befriended” a stranger in town to ultimately help her reconcile with her (also) abrasive/aggressive family. Hence I hated the characters in this story.🤷🏻‍♀️

To me, the one redeeming factor of the book was the historical facts about an outbreak of yellow fever in Memphis in 1878. I was not aware of that history, and it was related in alternating chapters of the present family and their ancestors. I did find the historic characters to be brave, dedicated souls during what had to have been a hellish ordeal in their lives. And I found myself more interested in those chapters rather than the current storyline. However it really wasn’t enough to overcome my dislike of the present-day characters...which was a shame. I felt like there was potential here for an interesting series, but it’s hard for me to really enjoy a story if I don’t like/enjoy the characters.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BarbourPublishing for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of history and modern genealogy in this book. Jillian, a genealogist, and her father Nolan. a lawyer, team up to help a young woman named Meri who shows up one day at their friend's B&B in the ski country of Colorado. Nia, one of the co-owners of the B&B, is concerned about Meri and asks Jillian to come meet her.

The historical story line takes place in Memphis during a Yellow Fever epidemic and follows a well to do white woman named Eliza who bucks her family's request to join them in Wisconsin where they had gone to Summer before the epidemic hit. Instead she dives in to help. It is very interesting how the stories all come together in the end.

I received an eARC copy of this book through NetGalley and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

I’ve got to say, I had a really hard time reading this novel initially. There were a number of times when I felt like chucking it away, giving up on it. “The Inn at Hidden Run” appeared to be so disjointed. I didn’t see the plot forming within the body of the novel. It seemed like a bunch of characters got together in the town of. Canyon Mines in Colorado and talked among themselves. I didn’t have a feeling for the rhythm of the story until I got to about 30% on my Kindle reading app. At that point I decided to finish reading the story. But I couldn’t see the plot building within these characters’ lives until I’d reached the end of this story, when everything came together. If asked what this novel was about, I’d say it’s about love, family, history, ancestry, running toward a dream, God’s calling in our lives & what that calling means to us. Thus, there really is a plot to this novel. And my continuing to read it was a blessing rather than a waste of time. For that reason, I have given 4 stars in my rating, and would continue to read the other novels in “The Tree of Life” series.
Thank you, NetGalley & Barbour Publishing for the opportunity to read & review this novel.

This novel presents a dual time line that is eventually tied together through geneaology. The historic timeline revolved around the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis in 1878. While that combination would seem right up my alley, I had a hard time getting into this one. The two stories stay separate too long, without enough of an overlap -- even at the end. The contemporary timeline just wasn't very interesting to me, and Meri seemed whiny. Nia going through my things would be enough for me to quit and move out. I would have preferred a novel just focusing on Eliza and her aid work. That character has heart, insight, integrity, and grit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for a free copy of this book to read and review. All opinions above are my own.

The Inn at Hidden Run was a quirky, yet fun read. Lighter in style than many of the books I typically read, it was a good distraction during a recent illness.
The first couple of chapters were confusing as to who was who and how the earlier time period story fit in, but about 15% of the way thru the book, I was hooked and wanted to know how the 1878 story would turn out.
For an entertaining read, this one is clean and even a bit educational!
3.5 stars.

I received an advance copy from Barbour Publishing via Netgalley. The opinions are all mine.

I am assuming as you read this review that you’ve read the book description. I’m not going to go back over that in this review. This is more about what I enjoyed about the book.

I literally picked this book because of the cover. I liked the graphics on it and thought the title sounded “small town” intriguing. I kind of scanned the book description and downloaded the book. It was in my to-be-read pile for a month or so. I’d never read a book by Olivia Newport, and just wasn’t in any hurry to get to this one.

If I had know this book was going to be SO good, I’d have read it twice by now. This is not a romantic story. It’s a story about a family that desperately needs to come together in love and acceptance. There’s a thread of faith in this story that even though it seems small. it has huge impact on the storyline.

This author is a great storyteller. This is a “split-time” story: One story takes place in present-day Colorado; the other in Memphis in 1878. Both stories were equally interesting, but I could not imagine how they were ever going to weave together. But weave together they did, and it was amazing when all the details fell into place. It takes a talented author to pull all of this together in such a heart-touching way. I was delighted to finish the book and see that there was Chapter One of a sequel. I’m going to love going back to revisit this community again.

If you love a good story with great characters and the perfect setting, you’ll love this book.

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

Absolutely loved the story about Meri having "run away" from her family and their pressure to follow the family line of career when deep within that is not what she preferred. Returning to a quaint small township, Canyon Mines, Colorado that she had visited as a child. Nolan, an older gentleman and counsellor soon realises that Meri is hiding something and seeks to help her, almost at any cost. Roping his daughter, a genealogist and their close village friends, owners of the Hidden Run B&B, to support Meri. Meri's family are set on dragging her home to continue with her medical studies until they come to understand more about their family line and how Meri's passion to work with youth also has been apart of an important time of American history during the Yellow Fever outbreak in 1878.

Olivia has very cleverly alternated from each story, developing the different threads and concluding the historical account just in time causing greater impact to the plan of career that is affecting Meri and her family.

I read a quarter of this book and had to stop because the portion of it that is set in modern times was that unbelievable and annoying. I have no idea how professional mediators actually work, but I'm pretty sure it is nothing like the small town workings of the people portrayed in this book. So many things they did just seemed childish and unrealistic. Meri having issues and running away from everything is believable. What isn't believable is the way the people moved in on her and tried to force her to tell them what was going on in her life. It felt very much like a ridiculous Hallmark film. Just wasn't buying it.

And it was hard for me to make the switch back and forth between the yellow fever epidemic and the present. The changes in chapters felt very abrupt to me.

The portions I read that were set back during the epidemic were written so much better. I wish the book was just about that, with no ties to the present. I find that time period very interesting, and love learning about history, even through fiction. As is, though, I cannot recommend this book.

Thank you to Barbour Publishing Inc. and Net Galley for inviting me , to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Olivia Newport is one of my favorite authors, and I enjoyed this start to a new series. This one revolves around Meri, who has flunked out of medical school. She flees to Canyon Mines, CO and gets a job at the Inn at Hidden Run B & B. The other characters know there is something not quite right about Meri, but they are not sure why she has come to Colorado. She meets genealogist, Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father Nolan, who want to help her. Through Jillian's research and Nolan's support, Meri and her family start to work out their problems. A heartwarming story with lots of feel good moments and Christian love!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Interesting idea—using a genealogist as the main character. Jillian wasn’t terribly interesting herself (as a main character), but the weaving of genealogy into the storyline to set up the backstory of Meri’s family was an intriguing plot device. I found Eliza’s story during the 1878 yellow fever epidemic both informative and gripping. I wasn’t quite as enamored of the contemporary story of Meri & Jillian. I would give the 1878 storyline a 5 and the 2019 storyline a 3—therefore an average of 4.

An interesting mix of past and present. Loved reading about Memphis during the 1800's. The present was also very enjoyable. The characters were a mixed bunch. I was drawn in from the beginning and thoroughly enjoyed the book. Recommend. I received an advance reader copy from the publisher. Opinions are my own.

At first I wondered why I had to know everyone in the town, when I was just interested in a couple people. Then I realized it was the first in a series and it all made sense. Jillian is a professional genealogist who loves to dig into everyone's story. Meri has come to the area to escape from her family of doctors who think she, too, should become one, but that is not where her interests lie.

I just finished The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport, and while I didn’t love it, it was still a sweet story I enjoyed. Specifically, I connected with the small town of Hidden Run. Because I grew up in a small town, there’s something particular about small town living that you can only understand once you’ve lived it. For instance, the ability to not leave your house without seeing 15-20 people you know within 30 minutes. More than that, it’s the special way a tight community comes together when tragedy strikes, much like Nolan and Jillian rally around Meri when it’s clear she needs support. This was a sweet read, and I did enjoy the alternating timelines. If this sounds like a book you might enjoy, keep an eye out for this one. It hits shelves on 05/01/19! Thanks to @netgalley for my free ebook in exchange for my honest review.

What a story this family had from the past that played so much into the current lives. An interesting story of how a family destroys relationships be applying undue pressure of expectations. That is a story played out in many families every day. Nolan is such a loving character. I like that Jillian makes money from genealogy. I enjoyed the book.