From the very first chapter this story gripped my attention and held me in anticipation for what was to come. My heart went out to Robin for the pain she'd endured during her lifetime and I held high hopes for her to find peace and healing. Unfortunately my expectations also led me to have some very strong mixed feelings toward this novel.

The point of Christian Fiction should be to give glory to God and point others to Christ. If the book is about Christians without any drive for encouraging faith, or if it’s simply a clean read without faith present... then in essence it fails to accomplish it's key goal. Not every book has to have the gospel spelled out like a sermon or give step by step directions to faith, but they should at least be planting seeds and forcing the readers to think and look upward. Unfortunately I read through this entire book waiting for the faith element and it never came. This novel would have been great for a secular market but as far as Christian fiction is concerned it completely missed the mark.

The story itself was gripping and easily kept the pages turning. I thoroughly loved Robin and Peter's connection through literature and how that not only helped their relationship form initially, but also to heal later in life. True book lovers would rejoice over the plethora of references to book love. The story was split between Robin's childhood following her parents' incarceration and her life as an adult struggling to save her little bookstore. Her journey through life was an intriguing story to read.

If you take this book as a general fiction read I would easily be able to recommend it, however if you are looking for a true Christian fiction novel I would direct you to look elsewhere.

*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours and NetGalley. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone.

FTC Disclosure: NetGalley and Revell Reads gave me complimentary copies of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

There was a unique, vintage-book-infused story between the beautiful and perfectly-textured cover of this novel. Quirky and entertaining, this tale found my happy place in large chunks.

A few things disrupted my peaceful reading experience, the largest of which was the heavy emphasis on drinking alcohol, drunkenness, and bar and holiday parties at which vast amounts of alcohol were consumed. It was unexpected emphasis as the back cover copy didn’t hint at this theme. I must say, though, that I really admired the lead’s stance on not partaking of alcohol despite one of her closest friends trying on a couple of occasions to talk her into it. I was grateful for this positive note amid the muck of that particular theme.

Back to the things I adored about this novel. Firstly, the cover was amazing. As soon as a friend alerted me to the major cuteness of the cover art (thanks, Hannah!), I knew I had to read whatever was behind those gorgeously, quirkily stacked books. When I received the paperback in the mail (thanks, Revell Reads!), I was blown away by the unique texture of the cover. Not only was it strikingly beautiful to my eyes, but it passed on that same quality to my fingertips.

The way vintage books were infused into the storyline was incredible. This is the second novel I’ve read in recent weeks (the other was Finding Lady Enderly) that found a special way to use classic books within the story. I can’t really talk about how those classics were used in either story, because it would give away major things and rob future readers of the amazing journey those classics helped build. Trust me (or test it out for yourself) when I tell you that it made my heart melt and sigh and sing all at the same time.

A couple of characters in this one really stood out to me. Peter was a fantastic hero for ninety-eight percent of the time. There was one “plot twist” that was thrown in seemingly for the shock factor. It was quite out of character for him to react in such a way to emotional pain, and the action he took kicked a large dent in my respect for him. However, the rest of the time, he was an amazing hero who was easy to root for and sympathize with. He was definitely the cause of many a happy sigh from this reader. Dawt Pi was by far my favorite character in this story. At first I thought she was in her forties or fifties, but now I can’t recall why I had that vibe. Once I was told a couple of times about a third of the way through the book that she was in her early twenties, I was able to adjust my mental picture of her pretty well. The age difference between what I thought and how the author envisioned her did not in any way change my opinion of her. The personality of Dawt Pi was very realistic compared to the Asian folks I’ve met (from several different countries, including South Korea, Japan, China, and Burma). Again, I can’t say too much without spoiling things. I simply adored her and want to reread this book just to enjoy her all over again. Another favorite character was The Professor, who was an African Grey parrot. He added so much quirk to this story that I found myself chuckling at him more often than not. This was a great pet to display in these pages, especially under such a skilled hand as Mrs. Bartels obviously has.

The split-time presentation really worked for me in this story, which kind of surprised me since the two time periods were so close together. One was present day with the lead somewhere around thirty, while the other was back when she was fifteen. The tension of both threads was heightened because of the style of switching back and forth at every new chapter. I particularly enjoyed how little nuggets of information would be given in one thread that you then needed to know or found out even more about in the other thread. That aspect was written to perfection.

Brick & Mortar Books, the lead’s bookshop, was like my dream come true. I’ve often envisioned owning a small bookshop with a little apartment upstairs, so spending time in Robin’s carved-out space was delightful and special and a wonderful treat.

This was my first-ever book by Mrs. Erin Bartels, but I think I might have to check out at least one more. She has a fantastic way of crafting her sentences that digs deep while presenting the reader with gorgeous prose that makes one think outside the box.

Content: alcohol/drunkenness (including bars/parties; heavy theme), drugs (three or four mentions), expletives, replacement profanity, teen drinking/driving, teen drug use (mentioned, not shown), sexual term (one or two), alcohol memorabilia (one or two), tobacco

This is Erin’s second book. I absolutely loved the first one and couldn’t wait to read this one.

This book is very different, yet carries her unique writing style. I love that it takes place in Michigan, where I live. We travel to many areas throughout the state and she does a great job of describing the Upper Peninsula (my favorite place).

But aside from that the story is great, the layers she adds and then slowly peels back to reveal what is hidden is wonderful. There is so much depth to this story.

If you love a book that will truly touch your heart I recommend this one.


A copy of this book was given to me through the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The cover is simply gorgeous. One of my favorites of the year.

In Erin Bartel's sophomore novel, she shows her versatility. While The Words Between Us has multiple timelines like her debut, the story line is rather different.

Readers get to know main character Robin in both the present day thread and the one from about 20 years prior when her dad went to prison. The opening drew me in quickly. I loved the high school age banter between Robin and Peter and the sweet development of their friendship. The way that novels and authors helped paint their story was superb.

The project in the current day story wasn't that engaging for me and the ending wasn't as powerful as I'd hoped.

Peter reaches out to new girl in town Robin by giving her his deceased mother's books. As repayment, she writes him a poem about the book. Robin slowly allows Peter into her heart.

How can a book lover not love a story about books bonding people? Erin Bartel's novel The Words Between Us is filled with books--titles and authors, well-read dusty tomes and mass-market paperbacks--and conversations about books.

But, for Robin, books became an escape from the ugly truths of life, building a wall between her and the world.

At once point in her young life, Robin went so far as to stop talking, further constructing a protective shell. What drove a teenager to such extremes?

Robin's parents are both in prison and she cannot forgive them for abandoning her and cannot tolerate their crimes. Uprooted from her Amherst, MA, home to live with a grandmother in Michigan, she tries to rewrite her past with a new name and identity, lies that don't hold up. She is chained to her parent's legacy of notoriety.

Told in two timelines, the adult Robin watching her bookstore slide into bankruptcy and her backstory as a teenager, the novel explores themes of anger and forgiveness. There is romance and drama and friendship and threat and a reversal of everything Robin thought was true. Robin's foil is Sarah, a large-hearted girl who carries secret guilt under her party-girl persona.

The novel is set in a fictional small town on the Saginaw River in Michigan divided by a river. There is a journey that touches on all the Great Lakes, starting at Niagara Falls and ending on the sand dunes of Grand Marias on Lake Superior. The story concludes on Isle Royale, a National Park in Lake Superior. I loved all the Michigan mentions, including the Grand Rapids Art Prize and the carousel in the Van Andel Public Museum.

I picked up on nods to Jane Austen. Robin's imagination concocts a wild story about Peter's father who later sends her out of his home--shades of Northanger Abbey! And there is Persuasion's wish-fulfillment hope for second chances.

Some aspects of the plot feel improbable, but most readers will be too involved with Robin to mind. The faith talk addresses a universal truth, and the romance is chaste.

Overall, I enjoyed reading The Words Between Us. It will appeal to a wide audience of readers: those who like appealing characters struggling with difficulties, young adult fiction readers, women's fiction, Christian fiction, and who love the current trend of bookish characters.

The Words Between us is Erin Bartels sophomore book; her first book was We Hope For Better Things which I reviewed last year.

I received access to a free egalley by the publisher through NetGalley. My review is fair and unbiased.

First off, this was the kind of book that drew me in right away and kept me invested in the pages. Erin Bartels is a new-to-me author, so for her to completely immerse me in her world was amazing! Being an avid reader, the idea of this taking place in a bookstore and the passion her main character Robin has for books is something I can totally relate to. They are more than words on a page to me, they have life, and meaning and breathe that little something into my very being. It’s almost as if they grab me by the hand and make me live an adventure I would have never have had if I didn’t pick them up.

Her characters felt real with the kind of problems and past baggage that we might have in our own lives. With those kind of older childhood/young adult regrets that we have to face and deal with at one point or another. Robin also faces the reality that her father is in prison for committing heinous crimes with the possibility of execution and her mother in prison for being an accessory. Sent to live with her grandma who she never knew, I can understand why she would want to run away from her problems when they threaten to overwhelm her. She finds solace and contentment in her books and running her store. The only character that I really didn’t like was Sarah, her high school classmate. It seems like she took the tragedy that happened when she was a teen and used it as an excuse to live a very destructive lifestyle.

This is the part of my review I don’t like to write because I found some flaws that bothered me. Being published by Revell, I’ve never had to question what kind of book I’m reading. I know they will always be Christian fiction books containing a faith thread, which is a vital element to me as a Christian reader. I did not find it in here! That is a huge turn-off to me, especially when I am purposely looking for it. The only redeeming character in here was Dawt Pi, Robin’s employee & friend. There were a few things that pointed to the fact that she was a Christian, especially where she told Robin that she was praying for her & emphasized God loves her. But I feel like her influence on Robin was so insignificant and played such a minor role. The writer had a wonderful opportunity to develop Dawt Pi to be that Christian to shine the light of Christ in Robin’s life. So I was left feeling very let down & very disappointed in the lack of faith. Also, I felt Robin never really did deal with her past in a satisfactory manner. She ran & hid rather than face things head on. A person can’t realistically move on in life without dealing with the hard stuff of the past. Lastly, there was no real feeling of redemption, resolution, or forgiveness for me in this book. It left me with too many questions and not enough answers and I really hated the ending. I was left hanging and asking myself what I just read.

So while the writing was fantastic and I can agree with other reviews on this and other points, I have to take away a higher rating due to the lack of faith and no real resolution at the end of the book. I like to have hope, and when it didn’t come about, I was left disappointed. This is my personal taste and I won’t apologize for feeling that way. In conclusion, if you are looking for a book to completely immerse you with evocative prose; this is one that will do it! Just don’t expect faith to play a major role in it.

* This book was provided by Baker Publishing Group through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion. I was not obligated to leave a favorable review. *

This book causes the reader to consider what it is like to have, and how they may react to, a life event that truly rocks their world, one in which they feel like they have no control and no one to turn to. Then compound this by an intense sense of betrayal peppered with guilt. The Words Between Us is deeply emotional, a book that is difficult to emerge from. Its slow pace sometimes leaves the reader feeling submerged and wanting a deep, cleansing breath, and at other times regretting having to come up for air.

For the second time this fall I have had the pleasure of reading a book in which classic literature plays an important role, and am motivated to spend upcoming winter nights with Dickens, Austen, and Bronte. For now, I am happy to have had the time and opportunity to spend time with Erin Bartels and her characters. If you aren't opposed to a bit of melancholy, I think you will be as well.

I am grateful to have received a copy of The Words Between Us from Revell via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. I was under no obligation to provide a positive review and received no monetary obligation.

The Words Between Us is a powerful story that tells the story of Robin Windsor. This dual timeline novel flips back and forth from the past to present to weave a tale that paints the whole picture. Robin is just trying to survive through life. She is alive, but not really living. The Words Between Us tells a powerful story between past and present of an exchange of words and how powerful those words can be even when we don’t realize it. Not only must we forgive others, but ourselves as we go through life. We shouldn’t let our past define us especially when we have no control over the events that occurred. This is the second book by Ms. Bartels that I have read. Her first debut novel was a page turner as well. She has a way with words that will have you wanting to read more. I highly recommend this book! It is a novel that makes you feel as if you have learned something important when you finish that you should apply to your own life. I cannot say enough about this book! Plan to sit for a while once you begin this journey.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.

I loved this novel! It was a beautiful plot and unlike many "Christian" novels, was not cheesy at all. It developed quickly, realistically and the characters were easy to connect with. Highly recommend!

Robin Dickinson lives owns a small independent bookstore in a little town in Michigan. She is private and reclusive and lives a quiet life. Then one day, she starts receiving books in the mail. The books have poems written inside the cover and they take her back to another time -- another name, and what seems like another life.

I wanted to read The Words Between Us from the description. I have a small online bookstore and have worked in local bookstores and love fiction set in the book world. The Words Between Us is a delight for readers. The protagonist, Robin, really loves books; they literally change her life. There is much discussion of classic books in this novel, and it is a delight to read.

The book flashes back between then (Robin's teen years, when she lived in a small trailer with her grandmother) and now (as a bookstore owner). There are two overriding themes between the two time periods. Robin's parents are in jail and her father is on death row. The reasons are revealed over the course of the book, and there is a mystery - and element of danger - because of the mystery. As a teenager Robin meets a boy named Peter who loves books; this forges their connection. He is still important to her life, although he is not around in the present day. To say more would be to give spoilers, and I don't want to do that -- the slow unraveling of the mysteries in this book is a delight to read.

This is my first read by Erin Bartels and I am stunned by the beauty of her writing. For instance:

"When I step out of Sarah's car onto the cracked blacktop parking lot, nostalgia and fear grumble in my stomach like the river in springtime. The asphalt seems solid enough, but that's probably what the guy with the blue pickup had thought about the ice. It's a warm morning. Perhaps the present is only a thin crust that might break apart beneath my feet at any moment, allowing the river beneath to sweep me inescapably into the past. If I walked to the football field right now, those boys might be there in dirty red practice jerseys, Peter among them. He would look up and notice me as he did then, and we would start over and I would be fourteen again" (Kindle location 2361).

The Words Between Us is a beautiful and moving book. It is sure to be on my list of favorite reads for 2019, and I cannot recommend it highly enough for other readers.

(4.5 stars) - well, wow, that was unexpected

It's funny that I began reading this book without really knowing what to expect, & it still kept taking unexpected directions, lol.

So, yeah, I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but the description was intriguing so I wanted to give it a try. It's an eclectic mix of elements: romance, mystery, suspense, family, spiritual growth, and more.

Robin is a sympathetic character, but fair warning - she's a little hard to like initially. The trauma of losing her family as she does effectively leaves her emotionally stuck there. However, the author lets us in on her thought processes so we can understand where she's coming from, & it helps to pull us in.

It would be a shame to say too much because the unexpected plot developments are such a substantial part of the story's strength, so I'll just say that the pay off on your time investment will totally be worth it!

I'm not sure how believable the story is, but it's certainly told believably, which is what matters.

My only frustration is that, while Robin & Peter's plot lines are resolved at the end, the one that their story is built on is left hanging. Not a cliffhanger, per se - it doesn't damage the main character's arc - but we don't know the outcome.

While the author essentially tells us thru the characters that it's not really what's important, I still felt that it distracted some of the focus from the ending.

*Clean romance level: sweet kisses
*Religion: low level, totally organic to the story

[Review will post on publication date at blog, Amazon, BN, ChristianBook & social media pages]

Readers will lose themselves in the dual time period story of past and present. Robin's story of betrayal by her parents and her desire to melt into the background is heartbreaking. Her emotions can be felt through the powerful words of the author. This is a beautifully written story that is hard to put down. Highly recommended!!

FOUR in the name of love for the living souls of dead poet society and for my oh captain , dear captain, our fearful journey is about to begin because I loved this lyrical, romantic, unforgettable 20 years long love story’s rekindling by borrowed books and paid poems STARS!

I could give five stars to this book. You ask me why, I tell you the listed reasons. But I must emphasize neither author nor publishers sent me boxes of Chardonnay and Sprinkle cupcakes to like this book. (I could honestly say my vices never overshadow my judgment! Maybe just a little bit! Okay, half of it!) There are so many reasons to like each word, every page and the whole amazingly, wholeheartedly, intensely, remarkably formed and developed story.

Here are my reasons:

-THIS BOOK IS ABOUT BOOKS: I felt like I was playing with Matryoshka dolls, (another doll decreasing size placed one inside the other.) when I see books inside books theme and caught pieces from “Catching in the Rye” (I hate Holden, too, which is my common point with the heroine) , “Dickinson Poems”, “From Whom the Bell Tolls”, “Great Gatsby”, “Moby Dick”, “Wuthering Heights”. I knew most of the book choices were the popular classics but they were still the best way to form friendship between young Robin and Peter.

Both of them are wounded souls and hurt by their own parents. Robin was betrayed by her parents who were in jail and waiting for their murder trails, sent to live with her grandmother she hadn’t met before. She was keeping her identity as secret by telling her school friends lies about her past life and her parents. The only person she was honest with Peter, she recently met at the graveyard close to her place she lived.

Peter also lost her mother from aneurysm lately, dealing with grieving father’s issues, left her mom’s favorite poem book at her grave when Robin and he bumped into each other. Robin borrowed the book he left and Peter kept bringing her more books in exchange of her beautiful poems.

-LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL POEMS WALTZED IN MY MIND AND TOOK ME OVER TO THE MOON:
I loved the poems Robin put inside the books which turned her back after 20 years and reminded her of her old self and creative mind.

-GOING BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN PAST AND PRESENT INTRIGUES YOU TO KNOW WHAT HAPPANED TO THIS AMAZING COUPLE!

This reason also gave me chills because I was expecting something irrational as I learned more about Robin and Peter’s characteristic attributes. I knew Robin was only 15, living big traumas in her life but her insistence to push Peter away and her stubbornness not to understand he was the only one she can open her heart and mind without thinking a second made me so furious! Peter was kind, patient, caring, sweet and deeply felt for her. So I felt like she was about to sabotage the great thing they had together.


-BIG FAMILY SECRET:
This part could be thought as unnecessary because the book had already great plot centered around the dull, sad, lonely life of Robin who was about to lose her bookstore and vivid supporting characters who helped her voluntarily to save her store. But to understand the wrongdoings and emotional turmoil of Robin who incessantly punished herself for the misdemeanors of her own family, we needed to learn their secret history.

REASON TO CUT MY POINT:

ROBIN! ROBIN! ROBIN! AND ROBIN WHO IS THE WINNER OF DISLIKABLE HEROINE CONTEST:
I understand she was so young and had hard times to listen and trust the people. But after 20 years she didn’t evolve, improve herself a little bit. She was still judgmental, stubborn and at some parts dumb! Sometimes I wanted to yell her to get her head out of her ass and embrace the life. It was tormenting to see her made her life miserable and made her loved ones suffer, too.

Ending was good, I was about to give a few slaps to Robin if she stayed obnoxious and acted like a relentless cow but thankfully she made right choices so I didn’t need to cut more points from this amazingly written book.

As a summary: I’m happy, satisfied! Great writing, great story, the heroine who deserves my slaps and lovely hero!

Thanks to Netgalley and Fleming H. Revell Company to share this amazing ARC COPY with me in exchange my honest review! I loved it!

What an interesting read! Threaded with romance, mystery, and a bit of young adult fiction, The Words Between Us is unlike any book I’ve read. We read back and forth between Robin’s present and past and slowly unravel the truth behind what really happened to her family.

I did feel like towards the middle of the book the plot lagged and at the end seemed a bit rushed. However, I was eager to continue reading. The Christian element seemed lacking and then forced in.

All in all, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes modern or teen fiction with threads of suspense.

"Innocence ends for all of us, in different way and at different times." This quote pretty much sums up the theme of the book, for all of the characters involved. Switching back and forth between the present and various episodes in the protagonists' teen years, the narration centers around a boy and a girl who have been dealt heavy blows in the lack-of-parents department as teens. They fumble through life, holding each other up at times, until eventually drifting apart. Books and literature are a form of communication, both in the past and the present, and they help to weave the story together. I particularly enjoyed the Dreadnoughtus - fearer of nothing - aspect, as well as the change it signified in their lives. A good mystery lies underneath all of the text, too!

Words Between Us is a coming of age story told from two perspectives. Robin's past and her present collide in this literary gem. Erin Bartels literary prose wrap around the heart as she delves into the classics and their relationship with the reader. Part mystery, part romance, all fascinating. This story of redemption, realization and forgiveness is well written and worth the time to savor. Bartels unique perspective and writing have a distinctive flair in the field of inspirational literature. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This is a deep and beautifully written story. It's the kind of book that fills you with the warm and fuzzies as you're reading it. A lovely story that is a must read.

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels is one of those novels that sweeps you up into a world that feels so real it is hard to believe it is fiction. From the opening sentence, "Most people only die once, but my father is not most people" you are hooked.

The author has brilliantly merged the past and the present of her main character, Robin Windsor. We learn how Robin's life was suddenly turned upside down by her parents as a teenager and how it all converges in the present to bring the story to a satisfying ending.

This story had so many layers. From the classic works of fiction that provide an escape for Robin. To the "words in-between" the pages of those books (what a fitting title for this book). Even the fact that she works in a bookstore seems so appropriate and right - so satisfying. Lovers of books, in general, will instantly connect with this character.

One thing that seemed to be missing for me, since this was a Christian book, was the mention of God. I was 80% through the book when suddenly faith and church were discussed, briefly, in chapter 33. While the story did have a theme of forgiveness, the opportunity to bring God into it, along with the theme of redemption, was a missed opportunity, in my opinion.

Nevertheless, this book will speak to book lovers everywhere and will leave you with an urge to read some old classics or take a trip to your favourite bookstore.

I received a copy of this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group through NetGalley.

Catalogue copy: Robin Windsor has spent most of her life under an assumed name, running from her family’s ignominious past. She thought she’d finally found sanctuary in her rather unremarkable used bookstore. But the store is struggling and the past is hot on her heels.
When she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father’s scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the long-lost summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. But why would Peter be making contact after all these years? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she’s about to be exposed all over again?

This is the second novel from Erin Bartels, who is rapidly becoming a ‘must read’ author for me. Like her first, We Hope for Better Things, this is set across two time periods, but in this story the time periods are within Robin’s lifetime, and we see the impact of the events of her childhood and youth on her adult self in the ‘now’ sections.

What I love about Erin’s storytelling is that it is so immersive. From the fantastic first lines: ‘Most people die only once. But my father is not most people.’ and through the 300+ pages which follow, the story rushes at a breathtaking pace sweeping the reader along with it.

We begin the story at the point where Robin’s Dad is due to be executed. On this difficult day, she receives a book in the post. Which may not seem odd for a used bookshop owner, but THIS book is not just a rare first edition copy of Catcher in the Rye, but the actual copy given to her by her childhood friend Peter Flynt, twenty years before. Someone she’s not been in touch with for a very long time.

It’s hard to write much about the story without introducing spoilers, because this is a book where a lot happens, and there are plenty of twists and turns. There are a few red herrings in the plot and a few threads which aren’t neatly sewn up by the end, and the last sentence of the second to last chapter felt more like the end of the book than the actual end of the book!

The characters are well described and three-dimensional and one of my favourites is The Professor! I shall say no more about him here, except that the reader is in for a treat. The power of words is the theme of the book, and this comes through in the books mentioned throughout, and in prose, poetry, thoughts – and silence.

Although this is categorised as women’s fiction, there is a very strong mystery thread – or rather multiple threads. I like this in the books I read, so I hope it’s a trend which will continue into Erin’s next book. Which I hope will be coming soon.