I really enjoyed this book! It is the third in a series, and I have read the other two. I really enjoy this town, and feel this book was the best of the three so far.

I love that Jillian is a genealogy investigator. I have always been interested in that sort of thing myself, but never pursued it. I haven't the drive to actually put in the work to make connections, etc. But I enjoy reading about Jillian doing so!

I thought the concept of a discovered abandoned steamer trunk was great! I loved going back in time with the original characters and seeing how everything played out. I also enjoyed Jillian's battle to work through things her own mother left for her in a trunk she treasures. Nolan, as usual, is a sweet addition to the story. His planning a dinner for more and more people for the fundraiser was a nice, if frustrating, sub plot. Someone really needs to talk to Marilyn and tell her to not give people more work than they can handle.

The balance between history, romance, suspense, and sweetness was great in this book, and I'll definitely look forward to more in this series!

If you like mystery, genealogy and Faith then you will enjoy this book. Though it is the third in a series it is a book that could be read alone. My first book by this author and I didn’t feel like I was lost as I read it. I will go back and read the first two just because I enjoyed this one so much.
Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the advanced copy.

This is book #3 of the Tree of Life series. I read the ARC of When I Meet You, by Olivia Newport at the invitation of Barbour Publishing, in exchange for an honest review.

Jillian is a genealogist. Her father, Nolan, is an attorney and mediator. They work together on the occasional project. This time, an antique dealer has received an old abandoned steamer trunk. The dealer wants to learn the history of the trunk and its owner in case any legalities involved – especially when the contents reveal a letter from Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency.

Jillian searches for the identities of the family, and a woman whose identity she believes may have been stolen. Nolan, meanwhile, searches the legalities of items.

When Jillian finds Drew on a ranch in Colorado, he is hospitable, but his Great Aunt Min is anything but. What could this mean from Drew and his potential inheritance of the ranch? Whatever happened to the woman who abandoned the trunk, and why was it abandoned?

When I Meet You is an intriguing mystery that will be enjoyed by mystery lovers, and especially by those who love solving a good genealogy mystery.

What made The Grumpy Book Reviewer grumpy?
A few missing commas, and using “showed” instead of “shown”.

The third book in the Tree of Life series.
I just love dual timeline books and though this is part of a series it can well enough be read as a stand alone.
Historical taking place in 1909 and contemporary taking place in modern day.
Genealogy is fascinating and there where so many twists and turns taking place I felt as though I was there while the investigation was taking place.
It was fascinating to read about an old abandoned steamer trunk and going back in time with the dual time line as past and present blend seamlessly to make for a fascinating story.

Published May 1st 2020 by Shiloh Run Press
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you, Netgalley, for a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

When I received this book, I didn't realize at first that this was book 3 in the series. Once I learned about that, I bought the first one and borrowed the second one from the library and read those first. I'm glad I did! The first two books give you so much more information about the characters and why they act the way they do. I love the dynamic Jillian and her dad Nolan have! What I also like about this series is the dual timeline story. These books combine historical fiction and mystery/suspense in a great way! I felt like Jessica Fletcher was meeting Sherlock Holmes here. The historical part of the timeline gave the entire story a great vibe. With every chapter, Olivia Newport adds another piece to the puzzle and the victims and also the perpetrators and side characters make the story so much more interesting. You get the story both from the perspective of our modern day detective duo and from the perspective of the characters from the past. I love it!

I wanted to add more Christian fiction to my library and definitely didn't expect to add a gem like this. I'm such a sucker for a good mystery. Adding a Christian perspective can sometimes take away a bit from the "action" and make it more like a regular novel than a mystery/suspense novel. Not this one! I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 books in this series and hope that I will be able to add a lot more books from this series to my library.

For those who don't care too much about a Christian theme, I have to tell you that religion was not overpowering at all in these books.

When I Meet You
By Olivia Newport

Unopened trunks lying around. One from the turn of the century, old luggage never retrieved - evidence of an ancestor disappeared?? One holds present secrets. . .

This tale of a father and daughter team working to solve family genealogical mysteries kept me engaged as the stories of the past were interwoven with present research and characters. The passage of time added its own contributions to furthering the solutions. The father is constantly cooking, and supporting his daughter in her investigations of family connections and mysteries. Add some mild romantic heat and the beautiful aspects of a Colorado setting, and you have When I Meet You, third in the Tree of Life series.

A lifelong family history fan, I was tickled to find this – and will look for the previous books in this series. And, bonus! Evidently #4 is right around the corner. . . .

A Sincere Thanks to Olivia Newport, Barbour Publishing, Inc, Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley for providing me an ARC to read and review.

When I Meet You by Olivia Newport is book 3 in the Tree of Life series. This book starts with a mysterious trunk and chronicles the search that follows. I think this series of books is fun because of the genealogical mysteries in each. This book is no exception. They are fun, light reads. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

A long-lost, recently discovered steamer trunk is the mystery of this book. Genealogist Jillian digs into the mystery, all while trying to come to terms with the left-behind trunk of her own, deceased mother. Jillian has to connect a Cleveland, OH family from 1909-1910 with Denver and its residents. There is evidence in the trunk in the form of correspondence from the Cleveland family and Pinkerton detectives based in Denver.
The story jumps from present to past and back as you follow the parallel stories of Jillian's own quest and that of the trunk owner Lynelle Beneure.
This is book 3 in a series. You can read them out-of-order but the two main characters (Jillian and Nolan) appear in all the books, as do the townspeople.

I'm slightly obsessed with this cheesy but so cute novel series! I've read all of them so far, and I always enjoy the latest installment. The stories are easy to read, but intertwine historical mystery with likeable, lighthearted characters in the present day. This was probably my favorite installment of the series so far - I loved the plot behind this one and the introduction of some new characters! Well done!

A hundred-year-old mystery, broken family trees, and trunk full of personal items is a genealogist's dream project; at least, it is for Jillian Parisi-Duffy. Searching for family ties is what she's good at, but when a trunk from 1909 comes into her and her father, Nolan's possession, the search might unravel emotions better left untouched. Separated by a century, Jillian takes the deep plunge into the past to learn what happened to Lynelle Bendeure, a woman who was traveling to Colorado before mysteriously disappearing. Where did she go? Why didn't she pick up her trunk when her train arrived in Colorado? What happened on the journey? Was there foul play?

A charming and suspenseful narrative, When I Meet You didn't immediately capture my attention like In the Cradle Lies, but, as Lynelle's journey to Colorado continued to pose questions, I found myself unable to put the book down. I loved how Olivia Newport narrated what happened in 1909 while using Jillian's perspective to explain how she came to the ultimate conclusion.

The book was well-done; however, I felt a bit uncomfortable with Nolan and Jillian's relationship. Just like in The Inn at Hidden Run, When I Meet You had that abrasive and unnatural feel to it. Olivia does such a great job with her historical characters, and yet when it comes to the modern-day elements, the characters are not as relatable or welcoming. I understand that everyone knows everyone in Canyon Mines, but that doesn't mean there can't be any boundaries! Jillian is a grown woman and doesn't need her father to go freaking out if she disappears for the day! I want to love her relationship with Nolan, but sometimes it feels very controlling. My fingers are crossed that the next book will be more natural, like In the Cradle Lies.

*Thank you to NetGalley for a free e-copy in exchange for an honest review.*

When I Meet You
(Tree of Life #3)
by Olivia Newport


#############################################Even though this is the third book in a series, it was a stand alone, I didn't feel lost or like I missed out jumping in here instead of book one.
That said, I will look for the first two books in the series.

Jillian is asked to do genealogy on the contents of an old abandoned trunk. Her dad spends much of the book trying to perfect a dinner menu at a hotel where Jillian gives a speech.

The other part of the story flips back to the original trunk owner and her journey.
I was captivated by the mystery of the original owner and Jillian's search for the truth.
I enjoyed the flipping from past to present.

Highly recommended

Thank you, to the publisher, author and NetGalley for the complimentary ebook in exchange for my honest review.


A trunk abandoned at Denver’s Union Station more than a century ago leads Jillian and Nolan to untangle the mystery of its contents—including correspondence with the head of Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency Denver office. While Nolan digs into the legalities of the findings, Jillian searches for the descendants of a stolen identity who might not be who they think they are on Colorado ranch land. When Drew seems anxious to hear what Jillian has to say but his Great Aunt Min slams the subject closed—twice—Jillian is all the more determined to find out what happened to the woman who never claimed her luggage, why Min doesn’t want to talk about it, and what will happen for Drew if he gets the answers he seeks.

When I Meet You is the third book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.
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When I Meet You is Book Three in Olivia Newport’s Tree of Life series and my favorite yet. The story was intriguing and delightful. I personally love family memorabilia, especially old photographs so this part of the story grabbed my attention. I have become invested in the likable characters in the Tree of Life series and I very much looking forward to book 4.

'When I Meet You' is for the dual-timeline lover (which I am, especially when they are done well like this one!). It is the third in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. This novel has endearing characters, mystery, genealogy, and faith.

So if you love history and diving into a families past this series is for you. This book is told in a two time periods as a father and daughter team five into the history of a families ranch in Colorado. These books are all quick read but no less enjoyable. Olivia Newport's books bring together the past and the present in a wonderfully written series.

WOW! This is an incredible duel-time novel!

I absolutely love the main characters in both time periods. They are all very well developed and have very different personalities.

Both of the plot lines are fantastic. I was completely sucked into the entire story. I knew from the beginning that they would connect with each other some way. I enjoyed seeing the early tidbits that were hints as to the connection. The author did a marvelous job of holding out on the reader until the final reveal though.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

Actual Rating: 2.5

I was initially drawn to this book because of the beautiful cover, and the blurb looked interesting as well. This book is about Jillian, a genealogist who comes across an abandoned trunk with mysterious letters from a private detective agency. Jillian and her father start diving into the descendants and find that something definitely happened — someone’s identity was lost, or worse, stolen.

On paper, this seemed really interesting, but execution somehow fell flat for me. This story is written in a dual timeline from Jillian’s perspective as she discovers history and from the historical timeline itself.

While I have no issue with this style, I found myself caring more about the modern-day characters but caring more for the historical plot. Essentially, I wanted to read about the process of Jillian gradually going through the steps to figure things out, but and I felt like information was being thrown at me during historical chapters, while Jillian’s personal plot really wasn’t that interesting. It just felt like there were no real stakes, and any legality talk went over my head.

Honestly, I never connected much with the historical characters — it felt like I was just being told what had happened, and as I stated previously, I wanted to see the story through Jillian’s perspective.

And so, the only characters I were really interested in were Jillian (as a discoverer of history and less so as her own person) and Aunt Min, who was surprisingly tied into the plot really well and had an intriguing personality on her own. Her character development at the end was palpable, and she was honestly one of my favorite characters, despite how prickly she was at the start. It really helped add tension to the story as well — with her presence, you just KNEW that something was up.

The writing style was okay. There was nothing that really stood out to me, and for the most part the book was a little bit hard to get through. Still, I'd recommend this for anyone interested in genealogy who might like a hint of mystery.

Olivia Newport pens the third installment in her Tree of Life series, featuring a father-daughter team who uncover links in family trees to family stories in the present.

In When I Meet You, Nolan, a lawyer, and Jillian, a genealogist, trace an abandoned trunk’s history through examining its contents, which includes correspondence with the Pinkerton detective agency.They search for the trunk’s descendants when it appears that foul play might be involved. Are the descendants of the trunk’s owner the true owners of a nearby ranch land or is a stolen identity involved?

Newport writes a dual timeline (1909 and the present) with alternating points of view. As the mystery unfolds, the reader sees what may have happened to the trunk’s owner in 1909 and how it may affect the present. As Jillian unpacks the clues about the abandoned trunk, it gives her the courage to face her own family secrets and unpack the truths behind what was left in her care.

Not everyone wants the truth revealed. One person in particular is adamant about Jillian not talking with her family members or digging into her family’s past, yet she holds the answers Jillian seeks. Will the truth be revealed in a way that all will appreciate?

While the book can be read as a standalone, it is pleasant to revisit friends made in Canyon Mines, Colorado from the earlier books. One can almost taste the delicious food Jillian’s father Nolan makes (he is known for his culinary skills while Jillian is known for her lack of them!). The characters are generally likeable, with strong, spirited women whom readers can easily relate to, and men who are generally reliable and trustworthy. But not everyone is who them seem to be -- both in the past and in the present, and that will keep the reader guessing.

When I Meet You is both a historical and contemporary novel. It is more a mystery than a suspense novel. The faith element is not heavy-handed but evident. While the stories in this series are engaging, the covers did not grab my attention. Readers will be delighted to know that a fourth book, is expected in the fall of 2020.

This is an interesting book that spans the year 1909 to the present. Jillian, a genealogist, and her father, Nolan, a lawyer, look into the mystery of a trunk found abandoned at Denver’s Union Station. Jillian looks into the mysterious owner of the trunk, while her father looks into the legalities of the trunk’s findings. Jillian is curious about the owner of the trunk, who obviously never came for the trunk or its contents, including clothes, a bible, and letters. Julian traces the trunk making its voyage to Denver, with careful research. The story involves a young woman who travels cross country to save her father’s business and reputation. It was not normal for a young woman to travel this distance unaccompanied at that time. Two couples took and interest in her, but was the interest genuine? With lots of research and careful reading of clues Jillian and her father unlock the mystery of the young lady traveling alone to save her father’s business and reputation, who the two couples were and why they were interested and how the mystery turned out.

This is an okay book. I have not read any other others in the series, but I read this one as a stand-alone. Still, I think reading the other books might have helped me understand better. It was interesting that her father is the one who brought Jillian into the mystery, but it was Jillian who did most of the sleuthing to find out the answers. I enjoyed watching the father daughter pair work together toward the one goal. I also liked getting to know them as persons from the small tidbits about their lives that were mixed in. Having a father-daughter pair in as book is not usual, but the author has carried it off quite well. I think any reader will enjoy getting to know this duo as they work through mysteries. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

I did not finish the second book in the series though I may come back to the series one day. Especially if I get a paperback of this one.

I love it when the opening chapter of a book immediately grabs my imagination, and that’s what happened with this one. The description of the beautiful abandoned trunk and its contents had me eager to find out the backstory of its unknown owner.

Olivia Newport did a fabulous job writing this split-time story. I was as interested in Lynelle’s story as it took place in 1909 as I was in Jillian’s solving the mystery in the current day. This author is skilled at taking small details in a person’s genealogy and making that an integral part of the mystery. The twists and turns of Jillian’s research into Lynelle’s life kept the story interesting. This is my favorite story of the series so far, and I’m glad there’s at least one more book, because there’s still more for Jillian to discover about her own family history.

Although this book is part of a series, you can easily read and enjoy this book on it’s own.

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