The book: When I Meet You is book 3 in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. Books do overlap, so start with book 1 if the concept interests you. The main character, Jillian, the young genealogist, is at the forefront this time. She is trying to determine why a young lady seemed to disappear. What starts her investigation is a traveling trunk that was not claimed 100 years ago. As she still starts to find answers, she gets a lot of pushback from the people who may be connected to the trunk. Introduced in this book is a new character who could play a starring role in future books.

In the meantime, she starts to try to find some answers regarding her own past. Because she lives with her widowed father, she knows more of his story. But she did not know to ask more questions of her mom before she passed away when Jillian was a teenager. Because her grandparents are also no longer around, and she does not have aunts or uncles, she is stuck with researching her own history the hard way. (She does find some answers and seems to have a plan to find out more in the next book).

Also another element in the book - planning a dinner for 200. If you enjoy reading about food, this one provides plenty of delicious descriptions throughout the text.

The Series: If you enjoy reading mysteries but could do without the suspense, "The Tree of Life" series is a good one for you. What I enjoy about these books is the fact that there are two stories intertwined - both a modern day story set in the mountain town of Canyon Mines, Colorado, and another events that have taken place in the past that need a story to be solved.

Because I have come to "know" the town and appreciate the characters, I did greatly enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for allowing me to read this book. All opinions are my own.

P.S. Barnes & Noble and Christianbook reviews are pending - all reviews are identical other than this added thought!. Will add links next week once they post. Thanks for asking me to read this book and to reconsider the series!

This third book in the series was very enjoyable. I love how the author combines historical facts with a delightful story. The dual timeline will keep you engaged in the lives of the characters...both past and present. The father-daughter duo make you wish they were your friend. And Jillian's genealogy talents and deep desire to solve a mystery will have you waiting anxiously for the clues to be followed until the truth is revealed.

The characters are well developed and you will begin to care for them and wonder what happens to them in the future. And, of course, there is the random character or two that you just dislike immensely. But that's okay, but the rest of the characters and their integrity and positive characteristics make up for the random few. I definitely recommend this book. And while it could be read without reading the first books in the series, the others are good enough that I suggest you read them too!

Thank you to NetGalley and Shiloh Run Press for an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am a huge fan of the Tree of Life series and can't wait for Nolan and Jillian's next adventure!

We once again read about Jillian and her father, Nolan. Jillian is passionate about genealogy and obsessed with finding out why a trunk was left behind and abandoned at the Denver’s Union Station a century ago. It is amazing to read how she goes about finding clues about the owner and what happened on the train ride to the station and why the trunk was left behind. Also the depths she will go to find and follow up on her clues. This reminds her that her deceased mother also left a trunk for her and it is stored in their attic. She begins searching through this trunk to find out more about her family genealogy. This book is written in two time periods and it is a well written novel, that will hold your interest from the very start.......Special thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to post a review, but I am pleased to do so.

What I like most about this book is the uniqueness of having a genealogist dig into a historical mystery.
Jillian is intrigued when her father Nolan surprises her with an old trunk acquired by a nearby Denver museum. Jillian is a genealogist and has a fascination for the historical mysteries that can be uncovered while exploring a family tree. She is immediately drawn to the trunk, which has not been opened since 1909. It contains woman's clothing, a family bible, financial records and letters written to a Pinkerton agent.
This premise really sets up an intriguing story, which blends together a historical timeline where we follow the owner of the trunk and Jillian's efforts in the present day to unover it's secrets. Along the way there is a bank scandal, a change of identity, a fundraising dinner to prepare for, and a ranch whose residents may just hold the key to the decades old mystery.
This book had plenty of drama to keep the pages turning, but there was a little too much going on at times for me to feel connected to all the storylines. I did enjoy the love Nolan had for cooking and opera - and for the way a new friend joined right in on the singing and cooking. I wish I could have heard, smelled and tasted those scenes. However the ending was a bit too contrived for me, with serval thngs conveniently overlapping and ending neatly.
Overall I enjoyed this read and I would recommend it for those that enjoy genealogy and history and faith filled fiction.

In When I Meet You Jillian and her dad, Nolan, a lawyer, are presented with a mysterious 100-year-old trunk that was left unclaimed at Union Station in Denver. Their job is to find out who the owner was and why she never claimed it. As Jillian, a genealogist, researches this fascinating trunk and the Pinkerton letters that accompany it she is also drawn to the trunk her mom left to her at her death.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

I had the first two books of Tree of Life books on my TBR list, but jumped ahead to When I Meet You because of the description of book including Pinkerton Detectives. The contemporary story of Jillian, a genealogist, being asked to find origin of an abandoned trunk from the early 1900's. We follow the historical story of the original owner of the trunk, Lynnelle, who had to leave Ohio by train to go to Denver to meet with the Pinkerton Detectives concerning a criminal case involving her father's business. Along the route, she meets new friends, but is not sure who can be trusted.
I was kept guessing on who was good and who was bad just as Lynnelle was. I enjoyed this book and was able to follow storyline easily without having read the first two books.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but all opinions are my own.

Another excellent book by Olivia Newport! Imagine stumbling upon an old steamer trunk in the basement of an old home that has been transformed into a museum. That’s what happens to draw the reader right in.
When called to come and check out the trunk by the museum curator, Nolan Duffy who is a mediator and his daughter Jillian who is a genealogist are called to the museum to investigate the trunk and it’s belongings which have been in tact since the 1900’s. It’s Nolan’s job to investigate the legal aspects for the museum to keep the trunk and Jillian carefully scours the papers left inside to find the rightful owner(s). Through exciting twists and turns with a story running parallel with a trunk left to Jillian by her mother who has passed . Jillian has yet to open her own trunk and discover the secrets that lie within.
This is a wonderful book filled with intrigue . It was an enjoyable read and gets a 10 star review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishers and was under no obligation to post a review.

This has been my favorite book in this series. I could not put this book down. I loved that this book is giving us so much more info about Jillian and her father. I also love that characters from previous books are used in in book. It was very interesting learning a bit about hiw the Pinkerton agency worked during the early 1900’s. I can’t wait to see what will happen with Jillian in the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Those who know me, know that I am a genealogist, know that I will love a book like this. I'm beginning to be totally convinced that genealogists love to solve all kinds of all kinds and types of mysteries. So finding a mysterious unclaimed trunk is an absolute fascination for me. Searching old documents is a blast to find the answers to solve all types of life's mysteries. So did I like and enjoy reading this book? Absolutely! Finding the answer to unresolved issues, is a challenge I love to take. And so this book was great reading for me.

I received an ebook copy of this book from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I have enjoyed every book in this series, but I think this one is my favorite so far. I loved the way Jillian worked at solving a mystery by digging into the past, using her skills as a genealogist, and got up the courage to dig into her own past at the same time. The dual timeline really makes the story fun; because I know the story of the past, I can make a good guess about what Jillian will discover. Not everything came together, though until near the end, which I enjoyed, because it kept me going to learn what had happened—and what would happen! I also liked the mild romance that happened in this book.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and these are my honest thoughts about it.

I am an amateur genealogist and I enjoy finding the stray relatives that I didn't know were related to me. So, it's been fun for me to read Olivia Newport's series on family trees. I do have to say that my father always said you should never try to climb the family tree because you don't know what kind of nuts you will shake out. We knew some of the nuts in our tree, but there are still more to find.

Jillian is a genealogist who makes her living helping insurance companies find heirs, matching lost belongings to the right people, or just researching family trees for people. When her father hijacks her from her work to take her to Denver to see a trunk, she becomes intrigued in digging up the whole story. In the research, she finds something she wasn't expecting, a new man-friend.

There are so many layers to this book that make it so great to read--Jillian and her father's relationship, the history behind the trunk, the people who are descendants of the original trunk owners, and ultimately how all these things twine together to make a cohesive narrative. This is a five-star book with two thumbs up and a completed family tree to hang on your wall.

Shiloh Run Press and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review and all opinions expressed are my own.

"Wandering back through the museum rooms, she found brochures to take to Nia Dunston and Veronica O'Reilly before returning to the sunshine, waning now in the late afternoon with wisps of clouds stretching like spun cotton candy across a setting sky readying for nightfall. When the sun began to descend, orange and gold in hues would diffuse in shifting aspects fading into gray and then midnight blue, yielding the day one more breathtaking moment."

When I Meet You by Olivia Newport is an intriguing well written story that takes place near Denver Colorado in 1909 and present day. This is the third book in the series Tree of Life, and can easily be read as a standalone.
Jillian works as a genealogist and has her office just off the kitchen in the three-story home she and her father share in the mountain town of Canyon Mines. Nolan, her father, works both at home and at his law office in town. Nolan claims that he learned to cook after his wife died leaving him with a hungry six-year-old girl to feed. He enjoys cooking and is well known around town for his culinary skills. More than once, I was wishing that I could eat the delicious food he was preparing.
Jillian and Nolan work together to unravel the mystery surrounding a trunk and its contents abandoned at Denver's Union Train Station in 1909.
I enjoyed reading this book and following Jillian as she searched for clues and would like to read more books in The Tree of Life series. 4.5 stars
***Thanks to author Olivia Newport, Shiloh Run Press, Barbour Publishing, and NetGalley for a digital ARC of When I Meet You #3 in the series Tree of Life in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts expressed here are my own.

#WhenIMeetYou #NetGalley

May 13, 2020 Posted on Goodreads, NetGalley, Savvy Reader, Twitter

When I Meet You by Olivia Newport is the third book in the Tree of life Series. The first two books were wonderful and all of them have centered around Nolan, a lawyer/mediator and his daughter Jillian a genealogist. This book is in present day as well as 1909. The author weaves in and out of both time periods seamlessly and is able to keep you interested in both. This story involves a trunk that is found in a train station in Denver. A museum has the trunk and is interested in who it belonged to and why it was never claimed. Enter Jillian who takes on the challenge to try and unravel the mystery. Along the way she also helps herself, by coming to grips with her past and her mothers trunk. I really enjoyed this book! The author tells a great story and it has awakened my desire to keep working on my family tree. Crossing my fingers that there will be a book four!!

Thank you to Netgalley, Shiloh Run Press and Barbour Publishing for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Genealogist Jillian and her attorney father Nolan return in another story which focuses on finding the answers to a past mystery to understand a modern day family. This time Jillian and Nolan have been tasked with finding out answers about a 100 year old unclaimed steamer trunk. Apparently, the owner Lynelle Bendeure had traveled by train from Ohio to Colorado and among her belongings were several letters from a Pinkerton detective and sheaves of financial documents. But the trunk was never claimed in Denver and the name Lynelle Bendeure never appears in any genealogical searches that Jillian makes. Did she change her name? Did someone steal her identity? Did she come to harm? And what do those financial statements mean? The pair take on the task of finding answers and this leads Jillian to a generations old Colorado ranch. Could it have been established with ill-gotten gain? At the same time Nolan realizes that his offer to prepare a charity meal has blown totally out of proportion. His attempts to finalize his menu and get control over his kitchen made my mouth water for an authentic Irish dinner. What I like best about Olivia Newport's books are her characters. Jillian, her father, and their small town friends are totally enjoyable. However, when Jillian is in the midst of solving a genealogical mystery, important clues or details are always held back with a much later reveal of total details. I prefer that in any story with mystery components that clues be apparent (although hidden) throughout the book so the reader can take as active role as the sleuth. This is the third book in this series that I've read and I recommend Newport's writing if you are looking for a new author. I received a copy from Netgalley for review purposes. All opinions are mine.

Another solid instalment of this gentle series. I did however find the amount of time spent on planning a dinner menu a bit wearing. The historical back story was right up my street being Pinkerton related. A happy few hours well spent.

So these first three books of my list are part of "The Tree of Life" series by Olivia Newport. I found these through Netgalley...I read the description for the third one "When I Meet You" (publish date of May 1, 2020) and it seemed right up my alley, so I requested it. Then I realized it was number three in a series so I requested the first two and started reading. All three of them have wonderful storylines and I love the genealogical search that happens in all of them and the history that plays along with the modern day storyline. I fell in love with all the characters from the small town of Canyon Mines, CO and I felt like I was right there with them. I'd have to say I did not enjoy the first book as much as the other two. It took me quite awhile to get into the first book...it seemed very wordy and choppy feeling to me, but I was hooked and wanted to see how it all played out so I stuck it out. Then I moved right on to the next two books and enjoyed those a lot more. The writing seemed more fluid and I got drawn in quicker in them than I did the first one. I believe there is a fourth one planned for sometime in the future and I am looking forward to that one!

Ebooks – I received free copies of these book from NetGalley for the purpose of honest reviews. All opinions are my own.

A steamer trunk abandoned.....

Every time I read another book is the Tree of Life series, I feel like I really should be finding out more about my DNA and the history of my family. Jillian is a genealogical researcher and her father Nolan is a lawyer who dabbles as a chef. Two fabulous old steamer trunks are at the center of this story. One belonged to Jillian’s mother and the other to an elusive person named Lynnelle Bendeure.

Why did Lynnelle abandon her trunk at Union Station in Denver, Colorado? What dire situation would cause one to leave one’s belongings behind.... and never retrieve them? These and many other questions plagued Jillian as she was requested to uncover the history by the curator of Owens House Museum in Denver. The methods used to ferret out information appeared far-fetched at times, and yet they seemed to bring results. I was quite enthralled by her findings and especially the outcome. I am certainly looking forward to what incredible finds will come with research into the trunk left so many years earlier by her mother.

This digital copy was received through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

When I Meet You is Book 3 in a series by Olivia Newport. However it is not necessary to read one before the other.

Nolan and Jillian are a father and daughter team who share a home in the Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines. Nolan, an attorney, is called upon by a Denver Museum to investigate a trunk which was abandoned at Denver's Union Station more than a century ago. The contents include some amazing discoveries including clothing and documents which also really interest Jillian who is a Genealogist. She feels there may be a stolen identity connection to some Colorado ranch land and is very determined that an investigation must happen. She sets out to be that investigator!

I really enjoyed this book and couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. Although I liked the ending, I also wanted the author to keep writing when I finished the book. I also enjoyed the author's notes at the end. It's always interesting to me when they tie in some historical facts with the fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

When I Meet You By Olivia Newport
Another great book in this series about Julian and her work as a genealogist helping people find out about their family tree. This sorry involves quite a bit of mystery and unusual circumstances and The Pinkerton Detective agency.
The mystery of the owner of the steamer trunk and why she never was able to claim it will keep you guessing. It is a very good read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

I have been loving this series. Even though this is a series each book can be read stand alone but these books are so interesting and different that I encourage you to read them all.
This book is written split time. We see the present and the past play out to get us to the end result. This is not an easy task, having read similar genres I know that it can get annoying. The author kept the story flowing and me at the edge of my seat. Genealogy does not seem to me any kind of interesting for entertainment (my nerd set is a different skill) but I have read three books based on genealogy and been entertained, intrigued and wowed. The characters are excellent in themselves and in their quirks. The settings are well detailed and built without being overdone.
I loved the little romances that played out that was well nuanced and unrushed. This is not a romance novel so it was a pleasant bonus that didn't need the perfect ending before the last word so I am happy with where we are left. A truly enjoyable read.