Cover Image: What You Said to Me

What You Said to Me

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Member Reviews

Thank you for an ARC of this book! I loved the other books in the series so much that I was very excited when I saw that there was another instalment. I have to say, though, that this one didn't draw me in quite as much as the other books did. Maybe it was because this one was more about the genealogy side of this amateur sleuth father-daughter duo. I missed the action and mystery elements that the others had. Don't get me wrong, it is still a really good book, just not my favorite in the series.

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This series just gets better and better! I cannot tell you all how much I so so love it!! Olivia Newport has created a world that I can picture an am in as soon as I start to read, Canyon Mines houses characters that I feel are just on hold when I close the cover and they are there waiting for me when I get a chance to go back, Cannot tell you how many times I have recommended this series already. Olivia Newport THANK YOU!!!

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Teenager Tisha Crowder needs someone to believe in her, to get past her tough exterior and notice the smart young woman behind the defenses. Genealogist Jillian is assigned Tisha for Tisha's court-ordered service project. Jillian, though, doesn't know how to crack the exterior and relate to Tisha. Jillian finds Tisha a hindrance and not a help.
The family history that is unearthed by Jillian's cases begin to impact Tisha.

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This is the fourth book in the Tree of Life series and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed them all. I love going back to Canyon Mines and visiting Jillian and Nolan and their friends. I look forward to visiting again and again.

These books are a duel timeline books and are light Christian fiction.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

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As soon as Tisha entered the scene and Jillian had to deal with a delinquent teen, I knew this was going to be a good story. Tisha’s story was so great. I could really feel the loneliness and discouragement of that teen as she tried to maneuver her life practically alone, and I loved how Nolan and Jillian invested into her life.

I’m still appreciating the level of romance in these books. Yes, Jillian now has a boyfriend, but it’s not the theme of the book. Her genealogy work and the dual timeline going with the genealogy mystery is still on the forefront. As far as romance goes, there was basically a kiss or two.

The spiritual content was very thin in this one. A couple of verses were quoted, primarily in the historical setting, but really God didn’t seem to be brought into the lives of the characters that much. I personally think it would have made this book so much deeper if Nolan and Jillian had an outspoken Christian standing.

I was a little sad that Jillian’s Parisi story didn’t fully come out. Also, this book left a few loose ends which, yes, is real life. But I would have preferred a few more conclusions.

*I received this book from Celebrate Lit and happily provided my honest review*

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What You Said to Me is another intriguing story featuring genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her attorney father Nolen Duffy and this time they find themselves involved with a troubled teenager who may have unknown ties to a family who lived in Denver in 1893. Author Olivia Newport seamlessly transports us back and forth in this split-time story of present day Tisha Crowder and the Brandt family who endured trials and losses in 1893. As I read about the many families who were affected by the collapse of silver mining in Colorado, it was easy to compare their job loss and poverty to the problems that we are seeing in our country today. When Clifford Brandt was forced to make decisions that would forever alter his family's future, I was reminded that the decisions we make often alter the lives of those who follow us. Will our actions cause hurts and bitterness that will carry from generation to generation?

The Tree of Life series has been such an enjoyable series and this fourth book is certainly no exception. Jillian's love of genealogy and Nolan's sense of fairness help Tisha find a new purpose for her future, but the journals kept by the Brandts supply the key to understanding her past. They also emphasize the powerful influence of words! If you enjoy faith-filled stories with mystery and suspense, you will want to read What You Said to Me.

I received a copy of this book from the author via Celebrate Lit but there was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

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What You Said to Me #4 Tree of Life by Olivia Newport

I like that this is a father-daughter genealogy series. I have done a bit of genealogy on my own family and find the stories interesting. Even so, there were parts of the story I had a hard time getting into. I really enjoyed the back-story/historical aspects of the story-line more than the present-day time.

~I received an e-book copy of this book from the author/publisher (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

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Another nice installment in the series. The author does a good job weaving history and present day together with the main character being an investigative genealogist.

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What You Said to Me by Olivia Newport is the latest book from the Tree of Life series set Canyon Mines with genealogist Jillian and her dad Nolan. This is the first series of books that I have read by Newport and I adore them. I hope that there are many more stories to come in the future. This story continues where the last left off, with boxes of information about missing children that Jillian is hoping to find resolutions for. When her dad decides to help a local troubled teenager named Tisha Crowder by having her volunteer hours assigned to helping Jillian, Jillian is pretty sure she is the one being punished. Tisha is unhappy, doesn't want to be there, and just has an overall bad attitude. However, Nolan is determined that they can help each other, and the more Jillian gets to know Tisha, the more she sees the girl behind the attitude. The story also follows Tisha's family in the late eighteen hundreds, when the price of silver fell and Colorado was in an upheaval. As they work together to find missing children, they also find a part of Tisha's past, maybe even helping her future.
I so enjoyed this book! I can't wait for more! If you haven't read them yet, it isn't too late! You definitely should!
Thanks to #NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this story! As always, I am grateful for the authors that pour so much of themselves into their readers! #Bookstagram #all_the_pages

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What You Said to Me by Olivia Newport is a great read! The characters mirror people you may know.
They could even be your family. Some of us know parts of our family history but there are many who are
totally unaware, as in this story. The lengths people will go to to discover their family members is one if
the features of this story. Another is learning to love and believe in yourself. We are each a child of God,
loved and wanted. This story helps people realize or remember this. This is a time shift story set in
today’s world and in 1890’s in Colorado. You’ll learn about the Brandt family through many generations
until today’s descendants. I would recommend this book! I enjoyed the time shift and felt the author did
a great job in traveling between the time periods. This book was provided through Celebrate Lit and the author for my review. The opinions expressed are my own thoughts. #NetGalley

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I was so looking forward to reading this book, but it did not end the way I had hoped. There are still so many unanswered questions like what was in the time capsule, did they ever find most of the families, what happened between Jillian & her beau? I feel like there were too many cliffhangers if this is actually the last book in the series.

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I received a copy of the book from Netgalley to review. Thank you for the opportunity.
An interesting story with plenty of twists and turns. The writing is good and the descriptions lovely.
I found it a bit difficult to get into as this was a part of a series.
On the whole a good book.

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Wow! Wow was what I said when I finished reading this book. WOW!!!

I really don't know where to start from but it's been a while I read a book that touched deep into my heart. It gripped places in my heart I didn't even know existed.

Touching, comforting and life changing. Truths embedded deep into the fabric of the story that could not be ignored. Wrongs made right, truths revealed and peace found.

I loved this book in it's entirety.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

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This is book 4 of the Tree of Life series. The series takes you on a journey, back into time to explore genealogy and learning about family history. With this book we go back to Colorado that takes us back to 1893 and deals with the background of Denver's mining industry during that time. Tisha, is a 15 yr old that is having to deal with her shoplifting issues and her attorney decides to help her by having her do her community service by work with Jillian, his daughter, a lawyer, on a back log of files dealing with genealogy. Jillian is not happy about this, but goes along with her father's idea. Can Jillian and Tisha make a difference? What does Tisha find that could change her past and future?

This is book 4 of the series but can be read as a stand alone. Each book in the series is a different story about families and their genealogy with Lawyers, Nolan and Jillian (father and daughter team). This is a good series for any age to read as each book deals with a different issue and I like how each book takes you back to history. If you like history and family genealogy, you will love this book and all the others in the series.

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While these novels are slightly cheesy (I can't lie about that fact!), I actually enjoy this series so much! The characters are very likeable, the story is easy to read, and the way history is interwoven with the present day story keeps the plot moving and keeps you trying to figure out what the connections will be! I love reading these books to relax and as a reprieve from the crazy world, and as the third one in this series, it's no exception! A great read.

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What You Said to Me
by Olivia Newport
Barbour Publishing, Inc.
Shiloh Run Press
Christian | General Fiction (Adult)
Pub Date 01 Nov 2020


I am reviewing a copy of What You Said to Me through Barbour Publishing Inc/Shiloh Run Press:


After fifteen year old Tisha Crowder gets caught shoplifting, attorney Nolan Duffy tries to protect her from consequences that could rattle her already troubled life. But his daughter, Jillian feels like she’s the one being punished instead—by having Tisha assigned to work with her on a backlog of genealogy files. Tisha doesn’t seem interested in taking the job seriously, and Jillian’s patience wears thin.



Everyone in Canyon Mines knows the Crowder family has experienced generations of brokenness. Then a sliver of hope turns up in long-ago words in plain sight, challenging shrouded assumptions about Tisha’s family. Now Jillian is the one who can walk with Tisha back to 1893 and uncover where everything went wrong in the first place—and save her from the past. 


What You Said to me is the fourth book in the Tree of Life series.


I give What You Said to Me five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

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I absolutely love the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. The dual timeline is so well developed. The author does a wonderful job of character development. Jillian’s personality really shines through with her introversion and perfectionism. While her father, Nolan, once again demonstrates his innate ability to evaluate a situation or the characters and gently guide them to a resolution. He is the ultimate and perfect mediator.

The flow between the two timelines is well done. You will quickly be drawn into each time period without an awkwardness of suddenly changing from past to present to past.

Thank you to NetGalley and Shiloh Run Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

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Discovering who we are:
It was nice catching up with Nolan and Gillian again. This book continues on with the story about Missouri's missing children with Gillian working to locate and reunite families plus also expanding a little on her fledgling relationship. It isn't necessary to have read the prior book, however it would enhance your reading enjoyment to have done so. I'd also recommend not waiting too long between reading the books such as I did as I found I'd forgotten a lot of the details!
Once again I enjoyed the dual timelines and the converging stories. I also found it interesting learning more about the collapse of the silver mining industry at the end of the 19th century.
I liked that Nolan and Gillian were able to help Tasha and it seemed to come from a real sense of caring as opposed to the meddling that they are known for! Overall this was an enjoyable piece of women's fiction but the series continues, and little progress was actually made towards the main story arcs.
I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

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What You Said To Me by Olivia Newport is a marvellous dual timeline novel about heritage and families. It is the fourth book in the Tree Of Life series but can be read as a stand-alone.
The action is set in present day and 1893 in the form of a diary. It concerns families who are trying to track down ancestors in order to close the circle and to heal hearts. We witness some who want to know their roots and shoots and others who do not care.
We are not destined to repeat the mistakes of our ancestors. We always have the choice to choose a different path.
Ripples of the past travel down the years. We can be proud of our ancestors. The novel shows some modern forward thinking philanthropic hearts in 1893.
There are some who realise the treasure to be found in people. In contrast there are others whose hearts lie in wealth and titles. They will always be disappointed if they treasure worldly goods over beating hearts.
There are a variety of fathers in the novel. Some have huge hearts, others are disappointing. Our heavenly Father will never let us down or disappoint us. He loves us unconditionally.
We see the importance of not judging. “Don’t ever label a child as trouble.” Far too often labels stick and we live up or down to them. Beneath every troubled soul, there beats a heart. There is always a root cause to a troubled soul. We just need to find it.
I am loving this Tree Of Life series. They are cracking tales with strong godly messages. They are perfect reads for winter days.
I received this book for free. A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

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This is maybe the fourth (?) book in a series, and I’ve read them and enjoyed them all. This one, maybe because of its dual timeline, was perhaps my favorite. I didn’t want to put it down! The author did a wonderful job capturing teenage girl angst! 4-1/2 stars!

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review.

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