Book 4 in Olivia Newport's Tree of Life series continues to develop the relationship between Jillian Duffy, her father, her friends, and the town of Canyon Mines itself. Tisha Crowder's run-in with the law brings Nolan Duffy into her life as her pro bono attorney and Jillian as her reluctant community service sponsor. Newport skillfully sketches out the relationships between Tisha and the adults in her life, never opting for fictional. disingenuous growth but rather the true-to-life tension and teen-aged angst normal for a neglected child. When Tisha develops a personal interest in one of the files she is helping Jillian organize, her sincere involvement opens new paths for both their relationship and the mystery contained in the genealogical records. Watching Jillian solve an historical puzzle is always fun; watching her include Tisha is heartwarming. At a time when we need those around us the most, Olivia Newport's story of family and community -- past and present -- resonates deeply.

I adore hanging out with these believable, fun characters. I also enjoyed the time slip style in which this is written. Nolan is an Attorney-mediator in Denver who values his daughter and has discovered his love of cooking. His daughter Jillian is a genealogist. I found it fascinating at how Jillian uses her genealogy skills to uncover family secrets and get to the bottom of a few mysteries. I have read two books in this fun-loving series; each story can be read as a standalone but to get a richer experience I recommend reading them all.

This novel focuses on 15-year-old Tisha who finds herself in trouble with the law and needs to gain some community service hours. Nolan finds help for his daughter’s big project at a reasonable price (free) it just included a little drama. Jillian’s first impressions of Tisha! “…she could see the figure on the porch. A teenage girl with bright pink hair, ripped cut-off shorts, and twigs for legs met Nolan’s exuberant greeting with a deadpan expression of a comedic straight man. This was help?” A little drama? Jillian could only think this girl spelled trouble; she didn’t have time for this.

The author seamless inserts flash backs from 1893 Denver during an economic recession which had the mining industry in Denver collapse. Clifford desperately tries to help the miners and navigate his own struggle for survival. I liked how this author weaves an intriguing story in both timelines, keeping you guessing how (and/or if) these two timelines would intersect.


In sorting out paperwork for Jillian, Tisha uncovers a family secret that affects her personally. Trisha Crowder tries to make sense of it all. She has just uncovered something that just might lead her to the answers she has been seeking about her “roots”. Where did she come from? Who where her family? It is amazing and delightful how these two stories lines come together. I was surprised!

This is a heartfelt story set in a charming town in the Rocky Mountains. I enjoyed the rich characters, how they sort out their feelings as they bloom and grow in their discoveries, that affect their family tree. I look forward to reading the next book. This is a story that would work well for your next book club pick. There is so much to talk about.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins!
The Book Club Network blog www.bookfun.org

What you said to me by Olivia Newport
"What you said to me" is a great addition to the " Tree of Life" series. I hate that this is the final book. All the four books in this series are stand alone, but I enjoy reading them in order. Olivia Newport did a amazing job at intertwining the main characters with the new characters to make one great story.

Synopsis - When 15year old Trisha Crowder gets caught shop lifting. Nolan Duffy is an a attorney whom tries to protect Trisha from her very troubled life. He thought it would help her to spend time with his daughter Jillian. Jillian is a genealogist who is falling behind in her of her genealogy file. During this time, they found out that everyone knows about the Crowder family and their brokenness. Jillian walks Trisha back to 1893 and see where all went wrong.

My thoughts - What a page-turner full of suspense. Olivia Newport has written a great book. The fact that these books are based around genealogy I just love them. To learn about a person is like a puzzle. You start with one person and it spreads out to others. The story went from present to past, which was sometimes hard to follow. Trisha will learn how the past can affect the present.

Rating - I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars

Disclaimer - I received this complimary copy of this book from Barbour with no obligation to write a review. All thought are mine.

I love being back in Canyon Mines with Nolan and Jillian! Every volume in this series is wonderful, and What You Said to Me is no exception. This book picks up right where the last installment left off, with Jillian working on one of the hardest, most tedious cases of her career, and in desperate need of help. Nolan volunteers a local fifteen year old girl that needs help of her own.

Tisha comes from a family that comes from the wrong side of the tracks, being raised in an incredibly negative environment, by generations of bitter women. It's no surprise that Tisha herself possesses these qualities, making for a very toxic work environment for Jillian. Nolan, however, champions for the girl, hoping to break her steely exterior, which was actually my favorite part of the book.

Parallel to this timeline is the story of the Brandt family losing everything in the silver mining collapse of 1893. Like all the other volumes in this series, the story lines seem like polar opposites until you read further and find out how the past and the present are intricately and beautifully intertwined.

Though What You Said to Me can be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading the rest of the series. You can find my reviews for the other books in the series below. You get a deeper understanding of the characters as well as more in-depth details of the charming town of Canyon Mines.

This series is a clean read with a geological focus, well writing, and full of heart and intrigue. I absolutely adore this series and cannot recommend it highly enough!

What You Said to Me takes us back to Canyon Mines, CO and Nolan is asking his daughter, genealogist Jillian, to help him with a troubled youth, Tisha. Neither Tisha or Jillian want to be partnered, but soon begin working on finding Tisha's genealogical history together. The counterpart story in this novel is about Tisha's great-great-great grandpa losing his mine and the events that lead from it.

I found the historical portion of this book to slow to interest me, but I did enjoy catching up with the contemporary Canyon Mines town members. I was excited to see Jillian and Drew's relationship was progressing. You can read and enjoy this book even if you haven't read the rest in the series.

I received a copy of this book complimentary from NetGalley and the Publisher, all opinions are my own.

Reluctant as I am to say goodbye to the quirky, heartfelt world that Olivia Newport has created, her Tree of Life series is one that I will remember and cherish. I would highly recommend reading the books in order because although the plots are different in each, the character trajectories form an ongoing narrative that is otherwise disrupted. The small town of Canyon Mines seems reminiscent of Stars Hollow (of “Gilmore Girls” fame), and I so enjoy spending time there amongst the shopkeepers and other townspeople. It is the perfect blend of modern with an old-fashioned touch, matching the dual-timeline that each book features.

The fourth and final book in this delightful series, “What You Said to Me”, takes a bit of a different track than the previous three. The mystery is intentionally not really a secret, and is apparent early on; in most cases, this would ruin the book for me and cause me to lose interest, but Newport creates enough conflict in the present day to ensure an intriguing tale. Prior to this, I was relatively unaware of the 1893 recession and the collapse of the silver mining industry, and reading about how devastating this was for the people of just one town in Colorado alone is heartrending. Even though the Brandt family is fictional, the historical backdrop is not, and considering what our country has been through in 2020, it is easier to empathize with them.

Contemporary issues intersect with those of the past century in the form of an angry, lost teenager named Tisha Crowder. Beneath her bad attitude and lack of motivation lies the root of a generations-old bitterness, one that can be eradicated only by love and healing. Her story is a keen reminder to look beyond what we can see and to acknowledge that everyone is struggling with something, that bad attitudes and bad behavior have a reason that needs to be explored with patience, love, and understanding regardless of age. When we make way for God to move in us and through us, miracles happen!

Throughout the Tree of Life series, my favorite character has been Nolan. I relate more to Jillian’s character, from her introversion to her fascination with genealogy and history, but I love her dad’s ability to assess a situation and recognize what people need in order to come to reconciliation, and to then act as mediator. While Nolan is obviously human and therefore not perfect, he serves as a subtle yet powerful reminder that Christ is our true mediator, dying for our sins and bringing us back into a right relationship with God if we accept this priceless gift. Our attitude matters, and our words matter. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Choose life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

A moving story! And, in my opinion, the title says a lot for the story to help the reader understand with is going on. In This Tree Of Life, Book 4 Series, WHAT YOU SAID TO ME, by Olivia Newport, a wonderful author, began in the kitchen. To me, that is a good place to start. Yet, instead of Nolan doing the cooking, Jillian was busy with the chicken casserole. I love these characters; especially when Nolan starts singing those songs while he is cooking. I can picture him roaming around in the kitchen clanging pots and pans, all the while, singing. And, the more he rattled the pots and pans, the louder he sang. That let me know he was happy doing something he loved. Sounds great!
The series took off with a teenage girl named Tisha Crowder, who had been asked by Nolan to help Jillian with some volunteer hours before school started back. Neither one was too enthused about it at first, because this teenager happened to have an attitude. So Jillian does not need nor did not ask for the girl's help. But Nolan talked Jillian into it. To me, Nolan has a way to get people to communicate. From there things start to get a little out of control; which made for a deeply involved plot. Especially when it involves ancestry, which I love reading about. Great story!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

They don't need each other...or do they?

I started reading the Tree Of Life series because I enjoy genealogy. Sometimes my long dead ancestors seem closer than my living distant cousins. I think, for me at least, What You Said To Me was the most emotionally involving book in the series.

While I didn't have as much sympathy for Tisha as I probably should have, I felt Olivia Newport's portrayal of her as a troubled teen with an attitude was spot on. After awhile, though, she kinda slowly grew on me.

I think that if we are truly honest we can each see a least a little of ourselves in several of Olivia Newport's more difficult characters, and it isn't the most flattering picture. But it is a convicting reminder to guard our thoughts from bitterness and our words from spitefulness. Words are very powerful things, they cannot be unsaid once spoken aloud, and if there's one thing that sticks with me from What You Said To Me it's that what we say leaves a long lasting impression on those who hear, and, for good or ill, will in turn be our legacy.

Seriousness aside, I did enjoy this fourth book in the Tree Of Life series. I was glad that continued a couple of the story arcs from previous books. I sincerely hope there will be a book five and I really look forward to reading should it be released.

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

Feeling like she's the latest in a line of women who make bad choices and can't find a way to be happy, Tisha Crowder ends up essentially doing community service time as Jillian's assistant. Only, Jillian has a hard time seeing that there's any assisting being done. Yet, between Nolan's unwavering patience and optimism, and Jillian's glimpses into Tisha's life, Jillian gains an understanding of what's inside Tisha, and together, they find that maybe there's some good in her family line after all.

This might have been my favorite of the series! I really felt like I could put myself in the shoes of all the characters in this book. I could see Nolan's desire to help Tisha, because he could see that her circumstances were turning her into something she didn't need to be. I could feel Tisha's discouragement at her situation and her doubt that Jillian and Nolan meant the nice things they said about her, because it conflicted with everything she'd ever heard from her mother, and that made them seem like platitudes. Even Jillian's reaction to Tisha was totally reasonable, because her project was important to her and her client, and it must have been nerve-wracking to have a lackadaisical, lackluster teenager mope into her workspace with no regard to accuracy. While Nolan remained steadfast, Jillian and Tisha changed together, and their growth seemed realistic and satisfying.

I give this book 4 stars. While it was my favorite thus far, and I enjoy this ongoing series and continuing to connect with Jillian and Nolan, they aren't books I see myself rereading, although I found myself wishing I remembered more from the previous installments as I struggled to remember some of the side characters this time around.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Nolan and Jillian have become two characters I love to revisit during my time in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newton. Nolan’s experience as a lawyer compliments Jillian’s work in the Genealogy. These two are quirky but lovable characters in a fictional town that sounds like a place anyone would love to visit. It this, the fourth book in a series Nolan sets out to help Tisha a local troubled teen. As events unfold Tisha moves from a person who is difficult to love to someone you would definitely like to know. I can’t tell you how much I loved this one. I ended the book with tears in my eyes and my heart full.

This author has a way of bringing split fiction to life by drawing you in to the story to where you don’t want to put the book down. I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. While this is the fourth book in the series, each book can easily be read as a stand alone. Please give this one a try, you won’t be sorry.

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

What you said to me is Book 4 in the Tree of life series. I have not read all the books, but I did not have any issues following along. The author is one of my most favorite authors to read. She was one of the first authors I discovered when I switched to reading mainly Christian books. This book also hit so hard to me. I grew up in a mentally, emotionally and verbally abusive household. Words that should never be spoken to your own children were said to me. As a mother myself, I am careful with how I speak to my children. It took a long time for me to be able to forgive those who spoke unhealthy things into my life. What is spoken to you over and over is what you start to believe.
This book weaves together the past and the present. It also shows that how bitterness can move from one generation to another. I know with myself and my story - I was the one that had to stand up and say THIS IS ENOUGH.
This book is the conclusion to the Tree of life series. We see Nolan and Jillian Duffy, a father daughter team, combine a lawyer and a professional genealogist together helping others. Nolan represents a young girl, Tisha who is caught shoplifting. He tries to help her get a lesser or no punishment. Nolan gets her assigned to help with his daughter, Jillian's major back log of genealogy files. Jillian is not thrilled with this idea. Tisha acts out and clashes over and over with Jillian.
Nolan and Jillian start to dig through Tisha's family history and we are transported back to 1893. This book does go back and forth between the two time periods - but the author has weaved it together seamlessly.

Well written characters, intriguing storyline. I love all the books that this author writes. I received a copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit blogging program - all thoughts are my own.

I have enjoyed this entire series and couldn’t wait to read this one. They are a series so I always recommend reading them in order, but this is one series that you won’t miss out on too much if you don’t. But why would you want to miss out on anything!?

Words are so powerful. Whether they are written or spoken they have power and meaning. Words can change lives.

This is a powerful little mystery surrounding a 15-year-old girl who is given really no chance in the world due to her family history. Now she gets to help research and dispel some of those rumors and words and let the truth prevail.

I really enjoyed getting to know Tisha and see her change and grow. Watching her gain confidence. Plus I really love genealogy and found this to be a really fun book that way.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21

I thought of this verse when I was nearly finished reading this book. It suits it well because it illustrates how a person’s words can affect not just another person but also potentially several generations.

This is a book with a dual timeline. The modern story is about a young lady who does genealogy research and is assisted by a troubled teen who was forced to help but certainly doesn’t want to. The older timeline is about a family in Denver who suffers financial hardship when their silver mines are shut down. They wind up moving to the same town that the modern characters live in. I was very curious to find out how the two stories would intersect. It wasn’t terribly surprising, but I liked how the truth from the above Bible verse is illustrated. I also like how the hurting person began to receive healing in the story. I would like to read the first three books for the backstory and future books to find out more. I think that Canyon Mines is a fictitious town, but it sounds like a place I would like to visit. The bookstore is called Motherlode which I think is very clever. The only negatives are that it still needs to have a pass of editing (which may be done by the time it’s been released) and I wanted to find out more about the big genealogy project they were working on. They found one small part but it wasn’t a satisfying turnout. Hopefully, I’ll find out more in future books.

Olivia Newport presents the fourth installment in her Tree of Life series, featuring a father-daughter team (Nolan and Jillian Duffy) who uncover links in family trees to family stories in the present.

In What You Said To Me, troubled fifteen year old Tisha Crowder is ordered by the court to help attorney Nolan and genealogist Jillian (an alternative sentencing for a shoplifting offense). Can they help her -- through this community service -- to understand why she makes the choices she does? Will she be able to let the past go and reshape her future?

Newport writes a dual timeline (1893 and the present) with alternating points of view. Initially the reader may be confused as to why the Brandt family’s past plays a role in the Crowder family’s present, but all is revealed at the conclusion of the novel. The storyline of illegal adoptions Jillian is researching started in the earlier book, and is not resolved at this book’s conclusion. Hopefully this will be addressed in her next book.

The central theme is the role of words spoken and the impact it has on the hearer’s life, whether those words were upbuilding or destructive. In this story, the hearer passes down from one generation to the next the negative impact like a family legacy. Many of the women blame the men, rightly or wrongly, for the family’s misfortunes, especially those caused by economic downturns. The women taught the next generation to distrust men, passing along their own bitterness, and making decisions that caused their dysfunctional family. Tisha wants more than what they have experienced.

While the book can be read as a standalone, it is pleasant to revisit characters from the earlier books. What You Said To Me is both a historical and contemporary novel. It is more a mystery than a suspense novel. The faith element is not heavy-handed but is evident.

Recommended for adult collections in public libraries.

I have enjoyed this series of books that juxtaposes a modern genealogist with personal histories begging to be discovered. The dual timeline presentation develops the historical happenings along with the modern-day tale, and the unfolding plot ties the two together. In this novel, Jillian’s father, a lawyer, is more involved since he connects her with a troubled teen who needs help. The girl’s family store not only brings unexpected surprises but intriguing discoveries that fill in missing pieces for her and the community. The well-developed characters and the compelling plot hold readers’ rapt attention and make them care deeply. The saga seems so real that you think it must have been pulled from actual life rather than created as fiction. I hope this Tree of Life series will continue. If you like to read something that appeals to both the mind and the heart, this should satisfy. It would make a great book club title to discuss. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

How thrilling to read the fourth book in this series. Connections and relationships, this is so much of our lives. In this book, Newport takes us deep into some generational curses and how they are affecting people. 1893 ties to the here and now. Trish, who is 15, was shoplifting. Why? What does that have to do with anything? Oh, dear readers, it has so much to do with it! Nolan and Jillian have their hands full trying to help Trish and in the long run, the effects of the past are going to shine a light on the present and the future in another way as well. I needed tissues with this book, it's very real and covers so many things that we face in life. Only our choice and God determine our outlook on life. We can be victorious, find healing, choose a different, path and this book just put everything together so well. It was a sweet though a bit painful end to the series, and it's a series I will miss and probably think of from time to time.

Thank you to Celebrate Lit for my copy of this book. This review is my own, left freely.

Anger and Rebellion Hide Hearts Full of Pain and Bitterness
Way back when I first read The Inn at Hidden Run, I said I was sure I’d like the series, despite not really liking that one. I underestimated. Aside from that first book, I’ve loved this series. The characters have such complex personalities with reasonable quirks and flaws that keep you from becoming bored with them. Ms. Newport has created interesting plots that keep her split-time “mysteries” perfect page-turners. And, seriously, she’s an excellent writer.

This novel brings in a difficult, 21st-century teen, one seriously dysfunctional family, and a look into the difficult days of the Panic of 1893. As usual, this story has its own depths and layers that provide insight not only into the period and the historical events of the time but also into humanity. Ms. Newport shows through the generations that despite advances, societal rises and reversals, no matter the century, people are the same at the root.

All lost. Every single one in need of a Savior. All worth redeeming in His eyes.
Not only that, but she did it without a smidgeon of preachiness. Honestly, I feel like I should be bothered by the lack of spiritual guidance for poor Tish, the teen girl. Why aren’t the Duffys showing that girl JESUS? Well, I’d say because they are.

With careful use of Scripture and spiritual discussions in the historical part, the reader is allowed to see what applies to the modern story without once having to be beaten over the head with it.

What You Said to Me is recommended for folks who love time-split fiction, who love excellent characterization and interesting plots with a hint of mystery to them, and for those who love to see functional families contrasted with dysfunctional ones. Not recommended for… um… someone, I’m sure. Me, I’m thrilled that I requested this review copy and am even more thrilled that I loved it as much as I expected to.

What You Said to Me is a delightful addition to Olivia Newport's Tree of Life series. Although part of a series it can easily be read as a stand-alone book. Readers may want to read the previous three books for further background on the main characters. Genealogist Jillian and her lawyer/mediator father encounter a troubled teenager with a ton of family baggage that definitely needs unloading. As Tisha’s story unfolds, readers are also treated to a dual time story--one of my favorite types of stories. This historical drama tells of the crash of the silver mining industry in 1890s Colorado and the devastating aftermath to individuals and families involved. The dual timeline flows seamlessly and the stories finally mesh together beautifully at the end bringing a satisfactory conclusion to the story. The author has constructed strong vibrant characters that capture the reader’s heart and a small-town feel to the story with the quirkiness that comes from people knowing all about each other. The dual time stories move quickly and are full of emotional tension and drama. I liked the casual flow of prose, with descriptive detail and a tad of humor that makes the reader feel right at home. Readers who enjoy historical fiction and split-time stories will not want to miss What You Said to Me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required, and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

This has been a very good series and I am very sad to see it end. I have enjoyed following the daughter and dad team as they shuffle back and forth in time. It has been intriguing to learn about genealogy and the secrets that are uncovered. Nolan and Jillian are a great duo and their desire to help others is contagious.

I didn’t know what to expect when Tisha comes on the scene. With a chip on her shoulders this fifteen year old will be hard to reach. The intensity of this story is how past generations do influence the future if the generational curse is not broken. Oh how I felt for Tisha when her mom called her stupid. There was never a day growing up that I didn’t hear how stupid I was and that I would never amount to anything. Like Tisha I figured why bother when everyone expected to see you fail. When I read, “ We all have reasons for the ways we express how we feel, even if we don’t understand them,” I understood that Tisha was acting out because she was hurt. Her desire to be accepted and loved is evident throughout the story. Words do sting and it is hard for that pain to go away. Can Nolan and Jillian make a difference in Tisha’s life?

When we travel back in time to 1893 we meet a family on the brink of financial disaster. Mining in the town has taken a hit and caused stores to go out of business, banks to close, people losing their jobs and hopelessness covering the entire towns people. I witnessed the collapse of a town and the despair the people felt as the author described with great detail what it may have been like during this time period. Desperate men trying to survive and a family seeing their future turn bleak makes this story so hard to stop reading.

I knew there was going to be twists but some took me by surprise. Every action had a reaction and this story is full of bad decisions, desperate decisions and decisions that tear families apart. There are parts in the story where I became angry because men were being blamed for unforeseen demise in economy. That hatred seemed to continue in the family for generations and cause the women to dislike or mistrust men. As you read the story you will see where one woman is so disgusted with her husband’s decisions that she basically turns her back on him. How sad that she became bitter and couldn’t see that her husband was trying to make a bad situation better?

The ending is bitter sweet and as I finished the last page, tears fell down my cheeks. It is a beautiful story of overcoming obstacles in your life and finding courage to accept what cannot be changed. Tisha is a strong young woman and even though her life has been filled with words that hurt and made her feel unwanted, she now can be proud of who she has become . We don’t get to choose our family, but we do choose whether to forgive or let the past ruin our future.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

What You Said to Me, by Olivia Newport, is the fourth book in The Tree of Life series. I have been interested in this series for some time, and this book did not disappoint! Even though I have not yet read the first three books in the series, I was easily able to follow along with the story and characters in What You Said to Me. Beginning with the fourth book in the series in no way hampered my enjoyment of this novel. What You Said to Me is such an engaging story, that I fully intend to read the other books in the series soon.

What You Said To Me is a compelling book with relevant storylines set in both the past and the present. With narrative threads thoughtfully woven through the two timelines, Ms. Newport has crafted a story that is very moving and truly memorable. Set in a small town near Denver, Colorado, the integral setting is detailed and appealing. Within this setting, the characters in the story are authentic, vulnerable, and relatable. Their insecurities, motivations, and choices are wholly believable. Through a shared legacy of hurt and bitterness that has passed from generation to generation, the author explores themes of forgiveness, hope, and restoration. These important themes add depth and meaning to the story.

From the very first page, to its satisfying conclusion, I found this book to be quite special. What You Said to Me is a novel that uplifts even as it entertains. Worthy of attention, this book is well-written, thought-provoking, and intriguing. I eagerly recommend it.

I was given a copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and NetGalley. A review was not required. The review I have written is voluntary and contains opinions that are entirely my own.