Readers of The Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport have gotten to know many of the Canyon Mines, Colorado residents through the first three books. In What You Said to Me, Newport unveils some more of the town’s history as well as some new (only to the reader) residents.

While this final book in the series continues a few threads from previous books, it can stand alone. Once again Newport weaves threads of past and present while hitting on the topic of bitterness—how one person’s acerbic attitude and words can create the same in another and be passed down through generations.

The addition of Tisha adds a lot to this story as the teenager deals with her family, her emotions, and stretches Jillian and Nolan as they reach out to her. It doesn’t always turn out as they hoped, but I believe their words and encouragement helped change Tisha.

There are a few small unresolved areas in the end, but it made the story that much more real. After all, we don’t get the answers to everything in our lives. It’s fitting conclusion to a series that leaves the reader with hope for what’s to come.


Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this latest novel in the Tree of Life series featuring genealogy investigations. The story takes place in what was previously a mining town in Colorado. The narrative has two time periods, today and the early 1890s. The historical story is of closing silver mines and thousands of men losing their jobs. The experiences of one family then has ramifications for people today.

Newport's writing style is a pleasant one, almost old fashioned in that it is gentle. I like it as it makes for an easy and comfortable reading experience. I liked the banter between Jillian, the genealogy researcher, and her dad, one skilled in mediation. I liked learning about the Colorado silver mines and the devastation the ensued when the U.S. ceased to buy so much silver, moving toward more gold coinage.

Newport explores a number of relationship issues in the novel. Jillian is looking to historical adoptions, some of which were not through normal legal channels. A troubled teen, Tisha, is helping her, working off community hours. Tisha finds out that some people do not want to know their family origins, even though she wants to find out who her father is. The whole issue makes one think about how important family heritage is and if it influences current behavior.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

What You Said To Me, by Olivia Newport, is book four in the Tree of Life series. This is a nice story of family history and how it affects those in future generations. The story is split between modern day and 1893. Jillian is a genealogist who lives with her her attorney father, Nolan. Nolan meets a young girl, Trisha, from their community that he is trying to help and assigns her to work with Jillian for the summer. This really tries Jillian’s patience as the work she does is very precise and needs to be perfect. Trisha only knows her mother’s family and as she presses for more, the story of who they really are is revealed.

I really enjoy this series. I hope there are many more books to come. The story is filled with realistic events, suspense, mystery, and strong ties to family and community. I especially enjoyed the parts from 1893 as they showed what a family must do to survive when their world comes crashing down. It also showed the generosity shown to others. The stories are written so nicely with background that each could be a stand alone story. The stories do reference characters from the previous stories so it is best to read them in order. More so for this story as Jillian’s current project is from book two and the man she met in book three is now her boyfriend.

I received an e-book copy of this story from Celebrate Lit, this is my honest review.

I am enjoying so much these Tree Of Life Books by Olivia Newport. The dynamics between Nolan, the father and Jillian, the daughter are so much fun to read. They live in the same house with their separate offices. He’s a lawyer and she’s a genealogist. I just love these two characters. This latest book centers around the biggest job Jillian has ever undertaken: Hunting stolen babies and children that were adopted out to unknowing families.
A teenager in trouble is sent to Jillian to do volunteer community service. At first Tisha displays a rebellious attitude and I didn’t like her at all. But it gave me a deeper understanding of looking below the surface of someone and their problems to know them better.
A bonus among the pages was the story of distant relatives of Tisha’s from 1893. It tells of the crash of silver prices in Denver and how it effected the mines, miners and their families.
This was a great story and I highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review.

What You Said to Me is the fourth installment from the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. Even though it is part of a series, I believe it can still be read as a stand alone. However, I would recommend reading the previous books, as well. This one is probably my favorite of the series. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but I was intrigued and quickly engaged afterward. I could not put it down until the end. I reading the two different time lines and seeing how they wound up intertwine with one another.

What You Said to Me is getting four stars from me. I recommend it for readers who like to read historical fiction and / or dual time lines.

I received What You Said to Me from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion

Oh, where to begin! 
First of all, What You Said to Me has to be my favorite of the Tree of Life series. The author's careful attention to detail and the way she weaves the timelines together so that you know just enough about the past to help you understand but without giving too much away is phenomenal.
Second, I love Nolan and Jillian. That has always been the case, but I love them even more now. Nolan sometimes has this carefree attitude, but in this book, it's much easier to see the depth of his feelings. He brought Tisha into his home without a second thought because he knew she needed him. And she needed Jillian, and whether Jillian knew it or was willing to accept it, she needed Tisha. 
This is a story of the words we say, and the ones we keep wrapped up inside. What we say matters. What we feel matters. HOW we say what we feel...matters. 
I loved the sense of family I took away from What You Said to Me. Tisha hasn't had an easy life, and she has family dynamics that most of us would shy away from. This made Tisha wary, self-reliant, and add in the fact she's fifteen and you've written a recipe for disaster. That made this story all the better as I took away the fact that family doesn't have to be the people you're born to. Family can be more. And while we are born into our circumstances, who we become is not always defined by the example passed down the family tree. 
We are ALL part of God's family. Something that Olivia Newport showed through her work in a subtle way that rings with sincerity.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

I love this series.  Genealogy is fascinating for me and the way it is tied in to this story is beautiful. I am very sad to see this series end.  
Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

In “What You Said To Me” by Olivia Newport, a brilliant father-daughter genealogy team skillfully links present to past on family trees, as they try to uncover the sordid past. In an already troubled life, fifteen-year-old Tisha Crowder is caught shoplifting. Attorney Nolan Duffy tries to protect her from harmful consequences. His daughter, Jillian, feels punished when Juvenile Court assigns Tisha to work with her on a huge backlog of genealogy files. Tisha is not interested in the job. Jillian’s paper-thin patience runs out like water. Long-ago words in plain sight offer a tiny ray of hope, when previously shrouded assumptions about Tisha’s family are brought to the surface, exposed and challenged. Jillian walks Tisha back to the mystical year of 1893 to uncover the wrongful past. This fourth book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport explores unforgettable family stories and family trees, in a concerted effort to inspire and motivate you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys in life. I highly recommend this split-time story that shows the kind, compassionate side of the genealogy team.

When 15-year-old Tisha Crowder gets caught shoplifting, attorney Nolan Duffy tries to protect her from consequences that could rattle her already troubled life. 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. Besides, 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. 

This is the fourth book in this series.  It's not necessary to read the first three to read and understand this book.  This book continues with Jillian doing research for her genealogy business.  Along comes Tisha who got into trouble for shoplifting.  Nolan has persuaded Jillian to have Tisha work for her in order to complete community service hours.  The problem is that Tisha has no desire to work for Jillian and everything that Jillian has her do is only half done or not done at all.  Then Tisha finds something out about her family background.  A switch seems to have been turned on for her.  Meanwhile Jillian is trying to find time to spend with her boyfriend Drew.  We were introduced to him in the last book.  

This is a good clean book that has a little bit of mystery.  

I was given this book by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I was not compensated in any.

This book is part of a series but it can easily be read independently of the other books. There is an introduction to a lot of new characters but several remained the same. The cover gives an adequate description of the storyline.The story goes back & forth between the 1800's & present & I got bogged down & lost interest in all the details in the past story. I appreciate the authors' research & attention to detail but it is near the end of  the book before the ties are made to the past & present. It was difficult to hold my interest in the story of the past until the last few chapters. Overall a good read. I was provided an advanced reader copy of this book and was under no obligation to provide a review. Thanks to the author. Barbour Publishing,and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this fourth book in the Tree of Life series involving attorney/mediator Nolan and his daughter Jillian who is a genealogist. What You Said to Me can be read as a stand alone but will be better if you read all of the series! Nolan brings punky teenager Tisha to work for Jillian as a consequence of shoplifting. Tisha's mother doesn't show up for required meetings and doesn't have anything good to say about her daughter. Tisha wants to know who her father is and her mother refuses to talk about him. Jillian eventually sees that Tisha is hurting and tries to help her. What You Said to Me is a dual time story involving the Brandt family from Denver who lost their money when the silver mines closed and moved to Canyon Mines. Mrs Brandt does not adapt well to being shopkeeper's wife. Jillian and Tisha make interesting discoveries about why Tisha's family acts the way they do. I recommend What You Said to Me to others. I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author, NetGalley and Barbour Publishing. This is my honest opinion.

This split-time story, which is the fourth installment in the author’s Tree of Life series, captured my interest from the first page. Having read her previous books in the series, I can say the author continues to display her ability to bring the reader into the story instead of having them just read about it. 

This story continues to feature genealogy team Julia Parisi-Duffy and her father Nolan Duffy doing what they do so well—uncovering mysteries in family histories that result in liberation for a person’s future. This time the person in need of liberation is a 15-year-old troubled teen named Tisha who was caught shoplifting. To provide Tisha with a community service alternative and possibly a better future, Nolan, who is also an attorney, brings her home to assist Julia. Once Tisha arrives, the sparks start to fly between Tisha and her reluctant “supervisor”, Julia. Where those sparks fly will definitely keep the reader engaged to the end.

I really liked this latest addition to the series.  The character development feels believable and just right for a small town.  You can even relate to Canyon Mines, the small town where these stories take place. I also love the concept of a  father-daughter team and would enjoy these stories being developed into television movies. If you or someone you know enjoys split-time stories, definitely try this story.  While it may be read as a standalone, you will really enjoy reading it in order as a series.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book provided by the publisher and Net Galley. However, the thoughts expressed are my own.

This is the fourth book in this series and I did not want to put it down.  I love the characters.  Jilly, Tisha, Nolan and Drew were wonderful in this story.  I love how these books weave a current storyline in with a past storyline to solve a mystery from both timelines.  This was one of my favorite ones in the series.  I love how we are learning more and more about Jillian and her father with each book.  I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

What You Said To Me is the fourth book in this series which I have not read the other three,hoping that it would make sense which it did. I will for sure go back and read the other three in this series! 1900's you find yourself in the present to the past with Jullian, the and her dad,the genealogist looking into this troubled girls past and her future. You don't get confused as you can in other books when you jump from the present to 1900's. Follow the family from gold mining and what happened way back when and help Jillian help Tisha find out about her family and just because they were the way they were, doesn't mean it has to be your future. It's a really a well researched story,heart felt and you better get some tissues!! You will be so glad you read this story where all the characters come to life and what happened in the 19'00's to this family. If you can,go back and read the first three! Received from Net Gallery!!

What You Said to Me is Book 4 in the Tree of Life series and continues the story of Jilian Parisi-Duffy, her father Nolan Duffy, and their friends in the town of Canyon Mines. Jillian is a genealogist and she has been contracted to try to trace down the birth families of dozens of children who were stolen and sold to adoptive families. It is a rather daunting task considering the boxes and boxes of material she has to sort through and the number of years that have passed since the children were taken.Her father has been appointed as attorney for Tisha Crowder, a teenager who has gotten into trouble shoplifting. Tisha needs documented work hours to show the court she can be responsible and Nolan has decided that Jillian's research will provide those hours for her...and so the story begins!! If you are familiar with this series, you know that they contain a lot of time hopping as research tends to take you back in time to get the back story on someone...and this one is no different. We go back and forth between 1893 and the present as Jillian digs into some very interesting research...not for her client, but for Tisha. Jillian's efforts are not always appreciated and there is a lot of head butting going on!! This is a very intriguing book as Jillian's research helps connect a lost teenager to her ancestral roots and helps Tisha find herself in the process. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and find that even though Canyon Mines is a small town, there is always a lot going on!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Each installment of Olivia Newport's Tree of Life series is better than the one before.  What You Said to Me follows a professional genealogist through the process of tracing children stolen or sold 60 years ago.  At the same time, Jillian is trying to supervise a teenager who is searching for her own past.  The action moves from present to the past.  I enjoyed this book, but the ending leaves me with hope that another book will follow soon.

I received an ARC of this captivating story.  It's part of a series, but can be read as a stand alone.  I love the genealogy aspect and the history.  A great blend of modern day and life in the past.  The characters are unforgettable.  I couldn't put it down!

A very well written time slip book.  Great character and plot development.  I highly recommend this book.

I was glad to return to Canyon Mines and the Tree of Life series!  I thoroughly enjoy this father and daughter team and their friends.  This time, Jillian and her dad faced one of their biggest challenges.  A teenager.  While this young girl shakes things up in the contemporary story, a well researched historical fiction story unfolds.  This portion of the story reflects so many issues that are facing our world today.  Hopefully, we learn from history.  Both of the stories were interesting and I appreciated how they weaved together and related.  Along with a genealogy mystery, I enjoyed the bits of humor.  Newport has created such a wonderful setting with this quaint little town of unique and interesting characters.  I only hope that there will be more in this series!  I was given a copy of this book by the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

This is the fourth of fifth book in this series that I have reviewed.  I have loved every one of them.  Jillian Parisi Duffy is a genealogist.  Her father Nolan is a lawyer specializing in family law. They live in  a small mountain town near Denver.  He jumps in when Tisha, a local teenager gets in trouble shoplifting in Denver.  He arranges for her to help Jillian as a community service alternative sentence.  Neither is thrilled at that prospect.

All of these books alternate between current stories and historic doings that play into those current ones.  This one does it even better than most.  I found the play to be exceptionally well done.  I was rooting for  a great outcome.  It almost happened. 

If you are looking for a fun read that keeps you attention, this could be it.