Pepper Basham's Hope Between the Pages is a great must read mystery unfolding in the present at Blackwells Bookshop and in the past at Biltmore Estate that I could not put down from the first page. What really happened with Oliver Camden and Sadie Blackwell at the Biltmore Library in 1915? Read Hope Between the Pages and find out.
I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
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“Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale.” is the prophetic opening line of this enchanting, wonderful split time story. Pepper Basham’s seamless weaving of the story of Clara Blackwell who lives in the present, and the beautiful love story of her great-grandmother, Sadie Blackwell immediately captivates you. The settings, the characters, and the plots made me want to stop everything around me to learn more of the story of Sadie and the legacy of her bookshop.

There were many quotes throughout the book that I had to underline so that I could return to them for further consideration. Here are two of my favorites.
“Read a story, live a story.”
“Perfect books are difficult to find.” His eyes narrowed slightly. “It takes a special sort to uncover them.”

I wholeheartedly recommend this book. It is the second one in the Doors to the Past series with three different authors in which you can visit landmarks that are “full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.” (quote from the series description)

My thanks to Net Galley for a complimentary copy of this ebook. I was not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This story starts us out in 1915 at Biltmore, home of the Vanderbilts. Sadie Blackwell is in charge of the library in the house and getting books the guests are interested in. She meets Oliver and Vicky and she and Oliver start a fun little note exchange between books. We jump to present time with Clara Blackwell running Blackwell’s bookstore with her mom, Eleanor, and cousin, Robbie. Being put in a position to find an important document, when she’s unsuccessful in the bookstore, her mom decides to send her to London, after talking to the owner of the old Camden House, to see what information, if any she can find. Delightful story, that draws you in quickly. We bounce back and forth between the past and present, learning a bit more about Sadie as we go, and also getting to know Clara. In the past portions, we meet Sadie, her sister Lark, Mrs. Vanderbilt (Gloria), Oliver, Mr and Mrs Camden, Vicky, Helen and a few others. Present times, we meet Clara, her mom, Robbie, Uncle Julian, Max, Gillie, Margaret and a few others. This is a story that will stay with you when completed.
A complimentary copy was provided by Barbour Publishing via NetGalley. A review was not required and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I want to preface this review by saying I haven't read the first "Doors to the Past" book in this series before receiving this advanced copy from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc, and I didn't have to in order to enjoy this one. But I want to now!

Where do I begin? First of all, my little literary-loving heart enjoyed all of the different levels of that love as they were presented in this book, like a couple who shares a passion for books, someone who owns a bookshop, and another working in an extensive library in an estate. Basically, every bookworm's dream!

Secondly, as a fan of history and historical fiction specifically, I loved being able to witness the Biltmore Estate's history through the eyes of someone who lived and worked there.

However, my favorite part was the mystery and romance that was at the core of this story and the reason I could not put down this book and finished it way, way past my bedtime! I'll be picking up the first book and very much looking forward to reading the rest of the series as each book comes out!

I absolutely loved this book, set in Asheville both at a fictional bookshop in present day and the Biltmore House, a historic home built by the Vanderbilt family over a hundred years ago. This book uses the literary device of a dual timeline, which to me usually enhances the story. It certainly did in this instance. The Biltmore House setting took place a bit over a hundred years ago and contained a sweet love story.

I would heartily recommend this book to anyone who loves historical fiction and/or books and bookstores.

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

Really engaging story that takes you to the biltmore house in the Vanderbilt era and in present times. You will follow Sadie as she traces a letter the connects to her past. Great since of place and a great setting. Was hard to put the one down.

This book was a delight from start to finish. The storylines were engaging and well thought out. A story that pulls you in and leaves you wanting more. The only quibble I have with it is that the end was a bit rushed and felt more like an epilogue. There wasn't as much of the rich descriptions as in the rest of the story.

“Keep to your Bible and to your fairy tales, sweet girl. One is for your soul and the other is for your daydreams. Both will help you through this, and in both you’ll find your story.”

This book has everything - bookish characters, great truths (Christ is specifically named), surprising twists, idyllic settings. The hallmark of this book is the romance- there are two love stories in this split time novel, both with flawless MCs, and the storyline is heavily romantic. Perfect heroes made the story slightly boring, but it also made for a nice escape read. I wasn't sure I liked the foreshadowing of the split time, the modern day revealing more about the historical plot than it has revealed about itself, but it did emotionally prepare me and save me from devastation. I don't like being devastated in books, and I do like happy endings, which this book (mostly) delivered on as well (everything wasn't perfect, but it was a satisfying end.)

I haven't read everything by Pepper Bashan, but as a bibliophile, I do think this book seems to be the pinnacle of her writing, and I enjoyed my time in it.
I would recommend this book to Christian fiction lovers and those who love books about book lovers.

I had the privilege of reading this book before it hit the streets thanks to Net Galley and the author Ms. Pepper Basham. I really enjoyed this book and there were times that I felt like I am part Clara because I have always dreamed of owning my own bookstore called Beth's Book and Nook because I would have these little nooks all over the place for people to hide away and read a book. But then I am also like Sadie too. because I always love pairing people up with a good book. And I have the privilege of doing this working in the library at my church. Even though this is Ms. Basham's first timeslip novel she has a wonderful way of marring the two time periods together. I really didn't want this book to end because I would like to know more about Sadie and Victoria and many of the others. Thank you so much Net Galley for allowing me this privilege

What a wonderful, wonderful treasure! Heartwarming, achingly beautiful, crushing, inspiring and hopeful this slip time book is a rollercoaster of emotions, so beautifully written and melded together with faith. If you enjoy mysteries, delightful old buildings, magic of books, lovely romance, suspense, imagination and old documents, you will adore this!

Clara Blackwell and her mom run a family bookstore which must now compete with large chain stores. Their lives change in the shape of an old letter. Enter Oliver who lived a century earlier. His passion for books equals that of Clara. And who is Sadie and what is her connection? So many secrets, so many mysteries and so little time to find the truth. Clara's quest takes her to beautiful Cumbria, one of my favourite parts of England where she discovers more than she would have imagined. As clues are pieced together, the characters learn about themselves, too, which I appreciate. It caused me to reflect on my own riveting family history.

Allow this book to whisk you into another time and become immersed in the gorgeous storytelling. It will break your heart but it will renew your spirit, too.

My sincere thank you to Barbour Publishing, Inc. for allowing me the privilege of reading this marvelous book! I could not have enjoyed it more.

A beautiful narrative of how stories can help mend the broken parts of our past and provide a foundation for our future.

Contemporary heroine Clara Blackwell inherits the one hundred year old family Bookshop in Asheville, NC. There’s a question of ownership that sends Clara, her mother and cousin Robbie on a search for a missing deed, before her smarmy Uncle’s client can file a lawsuit against her.

Historical heroine Sadie Blackwell is the resident librarian for the Vanderbilt’s estate. She has a gift for bringing books alive and for choosing the exact one that a patron of the estate’s personal collection requires. A whirlwind romance, an adventure across the ocean and a tragedy from WW1 creates a trail of letters, hidden missives in books and locked away documents that will either prove or disprove the true identity of Blackwell’s Book Shop one hundred years later.

There are interesting characters and sweet romances that play through both the contemporary and historical time lines. Readers will cheer Clara on as she digs through the dusty boxes left untouched for decades. Readers will boo the villains of Clara’s and Sadie’s stories. Readers will admire characters who rise above the adversity, and the ways in which they do it.

Though the ending is somewhat predictable, the slow romance in the contemporary line and the thrill of discovery is a delight. And our hero from Sadie’s story, is the kind of hero readers will swoon over.

I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book was fantastic! It is a split-time novel with a bookshop. That alone is awesome, but the relationships in this book are written so amazingly. I literally stopped to sigh a couple of times because it was just so sweet. There is so much more I want to type here, but I feel like it would be a spoiler, so read it and then let's talk! :)

What a lovely book! I enjoyed the dual timeline, the settings of Biltmore and England, and the characters. The book is well written, and I look forward to recommending it to our library patrons. Thanks for the opportunity to read this title!

What a wonderful, captivating book! I was hooked from the first line and totally engaged to the end! With her superlative storytelling skill and rich, expressive style; Ms. Basham has penned an unforgettable, heartwarming and sometimes heart-wrenching story. She executes the dual-timeline format brilliantly and seamlessly and ties everything together beautifully in the end. Historic Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina, is one of my favorite places to visit; and I was thrilled to see it as a setting. Being a booklover, I was also delighted with the awesome bookstore and library settings. Ms. Basham’s vivid, detailed descriptions made me feel like I was right there at the scene whether the setting was in America or England in the 1900s or modern day. The characters are endearing and extraordinarily well-crafted. The sweet romance in each century touched my heart. I also appreciated the spiritual truths woven throughout the story. A favorite quote: “…some of our greatest losses lead us to choices that God uses for bigger things than we could have ever imagined. Sometimes brokenness and heartache force us into self-seclusion and fear and sometimes they can propel us into something amazing, if we let them.” I just added this book to my Best Books Ever list, and my list of favorite fictional couples now includes Sadie and Oliver and Clara and Max! I not only read this book but also felt it, and I highly recommend it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

I am very much enjoying the trend for novels with parallel narratives in two time periods. The characters in both time periods were so likable and well crafted. The stories were bittersweet, but full of hope. The descriptions of the settings made me want to travel to both places. I haven't read much Christian fiction, so the frequent references to God kept surprising me.

Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

I'm not sure I could love this story more. You'd have to try very hard to not fall in love with the characters and the story lines. There is quite a bit of mystery in uncovering the story from the WWI era and it turns out to be a very emotional and heartwarming story.

I received a complimentary, advanced copy of this book from Barbour Publishing & NetGalley, but the opinions stated are all my own.

Sadie Blackwell is in charge of taking care of the vast library collection at the stunning Biltmore mansion during 1915 when an intriguing and wealthy young man named Oliver Camden falls in love with her. 100 years later, Clara Blackwell is trying to find the missing deed to her family’s bookshop. Beginning her quest with a simple message on a postcard, Clara is drawn into the mysteries surrounding her great-grandmother’s life. When Clara’s search leads her to an English manor house, will she find the answers she seeks? Find out in this spellbinding tale told in two different time periods, skillfully woven together by the author’s deft hand. This compelling tale would be a worthy addition to any historical fiction collection.

What a great read! I loved the setting so much and the character development was spot-on. Two of my favorite places are bookstores and England, so how could it be anything but fun? Main character Clara has her hands full taking care of her mom and an old family bookstore. Things turn ugly when a family member threatens her livelihood and she needs to find her deed ASAP. This takes her to beautiful England where she finds a touch of romance. Highly recommended.

What an excellent book! This has been the best book I have read in quite a while. Sort of a mystery revolving around an old family bookstore opened over a hundred years ago by the great grandmother, whose life is very much a mystery to her granddaughter. She soon discovers from letters and searching that her grandmother met a man while she was a servant in a nearby home. She knew nothing of her grandfather, because her grandmother never talked about him. She takes a trip to England and discovers much more to the story, such as her grandmother's marriage to the young man she had met in America, who sadly, died in World War 1. All of this time, she is searching for the deed to the bookstore, which is being threatened to be taken away. This is a great, wonderful, interesting and clean story that at times becomes intense. It was hard to put down. At one point it actually made me cry, which I hardly ever do for a book. Excellent story I absolutely loved!