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!

Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham took my breath away. I loved the descriptions of the Biltmore Estate in the past and the present day. I loved the descriptions when the present day heroine, went to England and visited the Camden estates. I loved the book lover's personalities that came out on the pages of the story. It kindled a common interest in my heart. What is better than a good book! Probably a good mystery. Which is exactly what Basham did. She put together two different heroines and their love of a good story on a hunt for the truth and romance. I kept flipping pages, wanting to know what happened to Sadie. What was going to happen to Clara? While the past story and the present story was interesting. I find the romance between Clara and Max in the present a little out of place. They meet and fall head over heals in a matter of days. I didn't buy it. But the past romance, some reason rang a lot more realistic to me. Overall, Hope Between the Pages was a wonderful story to read. I enjoyed spending time with the characters and the beautiful settings.

I received a complimentary copy of Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham, but the opinions stated are my own.

I loved this book. I'm a big fan of historical fiction, and really enjoy stories that take place in two time periods. Any book that's about people who love books is going to be a hit with me! I loved all the references to other novels. The author did a good job of establishing the characters in each era and making me care deeply about both of them. The timeline worked well. The story and romances developed in a fluid fashion, side-by-side with each other, and the mystery went back and forth in time, giving us just what we needed to know, when we needed to know it.

My heart bleeds for Sadie and Oliver, whose time together was so short. I wish there had been more about what Oliver experienced in the war -- that was totally glossed over. He might not have admitted to what he was experiencing in his letters to Sadie, but it should have been mentioned. Another thing missing for me: I wish there had been scenes with Sadie as a grown woman, living her life and running the book shop, raising her son, etc. We only see Sadie as a young woman ... the rest is all conjecture on the part of Clara, who is researching her.

All in all, a lovely story. I'm still smiling as I think about Clara and Max and their sweet romance. The English Lake District is so vividly described; I've been there and I can't wait to go back. And now I want to visit Biltmore in North Carolina.

This is the first Christian novel I've ever read (I didn't realize it would have that aspect going in). There are many references to God and faith. I would have much preferred it if that element had been left out -- it became overbearing after a while -- but I still enjoyed the read. Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity and for introducing me to a new author.

This was my first book by Pepper Basham, but it will not be my last. She has a special way of capturing your heart on the first few pages. How can you go wrong with a book that takes place in a beautiful book store and a fantastically huge library. Written in duel time-line and various settings, with such detail you can just picture the Biltmore mansion in Asheville, North Carolina. Also the grand Camden estate in Derbyshire, England. She captured and played with all of my scenes. One minute I was awed by the instant attraction between the two main characters, brought to tears by the love and lost suffered and mad enough to want to tear someones hair out. There are so many wonderful lines and quotes throughout this novel, but I think my favorite is Sadie's advice to little Vicky.

"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."

Hope Between the Pages is all about enjoying fairy-tales and still believing. Pepper Basham has written for us a beautiful modern day fairy-tale.

I thank Barbour Publishers for allowing me, through NetGalley, to read this book. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

"Any story that begins in a library is bound to be an excellent tale."
This is indeed an excellent tale told between two perspectives-- the first person viewpoint of a young woman in service at the fabulous Biltmore mansion in 1915, and her modern day descendent. A mystery to solve surrounding her ancestor and an urgent need to find a deed to her bookstore, begins a life-changing experience for Clara Blackwell.

"Stories held power and everyone told one..."
The author effectively uses the dual timeline to pull together the pieces of the past and the present to create a complete family history, bringing clues of the mystery to light up to the final revelation at the end. I enjoyed every minute of it! I loved the creative use of fairytales, old books and letters. Between the settings of the Biltmore and descriptions of the Lake District in England, it felt like a lovely armchair adventure. The romances are tender and surprising, breaching classes, cultures, and wounded spirits. I liked how Sadie and Clara's faith grew as they stepped out of their comfort zones, trusted God for the next step, and reached out to love despite the costs. They overcame a lot in the end. It made me think about the legacy we leave our children, and how we will be remembered.

Highly recommend to fans of historical Christian fiction with mystery and romance.
5 stars

What a wonderful book! I could not have enjoyed it more. Pepper Basham’s writing is beautifully detailed and descriptive without being wordy. How could you not love characters as delightful and enchanting as Sadie and Oliver. I enjoy a well written dual time story. This one moves back and forth seamlessly. Loved the historical detail about the Vanderbilt family and Biltmore estate. I became so engaged with the characters I was moved to shed a few happy tears in the midst of this story, that is a rare occurrence for me. Truly beautiful story of love and family legacy.

As a reader, there are some characters that just grow so infinitely dear they could never be rooted out of your heart. This book holds those characters for me. I loved them as if they were my dearest friends, experiencing every heartbreak and joy-filled moment within the realm of their friendship.

As an emotional cheese puff, there was nothing more satisfying to me than the tender, gentle romances. Oliver is what book boyfriends are made of and Max is the book boyfriend I'll never quit. Sadie's strength is awe-inspiring and encouraging even now, weeks after I've finished the book. And Clara! With her vintage soul and book-loving heart, she's sure to capture the hearts of readers.

The split-time is so well done. The stories are beautiful. And I'll not likely recover from this book hangover any time soon. Do yourself a favor and don't miss this one, friends.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. All expressed opinions belong to me.

Okay this author can write in any genre!
Like, wow.
I always pick up a Pepper Basham when I want swoony romance and a fun read, but the depth that this book had really shows that this author can write more then that. This time split novel had me fully engrossed in both stories and....yeah. it's hard to talk about without giving something critical away. I just love how she crafts characters that are so lovable! You smile with them, root for them and sometimes cry for them.
I just really enjoyed how this author made me care deeply for two sets of characters and had me staying up late to finish the book.
I felt transported in both time periods, and truly felt each setting.
Bravo
I recieved a complementary copy of this book from the publisher through Netgally. All opinions are completely my own and honest.

What a beautiful book this was!

The alternation between two stories, one in the past and one in the present, is not usually my preferred type of narration. Here, however, it worked like a dream. On one side, we have Sadie, a library housemaid in America in 1915, who discreetly shares her love of book with the guests of the house in which she work and thereby captures the attention of Oliver, a young British gentleman. On the other side is Clara, Sadie's great-granddaughter, working to save the bookshop her ancestor opened a century ago and having to travel to England to do so.

Although the trope may seem unoriginal, it was still appealing, in particular for any self-respecting avid reader, who cannot pass the occasion to read about fellow book lovers! The alternance between the two parallel and intersecting stories was masterfully done: while I would usually prefer the historical side in such narration, here, I loved both equally (with perhaps a small preference for today's side, even!) and was always sad to leave Clara or Sadie at the end of each chapter. The fact that Sadie's side was written from her point of view, and Clara's from an external point of view made it easier not to get confused between the two sides. I particularly appreciated that in the very last chapter, Clara gets her own voice and narrates the last part of her story.

"Hope Between the Pages" was poetic, very well written, with many references about books and some quotes. The beautiful way in which it was written allowed us to travel through time and continents with the lovely characters and descriptions. Although not all characters got their happily ever after one would expect in a fairy tale, the life path they took made they grown and allowed us to gain some wise teachings about life, hope, perfection. Sometimes things don't work out the way we wish, but they work out in another way - God's way, for those who believe, like the characters in this book. For the small anecdote, it's funny, on the day I finished it, I received a postcard with the quote "Sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together' and it fit this book so marvellously. It's also a good thing to remember in the challenging times we are facing today.

I would have had a hard time believing a book could rightfully get 4.93 stars on Goodreads before reading it, but I see why now, and will had my own 5 stars to it.
After such a fantastic book, it's hard to move on to the next one... But to live up to Oliver, Sadie and Clara's love of books and honour it, I will move on to my next read soon. Perhaps one of the classics quoted in "Hope Between the Pages"?...

'Some dreams required hard work. Others require miracles.'

Pepper Basham brings us a poignant and powerfully told dual time slip novel in Hope Between the Pages. Set in WWI Asheville, we are treated to the wonderful Biltmore estate as most of the setting where servant Sadie Blackwell tends the magnificent Biltmore library and inadvertently becomes a library fairy to a visiting Englishman, also a book lover just as Sadie is.

'In her beloved books, she knew the ending came with a happily-ever-after, for the most part. At least in the books she loved best.'

Present day finds Clara Blackwell owning a book shop passed down to her by her great grandmother Sadie. The discovery of a hundred year old letter has presented a great mystery. A mystery that involves Sadie greatly.

Any book lover, like myself, will adore this enchantingly rich story. Like a beautiful fairy tale, it weaves its magic into your heart and you find yourself weeping at the beautify of it. Highly recommended.

My thanks to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is entirely my own.

This book was honestly beautiful. So much so that I stayed up way later than I should have because I just had to finish!
As is the case with only the best of split time novels I had a hard time deciding if I loved the historical or contemporary more. They were both so beautifully done and intrinsically woven together.
Sadie and Oliver had the purest of relationships, like two halves finding their whole they were made to be together and it was obvious from the very first moment they were on the page together. I refuse to spoil anything but know they had me laughing, melting into a puddle, and crying and I absolutely loved them.
Clara and the contemporary storyline kept me guessing for a good bit as to just where her story was heading but I know better than to worry when it comes to a Basham tale and it hit its stride perfectly and I loved it. When she and Max met it was like all the boxes clicked into place and even though their romance happened in a short amount of time it felt like it was timeless and unfolded beautifully.
The book lover in me was obsessed with the way books were the very heart of these stories and the history nerd was soaking up every bit about the early days of Basham’s beloved Biltmore!
In short I loved this book and Barbour hit the jackpot with this series!

I loved this book! I was hooked as soon as I read the first sentence and my attention was fully engaged throughout the entire story.

In this book the author creates an exquisite fairy tale by using a dual timeline with one thread featuring Oliver and Sadie who met at The Biltmore House in 1915 and the other thread featuring Clara, Sadie’s direct descendant who owns a bookstore in present day Asheville, NC who meets her special someone in England. Every proper fairy tale needs a dragon that must be faced and fought and this story features two in the forms of Sadie’s mother-in-law and Clara’s dreadful uncle. The lives of these remarkable characters are intertwined and as their stories unfolded, my curiosity was piqued by the mystery that ran throughout the book and I was enthralled and, at times, moved to tears by their beautiful love stories.

This story is a keeper—one to read again and again. I loved it! Highly recommend! I was entrusted with a copy of this book by #NetGalley and this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

The second novel in the Doors to the Past series, Pepper Basham does an excellent job of bringing the Biltmore House to life. It’s a dual timeline novel, featuring a Library Fairy and a Book Goblin, which speaks right to a book lover’s heart. As their story unfolds, we see the travesty of social class, the cost of love, and the fulfillment of dreams. Their story influences the future generation, as Clara seeks to understand their relationship, and the mystery surrounding what hasn’t been told. With her own bookstore in jeopardy, she travels to Europe to uncover the truth and fill in the missing pieces, beginning an adventure she didn’t expect to find.

While the story began a little slowly for me, I couldn’t put it down until I reached the end! The intrigue of historical locations, the mystery unfolding through a dual timeline and characters with heart and passion, make this story worth the read!

A big thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC, and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC to review!
Rating (on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being excellent)
Quality of writing: 5
Pace: 5
Plot development: 5
Characters: 5
Enjoyability: 5
Ease of Reading: 5

Overall rating: 5 out of 5

The opening line of this book hooked me: Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale. Hope Between the Pages not only begins with a library, but it also includes a book store, a perfect duet of reading enjoyment.

Sadie Blackwell is the keeper of the library at the Vanderbilt House in Asheville, North Carolina. She is dusting when someone (Oliver Camden) comes in and talks about the kinds of books he likes to read. She has hidden herself so that the owner of the voice won't see her. When he leaves, Sadie pulls some books and leaves them on a table in the library with a card with his name on it. He leaves the books on the table the next morning with a note for her, calling her "The Book Fairy," and signed "The Book Goblin," with requests for his next selections. Over the course of the days of his visit, The Book Goblin interacts with the Book Fairy and even though he was from an "upper crust" society family in England and she was a servant, they fall in love. He asks her to come to England to marry him and she agrees to come.

Generations later, Clara Blackwell has inherited the bookstore founded by her great-grandmother, Sadie, but the fly in the ointment is that the deed to the shop was never recorded in the county records. This puts Clara in the midst of a mystery with only a limited amount of time to solve it. In the midst of the searching, she ends up taking a trip to England to find search out the house where Oliver grew up. Clara finds out more of her own history, as well as the history of Oliver and Sadie.

Pepper Basham is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. She understands the mind of a reader so well that she sprinkles her own brand of fairy dust throughout her books. I especially loved this line: Books without readers are like homes without people. Her characters are fully fleshed out and she uses biblical values without beating the reader over the head with them. I especially like how Clara reacted to Maxwell's burn scars. She made the point of seeing Maxwell, the man; and not Maxwell, the scars. Another line I loved says something about living life to the best we can, however long or short it is.

This is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and Belle's library to sate any reader.

Barbour Publishing and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have not read any of peppers books before this but now she is on my must read list! Split time books are either a hit or a miss for me, bit I loved this book! A unique premise, unlike any other books I've read, with enough intrigue and romance to keep me happily turning the pages!

If you had told me I would fall completely in love with story about a Library Fairy and a Book Goblin, I would have laughed and said it was impossible. But guess what....I fell head over heels in love with a story about a Library Fairy and a Book Goblin and it may have just become my favorite book ever!

This was the first book I've ever read by Pepper Basham and she grabbed my attention before I even started page one! Two words sucked me in...Biltmore and Vanderbilt. I have been fascinated with the Biltmore estate and the Vanderbilts ever since I read "Maid to Match" by Deeanne Gist. The story is written in split time, the character from the past written in first person and the character from the present in the third person. Chapter One begins with, "Any story that beings with a library is bound to be an excellent tale", and I would have to wholeheartedly agree. What bookish person would not love characters who cherish books as much as they do? Her masterful writing never failed to pull me along, I was never bored and each page delighted and endeared her characters to me. Like Sade, this book "breathed to me". I could easily picture the scenery and hear the voices of the characters and this beautifully written love story brought me to tears on more than one occasion.

Pepper Basham writes of letting go of fear and having the courage to see the magic in every day life. To not lose sight of the beauty God gives us through His truths, the beauty of overcoming and persevering and trusting in times of trial. Sometimes there is greater beauty in something other than the "fairy tale ending", for it is in those times that a love so deep is revealed that transcends both time and space. "Love makes us brave".

If you enjoy historical or split- time fiction or enjoyed "Wonderland Creek" by Lynn Austin or any of the "Lost Castle" series by Kristy Cambron, then I think you would enjoy this book. I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically recommend!

Hope Between the Pages will be available for purchase from you local or online book retailer, April 1 ,2021. It is part of the Doors to the Past Series, but I did not read the previous book and obviously I loved this one! I will be reading it again and again!

Thank you, Pepper Basham, Barbour Books and Net Galley for the free DRC of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.

An uplifting novel that expresses even with losses, our losses can be turned around to be a benefit. A very good story. I enjoyed. I hope to read more from this author.

A very wellness book. Good plot and character dynamics. I highly recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.