This was a bookish delight with library fairies and charming English gentlemen. But it was also a bit sad.

Thanks to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This is a special book, and one that I totally enjoyed. The publisher's description and the positive reviews matched my reading experience - and checked all the boxes: historical fiction with a dual timeline, a book about books (and libraries), a mystery, a romance, an evil villain (one in each timeline), faith, and a happy ending.

The story alternates between Clara, a young bookstore owner living in contemporary Asheville, North Carolina, and her great-grandmother Sadie, also a booklover, who lives in 1915 Fenwick, England. Working at the Vanderbilts' Biltmore estate, Sadie's job is to maintain the Vanderbilts' library and ensure that guests have books they will like reading while visiting. In the current timeline, the future of Clara's bookstore is threatened when a new chain bookstore moves into town. The store's ownership is questioned and Clara has two weeks to locate the store's deed, from 100 years ago. With her mother's research, Clara learns of Granny Sadie's life. We also learn of Sadie's situation as author Pepper Basham describes Sadie's fairytale-like story in the alternate chapters. The plot becomes more complicated for both women, and as I read what had really happened in Sadie's life before Clara discovers the truth, I found myself on the edge of my seat.

This was one novel where I truly enjoyed both timelines, and couldn't read fast enough to learn what would happen next and what secrets would be revealed.

So why do I call this a special book? In addition to the engrossing story which combines mystery with romance, the author skillfully weaves the themes of faith, love, and loss into a meaningful and touching message. Clara says, "I'd never considered how 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."

This was a heartwarming, well-written and satisfying novel that I highly recommend.

I enjoyed this book, especially the family history theme and fun references to other books. It has a dual timeline, a little mystery, romance, and it is clean. This is the first book I have read by this author and I'm interested in reading more of her books.

1915, North Carolina: Sadie Blackwell is the book maid for George and Edith Vanderbilt's 10,000 books. It is the ideal position for her because she loves to read and has the impossible dream of opening a bookshop one day. She meets Oliver Camden and his little sister Victoria when they visit the Vanderbilts.

Present day, North Carolina and England: Clara Blackwell needs to find a deed to the bookshop that has been in her family for a century to avoid losing it. She goes to England to the old Camden house which is now a B&B in search of the record.

I really cared about Sadie and Oliver and wanted a happily ever after for them. I felt like the characters of Clara's uncle Julian Claflin and banker Ralph Wolfe were a little extreme and unrealistic. I loved the way Sadie overcame hard situations and helped other people.

Thanks to NetGalley for a temporary digital copy of this book.

I don’t even know how to describe how much I loved this book! The letters were my favorite part! This book actually made me cry! I loved it so much! It is one that I highly recommend! This is one of my favorite books this year!

“Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent read.” With that opening sentence, I was hooked!

Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham is one of my new favorite books. I loved it from beginning to end. Except that I really didn’t want it to end.

This is a dual timeline story of young Sadie Blackwell in 1915 and her granddaughter Clara Blackwell in the present day. Much of the story takes place in Asheville, North Carolina in and around the Biltmore Estate. Basham’s descriptions of the area are vivid and authentic. Since I live very near this area, I have often visited the Estate as well as nearby Biltmore Village, so I felt right at home as I immersed myself in the story.

Often dual time lines leave me preferring one story over the other. Not so with this tale. Both storylines are woven together almost seamlessly to give us a delightful story. Both Sadie and Clara are wonderfully presented.

Hope Between the Pages is part history, part mystery, and part romance, with Christian elements woven throughout. It is a happy-ever-after fairy tale. One I will remember. I highly recommend it.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my opinion.

This book was so interesting! I'm not sure I'd call it time travel, but the story switches between the past and the present. The action is compelling and the story line is intriguing. The author keeps you wondering if Clara (the present day character) will find the answers she's looking for. Sadie's story unfolds gently. The romance in the book is not all "gushy" but very well done.

I've never been to the Biltmore Estate, but the descriptions made you feel like you were there. I will definitely look for this author again.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC for an honest review.

I loved the setting for this story! It makes me want to take a trip to visit Biltmore/Asheville area for myself. Highly recommend this one!

I knew from the very first sentence that I was going to love this book:
“Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale.”


This is truly an “excellent tale”. This book now has a place on my all-time favorites list. With this story, Pepper Basham has given us the perfect blend of history, romance, and mystery. You can’t get a better setting for a story than The Biltmore, which adds its own mystique throughout the story. And the settings in England, especially the garden setting, made me wish I could spend time in that exact spot.


In many dual time-stories that I’ve read, I ended up liking one of the characters or time periods better than the other. That’s not true with this book. I equally loved the two main characters, Sadie and Cora. Both are women who love deeply and have great compassion for others. The way the author intertwined their stories was amazing. I couldn’t read fast enough to solve the mystery of Sadie and her bookstore. There are also two beautiful romances in this book: Sadie and Oliver’s story in 1915; and Cora and Max’s in the present day. Their stories are heart-touching and filled with faith, hope, and love. This book fits well in the “sweet and clean” category.


Don’t miss this book. My prediction is that this one’s going to be nominated for an award or two. It’s an amazing book that I’ll be reading again.


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

I really enjoyed the dual timeline. With the story of Sadie at the Biltmore Estate in 1915, and then to Asheville focusing on the present with Clara’s quest to find the much needed deed to save the Blackwell Bookshop. A sweet romance, a mystery surrounding a 100-year-old love letter, wonderfully descriptive scenery and a little mystery made for a beautiful story of "Hope Between the Pages!"
I was gifted a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. No review was required, My review is my opinion and voluntary.

#hopebetweenthepages #netgalley

Oh my goodness, if you love reading books, a good unsolved mystery and romance then this is the book for you!! Love, love, loved it so much!! I’m a new fan of Pepper Basham and will delve into any book that she writes from now on!! 5 humongous stars!!

All I can say is that I could not “vibe” with this book. <i>Hope Between the Pages</i> is a historical novel which follows the life of Sadie Blackwell, a woman at the start of the 20th century who works as a maid for a wealthy American family and has a dream job –she takes care of the library from this household. There she meets Olivier, an Englishman who shares her same passion for books and this is how their lives will become linked by love, war and loss. More than half a century later, Sadie’s great granddaughter Clara will begin searching for her relative’s past and the mystery surrounding it, in an effort to save the library they’ve owned for generations and which was actually set up by Sadie. The premise sounded amazing and I was ready to be swept away by a wonderful historical fiction with some romance. Unfortunately, this book was not for me and I believe it was mainly because of the writing. To be honest, at some point the narrative seemed too basic and the character development too naïve. Another thing that did not work for me was the use of two perspectives, as the story alternates between past and present (from Sadie’s and Clara’s perspective.) This has been bothering me lately, as I feel it slows down the pacing and lowers the impact of the overall story because it distracts from the main plot. I found Sadie’s storyline a bit more interesting –because of the times she was living in, her love for a man from a different class, and her courage to leave everything behind – but Clara’s story was just very cliché, as it focused on a woman with insecurities who is able to overcome all because of love. I mean… there is nothing wrong with romance but the way the author managed this story was very unbelievable. Like she literally met someone and five days later she was able to “see beyond appearances” and fall in love because he was different. I am sorry but that was not enough to convince me of their love. To be honest, I felt her perspective could have been way shortened as there was nothing really interesting on it.

Also, in terms of character development, while I felt Sadie showed a bit of a stronger personality, there were aspects that were mentioned but not explored –what role had her mother had in her life, to make her who she was? Or for example, by the end we are told she did much more than open a bookstore but that action was not truly explored, so why mention it? We also learn from her younger sister who made a terrible decision and was on the brink of leading an unhappy life, but there is no exploration on the fact that in previous centuries, many women had to live and suffer bad marriages. So again, what was the purpose of mentioning it? In any case I felt this story went into the easy thing of depicting villains and saints with no personality or context explanation which thus made me feel detached from the characters.

On the other hand, as a booklover, I should have loved or at least be excited about characters loving books and reading, and while there were some interesting pieces (like Sadie and Oliver’s initial notes) in the end I felt the introduction of quotes was a bit forced and out of context –I cannot explain it but that’s how I felt. And… all content and literary works references were exclusively by English speaking authors which I sort of find it hard to believe, if Sadie had access to such a rich, cosmopolitan library from one of the richest families.
Finally, I noted that for a historical fiction, the author took little care on the use of language –ok, I am no native English speaker, but to be honest, I found it hard to believe that 20th century people would use the term “bookish.” While I am sure this kind of story could work for many readers, unfortunately it did not do it for me.

Thanks for NetGalley for a free copy in exchange of an honest review.

I loved this duel-time novel!

There is a wonderful cast of characters in this book. I loved all four of the main ones. There were two in the past, Sadie and Oliver, and two in the contemporary period, Clara and Max. I enjoyed seeing the parallels between the two periods in how the couples viewed each other. The way they each matured was amazing.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the two time periods were connected throughout the story. I was definitely interested in seeing how Sadie’s story unfolded. Her story started at the Biltmore Estate, which was owned by the Vanderbilts. I really liked the glimpses we had of the estate itself, and how it ran.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

I like the idea that two separate generations can be united in their love of a particular thing or talent. Pepper Basham's characters in "Hope Between the Pages" features two storylines. Clara, the modern character helps her mother run a bookstore that is local to the Biltmore estate. The bookstore is one hundred years old and the business her great-great grandmother started. The author goes back and forth in time to let these two women who love books tell their stories.
I did have a hard time adjusting between the two characters. This type of storytelling does not particularly appeal to me. I found Sadie to have a very interesting storyline. It becomes quite tension-filled about half way through the book. Can you imagine getting to live and work in the Biltmore library when the famed family lived and entertained there? Clara fights to do all that she can to keep the bookstore running and keep it in her own branch of the family. There's a lot going on in this book!
Sadie has such a romantic story. No spoilers here, read the book. Clara is a strong descendant who is devoted to the store and her family. She comes into her own romantic life with an unexpected turn.
I received this advanced reader's copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. I really appreciate the author's work and imagination with two stories that blend together for a tale of life, love and purpose. It's a good story and I recommend it for those who enjoy dual time period plotlines. This new series, "Doors to the Past" is intriguing.

Hope Between the Pages is a historical novel in two time periods. In 1915, Sadie Blackwell is working as a library maid at the library of the Biltmore House in Asheville, North Carolina. When she meets a handsome guest who turns out to be a kindred spirit book lover, her life changes. In present day, Sadie's great-great granddaughter, Clara Blackwell, is managing the struggling Blackwell's Bookstore in Asheville. To keep it running, she has to find a deed proving her great-grandmother owned it many years ago. Thus begins a delightful, rambling chase for this bit of history.

I wanted to read this novel because I love the Biltmore House and Asheville. I also have spent years working at bookstores and was intrigued by the bookstore setting.

This is a delightful novel! I am an avid historical fiction reader but found the present day setting every bit as compelling as the past in this book. Both Sadie and Clara are protagonists to cheer for as they navigate family and books and love in two time lines.

This is a Christian novel and the faith message was handled in a deft way that did not overpower the narrative.

I recommend Hope Between the Pages for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone who loves the Biltmore House, Asheville, bookstores, or old books in general!

I loved so many things about "Hope Between the Pages."
- The timeslips, as I cared equally for each character and loved going between both eras/locations.
- The locations. I haven't yet visited Biltmore, but it might have just raced up my domestic travel wish-list. Same for the English locations; I've visited similar towns, which helped my imagination build them out, but you know there's nothing like seeing the actual location in person!
- A shared appreciation for stories and books. "A well-read woman always carries wisdom to impart. It is a byproduct of reading" (eARC loc 359). "The only people who are too old for fairy tales are the ones who've forgotten their imaginations" (eARC loc 567).
- The bookish and movie references, from _Lord of the Rings_ to _Anne of Green Gables_ to "You've Got Mail" (a sure way to my heart).
- The encouragement to not get so lost in books we neglect our own, real-life stories (and to cleave closely to God in the process). "How long will you breathe in the life of other people's stories, but not step out into your own?" (eARC loc 639). "Courage wasn't courage without fear, and as my heart trembled from the uncertainty of the great unknown, I held to God's assurance. Whatever the future held, He was already there" (eARC loc 1887).

Beautifully written, with such twists and turns--even to nearly the very end!--I was kept guessing throughout. I loved watching both timelines unfold and eventually join together. Another read I can safely say, "Run, don't walk," to purchase a copy.

I'm so glad there will be other books in the series, and eagerly anticipate the next release.

I received an eARC of the book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A delightful dual timeline story about 2 Blackwell women. Sadie, set just before WWI, the library keeper at the Vanderbilt's mansion and her great-granddaughter Clara, set in present day - a bookstore owner. This was an enjoyable, easy read.

I received an ARC for an honest review.

#HopeBetweenthePages #Netgalley

After having visited Biltmore a couple of years ago (much to my delight there was also a Downton Abbey exhibit - squee), I have to say the library was awe inspiring. I could have spent a lot of time in there just looking, standing behind the ropes, but I can see the fascination of it for Sadie and Oliver, imagine the people sitting there reading by the fire, having their after dinner drinks. But alas, my 7 year-old-busy body had already found all the clues in there for the kids scavenger hunt and was off to the next room.

This duel-time story takes place in 1915-16 Biltmore - where Sadie Blackwell and Oliver Camden meet. Sadie the library "fairy" and Oliver the "goblin" of books, meet despite class and status. There was no holding back of feelings. Sadie truly was an artist in knowing what type of books each guest would like, and she had a heart that made her easy to love. Oliver Camden was from England, visiting the Biltmore with his father and sister, and despite his status felt with his heart. Thus, bringing a tender love story to life.

Clara Blackwell is the great-granddaughter of Sadie Blackwell and runs the 100 year old Blackwell's bookstore in Asheville along with her mother and cousin. When her uncle says they need to produce the deed to the store, because his client claims to be the owner, sends Clara on a trip across the ocean, a history lesson she never would have imagined, and a love story of her own.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, maybe because the stories were so sweet, that I have been to the Biltmore so I could envision the various rooms described, or just that I hoped in the end that Sadie and Clara could finally find happiness, acceptance, and love. I am enjoying this series of Doors to the Past, and on to the next.

Family, secrets, mystery, and split timelines. This book had all of the elements that I love. It was very well written and will stay with me a long time.
Many thanks to Barbour Publishing and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

The best characters, I feel completely in love with them. This story is one I will tuck in my heart , it’s a story that one doesn’t forget. I cried ugly tears and laughed out loud. A beautiful story full of love like Jesus with not romance but love, love so strong it only builds over a lifetime reaching and touching everyone in its path. I was awed with every page and found myself so drawn in that life outside this book felt dismal. The author touches on every emotion and leaves you with the gift of what God, love and books bring to or lives.
Was given a complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

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.

My Thoughts: Ths was an amazing read; one that draws the reader in from the very start. This is a story for those who love a mystery and also believe that fairy tales can come true. A story that takes the reader on a course back in time. This is a story about accepting people for who they are, not social status, not money. There are lessons to be learned. One thing that I enjoyed was the way the book was written, some in the present, and then to Sadies past. Can fairy tales come true? A truly enjoyable and must-read book.