Clara and her mother manage a struggling book store where they discover an old letter written by her great-great-grandmother. As Clara works to discover the story behind the letter, the dual narrative moves between North Carolina and England. Recommended for those who enjoy historical fiction and have an affinity for independent book stores. Review based on an advanced copy received from NetGalley.

What I Enjoyed:

The Literary References. What initially made me request Hope Between the Pages is exactly what made me finish it: The lush literary scenes. Sadie dusting the shelves of the magnificent Biltmore library, and putting out books based on overheard conversations from guests; Clara in her windy bookshop that provides a haven for all manners of outcasts and people in need. Sadie and Clara share a love of fairytales and gothics, but a dislike of horror, and they both feel like they are in a fairytale as they emerge from damsels in distress to heroines in their own right. I loved the parallels between both worlds, and how both women intuitively understood that fairytales are for adults with imagination. It did a booklover’s heart good reading this.

The History. While WWI, early 20th century isn’t my forte, I loved reading about Sadie’s time. The Vanderbilts are portrayed as genuinely decent people, and I thought that Basham did a really stellar job at showing the class problems that permeated in both the US and England at the time. I also adored the descriptions of Oliver’s ancestral home in England, with its sprawling grounds and whimsical follies. The way WWI and WWII affected Sadie, and more peripherally Clara, was also a great way to show how two women were so connected even over the course of four generations.

Strong Female Leads. Despite my general misgivings of Hope Between the Pages (see below), Sadie and Clara are both strong women that I enjoyed reading. Sadie, despite running halfway across the world for a man, shows a kind of inner strength despite the horrible hand dealt to her, and Clara has a stubborn streak and grit in doing anything to save her business and protect her family. These are women you root for who you know can survive almost anything.

What Didn’t Work for Me:

The Christianity. I hate to add this, since this is fully a “shame on me” moment. I did not realize when requesting this ARC that Hope Between the Pages was added as a Christian fiction title, and that Barbour Publishing is a Christian publisher. To be perfectly frank, the references to religion didn’t begin until the second half of the book, but once they did, I was immediately taken out of it. Quotations of Bible verses and references to G-d helping or hindering the characters became more frequent, and it colored my whole reading from start to finish. The adversity that Clara and Sadie both faced now felt contrived as a larger plot to show G-d working in mysterious ways, and I felt like the previously mentioned strength both women displayed was now supposed to be taken as faith. They felt more like martyrs than women who dealt with a lot and survived it all. It also made me angry that Clara had less respect for her great grandmother Sadie when it was suggested Sadie was a fallen women, than when she found out that Sadie had in fact been married.

Clara’s Legal Troubles. Here is another probably unfair take, but when Clara’s estate attorney told her she could lose Blackwell’s Books over the fact that they had no record of the deed, I almost put the book down for good. Without getting too far down a legal rabbit hole, title and deed are two different things. A person who doesn’t have physical possession of the paper deed can still prove title through a quick walk to the county clerk’s office, who has a recording, and through a title search, which will turn up full record of chain of ownership. I thought for certain at this point in the book that the attorney was “in on” the chain bookstore’s plot to buy Blackwell’s, but no – that was just the legal basis everyone in Hope Between the Pages was going on. And while I appreciate that the lack of deed helped push Clara into finding her great grandmother’s letters, falling in love, going to England, etc., I just wish the “big catalyst” was not based on a completely faulty legal premise.

"Love is powerful" ❤

"...do you think the lives of people in the past can reach through time and touch the future?"
This book has touched me in a way I cannot begin to describe. The nearly impossible love story set in the past is filled with such hope. The story of Clara and the bookstore has a great mystery and a very moving love story of its own.
The author weaves them together seamlessly, creating a most wonderful read.
I will read this again and again, savoring all the wisdom and love in these pages.
Pepper Basham delivers sweet, breathtaking kisses too.
Purchased my own copy of the book.

"Books and imagination brought me love. Love inspired my hope, and hope led me to purpose...to serve others through generosity, kindness, and...books."

Crafted with care and attention to detail, infused with nostalgic and captivating words, filled with noteworthy and unforgettable characters, and sprinkled with fairy dust and sense of wonder, this time-slip novel by Pepper Basham will entrance you from the first page. This is just what my heart and soul needed after a dreary week of rain. The author's mastery of words comes alive as she creates two very distinct yet connected worlds in 1915 and present time. The love of books and the enchantment of fiction draw all four characters together; each character encourages imagination, hope, unswerving faithfulness, and the ability to really see others as they are. Faith element rings true, especially in Sadie and Oliver's lives in 1915.

Sadie, a servant who tends the Vanderbilts' library in their estate, and Oliver, a wealthy Englishman on holiday, completely captured my heart. Their story is told in Sadie's first person voice and has all the heart-wrenching elements of star-crossed lovers. Clara is the present day descendant of Sadie who's struggling to keep the family bookstore viable and her story is mostly in third person. Her romance with her hero doesn't start until halfway through the book and that worked out well to distinguish the two romances. Kindness and self-sacrificing love thread through all four of these lives and I loved each of these characters. There is also a bit of mystery that needs to be solved but Clara learns so much more about herself and her family history when she embarks on the journey to solve it.

It's a must-read novel that will leave you with tears of empathy and smiles of pure joy. I received the book via Celebrate Lit Tours and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinion is solely my own.

Tears and more tears. This is what happens when you make such a connection with the characters that the words on the pages become more than just simple words. The character become your family the mother becomes your mother, the sister is your sister,the grandmother who loves and feeds delicious meals is your grandmother, the lost love becomes your lost love and you feel the pain.
This time split novel has all you could possibly need from a library in the Biltmore House in North Carolina to a guard house that is castle like living quarters in scenic England. A bookstore that a modern woman is fighting to keep in her family leads to discovering a breathtaking past she had never known of, uncovering secrets that will touch your emotions.
This book is whimsical,full of joy,full of hope and will make you a better person for having read it.


Pub Date 01 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I enjoyed this dual time novel introducing us to the magnificent Biltmore Estate of the Vanderbilts and a struggling bookseller in Asheville. The two seem worlds apart yet a romance ties the two together.

The contemporary plot centers around Clara, facing the possibility of losing the bookstore. There seems to be no written deed identifying the building and store as originally belonging to her great-great-grandmother. Searching for proof of ownership takes Clara to England and a surprising revelation.

The dual time aspect of the novel is done well. Basham provides us with well developed descriptions and enjoyable characters. There are good lessons included, such as on acceptance, class distinction and love superseding differences. I liked the clever exchanges and witty dialogue.

I suspect the plot falls apart on the main premise, however. North Carolina has had property taxes since 1921. There would have to be some proof of ownership recorded at the county assessor's office for property tax purposes. I was surprised no one pursued that evidence.

This is a good dual time novel for readers who are willing to venture into a fictional world filled with mansions and books and book fairies and unexpected romance.

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

Hope Between the Pages
by Pepper Basham
Back of the Book: “Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter
Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.
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 Vanderbilt’s, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover the truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.”
Impressions: Alternating timelines can make for a tricky read sometimes, however, this book was written with a flowing balance between the two time periods.
Rated: Arson, veiled threats
Liked: I love books so it was easy to love Sadie. She was authentic and inspiring. Her station and trials did not hold her back from shining. Clara on the other hand mirrored her grandmother's love for reading but lacked the independence and confidence that Sadie had. Rather than forging forward, she seemed to shrink into the safety of the book shop when fears beckoned her. I didn’t care for Clara as much because of this. Don’t judge me too harshly for finding fault in others' (especially fictional characters) flaws. I read to be inspired and encouraged so if I read of someone not overcoming or coping with life’s difficulties it becomes depressing to read.
Disliked: What are the chances that while researching a family “love at first sight” mystery that you find your own in less than a week? Probably unlikely. Other than the low percentile that this would happen, I enjoyed the story.
Quotes: “Portable adventures.”
“I try to avoid ones that keep me from being able to fall asleep because I’m envisioning terrifying things in my head, but otherwise, I just enjoy the journey. The ability to be other people and see other places that I’ll never have the opportunity to be or visit.”
“I like happy endings, but the world is filled with gray and light. One helps us measure the other, to find gratitude for the light when compared with the gray.”
– All these quotes are about books! Books are wonderful portable adventures. They are the ultimate time machine or fly on the wall. They open up the world and possibilities. It’s always fun to find other book lovers, even if they are fictional.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

This story is a dual timeline alternating between nineteen year old Sadie Blackwell in 1915 and her great granddaughter Clara Blackwell present day. Sadie works for the Vanderbilt family at their Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina as a housemaid working in the library. She has passed her love of books on to her great granddaughter. In fact, Sadie bought a bookshop after leaving the estate and now Clara is helping her mother run the store since the death of Clara's father. Sadie's story is one of hard work to help support her family that consists of her aunt and her sister. It is also a story of love. She didn't intend to fall in love with someone, especially a guest of the estate but it happened. She and Oliver Camden of England fell in love. How can a maid and a nobleman get together? Or did they? Sadie did have a child and then she raised Clara's father. Clara and her mother are in a pinch because they have to find the deed to the bookstore or they may lose it. They live in an apartment connected to the store so that means losing their home as well. Where could Great Grandmother Sadie have hidden it? As Clara seeks to find the deed, she talks to an historian at the Biltmore Estate and eventually her quest sends her to England. This rich story is sad and tragic but full of love and faith and so much more. There is a mystery to unravel with a chance at romance for Clara that took her completely by surprise...one that God had to have planned and maybe He planned Sadie's as well. I highly recommend the story.
I received a complimentary ARC from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.

Hope Between the Pages is the second novel in The Doors to the Past series. Just like in the first novel, the story follows two women over a century apart: Sadie, a young servant girl who works in the Biltmore library during WW1, and Clara, her great-granddaughter who runs the bookstore that Sadie started. The stories collide when a neighboring store offers to buy Blackwell’s bookstore and the deed is unable to be found. Delving back into family history, Clara embarks on a journey to save the bookshop and find out more about her mysterious great-grandmother’s love life.

Basham seamlessly intertwines the lives of Sadie and Clara, while infusing readers with clues to uncovering Sadie’s mysterious love life. Unlike the last novel, the women are related instead of the men. I love discovering the similarities between the two women and how love stumbles upon them.

Hope Between the Pages is a story of two women who find themselves finding love in the most unlikely of places (and people!) and circumstances. Basham expertly weaves together the past and the present in a story of love, adversity, and good surpassing evil.

“Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale.”

“Was there a place for mysteries, adventure, and even romance in her life? Could she release her hold on her fear long enough to try and find out?”

Settle in with a warm cup of tea into this idyllic life of mystery and adventure. From the quiet streets of Asheville to the serene, beauty of England, Basham draws a picture of artistry. The present and the past collide in a charming and breathtakingly beautiful romantic mystery filled with tea, books, gardens and a hint of fairy dust. A well written novel that inspires the imagination, warms the heart, and makes you feel like you’re visiting with a beloved friend. That’s the stuff Basham has woven with these characters from the past and the present.

“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” will inspire you to dream of travel and adventure. The words will wrap around your heart in a way that will keep you hungry for more. I was wholly enraptured by this novel. While it was magical, the heart of the story held so much depth as well. Learning to overcome our fears and reach for the stars is as important as breathing life into our hearts. That’s what this story does.

“Never love anyone who treats you like you’re ordinary. Oscar Wilde.”

Ohhh, the swoony men in a Basham novel that never disappoint, either. I fell in love with the hearts of these heroes. I loved the spirit of the heroines. The supporting characters had me hoping for their stories, too. Inspiring and beautiful, I highly recommend this historical and contemporary novel. I loved everything about it.

“Love makes us brave. And hope inspires our imaginations.”

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own and are given honestly.

Pepper Basham does more than wiggle her toes in a dual timeline story she dives head first and comes up with a winner! A story that would make any dual timeline reader think she'd been writing this genre since the beginning.

What I have come to love about Ms. Basham's novels is her characters. They are rich, lively, and come right off the page and into your heart. I loved the Book Goblin! I thought creating a character within a character was just genius.

Being a huge fan of both historical and contemporary this book was like a marrying of my favorite genre's and my favorite Pepper Basham books.

I just love this book and it is a definite must read!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book from the publisher; I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Readers will relish this bookish story. We get to watch our heroine fight to retain her family’s bookshop. We also get to travel both in time and place. In the historical thread, we reside in the famous North Carolina mansion, the Biltmore, and work in its library. Yum! There’s even a pen pal element, which I adore in fiction.

Like bookshop-set novels, dual-time (split-time) novels are also a trend, and Pepper does a great job managing the story lines. We watch two romances develop, and we care about the main characters in each place. Their lives intersect across time. It was a little tricky to discern which timeline we were in without dates as headers, but the historical is written first-person, which solved that problem. Also, I read the ARC, and the headers may have been added later for clarity.

One of the themes is seeing others for who they are inside, and another theme is being seen. One of the characters is scarred but that doesn’t disqualify him from love and a full life. This aspect was meaningful to me and I believe readers who may have worried about being disqualified for whatever reason will resonate with the truth, hope, and promise of unconditional love. In our superficial society, it’s a comfort to know unconditional love exists and the truly exceptional people will see past flaws to the hidden heart. God does.

Another, related, theme was class distinctions, particularly in the historical story line. But in this thread, the roles of acceptance were reversed—a clever way to mirror a poignant theme of looking past the exteriors to the interior. Well done, Pepper!

Such an enjoyable story! Recommended! I'm already looking forward to book two in this new series.

Check this out! You can read a FREE e-book preview, available on Amazon.

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest opinions.

My heart is full. Hope Between the Pages will capture the heart of most every book lover, especially those who have a love of fairy tales and stories that bring to mind historical England. It whispers tales of true love and sweet romance, the kind that are orchestrated in the heavens. Readers will be reminded that God truly does work all things for good for those who love Him, and of the power of love. Pepper Basham has crafted a truly magical story; unfurling oneself from the pages as it draws to an end is difficult. Closing the covers for a final time will remind you of the importance of continuing to write the story of your own life, and recognizing that which truly holds value.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Hope Between the Pages, the first book in Barbour Publishing's new Doors to the Past series, from the publisher via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

This is Pepper Basham's first dip into a dual timeline story and I trust it won't be her last because she has written a magnificent story of two tales involving four bookish types. I was immediately hooked on this wonderful story with the enchanting opening line: "Any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale."

Sadie Blackwell is a library aide at the magnificent Biltmore Estate in the Appalachian Mountains at the time of the Great War (WW1). She soon develops a connection with one of its guests, an Oliver Camden, who is visiting with his father and young sister, from England. They connect over a shared love of books, of course. But it is unheard of for a servant to develop a relationship of any sort with a wealthy guest. Ha. Oliver Camden is no typical young twenty something having grown up with privilege.

Jump to the modern day where we meet Clara Blackwell, a long descendent, who happens to run the Blackwell bookshop in Biltmore, the township to which the famous estate is associated. Strangely, Clara and her mother, have no knowledge of the original ownership deed for the property and a mischievous Uncle Julian demands it be produced or else it will have to revert to the previous owner's descendant, for whom he's representing. This leads Clara on a magical mystery tour of both The Biltmore and the Camden residence in faraway England to find the long lost document.

Pepper Basham excels in creating wonderful swoon worthy characters and in the two crossover stories we have four very special ones. Sadie and Oliver are marvellous. I was smitten from the first pages with Sadie and in awe of Oliver (when I grow up I want to be like him). Clara is similarly delightful, perhaps not as ballsy as Sadie, and the man she unexpectedly meets in England, Max Weston, is a tremendous gentle giant who has suffered much trauma in his past. In both situations we see the power of love to bring another alive. Basham's demonstration of this is so convincing and even though, this is a fairytale of sorts, we see sufficient evidence that indeed such love is possible.

Both Sadie and Clara experience plenty of bumps in the road over the course of their stories. How they respond demonstrates their strength of character and faith in their Lord.

Of course, we get a visual feast of the wonder of The Biltmore and the magic of the faraway land in England. And no Basham novel would be complete without a number of tasteful sensual moments which bring a smile to this reader's heart.

I consider this to be one of the best romance stories I've read in recent times and I recommend it wholeheartedly.

I was very fortunate to receive an early ebook copy of Hope Between the Pages from Barbour via NetGalley with no expectation of a favourable review but I'm very much looking forward to seeing a paperback copy resting on my bookshelves before too long.

Stories held power and everyone told one, whether the characters within the story knew it or not.

It is 1915 and Sadie Blackwell is a book maid in the most gorgeous library at the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC., a pleasure she inherited from her mother. Finding books suitable for the many different guests is the favorite part of her duties. Her ultimate dream is to own a bookstore of her own - but that wasn’t ever likely to happen, was it? After all, could she be seen as a person and not just a position?

Now in 2021, the small bookstore known as Blackwell’s, is struggling to survive against onslaughts from larger bookstores and nefarious people. Clara Blackwell begins the search into the history of this wonderful place of dreams. Will she find hope between the pages of all those precious stories?

An ARC of this time-slip book in the Doors to the Past series was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. The impressions and comments are my own and were in no way solicited.

I have loved Pepper's books since I read The Thornbearer when it first came out. I have really enjoyed reading my way through her books watching as she hones her craft. The Hope Between The Pages is her latest creation and she has surpassed herself. I love dual-time books when they are well done. Pepper's book is outstanding! I don't know which couple I love more...Sadie and Oliver or Clara and Max. Then toss in a family secret and a few kisses, Oh MY! So grab a pot of tea and settle in for what will surely be one of the best books you will read this year!

I was given this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.
#HopeBetweenThePages #PepperBasham #NetGalley

Thank you @barbourbooks and @netgalley for a gifted copy of Hope Between the Pages by @pepperbasham. All opinions are my own.

This book checks so many boxes for things I love in books...
Historical Fiction ✔
Book about books ✔
Biltmore Estate ✔

This dual timelime alternates between present day and 1914. It immediately sucked me into the stories.

Sadie Blackwell's story starts in 1914. She is a maid who is in charge of the care and keeping of the library at the Biltmore. Clara Blackwell's story starts in the present day. She owns and runs her family's bookstore, Blackwell's Books and Things, in Biltmore Village. There is a problem with a missing a deed and proving ownership of the bookstore which leads Clara to start researching her Great Granny Sadie.

I loved both Clara and Sadie. The story takes you to Asheville, North Carolina and across the ocean to England. This is a mystery but also a story about family and family secrets. I loved this books.

Christian
Historical Fiction
Romance
Release Date: April 1, 2021

I don’t think I’ve read a single Pepper Basham book (and I’ve read almost all of them) that hasn’t just got me in the “feelz.” Not only is Hope Between the Pages no exception, but it takes the “feelz” to a whole ‘nother level! I mean a story about stories? Come on! AND a dual timeline!!! Don’t get much better than that!
Ms. Basham’s Appalachian story-telling heritage and her passion for all things British shines on every page, mingling in a heart-warming and heart-wrenching tale.
I adored both Clara and Sadie—and of course, share their passion for books and reading. I appreciated their dedication to their duties. Their
The author’s understanding of human nature gives her characters a sense of depth and authenticity, stirring empathy in the reader. The twists between generations, the threat over Clara’s head—the utterly swoonable romance! Page after page this story holds the reader, lingering, even, after the final adieu.

ROBIN’S FEATHERS
ALL | THE | FEATHERS!

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Hope Between the Pages, Pepper Basham

I have 3 favourite genres when it comes to fiction - historical, mystery and romance. This novel was full of all three, and superbly executed. I tip my hat to Pepper D. Basham. This will be a favourite of the year for me. I was glued from chapter one. While this book is not a fairy tale, it maintains the feel of one. The characters were rich and the plot flowed well. The romance was swoon worthy. I got teary eyed (twice to be exact), and that is a rarity for me. So well done.

Being the historical fiction fan that I am, I often have some reservation in starting a time slip novel. I typically love the historic piece and am left much less engrossed in the contemporary portion. Not so in this book. The contemporary storyline, though in present day, was written in such a way that felt historic in and of itself and blended in so well. I can't wait to read another novel by this talented author.

When the future is put in jeopardy, the past may hold the key to solving everything. Questions arise about the original deed and an old letter hinting at an unknown love story is discovered, Blackwell Books has a history waiting to be uncovered. With characters that don't let you put the story down, this romance will sweep you off your feet in both centuries.
Blackwell Books has been a part of Asheville for over 100 years and Clara is happy to run things while keeping an eye on her mother. Things are settled and comfortable, though Clara and her mother miss her father every day. But Clara's uncle is bitter about ownership of the store and is always searching for a way to spread his misery. When the original deed for the building can not be found, Clara doesn't know where to turn or even start. Then an old letter is discovered and leads Clara on the adventure of a lifetime. Her great grandmother has always been a mystery to Clara, with only a few stories being shared through the decades. But with this letter a whole new side to great grandmother Sadie will come to light. And the only way to finish the story is across the ocean in England. Clara is determined to find the deed and end the debate of ownership of the store and her mother encourages her to finish the story of Sadie in order to help with the deed. Clara has been playing things safe for so long, but a new crack of courage and her old spark for adventure breaks through. England and a century old love story are calling. While in England Clara meets Max, a quiet man trying to face his own solitude. Clara and Max join forces to find the end of the historic love story, and maybe find their own epic story to share together. Each step forward in the mystery of the past brings Clara and Max closer together, their romance budding in the midst of the English country-side. Hearts are united through kindness, shared interests, and the ability to make each other a better person. Pepper Basham has splendidly wound two love stories into one book, with each century adding to the swoon moments. With great characters that make the story come alive, I didn't want to put this book down even when it was done. They have followed with me days after finishing, ringing true with the way they lifted each other up and made each other a better person. I can't wait for the next book by this gifted author. .I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.