This book was lovely. Any book about book lovers is bound to be good. It had it all...love, mystery, truth, forgiveness, hope, grief, romance and fairy tales. Alternating timelines aren’t always my favorite but they worked well and kept me holding out for more. I thought I would fly through this book but I found myself reading it slower in order to savor it. I truly loved it. I want it made into a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie. It’s one of those where you hold your breath because you know there is heartbreak yet you exhale because you can see how it beautifully unfolds. I love all of the details and the twists and turns the author writes into the story. The book itself is a fairytale and is one for any hopeless romantic.

Thank you Barbour Fiction for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

As a little girl, my parents took me to the Biltmore House, and I immediately fell in love with the library. It's been my life's mission ever since to try and convince my husband to build me one! So when I found a story that began there, it grabbed my attention. The story goes back and forth from modern-day to 1915-ish, tracing Clara and her ancestor, Sadie, through tribulations and joys in their small community. While it's a romance book, love is more of a secondary character to history and intrigue set amid the backdrop of this beautiful castle in the mountains...

Having never read a Pepper Basham book before, I did not know what to expect when I delved into her latest novel, Hope Between the Pages. I was thrilled to find myself entranced in a time split story full of mystery, romance, and history. Amid the difference of a century, intrigue abounded for lost loves and a lost inheritance.

With engaging settings, loveable characters, and a swiftly moving plot, Basham delivered a book that tugged on my emotions. My imagination was running full speed as I cheered on the irrepressible characters. Frankly, I was abso-lutely delighted and the book ended way too soon for my liking!

I know this is not the last Pepper Basham book I will be reading!

What a beautiful love story. Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham is the most beautiful love story that I've read.

This enchanting story set in the early 1900's between Sadie, a housemaid at the Biltmore House, and Oliver, a young English gentleman. Sadie is the library maid, and they both discover they have a love of books, as she recommends new books to Oliver. Because of the differences in their stations, it is mostly forbidden, but they form a friendship. But as they know one another, they are drawn together.

In dual time-slip, Clara Blackwell, searches for the deed to the bookshop she has inherited from her late father. It begins an adventure, finding out what happened to her great-grandmother Sadie Blackwell.

Sadie and Clara's story was so well crafted that several times I had to put the book down to gather my thoughts. It's emotionally touching, beautifully descriptive, with well rounded characters.

Pepper Basham has done a wonderful job of inviting us into the lives of these people. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

I received a complimentary ebook copy from the publisher, through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

“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 though this, and in both you’ll find your story.”

Saying goodbye to Oliver and Sadie was such a difficult thing to do today! Rarely do I become so invested in a story that I become part of it, but Pepper Basham hooked me in from the first sentence and kept me spellbound for hours. I feel as if I’ve said goodbye to two friends and there’s a deep hole in my heart.

“Any story that begins in a library is bound to be an excellent tale.” My bookish heart was smiling as I read this first line of “Hope Between The Pages” and I instantly knew that Basham was an author whose books I’d gravitate to time and again. I wasn’t wrong.

This dual timeline historical fiction book is told from the perspective of a servant in the Biltmore Estate in 1915 and her modern-day descendant, an owner of a bookstore. The plot focuses on uncovering the story behind a 100 year old love letter and features a love of books and a strong Christian message.

Sadie Blackwell is a servant working for Mrs. Vanderbilt at the palatial mansion, Biltmore House in North Carolina. She has been put in charge of the library and helps choose books for visitors. The day she meets The Book Goblin, Oliver Camden, is the day that changed the rest of her life. Oliver, a guest and a kindred spirit, is from the upper class. He falls in love with Sadie and takes every opportunity to visit the library leaving little notes for her in the books he returns. With time and persuasion, Sadie comes to realize that Oliver’s marriage proposal is real and honest and she is willing to leave North Carolina behind to follow him to Fenwick, Cumbria, in the Lake District, England.

Clara Blackwell and her mom own Blackwell Books in Biltmore. They are about to lose their shop that’s been in the family for over 100 years to a greedy uncle. There’s a race against time to find the deed to the bookstore before he gets his hands on it. Clara heads off to England in search of the paperwork. What she doesn’t expect to find is a bow-tie wearing man in the kitchen of an English cottage who made her heart skip a beat.

Love against all odds, challenges which build character, and a legacy worth fighting for are all highlighted using a descriptive and picturesque backdrop, interesting and intriguing characters and a mysterious and fast-moving plot.

To be published April 1, 2021, this is book two of ‘Doors to the Past,’ a new series of historical romances and adventures.

Thank you to Pepper Basham, Barbour Publishing and NetGalley for this spectacular advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to the author and publisher for providing me with a digital ARC of this title via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I was not familiar with this title or author before coming across Hope Between the Pages on Netgalley. I was intrigued by the summary and was grateful for the opportunity to read an ARC. I am so glad I took a chance on it. I was quickly drawn into the story and the characters. I really enjoyed the dual narrative and time periods and seeing Clara discover more information about her ancestors and the family bookstore. The writing was clean and well done, the story was interesting, characters you liked and wanted to cheer for, and I appreciated the nice Christian background. It was not preachy, but added a touch of faith to the story. Great read. I will definitely share this title with friends and look for more by this author

Overall, this was a charming story with a mystery that kept me engaged. And the fact that it had to do with library and bookstore settings? That, of course, appealed to my bookworm side!

Characters were realistic and well-crafted. I loved the fact that the main male character was visibly flawed, as that added to his charm and realism. I really enjoyed the dual timeline, as well. (That's become one of my favorite genres.)

Knowing this book is from a Christian publisher, it was a bit unusual to have mentions of wizards as though they were good, whereas they're often associated with the occult. There was a bit of a preachy feel near the end of the book, but it was an enjoyable book, in general.

Threatened with the possibility of losing her family's bookshop, Clara embarks on a hunt for documents that will prove her family's ownership. Along the way, Clara discovers letters that explain her great-grandmothers, Sadie, early life and builds a connection between the two. Her discovery of Sadie's wonderful love story sparks a love of Clara's own. A story that pulls on the heartstrings and makes you believe in souls that have an immediate connection.

This book is two stories written three generations apart. The author does an admirable job of keeping the reader in the correct era. I love the story is about books and the love for reading. A deed to the bookstore (current times), must be found to save a bookshop. It is a puzzle to put together an untold family history, spanning the ocean to connect both England and America. There is a fairy tale aspect, but the wicked mother in law doesn’t magically disappear!
Romance and life are entwined as the story builds.

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.
#HopeBetweenthePages #NetGalley

A split time novel. Sadie is the library maid at the Biltmore House. Her job is to take care of the books in the library and also to provide books for the guests. Clara lives in Biltmore Village and runs the local bookshop that has been in her family since Sadie her great grandmother began the shop.

Clara has faced one of the biggest challenges - the deed for the property is gone actually some say it never existed. Without the deed, so much is at stake.

The book goes back and forth between Sadie and Clara. Will Clara be able to safe the book shop? Will the trip to England and visiting the Camden family home help her to find the documents and understand Sadie's mystery.

I loved the book. Just one bit of not able to figure out. In the book, the Camdens are described as a Camdens of Derbyshire yet the family home was in the Lake District.

Thanks to netgalley for a copy of this book to review. The review and opinion is all my own.

“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.