Hope Between the Pages is part of Barbour's Doors to the Past dual storyline series. Sadie is a servant in the VanderBilts' library and acts as a book fairy and quickly falls in love with a guest with whom she shares book recommendations. I love the books that are mentioned between her and Oliver! Years later, her great-granddaughter, Clara, needs to find the deed to the family bookstore and her search takes her to England and to her love.
Hope Between the Pages is a great dual storyline novel and book lovers will love this book about two other book lovers!
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

This will EASILY be one of my favorite 2021 reads. I loved all the elements of this dual timeline story. Blackwells Book Shop, The Book Goblin and Book Fairy, England, Max, they all combine to make a beautiful story. I loved everything about this read from all the bookish things mentioned to the mystery within its pages. A pretty much perfect read. Don't miss it!!

Award-winning author Pepper Basham pens a dual-time novel, taking place during modern day and World War I, connecting the two women, and a love of books.

In Hope Between the Pages, Clara Blackwell and her mother run a family-owned bookstore in Asheville, NC. When the family’s ownership is questioned, Clara goes on a hunt for the missing deed. It takes her from the Biltmore (the Vanderbilt estate) to Derbyshire, England to trace proof of ownership. Will she find the missing deed in time -- and will she find more than she bargained for?

Basham is probably best known for her contemporary books set in the Blue Ridge mountains. This book bears the hallmark of her writing: touches of humor and faith intermingled with a good storyline and endearing characters. The reader gets two love stories, plot twists, as well as plenty of scenes set in both the library and the bookstore.

Clara’s great-grandmother Sadie is a library maid at Biltmore where she meets a charming Englishman, Oliver. Clara meets a charming Englishman (Max) when she arrives in Derbyshire to follow the paper trail of Sadie’s life. Both relationships are clean romances, but not without obstacles and hardships to overcome. The women are connected by their love of books.

The themes are trusting God during times of trial, and being courageous -- especially to change one’s life direction when God opens a door. While the mystery is suspenseful, it is more a romantic mystery, and it all starts with a hundred-year old letter. Faith and fairy tales also play a central role in the story.

Recommended for fans of Pepper Basham, as well as book lovers and library fans. Fans of Kristy Cambron’s Lost Castle series, historical fiction, and mystery fans will also enjoy this book.

Disclaimer: Book reviews are my honest opinion of books I either purchased or received free of cost from the publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write reviews, nor to even post positive reviews.

This dual-timeline novel follows the stories of Sadie, a servant who works in the library at the Biltmore Estate, and Clara, Sadie's great-granddaughter who now owns and operates a bookstore in Asheville with her mother and cousin. A profound love for books carries this novel from beginning to end, and it's a sweet story of connecting with the past through writing and reading. The romantic heroes in both timelines perfect fit their partners, and it was heart-warming to read about their adoration.

That said, though this novel was certainly a feel-good read, it was a little too cheesy for my liking. The problems--Clara's legal battle with the incoming chain bookstore, Sadie's navigating social class boundaries--and the solutions, as well as the romances, were a bit too easy convenient, and the attempt to bring in a more serious message through Sadie's activism for unwed mothers was brief and out-of-place.

Ultimately, this was a sweet historical romance matched with a more contemporary love story that's an especially fun read for those who love to read. I was in the mood for something a bit more substantial when I picked this one up, and I didn't love it, but it was certainly wholesome and enjoyable enough.

(Also, this is Christian fiction, published by a Christian publisher, which I failed to notice when requesting the title from NetGalley. Though I often enjoy Christian novels, this one was a bit more spiritual and scriptural than I like with a lot of reliance of faith to get the characters through. Lovely, but not for me.)

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley thanks to Barbour Publishing and author Pepper Basham. Opinions stated in this review are honest and my own.
Release Date: 1 April 2021

What a swoon-worthy fairytale! Technically, two! Pepper Basham writes fairytale romance like none other. And, knowing this is her first dual timeline novel, I’m even more impressed. Sadie and Oliver’s story is so beautiful, and takes place at the BIltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. The story is near and dear to my heart as someone local to Asheville, and as someone who has spent many days wandering BIltmore Estate dreaming of the life I could have lived there in another time. Basham brings BIltmore to life in a beautiful way, and anyone who has ever been will readily recognize the rooms and hallways described. Sadie and Oliver’s romance begins in the library over a shared love of books. In the present day, Clara unearths their story as she races against the clock to save her family’s bookstore. All of the main characters in both timelines are so realistic and well-developed as the story unfolds. I love Basham’s writing, and I love the inclusion of her faith in her stories and in the lives of her characters.
This book explores the themes of family, surviving against the odds, self-discovery, and daring to reach one’s dreams despite impossible odds. All of the romance is clean and sweet. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a historical mystery, anyone who has ever visited and been enchanted by the BIltmore, and any lover of a fairytale romance.

A delightful book about books! Don’t miss this. Pepper Basham is a master at romances, and this is a great example of her talents in bringing characters to life. I enjoyed the time slip that easily keeps readers engaged and following the dual, but overlapping, storylines. The romance of an old love letter combined with the modern mystery create the perfect plot with twists to captivate the imagination. The two heroines, Sadie and Clara, find the perfect heroes, Oliver and Max and both romances will leave your heart soft and warm. The rich and vivid descriptions of scenery will transport you to Fenwick, England, and Asheville, NC (the Biltmore) and you will feel like you have truly traveled there yourself. Such a great book for all lovers of inspirational, historical, and contemporary fiction. I received a copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are my own, freely given.

Hope Between the Pages is such a nice read and I loved all the references to classic literature. The romance with Olive purely by book recommendations was heavenly. I’ve been to Biltmore and it really is the type of place with a private librarian. I could imagine the books set out for Oliver by the book fairy. Such a great story about perseverance and not letting bad events or evil people hold you back. Although it does have inspirational aspects inspired by biblical passages, this book will inspire all readers.

Hope Between The Pages was a intriguing tale. I could imagine life at the Biltmore one hundred years ago and the legacy of a woman whose brave choices set in motion a beautiful dream and an unexpected future. The book was very well written and I was thoroughly engaged from start to finish. If you love a beautifully told story of history and legacy intersecting with the challenges of today then this book is absolutely for you. If you love books, the Biltmore, England or stories of becoming then this book is for you. If you like stories of hope and belonging, of making something beautiful from the ashes, then this book is also for you.

I received a pre-release galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

“The immediate sense of welcome and the scent of books swaddled her like a hug.”

Pepper Basham has a way with words that swaddle me like a hug every time I read one of her books. Her latest book, Hope Between the Pages, is a beautiful split time novel telling the stories of Clara and Granny Sadie. Basham has done a masterful job in character development and weaving together a lovely story of past and present. I could not put this book down as I wandered the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina and Camden House in England right along with the characters.

Pepper Basham has a winner with this new novel.

I was given a copy of this book by the author. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely love Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham! Hope Between the Pages is a split-time novel set in the 1900s and present day. The book takes place in Ashville, NC and England. Clara Blackwell is on a mission to save her family's bookstore in Ashville that was originally owned by her Great-Grandmother Sadie Blackwell, who worked at the Biltmore as the Library's Maid. Through research at the Biltmore and research that takes Clara all the way England, Clara learns how her Family's bookstore came to be and more about the life of her Great-Grandmother Sadie.

I was captivated through the entire book and could not put it down. How could I not like the book when it takes place in one of my favorite places ever (The Biltmore Library) and a place I've always wanted to go (England)? I thoroughly enjoyed the book and the message I received through the book: That we can survive anything with God by our side and through the Strength He gives us. My favorite line of Sadie's in the book is, "In our love for him, because God allows us the gift of memories to tide us over to eternity." That quote was so poignant because of what 2020 and forward has incapsulated for me.

I highly recommend this book and will be telling my friends about it! Thank you so much to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read this book! (This review is also on GoodReads!)

I love that Clara learns that she needs to have a life for herself rather than for her mother. I love this novel that goes from the present to the past. This has been one of my favorite books in this style of writing. Clara needs to find a deed for her bookstore and needs to go through her grandmothers things to hopefully find it. This took her many places that are described beautifully. I loved both the story of the past and the story of the present. I received a copy of this book from Barbour for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This beautiful story was beautifully crafted by Pepper Basham, known for her engaging contemporary fiction. Hope's scenery and imagery leap off the page in this tale of mystery, adventure, romance, family history and discovery. With expert blending of past and present plus fabulous locations in Asheville, NC and England, readers will happily devour every word. As stated in the book: "any story that begins with a library is bound to be an excellent tale." Yes, this one definitely is intelligent, breathtaking and enjoyable. Basham earns all five stars on the review.

I received a complimentary copy of the book without obligation. This review is my opinion.

Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
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Story Notes

A truly lovely story of love finding its way in spite of obstacles.

I loved this dual time story that took place on the Biltmore Estate. Clara's mission to find the deed to her bookshop took her on a journey through the life of her great-great-grandmother. She's grown up at the bookshop and loved all that it stands for but has recently been feeling a call to do something new. This journey give her just that chance and takes her to England to find her answers. What she finds is more than she ever thought possible - both family and love. The love story between Clara and Max was so beautiful without being flashy. They had both kind of given up on finding true love and yet they still secretly held out hope. And the love story of Oliver and Sadie was just as engaging to read. I'm sure there are many such stories but Ms. Basham's carefully crafted book invited me into the details, feelings and situations unlike any I've read before. It's not often that I find a dual time story where I like both stories presented equally. Usually I've got a very clear preference but these were so well done that I couldn't choose one over the other. I will certainly be recommending this sweet story to others in the hope they will enjoy it as I did.

I received this temporary complimentary E-book from Barbour Fiction via NetGalley in order to provide a fair and honest review. I will receive no fiscal compensation for this review and the opinions expressed herein are entirely my own.

Beautiful. Just beautiful. Pepper Basham has done it again. This dual timeline of Sadie & Oliver and Clara & Max’s stories weaved beautifully. The events took place in the early 1900s and today from North Caroline to England. Both couples were different but had similarities. I love how everything came in full circle in the end. I connected with the characters. You’ll laugh, cry and smile. The spiritual aspect of the book was done really well, that is God definitely is the creator of beautiful stories.

Oh!! This book held me captive. You’ve Got Mail is what I’ve heard this story is similar too. Not in my opinion! It is so much better. It takes that plot and makes it so much more. With a duel time slip, historical events, a little mystery and a sweet romance. What’s not to love! The story of Sadie’s story tugs at your heartstrings. Life can be so sweet and so tragic, in the blink of an eye. It is a story that makes a true fairytale. Clara’s story is more of a mystery, a puzzle to be solved. Does Clara find her fairytale?
I really enjoyed this authors writing style and the historical timeline and wonderful characters that take you on a wonderful imaginary ride. I only wish she had included an authors note, at the end. I’m curious if any of this story is real or just from a great imagination. I look forward to reading more from this author. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#BookReview: HOPE BETWEEN THE PAGES by Pepper Basham from Barbour Books

I know I love historical fiction but now it’s confirmed that I enjoy dual timelines too. This book captured my bookish heart. Who doesn’t love a book with a librarian, a bookshop owner, Biltmore Estate and Englishmen! I would love to see the library where Saddie works. It must feel so good to be surrounded by books everyday and then you get a chance to recommend them to others. I am delighted that Oliver and Saddie’s love for books helped blossom their love for each other.

The switch between 1915 and present day was seamless. I love the mystery and it made me invested in the search as much as Clara did. So much to investigate. Where to look? Every item found and each letter read created more questions. Clara’s trip to England was a surprise but a good one. Max was an unexpected character but I liked the change and his character development. Oh I enjoyed the scenic views in England and I would love to visit Camden House as well as Max’s garden. The way the author described Clara’s choice of clothing makes me curious to see it. MY sister loves vintage so they should get along well.

Sadie and Clara’s story tells us that life brings blessings in disguise. We just have to open our eyes to see the gift right in front of us. One thing I complain about is it ended too soon. I want more. I can see myself reading this book again and again. Love it! 5 stars

I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Clara loves her family bookshop, Blackwell's, but after years of both running the bookshop and caring for her parents, she occasionally wonders whether it's still what she wants in life. When she discovers an old love letter, she sets out to investigate the life of her great-great-grandmother, which has always been somewhat of a mystery. When the stakes are raised by questions about the ownership of the bookshop, Clara is forced out of her comfort zone to search for answers - and finds something she hadn't been looking for at all. Will she manage to save Blackwell's? More importantly, though, will she work out what her dream in life is and follow it?

This was somewhat of a change of pace from previous books I've read by the author, but if this was an experiment, I hope she'll continue! I'm not always keen on dual-timeline stories, but this one worked beautifully, the two stories meshing neatly and the tightly interconnected. The gradual unfolding of Sadie's story through the combination of her part of the tale and Clara's findings is particularly well done, and I enjoyed getting to know them all (well, except the bad guys who are trying to pinch the bookshop - the legalities of which I really don't understand). One issue: while I loved the story, I was mildly irritated by the far too common misuse of words (e.g. "I was entrusted with a page-ridden wonderland."). If such things don't bother you, great! If they do, try to switch off your fussiness in this case, because it really is a great story otherwise. Recommended, with a highly satisfying ending.

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

4 ½ stars- I am really enjoying this new series by Barbour. The history buff in me looks forward to learning about different cities and different landmarks. This is my favorite installment in the series so far. And Pepper Basham is quickly becoming a new favorite author to read.
I have never been to the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC but loved visiting it vicariously through this story both in the present and back in 1915. Sadie’s job as “book fairy” of Biltmore’s vast library sounded amazing. Who wouldn’t look forward to going to work everyday. Sadie and Oliver’s story in 1915 was perfectly bittersweet and I definitely shed more than one tear over the perfection of their relationship.
Clara and Max were also a perfect fit. Their relationship was so different from Sadie and Oliver’s yet still just as sweet. What a difference a century has made in how relationships and social status are viewed. We take for granted these days that everyone is pretty much on equal footing when it comes to forming a romantic attachment. There isn’t that distinct separation between the working class and the upper class like in 1915. It’s what makes Cinderella stories so romantic.
Clara’s bookshop, in the shadow of the Biltmore Mansion, also sounded like a dream come true. She too had a job to envy. This was a wonderful book that was full of romance, a touch of intrigue and characters that you couldn’t help but be inspired by.
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Sweet love story across multiple generations set in Asheville NC and England. The Biltmore House setting was a lovely addition.

Hope Between the Pages' plot idea is wonderful but the book seems to be draggy. It failed to hit the mark.

For starters, I enjoyed all the book references that kept popping up, along with the characters' love for books BUT it seemed like anywhere Sadie or Clara went they were encountered by bookworms. Oliver loved books. Vicky loved books. Max loved books. Clara's father loved books. Robbie loved books. You get my point right?
Without reference to their names, I would've imagined them all as being the same characters. There was no proper distinguishment between them.

I adored to love story that bloomed between Sadie and Oliver, their love and loss made my heartache. Even though majority of Sadie's story was expected in a way, the travels of England and the love they bore for one another was beautiful. Including the historical descriptions.

I found Clara to be a little childish. Almost every chapter, she would start crying. Her love and loss for Sadie felt superficial since other than their shared physical features and love of books, nothing connected them.

I felt like there were lots of plot holes in the story. To say why did Sadie hide what she did to her grandson, especially the deed. How did Oliver's mother know about everything and not the bookshop? Why didn't Vicky ever try to contact her? are a few to mention without giving away too much of the book.

In this particular book, I did enjoy the Christian references and talks about love. It made sense to why around a 100 years ago, women would be that conservative especially in the case of Sadie.

Even though the writing could've been better, the fact that a strong female lead was portrayed it was a decent read. Took me longer than usual to read though.