“There are times in life—sometimes, not always—when the water on paper drips with the color of just the perfect hue, until the effect is something so ethereal that the artist knows it must simply be experienced because she can never produce it again. And the color shifts over time, shifts still over sunlight, until the watercolors fade completely back into the paper itself, and all that’s left is the memory.” (Paint and Nectar)

Paint and Nectar is one of those novels that sticks with you, the story reverberating and stealing into your dreams. This is a split-time set in Charleston, South Carolina, beginning in 1929 with Eliza and William and in modern times with Lucy and Declan. The stories that follow weave together until the very last page. The prose is soft and elegant and decidedly Southern without becoming cliche. I could hear the characters’ accents and feel the humidity.
And I highlighted more quotes than I should include in one review. One’s like: “Still, she was struck every time she stepped outside by the many ways nature continued to bloom. That the bluebirds still nested, and the songbirds remembered how to sing. That the God who cared for the sparrows had fed them another day. This probably should not surprise her, and yet it often did. Faithfulness, provision, and beauty enduring. Maybe the world was stronger than it seemed.”

The characters are endearing and their tales at once haunting and full of redemption. William—infuriating and charming William—and Eliza were so real that I was almost sad to think of them as gone from this present world.

Clearly, I LOVED this story, highly recommend it, and can’t wait for the next one in the series!

*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.”

#PaintandNectar #NetGalley

I loved this story so much! While the first book was excellent and well written, there was something about this one that just grabbed me from the start and kept me staying up late reading. I want to visit Charleston now! I love how the author wove fictional characters into the story and brought history to life. I also really loved the overall theme of restoration and the spiritual lessons in the story. This is a wonderful book to pick up!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest review.

A time slip novel, Paint and Nectar tells two tales of love and hope. Set in Charleston, the historic homes came a alive. I could picture them I. Their heyday all lined up.

It’s a story of second chances, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Various Bible stories are woven throughout and it helps it feel all the more authentic.

Paint and Nectar will be a book that stays with you after you put it down.

Ashley Clark's debut novel last year was amazing and she has shown that she has incredible talent with this book, her sophomore effort. A time slip novel, Paint and Nectar is a powerfully told tale of old family feuds, love lost and found, and hearts that are full of hope.

'She would get through this. She would find a way. She was a Legare, after all.'

Lucy Legare loves old things and preserving them. And when she locks horns with Declan Pinkney, who wants to tear down old things, she has found a formidable foe. But things aren't always what they seem. Even though the Legares and Pinkneys have hated each other for decades and decades. Sometimes old feuds do well to be forgotten. But will they both agree?

'She was as close to hating him as Jesus would permit.'

Clark has proven that her talent will stand in this story! I was captivated. I loved all these characters and enjoyed seeing characters from the last book. She pulls the reader in with her rich prose and depth of feeling for her characters. I felt every emotion and every heartbreak. Masterfully told, this is one for the keeper shelf, destined to be read yet again. Well done!

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book. I was not compensated and the opinion in this review is entirely my own.

I previously read The Dress Shop on King Street and liked it very much. Hard to believe it’s this author’s debut novel!

If possible I enjoyed this one even more! I’ve been to Charleston before but it’s been awhile. Nevertheless I could picture in my mind the houses and gardens there.

I liked the dual timeline in the book, and the love stories. Would recommend to those who enjoy historical fiction set in the South!

I received this book from the publisher via net galley in exchange for an honest review. Five stars!

While this is considered a "time slip" book, I consider it a contemporary fiction with historical components. To me, time slip connotes characters slipping in and out of various time periods, where these characters stay in their own time periods, but are connected through history. That being said, this is one of those books that will stay with the reader long after the last page has been turned. Ashley Clark has included a genealogical element that brings the story to life.

Eliza is a watercolorist who is prominent during the Charleston Renaissance of the early nineteen hundreds. William is an art forger who hates what he does, but feels he has to continue to pay a debt. What is unforeseen is that William and Eliza fall in love, but because of a generations old feud between their families, they end up marrying other people to fulfill family obligations.

Lucy is an art historian and curator working at the museum in Charleston. Because she spots a forgery of one of Eliza's paintings, she is given the opportunity to set up an exhibit of Eliza's works at the museum. During this time, Lucy is given a house that is on the historic register and once actually belonged to Eliza.

Declan's father wants Lucy's house to find the silver that was hidden on the property during the War Between the States. The silver dates back to Paul Revere and could be worth millions. Declan is not as adamant about finding the silver, but must do as his father expects to keep his job. That they don't see eye to eye is almost a given, considering the atmosphere between them.

There are so many reasons to recommend this book:
unexpected love
following dreams
finding truth
finding faith
intertwining stories
settings that read like rich tapestries
characters who resonate with the reader
a bit of intrigue and mystery-solving
a family feud resolved
This is a five star book with two thumbs up and a priceless silver ring.

Bethany House and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

PAINT AND NECTAR by ASHLEY CLARK is the second novel in the Heirloom Secrets series and the sequel to The dress Shop On King Street. Although it can stand alone I suggest you read the books in sequence. Some of the characters are those we meet in the first book and the stories are quite intertwined.
The story takes place in Charleston South Carolina and revolves largely around the house and garden at 86 Longitude Street, where a piece of heirloom silver was buried in the garden causing a feud between the Legare and Pinckney families.
In 1929 we come across the beautiful watercolour artist Eliza Ravenel and William Pinckney, who are from the two warring families, and in the present age we come across Lucy Legare and Declan Pinckney. Lucy is Eliza's great granddaughter, and is part of the Charleston Preservation Society, as was Eliza. There are irreconcilable differences between Lucy and Declan due to his father's development company wanting to buy her house, whose history she wants to preserve.
There is intrigue and betrayal, and we see the lengths to which people will stoop in order to obtain what they want. There are so many secrets and things are not as they seem. When William resorts to forgery to help his sister he brings danger to the woman he loves.
The author portrays the characters' emotions and struggles beautifully and their stories are bittersweet. Throughout the book we are reminded of the restorative power of beauty. Music and dancing also play a part. We see great attention to detail in the descriptions of the plants and birds in the garden, especially the bluebirds.
It is a story about second chances and following one's dreams, of unconditional love, forgiveness and mending that which is broken. The author brings the biblical stories of the gardens of Eden and Gethsemane into the mix in a most interesting way.
That is all that I am going to tell you as I do not want to spoil things for you. I highly recommend Paint and Nectar as a most enjoyable and inspirational read. I am looking forward to the next novel in the series.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. The opinions in this review are completely my own.