My friends and I interviewed Carla Laureano about this title at StoryChats podcast here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPMjfmc_Hi8

Fantastic story with well developed characters and an intriguing plot. We enjoyed having Carla on StoryChats to discuss the book further.

I enjoyed reading Provenance and visiting the charming small town of Jasper Lake in the Colorado high country. Kendall was only five years old when she was abandoned at a day care center because her mom failed to collect her. She is haunted by not knowing what happened to her birth mother, which led to her growing up in the foster care system. Kendall is fiercely independent and believes she can only rely on herself. She rents an expensive home in Pasadena, California, with her interior design assistant that’s the home base for her business. Her business specialty is restoring historic homes.

Gabe is a town planner who has returned to Jasper Lake from Detroit to save his maternal grandparents’ home town. His mother sent him to live with his grandparents when he was a young teen because he was on a destructive path and needed straightening out. Gabe’s grandfather runs the Inn at Jasper Lake, and all the businesses have been struggling since a major flood a few years earlier. Gabe’s attachment to Jasper Lake inspires him to run for mayor. Now he’s the mayor, he’s determined to save the town from a ruthless developer who is intent on building a resort that would forever change the character of Jasper Lake.

Kendall is stunned to learn that her maternal grandmother passed away almost five years ago, and Kendall is the sole heir of a row of historic lakefront homes in Jasper Lake. The houses are situated in the middle of a parcel of land that a developer wants to turn into a large scale resort. The rent on Kendall’s Pasadena home is large, and the annual increases are squeezing her finances too tight. Selling her inheritance appears to be Kendall’s best solution to keep a roof over her head and her business afloat.

Sparks fly when Kendall arrives in Jasper Lake and meets Gabe. His family background is also complicated, and he’s confronted with family issues that impact on his current circumstances. Gabe assists Kendall in claiming her inheritance by the tight deadline, and she stays at his grandfather’s inn.

Kendall and Gabe are drawn to each other despite a number of complications, including Kendall not sharing Gabe’s faith. The faith element in the story is strong, and both Gabe and Kendall wrestle with faith issues. The story includes themes of forgiveness, redemption, and parallels with the prodigal son Biblical story.

I highly recommend Provenance to contemporary romance readers who enjoy small town romances set in the mountains that address problems associated with historic home preservation and urban planning.

This is an excellent book. I really appreciated the faith that was throughout. I think that is often missing in Christian books so I enjoyed that is was such an important part of the book and the characters.

I loved the town of Jasper Lake, it made me want to visit it. I loved the smallness and quaintness of it.

Kendall’s journey is very interesting and I wondered how and if she would find herself back in Jasper Lake to stay. You will just have to read to find out. But it is a great book!

A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

The architectural details in the cover of this book are what first caught my eye. I love that there are blueprints snuck into the skyline, which go so well with the storyline. I was also intrigued by the summary and I'm a fan of Carla Laureano, so I was excited about this new contemporary novel. Set in the quaint Colorado town of Jasper Lake, the first half of the book was a lot of ground work. Setting up the dilemma, introducing the characters (Kendall and Gabe), and some backstory made the initial pace a little slow for me. I didn't want to give up, because I knew that in the end, I would most likely finish very satisfied. And I did! By about the middle of the book, the pace began to speed up, the plot thickened, and I appreciated the growth in both Kendall and Gabe. In true form, Laureano offered a more realistic piece of fiction. It's one of the things I love most about her writing. Her characters have real questions, real struggles, and she doesn't shy away from posing these things in a faith context. One of the themes of this book is about understanding your worth, which was beautifully written. I believe that this will appeal to readers with or without a faith background. There is a clear faith message presented, so I would consider this novel to be Christian fiction. I finished this final page with these thoughts: life can be hard, unfair, and messy, but God can redeem it. He can transform us, with all of our scars, into something of worth and beauty. It's a message I needed to be reminded of.



**I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley, and was happy to share my honest opinions.**

Interior stylist Kendall Green is drawn to Jasper Lake by a promising inheritance from a grandmother she never knew. In Jasper Lake she meets Gabriel Brandt the young mayor, bent on turning the town with an aging population around. Will Kendall find the answers to the questions surrounding her provenance?

A moving read, with well developed characters in a inviting small mountain community. Engaging read with well built characters that felt honest, I liked learning along with Kendall more about her origins and the circumstances that brought her to where she is now. Gabe is a natural leader, with people skills and a core of integrity, and I liked that he stood firm on his beliefs.

Overall, a pleasant small town romance, that tackles faith, love, and family in a moving and engaging way, The characters were likable, and I loved getting to know the residents of Jasper Lake. Strong themes of faith, and new friendships.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Another winner from Laureano. So good that I will re-read it. Laureano creates characters the reader will care about in a picturesque setting. Her contemporary romances are clean and inspiring. Can't wait for the next one!

I love the cover of this book and thought the top of the cover had cobwebs on it (it doesn't look closer). I love the picture of the town, it's beautiful with its vivid colors.
I had to look up what Provenance means because I was not sure. It means origin or source and I cannot think of a more fitting title for this book. The cover is perfect for the story as well, and in case you are not sure, it is not cobwebs, but hopefully, you will read this story and figure out the significance of what it is!

The characters and plot were well thought out and executed. The story flowed smoothly with several unexpected scenes and revelations. From the small-town charm (I love small towns!), the slow development of the relationship between Kendall and Gabe, the witty banter, true friendships, and the theme of provenance, you do not want to miss this story. It will give you all kinds of feels and even goosebumps at times.

I was not ready for the book to end where it did, but, the author was kind enough to provide a link to the epilogue, which I recommend taking the time to read as well. My only wish is that the epilogue had been included in the actual story. Provenance is not part of a series, but the town and characters do lend themselves to future stories, should the author be led in that direction.

Thank you to Net Galley and Tyndale House Publishers for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Carla Laureano is one of my go-to authors for contemporary romance, and she has done an excellent job with Provenance. Reminiscent of a Hallmark movie with powerful Gospel themes, Provenance is the story of a mayor trying to save his small town and a designer trying to restore the houses she unexpectedly inherited and keep her business afloat.

Kendall is a designer known for her ability to discover the history behind the properties and antiques she restores, but she has never been able to discover her own story. After growing up in foster care, she inherits property from a grandmother she never knew. Although she and the town of Jasper Lake (and its mayor, Gabe) got off to a bit of a rocky start, it turns out to be just the place she needed, and holds some of the answers she has been searching for.

I love how clearly the Gospel is presented in a way I haven't seen often, even in Christian fiction, but it is done so authentically and fits the story perfectly. The slow-build romance spans months instead of being crammed into days or weeks as romance novels tend to do. The slower pace provides room for the story to breathe and grow realistically. Characters with depth, a small town with charm, and a story with heart make this a book not to be missed!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Kendall Green is a Los Angeles-based interior designer with a reputation for sourcing quality antiques to place in the buildings she renovates. When rising LA rents place her business at risk, she finds a possible solution in her letterbox. Her unknown grandmother died, and she is the sole beneficiary. The only catch is that she needs to claim the inheritance in the next two weeks, which means an unplanned trip to the tiny town of Jasper Lake, Colorado.

Gabe Brandt is the young mayor of Jasper Lake, and he wants to bring new life to the town. That means persuading Kendall not to sell her houses to a property developer who wants to turn the town into an upscale resort.

Kendall is obsessed with finding the origin (provenance) of every antique she buys, but she knows nothing of her own background beyond being abandoned by her mother when she was five and raised in foster care. Going through her grandmother’s house could be her opportunity to find her own provenance.

This was a skilful melding of Kendall’s outward and inward journeys. Meanwhile, there is also the growing attraction between Kendall and Gabe. But Gabe (as we come to see) is a Christian whose faith has meaning in his everyday life. Ironically, that faith is largely because of Kendall’s grandmother.

Kendall is not a person of faith. On particular foster home showed her the negatives of faith, and she has never been interested enough to search out the truth for herself … until now. Provenance gives Kendall a clear faith journey, and it’s refreshing to see a Christian novel where one of the main characters has a serious and believable journey to trusting in Jesus.

As such, Provenance is one of the strongest Christian romances I’ve read in a while. It does an excellent job of melding the internal and external plots, and of integrating Christianity in a real way—recognising the strengths and weaknesses of the faith and the followers.

Recommended for Christian fiction and romance fans.

Thanks to Tyndale Publishing and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

I have the ebook for this one, but saw my library had the audio, so I listened to the book. I love the setting in Colorado. Such a quaint mountain town. Kendall Green is a product of the foster care system and gets a letter stating an inheritance from a grandmother. So begins her journey in learning her story. With the help of the town mayor, Gabriel things get interesting! Definitely recommend this book and author.

Provenance is a page turner. Simple as that. Carla Laureano has a strong command of how to weave character and plot together to make readers keep going long after practicality suggests setting the book down. High end interior designer Kendall Green has built a successful life in Los Angeles after being abandoned by her family. Then a strange phone call and a surprising legacy pulls her halfway across the country to a Colorado town, quietly dwindling away.

Meanwhile, Gabriel Brandt just wants to breathe new life into Jasper Lake. However, there’s a developer throwing money around to buy the last parcel of land he needs to build a resort. The plan will bring a huge influx of visitors in, but Gabe doesn’t want to turn the town into tourist-central. The decision lies with Kendall who needs the money the sale will bring, but despises the developer on site.

As the two work together to come up with a way for them both to win, can the emotionally distant Kendall find the faith she’ll need to take a chance on love? And if she does, how could two hearts so far apart every truly be together?

I loved the premise, the wealth of research deftly applied in light touches and the deep emotional twists and turns that keep the aforementioned pages moving along. I’ve only read one other book by Carla Laureano and after that, I had high hopes for Provenance – I wasn’t disappointed. Highly recommended.


Buy a copy or read an excerpt here…

Visit Carla’s website...

Check out her last release, Under Scottish Stars…

This is an inspirational story that many can relate to. Life is all about the relationships we have and the people who come into our lives to stay or just for a season. One thing that is for certain is that God loves us and wants us to be in a relationship with Him. I enjoy this author’s writing and how she portrays her characters authentically. She gave me a peek into the life of a woman who had a rocky childhood filled with insecurity and abandonment issues,

Interior designer Kendall Green has carved a name for herself thanks to her keen eye and talent for discovering historically significant pieces. But, most days, her success doesn’t keep her family history or the memories of life in foster care from suffocating her. To make matters worse, the ever-increasing cost of life in California has placed her home and business in jeopardy. When she unexpectedly inherits some property in Colorado from a grandmother she never knew, Kendall sees a solution to both her problems — save her business from financial ruin and lay the past to rest.

Like so many small towns, Jasper Lake is slowly disappearing, and Mayor Gabriel Brandt wants nothing more than to keep that from happening. However, his vision looks vastly different from the developer who wants to turn the place into a summer resort. When the granddaughter of one of Jasper Lake’s most notable former citizens arrives, Gabe believes he’s received his miracle. But when Kendall wants nothing to do with the town and it’s — her — history, Gabe discovers that his plan to save Jasper Lake could be in greater jeopardy than ever.

Carla Laureano returns once again with her classic, captivating style. Provenance — which is perfectly titled in every way — delivers an enthralling read complete with compelling characters, a gripping storyline, and a mesmerizing backdrop. The setting came to life with clear, vivid images that, even now, I can instantly see though I’ve read several other novels since finishing this one.

I loved the historical angle and its link to every aspect of the book: Kendall’s background, her job, the properties she inherited, etc. Laureano crafted a thread that ran through, and tied, everything together perfectly. This and my need to know Kendall’s story had me devouring pages.

Gabe, sadly, wasn’t my jam. Not wanting to give too much away, while I wasn’t a fan of him all along, I can accept we all make mistakes. However, the way he acted once everything came to the light compounded his mistakes rather than redeem him. In spite of him, the quest to uncover the history of both Jasper Lake and Kendall’s family kept me riveted, and consequently I would recommend Provenance to readers of women’s fiction.

Provenance was just as good as I expected it to be! After reading the MacDonald Family Trilogy last year, I was eager to pick up this new release from Carla Laureano and it did not disappoint.

I loved the characters and setting. The town sounds so beautiful and it was fun to read about. Gabriel was a great character, as was Kendall. I liked how the characters seemed realistic and their emotions/actions genuine. The romance was nice and I liked the ending.

All in all, Provenance was a wonderful read. It is somewhat of a longer book, but I enjoyed that as the story didn't seem rushed and was a deeper read. I recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Provenance is a contemporary novel written by Carla Laureano.

Summary: Kendall Green doesn't know anything about her past, so when she receives a letter that she has inherited her grandmother's property in the mountains of Colorado, she is stunned.

The inheritance couldn't have come at a more opportune time-now she can finally purchase her California home/design studio, and take her business to the next level.

But her arrival in Jasper, Colorado creates quite a stir. A resort developer is ready to pay outright for the property, but determined mayor Gabriel Brandt wants to keep Jasper the small charming town he remembers from his youth. And everyone seems to know more about Kendall than she does herself.

Will the handsome mayor be able to change her mind, or will she stick to her original plan to sell-especially when she discovers more about her past and the decisions that led to her abandonment?

Can Kendall make peace with the past, or is it better to just leave Jasper in her rearview mirror?

My Thoughts: Carla Laureano is one of my favorite writers, so I was excited to get the chance to review this book. And, it didn't disappoint.

The story is well-written, the characters interesting and flawed, and there is a great progression in the characters as they work through their past issues.

I liked the plot, and there is a nice romance too.

I also loved the small town of Jasper. It's really a character all it's own with unique charm and filled with colorful characters. I would love to see even more stories set in Jasper.

I really enjoyed this book, and would definitely recommend it!

I would like to thank Tyndale House Publishers for providing me with a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you!

Provenance is for the architecture aficionado what The Saturday Night Supper Club is for the foodie. But it's more than just a story about a girl who grew up in foster care and became a designer who inherited historical properties; it's a story of love, patience, adoption, and home.

(Fans of Elizabeth Maddrey's Peacock Hill Romance series should definitely check out Carla Laureano's Provenance.)

Such an amazing book about remembering to listen to God in all ways. The author drew me in and made me think about my personal life, why I do the things I do, how I want to change and many more questions. Inspirational.

What a moving story! It took me a little while to get going on this one, but that seems to be normal these days with longer novels. I immediately liked Kendall. She's complex and filled with complicated and mostly erroneous beliefs, which made her so very relatable. And while Gabe has issues of his own, he's much further along in his process of healing and figuring himself out. I love a good strong, steady hero who isn't overbearing yet shows up to provide what the heroine needs most (even if it's not what she wants). They balance each other throughout the story as Kendall discovers the truth of her provenance and how deeply she loved she has always been.

This book feels a little more overtly spiritual than some of Ms. Laureano's recent releases, and I loved that. It came through naturally and powerfully as a vital part of Kendall's discovery process. There could be no separating her spiritual journey from her personal one, and the entanglement of her journeys plus her feelings for Gabe makes this book beautiful.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for offering me an advance copy to read. All opinions expressed are my own and freely given without expectation or incentive.

Such a fun redemption story set in the high altitude of Colorado.

Kendall Green is an interior designer with a specialty in historic preservation who is in high demand for her work. However, most people don’t know her past; she was abandoned in Denver as a little girl and shuffled through the foster care system. Once she aged out of the system, she chose a path and never looked back. Returning from a business trip in Europe, she opens a letter addressed from the town of Jasper Lake, Colorado. Her grandmother passed away and she has been named the sole heir of her property. Surprised that she had a family member who knew who she was, yet overjoyed this could be just what she needs to finally purchase her Southern California property and take her business to the next level.

Upon arrival in Jasper Lake, Kendall meets young mayor Gabe Brandt. She discovers that the town is close to ruin due to previous flooding disasters and a developer wants to build a new resort but needs her property for the lake front access. Gabe wants to try to save the town without the resort and has tried multiple ways, but nothing has worked. He hopes that he can sway Kendall to keep the property so that the resort plans cannot move forward. However, she has no interest in doing that until she sees the five historic houses on the lot. Will Gabe be able to convince Kendall to help save the town? Can Kendall stomach the demolition of such unique houses even if it saves her business?

There is nothing quite like a fun, contemporary romance with lots of friction between the two main characters and even more tension surrounding them. Throw in a redemption story aspect and you’ve got yourself a signature Carla Laureano novel. I loved going back to Colorado in this series with a nod to the Solid Grounds Coffee Company (be sure to give a shout out when you spot it). I was kind of hoping for Brunch at Bittersweet Café one day, but maybe it will show up in the future.

Kendall was a difficult character to get to know. She shuts everyone out (even the reader at times) with her feelings because she has been hurt so badly in the past. She has no memory of what happened and has felt abandoned all her life. Interestingly enough, she finds it easier to confide in Gabe about her past and tells him more than anyone else she has met. I loved seeing her transformation throughout the story and discovering the power of being an adopted child of God.

Gabe is a fixer and wants to have a hand in solving every problem he encounters. He has difficulty sitting back and letting other people figure things out, even God. So, to see him become humble in this book was really intriguing. I loved the supporting characters and hope that there might be a couple future installments with their stories (fingers crossed!)

The romance wasn’t forced in the story, and frankly I got a little worried if it was even going to play out, but I think readers will be quite satisfied with the conclusion!

I received a complimentary copy of this title from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.