The Inn at Hidden Run

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Pub Date 01 May 2019 | Archive Date 30 Apr 2020

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Description

A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Present to Past on Family Trees
 
Meri’s family has been producing doctors for so many generations that no one remembers why, so when she flunks out of medical school, she runs as far from her parents as she can get. In the small mountain town of Canyon Mines, Colorado, she takes a job at the Inn at Hidden Run B&B. And waits. It’s only a matter of time.
 
What she doesn’t count on is genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father, Nolan, having her back when it takes everything she has not to bolt again but to stay and face the truth that only unfolding her family’s history will reveal. While Nolan works on keeping Meri calm—and in town—Jillian pulls out of her gems of information she doesn’t know she has and arranges the puzzle pieces.
 
But none of that changes the fact that Meri’s family is closing in to haul her back to her “real” life. When their arrival inflames tensions and Meri finally does bolt, Nolan and Jillian may be out of time.
 
The Inn at Hidden Run is the first book in the Tree of Life series. Readers will come back to backdrop of a lovely mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that inspire them to connect with their own family histories and unique faith journeys.
 
A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Present to Past on Family Trees
 
Meri’s family has been producing doctors for so many generations that no one remembers why, so when she flunks out of medical...

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ISBN 9781683229940
PRICE $12.99 (USD)
PAGES 256

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Average rating from 207 members


Featured Reviews

An immersive read populated by characters as rich as the carefully crafted Colorado setting of Canyon Mines, The Inn at Hidden Run is at once a love letter to the past, a romance and a mystery. Newport smartly differentiates herself in the popular ‘time slip genre’ by rooting her story in the art of genealogy. At home with both the historical canvas of epidemic-raged late 19th Century Memphis and her contemporary frame, Newport examines the core human desire for a sense of roots and belonging. Anyone who has ever wondered how the patches of their histories are sewn into the fabric of their lives will feel completely at home in Hidden Run.

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THE INN AT HIDDEN RUN by OLIVIA NEWPORT is a really good read. I find it interesting that the author uses Jillian, a genealogist, and her father, Nolan, a family lawyer and mediator, to sort out the problems between Meri and her family. I love the easy relationship between Jillian and her father and between her and her excitable friend, Nia, and the way they all join Meri's corner, even before they have any idea what her problem is. The Inn owned by Nia and her husband serves as the backdrop for a lot of the action.
The story is split into two time frames and moves between the present day in the small town of Canyon Mines, and Memphis during the Yellow Fever epidemic of the late nineteenth century.
It is heartbreaking to see what went on in Memphis during that terrible time, but also wonderful to see the unselfish, hard work of those who risked their lives to care for the sick, the orphans and the destitute in the plague swept town.
The Christian message is strong and gave me a lot of food for thought. It is interesting to see how members of the same family can be influenced by different ancestral traits.
It is a story about relationships, reconciliation and following one's own dreams. I can highly recommend the book as an interesting and inspiring read.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

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This is a very well written book that holds your attention. This is a time split story that was really interesting and inspiring. This book is full of emotion and it is written in such a way that you can feel all of them. I really enjoyed this book. Thank you Barbour Publishing via NetGalley for the ARC copy. This is my honest opinion.

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"The Inn at Hidden Run” by Olivia Newport is a well-written, time-split story that arrests our attention, when a genealogist daughter and her lawyer-cum-mediator father sort out the baffling problems between Meri, the main character and her family. The story is split into two time frames, with a strong Christian theme, providing ample food for thought. It is a moving story about family relationships, reconciliation, depicting how the same family members are influenced by different family traits. An interesting, inspiring and immersive read, this book deftly portrays how to pursue one’s own dreams, in a love letter to the past, a romantic mystery in which Olivia Newport uses the “time slip genre” to root her story in the interesting art of genealogy, reaching back to past generations. The first book in the Tree of Life Series, “The Inn at Hidden Run” celebrates unforgettable family stories and interesting family histories that inspire readers to connect in unique faith journeys. Olivia Newport expertly examines the innate human desire for a sense of roots and belonging, creating a unique patchwork quilt of family histories, intricately woven into the daily fabric of human lives.

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Thank you to Barbour Publishing Inc. and Net Galley for inviting me , to read this book in exchange for an honest review. Olivia Newport is one of my favorite authors, and I enjoyed this start to a new series. This one revolves around Meri, who has flunked out of medical school. She flees to Canyon Mines, CO and gets a job at the Inn at Hidden Run B & B. The other characters know there is something not quite right about Meri, but they are not sure why she has come to Colorado. She meets genealogist, Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her father Nolan, who want to help her. Through Jillian's research and Nolan's support, Meri and her family start to work out their problems. A heartwarming story with lots of feel good moments and Christian love!

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I am assuming as you read this review that you’ve read the book description. I’m not going to go back over that in this review. This is more about what I enjoyed about the book.

I literally picked this book because of the cover. I liked the graphics on it and thought the title sounded “small town” intriguing. I kind of scanned the book description and downloaded the book. It was in my to-be-read pile for a month or so. I’d never read a book by Olivia Newport, and just wasn’t in any hurry to get to this one.

If I had know this book was going to be SO good, I’d have read it twice by now. This is not a romantic story. It’s a story about a family that desperately needs to come together in love and acceptance. There’s a thread of faith in this story that even though it seems small. it has huge impact on the storyline.

This author is a great storyteller. This is a “split-time” story: One story takes place in present-day Colorado; the other in Memphis in 1878. Both stories were equally interesting, but I could not imagine how they were ever going to weave together. But weave together they did, and it was amazing when all the details fell into place. It takes a talented author to pull all of this together in such a heart-touching way. I was delighted to finish the book and see that there was Chapter One of a sequel. I’m going to love going back to revisit this community again.

If you love a good story with great characters and the perfect setting, you’ll love this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

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I thoroughly enjoyed the mix of history and modern genealogy in this book. Jillian, a genealogist, and her father Nolan. a lawyer, team up to help a young woman named Meri who shows up one day at their friend's B&B in the ski country of Colorado. Nia, one of the co-owners of the B&B, is concerned about Meri and asks Jillian to come meet her.

The historical story line takes place in Memphis during a Yellow Fever epidemic and follows a well to do white woman named Eliza who bucks her family's request to join them in Wisconsin where they had gone to Summer before the epidemic hit. Instead she dives in to help. It is very interesting how the stories all come together in the end.

I received an eARC copy of this book through NetGalley and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.

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The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport is a great story with a background in history. Meri shows up in Canyon Mines Colorado looking for a job and is hired by Nia at the local Bed and Breakfast she and her husband Leo own. No one knows her background or exactly why she is there. She is very quiet and seems to be running from something or someone. In steps Jillian, a genealogist and her father Nolan an attorney and mediator. Will they solve the mystery of who Meri is and why she is running? Or will they upset her and send her on the run again?
I loved this story! It goes back and forth from the present day to the late 180’s and the Yellow Fever epidemic in Memphis TN as Jillian tries to uncover Meri’s family history and help her to deal with the present. Olivia Newport does this very well. The characters are so real and I felt I knew each of them and loved them even with their faults. I give this book 5 of 5 stars. I believe everyone who enjoys Christian fiction will want to read this one.
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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This book was a bit different than other books I have read from this author. First it was contemporary and it was historical. Two time frames. The contemporary part was about a genealogist named Jillian which was close to home for me. That's been my occupation for 40 years. The book mentioned that there was no college degree for this occupation or something to that effect, but that isn't really true. I know this because I wrote a major part of the German track Genealogy curriculum for a university in another state and that was completed several years ago after the US track had been finished. Then after this there are extensive certifications to pass to be either accredited or certified as a professional genealogist.

But that said, I can say that being a genealogist is much like being a detective. It's exciting and full of mystery!

The historical part of the book was interlaced with the contemporary parts by their individual chapters. It was about the Memphis Yellow Fever epidemic and that also intertwines with the life of Jillian's family tree project with Meri.

It was a good read but a little hard to get started on for me. I did like it and I will probably be reading the rest of the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was and no obligation to post a review.

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FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

What a charming, heartbreaking story! This book was an incredibly rich, detailed time-split tale that is a wonderful start to the Tree of Life series.

The historical thread was so fascinating. I found myself completely wrapped up in Eliza’s journey even though I wasn’t sure, until halfway through the book, why it was being told.

The contemporary thread slipped a few times into a “preachy” mode, not about religion but about how genealogy and the search for and through proper records to find family histories works. I would have loved this to be smoothed out a bit more, as it was so beautifully done in the latter chapters of the book.

That being said, I rather enjoyed getting to know Jillian, Nolan, Meri, Nia, and Leo—the featured characters in the contemporary portion of the novel. They each brought important aspects to the story and had strong personalities that played well against each other for the sake of the plot. Perhaps my favorite subplot was Jillian’s search for a replacement mug. I’ve been there plenty of times where a favorite is broken, and, trust me, the hunt is real! I also enjoyed the levity this thread brought, particularly after a couple of heavier historical scenes.

A few of the major “surprises” were completely predictable to me, but there was a certain satisfaction in knowing I had reasoned out those plot points just as well as the author as she was writing this story. These few moments did not detract from my reading experience, because both story lines were engaging, interesting, and heightened with the good sort of drama.

Fabulous news! This book contained ZERO expletives or profanities. SUCH a refreshing thing!

Content: wine used in a sauce (once), death associated with illness, tobacco mentioned (once)

Recipes would be a great addition to this book.

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‘What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.’ Micah 6:8 NIV
Meriwether Eliza Davies, Meri, arrives in Canyon Mines, Colorado from Tennessee. How she got her name and why it seems so important that she should be a doctor is information she doesn’t have and is not sure she even wants to know. What follows is a wonderful unraveling of her family genealogy all the way back to 1909 Memphis, Tennessee. So many questions are answered that it really made me wonder why we don’t all search out our genealogy. Perhaps we, like Meri, would understand the calling on our lives.
This fabulous book is the first in the author’s Tree of Life series. With such an auspicious beginning, I am certainly looking forward to the next book!
I received this book through Barbour Publishing, NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions given are my own.

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First in a new series by one of my favorite authors

This book is a new departure for the author, and I like it a lot, too. Mind you, I am very fond of her Amish series. However, this is quite different; two story lines, one contemporary, one historical. It took me a while to get into the historical story line, just a note so a reader with the same issue will indeed persevere.

Other reviewers have summarized the plot, I will just give my impressions. One of the reasons I love to read is that I learn a bit about different historical eras, different points of view, different skills. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the non-egotistical purposes of geneology, the links within a family that color the members outlooks. And, the era of the Yellow Fever episodes in the US was quite new to me, too. Kudos to Ms. Newport, I can't wait for the next book in this series.

reviewed on Amazon.com

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Jillian is a genealogist who does work for insurance companies and other entities to help find people for a number of reasons. Her father, Nolan, is an attorney who specializes in mediation. Her friend Nia owns a bed and breakfast called Hidden Run and just lost her help and needs someone to help in the kitchen, cleaning rooms, and doing the laundry. Meri is a girl (really a young woman) who has flunked out of her first semester of medical school and doesn't want to face her family. She doesn't feel that being a doctor is her calling. She comes to Canyon Mines, Colorado, the last place she remembers feeling happy, and ends up working for Nia.

Nolan convinces Jillian to use her genealogy to help Meri find herself, and then to help her family when they arrive on the scene to create chaos.

I chose to read this book because Olivia Newport wrote it. Her name on the front cover is enough to get me to read it. Her characters are "real" in a way that make them friends to the readers. The settings are perfect for the plot set-up and gives the reader pictures to hold in their minds while imagining all the places and things the characters are going through.

This is a five star book with two thumbs up and a family tree that tells more than just the genealogy.

I wish to thank Barbour Books and NetGalley.com for providing the galley I read for this review.

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The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport is the first in a series of books in the Tree of Life series. This charmingly heartfelt story focuses on a young woman who has flunked out of med school and escaped from her disapproving family to hide away. She encounters a genealogist and her father who are determined to find out more about Meri and help fix her family problems. But Meri is pretty sure strangers and a family tree can’t fix her problems. As Meri’s story unfolds, readers are also treated to a dual time story--one of my favorite types of stories. This historical drama tells of the enormity—it was a rare household where everyone survived—of the disastrous Memphis Yellow Fever outbreak in the 1870s. The dual timeline flows seamlessly and the stories finally mesh together beautifully at the end bringing a satisfactory conclusion to the story. The author has constructed strong vibrant characters that capture the reader’s heart and a small town feel to the story with the quirkiness that comes from people knowing all about each other. The dual time stories move quickly and are full of emotional tension and drama. I liked the casual flow of prose, with descriptive detail and a tad of humor that makes the reader feel right at home. I am looking forward to reading the next in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions are my own.

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History and genealogy! Meri is an interesting leading character who has intentionally flunked out of med school and run to Canyon Mines, Colorado --the last place she remembers being happy. There she meets genealogist Jillian and her mediator father, Nolan, who realize something isn't right about Meri's life. Jillian begins tracing Meri's ancestry. The Inn at Hidden Run is a dual time frame book which tells fascinating history of Memphis, Tennessee, during a yellow fever epidemic in the 1800s. Eliza is a wonderful character in the historical era. The book shows that sometimes families need to step aside and allow someone to be the person God has called them to be. I recommend The Inn at Hidden Run to others! I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

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This was a great, easy-to-read novel. I enjoyed the way the author told two stories - one in history and one in the present day. While at times the characters felt slightly one dimensional, it was a good read with an interesting plot and believable story. It had faith values without being too pushy or overbearing. Very good read!

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This book starts a new series called Tree of Life where readers will be transported back in time to find out about the history of a family. I love genealogy and with by brother's help we have found some very intriguing facts about our past relatives. In this story we are introduced to Jillian and her father Nolan who make a great team when a mysterious woman enters their life.

Meri is desperate to run away from her family and hopes to hide out in the quaint town . She lands a job at the inn but doesn't share much about herself. I liked Meri but wished she would be a bit more assertive. All her life she has done what was expected of her. I was amazed at all the doctors and medical background in her family. Of course she is expected to follow the family and get into medicine as well. This is where the book becomes intriguing and we find ourselves in a time slip story that takes us from present to the late 1870s.

I loved reading about Eliza and how dedicated she was to children. During this time period the yellow fever was running rampant and taking lives of innocent children as well as adults. The horror of this disease was hard to read about. Eliza feels helpless at times as she witnesses someone taking their last breath. I loved her compassion to help others even though she put herself in harms way. Her story was inspiring and I loved how she tied in to Meri's family.

The author does a great job of looking at family dynamics and how they can shape our future. Meri knows at some point her family will find her. Jillian becomes an advocate for Meri and investigates her family tree. It is an intricate family tree that will have surprises and answers for the family. It is a wonderful journey of discovery as Meri and her family learn about their ancestors. I read a bit of the next installment in the series and I am already anxious to delve into it. I love the way the author captures faith, family and forgiveness in a story that tugs on your heart strings.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. the review is my own opinion.

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This was an interesting time slip novel that ties both time periods together in the end. The characters were well written with situations that could relate to the modern reader. Meri runs from her hometown and family after “flunking” out of medical school. For generations those from her family have completed medical school and become practicing doctors. Meri has no interest in that field but her parents are pushing her to it.
In 1878 Memphis a terrible yellow fever outbreak has occurred and well to do residents are fleeing as fast as they can pack up. Left are the poor and African American families. Nuns, priests and caring volunteers are there to help those in need. Supplies are short because of store and shop owners boarding up and also leaving. Their only resources are abandoned gardens and the occasional supply ship.
Interestingly Jillian, a genealogist in modern time, researches Meri’s family from several generations back and comes up with information that might help her situation. But determined as her family seems to be, what will happen if or when they find her?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

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I loved everything about this book! I'm usually a little skeptical when it comes to books that include flashbacks - the author keeps the reason for the flashback too obscure for long, overuses them, or gives away all of the secrets too soon.

Olivia Newport has crafted a beautiful book about the troubles that can arise when family members are pressured to honor the family legacy without fully understanding family history. When Meri Davies shows up in the small, tourist-friendly town of Canyon Mines, her past is a total mystery and she seems quite intent on keeping it that way. Jillian Parisi-Duffy, a genealogist by trade, is pulled into unraveling this mystery by her best friend and former babysitter, Nia. Nia and her hubby own the local bed and breakfast and have just hired Meri to help out. Jillian's dad - a skilled arbitrator and lawyer - gets involved as well, determined to understand what has caused this quiet, obviously hurt and frightened young woman, to return to Canyon Mines. They quickly learn that she comes from a long line of medical professionals and has just flunked out of med school. But was her academic failure an accident, or a sign that another call is tugging at Meri's heart?

Woven into this story are flashes of the past. It's the later 1870's and Memphis is in the grips of an epidemic. Yellow fever, to be exact, (This outbreak actually occurred - more than 120,000 individuals were infected and between 13,000 and 20,000 died. Many who were healthy and had the means left the city before they could be infected. The population dropped so low that Memphis lost its city charter for a time.) A young woman named Eliza, from a family of means, stays in the city helping to care for the poor and ill in any way she can. But how does Eliza's story of courage and compassion in the face of personal risk connect to a young woman running from her family in the 21st century?

Newport does a beautiful job crafting characters that the readers will care about and maybe even identify with. When she finally connects Eliza's story with Meri's, all those concerned will finally see that Meri's passion, while not in the medical field, will still honor a family legacy based on doing what one can for those in need. This is the first in a series and I fully intend to keep reading!

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The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport was a great story about finding your roots and what they mean to you. I really enjoyed meeting the characters and am looking forward to the next books in the series. The story follows Meri, a young woman who runs away from her family’s push on her life to a little inn in a mining town in Colorado. She is very quiet about herself and what brought her there, although the towns people try to get her to open up. Enter Jillian and her father Nolan, a genealogist and a family lawyer, both intent on helping Meri reconcile with her family and herself. The story switches between present day and Memphis of 1878, when the yellow fever epidemic stole thousands of lives. I was kept guessing until the very end to see how the stories would enter-twine and I was not disappointed. If you enjoy historical fiction, this story will be sure to keep your attention and leave you wanting more! I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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A very nice read! Filled with present-day family drama and a historical medical drama. The author did a wonderful job connecting the history with the present day through genealogy.
I felt very bad for Meri. The pressure to be a doctor because that's what all the family has been for generations is ridiculous. Her brother is a controlling jerk.
The historical information that Jillian was able to piece together was very interesting. I liked the time-slip. The story of Eliza helping fight the yellow-fever epidemic in 1878 Memphis was very well told.
Both stories had good endings. I look forward to the rest of the series.

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"Work will always be there later, but the moment is only here now."

"May you always find nourishment for your body at this table. May sustenance for your spirit rise and fill you with each dawn. And my life always feed you with the light of joy along the way." (Lovely Irish table blessing.)

As a genealogy addict myself, I really enjoyed this book. Sometimes dual timelines do not work well, but Newport did a superb job of carrying each through without losing the train of thought of either. I enjoyed both the historic and current lines equally. Her research into the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis (which I knew nothing about) was impeccable.

I found the main characters in each timeline realistic and admirable. I can totally understand Jillian's obsession and losing track of time when working on genealogy. I have had that happen more times than I can count. I would like to see her find more life outside of her work, but the care she takes with her clients was sweet. The role Nolan played in mediating the estrangement between Meri and her family was wonderful. Although trained as a lawyer, his counseling skills were incredible. In this historic time line, Eliza was amazing. What a kind, caring, loving woman. So selfless, and so giving. The role that she and the nuns played in caring for the thousands stricken and dying from yellow fever was unbelievable. The ending tying the two timelines together was something I suspected, but still left enough hanging that I look forward to the next book in the series, In the Cradle Lies, which releases in November.

** I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley to facilitate this review. Opinions are mine alone. I was not compensated for this review.

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The Inn at Hidden Run by author Olivia Newport is a dual time period (contemporary and historical) Christian mystery romance. Author Newport is a grand storyteller. She weaves past and present together flawlessly into one poignant tale.

This is the contemporary tale of genealogist Jillian and her attorney father, Nolan, from Colorado who together trace family histories for people. It is also the tale of a family of doctors and the yellow fever outbreak in Memphis, Tennessee in late 1870’s. The family turned up in research when Jillian began helping Meri, a new girl in town.

This is a very interesting plot. The author did a wonderful job with research and providing an authentic story. I am a historical fiction lover over contemporary, so needless to say, I enjoyed reading that portion just a tad bit more.

Author Newport’s tale pulled at my heartstrings. Parts of it brought tears to my eyes. I was invested in both of the intertwined storied. Her style of writing is easy and unrushed. She allows you to soak in all of the details and transport yourself to a different locale or era, and sometimes both. The characters were well rounded. They had good points and flaws. Some of them felt like new friends and I wants to have coffee with them.

The historical section read very authentic. The characters were likable and genuinely cared for people. I learned a lot about Memphis and the Yellow Fever. Like I said earlier, this is a well researched, organized, planned, and written novel.

The inspirational and faith element is laced throughout this lovely book. Life lessons of forgiveness, grace, finding God’s Will for your life, family, love, caring for ill, and hope are just a few things I found inside the pages.

I definitely would recommend this book. Get a book group together so that you will be able to toss some questions around. Genealogy lovers will enjoy the book as will mystery buffs. Contemporary and Historical fiction will each have a section to like and one to test. It gets a 4 out of 5 stars from me.

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This book is the beginning of a new series. It reads like a cozy mystery but without the murder. Jillian, a genealogist, and her father Nolan, a lawyer-mediator, work together to find the history of a young woman's past in order to help her and her family reunite. In the search, the story takes you back to Memphis during the time of the yellow fever outbreak. As Jillian searches further, the connection between the two stories becomes clear. A fun, light mystery with Christian undertones. Anyone interested in history and genealogy will really enjoy this mix.

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Olivia Newport has done a great job with tying together the present day with the past in her latest novel. Meri and Jillian are both great main characters and I loved how their lives intersect as does the Meri's life with her ancestors. The storyline was very well developed as the reader gets to know Meri and what she is dealing with currently as well as her family background and how family impacts us as far as who we become. Being a genealogist is fascinating and I enjoyed really getting to and understand what all is involved in this occupation. I am a fan of history and so I really liked how the past is tied in with this story as well as I felt like the author did a great job at describing and really bringing to life the characters and issues both in current day and in the past. This book is an excellent start to this new series and I am excited to read more to come!

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The past has a way of affecting the present...

When I started The Inn At Hidden Run I wasn't sure what to expect. I've read a few of Olivia Newport's other books, Amish and historical, but contemporary was a new one for me. I've been interested in my family history since I was a little girl reading my great grandma's copies of her family's history in the corner of her living room. Needless to say, I was intrigued both by the title of the series and the back cover blurb.

As I said, I wasn't sure what to expect and I was quite pleasantly surprised. The dual timeline worked very well and I was impressed by Olivia Newport's ease with both the historical and contemporary threads. I was also impressed by the fact that this is not a romance tale at all. No, The Inn At Hidden Run is more about family, both the good and the messy. It's about finding your place, meeting in the middle, and about dealing with the well-meaning but sometimes suffocating expectations of those we love.

I was quite the fan of the historical angle as well. I learned so much about the yellow fever epidemic in Memphis in 1878 and I was inspired by the sacrifice of the people who sacrificed themselves. I have to admit that many of the aspects brought up were things I hadn't thought about. What happens to the people left behind in a city brought to its knees by an epidemic no one really understood?

The Inn At Hidden Run was a great start to what I think will prove to be an interesting series. I'm definitely looking forward to Olivia Newport's next installment in The Tree Of Life. If you are looking for a story about family dynamics and not hinged on romance I would recommend giving this book a try.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

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Let me start by saying... I've never read a book by Olivia Newport. This first book in the Family of Life series was really, really interesting. I am a genealogy buff. I love finding connections or interesting information on my own family tree. That's why this book interested me! 
I loved how the past and present were presented. I loved the way reconciliation was walked through. Loved this book! I'm staring the next in the series soon! Enjoy!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley on behalf of the Publisher and was under no obligation to post a favorable review.

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“So, but true. She would have to procure a new favorite coffee mug. - Opening lines of The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport

The summary of The Inn at Hidden Run by Olivia Newport, and it’s cover, caught my attention but I wasn’t sure what to expect. I kept returning to it until, finally, picking up the 10% sample. From the first line, I was hooked (as anyone with a favourite mug would be), the writing is so comforting and warm, conversational but interesting. Curious, I had to keep going!

Meri’s journey is the centre piece of the story but genealogist, Jillian and family lawyer, Nolan are the narrators and the delightful father-daughter duo who lead us through the story. Amongst the present-day narrative are historical portions set in Memphis in the 1800s, a traumatic period in this city’s history, as it is ravaged by Yellow Fever, I didn’t anticipate this sad, but accurate, element. Lead by a team of nuns, a community of women gather to care for those suffering, relying on God and each other to get them through to this heart-wrenching time. The pain shared in these chapters have a purpose in the present day characters’ journey but it’s not for the faint-hearted.

Context has such impact on who we become and what we believe about ourselves. This is highlighted by this book as it traces the history of families and how it has brought them to where they are now. Family can so challenging, Nolan’s family counseling approach to reconciling Meri with her family shows how an outside perspective can diffuse tension and help bring unity.

Whilst I struggled with the parts focused on the Yellow Fever epidemic, I did enjoy the book and look forward to the next in this series. It’s a four out of five on the en-JOY-meant scale.

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It's official - Olivia Newport makes me want to dig into my own family history. Now obviously I don't have an author writing my family's story from the 1800's in a lifelike time slip, but I could picture it in my head I guess. It was so fascinating to me watching Jillian research. Having little pieces of the puzzle come together, not only for Meri's family, but others as well. I don't have the slightest idea in how to research my family history, so this was a learning experience for me. Yes, Christian Fiction can teach!

I think this story is also for all those young adults who are trying to find their own way in life, but have pressures from their own families. I am thankful that I didn't have a parent who chose my path, and I couldn't imagine being in a family where that is absolutely true. Meri's character surprised me throughout the book. At times when I thought for sure she would run and hide, she didn't. The times I thought she would be strong, she wasn't. But isn't that the case with us in life sometimes? We run when we shouldn't, and don't run when we should. Newport does a fantastic job in developing Meri's character, her self esteem, and her relatability. Although you are not really reading from Meri's point of view, you get to know her little by little, and I found her to be intriguing.

Perhaps the biggest shock of the book was the way Newport makes being a genealogist seem really cool. I'm sure it is hard, tedious work. But Newport somehow makes Jillian's character come alive when she's working. She has spunk to her. Never mind the fact that she loves her coffee, no matter what time of day - she's a character I feel I could spend time with and always be smiling or laughing. I cannot wait to see the adventures that she has in future books in this series. The release dates cannot come fast enough!

The Inn at Hidden Run has a little bit of something for everyone. Great history, family turmoil, new friendships, a little bit of faith, and the sense of doing what you're called to do. I highly recommend this gem of a book! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Every now and then a story takes you by surprise and blows you out of the water and that for me is The Inn at Hidden Run, two stories that take place at two different times that both run parallel and co-mingle in the most endearing way. A tale that reminds you that you can find a lot of who you are at your core from those that came before you. Many do not care about lineage and ancestry but I truly believe that you can find out a lot about a person if you take a glimpse into the past.

While Maris's story piqued my interest, the tale of Eliza Davies and her immense bravery during the yellow fever outbreak in Memphis in 1878 is really what captured my imagination, and sadly not in a pleasant way. The authors writing was impeccable with vivid imagery and such emotion that it ignited a desire in me to not only read more about this devastating plague but also to find out more about my own family's history, which I honestly believe is one of the author's driving forces behind this unique historical fiction series.

I immensely enjoyed The Inn at Hidden Run and have already started the next book in the series, which I can tell is going to be another great read!

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If you want a fun fast read and like past and present mixed together then this book I recommend.
Olivia is a favorite author of mine and I certainly enjoyed reading something different from her Amish novels.
I couldn't put this book down I was so drawn into it. She has a fantastic writing style all her own and certainly knows how to use it!
All of the characters were amazing and so we're the supporting characters. The plot was well crafted and we know what happens when all of these things are blended together just right!
I loved this book and I hope you will too!!
I recommend this book. My thanks to Netgalley for a copy. NO compensations were received. All opinions are my own!

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This is an incredible duel-time novel!

I was caught up in Meri’s story and wanted to find out what the bottom line problem was in her family relationships. She was very well developed and my heart went out to her from very early in the story.

I was absolutely fascinated by the historical portion of this book. It was set in 1878 Memphis, Tennessee, during the Yellow Fever epidemic. The amount of details given about what life was like for those who lived through it is amazing. This was a historical event that I knew nothing about. I was horrified to think about the terror people lived with and the conditions surrounding them.

I love it when an author can teach me history in such an enjoyable way.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book 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. 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.*

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Uplifting and Entertaining:
The Inn at Hidden Run was an entertaining and delightful read. The dual modern and historical story plots captured my attention from the beginning and I kept wanting to read to see how things turned out. The present day characters were quirky and entertaining although I did wonder at their intense need to research Meri's life right from the get-go. However I enjoyed reading about the family dynamics and eventual growth and healing that takes place. It is an uplifting, encouraging and lighthearted book and I look forward to reading more books in this series.

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What a charming book! I got caught up in the story and can't wait until the rest of the series is printed. Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an ARC of this book~ I've already purchased the books for our library, especially for our readers who love genealogy!

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The Inn at Hidden Run was such a great book with two heartwarming stories that entwined together. Olivia Newport is a wonderful story teller, I'm looking forward to more of this series!

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Edited review on 10/23/20

When I first read this book, I thought it was okay. I did not completely follow the characters or the storyline. Then I was asked to read the second book, and I knew that I would definitely not keep up without at least skimming book one again. And I liked it so much better the second time. I was able to keep up with the plot. And I came to appreciate even more the importance of family in this plot. I am not sure that I have ever updated a review before, but I felt like this one deserved to be bumped up since my opinions definitely changed. I have now read four books in the series, and I am quite glad that I continued to give the series a chance. As the books progress, the plots have continued to become more cohesive and interesting.

Updated rating: 4.2 stars


This is my original review from 6/19/19.

This is a time slip book. At first, I did not really connect to the historic story. But by the end, the stories went together. I wish that there would have been more of a spiritual element. There was definitely a strong family element to the book. While I do think that the past affects the present, I do not know that I am convinced that there the generational influence is as strong as the author portrays. I would possibly be willing to read another book in the series. I did like the father-daughter duo.

(I forgot to include that I did read this book through NetGalley. All opinions were my own.)

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