About the Book
Book: Hope Between the Pages
Author: Pepper Basham
Genre: Christian Historical
Release date: April, 2021
Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.
Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.
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About the Author
More from Pepper
Books are a uniquely portable magic – Stephen King
Appalachia is known for having a high illiteracy rate. A place of beautiful scenery and rugged landscapes, the people of the mountains developed stories through oral storytelling much more than “book learning”. As a young girl growing up in this world, I loved hearing my granny share tales from up to five generations ago, filling in the narrative gaps between a birth date and a death date on a tombstone – giving flesh and breath to the stone-etched names.
It’s no surprise then, with a heart cultivated from rich oral stories, I fell in love with reading. Books became that “portable magic” that took me places my little Appalachian community couldn’t provide. I fell in love with the Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew. Wept through the end of Bridge to Terabithia and Old Yeller. Traveled to the plains with Sarah Plain and Tall and fell in love with horses with The Black Stallion. But when I was in seventh grade, I read my very first “British” novel, The Secret Garden. In that one introduction, my world expanded into mysterious English manor houses and British classics. Before long, I’d consumed Jane Eyre, Austen’s classics, some Dickens, Dracula, Frankenstein…and the list goes on! And then…I found Tolkien and Lewis – and the ‘real’ world swelled into OTHER worlds.
I’m grateful for true stories of book-loving pioneers traveling into the world of Appalachia to provide books and literacy training to “my people”, because I know some of those books made their way to my tiny elementary school library…and not only brought me the chance to discover stories, but to write them too!
Isn’t it amazing how books can do that?
In Hope Between the Pages, I wanted to bring the same awe and discovery I felt as a child (and continue to feel as an adult reader) to the story of two people whose words had seemed small. Stories stretched their worlds, but the stories also gave them wonderful imaginations and positive perspectives. It’s still amazing to me that ink-and-paper words can make such a lasting impact on hearts and minds. They can lead us to dream, teach us new things, encourage our hearts, help us to think outside the box, swell our imaginations, broaden our horizons, and encourage our hope.
Books are not a replacement for real adventures and relationships, but they certainly provide a beautiful “door” into other lives and worlds that we may never have a chance to experience in real life. Sadie, my historical heroine, and Clara, my contemporary heroine, both have kept close to home but traveled greatly through books…and BOTH are given the opportunity to reach beyond the bindings to discover real-life adventures. I’d like to think that their love for stories helped them have the courage to step away from the page and into their own tales even more prepared than they would have been without stories.
What are some of your favorite books you read as a child? Did any of them influence you to become a more avid reader?
MY REVIEW
This is one of those books that captures the true feeling of unconditional love. I love that it is a time slip story which is one of my favorite genres. The author has exquisitely written with such depth that I was immediately transported into the time period where the story originates.
Sadie is a wonderful character and I loved her hunger for books. She is well versed in different genres and I especially liked that she took such good care of each precious book. The treasures found in the library she took care of was fascinating. Her ability to pick out just the right book for someone was inspiring. She may have been a house servant to most people, but to a certain young man she was a princess.
The romance between Sadie and Oliver was so incredibly sweet that I cried throughout the book. I thought that Oliver was a wonderful young man who didn’t see Sadie as anything but a loving, caring woman who he adored. Their time together is special and I found that they both grew in faith and love for each other. I think the author did a great job of tying their story perfectly with the present as we meet Clara.
Clara runs a bookstore that she believes is rightfully hers. Unfortunately someone is trying to take it away from her unless she can produce the deed. For me this is where the past and present come together to produce a long ago romance that reads like a fairytale. I couldn’t put the book down because I was so invested in Sadie and Oliver. I loved that the story is set around a bookstore and the history it hides just behind bookshelves or in between pages of books. It is a masterfully written story that captures the hope of a better life. Clara has many surprises in store for her as she unravels the relationship between Sadie,Oliver and herself. Be prepared to not be able to put the book down as it surrounds you with sadness, joy, hope and most of all unconditional love.
"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and Celebrate Lit and was under no obligation to post a review."
Blog Stops
The Avid Reader, April 24
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 24
Reflections From My Bookshelves, April 24
Worthy2Read, April 24
Texas Book-aholic, April 25
Reviewingbooksplusmore, April 25
Christian Bookaholic, April 25
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 25
She Lives To Read, April 26
Books and Everyday Life, April 26
For the Love of Literature, April 26
For Him and My Family, April 26
Wishful Endings, April 27
Bigreadersite, April 27
The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 27
deb’s Book Review, April 27
Inklings and notions, April 28
Connect in Fiction, April 28
Writing from the Heart Land, April 28
Blogging With Carol, April 28
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 29
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 29
Life of Literature, April 29
Pick a good book, April 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, April 30
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 30
Betti Mace, April 30
Kathleen’s Blog, April 30
lakesidelivingsite, May 1
Connie’s History Classroom, May 1
Fiction Book Lover, May 1
Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 1
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 2
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 2
Godly Book Reviews, May 2
Mary Hake, May 2
Older & Smarter?, May 3
Genesis 5020, May 3
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 3
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 4
Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads , May 4
Blossoms and Blessings, May 4
sodbusterLiving, May 4
Splashes of Joy, May 5
Where Faith and Books Meet , May 5
Simple Harvest Reads, May 5 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Through the Fire Blogs, May 5
Pause for Tales, May 6
To Everything There Is A Season, May 6
Remembrancy, May 6
Lights in a Dark World, May 6
Live.Love.Read., May 7
Karen Sue Hadley, May 7
Amanda Tero, blog, May 7
The Write Escape, May 7
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10b27/hope-between-the-pages-celebration-tour-giveaway
Sounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much, Deana!!!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a great book!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release!!!
ReplyDeleteOoh, sounds exciting!!
ReplyDeleteEvery night ended with a story read to me by my Mother from "365 Bedtime Stories" - a book which I still have. Then I began reading the stories to my Mother and eventually read them independently with no help. In 4th grade I discovered Nancy Drew mysteries which led to a lifelong delight of reading mysteries which are still my favorite genre. Later I became a librarian and have also worked as a copy editor. I'm looking forward to reading your novel as I love bookstores and I've always loved writing and receiving letters so I'm fascinated to know how the letter plays into the story. Thank you for the opportunity.
ReplyDelete