Spend some time in beautiful Canyon Mines, Colorado with the Duffys, as the fourth Tree of Life book, What You Said to Me, uncovers family history to help a local, troubled teenager Tisha Crowder. Her family may not have the best reputation around the town, but a look into the past just might hold the hope she needs to face the future.

What You Said to Me proves to be a fitting conclusion for Olivia Newport’s series. Nolan and Jillian bring their characteristic mix of faith, curiosity, and encouragement to the featured family dilemma, making for an uplifting, intriguing read that blends past and present.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

Having read the other three books in this series, I was excited to read this installment as well. The town of Canyon Mines where this series takes place captures my imagination. Perhaps because my mother lives with us, I appreciated the idea of an adult daughter living with her father.

This story contains some familiar characters along with a new one, Tisha Crowder, who got in trouble with the law. I appreciate how these books take the reader on a journey both of genealogy and history as well character journeys as well. I feel Olivia Newport creates plots and characters worth reading.

So if you enjoy reading books set in the present that include pieces of the past centered on genealogy, check out this book for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own. ( )

Reluctant as I am to say goodbye to the quirky, heartfelt world that Olivia Newport has created, her Tree of Life series is one that I will remember and cherish. I would highly recommend reading the books in order because although the plots are different in each, the character trajectories form an ongoing narrative that is otherwise disrupted. The small town of Canyon Mines seems reminiscent of Stars Hollow (of “Gilmore Girls” fame), and I so enjoy spending time there amongst the shopkeepers and other townspeople. It is the perfect blend of modern with an old-fashioned touch, matching the dual-timeline that each book features.

The fourth and final book in this delightful series, “What You Said to Me”, takes a bit of a different track than the previous three. The mystery is intentionally not really a secret, and is apparent early on; in most cases, this would ruin the book for me and cause me to lose interest, but Newport creates enough conflict in the present day to ensure an intriguing tale. Prior to this, I was relatively unaware of the 1893 recession and the collapse of the silver mining industry, and reading about how devastating this was for the people of just one town in Colorado alone is heartrending. Even though the Brandt family is fictional, the historical backdrop is not, and considering what our country has been through in 2020, it is easier to empathize with them.

Contemporary issues intersect with those of the past century in the form of an angry, lost teenager named Tisha Crowder. Beneath her bad attitude and lack of motivation lies the root of a generations-old bitterness, one that can be eradicated only by love and healing. Her story is a keen reminder to look beyond what we can see and to acknowledge that everyone is struggling with something, that bad attitudes and bad behavior have a reason that needs to be explored with patience, love, and understanding regardless of age. When we make way for God to move in us and through us, miracles happen!

Throughout the Tree of Life series, my favorite character has been Nolan. I relate more to Jillian’s character, from her introversion to her fascination with genealogy and history, but I love her dad’s ability to assess a situation and recognize what people need in order to come to reconciliation, and to then act as mediator. While Nolan is obviously human and therefore not perfect, he serves as a subtle yet powerful reminder that Christ is our true mediator, dying for our sins and bringing us back into a right relationship with God if we accept this priceless gift. Our attitude matters, and our words matter. Proverbs 18:21 says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Choose life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )

I love being back in Canyon Mines with Nolan and Jillian! Every volume in this series is wonderful, and What You Said to Me is no exception. This book picks up right where the last installment left off, with Jillian working on one of the hardest, most tedious cases of her career, and in desperate need of help. Nolan volunteers a local fifteen year old girl that needs help of her own.

Tisha comes from a family that comes from the wrong side of the tracks, being raised in an incredibly negative environment, by generations of bitter women. It's no surprise that Tisha herself possesses these qualities, making for a very toxic work environment for Jillian. Nolan, however, champions for the girl, hoping to break her steely exterior, which was actually my favorite part of the book.

Parallel to this timeline is the story of the Brandt family losing everything in the silver mining collapse of 1893. Like all the other volumes in this series, the story lines seem like polar opposites until you read further and find out how the past and the present are intricately and beautifully intertwined.

Though What You Said to Me can be read as a standalone I highly recommend reading the rest of the series. You can find my reviews for the other books in the series below. You get a deeper understanding of the characters as well as more in-depth details of the charming town of Canyon Mines.

This series is a clean read with a geological focus, well writing, and full of heart and intrigue. I absolutely adore this series and cannot recommend it highly enough!

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from Shiloh Run Press through NetGalley. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own. ( )

What You Said to Me is a delightful addition to Olivia Newport's Tree of Life series. Although part of a series it can easily be read as a stand-alone book. Readers may want to read the previous three books for further background on the main characters. Genealogist Jillian and her lawyer/mediator father encounter a troubled teenager with a ton of family baggage that definitely needs unloading. As Tisha’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 crash of the silver mining industry in 1890s Colorado and the devastating aftermath to individuals and families involved. 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. Readers who enjoy historical fiction and split-time stories will not want to miss What You Said to Me.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required, and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour. ( )