Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark is a 2021 Bethany House publication.

No sophomore slump here!

Ashley Clark follows her stellar debut novel with a story of hope, preservation, and second chances. Utilizing the vivid hues of blended watercolors, art, and history, the story follows Eliza and William, a star -crossed couple, in the late twenties, kept apart by secrets and greed and a family feud over a piece of heirloom silver.

In present day, Lucy Lagare and Declan Pinkney developed a near instant chemistry between them, only to learn their families were at odds over some missing silver one has accused the other of stealing.

When Lucy mysteriously inherits an old Charleston home from a secret benefactor, the feud heats up when Declan announces his plans to expand in the exact same area.

With zero respect for preservation, Declan is only concerned with progression. Despite his tender feelings for Lucy, Declan seems to succumb to his father’s pressure to thwart Lucy’s plans to restore the home. But Lucy proves to be a worthy opponent, determined to fight for history and her own heritage….

I love history, southern fiction, and art- so this story was right up my alley. This is a lovely story, filled with lush gardens and beautiful watercolors, juxtaposing our days of despair with the hope and promise a better plan that lies ahead.

I enjoyed the setting, the ‘enemies’ falling love-putting to rest long held resentments, plus the sweetest way the mysteries were solved.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable, refreshing, and a solid addition to this series!!

4 stars ( )

Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark will delight fans of her first book (as we get to see several connections between this one and The Dress Shop on King Street) and introduce new readers to her dual-timeline storytelling.

My favorite timeline in this book was the contemporary one with Lucy, Declan, and their feuding families. I was cheering for these two from their sweet first date (which takes a quick turn for certain). I just loved Lucy in this. She’s determined (to a fault sometimes) and intelligent and passionate about Charleston history.

In the historical thread of this book, Eliza is an artist known for her floral paintings. Then there’s William, who at first seems up to no good, but then we see his heart. Their story is a rocky one but also one that adds so much depth to this book.

Clark knows Charleston and invites readers to visit the South Carolina town within the pages and she weaves a mystery a missing silver from 1929 to present day.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. ( )

This is my first full-length novel by this talented author, but it most definitely will not be my last! I greatly enjoyed the split time story and thought the author did a phenomenal job of bringing the two timelines together throughout the plot. The author also has such a beautiful writing voice and her words come to life off the pages. I have not yet read the first book in this series, but I will be going back to check it out as I think there are some crossovers of characters; that being said, I do not think my lack of reading the stories in order significantly detracted from this overall story. I really liked the characters in this novel and found myself thinking about them long after I finished the story. They have great depth and development in the novel. I could really say a lot of wonderful things about this book but I simply encourage you to get a copy and find out for yourself how awesome this story truly is! Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own. ( )

Going into this book I didn't know how it could possibly live up to the high expectations I had built up for it after reading The Dress Shop on King Street, but that was before reading Paint and Nectar.

Paint and Nectar is a gorgeously written split-time novel that follows watercolorist Eliza, and William the man hired to forge her art as they grow close.

In the present day, Lucy is gifted her dream home on Charleston's historic Rainbow Row, while Declan is tasked with the mission of buying her home at all costs. As old family secrets are unearthed and an ancient rivalry is revealed, will they be able to let go of the past in order to embrace the future?

This book is nothing short of stunning, with beautiful flowing prose that blends past and present in this gently powerful and poignant story. A stunning sequel that melds entrancingly with the story of the previous novel, while still being a strong standalone. But I promise if you read The Dress Shop on King Street, there is major reader payoff!

Ms. Clark has crafted a cast of wonderful complex characters, it's not often that I find myself invested so equally in each of the characters that a book follows, but this time I was. It was absolutely wonderful to see so many familiar faces from the previous book woven so beautifully into the fabric of the story.

Overall, a captivating read that digs into Charleston's rich history, brought to life in vivid color through this story of love, loss, betrayal, and second chances.

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

Ashley Clark has penned another captivating split time story with the second novel in her Heirloom Secrets series, Paint and Nectar. The gorgeous cover attracted me first, and after I read the premise, I knew I had to read it. Although it can be read as a standalone book, I would recommend reading the first novel, The Dress Shop on King Street first, as there are several characters from it that show up in the new tale. With beautiful prose and skillful weaving of the storylines, Clark brings the realistic, colorful and engaging characters to life and paints a delicious picture of southern life in Charleston.

An old family feud between the Pinckneys and the Legares over stolen family silver carries over into both of the timelines and wreaks havoc in the lives of William and Eliza in 1929 and Lucy and Declan in the present day. Various twists and turns add intrigue and adventure to the story. Themes of preserving history and following your dreams run through the tale with an added takeaway of forgiveness and hope. I’m looking forward to reading more stories from this talented author. 4.5 stars

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Bethany House Publishers. All opinions are my own. ( )