The Inn at Hidden Run: Volume 1

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.

This review is for the complete paperback copy of: The Inn At Hidden Run by Olivia Newport This book seemed to be more about family and relationships, more than the inn at Hidden Run. It was vaguely referred to once in awhile. I reckon if you need to give a book a name, there it is. Mari Davies is on the run! Her family of doctors is pressing her into a doctor's life. She knows she flunked the doctor's test. She has no desire to be a doctor, but her family won't quit pushing her. So, she ended up in Colorado-from Tennessee, found a job at the Inn at Hidden Run, as a clerk. Little did she know the owners of the inn would be interested in her and what she was fleeing from. The owners, begin tracking Meri's family down. They do eventually discuss what is the matter with Meri's family and everyone decides that Meri is right, in wanting to choose her own profession. The story gravitates towards coffee throughout and a lot of the discussions take place over meals. Coffee is never a bad thing. Paralleling this story is the one of Eliza in 1878 Tennessee, helpmate to all whom need her and frequently a visitor at the local hospital. Covers a good amount of family history, makes you want to look up your own genealogical history. I was provided a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and Shiloh Run Press and I was under no obligation to post a review. The Inn At Hidden Run by Olivia Newport