What You Said to Me: Volume 4

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.