When I Meet You: Volume 3

When I Meet You, a charmingly heartfelt story by Olivia Newport, is the third book in her Tree of Life series. Having read the first two books, I was looking forward to reading more about Jillian and her father, Nolan, as they uncover the heritage and history of individuals and families. A mystery arises when a museum owner asks them to look into the mystery of an abandoned steamer trunk--abandoned 100 years ago. Whose was it? Why was it never retrieved? Had something untoward happened to the owner? And are there descendants who would want the items in the steamer trunk alive now? Jillian was intrigued and not going to let go of her search until she had satisfactory answers. Readers are once again treated to a dual time story--one of my favorite types of stories. The dual timeline flows seamlessly and the stories finally blend together satisfactorily at the conclusion. The author has constructed strong vibrant characters that capture the reader’s heart. I really like Nolan, Jillian's lawyer father, who has added a chef hat to his many roles. He has agreed to cook for a fund raiser dinner for 200 people and the subplot surrounding this scenario adds a lot of interest to the story, even a romantic one--and who doesn't love a little romance. The plot moves quickly and the emotional tension and drama keep the pages turning quickly. I liked the casual flow of prose, with descriptive detail and a tad of humor that makes the reader feel right at home. At the end of the book the author included a teaser for the next book in the series, and I eagerly await Jillian's next ancestry adventure. I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required, and the opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.