I wasn't sure about this book for the first few chapters, but I kept reading and was drawn into a story I couldn't put down! This was my first book by Lindsay Harrel and i am looking forward to reading more books by her. The Secrets of Paper and Ink follows the story of two women in contemporary times and another in Victorian England. All three women are dealing with some difficult life events. I loved the way Ms. Harrel ties together the two timelines. She throws in a few plot twists to keep her readers guessing. She creates handsome gentlemen for her ladies. So grab a pot of tea (sorry Sophia) and enjoy a great read!
I was given a copy of this book by Celebrate Lit with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.
About the Book
Title: The Secrets of Paper and Ink
Author: Lindsay Harrel
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Release date: February 26, 2019
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Lindsay Harrel presents a powerful story of healing, forgiveness, and finding the courage to write your own story.
A year after the death of her abusive fiancé, domestic violence counselor Sophia Barrett finds returning to work too painful. She escapes to Cornwall, England—a place she’s learned to love through the words of her favorite author—and finds a place to stay with the requirement that she help out in the bookstore underneath the room she’s renting. Given her love of all things literary, it seems like the perfect place to find peace.
Ginny Rose is an American living in Cornwall, sure that if she saves the bookstore she co-owns with her husband then she can save her marriage as well. Fighting to keep the first place she feels like she belongs, she brainstorms with her brother-in-law, William, and Sophia to try to keep the charming bookstore afloat.
More than 150 years before, governess Emily Fairfax knew two things for certain: she wanted to be a published author, and she was in love with her childhood best friend. But he was a wealthy heir and well out of her league. Sophia discovers Emily’s journals, and she and William embark on a mission to find out more about this mysterious and determined woman, all the while getting closer to each other as they get closer to the truth.
The lives of the three women intertwine as each learns the power she has over the story of her life.
Click here to purchase your copy.
About the Author
Lindsay Harrel is a lifelong book nerd who lives in Arizona with her young family and two golden retrievers in serious need of training. She’s held a variety of writing and editing jobs over the years and now juggles stay-at-home mommyhood with writing novels. When she’s not writing or chasing after her children, Lindsay enjoys making a fool of herself at Zumba, curling up with anything by Jane Austen, and savoring sour candy one piece at a time. Connect with her at LindsayHarrel.com.
Guest Post from Lindsay
With every book I write, it seems God has something new to teach me. That certainly was true of The Secrets of Paper and Ink.
Lately, I am learning more and more about the power of our words. I’ve become more conscious of the words I speak over myself as well as what I say to other people. It’s more than “positive thinking”—the words we say ultimately contribute to the stories we weave, and I want my story to be as positive and hope-filled as possible, regardless of my circumstances.
I’ve also become much more aware of the lies that I tell myself—“you are not worthy, you are not enough, you will never achieve what you want to achieve”—and the need to replace those lies with the truths that God says about me. I have listened to Lauren Daigle’s song You Say on repeat lately, and it has become a theme not just of The Secrets of Paper and Ink, but one in the story of my very life.
So while I may not have experienced everything my characters have—I’ve never suffered emotional abuse, or been ostracized by my family, or been orphaned and alone in a world that seems against me at every turn—I have learned alongside them. I set out to write a book that would draw readers closer to the true healer and hope giver, and I ended up being drawn closer myself.
And that, to me, is the true power of story.
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 26
The Avid Reader, February 26
The Power of Words, February 26
Carla Loves To Read, February 26
Blogging With Carol, February 27
Inspirationally Ever After, February 27
Kristin’s Book Reviews, February 27
Real World Bible Study, February 28
Caffeinated Christian Raves – N – Reviews, February 28
Carpe Diem, February 28
A Baker’s Perspective, March 1
Andy Carmichael, March 1
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, March 1
Bibliophile Reviews, March 2
The Becca Files, March 2
Just Your Average reviews, March 2
Christian Chick’s Thoughts, March 3
Emily Yager, March 3
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 3
Genesis 5020, March 4
Reader’s Cozy Corner, March 4
Stories By Gina, March 4
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 5
Simple Harvest Reads, March 5 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Mary Hake, March 5
Remembrancy, March 6
Through the Fire Blogs, March 6
Inklings and Notions, March 6
Just the Write Escape, March 7
Pause for Tales, March 7
Book by Book, March 7
Living Life Free in Christ, March 8
To Everything A Season, March 8
The Lit Addict, March 9
Texas Book-aholic, March 9
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 10
Janices book reviews, March 10
Bigreadersite, March 10
Henry Happens, March 11
Godly Book Reviews, March 11
All-of-a-kind Mom, March 11
amandainpa , March 11
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Lindsay is giving away a copy of Lindsay’s first book The Heart Between Us!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/dcc3/the-secrets-of-paper-and-ink-celebration-tour-giveaway
Molly Jebber writes Amish Historical Romance. Her latest release, ELLIE’S REDEMPTION, is the second book in her Amish Charm Bakery Series. Molly’s books have been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today’s HEA, and Romantic Times. Her books have received widespread media attention throughout the US. Her books are sold in print and Ebook throughout the US and United Kingdom. She’s a touring speaker for Women’s Christian Connection, other women’s organizations, and she offers presentations on writing and the Amish. She says the most rewarding part about writing stories is meeting wonderful readers who become friends through social media and at her speaking events. Please visit her website: 
