The Space Between Words is a complex, thought provoking and emotional book that encompasses historical as well as modern day tragedies. This book is one that will stay with the reader to ponder after reading the last word. It is hard to give an idea of all that this story is about because it seemed like a long journey to me and really it is. It begins in Paris.

Jessica and Vonda are on vacation visiting their roommate Patrick while he is spending time in Paris. On the last night of their stay in Paris, the two girls go to a concert while Patrick has other plans. Tragically, terrorists attack the concert goers where Jessica is shot. Vonda sustained no injuries but she is so shaken up that she went back to the states shortly afterwards. After leaving the hospital, Jessica decides to travel to the south of France on a previously planned treasure hunting trip. While staying in a cottage on an estate owned by an American named Mona, Jessica, she finds a handmade sewing chest at a flea market. The sewing box has a false bottom containing pages of an old bible and papers written in 1695 in old French by a Huguenot woman, Adeline Baillard, telling of the persecution her family endured at the hands of the French king because of their Protestant beliefs. Mona's brother, Grant, is very interested in the papers in the chest and happily helps Jessica translate the story. As Grant and Jessica unravel the story of the Baillard family, the two, along with Mona and her son Connor, follow the story of the Baillard family on an exploration trip to England. Some of the Baillard family leave France for England as did thousands of other Huguenots during the years of persecution.

Jessica is dealing with nightmares, fear, anger, bitterness and lack of desire to face what she has been through and what she saw happen to so many people at the hands of the terrorists who yelled support for Syria. She wonders how God would allow this to happen when He could prevent it. Grant has his own issues from his life in California. They both strongly want to follow through and get answers to what happened to the Baillard family. Did they reach England or did the king's dragoons get them? Jessica, Grant and even Mona are touched by what they find out in England. Jessica and Grant are drawn closer as they work through the story and their own issues. There is a side story of Patrick that you will need to read the story to hear.

This emotional story of persecution and horror shows how one's faith and courage leads them through whatever happens with God's strength. The historical background of the Huguenots was very interesting and I would like to research them more. As with other martyrs, their faith was amazing.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read and give an honest review of this great story.

A very enjoyable historical fiction. Jessica survives the Paris concert attacks and wants to go back to the US as quickly as she can. Her best friend and roommate Patrick convinces her to go on the trip they’d planned through the French countryside looking for treasures for him to sell in his shop. At an Airbnb, Jessica is forced to try and overcome and accept what happened in Paris. She finds a sewing box with hidden writings from a young Huguenot women in France in the late 17th century after the Edict of Nantes was withdrawn and persecution of Huguenots was at a heightened frenzy. I enjoyed both aspects of the story and learned a bit about this period of history. I found Jessica to be a highly engaging character and the story drew me in with its unique premise and storyline.

Jessica was talked into going to a concert at The Bataclan Concert Hall in Paris with her friend, Vonda, instead of to an art show with Patrick, and it proved to be the wrong choice.

Jessica and her friend were caught in the terrorist attack at the 2015 Concert Hall, but thankfully Jessica and Vonda were only harmed.

After Jessica was released from the hospital, her parents insisted she return home to the United States, but Patrick insisted more heavily that she stay in France and go on their planned trip.

While staying at a bed and breakfast and as she was antique hunting, a sewing box caught Jessica's eye.

As Jessica pried the bottom of the sewing box off, she noticed a piece of red yarn sticking out from under the box's bottom and found pages torn from a Bible that triggered something in Jessica’s mind that she couldn't understand.

The Bible pages turned out to be a marvelous treasure with secrets of their own and also something that brought Jessica to a reality she hadn't been aware of.

I was intrigued when Jessica found the sewing box and the pages of handwritten notes. I love finding out origins of things and especially diaries or notes from a real person.

The pages from the Bible spurred the characters to do research and find family members who fled France during the time in history when The Huguenots were forced out because of their religious beliefs.

THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS moved from present to past telling the story of the Huguenot persecution and their flight out of France. This is another part of history I had heard about but never studied.

I didn't know what to expect when I first started to read THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS, but the story line quickly went from an OK read to a WOW read as the characters uncovered more history of the handwritten notes in the Bible pages.

THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS also addressed Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

If you enjoy historical fiction, finding treasures at flea markets, a marvelous story line, and detailed character description, you will not want to miss THE SPACE BETWEEN WORDS.

Ms. Phoenix paired two horrific historical events and created a marvelous book that will stay with long after you turn the last page.

4/5

This book was given to me free of charge and without compensation by the author, the publisher, and NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I can't even begin to put into words the way that this novel captivated me. I couldn't put it down, and there was never a section of the book that I had to "push myself through" in order to get to the rest of the book.
This book begins with you meeting three friends in Paris, two who came for a weeks vacation and one who is temporarily a student there. They decide to attend a concert at the Bataclan when it is attacked by terrorists causing multiple deaths and injuries; this includes the main character Jessica and her closest friend Patrick. Jessica was able to have surgery and recover physically but mentally she is tortured by what she has endured, including the death of Patrick.
As Jessica tries to overcome her mental torment, she finds an old sewing box which releases a story from the late 1600's, and she finds a family of sorts that is willing to investigate the past and help her heal.
This is a must read for anyone who loves a good mystery. I also loved how the story was intertwined with real events.

This book is a story within a story, a book of resilience, a look at friendships, tragedies and the ability to continue on.
The book starts out in 1695 where Adeline Baillard, is telling the story of her families struggle of being protestants and being persecuted in France for their religion. A risky place to live and where, they could only meet in secret to pray and express their faith. Some would escape the country, but others had to live with the consequences of being caught.
Then we come into the present day, where Jessica and Patrick, close friends, who had finally made it to Paris on vacation, but where on their last night in the city, Tragedy strikes. Jessica and another friend, chose to go to a concert, and Patrick decided to go to an art opening. Horror breaks out at the concert, where a terrorist group has started killing innocent people and a terrifying night is shown to us through Jessica's eyes.
Waking up the next day in the hospital, Jessica wants nothing more than to leave the country as soon as she heals some from her wounds, but Patrick finally convinces her to continue the trip they had planned through France in search of treasures, meaning great finds in antique stores, something he loved to do., and hoping that this will be a way for Jessica to start her recovery.
When reaching one of their destinations they come upon a wonderful place full of treasures and where she finds a beautiful old sewing box, and some hidden pages from a rare bible, under one of the drawers, with part of a personal story written on its pages. With the help of new friends at the B&B where she is staying they all go on a trip of discovery, searching for more about the life of the Baillard family.
A theme throughout this book is :
Endure with courage
Resist with wisdom and
Persist in faith
This is a really good story, with some interesting twists.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the ARC of this book.

For those who believe in an almighty being, there never is an end to life. The spirit goes on and lives within words, sounds, and breaths. For Jessica, a young woman living for a time in France, with her very good friend Patrick, life is good. She has friends, she is living in The City of Lights, and she has her independence. However, that is taken away from her by a horrific terrorist attack at a concert she attends with a friend. She is left devastated, fearful, shot, and suffering from PTSD.

Life changes and as Jessica awakens in a hospital, she begins a torturous recovery process. She is urged by the ever constant friend Patrick, to go on a trip that they had planned looking for "treasures" in old barns, antique venues, and towns. She with Patrick's aid, finds an old sewing box dating back to the sixteenth century. Concealed within the box are old papers which are written in old French which are in need of translation.

These papers turn out to have belonged to a young girl named Adeline Baillard. Adeline and her family, being Huguenots in Catholic France in the sixteen hundreds, are condemned because of their beliefs. They and others suffer religious persecution but refuse to deny their faith. What happened to Adeline and her family? Did any of them survive and if they did where did they go? These questions plague Jessica and she resolves to search out answers.

Jessica with the help of a family she meets and stays with on her trip, decide to find what she can about the Baillards and this quest helps Jessica heal from the horrible events she witnessed and was a part of. They travel from France to England in search of answers.

This book offered historical insight into the Huguenots and I learned about a group that although I had heard of, really knew nothing about. It was also a step back into a time where religion formed the basis of all lives and when religious freedom was not a guarantee.

It was sad that lives were crushed because of a religious choice. Just as Jessica feels her life was crushed when the terrorists attacked and wantonly murdered innocents, the Huguenots were also attacked because of their belief in God.

While the book has many positives, it did have a few holes within it. Jessica, for one although likable, at times seemed not as convincing as she could have been, Also somewhat awkward was the romantic element that seemed to have been thrown in as an aside and frankly did not work within the confines of the story. Another point that bothered me was after Jessica was hurt and suffering she seemed to ignore her parents who offered her help and solace. She tells them not to come to her bedside and they acquiesce. As a parent, though nothing would have sopped me from coming to my child at a time like this.

So, although this was a well written book which I liked, I did find some things that just did not help with the flow of this novel.

Thank you for NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the opportunity to read this advanced copy of this book for an unbiased review.

Jessica likes exploring through the different stuff at flea markets. When she finds a document about a family, she is intrigued. She is on a quest of finding this family to see if they are real.
I enjoyed this book. It was very entertaining. The characters are true to life. I would definitely recommend this book.
5 stars

When I requested a copy of The Space Between Words, I was not aware that it was Christian fiction. Had I been aware of the heavy religious themes, I probably would have passed on this book. However, I am still glad I read this book and will be reviewing its literary merit as a piece of Christian fiction. Don't get me wrong--I consider myself a Christian. However, I simply prefer my moral teachings to be more implicit than explicit when I read.

The plot of The Space Between Words was intriguing, and although the attack at the Bataclan in Paris is still a fresh wound for most, Michele Phoenix handled it well and without any sense of sensationalism or insensitivity. Instead, the story surrounding the attack focused much more on the PTSD that the main character, Jessica, obviously suffered through as a result of what she witnessed that night and the survivor's guilt she felt. As someone who has not experienced PTSD, I cannot say whether Phoenix's portrayal was accurate, but I do know that it was heartbreaking and well-written. As Jessica began her journey to healing in France, her discovery of documents hidden in a sewing box by a young woman living in France during a time when her religion was a crime set her on a quest to solve the mystery of what happened to that young woman and her family. I found myself anxious to see what she would discover next and intrigued by her growing closeness to Grant, the American who owns the cottage she rents while in France.

Phoenix did an excellent job of allowing the mystery of the fate of the religious refugees to unfold and introduced several interesting characters along the way. Connor's presence was delightful, and the twist near the beginning of the book was completely unexpected and absolutely heartbreaking. As Christian fiction goes, this was a heartwarming read with very genuine lessons. Not only were Jessica's questions about God completely reasonable after what she had endured, but the responses she received as a result were helpful in a way that did not feel neither overbearing nor cliche. The lessons in The Space Between Words are powerful, and Jessica's journey to understanding felt very real.

OK, this gave me goosebumps. I didn't read the blurb about it so had no idea what it was about...just loved the title. Turned out it was (what I call) a "God thing" that led me to it. 😊Something put in your way at a specific time and place in your life by God because He knows you needed it. I laughed, I cried, I was horrified but ultimately I was indelibly touched by this story. A blend of an historical story (a French Huguenot family's persecution and perseverance in the late 1600s) and a modern tale that I won't give specifics on to spoil the plot. However dissimilar they may first appear, the stories end up being connected in a myriad of ways. Highly recommend. Out September 5.

This book was great...not at all what I was expecting. It took me a couple of chapters to get into it, but I didn't want to put it down after that. The story jumps around with current day and the life of a family from the late 1600's. Persecution, faith, family, terror, grief, and loss and how a women finds her way. The secrets of a sewing kit and how it helped Jessica heal. Set amidst two historic events, the Huguenot Persecution and the much more recent Paris Terrorist attacks.. M Phoenix does a great job of pulling the two together with a lot of twists and turns.

I received an advance copy of this book from NetGalley.

I found this to be a most unusual book. It is not at all what some would consider typical Christian fiction. No preaching, no sermonizing, no overt "Christian" behavior by the characters, and no faith crises resolved and wrapped up neatly with a ribbon and a bow at the end of the book. Rather, a character who has been through a horrific trauma and is questioning everything.

American Jessica is visiting Paris with friends when she is shot and wounded during a terrorist attack. After she has recovered enough to travel, rather than running home to Denver, she embarks on a road trip into the French countryside. She buys an antique sewing box at a flea market, finds some centuries-old diary pages hidden inside, and at that point begins a search to find out what happened to a persecuted Huguenot/Protestant family over 300 years earlier.

The plot included a couple of "what?!?" moments that I will not spoil here, and no explanations were given. This did not detract from my enjoyment of the book, which I blew through in just two sittings because I couldn't put it down. I will definitely be looking to see what else this author has written.

This is a poignant and mysterious story. The author displays a fine understanding of the Huguenot's plight three centuries earlier. As Jessica tries to recover from the Paris terrorist attack, she is buoyed by Patrick's determination and spirit to uncover the plight of the Ballard family.

This novel bridges two tragedies from different time periods, but without any sci-fi elements. It was done beautifully, with heart. Both time periods have their own mystery and challenges that keep the reader engaged till the end.

Michele Phoenix has written a beautiful new novel. It is heart-warming story of courage, survival, grief, loss, fear, hope, healing and forgiveness. The ‘Space Between Words’ was not at all what I expected. The window into the main characters life is unexpected and at times will leave you absolutely stunned. It allows you to journey through the unimaginable. It reaffirms that life requires courage, and resilience. That ‘God layers the good over the bad’.

Michele Phoenix had me so glued to this book that I finished it in two sittings. Every so often you will find a book that entwines your mind and heart so deeply that you cannot walk away from the ending unchanged. The ‘Space Between Words’ will leave you re-examining your life and priorities as well as looking at the relationships of those close to you.

What an endearing, well written piece of literature. If you love historical fiction this book will not disappoint. A must read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Michele Phoenix, and Thomas Nelson for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Space Between Words by Michele Phoenix 5 ☆'s 

Thank you to Thomas Nelson publishing for providing me with a free copy of this book to review. All opinions in this blog are my own. 

Written about an even that is still fresh in the minds of people around the world, Phoenix takes a world tragedy and crafts a novel about healing, discovery and friendship. This story is about two women in two different time periods and how ones story helps the others keep going. I really like how this novel included French history, not only from the Paris attacks in 2015, but from a time period centuries before. Reading what life may have been life for Huguenots during King Louis' XIV and having struggles connected between the times engrossed me in the novel right away. 

Phoenix's writing is compelling. She takes one character's suffering and aftermath and convinces the reader that the narrator is okay after the trauma she endures. I like how the reader gets a firm foundation of one character set in 2015 before we are introduced to the other's story. I think this helps make the plot have a more firm foundation, which leads to the wonderful intertwining of the stories. 

Jessica's world is turned upside down after she witnesses one of the Paris terrorist attacks. She then takes a trip to southern France to help escape the reality of her situation. While there, she first struggles with reality, and then with the aftermath of what has happened to her. She discovers the Baillards family story and sets out to discover what happened to the members. While on this journey, she may find the key that she needs to move forward from the horrific events she endured.

This novel also shows how someone, in the aftermath of tragedy, can question if there is a God, and if there is how could He let this happen. I enjoyed the questioning of faith in this novel because there are moments in lots of lives that may cause questioning of God and His goodness. When and if this happens, I hope others have friends like Jessica who continue to point them to His goodness. 

This novel transported me to France during two different time periods. It helped me understand more of French history from a first-person point-of-view. I like how Phoenix crafted the story and told it. It had lots of hard parts. I laughed and cried while reading this novel. If you want to delve deeper into France and take a journey, I highly recommend this book. If you want to discover new friendships and the caring nature of people, read this book. If you want something that will make you look at the world a bit differently, read this book. There is nothing better than reading a book that you know will stick with you forever. This is one of those books for me. 

It comes out on September 5. You can pre-order it now, though!

I'm rarely interested in historical fiction, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Its subject is one about which I knew next to, if not, nothing. It's an easy read and introduction to the Huguenot persecutions. And I am, as always, a sucker for a happy ending

What an amazing story! Jess, Patrick and Vonda are in Paris where Patrick is going to school and the girls are enjoying being tourists. Patrick is also searching for antiques and unusual items for his store back home.
One night, Patrick decides to go to an art gallery and Vonda talks Jess into going to a rock concert at the Bataclan. While at the concert, they are attacked by Muslim terrorists and Jess is violently attacked but she escapes with her life while her rescuer is killed!
Vonda escapes safely without getting hurt, while Patrick stays by Jess' side until she feels better, wearing silly outfits and comforting her.
Her parents are frantic with worry, but Jess assures them she will be fine and she will fly home ASAP.
Vonda comes to see Jess, but she is so truaumatized she has to go home to America and she cannot help Jess recover in France.
Patrick is there for Jess, he encourages her to go on living even though she feels hopeless and traumatized. He even convinces her to go with him to the South of France to find some items for his store.
They go to their bed and breakfast lodgings and are told that in the town of Passé' Compose they might find some unique things. They come to an old barn and as they are searching, Jess is led to find an old sewing box from the seventeenth century with the initials CSF on it.
This discovery leads to the second part of the story, where you will meet a family of Huguenots trying to escape from France because the king has decreed that all Huguenots must convert to Catholicism or die! This sewing box belonged to a Huguenot girl.
You will not only learn about Jess - you will find out what really happened at the Bataclan and how she and her new friends discover a 400 year old mystery!

This is a really great read. The plot twists and interwoven theme add layers of interest and humanity into it. The contemporary setting and events will strike a chord with readers. Michele Phoenix creates a beautiful balance between reconciling the events of this world and holding to our faith. It is a story of loss, hope, and the human need for connection to each other.

The Space Between Words by Michele Phoenix
Jessica has lived through a terrible terrorist attack on Paris. Though her world is shattered, her friend Patrick encourages her to continue with the trip they have planned through France. While exploring the countryside, she discovers an antique box containing the pages of a Huguenot girl’s diary. The pages create a desire for Jessica to discover more about the girl’s story and the persecution that drove her from France. As Jessica learns Adeline’s story of persecution, she moves towards her own healing.

This book introduced me to a part of history that I knew nothing about. It gave me a new respect for those who have been persecuted for their faith. It also exposed me to the pain that victims of trauma experience.
After the attack, Jessica’s relationship with Patrick left me very confused, but that may be what the author intended. Other than that part, the story unfolded very smoothly and kept me wanting to know more about both Jessica and Adeline.
Despite beginning on a very dark note, the book offered hope. The way that Jessica’s character grew and developed showed me that she would heal from her attack. Despite their setbacks, all the characters grew and came to accept and find the best in their lives.
This is the second of Michele Phoenix’s books that I have read. She writes about wounded characters in need of healing. Her writing conveys their emotions clearly and powerfully. Her heart for those who suffer is evident. In their pain, she offers them hope. Many readers will be able to empathize with her characters and perhaps find a measure of healing for themselves.
I enjoyed this book and think others will, too, especially those who can understand what Jessica experienced. I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Space Between Words was not at all what I expected, it surpassed my expectations by a mile. It brings to light some unexpected things that will leave you stunned. Author Michele Phoenix deals with the themes of terror, grief, loss, fear and overcoming immense obstacles. It's a journey through the unimaginable, where one asks, "why?"

Jessica's journey to healing and to trust again is hard won. This book will leave you thinking about your priorities, and examine the value of the relationships of those close to you.

Michele Phoenix effortlessly had me glued to the pages, devouring each word. What a masterpiece.