This is a book about the healing power of friendship and faith. It's lovely to watch the friendship between Sophia and Ginny develop as they work together to heal the wounds from their past, but also discover Emily's story as they investigate the journal they find. The inclusion of Emily's story from her perspective is expertly interwoven into their stories and makes for a beautifully written uplifting read.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I enjoyed reading this. An interesting story with fun characters. Well written.

I am always drawn to books about books or bookstores, which is why I requested this ARC. I generally liked it, but I would definitely categorize it as a Christian romance -- not at all what I normally read. The story was sweet, if somewhat predictable. I liked the characters and dual storylines, but I felt like the strong Christian ending kind of came out of nowhere and was a little jarring.

The Secrets of Paper and Ink seemed like a regular book that talks about books, but it was not. It was so much more. This is the story of two women that have been through a lot and that are not in a good place right now. Through the story of Sophia, Ginny, and Emily, we can see how their lives start changing and how they are connected.
I really liked reading this book, it is one of those stories that are full of hope and that just brighten your day but also a story that makes you think. The book talks about strong women, but they do not know that at first and as the story goes, you learn with them about their strength.
It was easy connecting with the characters, I think many of us have felt like they felt some day in some way, and that makes it easier not only to read but to feel immersed in the story. I also liked the male characters, like William or Steven (not Garret, though) and I would love to run into someone like them (a girl can wish).
It surprised me that the book talked about God, but not in a bad way. It has happened to me before, that I find a book talking about faith and grace and sometimes you just need to read about that, and this was one of those cases. It is not mentioned a lot, just lightly but it is important in the story.
Of course, I loved the part about books and Emily’s story, I loved the bookstore and the pastries part and I deeply enjoyed the story overall. I would definitely read more of the author’s work.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Predictable, but sweet novel about heartbreak and second chances.

I absolutely loved the Secret of Paper and Ink. Just the title is really cool and fitting since the story talks about books and set in a bookstore. I like how Lindsay Harrel weaves the lives of three different women and creates a story of hope, healing and forgiveness. I love how genuine and real this story is. I wish Sophie, Ginny and Emily were real because I connected with them and would wish to be friends with them. One of my favorite quotes from the book is "Of course, in Sophia’s mind, there was no such thing as “only a book.” Books were whole other worlds wrapped in cardboard and parchment." I believe that to be so true. I think the reader can learn valuable truths along with Sophie and Ginny.

I recommend this book to my family and friends.

I received this book from the publisher to read and give my honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It has enough substance to keep it from just being a fluff book, but just enough lightness to keep it from being overly angsty. I did wish the main character had continued therapy when she moved. Would have been a better message for others who might find themselves in a similar situation,

This was such a charming read. The author did a great job creating atmosphere. I want to go to Cornwall and run a bookshop. I enjoyed the three points of view especially Emily's from the 19th century. This book will appeal to many of my library patrons and I will highly recommend it! Thanks to publisher and Netgalley for ARC.

This book is a weaving together of stories about three strong women (two present day, one from the 19th century). They are disillusioned by the men in their lives in various ways yet discover their own inner strengths through faith and become who they are truly meant to be. The stories are told in three voices in alternating chapters. There were some slow moments and no surprises at the ending, but overall I enjoyed it.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #ThomasNelson for the ARC. The opinions are strictly my own.

Emily Fairfax struggles to become an accomplished author and present day, where Sophie Barrett, a counselling psychologist is struggling to get back to work after losing her abusive fiancee. She jumps at the opportunity to stay with fellow American  Ginny Rose  a bookshop owner  in Cornwall, England with the hope of healing her soul. On the other hand, Ginny is struggling to keep her bookshop afloat with the help of her brother-in-law William  with the disappearance of her husband.

Two hundred years earlier, Emily Fairfax was certain of two things: to become  an accomplished author and to win the heart of her childhood best friend, Societal norms makes both of those prospects out of reach for her.The lives of the three women intertwine as each learns the power she has over the story of her life.

 Lindsay Harrel is no stranger to discussing difficult topics in her novels just like she did in her previous release, The Heart Between Us. She is good at addressing heavy topics that would be considered taboo in Christian circles with grace without necessarily wrapping up everything with the proverbial bow. This time slip novel  will have the reader rooting for these three women as they put on  they put on their big-girl-pants and addresses these challenging but not foreign issues of  lost love , emotional and physical abuse and struggles with faith. Overall, The Secrets of Paper and Ink is a worthwhile read.

I received The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel as an ARC from Netgalley. I loved this book! Sophia Barrett is a counselor who is dealing with the effects of an abusive relationship. She takes a leave of absence from her job to travel to England to live about a bookstore and work there part time. I enjoy books that revolve about bookshops. There she meets Ginny who owns the bookstore and is dealing with her own relationship struggles. Sophia finds a journal belonging to someone named Emily that is 150 years old. The story then goes back and forth between the present time and the time during Emily's life. Learning about Emily's story helps Sophia to move ahead with her life and her relationship with William, whom she meets in England. I highly recommend this book. I couldn't wait to see how the story ended.

This was such a good book. The story will pull you in and not let go. The time frames were great. Two different centuries and three different women each with problems of their own.

One’s fiancé was very abusive. One’s husband needed to “find” himself and one was in the mid 1800s.

This book has lots of emotion. Wonderful characters and settings. I love when I feel like I am there with the characters. Seeing through their eyes the beauty and even the horror of things.

I highly recommend this book to my friends who love reading. It’s got a lot of emotion to keep you going. You won’t want to put this one down.

A big 5 stars for me.

I received a copy of this via NetGalley and Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest review. I loved it...

Loved the book. Loved everything about it- the characters, story and writing style. Sophia and Ginny definitely did not pick the best of men. They were brought together at the perfect time and were able to help each other. I wanted Sophia to take the advice she gave to other abuse victims and stop blaming herself. I'm pretty sure the car accident saved her life. All along I knew who Emily Fairfax would turn out to be, but I enjoyed Sophia and William trying to solve the mystery behind the journal. Loved that Hugh was able to to give them the missing piece of the puzzle. Steven was definitely a knight in shining armor. I knew what he was going to do when bumps into Ginny outside the pawn shop. Ginny was so much better off with her husband leaving because he needed "space." She defended her husband to the very end, even when everyone else saw what Garret was really like. I loved getting to know Ginny, Sophia and Emily. They all ended up being strong women and were able accomplish what they set out to do. Loved how Emily pushed the boundaries of what was expected of women during the 1800s. They had a few hiccups along the way, but they persevered. Love books that revolve around bookshops and baked goods.

Definitely recommend the book. It was a beautiful story. I can't wait to read more books by the author. I loved the cover of the book!!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson--FICTION through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

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.

MARCH 18, 2019 BY COURTNEY @ THE GREEN MOCKINGBIRD BLOG
Review: “The Secrets of Paper and Ink” by Lindsay Harrel
What’s better than books? Books with bookish characters, of course!

The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Linsday Harrel fits this description wonderfully. From the bookish nature of one of the heroines, Sophia, to the delightful English village & bookstore setting, this novel encapsulates important themes within a charming environment to deliver its message of healing with care.

About the Book
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.

Two hundred 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.

Goodreads | Amazon

Review
The Secrets of Paper and Ink is a delightful women’s fiction novel with a literary bent, historical threads, a little romance, and a message of identity. The main characters, 3 women whose stories span a century, have unique situations on the surface, but all are searching for identity in something or someone. And the setting!!!!! I really, really want to visit Cornwall now. Specifically, the ocean or coastline there. 😉

Sophia and Ginny, in the present timeline, alternate points of view with an intriguing Emily, the historical heroine whose “first person” journal entries intersect and intertwine with theirs. I found the earlier time period was just as captivating and interesting as the present. I would love to see more from Lindsay Harrel with a historical setting!

From being surrounded by books to the nods to literature and a bookworm Sophia (and William!!!), Harrel uses the theme of story to further connect the characters and express life as an ever-growing experience; life as a unique story that is in the process of the telling. And, whose Author is all-knowing even when trials come on the next “page”.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy. This is my honest review.

Well, Lindsay Harrel has just become my favorite new author! I adored her latest novel, The Secrets of Paper and Ink.

The premise to this story was intricate yet simple. The characters were deep and wide, their problems very normal, yet difficult to escape.

I adored the setting of the bookstore in Cornwall, I could just imagine all the rock walls and brick paved roads. The bookstore made me want to go to a library and breath deep!

And the writing, oh my, Lindsay has a way with words and story. Can't wait for her next novel! In the meantime, grab a copy of The Secrets of Paper and Ink.

I really enjoyed reading this story that takes place in Ireland. I liked the two main characters, Ginny and Sophia who are finding themselves after difficult relationships. There is also a mystery biography in the middle of the book - which Sofia works to solve. I enjoyed the unfolding of the romantic relationships in the story and the religious awakening of the two main characters. Overall, this was a very satisfying read.

This book was a time slip novel with three storylines and I'll admit was a bit much for me to keep track of.

I did really enjoy the mystery of the old journal, but found most of the book to be pretty predicable. I even figured out the must quite early in the book.

But the story was good overall and I really liked William and Steven even if it was predicable.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest opinion.

It was not what I expected to from a read at the beginning. I loved the stories of Ginny, Sophia and Emily and the intriguing way was how each person's lives told a story. I loved how it went from modern day to Victorian Era.

Everyone has a story to tell. It might not be a happy story with a happy ending. It comes with challenges and trials. The author does a great job in developing Sophia's story of abuse and how it can happen to anyone and no one can be immune to the abuse. Ginny's fairytale ends in shattered dreams, but she get past this and find love again and mend the broken relationship.

Solve the mystery of the journal found in a box of books that was donated. Is the journal a work of fiction or is it a true account of an author.

Come along with me and Lindsay Harrel in her book Secrets of Paper and Ink. I am giving this a five star for all the elements that it includes in this read.

I received this read through Celebrate Lit and did not receive any monetary compensation for this read

I would love to visit the bookshop in this book - it has a loft where you can read and delicious baked goods as well as the enticing bonuses - a free muffin if you buy a book - yum!

The bookshop aside, what this book is actually about is the journeys of three very different women. I enjoyed the historical section the best - Emily and Edward’s story was romantic and sad and mostly lovely.

There are a lot of messages Thank overtly stated in this text - don’t victim blame; pursue what makes you happy; make good choices; tell your own story - write it down; practice self-care; don’t believe lies about yourself; don’t believe the lies about yourself other people say; remember abusers are responsible for their abuse etc. The three women in this text embrace these ideas and watch their lives change.

There are Christian references here also but they are more veiled. I’d be curious to know how much a reader without a Christian background understood them and if they found the references a bit jarring because even I did (except Emily’s section 🙂 that worked a bit better because she is a clergyman’s daughter). William in particular makes some somewhat oblique comments about his faith but doesn’t seem very concerned about what Sophie believes although by the end she sort of slips back into her childhood faith partly because of his influence and Emily’s.

There is also this quote which bears discussion - “Moving forward and healing didn’t come from marching through life alone, determined to succeed with no help. And it didn’t come from wallowing in her shame. It didn’t even come from standing in her own strength. It meant taking the hand of a Savior and letting him lead her wherever that might be”. Note the preposition “A” Savior” not “THE” Savior and also note this the only overt mention of the idea of a Savior which as a Christian I presume is supposed to mean Christ but as a reader IDK 🤷🏼‍♀️ I literally do not know what this means based solely on my reading of the text unless the Savior referred to is William.

In short I find this an interesting attempt by the author to appeal to both the secular women’s fiction market and the Christian.

Overall this is the kind of novel that delivers the neat cheerful romantic ending that you expect. It’s an easy to read, clean, light romantic women’s fiction that meshes with modern sensibilities quite well.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing this. All thoughts are my own.