This is a cozy, comfort read - the perfect book to read while snuggled in a blanket on a cold night.

It seems very popular these days to talk about books with "the twist you'll never see coming!" I enjoy those books as well - but sometimes it's nice to have exactly the opposite - which is what you get with The Secrets of Paper and Ink. There are no big surprises - I felt it was pretty clear from the beginning where things were headed and how things were going to turn out - but that didn't make it any less fun to be along for the journey.

Sophia is living in Arizona and struggling to reconcile with some things that have happened over the last few years in her life. She decides to take some time off from her job as a women's counselor and head to England to write and reflect.

Do you love the movie The Holiday? Well - I couldn't help but think it's sort of like when Cameron Diaz's character heads to England...only instead of staying in an adorable cottage, Sophia is staying in an apartment over a charming bookstore! Even better! And she gets reduced rent for helping out in the store.

Ginny is the owner of the bookstore - she is also originally from America and started the store with her husband, who left 6 months ago to find himself. She is struggling to keep the store running and really needs the additional money from renting the apartment. Ginny and Sophia become friends and work together to get the store back on solid ground. As they are going through the store's inventory, they find the journal of a woman named Emily in the mid-1800s. They start researching to learn if Emily was a real person or if it is a work of fiction.

Through the book, we end up seeing the journeys of all three women and the ways they intersect each other. Ginny and Sophia both have a lot of change in their lives and an opportunity to change their path. I enjoyed spending time with them and would recommend this as a cozy, comfort read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas Nelson for the early review copy in exchange for my honest review.

What I Loved: Harrel has a gift for plucking the reader out of their home and transporting them to a foreign country. She writes as an export. Beyond the fun travel details, there's a beautiful soul-deep journey for the character and the reader. There's a dual-timeline here, so the reader is treated to two contemporary storylines and one historical story. The history lover in me rejoices at Harrel's decision to incorporate pages from a journal.
I will admit that this one took me a few pages longer to get fully wrapped up in, but the dramas of the heart tends to be a slower journey compared to war fiction, which I had been reading a great deal of lately. But I found the characters easy to relate to and the spiritual message comes in clearly near the end and left my heart warm and satisfied. 

Rating and Recommendations: I'm giving The Secrets of Paper and Ink 5 stars and highly recommend it to those who enjoy Christian Fiction, dual timelines, women's fiction, or those wanting to travel in the pages of a novel.

~ I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. I was not compensated for my review. All thoughts are my own.

Wow! What an amazing novel! Fair warning: though I will try my best there is no way this review will even come close to doing this book justice! I recently read this author's previous novel The Heart Between Us and loved it, so needless to say that made me even more excited to read this new one. This book sucked me in on page one and didn't let me go. I was delightfully surprised to discover that this is in fact a time-slip novel (which is one of my favorite things!) I instantly connected with (and rooted for!) present day characters Sophia and Ginny, as well the historical character Emily, and the pages flew because I just had to know what would happen next! As with her previous novel The Heart Between Us, Lindsay Harrel takes the reader on a journey through the pages of this book and once again I found myself inspired and moved by the lessons I learned from this story! The message of finding our identity in Whose we are was so profoundly touching that it flooded my heart with renewed peace and nearly brought tears of joy to my eyes! I loved this book SO much! The Secrets of Paper and Ink beautifully depicts the power of words and story to change people's perspectives and even their lives, something every reader can relate to! The Secrets of Paper and Ink gave me all the feels and I didn't want it to end, but the ending was so incredibly well done that I turned the final page with a huge grin on my face and a sigh of happiness on my lips!
In short, I adored every moment of this book and will absolutely be reading it again in the future! The Secrets of Paper and Ink will definitely be on my list of favorite reads of 2019! And I can't wait to see what else this author has in store for us! I highly recommend that you do yourself a favor and buy a book by Lindsay Harrel, you won't be sorry!
(5 Stars!)


I received an ebook copy of this book through the Celebrate Lit team. Which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are one hundred percent my own.

This was a book that slowly - page by page - made me fall in love with the characters and plots.
This is a story within a story, generation within a generation, beautifully written and complex. yet, perfectly fitting at the end puzzle like book.
As you read each chapter, you are going to be transformed to 18th century back and forth from present time to reveal the intriguing lives of three women's journey and their lives.
Highly recommended read!

I requested a chance to review this because I was more than a little tempted by the pretty cover and the blurb seemed pretty interesting too. I liked the book and it was a quick read. It had a few unexpected bits but not in the places they usually occur.

This is a story of three women, two in our present time and one in the past (1800s). Emily Fairfax is orphaned too early and is struggling with life and things just get harder for her over time. In our present, we have two American women who are drowning in the issues they have in their lives and end up in the same town in Cornwall, trying to keep a bookstore afloat. Emily's story is interesting because although the society at large works against her, the people around her help bolster her up and provide her with guidance towards the goal she envisions for herself. Sophia Barrett and Ginny Rose are strong women who help each other improve the bookstore that is more of a burden than anything else at this point. Sophia gets interested in Emily's fate and tries to track her existence down from old documents and people who could help her. The only off thing was the inclusion of 'faith' and 'God's will' out of the blue. It was the suddenness of the idea and the fact that it was introduced in the middle of the story and then started to become a prominent feature in the events that followed, made it feel awkward(for me). Other than that tiny issue I had with it, I liked the women, and the way they worked together and how it all comes together in the end. I would recommend it to people who like reading books of this genre.

This is another title to add to the bookstore genre, but it is very different from The Bookshop of The Broken Hearted, the last title I read in this category. Where the previous book was literary fiction, I would classify this as women’s fiction with a good dose of faith-based storytelling. The quality of the writing was not very high and the plot was definitely predictable. However, for readers who enjoy stories about women who finally take charge after being abused by the men in their lives, this is an entertaining read with lovely descriptions of Cornwall and the added pleasure of a literary mystery to unravel.. I think the author definitely has a future in writing stories that women will eagerly read.

Ohhh my heart...it's feeling weird right now.

I'm so content right now. Something is really peaceful about this book. It's made me think about things and it's made me realize again that finding yourself is just not about your success or failure, it's about to be peace with yourself and believe in yourself . To have the strength to get up again and learn to live.

I simply can't describe how much i want Emily to be a real person right now. I want to talk to her and just..just see her. I am in awe of her loving heart and her strength to fulfil her dream when she lost every single thing dearer to her. She's so wonderful i love her so much.

I recommend this book to everyone who is still trying to find themselves and learning to love also.

I'm not going to say anything more about the story. The synopsis is enough really. Just dive into it and i assure you completely, you will not regret it.

( Thank you so very much to Netgalley and the Thomas Nelson publication for providing me an Arc in exchange of an honest review. I truly appreciate it. )

Oh Wow! What a beautifully layered story. It was absolutely amazing to discover the stories within the story. The stories were very, very well interconnected yet stood out on their own with it's neatly etched characters.

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

Sophia, Ginny and Emily are three woman with three different stories. The escaping of an abusive relationship, abandonment and unrequited love whilst trying to follow your dreams. When new friends Sophia and Ginny find Emily's lost journal it sparks off a tale of discovery in which all the woman are changed forever.

This was a sweet and well written story and also every easy to read. However, the reason I gave this three stars and not four is I found myself figuring out what was going to happen pretty early on. The clues, for me at least, as to how the whole tale was going to pan out were simply too obvious and by the time I got halfway through I had pretty much worked out the ending.

That said, it is an easy read especially if you are a book lover and can understand Sophia's obsession with all things literary.

A sweet, quick read, maybe just a little too predictable.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
An enjoyable tale of three women, two in the present day and one in the past, all struggling with issues. Sophia is a therapist coping with the aftermath of an abusive relationship. She travels to Cornwall as a way of escaping where she meets Ginny, a bookstore owner who is coping with her husband leaving her. In the course of working in the bookstore, Sophia finds a mysterious diary. Is it from a real woman or has someone invented a fictional character?
The stories are interweaved well, and I particularly liked the writing style in the diary. There is some gentle romance, but I felt like the focus was primarily on the women making lives for themselves first and foremost. As it is Christian fiction, there is both a focus on this and it's the kind of book that can be read by people who are not necessarily interested in sexual content. Nevertheless, this was a good read with a warm and fluffy ending.

The Secrets of Paper and Ink is a very enjoyable contemporary mystery, historical mystery and romance all mixed together. It also involved books. What more could you want? This is a very well written novel with awesome characters and delightful settings. It weaves together the three stories in an interesting and charming manner. The author did an incredible job of describing the location and also touched on a few hard topics including abandonment, domestic violence and self discovery. I did enjoy this book and do recommend it. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Secrets of Paper and Ink is an intriguing novel weaving the lives of two present day American women with that of a woman of the late 19th century from Cornwall. This novel is by writer Lindsay Harrel.

Sophia Barrett, a women’s therapist in Phoenix, is recovering from the breakdown that happened 14 months after the death of her abusive fiancé, David. Even after a three month nurturing hiatus, she finds she is not ready to resume the role of helping battered women when she couldn’t even help herself. After her failed attempt to resume her practice, her friend and employer Joy convinces her to do something that will nurture her soul. As an avid reader of Victorian author Robert Appleton, Sophia decides she would love to spend some time in Cornwall and answers an ad that includes a low rate second story studio rental in exchange for helping out in the bookstore below.

Ginny Rose, daughter of the wealthy Massachusetts Bentleys, finds herself a left behind wife as her husband has taken half their money to “find himself” in London, leaving her struggling to make his bookstore dream a reality. It’s looking like that might not happen, but Ginny refuses to accept another failure. Selling her grandmother’s diamond ring will help a little, the coming of her American tenant/salesperson will also help, but she needs much more than that.

Sophia is a huge help! When Sophia finds a photocopy notebook that intrigues her greatly, Ginny gives it to her and even introduces Sophia to her brother-in-law, William, a literature professor. They begin a tentative friendship as they seek to determine if this is a diary, as it seems, or a novel. Through William’s connections, they find many leads. The quest is powerful for the healing Sophia seeks.

And then there is the story of Emily Fairfax, detailed in the journal. As Emily’s story unfolds, Sophia finds herself drawn in farther, finding solace in Emily’s strength. Will Emily’s story be the puzzle piece that helps Sophia finally heal?

This is a well written story with rich characters and beautiful settings. It intertwines the three stories in an entertaining and enticing manner. I did enjoy this book and do recommend it.

This book is a blessing and delivers a powerful message regarding the story His Light has written in each of us. Three women wrestle with finding the truth and dispelling lies they have believed about themselves. They find freedom in being loved by Him and in turn, receive love and friendship from others.
I loved the scenic descriptions and could see myself in the little bookshop or the English countryside. I was torn between wanting to finish the book and put it down to find a beloved classic to savor in a little reading nook; however, putting it down was not an option! Each of the stories were woven together in such a way that I wanted to keep reading the next sentence to see what happened. I highly recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sophia is trying to recover from the sudden death of her fiancee, but despite her training as a women's counselor, she is finding it difficult. For a change of scenery, she heads to the English coast - to an apartment above a bookstore where she finds new friends and a quest to occupy her time.

Although somewhat predictable, there are a few moments of surprise and many emotional moments that tug at the heartstrings. A romance with a touch of mystery, a touch of faith; a story of recovery and finding one's purpose. This is a pleasant read that is a bit like Jennifer Chiaverini's books or Jenny Colgan's Bookshop on the Corner. Sweet, heartfelt, romantic, but not over the top. A book for readers who want a wholesome story with some Christian content that's not overly didactic or melodramatic.

A fun little read about 2 women who find a bond in a little bookstore. Well written with delightful characters. Lindsay Harrel should be on everyone's must read list.

Three women's struggles are woven together in this time hop novel. Sophia and Ginny are contemporary American women who meet and bond when Sophia escapes to England to heal and recover from the death of her abusive fiance. Sophia rents the apartment above the bookstore Ginny is valiantly trying to save after her husband ran away to London 6 months ago to “find himself.” Emily's story, from the mid 1800s, is woven within the modern women's journeys as Sophia attempts to discover if the story of Emily she has found in the bookstore is about a real person, or merely a fictional account by an unknown author.

Each of these three women's stories is compelling, and the weaving of the contemporary friendship as they bond and create a healing relationship helps tie the book and its characters together into a story of relationships and the need for both God and people to help you through the hard times. Both Sophia and Ginny learn that they don't have to do it on their own, and maybe the dream they thought they were following isn't the plan God has in mind for them. They also discover that if they can see the need for grace and forgiveness of one's self in their new friend's life, maybe they deserve the same.

I really enjoyed watching the friendship between Sophia and Ginny grow, as they gave each other the freedom to be vulnerable and honest. The supporting characters helped to enrich the story, and while I maybe wished for a little more interaction with the townspeople as Ginny realized they weren't against her, and as Sophia tried to settle in, there was enough to get the feeling of a community.

I give this book 4 stars; it grabbed my attention and kept me turning pages to find out the resolution of each woman's story. I think I'll find myself wondering how these characters are doing in the days ahead, only to have to remind myself they aren't real.

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

Be warned: I’m going to gush over this book in this review.

I finished this book with a sigh and the thought of “That was such a perfect ending to a great story.” As with most books that I’m going to review, I consider if there’s something negative about the plot or something with the characters that I’d change. Honestly, with this book, there’s nothing I’d change. Nothing. It’s a compelling contemporary love story with characters that capture your heart. This is a “split time” book with two of the main characters in the present and one in the past, and the story flows seamlessly back and forth in the storyline. All three of the main characters—Sophia, Ginny, and Emily—-are equally interesting in their own storylines. And the fact that the story is set in an English bookshop and an undiscovered book is a main theme, well, that’s just the icing on the cake.

This story is not all sweetness and light. There’s some sad themes throughout this book. Sophia comes from a broken home, and has herself suffered abuse from her spouse. She’s dealing with his untimely death and the guilt and fear from their relationship. Ginny is an American who has basically been abandoned by her husband in Cornwall and is trying to keep her bookstore open. Emily, whose story takes place in the past, is a governess who loves the heir to the manor, but knows that they could never be married because of her social status. All three of these storylines tie together in a wonderful way at the end. (Yes, I adored the ending of this story.) The romantic element of this story comes about as all three struggle to learn to trust and love again.

The story that captured my heart was Emily’s. It very much has a regency feel to it. We learn her story through her journal, and I think her story is the heartbeat to this book. I was amazed that the author could give Emily such a complete story in a few chapters. I know that Lindsay Harrel writes contemporary fiction, but I think she needs to give a regency story a try.

This is clean, Christian romantic fiction with no foul language or embarrassing scenes. If you love reading Christian romance, you’ll love this book.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Three women, across time and space, are connected by a journal that may be either fact or fiction, The mystery is for the modern day women to figure out if the author existed and if her story is true.

Sophia, a clinical psychologist trained to help abused women, finds herself unable to help her clients after her own abusive, controlling fiancé dies and she must deal with her own responsibility in accepting years of abuse. Sophia, desperate to escape, finds a b&b in Cornwall which seems like an ideal summer getaway.


The b&b is owned by a young American woman, Molly, whose husband has also absconded, leaving her with debt and a business about to go under. With little help of saving the store, Molly searches for a monetary miracle which starts with renting out an attic room to Sophia. Sophia, always the helper, and becomes a dedicated, unpaid employee who works as hard as Molly to save the store.


While sorting inventory, Sophia finds a manuscript from decades before written by a woman named Emily, an orphaned rector's daughter who has been kept on by estate owners as their younger daughters' nanny and their oldest daughter's companion during her coming out seasons in London. Sophia, who has been a childhood friend of the son of the house, finds herself in a love that, while not unrequited, is impossible because Edward must marry for money. Distraught by her situation, Emily turns to writing her story in journal form but burying the manuscript that may give her feelings away.


When Sophia finds the journal, she sets out to trace it's source accompanied by her local boyfriend, while Sophia goes to word to save the store from her greedy ex-husband who wants to sell it and leave Molly without anything.


The three strands of the story weave together rather seamlessly, each generating its own interesting plotlines and complications. The final resolution is satisfying if predictable. The one surprise, to me at least, is that this is Christian fiction and, while it is not religion-based throughout the book, the Christian theme is there loud and clear at the story's end. The religious element is brief enough and handled lightly enough that it is possible to read the book as a simple romance without blatant sexuality.


Overall, an enjoyable read and one worth recommending.


The mystery of the

This book sucked me right in! I very quickly found myself caring about Sophia. She is struggling with mixed feelings after the death of her abusive fiancé. She realizes she is not ready to go back to work after 3 months, deciding she needs a change in scenery she makes the decision to go to Cornwall, England. When she arrives in England we meet Ginny, William and Emily. The more characters I met the more invested in the story I became.

In England Sophia discovers an old journal that captures her attention and with the help of William she is able to not only discover who the writer was but quite a bit about her life. Along the way Sophia and William grow close. Can Sophia open herself up to the possibility of a new relationship after the hurt of the past?

While each character captured my heart in a different way, it was Ginny’s circumstances that broke my heart. I was very pleased with the support she received from those she didn’t expect it from. I was very pleased with the ending we were given for each character. However it would be great if sometime in the future we could catch up with these characters again.

This book really got me thinking. I highlighted so many sentences while reading this book. Many of the things learned by Sophia & Ginny are things that we all need to remember. While the story did include some difficult situations such as an abusive relationship, a husband’s abandonment, and a seemingly impossible dream the overall story was not depressing but rather I found it encouraging. The message I take away from it is that God is always there to help you navigate the hard times and rise above them. Highly recommend!

#TheSecretOfPaperAndInk #NetGalley

I started this book, with no knowledge of what it was about, the story of three very strong women and how their lives inter connect with each other. Sophie is a therapist for women, but is a victim, herself, and struggles to get past the voices inside her head. Ginny is dealing with her own loss, being separated from her husband and running a business. Emily longs to be an author, in a time when women authors were looked down on. Each women shares her story and I enjoyed reading each part. A great book that was hard to put down.