Sometimes you worry about a sophomore release, especially when the debut was so good. No need to worry here. Clark delivers a charming story that will captivate readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This whole series by Ashley Clark is extraordinary. The plot twists are grand, the Southern charm on point, the stories deep, and I love seeing characters from previous books.

It took me a long time to get into the book, I was just reading snatches here and there and it wasn't pulling me in, but once I sat down to read it, I raced through it. Written in dual time lines, it traces the story of Eliza and William and the missing silver. It also chronicles through fiction the work that was putting into preserving the old homes in Charleston. It makes me want to go and visit there now.

Lucy and Declan were the modern day main characters and they clashed and sizzled by turns. But they both grew and learned more about themselves and about hope.

The writing was well done and beautiful: "Like paint and nectar, always fading, always pointing toward a lasting promise of the beauty that is to come: the beauty that already encircles us if we will only spread our wings once in a while."

"Where you're preoccupied with your failures and your fears and the desire to preserve all you might lose, God has a plan to preserve something else. To root you in a place where life can grow within you once more, freely and abundantly. A garden of death for a garden of life, where through His own resurrection Jesus returns all that was stolen."

I really enjoyed this book and am anxious to delve into the next book in this series. I received this book from Bethany House via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are not my own.

I loved The Dress Shop on King Street so much that I just knew I would end up enjoying this one about a long-term feud even more. Sadly, that wasn't the case. The overly poetic descriptions slowed the story down to the point where I wasn't able to finish. I'd be willing to give Clark another try, and maybe the next book will be a better fit.

I have come to really enjoy dual timeline stories. And author Ashley Clark does a fabulous job writing these books. Eliza and William and the missing silver in 1920s Charleston and the story of Lucy and Declan in present day do not disappoint. I had no idea how this story was going to go, I could not guess the outcome. I enjoyed visiting Charleston again with this series and look forward to the next book! I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All views stated here are my own.

Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark is the second book in her Heirloom Secrets split-time romance series.

This is a fascinating read. I loved how nature and music are woven into art. It’s a very creative type of story. I also loved the historical setting since it’s 1929, at the beginning of the Great Depression, which is the time period I write about.

I found there to be more heartbreak in the story than I expected, which made it a challenging read. I think I may have followed the plot a bit better had I read the first book in the series, however I often find split-time stories a challenge to follow since the two plots are woven together with some type of interconnection.

Overall, it was an interesting book. I wanted to enjoy it more than I did because it had so many wonderful elements in it. Perhaps others will enjoy the format more than me.

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I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with FTC guidelines.

This book contained beautiful contrast. There was forbidden love in the Roaring Twenties and enemies-to-romance in the 2020s. Each era was exquisitely written so that they came alive on the pages. The characters were three-dimensional and engaging.

It was a little too on the nose to have the male love interests in both the late 1930s and modern-day eras be manipulating and deceiving the leading ladies.

Why does every corset-wearing heroine have to be the one to break the trend of wearing a corset? Wasn’t it normal in some historical eras to wear such contraptions? Isn’t this the equivalent of no longer wearing the modern-day bra? Come on, authors, give me a different issue for the leading ladies to take with their historical era.

I don’t typically enjoy Deep South melodrama, but this book was written so well that I didn’t much mind that aspect. The way that the racial discrimination was presented felt realistic, though at times it felt like modern sensibilities toward the subject slipped into the mindset of a woman in the 1920s and 1930s.

It was absolutely charming how the characters from book one kept popping up throughout the happenings in this story. I definitely recommend reading this trilogy in order, because there are major spoilers in this book for the previous one. I’m sure it’ll be the same in book three, which I’ll be reading soon. The red cloche made an appearance!

The mysteries around the forged paintings and stolen silver kept me intrigued and curious and speculative throughout. I thought I had figured out the huge twist near the end only to find out that it was something completely different but just as amazing as I had imagined it would be.

I like how this book so well featured heartaches of lost loves, wartime sacrifices, and fractured families. Those themes had me on the verge of tears for two thirds of the story and holding my breath off and on throughout. There were times I wondered how one of the threads could possibly have a happy ending, but I was delighted to watch how everything unfolded. This story definitely touched my emotions, and that makes me incredibly happy.

Content: tobacco, replacement expletives, alcohol

Paint and Nectar is the second book in the Heirloom Secrets series, and it is a time-slip novel. It is set in 1929 and modern day Charleston, South Carolina, and Clark links the two stories together by a silver heirloom. A delightful read!.

I had so many things battling me to read this book, but it was the one that no matter what, I kept being pulled back into the story. I loved again, the modern and historical story, finding that the war between evil and greed against goodness is still very much a part of our modern society as much as in the past. I loved it!

Paint and Nectar
by Ashley Clark
Pub Date 11 May 2021
Bethany House, Bethany House Publishers
Christian | General Fiction (Adult) | Romance


I am reviewing a copy of Paint and Nectar through Netgalley and Bethany House Publishers:






A spark forms between Eliza, a talented watercolorist, and William, a charming young man with a secret that could ruin her career in 1929. The only problem is that their families forbid their romance because of a long-standing feud over missing heirloom silver. But Eliza and Williams passions grow despite their families objections causing William to deeply regret the secret he's keeping, but setting things right comes at a cost.





Lucy Legare In present day Charleston is gifted an old house along with all the secrets it holds by a mysterious benefactor. The secrets include enigmatic letters about an antique silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney, whom Lucy's been avoiding since their disastrous first date, is set on buying her house for his family's development company. As Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, its garden, and the silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history's sake but also for her own.




If you are looking for a novel that will take you shamelessly from past and present, along with the secrets that are kept including forbidden romances I highly recommend Paint and Nectar.


Five out of five stars!




Happy Reading!

Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark is a 2021 Bethany House publication.

No sophomore slump here!

Ashley Clark follows her stellar debut novel with a story of hope, preservation, and second chances. Utilizing the vivid hues of blended watercolors, art, and history, the story follows Eliza and William, a star -crossed couple, in the late twenties, kept apart by secrets and greed and a family feud over a piece of heirloom silver.

In present day, Lucy Lagare and Declan Pinkney developed a near instant chemistry between them, only to learn their families were at odds over some missing silver one has accused the other of stealing.

When Lucy mysteriously inherits an old Charleston home from a secret benefactor, the feud heats up when Declan announces his plans to expand in the exact same area.

With zero respect for preservation, Declan is only concerned with progression. Despite his tender feelings for Lucy, Declan seems to succumb to his father’s pressure to thwart Lucy’s plans to restore the home. But Lucy proves to be a worthy opponent, determined to fight for history and her own heritage….

I love history, southern fiction, and art- so this story was right up my alley. This is a lovely story, filled with lush gardens and beautiful watercolors, juxtaposing our days of despair with the hope and promise a better plan that lies ahead.

I enjoyed the setting, the ‘enemies’ falling love-putting to rest long held resentments, plus the sweetest way the mysteries were solved.

Overall, this is a very enjoyable, refreshing, and a solid addition to this series!!

4 stars

I enjoyed the second installment from Ashley Clark's Heirloom Secrets series, Paint and Nectar. i give four stars.

Paint and Nectar is book number two in Ashley Clark's Heirloom Secrets series. While I would certainly recommend reading the first book just because it was absolutely fantastic, this can certainly be read as a standalone with no issues at all!

Reading this book, it is truly hard to believe that this is only Ashley Clark's second novel. While I must admit that it took me longer to get into the story and I didn't enjoy it quite as much as I had enjoyed the first, that is not to say this wasn't very beautifully written as well. She effortlessly weaves these stories together in a way that is unique and absolutely beautiful--- the characters are compelling and the mystery will draw the reader into both timelines equally which isn't always the case in this kind of story. If you enjoy historical fiction, this series is one that absolutely must be checked out!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All thoughts are my own.

This is my first time reading a book by Ashley Clark. I’ll go ahead and tell you now that this won’t be the last time for me to pick up a book by the author.

I absolutely loved this book. To be honest, the one thing I was really sure about was the split time line telling of the story, where we switched from the 1930’s to present day. But with this book, it worked and I completely understood why it was done in this manner. She easily could have created two books out of this, but I’m glad she didn’t. I enjoyed the intertwining of dialogues, interplay and plot. Fascinating.

This multi-generational romance takes place primarily in 1929 and in present-day Charleston, South Carolina. Lucy Legare unexpectedly inherits an old house, although she has no idea who the benefactor is. She is determined to uncover the history of the house and its previous owners, but her efforts are hampered by the attractive Declan Pinckney, a construction company owner’s son, whose father threatens that the house must be acquired at any cost because of valuable silver buried on the grounds.

Lucy soon discovers the owner during the 1930s and ´40s was her great-grandmother, renowned Charleston watercolorist Eliza Ravenel, and that Declan’s great-grandfather was William Pinckney, with whom Eliza was very much in love. This places Lucy and Declan in odd juxtaposition, although neither can ignore the attraction. The story background is always haunted by the missing silver, now feuded over for more than a century by the Pinckneys and the Legares,

The story alternates between Eliza’s and William’s story and Lucy’s and Declan’s. I wasn’t quite sure who owned the house when, and I couldn’t always follow the trail of the silver. The love affair between William and Eliza is heartfelt, both sad and joyous, and both time periods are well described. A few incidents feel contrived and don’t fit together smoothly, and there is a sense, at the conclusion, of incidents having happened solely so that something else could, particularly in the present-day narrative. The prologue might have been better woven into the narrative, rather than having its own voice, as it feels superfluous. Overall, a good read, but for me the tale would benefit from fewer elements. This will no doubt intrigue readers interested in the Charleston Renaissance, as it speaks to the rampant present-day destruction of the old, vs the preservationist attitudes of earlier times.

Such a startlingly beautiful look into history. I am loving this series! Ashley Clark is one to watch.

Paint and Nectar is a lovely follow-up to book one in the Heirloom Secrets series. A vibrant setting, endearing characters, and timeless themes make this story a pleasure to read. Flowing effortlessly between 1929 and the present day, this story connects to the characters of the first book, woven into the fabric of the tale that began a few years before the Civil War. I did enjoy book one just a bit more - honestly because I thought the romance was sweeter to me. Here it's more of an enemies to lovers thing, and that isn't really my favorite romance trope, but all of the components I liked about the first book are there in spades. Past and present Charleston are both lovely, and I particularly enjoyed the lush descriptions of the gardens. Do yourself a favor and look up images of Charleston's gardens and homes - it's truly a place I'm interested in visiting because of this novel.

It's also a book about art and heirlooms and a feud between families with repercussions in the present day. It's about how fleeting things can be, but how beautiful they make our lives while they're here. Just because something is fleeting doesn’t mean it isn’t beautiful. Sometimes by being appreciated, the beauty becomes a part of us, and we pass on its echo to others. And sometimes beautiful things need to be protected, not because they're beautiful, but because of the memories and legacy they preserve.

Lucy Lagare knows this all too well, as the new owner of a historic Charleston home that needs some tender care. Lucy herself needs some tender care herself, and her own success becomes tied up in how well she can preserve her home. But Declan Pinckney is determined to have the property for his family's development, despite any personal qualms he may have. Personal convictions and family expectations collide as these two navigate new discoveries about the history between their two families.

I also just have to gush over these covers. Like the stories inside, they're evocative and fresh. I'm looking forward to the third book in the series, which releases in February of 2022. Fans of dual-time fiction will not want to miss these books!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher; a positive review was not required, and these are my honest opinions.

In Ashley Clark's Paint and Nectar, the second installment in the inspirational romance series, this beautifully written novels spans two decades with two families, past and present. In the 1920s, a young watercolorist named Eliza Ravenel fell in love with William Pinckney, a naturally-talented pianist, when they first met. But like the Hatfields and the McCoys, their love was forbidden due to claims that his family stolen silver during the Civil War. Fast forward to the present day when Lucy Legare works at the art museum to preserve artwork like Eliza's watercolors and later inherits Eliza's home that someone mysteriously gifted it to her. From there, she learns about Eliza and William's love story through old journal entries and a cherished ring. A year ago, she went on a date with Declan Pinckney, while her mother played matchmaker to set her up with eligible men and never heard from him with him again, until he crossed paths with her.

Through a secret courtship, they exchanged letters and journal entries via the fence between the two properties and shared their hopes, thoughts, dreams, and fears together. William wasn't expected to fall in love with Eliza since she was sent to forge her artwork for his boss. It wasn't part of the plan. When he refused to do another job, he was roughed up his boss's henchmen. To protect Eliza from his deepest secret and bodily harm, he had to leave her brokenhearted. After he left, she married someone else and started a family. The same happened to William too. For Lucy and Declan, they started seeing each other and discovering more about their great-grandparents lives inside the house, but the same feud for the silver would keep them apart, even Lucy's inherited home from Eliza.

Years later, Eliza and William meet again, both widowed with a child of their own, and picked up where they left off to discover their happily ever after in their home and how it was handed down from generations. For Lucy and Declan, would they share the same chemistry and get together against all odds to continue the same passion their ancestors had? They had to take a leap of faith and an act of God to make it happen and be all right for their happy ending.

Ashley Clark’s debut novel, The Dress Shop on King Street, was a powerful dual-timeline story that highlighted and humanised the tragedy and inhumanity of racism. The writing was brilliant, the research was excellent, the setting was fascinating, and the both stories were compelling—especially the horrible choice one mother had to make to ensure the best possible future for her daughters.

Paint and Nectar has the same brilliant writing, the same excellent research, and the same fascinating setting: the city of Charleston. But I didn’t find the story nearly so compelling. It was a variation of the Romeo and Juliet story. Two families each blame the other for stealing and hiding valuable Paul Revere silver (yes, apparently Paul Revere was famous for more than a certain night-time ride).

In the past timeline, Eliza and William Pinckney meet and fall in love, but are driven apart by their feuding families and the lust for silver.

In the present, Lucy Legare falls for Declan Pinckney before she finds that not only is he the Pinckney heir, but his father is trying to force her out of her house … partly because he wants to find the missing silver, which he believes is buried in her garden.

One reason was that the underlying intergenerational conflict wasn’t believable. Even in the past timeline, an hour with a metal detector would have provided the answer to the mystery of the buried silver. The other thing that annoyed me was this line, which is Declan thinking about Lucy:

"She wasn’t like the other women he knew."

It’s an overused trope that places one woman on an unachievable pedestal while dismissing all other women. (It’s even more annoying in reference to faith: she wasn’t like the other Christians he knew). Instead of telling us Lucy is different, show us … and show us without using tired and inaccurate stereotypes.

Having said that, I liked Eliza and William and their story. While William was doing the wrong thing (forging Eliza’s paintings), he was at least acting out of a noble reason (providing for his sister). I was less keen on Lucy and Declan and their story. This was mostly because of Declan’s father: he was clearly the evildoer, but his motives weren’t clear. That made him feel like a caricature rather than a realistic character. That affected my view of Declan.

There were also several nuggets of wisdom in the story, and they kept me engaged. Overall, this was a solid story but it didn’t have the impact of The Dress Shop on King Street, which was excellent.

Half of me says you should read Paint and Nectar before reading The Dress Shop on King Street, because that way you won’t be disappointed by the plot. The other half of me knows that’s impossible: while both are standalone novels, there is enough crossover between the two that reading Paint and Nectar first would spoil a few of the plot points in The Dress Shop on King Street.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

This is the second book in this series. I absolutely loved the first one and this one did not disappoint. I don’t know how Ashley comes up with these plots and weaves these storylines together to create one beautiful story, but she does it. Then how she wove in her previous story in surprising ways was so good.

If you haven’t read the first book, have no fear, I think you could still read this and completely enjoy it. Just for those that have read the first book you will enjoy those places where the stories overlap.
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A copy of this book was given to me through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.