#BookReview: PAINT AND NECTAR by Ashley Clark

Wow! Miss Ashley did an amazing job. The cover is beautiful too! I love The Dress Shop on King Street but I think I love this more. The dual timeline, mystery and story are all good. I didn’t want to put it down. The past and present were interwoven seamlessly.

In 1929, I was drawn to Eliza and William’s love story. Family feud, forgery and unrequited love made it interesting. Watercolor painting, piano, camellias, bluebirds and silver spoon were all parts of the story. It was a delight to read about the Charleston Renaissance and the Rainbow Row. I want to visit Charleston soon.

Eliza will later on learn that inheritance means differently to each one of us. What matters most is the joy we see from the people we love.

In 2020, Lucy and Declan both felt a connection but their surnames drew them apart. But their paths crossed again when Lucy inherited a historic house. I enjoyed their banter and how they suppressed their feelings. I was very invested as Lucy discovered her genealogy and uncovered more secrets. It was thrilling and exciting. I oohed and aahed when I realized the connection of the characters from the previous book and this book. But this can still be read as a standalone.

Beth asked Lucy this question: “What imitations have you accepted as originals in your own life?” Like Lucy, it made me think too. That we need to enjoy the life we have and preserve it. I very much look forward to the next book in the Heirloom Secrets series. I highly recommend this! 5 stars

Thank you Bethany House for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Dual timelines brings Charleston, SC to life as two families seek the mystery of buried silver. I very much enjoyed the historical facts behind the two stories. The gardens were beautifully described as to make readers want to visit Charleston. The contempt that the two families held for each other was sad. I liked the way the author wove the stories into one for a satisfying conclusion.

Mere words simply cannot describe how I feel about this amazing story by new-to-me author, Ashley Clark. Speaking of words, Ms. Clark's lovely, poetic prose assailed my senses with the delicate fragrance of diverse flowers, the chirping of colorful bluebirds, the distinct smell of new paint on a canvas, and the sweet aroma of newfound love permeating the air.

Paint and Nectar is an intense time-slip novel connecting two young couples in a web of deceit, secrets, forbidden romance, and a mystery that divides two families. My emotions were all over the page (literally!) as my heart was shattered into tiny little pieces and put back together again. The beauty and bustle of past and present day Charleston, South Carolina, comes alive in this intriguing tale I highly recommend!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House via NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are entirely my own & I received no monetary compensation.*

Paint and Nectar
by Ashley Clark
Back of the Book: “In 1929, a spark forms between talented watercolorist Eliza and William, a charming young man who has been hired to forge her popular paintings. Her aunt makes it clear Eliza should stay away from him because of a feud between their families over missing heirloom silver. But the source of the rivalry was long ago, and as the two get to know each other, they fall in love. William regrets the job that desperation led him to take and their families' ongoing bitterness, but setting things right comes at a cost.
In present-day Charleston, Lucy Legare has just inherited an old house from a mysterious benefactor, along with all the secrets it holds, including an old silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney is determined to buy the house for his family's development company. But as Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, garden, and silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history's sake but also for her own.”
Impressions: I wanted to like this book but I started out frustrated and ended disappointed. It was a fun concept but it didn’t live up to my expectations.
Rated: Threats
Liked: I never understood long-time feuds but they sure are fun to read about. As a reader, it was fun to speculate and discover what the truth is. This and my curiosity kept the book moving.
Disliked: It was frustrating to pick up this book in the evening and start reading one of the character perspectives only to have to flip back to figure out how they are related or connected again. It is not relaxing to have to take notes while reading for pleasure. I had to do this through much of the beginning of the book until I could place the family tree together of who was who. Once things started to fall into place, I was disappointed with how things were connected.
Quotes: “Roots are fragile before they are strong. It’s as true for plants as it is for life.”
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review shared here.

🖌Paint and Nectar🍯
🖌Ashley Clarke🍯

🖌🍯But maybe we all need something to keep us grounded, even in the beautiful moments.🍯🖌

Genre :Historical and contemporary romance
Release date : May 11, 2021


This is the second book in the Heirloom Secrets series by Ashley Clarke ( yeah I highlighted most of the book again and I regret nothing 🤭)

The book starts with Clara burying the family heirloom's silver spoon and so the journey begins. We see teo pairs of star crossed lovers from the start and the story is half agony half swoon worthy!

What I loved the best about this book is that it has a strong connection to the first book but both are standalones too that's the best part of it!!

Lucy and Declan as we see from the first book have a love at first sight moment but the problem is their families are against each other meaning their families blame each other for the buried silver spoon but oh it doesn't stop there because it's just history repeating itself! Since this feud has been going on for years before when Lucy and Declan's ancestors fell in love with each other.

Eliza is a lover of preserving things and does so with her art as a contribution to the Charleston Renaissance, William is good at art and music both of which are worthless to his father. He is sent on a mission to steal her art in a metaphorical sense and he does only he falls in love with the artist too and not just the art!

Declan and Lucy felt a spark like their ancestors but the blaming game is still on so their families would be totally against them having a relationship. But when Lucy inherits something huge the game is ON again and Declan's father will stop at nothing to get it!

Immerse yourself in the story of love, hate, hope, enemies to lovers troupe, revenge, emotional trauma and beautiful scenes. So to say I loved this book would be a serious and Understatement, I thoroughly enjoyed it what I loved about this book and the author is that they are unpredictable and you can't expect certain things to happen a certain way, totally surprising, every character, every plot, everything is beyond what we predict and you can't help but fall in love with the characters, the plot, description of seasons, every place and my god the flowers that she described! you just can't help but fall in love and I went to amazon to buy plants too and I don't even have a green thumb that's how convinced the author had me!


The character development is really really good, the plot is filled with unexpected twists and the end is totally worth it, inspirational quotes sprinkled all over the book and the lines are so well penned!! You can't help falling in love with the book! I would recommend reading the first book to see how deep this book is but it can also be read as a standalone so the choice is yours 💙

Paint and Nectar
by Ashley Clark
Bethany House
You Like Them You Are Auto-Approved
Bethany House Publishers
Christian | General Fiction (Adult) | Romance
Pub Date 11 May 2021 | Archive Date 10 Jun 2021

What an enjoyable read! I loved the historical fiction aspect and the inspirational writing. I had read this author's first book, Dress Shop on King Street and I liked this one even more! I will recommend this book to our readers.
Thanks to Bethany House and Netgalley for the digital ARC.

5 star

I know it's still a little bit early in the year to be making such bold claims, but I'm still going to go ahead and state that I have a feeling Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark is going to end up being one of my very favorite reads of the year. This book had me glued to the story, inspired my faith, and challenged me to truly think about many different issues raised throughout it.

I've always been a fan of timeslip novels, and this is one of the very best I've ever personally read. As someone who has always been fascinated by Charleston, this book was everything I possibly could have ever wanted. In the year 1929, we follow a talented painter named Clara, and the young handsome man (William) who has caught her eye from a rival family. Their romance is tumultuous and doesn't go in the direction either are expecting, but their choices have consequences that affect the present day characters of Lucy and Declan. Lucy and Declan have got off on the wrong foot, and it continues that way when Lucy is mysteriously gifted a historic Charleston home that Declan's family's development company is looking to purchase. With so much history, tradition and familial mysteries and secrets tied up in both time periods, Paint and Nectar is truly a beautiful story and a story that has something for everyone.

I didn't have the pleasure of reading the first book in the series, but the very first thing I did after finishing this one was order that one from the library. I could barely bring myself to put down this beautiful and heartwarming romance that truly tugged at my heartstrings, and is unlike anything I've ever read before. Any reader who chooses to pick this one up is going to be in for an amazing treat, and I can't wait to read more books from this author in the future. I loved how she kept me guessing from start to finish, and I loved how she intertwines everything in ways that nobody could have possibly expected!

I highly recommend picking this one up as I can guarantee you won't be disappointed!

Final Rating: 5/5.

Thanks so much to Bethany House for allowing me to read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Bethany House) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I absolutely love the themes that Ashley Clark weaves throughout this gripping narrative. Everything comes together so beautifully in the end and the way she explains various gems of wisdom really resonated with me, both in terms of the Christian faith element as well as general life advice.

The settings are gorgeous and the stolen silver storyline is captivating.

However, there is a lot going on in this novel. You'd be well served to read The Dress Shop on King Street first. Otherwise, it's a challenge to keep up with all the characters. Honestly, I wish the narrative was a little more streamlined so that it felt genuine and not quite as dramatic. That's just my personal taste.

Overall, this novel is carefully crafted and sparkles with a heart-warming and encouraging inspirational message.

Well this was an unexpected delight! I took a chance on a new author and I am so glad I did. This story - it was so beautiful. The lush descriptions and alluring settings of Charleston are expertly depicted in this timeless novel. Ashley Clark diffused the perfect amount of Southern charm on every page and in every character.

This time-slip revolves around a centuries-old feud surrounding heirloom silver. In both eras buds a Romeo and Juliet style romance. In the first, Eliza has fallen in love with a thief. Oh, she didn't know about his nefarious activities until long after the fact, but William's charm and musical talent has won this southern Belle over (I'm talking about Eliza, mind you. Although...) As secrets are unearthed, it seems these two may not be destined to live their happy-ever-after.

In the present day, Lucy has been mysteriously gifted a crumbling yet majestic Charleston house. One in high demand, it appears, as the man she thought perfect has plans to buy the house and destroy it for development. Lucy becomes more determined than ever to preserve this remnant of history, if not for her own sake.

I am awed by the incredible story Ashley wove together. Be prepared to be fully transported to Charleston, both in the past and future. I love the elegant prose that is soft in its charm yet so powerful in its message. I truly loved this story, and cannot wait to read whatever else Ashley will write.

I'll just leave you with one of the many beautiful quotes I've highlighted:

"A movement like that can be summed up in this - that redemption, like sunlight, always reaches through the gates, and that we, like flowers, bend toward what grows us. So that the imitations and likenesses we have accepted as originals are exposed as deception, and we are left with the hope of a truer inheritance, a truer promise: a second garden, where all the dead things come alive again and all that was forfeited is restored and al that is fractured becomes a mosaic of color."

"The Dress Shop on King Street" (the first book in this series) is incredible, so my expectations for "Paint and Nectar" were set rather high. Blessedly, it lived up to--and even exceeded--them!

Clark seamlessly intertwines storylines between 1929 and present-day Charleston, even including subtle nods to "Dress Shop." While readers don't *have* to have read that one first, it certainly lends depth to this read; I personally got really excited at picking up those references! <insert Captain America's "I understood that reference" line from _The Avengers_).

I've never been to Charleston, but loved learning about it and its renaissance between WWI and WWII. It's apparently quite similar to Savannah, which I *have* been to, and I'd love to go and compare the two one day!

"Paint and Nectar" really challenged me spiritually, in a good way. Clark connected biblical gardens with a certain Charleston garden in this story, and wrote not a few particularly compelling lines in this release:
- "Maybe what you thought was a closed gate meant to punish you is actually God's way of protecting you from remaining in a place where you won't and can't receive His life." (eARC loc 4818)
- "What imitations have you accepted as originals in your own life?" (eARC loc. 4823)
- "If we don't tend our ground, something else will grow there. The choice is up to us."

Powerful stuff, eh? And that's just 3 of ... well, many highlights I made while reading "Paint and Nectar." Definitely looking forward to book 3 in the series; have no fear, no cliffhangers here (hey! I rhymed!), but I'm sure familiar characters from this read will appear in book 3 - just like Book 1 characters appeared here.

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

A solid follow up to The Dress Shop on King Street. This story reads well as a standalone, but I highly recommend reading the first story in the series. Readers are treated to Easter eggs through the entire novel and will appreciate the cameos more if The Dress Shop has already been read.

This dual time novel bounces between 1929 and present day, in Charleston South Carolina. Not far from King Street, is a house and garden that connects the infamous watercolorist Eliza Ravenel, and art major/curator Lucy Legare. In a series of interesting events, Lucy becomes the owner of Eliza’s home – the center of supposed hidden treasure dating back to the Civil War. A family feud from the past is still very much alive in the present, adding to the external conflict of Lucy’s recent crush on a young man she meets at a party.

Once again, Ashley Clark brings history alive and gives readers an experience they soon won’t forget. The narrative flows easily while pulling readers into Lucy and Eliza’s worlds, detailing paintings, forgeries, and treasure hunting with vivid descriptions.

This is a story about overcoming the past, finding your passion, forgiveness and ultimately, grabbing hold of second chances.

I received a copy from the publisher through Net Galley. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a magical, romantic, yet sometimes tragic history that passed through several generations. It included a family feud over long lost Paul Revere silver. It’s about art and life and how they intertwine. I completely loved it!!

I am a Midwest girl and in the last couple of years I have fallen in love with southern fiction. I attribute this to a handful of exceptional authors-one which is Ashley Clark. I loved her debut novel last year. This second novel has clinched her spot at the top of my TBR pile for future novels.

Ms. Clark's beautiful prose will immerse the reader in the Charleston setting in both the early 1900's and modern day in this split time novel. I love how both stories weaved together until the very end. This novel checked all the boxes for me. Great historical detail, characters I would love to meet again in future novels, a centuries-old family feud, missing treasure and romance. I like the fact that Ms. Clark can pen a sweet romance, but she also spins a story of family or should I say families whose individual stories entwine together in unexpected ways. The story reverberated with a faith thread of forgiveness and the hope that comes when one follows their dreams.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

"A movement that can be summed up in this - that redemption, like sunlight, always reaches through the gates, and that we, like flowers, bend toward what grows us. So that the imitations and likenesses we have accepted as originals are exposed as deception, and we are left with the hope of a truer inheritance, a truer promise: a second garden, where all the dead things come alive and all that is forfeited is restored , and all that is fractured becomes a mosaic of color."

The redemption theme and generational legacy that carried throughout this book were deeply engaging and gripping. Learning the "better" thing, the "better" choice, the "truer" purpose in life is an important lesson for not just the characters in this book, but for the reader as well.

There are many ties to the author's first book, The Dress Shop on King Street, and while it would have been a spoiler before reading them both, I feel like I needed a character chart to keep everyone's relationships straight.

Regardless of the periodic confusion, I really enjoyed this book, and give it 4 stars. I love Ms. Clark's writing style and she does a great job tying in the past to its consequences on the present.

I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Charming elements are aplenty in this book. Not least is.a heroine who paints since I dabble in watercolor myself. However, ironically, it is precisely because I paint that one particular scene yanked me out of the story, never to fully pull me in again.

I liked the Eliza part of the story more than Lucy’s for some reason. I do often find myself liking only one part of a time split narrative.

Charleston has become a place that I wish I could visit one day!

Paint and Nector is a nice follow to The Dress Shop on King Street. I enjoyed Eliza and William's story, but I had a difficult time at the beginning of the novel. Once I understood who the characters were and how they interconnected, I enjoyed the story. The setting in Charleston is beautiful. The references to the plants and bluebirds added brightness to the novel. I loved reading about the ladies who worked so hard to preserve the city and draw tourists in to help the city maintain a viable existence. If you enjoy art, the south, or historical fiction you may enjoy Paint and Nector. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Paint and Nectar is a sweet book that weaves together the story of three generations, their lives in Charleston crisscrossing into a sweet romance. We flip back and forth between Eliza and Will, whose love seems to be star crossed, and Lucy and Declan, who seem to be making similar mistakes that their family has been making throughout the last century. I enjoyed learning more about the Depression era history of Charleston and found Eliza’s story to be particularly special.

“There are times in life—sometimes, not always—when the water on paper drips with the color of just the perfect hue, until the effect is something so ethereal that the artist knows it must simply be experienced because she can never produce it again. And the color shifts over time, shifts still over sunlight, until the watercolors fade completely back into the paper itself, and all that’s left is the memory.” (Paint and Nectar)

Paint and Nectar is one of those novels that sticks with you, the story reverberating and stealing into your dreams. This is a split-time set in Charleston, South Carolina, beginning in 1929 with Eliza and William and in modern times with Lucy and Declan. The stories that follow weave together until the very last page. The prose is soft and elegant and decidedly Southern without becoming cliche. I could hear the characters’ accents and feel the humidity.
And I highlighted more quotes than I should include in one review. One’s like: “Still, she was struck every time she stepped outside by the many ways nature continued to bloom. That the bluebirds still nested, and the songbirds remembered how to sing. That the God who cared for the sparrows had fed them another day. This probably should not surprise her, and yet it often did. Faithfulness, provision, and beauty enduring. Maybe the world was stronger than it seemed.”

The characters are endearing and their tales at once haunting and full of redemption. William—infuriating and charming William—and Eliza were so real that I was almost sad to think of them as gone from this present world.

Clearly, I LOVED this story, highly recommend it, and can’t wait for the next one in the series!

*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.”

#PaintandNectar #NetGalley

I loved this story so much! While the first book was excellent and well written, there was something about this one that just grabbed me from the start and kept me staying up late reading. I want to visit Charleston now! I love how the author wove fictional characters into the story and brought history to life. I also really loved the overall theme of restoration and the spiritual lessons in the story. This is a wonderful book to pick up!
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This is my honest review.

A time slip novel, Paint and Nectar tells two tales of love and hope. Set in Charleston, the historic homes came a alive. I could picture them I. Their heyday all lined up.

It’s a story of second chances, forgiveness, and unconditional love. Various Bible stories are woven throughout and it helps it feel all the more authentic.

Paint and Nectar will be a book that stays with you after you put it down.