A dual timeline book with historical elements and a touch of magic. Mysterious, fact filled and romantic. You'll love the characters! Part of the story is told by two mysterious books that unravel a mystery and a love story. A great book, well written and fun!

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I could not get into the story though, and the characters felt flat to me. I tried but I just could not continue. This was a DNF for me.

The Echo of Old Books was a dual timeline historical fiction that I loved. In the more update time you have Ashlyn who is a rare book seller who finds two beautifully bound volumes of unpublished stories and conflicting narratives, as such her curiosity becomes peaked. The second timeline is set in 1942 before the US joined WW2 and it is about Hemi and Belle, their romance and the tragic conclusion. Ashlyn then embarks on a journey that intertwines her own life with Hemi & Belle in the hopes of finding out what happened all those years ago.
I loved so much about this book, the characters, the storyline but I especially loved the beautiful conclusion to this story. I will definitely be picking up more from Barbara Davis.

Barbara Davis immerses us in a rare book store owner's experience with the books in a carton of old books from which she discovers two books which give off vibes of the lives of those portrayed. Ashlyn is obsessed with finding the protagonists as she reads through their experiences. In the process she endeavor to right the wrongs of the past and unite the star crossed lovers. Excellent dip into remembrance of the past as it influences today. Read The Echo of Old Books.

The publisher’s blurb made this book sound like it would be right up my alley, as the saying goes. Sadly, it wasn’t. I’m not even sure what the problem was, but I never felt much connection to any of the main characters.

We have a rare book store owner, Ashlyn, who not only sells rare books but restores them. Her story is set in 1984 in New Hampshire. Then we have the two who are the heart of the story, two people with nicknames, Belle and Hemi (short for Hemingway, because he’s a writer). Their story mainly takes place in New York City in 1941, right before America is attacked and joins the raging world war. And lastly, we have Ethan, whose connection at first is that he donated boxes of his father’s stuff and Ashlyn discovered two intriguing books among his donations. I liked Ethan best of all, for some reason, but there wasn’t much “there” there, for him in this book.

Belle and Hemi (we do later learn their actual names) each wrote a short book detailing their side of the story, an apparently ill-fated love affair. Hemi’s book is called “Regretting Belle” and Belle’s is called “Forever, And Other Lies.” We get to read these two books in pieces, as Ashlyn and Ethan read them, so there’s a double “book within a book.”

Belle was the “poor little rich girl”, being forced to toe the line for her family, engaged to someone she barely can stand. Hemi is a reporter who somehow gains entrance to a function where Belle is - and their story takes off from there. I found it interesting and disturbing to read about all the anti-Semitism among this group of people and their relationship with Charles Lindbergh and other America First plotters - but I wasn’t surprised.

I really enjoyed The Keeper of Happy Endings by this author, but this one, I only finished to find out how it ended, not because I was entranced by it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read an advance readers copy of this book, although I was rather late to it. All opinions are my own.

This story line lacked a lot of things and was hard to finish. If the author was to write more I may give those another chance. The plot and story was hard to follow and the characters were not very interesting

⭐⭐⭐⭐

“The Echo of Old Books” by Barbara Davis is a captivating novel that explores the world of rare-book dealer Ashlyn Greer and her unique ability to feel the emotional imprints left by the previous owners of books. When Ashlyn stumbles upon two beautifully bound volumes with unpublished stories and conflicting narratives, her curiosity becomes an all-consuming obsession. Determined to uncover the truth behind these mysterious books, Ashlyn embarks on a journey that intertwines her own life with the tragic romance of Hemi and Belle.

The book is well written, with Davis skillfully immersing readers in the intoxicating atmosphere of old paper, ink, and leather. The pacing is excellent, keeping readers engaged from beginning to end. The dual timeline narrative is executed seamlessly, adding depth and intrigue to the story. The romantic elements are also well-developed and contribute to the overall emotional impact.

One impressive aspect of “The Echo of Old Books” is its meticulous research. The plot is intricately crafted, leading readers through a trail of broken promises and betrayals. As Ashlyn delves deeper into Hemi and Belle’s love story, she uncovers secrets that bring closure not only to their tale but also to her own unfinished chapters.

The characters in this novel are complex and intriguing. Davis has taken great care in developing them, making them feel authentic and relatable. However, there was one minor issue I had with the backstory involving Ashlyn’s ex’s death–it felt unrealistic and farfetched considering his portrayed personality type.

Overall, “The Echo of Old Books” is a truly enjoyable read with its beautiful cover capturing attention from the start. The writing is compelling, blending mystery, romance, and historical elements seamlessly. Despite a small hiccup regarding believability in one aspect of the story, this novel proves itself as a solid addition to any book lover’s collection.

**ARC Via NetGalley**

This book is almost entirely a romance story. That and the fact that it has hints of magic woven into the tale is something the blurb does a good job of explaining. It is also something a reader has to know going in since liking those factors is important for the overall reading experience.
Our lead protagonist has had a sad childhood. She is marked by it, but by a lucky twist of fate, she finds hope in an old bookshop. Over time, the bookshop became her sole refuge. It is where she resides when the book begins. Ashlyn has a special power - she can lift emotions off of books. She calls it an emotional fingerprint. When she finds a book that is almost a diary which holds extremely strong emotions within it, a significant interest builds.
Ashlyn becomes personally invested in the tale of the past, and she tries to hunt down the possible people being hidden under pseudonyms in the tale. A book within a book (or, in this case, two books within a book) is a hard sell usually, but here the happiness of either set of people in our book (the one that holds the two other stories) becomes quite entertaining.
There is heartbreak and a lot of other emotions tied up in the events. None of the feelings expressed here seems trivial at any point. I was emotionally invested in the various twists that occurred. I guessed a couple of them, while the bigger ones evaded me, making it a great read.
I would highly recommend this book to readers of dual-timeline stories, especially if the readers have tired of it and are looking for something to reignite their interest in that style of narrative.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

I fell in love with the cover and then I fell in love with the story: well written, intriguing and entertaining.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

I want to start off by saying I did judge this book its cover. The cover and title was the reason I was drawn to it. I went into this blind but was double surprised when I saw that it was like a 2 books in one. Two different couples trying to find their was. This was one of those books that you swear "just one more chapter" until you have ran out of pages.

This is such a great concept for a story about a book lover for book lovers. I found Ashlyn's gift of being able to feel the echoes of previous owner's emotions from their books fascinating. I also enjoy dual timelines, mysteries, and romance and this book had them all. It's so well-written that I was immediately absorbed into the story and found it hard to put down. A lovely way to escape for a while.

This book was fantastic. Loved the story and the way the story of the past lives of two people was revealed and conn3ct3d to the present. Fascinating and tender love story over the ages, with a great ending. Love love love.

Ashlyn is a rare-book dealer and she is one of a kind! She has a gift. A magical gift. She can actually feel the emotions of the previous owners when she touches the book. The emotional fingerprint that she likes to call the echo of a book. She runs across 2 books which lead her on a hunt about a decades old love story of betrayal.

I love Ashlyn. She is such a wonderful character. I love her quirkiness and her love of a quest. And this book has a fabulous quest. I also enjoyed the fluctuation in time periods. The way the author lays this out and portrays the characters really kept me enthralled in this adventure.

I have only read one other book by this author and I LOVED it. You can see the review if The Last of the Moon Girls here.

If you need a book which will take you away into a love story and old books…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the author for a honest review.

This book is a love letter to the power of books. The narrative within the narrative structure has been handled expertly to create the most rich and wonderful story! It will stay with me long after the final lines have been read.

The Echo of Old Books is the first book I've read from Barbara Davis, and I really enjoyed it. Part historical mystery, part historical romance, part modern "coming to terms with self," the story is emotional and haunting.

Ashlyn Greer hasn't had the easiest life after losing both parents at a young age. However, things seem to be on the upswing when she inherits An Unlikely Story, a rare and used bookstore, where she's spent many happy hours and learned the craft of restoring old books. Beyond her love for books is a special ability Ashlyn is only starting to fully understand: she can sense and connect with the residual psychic impressions left behind by a book's previous owner(s). It's a gift that makes running An Unlikely Story interesting, but when Ashlyn happens upon two unique books, her gift quickly takes a slightly darker turn.

The books she discovers are written by two authors, Belle and Hemi, but are alike in appearance. One is titled "Forgetting Belle" and is written by Hemi, and the other is titled "Forever and Other Lies" and is written by Belle. However, both books detail the same torrid love affair between the two authors but from different perspectives. It doesn't take long for Ashlyn to become obsessed and soon finds herself in the midst of a decades old romance and mystery.

The Echo of Old Books is well-written and obviously benefits from a lot of detailed research on Davis's part. The stories of Hemi, Belle, and Ashlyn are seven together like a beautiful tapestry hanging against the backdrop of old books. Given Ashlyn's psychic gift, there is a touch of magical realism to the story, which only serves to bring emotions to the forefront and heighten the reader's need to keep turning pages.

TheEchoofOldBooks #NetGalley
The Echo of Old Books by Barbara Davis

Clear an afternoon or evening to savor and enjoy this lovely book!

Ashlyn has psychometry which is the ability to discover facts about an object or person by touching objects associated with them. When she picks up a book she picks up the emotions, usually of the previous owner.
When she picks up a mysterious book "Regretting Belle" she is strongly affected. She also is affected by " Forver and other lies"

Ashlyn is consumed with each book and she is drawn into the mystery of who wrote the books.
Belle wrote forever and Hemi wrote Regretting.

She drags Ethan (who had the boxes of the books and other books) into the hunt for the author's identities.

I really enjoyed the book within a book plot, and was along for the ride to see if Ashlyn would learn who really wrote the books.
I liked the present and past timeliness in the book. And like usual, I cried many times. I cheered Ashlyn on in her hunt. I slowly warmed up to Ethan.
One tragic romance just tugged at my heartstrings.

I can NOT recommend this book enough. Just a powerful emotional book.

I wish I could go into more details about what Ashlyn discoverd along the way but I can't.
I admired her bravery and I liked her growth in the book.

I would highly highly recommend this book for readers who enjoy a drama, romance, mystery with lots of emotion.

5 ***

thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher!

Grab some of tea, find your favorite spot and curl up with this cosy dual timeline story. Does it tread new ground? No. But that's not what these books are for.

this book alternates between the the 1980’s and the 1940’s. Ashlyn is a wounded soul and runs an antiquarian bookstore that restores old books. She finds a pair of books with no author, no publisher and no printing information. They were donated by Ethan when his father died. She talks to him and they decide to explore the stories told in the two books. He finds a family he never knew he had and he and Ashlyn help heal each other. Marian is the author of one of the books, Ethan’s aunt and she agrees to tell them the history. Surprises for everyone.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! Beautifully written by Barbara Davis! This book has so many elements to it: love, loss, forgiveness. I loved how Ashlyn was so emotionally connected to books and her determination to find the answer to Belle and Hemi's story. I also loved the dual timelines and how Barbara Davis executed this so seamlessly. The ending was perfection! Book lovers -- this is a MUST read!

4.5 stars/5 stars

I am so enamored with the premise of this novel - to be able to feel the echoes of a books’ previous owners - what an interesting concept - that a book could hold our emotions at the time that we read it - I'm all in!!!
The characters are well-developed and, for the most part, likable. The idea of two separate books written about a shared experience by the two people involved and their different perspectives of the experience is intriguing and nicely done. I liked the mystery and journey of identifying the authors. An imaginative and innovative technique for a novel.