I received a free copy of the book, The Lost Manuscript and this review is completely my own.
I was intrigued by the title and then it started out great and along the way it seemed messy and so the desire to finish wasn't there.
It will be I will revisit in the future.

This multi-layered novel is an impressive debut. Themes include courage and calling and family. Rushmeyer drew her characters with tenderness, and they navigate their challenges in a new-to-me setting that will stay with me!

Framed by a mystery laid out among bookstore shelves and a storied lake, at its heart this is a coming-of-age tale that doesn’t shy away from the realities of trauma.

Way to go, Mollie!

I received a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Love the story and kept me on edge. The edge of my bed, near the lamp, and up all night reading. I kept looking forward to the next chapter and couldn’t put the book down. Great read and recommend.

This book was SO fascinating - the story was so clever and sweet. The history was as deep as the Vikings, and as current as financially struggling English aristocracy. The twists and turns of the adventure and mystery were surprising and kept me guessing the whole time. The hurting of the main characters and their struggle to come together was tormenting but engaging, sad then hopeful. The character development was almost palpable at times. There is a strong Christian proclivity, which I LOVED. I love it when characters involve God in their healing because then I know the healing will be whole.

I saw the perfect one-line review about the book, "A perfect blend of Indiana Jones style adventure and heart-tugging romance!" -Tara Johnson, author of Engraved on the Heart.

#TheLostManuscript #NetGalley

My friends and I interviewed Mollie Rushmeyer about this title at StoryChats podcast here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WshpXs5_jo0

Another book I love by another favorite author of mine! I highly recommend if you love history, romance, and mystery along with faith.

A deeply moving story of learning to love and trust even when you've felt abandoned and alone. The characters in this story leap off the page. You feel every emotion alongside them, and though their lessons are hard-won, they are easily understood and I was so wrapped up in The Lost Manuscript that I couldn't stop reading. I loved the mystery interwoven with the faith and romance elements that rounded out the book. Ellora has a deep need to be seen and to have someone show up for her. It makes it difficult for Alex, though he's doing the best he knows how. I enjoyed those moments when they sat down and really shared with each other about their difficult pasts. There was a lot for Ellora and Alex to unpack in this book, and I think the pacing worked well to give them a chance to find the love they once shared.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Faith. Redemption. History. Love.

Ellora and Alex have been separated for over a year when Ellora has the chance to teach in the place her grandmother, June, went missing from in England. It’s a chance to find out what happened to her. Even if it is at the risk of seeing her almost ex-husband.

Following in June’s foot steps, Ellora begins the search for the lost manuscript hoping to find answers and finds herself in a modern day scavenger hunt - following clues and possible answers.

The author did a wonderful job of showing how simple miscommunications, and even lack there of, can dissolve a marriage. And then allowing the lost manuscript to bring together 2 lost souls.

So beautifully written. I love second chances. I love seeing the beautiful redemption that can be found there.

The premise of this story is very intriguing featuring a lost ancient manuscript, a missing grandmother, and a troubled marriage; however, it took some time for me to get interested in the story or relate to the main characters. Around the midpoint of the story when the pace picked up with the Medieval Fair, I started to care about the outcome. Even then, though, I still had trouble connecting with or liking the two main characters. On the positive side, the historical aspect of the contemporary story is amazing and well researched. I also appreciate the strong faith thread that is woven throughout the book. I loved the adventure part of the story, but the needy characters and romance fell flat for me.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley with no obligation to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Ellora had a great life with a loving husband and grandmother who shared her love of history. When both are taken from her, she finds herself unsure of life. Her grandmother is missing for nearly a year. Her husband has left her. Now she has an opportunity to be near her husband and to continue searching for her grandmother, but it starts with the same journey her grandmother was on to find a lost manuscript that would be the historical find many dreamed of. 
I'm not sure what I expected from this story, but I got a little more than I had anticipated. This is a mystery, slight suspense, and a Christian story. With that being said, it is not a bland story with only perfection. The characters struggle with their desires and feelings. They make big mistakes while they end up fighting for their lives. I enjoyed the fact that it was a "clean" story that wasn't so clean that it felt so unrealistic. The main characters spent about half their time in the story dealing with their feelings about each other and the events that led to their marriage problems. Their thoughts were very relatable as something I might have felt. The Christian aspect was more centered on their faith and praying for their problems. That doesn't stop them from not being too "Christian-like" in their actions which is what was so refreshing. This "clean" story was more realistic than many Christian stories I have read. 
The storyline itself was really good and had me wanting to research illuminated manuscripts. I know about them but not much more than that. Could there really be a lost manuscript out there for someone to find? I'd love to get involved in such a hunt. 
There seemed to be a lack of editing at times. I found areas where the story seemed to drift and ramble. Other times, the actions seemed odd. None of this detracted from the plot though. I found myself glued to the pages to see what would happen next and who was really behind the nefarious actions. 
A good read that will give you more than you expect. Choose it for an afternoon of books and hot chocolate.

I was immediately enraptured from the moment I read the first line! It was a beautiful first line. Ellora Lockword's life is adrift. Her grandmother is missing and so is her husband. He's picked up and left and taken a job in another country. Then Alex (her estranged hubby) calls her and offers her a job for the summer. She warily accepts. As she searches for clues about her grandmother's disappearance and the lost manuscript that her grandmother was searching for, she starts getting threats making her feel like her life is in danger. She and Alex team up and go where the clues tell them. What happens next? Well, just read the book. LOL
A christian novel about Castles, a lost manuscript, adventure, romance, clues, whodunits, and in a place filled with British accents. Count me in! I loved reading about Ellie and Alex as they search for clues. I really enjoyed it. Didn't want to stop reading once I started. It truly held up to the first sentence. I was still enraptured when I read The End! Now that is telling you something! I was given a copy, but all opinions are my very own!

While I think the plot of this book had some merit, I found it kind of running in circles. The plot and timing/chronology was confusing. About midway through the book, I was tired of the mediocre suspense-building and just wanted to be done.

Also, I did not anticipate the Christian themes in it. I don't remember reading that in the book description.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC. All opinions are my own.

Ellora’s life is not playing out as she hoped. Her beloved grandmother has gone missing, and her marriage is teetering towards divorce. When Ellora is given a chance to travel to England to search for the lost manuscript and her grandmother, she can’t pass it up.

Very interesting read! The book pulled me in from the start and I wanted to see how it ended. Try it and see if this book is for you!

Mollie Rushmeyer's "The Lost Manuscript" weaves a tale of mystery and rediscovery, centering around Ellora Lockwood, whose life feels emptier since her grandmother, June, vanished and her marriage dissolved. As Ellora prepares to sell her home, she finds herself at a crossroads until an unexpected invitation from her estranged husband, Alex, arrives.

Offered a chance to teach history at Alnwick Castle in England, Ellora is intrigued when Alex shares information about a medieval manuscript her grandmother once obsessively pursued. Determined to unravel the mysteries surrounding her missing grandmother, Ellora accepts the offer, delving into the lush English countryside and the intricate history it holds.

As Ellora searches for clues about the manuscript, she discovers unsettling possibilities—potential sabotage in her grandmother's work and anonymous threats hinting at danger lurking in the shadows. However, amidst the intrigue and uncertainty, Ellora begins to find a renewed sense of purpose and resilience, growing stronger as she and Alex join forces to unravel the mysteries before them.

Rushmeyer skillfully blends elements of mystery, history, and personal growth, crafting a narrative that keeps readers captivated from start to finish. The novel invites readers on a thrilling journey, where Ellora's determination and newfound courage serve as guiding lights through the shadows of the unknown.

"The Lost Manuscript" intricately weaves a narrative of rediscovery and resilience, spotlighting the fortitude discovered when confronting obstacles directly. Rushmeyer masterfully entwines the pursuit of a vanished manuscript with Ellora's personal odyssey, creating a story that echoes within, persisting far beyond the book's conclusion.

I just reviewed The Lost Manuscript by Mollie Rushmeyer. #TheLostManuscript #NetGalley

The search for an ancient manuscript could turn deadly in this Christian mystery novel. As the story starts, Ellora's heart is broken. Her marriage has fallen apart, after her husband up and left her to teach in England, and her beloved grandmother, June, has gone missing while searching for a lost medieval manuscript. Her husband Alex then invites her to Alnwick Castle in England, where he teaches, for the summer, to teach and investigate her grandmother's notes. She hesitantly accepts, hoping for closure with both Alex and with her grandmother's disappearance. As she and Alex piece together the clues that her grandmother left behind, their feelings come to the forefront. Is a divorce really the right choice, or can they open up to each other and give their marriage a second chance? Things are further complicated when they begin encountering opposition in the search for the manuscript. How will things play out? Pick up The Lost Manuscript and find out.

This was a beautiful and emotional story. Both sad and hopeful. Ellora and Alex were both struggling, but instead of turning to each other for love and guidance, they pushed each other away. They had a lot to work through, and it was nice to see them reach a resolution. Then there's the mystery plot, which I also really enjoyed. Ellora's grandmother seems like such an adventurous and intelligent woman. She left Ellora and Alex all the clues they would need to solve the mystery, and did it in a way that no one else would be able to piece it together. This is both an engaging historical mystery and a sweet romance with a great message. Well worth the read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I had trouble getting through this book. It seemed to drag in places. Ellora is going through a difficult time in her life. She is heading to a divorce. She's s having to move our of her house and needs a job. She kept talking to herself and saying the same things. It was a good story, but it seemed to take forever to get to the end.

I received this book from Love Inspired Trade via NetGalley for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

A tale of redemption featuring two historians and a missing medieval manuscript. Despite a lot of historical details, some of the storyline seemed rather unreal at times—though perhaps that is fitting for an Indiana Jones style treasure hunt. The book started slowly but I did finish it to find out the conclusion.

Trigger Warnings: miscarriage, divorce, grief.

Checked off many of the boxes for me: mystery and suspense, referencing lots of history, story of loss and grief, but also of hope.
Things that I loved: I loved that the author centered the story around a hunt for a lost manuscript, with references to the history of the Middle Ages, including religious persecution of the time. I really liked how this historical detail was tied into a modern day treasure hunt, filled with suspense.

While Ellora and her husband, Alex were attempting to solve the mystery of Ellora's grandmother and find the lost manuscript, they were also facing the consequences of secrets they had withheld from each other. The author pens realistic characters who in their separate paths of grief and loss, manage to hurt the one they love best. At times I grew impatient with their choices, but found it very realistic. I loved the faith thread that was woven through the story, one of forgiveness and love that brings hope.

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

I was thrilled to be on the launch team for The Lost Manuscript by Mollie Rushmeyer. I had recently read The Bookshop of Secrets and was so excited to read another book by this author. Additionally, my mother grew up in England, so that was another reason I was excited about the book, as that is where the majority of the story takes place. I loved the idea of the characters, Ellora and Alex, searching for a lost manuscript, so a treasure hunt, and that there was a connection to medieval times, Vikings, and castles.
At the beginning of the story, Ellora and Alex are on the verge of divorce, with Ellora living in the states and Alex working in his homeland of England. Ellora and her friend Lanae find themselves heading to England for different, yet connected reasons. They find themselves on the hunt for an illuminated manuscript that some say is just a myth, but Ellora’s grandmother believed was real. But they are also on the hunt for Ellora’s grandmother who has gone missing, possibly due to foul play.
They are met with danger as they follow the clues left by Ellora’s grandmother, and we are left with a mystery. Who exactly is it that is trying to stop them, who keeps jeopardizing their safety and even their lives? There are multiple suspects and twists I didn’t see coming. Though as we got close to the reveal, I had my suspicions and sort of wondered why Ellora and her friends weren’t seeing the signs. However, all wasn’t quite as it seemed and the author threw in even more twists, which was awesome.
Plus all through the story we are seeing Ellora and Alex’s relationship twist and turn as well. And I have to mention all the informative historical detail we learn through the book.
I really loved this story; however, I did find it a trifle difficult to get into, and at times found it hard to stay involved in the story. Thus the four stars. I do wonder if part of the problem were the typos and other mistakes in the ARC. I’m assuming those have been corrected for the published version, but it did affect my reading. Also, there were times I felt like I was given too much information all at once.
I very much DID appreciate the faith aspect in the story and the growth in the characters’ walk with the Lord.
Definitely a book I recommend.
I received this book for free from the author as a part of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own, honest thoughts.