The Lost Manuscript by Mollie Rushmeyer is a great book that is full of history, mystery, second chances, love, loss, and hope.
This is the story of Ellora (Ellie) Lockwood and her husband Alex (both history professors) who are struggling in their marriage, a grandmother (June) gone missing in the search of a lost manuscript set in St. Cloud, MN & England.
Will Ellie and Alex be able to save their marriage? What happened to Grandma June? Will the lost manuscript be found? Will their marriage survive?
It is beautifully written, with scripture, talk of God and our relationship with Him. "I think we often equate God's love with how well our lives are going."


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

Ellora Lockwood and her husband Alex have been having major marriage troubles. So much so that he has taken off to England without her and has been gone for months. Feeling abandoned Ellora files for divorce. Not only is she divorcing her husband but her Grandmother has been missing for months after searching for a priceless lost manuscript from the medieval period. Alex calls Ellora with a job offer in England and she can also search for her missing grandmother and the manuscript. She hesitantly agrees. When Ellora and Alex meet again, they try to be civil and look for Grandma June and the manuscript together along with a couple friends. Will Ellora and Alex be able to save their marriage, and Grandma June and find the lost manuscript?

Wow! What a story! Beautifully written. I really loved how much scripture and talk of God was in this book! Very good. This story is also a great reminder and example of how important communication is between a married couple. You must talk about everything no matter how difficult. The author discusses some tough issues and does it very well. (More about that in the content section below) Although this is a contemporary story, there is a lot of history involved. I also liked the mystery element of searching for the manuscript and also trying to find out what happened to Grandma June. Overall a great story and I definitely recommend!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Content: miscarriage/child loss: the main character has had a miscarriage in a tragic way and it is discussed through out the book

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

The historical elements of this story were very interesting to me. I had never heard of Alnwick Castle or an illuminated manuscript and found the details intriguing. The main characters make you want to root for them even though their lack of communication is frustrating at times. The supporting cast is great as well. The plot has lots of unexpected twists and turns. Mollie Rushmeyer does a great job of painting scenes with words. It is easy to picture all the different venues where the story takes place. The Lost Manuscript is an enjoyable, entertaining mystery that highlights forgiveness and redemption and faith.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read for my honest review.

I received an electronic ARC from HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada) through NetGalley.
A mystery wrapped around a damaged relationship. Ellora has reluctantly decided to accept a summer teaching job with the college's overseas program in England. She will have to work with her estranged husband, Alex, who has not signed the divorce papers yet. Her dear friend, Lanae, is also going and plays a strong role in convincing Ellora to go. The first couple chapters set up this dynamic which unfolds for the rest of the book. The mystery comes as her grandmother has disappeared and is feared dead. Ellora wants to figure out what happened and continue her grandmother's research for a manuscript written in medieval times. No proof beyond clues and small writings exists to locate this manuscript but Ellora believes in her grandmother. Rushmeyer balances the historical search with the relationship challenges and weaves them together with a Christian foundation. The suspense and threats as they search for the manuscript stay at a low key level but build as the book progresses. Rushmeyer lays out several false trails as to who is pursuing them and who may be a murderer. By the end, the mystery is solved and the relationships are well on their way. This is a faith based story and characters openly share their faith walks and dark times.

Ellora Lockwood has a lot on her plate, her marriage is in tatters and her grandmother is missing whilst searching for an ancient illuminated manuscript. Her mysterious journey in search of her grandmother gradually brings to light what her focus in life should be. The novel had an uplifting and hopeful feel to it, which kept it from becoming dark. It was easy to relate to Ellora and her best friend, whereas her husband Alex seemed to be somewhat aloof. I did enjoy the lush countryside of England’s Alnwick Castle and other fascinating historical sites where they spend the summer teaching and searching for her missing grandmother along with the elusive manuscript. There is also a strong faith element throughout the novel which is always appreciated.
I have read the author’s debut, The Bookshop of Secrets and loved it! I will definitely be reading more of the author’s novels.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advanced copy for review!

It’s not just Ellora Lockwood’s home that’s being emptied as she prepares to sell—her heart seems to be empty too. Since the mysterious disappearance of her beloved Grandma June and separating from her husband, Alex, Ellora has felt adrift. Then comes an invitation from Alex to teach history at a summer program at Alnwick Castle in England. He’s even found information about the location of a medieval manuscript that was her grandmother’s obsession before she vanished.

Warily, Ellora accepts Alex’s offer. Surrounded by lush English countryside and captivating history, she pieces together clues about the manuscript’s whereabouts—and uncovers new questions. Could someone have been sabotaging her grandmother’s work? Anonymous threats lead Ellora to suspect she too may be in danger, but as she and Alex work together, she’s finding strength, new purpose and the courage to see this quest through, wherever it may lead.

I absolutely loved this book. It was a captivating, quick read. It is published by Love Inspired which is a subsidiary of Harlequin. However, unlike other Love Inspired books that I've read, there is a strong faith-based element to the book.

Ellora is a bit self-involved throughout the book, and it's clear that she and Alex really didn't understand what marriage meant. The book is full of Christian history in England, and I enjoyed learning about that area and it's history. It definitely led me to do some addition reading on medieval English history, in particular the Christian group and manuscripts that were mentioned in the book.

The author has done a fair amount of research on the topic. She did an amazing job of spinning several mysteries into the plot of the story. As is typical of many novels written today, the story is told from multiple perspectives so you get to be inside of the characters heads, as it were, hearing their thoughts, experiencing their feelings and learning their side of situations and issues that occurred and are occurring.

Ellora clings to her feelings regarding her separation and justifying those feelings for far longer than I felt was necessary. This makes the end a bit rushed, in my opinion. Had this part of the book been crafted differently it would have been 5 stars for me.

Adventure, a quest to find a missing illuminated manuscript, and second chance romance. Ellore heads to England to finish her missing grandmother's quest of finding an illuminated text that is rumored to exist. While there, she also has to work alongside her husband Alex, who she's separated from. Although the quest for the missing book and all the bad things that happen while searching for it is the main focus of the story, it's also about second chance love. Can Ellore and Alex work through their issues and secrets to fall in love again, or will their lack of trust in each other and in God drive the final nail in their separation? The story captured my interest from the get go.
I received an ARC copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Lost Manuscript
by Mollie Rushmeyer
Pub Date 29 Aug 2023
HARLEQUIN - Romance \(U.S. & Canada\),Love Inspired Trade
Christian| Women's Fiction

Netgalley and Harlequin-Love Inspired have provided me with a copy of The Lost Manuscript for review:



A priceless manuscript may hold the key to finding a missing grandmother-and to a second chance at life for one woman.




Ellora Lockwood's home isn't the only thing being emptied as she prepares to sell. Her heart is too. The mysterious disappearance of her beloved Grandma June and the separation from her husband, Alex, have left Ellora feeling lost. Finally, Alex invites her to teach history at Alnwick Castle in England. In fact, he found information about the location of the medieval manuscript that her grandmother was obsessed with before she vanished.



Ellora accepts Alex's offer cautiously. While surrounded by lush English countryside and captivating history, she uncovers new clues about the manuscript's location. Could someone be sabotaging her grandmother's work? Ellora begins to suspect she may also be in danger when anonymous threats begin to appear, but as she and Alex pursue this quest together, she's finding strength, new purpose and the courage to persevere.


I give The Lost Manuscript five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

The Lost Manuscript is a charming novel of mystery and suspense, family drama, romance, and friendship. Ellora is spending time in England to help solve the mystery of Grandmother June's disappearance and to continue the hunt for the missing manuscript started by her grandmother. The story is told with Christian values throughout that allow the reader to reflect on their own situations in life for a better understanding. Mystery fans will enjoy this book. Thanks to author Mollie Rushmeyer, HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired Trade, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Ellora Lockwood, a history professor, feels lost and empty, as she and her husband Alex prepare for a divorce shortly after the disappearance of her beloved grandmother two years prior, who was following research to unearth a rare medieval manuscript in England. She is persuaded by her estranged husband, the coordinator of a study-abroad program based at an English castle, to help fill a last-minute teaching vacancy for the summer term. She plans to dig deeper into finding her grandmother while there. As she, Alex and friends begin to investigate, they uncover clues that were left by her grandmother hopefully leading to her and/or the manuscript. Ellora and Alex discover nefarious deeds but also re-discover their misplaced love for each other.

I did enjoy this for the most part. There was good historical detail, but I thought the characters needed more depth and parts of the storyline simply too-over-the-top.

My thanks to NetGalley and Love Inspired Trade for providing the free early arc of The Lost Manuscript for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

The Lost Manuscript
Mollie Rushmeyer wrote an interesting romantic mystery that dealt with an ancient lost manuscript. I liked her development of the two main characters. Tragic events led to the breakup of a couple struggling with their complicated backgrounds and their failure to communicate. I liked the tie in to Biblical references that the couple had believed before, but had set aside and focused on their own tunnel view perceptions instead.
I had no background of understanding about illuminated hand written manuscripts of long ago. So there was an element of history included in this contemporary story.
This was more about struggles with forgiveness, and healing past wrongs than a focus on romance. That suited my taste. Thanks Mollie for again crafting a memorable story. If you like mystery, redemption and romance this will be available August 29th. Net Galley supplied me with this advance Ebook and no review was required.
Thanks to Net Galley and Mollie Rushmeyer for the ARC Ebook copy.
#netgalley, #MollieRushmeyer, #HarlequinLoveinspired

I am so glad I requested this book - what a great story. A mystery to solve and a relationship to mend. Great start for a new author.

The book is very well written and all issues are tied up at the end. Would love a follow up on her friend in the novel.

I highly recommend.

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

When I picked up this novel, I was expecting a fun mystery set in the English countryside—and what I got was a touching reflection of how God can restore what appears broken beyond repair.
Rushmeyer presents a poignant perspective on how wide we may miss the mark in truly loving one another. Alex and Ellie Lockwood are in a marriage scarred by the past, a ship sinking in the aftermath of life’s storms. And hope is absent on the horizon.
All in all, the author’s message was clear: love is not just a feeling but a choice, a sacrifice—like forgiveness, just as Jesus forgave us. Can Alex and Ellie mend the gaping holes of bitterness between them? Or are they a lost cause?

Story: 4
Worldview: 5/5

The plot and pacing was rushed at the beginning, but it paid off with strong tension after the halfway mark. I got lost in all the history, but I got the important details (I think). The actual villains were lackluster, but I think that was because Alex and Ellie stole the show. Definitely a great read overall.

A Christian Romance I was lucky enough to get from Harlequin through Netgalley. It started out very slow to me, on fact I almost DNF'd it, but glad I didn't. It picked up a little bit within a 1/4 of the book, by the last 1/4 I had to finish it. I ended up staying up past midnight to find out the conclusion.

Ellora Lockwood is a history professor. Her Grandma June has been on the hunt for the lost manuscript and now has gone missing. Ellora's is selling her home, her husband is in England, her Grandma is missing, and her heart is empty. Can a job offer for the summer help her find her Grandma June and reconcile with her husband Alex?

As I said, this is slow at the beginning, but don't give up on it. Rushmeyer writes in a way that makes you feel as the characters do. She writes about how we all feel sometimes. We all ask ourselves, once in a while, God where are You? I think this makes a connection to the story for the reader. If you enjoy Christian Romance, you need to read this book. Since you can only do whole stars on Goodreads, I bumped my rating from 3.75 ⭐ to 4 ⭐.

Tentative publication date: August 29, 2023

Thanks to Netgalley, Harlequin Romance, and Rushmeyer for the E-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

😊 Happy Reading 😊

#netgalley
#harlequinromance
#mollierushmeyer
#thelostmanuscript

This opinion is entirely my own.

I have never read Mollie Rushmeyer before but I absolutely loved her book. She truly embodies what it means to write Christian literature. The Lord is included on every page. She uses real people who struggle and she beautifully writes that struggle. The dynamic between Alexander and Ellora is written so well. Mollie does a wonderful job of expressing the tension between these two people and keeping them human. If you like history, this is the book for you. Mollie's knowledge of the history in this book is extensive and she takes you on a ride of a lifetime.

3.5 - I would say this book is more about relationships, particularly trying to save a marriage, than the lost manuscript itself. I found both aspects interesting, although I was sometimes confused with the mystery part (several side characters) and wanted to knock some sense into the main character at times. However, overall, I enjoyed it. The historian aspect of it was fun and you will love Alex.

The Lost Manuscript is a treasure hunt for a historical book in England. The main characters are not only searching for the documents, but for their lost love for each other.
As I was reading the book, I kept thinking this reminds me of the movie National Treasure in many ways. If you enjoyed that movie, then I think you'd enjoy this book.
*I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
3.75 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin USA for an ARC of this book.

Ellora Lockwood's grandmother is missing. She is going through a separation with her husband (who is teaching at a castle in England). Ellora accepts her husband Alex's job offer to teach for the summer and continue the hunt for the missing illuminated manuscript that her Grandma June was following.

There were a lot of secondary characters in this book. The conclusion was somewhat predictable, but still had a few twists and turns to get there.

This is a Christian fiction novel. There were references to praying for each other that, at times, seemed a little forced but I appreciated it as well.

This book’s title caught my eye and I just had to read it. After all, how intriguing it is to think about a “lost manuscript.”
When I started reading it there was so much more than just the story of the manuscript. Of course, there was mystery and suspense, but there was also romance and deep emotional tension.
I really enjoyed this book and all it had to offer the reader. I got to travel to a place I’d never been and learn all about castles and go on a fun hunt that was full of intricate puzzles and riddles to solve.
Mollie Rushmeyer is becoming an author I will pick up and read. I enjoyed the way she developed this story. The dialogue and scene settings really helped to move the story along. She did a sweet job of bringing all the emotions of the characters to life.
I truly believe I’ll read more of her books in the future.
I was given this book by the publisher which did not influence my review in any way, all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What a pleasant read. I really enjoy reading Mollie Rushmeyer's books as I have read her previous book called, The Bookshop of Secrets late last year. Memorable. When I saw that she wrote another book I knew I had to read it. Again, I just love the cover. I noticed it was very detailed in every way from Ellora's life's problems to the mystery of the lost priceless manuscript. Ellora decided to travel to England for a temporary job in addition to looking for her adventurous grandmother, June, who went missing in action.
Meanwhile, Ellora and her husband, Alex are at the verge of divorce due to many circumstances and lack of communication. The irony of this, is that I'm having the same kind of problems in my marriage the past year(s), and so, I can certainly relate! I recommend this wonderful story over a nice cup of coffee.
I voluntarily requested this book from NetGalley's Public Catalog via Harlequin and the opinions I express are honest and my own not to mention appreciated! I will be sharing this review on my blog as well.
Run date: 07.06.23: (note: click the link icon) Lily's Book Reviews.