Susie Finkbeiner joins us for a chat about her beloved state of Michigan, what draws her to write stories set in the 50s and 60s, and her latest releaseThe All-American. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book! Widow Minerva Jenkins has lived alone in her small mountain home for 40 years where she has guarded her husband’s deathbed request. When a young reporter comes calling and inquires about a rumored box of gold on her property, an unlikely friendship forms. Will she go to her grave with her husband’s secret, or will the weight of it be the death of her?
For today’s Pinch of the Past we are looking at some little-known facts about sequences. Did you know that Egyptomania thrust sequences into the fashion spotlight in the 1920s? For more, listen to the episode.
Today’s Bookworm Review is bought to you by Angela Bell. “Where the Last Rose Blooms by Ashley Clark is everything I’d hoped it would be. Poignant. Beautiful. With the warmth and southern charm of my Granny’s hand-stitched quilt.” (Full review here.)
Alice runs a New Orleans flower shop alongside her aunt, but thoughts of her mother, who went missing during Hurricane Katrina, are never far from her mind. After getting off on the wrong foot with a handsome yet irritating man who comes to her shop, Alice soon realizes their worlds overlap—and the answers they both seek can be found in the same place.
In 1861 Charleston, Clara is known to be a rule follower—but the war has changed her. Unbeknownst to her father, who is heavily involved with the Confederacy, she is an abolitionist and is prepared to sacrifice everything for the cause. With assistance from a dashing Union spy, she attempts to help an enslaved woman reunite with her daughter. But things go very wrong when Clara agrees to aid the Northern cause by ferrying secret information about her father’s associates.
Faced with the unknown, both women will have to dig deep to let their courage bloom.
THE REVIEW
In 2021, I discovered The Heirloom Secrets series and fell in love with Ashley Clark’s writing. Her stories ministered to my heart in a way I hadn’t experienced with a series before, and her characters stayed with me long after I turned the final page. Both The Dress Shop on King Street and Paint and Nectar made it onto my Favorite Reads of 2021 list, so needless to say, I had high expectations going into book three. As a reader, there’s nothing quite so disappointing as falling in love with a series only to have the final book fall flat.
Dear reader, I’m ever so pleased to report that Ashley Clark stuck the landing!
Where the Last Rose Blooms is everything I’d hoped it would be. Poignant. Beautiful. With the warmth and southern charm of my Granny’s hand-stitched quilt. Clark’s pacing is masterful, perfectly balancing intense scenes with moments of levity. Once again, she’s created a diverse cast of characters and tackled relatable issues with authenticity and respect. I could see myself in Lucy’s battle with anxiety, depression, and grief. I could feel her pain, and more importantly, I could feel my hopes rising as Lucy found new hope in the midst of pain. God spoke to me through the pages of this book. He used the story to help me see my own in a new way and left me with comforting truths to ponder long after The End.
Ashley Clark’s The Heirloom Secrets series is one I will treasure and gush about for years to come. One I will read again when I need my hope restored or simply want to visit some old friends.
If you’re new to Christian fiction, read this series. If you’ve been reading Christian fiction since Love Came Softly, read this series. If you’ve never read Christian fiction or have a negative impression of the genre, please, read this series. It is not one to be missed!
THE AUTHOR
Ashley Clark is the acclaimed novelist of The Heirloom Secrets Series. She writes women’s fiction set in the South, and her stories are filled with faith, sweet romance, and lots of family secrets. She loves all things vintage and the almost-forgotten stories of the past. Ashley finds her writing interests influenced by the spaces shared between femininity + strength, loss + legacy, and beauty + memory. She is an English adjunct instructor, a wife and homeschool mama, and she adores her adopted senior Cocker Spaniel.
Disclaimer: The author offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.
Bryan Litfin joins us for a chat about Constantine’s empire, the early Church, writing, and his latest release Caesar’s Lord. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!
For today’s Pinch of the Past, we’re looking at some strange medical practices, one of which dates back to 6500 B.C. A treatment for headaches, head wounds, and madness, trepanning was not for the faint of heart. (Full post here.)
Today’s Bookworm Review is brought to you by Angela Bell. “If you love southern fiction and nuanced dual time stories, Paint and Nectar is sure to be your cup of tea!” (Full review here.)
In 1929, a spark forms between Eliza, a talented watercolorist, and William, a charming young man with a secret that could ruin her career. Their families forbid their romance because of a long-standing feud over missing heirloom silver. Still, Eliza and William’s passion grows despite the barriers, causing William to deeply regret the secret he’s keeping . . . but setting things right will come at a cost.
In present-day Charleston, a mysterious benefactor gifts Lucy Legare an old house, along with all the secrets it holds—including 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.
THE REVIEW
With her debut novel The Dress Shop on King Street, Ashley Clark stitched herself into the fabric of my Must Buy Authors list. When I learned it was the first book in a series, I was thrilled…and a little worried the sequel wouldn’t live up to my expectations.
Dear reader, I needn’t have worried.
Reading an Ashley Clark book is like drinking a glass of iced tea on a summer’s day—you simultaneously want to swig back the whole thing and savor the sweetness of every sip!
Paint and Nectar, book two in Clark’s Heirloom Secrets series, is a work of art from beginning to end. Inhabited by a cast of multifaceted characters and brimming with southern charm, this book solidified Clark’s place on my Favorite Authors list. My head spins thinking of the work that goes into crafting a dual time novel, but Clark pulls it off like an old pro, weaving the plots and timelines together seamlessly. Her use of metaphor is exquisite, tugging at the heartstrings without breaking them, and her sassy, steel magnolia wit is an utter delight.
If you love southern fiction and nuanced dual time stories, Paint and Nectar is sure to be your cup of tea!
THE AUTHOR
Ashley Clark is the acclaimed novelist of The Heirloom Secrets Series. She writes women’s fiction set in the South, and her stories are filled with faith, sweet romance, and lots of family secrets. She loves all things vintage and the almost-forgotten stories of the past. Ashley finds her writing interests influenced by the spaces shared between femininity + strength, loss + legacy, and beauty + memory. She is an English adjunct instructor, a wife and homeschool mama, and she adores her adopted senior Cocker Spaniel.
Review by ECPA bestselling author Angela Bell is a 21st century lady with 19th century sensibilities. Her activities consist of reading voraciously, drinking copious amounts of tea, and writing letters with a fountain pen. Learn more about her at AuthorAngelaBell.com
Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.
Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie’s past are brought to light.
In 1946, Millie Middleton—the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman—boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.
Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they’ve both dreamed of. But it’s not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.
THE REVIEW
Sometimes a book finds you at a pivotal moment when it seems as though the story was written just for you. Like a love note from God tucked within the pages. For me, “The Dress Shop on King Street” was one such book.
With southern charm and a whole lot of heart, Ashley Clark has created a story with the skilled craftsmanship, exquisite detail, and unique beauty of a couture gown from days gone by. In hat-wearing Millie and vintage-loving Harper, I found kindred spirits. And in their story, I found a gleaming thread of hope to mend the fabric of a long-cherished dream.
If you’re a fan of southern fiction, multigenerational stories, and intricately woven dual time narratives,The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark is a must read!
THE AUTHOR
Ashley Clark is the acclaimed novelist of The Heirloom Secrets Series. She writes women’s fiction set in the South, and her stories are filled with faith, sweet romance, and lots of family secrets. She loves all things vintage and the almost-forgotten stories of the past. Ashley finds her writing interests influenced by the spaces shared between femininity + strength, loss + legacy, and beauty + memory. She is an English adjunct instructor, a wife and homeschool mama, and she adores her adopted senior Cocker Spaniel.
ECPA bestselling author Angela Bell is a 21st century lady with 19th century sensibilities. Her activities consist of reading voraciously, drinking copious amounts of tea, and writing letters with a fountain pen. Learn more about her at AuthorAngelaBell.com
Disclaimer: The publisher offered a complimentary copy of this book. The review was given freely, without payment. All views expressed are only the honest opinion of a member of the Historical Bookworm Review Team.
Jennifer L. Wrightjoins us for a chat about WW2 in New Mexico, her life as an airforce pilot’s wife, and her latest release Come Down Somewhere. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!
Today’s Pinch of the Past is part 1 of the 1900 Paris Exposition. The purpose of this event was to celebrate the achievements of the past century and look forward to the 20th century, and it featured exhibits from 40+ countries. (Full post here.)
