Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark       

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 47: A Bookchat about Caesar’s Lord with Bryan Litfin & a Review of Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark

THE BOOK

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. 

Read more about Ashley on her website. (www.AshleyClarkBooks.com)

Reviewed by 

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.