This is a series that somehow got away from me but I'm rectifying that asap even though I'm reading them out of order. :-) Now I've read book one and four and have to fill in with the middle books. There does seem to be some carry over elements among the stories, but I didn't feel lost at any point, though I am eager to backtrack because Jillian has picked up a beau somewhere along the way. :-) The whole series explores the legacy of family history and how it continues -- for good or bad -- into each generation.

So, basically what you need to know in order to jump right in with book four is that Jillian and her father are very close and they live together. I love the relationship between this duo. It's funny and touching and rooted in love and a shared loss.

She's a genealogist (which sounds like all kinds of fun!!!) and her dad is a lawyer with ninja mediation skills. She's pretty careful and exacting and...well, predictable. He's a more carefree, go-with-the-flow kinda guy. And that means sometimes they clash. Like when Nolan comes home with a fait accompli involving Jillian supervising a juvenile delinquent's community service time. Aka, find ways for the sullen teen to help out with the huge genealogy project Jillian's working on. That goes about as well as you'd expect. :-)

Did I mention this is a dual timeline? The story flips between present day with Jillian and Nolan trying to help the recalcitrant Tisha and the intriguing past of a family in turmoil in the late 1890s. Both are fascinating and emotional and I was near crazy trying to figure out the connection between past and present, because I knew there had to be one. Wonderfully written in an engaging style that kept me flipping pages until the very end. Yep, read it in one sitting. Already have books two and three on hold at my library. :-)

Reluctant as I am to say goodbye to the quirky, heartfelt world that Olivia Newport has created, her Tree of Life series is one that I will remember and cherish. I would highly recommend reading the books in order because although the plots are different in each, the character trajectories form an ongoing narrative that is otherwise disrupted. The small town of Canyon Mines seems reminiscent of Stars Hollow (of "Gilmore Girls" fame), and I so enjoy spending time there amongst the shopkeepers and other townspeople. It is the perfect blend of modern with an old-fashioned touch, matching the dual-timeline that each book features.

The fourth and final book in this delightful series, "What You Said to Me", takes a bit of a different track than the previous three. The mystery is intentionally not really a secret, and is apparent early on; in most cases, this would ruin the book for me and cause me to lose interest, but Newport creates enough conflict in the present day to ensure an intriguing tale. Prior to this, I was relatively unaware of the 1893 recession and the collapse of the silver mining industry, and reading about how devastating this was for the people of just one town in Colorado alone is heartrending. Even though the Brandt family is fictional, the historical backdrop is not, and considering what our country has been through in 2020, it is easier to empathize with them.

Contemporary issues intersect with those of the past century in the form of an angry, lost teenager named Tisha Crowder. Beneath her bad attitude and lack of motivation lies the root of a generations-old bitterness, one that can be eradicated only by love and healing. Her story is a keen reminder to look beyond what we can see and to acknowledge that everyone is struggling with something, that bad attitudes and bad behavior have a reason that needs to be explored with patience, love, and understanding regardless of age. When we make way for God to move in us and through us, miracles happen!

Throughout the Tree of Life series, my favorite character has been Nolan. I relate more to Jillian's character, from her introversion to her fascination with genealogy and history, but I love her dad's ability to assess a situation and recognize what people need in order to come to reconciliation, and to then act as mediator. While Nolan is obviously human and therefore not perfect, he serves as a subtle yet powerful reminder that Christ is our true mediator, dying for our sins and bringing us back into a right relationship with God if we accept this priceless gift. Our attitude matters, and our words matter. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death." Choose life.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

I have enjoyed this series of books that juxtaposes a modern genealogist with personal histories begging to be discovered. The dual timeline presentation develops the historical happenings along with the modern-day tale, and the unfolding plot ties the two together. In this novel, Jillian's father, a lawyer, is more involved since he connects her with a troubled teen who needs help. The girl's family store not only brings unexpected surprises but intriguing discoveries that fill in missing pieces for her and the community. The well-developed characters and the compelling plot hold readers' rapt attention and make them care deeply. The saga seems so real that you think it must have been pulled from actual life rather than created as fiction. I hope this Tree of Life series will continue. If you like to read something that appeals to both the mind and the heart, this should satisfy. It would make a great book club title to discuss. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

What You Said to Me is another intriguing story featuring genealogist Jillian Parisi-Duffy and her attorney father Nolen Duffy and this time they find themselves involved with a troubled teenager who may have unknown ties to a family who lived in Denver in 1893. Author Olivia Newport seamlessly transports us back and forth in this split-time story of present day Tisha Crowder and the Brandt family who endured trials and losses in 1893. As I read about the many families who were affected by the collapse of silver mining in Colorado, it was easy to compare their job loss and poverty to the problems that we are seeing in our country today. When Clifford Brandt was forced to make decisions that would forever alter his family's future, I was reminded that the decisions we make often alter the lives of those who follow us. Will our actions cause hurts and bitterness that will carry from generation to generation?

Th Teree of Life series has been such an enjoyable series and this fourth book is certainly no exception. Jillian's love of genealogy and Nolan's sense of fairness help Tisha find a new purpose for her future, but the journals kept by the Brandts supply the key to understanding her past. They also emphasize the powerful influence of words! If you enjoy faith-filled stories with mystery and suspense, you will want to read What You Said to Me.

I received a copy of this book from the author via Celebrate Lit but there was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.

Having read the other three books in this series, I was excited to read this installment as well. The town of Canyon Mines where this series takes place captures my imagination. Perhaps because my mother lives with us, I appreciated the idea of an adult daughter living with her father.

This story contains some familiar characters along with a new one, Tisha Crowder, who got in trouble with the law. I appreciate how these books take the reader on a journey both of genealogy and history as well character journeys as well. I feel Olivia Newport creates plots and characters worth reading.

So if you enjoy reading books set in the present that include pieces of the past centered on genealogy, check out this book for yourself.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.