It's been a few months, and Sophie Barrett is determined to return back
to her work as a women's therapist. She quickly learns she isn't ready
yet - she's still stuck in the mire of emotions from her fiance's death.
She discovers a vacation rental in Cornwall that isn't just the perfect
getaway but also includes assisting in the bookstore connected to the
rental. Sophie loves books and can't wait to escape to Cornwall in
hopes of rediscovering who she is. Meanwhile, in Cornwall Ginny Rose
is struggling to stay financially afloat. Her husband has taken a break
from their marriage and left her with their bookstore, which was his
dream and not hers. Can the story found in a book from the past help
both Sophie and Ginny find their way?
As a social worker and counselor, I couldn't resist a book featuring a
counselor as one of the main heroines of the storyline, never mind one
that also prominently features a book store. All too often, authors
minimize or even vilify the role of counselor, but Lindsay Harrel takes a
refreshingly new approach. In THE
SECRETS OF PAPER AND INK, we see a counselor struggling with
her own emotional issues after the death of her fiance; a man who
despite all her training and inner strength still left scars on her sense of
self-worth. Lindsay Harrel tackles this subject sensitively, painting us
an inspiring portrait of healing in the aftermath of pain.
I love the historical story woven into THE SECRETS OF PAPER AND INK as well. The writing
excerpts we get from Emily Fairfax show us a different struggle, as
Emily has a dream of being an author in a time when women are
discouraged and belittled for such a desire. The strength we see of all
three women, Ginny, Sophie, and Emily, is brought together into one
seamlessly written storyline that still has me treasuring my time spent
with them.
THE SECRETS OF PAPER AND INK
is one of the most moving and beautifully written books I've read in a
long time! Lindsay Harrel's portrayal of the grief after a separation is
well done, but it is her depiction of a woman grappling with the
aftermath of domestic violence that really makes THE SECRETS OF PAPER AND INK stand out. I love that
Lindsay Harrel doesn't flinch away from such emotionally charged
targets but instead shows us a healing process. Well done!
Lindsay Harrel presents a powerful story of healing,
forgiveness, and finding the courage to write your own
story.
A year after the death of her abusive fiancé, domestic
violence counselor Sophia Barrett finds returning to work
too painful. She escapes to Cornwall, England—a place she’s
learned to love through the words of her favorite author—and
finds a place to stay with the requirement that she help out
in the bookstore underneath the room she’s renting. Given
her love of all things literary, it seems like the perfect
place to find peace.
Ginny Rose is an American living in Cornwall, sure that if
she saves the bookstore she co-owns with her husband then
she can save her marriage as well. Fighting to keep the
first place she feels like she belongs, she brainstorms with
her brother-in-law, William, and Sophia to try to keep the
charming bookstore afloat.
More than 150 years before, governess Emily Fairfax knew two
things for certain: she wanted to be a published author, and
she was in love with her childhood best friend. But he was a
wealthy heir and well out of her league. Sophia discovers
Emily’s journals, and she and William embark on a mission to
find out more about this mysterious and determined woman,
all the while getting closer to each other as they get
closer to the truth.
The lives of the three women intertwine as each learns the
power she has over the story of her life.
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