| Book 4 in the Tree of Life Series: A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Faith Journeys on Family Trees When 15-year-old Tisha Crowder gets caught shoplifting, attorney Nolan Duffy tries to protect her from consequences that could rattle her already troubled life. His daughter, Jillian, feels like she’s the one being punished instead—by having Tisha assigned to work with her on a backlog of genealogy files. Tisha doesn’t seem interested in taking the job seriously, and Jillian’s patience wears thin. Besides, everyone in Canyon Mines knows the Crowder family has experienced generations of brokenness. Then a sliver of hope turns up in long-ago words in plain sight, challenging shrouded assumptions about Tisha’s family. Now Jillian is the one who can walk with Tisha back to 1893 and uncover where everything went wrong in the first place—and save her from the past. What You Said to Me is the fourth book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys. |  |
Genre: Christian Fiction
Release Date: November 2020
Release Date: November 2020
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
They don't need each other...or do they?
I started reading the Tree Of Life series because I enjoy genealogy. Sometimes my long dead ancestors seem closer than my living distant cousins. I think, for me at least, What You Said To Me was the most emotionally involving book in the series.
While I didn't have as much sympathy for Tisha as I probably should have, I felt Olivia Newport's portrayal of her as a troubled teen with an attitude was spot on. After awhile, though, she kinda slowly grew on me.
I think that if we are truly honest we can each see a least a little of ourselves in several of Olivia Newport's more difficult characters, and it isn't the most flattering picture. But it is a convicting reminder to guard our thoughts from bitterness and our words from spitefulness. Words are very powerful things, they cannot be unsaid once spoken aloud, and if there's one thing that sticks with me from What You Said To Me it's that what we say leaves a long lasting impression on those who hear, and, for good or ill, will in turn be our legacy.
Seriousness aside, I did enjoy this fourth book in the Tree Of Life series. I was glad that continued a couple of the story arcs from previous books. I sincerely hope there will be a book five and I really look forward to reading should it be released.
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives What You Said To Me by Olivia Newport a 4 Bark rating.
I started reading the Tree Of Life series because I enjoy genealogy. Sometimes my long dead ancestors seem closer than my living distant cousins. I think, for me at least, What You Said To Me was the most emotionally involving book in the series.
While I didn't have as much sympathy for Tisha as I probably should have, I felt Olivia Newport's portrayal of her as a troubled teen with an attitude was spot on. After awhile, though, she kinda slowly grew on me.
I think that if we are truly honest we can each see a least a little of ourselves in several of Olivia Newport's more difficult characters, and it isn't the most flattering picture. But it is a convicting reminder to guard our thoughts from bitterness and our words from spitefulness. Words are very powerful things, they cannot be unsaid once spoken aloud, and if there's one thing that sticks with me from What You Said To Me it's that what we say leaves a long lasting impression on those who hear, and, for good or ill, will in turn be our legacy.
Seriousness aside, I did enjoy this fourth book in the Tree Of Life series. I was glad that continued a couple of the story arcs from previous books. I sincerely hope there will be a book five and I really look forward to reading should it be released.
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives What You Said To Me by Olivia Newport a 4 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from Olivia
Careful Words
“You didn’t just say that.” Or, “I can’t believe you said that.”
Have you ever said that in retort to someone whose comment offended or wounded? I know I have. But what cuts me even more deeply is when I say to myself, “I can’t believe I just said that.”
The words of a parent at wit’s end, a spouse harboring hurt, a friend saddened by misunderstanding, an employee feeling undercut—they have all been my words. And they came out too fast to swallow back before they did their damage.
I hope I have also had the words of a parent who set aside busyness to listen, a spouse offering loving encouragement, a friend checking in with someone going through a tough patch, a coworker curious to see how I could help rather than compete. Those are the kinds of words I’ve never regretted, never had to repent of, never had to do rebuild from.
Have you ever said that in retort to someone whose comment offended or wounded? I know I have. But what cuts me even more deeply is when I say to myself, “I can’t believe I just said that.”
The words of a parent at wit’s end, a spouse harboring hurt, a friend saddened by misunderstanding, an employee feeling undercut—they have all been my words. And they came out too fast to swallow back before they did their damage.
I hope I have also had the words of a parent who set aside busyness to listen, a spouse offering loving encouragement, a friend checking in with someone going through a tough patch, a coworker curious to see how I could help rather than compete. Those are the kinds of words I’ve never regretted, never had to repent of, never had to do rebuild from.
I certainly didn’t write What You Said to Me because I think I get it right all the time or even most of the time. Far from it! In our culture of rushing and achieving and—let’s face it, sometimes just getting through the demands of the day—sometimes our words are the last thing we are careful with. Yet they have the longest lasting consequence in our relationships and families—sometimes for generations. The dual-timeline story traces how words that injure became a pattern in one family line until one girl finally fought back to find healing for her future.
My challenge for myself, and all who read What You Said to Me, is to be the person who speaks healing words of hope so that “I can’t believe you said that” becomes “Thank you for saying that.”
If you have a particularly poignant experience of how another’s words impacted you, I’d love to hear from you.
My challenge for myself, and all who read What You Said to Me, is to be the person who speaks healing words of hope so that “I can’t believe you said that” becomes “Thank you for saying that.”
If you have a particularly poignant experience of how another’s words impacted you, I’d love to hear from you.
Olivia Newport
 Olivia Newport | Olivia Newport’s novels twist through time to find where faith and passions meet. Her husband and twentysomething children provide welcome distraction from the people stomping through her head on their way into her books. She chases joy in stunning Colorado at the foot of Pikes Peak. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Olivia is giving away the grand prize package
of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!
of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
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Godly Book Reviews, November 26
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21st Century Keeper at Home, November 28
The Write Escape, November 28
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 29
Blogging With Carol, November 29
Mary Hake, November 29
For Him and My Family, November 30
Artistic Nobody, November 30 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Betti Mace, December 1
Worthy2Read, December 1
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 1
Lots of Helpers, December 2
Bigreadersite, December 2
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 2
Amanda Tero, blog, December 3
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 3
For the Love of Literature, December 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 4
deb’s Book Review, November 21
Remembrancy, November 22
Connect in Fiction, November 22
lakesidelivingsite, November 22
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 23
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 23
Splashes of Joy, November 24
Robin’s Nest, November 24
Sara Jane Jacobs, November 24
Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 25
Mamma Loves Books, November 25
Pause for Tales, November 25
Godly Book Reviews, November 26
Lis Loves Reading, November 26
Hallie Reads, November 26
Older & Smarter?, November 27
Texas Book-aholic, November 27
Inklings and notions, November 28
21st Century Keeper at Home, November 28
The Write Escape, November 28
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 29
Blogging With Carol, November 29
Mary Hake, November 29
For Him and My Family, November 30
Artistic Nobody, November 30 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Betti Mace, December 1
Worthy2Read, December 1
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 1
Lots of Helpers, December 2
Bigreadersite, December 2
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 2
Amanda Tero, blog, December 3
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 3
For the Love of Literature, December 4
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 4
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