“If we don’t tend our ground, something else will grow there. The choice is up to us.”

What a beautiful thought to consider at the beginning of a new year. I’d better get busy ‘weeding’!

Right from the first page, Ashley Clark kept me spellbound. I didn’t expect that the sequel would be as good as or better than the series debut, but it is! I was instantly hooked as I read about two young women who risked everything to hide a precious heirloom so that it wouldn’t get into the wrong hands. I felt compelled to read to discover if the heirloom would be uncovered and placed into the hands of the rightful owner. This mystery and the resulting tension echoed throughout the story and I absolutely loved how the author tied it all up for me. Clark pens a tightly woven story and every once in a while reminds us that we are all interconnected

Things I loved:
✔️The phrase ‘Emily Gilmore-ing’ !!!
✔️Tension created when one had to choose between family obligations and love
✔️References to broken things/places/people being restored
✔️Reminder of the importance of history
✔️Reminder of the hope that beauty offers us
✔️Encouragement to find the ‘bluebirds’ in our lives
✔️Watching the relationship develop between paint and nectar
✔️Reminder that beauty fundamentally changes people
✔️References to redemption; especially the metaphors
✔️Waiting for a bluebird to pop up in the narrative!
✔️Charleston setting and Renaissance artists

Shout out to the cover designer! Stunning.

I’m loving my ‘holiday’ in Charleston. Next up is the Christmas novella to accompany this series.

I had so many things battling me to read this book, but it was the one that no matter what, I kept being pulled back into the story. I loved again, the modern and historical story, finding that the war between evil and greed against goodness is still very much a part of our modern society as much as in the past. I loved it!

"The Dress Shop on King Street" (the first book in this series) is incredible, so my expectations for "Paint and Nectar" were set rather high. Blessedly, it lived up to--and even exceeded--them!

Clark seamlessly intertwines storylines between 1929 and present-day Charleston, even including subtle nods to "Dress Shop." While readers don't *have* to have read that one first, it certainly lends depth to this read; I personally got really excited at picking up those references!
I've never been to Charleston, but loved learning about it and its renaissance between WWI and WWII. It's apparently quite similar to Savannah, which I *have* been to, and I'd love to go and compare the two one day!

"Paint and Nectar" really challenged me spiritually, in a good way. Clark connected biblical gardens with a certain Charleston garden in this story, and wrote not a few particularly compelling lines in this release:
- "Maybe what you thought was a closed gate meant to punish you is actually God's way of protecting you from remaining in a place where you won't and can't receive His life." (eARC loc 4818)
- "What imitations have you accepted as originals in your own life?" (eARC loc. 4823)
- "If we don't tend our ground, something else will grow there. The choice is up to us."

Powerful stuff, eh? And that's just 3 of ... well, many highlights I made while reading "Paint and Nectar." Definitely looking forward to book 3 in the series; have no fear, no cliffhangers here (hey! I rhymed!), but I'm sure familiar characters from this read will appear in book 3 - just like Book 1 characters appeared here.

I received an eARC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark is a beautiful exploration of the past and family secrets and love lost and found. It is the second book in the author's Heirloom Secrets and I enjoyed it immensely and now I just need to read the other books in the series. ❤️

There are two plotlines going hand in hand in the book, one set in the 1920s Charleston and the other in present day Charleston. In the past, there was an artist called Eliza whose heart seeked beauty in everything. She was from the Legare family and by the chances of fate she falls in love with William, from the Pinkney family. There has been years of family feud between the Legares and Pinkneys regarding the true ownership of a precious heirloom. Eliza and William's forbidden romance gets even strained when it turns out that William has been forging the paintings of Eliza. In the present day, Lucy Legare who has a true eye for the charming things of the past inherits a beautiful house from a mysterious family connection. Declan Pinkney on the other hand is on a mission to tear down Lucy's house for the development of his family's company. Even after years, the Legares and Pinkneys still hold their grudge against each other and it is upon Lucy and Declan whether they can forget previous differences by uncovering the truth and put an end to the ages of family conflict.

This novel is written so beautifully, appreciating invaluable pieces of history, art and nature. A beautiful cottage core vibe exists along with bits and pieces of Civil War history. Overall, an extremely heartwarming and book that'll transport you to it's locations leaving you wanting more.

I had received an e-ARC from netgalley and Bethany House fiction. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes the second book in a series isn't nearly as good as the first, but that was definitely not the case here! I loved "The Dress Shop on King Street", and "Paint and Nectar" was just as amazing. I do wish that I had read them closer together as there are a lot of small details linking the stories together that I really enjoyed, but it would have been able to follow better if I had read the books in quick succession. All the truth proclamations and little threads of beauty in brokenness, the needfulness of death to bring life, and God's amazing hand of redemption over it all will stay with me for a long time. I can't wait to read the third book!

Having enjoyed this author’s debut novel, I just couldn’t wait for this book! And man, how I loved it! I have to admit I’m a bit partial to stories that are set in the ‘Roaring 20s’ and this one was just so special. I loved how the author linked the two timelines, and I really got immersed in the richness of the Charleston setting. There was just so much to love about this book, and I’m super excited for the next book in this series. Highly recommended.

**I received a NetGalley copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

This story touched me in so many personal ways!

I do wish I had read the Heirloom Secrets series in order. This one gives much insight into the characters and happenings in Book 3.

The story connects New Orleans and Charleston. I love Charleston but had never been to New Orleans. Now I have through Ashley's eyes and words.