Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark
Genre: Historical Fiction
Publisher: Bethany House
Publication Year: 2021
Purchase and Synopsis
5 Stars

This book was beautiful. I loved reading it’s predecessor as well and have to say that this new author is one of my favorites. 

It was incredible having recently taken a trip to Charleston South Carolina (inspired by the first book A Dress Shop On King Street). We didn’t go to many restaurants while there, but one that we went to happened to be one that was in the book! It was such a cool experience having the location so fresh in my mind. 

I loved walking the historic district of Charleston, and it came alive through the lens of this book. It touches on the topics of historical restoration and I have to say, the love story in this one (while completely different from the last) was delightful! But I have to say, Eliza’s romance was just so beautiful!

This garden gate I saw while in Charleston gives me all the nostalgic feels. I had just finished reading Paint and Nectar by Ashley Clark and I have to say, this back garden gate could have led to Eliza and Lucy’s garden, the two MC’s in this plot. 

There was something so beautiful about this story that left me a little spellbound afterward. It was painful at times, a story that had twists and turns, but much betrayal and heartache and brokenness as a result. 

For both couples, then and now (as this is a time-slip novel) to experience similar, but different things, and to witness God’s grace and His redemption through them. . . was something that left me a little shell shocked. 

Because dear ones, our God is faithful to redeem the time. To redeem what the enemy has stolen. He is our Kinsman Redeemer. Our Boaz who saw the pain, loss, and utter devastation of our Ruth lives and chose to redeem us. He chose to rescue us from our life of woe, and deliver us into a life that will bear a promise. Ruth bore an ancestor to Jesus Christ and became a part of a long line of heroes that descended to our ultimate Savior. 

That’s redemption. From loss, heartache, betrayal, and wandering in the wilderness, to having a husband full of love, rescued from servitude and bearing a promise of a better future for generations to come. That is the kind of God who redeemed our life. 

Time spent serving Him is not a waste. He will redeem that time. Even time spent not serving our Lord is redeemed the minute we turn to Him and confess Him as Lord of our lives. He redeems our lives from the pit, and he crowns us with loving kindness. 

The story of Eliza was just like this verse. Her life, broken by betrayal, turned into a redemptive one with the love of her life and was crowned with a promise for the future. It did not happen in her timing, but the Lord redeemed it and made it beautiful. He’ll do the same for you

If you are a fan of timeslip novels, sweet, clean romance with historical coloring, you will adore this book! Make sure you check it out!

*This book was given to me free of charge in exchange for my honest review. The thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own and in no way influenced by the publisher.