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Whispers of the Past
Fueled by curiosity and her dream of becoming a big-time journalist, Bella Thomas digs deep into the history of her small-town Mayflower, Illinois.
The town had thrived until a local factory burned down many years ago, killing its founder, Henry Hinchcliffe, widowing his new wife whose identity was lost, and devastating the economy. Bella vows to unravel the mystery of Henry’s widow and publish a story about her, so she’ll never be forgotten again.
In a twist of fate, instead of finding the past, Bella is snatched out of the present and transported to the factory, one year before the fire. Soon, she can't seem to stop herself from falling in love with the sweet and swoon-worthy Henry, even though he's destined for another.
Racing against time, can she prevent the fire and save Henry - even if he can never be hers?
The town had thrived until a local factory burned down many years ago, killing its founder, Henry Hinchcliffe, widowing his new wife whose identity was lost, and devastating the economy. Bella vows to unravel the mystery of Henry’s widow and publish a story about her, so she’ll never be forgotten again.
In a twist of fate, instead of finding the past, Bella is snatched out of the present and transported to the factory, one year before the fire. Soon, she can't seem to stop herself from falling in love with the sweet and swoon-worthy Henry, even though he's destined for another.
Racing against time, can she prevent the fire and save Henry - even if he can never be hers?
- GenresRomance
96 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 11, 2025
9 people are currently reading
24 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Godard-Richer
15 books468 followersMichelle Godard-Richer is a multi-award-winning and Amazon bestselling author living in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, Canada. With her degree in Criminology, she writes edge-of-your-seat, suspenseful stories with strong protagonists and diabolical villains.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 26, 2026
Book Review: Whispers of the Past by Michelle Godard-Richer
What if the past didn’t stay silent? What if it followed you, whispering, watching, waiting?
Whispers of the Past is a beautifully eerie, emotionally layered novel that pulls you into a world where trauma, memory, and mystery collide. Michelle Godard-Richer delivers a haunting story about uncovering buried truths, both in the world around us and within ourselves.
💬 Highlights:
A compelling blend of suspense and emotion: This isn’t just a ghost story, it’s about healing, grief, and the scars left behind by the past.
Atmospheric writing: You can feel the fog, the cold, the isolation. It wraps around you as the mystery unfolds.
Authentic characters: The protagonist’s emotional journey feels raw and real. You’ll root for her through every revelation and setback.
Twists that land: Every chapter builds on the last, and just when you think you’ve figured it out… you haven’t.
🖤 My Take:
This book doesn’t scream, it whispers, slowly sinking into your skin. A quietly powerful read that lingers long after you close the final page.
Rating: 4.5/5
Would absolutely recommend for readers who enjoy slow-burn thrillers with a heavy emotional punch and a touch of the supernatural.
#WhispersOfThePast #MichelleGodardRicher #BookReview #EmotionalThriller #HauntedPast #Bookstagram #SuspenseReads #SupernaturalFiction #BookTokRecs
What if the past didn’t stay silent? What if it followed you, whispering, watching, waiting?
Whispers of the Past is a beautifully eerie, emotionally layered novel that pulls you into a world where trauma, memory, and mystery collide. Michelle Godard-Richer delivers a haunting story about uncovering buried truths, both in the world around us and within ourselves.
💬 Highlights:
A compelling blend of suspense and emotion: This isn’t just a ghost story, it’s about healing, grief, and the scars left behind by the past.
Atmospheric writing: You can feel the fog, the cold, the isolation. It wraps around you as the mystery unfolds.
Authentic characters: The protagonist’s emotional journey feels raw and real. You’ll root for her through every revelation and setback.
Twists that land: Every chapter builds on the last, and just when you think you’ve figured it out… you haven’t.
🖤 My Take:
This book doesn’t scream, it whispers, slowly sinking into your skin. A quietly powerful read that lingers long after you close the final page.
Rating: 4.5/5
Would absolutely recommend for readers who enjoy slow-burn thrillers with a heavy emotional punch and a touch of the supernatural.
#WhispersOfThePast #MichelleGodardRicher #BookReview #EmotionalThriller #HauntedPast #Bookstagram #SuspenseReads #SupernaturalFiction #BookTokRecs
March 19, 2025
Can Bella find what she’s looking for back in time? What a delightful historical mystery with romantic elements. I wasn’t sure what to expect as this author primarily writes thrillers. It takes an extraordinary gift to pull off the ability to write well in multiple genres. Michelle Godard-Richer has created a story that is appealing to the masses with plenty of heartfelt emotion. It’s an unforgettable read.
I read this book in one sitting and that’s solely because I fell in love with Bella, the modern-day heroine of Whispers of the Past. She returns to her hometown and wants to unravel the mystery of the factory fire of 1927. When she’s thrust into the past, her quick-thinking allows her to assimilate to the roaring 20s. She’s a wonderful heroine and I loved reading her experiences.
The descriptive narration is noteworthy. It’s immersive and historically accurate. The research this author accomplished and wove into the narration is so well done. I completely forgot where I was and became a part of the story.
If you love Outlander, you’re going to love Whispers of the Past. Your heart will soar, as mine did. I can’t wait for more from this author.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Nancy
This review first appeared: https://bit.ly/4kYquzC
I read this book in one sitting and that’s solely because I fell in love with Bella, the modern-day heroine of Whispers of the Past. She returns to her hometown and wants to unravel the mystery of the factory fire of 1927. When she’s thrust into the past, her quick-thinking allows her to assimilate to the roaring 20s. She’s a wonderful heroine and I loved reading her experiences.
The descriptive narration is noteworthy. It’s immersive and historically accurate. The research this author accomplished and wove into the narration is so well done. I completely forgot where I was and became a part of the story.
If you love Outlander, you’re going to love Whispers of the Past. Your heart will soar, as mine did. I can’t wait for more from this author.
My Rating: 5+ stars
Reviewed by: Nancy
This review first appeared: https://bit.ly/4kYquzC
April 12, 2025
Journalist, Bella Thomas, researches the history of a local factory where a fire killed its owner and founder, Henry Hinchcliffe.
Determined to leave no stone unturned, Bella decides to visit the ruins of the ill-fated factory looking for anything she could use in her article. By a strange twist of fate, she finds herself thrown back in time to the factory’s heyday. Out of place with her 21st-century clothes, she is found by the dashingly handsome Henry, who offers to help the young woman in distress.
Thinking on her feet, she invents a cousin who was supposed to meet her and never showed up. Henry invites her to stay at his house with his family until she can make other plans.
Bella soon finds herself falling for the handsome man, but she is aware he can never be hers. From her research, she knows he was married before his death but, try as she might, she is drawn to him, which makes trying to tell him the truth and save him from the imminent fire an almost impossible task.
I enjoyed this novel and look forward to book two in the series. A worthy 5 stars from me.
Determined to leave no stone unturned, Bella decides to visit the ruins of the ill-fated factory looking for anything she could use in her article. By a strange twist of fate, she finds herself thrown back in time to the factory’s heyday. Out of place with her 21st-century clothes, she is found by the dashingly handsome Henry, who offers to help the young woman in distress.
Thinking on her feet, she invents a cousin who was supposed to meet her and never showed up. Henry invites her to stay at his house with his family until she can make other plans.
Bella soon finds herself falling for the handsome man, but she is aware he can never be hers. From her research, she knows he was married before his death but, try as she might, she is drawn to him, which makes trying to tell him the truth and save him from the imminent fire an almost impossible task.
I enjoyed this novel and look forward to book two in the series. A worthy 5 stars from me.
May 18, 2025
(3.5/5)
I really enjoyed the story, following Bella through her time in the 20s in small-town America. As a reader, it was pleasant to read and enjoy the growth of the plot. Being able to connect to the innocence of Bella made it easy to cheer her on. However, as a reader, it felt very rushed. There were places where Bella’s thoughts and comments felt unrealistic because the elapsed time was too short. It felt like there were many opportunities to slow down and dig deeper into the thoughts and actions of the characters, slowing the story down. The book, as it is written, is only 89 pages long so there is room for greater detail. Overall, it is a quick, sweet read and a great pick for a summer poolside read.
I really enjoyed the story, following Bella through her time in the 20s in small-town America. As a reader, it was pleasant to read and enjoy the growth of the plot. Being able to connect to the innocence of Bella made it easy to cheer her on. However, as a reader, it felt very rushed. There were places where Bella’s thoughts and comments felt unrealistic because the elapsed time was too short. It felt like there were many opportunities to slow down and dig deeper into the thoughts and actions of the characters, slowing the story down. The book, as it is written, is only 89 pages long so there is room for greater detail. Overall, it is a quick, sweet read and a great pick for a summer poolside read.
March 16, 2025
Bella Thomas begins her quest to be a successful journalist by researching what happened in her hometown, Mayflower, leading to the factory burning down and its owner, Henry Hinchcliffe, dying in the fire. That lead to the decline of Mayflower's economy. When Bella is transported to the past she can't stop herself from falling in love with Henry since he is exactly like everything she learned about him. She desperately wants to save him even if it means he marries another. This delightful short read is a testament to the power of love meant to be that can travel through time to come to fruition. Highly recommended.
September 4, 2025
This book is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time! It’s all about going back in time to reset history! It’s such a great book I don’t want to give any spoilers but it’s a little mystery and a little romance combined into a perfect book! There is a whole series I think five books! Read it!
January 11, 2026
Anyone who likes mystery books will enjoy this quick read. I look forward to Book 2!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews