time travel – The Spine View

One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle

I wished I had enjoyed this book. Other readers did enjoy this book very much; therefore, I am going to chalk this one up to just not my tastes. While I explain my reasoning for my rating, keep an open mind because the things that bothered me may not be a big deal to you.

Katy’s mother, Carol, has just died and she is left without her rock, her best friend and supporter. To say Katy has lost everything thing is an understatement. She depended on her mother for everything despite being a grown, married woman herself.

Carol’s death happened just two weeks before their planned trip to Positano, Italy to celebrate Carol’s 60^th birthday. At a loss on how to live without her mother, Katy decides to take the trip alone. Once there she discovers a much younger version of her mother. She sets out to discover more about this version of her mother she never knew existed.

Before I delve into the parts I didn’t like, I would like to talk about the things I did like. First, I loved the descriptions of the Italian coast, the food and life. It made me want to drop everything, pack a bag and go see for myself all the delights of this lovely seaside town.

I enjoyed the plot (for the most part) and thought the pacing was good. However, I was not a fan of how the time travel was handled. It read as an afterthought or that it just thrown in to make the plot work. If you time traveled, wouldn’t you notice things like old cars everywhere that looked new, no cell phones, that people dressed funny. I guess there was a time bubble just around Katy?? Yeah, I know it is fiction, but it has to be at least plausible in some parallel universe.

Then we had the relationship between Katy and Carol. Katy was so clingy it was to the point of being unhealthily. It felt like Katy, couldn’t wipe her own behind without asking her mother for permission. The relationship described was well beyond clingy going into the scary and creepy territory. I’m still shuddering to think about it.

In short, I was disappointed in what could have been a great story. Though I feel uncomfortable recommending this book, I know a lot of people will enjoy it. Therefore, I suggest you decide for yourself.

I received a free copy, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review.

Adelia by Dan Barron

This book is a skillfully told story about love, regrets and second chances. Filled with wonderful imagery and a touching story, it will make you believe in true love again.

Jack Landen is a total mess since his wife’s suicide. He is overwhelmed by guilt and can’t take care of himself, let alone his two young daughters. He is desperate and wishing he could go back in time and do things different. He wants, more than anything, to be the man his wife, Adelia, deserves.

Someone must have heard him because he wakes up in the past when he was a single musician and just cruising through life without a care. When he realizes what has happened, he immediately sets off to find Adelia. He is determined to find her and change the course of events that will ultimately lead to Adelia’s death.

Jack was a likeable (though not at first) and relatable character. He is flawed; yet, strong enough to recognize it and man enough to want to do something about it instead of continuing to whine about it like most people would do. At first, I thought he was just a self-centered ass; but, I changed my mind as I get deeper into the story. So, kudos to the author for managing that in a realistic way. I also liked the character of Adelia and the author’s thoughtful use of her character to show how jealous can break us down over time.

The plot was well executed, not too serious and not too trivial, and with enough tension and action to keep me interested. I thought the subplot tied all the parts together nicely and the little twist was cool too. I was definitely routing for Jack and Adelia.

There was a lot to take away from this book. For me, the biggest one is love is never easy. There were other themes throughout that made the story more interesting, jealously being another big one as well as forgiveness. Because of this, the book is perfect for a book club discussion.

If you like stories that make you think, this is one you should put on your to-be-read list. I highly recommend.

I received a free copy from the author in exchange for my honest review.

Come Back to Me by Jody Hedlund

The troupe of time travel is by no means new. However, Come Back to Me, by Jody Hedlund, is a fresh take on the tried and true. A mix of medieval history, romance, fantasy, and mystery. The story at points reminded me of Outlander and The Time Traveler’s Wife mixed together with a bit of pixie dust thrown in for good measure.

Marian Creighton is a research scientist looking for a cure to a rear disease that her mother died from and her sister has inherited. Her work is interrupted when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water thought to contain traces of the Tree of Life. After reviewing clues her father left behind, she determines that he has gone back in time looking for more of this holy water that is reported to have cured all ailments. This is just what Marian needs to save her sister’s life.

She decides to follow her father back in time. All the way back to Medieval times she goes searching for the holy water and its cure. Upon arrival she discovers the harsh reality of the times. Women where property and treated as such. Fortunately, she has a savior in the form of a knight by the name of Lord William Durham. William has just returned from the ongoing war with France, known later as the 100 years’ war. He has business to attend to at his estate and just happens to chance upon Marian at the convent his sister is a member of.

The nuns have not treated her very nicely, and in order to rescue her, William offers to marry her. Thinking this is a simple and very temporary solution to her problem, she accepts his offer. However, nothing is as simple as it seems. The peasant uprising and her growing affection for William are vastly complicating things and she is running out of time.

I wish I had the space in this short review to compare and contrast this book with Outlander. I saw a lot of similarities and a lot of differences and it would be an interesting discussion. Just suffice it to say that while the time periods are different the main characters face very similar trials. As with Outlander, the drama is what makes the book such an interesting read. Given the fact that the events of the time period are real this added an extra layer of suspense and believability to the story.

The first thirty to forty pages were a bit slow because the real action does not start until Marian goes back in time. Once in the past, all kinds of trouble ensues and the action picks up and I had a hard time putting the book down. I also enjoyed the blend of real history with fiction. The plot worked very nicely with the time period.

I loved the characters of William and Marian. William is the essence of a valiant, gentlemanly knight. The fact that the tragedies in his life so far had shaped him into the man is was made for a relatable character. Marian’s character worked well in the story also. She had just the right amount of bravery, mixed with femininity, to draw William in. Too strong of a character would not have worked in this book. The author did a good job of fashioning someone who fit both time periods.

There was a little bit of everything in the tale and a lot to love about it. I recommend this one for lovers of romance with a twist. I received a free copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Voyagers: Twelve Journeys Through Space and Time by Robert Silverberg

Voyagers is classic Science Fiction at its best and Silverberg is the master. I have read most of the author’s novels but few of his large collection of short stories. Therefore, I was excited to get my hands on this book for review. It totally cemented my love and respect for Silverberg as one of my favorites in the genre.

This collection of short stories, twelve in total, showcases his prowess at writing short fiction. All the stories have been published in the past, mainly in magazines. Silverberg has written a short introduction to each that I found insightful. Not only does he explain a bit about how the story came about, he gives us a small look into his world and thought processes as a writer.

All the stories in the collection center on the theme of travel. Some stories, such as the first, In Another Country, involve time travel. Other stories involve travel in other forms. An example of this is Looking For the Fountain which involves an alternate universe. My favorite of the group, and the longest in this collection, is We Are For the Dark which involves traveling vast distances across space.

Regardless of how you like your travel, these stories are a fabulous curation. I highly recommend this anthology to lovers of classic Science Fiction. This is a book anyone would be proud to have in their collection. I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, in exchange for my honest review.

The Tiger Catcher by Paullina Simons

A truly heart-breaking and enthralling story is the only way to describe The Tiger Catcher by Paullina Simons. It is a gratifying romance story and it explores the lengths to which a person will go to be with the one they love.

Julian is living a happy and successful life in Los Angeles. He is surround by family and friends that love him and has a long-standing girlfriend that everyone expects him to marry. Then a chance encounter, at a New York City theatre, with a young girl named Josephine changes everything.

When Julian returns to L. A. he can’t stop thinking about Josephine. Then one day she waltzes right into his life and his heart. As far as Julian is concerned the world has not only stopped but melted away. He is so absorbed with Josephine that he forgets to go to work or write his daily Mr. Know-It-All newsletter. Yet, the fates have other plans and when Josephine is lost to Julian, he falls into a stupor and nothing is able to bring him back to reality.

Julian dreams frequently of Josephine. In his dreams, he is always at a café and she sees him and is walking towards him but is never able to reach him. He believes that the café is in London. Therefore, he moves to London in search of her. After a year and a half, and many miles of walking London’s streets for the café in his dream, he is no closer to answers than he was in L. A. That is until he meets a shaman who gives Julian the means to find Josephine. There is a catch, the trip is dangerous and he will have to give up everything and everyone he knows and loves.

I loved the characters in this book. Julian was especially well done. I liked how the author showed us the depth of his love and then the pain and sorrow of his loss. It was raw and very real to me. In addition, the story had just enough fantasy and realism to suit my tastes.

The only negative I found was the plot. It dragged a little in the middle. Ms. Simons’s writing is always a little on the verbose side; however, here it was a bit heavy handed. Despite this, I was already so invested in the story that I had to know what happened. Therefore, I rushed to get to the end and then I had to noodle on the book for a bit before I picked up another one. It is always a good sign when a book makes me ponder for a bit after I finish it.

I enjoyed this book a lot. I also feel it is not in the same league as The Bronze Horseman, which is one of my all-time favorites. Tough I still found the story compelling and entertaining. I am looking forward to the next installment in the series and I hope the wait is not too long.

The Tiger Catcher is the perfect book for fans of The Time Traveler’s Wife, Paullina Simons and/or romance with a touch of magic.

I received a free copy from the publisher, via Library Thing’s Early Reviewer program, in exchange for my honest opinion.

Interview with author John A. Heldt

ME: Do you ever have writers block? If so, how do you overcome it?

Heldt: I get writer’s block all the time — and when I do, I go for a walk. I have found that when I go for long walks, particularly in peaceful or scenic places, I am usually able to come up with new ideas or resolve issues very quickly.

ME: What motivates you to write?

Heldt: Without a doubt, it is the desire to tell stories. I’m like a lot of authors that way. When I get a story in my head, I want to write it down and share it as soon as possible.

ME: All your books about time travel. Is there a reason why?

Heldt: I like writing about fish out of water or — more to the point — present-day protagonists who find themselves stuck in the 1900s or even the 1800s. My last eleven books flowed directly from The Mine, a novel about a curious college senior who entered a Montana mine in May 2000 and emerged from that mine, minutes later, in May 1941. I like writing stories about men and women who carry modern knowledge and experience into the past and try to make their way in the world of their grandparents or great-grandparents.

ME: Where did you get the idea for River Rising (Carson Chronicles #1)?

Heldt: When I considered the possibilities for a new time-travel series last year, I quickly decided that I wanted to begin that series in the 1880s. I wanted to send five siblings, all young adults, to the nineteenth century and then follow their lives through the twentieth. When I read about the 1880s, I learned that the Johnstown flood of May 31, 1889, was one of the definitive events of the Gilded Age: a tragic tale that revealed the hubris, arrogance, bravery, and compassion of the time. So I built a book — and a series — around that horrific disaster. The flood and its aftermath created many possibilities.

ME: Of the books you have written, do you have a personal favorite?

Heldt: If I had to pick one, right now, it would be my latest novel. The Memory Tree contains all of the elements I like best about the earlier books. It is also my most complete work, combining history, romance, drama, humor, suspense, and adventure. Other favorites include River Rising, for the same reasons, and Hannah’s Moon, a book based on personal experience. I can also tell you that Class of ’59, a (mostly) young adult book, was the most fun to write and that The Mine is the novel I would probably enjoy most on a rainy day.

ME: Is there any one of your characters that represent you or that you strongly identify with?

Heldt: I identify most with Joel Smith, Cameron Coelho, and Adam Carson, the protagonists of The Mine, Indiana Belle, and River Rising, respectively. Each is a creative problem-solver who appreciates the simpler ways of the past. Natalie Carson of the Carson Chronicles series, Candice Bell of Indiana Belle, and Virginia Gillette Jorgenson of The Mine and The Mirror are my favorite female characters. All three are strong, independent women who blaze trails as journalists in a male-dominated profession. Each has a great sense of humor.

ME: Do you keep a notebook or journal with ideas?

Heldt: Yes. I maintain a Word document on my laptop. I jot down ideas in the file whenever they come to me, even for books I may not write for years.

ME: Is there a place you like to write that makes you feel the most creative?

Heldt: I like to write wherever I can find peace and quiet. I find it impossible to work in places where there are distractions. Sometimes home is the best place. Other times, libraries are.

ME: What do you find most challenging about writing?

Heldt: I have always found it challenging to describe eras I’ve never seen. It’s one thing to draw from your own memory and experiences. It’s another to write about people, places, and events from an earlier time. That’s why I do a considerable amount of research before I write a single word. I have to compensate for gaps in my knowledge.

ME: Is there currently one story idea that is nagging you to be written?

Heldt: Though I am currently working on the third novel in the Carson Chronicles series, I am looking forward to writing the fifth and final book. Like The Journey and Hannah’s Moon, the novel, set at a summer camp in Maine in 1983, will be based on personal experiences.

ME: Do you have any advice for someone just starting out?

Heldt: Yes. Do your homework before you start. Talk to other authors and learn from them. Then, if you decide to take the plunge, go all out. Give your book the consideration it deserves. Read it, reread it, and revise it until you want to run away from your computer. Enlist the help of competent editors, beta readers, and illustrators. Be patient. Set reasonable goals. Take marketing seriously. It’s one thing to write a book. It’s another to sell it in a market where several hundred thousand new titles are released each year. Do what you can to stand out in a crowd.

John A. Heldt is the author of the critically acclaimed Northwest Passage, American Journey, and Carson Chronicles series. The former reference librarian and award-winning sportswriter has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports on baseball heroes in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, Heldt is an avid fisherman, sports fan, home brewer, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction.

His latest book The Memory Tree (Carson Chronicles #2) was published April 30th 2018.