Book Review: First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch

This is a truly superb time travel that makes one ponder possibilities!
First Time: The Legend of Garison Fitch
By Samuel Ben White

• File Size: 618 KB
• Print Length: 407 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1591094658
• Publisher: Cottage & CO Press; 1 edition (July 22, 2008)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B001D2Z5LS

Genre: Time Travel
My Rating: 4.75 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: July 22, 2008
"What if history didn't happen that way ... the first time?"

Garison Fitch was a scientist and something of a celebrity in the Soviet Americas in the early 21st century until dropping off the map to pursue his theories in the remote La Plata Canyon. Living in a log home he built himself (which was too close to the Empire of Japan (30 miles to the west) and the Republic of Texas (15 miles to the south), Garison began to experiment with interdimensional travel.

An experiment with such travel surprised him when he landed him in 1744. There he discovered a primitive world of somewhat suspicious people, but a freedom he had never experienced before--which may have been most frightening of all. As he was trying to discover how to return to the future, he met and fell in love with Sarah, a beautiful young woman who is an outcast due to the fact that it was never known who her father was. They married and had three children and he decided to stay in the past and raise his children with the woman he loved.

When he tried to rid himself of his time machine by sending it into the future, however, it took him with it. Now, he finds himself back in the twenty-first century where a woman (Heather) he has never met claims to be his wife and the country he grew up in is gone, replaced by something called “The United States of America”. He quickly realizes that something he did in the past has changed the future but he doesn't know what until he stumbles across a strange item in Heather's purse.

Should he live in this new world, or try to travel once more through time and return the world to “normal”? As he becomes convinced he can’t return to Sarah, he’s not really sure if he can live in this new world he created, either.

Review:
The book blurb does a good job of summarizing the story so I won’t repeat that. This is a fascinating story just filled with time travel anomalies and paradox. There is a wonderful portrayal of the differences between Colonial living, with it’s harsh yet simpler times of freedom, and modern life in America with it’s societal laws, regulations and complexities. Added to those two is the contrasting world of communism where Garison was living in Russia America.

The courtship between Garison and Sarah is old-fashioned, sweet and innocent, fitting into the Colonial time frame. The actions of the characters, like playful romance interaction, are completely natural and realistic.

I loved the discussions of faith and accepting belief in God. I especially liked how the story shows that not all of life is within our control...thus we have to rely on faith. The author also explores several  philosophical thoughts of life. I noted that there is so much jammed into this story that made me think. This is excellent entertainment and well worth the read!  I recommend this to anyone and especially those who like time travel paradox stories.

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Check out the BookBlast giveaway.

Book Review: The Mine by John A. Heldt

This is a marvelously warm and completely engaging story.

The Mine (Northwest Passage)
by John Heldt

• File Size: 538 KB
• Print Length: 290 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: John A. Heldt (February 12, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0078S9B6G

Genre: Time Travel, Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: February 12, 2012
In 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come.

Review:
Joel Smith is an adventurous college student in 2000 who detours to explore an abandoned mine. He finds a cave with a luminous glow and when he stumbles away from a rattlesnake, bumping his head, he walks out into a setting that is the not quite the same as he left.  Upon realizing the next day that he is in the year 1941, he believes he has missed the chance to return to his own time.

As Joel tries to adjust to a world of the past, he finds a group of friends who welcome him into their circle.  This group includes Joel’s own bright and innovative grandmother, Ginny.  But the most crucial and difficult thing is that Joel falls in love with Ginny’s best friend, Grace.

Grace is beautiful, smart and dedicated. She is a missionaries’ daughter raised in secluded towns and villages.  Grace has lived with her Aunt after the tragic death of her parents and it has taken several years for Grace to overcome her fear, trauma and shyness. She has recently become engaged to Paul who is on his way to Boston to train as a cadet.  Grace has everything nicely planned out for her future, but there is something that pulls her to the mysterious, mischievous Joel.

The story follows Joel as he creates a life in 1941 with no cell phones, no computers and no Television! These are simpler times when a family eats at the dining table rather than in front of the television. But Joel knows that his young friends are facing World War II and some of them may not survive. Does he have the right to engage the affections of another man’s fiancé? Will any of Joel’s actions impact the future, including his own birth?  Although there are difficulties in his situation, Joel loves Grace and he is beginning to plan out a future in 1941 when he discovers a chance to return to 2000. Should he return to his own time without the woman he loves? Should he stay in 1941 with Grace? Should he try to take her back to the future with him? What would you do?

This is a romance set in gentler, simpler times in 1941 before war encroached on Americans. Mr. Heldt’s writing is straight forward, smooth and with a light sense of humor. It fits the tone and setting perfectly.  The characters are diverse and although not overly in depth, there is sufficient substance to make them real to me. The friendships and the romance are an engaging story and the time travel  paradox creates an extra layer of interest.

This did make me think of Back to the Future and Blast From the Past movies with their suburban households, family togetherness and swing dancing.  The similarities are in the gentle tones of the time period not in the plots as each has its own unique focus. I want to recommend that readers who enjoy a warm old-fashioned romance give this story a read. I think you will enjoy it as I did.

Note thoughts:
               Wow, nostalgic, warm, cozy, touching, paradox.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Joel’s reactions when he finds himself in a strange time:

Joel thought about Marty McFly, the likelihood that this was all a nightmare, and turning that rattlesnake into sushi. Location 549.

He peered down the street in both directions and decided to head south, toward the downtown core. He entered his strange, new world with angst, disbelief, and wonder. Location 574.

Thank you to the author who provided this title for an honest review. This might not have been a title I would have picked up if the author had not emailed me and been persistent, for which I am glad. (With all the emails I get sometimes I mark a request and move it to a folder but don’t get to reply. Mr. Heldt’s third email finally got a reply from me.)

This is set in Seattle for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my ARC and New Author challenge lists.

Book Review: Once Upon a Remembrance by Grace Brannigan

This is a lovely romance with the extra element of the perplexities of time travel.

Once Upon a Remembrance (Women of Strength Time Travel)
by Grace Brannigan

• File Size: 427 KB
• Print Length: 275 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: Questor Books (August 10, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008WBSWY0

Genre: Romance, Time Travel
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description
Publication Date: August 10, 2012
Once Upon a Remembrance: Book 1 Women of Strength time travel trilogy: Photographer Isabeau Remington travels to 1894 Virgina and falls in love with a man she must ultimately leave behind when she returns to her own time...but things are not always as they seem.

Modern day photographer Isabeau is pulled from the present time and thrust back into the year 1894 in Virginia. She must help save Hawk Morgan, a man threatened by a killer, a man endangered by his own erased memories. Hawk must survive in 1894 so his present day ancestor Pierce Morgan, will be alive in Isabeau's future.

Isabeau begins to fall in love with Hawk Morgan but with both their future's uncertain and a killer on the loose, neither one of them may have a tomorrow to look forward to.

Review:
Isabeau has arrived at an estate known as Hawk’s Den to do a professional photography shoot with her boss.  She is looking at the antique Morgan family Bible when she becomes disoriented.  Suddenly she finds herself hiding on a ship. She believes she has been kidnapped until the settings, clothing and characters around her convince her that she is in 1894 instead of 2012.

Isabeau has been summoned to the past to help save Hawk Morgan. He has escaped a couple of attempts on his life but Isabeau is to help protect him with her special gift. Isabeau does manage to warn him and save his life.  That doesn’t mean that he or his right hand man, Malry, will trust the mysterious stowaway, especially when she claims to be from the future.

Hawk is a wealthy shipper who is kind to his family, staff and orphans.  He was attacked and beaten and suffers from amnesia.  His long time friend, Malrey, and his strange aunts have had to refresh Hawk’s memories. They have reminded him that he has a fiancé even though he can dredge up no recollection.

Isabeau helps to protect Hawk from danger but fails several times to protect herself. As they travel to New York Isabeau and Hawk try to resist the dynamic pull between them. Slowly Hawk begins to regain his memories until he makes a remarkable discovery. Now things are more twisted than ever.  Hawk wants them to make a commitment but Isabeau is frightened that she could be whisked away at any time.

The characters are well developed, warm and honorable.  I enjoyed the conflict of a strong, modern woman fighting to save a strong, old-fashioned man. There is plenty of suspense with startling time travel, numerous murder attempts, muggings and more. The romance grows nicely and builds as the reader waits to see if it can become a love to survive the separation of time. Ms. Brannigan’s writing has a certain elegance that fits the time period. It flows well and the package of characters, plot and smooth writing make this an engaging read sure to please romance and time travel fans.

~~~~~~~~~~

A new view for Isabeau:

Looking around, she knew the simpler pleasures were not meant to be ignored.  It had taken this cataclysmic event to open her eyes. Location 1285.

Emotions for Hawk:

Heat and want and emotion became tangled in his mind, until feeling was the only thing between them. Location 1801.

Thank you to Ms. Brannigan for sharing with a Guest Post and Giveaway. Blog Tour through Lace and Lavender Book tour.

This was set in Virginia for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. I will also add it to my New Author challenge list.

Book Review: A Light on the Veranda by Ciji Ware

This is a rich mix of history, haunting harp, lush jazz and modern romance set in  the beautiful, old South, environs of Natchez, Mississippi.  

A Light on the Veranda  

by Ciji Ware

• File Size: 1740 KB
• Print Length: 480 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1402222734
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (March 1, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English

Also available in print.
Genre:  Time Travel, Historical Fiction
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2012

A secret may hold for a hundred years... and then it's time for the past to take revenge

Daphne Duvallon vowed never to return to the South years ago when she left her philandering fiance at the altar. Now family has called her back to Natchez, Mississippi, a city as mysterious and compelling as the ghostly voices that haunt her dreams.

From a time when the oldest settlement on the Mississippi was in its heyday and vast fortunes were made and lost, Daphne begins to uncover the secrets of an ancestor whose fate is somehow linked with her own. In a compelling and mesmerizing tale, now Daphne must right the wrongs of the past, or follow the same path into tragedy...

Review:
Daphne has had a bad choice of beaus having rebounded to a cheating fiance, Jack Ebert, after she discovered that her boss and first love forgot to tell her he was married.  Daphne agrees to return from New York to the deep south to play her harp at the wedding of her brother, King Duvallon and Corlis (from Midnight On Julia Street.)

Daphne meets an attractive photojournalist at the Monmouth, an historic plantation house turned hotel.  Sim Hopkins is in town to do a photographic documentary of the birds painted in the area by John James Audubon in the early 1800s.  Sim has been a traveling man for many years, running from the ghosts of his failed marriage.  Daphne and Sim are drawn together by attraction and something more haunting.

Daphne doesn’t want to be a one night stand for a traveling man and Sim isn’t sure he can commit to settling anywhere. While they get to know each other and try to figure out what they might have going, Daphne is struggling with more than her own painful memories of jilted lovers.  The sounds of the harp, rain and other natural melodies transport Daphne to a vision world in the past where she watches the unfolding of the tragic story of her name sake seeking love but surrounded by sorrow.

Modern day Daphne forges forward, living with her Aunt Maddie in an old family home and juggling tea time harp playing while developing a new career as a jazz harpist.  She has to cope with stalking behavior by Jack who turns out to be on opposing sides of naturalist issues impacting the community. Pressure, confusion, doubts and jealousies build when Jack brings in a top gun attorney who happens to be Sim’s beautiful ex-wife.

Ms. Ware skillfully weaves two stories with detailed research, a remarkable setting and superb storytelling. I loved the blend of the historic story and the modern romance conflict. You can visualize the lush beauty of the past as you learn of environmental issues of the present. The idea of a female jazz ensemble including the harp was fascinating and the author used the sensual sass, like the song "Peel Me a Grape", as part of the romantic seduction.

This can be read as a stand alone although you might not want to miss the first story, Midnight on Julia Street, set in beautiful New Orleans, where similar haunting time travel visions are triggered by smells rather than sounds. If you are a fan of time travel, lush settings and strong storylines, this is an author you will enjoy.  

~~~~~~~~~~~

Sense the music:

The beat, the blossoming synchronicity of the quintet, created in Daphne the distinct sensation of a key fitting smoothly into a lock, opening up a world of full-flavored, melodious sound. Location 2151

Thank you to Sourcebooks through NetGalley for providing this book for reading and reviewing pleasure.

This book is set in Natchez, Mississippi for my Where Are You Reading Challenge. It will also go on my ARC reading list.

Sourcebooks Shares Some Time Travel!

Shared from the desk of Sourcebooks' Publicist

Hello,

Love the idea of traveling back (or forward) in time? Ever wonder if there’s some kind of connection between you and the past, or felt as though you belonged in another era? Then Sourcebooks has the perfect eBook deal for you: a collection of some of our favorite “timeslip” romance and fiction titles on sale for $2.99! The full list of titles is below. The sale begins, so check them out!

As always, please be patient if our online retailers don’t have every single title uploaded to their discounted price points, but the promotions are set to begin on the start dates listed below. These deals are available with all major e-Book retailers!

Feel free to share the info with your blog readers, on Facebook and Twitter, and however else you’d like to spread the word.

You can always receive the latest information about our eBook deals by checking our eBook deals page, which also lists our eBook retailer partners:  http://www.sourcebooks.com/readers/browse-our-lists/ebook-specials.html.

Enjoy!

Danielle

Sourcebooks, Inc. |  @SourcebooksCasa

Spring Forward – Timeslip eBooks for $2.99!

4/3/2012 – 4/16/2012

Catriona by Jeanette Baker (romance)

Known for her Scottish time travel and Irish historical romances, Jeanette Baker is an award-winning and bestselling author. A part of our Casablanca Classics line, Catriona is now back in print! Kate Sutherland is visited by the mystical, ghostly Catriona, her deceased ancestor, who transports Kate into the passion and bloodshed of 15th century Scotland. With ties in both the past and the present, Kate must now risk everything to right the wrongs of the past, or lock the door on history to pursue her future love.

A Cottage by the Sea by Ciji Ware (fiction)

When a Hollywood scandal leaves her life and her marriage in ruins, Blythe Stowe escapes to the wild coast of Cornwall and a cottage by the sea. There she finds herself both physically drawn to her handsome neighbor, Lucas Teague, and literally drawn into a haunting 200-yearold love story as an elaborate family tree on his study wall sends her rushing back into the past. As Blythe struggles to make sense of what is happening and discovers family secrets that have been long concealed, she realizes Lucas holds the key to both her past and her future…

No Proper Lady by Isabel Cooper (romance)

The Terminator meets My Fair Lady in this fascinating debut of black magic and brilliant ball gowns, named A Best Book of 2011 by both Publishers Weekly and Library Journal! Joan is from a time where demons run rampant and humanity is fighting for its existence. To prevent this terrible future, she is sent back to Victorian England to kill the magician responsible for unleashing the dark forces. To get close to her target, she’ll need Simon Grenville to teach her how to fit into polite society. Joan doesn’t mind practicing proper flirtation on Simon, but she can’t allow herself to be distracted by his gentle hands or devilish smile—the very future depends on it.

The Return of Black Douglas by Elaine Coffman

Elaine Coffman has written 19 novels and sold 5 million books. The Return of Black Douglas is a response to reader requests for books about the Scottish ancestors of Coffman’s bestselling seven-book historical Mackinnon series, the last of which was a New York Times bestseller. Isobella Douglas is pulled back in time by the ghost of her infamous ancestor The Black Douglas, where she encounters a Highland laird who’s completely captivated by the modern lass...

Whispers in the Sand by Barbara Erskine

Past and present collide in richly mysterious Egypt, where recently divorced Anna is retracing an Egyptian journey her great grandmother Louisa made from Luxor to the Valley of the Kings. As she follows Louisa's footsteps, Anna discovers both the chilling secret of the bottle and the terrifying specters that pursued her great grandmother. A thrilling suspense story, Whispers in the Sand is another gem from timeslip master Barbara Erskine.

Book Review and Giveaway: Kicking Ashe by Pauline Baird Jones

If you followed my reviews from last week you know that I love this series.
I had to sort of re-read the books to do a fair job on the reviews. (A good reason NOT to wait a year to write a review!) Fortunately, re-reading them was a pleasure and reminded me why I liked them so much with the first read. I reviewed the short story Steam Time last summer.
Now I am glad, but sad, to come to the final “chapter”, so to speak.

Thank you to Pauline for allowing me to enjoy the whole series!!

Kicking Ashe

by Pauline Baird Jones 

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 369 KB
• Publisher: L&L Dreamspell (February 19, 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B007BGZL8C

Genre: Science Fiction Romance
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Product Description

With hearts and lives on the line, a kiss may be all they have time for...

Time has dumped Ashe on a dying planet and she needs to figure out why before she ceases to exist. Or gets vivisected by some Keltinarian scientists. Or worse.

Vidor Shan might help—since someone somewhere is trying to hose him, too—if she can convince him to trust her. Probably shouldn’t have told him that only someone he trusts can betray him. Also wouldn’t mind if he kissed her on the mouth.

Vid would love to kiss the girl, but his brother is lost, he’s got hostile aliens on his tail, and the stench of betrayal all around him. Can he trust the woman who told him to trust no one?

Then a time quake hurls them to a nasty somewhere and some when...

Review:  “Expect the Unexpected.”

The author introduced Ashe and her sentient, internal, ‘side-kick’, nanite, Lurch, in Steamrolled.  Ashe is clearly a ‘kicking’ Time Space cadet who usually manages to handle trouble with some help from Lurch. At the end of Steamrolled she is tumbling from a tsunami like time wave as time, which “is persistent”, tries to right itself from the improper time interference and alternate time realities. She finds the unexpected as she returns to consciousness: she is still alive and she looks up into the familiar face of Vidor Shan.

Vidor has shown up as a slightly different version of his barbarian, roguish self, depending on the time-space continuum when he appears. Ashe briefly met Vidor before getting thrown through time (Steamrolled) and knows that he had some connection to her not-so-great grandma, Doc (Girl Gone Nova). Each version has his own sexy allure and arrogance. There is something wrong about him and his timeline that has drawn Ashe in order to get it fixed once and for all and hopefully give her a chance to get home to the Time Base.

Vidor’s society is a strange mix of archaic living style and extraordinary ships and weapon technology. Someone has betrayed Vidor and has tried to destroy him in several time scenarios.  It has to be someone very close to him that knows him really well.  Ashe is inclined to think it is his missing brother, Timrick, whose scent has appeared with an attacking troop of Zelk, a human like creature with reptilian skin.

Ashe and Vidor stumble through shifting time waves trying to solve the puzzle while fighting off Zelk attacks and giant cockroaches that eat anything in their path, including the hull of their craft. Although Vidor doesn’t want to trust her, he begins to realize that she may be his only chance to survive to a life he can enjoy. 

Although the evil overlord was exposed and hopefully quashed in Steamrolled, I am glad that there is this story for Ashe and Vidor to wrap up the series.  This story seems more about the girl getting the guy, but there is still plenty of action and storyline to move it along quickly. The giant cockroaches are a stretch but sometimes our small fears become huge problems so it fits in this topsy turvy timeline.

I love that the heroines in these books are strong, scientific, skilled and smart women who have been too busy with their careers or lives to have had much social involvement with the opposite sex. Each of them gets to have a first kiss with their sexy heroes and then a HEA.

I also enjoy the use of what I think of as “cliches in cheek.” They may be cliche phrases but they are clearly used with a tongue in cheek sense of humor.  This book provides fun with Ashe’s family line of wonderful strong mantras, many passed on from Doc, like:  The impossible just takes longer; What doesn’t kill us makes us strong; Trouble is an opportunity to excel.  And I agree with Ashe that there should be one about not getting eaten by bugs.

This is a series of stories that I can see myself revisiting again in the future when I want something fast paced and fun with strong heroines and hunky heros, even if some of them are completely alien!

Ashe’s reaction to getting up close to Vidor:

...too close to escape the slam of power he radiated like a solar event. Caught between wanting to move in and move away, Ashe froze–though cold was not the direction her internal temperature was trending. Location 94.

Vidor learns that Ashe is intergalactic in her travels:

“I...” she paused again, “trail trouble.”  He would have said she was trouble. Location 925.

I will add this to my ARC challenge list.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the Winner's Choice of Print or eBook (International would get eBook): 

1. I sent you to visit the author's website for the giveaway of THE KEY. Today please comment on this review.   This is required for entry..  For bonus comment on the other reviews in the series that don't have a direct giveaway;  one entry for each review (up to three available here and at Girl Gone Nova and/or Tangled in Time.

2.  For two extra entries Comment on the Author interview and answer her Question at #11.

3.  For an extra entry, become a follower (GFC, Twitter, FB, email) or tell me if you are already a follower.

4. For two more entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Eight total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 23, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on March 24 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.

Book Review and Giveaway: Steamrolled by Pauline Baird Jones

Go for a rolling ride in another delightful, action packed novel in the Project Enterprise Series.

Steamrolled

by Pauline Baird Jones

• Paperback: 454 pages
• Publisher: L & L Dreamspell (April 11, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603184074
• ISBN-13: 978-1603184076

Genre:  Science Fiction Romance
My Rating 5.0 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2011

With all of time at risk, it's a bad time to fall in love...unless it's the only time... Robert Clementyne is going on a transmogrification machine hunt. He fears finding the machine will be as difficult as pronouncing the name. How can the steam-powered device perform as advertised, and how useful can any information be, coming from a steampunk themed bowling alley/museum? It's pretty crazy, but he's been there, done that, and thinks he can handle it. And then he meets the proprietor/curator...Emily Babcock. Emily grew up in crazy, still lives in it-hey, it's her freaking zip code. So no worries when Robert and his team walk into her bowling alley. The first visitors ever to her museum. But neither of them is prepared for what happens when they open the door to the past...and the future. With a side trip through Roswell...and a face-to-face meeting with an evil genius/wannabe-who is on his way to becoming evil overlord-of-everything...

Review:

This book highlights Robert Clementyne, the brother of Doc from Girl Gone Nova. Robert had been in a mental health facility on earth until Doc pulled him out and introduced some nanites to help his brain organize all the genius that he had been unable to control and express before.  Here we get to enjoy the mental conversational additions of nanites Wynken, Blynken and Nod. :-) Robert and a team from Kikk have been sent to earth to locate the transmogrification machine (from Tangled in Time.)  The team includes characters from prior books in the series: Fyn (The Key) and Carey (Tangled in Time).

We are also introduced to new characters, Ashe and Emily.  Ashe, with her sentient nanite, Lurch (once a nanite with Doc aka Morticia, resulting in Lurch’s name), is a fairly new cadet with the Time Service, designed to keep time ‘on track.’  Ashe and Lurch return from a time trip to discover the base and time seriously out of whack. Ashe is the primary hero of the final book, Kicking Ashe.

Emily is a very unusual young woman, a persona of “modified Goth mixed with Steampunk.”  She is the isolated proprietor of the museum designed around the transmogrification machine inventor’s workshop.  As a descendant of the inventor’s sister, Emily has steadfastly taken care of the museum even though there have been no visitors... until now.

But Robert’s team isn’t the only one after the machine. Dr. Smith, on orders of his ‘master’, has been sent to find the machine too. As they battle over the machine, Ashe and Lurch have their own struggles with fluctuating time.

This is another wonderful story with lots of action, intrigue, and a really evil overlord fighting with patrols of robotic-like automatrons. The author has created an imaginative, unique world and wonderfully warm, quirky characters. Once again the dialog is fun and it is delightful how Emily starts mentally thinking of Robert as “oh my darling!” (Check his last name if you don’t get this right away.)  The plot moves around a lot - past, future and time streams in between. Although this could be read alone, I think it would be much easier to follow (and more to enjoy) if you have read the prior books.

Some quotes to enjoy:

Emily had questions, but questions led to answers. Answers were a mixed bag–a baggie better kept zipped when your family inheritance could be boiled down to one word: crazy. P 41

She twisted in his hold–though not out of it he was thankful to note–bringing her mouth into a better position for kissing. ... And then she kissed him, splattering his thoughts, rather like the anomaly had tried to splatter them, but with a much better outcome. P 370.

Thank you to the author for providing another great read!

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the signed Review copy: 

1. I sent you to visit the author's website for the giveaway of THE KEY. So for this giveaway tell me why you think you would like to read this book and or series. :-) This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower (GFC, Twitter, FB, email) or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two more entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 23, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on March 24 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.
 

Book Review: Tangled in Time by Pauline Baird Jones

When I read this Sci Fi/Steampunk Romance Novella and I couldn't put it down. It was wonderful with great gentle humor!

Tangled in Time

by Pauline Baird Jones

Format: Kindle Edition

File Size: 213 KB

Publisher: L&L Dreamspell (November 19, 2010)

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

Language: English

ASIN: B004D4YL18

Genre: Science Fiction Romance 
My Rating: 5.0 of 5.0

Product Description

Colonel Carey (from The Key and Girl Gone Nova) takes a test "flight" through the Garradian time-space portal, but an unexpected impact lands him somewhere and some when. As he attempts to get to Area 51, he crosses paths with Miss Olivia Carstairs, who could be Mary Poppins' twin sister. Or maybe her cousin. Olivia's got a transmogrification machine powered by steam and a mouth he'd like to kiss like it was his job. Can he convince her to join forces before she shoots him with her derringer?

Review:
This is a quick, fun novella in the Project Enterprise series.
Colonel Carey is a sharp soldier who appeared in the first two books as an officer on The Doolittle, the Earth ship hovering off the planet Kikk. During a test "flight" through the time-space portal at the outpost he has a rough ride ending up someplace other than where he is supposed to be.  As he checks out the area he spots a strange submarine shaped space ship. Outside the ship he spots a Mary Poppins' twin with an umbrella ... and a derringer aimed at him.

Olivia is a prim and proper young lady who chose to be a scientist's assistant rather than marry a boringly proper beau. Which is a bit unconventional for a woman from 1894. Olivia has arrived in the wrong place, and time, in a steam powered transmogrification machine. Now they have to figure a way to get back to where they came from. Things get sticky when an army patrol picks them up and then Dr. Tobias Smith steps in trying to convince Olivia to go with him.

This story moves quickly with warm characters, sweet interaction and quirky dialogue between a1894 bluestocking girl and a 2010 soldier guy. There is a bit of suspense and mystery that kept me wondering. Again, this story could be read alone but has more meaning and connection with the past characters and situations when read in order in the series. I was sorry this one was so short and looked forward to the next book!

Some humorous quotes:
Carey thinking about Olivia:

Seriously, he could kiss this girl like it was his job. P36.

Olivia thinking about Carey:

If a woman of science could not figure how to get a man to kiss her, she did not deserve the label. P.67.

Olivia's response to crashing in a chopper:

“I rode in a flying machine and crashed. Everything is better than all right. It is bodacious.” P68.

Thank you to the author for another wonderful book to enjoy and review.

Book Review: Girl Gone Nova by Pauline Baird Jones

This is a book with a great science/black ops heroine; a sexy alien leader; danger; time traveling bad guys and impossible situations.

Girl Gone Nova 

by Pauline Baird Jones

Paperback: 434 pages

Publisher: L & L Dreamspell (April 29, 2010)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1603182047

ISBN-13: 978-1603182041

Genre:  Science Fiction Romance
My Rating: 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2010

Doc-Delilah Oliver Clementyne's-orders are simple: do the impossible and do it yesterday. A genius/bad ass, she does the impossible on a regular basis. But this time the impossible is complicated by an imminent war between the Earth expedition to the Garradian Galaxy and the Gadi, an encounter with some wife-hunting aliens, and not one but two bands of time travelers. The only way it could get worse? If the heart she didn't know she had starts beating for the wrong guy...

Review:  This has great imagination and characterization. I love the characters and love the story even more. 

This is book Two of the Project Enterprise series and is set two years after The Key. Doc, Delilah Oliver Clementyne, has been transferred to the Earth expedition ship, the Doolittle.  Doc is sometimes called “Morticia” due to her dark hair, white face and cool demeanor. What no one realizes is that she is also“the Chameleon.” She is a super spy, portrayed as a Doctor, but so much more.  Doc has always had a brain that manages multiple tasks at super speed. She is accustomed to accomplishing the impossible although she knows the odds on continuing to do so are against her. She has never had time for romance or met anyone who sparked her libido...until now.

Helfron Giddioni is the leader of the Gadi people.  The Gadi and Dusan leaders had tried to capture “the Key” two years before until the Gadi and Earth forces joined to defeat the brutal Dusan. The Gadi still want control of the Kikk outpost which has some remarkable technology including travel portals. General Halliwell is the Earth commander who is negotiating with the Gadi leader, a man he doesn’t like or trust from prior experience, in a delicate dance of diplomacy.

Shortly into this story an assassination attempt is made against the two leaders, General Halliwell and Helfron.  Doc’s hidden talents help her to survive the bomb attack, eliminate the “clean-up” crew and thwart a second bombing. Hel had already noticed Doc and now suspects there is more to her than meets the eye.  A fragile agreement has to be made to work with Hel to uncover the espionage and protect their position and future negotiations.

Doc heads off to the outpost to study the technology and try to retrieve a team that went through the portals two years before. On her way she is captured by “Conan”, Vidor Shan, the leader of a barbarian looking group of men out to capture women to replenish their race. Now both Hel and General Halliwell are desperate to locate her.

As if dealing with hostile races isn’t enough, Doc has to try to figure out why Dr. Tobias Smith is messing with time. Yet her efforts to go back in time may cause a paradox and a change to current time.

There is plenty of intrigue and action as well as puzzling time travel issues. The friendly, sentient nanites are added fun companions to Doc, as they were with Sara in The Key.  There is immediate attraction and interest that draws Hel and Doc, even though they are an unlikely pair. But their new found emotion and love is torn by a time shift leaving Doc alone once more unless she can reach Hel and convince him to help them again.

I love the adventure, the alien setting, the action and the humor of these stories. Pauline sets up a believable time travel scenario with all the paradoxes that should be expected. The characters are rich and likeable; even the pirate, bad boy Vidor, has engaging qualities. The writing has a wonderful fast pace that fits the tale. This can be read alone but it works much better if you read The Key first.

~~~~~~

 A taste of action:

Doc studied the timer on the bomb as her brain kicked into a predictable kaleidoscope of higher gears. Despite the surge of data, there was a precision to it, as if her brain were a Swiss clock on steroids. EOD—Explosive Ordinance Detail—wouldn’t make it. She had maybe a minute to defuse it. The good news, a “Doc minute” was more than enough. P. 24-25

A touch of romance:

“Just don’t be surprised by what we find on the other side.” His smile was both wry and tender. “I have been surprised almost every minute since your people arrived in this galaxy, Delilah.” P. 348

Thank you to the author for providing the ebook to read and review.

Check out my review and giveaway for The Key.

Book Review and Giveaway: The Key by Pauline Baird Jones

This is one of my FAVORITE series!! I am highlighting the series this week with reviews, giveaways and an author interview. If you love action, snarky humor and clean romance, don't miss the Enterprise Project series! (My followers know that I don't gush...so this is me gushing in case you don't recognize it.)

THE KEY

by Pauline Baird Jones

• Perfect Paperback: 476 pages
• Publisher: L & L Dreamspell; 1st edition (August 14, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1603180109
• ISBN-13: 978-1603180108

Genre: "A science fiction/action adventure romance novel"
My Rating: 5.0.

Book Description
Publication Date: July 15, 2009
When Sara Donovan joins Project Enterprise she finds out that what doesn't kill her makes her stronger. An Air Force pilot - the best of the best to be assigned to this mission - Sara isn't afraid to travel far beyond the Milky Way on an assignment that takes her into a galaxy torn apart by a long and bitter warfare between the Dusan and the Gadi. After she's shot down and manages to land safely on an inhospitable planet, Sara encounters Kiernan Fyn - a seriously hot alien with a few secrets of his own - he's a member of a resistance group called the Ojemba, lead by the mysterious and ruthless Kalian. Together they must avoid capture, but can they avoid their growing attraction to each other? A mysterious, hidden city on the planet brings Sara closer to the answers she seeks - about her baffling abilities and her mother's past. She has no idea she's being pulled into the same danger her mother fled - the key to a secret left behind by a lost civilization, the Garradians. The Dusan and the Gadi want the key. So do the Ojemba. They think Sara has it. They are willing to do anything to get it. Sara will have to do anything to stop them.

Review:

Captain Sara Donovan is a top military pilot with the secret Enterprise Project.  She is sent on special assignment to a warfare battle in another galaxy. The opposing armies are searching for a “key” to a lost civilization. Sara ends up in the middle of the action when it becomes apparent that she holds some secret to the key. 

Sara is shot down on an alien planet, Kikk, where she is rescued by Fyn, a big, muscled alien, wearing leather armament and with a full head of dreads. Fyn (dubbed "Chewie" for his size - he's not that hairy) is strong and fierce but kind and ultimately protective when it comes to Sara. Sara’s team picks them up and Fyn’s apparent warrior skills are soon put to use.  As they begin to get to know each other, though keeping secrets, the battles rage around them.

Sara’s craft is pulled by a strange force into a hidden city on the Kikk planet. As she explores the buildings she touches a panel and receives some “hitchhiker” nanites. They are little sentient, computer companions to their hosts and add other (fun) characters to the stories.

I was drawn into and invested emotionally in Sara’s character. As such I was impressed with Fyn as a hero, dreads and all.  Pauline does a great job with the action scenes so you feel you are right there facing the enemies or dodging the shots around you.  She also provides humorous, snarky dialogue. There are fun military euphemisms that take the place of most of the swearing.  Sara’s usual expletive is “Dang!”

I read this two years ago but never did my review. I have to say I enjoyed remembering the story as I skimmed through to prepare this review. I think reading the series closer together would help the reader keep track of the personalities, the time stream and the enemy force. This is a series that is a keeper for me and I will enjoy reading them all again.

I did get The Key on Audible.  I wasn't crazy about the narrator at first but she grew on me.  Or better... the story became so engrossing I didn't notice any more!  That is a sign of a really good story! This is a great series for anyone who likes sci fi action, like Star Trek or Galaxy Quest (funny movie!), with a clean, warm, intergalactic romance.

Examples of fun dialogue:
Colonel Carey:
“Looks like we have another furball, playmates,” Carey said.  “Fangs out and form up on me. Let’s teach these gomers their second lesson in intergalactic etiquette.” P 83.

Sara and Fyn:
“It didn’t seem right being there without you on my six.”
.....
“I do...like your...six,” he said, his voice husky. P 387.

 Thank you to the Author for the book to enjoy and share!  

I had to add these notes from the author's website as it will give you a taste of her humor!

Author's note: Following the release of The Key realized that some readers didn't know that my series is set in the present day, in a kind of alternate reality, I guess. Unless there IS a secret project taking our people to the stars on beyond. If that's the case, it is accidentally true.

Tags: space opera; science fiction romance; alternate universe; no sex; sexual tension; mild swearing

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the signed Review copy: 

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something that interests you there. This is required for entry.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower (GFC, Twitter, FB, email) or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two more entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

THERE WILL BE ONE WINNER.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* No P.O. Boxes Please - for shipping reasons.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on March 16, 2012.
The winners will be randomly selected from all entries and announced on March 17 with 72 hours to complete the winners form.
 

Book Review: Journey in Time by Chris Karlsen

This is a very sensual and interesting time travel read.

Journey in Time (Knights in Time)

by Chris Karlsen

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 574 KB
• Publisher: Books to Go Now (September 1, 2011)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005KP18XS

     Genre: Time Travel Romance
     My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description

London attorney, Shakira Constantine finally agrees to spend the day with her handsome client, Alex Lancaster. While riding in the countryside, the couple finds themselves caught in a time warp and transported back to the 14th century-and an England preparing for war. Everyone believes Alex is the Baron Guy Guisard, a baron who died in the upcoming battle.

If they can’t find a way to return to the 21st Century, Alex will have to sail with the army to certain death. Shakira will be left alone to survive in the alien and terrifying medieval world.

Review:
Shakira is a beautiful, detail-oriented, practical London attorney, who plays guitar in a band on weekends. She holds herself aloof from the groupies and avoids involvement. One night at a charity event she is twirled onto the dance floor by Alex Lancaster, a handsome playboy.  Shakira isn’t overwhelmed by Alex’s attempts to charm her but she is intrigued by the kiss he steals.

Once Alex discovers who Shakira is he pursues her in earnest. He decides to hire her to represent him in a malicious sexual harassment case when she expresses complete faith in him. This is good because he’ll get to be near her but bad because her ethics dictate that she not become involved with a client.

Alex finally talks Shakira into a friendly visit and horse ride on his beautiful country estate.  Unexpectedly they are caught in a time warp and find themselves in medieval England. Alex seems right at home as everyone greets him and he easily steps into the life of Baron Guy Guisard.  Shakira is shocked and doesn’t know how she could survive in this strange time without Alex there to help her. But if they don’t return to the present she might lose him as the King plans to send him to France to fight in the battle of Poitiers.  First though, they have to face the King’s plans to marry Alex to a noblewoman and to give his ‘mistress’ to a rich merchant in town.

Alex exhibits extreme, and unwarranted, jealousy and fierce possessiveness.  He does not want to acknowledge any depth of feeling for Shakira and he has vowed never to marry. Shakira suffers physical danger, emotional stress and the pain of falling in love with a man who will never return the sentiment. Both of them make separate plans on how to escape the danger of Alex having to go off to war where he is likely to die. Because they don’t communicate they misunderstand and Alex particularly believes the worst and becomes bitter just when Shakira needs him most.

I liked Shakira as a warm character but Alex was harder to like. Although it seems he cares for “Rocky”, as he affectionately calls Shakira, he also has a cold streak and seems pretty stuck in his  playboy reputation. This story has some action and wonderful depth of period history and description. I always enjoy time travel stories and the paradoxes that exist and the struggle to return to the right time. The primary focus in this story is definitely romance and there are a number of heavily sensual scenes. I didn’t always understand Alex’s thoughts and behaviors but I think the author succeeded in showing differences in the way males and females think and feel.  This is a good read particularly if you enjoy rich, full romances. This was fine as a stand alone but I look forward to reading the first book in the series, Heroes Live Forever (Knights in Time).

This book was provided for review by the author through Bewitching Blog Tour.

Please see the Guest Post and Giveaway in next post.

This will be listed on my ARC and New Author challenges.

Book Review: The Revisionists by Thomas Mullen

This is a story that makes you wonder about the future, the past and the "what ifs." I recommend it - especially if you like issues of time/future paradox.

The Revisionists

by Thomas Mullen

• Hardcover: 448 pages
• Publisher: Mulholland Books; 1 edition (September 28, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316176729
• ISBN-13: 978-0316176729

     Genre: Sci Fi Thriller
     My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

A fast-paced literary thriller that recalls dystopian classics such as 1984 and Fahrenheit 451, from the award-winning author of The Last Town on Earth.

Zed is an agent from the future. A time when the world’s problems have been solved. No hunger. No war. No despair.
His mission is to keep it that way. Even if it means ensuring every cataclysm throughout history runs its course—especially the Great Conflagration, an imminent disaster in our own time that Zed has been ordered to protect at all costs.

Zed’s mission will disrupt the lives of a disgraced former CIA agent; a young Washington lawyer grieving over the loss of her brother, a soldier in Iraq; the oppressed employee of a foreign diplomat; and countless others. But will he finish his final mission before the present takes precedence over a Perfect Future? One that may have more cracks than he realizes?

Review:  I found this to be a good combination of engaging entertainment and thought provoking philosophy.

Zed is a “protector” of the future. His world of peace and well being resulted from the survivors of the great conflagration that destroyed the world of our present. Now Zed’s job is to make sure that events in the past (our present) occur as expected.  Zed travels to the past and follows instructions given by superiors to protect certain events. Zed insures that no “hags” interfere with the time stream.

Hags are other time travelers who are trying to stop the events that led to the great conflagration.
If the hags aren’t stopped they might go back and kill Hitler or prevent the 9/11 crashes. Although this would save thousands of lives, it wouldn’t allow the future to become what it should be... according to Zed’s handlers. There is a certain paradox that Zed is helping maintain tragic events but, in protecting the past, the argument is ‘the end justifies the means.’

The story also follows the paths of three present day people whose lives cross. Each character reveals a different view of corruption and a different sense of being alone. A common thread of the characters is their disillusionment with their jobs and their struggles to change circumstances surrounding them.  Eventually, or more accurately, finally, even Zed starts to question the instructions and limited facts that he is being fed.

Most of the story takes place in the present time and reveals pictures of Zed’s future world through comparisons.  Zed wonders if people appreciate the fresh air and the complex cities they live in. He marvels at the different races of people with their  prejudices and anger. He steps into the beautiful churches and thinks about the religions that cause such strife.  The reader gets a vision of a future world without races and without religion. But you also begin to see the restrictions in Zed’s world where they are not allowed to learn of the history before the great conflagration. They are not allowed to question their superiors.  Is it possible that Zed’s loved ones have been killed to eliminate their threatening inquires and to manipulate and control Zed?

Zed begins to learn more about the alias that has been established for him. As he uncovers the circumstances of the missing “Troy Jones” and discovers more events of that life it begins to cross over into parallels - or is it memory? - of Zed’s life.  Zed doesn’t know what to do when he realizes that he has always been able to look back at the facts given him and he has forgotten  what it is like to not know what the future holds. Manipulating the events of the past creates a point where one has to question which circumstances will change the future?  Could the future be better ... or worse? And who gets to make the decisions as to which events to protect or which might be better changed? With so much corruption abounding, who are really the revisionists?

This is a story that could probably benefit from a re-reading. I liked the writing which switches from first person for Zed to third person for the other characters. I read part of the book and  listened to part on Audible to speed the reading.  The narrator did a very good job and for me the easy but steady pacing blended with the puzzlement of the “what if” question.

                                               ###

I received the ARC for review from Mulholland Books, Little Brown and Company, division of Hachette.
I will probably add this to the ARC box after a bit. 

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: The Rose Garden by Susanna Kearsley

This author has beautiful phrasing and great warmth in her stories.
 
The Rose Garden 
by Susanna Kearsley

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark (October 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402258585
• ISBN-13: 978-1402258589

Genre:  Fantasy, Time Travel
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Product Description
Eva Ward is a modern woman thrown back three centuries to 1715 only to find that might be exactly where she belongs. There she finds true love with Daniel Butler, but the discord surrounding Hanoverian King George plunges the lovers into a world of intrigue, treason, and love.

Review:
Eva’s older sister, a famous actress, has died and Eva takes her ashes “home.” Home is an estate in Cornwall where they spent many happy childhood summers. Eva receives a warm welcome from the locals. Mark, an old beau of her sister’s on whom Eva had a girlhood crush, operates the Trelowarth Rose gardens on the estate.  Susan, Mark’s sister, wants to open a tea shop at the garden. Their stepmother, Claire, hovers about taking care of them all when she isn’t off wandering or painting.  In town there is Eva's old nemesis, Oliver, who is interested in pursuing a closer friendship and helps her research the past when she starts inquiring.

In spite of these friends, Eva still doesn’t feel quite at ‘home’ until she starts slipping back in time to find herself 300 years in the past. There Eva stumbles upon Daniel who is taken aback when she appears in his chamber.  She thinks he is the intruder until she realizes she is out of place and it is a bit of time before Eva learns that she looks startling like Daniel’s deceased wife.  Daniel’s stalwart friend, Fergal becomes Eva’s “big” brother teaching her how to manage in her ‘new’ surroundings. He seeks to protect Daniel and Eva from the growing attraction between them. More importantly they are concerned because the household is being watched by the unpleasant local constable who would love to catch them in illegal smuggling activity.  Even more dangerous are the whispered rumors of treason.

Eva can’t control her passages through time but that doesn’t stop her and Daniel from falling in love. I liked Daniel’s and Fergal’s warm and courageous attitude about the time travel situation. They are both very likeable characters.

The historical aspects are interesting but the primary mystery and tension comes from the time travel dilemma that moves Eva in an out of time -- at good and bad moments.  I was a little puzzled by the revelations that come out about the time traveling near the end of the story. There is a twisted relationship where you have to place the people of the present, past and future. I also would have liked an Epilogue to tie up the ending more clearly. I think the connections were there but I may have missed it even though I went back twice.  Still, I really enjoyed the gentle warmth of the romance and the suspense of the story.

I particularly like Ms. Kearsley’s beautiful descriptions and phrasing.  Here is a passage when Eva struggles to learn from Daniel how to light a spark for the fire. The phrase, of course, has a double meaning:

A simple thing, he’d said, and so it was. A random meeting and a touch–-that’s all it took to make a spark that could, with care and time, become a flame.

Thank you to Sourcebooks for providing this book to read and review.
TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC copy:

1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there. This is required for entry.

2.  For another entry tell me which cover you like better and why - the published cover above or the ARC cover to the right. I liked the ARC cover although the colors in the final cover are lovely.

3.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

4.  For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Five total entries possible.)

* Open to the US & Canada only.

* No PO boxes, please.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on November 11, 2011.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on November 12. 
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

Audiobook Review: TimeSplash by Graham Storrs

This is an interesting story of time distortion!

TimeSplash
by Graham Storrs

Narrator: E.J. Newman

Publisher: eMergent Publishing

Proof-listener: Susan Claybrook

Length: 9:11:32 

Genre:  Time travel, Science Fiction

My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description
Jumping back in time used to be fun... until people started dying. In the year 2050, London is on the verge of destruction. A thrill-seeker calling himself Sniper is about to jump back in time to create a time paradox. It's called timesplashing. It is exciting, dangerous, and the people who do it love every moment. Best of all, it doesn't change a thing - except in the present. When the acausal backwash from the splash hits the present, all hell breaks loose. Make a big enough timesplash, far enough back, and it can devastate a whole city. Once, timesplashing was an extreme sport and an excuse for a big party. Then Sniper took it too far. People started dying. Sandra and Jay are two people whose lives were shattered in a timesplash that went badly wrong in 2047. Now, each in their own way, they are hunting the timesplashers. And if they don't find them, millions could die. 

Review: Imagine a brick thrown into a lake and the ripples that roll out to reach the shore. The center of the lake, where the brick went in and made a splash, will smooth itself back out but the edge of the ripple, when it meets the shore, may cause erosion or damage.  This is how the TimeSplash works. The idea is to launch or “lob” the traveler, known as the “brick” back into the time stream. Once in the past the brick acts on some person in the past, maybe even killing his own grandmother. The more distant the lob into the past, and the more important the person acted upon, the greater the ripple effect.

In 2047 an arrogant and famous Brick named Sniper, with a few friends, takes a 65 year trip into the past. They kill the grandmother of one of the travelers and the actions in the past cause earthquake type damage killing people and causing extensive damage.  This trip changed the lives of those involved and turned the TimeSplash phenomenon into an illegal activity.

Two survivors take different paths. Patti (as in “Hearst”/ real name Sandra) was Sniper’s 15 year old “bitch” (girlfriend). She tried to get out of the launch but Sniper wouldn’t let her. By the time she returned she hated Sniper and was afraid he would kill her if she ever disclosed the truth of the jump.  After spending several years in an institution Sandra escapes in order to hunt down Sniper before he can kill her individually or through another big TimeSpash.

Luke (as in “Skywalker”/real name Jay) was a 17 year old in the audience with a buddy who was whacked out. The power went out during the backsplash and his buddy died. Jay quickly grew out of the teen “fun” mode into a serious young man.  Now Jay is a “time cop” set on hunting down TimeSplash gangs before they can destroy other cities.

Sandra and Jay cross paths and ultimately team up as they chase down clues trying to catch Sniper before the next launch. Sniper’s new target is Vladamir Lenin in 1902 while he is visiting in London. Will they be able to stop Sniper before his actions boomerang  and destroy current day London?

The action is very fast paced and you quickly are caught up in the suspense. The protagonists are young and the narrator’s voice picks up that youthful factor. The narration was more in the nature of a reading as she did not really try to change voices to different characters.  Initially I had to pay attention to distinguish the characters but once I had everyone in place, I enjoyed the audio as an easy way to listen to this story.

If you like time travel distortions, which I definitely do, you should try this book. I really enjoyed the story and was only disappointed by an ending that could have been a little bit stronger in wrapping up details.

I would be interested in more books by this author and more audiobooks from Iambik.

Thank you to Audiobook Jukebox and Iambik Audiobooks for this book to listen to and review.

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware

This is a good story with lots of interesting historical details.

Midnight on Julia Street by Ciji Ware

• Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark; Reprint edition (August 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402222726
• ISBN-13: 978-1402222726

    Genre:  Time Travel, Historical Fiction
    My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0

Product Description:
This “stand-alone” prequel to A Light on the VerandaA Light on the Veranda is a romantic novel of intrigue and suspense set in modern-day New Orleans with echoes of nineteenth century Louisiana, when Cotton was King.  Corlis McCullough, a take-no-prisoners TV journalist, late of Los Angeles, and her former UCLA nemesis, King Duvallon, an historic preservationist with deep roots in the Crescent City, are an unlikely pair to join forces to save a beautiful Greek Revival building with origins linked mysteriously to those of their own ancestors during the Golden Age in the Big Easy   Both must grapple with the unlikely concept of “genetic memory,” a force that appears to be intruding on their lives and thwarting any chance for ultimate happiness.

Review: There is a wealth of history mingled with a good contemporary romance.

Corlis is a truth reporting journalist.  She has come to New Orleans after losing her position in Los Angeles for exposing too much in her reporting.  She is about to report a big society wedding but ends up reporting the couple’s devastating break up instead. While at the wedding she runs into her college nemesis, King Duvallon.

King is an historic preservationist activist who isn’t afraid to step out for his cause even though it might endanger his bid for tenure as a history professor. He is intrigued to find Corlis reporting in his city. When Corlis once again loses her job King helps her get another position with a station that isn’t afraid to report the truth.

King and Corlis have a rough history but that doesn’t stop the attraction and chemistry between them. Corlis has to keep in mind that he is a news source and she wants to keep her journalistic integrity.  King doesn’t always understand Corlis’ position and their relationship is a struggle while he is battling the greedy developer who wants to tear down some historic buildings to build a modern hotel.

Meanwhile Corlis is getting some real historic data on the block of buildings from an unusual research source. She is being transported back in time to her name sake’s historic events in the 1840s.  On different visits she sees a Southern society wedding, a quadroon mistress, a funeral, a plantation ball and other settings that are described with wonderful detail.  Although the trances are frightening, they are also fascinating. Can she find documentary proof to support her visions and reveal the important historical background of the buildings?

My undergrad work was in journalism so I liked that the heroine is a strong investigative reporter who insists on reporting the facts and the truth. I also enjoyed the rich historical descriptions, and some surprising details, of the buildings and society that encompass the entwined lives of the whites and blacks in New Orleans.

I really like time travel stories and I liked the trigger that the author uses in this story. There is also a character who helps Corlis to cleanse her home from built up energy of past lives. That was new to me and I found it to be an interesting concept.

The writing flowed well although I felt there were some minor editing errors which hopefully were caught before the final release. The romance is warm and lovely as just one aspect of the overall story.  The book is on the long side but the richness in detail made this okay for me.  If you enjoy historical fiction, especially history of New Orleans, I recommend this as an enjoyable read.

 ~~~~~

I received this book from Sourcebooks for an honest review.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the ARC copy:
1. Visit the author's website and tell me something of interest you found there. This is required for entry. Maybe tell me which cover you like best of her books or which one you would most like to read.

2.  For an extra entry, become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower.

3. For two entries, blog, facebook, tweet (any of those networks!) about this giveaway and tell me where you did.

It isn't necessary to use separate entries unless you want them in different chronological order.
(Four total entries possible.)

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.

* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on September 30, 2011. (This month's book giveaways will all end on the 30th except for Friday Picks, SBB or other special posts.)
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
The WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED between October 1 and 3. Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.