Tag: time travel romance

Book Review: The Reigning and the Rule (Surviving Time #2) by Calia Read

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 479 pages
Author: Calia Read
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 17th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Étienne Lacroix and I had a fire I thought would never die.
Our love was timeless.
An irreversible decision sent me back to the present day with a family I barely recognize, but I am determined to find a way back to Étienne.
I can survive time. But I can’t survive life without him.
Time bends to no one’s demands, so I must fight with everything I have to return to the past. However, I am terrified that the past I once knew might not look the same, and the man who once called me his surviving trace will no longer be waiting for me.

Time bends to no one’s demands but sometimes love does.

OH THE DRAMA.

I still stand by this series could have probably been one book, maaaaybe two. But I just finished book two and I’m invested enough to see this through to the end.

This did once again, go outside my spice comfort level (didn’t affect my rating but wanted to note). Things once again get steeeeammyyyy. So if that’s your thing, here ya go!

I liked that there was a bit more explanation behind the magic working with Serene as she goes back and forth between time. I like having a general explanation of the rules of the world and this gave me more answers I was seeking. I love the historical aspects and seeing how things continue to change as Serene makes life changing decisions around and around.

That ENDING was wild. I have a million plus questions and NEEEEEED to know where it goes so I’m hoping to get back to finish this series ASAP. This book is a bit long, yet it does have a decent pace that will keep you moving. And if you love high angst moments, this delivers on them.

Ovearll audience notes:

  • Time Travel Romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door; high explicit
  • Violence: medium
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, near death experiences, loss of life, mentions of domestic abuse

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Book Review: The Surviving Trace (Surviving Time #1) by Calia Read

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Rating: ★★★★
Audience: Time Travel Romance
Length: 463 pages
Author: Calia Read
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: May 19th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Will is my fiancé. The shy man I met years ago in college. The person I’m supposed to spend the rest of my life with.

This is the life I’ve always wanted until finding a picture of four men changes everything…

Etienne says he’s my husband and the year is 1912. He can’t stand the sight of me, but I don’t know why.

Oh, and he’s one of the men from the picture.

I’ve done the impossible and have become trapped in time and I know Etienne is my key to going home.

The more time I spend with Etienne, the further I fall for him, until I’m questioning which time I belong in and if the life I left behind is the one I truly desire.

All I know for certain is I need to survive time.

I need to survive love.

And I need to make it out on the other side alive.

I’M HOOKED.

I am hit or miss on the time-travel romance concept (hello Outlander, the best of them all). BUT. This one had me feeling all the things and I am hooked on finding out where it goes next.

The setting is one of my favorite aspects for its uniqueness. 1912 in Charleston, South Carolina? With swoony men with a southern drawl? LOVE IT. I like the bit of mystery that was added to it that helped paved the way for the fact that this is a trilogy.

I have some questions about the magic that causes the time-travel. I would love a bit more information of that and when Serene switched time periods I did find that it dragged a little.

BUT, the ending?? That was WILD and I have no idea where things go next. I look forward to unravelling the story and seeing what happens next.

Overall audience notes:

  • Time travel romance
  • Language: some strong
  • Romance: multiple open door
  • Violence: med/high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: gun violence, loss of parents (recounted), physical altercations, infidelity

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ARC Book Review: In This Moment (Timeless #2) by Gabrielle Meyer

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Christian Historical Romance
Length: 416 pages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: May 2nd, 2023
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Maggie inherited a gift from her time-crossing parents that allows her to live three separate lives in 1861, 1941, and 2001. Each night she goes to sleep in one time period and wakes up in another. Until, that is, she turns twenty-one, when she will have to forfeit two of those lives–and everyone she knows in them–forever.

In 1861, Maggie is the daughter of an influential senator at the outbreak of the Civil War, navigating a capital full of Southern spies and wounded soldiers. In 1941, she is a Navy nurse, grappling with her knowledge of the future when she’s asked to join a hospital ship being sent to Pearl Harbor. And in 2001, she’s a brilliant young medical student, fulfilling her dream of becoming a surgeon, yet unable to use her modern skills in her other paths.

While Maggie has sworn off romance until she makes her final choice, an intriguing man tugs at her heart in each era. The mysterious British gentleman. The prickly, demanding doctor. The charming young congressman. She’s drawn to each man in different ways, only complicating the impossible decision she must make, which looms ever closer.

With so much on the line, how can Maggie choose just one life to keep and the rest to lose?

Thank you to Bethany House for a gifted copy.

LOVED THIS SO MUCH.

This book took me on a JOURNEY y’all. And I loved every moment. I read the first book as an audiobook so I wasn’t quite sure how it would translate to me reading in print, but don’t worry, Meyer’s crafts beautiful stories no matter the media.

I loved seeing how Maggie worked through deciding which place would be best for her to stay. Each time period is in a critical war era and clearly so much research has been done to bring the historical aspects to life. The transitioning chapters kept the pacing going and had me on pins and needles wondering what would happen next.

The romance starts off as a bit of a love square, but never fear, I loved the way each time period and love interest was handled. Even when I became undecided between the two I really appreciated how everything worked out in the end. It felt true to each of the characters.

I loved this book so much. I just have to say it again. The faith journey also hit me in the soul. I liked that it didn’t feel preachy or forced, but rather more real and impactful.

I AM SO EXCITED FOR THE NEXT BOOK.

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian Historical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: mild-high
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: war themes (Civil War, Pearl Harbor and 9/11), loss of life, chronic illness (celiac disease)

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Book Review: When the Day Comes (Timeless #1) by Gabrielle Meyer

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Rating: ★★★★★
Audience: Christian Historical Romance
Length: 384 pages
Author: Gabrielle Meyer
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: May 3rd, 2022
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

BOOK SUMMARY:

Libby has been given a powerful gift: to live one life in 1774 Colonial Williamsburg and the other in 1914 Gilded Age New York City. When she falls asleep in one life, she wakes up in the other without any time passing. On her twenty-first birthday, Libby must choose one path and forfeit the other–but how can she possibly decide when she has so much to lose?

EVERYONE WAS RIGHT.

This book made me STRESSED. And I don’t know why I sat on it for so long because it was worth all of the hype I remember seeing for it when it released. This took my avoidance towards time travel romances fly out the door because I loved the way this was written. It was easy to follow and easy to get wrapped up in the entire story.

I loved how there was just the right amount of twists and turns. There was intense moments and times I wanted to throw the book in rage (that good of kind of rage because the writing brings out all the feels). I could not stop listening and had to know what happened next. The romance with Henry was swoony and passionate. Libby was a formidable FMC and I loved her strength with things out of her control and relying on her faith and inner depths to get to the next day.

The ending was beautiful. I was begging the ending to work out as it did the whole book and I loved how it all came together!!

If you couldn’t tell, this is a, READ IT book from me. I can’t wait to read the next one!!

Overall audience notes:

  • Christian HIstorical Romance
  • Language: none
  • Romance: kisses
  • Violence: low-moderate
  • Trigger/Content Warnings: spousal abuse/rape (not graphically on page, but mentioned), pregnancy and childbirth, mentions of wars (Revolutionary/WW1), loss of life

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