Reviewed by Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite

A Week and a Day by Hal Adkins is an intriguing time travel narrative that explores time, memory, love, and identity through the surreal journey of David Hamilton, a World War II fighter pilot who wakes up in a different time with no memory of how he got there. The story begins with David aboard an aircraft carrier during the Battle of Okinawa in 1945, where he experiences the chaos of war and the tragic loss of friends. After a catastrophic hit to his plane, he seemingly dies but then wakes up in 2019 Florida, in the body of a man named Derek Haynes, with no explanation for his sudden shift across time and space. As he struggles to find his way in this unfamiliar world, he must reckon with his past life, the loss of his family, and the strange feeling of being caught between worlds—neither alive in one nor entirely dead in the other.

Hal Adkins' story is gripping and hooked me from the very beginning. I enjoyed the compelling premise of waking up in a different era and being confused, a scenario that defies human imagination. The author uses this premise to create a conflict that drives the story forward. The characterization in A Week and a Day is stellar, and David is a complex, multilayered character, together with his wife and other supporting characters. The setting shifts from the war-torn Pacific aboard the USS Bennington to the modern landscapes of Florida, executed with great detail. The author writes about love and loss, themes ingeniously explored as David longs for his family and struggles to reconcile his identity. The story also delves into existential questions about fate, purpose, and the nature of reality. This book will delight readers with its intriguing characters, exquisite prose, and skillful plotting.

Reviewed by Evelyn Nan Gwartney for Readers' Favorite

Love Lost in Time by Cathie Dunn gifts the reader with a mystical kind of tale set in Carcassonne, a historical city in France. The plot shifts between two time periods: 973 AD and 2018 AD. In 2018, Maddie is a divorced woman who moves into her deceased mother’s house. An incredible discovery at the house links her to an ancient countess, Hilda, who lived in 973 AD. Maddie feels a bond with everything that is new for her: the house, a love interest, new friends, and a woman named Hilda. Mattie's bond with Hilda feels sincere. Because we get acquainted with Hilda in her ancient city and time, we feel endeared to her when she becomes the ghost. Justice was well deserved for her tormentor/killer. I liked that Maddie softened toward her mother, and she was able to understand her true heritage. I loved the joy she felt when she connected to some of her long lost relatives. It must have been a burden lifted.

Love Lost in Time is a historical and modern-day adventure for anyone who loves a ghost story. Hilda’s immortal state swayed me to embrace an unusual friendship with her. The split in time is intriguing for the contrast between the two different cultures, and I really enjoyed how the dialect of early AD and late AD embraced the two cultural differences between the old world and the new. The novel mainly focuses on the historical Carcassonne, whereas the contemporary Carcassonne sporadically offers the reader a break from the intriguing history of Carcassonne and its story of betrayal. When the two time periods come together, the author does a great job of making it feel like justice is done for Hilda and her family. The proper disposal of Hilda’s remains feels like closure, not only for Hilda and her family but for the reader as well. Love Lost in Time is a wonderful story of love and friendship in modern and ancient times.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

Perūn’s Hammer by Ian Heller is a pulse-pounding sci-fi thriller where history, journalism, and global politics collide. When Rich Penton, a lead reporter for the investigative show ‘RECON’, begins receiving impossible video footage of past events like the truth behind Amelia Earhart and the Tulsa Massacre, he’s intrigued. But when a video reveals a future asteroid strike on Chicago, the intrigue turns into a deadly chase involving assassins, military blackouts, and a global cover-up. As Rich and his team unravel who is sending the videos and why, it becomes clear that the sender is not human, and the fate of humanity may depend on their next move. Fast-paced, smart, and packed with conspiracy, Perūn’s Hammer is sci-fi for the age of misinformation.

Author Ian Heller has hit on a highly original concept for this brilliant sci-fi tale, and the premise gripped me from the first moment. Rich is a brilliant central figure as the focus of the action, and his quick reactions and deeply considered suspicions are narrated with close, emotive detail to draw readers into every shocking revelation. I also loved the historical examples that were chosen, as they highlight a wide variety of cultural and social issues. Heller weaves real history and future shocks very smoothly into an edge-of-your-seat ride with great pacing. The twists are also clever, cinematic, and crackling with tension for a plot that’s never dull but still has time to breathe, creating sci-fi with brains and bite but also a hero to be personally invested in by the startling and satisfying conclusion. A lot of depth and clever theming under the surface of the action and tension makes for a thought-provoking exploration of how truth, power, and technology collide. Overall, I would certainly recommend Perūn’s Hammer for fans of intelligently penned sci-fi that’s also totally addictive reading.

Reviewed by Jamie Michele for Readers' Favorite

The Timepiece Paradox by Kevin D Miller is book two in the Timepiece Series. In the first installment, Bodhi McMullin receives a timepiece from his dying grandmother, who reveals his true lineage and claims the watch allows time travel, claims Bodhi soon confirms as true. He encounters a transcendent love and difficult choices, ultimately embarking on a perilous journey to rescue his daughter Cassie from a time-traveling wormhole. In this installment, it is years later and Cassie visits her dad at Gram's beach house, where she finds a disturbing letter in Gram's diary. Using the timepiece to seek answers, she is unexpectedly transported to frightening, unknown places. Stranded in time and controlled by the relic, Cassie must discern what the piece's true nature is. The answers she uncovers, and whether or not she can see the journey's challenges through, could bring her back or leave her lost in time permanently.

Kevin D Miller does an excellent job of promptly ramping up the emotional conflict, getting readers immediately invested in the story. It should be noted that The Timepiece Paradox reads perfectly fine as a stand-alone, although beginning with book two robs a reader of the build-up through Bodhi's story provided in book one. The most important element in time-travel fiction, aside from its main plot, is its ability to effectively incorporate historical context and setting, transporting readers to different periods with both descriptions and authentic details. The standout for me is in Miller's portrayal of World War II-era Hawaii, including Pearl Harbor and wartime efforts, which completely grounds Cassie's moment in time within a real historical context. All of this ties into the heartbreaking sacrifices Cassie's lineage requires and those themes of destiny and free will are executed by Miller perfectly. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by Antoinette Wessels for Readers' Favorite

In Beneath the Lake: Lake Lanier Mysteries Book 1 by Casi McLean, Lacey Montgomery deeply mistrusts all men. When she catches her then-boyfriend, Cale, in the arms of another woman, her mistrust soars to new heights. In an impulsive move, she races away in a severe thunderstorm and crashes her car on an embankment near Lake Lanier. When a dark figure tries to pull her up from the crash site, Lacey is convinced it is a ghost or stalker. She pushes herself away from the figure and falls into the lake, waking up in 1949 in a little town called Sidney. When she is rescued by a handsome stranger named Bobby Reynolds, everything in her tells her not to trust him. Soon, feelings grew within Lacey, and she couldn’t lie to herself anymore. She was falling in love with this stranger from a different era. But will their love be able to survive the uncertainties of her going back to her own time?

Embark on a unique journey through time and love with Casi McLean’s Beneath the Lake: Lake Lanier Mysteries Book 1. This novel offers a rare blend of mystical time travel and old-fashioned romance, set against the captivating backdrop of the 1950s. Prepare to be transported to a different era, all while being enthralled by the intriguing storyline. I don’t believe there is a romantic soul on this planet who hasn’t dreamed about the possibility of time travel and the thrill of falling in love with a handsome stranger from another era. Casi McLean makes this fantasy a reality. The character development is fantastic. The main character, Lacey, develops the most of all the characters. She changes from a mistrusting young woman to someone ready to change the world. The backdrop of the 1950s adds to the intrigue, making readers yearn for a bygone era. I highly recommend that any romance lover who loves mystery and time traveling should give this novel a try; they won’t be disappointed.

Reviewed by Frank Mutuma for Readers' Favorite

Things take a drastic turn for James when Elena steals the timepiece and his grandmother's diary from him out of desperation to save her sons. He had trusted her, and she betrayed him. On the positive side, she had left information about the hourglass. Could it help him get back to Cassandra? James had received something peculiar from his grandmother on her deathbed: the timepiece and her diary, which he discovered later. Her only hope is that the device gets back to its rightful owners. Diane Cross doesn't want it back because of the curse she believes it possesses. Is time travel possible? And can James use the device to positively influence events? To find out, get a copy of The Timepiece Legacy by Kevin D. Miller.

The Timepiece Legacy by Kevin D. Miller is wonderfully written and uses a unique approach to time travel. Unlike most books in this genre that are riddled with too much jargon, it's not too technical and uses easy-to-understand language that makes it accessible to all kinds of readers. Kevin also used suspense to great effect, and the twists and turns in the flawlessly flowing plotline kept me on the edge of my seat. The characters are well-developed, and the vivid descriptions of events and places help to create a mental picture of what is happening. The fast-paced narration kept me on my toes, and I was always looking forward to the subsequent chapters. I cannot wait to read something else by this talented author.

Reviewed by Alma Boucher for Readers' Favorite

In Dreams, We Fly is a captivating time-travel thriller by Juliet Rose. Following the death of her mother, Sitka experienced life-altering events that changed her life. Sitka moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, to live with her Aunt Leigh and cousin. Sitka ran into a cabin to escape after witnessing a body being dumped, and it was there that she met Davis. Davis guided her into a tunnel beneath the cabin, and when the men arrived at the cabin, searching for her, she was propelled fifty years into the past. Setting off on a time travel adventure, Sitka fearlessly changed the path of events, sparing the life of a young girl, and struggling with a heavy secret that troubled her conscience. But before Sitka can return home, she must find out why she went back to the past.

In Dreams, We Fly is a thrilling journey as Sitka ventures through time. Juliet Rose handled the subject of racism with tact while fusing aspects of grief, mystery, adventure, and self-discovery. The suspense kept me on the edge of my seat, eagerly turning the pages. With all the twists and turns, I could not wait to discover the secrets and surprises that awaited Sitka and Davis. The characters were genuine and well-developed. Sitka was welcomed with open arms into her aunt's family, and I felt bad for her since she could not comprehend why some people were prejudiced. I liked how Sitka developed and changed from a bereaved daughter to a heroic time traveler. The transition between the past and present was done skillfully, and the story was easy to read.

Reviewed by Sarah Pierzchala for Readers' Favorite

Western Lights by C.P. Schaefer opens with young Ethan Sites, of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in the Alaskan wilderness investigating mysterious and disturbing anomalies in Earth's magnetic fields. Elsewhere, bush pilot and seasonal fisherman Mason Hahn does a good deed in helping Sara Gathers, a marine biologist also employed by NOAA, rescue a pod of beached whales. Since Sara's mother also happens to be the director of that same government agency, the team of young scientists has a direct connection to Washington, D.C. and the military. These resources are vital as they look further into the strange behavior of local wildlife, the magnetic anomalies, increased methane leakage, and the connections between these phenomena to solar activity. As the power grid fails throughout much of the United States, authorities scramble to reassure the public, even while the information the scientists in the field gather becomes more apocalyptic. When Sara, Mason, and Ethan get close to one of the magnetic anomalies, they find themselves trapped and separated from the world at large. Can they get a message to the future in time to make a difference?

Western Lights is a highly entertaining blend of hard science fiction, fantasy, and page-turning, fast-paced adventure. As Sara and her friends face ever more daunting obstacles, they use their wits and technical skills to adapt. C.P. Schaefer creates drama and tension with virtually no violent conflict or "good vs. evil" tropes. There are no real villains here other than the forces of nature. Sara stands out as a young woman learning hard truths about her world and her responsibilities while challenging herself to always do what's right in the face of incredible hazards. The romance with Mason is kept believable yet discreet. By the story's end, Sara's relationship with her mother, due to major twists in the plot, has become both complex and touching. Generally, the hard science aspects are integrated very smoothly into the action-packed plot, creating an entertaining and immersive novel with lots of exciting twists and rising stakes that kept me eagerly turning the pages. The conclusion leaves the door open for a sequel with a few unresolved plot threads, but, overall, it's a satisfying ending that leaves the reader confident this team of scientists and successful businessmen will eventually create a powerful coalition to help make the future a better place for all. Recommended to fans of both thrillers and hard science action tales.

Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite

Times of Turmoil is the second installment in Anna Belfrage's The Time Locket series, following The Whirlpools of Time. The series begins with Duncan Melville in 1715, searching for companionship after his father's death. However, he unexpectedly time-travels to 2016, where he meets Erin Barnes, and their bond grows as they navigate perilous adventures in both time periods. In this sequel, Duncan and Erin work to establish a peaceful life with their twin daughters but face relentless foes, including the vengeful Armand Joseph Chardon and his sons. Erin's confrontation with child abuse adds to their troubles, while Duncan's cousin seeks refuge, Nicholas Farrell reappears, and Erin's vulnerability as a woman of color in a dangerous era further complicates their existence.

As a person of color the standout of Anna Belfrage's series, and Times of Turmoil in particular, is the struggle of Erin and the radical shift of 300 years that, sadly, shows how little things have changed. As a father, I am always on the lookout for books with characters my daughters can see themselves represented in, and Belfrage gives this to us, wrapped up in a supremely engrossing time travel epic. There is a line where Duncan says, “This is what a white man considers is his right to subject a coloured woman to.” It's beautiful and disheartening all at once. The plot itself is dynamic and fast-paced, with unexpected twists and turns. The use of ruses and strategies amplifies this, and all of the characters are multi-dimensional, with their own motivations and flaws. Belfrage's writing is able to evoke strong emotions of empathy, anger, and hope, and this follow-up in the Time Locket series is a solid, worthy read. Very highly recommended.

Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite

The Outlaw Gillis Kerg by Mike Murphey is a work in the time travel, surrealist, and adventure subgenres and forms the fourth novel in the Physics, Lust and Greed series. It is best suited to mature readers for its adult humor and references. In this amusing, witty, and full-throttle science fiction adventure, we are embroiled in dangerous AI companions, murderous plots to kill prominent legal figures, and a dangerously stupid political campaign. To top it all off, the central protagonist and former time traveler Marta Hamilton has inadvertently caused the creation of a cult hell-bent on revenge against her.

Mike Murphey is a socially sharp writer who knows how to repeatedly hit the funny button on issues that we might all have a lot of trepidation and exasperation about today. There’s wit all over this novel, from the intricate narrative surrounding the characters to the plot line's worryingly familiar campaigning and dirty politics. Still, it shone through most in the slick dialogue that genuinely made me laugh out loud several times. There’s a comic timing to what Murphey does that draws you in, smiling along with the moments you think you recognize until a newly surreal incursion causes the other shoe to drop, and suddenly you’re in on a joke you didn’t even know was building. In addition, the character development keeps things somewhat grounded so that you’re never too lost in the absurdity of it all. Overall, I’d say that The Outlaw Gillis Kerg is a wonderfully well-balanced novel packed with satire, adventure, and humor galore.