Reviewed by Keith Mbuya for Readers' Favorite

One can only take so many blows from life and Professor Vincent Abajian, the Director of the Center of Inventive Studies, knew this better than anyone. It was in the late fall of 1991 when it happened. A young Vincent listened to his headmaster, Mr. Kruger, as he explained that Akane Egami, Vincent’s best friend and the only family he knew, had been consumed by time turbulence. It was on this same day that Vincent knew he had supernatural abilities. Close to three decades later, still crippled with the pain from the uncertainty of ever seeing his best friend, Vincent loses his wife Elise to an alleged plane crash. Perhaps fate had sworn to forever take away the people Vincent loved, and that would explain a lot since he had been an orphan from a very young age. However, Vincent finds love in his research center’s newest employee Emika Amari, and cannot help but notice how alike Emika is to Akane. Could Emika be Akane? Vincent meets Mr. Philip Nardin, a tech enthusiast who is experienced in time turbulence. How will Nardin’s knowledge of time travel affect Vincent and Emika? Or perhaps, how do Vincent’s special abilities affect his and Emika’s lives? Find out more about Vincent and Emika in Avi Datta’s The Winding.

Do you love engaging your mind in an intellectually stimulating read? A story that pleasantly teases your ability to grasp and perceive information with every flip of the page? A story that is packed with adventure and amazing action? Are you a science fiction enthusiast? You definitely don’t want to miss out on Avi Datta’s The Winding if your answer is yes. I cannot applaud Avi Datta’s work enough in this book. The Winding is a masterpiece, so far the best science fiction book I’ve ever read. With a gripping and engrossing plot, Avi Datta adopts a complex style of writing, presenting his thoughts and ideas through random flashbacks and digging back and forth into the story. I loved how this worked in progressing the storyline and exposing Avi Datta’s ingenious plot. His long and twisted sentences are appropriately loaded with a great choice of vocabulary. This served to expand my knowledge in the main themes of the book which are technology, science, and legal affairs. I met wonderfully developed characters in The Winding. Vincent, the protagonist, was my best character. His genius mind was among the things I loved most about him. Avi Datta gives very clear and vivid depictions of his scenes and characters. Reading The Winding felt like watching a great movie. He accompanied this with a great sense of humor and I just loved it. It only gets better because The Winding is the first installment in Avi Datta’s The Corrector series. I can’t wait to experience more of Avi Datta’s work. He is undoubtedly a very gifted author. The Winding is a magnificent piece of work.

Reviewed by Manik Chaturmutha for Readers' Favorite

Leah Busboom's Forever You is the twelfth book in the Connor Brother series. Laci Vandervolt is a famous country singer who travels in time from 2021 to 1855 when a storm rolls her out from her concert. Laci needs to deal with this perplexing situation and adapt to her 1855 life. There she meets Mathew Peterson. Over time, they develop a connection and fall in love. But Laci is unhappy and longs to return to her original life. She thinks that life in the 1800s is too complex, and she cannot survive it. Mathew senses her unhappiness and decides to help her return to the future. Forever You is the story of Laci traveling in time and that of Mathew, who breaks all the chains of time to reach out to his love.

Forever You is a touching time travel romance. The world setting in the 1850s was well crafted. Minor details like the food, clothing and inconveniences added authenticity to the story and made it easy to imagine. The instance where Mathew and Laci meet each other was hilarious. Their frustration was visible in the dialogues as it provided a touch that aligns with the overall plot. Glints of humor have been dropped in throughout the book and made it an absolute page-turner. Though Mathew and Laci's unexpressed love was sometimes frustrating, it was also powerful and helped me connect with their romance. Leah Busboom has beautifully expressed the emotions and made the story painfully beautiful. Also, the fact that Laci adapts to her surroundings and is eager to learn how to work through the chores is fascinating as it shows that she won't live as a burden. All-inclusive, Forever You is a perfect blend of historical and contemporary romance. It embarks on a glorious journey and keeps the reader's curiosity piqued. I would definitely recommend it to readers who love emotional romance novels and are fascinated by time travel stories.

Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite

Imagine going through a normal day in 2017 and then walking out of an elevator into an alternate reality in England in the year 1925. Sound bizarre? What’s worse is that this alternate time and place is involved in a bloody revolution and, if the portal can’t be found and a reverse journey secured, who knows what will happen. This is what happened to Sophie and the other people she meets in this alternate time and place. She manages to make friends, and enemies and she has to fight to save not only herself but those she cares about – all while wearing a tightly corseted gown. And then there’s the love element: Hugo, another portal-stranded refugee. Only Hugo doesn’t appear to share Sophie’s affection. At least, not yet.

Rosalind Tate’s novel, Escape: A Time Travel Romance, is the second book in The Shorten Chronicles. Following the adventures of Sophie as she stumbles through time and place to an alternate existence, the plot develops with riveting adventure and excitement through battles and romantic encounters. The author uses a descriptive narrative to effectively set the scene and make the reader feel part of the story. The dialogue is succinct and well constructed and the characters are well defined. This is a compelling, engaging story that will have the reader hooked from the first line. It works as a good stand-alone, not requiring details from the first book in the series to follow the plot. A good comfort read full of everything a fantasy romance reader expects and enjoys.

Reviewed by Vincent Dublado for Readers' Favorite

Stories about aliens and how they are secretly walking among us continue to hold a special place in our imagination. It Gives You Strength by Philip Raymond Brown is one such story, and it offers more. Welcome to the 1920s, where hooliganism is rife along with turf wars, speakeasies, and battles for black market businesses, most notably bootlegging. Ryan Costello is an alcoholic bootlegger and a former veteran of World War 1. A near decade of alcohol abuse has made his body emaciated and much older than what a twenty-six-year-old physique should be. The bottle had taken his life, and moments before he received his last rites in preparation for his passage to the great beyond, he now sits up straight in bed, with his eyes open, apparently staring up to heaven. But Costello is no longer what he used to be. He has been re-animated and his corporeal self is being used as a vessel by an alien anthropologist named Tashan Zho, who is on a mission to rescue the crown princess of their surviving race. But the life that Costello had once lived will put Zho in harm’s way.

The Day the Earth Stood Still meets The Untouchables in this searing sci-fi tale against the backdrop of one of the most turbulent periods in American history. Tashan Zho may be an alien in disguise, but the human skin he occupies overrides his alien nature and he becomes relatable and perfectly fits into the time where he has been transported. Philip Raymond Brown touches more on the human aspect of the plot rather than depending on the elements of high-tech gadgetry and jargon to elevate the conflict. The socio-political condition of the 20s is captured well, and it adds a strong sense of realism to the narrative. The writing craftsmanship here is top-notch. Brown’s skill at showing and not telling adds further dimension in ways that will astound you. It Gives You Strength is definitely a reading experience worth the journey.

Reviewed by Hayley Haun for Readers' Favorite

In Hide in Time by Anna Faversham, Laura Yager is not who she seems, or rather, from where. Laura is shipwrecked in the 21st century—literally. Romance is on her side, despite the spurned fiancé she left behind in 1814. Matt Redfern is there for her from day one of her new life in the modern age. He never questions why she showed up when she did or how, but it's clear there is much more to it than meets the eye. Five years later, Xandra Radcliffe falls into Laura’s life and falls out just as quickly, changing the dynamic forever. A writer and lover of the past, Xandra finds herself in a bit of trouble. After she helps stop a robbery, a gang puts a hit on her. There is nowhere left to run except back to 1814 and into the arms of Laura’s ex-fiancé, Adam Leigh-Fox.

Looking for the classic dashing gentlemen, roguish highwaymen, damsels, and heroines? Look no further than Hide in Time by Anna Faversham. Hide in Time resonates with readers who feel out of time, who need a little fantasy in their lives to get through the day. Faversham’s writing is clear and straightforward. No fluff required. Transitions are quick and painless as readers traverse from the Georgian to the modern eras. In addition to one woman traveling back, another travels forward. Both points of view add to the novel as a whole. Without one, you would not have a complete story. It is imperative that characters make a book, and Faversham’s do just that. One woman’s past is another woman’s future. Everything comes together in one neat bundle. No one likes to have a story finish without closure!

Reviewed by Ruffina Oserio for Readers' Favorite

What happens when two people from two different timelines meet and fall in love? The Whirlpools of Time by Anna Belfrage offers a surprising answer to this question and transports readers on a romantic ride to strong moments in history. Duncan Melville’s life in 1715 is successful but lonely. When he finds himself unwittingly transported to 2016, he is stunned as he struggles to make sense of this new world. But everything changes when he meets Erin Barnes and risks his life to save hers. The attraction between them is mutual, even if Erin has no plans of getting into anything deeper than friendship with the strangely dressed man. When they are thrust back to 1715, they find themselves enmeshed in an adventure to find Duncan’s uncle, crossing an unforgiving Scottish landscape in a world on the brink of war. Can they locate Duncan’s uncle and can Erin find the portal back to the future?

Anna Belfrage’s story is captivating and is one of the most original stories I have read that combines elements of time travel, romance, adventure, and history to build an exciting world for readers to navigate. She writes in beautiful, mostly descriptive prose that captures strong moments in the plot, the emotions of the characters, and the elements of the setting with forensic accuracy. The contrast between the worlds of Erin and Duncan is intelligently written; one is a historical setting and the other features a modern world ruled by technology and the media. The story is accomplished and affecting, tightly plotted, and the writing flows gracefully. The Whirlpools of Time is character-driven and the author’s careful and detailed execution of the setting adds a deeper layer of richness to an already superbly entertaining romance. It features strong plot points and a robust conflict; it is an utterly satisfying read with an unexpected denouement.

Reviewed by Deborah Lloyd for Readers' Favorite

Tom Brookes had to return to his mother’s home in Stoatsfield, located in the Cotswolds. It was July 2020, and he was on furlough from his job at a travel agency, due to the coronavirus. In July 1982, Beth Sawyer who lived in East Sussex was juggling a new acting role and the ending of a love relationship. How these two meet and how they cope with time travel occurrences comprises the main plot of this intriguing book. Author Jan Turk Petrie has penned a fascinating tale in Running Behind Time. Unlike many time travel stories where the characters move between several centuries, this one only spans thirty-eight years. Yet, the many differences between the eras, such as personal computers, cellphones, and even British currency are amazing to ponder. This is exacerbated even more by cultural changes due to the pandemic.

Another feature of the plot is the mysterious aspects related to the time travel happenings. Tom sees the same people in both eras, and they often seem curiously strange. Relationships between the main characters also captivate the reader. Tom’s relationship with his mother is both strained and positive; she has never been forthcoming with information about his father. The relationship that grows between Tom and Beth, who were born decades apart, has many complexities. The author writes in a clear and concise manner, tying all these components together in an adventurous read. Running Behind Time, written by Jan Turk Petrie, is an entertaining, thrilling book – don’t miss it!

Reviewed by Tammy Ruggles for Readers' Favorite

Stranded: The Shorten Chronicles Book 1 by Rosalind Tate is a delightfully entertaining YA time travel novel that will leave you longing for Book 2. Thanks to time travel, twenty-first century Sophie Arundel finds herself stuck in a manor in 1925 England, along with her loyal dog Charlotte, and Hugo, an irritating but appealing classmate. This fish-out-of-water story is so easy to fall in love with. You have Sophie trying to get used to the cumbersome clothing, and discourteous gentlemen callers, while trying to find the secret portal that will return her home. Together, she and Hugo try to discover the portal and solve its mysteries, but find that history is happening in a very different way, where mobs run things and a dangerous revolution is about to take place. Being in a fancy house puts them at risk. The clock is ticking for Sophie and Hugo, and you will be on the edge of your seat, hoping they get back home alive.

Come for the premise, stay for the writing. This unique time travel romance novel is charming and suspenseful and would be perfect for film or television. Tate has a talent for sweeping you into a world you can believe in, with characters brimming with personality, quirks, and conflict. The author skillfully steers the characters and the reader through the plot with ease. Though time travel and romance certainly aren't new themes, Tate makes them feel fresh and alive. The crux of the story doesn't happen all at the beginning. We are given time and space to get to know Sophie and the other characters, and then, once she is stranded, you really care about what happens to her. I really admired the author's attention to detail, which lends realism to all that is going on, further grounding the story in a convincing way. Also entertaining is the way impulsive Sophie has to adjust to living in the strict customs of past society. This contrast was a perfect choice by the author. In short, you will be enchanted and thoroughly swept into Stranded: The Shorten Chronicles Book 1 by Rosalind Tate.

Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite

“The devastation of my mom’s death split my universe into two time periods: before she died and after.” In The Reckoning (A Time Travel Thriller) by D.M. Taylor, physicist Taden Barrett and her team successfully find a way to time travel. Leaders of the Patriot Party waste no time and order them to use time travel for the military to eliminate a terrorist group that calls themselves The Reckoning, reclaim several states that have been taken over, and save the United States. Taden, however, has a personal mission of her own: to reconcile with the night her mom died two decades ago. An unexpected betrayal threatens to hasten the downfall of her country and deconstruct her family's past. Despite having time travel as a powerful instrument, the obstacles prove trickier than she anticipated, and she must correct everything before it's too late.

Time travel gives this thriller a solid premise constructed through an engaging plot. It’s fascinating how some events, which seem irrelevant at first, connect and become significant when time travel is involved. Taden, as brilliant as she is, struggles with her inner conflict due to her personal relationship and her fixation on mending her past involving her late mother. When disaster strikes, it is easy to empathize and root for her to fight back and regain her confidence. Her sister, Ruth, already proves to be a survivor of hardship. Following her journey to avoid the Reckoners and get to Taden is nerve-racking and impressive. With an engaging narrative, the characters' goals - self-imposed or otherwise - give momentum to the plot's pace. D.M. Taylor's The Reckoning is eerie in regards to the safety of a country and the powerful impact of time travel with a solid warning: some things can never be changed for a reason. A thought-provoking and entertaining read.

Reviewed by Ankita Shukla for Readers' Favorite

You Cannot Mess This Up by Amy Weinland Daughters is an emotional ride into the past. For some reason, the universe thought that Amy Daughters, a forty-six-year-old woman, must return to her past. As a result, Amy found herself in the year 1978, when she was only ten years old. If she were an invisible observer, the circumstances would have been less awkward. Instead, as per her time travel guide, her parents would think of Amy as their distant cousin. The journey from 2014 to 1978 rewarded her with a chance to meet the younger version of her parents, her ten-year-old self, and her dead grandparents.

You Cannot Mess This Up: A True Story That Never Happened by Amy Weinland Daughters does not exaggerate the effect of time travel. There were no huge issues to be resolved, yet Amy's journey back to the year 1978 changed her perspective on several things. In fact, the book implores us to realize that our memories don't always hold the full picture. We remember only the parts that our brain lets us remember. As a ten-year-old, she could not comprehend how her actions affected her parents. However, as a forty-six-year-old, she realized she was not an easy child. Yet, she knew little Amy was not at fault. The plot moves slowly, yet gracefully, and enlightens readers in the process. The cultural and technological differences between the years 2014 and 1978 are quite eye-opening. Amy Weinland Daughters has included enough drunken conversations and mandatory conflicts in the family to keep the entertainment quotient high. Overall, You Cannot Mess This Up is a must-read story to get a positive perspective on the past.