The Time Police don’t think twice about jumping to the past. But, this time, the past has come to them…
What connects a dead dinosaur in Wales with Romulus the founder of Rome, a plot to murder the Princes in the Tower and a shocking cover-up at TPHQ?
It sounds like a joke. It isn’t.
The Time Police are determined to find the answers, helped – and occasionally hindered – by a certain wayward member of St Mary’s and a recently reunited Team 236. Will they succeed before Time runs out?
And, as if all that wasn’t enough, something somewhere in the Timeline is wrong. Very, very wrong. What is the Time Map trying to tell them?
BOOK REVIEW
In this sixth Time Police book, a chilling and horrible secret from the past comes to light, and it will shock almost everyone, except the two who already knew. At the same time, a dead dinosaur has been found in Wales, and it’s no fossil. A team is assembled to find out why, and Commander Hay reluctantly turns to an expert who has actually seen dinosaurs in person, Madeline Maxwell, better known as Max from St. Mary’s, As for Team Weird, Matthew gets trapped in the time map, and Luke is still sorting out his feelings for Jane as they head to St. Mary’s to pick up Max. Wait until they discover who is behind the dinosaur appearances and what their plans are next!
Jodi Taylor is a genius at combining history, time travel, and hilarity with a big dose of sadness and tears. She will literally leave you laughing and crying in many different times and places. Max, the main character from The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, usually pops up in the supporting cast of the Time Police books, but this time she has a starring role, and you don’t want to miss it. As always, there are big revelations, and I was shocked more than once. The Princes in the Tower are mentioned in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, and they come up in this book as well, in a very disturbing way. There are bloody battles and a heart-touching moment, but the end will surprise everyone. As always with Jodi Taylor’s books, I’m sorry the story came to an end, and I can’t wait for the next one.
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher, Headline. My review is voluntary, and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jodi Taylor is a British author best known for her Chronicles of St. Mary’s series, which originated from her love of history and a self-published first novel, Just One Damned Thing After Another. Before becoming a full-time writer, Taylor had a long career in local government, working as a facilities manager for North Yorkshire Libraries. She retired in her early 60s to run a hotel in Turkey, where she started writing, and has since sold over a million books.
Early life and career: Born in Bristol, she worked for the North Yorkshire County Council for almost 20 years, including as a library facilities manager. She also spent time in the RAF.
Path to writing: After retiring, she moved to Turkey and, finding herself bored, decided to write a book at age 60. Her first novel, Just One Damned Thing After Another, was self-published online.
Publishing success: The book’s unexpected success led to a publishing deal with Accent Press, which was later followed by a contract with Headline Publishing Group.
Current status: As of 2024, Taylor lives in Gloucestershire. She is the author of several successful series, including the Chronicles of St. Mary’s, the Time Police series, and the supernatural thriller series featuring Elizabeth Cage.
Writing style: Her work is characterized by a blend of humor, history, and adventure. Taylor is known for engaging directly with her readers and attributes her success to them.
Top Ten Tuesday is sponsored by That Artsy Reader Girl. The topic this week is “Ten Ways That My Blogging Habits Have Changed.”
1. My Indie Spotlight feature started out as Self-Published Saturday back in 2021, and then it became Indie Weekend. I just recently changed it to Indie Spotlight because I am retired and I don’t need to wait until the weekend anymore. All of them have the same goal: To celebrate and share Indie books.
2. My first review was a Two-Star back in October 2020! Although I do post some bad reviews sometimes, I now usually use my blog to celebrate good books. The exceptions are when a book I didn’t like is really expensive and popular, and I want to warn people before they spend the money. John Grisham’s supposed sequel to The Firm comes to mind.
3. My graphics are way better. I started using Shutterstock a few years ago, and I think I provide more eye-catching posts now.
4. I change my blog background seasonally, but I started putting clocks in all of my background pictures in maybe 2022. That is a nod to my love of time-travel fiction.
5. I only had a little over 3,000 views in 2020. Now I am just about 100 views away from 100,000. That is despite having a down year last year due to moving, retirement, and Hurricane Helene.
6. I have had over 45,000 visitors to my blog since 2020. I’ll do a celebration post when I pass 50,000 visitors.
7. I was very focused on Netgalley reviews for a long time. Now I only have 12 books on my Netgalley shelf. A lot of my reviews now come from The Historical Novel Society and from Indie authors. I’m also about to embark on a “Reviewing the Classics” journey.
8. My logo has changed a lot. Thanks to Author Gail Meath for my latest, and best, logo.
9. I feel like my reviews are better written now. Reviewing for The Historical Novel Society has helped with that.
10. The best change is the friendships. I’ve made some very dear friends who I met via this blog.
I am so thankful for this blog, and the opportunity to share my thoughts with all of you, and that will never change.
How about you? How have your blogging habits changed?
It’s release day for The Miniaturist’s Assistant, which I reviewed for the May edition of Historical Novel’s Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society. The review is below, and the author graciously agreed to do a Q&A, so be sure to check that out as well!
BOOK REVIEW
In Charleston, South Carolina, in 2004, Gamble Vance is an expert at restoring miniature portraits. But there is one that she can’t forget—a woman with hazel eyes. Why does she look familiar? Then Gamble sees a young woman in Stoll’s Alley in old-fashioned dress. She appears to be a ghost, or a memory, and looks very much like the woman in the portrait. The woman even speaks to her. Gamble is impatient to share this with her best friend Tolliver. Tol is of the Geechee people, who believe in ghosts, and he will not think she is crazy.
In 1805, Daniel Petigru paints miniature portraits for Charleston’s wealthy. He is missing Gamble, who has left him and gone back to her time. She appeared in October 1804, brought home by his sister Honor, who announced she’s been seeing this woman in Stoll’s Alley since she was 12 years old. But the connections are deeper than all of them know, and Gamble is destined to come back.
This is a story with deep meaning and a message that some souls are meant to meet, regardless of where and when they happen to be. They must meet sometimes as part of their own fates—their own lives or deaths, and sometimes it is for reasons they cannot begin to understand. There do not seem to be fast rules of time travel in this novel. The rules are fluid and subject to change. The method of time travel appears to be a place, but also possibly a person. As the lives of those affected flow into each other, so do the rules and methods of time travel. The relationships—friends, lovers, siblings, parents, and children—are all well written and profoundly felt. This is an emotional and impactful novel. Highly recommended.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this book via The Historical Novel Society. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Katherine Scott Crawford is the award-winning author of The Miniaturist’s Assistant and Keowee Valley. A former backpacking guide, newspaper columnist, and recovering academic, she’d rather be in the woods with her dog than anywhere else. She enjoys curious people, adventure, and snow — and believes historical fiction the best way to time travel. An eleventh-generation Southerner, she lives with her family in the North Carolina mountains.
Q&A with Katherine Scott Crawford
Bonnie: Hi Katherine, and thanks so much for answering my questions today. Let’s go beyond the bio. Tell us something about yourself that we might not know from reading your bio.
Katherine: Thanks so much for having me here, Bonnie! Hmm, let’s see: I tend to be an open book, but something many people may not know about me is that I love to draw. My parents gifted me with art classes at the Greenville Art Museum in South Carolina (where I grew up) when I was very young—and it turned out to be a class filled mostly with adults. I loved it. I constantly sketch when I travel or am researching, in the notebooks I use, of the scene I’m looking at, a piece of historical clothing, a sword, etc. I’d love to find the time for art classes again one day.
Bonnie: The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a dual timeline novel. What were the challenges in writing dual timelines?
Katherine: I didn’t find too many challenges in moving from one voice to another with The Miniaturist’s Assistant, which may seem odd, as the 2004 chapters are told from Gamble’s (a 21st century woman’s) first-person perspective, and the 1804 chapters from Daniel’s (an early 19th century man’s) third-person perspective. Their voices, thankfully, came easily to me. What was trickier was figuring out how to braid the very distinct timelines, and time periods, in a way which not only would make sense to the reader, but also would hopefully feel seamless—meant to be. I wanted every authorial choice I made in the story to reflect its main premise: that time is fluid and porous. I hope it worked!
Bonnie: One of the main characters is a Miniaturist, of course. Describe the research you did in order to create his world and show the reader his art convincingly.
Katherine: I am a sucker for research. I’m an 11th generation South Carolinian with long ties to the Lowcountry and Charleston, and my first novel was set in the Revolutionary-era Carolinas, plus I’m a huge history dork—so luckily, I already had some historical knowledge about that time period in Charleston. But I knew very little about portrait miniatures. After I discovered the incredible Miniature Portraits exhibit at The Gibbes Museum in Charleston, and decided to base one of my characters on noted Charleston artist Charles Fraser, I found an “in” into the research. I researched heavily in online archives, onsite and online at The Gibbes, and was graciously connected to an expert in miniature portraits and art conservator who shared other resources and her own experiences with me.
Bonnie: This is really Part 2 of the previous question. Much of the unveiling of Daniel’s art was done through Gamble, an art conservator, 200 years later. Before you started the novel, were you familiar at all with art restoration, and how did you approach that research?
Katherine: I’d attended grad school at the College of Charleston, which has a historic preservation program, and was lucky to spend a summer studying Italian art and literature in my 20s, so I had a bit of general knowledge about art conservation just from being around those programs. I approached that research like the ex-academic I am: I dove in headfirst, read scholarly articles, graduate theses, and interviewed people on the topic. I figure, the more I learn, the better. Not all of it shows up in the novel, but because I have that knowledge, Gamble does. I think it makes a difference.
Bonnie: I’m a huge fan of time travel fiction, especially when it’s a historical fiction mashup. What made you decide to jump into this subgenre, and have you read other time travel fiction that inspired you?
Katherine: Honestly, I did not expect Gamble to time travel. When I began the story, I’d imagined a more linear dual-timeline, with the lines crossing in more traditional ways—maybe through discovered letters, etc. But Gamble is unlike any character I’ve written, and she was determined to go back.
I’m actually not a big reader of time travel fiction. But two historical novels I really love—as a writer and a reader both—utilize the device so well: Susanna Kearsley’s The Rose Garden, and Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. I guess this is to say that while I’m not a natural skeptic, I have to buy into the premise as a reader: it has to make sense on both a story and emotional level, and those novels lead us willingly headlong into an adventure we feel like we take ourselves.
Bonnie: Is this a standalone or will there be a Book 2?
Katherine: The Miniaturist’s Assistant is a standalone. (But never say never.) At present, I’m working on an entirely new historical novel.
Bonnie: I believe this is your second book, but the first book with Regal House. Can you tell the aspiring writers who read this blog something valuable you learned on your journey to get published?
Katherine: Yes, this is my second novel: my first, Keowee Valley, was published in 2012 by Bell Bridge Books, a small press based in Memphis, Tennessee. The Miniaturist’s Assistant is with Regal House Publishing, an independent literary press out of North Carolina. There were over a decade of years, two children, one graduate degree, many jobs, and lots of life lived in between.
My advice would be to remember that your writing journey is your journey, and no one else’s. Own it. All that matters is what it looks and feels like to you.
Bonnie: Katherine, thank you again! I truly enjoyed The Miniaturist’s Assistant.
PURCHASE LINK
Click on the image below to purchase the book on Amazon.
Award winning author Michael Gorton masterfully describes advanced scientific concepts intertwined in a deeply human narrative. The story follows Paula, a molecular biologist on the cusp of receiving a Nobel Prize, whose life is abruptly cut short by a tragic accident. Her close friend, Alex, has been developing groundbreaking technology capable of tunneling through spacetime. Driven by grief and determination, Alex embarks on a daring journey using this technology, leading then to a planet in Cassiopeia where they confront unforeseen challenges and emotions. Gorton’s narrative seamlessly blends elements of adventure, romance, and science fiction, inviting readers to explore profound questions about time, loss, and the lengths one might go to alter destiny. “Tachyon Tunnel” is a thought-provoking tale that challenges our understanding of reality and the human spirit.
TACHYON TUNNEL 2: THE DAKLIN EMPIRE
What if Time travel were possible, and Science Fiction is real? Time travel where humans have changed something has implications on the laws of physics. The ripple effect from inertia always catches up. Alex and the Tranquility team are aware of this when they discover the Daklin Empire that has ruled the Galaxy with an iron fist for over 50 million years without suffering a single defeat. As the Daklin take notice of Earth, the team must navigate the challenges of time’s inertia and the unintended consequences of altering history.
Tachyon Tunnel 2 explores how time travel might actually work within the laws of physics, and the implications of changing events in the past. The book combines science, adventure, romance, and the complexities of human decision-making in high-stakes situations. Part two of bestselling author Michael Gorton’s award-winning Tachyon Tunnel series will keep readers on the edge of their seats and is sure to become one of the best science fiction works of the year!
BOOK REVIEWS
Tachyon Tunnel 1
Alex is a genius who has invented a way to tunnel through time and space, with the help of a ship and his trusty AI, Emily. But when he learns his best friend Paula has died, he drops everything and uses this technology to rescue her. What happens next will strand them on another world and affect many people and civilizations.
This is a clever and science-forward novel with a genius method of time travel—tunneling through time. The author does a good job explaining the physics of it. In addition to the method, every author should also set rules of time travel that must be followed. In this book, the rules seem to be whatever science allows. However, there are actions that create paradoxes or have deadly consequences, so it could be that certain rules will be assigned as the series unfolds in order to avoid those situations.
There are also circumstances involving the use of DNA technology that are questionable and a bit unbelievable. Another situation occurred that I completely disagreed with, but it involves sacrificing individual rights for the possible safety of a civilization. These are the kind of choices one ends up making when manipulating time and changing events on entire worlds. The main characters, Alex and Paula, are easy to connect with, but the AI, Emily, steals the show. There is a twist at the end that I absolutely loved. I enjoyed this novel and was sometimes reminded of one of the masters of science fiction, Robert Heinlein. I look forward to Book 2.
Although I received a print copy from the author, I also downloaded the ebook on Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
TACHYON TUNNEL 2: THE DAKLIN EMPIRE
There is a fresh start in this second book of the series, and it goes in a new direction. New characters are introduced, as well as a new enemy, the Daklin, who will wipe out any civilization that opposes their total domination. But they haven’t found Earth yet. The race to stop the Daklin from finding Earth has Alex seeking out a reclusive group who may be able to help them.
In the first book, the rules of time travel were not necessarily made clear. I would say new rules have been introduced by the author in this book, as previous mistakes are discussed and not repeated. The new characters are strong and compelling, and the evil Daklin Empire lurks as a frightening spectre to avoid. The science of time travel provided is intriguing, and the author manages to make technical discussions entertaining. The book takes a dip into the paranormal as well as science fiction, but I hope it stays science-forward as the series progresses. There is some “telling” instead of “showing” early in this book, but I found it worked and helped the reader adjust to the new direction this series is heading.
The relationship between Alex and Paula is the deepest and most meaningful in the series, and I would like to see the series delve deeper into some of the other relationships as well.
The attempts to evade and stop the Daklin kept me glued to the story, and the addition of an evil empire adds new layers to the novel. Overall, Tachyon Tunnel 2 comes in strong. Having learned lessons from the events of the past, it charges forward in a new and interesting way.
Although I received a print copy from the author, I also purchased the ebook on Amazon. It is only 99 cents at present! See link below.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
(Excerpts from his website) Michael Gorton grew up as the “poor kid next door.” Because of great influence from his parents and four siblings, Michael reached for the stars. With virtually no money in his pocket, he went off to college and earned degrees in Physics, Engineering and Law—all while working full-time.
He is now best known as being a serial entrepreneur, but that title does not do him justice. With degrees in Physics, Engineering and Law, there is no limit to his curiosity. After working ten years as an engineer in corporate America, he founded 15 different companies, including Internet Global, Palo Duro Records, and Teladoc, now one of the world’s largest telemedicine companies. His forward-facing vision and expertise led him to being one of the pioneers of telemedicine and digital health, which is becoming a half-TRILLION-dollar industry. In 2022 he joined with Jay Sanders, “The Father of Telemedicine,” to write Digital Medical Home which details the harrowing tales of the history of telemedicine, something we all now take for granted. He is now working with several companies and medical doctors to develop pathways for integration of AI into medicine, with a goal of lowering costs of care and increasing access, all resulting in longer healthier lives.
An accomplished author, Michael has dabbled in both fiction and nonfiction, recently writing Tachyon Tunnel, a science fiction book series, and Calamistunity, The Secret to Success, a book on how to turn calamity and mistakes into opportunity. His first business book was Broken Handoff, an amalgamation of three decades as an entrepreneur developing companies. His novel, Forefathers & Founding Fathers, is based on the forgotten historical figures who ensured the triumph of democracy in the country that would become America.
Michael is now an in-demand speaker on the topics of innovation and entrepreneurial disruption and has delivered over 100 keynotes in the past two years alone. He has also won the prestigious Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award, was named a World Economic Forum Tech Pioneer, and a Future 50 Disruptor and more.
In his “spare” time, Michael is a runner, Second Degree Black Belt in Kenpo, and a mountain climber who has so far scaled the highest point of elevation in 43 states.
First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! I am a Mom too, and a Granny, and I know how challenging and rewarding it can be.
We just had an earthquake here yesterday! The folks in California will not even blink, but for us, in the mountains of Western North Carolina, it was very unusual. It was 4.1 on the Richter Scale, so mild in comparison, but if you don’t usually get one in your area, it’s eyebrow-raising. It shook the whole house, but there was no damage.
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG
I participated in Top Ten Tuesday, listing authors who have lived in North Carolina.
I will be reviewing the Tachyon Tunnel series by Michael Gorton on Monday. This is science-forward time travel, and as many of you know, I love time travel fiction.
On Tuesday, I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday, time permitting.
On Wednesday, I will be posting a review of The Miniaturist’s Assistant by Katherine Scott Crawford, as well as providing a Q&A with the author. This is another time travel book this week, but it’s more historical than science fiction.
ADDITIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
I updated my Review Requests page yesterday, so anyone interested in a review, please read the updated guidelines.
I’m changing the name of Indie Weekend to Indie Spotlight. Indie Spotlights used to be book promotion without a review, but now Indie Spotlight will focus on anything Indie, including book reviews. Since I’m retired now, I really don’t need to wait until the weekend to post Indie reviews. Click on the covers to see the books on Amazon.
BOOK HAUL
I got this widget from Tyndale House. Imagine Pride and Prejudice retold in an Appalachian setting! I can’t wait to read it.
An ARC from Shadow Mountain: This is historical fiction inspired by the life of Julia Child, including her time in the OSS, the precursor to the CIA.
Today’s Top Ten Tuesday topic is “Top Ten Favorite Book Quotes.” I have so many I decided to focus on just The Chronicles of St. Mary’s series by Jodi Taylor, which is full of funny and meaningful quotes. I ended up with 15 instead of 10, and there are SO MANY MORE to choose from. I really love this series. I only included the cover of the first book, as there are 14, plus short stories, in the series.
“Everyone needs rules. After all, how can you break what doesn’t exist? Rules give anarchy something to aim at” ― Jodi Taylor, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
“He was calm and soothing and had a reasonable explanation for everything. No woman should have to put up with that.” ― Jodi Taylor, Just One Damned Thing After Another
“The screaming redoubled. You put dinosaurs and people together, you always get screaming.” ― Jodi Taylor, Just One Damned Thing After Another
“Silence holds no fears for me. I never feel the urge to fill it as so many other people do.” ― Jodi Taylor, Just One Damned Thing After Another
“Exchange between Leon and Max: “I just want you to tell me you love me sometimes.” “Yes, you see I can’t do that.” He turned his head away. “I love you all the time.” ― Jodi Taylor, Just One Damned Thing After Another
“If this was one of those books, there would now be three pages of head-banging sex. The reality was that he pulled me close, whispered, ‘Mfhbnnntx,’ and I pulled his arm over me like a cover and muttered, ‘Trout,’ and that was pretty much it.” ― Jodi Taylor, Just One Damned Thing After Another
“Helen, in a white coat and stethoscope, effortlessly achieving the sort of discipline for which lesser women would require black leather and a hunting crop, indicated we should form a line. Being St Mary’s, we formed several clumps and a rhomboid.” ― Jodi Taylor, A Second Chance
“Dr Maxwell. Why are you wearing a red snake in my office?’ ‘Sorry, sir. Whose office should I be wearing it in?” ― Jodi Taylor, A Symphony of Echoes
“She said nothing in a manner that conveyed volumes. I said nothing in a manner that I hoped conveyed my complete innocence. She said nothing in a manner that conveyed her disbelief in my complete innocence. I said nothing in a manner that conveyed my hurt at this lack of trust in me. She said nothing in a manner that effortlessly conveyed the message that Dr Bairstow wished to see me at his earliest convenience and to collect Dr Peterson while I was at it.” ― Jodi Taylor, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?
“Mr Markham, the box marked “Sex” is not an invitation. Please amend the details and apologize to Mrs Partridge.” ― Jodi Taylor, Just One Damned Thing After Another
“I know the whole world isn’t really out to get me. I’m pretty sure Switzerland is neutral.” ― Jodi Taylor, A Second Chance
“Teenagers are inarticulate, acne-ridden lumps of inert matter. The only way you can ever induce movement is by trying to separate one from its mobile phone. And if you can do that, then the only way you can stop it attacking is with rhinoceros tranquilizer.” ― Jodi Taylor, Roman Holiday
“Oh, that’s easy. At street level, it’s Middle English. The clergy speak Latin. Your social superiors will speak Middle French. Remember that most words have a final e, which you should pronounce if the following word begins with a consonant. Except when that consonant is h, w, or y, of course. If the following word begins with a vowel, then that e is silent. Every letter in a word should be pronounced. If in any doubt, remember the ph in banana is always silent.” ― Jodi Taylor, A Trail Through Time
What an interesting topic! I went all the way back to childhood and thought about my reading habits, and what has changed. Starting with number one, my first favorite book series, I noticed something interesting. Starting with favorite books I read as a kid and working foward, I see a distinct pattern.
Encyclopedia Brown: I loved reading this series about the boy detective when I was a kid. I liked it much better than Nancy Drew.
Johnny Tremain: Fourteen-year-old Johnny Tremain, after an accident, eventually becomes a messenger for The Sons of Liberty and is involved in the events leading up to the American Revolution.
The Chronicles of Narnia: In this series, Lucy Pevensie walks through a magic wardrobe and finds a land of talking animals and a special Lion, Aslan.
Little House on the Prairie: Laura Ingalls recalls what it was like to grow up as a pioneer girl in the 19th Century.
A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: Meg Murray and her brother Charles Wallace search through time for their father, who disappeared while experimenting with time travel.
The Door Into Summer: Dan B. Davis loses everything, but finds a way to get it all back by going to the future.
The Ring by Danielle Steel: Historical romance set mostly during WWII. I loved this book in my twenties, but it is too simplistic for me now.
Harry Potter: I don’t need to describe this one. It’s fantasy at its finest with some of the best world-building I have ever seen.
and 10. The Chronicles of St. Mary’s and The Time Police: About ten years ago, I bought Jodi Taylor’s first book in the Chronicles of St. Mary’s series because it was about time travel and it was 99 cents. She had self-published at the time. Fast forward to the present, and Jodi is now a best-selling author with Headline books and has just published Book 15 of The Chronicles of St. Mary’s. I loved this series from the beginning and now I realize it’s because Taylor took time travel and combined it with historical fiction, both of which have been my favorites for a long time. She provides a history lesson in every book. She also adds a heavy dose of humor. The Time Police is a spinoff of the Chronicles, and Taylor continues her hilarious trips along the timeline.
Looking back, I can see that even from childhood I loved historical fiction and time travel, as well as fantasy, and I have continued that as an adult. I still read mysteries, but mostly historical mysteries. Not much has changed in my reading choices, except for the complexity of the books.
How about you? How have your reading habits changed over time?
I reviewed Books 2 and 3 of The Mender Trilogy for the May edition of Historical Novels Review, the magazine of The Historical Novel Society. See my reviews below, as well as a Q&A with the author.
Book 2: The Captive
This is book 2 of The Mender series. Eva is a time traveler, originally sent to this world to “correct its timeline.” In this installment, Eva has abandoned her original mission, set for March 1836, and is living with her new husband, Jim, among the Comanche. But while she tries to adapt to tribal life, she knows her old partner, Tophe, will be coming to complete her original task—kill Francisca Alavez, the “Angel of Goliad,” and change the result of the Texans’ war for Independence from Mexico.
This is a well-researched novel set mostly amid a Comanche tribe in 1835 and 1836. Marchman has done a good job of portraying the way the Comanche lived at that time. The customs, language, and practices of the tribe are very well described. Eva’s struggles include living in a polygamous society, dealing with the fact that women were mainly relegated to taking care of the home, and observing that captives were not always well treated. Her biggest challenge is knowing the possible future and not using her ability to change current events or remove herself from that time altogether. Her romance with Jim, who was raised by the Comanche and sees things very differently than she does, is complex and intriguing. Her ultimate decisions and the plans she makes set the stage for the final book in the trilogy. As always, the author is very honest about the brutality people can inflict on each other and the imperfect nature of every human being. Recommended to fans of time travel fiction, Native American history, and US history. This book is not a standalone, and the series should be read in order.
BOOK 3: The Guardian
This is the third book in the Mender Trilogy. Eva was a Mender, a fixer of time, for the cult Lux Libera, but she is now living in 1836 Texas with her husband Jim, a white man raised by the Comanche, and his tribe. She was originally sent back in time to change the course of history, but for months she has been waiting for her former partner, Tophe, to arrive. She sets out on a journey to intercept Tophe and convince him to abandon his mission. Meanwhile, in the midst of difficult circumstances, Jim finds himself joining the New Orleans Greys and fighting for the independence of Texas from Mexico.
This riveting series continues, as Eva tries to stop Tophe from killing the Angel of Goliad, Francisca Alavez, and changing history. The events leading up to Texas’s Declaration of Independence, in March 1836, are portrayed so vividly that the reader feels as if they are there. Eva’s friend, Pump, is an amazing character, and he continues his important role in this series as he helps her face the truth and expand her time-traveling abilities. The history in this third book is again so well researched, and the time-travel aspect adds many exciting possibilities. The author does an amazing job of combining historical fiction with touches of science fiction in a compelling way. Creative twists, engaging characters, and a fascinating story make this a great end to the trilogy. This book is not a standalone; it is recommended that the reader start with Book 1, The Mender.
Below please see my Q&A with Author Jennifer Marchman
I really enjoyed this series, especially your take on time travel and realistic descriptions of Comanche life. Thinking back on the series, what were your favorite scenes to write?
When Eva Creases the Horses in Book 2 was probably my favorite scene to write. It’s the scene I read aloud for audiences, and action scenes are really thrilling to create. While you’re writing, you’re really there, more so than when you are reading the work of another author. Honestly, I could probably list every action scene, or scene with heightened emotions, as my favorite to write. It’s the visceral experience of it. It’s almost too painful for me to reread my books now that they are published. I feel echoes of what I felt before, and there is a stab in my heart. But I think I most enjoyed writing Jim. I’m in love with him, frankly, and I liked discovering how he ticked; I liked making him laugh.
I knew almost nothing about the Comanche before reading your books, and now I feel I have a better understanding of their way of life in the 1830s and before. Was your goal to teach as well as tell a fascinating story? That’s what I feel you did here.
I wouldn’t say that teaching was my goal. Actually, I’d say that teaching wasn’t a goal at all. I think writing to educate is the quickest way to lose the story and bog the reader in details. But authenticity was a crucial goal for me, and educating the reader becomes a natural byproduct of that. All the details of a historical period need to serve a purpose in order to be included. When Eva creases the horses, it’s a compelling scene, but it’s not there just to include a cool factoid about being able to stun a horse with a precise bullet above the spine. It’s there because Jim is irrationally obsessed with his status among the People, and Eva’s ability to get him a new stallion in such an unusual way may help him regain his place.
My favorite historical fiction books are those rich in detail; I want to feel like I am inhabiting that time and space while I’m reading. And it’s got to be accurate, or you will lose me. That’s the experience I want for my readers. I want them to feel like they are there, that if they google something to see if it is true or visit the Comanche Museum in Lawton, OK, they’ll feel a familiarity. Even though my primary goal isn’t to educate, if I hear from a reader that I sent them off into rabbit holes of research *and* they came back excited to read more of my story, I take that as a huge compliment. I did something righ
Was the main character Eva’s personality based on anyone you know?
Ha! Me. But a better me. I think I grew stronger as a person as I wrote her. She makes the choices I would make, but I remember as I was writing her, I would think, “Man, she’s being such a doormat. What would someone who is not a doormat do?” I learned from her. She exposed me to myself in such a way that I could improve. We don’t get to edit our lives in real-time like we do when we write, but I gained some clarity about myself that, I hope, I have integrated into my current self.
Funnily enough, one of my later beta readers felt that she made “bad” decisions. I wish now that I had asked him which ones! But it was a rare chance to hear someone else’s unvarnished, impersonal opinion about someone (fictional, of course) who was so close to me as to be myself. I said to myself at the time, “Huh, interesting. Good to know. I don’t see her that way. I wonder why?” I didn’t judge her as making good or bad decisions, just natural ones.
My favorite character was Pump. Who is your favorite character in the series?
Oh, that’s a hard question. Which child is my favorite child? Pump is the only character I truly based on someone I know. He doesn’t know that he is Pump, and I will never tell him! I love Pump because he is that wise, compassionate father figure who really, really sees you, that you wish you had in your life — that I wish I had in my life! He’s not always right; he’s fallible in his own ways, but he’s seen a lot, and he can see through Eva, straight to her heart. What a blessing to have someone like that, even if only for a short time.But my favorite… I am very, very fond of Rʉtsima, but he feels like a good friend. As I said, I’m in love with Jim; Eva is close to my heart; Pump’s like my imaginary Dad. I can’t choose between the three; they feel like family.
Do you have any plans to include time travel in future books you are writing?
Yes, definitely. I created a multiverse where I can travel anywhere. Anywhen, anyhow! How could I pass that up? Pump’s origin story is swirling in the back of my mind. I also wonder what happened to Sakura and Enrique.
What is the one thing you would like readers to take away from this series?
That we’re all just human beings. That the Comanches weren’t bad, that the Anglos weren’t bad, that the Mexicans weren’t bad. That notions of good and bad (in such simplistic, black-and-white categorizations) are irrelevant and anti-helpful. They’re just not true. We’ve all been traumatized at some point by someone, but the flip of that coin is that we ourselves, at some point, have traumatized someone else, and often without even realizing it. We’re all walking around a bit blind and deaf, operating from scripts we inherited from our families, seeing the world through only one set of finite eyes.
Real love is unconditional. That’s not to say we stay in terminally unhealthy relationships, or that we have a license to act how we please with no regard for others, or that we don’t have to do our own homework of making amends and healing our own hearts so that we can love the person in front of us better. It means that real love is so much more than the notions of romantic love many people would define it as. I’ve never read a book where the main male protagonist has committed the acts Jim has committed and remains the love interest. I’m sure others must exist, but it’s rare enough to be uncommon. A romantic subplot of that nature is not really done, and though I have content warnings, I have gotten a bad review for it. Those scenes are not gratuitous, and I was open-eyed when I published them. They push the envelope precisely because I wanted to ask: What does real love look like? What does forgiveness look like? What does it mean to be a good person? Those are the themes I want people to ponder. I didn’t realize I was writing about those things until I was in the middle of the project (this trilogy kind of wrote itself), but that is what I want readers to take away from this series.
Thank you, Jennifer, for visiting us today.
Thanks so much, Bonnie! I really enjoyed answering your questions, and I’m so glad you enjoyed my books!
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It’s rare that I find a Time Travel book I don’t like. It’s my go-to genre, and when combined with historical fiction, my absolute favorite thing to read. Here is a list of my favorites that I recommend you check out. You can click on any cover for the Amazon link. I also put a movie recommendation in at the end.
The Door Into Summer by Robert Heinlein
This is actually my favorite time travel book ever. I have a couple of paperbacks plus the Kindle version, and even a copy on Ibooks just to make sure it’s always available. Does anyone else do that? This is the story of a man who loses everything and the way he goes about getting it back–and it features the greatest cat ever, Petronius the Arbiter, or Pete.
The Chronicles of St. Mary’s Series by Jodi Taylor (First Book: Just One Damned Thing After Another)
I am a serious Jodi Taylor fangirl and will drop everything when she has a new book out. The book above is the first in a series of 13 books so far, and there are also several short stories. This a combination of time travel and historical fiction about a group of time traveling historians. You will learn something new with every book. If you enjoy time travel fiction, you will adore these books as much as I do.
The Time Police Series by Jodi Taylor
Again, I’m a Jodi Taylor fangirl, and this is the spinoff series from Chronicles of St. Mary’s. Doing Time is Book 1, and there are three books total so far. The main characters in The Chronicles of St. Mary’s Series have a son, Matthew, and Matthew is one of three main characters in The Time Police Series. Matthew goes off to join the hated Time Police, much to the dismay of his mother, Max, head historian at St. Mary’s. He finds himself on Team Weird with Jane, who has run away from her nasty grandmother after accidentally destroying her stuffed seagull, and Luke, a rich playboy who is forced into the Time Police by his father. Their adventures will keep you laughing.
No Ordinary Thing by GZ Schmidt
This is a delightful YA Time Travel Fantasy about a young boy, Adam, living in 1999, who finds a magical snow globe that will take him through time. This is a fantastical read, and I love the snow globe idea!
The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Although there is one uncomfortable scene in the book, I really enjoyed it, and the movie starring Rachel McAdams. Librarian Henry DeTamble, inadvertently and against his will, travels through time, usually without his clothes. In his travels, he meets Claire Abshire, and a heartbreaking love story begins.
A Can’t Miss Time Travel Movie You May Not Have Seen
Surprisingly enough, Rachel McAdams has actually done TWO really good time travel movies–The Time Traveler’s Wife and About Time. If you haven’t heard of About Time, I recommend you check it out. Tim (played by Domhnall Gleeson of Harry Potter fame) is told by his father (played in an outstanding performance by Bill Nighe) that the men of their family have always been able to travel in time. They can only travel back to events in their own lives. Once Tim has confirmed this is true, his father advises him to decide how he is going to use this ability. After some thought, he decides he’s going to use it to find a girlfriend. This is so heartwarming and fantastic. It’s not science fiction or history this time. It’s all about family, and it’s funny, sad, and so, so good.
If you enjoy time travel fiction, comment below and let me know which books are your favorite!
I reviewed Man on the Isle of Jura for the May edition of Historical Novels Review magazine, the magazine of the Historical Novel Society. As the final part of the process, reviewers are given a list of books (with descriptions) to choose from. This one jumped out at me because: √Time Travel, √Historical Fiction √Magical Realism. Those who have been following this blog know that historical fiction with a time travel sub-genre is my favorite thing to read. Throw in magical realism and I am definitely hooked. My review is below. There is also a link at the bottom of the page to an interview (Q&A) of me on Tom Maremaa’s website. Check it out! This time he was the one asking the questions. I think you’ll enjoy it.
Christopher Reed is with his family in an SUV in California when a devastating earthquake hits. His wife and daughter are killed and Christopher plunges into the Pacific Ocean. However, before he knows it, he is drowning in the Atlantic ocean on the Isle of Jura outside of Scotland, 1948. The village Christopher arrives in on the Isle of Jura is like many villages may have been in 1948–except some of its inhabitants are telepathic and some can see the future. Jack Wilson, who rescues Christopher from the ocean, can do both. Jack soon joins Christopher on an important mission to make sure a world-changing book (George Orwell’s 1984) is published, despite operatives from another timeline trying to erase it from existence. This is the second book in the “Of Gods, Royals, and Superman” series. It can be read as a standalone.
This interesting book combines historical fiction with time travel and magical realism in a most unique way. The extrasensory abilities of the villagers, time portals in 1948, and mythical creatures all make sense in this extraordinary novel that reminds us of the importance of great literary works and the magnitude of their impact on history. The characters are well developed and the action flows from one fantastical event to another. Fans of literature, time travel and magical realism will enjoy this historical nod to an important novel.
I received a free copy of this book via Historical Novels Review Magazine. My opinions are my own.
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As always be sure and post a review if you decide to read this book. Reviews are so important to authors.
Tom Maremaa is the author of twelve novels, most recently Man on the Isle of Jura and Reynkaviik. His novel METAL HEADS from Kunati Books was nominated by the American Library Association (ALA) as one of the Notable Books of 2009. He has also authored short fiction, plays, and works of non-fiction. A graduate of Dartmouth College, he studied languages, literature and philosophy at the University of Zurich, Switzerland, and worked on his Ph.D in comparative literature at the University of California, Berkeley. He lives with his wife in Silicon Valley, California, and works as a software engineer in the Valley. He travels widely to learn about and understand as many cultures and languages as he can.
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