Time and Again: Book 1 in the History Mystery Series

Once upon a time I used to read a lot of Christian fiction, I don’t anymore, for various reasons and I tend now to be extremely picky in what I do read. I’m fond of speculative fiction though, especially time travel books, so when I saw a Christian novel with time travel as a theme it caught my eye, and I decided to take the risk. As I discovered on closer inspection, this novel doesn’t actually feature time travel, more of a “time observation” or as the author puts it “time surfing”. But I was intrigued enough to give it a go anyway.

So what did I think? I have to say it was very different from anything I have ever read. I found Time and Again to be a very sweet story, with a gentle plot, a dash of speculation, some show more historical intrigue and a host of authentic and well developed characters.

Abby, the main character, is a sweet, though admittedly sheltered young Christian woman spending the summer tutoring Merrideth, an overweight neglected pre-teen falling behind in her school work. Merrideth is frosty to say the least at enduring a summer-long tutoring session with a stranger. She isn’t even intrigued by the old house that she and her mom have just moved into that seems to hold a number of secrets. Together Abby and Merrideth discover a window into the world of Charlotte, a young 19th woman, struggling with her own challenges in the years leading up to and during the American Civil War.

Characterisation is certainly Deborah Heal’s strong point, and the plot therefore is built around the characters (and there’s quite a little community of them), their relationships, development and growth. Perhaps this is the reason that I found the ending rather unexpected and abrupt. The plot did not follow the path of rising action, climax and denouement that I have come to expect, and so when the novel ended I was somewhat surprised that it was all over already. This simplicity of plot may bother some readers, but I overall I enjoyed a less intense storyline and more of a focus on some very likeable and genuine characters.

Were there any negatives? Just a few really. As likeable as Abby is, she really is so very sheltered, having never lived without air-conditioning and really having no clue about the issues Merrideth is dealing with. I was also a little shocked in the early parts of the story with the frequent remarks about Merrideth’s eating habits and weight issues. These may be a bit sensitive for readers dealing with their own similar issues. In places the novel became a little syrupy, and I found John, a young local teenager to be a little too good to be true. But for me, these were fairly minor quibbles that really didn’t impact on my enjoyment of Time and Again.
I would recommend Time and Again to young (and not so young) Christian women who enjoy reading historical or speculative fiction.

I received a free copy of Time and Again from the author for the purpose of review. I was not asked to give a positive review and my thoughts and observations on this novel are entirely my own. show less

Abby Thomas plans on being a teacher so she thinks tutoring an eleven year old girl would be the perfect summer project for college.She travels from Chicago to Miles Station to spend the summer with Merrideth, the girl whom she will be tutoring. Thing is Merrideth and her mother Pat only recently moved to Miles Station,because of divorce, inheriting an old house couldn't have come at a better time. Merrideth misses her father, and the last thing she wants is a tutor for the summer, and her attitude proves it. Abby is determined to reach Merrideth,and tries to come up with different ideas, when a computer program allows them to connect with the past, it just might be the thing to help Merrideth connect to her present and future.

I really show more loved this book!!! It was a greatastic story that pulled me in from the beginning pages. I loved the characters of the story. Merrideth was such a deep character, even though she was only eleven, she was really carrying around alot of pain.She missed her father,and really felt like it was her fault that her parents separated, and that her mom wasn't home. Although she hid these feelings well, instead coming off with an I don't care attitude.I loved watching her find her self worth as the story progressed. Abby was just what Merrideth needed, although in the beginning she really didn't think so. The secondary characters really added depth to the story, I could just picture young Michael, and Mrs Arnold was a bit eccentric but quite likable.It was so easy to become invested in Charlotte's life even though it took place over 150 years ago. I also enjoyed the relationship that started to develop with Abby and John,and hope we might see more of this in a future story.
While the characters really made an impression on me it was the plot that really grabbed my attention. I thought Ms. Heal did an amazing job of transitioning between the past and present,while weaving a bit of history into the story. What really made the story unique was how she brought the past to life via a computer program, or at least it seemed like a program in the beginning, but as the story progresses we see a more supernatural element taking place. The fact that Ms. Heal even takes the time to weave in some positive christian messages really takes this book to a whole different level. While this book is geared toward teens,I think that anyone who enjoys reading contemporary and historical fiction woven together will certainly enjoy this book. On a scale of one to five I would easily give this book a six! Highly recommended. show less

I love a read that has me thinking about it long after I've finished reading it. That is exactly what Deborah Heal's book, Time and Again did.

Abby is a college student who takes a job as a tutor and finds a troubled child, a challenge, and a strange computer program. Before either one realizes it, they are actually in the 1800s in the same house they are living in watching the mysteries unfold. I'm not one to give spoilers, so I'll stop there.

Ms. Heal's writing is entertaining. I will admit that it seemed a little slow at first, but despite that I couldn't put it down. There was something in the way it was written that kept me hooked. It was an easy read but one that hooked me early on. I couldn't put my finger on it until a day later show more when I realized that it was the characters and the history that did me in.

I loved Abby. She was real. She was not what the writer wanted to make as ideal or anything like that. Abby is a real college girl who is on her own and having to rely on her Christian upbringing to help her through the tough times she is now facing. The child, Merrideth, is a tough cookie but not too tough. She is so true to character. She is not over the top in either direction. I wanted to spank her and hug her at the same time. She was a brat and a half but so full of hurt. Abby used the perfect methods to reach her.

I can't forget to mention the history part of this. Ms. Heal pulls a ton of history into the story which really appealed to me. She uses history to teach lessons and explore the world around them. I honestly can't say too much without giving it away. You have to read the book to see what this amazing computer program does to take them back in time, literally.

If you like history, feel-good books, and Christian fiction, this is the book for you. Even if you just like one of these, give it a try. Ms. Heal's book is a must-read.

Note: This book was provided as part of a book tour with no expectation of a positive review. show less

This book has such a wonderful premise. If only we could really just hop on a computer and type in an address, a date, a time and then actually watch history. I really loved this idea. I loved how it kept going back & forth from the present time and the past.

Abby Thomas is in a small town in southern Illinois for the summer, tutoring a very resistant preteen named Merrideth, as part of her teaching degree program. Merrideth is defiant, her mother makes no real attempt at discipline, and the house, once beautiful, is now old, rickety, and has few modern conveniences.

But there's John Roberts, a handsome and really nice local guy, a spiffy new computer from Merrideth's absent, divorced, possibly drug-dealing father, and a computer program called Beautiful Houses that turns out to have some really interesting features.

Such as the ability to follow the life of Charlotte Miles, daughter of the owner, in 1858 when the house is a train stop on the Alton & Chicago Line. Abby and Merrideth finally show more connect over a shared interest in history, and a fascination with Charlotte, a new suitor named James McGuire, and his boss-Abraham Lincoln.

There are also other neighbors--a boy about Merrideth's age, an elderly woman who lives for gardening and is happy to share both plants and her memories, the local minister and his wife, in Abby and Merrideth's time. And both supporters of Lincoln, and entirely too many supporters of slavery, in southern Illinois, in 1858.

It's a well-told, absorbing story, with very good characters. Recommended.

I received a free copy of this audiobook from the narrator, and am reviewing it voluntarily. show less

When Abby got out of college with a teaching degree; the world was open to great possibilities. However, there was the summer to consider first and she had accepted a tutoring job in Miles Station, Illinois. Or what was left of it. Which wasn’t much.
The mother was a nice lady named Pat and then there was the child she had been hired to tutor – Merrideth. Heavy on the deth part. Merri was a very unhappy eleven-yr old who had just survived an unpleasant divorce and had been torn away from her only hero – dad. Determined to make her mother and all around her as unhappy as she was, Merri didn’t do anything. She didn’t wash her hair, she didn’t bathe and the one thing she excelled at was eating Kit Kats.
With a heart-felt sign show more and a prayed Abby begins. In a burst of guilt, Dad bought Merri a new computer and cell phone. The computer has all the games on it you can imagine, including one called Beautiful House. Beautiful House shows all sorts of lovely mansions from the area – including the “fixer-upper” Pam had purchased. One kick – it also shows the people who lived there and, if you click the right key you can go into their time and mingle unnoticed!
Using this as a tool, Abby teaches Merri math, reading, history and a myriad of other things. However, when the program stops and she calls Customer Support – nada.
The characters in this book were well done. Merri could have been either of my girls at that age; abby the well-meaning Christian tutor and Pam, the harried, overworked and underpaid mom who’s trying her best. The way Merri and Abby meld together was great and I want the program! show less

time-travel, historical-places-events

Excellent novel for history geeks especially those who are parents. The plot is cohesive and very interesting, and the characters are engaging and well portrayed.
The audio is narrated brilliantly by Michelle Babb who truly brings it all to life.