Once in Every Life

I don't like time travel books. They always seem unrealistic in obvious "break my suspension of disbelief" ways. This book, though, seems to pull of the concept fairly well. Yes, the time travel is couched as reincarnation; but it's still time travel. The main character is in no way prepared for being dropped 120 years in the past. The only strange bit is the weird way the author tries to maintain the tension in the story.

**This was an advanced reader copy won through the LibraryThing Early Reviewers program.**

Tess Gregory is a young, deaf, brilliant, cancer researcher in the present time. She is killed in an accident and gets a second chance at life, love, and a family in post-Civil War Washington on a sheep farm as Amarylis Rafferty, a woman who dies in childbirth. Amarylis was very vindictive and had a terrible relationship with her husband and children-so much so that they were afraid of her. Tess has to figure out how to change this to achieve the love, family and friends she has always wanted. She is married to Jackson Rafferty, a Civil War soldier who has PTSD due to his war experiences. Children are Savannah, Katie, and Caleb (the new baby).

This was a light holiday read for those who enjoy romantic, historical fiction. I liked Tess and how she helped bring a father and his children together to create a family, but I quickly became tired of Jack's martyred disposition and his sense of self-loathing. Whilst an easy read, "Once in Every Life" was not one of the author's best offerings.

My very first Kristin Hannah but not my last! This is an exquisite story of a 20th century woman who dies and has a chance to come back to life when her guardian angel Carol lets her pick one man from many. So our heroine winds up in 1873 San Juan Island, married to wounded-spirit Jack and mother to his two emotionally needy daughters. She soon finds that as "Amarylis", Jack's wife, she is universally despised and so goes the story - a voyage of love, family, redemption, second chances.

I wish I hadn't wasted my time reading the whole thing. The plot was entirely predictable. And the writing suffered from many continuity failures. They niggled. Where the heck was the editor?

Tess Gregory is about to get her wish, but not in any way that she imagined.
Jackson Rafferty is about to get his wish, but not in any way that he imagined.
Two people have gotten to places in their lives with the same thing missing and together they will make each other whole.

Kristin Hannah weaves a magical tale through an actual true story. Although Tess and Jackson did not truly exist and their circumstances did not happen, there are many parts of the Mrs. Hannah's story that did happen.

I am an avid Kristin Hannah reader and I have almost covered all of her works thus far. I can tell by the writing style that this was one of her earlier books. I have never been a "harlequin" romance type of woman and this book does bear quite a show more resemblance. If you don't like to read the detailed love scenes there are parts of this book that aren't for you. If you would rather not have profanity in the books you read than it may not be for you either. The book could have had the ability to appeal to another audience and maybe a larger one if the things mentioned above would have been toned down.

At any rate, Kristin Hannah is a first rate story teller in my eyes and as long as she continues to write, I will continue to read. show less

Such an easy interesting ready this one is!! This was based on actual events that took place on San Juan Island in 1873. Taken from Memoirs of the Author's Husband's Great Aunt Delilah "Lila" Hannah. Names were changed and she played slightly with the timing of events. However I think it turned out beautifully written!!

It starts out in 1873 where Jackson Beaureguard Rafferty is contemplating killing himself because he is in loveless marriage with 2 beautiful girls and a baby on the way. His wife Amarylis genuinely despises him which you will find out why later in the story.

Then we move on to 1993 where Tess Gregory is a deaf microbiologist trying to find the cure for cancer. Tess has been through a lot in her life especially living most show more of it deaf and she is lonely and works very hard at her job wanting to help where she can. When suddenly things in Tess's life change drastically by getting struck by and oncoming bus. At the same time Amarylis Rafferty is giving birth and dies.

Tess is given the option by Carol her Angel to start her life over and given pictures of a few men to help. Suddenly Tess awakes as Amarylis Rafferty after just giving birth to a baby boy. Finding herself with this loveless family not knowing what to expect. Tess realizes she has been given a second chance and must find a way to make this broken family into a real loving family and that is what she sets out to do. Not knowing what this family has been through and them not knowing that Tess has taken over Amarylis's body she has to find a way to make things work and get her 2nd chance at life.

Starting out is difficult as Tess was not used to cooking, cleaning, a life without the necessities of computers, phones, electric, in door plumbing she has to learn that along with making this family whole again.

Such an exciting journey this story takes you on and all the trials and tribulations of each character are well written. show less