Review: Charming, Riveting, and Rip-roaring fun!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 12, 2012
I have to say that this is one of the best Time Travel books I've ever read. When Joel Smith steps into an abandoned Montana mine on the day all the planets in our solar system align, he comes out on the other side in 1941. The young college student then embarks upon a remarkable adventure, one that kept me captivated from the moment it began.From Montana Joel, whose modern technology and debit cards are now useless, has to make his way through the 1940s using his wits and charm...and he's got plenty of both! He was by far the ultimate book hero: handsome, confident without being too cocky, funny on every page without being over the top, and so likable and easy to relate with that you find yourself rooting for him from the start.For me, Seattle in 1941 becomes just as much a character as Joel. This author really knows his stuff. The pages come alive with descriptions of people, places, and things that make up a bygone and much simpler era. It almost seems as if Joel were made for this time--an old soul if you will--and seems to fold into the mix here quite nicely. Other characters I appreciated were secondary: specifically Joel's new friend Ginny, who just so happens to be his grandmother!The love story is profound. While you won't find any of the heated sensuality that is present in a typical romance novel, you will find a poignant sweetness and connection that is strong and intriguing. When Joel meets Grace, even though she is engaged, and even though they are both from different times, you want it to work. You want the love to last, and you want a happily ever after. I rooted for it up until the end, even when it seemed as though it wasn't going to happen and I was left on the edge of my seat.For about 1/3 of the book the story doesn't progress very fast, instead allowing you to get to know the characters...don't worry though, they're loads of fun and entertaining throughout. However, a few twists thrown in to the last third of the book definitely added a little something extra. As the day that Joel knows as the attack on Pearl Harbor approaches, he wrestles with the conflict of losing a friend, losing a love, and possibly even going off to war. In the end, Joel does what he thinks is right. The question, of course, is was his decision the right one? Has he unalterably affected the futures of those around him, including his own grandmother and the woman he loves? You will just have to read this book to find out!