Review: Loved it!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 22, 2014
Enlightened is book two in the Eve series by A.L. Waddington.Release date: April 21, 2014Jocelyn Timmons is living on two planes of existence, one in November of 2009 and the other in November of 1878. The present day Jocelyn has accepted this gift she has inherited but the Jocelyn of 1878 is struggling more with it, afraid to admit to Jackson what she is experiencing, fearing she is losing her mind.Jackson and his parents are the only people she can turn to for help with understanding what is happening to her. Her love with Jackson is the only constant between “here” and “there.” And in both places his parents are like a second family to her. Slowly, though, the barriers are breaking down in her consciousness making it easier to remember and understand what is going on in each plane of existence.Her life in 1878 is so rigid and limited. The clothes they are required to wear are so heavy and restrictive. She is not allowed to express herself or further her education. A lady is expected to only marry, run her husband’s household and produce children. But, the bonds of family are so much stronger there. The families eat together at each meal, share their days with one another.Life in 2009 seems so exciting. Girls are encouraged to attend college, explore careers, express their opinions freely, wear colorful and casual clothing. But the family structure certainly is lacking. Couples frequently divorce, families are so busy they rarely eat meals together. There are so many rules Jocelyn must remember when leading dual lives in both times. She has to watch her speech patterns, her behavior, and be so careful never to mention events from the future. Can she handle this?“Are they really real? Could there really be a place where women are free to decide the course of their own lives? Where I could be free from the bonds that hold me to this provincial world?”Jackson is doing everything he can to help Jocelyn through this tough time adapting to this new way of life. But he has to be so careful not to tell her too much. He has to let her transition into things in her own time. But by withholding information, he ends up causing trouble between himself and Jocelyn. Jocelyn begins to doubt her own ability to lead two separate lives on two separate planes of existence. But can she really choose between two different families?“I knew I could never find that happy medium that the Chandlers found. One life is difficult enough without contemplating the idea of entertaining two. I know I am not strong enough for that.”This was very interesting watching the same girl live in two different times, 130 years apart. The differences are astounding BUT there are so many similarities as well. The issues she deals with within her group of friends, how there is always someone who is the bully. And most of all, the love she shares with Jackson. I hope there is going to be another book in this series so I can see if Jackson and Jocelyn get their happy ending. Thank you so much to A.L. Waddington and Booktrope Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.