Review: Time Travel with Uniqueness and Chivalry!
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 09 22, 2012
The blurb of this book is enticing:"In 2000, Joel Smith is a cocky, adventurous young man who sees the world as his playground. But when the college senior, days from graduation, enters an abandoned Montana mine, he discovers the price of reckless curiosity. He emerges in May 1941 with a cell phone he can't use, money he can't spend, and little but his wits to guide his way. Stuck in the age of Whirlaway, swing dancing, and a peacetime draft, Joel begins a new life as the nation drifts toward war. With the help of his 21-year-old trailblazing grandmother and her friends, he finds his place in a world he knew only from movies and books. But when an opportunity comes to return to the present, Joel must decide whether to leave his new love in the past or choose a course that will alter their lives forever. THE MINE follows a humbled man through a critical time in history as he adjusts to new surroundings and wrestles with the knowledge of things to come."See? I told you. So, I dove in. First, let me say that Mr. Heldt is a good writer. I enjoyed his style and knowing that I was not only reading historical fiction but also a romance written by a male author, made it even more intriguing. The first third of this book had me interested and I honestly enjoyed Joel Smith's journey back through time. The descriptions of places he saw and the feelings he was having were right on. Although, once I got into the meat of the story, I began losing momentum. Mostly because it dragged on too long. Nothing significant happened for too many pages and my interest teetered. That being said, once Joel meets Grace, my reader wheels started turning once again. Their's was a true old fashioned "courtship" and one I knew Joel was happily conforming to over the "wham bam" types of today's society. The early 1940's was becoming a volatile wartime era, but the chivalrous attributes of the time were delicious to experience.During the course of their relationship, Joel and Grace grew to fall in love with one another, even though Grace was engaged to another man. Once that hurdle was overcome, their love for one another deepened. I enjoyed their talks and playful banter, although, I wish Heldt would have included a more detailed account of their loves scenes. Fading to black works, but not everytime. As a reader, I would have felt a bigger connection to Joel had I experienced more than just a "deep kiss." That being said, there is most definitely a fine line between too much and not quite enough. This one landed right in the middle.Now, let me get to the best part of the book; the ending. Wow!! I was feverishly turning the pages and voraciously devouring them like a mad woman! Without giving anything away, I will say it was one of the best endings of a book I have ever read. It was full of surprises and a smile stayed glued on my face for the rest of the day! Well, done, Mr. Heldt. I would love to read a sequel...hint, hint!