
That, in addition to the aforementioned issues I had with characterization, plus the occasional nickname bandied about, made it difficult for me to tell some characters apart from one another. While she did do accents, she didn't give characters distinctive voices. Zara Ramm did a good job narrating the book. However, it isn't likely I'll pick up Book 2 in this series. That said, the story held my interest, even with little nitpicky criticisms I had about plot points, and I don't regret the purchase.


What I thought had been a few months had actually been five years and I wonder if I wasn't paying attention or if the passage of time was really glossed over. I also had difficulty understanding the time span of this book. Not bad, but not really my cup of tea, either. I prefer character-driven stories, and this was very much action-oriented. Motivations and personalities never really seemed to gel and when I finished the book I still felt like I didn't know anyone in the book, not even the protagonist. However, the characters in the story never really came alive for me. I must admit that it made my historian's heart beat a little bit faster to read about historians living and exploring historical events. But I'm sure I would have gone back because I've developed a bit of soft spot for the heroine. I'm not sure how I would have reacted had I been reading the print version at those points- probably put it down for a while. Luckily the narrator, who I do not think I've encountered before, was able to wend her way through it. On at least two occasions the author dumps a load of information on the reader rather than feeding it bit by bit. If it were possible to give half stars I would give the story 3.5 stars. I would also point out that despite the enthusiasm of what I assume are fans, that Taylor hasn't yet reached the skill level of the other authors I have mentioned. It's also science fiction rather than romance. It's complete in itself although it is part of a series. People who enjoy Connie Willis' time travel books or Kage Bakers novels of the Company might enjoy at least this first book. There's lots of action and adventure as she has to cope not just with being sent back to dangerous time periods, but also with problems from the future.

Any way, the heroine, a woman who has completed her doctorate in history, is recruited by an old teacher who once at a pivotal moment in her life provided guidance, into a time travel project. The setting is the UK at some near future point in time. I really hate that term applied to books, unless someone if referring to the condition of the pages rather than the content. Probably I wouldn't have even thought about either factor except someone had rated it as one star because it wasn't CLEAN enough. It also contains some (brief) sex and adult language.

In case this bothers a reader: this is a first person point of view story. Action Adventure Time Travel Novel w/ Good Reader
