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Native American Romance #0.5
A Chance in Time
One widow...
One time traveler...
Two lonely hearts connecting for a moment in time...
One time traveler...
Two lonely hearts connecting for a moment in time...
One day Penelope Jordan finds a man who’s on the brink of death and nurses him back to health. Over time, he brings out the woman that the harsh prairie made her forget she once was, and soon she falls in love with him. But will he stay with her...in her time...or will he return to the future?
Cole and Penelope show up in Restoring Hope and Bound by Honor, Bound by Love.
86 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 9, 2009
180 people are currently reading
1013 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Ann Nordin
172 books715 followersWhat's to say? I write a lot. I read often. I sleep little. Once in awhile, I've been known to clean the house. A number of kids live in my house and there's this guy they call dad and I call husband. All in all, it's a pretty good life. :-)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
November 29, 2018
A lovely read. Not what I expected but I liked it.
September 22, 2024
Sweet Novella
Some things were a little unbelievable, like Penelope not even questioning when Cole told her he was from the future; but the story left me with a smile on my face.
Some things were a little unbelievable, like Penelope not even questioning when Cole told her he was from the future; but the story left me with a smile on my face.
May 18, 2018
I've read Ruth Ann Nordin's mail order bride series type books and they were very nice reads. As this was part of the RAA Challenge reads for "Native American"...I thought it was a native american story. However, the native in this romance was time travel. I then glanced at the reviews and saw that they were not great but however, I noted that this is a novella, it would be short and bring out what needs to be done with the plot in the book.
I thought the story was a pleasant novella read. I found Cole and Penelope delightful and the chemistry and attraction between them. I like the unknowing of the HEA. Although it was not what I was expecting for my RAA challenge, I completed the novel and enjoyed it contrary to the reviews. It's the start of a series I believe and I may check out the next story.
3-Stars
I thought the story was a pleasant novella read. I found Cole and Penelope delightful and the chemistry and attraction between them. I like the unknowing of the HEA. Although it was not what I was expecting for my RAA challenge, I completed the novel and enjoyed it contrary to the reviews. It's the start of a series I believe and I may check out the next story.
3-Stars
August 13, 2016
++Spoilers++
3.5 stars
Good, but too short. I really liked the sweetness of Cole and Penelope's story, but I wish we got to see more of thier interaction with Etu and Yepa the two Mandan Indian children they end up adopting.
Since I read books 1-3 first, I know that in book 3, there is some focus on the children and their love for Penelope and Cole, but we never get the full picture of what happened to their Indian parents, how they were killed and who found them and took care of them in between. I was hoping to get that here, but it was never covered.
I read "Meant To Be" first as advised by another reviewer and I would agree that it may be best since their love story begins in that book, but I don't think it's terribly necessary since the author did well to cover the basics of what happened in this novella.
Not too much more to say except it was good but I wanted more and wish it was a full length novel.
Safety:
Hero-Divorced - ex wife cheated on him and was a golddigger. Has no feeelings for her
Heroine-Widowed. She loved her first husband but loves hero too. Her first husband's dying request was that she remarry. She never thought she would until she met Cole and fell in love again.
Cheating-No
OW/OM-No
Violence-No
Cursing-No
Rape-No
Abuse-No
Adultery-No
Sex-once near the end. a bit more than mild in description.
Hea/ILY's - Yes to both
Marriage-Yes
Baby-No, but they adopted 2 children
3.5 stars
Good, but too short. I really liked the sweetness of Cole and Penelope's story, but I wish we got to see more of thier interaction with Etu and Yepa the two Mandan Indian children they end up adopting.
Since I read books 1-3 first, I know that in book 3, there is some focus on the children and their love for Penelope and Cole, but we never get the full picture of what happened to their Indian parents, how they were killed and who found them and took care of them in between. I was hoping to get that here, but it was never covered.
I read "Meant To Be" first as advised by another reviewer and I would agree that it may be best since their love story begins in that book, but I don't think it's terribly necessary since the author did well to cover the basics of what happened in this novella.
Not too much more to say except it was good but I wanted more and wish it was a full length novel.
Safety:
Hero-Divorced - ex wife cheated on him and was a golddigger. Has no feeelings for her
Heroine-Widowed. She loved her first husband but loves hero too. Her first husband's dying request was that she remarry. She never thought she would until she met Cole and fell in love again.
Cheating-No
OW/OM-No
Violence-No
Cursing-No
Rape-No
Abuse-No
Adultery-No
Sex-once near the end. a bit more than mild in description.
Hea/ILY's - Yes to both
Marriage-Yes
Baby-No, but they adopted 2 children
March 2, 2021
I found myself wanting Penelope to get the man she wanted , and have a happy life! This story definitely worked as a short story , I liked the fact that Penelope was a strong independent woman ,who didnt do what other people said she should do. These types of stories appeal to me more than the weak female who needs rescuing.
It was a fun little short story (76 pages) perfect for when your in between books or on a journey ! The only slightly steamy part was the end...but nothing you'd blush at in public !
It was a fun little short story (76 pages) perfect for when your in between books or on a journey ! The only slightly steamy part was the end...but nothing you'd blush at in public !
September 9, 2011
I'm glad this was a free ebook because it was only the shell of a story. I wouldn't even classify it as a novella. I wanted more backstory and character development. This book also failed as a romance as I didn't feel the love connection/spark between them at all. Without any build up in their relationship Penelope falls madly in love with Cole. Why?
The main characters, Penelope and Cole, have more than being born in two different centuries standing in their way. They have an unknown past! We don't really know much about Cole and his life before he ended up in the middle of the prairie, where Penelope found and rescued him.
One thing that really bothered me is that modern language throughout the book. It is inappropriate for the time period in which the story is set. For example, Penelope asks Cole what he wants for "lunch" and the noon-day meal was referred to as dinner in the 19th century. The author really should have spent a little time researching the 19th century.
I think this is an example of a book that was rushed to publication before it was ready.
The main characters, Penelope and Cole, have more than being born in two different centuries standing in their way. They have an unknown past! We don't really know much about Cole and his life before he ended up in the middle of the prairie, where Penelope found and rescued him.
One thing that really bothered me is that modern language throughout the book. It is inappropriate for the time period in which the story is set. For example, Penelope asks Cole what he wants for "lunch" and the noon-day meal was referred to as dinner in the 19th century. The author really should have spent a little time researching the 19th century.
I think this is an example of a book that was rushed to publication before it was ready.
December 22, 2019
Well this one was slightly better than done of its predecessors though still bonkers. It involves a time travelling H who travels back in time after stealing a device in order to make himself rich, so he is a little naughty.
The h came from a rich family but gave it all up to become a mail order bride so she could be with a man who would love her and not cheat. It was nice that they had genuine love but he died so she ends up with the H. She also can't have kids after a childhood accident we never find out about but at the end they adopt a couple of Native American children.
The h came from a rich family but gave it all up to become a mail order bride so she could be with a man who would love her and not cheat. It was nice that they had genuine love but he died so she ends up with the H. She also can't have kids after a childhood accident we never find out about but at the end they adopt a couple of Native American children.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 23, 2011
There was a lot of potential in this short novel, which, alas, was not realised. It features a young widowed 'mail-order' bride in the USA, at the end of the 19th century. She comes across a seriously dehydrated stranger and nurses him back to health. There's a bizarre twist in that he is a time-traveller... which could have led to a very interesting story. Unfortunately, it seemed almost irrelevant. That theme was really not explored at all.
Moreover, although it started well, the novel needed a lot of editing. Viewpoints switched constantly, sometimes confusingly, and none of the characters were very well developed despite a great deal of reflection and self-talk. The end of the book featured a strangely explicit love scene which was was totally out of keeping with the rest of the book. It was - for some strange reason - categorised as Christian fiction, possibly because a church is mentioned a couple of times.
I downloaded this book free for my Kindle, so perhaps two and a half stars would be fairer; I would have been very disappointed if I had paid for it.
Really not recommended.
Moreover, although it started well, the novel needed a lot of editing. Viewpoints switched constantly, sometimes confusingly, and none of the characters were very well developed despite a great deal of reflection and self-talk. The end of the book featured a strangely explicit love scene which was was totally out of keeping with the rest of the book. It was - for some strange reason - categorised as Christian fiction, possibly because a church is mentioned a couple of times.
I downloaded this book free for my Kindle, so perhaps two and a half stars would be fairer; I would have been very disappointed if I had paid for it.
Really not recommended.
May 16, 2011
Oh dear...I wanted to like this. It was free at amazon and I thought I'd give it a try. The writer has several other books, and if they are as *good* as this one, I won't be reading them.
That's pretty harsh from me, as I LOVE this type of book, but this one wasn't well written or researched at all.
When they fed the horses STRAW, well, that was the final STRAW for me. Horse eat HAY, straw is what's leftover from wheat and it's used for BEDDING...horses don't EAT it.
It's like this author had a checklist:
time-travel...check
romance with steamy sex (or not as the case may be)...check
American Indians...check
Orphans...check
Any TWO of these may have worked. But this mishmash just didn't. The cover was lovely, but no clue what it had to do with the story.
That's pretty harsh from me, as I LOVE this type of book, but this one wasn't well written or researched at all.
When they fed the horses STRAW, well, that was the final STRAW for me. Horse eat HAY, straw is what's leftover from wheat and it's used for BEDDING...horses don't EAT it.
It's like this author had a checklist:
time-travel...check
romance with steamy sex (or not as the case may be)...check
American Indians...check
Orphans...check
Any TWO of these may have worked. But this mishmash just didn't. The cover was lovely, but no clue what it had to do with the story.
July 11, 2011
I read this yesterday at the lake. While reading I kept expecting the characters, plot... to develop. I was hopeful. Then I was so bummed when it just abruptly and rather rudely just ended. I had it on Kindle. Do horses really eat straw? Does a woman really simply accept that her new husband came from the future? Why did he come back? What really happened? Does it really just end with them adopting two Native kids from the orphan train? Wow, all the gaps. No research went into this poorly written story. If I had had the book in my hand instead of my Kindle it would have been in the garbage. So happy it was a free Kindle book. Sorry I wasted my time.
June 4, 2010
If you've read Nordin's book Meant To Be, this short story wraps up the character of Cole, the one who accidentally took 3 people back in time to the Old West.
I liked this one much better, even thought is mainly an afterthought, meant to let you know what happened to Cole. You really have to read the first book as this is NOT a standalone. I thought the writing in this one was more polished and had a better flow to the dialog. Good read.
B+
I liked this one much better, even thought is mainly an afterthought, meant to let you know what happened to Cole. You really have to read the first book as this is NOT a standalone. I thought the writing in this one was more polished and had a better flow to the dialog. Good read.
B+
May 30, 2011
Free kindle book that was not worth my time. I had high hopes with the description of the book, but the characters were never developed, the storyline was lacking in so many ways, and then she wrote in a completely unnecessary love scene at the very end of the book that I had to skip MANY pages to get through. Another free kindle flop.
May 16, 2011
This was jumpy and the pace was rushed. No real details of the time were given and the random sex scene at the end was unnecessary and didn't fit the rest of the book. There was no real romance in the tale.
June 5, 2024
Had to skip 7 very graphic pages of husband and wife in bed, not necessary! The book was a simple read, very simple life and not a lot to the story. Would have been better minus 7 pages and spent more pages of what they got from train.
May 27, 2011
I'm really glad this was a free book,I just felt like yawning all the way through the story,it just felt like it went round and round in circles with time travel and romance. I didn't enjoy the time travellers wife when I read it,and I've enjoyed this even less. it doesn't feel like the story goes anywhere,just the same things are said over and over again
May 24, 2011
I believe the author could have put more into the description and story line. Like what happened when he went back to the present time. Why was Blake after him? But then she added more than I thought was appropriate in some areas. I do not recommend this book.
May 16, 2011
not written very well ...
June 27, 2020
Alone on the Prairie
Penelope is a widow after only 1 year as a mail order bride. She is tired of being alone & no one to talk to in the last year. She packs up to leave her 1 room house, heading for town 2 days away. She finds an unconscious man on her way & her plans change to return home. Cole is from the 21st century, traveled in time to North Dakota, running from his past. Mutual attraction but fear holds them back from confessing their feelings.
Overall I enjoyed the story even if the time travel was hard to comprehend. A few typos & why did Penelope not question his clothing or the words he used in conversation.
Spoiler Alert: My biggest problem with this book was trying to understand how Penelope was able to go to town & purchase supplies. There was no explanation as to how she supported herself. She had 2 horses, no mention of animals or crops. Hard to understand where cellar was located since she had to go outside. When Cole is there no explanation for how he will buy supplies to build onto the house buy more animals. When they head for town all of a sudden it is not taking them 2 days to get there.
Penelope is a widow after only 1 year as a mail order bride. She is tired of being alone & no one to talk to in the last year. She packs up to leave her 1 room house, heading for town 2 days away. She finds an unconscious man on her way & her plans change to return home. Cole is from the 21st century, traveled in time to North Dakota, running from his past. Mutual attraction but fear holds them back from confessing their feelings.
Overall I enjoyed the story even if the time travel was hard to comprehend. A few typos & why did Penelope not question his clothing or the words he used in conversation.
Spoiler Alert: My biggest problem with this book was trying to understand how Penelope was able to go to town & purchase supplies. There was no explanation as to how she supported herself. She had 2 horses, no mention of animals or crops. Hard to understand where cellar was located since she had to go outside. When Cole is there no explanation for how he will buy supplies to build onto the house buy more animals. When they head for town all of a sudden it is not taking them 2 days to get there.
February 1, 2020
A Chance in Time
Penelope came out west to marry Randy. He took her home and a year later he got sick and died. This left her alone. I suppose it was miles from town. She was so lonely that she decided she was going to town and stay there. On the way she noticed a man laying on the ground and stopped to help him.
Cole is from the future, 100 years in the future. He is sunburned and dehydrated. Penelope helps him back to her cabin and tends his burns and gives him plenty of water.
He has to get back to Fargo so he can get a chip to travel. He wants to go back to California gold rush times and get rich.
Adult content is included, it isn’t a clean romance. But it’s not overly vulgar. Personally the would have been much better without that, each his own.
Penelope came out west to marry Randy. He took her home and a year later he got sick and died. This left her alone. I suppose it was miles from town. She was so lonely that she decided she was going to town and stay there. On the way she noticed a man laying on the ground and stopped to help him.
Cole is from the future, 100 years in the future. He is sunburned and dehydrated. Penelope helps him back to her cabin and tends his burns and gives him plenty of water.
He has to get back to Fargo so he can get a chip to travel. He wants to go back to California gold rush times and get rich.
Adult content is included, it isn’t a clean romance. But it’s not overly vulgar. Personally the would have been much better without that, each his own.
May 20, 2020
Cole is a time traveler who ends up in 1898. Penelope, a widow, finds him near death on her way to town for supplies. She manages to hoist him onto one of her horses and takes him to her cabin to nurse him back to health.
During his weeks with her, Cole begins to fall in love with Penelope, but feels he's not worthy of her because he stole the time travel device in his time. Penelope, of course, falls in love with him.
This is a novella and is a quick read.
During his weeks with her, Cole begins to fall in love with Penelope, but feels he's not worthy of her because he stole the time travel device in his time. Penelope, of course, falls in love with him.
This is a novella and is a quick read.
April 25, 2023
This was a cute novella with a time-travel twist although it wasn't the main part of the story. The chemistry between Penelope and Cole was sweet and I liked the way they were both respectful although yearning for what they thought couldn't happen. The development was slow and I kept expecting a villain to show up but this was not that kind of story. Taken for what it is, it's a feel-good romance that ends happily.
July 3, 2017
Confused
This story did not develop the characters to make the reader invested in the story. Also, adding time travel to the story really detracted from the book and it seemed far fetched. Lastly, the author forgot about the Native American genre. Mentioning Native Americans in a book does not make it a Native American Romance. I will not continue the series.
This story did not develop the characters to make the reader invested in the story. Also, adding time travel to the story really detracted from the book and it seemed far fetched. Lastly, the author forgot about the Native American genre. Mentioning Native Americans in a book does not make it a Native American Romance. I will not continue the series.
July 1, 2019
Beautiful story, the second to Waope’s story. Penelope is the woman who took in Waope when she turned up on a train. Turns out her male friend, who was mentioned in the earlier book, is a time traveller.
January 13, 2019
I kinda liked it...
January 26, 2019
A quick read. Not happy with the ending, especially the graphic detail of their lovemaking.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2019
A sweet story where she loses her husband to an illness and she's left alone on the prarie. Then she meets Colt, whose from the future. Can they make a life for themselves. A nice read.
July 10, 2020
Less than 100 pages but a very nice tale and a very fast easy read.
December 27, 2022
A Chance in Time
More variety, great. Interesting story with a happy ending for a lot of people. A change in time but not in history.
More variety, great. Interesting story with a happy ending for a lot of people. A change in time but not in history.
November 10, 2025
Amazon shirt read
July 13, 2024
2.5 - the writing in this book is like a 15 year old wrote it. Story was slightly interesting thus the .5 to the 2 stars
Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews