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Falling Through Glass
Los Angeles Present Day Japanese-American Emiko Maeda set aside her film school studies following the sudden death of her father. At odds with her mother and burdened with the guilt over her role in the tragic accident, she moves in with her uncle Jake and comes into possession of an antique mirror. While accompanying Jake to Japan on a film shoot, Emmi is caught in a freak storm and plunged through time--into Feudal Japan and the world of samurai. Kyoto, Japan 1864 The city of Kyoto is ablaze with violence and on the brink of civil war. Nakagawa Kaemon is a young samurai with a secret. He gathers information on those who claim to "Revere the emperor" but harbor their own agenda to control the country. Kae is honor bound to execute anyone who poses a threat to the throne even if it is Emmi, the unusual young woman he has come to love.
- GenresRomanceTime Travel
Nook
First published January 1, 2009
About the author
Barbara Sheridan
39 books110 followersBarbara Sheridan grew up a fan of historical novels, TV westerns and most anything having to do with the paranormal.
She often writes in the romance sub-genres of contemporary, historical, and paranormal.
She also acquired a fondness for all things royalty related, J-rock, and cheezy films. These varied interests mashed themselves together to shape her writing and led to characters who surely inhabit an alternate universe–and get into who knows what trouble without her supervision.
Barbara lives in Pennsylvania and loves hearing from readers and others who share her interests, as well as being able to “meet” them via social media.
She often writes in the romance sub-genres of contemporary, historical, and paranormal.
She also acquired a fondness for all things royalty related, J-rock, and cheezy films. These varied interests mashed themselves together to shape her writing and led to characters who surely inhabit an alternate universe–and get into who knows what trouble without her supervision.
Barbara lives in Pennsylvania and loves hearing from readers and others who share her interests, as well as being able to “meet” them via social media.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 16, 2009
Emmi is a young woman still grieving from the accidental death of her father which she feels is her responsibility. She is a bit more "lost" than many college age kids and when her Uncle Jake offers her a part in a samurai flick the last thing she expects is to actually be transported back to feudal Japan.
I think this time-travel romance can be a challenging read because many would assume an e-book should be a quick and light read. The rich cultural detail and large cast from many social backgrounds takes the reader into the thick of the Bakumatsu Era which was full of murder, political intrigue and a country on the brink of a civil war which will change everything.
Falling Through Glass can't be fully appreciated if you want to get through it in one sitting. The many characters and Emmi's interaction with them has the depth which will set the work apart from many works of historical fiction and fantasy. Hopefully Falling Through Glass will become a paperback in the future.
On the romance front the story delivers and my minor complaint is just in the ending which felt slightly rushed. Kae, the hero is more fascinating and complex than the heroine partly because her inner voice makes her more "transparent". The imbalance between the two throughout the work is due to the understandable misunderstandings which occur due to cultural misunderstandings and at times I wanted Emmi to do something "right" for once rather than being flung into dangerous situations.
Falling Through Glass is a fulfilling read with intriguing characters and a good measure of action.
I think this time-travel romance can be a challenging read because many would assume an e-book should be a quick and light read. The rich cultural detail and large cast from many social backgrounds takes the reader into the thick of the Bakumatsu Era which was full of murder, political intrigue and a country on the brink of a civil war which will change everything.
Falling Through Glass can't be fully appreciated if you want to get through it in one sitting. The many characters and Emmi's interaction with them has the depth which will set the work apart from many works of historical fiction and fantasy. Hopefully Falling Through Glass will become a paperback in the future.
On the romance front the story delivers and my minor complaint is just in the ending which felt slightly rushed. Kae, the hero is more fascinating and complex than the heroine partly because her inner voice makes her more "transparent". The imbalance between the two throughout the work is due to the understandable misunderstandings which occur due to cultural misunderstandings and at times I wanted Emmi to do something "right" for once rather than being flung into dangerous situations.
Falling Through Glass is a fulfilling read with intriguing characters and a good measure of action.
September 6, 2016
Going into Falling Through Glass I wasn't sure what to expect. By in large my experiences with western written Asian historicals has been choppy, with some authors using movies as guidelines for behavior, etiquette and accuracy more then good old research. The blurb caught my attention however since its set during one of my favorite time periods (the Edo Period) and its not strictly historical.
At first the writing was very jarring and told more of the story then actually letting it flow. There was a lot of exposition packed into the first few chapters, as we learned about Emiko's family, the reason she was with her 'Uncle' Jake and various things that had to do with Kaemon (back in 1864), but after Emmi (as she's commonly referred to) falls into the past the narrative smoothed out.
The author has written several other books that deal with Japanese culture (both present day and historical), and it shows in the details. Everything from how an obi is correctly tied (and placed) to the appropriate under garments (the fudoshi men wore) proved the level of research Sheridan put into it. I found the description of how the 19th century seamstresses managed to replicate Emmi's underwear and bra pretty amusing actually (and it sounded so much cooler too).
The romance between Emmi and Kaemon is up and down, depending on what side Kaemon believed her to be on. This isn't to say the attraction wavered, but rather Kaemon was very much a man of his times and Emmi's every word fairly screamed 'Does. Not. Belong.' which meant only a handful of things and none of them good.
Unfortunately by the end of the story exposition began to creep back into the narrative, replacing some scenes that I would have liked to have read about (such as when Emmi's 'Uncle' in the past explained things to Kaemon), but overall I enjoyed this book a lot and appreciate the fact it renewed my faith!
At first the writing was very jarring and told more of the story then actually letting it flow. There was a lot of exposition packed into the first few chapters, as we learned about Emiko's family, the reason she was with her 'Uncle' Jake and various things that had to do with Kaemon (back in 1864), but after Emmi (as she's commonly referred to) falls into the past the narrative smoothed out.
The author has written several other books that deal with Japanese culture (both present day and historical), and it shows in the details. Everything from how an obi is correctly tied (and placed) to the appropriate under garments (the fudoshi men wore) proved the level of research Sheridan put into it. I found the description of how the 19th century seamstresses managed to replicate Emmi's underwear and bra pretty amusing actually (and it sounded so much cooler too).
The romance between Emmi and Kaemon is up and down, depending on what side Kaemon believed her to be on. This isn't to say the attraction wavered, but rather Kaemon was very much a man of his times and Emmi's every word fairly screamed 'Does. Not. Belong.' which meant only a handful of things and none of them good.
Unfortunately by the end of the story exposition began to creep back into the narrative, replacing some scenes that I would have liked to have read about (such as when Emmi's 'Uncle' in the past explained things to Kaemon), but overall I enjoyed this book a lot and appreciate the fact it renewed my faith!
December 5, 2016
Original review on Molly Lolly
Four and a half stars!
This story was amazing! I loved the way Ms. Sheridan wove the past and present together while maintaining the integrity of historical fact. I loved being immersed into life in Kyoto right before the end of the last shogunate and the start of the rebellion that started the modern era of Japan. Beyond the fact that it’s not a period and location that I’ve seen often in romance, you truly get the feel you’re there with these characters.
Emiko was amazing! The way her background and family upbringing allowed her to dovetail into life briefly in Kyoto in the past was so well developed. Her emotions were so well written you could feel her struggle to change her thinking based on expectations of the time and her growing feelings for Kaemon. I hurt for her when she was feeling lost and alone in a strange time and place.
Nakagawa Kaemon was fascinating. He’s a decidedly fictional character with a real family tree. He fit into the real history of these men and time period as if he truly existed. He was so deep I loved reading his internal struggle to be with the woman he was quickly growing to love and do the duties expected of him as a samurai, and son to the Imperial Prince.
This book is so well written. The emotions leap off the page and the characters feel so real. I loved it so much. The only thing keeping it from being a five star book was the ending. I’m not going to spoil it for everyone since the “what will happen to them” question is a huge aspect of the tension throughout the story. But I will say I liked the ending but needed at least one more chapter or an epilogue. I wanted to see how that final scene worked long term.
Four and a half stars!
This story was amazing! I loved the way Ms. Sheridan wove the past and present together while maintaining the integrity of historical fact. I loved being immersed into life in Kyoto right before the end of the last shogunate and the start of the rebellion that started the modern era of Japan. Beyond the fact that it’s not a period and location that I’ve seen often in romance, you truly get the feel you’re there with these characters.
Emiko was amazing! The way her background and family upbringing allowed her to dovetail into life briefly in Kyoto in the past was so well developed. Her emotions were so well written you could feel her struggle to change her thinking based on expectations of the time and her growing feelings for Kaemon. I hurt for her when she was feeling lost and alone in a strange time and place.
Nakagawa Kaemon was fascinating. He’s a decidedly fictional character with a real family tree. He fit into the real history of these men and time period as if he truly existed. He was so deep I loved reading his internal struggle to be with the woman he was quickly growing to love and do the duties expected of him as a samurai, and son to the Imperial Prince.
This book is so well written. The emotions leap off the page and the characters feel so real. I loved it so much. The only thing keeping it from being a five star book was the ending. I’m not going to spoil it for everyone since the “what will happen to them” question is a huge aspect of the tension throughout the story. But I will say I liked the ending but needed at least one more chapter or an epilogue. I wanted to see how that final scene worked long term.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews