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Second Chance #2
Annie's Apple
Six years after emerging from a fountain of youth, siblings Bill, Paul, and Annie Carpenter, time travelers from 2022, make their way in 1911.
In New York, Bill and wife Cassie finish a year as educators and struggle to start a family, while Annie tries her hand as a society reporter. In Arizona, Paul and Andy Lee, sergeants and brothers-in-law, attempt to keep the Mexican Revolution from spilling across the border.
For all, life marches on. Then the soldiers receive new orders, Paul and Annie meet alluring strangers, and the family's fortunes take dramatic turns.
In ANNIE'S APPLE, the sweeping sequel to THE FOUNTAIN, five young adults find love, danger, and adventure in the age of factory fires, high society, and the sinking of the Titanic.
In New York, Bill and wife Cassie finish a year as educators and struggle to start a family, while Annie tries her hand as a society reporter. In Arizona, Paul and Andy Lee, sergeants and brothers-in-law, attempt to keep the Mexican Revolution from spilling across the border.
For all, life marches on. Then the soldiers receive new orders, Paul and Annie meet alluring strangers, and the family's fortunes take dramatic turns.
In ANNIE'S APPLE, the sweeping sequel to THE FOUNTAIN, five young adults find love, danger, and adventure in the age of factory fires, high society, and the sinking of the Titanic.
409 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 1, 2023
99 people are currently reading
118 people want to read
About the author
John A. Heldt
35 books232 followersJohn A. Heldt is the author of twenty-six bestselling time-travel novels. The former reference librarian and award-winning sportswriter has loved getting subjects and verbs to agree since writing book reports in grade school. A graduate of the University of Oregon and the University of Iowa, Heldt is an avid fisherman, sports fan, coin collector, and reader of thrillers and historical fiction. When not sending contemporary characters to the not-so-distant past, he weighs in on literature and life at johnheldt.blogspot.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
September 30, 2023
This is one of my favorite authors who writes time travel novels. The details are well researched when it comes to actual events, and it feels like you might be there with the characters.
This is the second in this series, and it primarily focuses on Annie's life. There is a lot with Paul as well, but it is really Annie's turn to shine. She is 20 but quite a pistol. This shouldn't be very surprising since she is really much older and is living her life over. However, she has found a position that is something she is familiar with, journalism. Granted, back then, it was more about writing the society column, but it immerses her in a world that she may have never considered before.
In the early 1900s, women didn't wait long to get married and start a family, and Annie's desire was no different. Her problem? Her crush was more interested in the military than starting a life with her. I can see both sides of this issue. Annie is ready to move forward with Andy, but he has a strong desire to see more action in the military. Considering WWI is not far off, he could get more than he bargained for, but only time will tell. Andy isn't the only one interested in Annie; there is also Charlie Rusk. Charlie is from a society family and meets Annie by chance. But it isn't a moment he would change for the world, but will Annie come round, or will her love for Andy hold her back?
Paul is a major character but a minor one at the same time. He meets a young woman who catches his eye, but there is more to her story than meets the eye. If you read the book, you will most likely figure out what it is, but I won't spoil it for you. Will this young woman help him move past his love for Pauline? Maybe!
I have always appreciated the historical detail in Heldt's novels. In this novel, we have the incident with the Titanic and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. I wasn't as familiar with the second as the first, but I appreciated the details that made me feel like I was there. There was a comment in the book from Bill about how the Titanic incident created new regulations for cruise ships. The same happened with the fire, but it wasn't as detailed in the book.
The book, while primarily positive, does have some issues that arise for the characters to add some depth to the story. Sadly, I can't tell you about them because it would give away some of the story. So just pick up the book and read it!
This book did seem to move at a slower pace than other books by this author. This is not a bad thing, but it took me longer to read than normal. I still enjoyed the book and following along. I can't wait for the last book in this trilogy to see what happens to this family.
We give this book 4 paws up.
This is the second in this series, and it primarily focuses on Annie's life. There is a lot with Paul as well, but it is really Annie's turn to shine. She is 20 but quite a pistol. This shouldn't be very surprising since she is really much older and is living her life over. However, she has found a position that is something she is familiar with, journalism. Granted, back then, it was more about writing the society column, but it immerses her in a world that she may have never considered before.
In the early 1900s, women didn't wait long to get married and start a family, and Annie's desire was no different. Her problem? Her crush was more interested in the military than starting a life with her. I can see both sides of this issue. Annie is ready to move forward with Andy, but he has a strong desire to see more action in the military. Considering WWI is not far off, he could get more than he bargained for, but only time will tell. Andy isn't the only one interested in Annie; there is also Charlie Rusk. Charlie is from a society family and meets Annie by chance. But it isn't a moment he would change for the world, but will Annie come round, or will her love for Andy hold her back?
Paul is a major character but a minor one at the same time. He meets a young woman who catches his eye, but there is more to her story than meets the eye. If you read the book, you will most likely figure out what it is, but I won't spoil it for you. Will this young woman help him move past his love for Pauline? Maybe!
I have always appreciated the historical detail in Heldt's novels. In this novel, we have the incident with the Titanic and the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. I wasn't as familiar with the second as the first, but I appreciated the details that made me feel like I was there. There was a comment in the book from Bill about how the Titanic incident created new regulations for cruise ships. The same happened with the fire, but it wasn't as detailed in the book.
The book, while primarily positive, does have some issues that arise for the characters to add some depth to the story. Sadly, I can't tell you about them because it would give away some of the story. So just pick up the book and read it!
This book did seem to move at a slower pace than other books by this author. This is not a bad thing, but it took me longer to read than normal. I still enjoyed the book and following along. I can't wait for the last book in this trilogy to see what happens to this family.
We give this book 4 paws up.
February 27, 2024
Time travel without the sci-fi feel, ANNIE’S APPLE by John A. Heldt is a magical walk through a different era with characters that feel like they could be friends you have made.
Imagine going back in time, getting a second chance at youth, adventure and love, yet having to keep a tremendous secret from most everyone you meet. This is the web three siblings face being entangled in as they not only go through time, but physically return to their youthful selves. Are their hearts able to remain unencumbered and adrift or will they get a unique chance to live lives so much more fulfilling than they could imagine?
John A. Heldt has a way of writing with heart, a touch of true history and a rich blend of his imagination.
Beautiful storytelling to lose yourself in, not too flowery, not too hard edged. Highly recommended for losing oneself in another world that begs the question, “What if?”
Imagine going back in time, getting a second chance at youth, adventure and love, yet having to keep a tremendous secret from most everyone you meet. This is the web three siblings face being entangled in as they not only go through time, but physically return to their youthful selves. Are their hearts able to remain unencumbered and adrift or will they get a unique chance to live lives so much more fulfilling than they could imagine?
John A. Heldt has a way of writing with heart, a touch of true history and a rich blend of his imagination.
Beautiful storytelling to lose yourself in, not too flowery, not too hard edged. Highly recommended for losing oneself in another world that begs the question, “What if?”
May 23, 2023
One Sentence Summary: A few years after the events of The Fountain finds the growing Carpenter family in NYC with Annie taking a job as a society writer after surviving one of the city’s devastating disasters in 1911, Bill retiring from teaching with his wife to start a family, and Paul finishing his time in the military and dreaming of the future.
annies apple john a heldt
Annie’s Apple is set a few years after the events of the first book, The Fountain. Bill, Paul, and Annie have acclimated to living several decades in the past after having jumped into a Fountain of Youth in Mexico and emerged in the early 1900s in younger, healthier bodies. Bill, his wife Cassie, and Annie have relocated from the San Francisco area to New York City while Paul and Cassie’s younger brother Andy have joined the military and are at the US-Mexico border at the start of the present story.
It’s now 1911 and Annie is a journalist undercover at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. She knows a terrible tragedy is on the horizon and hopes a story about the unsafe work environment will prevent it from happening, but, without the Internet handy to look up exact dates, she gets her timing wrong and ends up traumatized when she gets caught in the fire. Unwilling to return to that kind of reporting, she becomes a society writer, jumping head first into writing stories about the wealthy. It offers her the opportunity to meet new friends, and even a new love interest while Andy tries to put her off in favor of his military career, but another tragedy looms close.
In the meantime, Bill and Cassie work hard to start a family, settling into domesticity and having adventures of their own, some sweet and some funny and some serious. Paul has decided a second go in the military isn’t what he wants, and meeting a special lady opens his world in ways he could have never foreseen.
I am not a fan of historical fiction, family sagas, and time travel, yet I adore this Second Chance series. I find the siblings charming and fun, and the historical events written in a very compelling way that makes me feel like I’m there, too. My favorite part is how these siblings sometimes bring in bits and pieces of the future in the way they speak about things and mention things that don’t exist yet that just bewilder the people around them. It’s so much fun to see them in an historical setting and adjusting to a very different way of life, but I also love when they sit down and it’s just them and they have the freedom to be who they are and talk the way they would in the present day.
Annie’s Apple, as the title suggests, is mostly Annie’s story, but her brothers get their fair share of page time. I did, once in a while, feel like one of them was being left out a bit as chapters would go by without much about them, but they more than made up for it, and I liked that I completely understood why there hadn’t been chapters for them. But I adore Annie. She’s fun and spunky with a delightful light to her. She’s fantastic in the context of her family, very warm and loving and lighthearted while also free to feel the pains life throws at her. But she’s just as delightful when she’s out on her own, meeting so many new people and having to acclimate to being around the wealthy and powerful. I loved her relationship with her boss, and the sisters of the man who catches her eye. I think what I liked most about her was she was always painted as charming and witty, but she also felt like she had the freedom to be anything but. She was a complex character with a great deal of depth.
Bill and Paul are much more than supporting characters; they’re two-thirds of this group of siblings that this series follows, and just as important as Annie. Their lives take interesting turns in this book. Bill’s was fun and sweet, and I loved every moment of it. He and Cassie are a delightful couple. Even though there isn’t as much of a focus on them as in the first book, I never felt like they were left out; their story just had a different, more domestic trajectory that didn’t quite have as much drama as the other story lines. I liked that it was softer as it felt like something of a safety net for Paul and Annie. I really felt for Paul in this story. He’s a bit lost, not wanting to go back in the military for a second tour, but loving that he and Andy are sent back to New York City for the duration of their current enlistment. He just doesn’t know what life has in store for him next, and I just want him to find that happiness that Bill has and to have the opportunity to feel settled. Of all the siblings, I feel like my heart rests mostly with him because he’s just put through so much. Annie’s Apple does give him a very special romance, one that I absolutely delighted in. There were so many hints about this lady’s past, and I wanted to scream at Paul to recognize certain signs, so the reveal was very satisfying.
Annie’s Apple is so much more than just the siblings and their new chance at life. It’s also about historical events that have shaped society and our country. It was fun to experience these historical moments, no matter how heartbreaking they are. This is set in 1911 and 1912, so history tells us we can expect the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the sinking of the Titanic. These aren’t just historical events, they’re lived experiences these siblings know about where they already have some of the horror of what it might have been like. But now they get to experience what it really was like, and that just creates some interesting follow up for them as they have to actually navigate what comes next. It must be excruciating knowing what’s going to happen, and still be powerless to do anything about it. I loved getting these glimpses into history and feeling the trauma and heartbreak these siblings felt.
I don’t think there was anything I didn’t like about Annie’s Apple. I felt like events were realistic considering the times, and I loved the intentional anachronisms the siblings brought in. They were fun, and I enjoyed how they made everyone else think the siblings were strange yet charming. I recall that in my review of the first book I wasn’t a fan of all the repetition in the characters’ speech and thoughts. I was delighted that either these had been edited to occur much less frequently or I had acclimated to Heldt’s writing style. I didn’t feel slowed down at all, and, indeed, felt like I was flying through this book. I couldn’t wait to pick it back up, dying to know what was going to happen next and how they were going to deal with the next major tragedy, even if I had an inkling of what was likely to occur. Bill, Paul, and Annie did not disappoint me, and I’m eager to see what the future holds for them.
Annie’s Apple is a delightful novel that deals with heavy tragedies with a thoughtful, caring hand. I fell in love with these characters even more, and really loved how their stories wrapped up in this book. The story progresses at a very nice pace, and the characters’ stories evolve naturally. I loved that they were in New York City and the reader gets a taste of high society. It was fascinating and fun, and I think The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale, which follows the beginning of journalist Nellie Bly’s career, would be an excellent companion to Annie’s Apple. The former is set a number of years before the latter, but Nellie Bly really helped pave the way for journalists like Annie, and it just feels like having read The Mad Girls of New York added a little bit to my reading experience with Annie’s Apple. Overall, I really loved Annie’s Apple. It sometimes wasn’t easy to read through some of their experiences, and there are other heartbreaks outside of these, but the love between the siblings is really special and I absolutely adore all of them.
Thank you to the author for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
annies apple john a heldt
Annie’s Apple is set a few years after the events of the first book, The Fountain. Bill, Paul, and Annie have acclimated to living several decades in the past after having jumped into a Fountain of Youth in Mexico and emerged in the early 1900s in younger, healthier bodies. Bill, his wife Cassie, and Annie have relocated from the San Francisco area to New York City while Paul and Cassie’s younger brother Andy have joined the military and are at the US-Mexico border at the start of the present story.
It’s now 1911 and Annie is a journalist undercover at the Triangle Shirtwaist factory. She knows a terrible tragedy is on the horizon and hopes a story about the unsafe work environment will prevent it from happening, but, without the Internet handy to look up exact dates, she gets her timing wrong and ends up traumatized when she gets caught in the fire. Unwilling to return to that kind of reporting, she becomes a society writer, jumping head first into writing stories about the wealthy. It offers her the opportunity to meet new friends, and even a new love interest while Andy tries to put her off in favor of his military career, but another tragedy looms close.
In the meantime, Bill and Cassie work hard to start a family, settling into domesticity and having adventures of their own, some sweet and some funny and some serious. Paul has decided a second go in the military isn’t what he wants, and meeting a special lady opens his world in ways he could have never foreseen.
I am not a fan of historical fiction, family sagas, and time travel, yet I adore this Second Chance series. I find the siblings charming and fun, and the historical events written in a very compelling way that makes me feel like I’m there, too. My favorite part is how these siblings sometimes bring in bits and pieces of the future in the way they speak about things and mention things that don’t exist yet that just bewilder the people around them. It’s so much fun to see them in an historical setting and adjusting to a very different way of life, but I also love when they sit down and it’s just them and they have the freedom to be who they are and talk the way they would in the present day.
Annie’s Apple, as the title suggests, is mostly Annie’s story, but her brothers get their fair share of page time. I did, once in a while, feel like one of them was being left out a bit as chapters would go by without much about them, but they more than made up for it, and I liked that I completely understood why there hadn’t been chapters for them. But I adore Annie. She’s fun and spunky with a delightful light to her. She’s fantastic in the context of her family, very warm and loving and lighthearted while also free to feel the pains life throws at her. But she’s just as delightful when she’s out on her own, meeting so many new people and having to acclimate to being around the wealthy and powerful. I loved her relationship with her boss, and the sisters of the man who catches her eye. I think what I liked most about her was she was always painted as charming and witty, but she also felt like she had the freedom to be anything but. She was a complex character with a great deal of depth.
Bill and Paul are much more than supporting characters; they’re two-thirds of this group of siblings that this series follows, and just as important as Annie. Their lives take interesting turns in this book. Bill’s was fun and sweet, and I loved every moment of it. He and Cassie are a delightful couple. Even though there isn’t as much of a focus on them as in the first book, I never felt like they were left out; their story just had a different, more domestic trajectory that didn’t quite have as much drama as the other story lines. I liked that it was softer as it felt like something of a safety net for Paul and Annie. I really felt for Paul in this story. He’s a bit lost, not wanting to go back in the military for a second tour, but loving that he and Andy are sent back to New York City for the duration of their current enlistment. He just doesn’t know what life has in store for him next, and I just want him to find that happiness that Bill has and to have the opportunity to feel settled. Of all the siblings, I feel like my heart rests mostly with him because he’s just put through so much. Annie’s Apple does give him a very special romance, one that I absolutely delighted in. There were so many hints about this lady’s past, and I wanted to scream at Paul to recognize certain signs, so the reveal was very satisfying.
Annie’s Apple is so much more than just the siblings and their new chance at life. It’s also about historical events that have shaped society and our country. It was fun to experience these historical moments, no matter how heartbreaking they are. This is set in 1911 and 1912, so history tells us we can expect the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire and the sinking of the Titanic. These aren’t just historical events, they’re lived experiences these siblings know about where they already have some of the horror of what it might have been like. But now they get to experience what it really was like, and that just creates some interesting follow up for them as they have to actually navigate what comes next. It must be excruciating knowing what’s going to happen, and still be powerless to do anything about it. I loved getting these glimpses into history and feeling the trauma and heartbreak these siblings felt.
I don’t think there was anything I didn’t like about Annie’s Apple. I felt like events were realistic considering the times, and I loved the intentional anachronisms the siblings brought in. They were fun, and I enjoyed how they made everyone else think the siblings were strange yet charming. I recall that in my review of the first book I wasn’t a fan of all the repetition in the characters’ speech and thoughts. I was delighted that either these had been edited to occur much less frequently or I had acclimated to Heldt’s writing style. I didn’t feel slowed down at all, and, indeed, felt like I was flying through this book. I couldn’t wait to pick it back up, dying to know what was going to happen next and how they were going to deal with the next major tragedy, even if I had an inkling of what was likely to occur. Bill, Paul, and Annie did not disappoint me, and I’m eager to see what the future holds for them.
Annie’s Apple is a delightful novel that deals with heavy tragedies with a thoughtful, caring hand. I fell in love with these characters even more, and really loved how their stories wrapped up in this book. The story progresses at a very nice pace, and the characters’ stories evolve naturally. I loved that they were in New York City and the reader gets a taste of high society. It was fascinating and fun, and I think The Mad Girls of New York by Maya Rodale, which follows the beginning of journalist Nellie Bly’s career, would be an excellent companion to Annie’s Apple. The former is set a number of years before the latter, but Nellie Bly really helped pave the way for journalists like Annie, and it just feels like having read The Mad Girls of New York added a little bit to my reading experience with Annie’s Apple. Overall, I really loved Annie’s Apple. It sometimes wasn’t easy to read through some of their experiences, and there are other heartbreaks outside of these, but the love between the siblings is really special and I absolutely adore all of them.
Thank you to the author for a review copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
April 17, 2023
In the second installment in John Heldt's Second Chance Series, the journey of the Carpenter siblings, Bill, Paul, and Annie, continues. All three dove into a fountain of youth in the first novel and emerged as much younger versions of themselves, their memories and older personalities still intact, and arrived in the early twentieth century. Six years have passed since they restarted their lives, but will their second chances prove more fulfilling than the first round?
The stakes are higher for the siblings, especially Annie, the youngest, in the second novel. Heldt opens with a gripping factory fire that's based on true events in 1911 New York City, getting right into the action and ripping both Annie's and the reader's hearts out. He sets up Annie's predicament to great effect as she maneuvers her way forward, trying to figure out her romantic and career paths. She's had a flame burning for Andy Lee since she met him in high school, but does Andy feel the same? He's focused on his career in the Army, much to Annie's chagrin, so she puts her heart in the hands of millionaire Charles Rusk. What unwinds is a game of tugging heartstrings, and as 1912 emerges, the reader knows that Heldt, who is famous for his well-researched books based on true historical events, won't let the tragic sinking of the Titanic go amiss.
Meanwhile, Bill and his wife, Cassie, struggle with infertility and the passage of time as they near thirty, and Paul, the middle sibling, grapples with his own choices. After an awful loss in the first book, is he ready to open his heart to a certain elusive and mysterious Shannon Taylor? Heldt hints at Shannon's past, and when the truth is revealed, it may not be a complete surprise to the keen reader.
As always, historical details are rife, and Heldt recreates the recent past with great attention. For lovers of time travel, romance, and strong character arcs, read Annie's Apple. The characters will feel like old friends, and you may very well wish you could jump into a fountain of youth and have a redo in the past as well!
The stakes are higher for the siblings, especially Annie, the youngest, in the second novel. Heldt opens with a gripping factory fire that's based on true events in 1911 New York City, getting right into the action and ripping both Annie's and the reader's hearts out. He sets up Annie's predicament to great effect as she maneuvers her way forward, trying to figure out her romantic and career paths. She's had a flame burning for Andy Lee since she met him in high school, but does Andy feel the same? He's focused on his career in the Army, much to Annie's chagrin, so she puts her heart in the hands of millionaire Charles Rusk. What unwinds is a game of tugging heartstrings, and as 1912 emerges, the reader knows that Heldt, who is famous for his well-researched books based on true historical events, won't let the tragic sinking of the Titanic go amiss.
Meanwhile, Bill and his wife, Cassie, struggle with infertility and the passage of time as they near thirty, and Paul, the middle sibling, grapples with his own choices. After an awful loss in the first book, is he ready to open his heart to a certain elusive and mysterious Shannon Taylor? Heldt hints at Shannon's past, and when the truth is revealed, it may not be a complete surprise to the keen reader.
As always, historical details are rife, and Heldt recreates the recent past with great attention. For lovers of time travel, romance, and strong character arcs, read Annie's Apple. The characters will feel like old friends, and you may very well wish you could jump into a fountain of youth and have a redo in the past as well!
September 11, 2023
Annie’s Apple opens six years after The Fountain, the first installment in Heldt’s Second Chance Series that saw elderly siblings Bill, Paul, and Annie Carpenter materialize in early 1900s San Francisco as much younger versions of themselves.
Annie’s Apple sees Bill, Cassie, and Annie in New York, 1911, while Paul and Andy, Cassie’s brother, are in Arizona embroiled in the military campaign against the Mexican revolution. While Bill and Cassie put their career plans on hold to focus on trying to start a family, Annie begins working as a society reporter for the New York Star.
Having read a number of Heldt’s books, I’m running light on superlatives. As ever, this is a brilliantly entertaining and unputdownable read. However, there is a subtle change of tone in this outing which swells to quite a noticeable shift as the novel progresses.
Despite all the Heldt hallmarks of short, multi-perspective chapters, excellent story-telling, absorbing character development, and solid research, there is a darker, deeper feel to this story and several unexpected and unusual narrative twists.
His prose is a touch snappier too. He is the master of the staccato three-sentence summary of a character’s thought processes (you’ll know what I mean if you’ve read Heldt!). He deploys these with greater frequency and emotion for each of the main characters. All these switch-ups work superbly, adding a frisson of unpredictability to the narrative.
However, there is still a controlled, reassuring framework to Annie’s Apple. Within very few pages, the reader has an immediate sense of character, place, and time, it’s the literary equivalent of easing into the most comfortable of armchairs. Context and backstory from The Fountain are woven effortlessly yet unobtrusively through the opening chapters providing both familiarity and curiosity.
The siblings have evolved convincingly, and Annie’s trajectory from teenager to young woman is explored with credibility. She retains her fierce, searching intelligence and quirky, forthright nature but with a gloss of maturity and self-awareness.
Her relationship with Edith Utley, society editor of the NY Star, is amusing and gently poignant. The older woman offers insight and a soft maternal guidance which Annie sorely needs to manage her headstrong yet vulnerable personality, two competing traits that become pivotal to her choices and behavior during the course of the story.
Bill and Cassie are the quiet backbone of the novel although have their own emotional journey which is nicely explored. Andy’s blinkered existence, self-sabotage, and consequently, missed chances are frustrating, yet in a good way, ensuring maximum page-turning.
Paul, the introspective maverick, has his own side story which is full of suspense. Shannon Taylor, whom he meets by chance on Rockaway Beach is a well-realized and enigmatic character whom I have no doubt we shall see again. Heldt throws a couple of “blink and you’ll miss them” clues as to her secret before it’s revealed. It’s a biggie and will certainly have future ramifications.
Heldt introduces the Rusk family with whom Annie grows very close. Charles Rusk looks to be a fairly prototypical individual but that changes. The chapters as he alters his plans to get back to New York are absolutely gripping and he really comes into his own. As with Andy’s choices, and indeed, large swathes of Annie’s Apple, the reader is kept guessing all the way and, believably so.
As always, Heldt’s historical insight is second to none. Never overbearing but integrally nuanced to the narrative. He’s ambitious with Annie’s Apple, encompassing the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, the Mexican Revolution, and the Titanic disaster while maintaining a thoroughly immersive evocation of life in New York during the period.
Highly recommended.
Annie’s Apple sees Bill, Cassie, and Annie in New York, 1911, while Paul and Andy, Cassie’s brother, are in Arizona embroiled in the military campaign against the Mexican revolution. While Bill and Cassie put their career plans on hold to focus on trying to start a family, Annie begins working as a society reporter for the New York Star.
Having read a number of Heldt’s books, I’m running light on superlatives. As ever, this is a brilliantly entertaining and unputdownable read. However, there is a subtle change of tone in this outing which swells to quite a noticeable shift as the novel progresses.
Despite all the Heldt hallmarks of short, multi-perspective chapters, excellent story-telling, absorbing character development, and solid research, there is a darker, deeper feel to this story and several unexpected and unusual narrative twists.
His prose is a touch snappier too. He is the master of the staccato three-sentence summary of a character’s thought processes (you’ll know what I mean if you’ve read Heldt!). He deploys these with greater frequency and emotion for each of the main characters. All these switch-ups work superbly, adding a frisson of unpredictability to the narrative.
However, there is still a controlled, reassuring framework to Annie’s Apple. Within very few pages, the reader has an immediate sense of character, place, and time, it’s the literary equivalent of easing into the most comfortable of armchairs. Context and backstory from The Fountain are woven effortlessly yet unobtrusively through the opening chapters providing both familiarity and curiosity.
The siblings have evolved convincingly, and Annie’s trajectory from teenager to young woman is explored with credibility. She retains her fierce, searching intelligence and quirky, forthright nature but with a gloss of maturity and self-awareness.
Her relationship with Edith Utley, society editor of the NY Star, is amusing and gently poignant. The older woman offers insight and a soft maternal guidance which Annie sorely needs to manage her headstrong yet vulnerable personality, two competing traits that become pivotal to her choices and behavior during the course of the story.
Bill and Cassie are the quiet backbone of the novel although have their own emotional journey which is nicely explored. Andy’s blinkered existence, self-sabotage, and consequently, missed chances are frustrating, yet in a good way, ensuring maximum page-turning.
Paul, the introspective maverick, has his own side story which is full of suspense. Shannon Taylor, whom he meets by chance on Rockaway Beach is a well-realized and enigmatic character whom I have no doubt we shall see again. Heldt throws a couple of “blink and you’ll miss them” clues as to her secret before it’s revealed. It’s a biggie and will certainly have future ramifications.
Heldt introduces the Rusk family with whom Annie grows very close. Charles Rusk looks to be a fairly prototypical individual but that changes. The chapters as he alters his plans to get back to New York are absolutely gripping and he really comes into his own. As with Andy’s choices, and indeed, large swathes of Annie’s Apple, the reader is kept guessing all the way and, believably so.
As always, Heldt’s historical insight is second to none. Never overbearing but integrally nuanced to the narrative. He’s ambitious with Annie’s Apple, encompassing the Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, the Mexican Revolution, and the Titanic disaster while maintaining a thoroughly immersive evocation of life in New York during the period.
Highly recommended.
June 30, 2023
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from . This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.Annie's Apple by John A. Heldt needs a warning that it will make you emotional. Mr. Heldt has done it again with these characters.
Will Paul and Annie find people to love them? Like Bill has with Cassie?
The Carpenters and Lees
Bill and Cassie
After the horrific San Francisco fire, Bill and Cassie Carpenter moved to New York with Annie. These two lovebirds have been at the same school since moving there. They are trying to start a family. Sadly their efforts weren't working, which was making Cassie sad. These two have been through a lot in the past six years since the first book, and they are still together through everything. I love these two and how they still act like the same lovebirds from the first book, even after being married for a while.
Paul
Paul Carpenter's second time in the Army is much better than the first time, and he has at least a friend to help him through it. He didn't want to make the same mistakes as last time, but he wants out of the Army this time. I think this time, though, Paul is doing much better, and I hope he can find someone suitable for him.
Annie
Just like when she was fourteen, Annie is still after Andy, but maybe someone else could catch her eye. She is working as a reporter again, this time for the society people. Annie is a great person who has too many bad things happening to her simultaneously. I think that all of this tragedy will make her stronger and help her with her love life.
Andy
Andy has had this idea in his head that he wanted to be a soldier like his grandparents that raised his birth parents. I think Andy had this vision for so long that he needed to see it through before thinking about starting anything with anyone. That includes a persistent sister-in-law named Annie. I believe that Andy and Annie are perfect for each other and may need a little push to make things happen for them. Who knows, maybe that happens here.
The Story
The Carpenters and Lees have made New York their home, and trouble again finds a way to them. Will these two families ever know peace from tragedy? Like the first one, this book focuses solely on one sibling's love life. Annie is the one this time, and I have to say that I had a hard time with this one. Annie's hardship brought tears to my eyes. I had to have a box of tissues next to me while reading this one. Mr. Heldt has a good way of blending his fictional historical past with the actual historical past. I hope that every character finds a well-deserved happy ending.
Five Stars
I am giving Annie's Apple by John A. Heldt five stars and recommending it. Mr. Heldt has a way of drawing in his reader and having them be reluctant to leave his stories. At least, that is my experience whenever I read one of his novels. The Carpenters each have a book that is strictly theirs, and I can't wait to read what Mr. Heldt has planned for Paul in the next book.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Annie's Apple by John A. Heldt.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
Will Paul and Annie find people to love them? Like Bill has with Cassie?
The Carpenters and Lees
Bill and Cassie
After the horrific San Francisco fire, Bill and Cassie Carpenter moved to New York with Annie. These two lovebirds have been at the same school since moving there. They are trying to start a family. Sadly their efforts weren't working, which was making Cassie sad. These two have been through a lot in the past six years since the first book, and they are still together through everything. I love these two and how they still act like the same lovebirds from the first book, even after being married for a while.
Paul
Paul Carpenter's second time in the Army is much better than the first time, and he has at least a friend to help him through it. He didn't want to make the same mistakes as last time, but he wants out of the Army this time. I think this time, though, Paul is doing much better, and I hope he can find someone suitable for him.
Annie
Just like when she was fourteen, Annie is still after Andy, but maybe someone else could catch her eye. She is working as a reporter again, this time for the society people. Annie is a great person who has too many bad things happening to her simultaneously. I think that all of this tragedy will make her stronger and help her with her love life.
Andy
Andy has had this idea in his head that he wanted to be a soldier like his grandparents that raised his birth parents. I think Andy had this vision for so long that he needed to see it through before thinking about starting anything with anyone. That includes a persistent sister-in-law named Annie. I believe that Andy and Annie are perfect for each other and may need a little push to make things happen for them. Who knows, maybe that happens here.
The Story
The Carpenters and Lees have made New York their home, and trouble again finds a way to them. Will these two families ever know peace from tragedy? Like the first one, this book focuses solely on one sibling's love life. Annie is the one this time, and I have to say that I had a hard time with this one. Annie's hardship brought tears to my eyes. I had to have a box of tissues next to me while reading this one. Mr. Heldt has a good way of blending his fictional historical past with the actual historical past. I hope that every character finds a well-deserved happy ending.
Five Stars
I am giving Annie's Apple by John A. Heldt five stars and recommending it. Mr. Heldt has a way of drawing in his reader and having them be reluctant to leave his stories. At least, that is my experience whenever I read one of his novels. The Carpenters each have a book that is strictly theirs, and I can't wait to read what Mr. Heldt has planned for Paul in the next book.
Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Annie's Apple by John A. Heldt.
Until the next time,
This review was originally posted on Baroness' Book Trove
April 6, 2023
John Heldt – Second Chance Bk 2 – Annie’s Apple
Time marches on, and we begin our story in 1911!
Bill and Annie have relocated to New York City. Bill, as we remember, is married to Cassie, and they have both decided to retire and pursue having a family, which they desperately want. They, of course, don’t have the benefits that 2022 would offer them, so it is natural birth or adoption. They take their time wandering down this road.
Meanwhile, Paul is in the Army and stationed with Cassie’s brother Andy in Arizona. As we remember from the previous book, Andy is the young man for whom Annie has set her cap. The only trouble is that he is not ready to settle down and wants to follow his ancestors’ lead and do something important in the military. On the other hand, Annie has patiently been waiting for him to get this out of his system. At the same time, while waiting, though, she is not sitting on her duff. While pursuing a journalism career, trouble is the name of the game. She also wants to do something meaningful and make a difference. The book opens with her working undercover at a sweatshop in New York that she remembers from history will catch fire, where many will be killed due to unsafe conditions, and the story begins…
What did I like? I have read every book John has written, and it does not matter whether it is the first or the last; I am impressed with his ability to pull an incredible story out of the air. As readers and not authors, we need to realize what it takes to put those thoughts on paper and develop a story that includes historical moments in our actual past. If you want to break it down, it’s like having a baby! An idea hits, grows, is nurtured, and finally, is completed as a book and published. Every step includes happiness, misery, and hope that the final result will intrigue the reader, US! So in my book, John, you just keep having those babies, and I will be here to enjoy every moment.
What will you like? Wow, get ready; here comes some of our past, the 1911 Mexican Revolution and the disaster of the Titanic. Each event will wrap around you and have you holding your breath, sobbing, and jumping for joy! So be prepared to be mesmerized by some incredible reading.
• ASIN: B0C17SHDPN
• Publication Date: 4/1/2023
• File Size: 2372 KB
• Print Length: 593 pages
• Genre: Time Travel Romance, Time Travel Romances, Historical Fiction
Time marches on, and we begin our story in 1911!
Bill and Annie have relocated to New York City. Bill, as we remember, is married to Cassie, and they have both decided to retire and pursue having a family, which they desperately want. They, of course, don’t have the benefits that 2022 would offer them, so it is natural birth or adoption. They take their time wandering down this road.
Meanwhile, Paul is in the Army and stationed with Cassie’s brother Andy in Arizona. As we remember from the previous book, Andy is the young man for whom Annie has set her cap. The only trouble is that he is not ready to settle down and wants to follow his ancestors’ lead and do something important in the military. On the other hand, Annie has patiently been waiting for him to get this out of his system. At the same time, while waiting, though, she is not sitting on her duff. While pursuing a journalism career, trouble is the name of the game. She also wants to do something meaningful and make a difference. The book opens with her working undercover at a sweatshop in New York that she remembers from history will catch fire, where many will be killed due to unsafe conditions, and the story begins…
What did I like? I have read every book John has written, and it does not matter whether it is the first or the last; I am impressed with his ability to pull an incredible story out of the air. As readers and not authors, we need to realize what it takes to put those thoughts on paper and develop a story that includes historical moments in our actual past. If you want to break it down, it’s like having a baby! An idea hits, grows, is nurtured, and finally, is completed as a book and published. Every step includes happiness, misery, and hope that the final result will intrigue the reader, US! So in my book, John, you just keep having those babies, and I will be here to enjoy every moment.
What will you like? Wow, get ready; here comes some of our past, the 1911 Mexican Revolution and the disaster of the Titanic. Each event will wrap around you and have you holding your breath, sobbing, and jumping for joy! So be prepared to be mesmerized by some incredible reading.
• ASIN: B0C17SHDPN
• Publication Date: 4/1/2023
• File Size: 2372 KB
• Print Length: 593 pages
• Genre: Time Travel Romance, Time Travel Romances, Historical Fiction
April 15, 2023
4.5 stars--ANNIE’S APPLE is the second instalment in John A Heldt’s adult SECOND CHANCE historical, time travel series focusing on the Carpenter siblings-Paul, Bill and Annie.
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including attempted suicide, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
SOME BACKGROUND :The Second Chance series focuses on the search for the Fountain of Youth. In May of 2022, 81 year old William Carpenter is a retired professor of folklore, learns the mythology about the Fountain of Youth may be the reality he and his siblings are looking for. Having just buried his wife, William believes he has nothing more to lose, and convinces his siblings Paul 75, who has terminal cancer, and Annie 72, a paraplegic, to test the proverbial magic waters in La Paz, Mexico but the myth comes with the caveat of time travel, a caveat wherein the siblings have no idea where in the world or when they will land.
Told from several omniscient third person perspectives ANNIE’S APPLE advances the series approximately five years. The year is now 1911, and the Carpenter siblings, all in their twenties and thirties, are about to face and experience some of the most painful and heart breaking events in history from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in Manhattan, to the sinking of the HMS Titanic. The Carpenter siblings are witness to, and unwitting participants in historical happenings and developments of 1911-1912 but the Carpenter’s are not the only time travellers to arrive in Manhattan in 1911, and Paul will find himself flirting with another broken heart from the future. As the Carpenter family grows, and the next generation is born, the siblings must come to terms with the past, a past that is now a part of their present. Annie will have loved and lost, not once but twice; and Bill, having never had children in his previous life, will learn the meaning of true love and acceptance.
John A Heldt, once again, blends a little fact with fiction, taking literary license with events from the past. The reader is up close and personal with the what ifs and whys of yesterday, as the sibling bear witness without interfering in the history of the past. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romances are passionate but ill-fated; the characters are impassioned and struggling.
www.thereadingcafe.com
NOTE: Due to the nature of the story line premise including attempted suicide, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.
SOME BACKGROUND :The Second Chance series focuses on the search for the Fountain of Youth. In May of 2022, 81 year old William Carpenter is a retired professor of folklore, learns the mythology about the Fountain of Youth may be the reality he and his siblings are looking for. Having just buried his wife, William believes he has nothing more to lose, and convinces his siblings Paul 75, who has terminal cancer, and Annie 72, a paraplegic, to test the proverbial magic waters in La Paz, Mexico but the myth comes with the caveat of time travel, a caveat wherein the siblings have no idea where in the world or when they will land.
Told from several omniscient third person perspectives ANNIE’S APPLE advances the series approximately five years. The year is now 1911, and the Carpenter siblings, all in their twenties and thirties, are about to face and experience some of the most painful and heart breaking events in history from the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in Manhattan, to the sinking of the HMS Titanic. The Carpenter siblings are witness to, and unwitting participants in historical happenings and developments of 1911-1912 but the Carpenter’s are not the only time travellers to arrive in Manhattan in 1911, and Paul will find himself flirting with another broken heart from the future. As the Carpenter family grows, and the next generation is born, the siblings must come to terms with the past, a past that is now a part of their present. Annie will have loved and lost, not once but twice; and Bill, having never had children in his previous life, will learn the meaning of true love and acceptance.
John A Heldt, once again, blends a little fact with fiction, taking literary license with events from the past. The reader is up close and personal with the what ifs and whys of yesterday, as the sibling bear witness without interfering in the history of the past. The premise is engaging and captivating; the romances are passionate but ill-fated; the characters are impassioned and struggling.
www.thereadingcafe.com
April 11, 2023
Author John A. (the "A" is important) Heldt provided an ecopy of Annie's Apple for review.
Annie's Apple is the second entry in the Second Chance series. I have read and reviewed all of Mr. Heldt's books to date. I am beginning to run out of descriptors for his writing without sounding redundant. Fortunately for his readers his work is not redundant, he has maintained the ability keep his work new and engaging. I have read other authors whose work is so predictable that the reader can think "I'm on page such and such, it's time for a plot twist". Not so with Heldt's work.
There is a great plot twist in Annie's Apple that is a new wrinkle in the whole time-traveler genre and I loved it. I actually saw it coming. Mr. Heldt planned it that way, and I'm glad I was quick enough to get the hints. You'll have to read the book since I don't do spoilers.
The one thing Mr. Heldt has brought to each story he has written, is his ability to grab the readers emotions and have his way with them. He has an absolute mastery of the ability to evoke an emotional response with very few words. Readers always experience an emotional roller coaster ride while engrossed in his stories. I actually spent several days reading Annie's Apple, not because of any shortcoming in the book, but, because I didn't want to leave the story too soon. It's the kind of story a reader can really immerse themselves in. I love the worlds he creates for us, they are times and people I would like to visit.
The purpose of fictional story telling is to transport the reader, take them to a place far from the daily grind, where they can forget daily life and enter into the magical world of imagination. Escapism at it's very best.
I know I haven't given a whole lot of detail about Annie's Apple's actual storyline, so here goes. It is set in early 1900's New York. Mainly the story of Annie Carpenter (surprise), her ups and downs and ethical dilemmas. There. I don't like to write a recap of the story, I prefer to focus on why the book is worth a readers time.
Annie's Apple is an excellent follow up to The Fountain, readers will enjoy following the continuing adventures of the Carpenter sibling as the make the most of their "second chance". Enjoy!
Mike
Annie's Apple is the second entry in the Second Chance series. I have read and reviewed all of Mr. Heldt's books to date. I am beginning to run out of descriptors for his writing without sounding redundant. Fortunately for his readers his work is not redundant, he has maintained the ability keep his work new and engaging. I have read other authors whose work is so predictable that the reader can think "I'm on page such and such, it's time for a plot twist". Not so with Heldt's work.
There is a great plot twist in Annie's Apple that is a new wrinkle in the whole time-traveler genre and I loved it. I actually saw it coming. Mr. Heldt planned it that way, and I'm glad I was quick enough to get the hints. You'll have to read the book since I don't do spoilers.
The one thing Mr. Heldt has brought to each story he has written, is his ability to grab the readers emotions and have his way with them. He has an absolute mastery of the ability to evoke an emotional response with very few words. Readers always experience an emotional roller coaster ride while engrossed in his stories. I actually spent several days reading Annie's Apple, not because of any shortcoming in the book, but, because I didn't want to leave the story too soon. It's the kind of story a reader can really immerse themselves in. I love the worlds he creates for us, they are times and people I would like to visit.
The purpose of fictional story telling is to transport the reader, take them to a place far from the daily grind, where they can forget daily life and enter into the magical world of imagination. Escapism at it's very best.
I know I haven't given a whole lot of detail about Annie's Apple's actual storyline, so here goes. It is set in early 1900's New York. Mainly the story of Annie Carpenter (surprise), her ups and downs and ethical dilemmas. There. I don't like to write a recap of the story, I prefer to focus on why the book is worth a readers time.
Annie's Apple is an excellent follow up to The Fountain, readers will enjoy following the continuing adventures of the Carpenter sibling as the make the most of their "second chance". Enjoy!
Mike
May 10, 2023
Imagine, if you will, the ability to live your life for a second time. Would you take that risk knowing you might end up back to a time when the world looked vastly different from our technology riddled world of today?
The Carpenters did just that, they took a leap of faith, they lept through the fountain of youth and landed in 1905 in The Fountain. Now, we catch up with the Carpenter siblings in New York City in 1911! The very height of the industrial revolution, on the cusp of the maiden voyage of the Titanic and just close to the beginning of World War 1! Can you even begin to imagine living in that world knowing what you know today and not being able to do anything about it?
After finishing The Fountain, I was anxious to leap into Annie’s Apple to try and see where the lives of the Carpenter’s will take me. Little did I know that I would be immersed into the world of high society, young love and loss and the all-too-common unknown that is life in the early part of the 20th Century. Each sibling ventures down their own path, and we walk that path with them. And is it a path!?!? Bill and Cassie are experiencing the ups and downs of trying to start a family in a time when modern pre-natal and infertility treatments are unheard of, Paul meets a maid working in Far Rockaway, Shannon Taylor, who he falls in love with and learns she too is one who jumped into her own Fountain of Youth (saw that one coming), and then there’s Cassie and Andy, a relationship that began in The Fountain rides its own roller coaster as Andy decides what his big picture is going to look like. As he is making those decisions, Cassie meets and falls in Love with Charlie.
Each family member has their own story that is all inter-woven together with history and beautifully told by one author. Again, I cannot praise the work of John enough. Five out of Five Stars John!
The Carpenters did just that, they took a leap of faith, they lept through the fountain of youth and landed in 1905 in The Fountain. Now, we catch up with the Carpenter siblings in New York City in 1911! The very height of the industrial revolution, on the cusp of the maiden voyage of the Titanic and just close to the beginning of World War 1! Can you even begin to imagine living in that world knowing what you know today and not being able to do anything about it?
After finishing The Fountain, I was anxious to leap into Annie’s Apple to try and see where the lives of the Carpenter’s will take me. Little did I know that I would be immersed into the world of high society, young love and loss and the all-too-common unknown that is life in the early part of the 20th Century. Each sibling ventures down their own path, and we walk that path with them. And is it a path!?!? Bill and Cassie are experiencing the ups and downs of trying to start a family in a time when modern pre-natal and infertility treatments are unheard of, Paul meets a maid working in Far Rockaway, Shannon Taylor, who he falls in love with and learns she too is one who jumped into her own Fountain of Youth (saw that one coming), and then there’s Cassie and Andy, a relationship that began in The Fountain rides its own roller coaster as Andy decides what his big picture is going to look like. As he is making those decisions, Cassie meets and falls in Love with Charlie.
Each family member has their own story that is all inter-woven together with history and beautifully told by one author. Again, I cannot praise the work of John enough. Five out of Five Stars John!
April 8, 2023
My Thoughts
I have a love/hate relationship with Time Travel based tales.
Love to see different characters take on a new time period but hate the angst they feel when historical events happen that cause things to go wrong for them.
So far in each of the authors works this has been true.
The Carpenters and the Lees are a perfect case in point, last book cost them a huge toll physically and emotionally.
This book carried us through more trials for them again, as expected.
I also found more happiness, more joy and more worthwhile changes for all of them to help balance matters.
As readers follow Bill, Cassie, Annie, Andy and Paul we see them grow and mature over the years.
Many ups and downs take place, some of them hurt more than others but all of which built well on each other
With this in mind I enjoyed every minute spent with them, laughing when they laughed and crying when they cried as well.
Several times had to stop before resuming reading because certain events happened that were quite difficult for me to get past easily and in 1 case took an entire day to get back into the book.
After many stops and starts I feel exhilarated, emotionally drained yet jubilant at how the story came to a conclusion.
That said would not have changed anything, nor missed this journey and did love how things concluded on a positive note.
New York worked well as a background for this story but I really look forward to Southern California setting and all the opportunities it has to offer as well.
Especially since the next book has a lot of promise in its setting and I look forward to reading more about these characters in the future.
[Digital copy from Author]
July 10, 2023
Very impressive story telling.
John Heldt writes a historical time travelling tale with Annie's Apple. This book is part of the Second Chance series, and this is volume two. First, Heldt is very proficient and a magnificent storyteller, who specializes in historical fiction and time travelling characters. I recommend reading the first book in this series, as well as other books that Heldt has written. The first book was in the series was The Fountain, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. These stories revolve around the family Carpenter, Bill, Paul, and Annie. Six years ago, they came out of the fountain of youth, to go back to their regular lives. Bill and his wife, Cassie, are trying to start a family, and Annie becomes a society reporter. For all of them, life seems to be getting back to normal, even for Paul and Andy Lee, back in 1911. Things don't always work out for the family, and sometimes they are in the wrong time, even if they are trying to get to a normal life for them, in that era. Whatever this author writes, I want to read. This author brings the story to life. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. This journey was very unpredictable. A genuine character driven story, with a hint of time mixed in. Annie's Apple is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
John Heldt writes a historical time travelling tale with Annie's Apple. This book is part of the Second Chance series, and this is volume two. First, Heldt is very proficient and a magnificent storyteller, who specializes in historical fiction and time travelling characters. I recommend reading the first book in this series, as well as other books that Heldt has written. The first book was in the series was The Fountain, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. These stories revolve around the family Carpenter, Bill, Paul, and Annie. Six years ago, they came out of the fountain of youth, to go back to their regular lives. Bill and his wife, Cassie, are trying to start a family, and Annie becomes a society reporter. For all of them, life seems to be getting back to normal, even for Paul and Andy Lee, back in 1911. Things don't always work out for the family, and sometimes they are in the wrong time, even if they are trying to get to a normal life for them, in that era. Whatever this author writes, I want to read. This author brings the story to life. The story brings in the believable, even if almost impossible. This journey was very unpredictable. A genuine character driven story, with a hint of time mixed in. Annie's Apple is a definite recommendation by Amy's Bookshelf Reviews. I read this book to give my unbiased and honest review. Amy's Bookshelf Reviews recommends that anyone who reads this book, to also write a review.
July 11, 2023
Disclosure. This is a review of an e-book I was sent for free. All opinions are my own.
This is book 2 in the Second Chance series and is set in New York in 1911/12. It is fine as a stand-alone read but far better in my opinion to read book 1 first.
The tale starts with a fictional take on an actual disaster which happened at the Triangle Waist Company where journalist Annie was working undercover, really engaging and drawing the reader in.
Meanwhile her brother Paul and brother-in-law / boyfriend Andy are busy in the army on the Mexican border, whilst her other brother Bill and wife Cassie are hoping to start a family.
As the story progresses, other significant characters are introduced. Edith Utley, Annie’s new employer. The Rusk family including Charles, who takes a keen interest in Annie. The mysterious Shannon Taylor.
So who will Annie choose between Andy and Charles? What is Shannon hiding?
And of course we all know what other disaster happened in 1912, the sinking of the Titanic. Yes of course it has been incorporated into the tale.
This is a great story with some excellent twists, some of which I guessed and others that were a complete surprise. As always I love how fact is woven into the fiction excellently by the author.
A brilliant time travel tale and now to wait for the release of the finale to the series.
This is book 2 in the Second Chance series and is set in New York in 1911/12. It is fine as a stand-alone read but far better in my opinion to read book 1 first.
The tale starts with a fictional take on an actual disaster which happened at the Triangle Waist Company where journalist Annie was working undercover, really engaging and drawing the reader in.
Meanwhile her brother Paul and brother-in-law / boyfriend Andy are busy in the army on the Mexican border, whilst her other brother Bill and wife Cassie are hoping to start a family.
As the story progresses, other significant characters are introduced. Edith Utley, Annie’s new employer. The Rusk family including Charles, who takes a keen interest in Annie. The mysterious Shannon Taylor.
So who will Annie choose between Andy and Charles? What is Shannon hiding?
And of course we all know what other disaster happened in 1912, the sinking of the Titanic. Yes of course it has been incorporated into the tale.
This is a great story with some excellent twists, some of which I guessed and others that were a complete surprise. As always I love how fact is woven into the fiction excellently by the author.
A brilliant time travel tale and now to wait for the release of the finale to the series.
April 19, 2023
Siblings and time travellers Bill, Paul, and Annie Carpenter are in 2011 where they are based in two US states. In New York Bill and his wife Cassie are educators and struggling to start a family and Annie is working as a society reporter. In Arizona Paul and his brother-in-law Andy Lee are sergeants part of the effort to stop the Mexican civil war from spilling over the border into the US. Paul and Annie meet new loves, and there is drama, tragedy and adventure at a time when the Titanic sinks and there were factory fires.
I enjoyed this second instalment of the trilogy where as I expect from their author the historical events were very accurately told in the context of this fictional story. Whilst there was a fair amount of happiness in this book there were a number of very tragic events and they were all clearly told with sensitivity and the right level of emotion and empathy. This was easy to read, feel and understand. Things were changing at the end of this story and so I am looking forward to the direction their stories are taking in the final book and which events they are going to experience.
I enjoyed this second instalment of the trilogy where as I expect from their author the historical events were very accurately told in the context of this fictional story. Whilst there was a fair amount of happiness in this book there were a number of very tragic events and they were all clearly told with sensitivity and the right level of emotion and empathy. This was easy to read, feel and understand. Things were changing at the end of this story and so I am looking forward to the direction their stories are taking in the final book and which events they are going to experience.
May 16, 2023
I’ve read numerous books by Heldt, and he always surprises me. I’m unsure how to review this one because any slip could spoil the book. But I can say that this one went in directions that I never thought possible. It also brought out a lot of emotions, the big one being anger at Heldt for throwing me through a roller coaster.
It will be interesting to see where this goes because WWI is on the horizon. If I were a time traveler, the last place I would want to be is before the world wars, especially considering 3 of our main characters are males, and we had the Selective Training Act for WW1 and the Selective Training and Service Act for WWII.
Twice, things went in a direction I wasn’t picturing. Twice, I raged at those directions. I was also displeased that one character, in particular, was so utterly stubborn and bullheaded that I wanted to reach into the book and smack them on the head. I love when an author can induce such feelings in the reader because it’s a sign of great writing.
This series has been a roller coaster, and I cannot wait to see where the next book leads us.
It will be interesting to see where this goes because WWI is on the horizon. If I were a time traveler, the last place I would want to be is before the world wars, especially considering 3 of our main characters are males, and we had the Selective Training Act for WW1 and the Selective Training and Service Act for WWII.
Twice, things went in a direction I wasn’t picturing. Twice, I raged at those directions. I was also displeased that one character, in particular, was so utterly stubborn and bullheaded that I wanted to reach into the book and smack them on the head. I love when an author can induce such feelings in the reader because it’s a sign of great writing.
This series has been a roller coaster, and I cannot wait to see where the next book leads us.
September 11, 2023
“Annie’s Apple” is the sequel to “The Fountain”. The story begins in 1911, six years after siblings Bill, Paul and Annie Carpenter find the fountain of youth and travel back in time.
Overall, I really enjoyed this tale. This story starts with a bang. The depiction of the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is tragic, sad, and disturbing. The author makes you feel this event with his descriptions and one particularly brutal sound I couldn’t get out of my head. The author then flips between POVs of the Carpenters family members and a love interest, allowing for both background information (if you didn’t read the original book) and descriptions of the main characters. Cassie and Bill take a back seat to the title character and the other members of the Carpenter family. However, they still have a meaningful contribution with one particularly meaningful event and as the first was focused on Bill and Cassie, I liked the change in focus. Find the full blog review at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
Overall, I really enjoyed this tale. This story starts with a bang. The depiction of the fire at the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire is tragic, sad, and disturbing. The author makes you feel this event with his descriptions and one particularly brutal sound I couldn’t get out of my head. The author then flips between POVs of the Carpenters family members and a love interest, allowing for both background information (if you didn’t read the original book) and descriptions of the main characters. Cassie and Bill take a back seat to the title character and the other members of the Carpenter family. However, they still have a meaningful contribution with one particularly meaningful event and as the first was focused on Bill and Cassie, I liked the change in focus. Find the full blog review at heatherlbarksdale.com
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
June 24, 2023
The author masterfully blends history with fiction, highlighting the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, the Mexican Revolution, the sinking of the RMS Titanic, and life in New York City during the early 1900s.
The narration paints vivid images and immerses you in the moment, allowing you to feel all the emotions that the characters experience as if they were your own. Every minutest detail is carefully considered. In case you missed reading the first book, the author provides the characters' backstories so you won't feel left out.
Siblings bond, family, romance, Annie's sense of humour, drama, heartbreak and savouring moments with twists and turns you won't expect are among the themes in this novel. The Second Chance series was an absolute delight to read. The author's extensive research is evident, and the plot is absolutely captivating.
June 3, 2023
A wonder sequel to The Fountain, this book takes up where that one left off. The Carpenters have moved to New York and Paul and Andy have joined the Army. Fast forward a few years Annie works for a newspaper sending letters every week to Paul and Andy and still professing her love for Andy.
Through many adventures of the times, such as a great fire in a New York shirt waist factory that killed over a hundred and the sinking of the Titanic, this epic story unfolds. With it the characters experience great happiness, conflict over knowing of these historic events and struggling with whether or not to intervene and save lives, and great sorrow and heartache. A memorable story that I thoroughly enjoyed and I highly recommend.
Through many adventures of the times, such as a great fire in a New York shirt waist factory that killed over a hundred and the sinking of the Titanic, this epic story unfolds. With it the characters experience great happiness, conflict over knowing of these historic events and struggling with whether or not to intervene and save lives, and great sorrow and heartache. A memorable story that I thoroughly enjoyed and I highly recommend.
March 5, 2024
After reading the first book, I had to find out what happened next in the lives of the two brothers and their sister. This book is the second one in the series. This book follows the lives of all three siblings but concentrates on Annie's. The books are original, dealing with time travel, history and romance. I liked all the characters. At times, the book had me in tears. The book makes you questioned how much of the past you would be able to change if you could go back in time. Would you be able to control the changes and get the outcome you want? Would trying to change the past to change the future be what brings about the outcome you are trying to change? I would recommend the three books in the series.
April 6, 2023
Annie's Apple (Second Chance, #2) by John A. Heldt
Book two in the Second chances series is set in 1911 New York & Arizona. We continue with the siblings, their new friends and relationships. Love, danger and adventure awaits for Annie, Paul & Bill.
A fantastic time travel set during the time of the sinking of the Titanic. With real events from the past mixed with fictional (likable) characters and events, I was hooked from the start. I enjoyed Annie's Apple and recommend to those who like time travel.
Book two in the Second chances series is set in 1911 New York & Arizona. We continue with the siblings, their new friends and relationships. Love, danger and adventure awaits for Annie, Paul & Bill.
A fantastic time travel set during the time of the sinking of the Titanic. With real events from the past mixed with fictional (likable) characters and events, I was hooked from the start. I enjoyed Annie's Apple and recommend to those who like time travel.
April 2, 2023
What a whirlwind of a book! The action starts from the very beginning and it carries on throughout, there was a point where I could not put it down and ended up finishing the entire book. I like how all characters have evolved from out last encounter with them in the previous book "The Fountain", and the new characters that are introduced are fascinating and I became fully invested after getting to know them. Mr. Heldt did a great job in making the reader feel as if they were dropped in the 1910's, this is good historical fiction with lots of twists and turns, definitely give it a read.
April 25, 2023
Annie's Apple is the second book for his Second Chance series. The book continues the story for Bill, Paul and Annie in 1911. Life is never boring when you are a time- traveller. The story highlights history and a reminder that we should appreciate the things we have.
Between revelations and heart breaks, Annie's Apple reminds us that love is not just in romance. There is also family, passion and responsibilities. There are a lot of decisions to make. If you are wondering what happens, go have a read.
Between revelations and heart breaks, Annie's Apple reminds us that love is not just in romance. There is also family, passion and responsibilities. There are a lot of decisions to make. If you are wondering what happens, go have a read.
June 13, 2023
Get your hanky ready!
Book 2 like 1 had many twists, turns and surprises. I must say I was upset and got teary eyed a few times. I even had to quickly skim through a few chapters as I was nervous to see the outcome I felt was coming. It was, however, really entertaining and I look forward to see how Paul makes out next. This is turning out to be my favorite series from the author and I started out thinking it may not be that interesting. Well I was wrong. Kept me reading and sometimes on the end of my seat until the book was done.
Book 2 like 1 had many twists, turns and surprises. I must say I was upset and got teary eyed a few times. I even had to quickly skim through a few chapters as I was nervous to see the outcome I felt was coming. It was, however, really entertaining and I look forward to see how Paul makes out next. This is turning out to be my favorite series from the author and I started out thinking it may not be that interesting. Well I was wrong. Kept me reading and sometimes on the end of my seat until the book was done.
April 2, 2023
This is the second book in the Second Chance series that I have read. This book has it all. You will smile, laugh and even cry a little bit. I found myself emerged into the characters and just couldn’t put it down. John Heldt never disappoints me. Don’t miss out on a great read, get started today if you want to go back in time and feel the pain and happiness of these characters. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
May 2, 2023
When the three siblings move from California to the Big Apple (NYC) many things happen which are all not good and will make you gasp--Love is in the air--but will it last? Annie seems to be embroiled from one tragedy then into another.
This was an era of change in NY and in the country as a whole. The history will come to life as only this author can do within a time travel novel. To say this is one of my favorite authors should say it all. I have read, reviewed and loved all his books!
This was an era of change in NY and in the country as a whole. The history will come to life as only this author can do within a time travel novel. To say this is one of my favorite authors should say it all. I have read, reviewed and loved all his books!
November 22, 2023
3 stars. Pretty good, though I like the first book a bit better. I find that time travel books frequently tell one of two stories: (1) How the protagonist(s) establish technology and/or democracy in an ancient world or (2) how the protagonist(s) find love in an earlier time period. This book devolved into the second of the two concepts and was really not much more than a period romance. Since there's only one more book in the series, I'll probably read it though I expect more of the same.
August 19, 2025
Annie's Apple (Second Chance Book 2)
The Carpenter family has settled in New York City, after leaving San Francisco. Annie has become an investigative reporter, and is currently working at the Triangle Shirt waist Factory, when the historic fire breaks out. As the reader follows the lives of this family, and Annie in particular, you are taken back to a bygone age.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Highly recommend!
The Carpenter family has settled in New York City, after leaving San Francisco. Annie has become an investigative reporter, and is currently working at the Triangle Shirt waist Factory, when the historic fire breaks out. As the reader follows the lives of this family, and Annie in particular, you are taken back to a bygone age.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Highly recommend!
March 4, 2024
A great time travel book
This was the best time travel book I have ever read. The drama and bad experiences in the early 1900's was so amazing to read about. The characters were all so interesting. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I had a hard time putting it down.
This was the best time travel book I have ever read. The drama and bad experiences in the early 1900's was so amazing to read about. The characters were all so interesting. I really enjoyed this book from start to finish. I had a hard time putting it down.
April 16, 2023
whoa!this was so fantastic!
I have read ALL of John Heldts novels each time I finish one I think THIS WAS THE BEST ONE! Each time I am wrong because they keep getting better.Please keep it up!
I have read ALL of John Heldts novels each time I finish one I think THIS WAS THE BEST ONE! Each time I am wrong because they keep getting better.Please keep it up!
April 18, 2023
Another great novel from John Heldt. The continuing story of a family who travels to the early 1900s. I always enjoy the history lesson and delving deeper into the characters. There's adventure, love, and sadness. I can't wait for the final chapter.
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