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A Time to Dream
Hannibal, Missouri, 1999. While trying to save two historic houses from an uncertain fate, Shelby Winters is whisked back in time -- and into the body of Zacharias Logan's estranged wife...Hannibal, Missouri, 1871. Shelby's undeniably attracted to Zacharias. But if she is to preserve the houses, she must mend the marriage and get back home before she loses her head -- and her heart -- completely...
320 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1999
4 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
About the author
Sherry Lewis
56 books97 followersSherry Lewis is an award-winning, national bestselling author who writes across several genres. Along with her writing career, she has been teaching writing workshops for more than 20 years through Dancing on Coals Workshops for Fiction Writers.
In 1993 Sherry launched her mystery-writing career with the sale of her first three books in the Fred Vickery mystery series to Berkley Prime Crime. In early 1994 she sold her first romance to Harlequin Superromance, launching her career as a romance writer.
As Sammi Carter, she wrote the Candy Shop mystery series set in Paradise, Colorado and featuring Abby Shaw. As Jacklyn Brady she wrote the Piece of Cake mystery series set in New Orleans, featuring cake artist Rita Lucero.
Originally from Montana, Sherry spent several years living at the base of Utah's Wasatch Mountains. She now lives a block from the beach along Florida's Emerald Coast. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.
In 1993 Sherry launched her mystery-writing career with the sale of her first three books in the Fred Vickery mystery series to Berkley Prime Crime. In early 1994 she sold her first romance to Harlequin Superromance, launching her career as a romance writer.
As Sammi Carter, she wrote the Candy Shop mystery series set in Paradise, Colorado and featuring Abby Shaw. As Jacklyn Brady she wrote the Piece of Cake mystery series set in New Orleans, featuring cake artist Rita Lucero.
Originally from Montana, Sherry spent several years living at the base of Utah's Wasatch Mountains. She now lives a block from the beach along Florida's Emerald Coast. It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 8, 2013
I am writing this review in hopes to share with you, the reader, an honest opinion of this story. Yes, I read the entire book. I didn't skip any part. Why? Because I hoped it would get better. I wanted good things to come to Zacharias Logan and Shelby Miller.
So, let's start with the positive parts. There is an interesting setting with the Logans, the husband and wife of the past, living in two houses right next to each other. Unfortunately, it was a stretch to believe they could live side by side for five years and have nothing to do with each other. But I understand the concept of agoraphobia and, I think, that Agatha Logan had let her anger rule her life so long that she afraid of others. She had a housekeeper and a groundskeeper and that was enough. Ms. Lewis also includes some interesting history of Hannibal, Missouri, where this romance takes place.
Now I use the word 'romance' here lightly because there is a lot of anger and justifiably so. Still, I kept reading, because I wanted to know what happened. I won't give away the plot but be aware of the continual resentment that weaves throughout the story. Even after Shelby went back in time and had taken over Agatha's body, she tried to make amends with Zacharias. She hopes that if she does this she will get back home and the Logans will live happily ever after. Instead, the animosity continues. Add to this mix Zacharias's mother, who is a constant presence. If there is not enough exasperation radiating from the hero the mother more then makes up for him.
Still, I continued to plod along. By now I have guessed what happened and I am correct but c'mon, there has to be a reason why others gave it great reviews, right? I came away from this story knowing how it would end but I found it hard to believe they would be happy. I am ashamed I wasted the time. Lastly, I felt like someone had run me over with a truck. This isn't the way I want to feel when I finish reading a romance.
I am generously giving it two stars for 'OK' only because Ms. Lewis kept me involved until the end. Can I recommend this story to you? The answer is no.
So, let's start with the positive parts. There is an interesting setting with the Logans, the husband and wife of the past, living in two houses right next to each other. Unfortunately, it was a stretch to believe they could live side by side for five years and have nothing to do with each other. But I understand the concept of agoraphobia and, I think, that Agatha Logan had let her anger rule her life so long that she afraid of others. She had a housekeeper and a groundskeeper and that was enough. Ms. Lewis also includes some interesting history of Hannibal, Missouri, where this romance takes place.
Now I use the word 'romance' here lightly because there is a lot of anger and justifiably so. Still, I kept reading, because I wanted to know what happened. I won't give away the plot but be aware of the continual resentment that weaves throughout the story. Even after Shelby went back in time and had taken over Agatha's body, she tried to make amends with Zacharias. She hopes that if she does this she will get back home and the Logans will live happily ever after. Instead, the animosity continues. Add to this mix Zacharias's mother, who is a constant presence. If there is not enough exasperation radiating from the hero the mother more then makes up for him.
Still, I continued to plod along. By now I have guessed what happened and I am correct but c'mon, there has to be a reason why others gave it great reviews, right? I came away from this story knowing how it would end but I found it hard to believe they would be happy. I am ashamed I wasted the time. Lastly, I felt like someone had run me over with a truck. This isn't the way I want to feel when I finish reading a romance.
I am generously giving it two stars for 'OK' only because Ms. Lewis kept me involved until the end. Can I recommend this story to you? The answer is no.
June 2, 2010
This is a book I bought on the clearance tables for $1.97 I don't know how many years ago. It's been sitting in my bookcase since waiting for me to read since. I don't know why I bought this book; I don't go for wishy washy love stories. It was a no brainer type of reading. Gosh, I honestly don't know how women get so caught up in this type of mindless reading. Obviously, I didn't enjoy the story. Too sappy, rather unembarrassed to be seen reading this type of book. But I'm done and now I can finally get rid of it the next time I'm going through my books to give away.
November 27, 2017
3 stars
Synopsis: Shelby is trying to save twin houses from being demolished in 1999. They were built in the late 1800s. Agatha and her husband Zacharias are estranged, and Zacharias built a mirror house so that he and their two sons could live in it, since he had the first one built and really liked it. Shelby grew up in foster homes, and finally found a place in the world as a caretaker for the one house, so when she finds out that her job and her home might be taken away from her, she heads over to the other house to see if she can find a diary or papers that Agatha left, because that might get the historical society interested in saving both houses.
Shelby gets dizzy and falls, and when she wakes up, she is in Agatha's body. When Shelby finally realizes that she isn't dreaming, she decides that she was sent to the past so that she could reconcile Zacharias and Agatha. Unfortunately, that is tougher than it seems at first because Agatha and Zacharias haven't seen each other since he and the children moved out, and no one talks about why Zacharias moved out, or what caused the split in the first place. Agatha hasn't been in society for 5 years, either.
Zacharias lives with their sons and his mother, who is bound and determined that he and his mistress get married, since she is the type of woman who realizes what society is like, and who can be a proper hostess for any gatherings or balls they put on.
As the day of Agatha's death gets closer, Shelby gets more and more worried that she won't be able to bring Zacharias and Agatha together. She is more worried about the fact that she is falling in love with another woman's husband, even if she is supposed to be that woman.
What I liked: That Shelby didn't just accept that she was back in time with little to no worries. She had genuine concerns and a learning curve on how people were treated and how people acted in the past. I also liked that Shelby cared Agatha's servants and the people that she met while she was Agatha. Zacharias definitely wronged Agatha, and he knew it, which was a nice change. Of course, he was really resentful because Agatha didn't just fall in to his arms when he said he was sorry, but I liked that he understood he was in the wrong. I also liked that Zacharias didn't just want to sit around and be rich, that he actually wanted to do something worthwhile with his time.
What I didn't like: In spite of the writing, which was good, I just didn't really connect with either Zacharias or Shelby.
Synopsis: Shelby is trying to save twin houses from being demolished in 1999. They were built in the late 1800s. Agatha and her husband Zacharias are estranged, and Zacharias built a mirror house so that he and their two sons could live in it, since he had the first one built and really liked it. Shelby grew up in foster homes, and finally found a place in the world as a caretaker for the one house, so when she finds out that her job and her home might be taken away from her, she heads over to the other house to see if she can find a diary or papers that Agatha left, because that might get the historical society interested in saving both houses.
Shelby gets dizzy and falls, and when she wakes up, she is in Agatha's body. When Shelby finally realizes that she isn't dreaming, she decides that she was sent to the past so that she could reconcile Zacharias and Agatha. Unfortunately, that is tougher than it seems at first because Agatha and Zacharias haven't seen each other since he and the children moved out, and no one talks about why Zacharias moved out, or what caused the split in the first place. Agatha hasn't been in society for 5 years, either.
Zacharias lives with their sons and his mother, who is bound and determined that he and his mistress get married, since she is the type of woman who realizes what society is like, and who can be a proper hostess for any gatherings or balls they put on.
As the day of Agatha's death gets closer, Shelby gets more and more worried that she won't be able to bring Zacharias and Agatha together. She is more worried about the fact that she is falling in love with another woman's husband, even if she is supposed to be that woman.
What I liked: That Shelby didn't just accept that she was back in time with little to no worries. She had genuine concerns and a learning curve on how people were treated and how people acted in the past. I also liked that Shelby cared Agatha's servants and the people that she met while she was Agatha. Zacharias definitely wronged Agatha, and he knew it, which was a nice change. Of course, he was really resentful because Agatha didn't just fall in to his arms when he said he was sorry, but I liked that he understood he was in the wrong. I also liked that Zacharias didn't just want to sit around and be rich, that he actually wanted to do something worthwhile with his time.
What I didn't like: In spite of the writing, which was good, I just didn't really connect with either Zacharias or Shelby.
June 18, 2020
Never Doubt Peaked Interest!
I think I bought this book because it was listed in something else, and it was in my Kindle library for some time before I began to read it out of curiosity. It didn’t take long for this story to take hold and not let me go! I’ve read other time travel fiction books in other genres that I’ve loved, but this is the first main Romance I’ve read, and it made me wish for the ending to be what I wished with all of my heart... WISH GRANTED! I suggest you follow the peaked interest to find what you may not know you want as your heart already yearns for it! ~TK~
I think I bought this book because it was listed in something else, and it was in my Kindle library for some time before I began to read it out of curiosity. It didn’t take long for this story to take hold and not let me go! I’ve read other time travel fiction books in other genres that I’ve loved, but this is the first main Romance I’ve read, and it made me wish for the ending to be what I wished with all of my heart... WISH GRANTED! I suggest you follow the peaked interest to find what you may not know you want as your heart already yearns for it! ~TK~
January 11, 2022
I don't know how the writer did it but when I reached the middle, everything started to have ZERO sense at all. It took me 50% of this novel to realize this book is f***d up.
The protagonist stumbled upon a stranger's body and made it her goal to fix her marriage and life when SHE HAD NO RIGHT, like, AT ALL. I shiver every time she converses with people, pretending to be the person she is not. It's like she believes she really is that person and her regret in doing so came too late to be acceptable. It's been 5 years ever since the husband with his children were banished by her wife, after getting blue balled and verbally abused, and still, he never acted on divorcing her when she's not even the mother of his children. He does not even love her forsakes. The mother of her children is a lady, ready and eager to be married to him. So, WHY? why not divorce his "stone-cold" wife and let the real mother of her children, even though she's a bitch, wait for him? (That's what you get when you cheat with a bitch in 19th century, you're stuck with her, unfortunately)
And the most disappointing thing of all is the most misunderstood character in this book— Agatha, the wife. The real one, I don't give a fig about that Shelly character. I really thought she'll defend Agatha in this area, the fact that she is an ASEXUAL. The conundrum of being born a queer in that era has such complexity that it always struck my interest. Well, I didn't get that here–an ABSOLUTE WASTE OF OPPORTUNITY.
Then the revelation happened, it turns out this couple married a stranger to each other so that the sexual part of their marriage was estranged too. But, what baffles me is they DID try to conceive once or twice, only failed. Note that he is already cheating as this happens.
So now, Let's see, Agatha was suffering from her miscarriages and depression while she suspects her husband's cheating and then, learns her husband had twins with his mistress. Add that to the matter of asexuality. And you wonder why Agatha's such a heartless woman? she did what any woman would do in that circumstance.
I will never, ever understand WHY the protagonist fell in love with the cheater who loathes his wife after cheating and gotten another pregnant. The way she fell for him was so unrealistic and too sudden, fueled by physical attraction and maybe a loose screw brought by pretending to be somebody. That kind of relationship is really not worth sacrificing your whole life and modern time over.
The protagonist stumbled upon a stranger's body and made it her goal to fix her marriage and life when SHE HAD NO RIGHT, like, AT ALL. I shiver every time she converses with people, pretending to be the person she is not. It's like she believes she really is that person and her regret in doing so came too late to be acceptable. It's been 5 years ever since the husband with his children were banished by her wife, after getting blue balled and verbally abused, and still, he never acted on divorcing her when she's not even the mother of his children. He does not even love her forsakes. The mother of her children is a lady, ready and eager to be married to him. So, WHY? why not divorce his "stone-cold" wife and let the real mother of her children, even though she's a bitch, wait for him? (That's what you get when you cheat with a bitch in 19th century, you're stuck with her, unfortunately)
And the most disappointing thing of all is the most misunderstood character in this book— Agatha, the wife. The real one, I don't give a fig about that Shelly character. I really thought she'll defend Agatha in this area, the fact that she is an ASEXUAL. The conundrum of being born a queer in that era has such complexity that it always struck my interest. Well, I didn't get that here–an ABSOLUTE WASTE OF OPPORTUNITY.
Then the revelation happened, it turns out this couple married a stranger to each other so that the sexual part of their marriage was estranged too. But, what baffles me is they DID try to conceive once or twice, only failed. Note that he is already cheating as this happens.
So now, Let's see, Agatha was suffering from her miscarriages and depression while she suspects her husband's cheating and then, learns her husband had twins with his mistress. Add that to the matter of asexuality. And you wonder why Agatha's such a heartless woman? she did what any woman would do in that circumstance.
I will never, ever understand WHY the protagonist fell in love with the cheater who loathes his wife after cheating and gotten another pregnant. The way she fell for him was so unrealistic and too sudden, fueled by physical attraction and maybe a loose screw brought by pretending to be somebody. That kind of relationship is really not worth sacrificing your whole life and modern time over.
May 12, 2015
I thought this book was great. Yes, there's alot of drama and unhappiness that has to be worked through. BUT, Shelby IS in Agatha's body. Agatha can't get over stuff, but Shelby can. I fell in love with the characters and will be keeping this book forever.
July 20, 2014
2.5 stars
A time travel romance book.
I picked it up because I love Diana Gabaldon's 'Outlander' which is also a time travel romance, and while this one was ok, well...once you've read 'Outlander' :-)
January 21, 2010
The power of forgiveness and understanding to change relationships and make them better.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews